| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08429025B2 |
Method, medium, and system of ascertaining garment size of a particular garment type for a consumer
The present invention is a garment sizing system that that identifies the correct garment size for a particular garment type for a plurality of brands. In an embodiment, the garment sizing system is a client-server system that uses at least one server to host a website, garment sizing software, and at least one database. The consumers access the website over a communication network using networked devices. The database is populated with garment data such as garment type, brand name, brand line, retailers that sell that sell the brand, garment size, and dimensional garment measurements. Using the website, the consumer inputs the consumer's body measurement or the size of a specific garment that is known to fit the consumer, and the system retrieves and displays from the database the correct sizes for a specific garment type from a variety of brands based on the inputted data. |
| US08429024B1 |
System and method for tracking charitable deductions
A system and method for recording and tracking charitable donations over a period of one or more years, and for determining the tax consequence associated with such donations based upon taxing authority guidelines applicable to the time period in which such donations were made. Additionally, a method implemented by software for tracking charitable donations over a period of years whereby a user is prompted to select a donation and a year in which the donation was made for a memory. The software retrieves a tax deduction valuation associated with that donation and stores the donation and value in the memory in association with each other. Another aspect is directed to a system for determining the tax deduction value of charitable donations whereby a partner server electronically captures sales data of items and sends the sales data to a system server that stores such data in memory. |
| US08429019B1 |
System and method for scheduled delivery of shipments with multiple shipment carriers
Various embodiments of a system and method for scheduled delivery of shipments with multiple shipment carriers are described. Various embodiments may include a scheduled delivery component configured to receive delivery availability information for multiple shipment carriers. In various embodiments, for each shipment carrier, delivery availability information may specify one or more delivery periods during which that shipment carrier is available to deliver shipments of one or more items to designated locations. This delivery availability information may be utilized to generate a scheduled delivery tool that enables users to select a particular delivery period during which an item is to be delivered. The scheduled delivery tool may provide multiple selectable delivery periods based on the delivery availability information of multiple shipment carriers. The scheduled delivery component may determine that a particular delivery period has been selected and generate a delivery instruction based on such selection. |
| US08429013B2 |
Dynamic geo-location parameter for determining an impact of online behavior on offline sales
Online behavior of users related to a product is captured. Also, offline sales for the product is also captured. Geo-location parameters are also determined for the captured online and offline data. Using the geo-location parameters and captured data for the product, a smallest geo-location parameter of statistical significance for estimating an impact of the online behavior on offline sales is determined. |
| US08429011B2 |
Method and system for targeted advertising based on topical memes
A targeted advertising system and method based on memes contained in content sources are disclosed. Content matching keywords-defining topics are identified from content sources and are further processed to extract the memes. Ad networks servicing the content are also identified and their reach for each meme determined. The system and method extract also viral dynamics of the content associated to a meme and use the aggregation of the viral dynamics as a measure of engagement level for the meme. The system and method allow a Marketer to select a meme based on the engagement level and to run an ad campaign against the meme. The advertisements are delivered through an Ad network and inserted at the meme page level when the content hosting the meme is accessed, the Ad network being selected based on its reach. |
| US08429010B2 |
CM data management apparatus/method, pay-program reception terminal/method, pay-program transmission/reception system, and computer-readable storage medium storing computer program to realize these methods
A pay-program transmission/reception system provides a pay program at low viewing fee by inserting CMs. A viewer who wants a program without CMs does not newly receive a CM-deleted program. A CM data management apparatus transmits, to a pay-program reception terminal, (a) a CM-inserted program constituted from video/audio and CM data, and (b) a CM-inserted program schedule showing reproduction orders thereof, when receiving a program request by a program name designated in the pay-program reception terminal. The pay-program reception terminal, when its input reception unit receives the CM deletion request from the viewer after its video/audio processing unit reproduces the CM-inserted program, passes the request to the CM data management apparatus, obtains a CM-deleted program schedule, and reproduces the pay program without CMs. |
| US08429008B2 |
Calculation method of sales commission using transformation coefficient in on-line, calculation system and recording medium thereof
Disclosed are a method and a system of calculating a sales commission using a transformation coefficient in on-line by reflecting sales of members receiving sales commissions and new sales of sub-members, and a record medium thereof. Members receive sales commissions based on members' own sales, so that old sub-members as well as new members actively sell commodities. The property of the tree to which the members belong is more increased, so that the members have reliability and affection for a company. The revenue of the members is more increased, and a company attempts to increase sales and members. A company determines sales commissions paid to members at a constant commission payment rate for the sales of the members without being affected by the enlargement of an organization due to the increase of the members and the amount of sales. |
| US08429005B2 |
Method for determining effectiveness of display of objects in advertising images
Interactive electronic representations of advertising images published in visual media sources enable data about interest in an object or objects appearing in the advertising images to be collected. From comparing against aggregated data from interactions with interactive electronic representations, the effectiveness of displaying an object, such as representing a product or service, in a particular advertising image can be relatively measured. |
| US08428999B1 |
Method and system for counting households within a geographic area
A method and system for providing an accurate count of total households and seasonal households within a defined geographic area is disclosed. The invention has application in, for example, the identification of potential sites for retail business locations. The invention utilizes additional data sources beyond census data in order to provide more accurate household counts, particularly in high-growth areas when census data has become stale. Seasonal households may be counted by the use of household data containing spatially inconsistent records (SIRs), that is, records for which the best address does not match the location where the telephone service is provided. Households for which an exact address is not known are allocated within the geographic area of interest according to various spreading models. |
| US08428998B2 |
Estimating business targets
A method for generating business targets includes accessing data (300) corresponding to a number of customers. The data includes variables (310-330) associated with each of the customers and an observed value for each of the customers. The observed value for a customer may represent revenue associated with that particular customer. The method also includes identifying a neighborhood that includes a first customer and a number of the other customers. The method further includes calculating a target for each of the customers in the neighborhood, where the target may represent the potential revenue from each of the customers. |
| US08428993B2 |
Method and apparatus for risk identification and mitigation in shift work fatigue
Method and apparatus for shift work scheduling based upon an optimization of analyzing and managing fatigue primarily in but not limited to aviation occupations. The invention matches workers to shifts in a manner that minimizes fatigue while on shift and maximizes shift worker effectiveness. The invention is adaptable to other occupations where assuring shift work crew rest is critical. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) allow for the insertion of sleep into crew shift work schedules. Alternative sleep models are used for different modes of sleep. The invention produces as an output an optimized shift work/sleep schedules with an associated effectiveness determination. |
| US08428989B2 |
Cross functional area service identification
A cross-functional area service identification method and system. The method includes reading by a computing system, processes. The computing system processes process elements associated with the processes. The computing system identifies a first functional area associated with a first current process element of the process elements and a second functional area associated with a first parent process element of the first current process element. The computing system compares the first functional area to the second functional area and determines if the first functional area comprises a same functional area as the second functional area. The computing system generates and stores results indicating if the first functional area comprises a same functional area as the second functional area. |
| US08428988B1 |
Generating current order fulfillment plans to influence expected future conditions
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for dynamically generating actual fulfillment plans for a current order or a potential order so as to enhance the future fulfillment process for expected future orders is described. In some situations, actual delivery information based on one or more such actual fulfillment plans will then be provided to a customer, such as by displaying actual delivery date and/or time before or during the ordering process based on one or more actual fulfillment plans that can be or will be used to fulfill the order. A variety of types of criteria can be used to evaluate the effects of using a fulfillment plan to fulfill a current order, including criteria that consider the modeled future cost of fulfilling expected future orders, such as an overall cost of fulfilling all orders during a specified time period that is at least partially in the future. |
| US08428986B2 |
Return on investment analysis tool for storage systems
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modeling and projecting future storage requirements and analyzing the associated storage system costs including storage system costs associated with multi-tier storage systems. Storage environment data corresponding to a first storage environment is received, where the first storage environment data includes one or more variables associated with a cost of the first storage environment. Target storage environment data corresponding to a target storage environment is also received. Target storage environment data includes one or more variables associated with a cost of the target storage environment. A cost associated with the first storage environment based on the received first storage environment data and a cost associated with the target storage environment is determined based on the received target storage environment data. The determined cost of the first storage environment is compared to the determined cost of the target storage environment. The results are displayed. |
| US08428985B1 |
Multi-feature product inventory management and allocation system and method
A data store includes, for a dealer of interest, a target inventory mix rate for an item having a feature. A computing device is configured to perform an optimization to obtain a recommended feature allocation of the item including the feature by minimizing a difference between a projected inventory mix rate for the feature and the target inventory mix rate for the feature. |
| US08428984B2 |
Transforming service oriented architecture models to service oriented infrastructure models
Described herein are methods and systems for SOA to SOI transformation. The transformation is performed by a transformation engine, driven by a transformation algorithm. A “used case database”, to provide the current know-how information for such transformations, and a “performance database”, to describe new hardware parts with more powerful metrics are incorporated into the transformation algorithm. In addition, a business engine supports the transformation engine with business analyzing features using a “business value database”. |
| US08428983B2 |
Facilitating availability of information technology resources based on pattern system environments
A Pattern System Environment is formed. The Pattern System Environment is a representation of information technology (IT) resources of a customer's business environment. The Pattern System Environment is based on information associated with the IT resources of the customer, and that information indicates how the IT resources are utilized during a business cycle of the customer. Pattern System Environments are usable in many environments, including those that support business resiliency. |
| US08428981B2 |
Method and system for automatically maintaining the consistency of an information system
An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system maintains a plurality of business elements. Each of the business elements represents a business function that may or may not be needed depending on a customer's business requirement. A scoping process is a process which determines what business elements are required according to the customer's business requirement and the relationships exist among some of the business elements. The ERP system provides an automatic business configuration subsystem. The automatic business configuration subsystem maintains a set of rules. Each of the rules representing a relationship between two business elements maintained at the ERP system. The automatic business configuration subsystem automatically determines which business elements are required and need to be implemented based on the set of rules. The automatic business configuration subsystem may also automatically determine whether statuses of the business elements are consistent with each other in view of the rules. |
| US08428974B2 |
Retirement consumption strategy with drawdown account and option annuity
In a drawdown strategy for an investor's retirement fund, assets from the fund are allocated between a drawdown account and an option annuity. The drawdown account contains assets that are invested in the markets, and the option annuity contains annuities that begin to pay at the end of a deferral period. In a first phase of investor's retirement, funds are drawn down from the drawdown account and paid to the investor, and the value of the option annuity grows as proceeds from the option annuity are accumulated by the option annuity. At some point the drawdown account is depleted, which corresponds to the end of the deferral period for the option annuity. At this time, a second phase of the retirement begins wherein the investor receives payments from the option annuity, and this continues for the remainder of the investor's life. |
| US08428971B2 |
Insurance coverage analysis
An improved insurance coverage analysis method, system, and computer program. All insurance policies owned by a particular business and its alternate entities are processed. Key data from the policies is input into specialized templates. The insurance policy data can be input manually or automatically. The specialized templates are interconnected to automatically generate an overall summary of the business' insurance current coverage. Policy recommendations can also be input and become visible in the summary as well. An overall USA summary graphic is generated to make the obscure data more easily comprehended by a layperson. All insurance coverage information, both detailed and summarized, is presented in a final packet to the business owner. Alternate embodiments include a Web site for automatically conducting the analysis upon upload of the insured's coverage documents. |
| US08428970B1 |
Information record management system
A information record management system for providing record owner controlled access to medical records by authorized users and owners through secure communications channels. The information record management system includes a database having a plurality of user records from a plurality of record owners, an authentication channel to limit access to authorized users utilizing multiple authentication techniques including physical and biometric aspects, and providing streaming video representations of each user record for added security. |
| US08428969B2 |
System and method for tracking medical imaging quality
The mammography management system can provide for quality control of devices associated with the system. A method is provided for monitoring the quality standards of a mammography facility. The method can comprise generating a report that analyzes information collected in preselected data fields on the performance of a resource after automatically executing a quality control test plan configured for the resource at a preselected time. The quality control test plan is configured based on resource type.A method can provide for monitoring the quality of exams performed on a plurality of patients. The method comprises generating a report automatically analyzing and organizing information collected on the accuracy of exams preformed on the plurality of the patients into statistics. These statistics can compare the information based on a radiologist or a facility with other radiologists other facilities or overall statistics for a plurality of radiologists or a plurality of facilities. |
| US08428968B2 |
Interactive system for patient access to electronic medical records
A programmable rules-based interface between a patient and an electronic medical record EMR allows controlled patient access to the EMR allowing increased patient participation in the healthcare process. |
| US08428966B2 |
System and method for analyzing, collecting, and tracking quality data across a vast healthcare provider network
A system and method for gathering quality data for a plurality of healthcare providers over an extended computer network is disclosed. The system and method comprise an enhanced services server in electronic data communication with a plurality of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems via a network connection, the plurality of EHR systems being configured to capture patient data for a plurality of patients at the plurality of healthcare providers' sites during a plurality of encounters with each of the plurality of patients, and the enhanced services server being built on the same architecture as the plurality of EHR systems. Electronic quality of care forms are retrieved from one or more form managers via the network connection and a plurality of fields in each of the electronic quality of care forms are automatically populated using the patient data captured by the plurality of EHR systems. The completed electronic quality of care forms are then automatically transmitted to one or more form receivers via the network connection, the one or more form receivers being one or more organizations that process quality of care data to qualify healthcare providers for at least one of certifications, accreditations, and monetary incentives. |
| US08428965B2 |
System for clinical research and clinical management of cardiovascular risk using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and actigraphy
Disclosed embodiments include a web-enabled system especially adapted for clinical research and clinical management of cardiovascular risk using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data, actigraphy data, and clinical data. According to a disclosed embodiment the web-enabled system comprises (a) a web-enabled graphical user interface to enable a user to securely authenticate, securely upload clinical data, and navigate through a plurality of software modules; (b) a database to store user profiles, protocols, clinical data, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) recordings, actigraphy recordings, research data, and study results; and (c) a plurality of statistical methods and analysis techniques especially designed to automatically analyze the clinical cardiovascular risk data, and create customized reports of the results designed to assess cardiovascular risk based on ABPM and actigraphy. |
| US08428963B2 |
System and method for administering health care cost reduction
A system and method for the efficient administration of health care plans, particularly as to the reduction and/or elimination of avoidable medical costs for select individuals who participate in the plan, is disclosed. Existing health care data is processed to determine an indication as to the relative desirability of an intervention in a plan participant's health care regimen. The data is also processed to determine the status of one or more flags, each of which potentially indicates the relative desirability of an intervention in a plan participant's health care regimen. A predictive model is used to determine the status of a flag relating to the likelihood of an insurance plan participant making a disability claim within a certain period of time. The information relating to desirability of an intervention in a plan participant's health care regimen, as well as a plan participant's medical information and claim history, is presented to case managers and/or health care providers in a user-friendly format. |
| US08428962B1 |
Systems and methods for determining return on community investment in healthcare access programs
A system includes a healthcare server for determining a return on investment (ROI) for a healthcare program of an organization that provides healthcare services to patients. The healthcare server includes an expense determination module, a benefit determination module and a ROI module. The expense determination module determines operating expenses for the healthcare program. The benefit determination module determines benefits of the healthcare program to beneficiaries of the healthcare program. The beneficiaries include the organization, the patients, employers of the patients and a community that is served by the healthcare program. The ROI module determines the ROI for the healthcare program based on the operating expenses and the benefits. |
| US08428960B2 |
Methods, apparatus and computer program products for processing claims
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for processing of an original batch of documents in which any document of the original batch that fails to comply with the predefined specification is identified to be a non-compliant document. At least one non-compliant batch is then formed that contains the non-compliant documents. The non-compliant batch is distinct from at least one compliant batch that contains any documents that do comply with the predefined specification. At least one of the non-compliant and compliant batches advantageously includes a plurality of documents. The complaint batch(es) may then be forwarded for further processing without awaiting rework of the non-complaint documents included in the non-compliant batch(es). |
| US08428959B2 |
Audio packet loss concealment by transform interpolation
In audio processing for an audio or video conference, a terminal receives audio packets having transform coefficients for reconstructing an audio signal that has undergone transform coding. When receiving the packets, the terminal determines whether there are any missing packets and interpolates transform coefficients from the preceding and following good frames. To interpolate the missing coefficients, the terminal weights first coefficients from the preceding good frame with a first weighting, weights second coefficients from the following good frame with a second weighting, and sums these weighted coefficients together for insertion into the missing packets. The weightings can be based on the audio frequency and/or the number of missing packets involved. From this interpolation, the terminal produces an output audio signal by inverse transforming the coefficients. |
| US08428958B2 |
Apparatus and method of encoding and decoding signals
A method of encoding an audio signal, where signals including two or more channel signals are downmixed to a mono signal, the mono signal is divided into a low-frequency signal and a high-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal is encoded through algebraic code excited linear prediction (ACELP) or transform coded excitation (TCX), and the high-frequency signal is encoded using the low-frequency signal. A method of decoding of an audio signal, a low-frequency signal encoded through ACELP or TCX is decoded, a high-frequency signal is decoded using the low-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal are combined to generate a mono signal, and the mono signal is upmixed by decoding spatial parameters regarding signals including two or more channel signals. |
| US08428955B2 |
Adjusting recorder timing
A portion of audio content of a multimedia program, such as a television program, is captured from a network. An audio fingerprint is generated based on the portion of audio content, and the audio fingerprint is matched to one of multiple theme song fingerprints stored in a database. An expected theme song time offset associated with the matched theme song fingerprint is retrieved from the database. It is determined whether the program is running on-schedule, based on the time the portion of audio content occurred, a scheduled start time of the program, and/or the expected theme song time offset. If it is determined that the program is running off-schedule, an adjusted start time and/or an adjusted end time of the program are calculated. The program is recorded by a recorder based on the adjusted start time and/or the adjusted end time. |
| US08428952B2 |
Text-to-speech user's voice cooperative server for instant messaging clients
A system and method to allow an author of an instant message to enable and control the production of audible speech to the recipient of the message. The voice of the author of the message is characterized into parameters compatible with a formative or articulative text-to-speech engine such that upon receipt, the receiving client device can generate audible speech signals from the message text according to the characterization of the author's voice. Alternatively, the author can store samples of his or her actual voice in a server so that, upon transmission of a message by the author to a recipient, the server extracts the samples needed only to synthesize the words in the text message, and delivers those to the receiving client device so that they are used by a client-side concatenative text-to-speech engine to generate audible speech signals having a close likeness to the actual voice of the author. |
| US08428951B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus, navigation apparatus including a speech recognition apparatus, and a control screen aided speech recognition method
A speech recognition apparatus includes a speech recognition dictionary and a speech recognition unit. The speech recognition dictionary includes comparison data used to recognize a voice input. The speech recognition unit is adapted to calculate the score for each comparison data by comparing voice input data generated based on the voice input with each comparison data, recognize the voice input based on the score, and produce the recognition result of the voice input. The speech recognition apparatus further includes data indicating score weights associated with particular comparison data, used to weight the scores calculated for the particular comparison data. After the score is calculated for each comparison data, the score weights are added to the scores of the particular comparison data, and the voice input is recognized based on total scores including the added score weights. |
| US08428945B2 |
Acoustic signal classification system
A system classifies the source of an input signal. The system determines whether a sound source belongs to classes that may include human speech, musical instruments, machine noise, or other classes of sound sources. The system is robust, performing classification despite variation in sound level and noise masking. Additionally, the system consumes relatively few computational resources and adapts over time to provide consistently accurate classification. |
| US08428943B2 |
Quantization matrices for digital audio
Quantization matrices facilitate digital audio encoding and decoding. An audio encoder generates and compresses quantization matrices; an audio decoder decompresses and applies the quantization matrices. The invention includes several techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or separately. For example, the audio encoder can generate quantization matrices from critical band patterns for blocks of audio data. The encoder can compute the quantization matrices directly from the critical band patterns, which can be computed from the same audio data that is being compressed. The audio encoder/decoder can use different modes for generating/applying quantization matrices depending on the coding channel mode of multi-channel audio data. The audio encoder/decoder can use different compression/decompression modes for the quantization matrices, including a parametric compression/decompression mode. |
| US08428940B2 |
Metadata-based weighting of geotagged environmental audio for enhanced speech recognition accuracy
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an audio signal that corresponds to an utterance recorded by a mobile device, determining a geographic location associated with the mobile device, identifying a set of geotagged audio signals that correspond to environmental audio associated with the geographic location, weighting each geotagged audio signal of the set of geotagged audio signals based on metadata associated with the respective geotagged audio signal, and using the set of weighted geotagged audio signals to perform noise compensation on the audio signal that corresponds to the utterance. |
| US08428938B2 |
Systems and methods for reconstructing an erased speech frame
A method for reconstructing an erased speech frame is described. A second speech frame is received from a buffer. The index position of the second speech frame is greater than the index position of the erased speech frame. The type of packet loss concealment (PLC) method to use is determined based on one or both of the second speech frame and a third speech frame. The index position of the third speech frame is less than the index position of the erased speech frame. The erased speech frame is reconstructed from one or both of the second speech frame and the third speech frame. |
| US08428932B2 |
Connected text data stream comprising coordinate logic to identify and validate segmented words in the connected text
A connected text data system for efficiently and accurately translating connected text. The connected text data system includes inputting or receiving connected text, transmitting the connected text to a text iterator, scanning the connected text, identifying a plurality of words in the connected text comprising a coordinate logic to help parse connected text matches into separated text by invalidating words with overlapping coordinates, and translating the connected text to separated text by adding a space between each of the plurality of words. |
| US08428930B2 |
Page mapped spatially aware emulation of a computer instruction set
Dynamic creation of a spatially aware emulation environment comprising Host cells of Host pages corresponding to Guest cells of Guest pages of Guest instructions. Each Host cell comprises a semantic routine for emulating a corresponding Guest instruction located at the corresponding Guest cell of the guest page. |
| US08428929B2 |
Demand based USB proxy for data stores in service processor complex
A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for secure server system management. A payload containing system software and/or firmware updates is distributed in an on-demand, secure I/O operation. The I/O operation is performed via a secured communication channel inaccessible by the server operating system to an emulated USB drive. The secure communication channel can be established for the I/O operation only after authenticating the recipient of the payload, and the payload can be protected from access by a potentially-infected server operating system. Furthermore, the payload can be delivered on demand rather than relying on a BIOS update schedule, and the payload can be delivered at speeds of a write operation to a USB drive. |
| US08428925B2 |
Iterative inversion of data from simultaneous geophysical sources
Method for reducing the time needed to perform geophysical inversion by using simultaneous encoded sources in the simulation steps of the inversion process. The geophysical survey data are prepared by encoding (3) a group of source gathers (1), using for each gather a different encoding signature selected from a set (2) of non-equivalent encoding signatures. Then, the encoded gathers are summed (4) by summing all traces corresponding to the same receiver from each gather, resulting in a simultaneous encoded gather. (Alternatively, the geophysical data are acquired from simultaneously encoded sources.) The simulation steps needed for inversion are then calculated using a particular assumed velocity (or other physical property) model (5) and simultaneously activated encoded sources using the same encoding scheme used on the measured data. The result is an updated physical properties model (6) that may be further updated (7) by additional iterations. |
| US08428924B2 |
System and method for evaluating dynamic heterogeneity in earth models
A method is disclosed having application notably towards ranking earth models responsive to dynamic heterogeneity. A plurality of earth models representing a subsurface reservoir are provided. Streamline analysis for each of the plurality of earth models is conducted. Flow Capacity (F) vs. Storage Capacity (Φ) curves are constructed for each of the plurality of earth models based on the streamline analysis. Dynamic heterogeneity for each of the plurality of earth models is computed from the Flow Capacity (F) vs. Storage Capacity (Φ) curves constructed for each of the plurality of earth models. The plurality of earth models are ranked responsive to dynamic heterogeneity. |
| US08428922B2 |
Finite difference level set projection method on multi-staged quadrilateral grids
A finite difference level set projection algorithm on multi-staged quadrilateral grids for simulation of a split liquid film between two rollers. From one stage to the next, the number of meshes in the vertical direction changes by a select factor to provide a good balance between resolution and number of meshes. Having fewer meshes at the nip (the smallest gap between the rollers), the multi-staged quadrilateral grid allows a much bigger time step and requires much less CPU time to reach the steady state. |
| US08428921B2 |
Dynamically adjusting simulation fidelity based on checkpointed fidelity state
Mechanisms are provided for controlling a fidelity of a simulation of a system. A model of the system is received, the model of the system having a plurality of individual components of the system. Fidelity values are assigned to models of the individual components of the system. A simulation of the system is executed using the model of the system and the models of the individual components of the system. The fidelity values of one or more of the models of the individual components of the system are dynamically adjusted during the execution of the simulation by creating a checkpoint of a state of the simulation and modifying one or more fidelity values of one or more of the models of the individual components after generating the checkpoint, thereby generating a modified fidelity value state. |
| US08428919B2 |
Computing a consistent velocity vector field from a set of fluxes
A method for constructing a velocity vector field from a grid and a set of fluxes for each face of the grid cells. The cells are first subdivided and internal fluxes are calculated for each cell subject to the constraints of the flux for each cell and to achieve the minimum energy state for the each cell. The minimum energy state is computed efficiently using a divergence-free correction method without introducing a pressure variable. Then, the velocity vector field is constructed from the subcell fluxes using mixed finite element interpolation. |
| US08428916B2 |
Modeling of the radiation belt megnetosphere in decisional timeframes
Systems and methods for calculating L* in the magnetosphere with essentially the same accuracy as with a physics based model at many times the speed by developing a surrogate trained to be a surrogate for the physics-based model. The trained model can then beneficially process input data falling within the training range of the surrogate model. The surrogate model can be a feedforward neural network and the physics-based model can be the TSK03 model. Operatively, the surrogate model can use parameters on which the physics-based model was based, and/or spatial data for the location where L* is to be calculated. Surrogate models should be provided for each of a plurality of pitch angles. Accordingly, a surrogate model having a closed drift shell can be used from the plurality of models. The feedforward neural network can have a plurality of input-layer units, there being at least one input-layer unit for each physics-based model parameter, a plurality of hidden layer units and at least one output unit for the value of L*. |
| US08428912B2 |
Sensor device for a test stand and test stands, prefereably for engines
A test stand sensor apparatus includes a sensor for acquiring data from the item under test and/or the environment, a power supply unit for converting electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy, and a unit for the wire-free transmission of sensor data and of a code which is characteristic of the sensor. |
| US08428910B2 |
Autonomous fitness for service assessment
The equipment comprises at least one computer and a material features acquisition system operable to detect a plurality of material features. The features are then evaluated according to rules that capture the multidiscipline knowledge of experts and are already inputted into the computer. The computer iterations are processed until an acceptable conclusion is made regarding the condition of the material under evaluation. |
| US08428908B2 |
Cognitive agent
Aspects relate to a cognitive agent that performs functions associated with a desired result. The functions performed by cognitive agent supplement other activities performed at a same time. In such a manner, the cognitive agent can function as a surrogate for a user. A performed activity can trigger implementation of another activity that is an extension of the performed activity. Cognitive agent can perform functions that can be represented as an avatar. Further, cognitive agent can be associated with a diagnostics component that evaluates an operating condition. Based on the operating condition cognitive agent can implement automatic actions associated with mitigating failures and/or prolonging the life of machinery. |
| US08428907B2 |
Jitter calculating device, jitter calculating method and jitter calculating program
A path of a signal extends from an initial point through first and second cells to an end point. The signal is supplied as a first signal to the first cell and outputted therefrom as a second signal. The signal is supplied as a third signal to the second cell and outputted therefrom as a fourth signal. First delay amounts of the signal in the first cell and a transition time of the second signal are calculated based on a transition time of the first signal and a voltage supplied to the first cell. Second delay amounts of the signal in the second cell and a transition time of the fourth signal are calculated similarly. Here, the transition time of the second signal is set to be a transition time of the third signal. Jitter values in the end point are calculated based on the first and second amounts. |
| US08428906B2 |
Method and device for diagnosing a position encoder
A method for determining a mixup in the terminals of a position encoder having a position encoder motor, which is bidirectionally drivable via a plurality of terminals, so that a mixup of at least two of the terminals of the position encoder motor leads to a reversal in the actuation direction of the position encoder, having the following steps of setting an actuating element of the position encoder to a zero setting, from which a motion of the actuating element is possible in one or two directions; driving the position encoder motor according to a diagnostic variable, which is selected so that, based on the actuation using the diagnostic variable, in the case of a non-mixup of the terminals and in the case of a mixup of the terminals, different absolute values of the changes are to be expected in the changes of the actuation position of the actuating element; recording a current change in the actuation position of the actuating element that comes about by the driving of the position encoder motor; establishing a mixup of at least two of the terminals, if the absolute value of the current change of the actuation position of the actuating element deviates from the absolute value of the change in the actuation position that is to be expected. |
| US08428904B2 |
Product integrity tracking system, shipping label, and associated method
A product integrity tracking shipping label includes a label body for attaching to a product to be shipped or to packaging containing the product. One or more movement monitoring configured with the label body detects a movement metric of the product. A microprocessor configured with the label body and in communication with the one or more movement monitoring devices time-tags the movement metric when the movement metric exceeds a pre-selected threshold. A product integrity tracking system includes a movement monitoring device with one or more sensors for attachment to a product or packaging containing the product. The movement monitoring device senses at least one movement event during handling of the product. A processor compares the movement event with a pre-selected event threshold, and time-tags and stores above-threshold movement events in a memory. Information in the memory is readable via an interrogation device during shipment or at product delivery. |
| US08428903B2 |
Method and device for determining a speed of an object
A device for determining a speed of an object, having a receiver for receiving a pulse, having a characteristic signal sequence, which is emitted or reflected from an object; a signal processing device for providing transformed signal sequences for various speeds, the signal sequences being determined from the characteristic signal sequence by transforming the time axis of the signal sequence according to a Doppler shift for the speed; and a data processing device for determining the speed of the object based on a correlation of the received pulse with the transformed signal sequences. |
| US08428901B2 |
Mobile communication device and method for using the same
A mobile communication device includes a communication unit for communicating with other communication devices, a processor unit connected to the communication unit, and a sensor unit connected to the processor unit. The sensor unit includes at least one of a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. The humidity sensor senses ambient moisture and generates an electronic signal corresponding to the ambient moisture, and the temperature sensor measures ambient temperature and generates an electric signal corresponding to the ambient temperature. The processor unit calculates at least one of the ambient humidity and ambient temperature according to the electric signals and transmits associated data of the sensor unit to the communication unit. The communication unit sends the data to other communication devices capable of communicating with the mobile communication device. |
| US08428900B2 |
Universal quality assurance automation framework
The present invention provides a method and a system for a universal software quality assurance automation framework. The three reusable components of this framework are composed of a test resource comprising of a test module-entity driver-entity communication. The test module provides an opportunity to create several case scenarios and test logics. The entity driver enables the test environment software entities to be accessible to the test module, without prior knowledge of where those entities are located. The entity communication enables the drivers to communicate with various entities inside the test environment. The combination of the three reusable components enable the framework to be product agnostic. Multiple tests may be performed in parallel. Test cases are presented in the integrated graphical user interface as a hierarchical managing structure. The framework is collaborative and multiple users may use it simultaneously. |
| US08428898B1 |
Method and system for correcting frequency response of a signal sampler
A method of filtering a signal sampled by a sampler, for example, in an equivalent time oscilloscope includes applying a correction to an actual frequency response of the sampler, with respect to a reference frequency response, to a first frequency range of the sampled signal, and transitioning across a second frequency range of the sampled signal from the correction applied to the first frequency range to no correction of the actual frequency response of the sampler, the second frequency range being higher than the first frequency range. The method further includes compensating in a third frequency range of the sampled signal for excess gain incurred while applying the correction and transitioning from the correction to no correction in the first and second frequency ranges, respectively, so that statistics of asynchronous components of the sampled signal are preserved, the third frequency range being higher than the second frequency range. |
| US08428895B2 |
System and method for power system parameter measurement
A system and method of testing a power system component is disclosed. The system and method comprises coupling a test set to the power system component and stimulating the power system component with a frequency sweep signal. The method also comprises capturing a response of the power system component to the frequency sweep signal, wherein the response relates to frequency and mapping the response to an estimated response, wherein the estimated response relates to temperature. The method also comprises evaluating the power system component based on the estimated response. |
| US08428893B2 |
Event recognition
A device detects a sequence of sub-events as part of a touch event associated with a view, determines that the sequence does not correspond to one or more predefined sequences of sub-events for the view associated with the touch event, and, in accordance with a determination that the sequence does not correspond to the one or more predefined sequences, sends a touch cancel event to the view associated with the touch event. Also disclosed is a device configured to detect a sequence of sub-events as part of a touch event associated with a view, determine that the sequence does not correspond to one or more predefined sequences of sub-events for the view associated with the touch event, and, in accordance with a determination that the sequence does not correspond to the one or more predefined sequences, cancel the touch event. |
| US08428888B2 |
Signal processing algorithms for impedance biosensor
A method for determining impedance includes receiving a time varying voltage signal from a biosensor and receiving a time varying current signal from the biosensor. The time varying voltage signal and the time varying current signal are transformed to a domain that represents complex values. The impedance representative of the biosensor based upon the transformed time varying voltage signal and the time varying current signal is calculated. |
| US08428887B2 |
Method for automated processing of digital images of tissue micro-arrays (TMA)
A method and system for automated quantitation of tissue micro-array image (TMA) digital analysis. The method and system automatically analyze a digital image of a TMA with plural TMA cores created using a needle to biopsy or other techniques to create standard histologic sections and placing the resulting needle cores into TMA. The automated analysis allows a medical conclusion such as a medical diagnosis or medical prognosis (e.g., for a human cancer) to be automatically determined. The method and system provides reliable automatic TMA core gridding and automated TMA core boundary detection including detection of overlapping or touching TMA cores on a grid. |
| US08428886B2 |
Genotype calling
Determining a genetic sequence for a particular site on an individual's genome is disclosed, including: receiving a measurement associated with a particular sequence for the particular site on the individual's genome, receiving contextual information associated with a context of the individual within a larger collection of genetic information, and using the measurement associated with the particular sequence and the contextual information to compute an improved determination of the genetic sequence at the particular site on the individual's genome. |
| US08428881B2 |
System and methods for non-targeted processing of chromatographic data
Methods for processing hyphenated chromatographic data to delineate components of a sample are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes obtaining hyphenated chromatographic data points for a sample, each data point comprising at least three dimensions, one of the dimensions being a continuous dimension, and subjecting at least a portion of the data points to an algorithm that organizes the data points into discrete clusters according to the data points' continuous dimension values by starting at either a smallest or largest value and delineating at a largest gap between adjacent values within a predetermined resolution window, wherein the resulting clusters are of varying width of less than or equal to the width of the resolution window and wherein at least some of the clusters are indicative of components of the sample. |
| US08428876B2 |
Navigation system for updating partly map layers, and method for the same
The present invention features a navigation system for partly updating a map layer, and a method for the same, in which, by dividing a map into locally small data areas considering connectivity with adjacent areas, and updating only areas updated among the divided areas, the navigation system is able to minimize a size of the updated data, and delete unnecessary procedures for post-processing in a user terminal. |
| US08428868B2 |
Method and system for updating card data of a navigation system
A method and system for updating map data of a navigation system in a vehicle is provided. A first version of map data is stored in a memory device of the navigation system, and a first version of map data and a second more recent version of map data are stored in a memory device of a map server. A first route to a driving destination is determined by the map server on the basis of the first version of the map data. A second route to the driving destination is determined by the map server on the basis of the second more recent version of the map data, and the second version of map data and/or route data, which describe the second route, are transmitted at least partially to the navigation system as a function of the degree of agreement between the first route and the second route. |
| US08428866B1 |
System and method of providing turn-by-turn directions to non-specific destinations
Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for providing turn by turn directions based on imprecise destination information. In one embodiment, a user may request turn by turn directions based on a first location, such as an address, and a destination area, defined by the name of a geographic area, such as a city or state. A plurality of access locations may be identified based on the geographic area. These access locations may be displayed to the user so that the user may select a particular destination. The selected location may then be used, along with the first location, to provide a set of turn by turn directions to the user. |
| US08428863B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for testing crash avoidance technologies
A Guided Soft Target (GST) system and method provides a versatile test system and methodology for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. This system and method can be used to replicate the pre-crash motions of the CP in a wide variety of crash scenarios while minimizing physical risk, all while consistently providing radar and other sensor signatures substantially identical to that of the item being simulated. The GST system in various example embodiments may comprise a soft target vehicle or pedestrian form removably attached to a programmable, autonomously guided, self-propelled Dynamic Motion Element (DME), which may be operated in connection with a wireless computer network operating on a plurality of complimentary communication networks. Specific DME geometries are provided to minimize ride disturbance and observability by radar and other sensors. Computer controlled DME braking systems are disclosed as well as break-away and retractable antenna systems. |
| US08428861B1 |
Wrong way detection system
The Wrong Way Detection System includes detection stations deployed at each egress point along a tollway in addition to various locations along the tollway's mainline. The detection hardware communicates preferably via fiber optic network to a customized software platform housed at a centrally located Incident Management Center (IMC) of the system, where each site is monitored 24/7 in real time for wrong way vehicles. Once a vehicle is detected, operators at the IMC are able to immediately dispatch law enforcement officers and monitor the vehicle's whereabouts via CCTV cameras. |
| US08428859B2 |
Federated route production
A route can be generated through utilization of a conventional manner, such as a portable electronic device accessing a database with roads, traffic information, weather data, and the like. As a user approaches a private area, the route can be augmented with travel information concerning the private area. Artificial intelligence techniques can be used to determine if a route should be augmented, to infer what augmentations to make, etc. |
| US08428856B2 |
Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products for implementing condition alert services
Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products for implementing condition alert services are provided. A method includes receiving information elements from a source that identify a condition, aggregating the information elements from the source with information elements from other sources that identify the same condition, and creating a composite file that includes the aggregated information elements representing each of the sources. The method also includes generating a condition alert from the composite file and transmitting the condition alert to a recipient communications device. |
| US08428855B2 |
System for controlling starter for starting internal combustion engine
In a system for controlling a starter, the starter includes a pinion shiftable between an engagement position and a disengagement position. The starter includes an actuator configured to shift the pinion from the disengagement position to the engagement position when energized, and a motor configured to rotate the pinion when energized. The system includes a control circuit, a first switch unit configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the actuator under control of the control circuit, and a second switch unit configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the motor under control of the control circuit. The first switch unit and the second switch unit are individually arranged. The second switch unit includes a first relay configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the motor under control of the control circuit, and a second relay configured to control activation of the first relay. |
| US08428846B2 |
Electronic oil pump
An electronic oil pump has at least one lubricant inlet, at least one lubricant outlet, at least one piston being movable between a full stroke position and a fully retracted position, an electrical actuator operatively connected to the at least one piston, a first electrical lead connected to a first element of the pump for electrically connecting the first element to an electronic control unit (ECU), and a second electrical lead connected to a second element of the pump for electrically connecting the second element to the ECU. When the at least one piston is in the full stroke position, an electrical path between the first and second electrical leads is closed. When the at least one piston is in a position other than the full stroke position, the electrical path is opened. A method of controlling an engine having the oil pump is also disclosed. |
| US08428843B2 |
Method to adaptively control vehicle operation using an autonomic vehicle control system
A vehicle includes a vehicle monitoring system for estimating vehicle motion states, a spatial monitoring system, an adaptive cruise control system for vehicle speed and acceleration control, a steering controller for vehicle lateral motion control, a roadway estimator, and an autonomic control system. Commanded vehicle operation is adjusted to achieve a preferred travel path based upon a predicted travel path and an estimated roadway. The preferred travel path is adapted responsive to the estimated roadway. |
| US08428841B2 |
Vehicle motion control device
A vehicle motion control device is provided. The vehicle motion control device includes a steering angle deviation calculating unit which calculates a steering angle deviation of the vehicle, a frictional coefficient calculating unit which calculates each of road surface frictional coefficients for a traveling road surface of four wheels; and a pressure increasing and reducing controlling unit which performs a split control including applying a pressure increasing limitation of a pressure increasing control in an anti-skid control to a front wheel at a side of the traveling road surface having higher road surface frictional coefficient between the right and left wheels based on an absolute value of the steering angle deviation such that a pressure increasing gradient in the pressure increasing control is smaller as the absolute value is larger. |
| US08428839B2 |
Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles
A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle. |
| US08428837B2 |
Clutch control system
When a predetermined time has passed without detection of engine stall and without detection of the neutral state and without detection of a vehicle starting operation, in a first control state in which a clutch is in a disengaged state, a clutch control system effects transition to a second control state in which transition to a third control state is permitted. When a vehicle starting operation is detected in the second control state B in which the clutch is in the disengaged state, a liquid pressure modulator is driven to effect transition to the third control state in which the clutch is put in the engaged state or a partially engaged state. When an engine stall or the neutral state is detected in the second control state, transition to the first control state A is effected. |
| US08428831B2 |
Automatic steering system for an agricultural implement
An assembly for facilitating steering of an agricultural implement linkable to a work vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises at least a first ground-engaging wheel to engage a ground surface below a frame of the agricultural implement to support the frame above the ground surface. The assembly further comprises a positioning system for receiving a positioning signal from a positioning source. The positioning system determines a current position of the agricultural implement from at least the positioning signal, and the positioning system generates a control signal derived from the current position of the agricultural implement. The assembly further comprises a steering cylinder connected to the first ground-engaging wheel. The steering cylinder operatively connects to the positioning system to steer the first ground-engaging wheel based on the control signal. |
| US08428830B2 |
Agricultural working vehicle
An agricultural working vehicle has a plurality of working assemblies, at least one control unit for influencing the setting parameters of the working assemblies, a memory unit, and at least one display unit, and it is configured such that even an untrained operator may optimize the setting parameters of the working assemblies in a rapid, reliable manner. An expected change in the function and/or the working result of individual working assemblies or a plurality of working assemblies is depicted in the display unit in a manner that depends on how an operator influences individual setting parameters of the working assemblies. |
| US08428829B2 |
Self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine with controllable transfer device
Vehicles, in particular self-propelled agricultural harvesting machines such as forage harvesters or combine harvesters designed to pick up and process crops, include transfer devices that transfer all of the harvested crop material to a hauling vehicle or an attached hauling container. The discharge device is equipped with a control device for performing automatic or manual adjustments, and the self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine is equipped with a navigation system for determining the positions of the vehicles involved. To transfer the crop material to the hauling vehicle without loss, the crop discharge flow is directed only to a defined permissible tolerance region on the hauling container. The tolerance region is located within the hauling container contour and is bounded by edge zones, which are “keep-out” zones for the transfer. |
| US08428823B2 |
Steering control device and steering control method for working vehicle
A stationary steering operation determination means determines whether or not stationary steering operation is being performed repeatedly at a determination cycle period that is set to be longer than a cycle period at which a certain signal is detected. And a stationary steering operation determination means makes a decision as to whether or not stationary steering operation is being performed, on the basis of vehicle speed as detected by a vehicle speed detection means and steering angle as detected by a steering angle detection means. If it has been determined that stationary steering operation is being performed, a steering sensitivity alteration means decreases the steering sensitivity by reducing a pilot pressure or the like. And a notification means notifies the operator that stationary steering operation is being performed. |
| US08428820B2 |
Path planning
The present invention relates to a method of determining the path of a vehicle along a two-dimensional plane intended to control the movement of the vehicle by means of a driver-assisting system, where the path interconnects an initial state and a terminal state and each of the states Zi=[xi, yi, ψi, ci] along the path is characterized by four state coordinates with xi and yi being the Cartesian coordinates of a point Pi, ψi being the direction angle of the tangent line, and ci being the curvature of the path at point Pi, and where the path is made up of a number of elementary paths meeting at junction points JPi such that the four state coordinates of state Zi are characterized by a continuous transition at the junction points JPi. |
| US08428815B2 |
Method and system for the managing vehicle data
A method for managing vehicle data of a motor vehicle includes storing the vehicle data in an on-board memory. The stored vehicle data is associated with the vehicle using a vehicle identifier. The stored data is transmitted via a telecommunications connection to a data processing center of a telecommunications network. The transmitted data is made available at the data processing center for retrieval by third parties. |
| US08428813B2 |
Dynamic decision sequencing method and apparatus for optimizing a diagnostic test plan
A diagnostic tool and a computer-implemented method for generating testing and diagnosis procedures for vehicle diagnosis include determining if a first procedure remains to be performed, if a first procedure remains to be performed, then determining whether: there is a second procedure dependent on the first procedure, or the first procedure can run in parallel to the second procedure, if there is a second procedure dependent on the first procedure, then performing the first procedure, if the first procedure can run in parallel to the second procedure, then performing the first procedure, and determining if the second procedure remains to be performed. |
| US08428811B2 |
Vehicle diagnostic equipment providing hands free operation
A voice activated vehicle diagnostic system provides for hands free operation of the system. Using such a system it is possible for the diagnostic system to be used safely in a test drive of the vehicle with the operator of the system not required to physically touch the system to implement one or more tests as required. |
| US08428810B2 |
Data management systems for collision repair coaching
A system for on-site collection of evaluation data at a vehicle repair installation site is disclosed. Generally the system includes a computing tool connected to a database, a workflow operations guiding module that runs on the computing tool, an evaluation module, a comparison module, a data-mining module, a certification module, a legal compliance module, and a repair procedure compliance module. As a vehicle is repaired, the workflow operations guiding module prompts a coach with questions. The evaluation module performs a quantitative analysis of the answers provided by the coach and the comparison module compares the result of the quantitative analysis against aggregated or averaged information. The certification module compares information from the comparison module against predetermined certification criteria and the data mining module identifies correlations, trends or patterns in collected data by the system. |
| US08428806B2 |
Dual mode range extended electric vehicle
A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a first level and until the battery state of charge reaches a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a third level and until the battery state of charge reaches a fourth level, where the fourth level is higher than the third level, and where both the third and fourth levels are lower than both the first and second levels. |
| US08428805B2 |
Engine load management for traction vehicles
An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven engine (202) driving an electrical power generator (204) that provides power to one or more electric drive motors (210). A method of load management in the electric drive system includes receiving an actual fuel signal, an engine speed (920) signal, a throttle position signal, a motor speed (712) signal, an intake air pressure, a barometric pressure signal, and an intake air temperature signal. These values are used to determine a torque limit. The torque limit is used to limit a torque command to the electric drive motors (210) such that the torque command is consistent with the operating capabilities of the engine (202). |
| US08428804B2 |
In-vehicle charge and discharge control apparatus and partial control apparatus
A temperature increase of a battery of a vehicle in a schedule effect road range is estimated based on an estimate of energy acquirable by regeneration in the schedule effect road range of the vehicle. A special value of the battery upper limit temperature is designated which is obtained by subtracting the temperature increase from a default value of the battery upper limit temperature. A battery upper limit temperature reduction road range is designated which is located just prior to the schedule effect road range. While the vehicle runs the battery upper limit temperature reduction road range, the battery upper limit temperature is set at the special value by being switched from the default value. When the vehicle completes running the battery upper limit temperature reduction road range and starts running the schedule effect road range, the battery upper limit temperature is returned to the default value from the special value. |
| US08428802B2 |
Vehicle assistance system
There is disclosed a vehicle assistance system including an assistance vehicle provided with a power source; an assisted vehicle driven by power; and an electric cable which electrically connects the assistance vehicle to the assisted vehicle, wherein the power of the power source is supplied from the assistance vehicle to the assisted vehicle via the electric cable. |
| US08428795B2 |
Method and system for predicting the possibility of complete stoppage of an aircraft on a landing runway
Method and system for predicting the possibility of complete stoppage of an aircraft on a landing runway. According to the invention: a) the altitude (H) of the aircraft (2) is measured and the horizontal distance (D) separating said aircraft (2) from the proximal end threshold (4) of the landing runway (1) is calculated; b) an estimated finishing position (21) of said aircraft on said landing runway (1) is calculated on the basis of the altitude (H) and of the horizontal distance (D) determined in a), as well as on the basis of the angle of approach (α); and c) said estimated finishing position (21) calculated in b) is utilized to determine said possibility. |
| US08428793B2 |
Automatic downlink messaging during emergency flight situations
According to an example embodiment, a method includes receiving an emergency status signal indicating that an aircraft is in an emergency condition, formatting a downlink message in response to receiving the emergency status signal, the downlink message describing the emergency condition and an autopilot response to the emergency condition, and transmitting the downlink message to a controller of the aircraft. |
| US08428789B2 |
Enhanced reflash using modular discrimination
An improved system, method, and mechanism for executing and reconfiguring a reflash procedure maintains a vehicle state of charge while avoiding defective reflash operations. In an aspect of the invention, the technique includes receiving a reflash request, i.e., at a controller associated with the vehicle, the reflash request identifying one or more target modules and specifying replacement information. A reflash procedure in accordance with the received request is then begun. However, when and if the charge state of the vehicle drops below a predetermined threshold, the controller modifies the reflash procedure by first categorizing individual ongoing reflash operations and stopping any reflash operations belonging to the second class, while continuing any reflash operations belonging to the first class. |
| US08428788B2 |
Inverted pendulum type moving body
An inverted pendulum type moving body moving over a floor surface in a self standing manner, the inverted pendulum type moving body comprising: an information acquisition unit obtaining a state information indicating a current state of an another moving body; and a movement control unit controlling a movement of a self moving body, based on the state information, so that a state of the self moving body with respect to the current state of the another moving body satisfies a predetermined condition established so that the self moving body and the another moving body moves in alignment. |
| US08428787B2 |
Electronic device and power management method thereof
The present invention discloses an electronic device having a power management module and a power management method thereof. Within the power management method is used for an electronic device, which has a first power module, a second power module and the loads. The power management method comprises the following step: (1) monitoring the first power module and the second power module; (2) if the first power module and the second power module are activated at the same time, sequentially stopping a supply of electric power to at least one of the loads until the electronic device has total load current smaller than a reference value. |
| US08428782B2 |
Energy management system and method
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a system and method includes a location reporting device identified with a site and a proximity detection module configured to alter an operating condition of the site in response to a location of the location reporting device. The proximity detection module is further configured to detect the location of the location reporting device at a modifiable detection interval. |
| US08428779B2 |
Robot controlling device
A robot controlling device includes: a position error calculator calculating a position error between an endpoint position of a robot and a position commanded value for the endpoint position; an external force calculator calculating an external force applied to the endpoint position; a force commanded value generator generating a force commanded value for the endpoint position; a force error calculator calculating a force error between the external force and the force commanded value; a storage storing the compliance model for the endpoint position; a first correction amount calculator calculating a first correction amount for the position commanded value, according to the force error, using the compliance model; and a second correction amount calculator calculating a second correction amount for the position commanded value, on the basis of the first order lag compensation for the first correction amount. The position error calculator calculates the position error, using the second correction amount. |
| US08428776B2 |
Method for establishing a desired area of confinement for an autonomous robot and autonomous robot implementing a control system for executing the same
A method of establishing an area of confinement and an autonomous robot for performing a task within the area of confinement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method of defining an area of confinement comprising: positioning the autonomous robot at a starting point P0 and recording the starting point P0 as a reference point within a memory device; moving the autonomous robot from the starting point P0 about a perimeter of the area of confinement, wherein said movement of the autonomous robot is controlled by a user; continuously tracking location of the autonomous robot relative to the reference point P0 during said movement using a distance-traveled measuring mechanism and a directional indicating instrument; recording the tracked location as a map in the memory device; and upon detecting that the map includes a closed-geometry, defining the closed-geometry as the perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device. |
| US08428775B2 |
Apparatus, system and methods for dispensing products
Products are dispensed from a dispensing apparatus in which products marked with transaction information are received in a two-dimensional array of moveable bins. In response to control information synthesized from transaction information on the products in the bins and a dispense request, the array is operated to place a bin at a dispensing station on the dispensing apparatus. At the dispensing station, a mechanism is operated in response to the control information to provide access to the bin. A product in the bin may then be retrieved. |
| US08428772B2 |
Method of processing mailpieces using customer codes associated with digital fingerprints
In a method of processing mailpieces, Customer Applied Identifier (CAI) codes are assigned to the mailpieces by a sender of the mailpieces, and are used by the postal operator while the mailpieces are passing through a postal sorting system. Said CAI codes are recorded in memory in the sorting system in correspondence with first digital fingerprints or image signatures prior to the first pass of the mailpieces through the postal sorting system. While a current mailpiece is passing through the sorting system in a first sorting pass, an image is formed of the surface of the mailpiece that bears a postal address block, and a current fingerprint and location information for locating said mailpiece in the sorting process is derived from the image of said mailpiece. A search is made for a match between said current fingerprint and a first fingerprint recorded in memory in order to retrieve a current CAI code with which said location information is. |
| US08428766B2 |
Method of manufacturing standard ear shells for in-the-ear type general-purpose hearing aids
Provided is a method of manufacturing the standard ear shell for use in the ITE type general-purpose hearing aid considering the shape and size of the external auditory meatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, that quantitatively measures shape and size of an external auditory meatus to calculate an average of the measured shape and size of the external auditory meatus, and minimizes an acoustic feedback of the hearing aid or a receiver to save a manufacturing cost, to thereby quickly provide the hearing aid for a patient, mass-produce an average model ear shell, and simultaneously maintain quality of the ear shell consistently. |
| US08428765B2 |
Process integration determining system and method
An optimal process determining system executes a step of calculating a temporary process that includes information of a plurality of individual processes. According to an example, each process includes a tooling including of a tool, a holder, a tool projection length, and a sequence of the plurality of individual processes. A similarity between the toolings of two individual processes is calculated. In addition, a calculation is performed relating to a plurality of integrated processes for which the tooling of one of the individual processes having a high similarity is integrated into the tooling of the other one of the individual processes. In addition, an optimal process is determined from the plurality of integrated processes on the basis of an actual machining time in each of the integrated processes, a unit integration reduction time reduced as one of the toolings of the individual processes is integrated, and the number of the individual processes integrated. |
| US08428761B2 |
Production system and production method
A production system and a production method, which can change a period to delivery of products flexibly depending on a change of demand, in the case of producing a plurality of products having different specifications by mixing. A production system of plural kinds of products has a plurality of lower processes, which is capable of diverging, with respect to an upper process that can be applied common in a plurality of products. These upper process and lower process are organized by including one or a plurality of processes. A production line is constructed by a plurality of manufacturing facilities having different functions through the upper process and the lower process. Such a production system is provided with an order and delivery management system, a design management system, and a process management system. |
| US08428760B2 |
Method for scheduling a production process by supporting the visualization of material shortages
A method for scheduling a production process is disclosed, wherein a production order requiring components is placed on a production schedule, the availabilities of the components, which are required for the production order, are detected by a computing unit, production orders requesting one or more of the components are classified depending on the availabilities of the corresponding components, and the production order is displayed with a first optically observable marker if the order requests a missing component and/or produces a missing component. |
| US08428758B2 |
Dynamic audio ducking
Various dynamic audio ducking techniques are provided that may be applied where multiple audio streams, such as a primary audio stream and a secondary audio stream, are being played back simultaneously. For example, a secondary audio stream may include a voice announcement of one or more pieces of information pertaining to the primary audio stream, such as the name of the track or the name of the artist. In one embodiment, the primary audio data and the voice feedback data are initially analyzed to determine a loudness value. Based on their respective loudness values, the primary audio stream may be ducked during the period of simultaneous playback such that a relative loudness difference is generally maintained with respect to the loudness of the primary and secondary audio streams. Accordingly, the amount of ducking applied may be customized for each piece of audio data depending on its loudness characteristics. |
| US08428754B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for controlling an electrical device
A system, method and apparatus for controlling an electrical device are provided. At least one image of at least one moving entity is processed to determine when the moving entity (or entities) is at least one of entering and exiting a monitored area, and to determine when the moving entity (or entities) comprises at least one triggering shape. When the moving entity (or entities), comprising at least one triggering shape, is at least one of entering and exiting the monitored area, control of the electrical device is triggered and a counter for counting triggering shapes present in the monitored area is triggered. When the moving entity (or entities), comprising at least one triggering shape, exits the monitored area, the counter decrements by the number of triggering shapes and the electrical device is triggered to a state different from a present state when the counter falls below a threshold number. |
| US08428753B2 |
System and method for planning the operation of, monitoring processes in, simulating, and optimizing a combined power generation and water desalination plant
The disclosure relates to a system and a method for planning the operation of, monitoring processes in, simulating, and/or optimizing a technical installation comprising several units that can be combined with each other. Said system comprises at least one process planning module, at least one process simulation module, and at least one process optimization module. Components for modeling, simulating, and optimizing the technical installation are stored in said modules. The interrelated modules cooperate with a data management layer via at least one interface, said data management layer making available actual measured and/or historical process data for determining parameters and/or operational data for the modules in order to plan operations as well as simulate and optimize processes. The parameters and/or operational data determined in the modules can be fed to the data management layer for further processing by taking into account the stored components. |
| US08428752B2 |
Network infrastructure supporting a multi-seller promotion and transaction environment
An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. |
| US08428745B2 |
Telemetry protocol for ultra low error rates useable in implantable medical devices
A telemetry protocol for an implantable medical device is disclosed. The sending device forms a block of information to be telemetered to the receiving device, including a header, a message, and an error detection data (CRC1). The entirety of the block is divided into smaller packets of a predetermined size. Each packet has a CRC computed for it (CRC2), and is sent to the receiving device, which deduces a CRC2 and compares it with the appended CRC2. If not valid, that packet is again requested to be resent. If valid, the next packet is requested to be sent, its CRC2 checked, etc., until all packets are received and verified. The receiving device then discards the CRC2s to reconstitute the original block. The receiving device then deduces CRC1 and compares it with the CRC1 appended to the block. If valid, the block is accepted, and if not, the procedure is repeated. |
| US08428740B2 |
Retinal prosthesis techniques
Apparatus is provided including an external device including, a mount, which is placed in front of an eye of a subject. A power source is coupled to the mount and emits energy toward the eye. An intraocular device is implanted entirely in the subject's eye, and includes a control unit, a plurality of stimulating electrodes, and an energy receiver, which receives the energy from the power source and generates a voltage drop in response. A plurality of photosensors detect photons and generate a signal in response. Driving circuitry is coupled to the energy receiver and to the photosensors, and drives the electrodes to apply electrical charges to a retina in response to the signals from the photosensors. The external device modulates the emitted energy, and the control unit demodulates the modulated energy to regulate an operation parameter of the intraocular device. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08428733B2 |
Stimulation electrode selection
Bioelectrical signals may be sensed within a brain of a patient with a plurality of sense electrode combinations. A stimulation electrode combination for delivering stimulation to the patient to manage a patient condition may be selected based on the frequency band characteristics of the sensed signals. In some examples, a stimulation electrode combination associated with the sense electrode combination that sensed a bioelectrical brain signal having a relatively highest relative beta band power level may be selected to deliver stimulation therapy to the patient. Other frequency bands characteristics may also be used to select the stimulation electrode combination. |
| US08428732B2 |
Neural interface systems and methods
In one embodiment, a neural interface system includes an implantable neural probe having a flexible substrate, electrodes that extend from the substrate that are adapted to contact neural tissue of the brain, a signal processing circuit configured to process neural signals collected with the electrodes, and a wireless transmission circuit configured to wirelessly transmit the processed neural signals, and a backend computing device configured to wirelessly receive the processed neural signals, to process the received signals to reconstruct the collected neural signals, and to analyze the collected neural signals. |
| US08428728B2 |
Muscle stimulator
An implantable medical device for treating the back of a patient. Stimulation energy is delivered to muscles or joint capsules or ligaments or nerve fibers to improve the heath of the back. |
| US08428719B2 |
Systems and methods for respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation
Neurostimulation is provided to afferent nerve fibers of an auricular vagal nerve of a patient. The neurostimulation is harmonized with the pulmonary activity of the patient. In one implementation, a neurostimulation is gated to a portion of the respiratory cycle. For example, the auricular vagal nerve may be stimulated at the end of exhalation. In another implementation, a stimulation regiment to multiple electrodes are harmonized with pre-selected triggers within the respiratory cycle to achieve selective stimulation and/or bilateral stimulation. |
| US08428718B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting change in intrathoracic electrical impedance
A method and apparatus for detection of changes in impedance a patient that includes generating measured impedances, generating an adaptive baseline trend of the measured impedances corresponding to a first time period, generating a short term trend of the measured impedances corresponding to a second time period less than the first time period, determining changes in relative position of the short term trend and the baseline trend, the determined changes in relative position corresponding to determining intersecting of the baseline trend by the short term trend, determining differences between the baseline trend and calculated period average impedances, and accumulating, in response to determining no intersecting of the baseline trend by the short term trend, the determined differences between the baseline trend and the calculated period average impedances. |
| US08428717B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring tissue fluid content for use in an implantable cardiac device
A fluid status monitoring system for use in implantable cardiac stimulation or monitoring devices is provided for monitoring changes in thoracic fluid content. A fluid status monitor includes excitation pulse generating and control circuitry, and voltage and current measurement and control circuitry for performing a series of cardiac-gated, intra-thoracic impedance measurements. The cardiac-gated measurements are filtered or time-averaged to provide a fluid status impedance value, with respiratory noise removed. Based on comparative analysis of the fluid status impedance value, a clinically relevant trend in fluid status may be tentatively diagnosed and a fluid status response provided. Cross-check intra-thoracic impedance measurements performed using the same or a different excitation pathway and a different measurement pathway than the primary intra-thoracic impedance measurement configuration may be used to verify a tentative diagnosis. |
| US08428714B2 |
Active implantable medical device with atrial pacing for the treatment of diastolic heart failure
An active implantable medical device with atrial pacing for the treatment of diastolic heart failure. This device comprises circuits and leads for collecting right and left atrial events (16,18) and pacing the left atrium (18) and a sensor detecting myocardium contractions, preferably an endocardial acceleration sensor (20), delivering a signal representative of the myocardium contractions. Analysis of the signal allows a determination of the presence or absence of a detectable left atrial contraction distinguishable from the ventricular contraction. An interatrial delay is applied between the collection of a right atrial depolarization and the delivery of a left atrial pacing pulse. In the absence of left atrial contraction, the interatrial delay is iteratively reduced in successive cardiac cycles from an initial value to an adjustment value ensuring that a left atrial contraction appears, and then so maintained while the presence of a left atrial contraction continues. |
| US08428713B2 |
Implantable defibrillation output circuit
An implantable defibrillation circuit can include an output circuit. The output circuit can include a first switch configured to controllably connect a first supply node to a first output node, a second switch configured to controllably connect a second supply node to the first output node through a first rectifier, and the second switch can be configured to inhibit the first switch from connecting the first supply node to the first output node when the second supply node is connected to the first output node through the second switch. In an example, the first and second switches can include insulated gate bipolar transistors. |
| US08428709B1 |
Current control for electrotransport drug delivery
Devices, systems and methods for controlling the application of current and/or voltage to deliver drug from patient contacts of an electrotransport drug delivery device by indirectly controlling and/or monitoring the applied current without directly measuring from the cathode of the patient terminal. In particular, described herein are electrotransport drug delivery systems including constant current delivery systems having a feedback current and/or voltage control module that is isolated from the patient contacts (e.g., anodes and cathodes). The feedback module may be isolated by a transistor from the patient contacts; feedback current and/or voltage control measurements may be performed at the transistor rather than at the patient contact (e.g., cathode). |
| US08428706B2 |
Sheet conductance/resistance measurement system
An apparatus for testing of electrical or physical properties of a material include a single coil sensor mounted adjacent to a sample of the material. Sheet conductance of a wide variety of materials may be measured using the single coil to determine if the material conforms to generally accepted standards for the use to which the material will be put. In some examples, the material is a semiconductor wafer or flat panel. In other examples, the material is the body tissue of a patient. A non-invasive technique using the apparatus is also disclosed for monitoring the health of patient tissue such as musculature, and/or to determine whether healthy circulation is present, by measuring the conductance of the patient tissue in response to a magnetic field applied by the single coil. The single coil may be hand held, or it may be movable using an automated positioning system under computer control. |
| US08428704B2 |
Threshold adjustment schemes for acute ischemia detection
A heart monitor is disclosed. The monitor computes ST segment deviations and stores the results in heart rate based histograms. Periodically, the monitor analyzes the histogram data to determine heart rate dependent acute ischemia detection thresholds. If the statistical distribution associated with a heart rate range is insufficient, the threshold for that heart rate range is set as a function of the threshold for a neighboring heart rate range. Thresholds are also increased for heart rate ranges associated with statistical distributions that are sufficient but that have a relatively small number of entries. |
| US08428702B2 |
Methods and devices for relieving stress
Easy to use, cost-effective methods and devices for evaluating and treating stress and thereby disorders caused or exacerbated by stress are provided. More particularly methods and devices for identifying RSA waves during respiration which provide a subject with real-time RSA wave information are provided. These methods and devices also can be used to identify drop points in RSA waves. Such methods and devices provide subjects with the ability to maintain parasympathetic outflow and thereby prevent and/or reduce levels of stress. |
| US08428700B2 |
Electroanatomical mapping
This invention relates to the determination and/or representation of physiological information relating to a heart surface. |
| US08428698B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring DP, IVRT, DiFT, diastolic function and/or HF
Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, are provided for monitoring a patient's diastolic function and/or heart failure (HF) condition. A signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume and a signal indicative of electrical activity of the patient's heart are obtained. Beginnings of diastolic periods can be detected based on a feature of the signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume. Ends of the diastolic periods can be detected based on a feature of the signal indicative of electrical activity of the patient's heart, or on the signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume. Diastolic periods (DPs), isovolumic relaxation times (IVRTs) and/or diastolic filling times (DiFTs) can be estimated based on the detected beginnings of the diastolic periods and detected ends of the diastolic periods. The patient's diastolic function and/or HF condition (and/or changes therein) can be monitored based on the estimates of DP, IVRT and/or DiFT. |
| US08428697B2 |
“Blurred template” approach for arrhythmia detection
An implantable medical device and associated method sense cardiac signals for deriving a template representing a known EGM waveform morphology and for classifying an unknown waveform morphology. A boundary of the template, offset from the template, is computed and compared to an unknown waveform morphology for classifying the unknown waveform morphology. |
| US08428695B2 |
Diagnostic systems and methods utilizing probe-ions exhibiting photon avalanche effect
The present disclosure provides advantageous systems and methods for significantly increasing the sensitivity and selectivity for diagnostic procedures, e.g., optical biopsy. The disclosed systems and methods use a highly non-linear effect, the so-called photon avalanche. In the regime close to the avalanche threshold, small differences in density of the probe-ion under investigation or the excitation power can result in very large changes in up-conversion emission intensity. Through this effect, it becomes possible to accurately measure the signal of an optical biopsy probe-ion only in the location(s) where its concentration is highest, while at the same time significantly reducing or eliminating measurement of background signal from probe-ions distributed with a somewhat lower concentration throughout the measurement volume. Also background auto-fluorescence of the surrounding healthy tissue is essentially absent with this technique. |
| US08428693B2 |
System for selecting modular implant components
A method for selecting modular neck components for hip implants based on independent variables associated with physical characteristics of the implant, including leg length, offset, and anteversion. During surgery, the surgeon may be confronted with a need to change a preoperatively-chosen modular neck. For example, the surgeon may desire a change in at least one of the variables, e.g., leg length, offset, and/or anteversion. The present method allows the surgeon to quickly and easily select a different modular neck based on an evaluation of one of the variables without requiring reevaluation of the other variables. The method may include preoperative planning in which a template including a grid coordinate system is used. |
| US08428691B2 |
Method and apparatus for localizing an ultrasound catheter
An imaging system is provided with an ultrasound catheter and a controller coupled to the ultrasound catheter. The catheter includes a localizer sensor configured to generate positional information for the ultrasound catheter, and an imaging ultrasound sensor having a restricted field of view. The controller co-registers images from the imaging ultrasound sensor with positional information from the localizer sensor. |
| US08428689B2 |
Image guided therapy
A therapeutic system includes a therapy module to direct a therapeutic action, e.g. focused ultrasound or RF energy to a target. An imaging module, such as a magnetic resonance examination system, generates image information of a therapy region that includes the target. By way of a motion analysis module, a motion vector field is derived from the image information of the therapy region. A control module controls the therapy module based on the motion vector field. For example, based on t the motion vector field, an accurate temperature distribution is derived from magnetic resonance signals and the motion vector field. Also magnetic resonance elastography data may be employed to improve the accuracy of the temperature distribution. |
| US08428682B1 |
Wet or dry electrode, other sensors, actuators, or markers with a novel adhesive collar
The present invention is directed to a device, which can be attached to a subject's skin with an adhesive collar. The device can be a sensor, an actuator or a marker. Preferably, the device is a sensor, and more preferably in the form of a wet or dry electrode sensor, and most preferably, a dry electrode sensor. The invention is used to attach the device to a subject's prepared or unprepared skin so that the device can remain attached to the subject for an extended period of time with minimal skin irritation, breakdown, or re-application, and preferably with no skin irritation, breakdown, or re-application. |
| US08428679B2 |
System and methods for processing analyte sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor. |
| US08428678B2 |
Calibration techniques for a continuous analyte sensor
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for calibrating a continuous analyte sensor, such as a continuous glucose sensor. One such system utilizes one or more electrodes to measure an additional analyte. Such measurements may provide a baseline or sensitivity measurement for use in calibrating the sensor. Furthermore, baseline and/or sensitivity measurements may be used to trigger events such as digital filtering of data or suspending display of data. |
| US08428676B2 |
Thermoelectric energy harvesting with wireless sensors
A system and method for generating power from temperature differences across a thermoelectric energy harvester. The system may include one or more sensing components which, acting alone or in combination, are capable of generating data related to one or more physiological parameters. The system may also include wireless communication circuitry capable of wirelessly transmitting the data related to the one or more physiological parameters. Furthermore, at least one of the one or more sensing components or the wireless communication circuitry may be at least partially powered, directly or indirectly, by energy generated via the thermoelectric energy harvester. |
| US08428675B2 |
Nanofiber adhesives used in medical devices
Nanofiber adhesives and their uses with device, such as medical devices, are described. In one embodiment, a nanofiber adhesive layer may be disposed on a surface of a medical device, such as a backing layer of a sensor, for adhesion to a substrate. The nanofiber adhesive layer may allow durable adhesion to the substrate. Other described features may include materials and methods to determine the attachment of the medical device to a patient by determining the adhesive state of the adhesive layer. |
| US08428669B2 |
Portable terminal device
[Object]To provide a portable terminal device accepting an input operation in accordance with acceleration, which is less prone to cause incorrect input and allows a user to perform easily an input operation.[Constitution]A mobile phone includes an acceleration sensor 13 for detecting acceleration produced on a mobile phone main body; a cumulative value calculating section 100a for calculating a cumulative value of detected acceleration; a comparing section 100b for comparing the cumulative value with a threshold value; and a CPU 100 for controlling a security lock mode in accordance with a result of comparison by the comparing section 100b. When the cumulative value has exceeded the threshold value by a user shaking the mobile phone, the CPU 100 cancels the security lock mode. |
| US08428666B2 |
Wireless headset and multipoint pairing method for the same
A wireless headset and multi-point pairing method for the same are disclosed. The wireless headset can be easily paired with multiple wireless-enabled devices. The method includes establishing a wireless connection to a first wireless device during a wireless connection mode, requesting a mode transition to a pairing mode during the wireless connection mode, making a mode transition from the wireless connection mode to the pairing mode without turning off the headset, performing a pairing procedure with a second wireless device during the pairing mode, and establishing a wireless connection to the second wireless device in addition to the first wireless device after the pairing procedure is completed. |
| US08428664B1 |
Case assembly for handheld electronic devices and method of use therefor
A protective case assembly including a shell defining an open front and having sides as well as a base which adjoins the shell's sides is disclosed. The shell attaches to the handheld device by being sized and configured to fit over the backside and sides of the device. In addition, the case assembly includes an elongated elastic strap of predetermined length and width which is attached at its ends to the back of the shell. The strap is positioned against the base and is sufficiently taut to enable the handheld device to be held in one hand and operated with the thumb of the same hand when up to two of the three middle fingers also of the same hand are placed under the taut strap. |
| US08428663B2 |
Slide rotation device, slide rotation method, and portable terminal device
A slide rotation device includes a rail portion that is provided along a sliding direction of an upper case, a slide mechanism that has a slide assistance plate sliding the upper case along the rail portion of the upper case, and a rotation mechanism that is provided to be fixed in the vicinity of one end portion of a lower case and rotatably supports the slide assistance plate using a rotation shaft positioned in an extending direction of the slide assistance plate. |
| US08428659B1 |
Intelligent resonant vibration amplifier
A computer-implemented method includes generating a first signal; generating vibrations in a mobile device based on the first signal; and sensing, using a microphone associated with the mobile device, sound generated by the vibrations. The method further includes generating an output based on the sound sensed by the microphone, measuring a level of the sound based on the output, and detecting a resonant frequency of the mobile device based on the level of the sound. |
| US08428654B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for displaying menu thereof
Disclosed is a method for automatically displaying a menu relating to a specific function by recognizing a user's voice command in a call mode, and for directly executing the menu, and a mobile terminal having the same. A mobile terminal may include a microphone configured to receive a user's voice in a video call mode, a display for displaying information, and a controller configured to recognize the voice, detect a voice command included in the voice, and automatically display a menu corresponding to the detected voice command on the display. |
| US08428650B2 |
Reconfigurable base station using mobile station RF ASIC
A reconfigurable RF transceiver for use in either a base station or a mobile station Of a wireless network. The reconfigurable RF transceiver comprises a first receive path that down-converts an incoming RF signal to analog and digital baseband signals. The first receive path in a first mode down-converts the incoming RF signal in a receive frequency band for the base station and in a second mode down-converts the incoming RF signal in a receive frequency band for the mobile station. The reconfigurable RF transceiver further comprises a transmit path for up-converting an outgoing baseband signal to an outgoing RF signal. The transmit path in the first mode up-converts the outgoing baseband signal in a transmit frequency band for the base station and in the second mode up-converts the outgoing baseband signal in a transmit frequency band for the mobile station. |
| US08428647B2 |
Verifying and identifying incoming PBX calls on mobile devices
Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based on different behaviors of the mobile devices and the network or networks used by the device(s). |
| US08428646B2 |
Method and system for software defined power amplifier for multi-band, multi-standard applications
Methods and systems for a software defined power amplifier for multi-band, multi-standard applications are disclosed and may comprise configuring a single programmable output stage of a multi-band, multi-standard transmitter to handle transmission of a signal according to multiple wireless communication protocols and frequency ranges. The output stage may be configured by coupling a power amplifier (PA) within the programmable output stage to a switch or a duplexer, which may be coupled to one or more of multiple antennas, each of which may handle signals in a different frequency range. Each antenna may be impedance matched with the power amplifier using transformers, and may be coupled by activating at least one integrated transistor. The PA may be biased to operate in one of a plurality of classes of operation comprising Class A, AB, C and F associated with the wireless communication protocols, which may comprise EDGE, GSM, WCDMA and wireless LAN. |
| US08428634B2 |
Method for automatically setting up and/or controlling a telecommunication conference
A conference condition file is used to check whether at least one stored conference condition is met, which indicates a condition regarding a participant's setup of and/or participation in the telecommunication conference. If at least one condition is met then the conference is set up or the participant is added to the conference. |
| US08428633B2 |
Combined channel state information and combined channel quality indicator in wireless communication systems
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for estimating a channel state information (CSI) and a channel quality indicator (CQI) of a frame; determining a combined CSI and a combined CQI of the frame; and transmitting the CSI and the combined CQI are disclosed. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08428632B2 |
Dynamic allocation of spectrum sensing resources in cognitive radio networks
A method, wireless controller, and information processing system are provided to dynamically allocate spectrum sensing resources. A first input (804) including available sensing session time for performing spectrum sensing with respect to one or more primary systems (102) is received. A second input (806) including a set of communication channels to be monitored in the spectrum sensing session is received. A third input (808) including detection constraints associated with a plurality of available sensing nodes (114) in a secondary network (104) for performing the spectrum sensing is received. Spectrum sensing resources are dynamically allocated (814) among a set of the plurality of available sensing nodes (114) based on the first (804), second (806), and third inputs (808). |
| US08428631B2 |
Method for determining a subsequent time interval relationship, for service request messages, from a user equipment
The invention relates to a method in a base station for handling a request from a user equipment for accessing a service in a radio communications network, the method comprising the steps of receiving a first wide time interval (305) of an incoming signal (300) comprising a first signal sent from the user equipment, the first signal extending along a first narrow time interval (310) being a part of the first wide time interval, the first narrow time interval of the first signal being a possible service access request message; searching the first wide time interval (305) and detecting that the first signal is a possible service access request message; and identifying how the first narrow time interval (310) of the first signal relates to the first wide time interval (305). The relationship will be the same for subsequent time intervals of the incoming signal (300). |
| US08428629B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining a communications mode and/or using a determined communications mode
Methods and apparatus for determining a mode of wireless communications to be used by a wireless terminal, e.g., a direct communications mode or an infrastructure communications mode are described. In some embodiments, the mode to be used is determined by a control node based on interference which will be caused to the system taking into consideration at least an area, e.g., cell, in which the wireless terminal seeking to communicate is not located. System interference cost estimates for each mode under consideration are generated and compared. Interference cost estimates may, and do, correspond to different frequency bands when the direct mode uses a different frequency band than the infrastructure communications mode. Separate interference cost estimates and mode determinations are made for different communications directions in some embodiments. The determined mode to be used is communicated to the devices seeking to communicate, e.g., via one or more base stations. |
| US08428628B2 |
Communication method, mobile terminal, switching device, and radio control device
A communication method according to the present invention includes: transmitting, at a radio base station device (b), broadcast information for notifying a first area and a second area; transmitting, from a first mobile terminal to a radio control device (c), a first location registration request signal for the first area included in the broadcast information, when the first area is not identical to a first area stored as a current location registration area; and transmitting, from a second mobile terminal to the radio control device (c), a second location registration request signal for the second area included in the broadcast information, when the second area is not included in a second area group stored as a current location registration area. |
| US08428625B2 |
Paging heuristics in packet based networks
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for paging devices in a communication network. A network device providing mobility management through control messaging can be assigned a number of cell sites in a tracking area. The network device such as a mobility management entity (MME) can use a criteria or heuristic based implementation to provide a hierarchy for contacting a mobile device with a page. The criteria or heuristic based implementation can page a subset of the total number of cell sites in a tracking area and expand the subset after unsuccessful attempts to page the mobile device. The implementation can also be tailored to offer a range of options for page requests received by a network device, which can be based on such things as the application sending the page request. |
| US08428624B2 |
Method and system for network support for optimized paging of communication devices
A method in one application of maintaining a paging status associated with a communication device. The method also comprises paging the communication device based on the paging status.A system in one application comprising a communications controller configured to store a paging status that is associated with a communication device. The system further comprising a communications manager communicatively coupled to the communications controller. Also, at least one data store is communicatively coupled to the communications controller. The communications controller pages a communication device based on a paging status. The paging status is stored in one of the at least one data store. |
| US08428622B1 |
Location based recommendation method for mobile station content
A location based method of offering a recommendation of content to a user of a mobile station includes receiving information identifying a current location of the mobile station. Then, in a content usage database, records of other mobile stations that have recently been near that location are identified. For each identified record of another mobile station, content resident on an used by the other mobile station in the content usage database is identified. Then, responsive to at least one inquiry received from the mobile station, a recommendation is transmitted through a wireless communications network to the mobile station of the user. The recommendation includes information about the identified content resident on and used by one or more of the other mobile stations. |
| US08428617B2 |
Method and apparatus to select an optimum site and/or sector to provide geo-location data
A system and method selects secondary base stations to task that provide geo-location information used to geo-locate a mobile station. A network overlay location system may be co-located at base station sites of a wireless communications network. The location measurement units of the network overlay system provide location information of the mobile station, which may be determined via one or more geo-location techniques, for example: time of arrival (TOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), uplink time difference of arrival (UTDOA), angle of arrival (AOA), signal power, radio fingerprinting etc. Selecting secondary base stations to task using various selection criteria may provide optimum results when geo-locating a mobile station. |
| US08428607B2 |
Relays in telecommunications networks
In a telecommunications network including a plurality of mobile terminals in communication with a network base station, and a plurality of relay nodes configured to assist the base station with data transmissions between the base station and one or more of said plurality of mobile terminals, a method of enabling communication resource reuse amongst the plurality of said relay nodes, the method comprising: predefining a plurality of communication resource sets, each resource set comprising one or more communication resource elements, the communication resource sets arranged so that each relay node can receive data in a predefined receiving resource set and transmit data in a predefined transmission resource set; determining which of two or more relay nodes are spatially separated from one another; and configuring at least two of the two or more spatially separated relay nodes to use the same communication resource sets. |
| US08428595B2 |
Methods and arrangments for dynamically adjusting the rate of sub cell searching in coordinated multiple point transmission/reception, comp, cells
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements that enable a User Equipment UE to limit the number of sub cell searches needed in a wireless communication system with Coordinated Multiple Point transmission/reception (CoMP) cells, while keeping an acceptable system performance at handovers. This is achieved by a solution where the UE does sub cell search in a candidate target CoMP cell only when the candidate target CoMP cell quality performance is within a reasonable range or when the serving CoMP cell quality performance is low. |
| US08428594B2 |
Methods and apparatus of improving inter-sector and/or inter cell handoffs in a multi-carrier wireless communications system
A wireless communications system, e.g., an OFDM system, uses a plurality of carrier frequencies each with an associated frequency band. A base station sector transmitter in the system transmits ordinary signaling, e.g., user data, in its own assigned band. In addition the sector base station transmitter periodically transmits beacon signals into its own frequency band and the frequency bands used by adjacent sector transmitters for their ordinary signaling. Beacon signals, being short duration high power signals with sector transmission power concentrated on one or a few tones, are easily detectable. Each beacon signal may be identified as to the source base station sector transmitter, e.g., based on tone. A mobile node, tuned to a single carrier band, receives a plurality of beacon signals, identifies the sources of the received beacons, compares the received strength of the beacons, and makes handoff decisions, without having to switch carrier band. |
| US08428591B2 |
Method of translating cellular carriers
A plurality of carrier signals in a wide band signal is converted into a plurality of digital carrier signals. Each of the plurality of carrier signals is at a respective frequency in the wide band signal. At least one of the plurality of digital carrier signals is translated to a different frequency. |
| US08428589B2 |
Method for reducing signalling
The present invention relates to a method for UE context setup in an eNodeB for a UE subscriber in an infrastructure network. The network comprises at least one eNodeB providing radio access for the UE and an MME connected to the eNodeB. The eNodeB/-s comprises an inactivity timer releasing the UE context being setup in the eNodeB after a defined time period. The network for each UE context setup performs the steps of: the UE sending a setup request to the eNodeB, wherein the eNodeB in response to said request sends an initial UE message to the MME to initiate the UE context setup, the UE message identifying the UE sending the setup request; the MME in response to said UE message sending an initial UE context setup request to the eNodeB, wherein the eNodeB responds to the MME with an initial context response complete to finalize the UE context setup; and the MME in the setup request sending timer setup information for said UE, on which basis the eNodeB configures the time period of the inactivity timer for the UE context being setup. The present invention also relates to a MME and an eNodeB adapted for the same purpose. |
| US08428583B2 |
Managing subscriber information
A method includes storing subscriber data at one or more locations, and storing, at least one of the one or more locations, one or more rules for managing the subscriber data at least one of the one or more locations. The subscriber data regarding at least one of the one or more locations is managed on the basis of the rules. |
| US08428582B2 |
Method and apparatus for VoIP roaming
A method and apparatus for transferring a user data profile from a user's home terminal to a visiting terminal is disclosed. User or network configuration settings are transferred from a home telephony adapter to a visiting telephony adapter. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer readable medium, such as a flash drive is inserted into the home telephony adapter and, either with or without authentication, user or network configuration settings are transferred from the home telephony adapter to the medium. In another embodiment, the medium is then inserted into the visiting telephony adapter. |
| US08428575B2 |
Dial testing system and method
A dial testing system and a dial testing method using the dial testing system are provided. The dial testing system includes a dial testing agent device adapted to perform an automatic dial testing through a network element and control an automatic dial testing result reported by the network element; and a dial testing server adapted to collect the automatic dial testing result reported by the dial testing agent device. The dial testing system and the dial testing method provided by the present invention may assure allsidedness of a dial testing, enhance the speed and quality of the dial testing operation, and save a large amount of manpower and material resources. |
| US08428568B1 |
Apparatus and method for providing additional caller ID information
A portable device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, in which additional data of caller ID are displayed. The method for controlling a portable device comprises the steps of receiving an incoming call, detecting a user's face on the portable device, displaying additional data on the incoming call if the user's face is detected, the additional data being some of a plurality of additional data collected from a plurality of data sources to correspond to caller ID of the incoming call, displaying other additional data included in the collected additional data per predetermined time interval if the user's face is continuously detected, and detecting a user input for answering or rejecting the incoming call. |
| US08428566B2 |
Network entity, method and system for invocation of supplementary services across different networks
A network entity, method and system for providing supplementary services to a mobile device while roaming. The network entity comprises a receiver, a converter and an output. The receiver is for receiving a first message from a mobile device being provided roaming service by a first network, the first message being in a transport protocol supported by the first network and having embedded therein an invocation message based on for invocation of at least one supplementary service offered by a second network. The converter is for extracting the invocation message from the first message. The output is for sending the invocation message to the second network using a protocol used by the second network to invoke supplementary services. |
| US08428563B2 |
Visual voicemail provisioning and notification
A device receives, from a user device, a request to use a visual voicemail (VVM) application, directs the user device to a self provisioning server based on the request, and receives, from the self provisioning server, a selected VVM subscription plan and information associated with a user of the user device. The device also provides, to a billing system, a feature code associated with the selected VVM subscription plan, receives, from one or more voicemail servers, pre-existing voicemail messages associated with the user, and provides, to the user device, the pre-existing voicemail messages. |
| US08428560B2 |
Mobile telephone having broadcast reception function
A mobile phone includes: a television broadcast receiving unit 111 operable to receive a broadcast program; a video processing unit 104 operable to output the received broadcast program; a wireless unit 102 operable to receive incoming-mail information; and a control unit 115 operable to monitor, during the output of the broadcast program, whether a predetermined condition for providing notification of the incoming-mail information is satisfied, and if the predetermined condition is satisfied when the incoming-mail information is detected, to provide the notification of the incoming-mail information, and if the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the incoming-mail information is detected, to postpone the notification of the incoming-mail information until the predetermined condition has been satisfied. |
| US08428559B2 |
Method for recording mobile phone calls
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for recording mobile phone calls for record keeping. The present invention utilizes a software call-recording application installed on the mobile phone to make a direct connection to a centralized recording server utilizing a conference or three-way calling feature on the mobile phone. The centralized recording server can answer the incoming call from the mobile phone. The incoming call can be tagged with an identification. The recording server can then capture the audio and any data and store the audio and data for future use. In one embodiment, a recording can be made at the mobile phone and forwarded to the recording server. The recording can be initiated remotely. |
| US08428557B2 |
Electronic device, and electronic device operational lock deactivation method
In one embodiment, there is provided an electronic device. The device includes: a lock controller configured to lock control of the electronic device so that a specific operation cannot be performed on the electronic device; a lock deactivation region registration module configured to register a region where the operation lock should be deactivated if the electronic device has been locked; a location detector configured to detect a location of the electronic device; and an operational lock deactivation module configured to compare the detected location of the device against the registered region where the operation lock should be deactivated, and configured to deactivate the operational lock of the electronic device when the electronic device is located within the registered region where the operation lock should be deactivated. |
| US08428554B2 |
Method for authenticating a mobile unit attached to a femtocell that operates according to code division multiple access
The present invention provides a method involving a femtocell in communication with an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. In one embodiment, the femtocell operates according to code division multiple access (CDMA) standards. The method includes receiving, from the femtocell and at a first secure entity in the IMS network, first authentication information generated by the mobile unit using a first random number broadcast by the femtocell in a global challenge. The method also includes receiving, from a second secure entity in the secure network, at least one security key formed based on the global challenge and second authentication information for uniquely challenging the mobile unit. In one embodiment, the second secure entity is a CDMA-based authentication server. The method further includes providing the security key(s) to the femtocell in response to authenticating the mobile unit based upon the second authentication information. |
| US08428553B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting a core network
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for protecting a core network (102) by receiving (202) a message (302, 402) containing a mobile identity of a MS (104) and dropping (210) the message (302, 402) whenever the received mobile identity does not match a stored mobile identity associated with the MS (104). The message (302, 402) is processed (208) whenever the received mobile identity matches the stored mobile identity associated with the MS (104). The mobile identity can be an IMSI, a TMSI or a P-TMSI. The message (302, 402) can be an uplink message (302) or a downlink message (402), such as a Mobility Management (MM) message, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Mobility Management (GMM) message, or a UMA or Unlicensed Radio Resources (URR) message. The present invention can be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium wherein the various method steps are implemented by one or more code segments. |
| US08428550B2 |
Real-time location determination for in-building distributed antenna systems
A system for determining the location of a wireless mobile device with respect to an interconnected network of wireless transmission waveguides is disclosed. The interconnected network could be interconnected ducts of an HVAC system in a building. Multiple wireless probes are placed at multiple locations within the HVAC duct system (or similar interconnected network of waveguides). Each probe may detect a common signal from a wireless mobile device and independently preserve arrival time information of the detected signal, wherein the signal propagates to probes by way of a free-space path to an opening in one or another duct, and thereafter to the probes via one or another path through the interconnected ducts, which act as wireless transmission waveguides. By correlating timing information of a signal received at three or more probes, a location of the mobile wireless device may be determined by one or another form of triangulation. |
| US08428548B2 |
Emergency message menu
A wireless communications device and method for generating and communicating an emergency text message, includes in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message, accessing stored personal data for use in generating content of the emergency text message. A determination may be made as to whether current location coordinates are available. The emergency text message may be populated with the accessed stored personal data and current location coordinates, if available. The populated emergency text message may be communicated over a communications network to a public safety answering point. |
| US08428547B2 |
Signaling in wireless communication systems
A communication device includes an RF receiver that receives a combined signal including a first signal transmitted from a first node and a second signal transmitted from a second node, a channel estimator that estimates first channel information of the first signal and second channel information of the second signal, respectively, a multiuser detector that detects original signal values of the combined signal using the estimated first and second channel information and an RF transmitter that transmits a signal generated based on the values detected by the multiuser detector to the first node and the second node during a predetermined period. |
| US08428544B2 |
Heterodyne commutating mixer apparatus
Heterodyne commutating apparatuses and methods for creating the heterodyne commutating apparatuses are disclosed. The heterodyne commutating mixer includes a plurality of switches for transferring a radio frequency input signal sequentially during a plurality of local oscillator period timeslots to a plurality of output capacitors. The heterodyne commutating mixer also includes a plurality of inductors added across differential in-phase output terminals and quadrature output terminals. Values of inductance and capacitance are set to achieve resonance at an output intermediate frequency. |
| US08428543B2 |
Receiver arrangement with AC coupling
A receiver arrangement with AC coupling is specified in which a filter arrangement (3) is provided in a baseband signal processing chain in a homodyne receiver and can be switched between at least two high-pass filter cut-off frequencies. In this case, a brief changeover is made to a higher cut-off frequency when varying the gain of a low-noise baseband amplifier (2), for example when the received field strength changes, during the reception mode. The described arrangement allows changes to be carried out to the gain in baseband during the normal reception mode. The present receiver is accordingly suitable for code division multiple access methods, such as those which are provided in the UMTS Standard. |
| US08428539B2 |
Spread spectrum isolator
An apparatus comprising a functional circuitry on a first die. Said function circuitry configured to drive an RF voltage isolation link with an RF signal responsive to receipt of a logic signal at a first logic state. Control circuitry modifies the frequency of the RF signal to spread harmonics to other than a fundamental frequency. |
| US08428538B2 |
Channel estimator
A radio receiver comprises a processing unit configured to subject a received radio signal to signal switching. A control unit is configured to output a control signal indicative of information related to the signal switching. A channel estimator is coupled to an output of the processing unit and configured to provide channel parameters based on the control signal received from the control unit. |
| US08428536B2 |
Low-cost receiver using automatic gain control
A receiver (100) includes a first element (110) with a signal input, a control input, a signal output, and gain steps of a first magnitude, a signal processing circuit (120-168) with a signal input coupled to the first element, and a signal output, a second element (180) that has a signal input coupled to signal processing circuit, a control input, a signal output, and gain steps of a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude, and a controller (180) that has a control output coupled to the first element (110), a control output coupled to the second element (180), and that adjusts receiver (100) gain by changing the first element (110) gain by a first magnitude, changing the second element (180) gain by substantially an inverse first magnitude, and subsequently changing the gain of the second element (180) by steps of the second magnitude to achieve a desired gain. |
| US08428531B2 |
Radio wave receiver
A radio wave receiver including an antenna for receiving a radio wave; a tuning unit that can discretely changing a frequency characteristic of the antenna; an oscillation generator that can oscillate the antenna and a circuit portion of the tuning unit; a reception processing section for extracting a signal of a desired wave out of a reception signal received from the antenna; a controller for generating an oscillation signal at the circuit portion by the oscillation generator, and switching a setting of the tuning unit to search a setting state of the tuning unit under which the oscillation signal is extracted by the reception processing section; and a compensator for applying a variation to a frequency characteristic of the oscillation signal or a frequency characteristic associated with signal extraction of the reception processing section when the controller searches the setting state. |
| US08428529B2 |
Method and system for uplink beamforming calibration in a multi-antenna wireless communication system
A wireless transceiver, comprising a transmitter, a receiver and a plurality of antennas, determines transmit phase relationship between at least two of antennas based on radio frequency (RF) signals received via the at least two antennas from one or more antennas of a base station. RF signals are transmitted via the at least two antennas utilizing the determined transmit phase relationship. The receiver is calibrated based on receiver performance determined from the received RF signals for subsequent reception of RF signals. The transmit phase relationship is dynamically adjusted based on the transmit RF measurements and the determined receiver performance. Transmit channel qualities are determined for each transmit antenna based on the transmit RF measurements and the dynamically adjusted transmit phase relationship. Transmit antennas are dynamically selected based on the adjusted transmit phase relationship, the characterized transmit channel qualities and the determined receiver performance for subsequent transmission to the base station. |
| US08428525B2 |
Predistorter for a multi-antenna transmitter
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for predistorting input data signals to a MIMO transmitter to compensate for distortions introduced by the MIMO transmitter. Distortions introduced to data signals by a MIMO transmitter include crosstalk between multiple transmit paths and non-linearities introduced by power amplifiers. In an exemplary predistorter, post-amplifier crosstalk is compensated for by a first matrix operation before distortions introduced by power amplifiers are predistorted by power amplifier predistorters. After the power amplifier predistorters, pre-amplifier crosstalk is compensated for by a second matrix operation. |
| US08428523B2 |
Tuning matching circuits for transmitter and receiver bands as a function of transmitter metrics
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes computer instructions to determine a translation function based on a transmit frequency of a transmit mode and a receive frequency of a receive mode of a transceiver for a communication device, and adjust a variable reactance component of an impedance matching circuit for the receive mode based on the translation function, where the impedance matching circuit is operably coupled with an antenna of the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08428520B2 |
Margin design apparatus, margin design system, margin design method, and program
Provided is a technique of calculating a proper margin according to the area or a radio propagation estimation method in the area design of wireless communication using a radio propagation simulator. From a storage part wherein information relating to positions where deterioration of a communication quality or a radio quality is confirmed and information relating to the radio conditions at the positions are associated with each other, a margin design system extracts positions where the radio conditions are equal, estimates the radio quality at the positions by the radio propagation simulator, and calculates the margin of a radio quality estimated value on the basis of the estimated radio quality. |
| US08428518B2 |
Traffic constraints in a mmWAVE wireless network
A network controller may schedule directional communications between two devices in its own network in such a way as to avoid potential interference from anticipated transmissions from another device. In some instances, the network controller may be one of the two devices using the directional communications. The timing of the anticipated transmissions may be determined by the network controller based on its own observations, or it may be informed of that timing in a transmission from a device in its own network. A possible format is given for transmitting that information to the network controller. |
| US08428516B2 |
Wireless ad hoc network security
Providing network security includes detecting network traffic associated with an ad hoc network that includes a first station and a second station, and preventing data sent by the first station from reaching the second station. |
| US08428513B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for selecting an application in power-off mode
An embodiment relates generally to a method of selecting applications. The method includes positioning a powered-down mobile device into a close proximity of a near field communication device and selecting an application from a plurality of applications stored on the powered-down mobile device. The method also includes executing the application in the powered-down mobile device to interact with the near field communication device. |
| US08428512B2 |
Method and system for sharing a Bluetooth processor for FM functions
A method and system sharing a Bluetooth processor for FM functions are provided. The single chip may comprise an integrated Bluetooth radio, an integrated FM radio, and processor system. A processor in the processor system may be utilized for Bluetooth and FM data processing and may time multiplex between the Bluetooth and FM data processing based on interrupt signals. The processor may operate in a low power mode based on a clock signal generated from a low power oscillator. When a Bluetooth interrupt signal is received, the processor may enable Bluetooth data processing that may be based on a Bluetooth clock signal. When an FM interrupt signal is received, the processor may enable FM data processing that may be based on an FM clock signal. When data processing is complete, the processor may return to the low power mode operation. |
| US08428503B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A disclosed fixing device for fixing resin particles softened by applying a foam fixer thereon to a recording medium includes a foam fixer generator unit to introduce air bubbles into a liquid fixer containing a softener for softening the resin particles by dissolving or swelling a part of the resin particles to generate the foam fixer, a fixer application member to be brought into contact with a facing member facing the fixer application member to form an application nip and transfer the generated foam fixer to the application nip by moving its surface while carrying the foam fixer to apply the foam fixer to a surface of the recording medium carrying the resin particles at the application nip, and a foam accumulation detector unit to detect a foam accumulation formed of the foam fixer accumulated at an entrance side of the application nip. |
| US08428500B2 |
Belt pressurizing device and image forming apparatus
A belt pressurizing device includes: an endless belt that is circularly driven; a pressing member that presses the endless belt against a facing member with the endless belt interposed between the pressing member and the facing member; and a lubricant supplying member that supplies lubricant to reduce sliding resistance of the endless belt pressed by the pressing member, so as not to be in contact with the endless belt. |
| US08428499B2 |
Image forming apparatus, and fixing apparatus having a heating member to heat a fixing member
A fixing apparatus includes a flexible endless fixing member that moves in a predetermined direction for heating and melting a toner image, a heating member that is fixed to the fixing member in a position facing at least a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member for heating the fixing member, and a pressing member that provides a nipping part by pressing into contact with the fixing member for conveying a recording medium. The heating member includes a metal plate subjected to a bending process. |
| US08428497B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus provided with same
A developing device includes a developer storing portion, a developer carrying body, a first regulating member having a first regulating surface regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying body, a second regulating member having a second regulating surface that is set so as to gradually become apart from the developer carrying body toward the upstream side with respect to the rotation direction of the developer carrying body to regulate an amount of the developer conveyed to the first regulating surface, the second regulating surface being arranged with a step formed between the second regulating surface and the first regulating surface, and a sheet member so attached to the second regulating surface as to cover at least a portion of the step between the first regulating surface and the second regulating surface. |
| US08428495B2 |
Coatings for LEP printers, LEP printer structures, LEP printers, and methods of inhibiting sludge formation
Liquid electro-photographic (LEP) printers having a coating disposed thereon, LEP printers having a compound such as fluorosurfactant in the resin to make one or more parts of the LEP printer, and the like, are disclosed. |
| US08428494B2 |
Driving device and image forming apparatus
A driving device to be used in an image forming apparatus includes an input gear; a partly non-toothed gear having a toothed portion engageable with the input gear and having a non-toothed portion; a holding member capable of placing the partly non-toothed gear in a holding state in which the non-toothed portion opposes the input gear and the partly non-toothed gear is not engaged with the input gear and capable of placing the partly non-toothed gear in a released state in which the holding state is released; a cylindrical member rotatable by receiving a rotational force; and an entering portion which is rotatable together with the partly non-toothed gear and which is capable of entering an inside of the cylindrical member and capable of receiving the rotational force from the cylindrical member by a frictional force between the entering portion and the cylindrical member. |
| US08428493B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a development roller; a transfer roller; a drum driving unit that includes a forwardly and reversely rotatable motor; a forward transport unit; a reverse transport unit; and a transfer potential control unit that is configured to control a surface potential of the transfer roller to have a reverse polarity to that of the developer on the photosensitive drum during the forward rotation of the motor and control the surface potential of the transfer roller to be a potential that has the same polarity as the developer on the photosensitive drum and is equal to or higher than a surface potential of the photosensitive drum during the reverse rotation of the motor. |
| US08428492B2 |
Connection assembly of photo-conductor drum
A connection assembly of the photo-conductor drum is applied for linking a driving shaft. The connection assembly of the photo-conductor drum includes a drum gear and a connector. A first connection part arranged at an end of the drum gear. An end of the connector forms a second connection part corresponding to the first connection part. Another end of the connector forms a joint end. The joint end includes a central pillar, and a plurality of protrusions extending from a periphery of the central pillar. The second connection part could detachably connect to the first connection part. The joint end is detachably connected to the driving shaft. Therefore, by replacing the damaged drum gear or damaged connector only, the costs, quantity of the waste and the maintenance expend would be reduced. |
| US08428491B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for forming a toner image on the image bearing member while carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, wherein the developing device is mountable and demountable relative to a main assembly of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel with a radial direction of the image bearing member; an urging mechanism for urging the developing device toward the surface of the image bearing member; and a moving mechanism, movable in a movement path of the developing device, for moving the developing device between a developing position in which development can be effected and a retracted position retracted from the developing position in a state in which the developing device is urged by the urging mechanism. The moving mechanism is temporarily retracted from an inside of the movement path of the developing device to an outside of the movement path of the developing device by a mounting and demounting operation of the developing device. |
| US08428477B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a toner carrying member for supplying toner to an image bearing member to visualize the latent image; a rotatable toner supply member, contacted to the toner carrying member, for supplying toner to the image bearing member; a voltage applying device for applying voltages to the toner carrying member and the toner supply member; and a controller for controlling the voltage applying device to control voltages applied to the toner carrying member and the toner supplying member. |
| US08428476B2 |
Image forming apparatus for detecting speed fluctuation
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image carrier, a driving source, a rotation detection unit, and a control unit that performs fluctuation pattern recognition processing, control pattern construction processing, speed fine-adjustment processing, and remaining pattern recognition processing. The control unit is configured to perform control pattern correction processing for setting a frequency band of a remaining speed fluctuation to be detected by the remaining pattern recognition processing narrower than a frequency band of a speed fluctuation to be detected by the fluctuation pattern recognition processing and correcting the speed control pattern so as to be a pattern capable of reducing even the remaining speed fluctuation based on a remaining speed fluctuation pattern recognized by the remaining pattern recognition processing. |
| US08428475B2 |
Waste toner container and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A waste toner container that collects waste toner that is not used to form an image in an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, and includes a waste toner collection opening to receive the waste toner output from the image forming unit, a toner amount detector to detect toner amount in the waste toner container, and a waste toner conveyance member disposed inside the waste toner container to convey the waste toner in the waste toner container. The waste toner conveyance member defines a waste toner conveyance direction exchange point, which is a boundary between two different toner conveyance direction regions in which the waste toner is conveyed in opposite directions, and the waste toner conveyance direction exchange point is disposed closer to the toner amount detector than is the waste toner collection opening. |
| US08428474B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing device for developing with developer an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member includes a developer carrying member; a developing chamber in which the developer carrying member is provided; a developer accommodating chamber, for accommodating developer to be fed to the developing chamber; a shaft rotatably supported in the accommodating chamber; a developer feeding member, mounted on the shaft; a light transmitting member for permitting light to pass into the accommodating chamber to detect an amount of the developer in the accommodating chamber; and a developer scattering preventing member provided on an inner wall of the accommodating chamber so as to overlap with the light transmitting member with respect to an axial direction of the shaft as seen in a direction perpendicular to the developer scattering preventing member, an upper end of the developer scattering preventing member being located below the light transmitting member. |
| US08428468B2 |
Polarization multiplexing optical transmission system, polarization multiplexing optical receiver and polarization multiplexing optical transmission method
A polarization multiplexing optical receiver according to the invention includes a polarization splitting unit receiving polarization multiplexed lights which are modulated according to a first input signal and a second input signal including respective identifier, and splitting the polarization multiplexed light into a first polarized received light and a second polarized received light, a pair of photoelectric conversion units, a demodulation unit performing symbol recognition about the first received signal and the second received signal, and outputting a first demodulated signal and a second demodulated signal, an identifier detecting unit detecting the identifiers from the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal, and a delay compensation unit calculating a delay difference between the first demodulated signal and the second demodulated signal based on the identifiers, and inserting delay time corresponding to the delay difference into the first demodulated signal or the second demodulated signal. |
| US08428466B2 |
Carrier current communication system with infrared receiver
Embodiments of a method and apparatus are described to transmit a data signal from a power supply unit, over existing direct current (DC) power transmission lines, to a residential gateway which includes an infrared (IR) receiver designed to receive optical signals. In one embodiment, the IR receiver is configured to receive a carrier current communication signal from the power supply unit over a pair of copper wires coupled to the IR receiver. The carrier current communication signals may be encoded by a transmission encoding logic circuit using pulse position modulation techniques. The received carrier current communication signals may be demodulated and decoded to reproduce an input data stream. |
| US08428465B2 |
Return path for uspstream communications originating from optical node
This disclosure describes techniques for providing a communication path for upstream communications originating from a node of an optical network. In particular, methods and devices are described for combining upstream communications originating from the node of the optical network with upstream communications originating from subscriber devices coupled to the node. The upstream communication originating from the node may, for example, include status information about the node. The upstream communication, which may include status information about the node, essentially piggy-backs onto upstream communication originating from the subscriber devices coupled to the node. |
| US08428464B2 |
Methods and devices for detection of a first signal superimposed on a second signal
Methods and devices for detecting at least one first input signal superimposed on at least one second signal. The method comprises the steps of providing said at least one first input signal superimposed on at least one second signal to at least one half-wave rectifier; transforming, in said at least one half-wave rectifier, said at least one first input signal superimposed on at least one second signal into a half-wave rectified signal; providing said half-wave rectified signal to an envelope detector; and transforming, in said envelope detector, said half-wave rectified signal into an envelope signal and wherein the at least one half-wave rectifier comprises at least one optoelectronic device. In this way, a simpler and cheaper method and/or device are provided for e.g. detecting a transmitted information signal superimposed on a high frequency carrier signal. |
| US08428463B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling a dynamic gain equalizer
Consistent with the present disclosure, a method and apparatus for providing a uniform spectral gain of an optical amplifier is provided. Namely, a “balancing” step is carried out in which an optical channel having the lowest power level input to an optical circuit, such as an dynamic gain equalizer (DGE), is assigned a zero “attenuation error” and is substantially un-attenuated by the DGE. The lowest power level optical signal does not require further attenuation and effectively serves as a reference power level, which the power levels of the remaining optical signals are set to. For example, remaining optical signals are assigned either positive or negative attenuation errors relative to the zero attenuation error based on optical signal input powers to the DGE and accumulated DGE attenuations over time. Those optical signals having a negative attenuation error are substantially unattenuated by the DGE, because such optical signals are adequately attenuated and do not require further attenuation. On the other hand, the DGE is controlled to attenuate those optical signals having positive attenuation errors to thereby flatten the output spectrum of the amplifier. In one example, interpolation techniques may be employed to control those portions of the DGE (e.g., attenuators or pixels) that do not receive a channel, such that adjacent pixels that receive channels may impart a desired amount of attenuation. In addition, further interpolation may be provided to appropriately control the DGE pixels, if the number of channels supplied to the DGE is different than the number of pixels of the DGE. |
| US08428461B2 |
Apparatus for managing an optical signal
An apparatus for managing an optical signal includes a system optics card including an add filter, a drop filter, electrical backplane connector, and a mechanical front panel including express input and output ports providing channels to other system optics cards. The card transports information over a first optical transport link and receives information over a second optical transport link. The card identifies at least one network channel on the second optical transport link destined for a client device. The drop filter delivers the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device. The add filter receives client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device. The card also transports the client channels of the client device over the first optical transport link. The electrical backplane connector is connectable to a chassis for housing the system optics cards and other system optics cards and/or other optics cards. |
| US08428460B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network having multiple branches of optical distribution
Various methods and apparatuses are described for a wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) that performs bi-directional communication. The WDM-PON may include two or more remote distribution nodes in between a central office and the most distant optical network unit. Each remote distribution node is located in a physically separate location. A first remote distribution node has two or more optical network units connected to the first remote distribution node. Each remote node separates one or more wavelength channels from a composite optical signal distributed through that remote distribution node. |
| US08428459B2 |
Optical I/O bus system
An optical input/output (I/O) bus system for connecting a plurality of external devices with a central processing unit (CPU) or memory in a specific system using an optical signal is provided. The optical I/O bus system includes a serializer and deserializer (SerDes) connected with the CPU or memory, and configured to divide a serial electrical signal into parallel electrical signals or combine parallel electrical signals into a serial electrical signal, a photoelectric converter prepared between the SerDes and the external devices, and configured to convert the serial/parallel electrical signals into an optical signal or an optical signal into an electrical signal, a plurality of optical transmission means disposed in parallel to transfer the optical signal converted by the photoelectric converter, an optical switch prepared between the photoelectric converter and the optical transmission means, and configured to switch to one of the optical transmission means to transfer the optical signal converted by the photoelectric converter to the optical transmission means according to an address of the optical signal, and a plurality of optical slots connected to the respective optical transmission means to connect the external devices so that the optical signal is input/output. In the optical I/O bus system, a high-capacity signal can be transferred without distortion, interference, and bottleneck using optical connection technology. |
| US08428456B2 |
Passive optical network protection method, switchover control device, and passive optical network protection system
The present invention discloses a passive optical network (PON) protection method, a switchover control device, and a PON protection system. In embodiments of the present invention, a protection optical line terminal (OLT) is connected to optical links of at least two working OLTs through the switchover control device; when a working OLT or working optical link fails, the switchover control device replaces the working OLT through the protection optical link, thus ensuring smooth communication. In addition, by using the networking mode of multiple working OLTs and one protection OLT, the embodiments of the present invention greatly saves the networking cost and facilitates the application of the PON technology. |
| US08428452B2 |
Driving mechanism, lens barrel, and camera
A driving mechanism includes plural driving members arranged in a circumferential shape around a reference shaft, a base member holding the plural driving members with each interposed in the circumferential direction, first piezoelectric elements vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, and second piezoelectric elements vibrating in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction. Each driving member includes a first member and a second member. The base member supports one driving member of two driving members adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction on a first support face and supports the other driving member on a second support face. The base member is formed so that the angle formed by the first support face and the second support face is equal to or greater than 60°. |
| US08428451B2 |
Interchangeable zoom lens actuator
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical module that includes interchangeable lenses to adjust a zoom level of the optical module. |
| US08428450B2 |
Integrated optical module
The instant disclosure relates to an integrated optic module for adapting in a finger sensing apparatus. The integrated optic module comprises an illumination portion including a light guiding array arranged to direct incident light from the electronic module toward the window module at a predetermined angle of incidence and an imaging portion having an imaging lens array arranged thereon to direct reflected light from the window module toward the electronic module for photo imaging. The micro-lens array includes an elongated recognition unit having a row axis substantially normal toward the light guiding array and a navigation unit adjoining the recognition unit and offsetting the row axis thereof. The optic module mediates a window module and an electronic module to provide both finger navigation and fingerprint recognition capabilities. |
| US08428449B2 |
Method of operating a flow-through heating
A flow-through heating system (1) is described, comprising: a flow tube (11); a plurality of at least two heating elements (12A, 12B, 12C), each heating element being connected in series with a corresponding controllable switch (23 A, 23B, 23C); a control unit (30) having control outputs (33A, 33B, 33C) coupled to said controllable switches; the control unit (30) being designed to generate control signals (Sa, Sb, Sc) for opening and closing the controllable switches such that said heating system is operated at a required power (Pr) less than the power capacity (Ptot) of said heating system by operating precisely one of said heating elements at reduced power while the remaining heating elements are either operated at full power or at zero power. |
| US08428445B2 |
Gas heating apparatus and methods
A thermally sprayed gas heater comprises a gas flow apparatus that propels a gas through a housing; and a thermally sprayed heater bonded to a surface of the apparatus, the heater positioned to heat the gas flow in the housing. In other aspects, a heater system for a turbulent flow gas duct comprises a duct having a gas flow channel, the channel having a shaped surface providing turbulent gas flow in the channel, and a thermally sprayed heater positioned to heat the gas flow in the channel. |
| US08428444B2 |
Video server and seamless playback method
According to one embodiment, a video server includes a storage unit, an output processing unit, and a decoding processing unit. The storage unit stores first video data items and second video data items. The output processing unit generates first and second data blocks based on the first video data items and the second video data item read from the storage unit, respectively. The output processing unit outputs the first data blocks in fewer frames than usual, and outputs the second data block in vacant frame. The decoding processing unit decodes the first data blocks to generate a first playback signals, and outputs the first playback signals. The decoding processing unit stores the second data blocks. |
| US08428443B2 |
Systems and methods of providing modified media content
A method of providing modified media content is disclosed that includes providing media content to a destination device via a network, where the media content comprises video data and audio data have a first viewing rate. The method further includes receiving data indicating a selection of a second viewing rate via the network and modifying the media content to produce modified media content having approximately the second viewing rate. The modified media content includes modified video data and modified audio data synchronized at approximately the second viewing rate. |
| US08428438B2 |
Apparatus for viewing television with pause capability
A television has an encoder, a random access memory buffer, and a decoder in addition to components of a conventional television receiver. The encoder encodes television signals to a digital format and the random access memory buffer stores the encoded television signal in response to activation of a pause function. The random access memory buffer outputs the stored digital television signal and the decoder decodes the digital television signal output from the random access memory buffer in response to deactivation of the pause function. |
| US08428435B2 |
Content use device and recording medium
To provide a content playback device that can use content appropriately by avoiding output of content not permitted to be used according to contract information. A playback control unit 102 extracts a content name from playback control information in a playback path information table 210, and inquires of a rights management unit 108 whether content identified by the extracted content name is playable or not. If the content is judged as being unplayable, the playback control unit 102 extracts an alternative playback number from the playback control information, and extracts a content name from playback control information whose playback number matches the alternative playback number. The playback control unit 102 then instructs a decryption unit 103 and a playback unit 107 to decrypt and play back encrypted content identified by the extracted content name. |
| US08428432B2 |
Information storage medium storing text-based subtitle, and apparatus and method for processing text-based subtitle
An information storage medium storing subtitle text-based information, and a method and apparatus utilizing same, process a subtitle. The information storage medium includes: dialog information which contains script text information of the subtitle and information specifying an output type of the script text; and presentation information which contains style information used to convert the script text into a bitmap format through rendering. With this structure, the amount of data required for a subtitle and the amount of data that should be processed when a subtitle is output may be greatly reduced. |
| US08428428B2 |
Reproduction device and program
A playback apparatus plays back video data recorded on a recording medium such as a BD-ROM. The playback apparatus includes (i) an interface in which a removable medium such as an SDRAM is inserted, (ii) a detection module detecting that the removable medium is inserted, and (iii) a virtual file system. The virtual file system is used if the removable medium is detected to be inserted, if additional content such as subtitles is recorded on the removable medium, and furthermore if the additional content is associated with the video data recorded on the BD-ROM, etc. The virtual file system dynamically combines the video data recorded on the BD-ROM, etc. and the additional content of the removable medium so as to play back a virtual package. |
| US08428425B2 |
Optical disk for high resolution and general video recording, optical disk reproduction apparatus, optical disk recording apparatus, and reproduction control information generation apparatus
A high resolution video signal is divided by video division means into a main signal and a sub signal, and the main signal and the sub signal are MPEG-encoded. The stream of the main signal and the stream of the sub signal are divided into 1 GPO or more of frames. First interleave blocks each including 1 GOP or more of the stream of the main signal and second interleave blocks each including 1 GOP or more of the stream of the sub signal are recorded on an optical disk. A high resolution reproduction apparatus reproduces both the first and second interleave blocks to obtain a high resolution video output. A non-high quality picture reproduction apparatus reproduces only the first or second interleave blocks to obtain a standard resolution video output. |
| US08428424B2 |
Apparatus and method for testing signal channels of digital video recorder
A channel test unit of a digital video recorder (DVR) includes a command generation module generating a selection signal to a controller. The controller outputs control signals to a multiplexer to select an output terminal of the multiplexer to switch to a signal channel. A signal generation module obtains a format voice data and converts to an analog voice signal and sends to the multiplexer. The multiplexer sends the analog voice signal to the selected signal channel after the signal channel is selected. A voice detection module defines an identification (ID) number for each of the signal channels in sequence and detects whether the DVR receives an analog voice signal, and determines whether all of the signal channels have been tested. A display module displays an ID number of the selected signal channel on a display device when the DVR does not receive the analog voice signal. |
| US08428419B2 |
Fiber distribution hub with internal cable spool
A fiber distribution hub (FDH) includes an internal spool for wrapping a fiber optic cable. The internal spool is adapted to rotate within the FDH and thereby pay out or retrieve the fiber optic cable from/to the FDH. A first end of the fiber optic cable can be extended through an entrance location of the FDH and can be further extended beyond the FDH to a connection point. The second end of the fiber optic cable can be connected to a fiber optic adapter within the FDH and can be disconnected from the fiber optic adapter when the internal spool is rotated. The fiber optic cable can be a fiber optic feeder cable. |
| US08428418B2 |
Fiber optic adapter plate and cassette
An adapter cassette including a housing and an adapter plate that mounts to a front opening of the housing by a snap-fit connection. The adapter cassette also including a cover that mounts to the housing by a snap-fit connection to enclose cable terminations within an interior of the housing. The adapter plate of the adapter cassette can further be mounted directly to a telecommunications panel without the housing for use in applications having non-enclosed cable terminations. |
| US08428414B2 |
Single-mode optical fiber having reduced bending losses
A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core, an intermediate cladding, a depressed trench, and an external optical cladding. The central core has a radius r1 and a positive refractive index difference Δn1 with the optical cladding. The intermediate cladding has a radius r2 and a refractive index difference Δn2 with the optical cladding, wherein Δn2 is less than Δn1. The depressed trench has a radius r3 and a negative index difference Δn3 with the optical cladding. At a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, the optical fiber has a mode field diameter (MFD) between 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns and, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber has bending losses less than about 0.25×10−3 dB/turn for a radius of curvature of 15 millimeters. At a wavelength of 1260 nanometers, attenuation of the LP11 mode to 19.3 dB is achieved over less than 90 meters of fiber. |
| US08428410B2 |
High-bandwidth multimode optical fiber having reduced bending losses
The present invention embraces a multimode optical fiber that includes a central core having an alpha-index profile, an inner cladding, a depressed trench, and an outer cladding (e.g., an outer optical cladding). Typically, the central core's alpha-index profile has a minimum refractive index at the central core's radius that corresponds to a refractive index difference with respect to the outer cladding. The optical fiber achieves reduced bending losses and a high bandwidth with a reduced cladding effect for high-data-rate applications. |
| US08428405B2 |
Electrically traceable and identifiable fiber optic cables and connectors
Composite fiber optic cables having exposed, conductive traces external to the cable jacket enable non-invasive, wireless electrical tone tracing of fiber optic cables. The cross sectional geometry of the fiber optic cable prevents conductive traces from short circuiting when abutting other cables or grounded conductive elements. Moreover, the structure allows convenient electrical contact to the conductive traces at any location along the longitudinal extent of the cable without requiring penetration of the cable jacket or removal of fiber optic connectors. Traceable fiber optic cables of various types are disclosed, including simplex, duplex and ribbon cables. Systems of traceable cables utilizing connectors with integrated electrical antenna elements attached to the conductive elements of cable and RFID tags for remote connector port identification are further disclosed. |
| US08428399B2 |
Optical module, manufacturing method thereof, and optical transmitter
An optical module including a first optical coupler; a second optical coupler; a first optical waveguide; a second optical waveguide; a first electrode provided on the first optical waveguide; a second electrode provided on the second optical waveguide; a short electrode shorter than the first and second electrodes and provided on the second optical waveguide; and a first high-frequency connector and a second high-frequency connector; wherein, the short electrode provided on the second optical waveguide is coupled to the second high-frequency connector; and the first electrode provided on the first optical waveguide is coupled to the first high-frequency connector. |
| US08428398B2 |
Hand-held portable microarray reader for biodetection
A hand-held portable microarray reader for biodetection includes a microarray reader engineered to be small enough for portable applications. The invention includes a high-powered light-emitting diode that emits excitation light, an excitation filter positioned to receive the excitation light, a slide, a slide holder assembly for positioning the slide to receive the excitation light from the excitation filter, an emission filter positioned to receive the excitation light from the slide, a lens positioned to receive the excitation light from the emission filter, and a CCD camera positioned to receive the excitation light from the lens. |
| US08428397B1 |
Systems and methods for large scale, high-dimensional searches
Methods and systems for fast, large scale, high-dimensional searches are described. In some embodiments, a method comprises transforming components of a high-dimensional image descriptor into transformed components in a transform domain, allocating one or more bits available within a bit budget to a given transformed component within a first subset of transformed components as a function of a variance of the given transformed component, independently quantizing each transformed component within the first subset of transformed components, generating a compact representation of the high-dimensional image descriptor based, at least in part, on the independently quantized components, and evaluating a nearest neighbor search operation based, at least in part, on the compact representation of the high-dimensional image descriptor. |
| US08428392B1 |
Systems and methods for measuring geometry parameters with a reference object whose thickness can not be ignored in images
An improvement of measuring geometry parameters of a geometry object from an image with a reference object whose thickness can not be ignored. A hidden point on the plane with which geometry object contacts is computed from visible points. The computed hidden point combined with other points in the same plane is used to compute a homography matrix between a known size shape and its projection in the image. With the computed homography matrix and enough valid points in the image, the geometry parameters of the geometry object are determined. With the geometry parameters of the geometry objects, useful information can be calculated from. |
| US08428390B2 |
Generating sharp images, panoramas, and videos from motion-blurred videos
A “Blur Remover” provides various techniques for constructing deblurred images from a sequence of motion-blurred images such as a video sequence of a scene. Significantly, this deblurring is accomplished without requiring specialized side information or camera setups. In fact, the Blur Remover receives sequential images, such as a typical video stream captured using conventional digital video capture devices, and directly processes those images to generate or construct deblurred images for use in a variety of applications. No other input beyond the video stream is required for a variety of the embodiments enabled by the Blur Remover. More specifically, the Blur Remover uses joint global motion estimation and multi-frame deblurring with optional automatic video “duty cycle” estimation to construct deblurred images from video sequences for use in a variety of applications. Further, the automatically estimated video duty cycle is also separately usable in a variety of applications. |
| US08428389B2 |
Multi-dimensional empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method for image texture analysis
A multi-dimensional empirical mode decomposition method is provided. The method can be applied in image texture analysis, such as medical image analysis. The method can adaptively decompose a three-dimensional image into a number of characteristic image layers and extract characteristic images showing more noticeable textures from the layers. The method uses the physical concept of field to perform the data mode decomposition to obtain envelope and tendency estimation of multi-dimensional data. The method can also be applied in time and frequency analysis of two-dimensional data or multi-channel data. |
| US08428386B2 |
Using separate coefficients to weight and add separate images together from a spatial filter process
A local density calculation section calculates a density of a pixel region with a predetermined size including a current point of an input image disposed at the center on the basis of a pixel value of the pixel region. A mixing ratio calculation section generates a coefficient set of coefficients α and β in accordance with a local density value calculated by the local density calculation section, and outputs the generated coefficients α and β to a weight process section. The weight process section multiplies an operation result obtained from the input image by a first filter operation section by the coefficient α, multiplies an operation result obtained from the input image by a second filter operation section by the coefficient β, adds the multiplied results to each other and outputs the result of addition as a process result of a spatial filter process section. |
| US08428381B2 |
Image compression method with variable quantization parameter
An image compression method s used for processing a plurality of pixels of an image. The image compression method includes the steps of receiving N successive pixels; obtaining N pixel differences and N map differences corresponding to the N pixels according to values of the N pixels through differential pulse code modulation; calculating to obtain a quantization reference value corresponding to the N pixels according to the N pixel differences; obtaining a quantization parameter corresponding to the N pixels according to the quantization reference value; and encoding the N map differences according to the quantization parameter. |
| US08428380B2 |
Apparatus and method of embedded quantization for the improved SNR scalbility
Provided are a method and apparatus for enhancing coding efficiency by performing encoding and decoding by optimally calculating quantization intervals and reconstruction values through a distribution of DCT coefficients of each frame, when DCT coefficients of each SNR enhancement layer are quantized in scalable video coding. The encoding apparatus includes: an R-D optimization unit performing Rate-Distortion (R-D) optimization based on a distribution of Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients each slice and calculating a first reference value and a second reference value respectively indicating a start point and an end point of DCT coefficients quantized to “0”; a quantization interval setting unit setting adaptive quantization intervals on the basis of a minimum value and a maximum value of the DCT coefficients, the first reference value, and the second reference value; and a mapping unit mapping the DCT coefficients to the adaptive quantization intervals. |
| US08428373B2 |
Apparatus for determining motion vectors and a reference picture index for a current block in a picture to be decoded
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder. The decoder is configured to obtain first and second motion vectors of a block other than the current block. The other block neighbors the current block at one of a left, top and top right position. The decoder is configured to obtain a direction of the first and second motion vectors of the neighboring block. The decoder is configured to determine first and second prediction motion vectors of the current block using the first and second motion vectors of the neighboring block such that the first prediction motion vector of the current block has the obtained direction of the first motion vector of the neighboring block and the second prediction motion vector of the current block has the obtained direction of the second motion vector of the neighboring block. |
| US08428372B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for compressing data
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for compressing data in a manner that decorrelates a plurality of components of multicomponent data and then encodes data relating to decorrelation of the components. The components may be decorrelated by organizing samples of a component into classes based upon values of samples having corresponding spatial locations in at least one preceding component. In this regard, the organization of samples of a component into classes may include defining classes based upon values of the samples in at least one preceding component. In addition, the method may also define classes based upon the slope of the samples in at least two preceding component. |
| US08428370B2 |
Apparatus for providing digital contents and method thereof
The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing digital contents that acquires image data by photographing a user terminal intending to receive digital contents and discriminates a type of user terminal through the acquired image data. The present invention can simply and conveniently perform the process of discriminating a user terminal that is cumbersomely and complexly performed in the apparatus for providing contents according to the related art by the user that is not familiar with the use of the IT devices. |
| US08428361B2 |
Image processing apparatus for detecting a face
An electronic image is received by a system to process the image for the presence of a face. The image is repeatedly electronically scanned using a plurality of windows for the presence of facial poses. A plurality of directional poses is detected during the scanning process. Reliabilities for each type of detected poses are calculated. The reliabilities are based on the amount of times the directional poses are detected during the scanning process and directions of the directional poses. |
| US08428356B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method for generating electronic document with a table line determination portion
There are provided an image processing device, an image processing method and a program that generate an electronic document in a format specification that is optimal for many purposes of electronic documents. A table region is discriminated from an input image, and a table structure in the table region is analyzed. A table line determination is made on the analyzed table structure as to whether or not each ruled line is representable in the format, and ruled line information and a vector line object are created according to the determination result. The created ruled line information and vector line object are used to generate the electronic document. |
| US08428353B2 |
Calculation apparatus for amount of characteristic and discrimination apparatus
A calculation apparatus for amount of characteristic that calculates an amount of characteristic based on a histogram of an amount of characteristic of input data includes: a buffer for holding a portion of the input data; a memory, having a plurality of banks, for holding calculation results of the histogram; a generation unit for generating a table in which a position of a target data on the buffer of which the amount of characteristic is to be calculated corresponds to a position on the memory to which a category of the calculated amount of characteristic is voted; and a vote unit that determines a category of the amount of characteristic of the target data and that performs a vote to the position on the memory shown on the table. |
| US08428348B2 |
Image analysis through neural network using image average color
Architecture for comparing images by building an initial map from the average color and an inserted blackened area. Accordingly, a map can be built that is more information-rich and smaller, thereby making the system more efficient. The architecture employs a Kohonen neural network (or self-organizing map (SOM)) by guiding the learning of the SOM using characteristics of the images such as average color and a central area. A strong component of the average color of the image and the central area at the approximate center of the image are added to the uninitialized SOM, which allows related colors to converge toward the central area of the image. When input, the SOM organizes the color content of the image on a map, which can be used to compare the image with other images. |
| US08428347B2 |
Color processing apparatus, color processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A color processing apparatus includes a first calculation unit, a determination unit, and a second calculation unit. The first calculation unit calculates a second color signal from a first color signal by using successive approximation. The first color signal is given by repeatedly calculating a first successive solution using an inverse matrix of a sensitivity matrix of an input/output characteristic function of an output device. The determination unit determines whether or not the first successive solution calculated by the first calculation unit is divergent. The second calculation unit calculates a second successive solution using a method different from a method used by the first calculation unit when the determination unit determines that the first successive solution is divergent. |
| US08428341B2 |
Apparatus for calculating 3D spatial coordinates of digital images and method thereof
Provided is a digital photographing apparatus including: an image acquiring unit that acquires images by photographing a subject; a sensor information acquiring unit that acquires positional information, directional information, and posture information of the digital photographing apparatus at the time of photographing a subject; a device information acquiring unit that acquires device information of the digital photographing apparatus at the time of photographing a subject; and a spatial coordinates calculator that calculates 3D spatial coordinates for photographed images using the acquired positional information, directional information, posture information, and device information. |
| US08428339B2 |
System and method for alignment and inspection of ball grid array devices
A system and method for high-speed alignment and inspection of components, such as BGA devices, having non-uniform features is provided. During training time of a machine vision system, a small subset of alignment significant blobs along with a quantum of geometric analysis for picking granularity is determined. Also, during training time, balls may be associated with groups, each of which may have its own set of parameters for inspection. |
| US08428332B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
A batch of bills is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the plurality of currency bills. Each currency bill includes a respective serial number. The serial numbers are extracted from the image data for each of the currency bills. Each extracted serial number is compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a currency bill database to determine if a currency bill associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill. One of the plurality of currency bills is determined to be a suspect currency bill based on the comparing. In response to determining the suspect currency bill, at least a portion of the produced image data is displayed as a visually readable image of the suspect currency bill on a display unit of the document processing system. |
| US08428331B2 |
Phase subtraction cell counting method
A method and device are provided for counting cells in a sample of living tissue, such as an embryo. The method involves obtaining a microscopic image of the unstained tissue that reveals cell boundaries, such as a differential interference contrast (DIC) image, and an optical quadrature microscopy (OQM) image which is used to prepare an image of optical path length deviation (OPD) across the cell cluster. The boundaries of individual cells in the cell cluster are modeled as ellipses and used, together with the maximum optical path length deviation of a cell, to calculate ellipsoidal model cells that are subtracted from the OPD image. The process is repeated until the OPD image is depleted of phase signal attributable to cells of the cell cluster, and the cell count is obtained from the number of cells subtracted. The method is capable of accurately and non-invasively counting the number of cells in a living embryo at the 2-30 cell stage, and can be employed to assess the developmental stage and health of human embryos for fertility treatments. |
| US08428330B2 |
Method for deriving amount of dense tissue from mammographic image
A region of interest in the image is determined and for each pixel in each location (x,y) in that region of interest a value hint(x,y) is computed representing the amount of dense tissue below said pixel as h int ( x , y ) = 2 μ fat ( E ) - μ int ( E ) ( Log ( p ( x , y ) ) - Log ( p fat ) ) wherein p(x,y) represents the pixel value of a pixel at location (x,y) in said digital mammographic image, pfat is a reference fat pixel value, μfat,μint are the linear attenuation coefficients of fat tissue and dense tissue and E is the mono-energetic energy value of the x-ray source at image recording, whereby E and pfat are derived from said digital mammographic image representation. |
| US08428328B2 |
Region-growing algorithm
A technique for automatically generating a virtual model of a branched structure using as an input a plurality of images taken of the branched structure. The technique employs an algorithm that avoids inaccuracies associated with sub-optimal threshold settings by “patching” holes or leaks created due to the inherent inconsistencies with imaging technology. By “patching” the holes, the algorithm may continue to run using a more sensitive threshold value than was previously possible. |
| US08428327B2 |
Vessel segmentation in DCE MR imaging
The invention relates to segmenting blood vessels in perfusion MR images, more particularly, the invention relates to automated vessel removal in identified tumor regions prior to tumor grading. Pixels from a perfusion related map from dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) MR images are clustered into arterial pixels and venous pixels by e.g. a k-means class cluster analysis. The analysis applies parameters representing the degree to which the tissue entirely consists of blood (such as relative blood volume (rBV), peak enhancement (ΔR2max) and/or post first-pass enhancement level (ΔR2p)) and parameters representing contrast arrival time at the tissue (such as first moment of the area (fmAUC) and/or contrast arrival time (T0)). The artery and venous pixels are used to form a vessel mask. The invention also relates to a computer aided diagnostic (CAD) system for tumor grading, comprising automated tumor segmentation, vessel segmentation, and tumor grading. |
| US08428317B2 |
Binned micro-vessel density methods and apparatus
In one aspect, a method of obtaining micro-vessel density (MVD) measurements from an image of biological vasculature containing a plurality of vessels is provided. The method comprises acts of analyzing a region of interest of the image for each of a plurality of bins, each of the plurality of bins associated with a predetermined range of vessel sizes, the act of analyzing the region of interest including determining which of the plurality of bins that portions of any vessel subject matter identified in the region of interest belong based on a size associated with the respective portions of the vessel subject matter, and associating each portion of the vessel subject matter with the corresponding one of the plurality of bins to which the portion belongs, and computing at least one measurement for each of the plurality of bins, the at least one measurement related to the MVD of the portions of vessel subject matter associated with the respective bin. |
| US08428313B2 |
Object image correction apparatus and method for object identification
An object image correction apparatus and method for object identification are disclosed. The object image correction method is firstly used for correcting a face or an object under a right position. For example, in order to reduce time consumption for facial identification, the method corrects the deviations such as a rotation, direction, and scaling before an identification process. Preferably, an image is retrieved in a first step. One or more object positions are then detected. Next, some positions of the features are found, and the positions of plural feature points thereon are computed. The method then goes to determine the degree of deviations for the object based on the positions of feature points. Moreover, one or in combination of a rotation correction, a scaling correction, a direction correction, and a shift correction is introduced to process the correction on each deviation. The positions of the feature points are consequently obtained. |
| US08428312B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes: a sequence creating section configured to create a plurality of sequences in such a manner that one sequence includes consecutive face images of a same person in video image data; a similarity calculating section configured to calculate a first similarity of each pair in a plurality of face image dictionaries created for each sequence and a second similarity of each pair of each face image dictionary and a predetermined plurality of dictionaries; a similarity correcting section configured to correct the calculated and obtained plurality of first similarities by the second similarities; and a face clustering section configured to compare the plurality of first similarities corrected by the similarity correcting section with a predetermined threshold to cluster the plurality of face image dictionaries. |
| US08428310B2 |
Pattern classification system and method for collective learning
A method for configuring a pattern recognition system begins by receiving object recognition data from at least one first local image processing system. The object recognition data is stored in at least one global database. Configuration data is determined for a second local image processing system based at least in part upon the received object recognition data from the at least one first image processing system, and then transmitted to the second local image processing system. |
| US08428309B2 |
Image processing device, and recording medium storing image processing program
An image processing device connected with an image formation device configured to output image on a recording medium, includes a data obtaining unit configured to obtain map image data representing a basic map image showing a user-designated geographic area at a user-designated scale, an area identifying unit configured to identify a basic image formation area and a surplus area, the basic map image being formed on the basic image formation area, the surplus area being an area within the image forming area but the basic map image is not formed. The image processing device further includes an additional data obtaining unit configured to obtain map image data necessary for covering an enlarged image formation area including the basic image formation area and at least part of the surplus area, from the map image data provider. The map image can be formed based on the updated map image data. |
| US08428308B2 |
Estimating subject motion for capture setting determination
A method for determining image capture settings for an electronic image capture device, comprising: capturing at least two preview images of a scene; analyzing the preview images to determine a combined motion velocity; determining one or more image capture settings responsive to the combined motion velocity; and capturing an archival image according to the determined image capture settings. The determination of the combined motion velocity includes: defining a plurality image regions; determining local motion velocities for each of the image regions; and combining the local motion velocities to determine the combined motion velocity. |
| US08428306B2 |
Information processor and information processing method for performing process adapted to user motion
A positional data acquisition unit of an action detector acquires positional data indicating the position of an image of a light-emitting part of a light-emitting device held by a user in an image frame at each time step, and also acquires curve data for the head contour at each time step estimated as a result of visual tracking by a tracking processor. A history storage unit stores a history of the positional data for an image of a light-emitting part and the curved data for the head contour. A determination criteria storage unit stores the criteria for determining that a predefined action is performed by referring to the time-dependent change in the relative position of the image of the light-emitting part in relation to the curve representing the head contour. An action determination unit determines whether the action is performed based on the actual data. |
| US08428305B2 |
Method for detecting a clear path through topographical variation analysis
A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle wherein the detecting includes a fusion of a plurality of analyses including monitoring an image from a camera device includes analyzing the image through clear path detection analysis to determine a clear path of travel within the image, analyzing an area in front of the vehicle utilizing a topographical variation analysis to determine a flat surface upon which the vehicle can travel, combining the clear path of travel and the determined flat surface to describe an enhanced clear path of travel, and utilizing the enhanced clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle. |
| US08428303B2 |
Postal indicium detection method and postal indicium detection apparatus
According to one embodiment, a postal indicium detection method includes detecting whether or not one of a first face and a second face of a sheet corresponds to a picture card specific face, detecting a postal indicium candidate from the second face based on a first detection result indicating that the first face corresponds to the picture card specific face, and detecting the postal indicium candidate from the first face based on a second detection result indicating that the second face corresponds to the picture card specific face. |
| US08428301B2 |
Content identification and quality monitoring
Content identification and quality monitoring are provided. The method involves obtaining a first fingerprint derived from a first media content, processing the first media content to generate a second media content, obtaining a second fingerprint derived from the second media content, and comparing the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to determine one or more of: a similarity between the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint that indicates that the second media content is generated from the first media content or a difference between the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to identify a quality degradation between the first media content and the second media content. |
| US08428294B2 |
Slim speaker
A slim speaker includes a casing having an enlarged front opening and a rear end with a magnetic circuit mounted thereto; a voice coil located over a central area of the magnetic circuit; a diaphragm located between the enlarged front opening of the casing and the voice coil; and a damper located behind the diaphragm to space from the latter. The diaphragm has at least one V-shaped bent section provided at a middle portion for bearing on a corresponding position on the damper. With these arrangements, the diaphragm not only has an effectively reduced overall height to largely reduce the assembled volume of the slim speaker and allow the slim speaker to be easily mounted in the limited inner space of an electric product, but also stabilizes the vibration of the voice coil to enable good resonance of sound. |
| US08428291B2 |
Speaker system with subwoofer
A speaker system includes an enclosure defining a resonance chamber, a loudspeaker received in the resonance chamber, and a sound wave reflecting member. The enclosure includes a front panel and a base. The loudspeaker is exposed at the front panel. The base includes a back panel facing the front panel, an inner tube, and an outer tube. The back panel defines a back bass port. The inner tube and the outer tube extend from the back panel and are received in the resonance chamber. The inner tube surrounds the back bass port. The outer tube surrounds the inner tube. The sound wave reflecting member is coupled with the outer tube and the inner tube. The sound wave reflecting member, the outer tube, and the inner tube cooperatively form a resonator. The resonator communicates with the resonance chamber and the back bass port. |
| US08428289B2 |
Headphone adaptation and positioning device
An adaptation device that removably attaches to earbud style headphone/s and provides improved security and retention of the earbud to a wearer's ear yet positions the speaker in substantially the same distance relative to the concha and/or ear canal of a wearer as a wearer would ordinarily wear an earbud. |
| US08428288B2 |
Ear jack for detecting earphone plug
An ear jack for detecting an earphone plug is provided. The ear jack includes a housing, a plurality of pins, a first detection part, a second detection part, and a controller. The housing includes a cavity for inserting terminals of the earphone plug. The plurality of pins are installed on an inner circumference surface of the housing and are in selective contact with a corresponding terminal of the earphone plug. The first detection part detects insertion of a first terminal of the earphone plug. The second detection part detects the insertion of the first terminal. The controller detects the insertion of the earphone plug when the first detection part and the second detection part both detect the insertion of the first terminal. |
| US08428281B2 |
Small hearing aid
A hearing aid comprises a microelectromechanical systems microphone which receives inputs of external sound signals, converting the sound signals to analog signals, and outputting the analog signals; a hearing aid processor chip which converts the analog signals to digital signals, performs gain correction and digital signal processing to the digital signals, and converts the processed digital signals to analog signals; and a microelectromechanical system receiver which outputs the analog signals converted from the processed digital signals as sound signals, wherein the microelectromechanical system microphone is attached to a first surface of the hearing aid processor chip, and the microelectromechanical system receiver is attached to a second surface of the hearing aid processor chip, so that the microelectromechanical system microphone, the hearing aid processor chip, and the microelectromechanical system receiver are integrated as a single body. |
| US08428280B2 |
Hearing aid with an interchangeable earpiece
A hearing aid has an interchangeable earpiece, which, on its own and separately from further components, can be replaced in a simple fashion and without great complexity, and without specialist tools. The hearing aid has a housing of a multi-part design and a receiver and a signal processing device within the housing. The receiver is arranged detachably in a first housing part and the signal processing device is disposed in a further housing part and the two housing parts are detachably interconnected. A detachable locking mechanism connects the housing parts. The receiver is connected to the signal processing device by way of a detachable electrical connector with a receiver-side and a signal-processing-device-side electrical contact. At least one of the electrical contacts is elastic. Due to the fact that the housing parts, the electrical connection and the receiver are detachably assembled, this results in the possibility of, when necessary, interchanging the receiver on its own, separately from further components. It is not necessary to use specific components or even an adhesive. In the process, the elastic electrical contact for electrically connecting the receiver and signal processing device makes it easier to close the electrical connection when assembling the housing parts. |
| US08428279B2 |
Condenser microphone and output connector therefor
The output connector for a condenser microphone has a circuit board mounted with a capacitor element and a shield cover having a first through hole, a second through hole, and a third through hole and covering the whole surface of the circuit board arranged in a state in which a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin are inserted through the first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole respectively, and the shield cover has a non-conducting magnetic sheet having a first insertion hole, a second insertion hole, and a third insertion hole through which the first pin, the second pin, and the third pin are also inserted respectively, on at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the shield cover. |
| US08428273B2 |
Wireless digital transmission system for loudspeakers
This invention relates to a wireless digital transmission system for loudspeakers comprising: compression means for the file representing the digital audio signal of the “compact disc” type, a transmission device comprising means of converting this compressed signal into a series signal moving by packets going to a modulator circuit with phase quadrature and means of transmitting the signals exiting the modulator circuit with phase quadrature to the domestic network for feeding electricity; a receiving device comprising means of connecting to this domestic network and of extracting from the feed electrical signal, by a demodulator with phase quadrature, data packets moving the digital audio signal to convert it into a parallelized digital signal sent to a decompression circuit; means of converting the decompressed digital signals into an analog signal intended to feed a loudspeaker after adequate amplification. |
| US08428271B1 |
Balanced distortion for musical instrument
A device is disclosed to provide balanced distortion in a musical instrument and to emulate the sound of a tube amplifier when overdriven. The device distorts, clips, and limits, selectively, an input audio signal. The circuit includes: an input stage to receive the input audio signal, remain linear, and maintain balanced outputs, and to split the input audio signal into an inverting, negative path and a non-inverting, positive path; an inverting, negative path balanced distortion circuit to receive an inverting, negative path input; a non-inverting, positive path balanced distortion circuit to receive a non-inverting, positive path input; and an output stage, wherein the output stage combines a pair of differential inputs to produce an output audio signal. The audio distortion circuit cancels incoming asymmetries in the output stage from the combined pair of differential inputs and produces the output audio signal as symmetric. |
| US08428270B2 |
Audio gain control using specific-loudness-based auditory event detection
In one disclosed aspect, dynamic gain modifications are applied to an audio signal at least partly in response to auditory events. In another aspect, an input channel is divided into auditory events by detecting changes in a measurable characteristic of the input signal with respect to time. |
| US08428268B2 |
Array speaker apparatus
An array speaker apparatus includes an array speaker in which plural speaker units are arranged in a single body, a sound source localization adding unit which generates left and right audio signals by performing localization processing for adding sound characteristics to audio signals of a front-left channel and a front-right channel on the basis of head transfer functions, and a sound emitting direction control unit which distributes the left and right audio signals to one or plural speaker units of the array speaker, and controls timing with which the speaker units output the audio signals so that a left sound emitted from the array speaker forms the same sound wavefront formed by a sound emitted from one of virtual point sound sources and that a right sound emitted from the array speaker forms the same sound wavefront formed by a sound emitted from the other of the virtual point sound sources. |
| US08428264B2 |
Method and system for wireless connecting a mobile device to a service provider through a hosting wireless access node
A method and system for commissioning a wireless connection with a related authentication and the eventual encryption to a remote relay node, whereto an electronic mobile device is connected to a hosting wireless access node for transmitting/receiving data to/from a service provider available on the Internet by means of a commissioned relay access node selected by an authentication and commissioning manager. The data transfer between the mobile device and the service provider is encapsulated into the tunnel between the hosting wireless access node and the commissioned relay access node and is finally forwarded by the commissioned relay access node to the service provider. The service provider thereby is exchanging data with the commissioned relay access node and not directly with the hosting wireless access node. |
| US08428262B2 |
Method to connect wireless communication device, wireless communication device, and computer usable medium therefor
A method to connect a wireless communication device to an intended wireless network is provided. The method includes a first step, in which options of authorization methods are presented to be selectable to a user, a second step, in which a first authorization method is automatically selected if an option of a third authorization item is selected, a third step, in which options of encryption methods corresponding to the selected first authorization method are presented to be selectable to the user, a fourth step, in which a first encryption method is automatically selected if a third encryption item is selected, and a fifth step, in which establishment of the connection is attempted by use of the selected first authorization method and the selected first encryption method. |
| US08428260B2 |
System and method of increasing encryption synchronization availability
Methods for increasing encryption synchronization availability include collecting encryption synchronization data from a first superframe received at a gateway. The encryption synchronization data is for decrypting media in a second superframe also received at the gateway. The encryption synchronization data from the first superframe is used to form a composite encryption synchronization codeword for decrypting media in a third superframe formed by the gateway, wherein the third superframe includes the composite encryption synchronization codeword and at least a portion of the media from the second superframe. The third superframe is sent to a receiving device so that media in the third superframe can be decrypted by the receiving device using the composite encryption synchronization codeword that is included in the same superframe as the media that is being decrypted. |
| US08428256B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficiently fixing transformed part of content
Provided are a method and apparatus for effectively fixing scrambled content. The method includes checking fixing information for a program map table (PMT) packet of packets constituting the content, the fixing information being used to fix a transformed part of the content; extracting location information of a next PMT packet containing fixing data for fixing the transformed part of the content from the fixing information of the PMT packet; and fixing the transformed part of the content by using the fixing data in the next PMT packet indicated by the extracted location information. Accordingly, it is possible to easily detect a location of the content, which stores the fixing information, thereby expediting fixing of the transformed content. |
| US08428248B2 |
System and method for mirroring power over ethernet registers in a physical layer device over a single isolation boundary
A system and method for mirroring power over Ethernet (PoE) registers in physical layer devices (PHYs) over a single isolation boundary. PHYs in a PoE system can be arranged in a master/slave configuration. In this configuration, a master PHY can be designed to communicate with the power source equipment controllers via a single isolation device. |
| US08428247B2 |
Echo mitigation in a conference call
In an example embodiment, an example method is provided for echo mitigation in a conference call. In this method, a test audio signal is transmitted to a conference endpoint and as a result, an echo associated with the transmittal of the test audio signal is received. One or more parameters of the echo are then identified and an echo mitigation process is selected from multiple echo mitigation processes based on the identified parameters. The selected echo mitigation process is then applied. |
| US08428243B2 |
Method and system for trunk independent gateway transfer of calls
Techniques for providing a method and system for trunk independent gateway transfer of calls are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a computer implemented method, comprising receiving a call transfer request for a call at a gateway and determining, using a processor of the gateway, whether a trunk to be used for transferring the call requires a transfer command. In the event the trunk requires transfer command, the techniques comprise generating a transfer command, and transferring the call using the transfer command. |
| US08428239B2 |
Providing an option to substitute a local ringback tone at a calling party device
A method for playing a local ringback tone is disclosed. A second party device is called from a calling party device. An alert message indicating that the calling party device is to play a network ringback tone is received. It is determined whether to play a pre-stored local ringback tone instead of the network ringback tone. The local ringback tone or the network ringback tone is played based on the determination. At any time before call connection or call release, the local ringback tone and the network ringback tone are switched between based on user input. |
| US08428238B2 |
System and method for ensuring call privacy in a shared telephone environment
A system and method for an enterprise includes a telephone device operable to receive an incoming call directed from a caller to a called party, the telephone device being shared among a plurality of persons within the enterprise. A software or hardware (firmware) module with code that runs on a PBX system of the enterprise authenticates a person answering the incoming call as the called party before connecting the incoming call to the telephone device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). |
| US08428237B1 |
Push-to-talk wireless telecommunications system utilizing a voice-over-IP network
System and method for enabling push-to-talk (PTT) private calls in a wireless communications network are described. One embodiment includes selecting a called party private identification for a private call by a calling party on a mobile device; pressing a PTT button on the mobile device; transmitting a SIP SUBSCRIBE including the calling and called parties private identifications to request a speech token; redirecting the SIP SUBSCRIBE to the PTT Server for purposes of removing the calling party and the called party from a multicast group; receiving an acknowledge message that includes a speech token; transmitting calling party information from the PTT Server to the called party; communicating speech packets from the calling party to the called party in a half-duplex manner; releasing the PTT button on the mobile device; transmitting a SIP SUBSCRIBE to release the speech token; and notifying the calling and called parties that the group's speech token is available. |
| US08428225B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing and mitigating noise in a digital subscriber line
Data indicative of a level of stability of a DSL link is received. Based on the received data, it is determined whether the data indicates a level of stability of the DSL link that is above or below a minimum threshold. If the level of stability of the DSL link is below the minimum threshold, die noise associated with the DSL link before the time of failure is compared with the noise associated with the DSL link after the time of failure. If the difference between the noise before and after the time of failure exceeds a threshold, then the difference in noise is characterized as a stationary noise associated with the DSL link. However, if the difference between the noise before and after the time of failure is below the threshold, a determination is made whether the failure is associated with a loss of power to the DSL link or a severe impulse noise event—the difference in noise is characterized accordingly. Finally, the characterization of the noise associated with the DSL link is preserved for subsequent possible reconfiguration of the DSL link to improve link stability. |
| US08428220B2 |
Dynamical visualization of coronary vessels and myocardial perfusion information
A method for dynamically visualizing coronary information and an apparatus adapted to implement such method is described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first dynamic cardiac data is acquired during a first cardiac stage and second dynamic cardiac data is acquired during a second cardiac stage. Then, the two data sets are visualized continuously the in a superimposed presentation, wherein the first cardiac data and the second cardiac data corresponding to a same phase within the cardiac cycle are visualized simultaneously. In this way for example information about the vessel geometry may be immediately linked with information about the muscle irrigation or perfusion. Furthermore, this useful information may be displayed in a high-contrasted and low-noise presentation. |
| US08428215B2 |
Method of improving the spent nuclear fuel burnup credit
A dimensional reactivity management system that takes into account the axial burnup shape data of a nuclear fuel assembly to determine the acceptability of placement of the assembly relative to other assemblies in a storage container. |
| US08428213B2 |
Method for locking a synthesised output signal of a synthesised waveform synthesiser in a phase relationship
A digital waveform synthesizer (1) is implemented as a single chip integrated circuit on a single chip (2) and comprises a direct digital synthesizer (10) which produces a synthesized output signal waveform on an output terminal (4) which is substantially phase and frequency locked to the phase and frequency of an externally generated input signal applied to an input terminal (5). A comparing circuit (20) compares the period of the synthesized output signal waveform on the output terminal (4) with the period of the input signal, and a control circuit (28) produces progressively altered values of a frequency control digital word which are sequentially applied to an accumulator (11) of the direct digital synthesizer (10) in response to the comparing circuit (20), until the value of the frequency control digital word applied to the accumulator (11) is such as to produce the synthesized output signal waveform to be substantially phase and frequency locked to the phase and frequency input signal applied to the input terminal (5). |
| US08428211B2 |
Lock detection circuit and method for phase locked loop system
A lock detection circuit and method are disclosed for phase locked loop (PLL) systems. The lock detection circuit primarily includes a delay unit and an asserting logic unit. The delay unit receives the phase error signal of the PLL and produces a present phase error signal, and then accordingly generates at least one delayed phase error signal. The asserting logic unit generates an unlock indicating signal (UNLOCK) according to the present phase error signal and the delayed phase error signal. A phase lock indicating signal will be asserted if the unlock indicating signal is not asserted within a predetermined number of counting pulses. |
| US08428208B2 |
Control circuit, information processing device, and method of controlling information processing device
A control circuit for receiving data transmitted by a data transmitting circuit and transmitting the received data to a data receiving circuit includes: a data receiving unit for receiving the data transmitted by the data transmitting circuit; a packet analyzing unit for judging whether the data received from the data transmitting circuit is a packet including history acquisition information and reading the history acquisition information from the received data; a history acquisition executing unit for starting or stopping acquiring the history information of the transmission and reception of the data according to the history acquisition information read by the packet analyzing unit to store the history information acquired; and a data transmitting unit for transmitting the packet including the history acquisition information or a packet other than the packet including the history acquisition information to the data receiving circuit. |
| US08428207B1 |
System and method for determining a time for safely sampling a signal of a clock domain
A system and method are provided for determining a time for safely sampling a signal of a clock domain. In one embodiment, a frequency estimate of a first clock domain is calculated utilizing a frequency estimator. Additionally, a time during which a signal from the first clock domain is unchanging is determined such that the signal is capable of being safely sampled by a second clock domain, using the frequency estimate. In another embodiment, a frequency estimate of a first clock domain is calculated utilizing a frequency estimator. Further, a phase estimate of the first clock domain is calculated based on the frequency estimate, utilizing a phase estimator. Moreover, a time during which a signal from the first clock domain is unchanging is determined such that the signal is capable of being safely sampled by a second clock domain, using the phase estimate. |
| US08428206B2 |
Low complexity fine timing synchronization method and system for stimi
A method and system of fine timing synchronization for an OFDM signal. The OFDM signal is coarse timing synchronized, generating a synchronization sequence and a CFR (Channel Frequency Response). The synchronization sequence is removed. A correlation coefficient of the correlation between the CFR applied to a number of carriers and the number of carriers with different window shifts is calculated. The largest window shift corresponding to a downsampling factor is indicated by the lowest correlation coefficient greater than a threshold. The CFR is downsampled by the downsampling factor, and an inverse FFT is performed on the downsampled CFR with a reduced number of calculations reduced by the downsampling factor, transforming the CFR into a CIR. A fine timing synchronization position is determined from the CIR and is utilized by an FFT unit within an OFDM receiver to accurately receive OFDM symbols of the OFDM signal. Application to Satellite Terrestrial interactive Multi-service Infrastructure (STiMi) |
| US08428200B2 |
Apparatus for estimating frequency offset in OFDM system
Provided is an apparatus for estimating a frequency offset by one training symbol including two symbols having the same structure and value in an OFDM system. The apparatus includes a first likelihood function calculator for modeling non-Gaussian impulsive noise included in the training symbol to a Cauchy probability density function in which a characteristic exponent of a BISαS probability density function is 1, and calculating a likelihood function of a Cauchy distribution using the Cauchy probability density function, and a first frequency offset estimator for estimating an effective frequency offset value in which the likelihood function of the Cauchy distribution of the first likelihood function calculator becomes highest as a frequency offset estimation value. Thereby, it is possible to improve the performance of frequency offset estimation in non-Gaussian impulsive noise environments. |
| US08428199B2 |
Transmitter and receiver for frequency domain equalization
A transmitter and/or receiver for performing frequency domain equalization is provided. A transmitter includes a pilot position determination unit for determining positions for inserting pilots in a frequency domain based on frequency spectrums of data, and a pilot insertion unit for inserting the pilots between the frequency spectrums of the data according to the determined positions for inserting the pilots. |
| US08428195B2 |
Methods and apparatus for detecting and decoding adaptive equalization training frames
Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting and decoding adaptive equalization training frames (having a frame marker comprised of a string of binary ones and binary zeroes). Training frames are detected by shifting the received data; inserting at least one binary value at one end of the shifted received data to generate a modified version of the received data; applying a logic function to the received data and the modified version of the received data that identifies when corresponding bit positions have different values; and detecting the frame marker when an output of the logic function has a first binary value in an approximate middle of a string of a second binary value. The training frames are decoded using a distance between the approximate center of the frame maker and a predefined binary value in an output of the logic function. |
| US08428193B2 |
Broadband wireless system
A broadband wireless system includes an antenna receiving a broadband wireless signal, a reception unit receiving and processing the broadband wireless signal from the antenna and converting the broadband wireless signal into a first intermediate frequency signal, a signal distribution unit converting a first intermediate frequency signal into second intermediate frequency signals which are equal to one another, a parallel amplification unit generating third intermediate frequency signals which are obtained by amplifying the individual second intermediate frequency signals provided from the signal distribution unit with different amplification rates, a parallel analog-to-digital conversion unit performing analog-to-digital conversion of the individual third intermediate frequency signals from the parallel amplification unit and generating discrete intermediate frequency signals, and an execution system selecting any one of the individual discrete intermediate frequency signals by analyzing the individual discrete intermediate frequency signals from the analog-to-digital conversion unit and processing the selected individual discrete intermediate frequency signal. |
| US08428189B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and control method therefor
A determiner determines whether or not a mobile communication terminal is in a standby mode. A fast Fourier transform calculator demodulates a signal which is received at the mobile communication terminal. A controller causes the fast Fourier transform calculator to vary at least one of a frequency range for fast Fourier transform or a number of frequency samples used by the fast Fourier transform calculator, depending on determination by the determiner. Preferably, the controller is adapted to cause the fast Fourier transform calculator to vary at least one of the frequency range for fast Fourier transform or the number of frequency samples used by the fast Fourier transform calculator based on information about frequencies used in communication from a radio base station to the mobile communication terminal and notified from the radio base station. |
| US08428187B2 |
Reception device and reception method
A reception device includes a replica signal generating unit which generates a replica signal which is a replica of a transmitted signal based on a received signal, a time period setting unit which sets a plurality of time periods which time period of the received signal is divided into based on a received power of the received signal, an arrival wave removing unit which removes an arrival waves from the received signal for each time period set by the time period setting unit using the replica signal generated by the replica signal generating unit, a combining unit which combines the signals that the arrival waves are removed by the arrival wave removing unit from the received signal for each time periods set by the time period setting unit; and a demodulation processing unit which performs a demodulation process for the signal combined by the combining unit. |
| US08428186B1 |
Decision directed DC offset removal
A method and apparatus for decoding a baseband signal of a radio signal removes, from the baseband signal, low-frequency and long-term noise that increases the possibility of decoding errors. The removal of low-frequency and long-term noise is performed by accumulating differences between the actual signal levels of the baseband signal and the expected signal levels for the baseband signal and subtracting the accumulated difference from the baseband signal before decoding. In one scheme, the baseband signal contains a predetermined training sequence of signal levels, where the differences between the actual signal levels of the baseband signal and the expected signal levels for the predetermined training sequence are accumulated. At the end of the training sequence, the accumulated training sequence difference is used as the accumulated difference and subtracted from the baseband signal, thereby providing stable operation for decoding signal levels that follow the training sequence. |
| US08428181B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing transmitter power efficiency
A transmitter for a mobile device utilizes at least one mapper in order to improve power efficiency while still meeting out of band spurious emissions and waveform quality requirements. An encoder and modulator generates an encoded and modulated transmit signal from an input signal. A digital to analog converter coupled to the encoder and modulator generates an analog representation of the encoded and modulated transmit signal. An amplifier stage coupled to the digital to analog converter amplifies the analog representation of the encoded and modulated transmit signal to generate a transmission signal. The transmitter further comprises an amplifier control block configured to generate an amplifier control signal for adjusting at least one parameter of the amplifier stage. At least one mapper is provided in the amplifier control block, used to determine the amplifier control signal based on a peak to average power ratio and an average transmit power of the transmission signal. Environmental and operating conditions of the transmitter may be accounted for as well in the mappers. |
| US08428179B1 |
Apparatus and method for crest factor reduction
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for crest factor reduction, in which an input time domain signal is clipped to generate a clipped signal and a difference signal, and processing operations are carried out on the difference signal, before the processed difference signal is combined with the clipped signal to generate an output time domain signal. |
| US08428174B2 |
Method, pre-coding apparatus and wireless communication system for multiple-input multiple-output collaborative communication
A method for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) collaborative communication in a wireless communication system includes at least one user equipment and M base stations performing collaborative communication with the user equipment. Here, M is an integer that is greater than or equal to 2. The method includes the following processes for each user equipment: a first level of MIMO pre-coding process is performed for each base station to acquire each first level of pre-coding matrix corresponding to each base station; a second level to the X-th level of MIMO pre-coding process is performed sequentially to acquire the second level to the X-th level of pre-coding matrices of the corresponding base stations. Here, X is an integer that is greater than or equal to 2. A pre-coding device, a user equipment and a wireless communication system related to the method are also provided. |
| US08428170B2 |
Method for transmitting multi-antenna superimposed symbol and apparatus using the same
A method for transmitting symbols in a communication system, includes dividing N symbols to be transmitted at one time into 2 groups. A first processing is performed on each of a plurality of symbols in a first group in order to obtain a first group of superimposed symbols. A second processing is performed on each of a plurality of symbols in a second group to obtain a second group of superimposed symbols. Each of the first group of superimposed symbols is transmitted one by one by a first antenna, and corresponding symbols in the second group of superimposed symbols are transmitted by a second antenna. The first processing and the second processing respectively include a conjugate cancellation operation. |
| US08428168B1 |
Implicit MIMO antenna selection
A plurality of consecutive sounding data units are received via a reverse link. Each consecutive sounding data unit is received via a different subset of antennas. Channel state information (CSI) is generated based on the received plurality of consecutive sounding data units. A subset of antennas to use in a forward link is determined based on the generated CSI. |
| US08428164B2 |
Interference randomization of control channel elements
A method and a radio base station for interleaving control channel data to be transmitted in a telecommunications system are described. The method comprises grouping the control channel elements CCE1-CCEn into a first order of control channel symbol groups, determining a number of available symbol group positions of control channel transmission resources, adding symbol groups comprising “dummy” values or zeros to the first order of control channel symbol groups, interleaving the first order of the control channel symbol groups resulting in an a second order, cyclic shifting the second order and mapping the cyclic shifted second order of control channel symbol groups to the control channel transmission resources. |
| US08428163B2 |
Method and system for Doppler spread and delay spread matching with channel estimation by circular convolution in OFDM communication networks
A mobile device in an OFDM system receives an OFDM signal comprising RS tones and data OFDM symbols. The received RS tones are extracted and utilized to perform channel estimation. The resulting raw channel estimates are time filtered by matching channel time variance measured in frequency domain and in time domain, respectively. The measured channel time variance comprises inter-carrier interference measurement and Doppler spread measurement. Mean of differences between neighbor adjacent subcarriers of the extracted RS tones is used for inter-carrier interference measurement. Autocorrelation functions of the raw channel estimates are evaluated for the Doppler spread measurement using, for example, level crossing and/or axis crossing based methods. The raw channel estimates are filtered through averaging and/or recursively filtering using time filter parameters determined based on the inter-carrier interference measurement and the Doppler spread measurement. The time filtered channel estimates are utilized for data demodulation. |
| US08428155B2 |
Printed circuit board
One end of a sub transmission line of which an impedance value is equal to or higher than a parallel impedance value of an output impedance value of a transmission circuit and an impedance value of a transmission line is connected to a connection point between the transmission circuit and the transmission line, and a correction resistor of which resistance is lower than an impedance value of the sub transmission line is connected to the other end of the sub transmission line. A length of the sub transmission line is set to satisfy a condition of 0.5×Tr (signal rise time)≦Td (signal propagation time of sub transmission line)≦0.5×Tmin (signal minimum pulse width), thereby achieving a de-emphasis function by a passive component, correcting a high-frequency component of a signal attenuated on the transmission line, and thus reducing timing jitters caused by intersymbol interference. |
| US08428154B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, wire harness and communication method
Plural electronic control units (ECUs) are connected to each other by an electric power line that is for supplying electric power. Each ECU sends information with a carrier wave having a first frequency lower than a dip frequency estimated by the physical condition and the circuit structure of electric power line, or having a second frequency lower than the first frequency. Or, the physical condition and the circuit structure of electric power line are determined, on the contrary, to make the dip frequency become higher than the frequency of utilized carrier wave. The frequency utilized for sending information may be selected in accordance with the contents of information. |
| US08428145B2 |
System and method for providing fast trick modes
A system and method for providing trick modes uses one or more techniques to reduce computation and/or memory requirements to efficiently decode frames of a video bitstream to be displayed during a selected trick mode. |
| US08428140B2 |
Coding and decoding method and device
In a method for the video coding of image sequences images in the image sequence are coded in a scaled manner, in such a way that the video data produced contains information which permits the images to be represented in a plurality of differing stages of image resolution, the latter being defined by the number of pixels per image representation. The coding is block-based, in such a way that to describe a displacement of parts of one of the images, said displacement being contained in the image sequence, at least one block structure that describes the displacement is created. Said block structure is configured from one block, which is subdivided into sub-blocks, whereby some of the sub-blocks are further subdivided into successively smaller sub-blocks. A first block structure is temporarily created for at least one first resolution stage and a second block structure is created for a second resolution stage, the first resolution stage having a lower number of pixels than the second resolution stage. In addition, the second block structure is compared with the first block structure to determine the differences in structure, in order to create a modified second block structure on the basis of characteristics of the structural differences, said modified block structure representing part of the second block structure and forming the basis for the coding of the image sequence. |
| US08428136B2 |
Dynamic image encoding method and device and program using the same
A dynamic image encoding technique provides high image quality encoding while eliminating the formation of a subjectively undesirable vector field. A dynamic image encoding device includes: an inter-frame predictor, a motion vector calculator, a prediction motion vector calculator, a skip mode motion vector calculator, and a skip mode validity judger. The skip mode validity judger calculates a code amount of a differential motion vector of the motion vector estimated by considering the motion vector of the skip mode and the subjective image quality, and uses a value of the code amount of the differential motion vector weighted by a block quantization parameter for the skip mode validity judgment. |
| US08428134B2 |
Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive block based on a motion vector of a co-located block in a reference picture
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list 0 motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture as the motion vector if the co-located block has the list 0 motion vector and a list 1 motion vector. The first reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after the current picture. The method further includes selecting the list 1 motion vector of the co-located block in the first reference picture if the co-located block only has the list 1 motion vector, and deriving at least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block based on the selected motion vector. |
| US08428133B2 |
Adaptive coding of video block prediction mode
This disclosure describes techniques for coding of header information of video blocks. In particular, the techniques of this disclosure select one of a plurality of prediction modes for use in generating a prediction block of a video block of a coding unit, the plurality of prediction modes including unidirectional prediction modes and multi-directional prediction modes that combine at least two unidirectional prediction modes. An encoding device encodes the prediction mode of the current video block based on prediction modes of one or more previously encoded video blocks of the coding unit. Likewise, a decoding unit receives encoded video data of a video block of a coding unit and decodes the encoded video data to identify one of a plurality of prediction modes for use in generating a prediction block of the video block based on prediction modes of one or more previously decoded video blocks of the coding unit. |
| US08428121B2 |
Image pick-up apparatus for shooting and reproducing a moving image
A user friendly image pick-up apparatus is provided, which is capable of reproducing a moving image in various ways. The image pick-up apparatus 100 is provided with a display device 5 and an image processing circuit 2, wherein the display device reproduces a moving image at a reproducing speed based on plural image frames produced by an image pick-up unit 1, and the image processing circuit adds and combines a predetermined number of image frames among the plural image frames produced by the image pick-up unit to successively produce standard frames to be produced at a standard reproducing frame rate and successively produces difference image data between the standard frame and each of the predetermined image frames. |
| US08428116B2 |
Moving picture encoding device, method, program, and moving picture decoding device, method, and program
After an input image signal (2000) of a smaller resolution is encoded by an encoder (20), an input image signal (1000) of a greater resolution is subjected to motion compensation processing by a motion compensation unit (102) according to motion information (1998), thereby generating a prediction error signal (1001). Simultaneously with this, an enlarged decoded image (2003) obtained by enlarging the decoded image (2002) obtained by an encoder (20) is subjected to motion compensation processing by a motion compensation unit (103) according to the motion information (1998), thereby generating a prediction error signal (2005). By referencing the prediction error signal (2005), the prediction error signal (1001) is subjected to conversion encoding, quantization, and entropy encoding. |
| US08428115B2 |
Adaptive equalization system and method
An adaptive equalization system includes an equalizer, a common-mode extraction buffer unit, a low-pass filter unit, a first and second energy compare units, a current comparator, and a digital control unit. The common-mode extraction buffer unit transmits a full spectral energy of an input signal received by the equalizer to the first energy compare unit and the low-pass filter unit, and extracts a common-mode signal of the input signal to the second energy compare unit. The first and second energy compare units respectively output a current signal characterized by the high-frequency energy and a current signal characterized by the low-frequency energy to the current comparator. Based on the compare result outputted by the current comparator, the digital control unit outputs an equalization control signal to the equalizer. The adaptive equalization system has the simple structure, and reduces the power consumption, the area and the manufacturing cost of the chip. |
| US08428111B2 |
Crosstalk emission management
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to crosstalk emission management. In an example embodiment, an amplitude of a main tap of a transmit equalizer may be determined to limit crosstalk emitted from a local channel to one or more other channels to be less than a threshold. A ratio of an amplitude of at least one secondary tap of the transmit equalizer to the amplitude of the main tap may be determined to provide equalization to the local channel. |
| US08428107B1 |
Code detection by using genetic algorithms
A method for estimating an unknown spreading code in a received signal by using a set of genetic algorithms. The method comprises: selecting at least one seed of the unknown spreading code for initialization purposes, wherein the unknown spreading code comprises a plurality of chips, and performing a breeding process of the unknown spreading code by executing a breeding algorithm. |
| US08428103B2 |
Discrete time chaos dithering
The invention concerns a chaotic communications system, method and apparatus having a transmitter configured to spread an input data signal over a wide intermediate frequency band, by digitally generating a first chaotic sequence of values to form a spreading code. The spreading code is then used to form a digital IF chaotic spread spectrum signal having a uniform sampling interval. The duration of the sampling interval is then selectively varied in accordance with a first pseudo-random sequence, thereby introducing a known dither in the digital IF chaotic spread spectrum signal. After introducing the known dither, the digital IF chaotic spread spectrum signal is converted to an analog RF spread spectrum signal at a conversion rate that exceeds the sampling interval of the chaotic spread spectrum signal. A corresponding receiver recovers the input data from the spread transmitted signal. This spreading may utilize a chaotic sequence employing discrete time chaos dithering. |
| US08428101B1 |
System and method for interference triggered frequency hopping
Systems and methods of interference-triggered frequency hopping in a wireless communication system. A master is provided in the wireless communication system in wireless communication with slave nodes each configured to use different preselected communication frequencies to permit frequency hopping. A current channel is selected from among multiple channels in the wireless communication system in which the master and at least some of the slave nodes send and receive wireless communications. Each of the channels uses different ones of the preselected communication frequencies. In the current channel, interference with communications between the master and a selected one of the slave nodes that use the current channel is detected. A new channel is selected only in response to detecting the interference. The system switches from the current channel to the new channel such that communications between the master and the selected slave node use the new channel. |
| US08428095B2 |
Laser resonator
One embodiment of a laser resonator comprises one or more laser resonator components, a container and an ozone generator. The laser resonator components include a non-linear crystal, a beam polarization combiner, an optical lens, a mirror and/or an optical grating. The container encloses the one or more laser resonator components. The ozone generator is configured to introduce ozone gas into the container. |
| US08428093B2 |
High-power quantum cascade lasers with active-photonic-crystal structure for single, in-phase mode operation
Semiconductor laser array devices capable of emitting mid- to long-wavelength infrared (i.e., 4-12 μm) radiation are provided. The devices include a quantum cascade laser (QCL) structure comprising one or more active cores; an optical confinement structure; a cladding structure, and a plurality of laterally-spaced trench regions extending transversely through the cladding and optical confinement structures, and partially into the QCL structure. The trench regions define a plurality of laterally-spaced interelement regions separated by element regions in the laser array device. The element regions are characterized by a non-uniform structure across their widths. As a result of this structural non-uniformity, array modes composed of coupled first-order lateral modes of the element regions are preferentially suppressed relative to array modes composed of coupled fundamental lateral modes of the element regions. |
| US08428088B2 |
Synchronization of multiple data sources to a common time base
Systems and methods are described herein that cause data from asynchronous data sources to be provided with a timestamp that corresponds to a common time base. A trigger board can be used to control synchronized data sources, and can generate timestamps when data is collected by the synchronized data sources. Unsynchronized data sources can generate data independent of the trigger board. System timestamps are generated each time data from the synchronized data source and the unsynchronized data source is received. Values of the system timestamp can be modified, and can be replaced by timestamps that correspond to the time base used by the trigger board. |
| US08428087B1 |
Framework for stateless packet tunneling
A framework can be utilized with conventional networking components to enable those components to process packets of specific formats using conventional algorithms, such as algorithms for receive side coalescing (RCS) and TCP segmentation offloading (TSO). Format and flow information can be added to an opaque field or other portion of a packet, at an appropriate location or pre-configured offset. Placing information at a specific location or offset enables the networking hardware to quickly recognize a packet for processing. Packets can be segmented and coalesced using conventional algorithms on the networking hardware, enabling packets of various formats to be able to take advantage of various performance enhancements. |
| US08428079B1 |
Systems and methods for discovering a wireless network in a peer-to-peer network
An integrated circuit configured to operate in a mobile device includes a discovery generator module. The discovery generator module is configured to generate a corresponding random value for each beacon interval. A discovery control module is configured to determine a duration of time of a given beacon interval in which the mobile device is to operate in at least one of an active mode and a sleep mode. The duration of time is based on the corresponding random value generated for the given beacon interval. A physical layer (PHY) device is configured to wirelessly transmit a discovery request signal during the time the mobile device is operating in the active mode. The mobile device is partially powered down or fully powered down during the time the mobile device is operating in the sleep mode. |
| US08428077B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dynamic load balancing with E-AICH
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate dynamic load balancing in a communications network. In particular, one or more mobile devices can send random access preambles on an uplink frequency paired to a downlink frequency employed to connect the one or more mobile devices to a base station. The base station can determine if an uplink frequency load imbalance exists based upon the random access preambles. The base station can transmit an indicator on an acquisition indicator channel to at least one mobile device wherein the indicator includes a command to transition to a new uplink frequency. The mobile device can switch uplink frequencies in response to the command. |
| US08428067B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic assignment of quality of service parameters in a communication network
A method includes identifying a condition associated with a communication network and/or an industrial control and automation system. The method also includes selecting, based on the identified condition, one or more quality of service (QoS) parameters used to route data through the communication network. In addition, the method includes communicating information identifying the one or more QoS parameters to one or more components in the communication network. The one or more QoS parameters could be contained within one of multiple QoS policies, and the method could include selecting one of the QoS policies. The condition could represent an emergency condition, and the one or more QoS parameters could include a higher QoS priority for traffic (such as voice communications and sensor data) to and from specified personnel (such as first responders). The communication network could represent at least one wired network and/or at least one wireless network. |
| US08428061B1 |
Packet header altering device
A packet processor for a network device includes an incoming port that receives a first packet. The first packet includes a data portion, a control portion and a first outgoing port. A control data processing device receives the control portion from the incoming port while the data portion is stored in memory, and transmits the control portion to the first outgoing port. The first outgoing port transmits a first request for the data portion based on the control portion. A header altering device retrieves the data portion from the memory and strips, modifies, and encapsulates the data portion based on the first request. |
| US08428060B2 |
Determining the group address for an Ethernet-based multicast communication
A communication system, comprising a multicast group address allocator in communication with a plurality of nodes configured as at least one multicast group, wherein, upon creation of a new multicast group from among the nodes, the multicast group address allocator is configured to assign a multicast address to the new multicast group based on the assigned multicast address falling into a hash-bin for each group member of the new multicast group. A multicast group address allocator, comprising a network interface in communication with a plurality of nodes, a controller coupled to the network interface, and a storage medium coupled to the controller, wherein, upon request, the controller assigns a multicast address to a new multicast group from among the nodes, wherein the controller accesses hash-bin information for the nodes and selects the multicast address based on the hash-bin information, and wherein the hash-bin information is stored in the storage medium. |
| US08428051B2 |
Switchboard for multiple data rate communication system
A switchboard device and methods of operation of same are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may provide a flexible means of interconnecting wideband and narrowband communications interfaces, where wideband communications interfaces may transfer low-band data and high-band data, and narrowband communication interfaces may transfer low-band data. Low-band data may be combined and sent to a narrowband communications interface or a wideband communications interface. High-band data may be combined and sent to a wideband communications interface. The low-band data may represent audio signals below a predetermined frequency, while the high-band data may represent audio signals above the predetermined frequency. The predetermined frequency may be, for example, approximately 4 kHz. The spectral mask of the low-band data may meet the spectral mask of G.712. Methods of operating embodiments of the present invention are included. An additional aspect of the present invention may include machine-readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the foregoing. |
| US08428049B2 |
Method for setting up an emergency call in a computer local area network, terminal and server for implementing the method
If a given terminal (IPP1) requests the setting up of an emergency call, the method consists in: assigning that terminal to a first virtual network (VLAN1) having a priority higher than that of any virtual network to which a terminal requesting the setting up of a non-urgent call is assigned, the given terminal then using the first virtual network to send in broadcast mode a message addressed in particular to an emergency call server (EMSR); assigning this terminal to a second virtual network (VLAN2) having a priority higher than that of any virtual network to which a terminal that is requesting the setting up of a non-urgent call is assigned, the emergency call server (EMSR) then using the second virtual network to respond to the given terminal in unicast mode. |
| US08428047B2 |
Enterprise contact server with enhanced routing features
A server may include logic configured to receive a call-back request from a customer, where the call-back request includes an identifier associated with the customer. The server may further include logic configured to identify, based on the identifier, a call center from a group of call centers having a group of agents qualified to handle the call-back request; and logic configured to forward the call-back request to the identified call center, where the call-back request causes the identified call center to select one of the group of agents to handle the call-back request. |
| US08428045B2 |
Media clock recovery
A system recovers a local media clock from a master media clock based on time-stamped packets received from a transmitter. The packets may include audio, video, or a combination of both, sampled at a rate determined by the master media clock at the transmitter. Timestamps in the packets may be based on values of a remote real-time counter at the transmitter that is synchronized with a local real-time counter at a receiver. The local media clock may be syntonized with the master media clock through the clock periods. The clocks may be synchronized by syntonizing the clocks and adjusting the phase of the local media clocks based on timestamps and a real-time counter. |
| US08428042B1 |
Feedback mechanisms for multicast/broadcast service in wireless communication networks
Efficient uplink feedback mechanisms from subscriber stations to a base station involved in a multicast/broadcast service (MBS) to report channel conditions at the subscriber stations to the base stations in order to select a suitable burst profile in transmitting MBS data by the base station in OFDM and OFDMA wireless communication systems. |
| US08428040B2 |
Reception apparatus and reception method for setting a format per divided band
A radio communication apparatus capable of alleviating a burden in setting a transmission format and suppressing increases in the scale of the apparatus. In this apparatus, space multiplexing adaptability detection section (108) detects space multiplexing transmission adaptability for divided bands (DB-1 to DB-Nd) obtained by dividing a communication band to which Ns subcarrier signals belong in multicarrier transmission and to which a plurality of subcarrier signals belong, and outputs the detection results (#1 to #Nd). Transmission format setting section (110) sets a transmission format when carrying out radio transmission based on the detection results (#1 to #Nd) from space multiplexing adaptability detection section (108). |
| US08428036B2 |
System and method for providing wireless local area networks as a service
A wireless local area network (WLAN) system is provided. The system comprises a WLAN network controller and a plurality of access points. The WLAN network controller is in communication with each of the plurality of access points via a transport data network. The WLAN network controller is configured to perform one or more network control functions for the benefit of the plurality of access points. The network control functions may be selected from management and operation, client authentication, mobility, and per-user administration. The WLAN network controller is remotely located and operated with respect to the plurality of access points. |
| US08428033B2 |
Radio frequency network
The present invention relates to radio frequency (RF) distribution systems for mobile communications. In particular, the present invention relates to a radio frequency network facilitating radio communication where the usual free space propagation of electromagnetic waves is hampered, undesired or impossible, for example in tunnels, mines, and buildings and in large complexes like exhibition grounds, shopping malls, and airports. The radio frequency network comprises a distributed antenna system having radiating elements, a wired distribution system feeding the distributed antenna system, at least one antenna amplifier between one end of the wired distribution system and the distributed antenna system, at least one line amplifier at the other end of the wired distribution system, and automatic self-leveling units included in the antenna and line amplifiers. |
| US08428029B2 |
Mobility management in telecommunication systems
A mobile telecommunications network includes a core network and a plurality of eNode Bs. A mobile terminal communicates with the core network via one of the eNode Bs. In an embodiment, when the mobile terminal is in a connected state and there is a pause in data transfer, during which the mobile terminal is handed over from one eNode B to another eNode B, the first eNode B informs the new eNode B of the pause in data transmission so that an optimal length of the pause in data transmission can be maintained before the idle state is entered. In another embodiment, an element of the telecommunications network stores a history of movement of the mobile terminal and passes this to a new eNode B. In another embodiment, when handover occurs, the first eNode B provides the new eNode B with radio quality information relating to the mobile terminal. |
| US08428027B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling uplink grant
A method for handling an uplink grant received on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes steps of setting a Temporary Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (Temporary C-RNTI) of the UE to a value assigned in a Random Access Response message, monitoring a contention resolution message, receiving an uplink grant on PDCCH addressed to the Temporary C-RNTI, and not using the uplink grant to transmit data if the uplink grant corresponds to a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) Process different from an HARQ Process used for transmission of a MediumAccess Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in a Message 3 buffer. |
| US08428025B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling user equipment state changes
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for triggering change of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) state for a user equipment operating in a cellular network. According to the method a Radio Link Control (RLC) buffer threshold associated with a Radio Link Control buffer is set to an initial value upon the user equipment entering a CELL_FACH RRC state. The RLC buffer threshold is decreased as a function of time. A RRC state change for the user equipment between the CELL_FACH RRC state and a CELL_DCH RRC state is triggered according to a predetermined rule based on a current size of the RLC buffer and the RLC buffer threshold. The method facilitates achieving a desired RRC state transition behavior for some types of users. |
| US08428023B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection
A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes receiving a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: determines the corresponding frame that includes the video data; applies a bearer selection process to select one of multiple bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames; and provides, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer. |
| US08428019B2 |
Base station
A base station communicates with a user device transmitting an uplink signal based on a single-carrier transmission scheme. The base station includes a frequency hopping determining unit configured to determine whether to apply frequency hopping to the user device based on radio-wave propagation information from the user device and a traffic type of data to be transmitted by the user device; a scheduler configured to allocate frequencies to the user device based on uplink channel reception conditions of the user device; and a reporting unit configured to report allocation information indicating resource units allocated by the scheduler to the user device. When the frequency hopping determining unit determines to apply the frequency hopping to the user device, the scheduler allocates, to the user device, resource units with different frequency bands in different slots. |
| US08428010B2 |
Location-based network detection
A mobile device establishes communication with a number of wireless cellular networks at particular locations and records the locations and network information associated with the wireless cellular networks. The network information can be used to narrow a search for an available wireless cellular network from a plurality of potentially available wireless cellular networks when the mobile device is operating at a stored location. In one aspect, a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver on a mobile device can receive a broadcast radio signal from a transmitter and use the signal to determine an approximate location of the device based on a known location of the transmitter. A match between the approximate device location and wireless cellular network transmitters in communication range of the mobile device can be used to narrow a search for wireless cellular networks. |
| US08428008B2 |
Implicit channel sounding for closed-loop transmission in MIMO-OFDM wireless networks
Symbols are encoded in a transmitter of a wireless network that uses multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) by partitioning the sub-carriers to be used for transmitting the symbol into a set of K groups of contiguous sub-carriers. For each group k of NK−1 modulation symbols Dk(1), Dk(2), . . . , Dk(NK−1), the modulation symbol Dk(n), for group k, is mapped to a corresponding mapped modulation symbols Xk(n) according to m ( k ) = 1 N K - 1 ∑ n = 1 N K - 1 D k ( n ) , Xk(n)=α1(k)(Dk(n)−m(k))+β(k) n=1, . . . , NK−1, Xk(NK)=α2(k)m(k), where m(k) is a sample-mean of the set of modulation symbols corresponding to the kth group, α1 (k), α2 (k) and β(k), for k=1, . . . , K, are constants, wherein the constants are predetermined and positive. |
| US08428005B2 |
Routing in a network
A network comprises a plurality of Access Routers arranged in one or more NetLMM domains. A domain comprises distributed routing information in the form of one or more Bloom filters or Bloom filter equivalents. In one embodiment, each Access Router may have an associated Local Bloom filter or Bloom filter equivalent that provides information as to which mobile nodes are currently behind the respective Access Router. Each Access Router sends its associated Local Bloom filter or Bloom filter equivalent to every other Access Router of the domain. An Access Router uses the Bloom filters or Bloom filter equivalents received from every other Access Router of the domain to determine to which Access Router to send a packet destined to a specified Mobile Node. Another embodiment uses partly-distributed routing information. |
| US08428002B2 |
Cooperative transceiving between wireless interface devices of a host device
A circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that transceives packetized data with a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol. A second wireless interface circuit transceives packetized data with a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol and wherein the operation of the second wireless interface circuit interferes with the operation of the first wireless interface circuit. A processing module selectively preempts use of the second frequency spectrum by the second external device using a plurality of preemption modes including a first preemption mode and a second preemption mode. |
| US08427993B2 |
Power management for wireless devices
In some embodiments, a method to manage power in a wireless communication device, comprises in a wireless networking adaptor, changing an operational status of a wireless networking adaptor to a sleep mode and transmitting a sleep message from the wireless networking adaptor to a host driver in an electronic device coupled to the networking adaptor, in the electronic device, determining whether a sleep duration specified in the sleep message exceeds a threshold, in response to a determination that the sleep duration specified in the sleep message exceeds a threshold implementing a selective suspend operation on the electronic device, and monitoring for a wake event, and in response to a determination that the sleep duration specified in the sleep message does not exceed a threshold, flushing one or more bulk IN buffers, and monitoring for a wake event. |
| US08427985B2 |
System and apparatus for adapting operations of a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, at a base station, communicating with a mobile phone where the base station comprises a premises wireless access point, at the base station, communicating with a mobile communication system by way of a broadband connection, and instructing a landline phone communicatively coupled to the base station to communicate with a remote end user device via the mobile communication system utilizing identification information of the mobile phone and responsive to communications between the base station and the mobile phone. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08427979B1 |
Method and system for dynamic information exchange on location aware mesh network devices
A method and system for dynamic information exchange on mesh network devices. Mobile location aware mesh network devices automatically exchange information with other mobile location aware devices that are located at a pre-determined distance of each other at a desired physical location. A server network device compares electronic profiles that include stated interests of the mobile location aware devices. The server network device also provides additional information to the mobile location aware mesh network devices based on stated interests in the electronic profiles of the mobile location aware network devices. |
| US08427977B2 |
Wireless network polling and data warehousing
Methods and systems are provided to collect and update data on client devices connected to WiFi access points is provided. An inventory of WiFi cable modems and WiFi access points coupled to the WiFi cabled modems within a specific network is periodically collected. Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of WiFi cable modems and WiFi access points coupled to the WiFi cabled modems are periodically updated. Traps are periodically received from the WiFi access points. The traps are parsed to collect an inventory of client devices wirelessly connected to the WiFi access points and a time at which a client device connected to the WiFi access point. The WiFi access points are periodically polled to collect data on client devices, the data including a period of time that a client device has been connected to a WiFi access point and a physical location of the client device. |
| US08427976B1 |
Carrier information exchange between base stations
A first base station receives an application protocol message from a second base station. The second base station communicates employing at least one backward compatible carrier and at least one non-backward compatible carrier. The application protocol message comprises a identifier of the second base station, cell identifiers, and information identifying a carrier type. The base station operates a wireless device handover based, at least in part, on information in the second application protocol message. |
| US08427974B2 |
Identifying an origin of a DOCSIS upstream burst
A method and an apparatus for identifying an origin of captured DOCSIS upstream bursts are disclosed. Upstream bursts are captured without knowing their allocated time slots in advance. Information from an upstream channel descriptor is used to generate RF waveforms of upstream burst preambles, which are then correlated to the captured upstream waveforms to determine the type of captured upstream bursts without having to decode the latter. Once the type of the captured upstream bursts is determined, information from the upstream channel descriptor is further used to demodulate and decode the upstream burst, so that CPE MAC addresses can be extracted. From the extracted CPE MAC addresses, the origin of the captured upstream bursts can be identified. The identification of origins of captured upstream bursts assists in locating faults in the cable network. |
| US08427972B2 |
Resource allocation in virtual routers
A router system implements a plurality of virtual routers. Various combinations of resources may be shared by the router system when implementing the virtual routers. In one embodiment, the particular combination of resources to share when implementing the virtual router is user programmable. |
| US08427956B1 |
Facilitating packet flow in a communication network implementing load balancing and security operations
Facilitating packet flow in a communication network includes receiving at a defender a request packet sent from a node. The request packet is communicated to a load balancer operable to communicate the request packet to a network element server selected from a plurality of network element servers. The request packet has a destination address associated with the load balancer. A response packet is received from the network element server. The response packet has a tunnel endpoint address. Whether the tunnel endpoint address corresponds to an approved network element server is determined. The response packet is communicated to the node if the tunnel endpoint address corresponds to an approved network element server. |
| US08427955B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring data
A method for transferring plural pieces of packet data from a plurality of terminal devices to a host device with an IEEE 1394 serial bus. The method includes transferring the plural pieces of packet data from the terminal devices to a transfer controller, storing the plural pieces of packet data in a buffer memory of the transfer controller, and sequentially transferring the packet data stored in the buffer memory to the host device. This method substantially increases data transfer speed without increasing the transfer speed at nodes and cables when transferring data with the IEEE 1394 serial bus. |
| US08427952B1 |
Microcode engine for packet processing
Apparatus and methods to efficiently process packet data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a microcode engine designed to efficiently parse packet data may use instructions that are tailored to parse packet data fields of a data packet having nested protocols. The microcode engine design and the instruction set may enable highly efficient packet processing while preserving flexibility as to the packet protocols that can be processed. The implementation can be both specific to a packet processing task while allowing reprogramming to perform a different specific task simply by changing the instructions. The microcode engine may execute instructions in a single clock cycle or in a pipelined configuration to generate appropriately modified packet data. The microcode engine may operate in lock step with received packet data. |
| US08427948B2 |
Communications network
A communications network for reliable data transfer from a first node and a second node via two channels. A first unreliable channel transfers data according to an unreliable communications protocol such as RTP. A second reliable channel transfers the same data according to a reliable communications protocol, such as TCP. At the second node, data parts missing from the data received from the first node via the unreliable channel is detected and corresponding data parts received from the first node via the reliable channel used. The RTP channel may be operated over UDP over multicast or unicast. The TCP channel may be supplemented by a multicast group or a peer-to-peer network. |
| US08427947B1 |
Method and apparatus for preventing head of line blocking in an ethernet system
A method for preventing head of line blocking in an Ethernet system. In one embodiment, a network interface detects whether there is traffic flow congestion between the network interface and a data processing unit such as a CPU or other peripheral. If yes, the network interface communicates the congestion status to its attached Ethernet switch. In another aspect of the invention, the Ethernet switch then stops serving the congested port or queue, and informs a switch from which the traffic flow causing the congestion originates. In a further aspect, the originating switch then reduces bandwidth for the traffic flow causing the congestion. In a still further aspect, the originating switch can take the bandwidth that it acquired because of reducing the congesting traffic flow, and use it to increase bandwidth for other traffic flow. |
| US08427946B2 |
Providing a quality of service for various classes of service for transfer of electronic data packets
A quality of service for various classes of services for the transfer of electronic data packets is provided by establishing classes of packets for a customer and for assigning bandwidths to the classes for the customer. Accordingly, the amount of bandwidth for one type of service may vary from the bandwidth for another type of service over the same data connection. A device, such as an edge router of a network, may police the data packets being transferred by a customer to maintain the bandwidth being utilized by a given class of packets of the customer to within the assigned bandwidth for that class of the customer. The data packets may further be policed by core routers of the network may also to maintain the bandwidth being utilized by a given class of packets to within the assigned bandwidth for that class as specified by the service provider. |
| US08427943B2 |
Bandwidth-aware multicast load balancing on a multi-interface host
In one embodiment, a network device having a plurality of network interfaces maintains a database tracking multicast memberships associated with the network interfaces. The network device then uses the database for load balancing received multicast traffic over the network interfaces. |
| US08427942B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for connecting a mobile client to wireless networks
A method for connecting a mobile client to a wireless network includes periodically triggering an access point scanning process so as to monitor an access point density of a wireless network. A frequency of the triggering is adjusted in response to a change in the access point density. |
| US08427940B2 |
Method of M:1 protection
An apparatus comprising a first segment endpoint bridge (SEB) configured to couple to a second SEB via a plurality of path segments, wherein the path segments comprise a working segment and a plurality of candidate protection segments, wherein the candidate protection segments comprise a protection segment that is configured to protect the working segment, wherein the candidate protection segments other than the protection segment do not protect the working segment, wherein one first state variable is used to maintain each of the candidate protection segments, and wherein a plurality of second state variables are used to maintain each of the working segment and the protection segment. |
| US08427932B2 |
Optical recording medium and optical recording-reading method
Efficient recording and reading are achieved in an optical recording medium including servo layers and recording and reading layers. The optical recording medium includes: a first servo layer having a projection and a depression for tracking control that are formed in a first spiral direction; a second servo layer having a projection and a depression for tracking control that are formed in a second spiral direction opposite to the first spiral direction; and a plurality of recording and reading layers having a flat structure with no projection and depression for tracking control. Information is recorded on each of the plurality of recording and reading layers while tracking control is performed using the first servo layer or the second servo layer. |
| US08427930B1 |
Memory device
A memory device according to one embodiment includes: a recording array including recording regions, a first positioning region and a second positioning region; a probe array including a plurality of first probes provided oppositely to the recording regions, and a plurality of second probes provided oppositely to the first and second positioning region; an actuator; and a control circuit configured to control an operation of the actuator by using a positioning signal. The first positioning region includes a first positioning pattern. The first positioning pattern has a plurality of first line portions. The second positioning region includes a second positioning pattern. The second positioning pattern has a plurality of second line portions. The control circuit is configured to generate the positioning signal based on whether or not the second probes are in contact with the line portions of the first and second positioning patterns. |
| US08427928B2 |
Optical head and optical information device
An optical head 200 comprises: a light source 101 that emits a light beam; an objective lens 105 that condenses, in the form of converging light, the light beam emitted by the light source 101, onto an information recording medium; a cylindrical lens 115 onto which a reflected light beam that is reflected by the information recording medium is incident, and which generates astigmatism for forming a focus error signal; a light detector 120 that receives the reflected light beam passing through the cylindrical lens 115; and a holder 130 that holds the cylindrical lens 115 and the light detector 120. The holder 130 has a first main face and a second main face that extend in directions that intersect the optical axis of the reflected light beam. The cylindrical lens 115 is bonded to the first main face and the light detector 120 is bonded to the second main face. |
| US08427924B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical-pickup apparatus includes: a three-wavelength-laser diode including first-, second-, and third-laser elements to emit first-, second-, and third laser beams having first, second, and third wavelengths, respectively, the three laser elements housed in the same case; an objective lens to focus the three laser beams onto first- to third-optical-disc-signal-recording layers, respectively; a first photodetector to be irradiated with first-return light reflected from the first-optical-disc-signal-recording layer, a second photodetector to be irradiated with second- and third-return lights respectively reflected from the second- and third-optical-disc-signal-recording layers; a polarizing-beam splitter to reflect the three laser beams toward the lens, and allow the three return lights having passed through the lens to pass therethrough; a semitransparent mirror on which the three return lights having passed through the polarizing-beam splitter are incident, and which guide the first-return light toward the first photodetector and the second- and third-return lights toward the second photodetector. |
| US08427920B2 |
Information recording medium, method of configuring version information thereof, recording and reproducing method using the same, and recording and reproducing apparatus thereof
In one embodiment, the method includes generating version information including a first version information and a second version information. At least one of the first version information and the second version information is to determine a backward compatibility with respect to reading or writing of the recording medium. The version information is recorded on a specific area of the recording medium. |
| US08427919B2 |
Pattern writing system and method and abnormality diagnosing method
Reflected and scattered electrons generated by emitting an electron beam onto a substrate are detected by a detecting unit. The product of the area (SN) and the irradiation time (tN) of the Nth shot in a predetermined measurement unit obtained from writing data is computed by a computing unit. The value obtained by accumulating an instructed equivalent value in the predetermined measurement unit and the value obtained by integrating the signal (DN) from the detecting unit in the predetermined measurement unit are compared and determined by a comparing unit to determine whether or not abnormality occurs in the irradiation amount of the electron beam. |
| US08427918B2 |
Optical disk drive
There is provided an optical disk drive that pursues power saving and simultaneously assures data recording quality. A servo processor of the optical disk drive has a low frequency equalizer, a high frequency equalizer, a limiter, and an adder. A limit voltage value of the limiter is set by means of a control command from a system controller. The limit voltage value is set so as to become greater during a data recording period than in a data regeneration period. An output from the adder is supplied as a tracking drive signal to a tracking actuator or as a focus drive signal to a focus actuator. |
| US08427916B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
According to one embodiment, an information storage medium includes an organic dye material which records information with a light beam having a wavelength equal to or smaller than 620 nm. |
| US08427910B2 |
Storing audio-centered information with a multi-level table-of-contents (TOC) mechanism having redundant sub-TOCs
Audio-centered information is stored on a unitary medium by using a Table-of-Contents (TOC) mechanism that specifies an actual configuration of various audio items on the medium. In particular, each one of a set of one or more Track Areas gets at least two mutually logically conforming Sub-TOCs assigned. This allows to retrieve any constituent Sub-TOC part from at least any correct copy of the Sub-TOCs. Furthermore, one or more Master-TOCs are provided for specifically pointing to each of the Sub-TOCs. |
| US08427907B2 |
Clock device and computer-readable record medium storing program for implementing the same
A clock device acquires time information representing present time from an external device at preset time intervals, corrects time of an internal clock based on the time information, calculates an error of the time of the internal clock based on the present time represented by the time information, and changes a first set value of the time interval based on the error. The changing updates the first set value to a second set value, which is m times the first set value when the error is smaller than a first threshold value, while updating the first set value to a second set value, which is n times the set value when the error is larger than a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value (m, n: positive values satisfying m>1, n<1 and m·n≠1). |
| US08427906B2 |
Acoustic sensor utilizing acoustoelectric effect
An ultrasound system that detects a characteristic of an ultrasound wave. The system includes a circuit member defining a sensing portion operable to be exposed to the ultrasound wave. The system also includes a current generating device that generates a current in the sensing portion of the circuit member. Furthermore, the system includes a voltage sensor that detects a voltage across the sensing portion due to the exposure to the ultrasound wave to thereby detect the characteristic of the ultrasound wave. |
| US08427904B2 |
Seismic data visualizations using a 3-D frequency-wavenumber space filter
Embodiments of various technologies for a method for processing seismic data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first portion of a record of pre-stack seismic data may be displayed in a three-dimensional XYZ (3-D XYZ) space. A selection may be received of a second portion of the record of the pre-stack seismic data within the first portion. One or more attributes may be determined that define the second portion. One or more regions may be identified within the record of the pre-stack seismic data having the attributes that define the second portion. |
| US08427900B2 |
Method for deployment of seismic recorder array with removable data recorders
A method of deploying a seismic recorder array on a seafloor is disclosed. The seismic recorder array comprises a plurality of removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of forming the seismic recorder array by connecting a plurality of recorder housings in series, wherein adjacent recorder housings are connected by a connector cable. The recorder housings are configured to retain the removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of loading the plurality of removable seismic data recorders in the recorder housings, and lowering the seismic recorder array into water until the seismic recorder array is positioned on the seafloor underlying the water. The method comprises the step of operating the seismic data recorders to detect seismic signal reflections and to record seismic data representing the reflections. |
| US08427899B2 |
Self-adaptive sensing design
A clock signal having a clock pulse width duration is received. A delay time is received. A first relationship and a second relationship between the clock pulse width duration and the delay time are determined. A new clock is generated that has a first new clock pulse width duration determined by the first relationship and the delay time and a second new clock pulse width duration determined by the second relationship and the clock pulse width duration. Switching between the first new clock pulse width duration and the second new clock pulse width duration is automatic based on the first relationship and the second relationship. |
| US08427891B2 |
Hybrid volatile and non-volatile memory device with a shared interface circuit
A composite, hybrid memory device including a first storage die having an array of volatile storage cells and a second storage die having an array of non-volatile storage cells disposed within an integrated circuit package. The hybrid memory device includes a shared interface circuit to receive memory access commands directed to the first storage die and the second storage die and to convey read and write data between an external data path and the first and second storage dice. |
| US08427890B2 |
Program cycle skip
A non-volatile storage system includes technology for skipping programming cycles while programming a page (or other unit) of data. While programming a current subset of the page (or other unit) of data, the system will evaluate whether the next subsets of the page (or other unit) of data should be programmed into non-volatile storage elements or skipped. Subsets of the page (or other unit) of data that should not be skipped are programmed into non-volatile storage elements. Some embodiments include transferring the appropriate data to temporary latches/registers, in preparation for programming, concurrently with the evaluation of whether to program or skip the programming. |
| US08427889B2 |
Memory device and associated main word line and word line driving circuit
A main word line driving circuit for driving word lines in a memory device comprises first and second level shifting units and an inverting unit. The first level shifting unit is configured to convert a decode signal into a first operative signal, and the second level shifting unit is configured to convert the decode signal into a second operative signal. The inverting unit is configured to receive the first and second operative signals. A supply voltage of the first level shifting unit is selectively switched to a first bias voltage when the plurality of word lines are selected or partially selected and switched the output voltage to a second bias voltage when the plurality of word lines are deselected. |
| US08427887B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for a power generator system
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for a power generator system. The power generator system may include a control device configured to output a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage that define a dead band range. The control device may be configured to independently adjust the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. The power generator system may also include a power generator operably coupled to the control device, and the power generator may be configured to receive the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage and to output a voltage that is greater than or substantially equal to the first reference voltage and less than or substantially equal to the second reference voltage. |
| US08427886B2 |
Memory device with trimmable power gating capabilities
A memory device includes at least one memory cell including a storage element electrically connected with a source potential line. A drive strength of the storage element is controlled as a function of a voltage level on the source potential line. The memory device further includes a clamp circuit electrically connected between the source potential line and a voltage source. The clamp circuit is operative to regulate the voltage level on the source potential line relative to the voltage source. A control circuit of the memory device is connected with the source potential line. The control circuit is operative to adjust the voltage level on the source potential line as a function of an operational mode of the memory device. A coarseness by which the voltage level on the source potential line is adjusted is selectively controlled as a function of at least a first control signal. |
| US08427880B2 |
Operating memory cells
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for reading non-volatile memory cells. One method includes programming a number of memory cells coupled in series between a first and second select gate transistor where edge cells are coupled adjacent to the select gate transistors and non-edge cells are coupled between the edge cells. The method includes programming a non-edge cell within a first threshold voltage (Vt) distribution. The method also includes programming an edge cell within a second Vt distribution, wherein the first and second Vt distributions correspond to a same one of a number of data states, and wherein the second Vt distribution is different than the first Vt distribution for at least one of the number of data states. |
| US08427878B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices, operating methods thereof and memory systems including the same
Nonvolatile memory devices, operating methods thereof, and memory systems including the same. A nonvolatile memory device may include a memory cell array and a word line driver. The memory cell array may include a plurality of memory cells. The word line driver may be configured to apply word line voltages to a plurality of word lines connected to the plurality of memory cells, respectively. Magnitudes of the word line voltages may be determined according to locations of the plurality of word lines. |
| US08427872B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and system performing repair operation for defective memory cell
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a main memory cell array, a redundancy memory cell array, and a controller. The main memory cell array comprises a plurality of bit lines each connected to a plurality of strings arranged perpendicular to a substrate. The redundancy memory cell array comprises a plurality of redundancy bit lines each connected to a plurality of redundancy strings arranged perpendicular to the substrate. The controller is configured to control one of the redundancy bit lines to repair strings in the main memory cell array. |
| US08427869B2 |
Voltage switch circuit and nonvolatile memory device using the same
A voltage switch circuit includes a positive voltage supply circuit configured to supply a positive voltage to a control node in response to an enable signal, a negative voltage supply circuit configured to supply a negative voltage to the control node in response to a negative voltage enable signal, a control signal generation circuit configured to generate the negative voltage enable signal in response to the enable signal, and a switch circuit configured to transfer an input voltage with a positive potential or a negative potential to an output node in response to a potential of the control node. |
| US08427863B2 |
Low current switching magnetic tunnel junction design for magnetic memory using domain wall motion
A multi-state low-current-switching magnetic memory element (magnetic memory element) comprising a free layer, two stacks, and a magnetic tunneling junction is disclosed. The stacks and magnetic tunneling junction are disposed upon surfaces of the free layer, with the magnetic tunneling junction located between the stacks. The stacks pin magnetic domains within the free layer, creating a free layer domain wall. A current passed from stack to stack pushes the domain wall, repositioning the domain wall within the free layer. The position of the domain wall relative to the magnetic tunnel junction corresponds to a unique resistance value, and passing current from a stack to the magnetic tunnel junction reads the magnetic memory element's resistance. Thus, unique memory states may be achieved by moving the domain wall. |
| US08427862B2 |
Reading a phase change memory
A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals. |
| US08427861B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array having a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings intersecting each other and memory cells disposed at intersections between the plurality of first wirings and the plurality of second wirings. The semiconductor memory device further includes a control circuit for selectively driving the plurality of first wirings and the plurality of second wirings. The control circuit applies a first voltage for a first operation to a first select wiring and applies a second voltage for a second operation different from the first operation to a second select wiring and applies a third voltage for the first and second operation to a third select wiring. The first operation is completed before the second operation is completed. The control circuit applies a fourth voltage for a third operation to a forth select wiring before the second operation is completed. |
| US08427856B2 |
Semiconductor device having bit lines and local I/O lines
The present invention efficiently decides line failure and contact failure in a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a plurality of bit line groups in which connection with local I/O lines is controlled by the same column selection signal line. A failure detecting circuit compares a first data group read from a first bit line group and a second data group read from a second bit line group to detect whether or not connection failure (contact failure) with the column selection signal line occurs in one of the first and second bit line groups. |
| US08427855B2 |
Semiconductor nanocrystal composite
A nanocrystal composite that includes a matrix including semiconductor nanocrystals, and a barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the matrix and including a polymer with low oxygen permeability, low moisture permeability, or both. |
| US08427854B2 |
Utilization of memory refresh cycles for pattern matching
Searching for patterns stored on a hardware storage device. A method includes, as part of a memory refresh operation, performing a read to read contents of a portion of a memory. The method further includes writing the read contents of the portion of memory back to the portion of memory. The read contents are provided to data comparison logic. Using the data comparison logic; the read contents are compared to predetermined data patterns. A determination is made as to whether or not the contents match at least one of the predetermined data patterns. When the read contents match at least one of the predetermined data patterns, a software readable indicator is provided indicating that the read contents match at least one of the predetermined data patterns. Similar embodiments may be implemented using hard drive head wear leveling operations. |
| US08427851B2 |
Charge pump circuit and methods of operation thereof
A charge pump circuit, and associated method and apparatuses, for providing a split-rail voltage supply, the circuit having a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of said states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage and centered on the voltage at the common terminal. |
| US08427849B2 |
Start-up circuit for power converters with wide input voltage range
A start-up circuit includes a switching-device control circuit arranged to receive an input voltage and to provide a switching-device control signal, a switching device arranged to be controlled by the switching-device control signal and to provide a start-up signal, a power-converter control circuit arranged to receive the start-up signal and to provide a power-converter control signal, and a power converter arranged to receive the power-converter control signal and to provide an auxiliary output signal. The switching control circuit is arranged to receive the auxiliary output signal such that, when the auxiliary output signal reaches a predetermined level, the switching-device control circuit stops providing the switching-device control signal. |
| US08427848B2 |
Variable time clamp for a power supply controller
An example integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a feedback terminal and a controller having a variable time clamp (VTC). The feedback terminal is to be coupled to receive a feedback signal and the controller is to be coupled to enable or disable the conduction of a power switch during a switching cycle in response to the feedback signal. The controller includes a current limit comparator coupled to terminate the conduction of the power switch during an enabled switching cycle in response to a current through the power switch exceeding a variable current limit. The VTC is coupled to clamp the feedback terminal to a voltage for a clamp time that is responsive to the variable current limit. |
| US08427846B2 |
Inverter circuit having a controller to supply a reactive current on a phase with a voltage drop
A three-phase inverter circuit includes an inverter incorporating a plurality of controllable power switches, and an electronic control device adapted to control the power switches. The control device in the event of a measured voltage drop on one phase is adapted to supply a reactive current on the phase with voltage drop and to supply and/or draw an active current on at least one phase without voltage drop. |
| US08427844B2 |
Widebody coil isolators
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of widebody coil isolators containing multiple coil transducers, where integrated circuits are not stacked vertically over the coil transducers. The disclosed coil isolators provide high voltage isolation and high voltage breakdown performance characteristics in small packages that provide a high degree of functionality at a low price. |
| US08427841B2 |
Electronic device
Provided is an electronic device which may include a first structure having a first surface, a first land region on the first surface, a second structure having a second surface facing the first surface, a second land region on the second surface, and a connection structure between the first and second structures electrically connecting the first land region to the second land region. As provided, the first land region may have a major axis and a minor axis on the first surface and the second land region may have a major axis and a minor axis on the second surface. Furthermore, the major axes of the first and second land regions may have different orientations with respect to one another. |
| US08427836B2 |
Power semiconductor module
A power semiconductor module in which a substrate is provided with at least one power semiconductor and has first and second contact areas, wherein a first load connection element with first contact elements provided thereon is supported on the first contact areas and a second load connection element with second contact elements provided thereon is supported on the second contact areas. Wherein at least one spring element is provided for producing a pressure contact between the contact elements and the contact areas. To reduce the structural size of the module, the pressure contact between the contact elements and the contact areas is exerted by at least one electrical component arranged between the spring element and one of the load connection elements. |
| US08427835B2 |
Rack server
A rack server includes a chassis having a front and a rear ends which are divided by a partition board into a first and a second chambers; a mother board module, located in the first chamber; a hard drive module, disposed in the second chamber. The hard drive module includes a hard drive cage, slidably disposed in the second chamber from the front end, in which the hard drive cage has a first and a second sides parallel to the partition board and the second side has a hard drive port; a hard drive backplane, vertically fixed to the first side of the hard drive cage; a plurality of hard drives, pluggably disposed in the hard drive cage and electrically connected to the hard drive backplane. An extendable/retractable support arm and a wire set arranged inside it maintain an electrical connection of the hard drive cage. |
| US08427825B2 |
External electrical connection for a portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes: a housing, a processor provided in the housing, a rechargeable power pack provided in the housing in communication with the processor, apertures extending through the housing, insulating portions of the housing being provided between the apertures, a location of the apertures being selected to map out a graphical element, electrical contacts in communication with the battery for charging the battery, the electrical contacts being sized to be received in the apertures and wherein the insulating portions are provided for insulating the electrical contacts from one another. |
| US08427819B1 |
Substrate interconnect routing
One or more data signal interconnects arranged on a substrate of a dense array reduce overall size of a device incorporating the dense array, such as a touch sensor or display. The data signal interconnects on the substrate carry signals from printed circuits coupled to the array to a controller via interconnect tabs. |
| US08427815B2 |
Platform for a power distribution system
A power distribution system comprising a platform having one or more electrical connections each with cabinet connection contacts and one or more receptacles in an outer surface of the platform. Each receptacle is configured to hold one or more electrical over-current protection devices that route electrical power to the cabinet connection contacts. |
| US08427810B2 |
Electrical insulation film
The present invention relates to a capacitor film comprising a biaxially oriented polypropylene wherein a) said polypropylene has a draw ratio in machine direction of at least 4.0 and a draw ratio in transverse direction of at least 4.0, and b) said polypropylene has an electrical breakdown strength EB63% according to IEC 60243-part 1 (1988) of at least 300 kV/mm at a draw ratio in machine direction and in transverse direction of 4.0. |
| US08427807B2 |
Capacitor for application in high pressure environments
A capacitor (1) for application in high pressure environments has at least two electrodes (2.1, 2.2) and at least one electrically insulating film (5) forming a dielectric between the electrodes (2.1, 2.2), each electrode (2.1, 2.2) having at least one metallic foil (3.1, 3.2) or at least one metallic layer on the electrically insulating film (5), wherein the capacitor (1) is unencapsulated and designed to allow a surrounding liquid to fill cavities of the capacitor (1). Furthermore, an electric device has at least one such capacitor (1) in a device housing, whereby the device housing is filled with an electrically insulating liquid. |
| US08427805B2 |
Electromagnetic system with no mutual inductance and an inductive gain
An electromagnetic system consists of an electric circuit comprising two solenoids wired in series, one mounted either side and proximate to a toroid. Voltage is applied across the toroid and the solenoids in a specific sequence which alters the inductance behavior of the system, resulting in an inductance gain and no mutual inductance between the toroid and the two solenoids. |
| US08427800B2 |
Smart link coupled to power line
A smart link in a power delivery system includes an insulator, which electrically isolates a power line, and a switchable conductance placed in parallel with the insulator. The switchable conductance includes switchgear for sourcing, sinking, and/or dispatching real and/or reactive power on the power line to dynamically in response to dynamic loading, transient voltages and/or currents, and phase conditions or other conditions on the power line. |
| US08427799B2 |
ESD clamp for multi-bonded pins
A circuit comprises a plurality of segments and a clamp circuit. Each of the plurality of segments comprises a bond pad coupled to a multi-bonded pin via a respective bond wire and a conductor coupling the bond pad to a respective internal connection. The bond pad from each of the plurality of segments is coupled to the same multi-bonded pin. The clamp circuit comprises a plurality of input pins and a plurality of clamp transistors. Each input pin is coupled to the bond pad of a respective one of the plurality of segments via the respective conductor. Each clamp transistor is coupled to a respective one of the input pins, wherein each of the plurality of clamp transistors is configured to prevent a voltage on the respective conductor from exceeding a respective voltage limit. |
| US08427798B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
In one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a power source circuit connected to a terminal of a first high potential side power source and outputs a voltage of a second high potential side power source, and an output transistor outputting an output signal to an output terminal. A cathode of a first diode is connected to the terminal of the first high potential side power source and an anode thereof is connected to the output terminal. A current source and a capacitor are connected between a terminal of the second high potential side power source and the terminal of a low potential side power source. A signal from a connection node of the current source and the capacitor and a control signal are inputted to a logic circuit, and the logic circuit outputs a signal obtained by a logic operation to the control terminal of the output transistor. |
| US08427797B2 |
ESD networks for solder bump integrated circuits
Semiconductor dice (100, 200) of integrated circuit chips are provided with solder bump pads (130, 230) distributed over active areas of the dice to supply the I/O interconnects without including peripheral wire bond pads. The dice are further provided with protective ESD structures (140p/140i, 240p/240i) arranged in a network that includes ESD structures that extend into the interior areas of the dice. This allows the ESD structures to be placed proximate to respective power and ground connections, and positioned to reduce an average interconnect length between interior bump pads and the ESD structures relative to an average path length between the interior bump pads and the die peripheral area. |
| US08427796B2 |
High voltage, high frequency ESD protection circuit for RF ICs
Improved ESD protection circuits for RFICs requiring both high voltage and high frequency operation is described. A cascode grounded gate snap-back NFET (GGNFET) combined with a precharge circuit and a diode network results in a positive ESD protection clamp with low capacitance and high turn-on voltage. The positive ESD protection clamp provides ESD protection to an IC during a positive voltage ESD pulse. Exemplary embodiments of a negative ESD protection clamp are disclosed where a bias circuit or a charge pump is used in place of the precharge circuit in a manner that allows the combination of the bias circuit or the charge pump together with a diode network and a cascode grounded gate snap-back NFET to provide protection against negative ESD voltage pulses. The combination of a positive and a negative ESD protection clamp provides ESD protection to an IC during either a positive or a negative voltage ESD pulse. Alternate embodiments further reduce the capacitance of the ESD protection circuit by using only a positive ESD clamp to provide ESD protection during a positive ESD pulse while protection for a negative ESD pulse is provided by a discharge path formed by a path of an RF front-end switch coupled to a negative ESD diode. |
| US08427787B2 |
Hard disk drives with improved exiting regions for electrical connectors and related methods
A hard disk drive of the invention comprises a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector extending through an exiting portion of the base. The exiting portion comprises a recessed portion within the base providing an enlarged opening through which the electrical connector may exit the hard disk drive without direct constraint by the base. The electrical connector also provides electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more component within the hard disk drive. |
| US08427783B2 |
Head-gimbal assembly, microactuator, and manufacturing method of the microactuator
A head-gimbal assembly. The head-gimbal assembly includes a suspension, a microactuator disposed on the suspension, and a head-slider bonded to the microactuator. The head-gimbal assembly further includes a connection pad disposed on the suspension, a connection pad disposed on the microactuator and formed over an edge between a side surface and a top surface of the microactuator to have a bend portion with an obtuse angle, and a metallic interconnection joint for interconnecting the connection pad of the suspension with the connection pad of the microactuator. |
| US08427776B2 |
Reducing air flow exposure to conductive components of a hard disk drive
A hard disk drive including a housing, at least one disk mounted to the housing, an actuator mounted to the housing and being movable relative to the at least one disk, a conductive component support coupled with the actuator and extending the first surface, the conductive component support having a support wall attaching the conductive component support to the actuator, and a boss coupled with a first surface of the actuator and the support wall, the boss having a first end facing a flat coil side of the actuator and a second end facing a head gimbal assembly side of the actuator, wherein the first end extends further toward the flat coil side than the conductive component entrance portion of the conductive component support such that a portion of the boss overlaps a portion of the conductive component support. |
| US08427774B2 |
Pass-through mechanism for linear tape library
A pass-through mechanism that couples a first linear tape library string to a second linear tape library string is maintained. A first robotic assembly associated with the first linear tape library string places a tape from the first linear tape library string into the pass-through mechanism. The pass-through mechanism moves the tape to a position where the tape can be removed by a second robotic assembly associated with the second linear tape library string. The second robotic assembly removes the tape from the pass-through mechanism and places the tape into the second linear tape library string. |
| US08427770B1 |
Discriminating between protrusion defects and recess defects on a disk recording medium
An apparatus is disclosed comprising a thermal sensor operable to detect at least one protrusion defect and at least one recess defect on a disk, the thermal sensor operable to generate a sensor signal. An attack time of the sensor signal is measured when the thermal sensor passes over one of the protrusion defect and the recess defect, and the protrusion defect is discriminated from the recess defect based on the attack time. |
| US08427768B2 |
Optical filter for compensating for color shift provided in front of a display panel of a display device and display device having the same
An optical filter for compensating for color shift is provided in front of a display panel of a display device. The optical filter includes a background layer and a green wavelength absorption pattern provided with a predetermined thickness on the background layer. The green wavelength absorption pattern absorbs a green wavelength of light. The green wavelength absorption pattern contains a material that absorbs a green wavelength of light in the range of 510 nm to 560 nm, and can also contain a white light absorbing material. A green's complementary color absorbing part absorbs a wavelength of light complementary to green, and contains at least one of a material absorbing a blue wavelength of light in the range of 440 nm to 480 nm and a material absorbing a red wavelength of light in the range of 600 nm to 650 nm. |
| US08427767B2 |
Auto focusing lens module and calibrating method thereof
An auto focusing lens module is provided, which includes a casing, a photo interrupter and a lens holder. The casing has a containing space. The photo interrupter is fixedly disposed on the casing and has a light-emitting surface and a light-sensing surface opposite to the light-emitting surface. The lens holder is disposed in the containing space and has a first obstacle and a second obstacle. The space between the first obstacle and the second obstacle keeps a calibrating interval. The lens holder is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction to bring the first obstacle, the calibrating interval or the second obstacle to the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface. The invention also provides a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned auto focusing lens module. |
| US08427766B2 |
Optical assembly for medical imaging devices
Optical assemblies for use in medical or other devices so as to image an object under examination onto an image sensor include a plurality of lens elements that can be retained in lens barrel. The lens elements and the lens barrel can be sealed with a compressible gasket. In one example, at least one lens element is made of an injection-moldable plastic and at least one lens element is made of a relatively dispersive optical glass. A lens barrel diameter or lens diameter can be selected to permit access to the object under examination with surgical or other tools. Aperture plates can be situated so as to reduce flare in the object image. |
| US08427757B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus satisfying certain conditional expressions comprises a zoom lens and an image pickup element. The zoom lens consists of, in order from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power in which a reflecting surface that deflects the optical path is provided, a second lens unit, comprising a plurality of negative lenses, having a negative refractive power, a rear lens unit, comprising a third lens unit and a fourth lens unit, having a positive refractive power, and an aperture stop between the second and fourth lens units. During zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens unit is fixed, the second lens unit moves in such a way as to be located closer to the image side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, and the distances between the lens units change. |
| US08427756B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a negative first lens unit being composed of two lens elements; a positive second lens unit; and a positive third lens unit, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit during image taking, the individual lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit decreases and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit increases, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein on the image side relative to the second lens unit, an aperture diaphragm is arranged that moves along the optical axis integrally with the second lens unit during zooming. |
| US08427755B2 |
Fluidic lens and method of manufacturing the same
A fluidic lens and method for manufacturing the same are provided. The fluidic lens includes a transparent optical fluid and a double elastomer membrane. An outer membrane of the double elastomer membrane that is externally exposed includes a Poly DiMethyl Siloxane (PDMS) elastomer, and an inner membrane of the double elastomer membrane that makes contact with the optical fluid is transparent and includes an elastomer which has a low coherence with respect to the optical fluid. |
| US08427754B2 |
Display device with an active matrix of electrowetting cells
The invention relates to an active matrix with data driver circuit and selection driver circuit, where the active matrix is electrically connected with the driver circuits and where it comprises electrowetting cells (EW cells) arranged in rows and columns. An EW cell comprises at least two electrodes, which are connected through at least one transistor with data lines and row lines of the driver circuits. The electrodes which are provided for controlling the EW cell are connected with the same data line and with two different control lines, where the selection driver circuit simultaneously activates the transistors which are connected with the individual selection lines by control signals and where it connects the electrodes of the respective EW cell locally so to achieve a medium voltage value. |
| US08427751B2 |
Combiner positioning system for head-up display
A combiner positioning system for a head-up display (HUD) is provided. The positioning system includes a combiner holder, a pair of control discs, a pair of levers and a driving unit. The combiner holder is connected to the combiner, the levers are connected to the combiner holder and the control discs, and the driving unit is connected to the control discs. When the driving unit drives the control discs to rotate, the levers moves the combiner holder and the combiner. The positioning system enables the combiner's first movement from parking position (storage position) to operating position (display position) and a second movement for angular fine adjustment of the combiner is also enabled after reaching the operating position. |
| US08427747B2 |
OLED light extraction films laminated onto glass substrates
A light extraction film laminated to a glass substrate for organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. The light extraction film includes a flexible substantially transparent film, a low index nanostructured layer applied to the film, and a high index planarizing backfill layer applied over the nanostructured layer. A glass substrate is laminated to the flexible substantially transparent film on a side opposite the nanostructured layer and including an ultra-low index region between the film and the glass substrate. The ultra-low index region is used to reduce optical losses occurring with the glass substrate. |
| US08427746B2 |
Stereoscopic image display system and method of controlling the same
The present invention discloses a stereoscopic image display system and a method of controlling the same. An eye tracking module locates current 3D spatial positions of the viewer's eyes, and generates the information of both left and right eyes' current 3D spatial positions. A control module controls a display device that can alter the direction of the light outputted, and outputs images on the display device in time multiplex mode. The light containing the left eye image is outputted to the position of left eye instead of right eye at one time point, and the light containing the right eye image is outputted to the position of right eye instead of left eye at another time point, so that a stereoscopic image is perceived according to the parallax theory. The present invention enlarges the visual range of stereoscopic image and achieves a better stereoscopic image visual experience for viewers. |
| US08427745B2 |
Telescope
A telescope includes: a concave mirror reflecting light from an object; an image pickup element receiving light from the mirror; a compensation optical system for guiding light from the mirror to the image pickup element; a lens barrel integrally holding the image pickup element and the compensation optical system; and a drive mechanism for driving the lens barrel to change the angle of the optical axis of the compensation optical system with respect to the optical axis of the concave mirror. |
| US08427743B2 |
Microscope
A microscope having a night vision apparatus, which apparatus can be impinged upon by beam paths proceeding from a specimen or object to be observed. |
| US08427742B2 |
Laminate having photochromic function and infrared shield function
The present invention relates to a laminate that includes a pair of substrates; and one or more photochromic films and one or more infrared (IR) shield films that are provided between the pair of substrates, wherein the photochromic films or the infrared (IR) shield films that are in contact with a pair of substrates are adhered to the substrates by an adhesion film. The laminate according to the present invention has a high durable photochromic function having a UV shielding effect and an infrared (IR) shielding effect. |
| US08427741B2 |
Self-collimator planar spectroscopy shaping device for chirped-pulse-amplification
A self-collimator planar spectroscopy shaping device for chirped pulse amplification (CPA): uses a spectrum decomposing system with CTSI construction, a spectrum synthesizing system with CTSI structure that is symmetrical to the decomposing structure, and a spectrum shaping system including an aperture and a planar reflector for spectrum shaping function design. The device accomplishes the following functions: firstly decomposing the spectrum of a chirped temporal pulse laser to a spectral domain; then shaping the spectrum in the spectral domain; finally synthesizing un-shiftily this shaped spectrum in the spectral domain into a temporal chirped pulse with a designed shape. The device has features of small size of concave reflector, easy fabrication, compact construction, little laboratory space needed, and cheap in cost, which it can be different types of configuration for different circumstance application, which it can be not only utilized in a general laser spectrum shaping and spectrum modulation, but also can be utilized for a high energy and ultra-high peak-power laser system in chirped pulse amplification with a large caliber and with a chirped pulse bandwidth of a few nanometers. |
| US08427739B2 |
Optical amplifier
An optical amplifier includes an input port, an output port, an amplification medium, a light source, a monitor, and a controller. The amplification medium with which doped an rare-earth element for optical amplification is allocated on an optical path between the input port and the output port. The light source supplies the amplification medium with an excitation light. The monitor monitors a total power of an optical signal of each wavelength according to a monitor period which is longer than a transient response time of the amplification medium. The controller controls the light source so that a power of the excitation light is constant when a monitor value of the monitor is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value and controls the light source so that an optical gain in the amplification medium is constant when the monitor value is larger than the predetermined threshold value. |
| US08427738B2 |
Nonlinear frequency conversion in nanoslot optical waveguides
A waveguide device for frequency mixing or conversion through birefringent phase matching, having two suspended horizontal waveguides with an air-filled horizontal nanoslot between them. The waveguides are formed of a material with a high nonlinear susceptibility, and one waveguide can be n-doped with the other waveguide slab being p-doped. The system can be tuned to operate at different frequencies by varying the nanoslot gap distance by electrostatically actuating the suspended air-clad waveguides. |
| US08427737B2 |
Electrophoretic display device
An electrophoretic display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate which are arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined interval; a plurality of pixel electrodes which are aligned on the first substrate; a wiring which is arranged between adjacent pixel electrodes among the pixel electrodes; an opposite electrode which is provided on the second substrate; a partition wall which is provided above the wiring of the first substrate to stand toward the second substrate so as to surround the pixel electrodes; and a solvent which fills up a space surrounded by the partition wall and in which a plurality of particles are dispersed. The partition wall has a rectangular shape including four sides, at least one of which partially has an expanded-width portion wider than other portion of the at least one of the four sides. |
| US08427728B2 |
Optical scanner
A pair of substrate portions each being tabular-shaped has side portions located closer to a mirror portion and connected, at both ends thereof in the oscillation axis direction, by a pair of supporting beam portions, and also has outer side portions fixed to a fixing member. An excitation device is formed on at least one substrate portion. The pair of substrate portions is disposed symmetrically in the direction perpendicular to the oscillation axis. A pair of torsion beam portions extends outward from two opposite sides of the mirror portion on the oscillation axis, and each is connected to the center of each supporting beam portion in a longitudinal direction. An edge of the piezoelectric element on an outer side thereof in the direction perpendicular to the oscillation axis is spaced from an outer side portion of the at least one substrate portion in a direction closer to the mirror portion. |
| US08427727B2 |
Oscillating mirror for image projection
An apparatus includes a substrate and a mirror. The mirror is attached to the substrate via a spring. An electro-mechanical driver is operable to cause the mirror to rotationally oscillate about first and second non-collinear axes at different first and second frequencies. |
| US08427725B2 |
Light modulating device
The present invention relates to a light modulating device, comprising a SLM and a pixelated optical element, in which a group of at least two adjacent pixels of the SLM in combination with a corresponding group of pixels in the pixelated optical element form a macropixel, the pixelated optical element being of a type such that its pixels comprise a fixed content, each macropixel being used to represent a numerical value which is manifested physically by the states of the pixels of the SLM and the content of the pixels of the pixelated optical element which form the macropixel. |
| US08427723B2 |
Method of sequencing image data inside memory of optical scanning device
An image data sequencing method for a memory unit inside an optical scanning device. The image data sequencing method is particularly suitable for scanning a line of pixels with each pixel comprising a plurality of primary colors. The image data sequencing method involves scanning a line of pixels to obtain the data for a primary or secondary color. The pixels within the scan line are subdivided into groups. A storage space is reserved both before and after the address space inside the memory unit for holding the scanned primary or secondary color data so that all the primary or secondary color data constituting a pixel are in a fixed sequence next to each other inside the memory unit. When all the primary or secondary color data of pixels within a group are secured, the group of data is released from the memory unit. |
| US08427721B2 |
Device and method for dynamically changing color
A lighting system (900) has a light source (920) configured to provide a light, and a controller (930) configured to control hue and saturation of the light to change a color of the light from an initial color to a final color during at least two phases. |
| US08427718B2 |
Image forming apparatus with driving carriage to a retreat position
An image forming apparatus, includes an image reader with an original document table. An image reading part has a light source, a light-receiving part, a reflection part, and a carriage that supports the light source or the reflection part. A cover covers a replacement member and is opened/closed integrally with the image reader. A main body accommodates an operation part for performing operations based on image data. An axis connects the image reader to the main body and turnably supports the image reader and the cover in approaching/separating directions with respect to the main body. An open/close detector detects an open/closed state of the image reader and the cover and a movement controller moves the carriage in a sub-scanning direction. When the image reader and the cover are open, the movement controller moves the carriage to a retreat position that is outside the original document table. |
| US08427714B2 |
Image-reading device
In an image-reading device, when the reading unit generates the set of image data, the top side is generated at first and the bottom side is generated subsequently to the top side. The scanned image includes a document image corresponding to the document. The specifying unit, when the reading unit scans and reads a part of the document and generates a part of the set of image data including a part of the document image, specifies a target vertex that is positioned at topmost among at least one vertex of the part of document image. The estimating unit defines a reference position in the scanned image corresponding to a center of the conveying path in the width direction, and estimates a size of the document based on a length in the second direction between the target vertex and the reference position. |
| US08427708B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling printing of information embedded in a document
When an image is formed, a document including an original image and an original additional image is read to provide document image data, the additional image being visualized when the document is reproduced. Original image data in correspondence to the original image is extracted from the document image data, and output image data is created based on the extracted original image data. Then, printing is performed based on the created output image data. |
| US08427707B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
A reference area is extracted from image data, and from the pixels included in the reference area, extracted are a plurality of small sections in which pixels are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center pixel of the reference area in the horizontal and vertical directions, and point-symmetrical with respect to the center pixel, while overlap of pixels is allowed between each of the small sections. Determination is made as to whether or not image data included in the reference area matches a predetermined pattern. A characteristic of the image data in the reference area is determined based on a number of characteristics of the plurality of small sections. Based on the results of the determination, it is judged whether or not to perform smoothing on the center pixel of the reference area. Then, the smoothing is performed on the judged center pixel. |
| US08427704B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming program product for processing pixels of vertical and diagonal lines expressed by input multi-value pixel data
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image; a status conversion unit for converting the multi-value pixel data into status values; plural reference look-up tables each indicating an association between an arrangement of the status values of a target pixel and adjacent pixels in a pixel window and an output data value of the multi-value pixel data to be output; a determining unit for determining a target reference look-up table based on the arrangement; and a generating unit configured to change an input data value of the multi-value pixel data, into the output data value of the determined target reference look-up table, and for outputting the multi-value pixel data to the image forming unit. |
| US08427698B2 |
Enhanced imaging with adjusted image swath widths
A method for forming an image comprising a first halftone image having a first screen angle and a second halftone image having a second screen angle. A recording head forms a plurality of image swaths. Each swath is merged with another swath at a merge line. A row of cells in the first halftone image is selected and a first sub-scan pitch of the cells in the row cells is determined. A first sub-scan spacing between two adjacent merge lines in the first group of swaths is equal to an integer multiple of a first sub-scan pitch. A row of cells in the second halftone image is selected and a second sub-scan pitch of the second cells in the row of second unit cells is determined. The recording head is reconfigured by disabling at least one of the recording channels forms the second halftone image. |
| US08427696B2 |
Color processing method and apparatus thereof
A gamut mapping mode is input in accordance with a user instruction. A color gamut of an output device is obtained. A moving range of a focal point is set in accordance with the gamut mapping mode. Gamut mapping is performed based on the color gamut of the output device and the moving range of the focal point. |
| US08427693B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
Provided is an image processing apparatus configured as follows. A mode specification table in a storage device contains mode specification information obtained by associating a job designated by a user. The mode specification information indicates which of a page mode and a band mode is to be selected when the job is performed. An operation panel detects a first user operation for inputting the job and a second user operation for starting the job. A main controller, using the mode specification information, specifies the mode corresponding to the job designated by the first user operation. A main controller causes a data acquisition circuit to acquire image data upon detection of the second user operation and causes an image processing circuit to perform a data processing according to the specified mode. |
| US08427692B2 |
Image processing apparatuses and systems for responding to writing errors associated with hard disk devices
A self-diagnosis function is used to acquire information showing the state of deterioration of a hard disk device, and when the hard disk device is deteriorated, a job is executed under the control which is different from that in the case where the hard disk device is not deteriorated. For example, copying job is executed in the HDD use mode in the case of non-deterioration, and copying job is executed in the HDD non-use mode (an image memory is used) in the case of deterioration. Further, the number of retrials by an alternative sector in the case of occurrence of errors of writing in a hard disk device in the course of job execution is changed according to the state of the deterioration. |
| US08427691B2 |
Image forming apparatus which changes addresses that are used when data is read from and written to memories of articles of consumption and method of controlling the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same, the image forming apparatus including: an article of consumption including a memory; and a print controller to perform a memory access to read and/or to write data from/to the memory. Addresses for the memory of the article of consumption are changed using access counts updated each time a memory access is requested, so that the memory access can be performed according to the changed addresses. |
| US08427690B2 |
Method for reading sequentially a manuscript group made of plural sheets
A method is provided for reading sequentially a manuscript group made of plural sheets and dividing the manuscript group into manuscript data. The manuscript group made of the plural sheets is read sequentially to produce reading data. Each reading data of the sheet produced at the reading step is analyzed and judged on whether or not the sheet is added with a predetermined mark. The manuscript group data is divided by the reading data of the sheet added with the predetermined mark into plural manuscript data in a case where the sheet is judged as being added with the predetermined mark at the judging step. Thereafter, each of the manuscript data including the reading data of the sheet added with the predetermined mark in a storing region is collectively stored. |
| US08427689B2 |
Print job data processing for multi-head printers
Techniques are disclosed for performing processing, such as striping, staggering, and stitching, on print data prior to printing by a multi-head printer. Subsets of the print data may be stored in multiple stages of buffers and processed in parallel to increase processing efficiency. Print data representing digital photographs may be processed sufficiently rapidly to enable continuous printing of digital photographs at high speeds. Parameters of the system, such as print buffer size and interrupt frequency, may be varied in response to design requirements such as overall system cost. |
| US08427686B2 |
Printer driver, information processing apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium recording therein printer driver having multiple decompression units
A printer driver includes an assigning unit that assigns a setting value based on storage location information specifying a storage location for each setting value; a compressing unit that converts each of the setting values thus assigned to have a format identifying each storage location, and generates compressed data therefrom; a storage unit that stores each piece of the compressed data compressed by the compressing unit in a storage location specified by the storage location information; a first decompressing unit and a second decompressing unit that decompress the compressed data stored in the storage location; a setting window displaying unit that displays a print setting window using each of the setting values obtained by decompression performed by the first decompressing unit; and a print data generating unit that generates print data using each of the setting values obtained by decompression performed by the second decompressing unit. |
| US08427685B2 |
Fax accounts
A fax account is described and creates an association between users and documents that are faxed. A fax account allows a user to secure their faxed documents and organize and streamline fax communication via different transports. In at least some embodiments, security is enhanced through the use of an authentication model that authenticates individual users before giving them access to the fax functionality or, more accurately, their fax account. In at least some embodiments, fax accounts also provide users with an infrastructure through which they can manage their documents. In addition, in at least some embodiments, fax accounts can be used to manage and direct received faxes to the intended recipient, thus reducing the possibility of an unintended recipient gaining access to the fax. |
| US08427682B2 |
Information processing device that performs data access control through connecting to multiple devices and method thereof
An information processing device transmits and receives information to and from plural devices, which are coupled to the information processing device. A memory unit stores a control program that corresponds to each of the devices. An acquisition unit acquires device information from a selected one of the devices. A determination unit determines whether the selected device is controllable based on the acquired device information. A reading unit reads a control program from the memory unit that corresponds to the selected device, if the determination unit determines that the selected device is controllable. A command generation unit of the relevant control program generates commands for the selected device. A transmission control unit transmits commands generated by the command generation unit to the corresponding device. The transmission control unit transmits a set of the commands generated by the command generation unit in a block. |
| US08427680B2 |
Delayed printing from a computerized device
A user of a computerized device creates an item capable of being printed and stores the item within storage of the computerized device. An instruction to perform delayed printing of the item is received from a user of a computerized device when the user is outside a predetermined physical range of at least one printing device. The computerized device detects when the computerized device is within the predetermined physical range of the printing device and, when this occurs, the computerized device provides the user a printing option to print the item on the printing device. If the user selects the printing option, the methods herein forward the item to a conversion device. The conversion device makes the item print ready so that the item can be printed using the printing device. The methods herein then cause the item to be forwarded from the conversion device to the printing device and printed on the printing device. |
| US08427679B2 |
Image communication apparatus, image communication system, and control program for image communication
An image communication apparatus that includes an image-data receiving unit that receives image data, a storing unit that stores therein the image data received by the image-data receiving unit, and an output unit that outputs the image data stored in the storing unit, the image communication apparatus includes a scanning unit that scans the image data output by the output unit; a difference extracting unit that extracts a difference between the image data scanned by the scanning unit and the image data stored in the storing unit; a difference determining unit that determines whether the difference extracted by the difference extracting unit satisfies a predetermined condition based on condition information obtained together with the image data; and a control unit that controls so that a message is transmitted to a transmission source of the image data based on a result determined by the difference determining unit. |
| US08427672B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device includes a document storing unit which stores document information containing scanned images and fax transmission/reception images sent from a plurality of users. A metadata outputting unit generates a metadata of the document information stored by the document storing unit and distributes the metadata. A display format file supplying unit supplies a display conversion file linked to the metadata. A zooming process file supplying unit supplies a zooming process file linked to the metadata. A document information supplying unit reads a document information item, requested at a time of displaying, from the document storing unit and supplies the document information item. |
| US08427663B2 |
Image outputting apparatus holding output request for image data
An image outputting apparatus obtains attribute information about image data prior to acquisition of the image data stored in an external apparatus. The image outputting apparatus accepts an output request of the image data by using the attribute information while obtaining the image data. The image outputting apparatus holds the output request in accordance with the acceptance of the output request before completion of acquisition of the image data and allows the outputting the image data in response to the output request after acquisition of the image data has been completed. |
| US08427659B2 |
Information processing apparatus which can selectively operate as storage device or printer device, method of controlling same, recording medium and printer which can selectively operate as storage device or printer device
There is provided an information processing apparatus including: a memory storing a first descriptor indicating that the information processing apparatus operates as a storage device, a second descriptor indicating that the information processing apparatus operates as another device different from the storage device, and a driver which is used by the host apparatus in order to control the information processing apparatus as the other device in accordance with a given standard; a communication unit which, at the start of communication with the host apparatus, transmits the first descriptor to the host apparatus and communicates with the host apparatus in such a manner that the host apparatus is capable of accessing the driver; and a changing unit for changing the descriptor that the communication unit transmits to the host apparatus to the second descriptor after the driver has been accessed from the host apparatus. |
| US08427658B2 |
Method for the automatic detection of at least one property of at least one component of an apparatus for the production of printed products
A method for the automatic detection of at least one property of at least one replaceable component of an apparatus for the production of printed products is disclosed and such an apparatus and a system for the production of printed products are disclosed. The property of the component of the apparatus or of the system is detected by using an electronic device for a wireless detection of component-related data. |
| US08427656B2 |
Robust three-dimensional shape acquisition method and system
A system (100) for scanning a three-dimensional object (150) comprises a device for illuminating a plane (110); an imaging sensor (120); and a transparent container (130) for immersing the object (150) in a participating medium (140). |
| US08427653B2 |
Optical coherence tomography methods and systems
Frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) systems and methods are provided. Thereby, a first measurement and a second measurement is performed, wherein in the first measurement an object region is illuminated by measuring light having a spectrum with a first spectral width and in the second measurement the object region is illuminated with measuring light having a spectrum with a second spectral width, wherein the first spectral width is at least 10% greater than the second spectral width. Further, during the first measurement intensities of spectral ranges of light having interacted with the object and being superimposed with reference light are detected, wherein a width of these spectral ranges is greater than a corresponding width during the second measurement. Thus, switching an axial field of view of structural information of the object across a depth direction is enabled upon minimizing radiation damage at the object. |
| US08427652B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring geometric changes of embedded passive materials during a lamination process
Systems (200) and methods (300) for measuring geometric changes of a passive material (414) when heat and pressure are applied thereto. The methods involve forming a pad (108, 510) on a passive material panel (410). The pad includes at least one of a layer of a passive material (414) and a layer of a metal (416). The methods also involve coupling an interferometer (810) to the pad. The method also involves forming a multi-layer structure by placing at least one substrate panel (400) on top of the passive material such that an aperture (602) formed in the substrate panel is aligned with the pad. Pressure and heat are applied to the multi-layer structure. Data is collected using the interferometer while the pressure and heat are applied to the multi-layer structure. The interferometer can include, but is not limited to, a Fabry-Perot interferometer, a Michelson interferometer and/or a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. |
| US08427649B2 |
Range imaging lidar
Light scattered by a portion of a fluid medium illuminated by a beam of substantially monochromatic light is received within a field-of-view nominally along an axis oriented in a different direction relative to the beam and processed by an interferometer to generate a corresponding fringe pattern that is detected and processed to generate at least one measure of the fluid medium at a plurality of different ranges. |
| US08427646B2 |
Dual emission microscope
A microscope device having dual emission capability, wherein detrimental effects of image-aberrations and -distortions are reduced. By providing the means for reflecting the one beam in a manner so as to invert its handedness and the means for reflecting the second beam in a manner so as to preserve its handedness, a fully symmetrical configuration is obtained, where corresponding image points in both color/polarisation channels all experience the same field-dependent aberrations. |
| US08427644B2 |
Optical displacement meter
An optical displacement meter includes: a spatial filter configured to extract light under measurement of a wavelength focused on a measurement target and to specify the wavelength of the light under measurement; a polarizer configured to divide the light collimated and caused to propagate in one direction into linearly polarized beams in two directions orthogonal to a propagating direction; a wavelength plate that allows passage of the linearly polarized beams to produce elliptically polarized light having a phase difference commensurate with a light wavelength; a polarized light separator configured to divide the elliptically polarized light into polarized light components in the two directions; and a computing circuit configured to perform computation of (A−B)/(A+B) by use of light quantity signals A and B, which respectively correspond to the two polarized light components. |
| US08427641B2 |
Compact detector for simultaneous particle size and fluorescence detection
A particle detection and classification system is disclosed. The system determines the size of measured particles by measuring light scattered by the particles. The system simultaneously determines whether measured particles are biological or non-biological by measuring fluorescent light from the particles. The system uses a parabolic reflector, and optionally, a spherical reflector to collect fluorescence light. |
| US08427640B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring particle size distribution in drilling fluid
A method for measuring particle size distribution in a fluid material, involving inserting a laser beam instrument directly in the fluid flow line, wherein the laser beam instrument focuses a laser beam on a window directly coupled with the fluid flow line, wherein the fluid flow line comprises a fluid having a plurality of particles of different sizes, measuring a diameter of at least one particle in the fluid flow line by reflectance of the at least one particle as the at least one particle passes through the focused laser beam, and determining a duration of reflection of the at least one particle, and obtaining a count of particles in each of a pre-set range group of particle sizes, wherein the count of particles is used to determine particle size distribution in the fluid flow line. |
| US08427636B2 |
Cuvette for ophthalmic lens
Modified MZ (Mach-Zender) interferometers are utilized to analyze the transmitted, aspherical wavefront of an ophthalmic lens by mounting the lens in a cuvette having a rotatable carousel that can hold multiple lenses. Fresh, temperature controlled, saline solution is circulated about the lenses, and the cuvette is positioned in a vertical test arm of the interferometer configuration. Reverse raytracing is utilized to remove aberrations induced into the wavefront as it is imaged from immediately behind the lens to the detector of the interferometer. |
| US08427635B2 |
Method and system for standardizing microscope instruments
Methods and apparatus for standardizing quantitative measurements from a microscope system. The process includes a calibration procedure whereby an image of a calibration slide is obtained through the optics of the microscope system. The calibration slide produces a standard response, which can be used to determine a machine intrinsic factor for the particular system. The machine intrinsic factor can be stored for later reference. In use, images are acquired of a target sample and of the excitation light source. The excitation light source sample is obtained using a calibration instrument configured to sample intensity. The calibration instrument has an associated correction factor to compensate its performance to a universally standardized calibration instrument. The machine intrinsic factor, sampled intensity, and calibration instrument correction factor are usable to compensate a quantitative measurement of the target sample in order to normalize the results for comparison with other microscope systems. |
| US08427633B1 |
Laser beam analysis apparatus
An apparatus that enables real time measurement of the spatial profile, circularity, centroid, astigmatism and M2 values of a laser beam generated by a high power laser beam. The apparatus employs the optics used in a process application, including a focus lens and cover glass. An attenuation module includes a pair of high reflecting mirror plates disposed in parallel, spaced apart relation to one another at a common angle of incidence to the laser beam. A beam dump is positioned out of a path of travel of the laser beam and in receiving relation to light reflected by the first and second mirrors. A camera detects spots of light that pass through the first and second mirrors. A high power attenuator formed by a highly reflective mirror pair is positioned between the source and the attenuation module. A second embodiment includes a single mirror plate having highly reflective surfaces. |
| US08427630B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus precisely adjusts the position and size of a light spot formed on a substrate, enabling formation of a target pattern or elimination of an unnecessary pattern in an accurate and rapid manner. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a light source, a light modulator to modulate light irradiated from the light source into a plurality of beams to correspond to a target pattern, a diffraction element to adjust a direction of each of the plurality of beams, and an optics system to allow the plurality of beams, the direction of which has been controlled by the diffraction element, to form a light spot having a target size. |
| US08427626B2 |
Lens array element and image display device
A stereoscopic display device includes a display panel performing image display, and a lens array element including a first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the lens array element being configured in such a manner that a lens effect on display image light from the display panel is controlled depending on a voltage applied to the first electrode and a voltage applied to the second electrode. One of the first electrode and the second electrode is structured to allow an electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer for each of a plurality of predetermined sub-regions, individually. |
| US08427625B2 |
Optical display device manufacturing system and method for manufacturing optical display device
Provided are an optical display device manufacturing system and a method for manufacturing an optical display device which can bond optical films to both surfaces of a liquid crystal cell in good condition with a simpler constitution. A first optical film F11 is fed in an orthogonal direction with respect to the width direction from a first material roll R1 formed by winding the first optical film F11 in such a manner that an absorption axis B1 extends in the orthogonal direction, and then the first optical film F11 is cut and bonded to one surface of a liquid crystal cell. A second optical film F21 is fed in an orthogonal direction with respect to the width direction from a second material roll R2 formed by winding the second optical film F21 in such a manner that an absorption axis B2 extends in the width direction, and then the second optical film F21 is cut and bonded to the other surface of the liquid crystal cell. Accordingly, it is possible to bond the first optical film F11 and the second optical film F21 in the crossed nicols relation, without the provision of the mechanism for rotating the liquid crystal cell W or the like. |
| US08427620B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus using the same and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device of IPS mode includes an array of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern by crossing a plurality of video signal lines and a plurality of scanning signal lines each other. Each of the pixels is provided with at least a switching element. A transparent insulating film is provided on both signal lines, and a plurality of pixel electrodes, common electrodes and common lines are provided on the transparent insulating film. The common lines are formed in a grid-shaped pattern such that a first group of the common lines is made of a first conductor having lower reflectivity against optical light than that of metal while a second group of the common lines is made of a second conductor including a metal layer such that the first group and the second group are crossing each other along the video signal lines and the scanning signal lines. |
| US08427615B2 |
Transparent conducting electrodes and method for producing
The invention relates to flexible liquid crystal devices and methods, and the electrically conducting backplane of a liquid crystal display for example. A substrate is provided that supports components of a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal layer that is electrically addressed to produce images. The substrate can be flexible or drapable. An electrode arrangement is formed on the substrate, which includes a plurality of small islands or zones of highly conductive material. The highly conductive islands or zones may be dimensioned to be smaller than the dimensions of the electrode pattern, and are electrically isolated from one another. The plurality of islands or zones are then connected in a predetermined pattern by a conducting polymer layer having a predetermined configuration to provide the desired electrode pattern. |
| US08427613B2 |
In-plane field type liquid crystal display device comprising liquid crystal molecules with more than two kinds of reorientation directions
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, and an orientation film formed on the first substrate. The orientation film has two orientation regions in a pixel, and the orientation regions are formed by polarized light. |
| US08427610B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a common electrode provided on one of the pair of substrates, and a pixel electrode provided on the other of the pair of substrates. A vertical alignment type liquid crystal is sealed between the pair of substrates. An alignment film is polymerizable upon irradiation of UV, and is obtained by polymerizing substantially the entire alignment film with a voltage applied between the electrodes after the liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates. A pixel region has areas whose electro-optical characteristics are different from each other because of a difference between applied voltages at the time of polymerization. |
| US08427609B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having wide viewing angle
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle in which compensation films are provided between a liquid crystal display panel and each polarizer so as to change polarized states of input and output light of the liquid crystal display panel via the polarizers, thereby preventing light leakage in a diagonal direction of the liquid crystal display device in a normally black mode. |
| US08427608B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is furnished with: a liquid crystal display element having a pair of substrates, to which alignment members are provided to their respective opposing surfaces, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates; an alignment mechanism for providing at least two different director configurations simultaneously on different arbitrary regions used for display in the liquid crystal layer; and a reflection film provided to at least one of the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations; wherein the different arbitrary regions showing different director configurations are used for a reflection display section for showing reflection display and a transmission display section for showing transmission display, respectively. Examples of the alignment mechanism include an alignment film to which the alignment treatment is applied in different orientations in the reflection display section and transmission display section, respectively, an insulation film having different film thicknesses in the reflection display section and transmission display section, and so forth. |
| US08427606B2 |
Liquid crystal display comprising a reflective polarizing layer including a plurality of microfibers each having an anisotropic refractive index and longitudinally extending in the same direction
A liquid crystal display includes a light source, a liquid crystal display panel including a pixel having a plurality of a color sub-pixel, and a reflective polarizer disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal display panel to transmit or reflect a light according to a direction in which the light vibrates. The reflective polarizer includes a reflective polarizing layer including a plurality of microfibers which each extend in a same direction with respect to each other, and a protective layer overlapping the reflective polarizing layer. A thickness of the reflective polarizing layer is a function of a pixel size. |
| US08427603B2 |
Area light source device and liquid crystal display device
An area light source device that is capable of evenly emitting light by reducing leakage in the vicinity of the light source, and enhancing the light emission luminance by exiting light of narrower directional characteristics. A light guide substrate includes a light introducing section and a light guide plate main body. Diffusion patterns are provided at the light exit surface of the light guide plate main body. A low refraction index layer is formed at the lower surface of the light guide plate main body, and a reflection layer is formed at the lower surface of the low refraction index layer. The point light source is positioned facing an end face of the light introducing section. A directivity conversion unit is arranged on the upper surface of the light introducing section. The directivity conversion unit is configured by radially arraying a directivity conversion pattern having a V groove shape. |
| US08427602B2 |
Backlight unit providing polarized light and display apparatus employing the same
Example embodiments relate to a backlight unit and a display apparatus employing the same. The backlight unit may include a light source; a polarization conversion unit configured to convert polarization of light incident from the light source; and a light guide plate configured to emit light incident through the polarization conversion unit. The light guide plate may include a plurality of light emitting portions configured to emit light through specular reflection. The light polarized by the polarization conversion unit may maintain its polarization state when it is subsequently emitted from the light guide plate. |
| US08427601B2 |
Liquid crystal display with narrow angular range of incident light
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel in the pixel electrode and common electrodes formed within a pixel comprise repeating structures. The angular range of light incident from the light source is narrower along a direction of the repeating structures than along an orthogonal direction. |
| US08427599B2 |
Backlighting system including a specular partial reflector and a circular-mode reflective polarizer
In a display backlight (120, 220, 420) a specular partial reflector (250, 450) is placed between a circular-mode reflective polarizer (242, 442) and an illumination device (230, 430). The specular partial reflector (450) recycles otherwise unused polarized light (468L) reflected from the circular-mode reflective polarizer (442) which results in an optimized backlight brightness. The main application of the backlight (120) is in liquid crystal displays (100). |
| US08427598B2 |
Input device with display function
A liquid crystal module (1) includes a transparent panel (2) having a frame (3) projecting substantially perpendicularly from one surface thereof. The module also includes a flat panel display unit having a liquid crystal cell (6), a liquid crystal back light (7), and a liquid crystal back light unit (8), for example. The module further includes a flat sensor (9), such as a thin digitizer (a coordinate position inputting sensor). The frame is configured such that the flat panel display unit and the flat sensor can be readily housed and secured within a housing portion inside the frame. |
| US08427595B2 |
Display device with pixel portion and common connection portion having oxide semiconductor layers
To provide a structure suitable for a common connection portion provided in a display panel. A common connection portion provided in an outer region of a pixel portion has a stacked structure of an insulating layer formed using the same layer as a gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer formed using the same layer as a second oxide semiconductor layer, and a conductive layer (also referred to as a common potential line) formed using the same layer as the conductive layer, in which the conductive layer (also referred to as the common potential line) is connected to a common electrode through an opening in an interlayer insulating layer provided over the first oxide semiconductor layer and an electrode opposite to a pixel electrode is electrically connected to the common electrode through conductive particles. |
| US08427593B2 |
Multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal displays using pixels having fringe field amplifying regions
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. |
| US08427587B2 |
Tracking filter and associated calibration device
A tracking filter includes a first buffer, an impedance transformer, an inductor, a first capacitive unit, a second capacitive unit and a second buffer. The first buffer has an input terminal for receiving an input signal. The impedance transformer is connected with an output terminal of the first buffer. The inductor is connected with a second terminal of the impedance transformer. The first capacitive unit is interconnected between the impedance transformer and a ground terminal. The second capacitive unit is interconnected between the inductor and the ground terminal. The second buffer is connected with the inductor for generating an output signal. When specified values of the impedance transformer, the first capacitive unit and the second capacitive unit are simultaneously increased, an operating frequency of the output signal is decreased, so that a gain value of the output signal to the input signal is maintained constant. |
| US08427585B2 |
Receiving apparatus and receiving method thereof
The present invention discloses a signal receiver and a method thereof. The signal receiver utilizes a switch unit to regulate a loop-through, where the complete function of the loop-through is accomplished even during a sleep mode, which reduces power consumption of the signal receiver. |
| US08427582B2 |
Video processor device and video processing method
A video processor and method for swiftly detecting swaps occurring between links during transmission of images by the dual-link system. A first image combiner unit combines an image D1 of a first link as an odd-numbered image, with an image of a second link, to generate a first combination image. A second image combiner unit combines an image of a second link as an odd-numbered image, with the image of the first link to generate a second combination image. An edge detector unit detects the horizontal edge of the first combination image and the second combination image. A judgment unit compares the number of triple edges in the first combination image and second combination image, and judges the combination image having more triple edges as the error image. The triple edges contain three consecutive edges along the horizontal direction, and the rising edges and falling edges are arrayed alternately. |
| US08427580B1 |
System and method for data synchronization
A system and method are provided for synchronizing data collected from asynchronously clocked circuitry. The method provides an apparatus having inputs to accept a first clock signal and which has a plurality of devices synchronously timed to a third clock, but asynchronous from the first clock signal. Data frames are simultaneously collected for the plurality of devices, at a second clock repetition rate synchronous to the first clock, of device output detection events responsive to the trigger signal. The second clock repetition rate is greater than the first clock repetition rate. High contrast data frames are saved of device output detection events. A determination is made of a first device in the circuit block acting as the third clock trigger. Saved data frames with first device output detection events are recognized as synchronization frames, and the saved data frames are organized around the synchronization frames. |
| US08427577B2 |
Method for converting between interlaced video and progressive video during transmission via a network
A method for converting video data comprises providing video data in a first format, selecting consecutive pixel data corresponding to a line or fraction of a line of an image, and adapting a maximum length of a data packet to accommodate the selected pixel data. The payload section of a data packet exclusively carries pixel data originating from one single line of the source image. The method further comprises calculating a start address for a memory in a receiver beginning at which address the pixel data is to be written. The start address is added to a header section of the data packet in the transmitter. The data packet is transmitted via a network. In the receiver the pixel data is written to the memory beginning at the start address indicated in the header section. Video data is read from the target memory in accordance with a second format. |
| US08427573B2 |
Method for focusing a film scanner and film scanner for carrying out the method
A method for focussing a film scanner provides for selecting a plurality of partial regions of the picture to be scanned for the purpose of focus monitoring. During the focussing of one of the selected partial regions, the focussing of the other partial regions is simultaneously monitored. The monitoring is effected for example by simultaneous representation of the partial regions on a monitor screen, and/or by evaluation of the frequency and amplitude conditions of the partial regions. An optimum focal point is set if all the selected partial regions are simultaneously set sharply. |
| US08427572B2 |
Camera head and camera device
Provided is a camera head capable of further size reduction. A camera head of a camera device is provided with an imaging unit having three image sensors, a flexible substrate connected to the three image sensors, and a chassis in which the imaging unit is accommodated and on which the flexible substrate is mounted. The three image sensors are provided on the upper face side, the rear face side, and the lower face side of the imaging unit, respectively, and the flexible substrate is arranged on the transverse face side of the imaging unit on which the image sensors are not provided in the chassis. |
| US08427569B2 |
Image pickup lens, image pickup apparatus, and mobile terminal
An image pickup lens includes: a first lens with a positive power, including a convex surface facing the object side; an aperture stop; a second lens with a negative power, including a concave surface facing the image side; a third lens with a positive or negative power; a fourth lens with a positive power, including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fifth lens with a negative power, including a concave surface facing the image side. The surface of the fifth lens facing the image side is an aspheric surface and includes an inflection point. The image pickup lens satisfies the predetermined condition relating to a focal length of the first lens. |
| US08427564B2 |
Driving method for solid-state imaging apparatus, and image system
A driving method of a solid-state imaging apparatus includes a first driving mode wherein a start and an end of an operation of accumulating an electric charge in a pixel are set commonly to a plurality of rows of pixels, and a second driving mode wherein a start and an end of an operation of accumulating the electric charge in the pixel are set commonly to pixels in each one of the rows of the pixels. In the first driving mode, during a time period of reading out a signal from the pixels in one of the rows, a potential barrier formed in a first transferring portion is higher than a potential barrier formed in a third transferring portion for the plurality of rows of the pixels, while in the second driving mode, during a time period of reading out a signal from the pixels in one of the rows, a potential barrier formed in the first transferring portion is lower than a potential of a photoelectric converting portion, and a potential barrier formed in a second transferring portion is lower than a potential of an accumulating portion. |
| US08427559B2 |
Image data processing method by reducing image noise, and camera integrating means for implementing said method
The invention concerns image data processing, through noise reduction comprising the following steps: associating a learning zone (ZA) with a reference point (Pref) of the image (IM); for each variable point (PC, PC′) of the learning zone, evaluating a distance (d,d′,) between: values of points in a first window (f1) of the image, centered on the reference point, and values of points in a second window (f2, f2,), of similar format as the format of the first window and centered on the variable point; repeating said distance calculation for all the points of the learning zone as successive variable points and estimating an average value to assign to the reference point, said average being weighted on the basis of the distances evaluated for each variable point. |
| US08427557B2 |
System which alternates between displaying and capturing images
A combined video display and image capture system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment the system alternates between the capture period of the camera (306) and the image display (302) period to isolate the camera (306) from the display (302). Various methods are disclosed to achieve the alternation in the capture and the display periods of the system. Distortions in the captured image can be corrected using an image correction subsystem. |
| US08427555B2 |
Imaging apparatus for displaying an area wider than a recording area
An apparatus that can display an area wider than a recording area as a display area in a zoom mode, in which a portion of an imaging area is clipped and recorded, includes an image processing unit that keeps constant or increases a ratio of a display area to a clipped recording area when the size of clipped recording areas is made gradually smaller relative to the imaging area, and keeps constant or decreases the ratio of the display area to the clipped recording area when the size of clipped recording area is gradually made larger relative to the imaging area. |
| US08427554B2 |
Imaging apparatus and control method therefor
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to perform photoelectric conversion of an optical image, an optical zoom unit configured to perform optical magnification variation in response to a zooming operation, an electronic zoom unit configured to perform electronic magnification variation on a signal output from the imaging unit, and a controller configured to operate the electronic zoom unit together with the optical zoom unit in a first zoom range in response to the zooming operation, to operate the optical zoom unit without operating the electronic zoom unit in response to the zooming operation in a second zoom range, which is closer to a telephoto side than the first zoom range, and to operate the electronic zoom unit together with the optical zoom unit in response to the zooming operation in a third zoom range, which is closer to the telephoto side than the second zoom range. |
| US08427553B2 |
Video signal processing apparatus and video signal processing method
Disclosed herein is a video signal processing apparatus including an image outputting portion, a manipulation portion, and a video signal extracting portion. |
| US08427552B2 |
Extending the operational lifetime of a hard-disk drive used in video data storage applications
A storage buffer and a hard-disk drive are provided in a video data storage application. The hard-disk drive operates normally in a powered-down state, and video data are stored in the storage buffer during a first time interval. The hard-disk drive is operated in a powered-up state. A portion of the video data stored in the storage buffer is transferred to and stored in the hard-disk drive in the powered-up state during a second time interval that is substantially shorter than the first time interval. The hard-disk drive is returned to the powered-down state. A total hard-disk drive storage time, representing a sum of the second time intervals, spent transferring to and storing a portion of the video data in the hard-disk drive is substantially less than a total buffer storage time, representing a sum of the first time intervals, spent storing the video data in the storage buffer. |
| US08427550B2 |
Image processing device correcting image data, image sensor and image processing method
An image processing device of an example of the invention comprises a section which acquires a gain value obtained by an automatic white balance process executed on image data to be processed, a section which, based on the gain value, determines a correction color matrix coefficient having a property of correcting a change in an appearance caused by a color temperature corresponding to the gain value, and a section which, based on the correction color matrix coefficient, performs a color adjustment on the image data obtained by the automatic white balance process. |
| US08427548B2 |
Apparatus and method for capturing digital images
An apparatus and method for capturing digital images are provided. The digital capturing apparatus includes an image pickup unit obtaining light field data to change a view of a captured image and refocus the captured image, and a data processor generating a refocusing image using the light field data, wherein the image pickup unit performs optical modulation on light beams to obtain light field data of the modulated light beams so that the light beams are identified when two or more of the light beams overlap, and the data processor demodulates the light field data to obtain light field data of the light beams not subjected to the optical modulation. |
| US08427545B2 |
Method and an apparatus for generating image content
A method and a system for generating image content. The method and system allow segments of a panoramic scene, to be generated with reduced distortion. The method and system reduce the amount of distortion by mapping pixel data onto a pseudo camera focal plane which is provided substantially perpendicularly to the focal location of the camera that captured the image. A camera arrangement can implement the method and system. |
| US08427538B2 |
Multiple view and multiple object processing in wide-angle video camera
Methods and systems of transmitting a plurality of views from a video camera are disclosed. A multi object processing camera captures a wide-angle field of view in high resolution and a processing circuit executes a plurality of software tasks on a plurality of regions extracted from the wide-angle view. Multiple objects can be processed by the camera to detect various events, and the results of the processing transmitted to a base station. The camera removes the need for mechanical pan, tilt, and zoom apparatus by correcting distortions in the electronic image introduced by the wide-angle optical system and image sensor to electronically emulate the pan, tilt, and zoom movement. |