| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08457373B2 |
System and method for robust 2D-3D image registration
A method for registering 2-dimensional (2D) images with 3-dimensional (3D) images includes receiving a 2D reference image and a 3D moving image, initializing a registration parameter matrix that rigidly transforms the domain of the moving image, randomly sampling a set of registration parameter matrices in a neighborhood of the initial registration parameters, estimating a cost function for each of the randomly sampled parameter matrices, calculating a distance from each randomly sampled parameter matrix to the initial registration parameter matrix, calculating a mean shift vector from the estimated cost functions and distance, and updating the initial registration parameter matrix from the mean shift vector. |
| US08457368B2 |
System and method of object recognition and database population for video indexing
A method for processing digital media is described. The method, in one example embodiment, includes identification of objects in a video stream by detecting, for each video frame, an object in the video frame and selectively associating the object with an object cluster. The method may further include comparing the object in the object cluster to a reference object and selectively associating object data of the reference object with all objects within the object cluster based on the comparing. The method may further include manually associating the object data of the reference object with all objects within the object duster having no associated reference object and populating a reference database with the reference object for the object cluster. |
| US08457366B2 |
System and method for matching faces
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for matching faces. The method includes receiving an image of a face of a first person from a device of a second person, comparing the image of the face of the first person to a database of known faces in a contacts list of the second person, identifying a group of potential matching faces from the database of known faces, and displaying to the second person the group of potential matching faces. In one variation, the method receives input selecting one face from the group of potential matching faces and displays additional information about the selected one face. In a related variation, the method displays additional information about one or more face in the displayed group of potential matching faces without receiving input. |
| US08457365B2 |
Device, method and computer readable recording medium containing program for evaluating image
An image evaluation device includes: an information acquiring unit to acquire, from an image containing at least one face, at least one type of information including at least the number of the at least one face and optionally including any of a size of the face, a position of the face in the image, an orientation of the face, a rotational angle of the face and a detection score of the face; and an individual evaluation value calculating unit to statistically calculate an individual evaluation value indicating a result of evaluation for each type of information based on the acquired information. |
| US08457363B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting eyes
An apparatus for and a method of detecting eyes from an input face image. The apparatus for detecting eyes includes: an eye candidate detector which divides an input face image into left and right images and detects at least one eye candidate from limited image regions of the left and right images; an eye candidate evaluator which evaluates the eye candidates by evaluating each combination of the eye candidates using geometric information as to the eye candidates to filter out eye candidates that cannot be eyes; a learning database which stores a plurality of face images in which positions of eyes are arranged and a plurality of face images which do not include eyes or in which positions of eyes are not arranged; and an eye candidate verifier which verifies the eye candidates with reference to the learning database and outputs an eye detection result signal. |
| US08457359B2 |
Method and assistance system for detecting objects in the surrounding area of a vehicle
A method for determining relevant objects in a vehicle moving on a roadway An assistance function is executed in relation to a position of a relevant object, and the relevant objects are determined on the basis of an image evaluation of images of a surrounding area of the vehicle. The images are detected by way of camera sensors. By way of a radar sensor positions of stationary objects in the surrounding area of the vehicle are determined. A profile of a roadway edge is determined using the positions of the stationary objects and that the image evaluation is carried out in relation to the roadway edge profile determined. A driver assistance system suitable for carrying out the method is also described. |
| US08457356B2 |
Method and system of video object tracking
Methods and systems are provided to determine a target tracking box that surrounds a moving target. The pixels that define an image within the target tracking box can be classified as background pixels, foreground pixels, and changing pixels which may include pixels of an articulation, such as a portion of the target that moves relatively to the target tracking box. Identification of background image pixels improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the image, which is defined as the ratio between the number of pixels belonging to the foreground to the number of changing pixels, and which is used to track the moving target. Accordingly, tracking of small and multiple moving targets becomes possible because of the increased signal-to-noise ratio. |
| US08457345B2 |
Vibration plate, speaker unit and portable information terminal
An edge portion includes a center portion, one end and an other end. As seen in a cross section of a vibration plate in the radial direction, the center portion, the one end and the other end each are formed in a circular arc such that the edge portion forms a convex so as to protrude in a direction in which the protruding shape protrudes. The radius of curvature of the circular arc of the center portion is not less than the radius of curvature of the circular arc of each of the one end and the other end. Accordingly, a vibration plate allowing a decrease in the lowest resonance frequency while suppressing the edge portion from being brought into a tensioned state, a speaker unit provided with the vibration plate and a portable information terminal can be provided. |
| US08457344B2 |
Speaker device
A flat speaker device capable of emitting loud reproduced sound with a relatively simple configuration is provided. The speaker device includes a diaphragm, a frame supporting the diaphragm vibratably in the vibration direction, a magnetic circuit disposed in the frame, and a driving member for driving the diaphragm. The driving member includes a voice coil movably disposed in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit, a driving part formed movably in a direction different from the vibration direction of the diaphragm, and an angle conversion and transmission part, one end of which is angle-variably joined to the driving part and another end of which is angle-variably joined to the diaphragm. The angle conversion and transmission part has rigidity and is obliquely disposed with respect to each of the vibration direction of the diaphragm and the moving direction of the driving part. |
| US08457343B2 |
Safe in-ear earphones
A safe in-ear earphone for radiation protection comprises earplug heads, sound cavities, acoustic wave transmission channels, a main body, a conductor and a plug. The channels are set between the sound cavities and loudspeakers. The acoustic wave concentrated orifices are between the loudspeakers and the acoustic wave transmission channels. The assembly of the loudspeakers, the acoustic wave concentrated orifices and the acoustic wave transmission channels are sealed to form a sealed small boxes in the main body. The shape of acoustic wave concentrated orifices is inverse loudhailer. The acoustic wave is transmitted to the two acoustic wave channels via the acoustic wave concentrated orifices and then is provided to the ears plugged by two earplugs to listen. |
| US08457340B2 |
Narrow profile speaker configurations and systems
A narrow profile speaker unit comprises at least one speaker outputting sound towards an internal surface and through a duct with an output terminus, such as a slot, having a narrow dimension, effectively changing the cross-section of the speaker's audio output wave. A pair of speakers may face one another, outputting sound towards a common output slot. Multiple pairs of speakers may be used to form an inline speaker unit for increased sound output. A slotted speaker unit may include multiple speakers facing the same direction, towards a ground plane or reflecting surface, and having parallel apertures for allowing sound radiation. The speaker units may be integral with or attached to electronic appliances such as desktop computers or flatscreen devices, or may be used in automobiles or other contexts. |
| US08457338B2 |
Apparatus and methods for generating pressure waves
Actuator apparatus for generating a physical effect, at least one attribute of which corresponds to at least one characteristic of a digital input signal sampled periodically in accordance with a clock, the apparatus comprising at least one array of moving elements each constrained to travel alternately back and forth along a respective axis in response to an alternating electromagnetic force applied to the array of moving elements, at least one latch operative to selectively latch at least one subset of said moving elements in at least one latching position thereby to prevent the individual moving elements from responding to the electromagnetic force, an electromagnetic field control system operative to receive the clock and, accordingly, to control application of the electromagnetic force to the array of moving elements, and a latch controller operative to receive the digital input signal and to control the latch accordingly. |
| US08457337B2 |
Open ear canal hearing aid with adjustable non-occluding securing mechanism
The invention provides systems and methods for providing hearing aid. An open ear canal hearing aid may be provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hearing aid may include a part that contains electronic components, a passive amplifier, and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism may include bristles or balloons. The securing mechanism may have various configurations and be adjustable. In some embodiments, the hearing aid may transmit sound via bone conduction and air conduction. |
| US08457336B2 |
Contamination resistant ports for hearing devices
An in-canal hearing device includes a receiver, battery, and microphone assembly with a housing. The housing has an air and sound opening which is covered with a structure to inhibit the entry of cerumen and moisture. The structure may be in the form of an end cap having passages with walls which are both hydrophobic and oleophobic to prevent the entry of water, cerumen and other liquids. The structure may also include a flexible tube or a rigid perforated shell surrounding the passages that inhibit the deposition of solid cerumen and other debris onto the passages. |
| US08457335B2 |
Environment adaptive type hearing aid
There is provided an environment adaptive type hearing aid capable of reducing the erroneous estimation of an ambient environment or the unnecessary changeover of a hearing aid process. The environment adaptive type hearing aid includes an input section (110) that inputs an ambient sound, a scheduled environment referring section (180) having a scheduled environment table (270) to store a scheduled environment candidate corresponding to an ambient environment other than the ambient sound set in advance for the hearing aid, an environment estimating section (200) that estimates an ambient environment candidate of the hearing aid on the basis of the ambient sound and estimates an estimation ambient environment on the basis of the ambient environment candidate and the scheduled ambient environment candidate, a hearing ability compensation system determining section (220) that determines a compensation system for the hearing aid on the basis of the estimation ambient environment, a hearing ability compensating section (130) that processes the ambient sound on the basis of the determined compensation system, and an output section (150) that outputs the processed ambient sound as an output sound. |
| US08457327B2 |
Mixer and communication connection setting method therefor
Mixer and one or more external devices, related to audio signal processing, are interconnected via a communication network, such as a LAN. For a particular one of the external devices for which communication with the mixer via the communication network is to be established, a network address unique to the particular external device and a communication protocol to be used for data communication with the particular external device are designated by entry operation by a user. Logical connection is established such that data communication is performed, in accordance with the designated communication protocol, between the mixer and the particular external device corresponding to the designated network address. Thus, data communication is performed, via the communication network, between the mixer and the particular external device for which the logical connection has been established. |
| US08457324B2 |
Directional speaker system
A directional sounder emits audible outputs in a first direction. Audible outputs in a second direction are canceled. Two transducers can be carried in a common housing configured to emit outputs in the first and second directions respectively. |
| US08457318B2 |
Method and system for continuously transmitting encrypted data of broadcast service to mobile terminal
In service access networks having different key hierarchies that provide broadcast service to a mobile terminal, when switching from a first service access network, from which the mobile terminal receives the data of the broadcast service in an encrypted manner by a first data content encryption key, to a second service access network, from which the mobile terminal receives the data of the same broadcast service in an encrypted manner by a second data content encryption key, the mobile terminal receives a key of the hierarchy of the second service access network which is encrypted by a user-specific key of the first service access network. |
| US08457312B2 |
Cable length detection and signal compensation apparatus and method for a keyboard video mouse switch and extender
An apparatus in a video signal transmission system for measuring cable length and compensating for cable loss is described. A number of pilot signals of different frequencies are compressed into one of the three color signals during the vertical sync periods in a time-division manner. The vertical and horizontal sync signals are compressed into the other two color signals. The video signal is transmitted over a cable having at least three pairs of wires, each color signal being transmitted by one pair of wires. A pilot signal converting circuit obtains the levels of the pilot signals transmitted by the cable. A compensation control circuit averages the levels of the multiple pilot signals of different frequencies over a number of vertical sync periods, and generates compensation control signals based on the average level of the pilot signals. The compensation control signals are used to perform video signal compensation. |
| US08457311B1 |
Protecting video as it is decoded by a codec
In one aspect, a method includes: obtaining compressed video content within a video content processing module, a portion of a document structure of the compressed video content conforming to a predefined codec, the portion of the document structure including a plurality of video frames; decrypting the compressed video content in accordance with a digital rights management data encryption applied to the compressed video content; adding information in an extension frame associated with a portion of the document structure; and applying an encoding technique to content of one or more of the plurality of video frames after the decrypting, wherein the extension frame flags the applied encoding technique; and providing the compressed video content, including the encoded content, to a media player including a codec conforming to the predefined codec. |
| US08457308B2 |
Communication system and method for protecting messages between two mobile phones
A communication system and method for protecting messages between two mobile phones are provided. The method sets protective parameters in a first mobile phone, generates an encryption key and a decryption key according to the protective parameters, stores the decryption key into a storage device of the first mobile phone, and registers the encryption key to a second mobile phone through a wireless network. The method further encrypts a short message into an encrypted message in the second mobile phone according to the encryption key, and sends the encrypted message to the first mobile phone through the wireless network. In addition, the method decrypts the encrypted message to a readable message when the first mobile phone receives the encrypted message, and displays the readable message on a display screen of the first mobile phone. |
| US08457305B2 |
Generating genus 2 curves from invariants
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for generating a genus 2 curve for use in cryptography. One or more invariant values used to generate the genus 2 curve are determined by evaluating one or more invariant functions on a Hilbert modular surface. The genus 2 curve is generated using the one or more invariant values to determine an equation describing the genus 2 curve. A group is generated from the genus 2 curve, and the group may be used for a cryptographic application. |
| US08457304B2 |
Efficient encoding processes and apparatus
A method for encoding video includes receiving data, and encrypting the data using at least four Huffman trees. A method for encoding video includes receiving data, and encrypting the data such that an internal state of a stream cipher is independent of plaintext and ciphertext. A video encoding system for encoding video in a computing environment includes means for accessing data, and means for encrypting the data such that there are approximately 2106 possibilities. |
| US08457302B1 |
Access-controlled data storage medium
The invention relates to a data carrier (1) having a semiconductor chip (5). In order to prevent an attacker from determining secret data of the chip (5) from intercepted signal patterns of the chip (5), security-relevant operations are performed only with commands or command strings of the operating program whose use does not permit the processed data to be inferred from the signal patterns. |
| US08457298B2 |
Method and system for profiling multi-channel consumers in a call center environment
A method of providing information related to a user's web browser session to an agent, while the agent is processing a call from the user, includes creating an association between a telephone number and the user's web browser session. The user employs the telephone number to place a telephone call. The method further includes receiving the telephone call from the user, and determining, upon receipt of the telephone call from the user, the telephone number with which the user placed the call. The method further includes using the determined telephone number and the association to identify the information related to the user's web browser session. The method also includes routing the telephone call and the information related to the user's web browser session to the agent. |
| US08457296B2 |
System and method for processing multi-modal communications during a call session
A system and method for processing multi-modal communications during a call session are provided. A call is received from a caller and assigned to an agent. A caller identification is assigned to the call. Voice communication from the call is processed and displayed. One or more text messages from the caller are received during the call. The caller identification is assigned to each of the text messages. The text messages are matched to the call using the caller identification and are displayed to the agent for review during the call. |
| US08457294B1 |
Transferring a communication session
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a call transfer can be performed independently of a positive final response in a call transfer to the a third party subject of the call transfer. In some implementations, a first party to the communications session can send a drop/disconnect signal after initiating the call transfer or after receiving an acknowledgement of the initiation of a call transfer. |
| US08457292B2 |
Busy lamp field system for remote telephones and method for the same
A busy lamp field (BLF) system for remote telephones and a method for the same are disclosed. The busy lamp field system for remote telephones mainly has a plurality of switchboard systems and a XML server interconnected via the internet. Each switchboard system has a PBX and at least a telephone. Each telephone is connected to the XML server via internet and periodically uploads local phone status. The BLF key of each telephone is set to associate with a corresponding specific remote telephone by a subscriber of each telephone. Each telephone periodically retrieves the phone status of the corresponding remote telephone from the XML server displayed on the BLF key of the local telephone. Thus, a subscriber monitors status of a remote telephone and dials out via each PBX in addition to extension telephone of the local switchboard system. |
| US08457290B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program products for providing dynamic replacement communication identification service
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products provide dynamic replacement communication identification (ID) service. A request is received from a user for dynamic replacement communication ID from a current location of the user. The user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is authenticated. A user profile of the user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is retrieved. A current profile of the current location is replaced with the user profile of the user. |
| US08457288B2 |
Multi-mode IVR
Included are embodiments of systems and methods for providing information. At least one embodiment of such a method includes facilitating establishment of a communication between a user on a communications device and an interface server, the interface server being configured to provide data related to an information tree to the user, the information tree being configured with a plurality of options. Some embodiments include facilitating navigation of a user through the information tree and receiving a first version of a marker from the user, the marker being configured to mark at least one position in the information tree. Still some embodiments include associating the received first version of the marker with a position in the information tree. |
| US08457286B2 |
System, method and apparatus for acknowledging an incoming phone call
An embodiment of a method, system, and apparatus for acknowledging an incoming call includes receiving an incoming call request addressed to a first communication device from a second communication device, and forwarding the incoming call request to the first communication device. The method further includes receiving an acknowledgment indication from the first communication device that the incoming call request has been received by a user of the first communication device. The method still further includes connecting a call between the second communication device and a media server in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication. In at least one embodiment, the media server is configured to play an acknowledgment voice message to the second communication device. A further embodiment includes sending a reminder message to the first communication device if the user of the first communication device has not initiated a return call to the second communication device within a predetermined time period. |
| US08457284B2 |
Method for asynchronous communication by means of an internet platform, and internet platform
The invention relates to a method for asynchronous communication by means of an internet platform (2), wherein registered users of the internet platform (2) can receive mail by means of the internet platform (2), wherein the mail is transmitted for at least part of the postal path thereof in electronic form by means of the internet and the internet platform (2), and further relates to an internet platform (2). In order to provide the users (N) expanded communication capabilities and a greater level of comfort, according to the invention, one of a plurality of presettable transmission paths is preset by the users (N) on the internet platform (2), said paths including the transmission of the mail as a letter, as a fax, and as electronic mail, and the transmission of the mail to the users (N) is performed or initiated by the internet platform (2) according to each preset transmission path. |
| US08457281B2 |
Method for producing a multilayer coating, optical element and optical arrangement
A method for producing a multilayer coating (17) for reflecting radiation in the soft X-ray or EUV wavelength range on an optical element (8, 9) operated at an operating temperature (TOP) of 30° C. or more, including: determining an optical design for the multilayer coating (17) which defines an optical desired layer thickness (nOP dOP) of the layers (17.1, 17.2) of the multilayer coating (17) at the operating temperature (TOP), and applying the layers (17.1, 17.2) of the multilayer coating (17) with an optical actual layer thickness (nB dB) chosen such that a layer thickness change(nOP dOP−nB dB) caused by thermal expansion of the layers (17.1, 17.2) between the coating temperature (TB) and the operating temperature (TOP) is compensated for. Also provided are an associated optical element (8, 9) and a projection exposure apparatus having at least one such optical element (8, 9). |
| US08457280B2 |
X-ray diffraction contrast tomography (DCT) system, and X-ray diffraction contrast tomography (DCT) method
An X-ray diffraction contrast tomography system (DCT) comprising a laboratory X-ray source (2), a staging device (5) rotating a polycrystalline material sample in the direct path of the X-ray beam, a first X-ray detector (6) detecting the direct X-ray beam being transmitted through the crystalline material sample, a second X-ray detector (7) positioned between the staging device and the first X-ray detector for detecting diffracted X-ray beams, and a processing device (15) for analysing detected values. The crystallographic grain orientation of the individual grain in the polycrystalline sample is determined based on the two-dimensional position of extinction spots and the associated angular position of the sample for a set of extinction spots pertaining to the individual grain. |
| US08457278B2 |
Radiation therapy device
A radiation therapy device includes a radiation application apparatus, which is used to direct a therapeutic beam along a therapeutic beam center axis onto a target volume to be irradiated. The radiation therapy device also includes a diagnostic radiation source for diagnostic x-ray radiation, is the diagnostic radiation source being disposed eccentrically in relation to the therapeutic beam center axis in a rotatable manner on a rotation apparatus so that the diagnostic radiation source is operable to be rotated about the therapeutic beam center axis. The radiation therapy device further includes a detector for diagnostic x-ray radiation, which is used to detect the diagnostic x-ray radiation emitted from the diagnostic radiation source. |
| US08457274B2 |
System and methods for intrapulse multi-energy and adaptive multi-energy X-ray cargo inspection
Methods and systems for x-ray inspection of an object using pulses whose spectral composition varies during the course of each pulse. A temporal sequence of pulses of penetrating radiation is generated such that the spectral content of each pulse evolves with time. The pulses are formed into a beam that is scanned across the object and detected after traversing the object. The detector signal is processed to derive at least one material characteristic of the object, such as effective atomic number, on the basis of temporal evolution of the detector signal during the course each pulse of the sequence of pulses. The time intervals may be predetermined, or else adapted based on features of the detected signal. |
| US08457272B2 |
Shift register
At least one embodiment the present invention a plurality of unit circuits connected in multiple stages, to normal operation when the unit circuits are simultaneously turned on to output high-level output signals. When a shift register malfunctions, so that output signals provided by previous- and subsequent-stage unit circuits are simultaneously set to high level, malfunction restoration circuits and included in a unit circuit detect the malfunction in at least one embodiment. The malfunction restoration circuit provides a high voltage to a node, thereby forcibly pulling down an output signal. Also, the malfunction restoration circuit forcibly discharges another node, so that a charge accumulated in a capacitance is released. As a result, the shift register in malfunction can be instantaneously restored to normal operation. At least one embodiment of the present invention is suitable for driver circuits or suchlike of display devices and imaging devices. |
| US08457268B2 |
Communication system having communication devices capable of synchronous communication therebetween
There is provided a communication system that includes master and slave communication ECUs. The master communication ECU sends a clock signal to a clock communication line, with which the communication ECUs synchronize with each other when sending and receiving data. The master and slave communication ECUs then receive the clock signal through the clock line. The ECUs use the received clock signal as a reference timing, which is designated as a transmission/reception reference, and send or receive data to/from data communication lines. |
| US08457264B2 |
Radio receiver having a diversity antenna structure
A radio receiver includes a first diversity antenna structure, a second diversity antenna structure, a first RF receiver section, a second RF receiver section, a combining module, and a baseband processing module. The first diversity antenna structure provides the received inbound RF signals from one of the plurality of first antennas based on a first antenna selection signal to produce first received inbound RF signals. The second diversity antenna structure provides the received inbound RF signals from one of the plurality of second antennas based on a second antenna selection signal to produce second received inbound RF signals. The first and second RF receiver sections are operably coupled to convert the first and second received inbound RF signals into first and second inbound baseband signals, respectively. The combining module combines the first and second inbound baseband signals to produce inbound baseband signals. |
| US08457259B2 |
Method and system for partitioning gain for wireless radio frequency integrated circuits
A method for partitioning gain for a wireless radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) is provided. The method includes receiving an overall gain at the RFIC from a baseband controller that is coupled to the RFIC. The overall gain is then partitioned in the RFIC. |
| US08457258B2 |
Optimal training sequence and channel estimation method and system for superimposed training based OFDM systems
The present invention relates to a method for minimizing means square estimation error (MSEE) and bit error rate during channel estimation and equalization between a transmitter and a receiver of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The method comprises transmitting from said transmitter to said receiver a training sequence for channel estimation being superimposed onto data at specific pilot to data power ratio (PDPR), receiving the OFDM signals along with the training sequence as an input, cross-correlating said received signal to a specific lag determined by the rms delay spread of the channel, with a specific known training sequence stored in a register, and which is also the sequence that is added to the data at the transmitter in the time domain having a prescribed pilot to data power ratio. The cross-correlated data being processed over a length of samples which can be extended to exploit the coherence time of the channel and processed along with the stored values of the inverse of autocorrelation values of superimposed training (ST) sequence so as to obtain a reliable least squares based channel estimate in a way the PDPR is limited or otherwise. The invention also relates to a system comprising means for computing a time domain least squares (LS) based channel estimate at the receiver. |
| US08457255B2 |
Method and system for applying Viterbi type PSK demodulation for optimum correlation of GPS signals
A method of improving sensitivity in the demodulation of a received signal by a receiver over an arbitrary measurement time epoch, said method comprising the steps of correlating said received signal with a local replica of pseudo noise code in a coherent fashion creating a correlation signal and utilizing a Viterbi phase state keying trellis demodulation with a variable resolution of phase states over 0 to 360° to demodulate the radio frequency phase trajectory of said correlation signal throughout the measurement time epoch for improving sensitivity in the demodulation of a received signal. |
| US08457251B2 |
System and method for spreading and de-spreading a signal at an antenna
A system and method for spreading and de-spreading a signal at an antenna. A Direct Spatial Antenna Modulation (DSAM) system makes use of the spatial characteristics of a radiating antenna structure to directly alter a signal transmitted or received by the radiating structure. When used for transmitting data, a data stream maps a signal to different spatial points of excitation in the antenna structure, where each chosen configuration has different radiating characteristics including phase, amplitude, and polarization, which can be used to represent data symbols. A code spreading sequence is applied to switch the output of the DSAM antenna to spatial points in the antenna to spread an input signal. The code spreading sequence is applied to an antenna to de-spread a previously spread signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this Abstract. |
| US08457247B2 |
In-band generation of low-frequency periodic signaling
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for communicating main and auxiliary data over a transmission medium is provided, the method comprising: generating a low-frequency output pattern using a high-frequency oscillator, wherein the low-frequency output pattern contains the auxiliary data encoded in a first scheme, wherein the first scheme resembles an output pattern that would be generated by a low-frequency oscillator; sending the low-frequency output pattern through a transmitter to be transmitted over the transmission medium; generating a high-frequency signal using a high-frequency oscillator, wherein the high-frequency signal contains the main data encoded in a second scheme different than the first scheme; and sending the high-frequency signal through the transmitter to be transmitted over the transmission medium. |
| US08457240B2 |
Methods of selecting signal transmitting, receiving, and/or sensing devices with probabilistic evolutionary algorithms in information conveyance systems
Methods are described for near optimal Antenna and/or sensor selection via population-based probabilistic evolutionary algorithms such as estimation of distribution algorithm (EDA) and bio-inspired Optimization (BIO). The aspects of the invention includes a method for joint transmit and receive antenna selection using EDA; and an enhanced EDA, which uses cyclic shift register and biased estimation of distribution; and methods for joint transmit and receive antenna selection using improved population-based optimization. The proposed EDA-based and bio-inspired selection methods results in performances that are close to the ESA (exhaustive search algorithm) and yet impose mush less computational burden than ESA. Another advantage of our methods is that they can be easily implemented on parallel processors. |
| US08457238B2 |
Method of soft decision decoding and apparatus for soft decision decoding
A soft decision decoding method in a multiple-input multiple-output system which respectively receives two simultaneously transmitted data streams, a first transmitting symbol and a second transmitting symbol, in a first receiving signal and a second receiving signal is provided. The soft decision decoding method includes calculating common metrics corresponding to distances between first candidate symbols, which correspond to combinations of all bits that the first transmitting symbol can have, and the first receiving signal using a channel matrix corresponding to a communication channel through which the first and second transmitting symbols are transmitted and determining intermediate nodes between the second receiving signal and the first candidate symbols and nodes between the second receiving signal and second candidate symbols corresponding to combinations of all bits that the second transmitting symbol can have; selecting first nearest candidate symbols that are at a shortest distance from the intermediate nodes on a signal constellation from among the second candidate symbols and determining a soft decision metric for each bit value of the first transmitting symbol based on the first nearest candidate symbols and the common metrics; and determining second nearest candidate symbols based on a logic value of a predetermined bit of each of the second candidate symbols and the positions of the intermediate nodes on the signal constellation and determining a soft decision metric for each bit value of the second transmitting symbol using the second nearest candidate symbols and the common metrics. |
| US08457237B2 |
Power control in a wireless communication system
A method of power control in a wireless communication system wherein blocks are transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver on multiple wireless transport channels. The method comprises comparing a target signal quality value with a received signal quality value and providing the results of the comparing step to the transmitter to adjust transmit power based on the comparing step. A corresponding receiver is also provided. |
| US08457236B2 |
Feedback strategies for multi-user MIMO communication systems
A method for signal processing in a receiver includes receiving in the receiver a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) signal. The MU-MIMO signal includes at least a first signal, which is precoded using a first precoding scheme and is addressed to the receiver, and a second signal, which is precoded using a second precoding scheme. An average error rate achievable in decoding the first signal in the presence of the second signal is computed. The average error rate is computed over a set of possible choices of the second precoding scheme. The first precoding scheme is selected from among a plurality of available precoding schemes so as to satisfy a criterion defined over the average error rate. The receiver sends feedback to a transmitter transmitting the first signal. The feedback depends on the selected first precoding scheme and causes the transmitter to control transmission of the first signal. |
| US08457235B2 |
Method of transmitting feedback data in multiple antenna system
A method of transmitting feedback data in a multiple antenna system includes generating feedback data based on the channel information and transmitting the feedback data at transmission periods, wherein the feedback data is transmitted in a plurality of report types respectively having a different control signal type contained depending on the transmission periods. |
| US08457230B2 |
Reconfigurable orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) chip supporting single weight diversity
A method and system for a reconfigurable orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) chip supporting single weight diversity are provided. The reconfigurable OFDM chip may be configured to process signals such as IEEE 802.11, 802.16, and digital video broadcasting (DVB). The OFDM chip may generate channel weights to be applied to signals received in receive antennas. The weighted signals may be combined into a single received signal and channel estimates may be generated from the single received signal. Updated channel weights may be generated from the generated channel estimates. Updates to the channel weights may be performed dynamically. The configurable OFDM chip may be utilized to provide collaborative cellular and OFDM-based communication. The reconfigurable OFDM chip and the cellular chip may communicate data and/or control information via a memory coupled to a common bus. |
| US08457225B2 |
Methods relating to channel estimation
The present invention relates to methods that can be used in a wireless communication system, and systems adapted to use such methods. In a preferred form the methods are useful in channel estimation in a wireless communication system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The system is provided with a control block to optimize channel estimation. |
| US08457224B2 |
Apparatus for channel estimation, apparatus for equalization and method for equalization
The present invention provides a channel estimation apparatus in which channel estimation may be made higher than heretofore in accuracy and may be used for calculating the weight for an equalization filter to achieve an optimum equalizing performance. A subcarrier copying unit 20 copies K items of end-side subcarriers, using the channel estimation obtained by a correlation processing unit 14 and K which is a subcarrier copy number. An IDFT unit 15 transforms the channel estimation obtained at the subcarrier copying unit 20 into the time domain channel response. A noise path removing unit 16 removes noise paths from the channel response output from the IDFT unit 15. A DFT unit 17 performs DFT of the channel response, from which the noise paths are removed by the noise path removing unit 16, to output a noise-suppressed frequency domain channel estimation value. A weight calculation unit 5 inputs the frequency domain channel estimation value output from the DFT unit 17 to calculate an equalizing weight. |
| US08457222B2 |
Method for estimating channel statistics in an OFDM receiver
A method of estimating channel statistics includes storing a plurality of pilot symbols from a plurality of received signals, establishing a reference for correlation; computing instantaneous correlations for each time lag of each of the plurality of pilot symbols relative to the reference, providing a table comprising non-isotropic scattering correlation values, computing current refined correlations using previous refined correlations and instantaneous correlations, comparing current refined correlations to the table of correlation values, and choosing correlation values from the table based on the step of comparing current refined correlations to the table. |
| US08457221B2 |
Signaling transmission with localized spreading for wireless communication
Techniques for transmitting signaling with localized spreading are described. In one design, a transmitter (e.g., a base station) spreads multiple signaling symbols to obtain multiple sets of output symbols and further maps the multiple sets of output symbols to multiple time frequency blocks. The spreading may be localized to each time frequency block. Prior to the spreading, the transmitter may scale the multiple signaling symbols with multiple gains determined based on the transmit power for these signaling symbols. The transmitter may scramble the scaled signaling symbols to obtain scrambled symbols and may spread the scrambled symbols to obtain the multiple sets of output symbols. The transmitter may map each set of output symbols to a respective time frequency block. |
| US08457205B2 |
Apparatus and method of up-converting frame rate of decoded frame
An apparatus and method of up-converting a frame rate using frames that are decoded from a video decoder and motion information, the apparatus including: a motion vector resampling unit to resample a motion vector for the interpolated frame by filtering a motion vector of a current block using the motion vector of the current block and motion vectors of adjacent blocks in the decoded frame; a motion compensating unit to compensate a motion of the decoded frame by the resampled motion vector to produce the interpolated frame; and a switch to selectively output one of the decoded frame and the interpolated frame according to the sequential order of the frames. |
| US08457204B2 |
Objective perceptual video quality evaluation apparatus
A feature amount extracting unit extracts a block distortion degree of an evaluated video y relative to an original video x, a PSNR overall temporal fluctuation degree, and a PSNR local temporal fluctuation degree as feature amounts. A weighted sum calculating unit calculates a weighted sum of these feature amounts, and calculates an objective video quality index. Frame rate detecting unit detects frame rate of the evaluated video y. A correcting unit corrects the objective video quality index based on the frame rate detected by the frame rate detecting unit. An objective evaluation index-subjective video quality mapping unit applies the corrected objective video quality index Qobj to a correlation between an objective video quality index and a subjective video quality given in advance, thereby deriving a subjective video quality estimated value DMOS. |
| US08457203B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding motion and prediction weighting parameters
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for encoding and/or decoding are described. In one embodiment, the encoding method comprises generating weighting parameters for multi-hypothesis partitions, transforming the weighting parameters and coding transformed weighting parameters. |
| US08457202B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining expected distortion in decoded video blocks
There are provided methods and apparatus for determining expected distortion in decoded video blocks. An apparatus includes a distortion calculator for calculating an expected distortion for an image block, included in a picture of a video sequence and sent over a lossy channel, using a motion vector for the image block when the motion vector has a non-integer value. The distortion calculator calculates the expected distortion based upon a propagated distortion of at least two neighboring integer pixel positions in a reference picture with respect to the motion vector having the non-integer value. The image block is coded in an inter mode or a SKIP mode. |
| US08457201B2 |
Inter-layer prediction method for video signal
The present invention relates to a method for conducting interlayer texture prediction in encoding or decoding of video signal. The present method constructs a pair of frame macro blocks from a single field macro block or vertically-adjacent two field macro blocks of a base layer, and using texture information of the constructed pair of frame macro blocks in interlayer texture predication of a pair of frame macro blocks of a current layer. |
| US08457200B2 |
Video data management
The invention relates to encoding and decoding pixel blocks of a video frame through a hybrid mode involving usage of a first prediction of a pixel block and at least a second prediction of the pixel block. An initial first weighting factor is modified using a factor modifier to generate a first weighting factor comprising multiple different factor values that are assignable to the different pixel-based first prediction values of the first prediction. The first weighting factor is applied to the first prediction and a second weighting factor is applied to the second block prediction. The at least two weighted predictions are then combined to form a hybrid prediction of the current pixel block. |
| US08457198B2 |
Method of and apparatus for deciding encoding mode for variable block size motion estimation
Provided are a method of and an apparatus for deciding an encoding mode for variable block size motion estimation, which can decide an encoding mode quickly and with less computation during variable block size motion estimation. The method includes searching in a reference frame for a macroblock that is most similar to a current macroblock, selecting a temporary encoding mode candidate group for encoding of the current macroblock from among a plurality of encoding mode candidate groups including at least one encoding mode, using encoding mode information of the searched-for macroblock of the reference frame, selecting the decided temporary encoding mode candidate group or an encoding mode candidate group including an encoding mode using a smaller block than the decided temporary encoding mode candidate group as a final encoding mode candidate group, based on the temporary encoding mode candidate group, the complexity of the current macroblock or sub-blocks obtained by dividing the current macroblock, and the difference between the current macroblock or each of the sub-blocks and the reference frame, and performing motion estimation in encoding mode included in the final encoding mode candidate group and deciding an encoding mode of the current macroblock. |
| US08457197B2 |
Adaptive filtering for bit-depth scalable video codec
Adaptive filtering may be used to increase the quality of tone mapped, baseline layer encoded information. As a result, scalable video codecs may be implemented with improved picture quality in some embodiments. |
| US08457192B2 |
Pulse width modulator
A switch-modulator for a radio-frequency power amplifier, arranged to modulate the I-signal and the Q-signal of the complex components (I+j·Q) separately in an I-signal part and a Q-signal part in order to create a modulated I-signal pulse sequence and a modulated Q-signal pulse sequence, wherein the modulation comprises a time-shift of the pulse positions within a sample interval. |
| US08457191B2 |
Adaptive equalizer and related methods
An adaptive equalizer. Implementations of adaptive equalizers may include implementations of 8-QAM adaptive equalizers that may include a signal filter, an adaptive processor coupled to the signal filter and a slicer coupled to the signal filter and the adaptive processor. The slicer may be configured to utilize a plurality of desired signals corresponding to an 8-QAM signal constellation having four quadrants, four levels disposed along the I-axis, and three levels disposed along the Q-axis. The slicer may also be configured to output an error signal by receiving an equalized output signal, processing the equalized output signal by correlating the equalized output signal with a decision region within one of the four quadrants, selecting one of a plurality of desired signals corresponding to the decision region, and calculating the error signal using the desired signal and the equalized output signal. |
| US08457188B2 |
Receiver and receiving method using quality measure estimates
An apparatus, including a detection unit configured to perform a non-linear detection on a receive signal, a first estimator configured to estimate a first quality measure based on the receive signal, and a second estimator configured to estimate a second quality measure dependent on the first quality measure and a performance measure of the detection unit is provided. |
| US08457187B1 |
Integrated compact eye pattern analyzer for next generation networks
A portable hand-held battery powered eye pattern analyzer is provided that can analyze signal quality of a high speed digital communication network. The system is 10 times smaller in volume and 4 times lighter than the bench-top equivalent instruments. The system includes a housing containing a display, keypad, power supply, battery pack, and RF sampler board along with connections for electrical inputs, optical inputs, clock signal inputs, and clock recovery signal inputs. The sampler circuit board can support connections, such as a USB plug for attachment to a personal computer. The RF sampler board contains the following elements: (1) A dual sampler for two-channel electrical inputs. (2) An Optical-to-Electrical O/E conversion module. (3) A clock recovery unit (CRU) module to recover the clock from the electrical or optical pulse pattern signal. (4) A trigger circuit that accepts an input clock and uses that clock to trigger the sampling of the data signal. (5) A PRBS generator that could be used as stimulus for testing high speed devices, and (6) A controller such as an FPGA that processes the sampled signals and provides statistical analysis along with eye patterns to a display as controlled using the keyboard. |
| US08457182B2 |
Multiple data rate communication system
Seamless wideband support is afforded by utilizing split-band data streams. For wideband signals, the 8 kHz bandwidth is divided into a low band, with approximately 0-4 kHz bandwidth, and a high band, with approximately 4-8 kHz bandwidth. Narrowband functions and services operate on the low band, while wideband functions and services operate on both low and high bands. |
| US08457179B2 |
Devices, methods, and systems for building monitoring
Devices, methods, and systems for building monitoring are described herein. One or more embodiments include a first transceiver coupled to a first phase of a power system of a building and configured to receive and send data over the first phase of the power system, a second transceiver coupled to a second phase of the power system and configured to receive and send data over the second phase of the power system, and a switch coupled to the first and second transceivers of the power system and configured to route data between the first and second transceivers of the power system. |
| US08457178B2 |
Frequency offset estimator
Determining a frequency offset of a received signal utilizing two or more multipath components of the received signal is provided herein. By way of example, the received signal can be correlated with a synchronization sequence in a time domain or a frequency domain, resulting in separation of the two or more multipath components of the received signal. Analysis of at least one of the multipath components can provide a frequency offset of the received signal. Furthermore, by analyzing the multipath components, estimation of the frequency offset can be improved as compared with single-signal analysis techniques. |
| US08457177B2 |
System and method for fast code phase and carrier frequency acquisition in GPS receiver
A GPS receiver acquires carrier frequency and Gold code phase using short segments of a received GPS signal. In one embodiment, a 1-ms segment of the GPS signal is transformed to the frequency domain. This is multiplied by a frequency representation of the Gold code. The resulting product is converted to the time domain, and a peak is detected. The location of the peak corresponds to the code phase. If no peak is located, the carrier frequency is changed. Full- and half-bin steps in carrier frequency are considered. Processing gain is achieved by using longer segments of the input signal, for example 4 or 16 ms and integrating 1-ms segments. Considerations are provided for compensating for the effects of a transition, should it occur in the short segment of the GPS signal being processed. Integrations can be performed using non-coherent and coherent techniques. Adjustments are made for non-integral millisecond segment lengths. |
| US08457176B2 |
Fast frequency-hopping transceiver and method
A fast frequency-hopping transceiver comprises a RF-unit arranged on a first chip, a base-band unit on a second chip, a bidirectional operable data and control interface arranged between said first and said second chip having at least one data line for data communication, at least one control line for controlling the data communication and at least one clock line for providing a clock signal, memory means implemented within said RF-unit containing all the required chip settings which are specific to a certain frequency of received and/or transmitted data being part of the intended hopping sequence. The transceiver also includes control means for programming said memory means during an initialization phase during a set-up of a communication link of said data communication. |
| US08457173B2 |
Silicon-based lens support structure for diode laser
An apparatus that includes a silicon-based support member and a silicon-based alignment structure is provided. The silicon-based alignment structure is received on a receiving surface of the support member. The alignment structure includes a first surface and a second surface parallel to and facing the first surface with a gap defined therebetween and configured to receive a light-emitting device inside the gap with the first surface and the second surface in contact with the light-emitting device such that, when a collimating rod lens is disposed on the alignment structure and over the gap, a longitudinal center line of the collimating rod lens is not aligned with a mid-point of the gap. |
| US08457170B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser with active carrier confinement
It is an object of the present invention to improve the confinement of the carriers within a VCSEL. As a general concept of the invention, it is proposed to integrate a phototransistor layer structure into the layer stack of the VCSEL. |
| US08457167B2 |
Semiconductor laser device and method of manufacturing the same
Embodiments describe a semiconductor laser device driven at low voltage and which is excellent for cleavage and a method of manufacturing the device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor laser device includes a GaN substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the GaN substrate; a ridge formed in the semiconductor layer; a recess formed in the bottom surface of the GaN substrate. The recess has a depth less than the thickness of the GaN substrate. The device also has a notch deeper than the recess formed on a side surface of the GaN substrate and separated from the recess. In the semiconductor laser device, the total thickness of the GaN substrate and the semiconductor layer is 100 μm or more, and the distance between the top surface of the ridge and the bottom surface of the recess is 5 μm or more and 50 μm or less. |
| US08457164B2 |
Fiber laser comprising a ring-shaped resonator
The invention relates to a fiber laser comprising a ring-shaped resonator (3). A first section of the resonator is formed by an optical fiber (7) while a second section of the resonator is formed by an optically pumped amplifier fiber (8). The fiber laser further comprises an injection point (4) for injecting light of a pump light source (1) into the resonator (3) as well as an extraction point (5) for extracting generated laser light from the resonator (3). The aim of the invention is to design a more developed fiber laser. The aim is achieved by providing the resonator (3) with at least one reflective optical component (12, 51) which reflects the laser light circulating in the resonator (3). |
| US08457162B2 |
Packet detection
An apparatus for and a method of performing packet detection in a receiver is provided. The apparatus is configured to determine a measure of a correlation between information of one or more received symbols and synchronization information. The apparatus is also configured to determine a measure of an energy value of one or more of the received symbols. The apparatus is also configured to determine if a packet has been detected based on the measure of the correlation and the measure of the energy value of the one or more received symbols. |
| US08457161B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method
A digital broadcasting system and method, where the digital broadcasting system includes: a transmission stream generator multiplexing a normal stream and a turbo stream to generate a dual transmission stream; a transmitter inserting an supplementary reference signal (SRS) into the dual transmission stream, processing the turbo stream to reconstitute the dual transmission stream, and outputting the reconstituted dual transmission stream; and a receiver receiving the reconstituted dual transmission stream, separately turbo decoding the turbo stream, inserting the turbo decode turbo stream into the dual transmission stream, and decoding the dual transmission stream into which the turbo decoded turbo stream has been inserted, to restore normal stream data and turbo stream data. Thus, reception sensitivity of a digital broadcasting signal can be efficiently improved. |
| US08457158B2 |
Method and system for encoding and decoding length of medium access control protocol data unit
A method and system for encoding the length of a Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is provided. The method includes partitioning the length of the MAC PDU into a first part and a second part when the length of the MAC PDU is greater than a first predefined value, encoding the first part in a first header of the MAC PDU, encoding the second part in a second header of the MAC PDU, encoding the length of the MAC PDU in a first header of the MAC PDU when the length of the MAC PDU is less than or equal to first predefined value, and transmitting the MAC PDU with the encoded length of the MAC PDU to a receiving communication device. In another embodiment, the invention includes a method and apparatus for decoding an encoded length of a MAC PDU. |
| US08457157B2 |
Digital communications system with variable-bandwidth traffic channels
Electronic devices and equipment may communicate over a wired communications path. The wired communications path may include one or more wires and may be associated with a headphone cable. Data may be conveyed in the form of a digital data stream containing multiple traffic channels. The digital data stream may include superframes, each of which has multiple frames of data. The frames of data may each contain a number of data slots. Some of the slots in a superframe may be used exclusively by a particular one of the traffic channels. Boundary slots may be shared between traffic channels. Data interface circuitry may implement a data dispersion algorithm that determines the pattern in which data from each traffic channel is distributed within each boundary slot. Transmitting data interface circuitry may merge traffic channels into a single data stream. Receiving data interface circuitry may reconstruct the traffic channels. |
| US08457155B2 |
Encoding and decoding a multi-view video signal
There is disclosed methods and apparatuses for multi-view video transmission and reception. The method comprises receiving a first sequence of pictures from a first view; and receiving a second sequence of pictures from a second view. The first sequence of pictures and the second sequence of pictures are divided into a first period of pictures and a second period of pictures, wherein no picture in the second period of pictures precedes any picture in the first period of pictures in output order. At least a third sequence of pictures is obtained of at least one view between the first view and the second view covering the first period of pictures. Said at least the third sequence of pictures and a first set of pictures of the first sequence of pictures and the second sequence of pictures that belong to the second period of pictures are encoded. |
| US08457149B2 |
Data processing apparatus, control method therefor and storage medium
A data processing unit to that reliably avoids a deadlock condition regardless of status of a ring bus occupied with normal data packets. The data processing unit comprises ring bus, a plurality of data processing units connected to the ring bus, for mutually performing data exchange using a packet circulated on the ring bus and a injection unit for injecting a special packet distinguished from the packet on the ring bus so as to circulate the special packet on the ring bus, wherein the plurality of data processing units respectively comprise for confirming whether or not a transmission destination data processing unit of the data is capable of receiving data by using the special packet, and a transmission unit for transmitting the data to the transmission destination data processing unit using the special packet. |
| US08457144B2 |
Communication system
A communication session between a user of a communication network and a communication system is controlled. The communication network comprises a first network and a second network. The communication system operates on the first network. A session request packet is transmitted from a device of the user to a first node in the first network. The session is initiated with the communication system at the first node responsive to receiving the session request. During the session, a calling identity is provided from the first node to the device and used by the device during a communication event between the user and an entity. The calling identity is used to establish a connection between the device and a second node in the second network. The calling identity is associated with an address of the entity. Upon termination of the session, the calling identity is disassociated from the address of the entity. |
| US08457141B2 |
Telecommunication network
A telecommunications network comprising first and second access equipment on one side of the network and third and fourth access equipment on another side of the network, a respective communication link is provided between the first and the third access equipment and between the second and fourth access equipment, and further, a communication link is provided between the first and the second access equipment, and between the third and fourth access equipment, each access equipment providing an interface for communication with the network, and each access equipment is configured to be capable of causing a change in the path followed by at least some of the traffic conveyed over the communication links. |
| US08457138B1 |
Systems and methods for propagating frame relay congestion notifications through a packet network
A communication system for propagating a congestion notification of a frame relay network through a packet network has a first interworking function (IWF). In addition, the system has a second IWF, the second IWF receives a first frame from a first frame relay node, the first frame having payload data and a header, the header comprising a frame relay congestion notification. The second IWF de-encapsulates the payload data from the first frame and encapsulates the payload data thereby forming a data packet compatible for transmission via the packet network. In addition, the second IWF transmits continuity check messages (CCMs) and the data packet via the packet network to the first IWF and controls at least one of the CCMs such that the frame relay congestion notification is propagated to the first IWF. |
| US08457133B2 |
Load balancing in core network comprising a pool of core network elements
A method of balancing load of an individual network element operating in a pool in a radio telecommunications network. In said network a user equipment is assigned to a network element from said pool of network elements based on relative weighting values associated with said network elements. Said relative weighting value indicates the capacity of a network element relative to other network elements in the pool. The method comprises: periodically determining load of said network element; reducing the relative weighting value if said network element is overloaded for a predefined number of periods, exceeding a limit of allowed consecutive overloads. |
| US08457127B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing multicast traffic over a network
A method for reducing multicast traffic over a network is described. A control request is received. A first ranking indicator associated with the control request is compared with a second ranking indicator associated with a node that received the control request. A first response to the control request is generated. The first response is stored in a queue. A second response associated with the control request is received. The first response is removed from the queue without being sent to the network. |
| US08457125B2 |
G.hn network node and method for operating a G.hn network node in the presence of a homeplug network
Embodiments of a G.hn network node and method for coexistence between G.hn network nodes and HomePlug nodes are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a G.hn network node transmits an additional preamble and header prepended to G.hn transmissions. The additional preamble and header are configured to be readable by HomePlug nodes and cause the HomePlug nodes to refrain from transmitting during the G.hn transmissions. |
| US08457123B2 |
Use of the WLAN standard for C2C communication by adding new packet types
C2X communication is made possible efficiently via WLAN by apparatuses and a method for filtering data frames received by a vehicle from a receiver via a WLAN connection, wherein a frame type indicated in a received data frame is used to decide that device to which data in the data frame are transmitted. |
| US08457119B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for routing traffic between nodes in a network that are connected by redundant links
A communications network is operated by providing a plurality of redundant links between a first network node and a second network node. A first identifier is associated with a first one of the plurality of redundant links and a second identifier is associated with a second one of the plurality of redundant links. The first and second identifiers are associated with the regulatory constraint. Traffic that is marked with the first identifier is routed to the first one of the plurality of redundant links and traffic that is marked with the second identifier is routed to the second one of the plurality of redundant links so that operation of the communications network is in compliance with the regulatory constraint. |
| US08457117B1 |
Static, dynamic and intelligent VRF routing for services traffic
A system for determining static, dynamic and intelligent Virtual Route Forwarding routing for services traffic includes a data device and a network processing device. The network processing device is configured to: receive a data transmission from the data device, analyze the data transmission to identify a data characteristic other than a source or destination associated with the data transmission, create a packet, determine a transmission identifier associated with the data characteristic, and transmit the packet through a network path corresponding to the transmission identifier. |
| US08457113B2 |
Branch calling and caller ID based call routing telephone features
A caller ID based call routing feature is described for blocked and non-blocked caller ID's. A processing system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) receives first identifying information for identify the source of a telephone call and associates additional information stored in a memory with the first identifying information. The additional information may be information about the calling party initially downloaded to the memory by a subscriber. Once retrieved from the memory by the processing system, the additional information may then be transmitted to the subscriber via the Internet for display on a monitor or to the subscriber's telephone for display on a telephone display. Another feature described is a branch calling feature where the subscriber may program a processing system within the PSTN to forward an incoming call to two or more end units (e.g., telephones) simultaneously. If the call at an end unit is answered, answer supervision signaling is transmitted back to the processing system which then terminates all other calls. The processing system then connects the calling party to the subscriber. The branch calling may be made for any combination of local, long distance, and cellular telephone numbers. |
| US08457112B2 |
Radio link performance prediction in wireless communication terminal
A wireless communication terminal includes a controller coupled to a transceiver wherein the controller is configured to determine a synchronization based on a mapping of channel state information to decoder error rate corresponding to a hypothetical control code word, to attempt to decode a control codeword in a received signal, and to conclude that an out of synchronization event has not occurred if the control codeword is decoded successfully regardless of an indication of the mapping. |
| US08457109B2 |
Access based internet protocol multimedia service authorization
The described embodiments of the present invention include a method for controlling authorization of a multimedia service requested by a user device. In one embodiment, the method includes examining an identity of an access network associated with the user device and an identity of the service requested to determine whether the service is supported; authorizing resources in the access network required by the service if the service is supported; rejecting the service if the service is not supported and if a policy associated with the access network requires unsupported services to be rejected; and authorizing a default level of resources in the access network if the service is not supported and if the policy associated with the access network does not require unsupported services to be rejected. |
| US08457108B1 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring client software usage in end user device
The present invention enables a capability for packet-switched network service providers, e.g., VoIP network service providers, to monitor the CPE application usage of their subscriber to ensure that changes to the network do not interfere with these applications and to potentially provide changes to the network to enhance these premise based applications. Monitoring software will be installed in the CPE to monitor upgrades and features installed by the end users so that any potential impact to these applied applications can be assessed before a VoIP network upgrade is carried out. |
| US08457107B2 |
Method and system for finding shortest paths in ring networks
An approach for determining shortest paths within a multiple ring network. Topology information associated with a ring network that includes a plurality of rings is retrieved, wherein each of the rings includes one or more nodes. A start node and an end node associated with the ring network are selected. A minimum set of one or more interconnected rings of the ring network is determined. One or more shortest paths between the start node and the end node are determined based on the determined minimum set. |
| US08457106B2 |
Method for wireless communication in wireless sensor network environment
Provided is a wireless communication method in a wireless sensor network environment. The method overhears a packet transmitted from a source sensor node to a destination sink node and determines whether the destination sink node receives the packet. A transmission node selected by using local information among a plurality of neighboring sensor nodes transmits the overheard packet to the destination sink node when the packet is not received. |
| US08457096B2 |
Beam steering in a mesh network with repetitions
The device for steering a beamforming antenna (500) comprises a module (511) for calculating antenna steering coefficients and a repetition detection module (516, 517) adapted to detect the repetition of a sequence of payload data in the signal received by said antenna. The module for calculating antenna steering coefficients is adapted to calculate said coefficients on the basis of the signals received by the antenna at the time of said repetition.In particular embodiments, the device further comprises an OFDM wireless receiver (501 to 503) and the module for calculating antenna steering coefficients employs each sub-carrier of the signal received by the antenna. |
| US08457095B2 |
Method for bandwidth recovery of communication system
A bandwidth recovery method for a communication system includes: transmitting a first uplink scheduling message to at least a first communication node and a second communication node of a plurality of communication nodes in the communication system; detecting if a communication channel is in an idle state after a first transmission start time; then, transmitting a second uplink scheduling message to the plurality of the communication nodes when the communication channel is found to be in the idle state after the first transmission start time. |
| US08457094B2 |
Mini-slot communication protocol
Mesh communications based on a plurality of time-slots in which every time slot is associated with communications between a pair of nodes, in which at least one time-slot is associated with communications between a first node and a second node, and in which at least a second time-slot is associated with communications between the first node and a third node. The first node and the second node communicate during the at least one time-slot, while the third node awaits communications with the first node during the second time-slot. If the first node is still communicating with the second node during the second time-slot the first node does not communication with the third node. |
| US08457088B1 |
Multi-level piconet data aggregation
An example embodiment includes an apparatus. The apparatus includes piconet logic for establishing a multi-level piconet hierarchy having a top level piconet and a lower level piconet(s). The top level piconet includes the apparatus and a master controller(s). The apparatus is a master device in the top level piconet. Master controllers are slave devices in the top level piconet. A lower level piconet includes a master controller and a sub-controller(s). Master controllers are masters in the lower level piconet. Sub-controllers are slave devices in the lower level piconet. The apparatus includes time division multiplexing logic to solicit and control aggregated communication with master controllers. The aggregated communication comprises data from the master controller and data from a sub-controller(s). The apparatus includes de-aggregation logic to receive the aggregated communication and to separate data. |
| US08457083B2 |
Device for connecting a wireless network to at least one other network
Device for connecting a wireless network to at least one other network comprising a bridge module for managing a plurality of ports for connecting to respective networks, the device comprising a wireless network management module for managing associations, with an access point of a centralized wireless network, of devices of networks (connected to the bridge device other than the wireless network; wherein the bridge device is adapted to be a station of the wireless network. |
| US08457081B2 |
Methods and apparatus for power efficient broadcasting and communication systems
A method and apparatus for content multicasting and broadcasting and data unicasting in a broadband multicarrier wireless communication system. A base station is configured to transmit, and a mobile station is configured to receive, a sequence of consecutive frames. The frames comprise two types: frames containing time-frequency resources for content multicasting and broadcasting via a single frequency network, and frames containing time-frequency resources for data unicasting without the use of a single frequency network. The two types of frames are intermixed in accordance with an intermixing configuration pattern. The intermixing configuration pattern is indicated by a bit-map contained in a scheduling signal. |
| US08457077B2 |
Communications system employing orthogonal chaotic spreading codes
Systems and methods for code-division multiplex communications. The methods involve forming orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading sequences (CSC1,1, CSCD,1), each comprising a different chaotic sequence. The methods also involve generating an offset chaotic spreading sequence (CSC1,2, CSC1,3, . . . , CSC1,K(1), CSCD,2, . . . , CSCD,K(D)) which is the same as a first one of the orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading sequences, but temporally offset. Spread spectrum communications signals (SSCs) are each respectively generated using one of the orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading sequences. Another SSC is generated using the offset chaotic spreading sequence. The SSCs are concurrently transmitted over a common RF frequency band. |
| US08457074B2 |
Method and apparatus for mobile communication device measurement reporting
A method (300) and apparatus (110) for mobile communication device measurement reporting is disclosed. The method may include receiving (320) an offset value corresponding to a set of a plurality of cells. The method may include determining (330) that a signal strength of a serving cell (130) is higher than a radio link failure threshold of the serving cell by substantially no more than the offset value for measurement reporting. The method may include detecting (340) the presence of a candidate cell (140) that is a member of the set of the plurality of cells. The method may include transmitting (350) a measurement report to the serving cell if the signal strength of the serving cell is higher than the radio link failure threshold of the serving cell by substantially no more than the offset value for measurement reporting and if the candidate cell that is a member of the set of the plurality of cells is present. |
| US08457073B2 |
Apparatus and method for relay station handover in multi-hop relay broadband wireless access system
A technique for managing a packet to be transmitted to a Mobile Station (MS) that performs Relay Station (RS) handover in a multi-hop relay Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) system is provided. In the BWA system, a Base Station (BS) includes a controller for determining whether to perform activecasting on an MS upon receiving an activecast request message; a scheduler for allocating a resource by taking into consideration a channel condition between the MS and a serving RS when activecasting is determined to be performed; and a transmitter for multicasting a packet, which is to be transmitted to the MS, to a target RS and the serving RS by using the allocated resource. |
| US08457070B2 |
Method for performing inter-rat handover
An Inter-RAT handover method is disclosed. A method for supporting an Inter-RAT handover by an IEEE 802.16m MS includes performing, by the MS, pre-registration in an Inter-RAT target BS using a tunneling, if a channel quality of an Inter-RAT neighbor cell is higher than a pre-registration threshold, and transmitting a handover request message for a handover to the target BS to a serving BS, if a channel quality of the neighbor cell is equal to or higher than a handover threshold during a time duration in a scanning of the neighbor cell and a channel quality of the target BS is equal to or higher than that of the neighbor cell. This handover method reduces a time required for a handover from an IEEE 802.16m network to a Non-802.16m network, provides a seamless service, supports a rapid recovery in case of a radio link failure, and increases handover reliability. |
| US08457069B1 |
Selecting a wireless communication device for handoff based on active set characteristics
Methods and devices for a radio access network (RAN) to select a wireless communication device (WCD) for handoff to a given sector are presented. In particular, the RAN may receive resource requests from a first WCD and a second WCD, both WCDs contending for a resource of the given sector. Based on the each WCD's active sets of sectors, the RAN may grant the resource to one of these WCDs. Preferably, the RAN grants the resource to the WCD that is more likely to benefit from use of the resource. |
| US08457066B2 |
Method and apparatus of feedback signaling
A method and apparatus of feedback signaling using a high speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH) includes transmitting to a first cell a first uplink feedback signal that includes channel quality information (CQI) associated with the first cell. A second uplink feedback signal that includes CQI information associated with a second cell is transmitted to the second cell. |
| US08457064B2 |
Methods and apparatus for RF handoff in a multi-frequency network
Methods and apparatus for RF handoff in a multi-frequency network. A method includes generating seamless and partially seamless handoff tables for multiplexes carried in a current LOI, wherein the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables comprise neighboring RF channels carrying one or more of the multiplexes in the current LOI, detecting a handoff event initiated by acquisition failures on a current RF, selecting a selected RF channel from the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables, and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel. An apparatus includes processing logic configured to generate the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables, detect a handoff event initiated by acquisition failures on a current RF, and select a selected RF channel from the seamless and partially seamless handoff tables. The apparatus also includes channel switch logic configured to perform a handoff to the selected RF channel. |
| US08457059B2 |
Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus, communication system and communication method using adaptive hybrid automatic retransmission request method
A transmission apparatus includes a first encoding unit configured to generate a new packet from a new portion obtained from a block generated from information bits, to generate a retransmission packet from a retransmission portion obtained from a block generated from information bits and held for a retransmission, and to assign the new packet and the retransmission packet to a communication channel respectively, a second encoding unit configured to assign, to a communication channel, a packet obtained by mixing the new portion and the retransmission portion, a encoding method switching unit configured to switch between operations of the first and second encoding unit, so that communication channel data output from the first or second encoding unit is transmitted, and a transmission control unit configured to control the encoding method switching unit based on information indicating a communication quality of the communication channel in a reception apparatus. |
| US08457052B2 |
Method of providing targeted information using wireless subscription management
A wireless communication device receives targeted information and/or advertisements. The wireless communication device is preprogrammed with a generic network address only. To communicate over a network, the wireless communication sends an activation request message to the network, including its generic network address (GNA) and information indicative of the base station via which communication is taking place. Knowing the geographical location of the base station, it is possible to send to the wireless communication device via its GNA, or a subsequently provided unique network address (UNA), information or advertisements targeted to the geographical location or particular wireless device. |
| US08457049B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling system information change
A method and apparatus for handling system information change. When the system information changes, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may be running a procedure. Depending on the nature of the system information, the WTRU may not need to interrupt the procedure to update the system information. |
| US08457048B2 |
Methods and apparatus to avoid mobile station transmission of duplicate event-based and polled acknowledgments
Methods and apparatus to avoid mobile station transmission of duplicate event-based and polled acknowledgments are disclosed. An example method for a mobile station configured to send event-based acknowledgment information as disclosed herein comprises classifying a downlink data block as unreported, receiving a poll from a network requesting the mobile station to send polled acknowledgment information during a period, and refraining from sending during the period event-based acknowledgment information for the downlink data block classified as unreported. |
| US08457043B2 |
Method and system for sending, routing, and receiving information using concise messages
A system and method are provided for communication between a communication device and a content provider associated with an internet domain name and a server. The system includes a network with a user interface, an internet connection, and an interface to the content provider's internet domain. A communication device user enters a concise message request which includes a channel, a designator and, optionally, a request instruction. The combination of the channel and the designator specify a location on the internet at which routing instructions reside for responding to the concise message request and generating a concise message response for output to the communication device. Concise message documents can be generated for effecting financial transactions such as purchases and payments via SMS. CMRL can also be used to route person-to-person messaging through a content provider's internet domain at which the users may be registered. |
| US08457041B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in a communication system
Various methods and apparatus are directed to, among other things, an access node which is used in providing enhanced functionality and fault tolerance in a system which distributes home agent functionality between a home agent control node and a tunneling node, referred to herein as a home agent tunneling node, which performs packet forwarding under direction of the home agent control node. The distributed home agent approach is enhanced in some embodiments to provide redundancy of home agent control nodes and/or home agent tunneling nodes. Thus, in accordance with some embodiments if a home agent control node fails, the secondary home agent control node can take over the home agent control function. Various embodiments describe various methods, apparatus, and/or messages in addition to system configurations, which can be used to maintain primary and secondary home agent control and facilitate a rapid transfer of functions between primary and secondary nodes. |
| US08457036B2 |
Statistical multiplexing in a satellite communication networks
A single, large-scale satellite access communication network may be configured as infrastructure for many small-scale subnets, wherein each subnet may be configured to serve a different organization (e.g. an SME) as a private network. Each subnet may be configured as a small star and/or mesh satellite data access network from the end-user perspective, yet all subnets may be configured to be part of the total large-scale network and share satellite bandwidth resources. Such configuration may yield significantly higher bandwidth efficiency, lower operation and equipment costs, minimized latency and ease of network operations for each of the small organizations sharing the large-scale network. |
| US08457034B2 |
Airborne communication network
According to one embodiment, an airborne communication network includes a node configured on an aircraft having one or more communication devices that communicate using a native communication protocol. The node includes an information conversion system that receives information formatted according to the native communication protocol from the communication devices, encapsulates the information in packets according to a common communication protocol, and stores the packets in a mass storage device. The packets may then be published for receipt by other nodes configured on other aircraft. The information conversion system may also subscribe to packets stored in the nodes of other aircraft. |
| US08457032B2 |
Method and apparatus for data transmission in a time division duplexing system
A method for data transmission in a TDD system is disclosed. The method includes: configuring, by a base station, a length respectively for a Downlink Pilot Slot (DwPTS) and an Uplink Pilot Slot (UpPTS) within a special field of a radio half-frame based on a current coverage area taking one Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol as a unit, and issuing a configured result to a user device, wherein a total length of the DwPTS, a Guard Period (GP) slot and the UpPTS is kept to be 1 ms; constructing, by the base station, radio half-frames for data transmission according to the configured result. An apparatus for data transmission in the TDD system is also disclosed. According to the present invention, coverage area of different levels with smaller granularity is supported, radio resources are saved and transmission efficiency is increased. |
| US08457029B2 |
Transitioning from MIMO to SISO to save power
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may include computer-executable code that, when executed by the processor, is configured to cause the apparatus to send a message to a node in wireless communication with the apparatus, the message indicating a transition by the apparatus from multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) to single-input single-output (SISO), and transition from wireless MIMO communication with the node to wireless SISO communication with the node after sending the message to the node. |
| US08457023B2 |
Method for selecting operating frequency channels in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for selecting operating frequency channels having frequency parameters, such as a frequency interval or at least one carrier frequency, for a network communicating data over a shared medium. The network is configured to communicate within a frequency range, and the frequency range is divided into a plurality of frequency channels f1-fn, each frequency channel defines a predetermined frequency parameter. The data to be communicated over the network is divided into sequences FS, each sequence having a plurality of positions SP1-SPm. The method further comprises regularly scanning the frequency range to identify interfering frequencies generated by interfering networks operating within said shared medium, and assigning a frequency channel fk to each position SPi within the sequences FS based on the identified interfering frequencies, whereby the use of interfering frequencies is limited. |
| US08457020B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing communications with use of first and second RF transceiver modules
A mobile communication device is operative to perform a first communication function (e.g. inquiry or paging function for discovery) with use of a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver (e.g. BLUETOOTH transceiver) and a second communication function (e.g. voice telephony function) with use of a second RF transceiver (e.g. IEEE 802.11 transceiver). In response to identifying an indication to invoke the first communication function while the second communication function is being performed, the mobile device reserves selected timeslots of a wireless communication link with the first RF transceiver for establishing a synchronous link. The mobile device then causes data of the first communication function to be communicated, via the first RF transceiver, during remaining unreserved timeslots of the wireless communication link. The mobile device further causes data of the second communication function to be communicated, via the second RF transceiver, during the reserved timeslots of the synchronous link. |
| US08457018B1 |
Merkle tree reference counts
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing data commonality in a Merkle tree is disclosed. Reference counts are associated with a node in the Merkle tree. Data commonality is detected and the root of the detected data commonality is determined. If a node is the root node of the detected data commonality, the nodes reference count is incremented. When an object is deleted, the root node of the object is determined. The reference count of the node is decremented. If the count reaches zero, the node is removed from the Merkle tree, and its child nodes are decremented. |
| US08457017B2 |
Multi-chassis interconnect
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for providing point-to-point inter-chassis connections within chassis systems and/or network nodes. Multi-chassis systems within a network employ a protocol wherein a peer discovery process is initiated and the discovered neighbors are authentically verified before establishing an active state between point-to-point inter-chassis links. |
| US08457015B2 |
Method of configuring the absolute grant mapping table for base station
A method for configuring an absolute grant mapping relationship table for a base station, comprises: a radio network controller notifying the base station of the absolute grant mapping relationship table used by an enhanced dedicated channel absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) through a signaling, and the base station returning a response message to the radio network controller after storing the configured information. The present invention allows the absolute grant mapping relationship table used by the base station to be consistent with an absolute grant mapping relationship table of which a user equipment is notified via the air interface to use, so as to ensure that the absolute grant values corresponding to the base station and the user equipment are obtained from the same absolute grant mapping relationship table, and allocation and use of the power resource by the base station and the user equipment are consistent. |
| US08457012B2 |
Packet transfer apparatus and packet transfer method
Disclosed herewith is a packet transfer apparatus that carries out 1+1 protection switching for traffics to be received variably in both length and cycle. The apparatus enables flows to be multiplexed and the link usage efficiency to be improved without generating any buffer overflow errors. The data transfer apparatus, upon receiving the third sequentially numbered data from the first communication route before receiving the preceding second sequentially numbered data, stores the received third data in a buffer. And upon receiving the second sequentially numbered data from the second communication route, the apparatus sends the second and third data sequentially. Then, upon receiving the third sequentially numbered data from the second communication route before receiving the second sequentially numbered data, the apparatus sends the third data when a predetermined waiting time expires. |
| US08457010B2 |
Request modification for transparent capacity management in a carrier network
Some embodiments provide a capacity management agent that modifies content requests to adjust bandwidth consumption when streaming requested content from a content provider to a requesting user. The modifications include modifying a URL or header information of the request. The agent performs a process that receives a request for content of a content provider. The process identifies a parameter of the carrier network and modifies the request when the parameter satisfies a threshold. The process passes the request to the content provider and the content provider provides content that consumes a first set of resources in response to an unmodified request and a second set of resources in response to a modified request. When the parameter identifies congestion, the first set of resources is greater than the second set of resources. When the condition parameter identifies underutilization, the first set of resources is less than the second set of resources. |
| US08457009B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method for detecting electric field intensity of wireless channel, and program storing medium
A wireless communication apparatus includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit periodically transmits a beacon signal to wireless terminal devices existing in a network using a use channel selected from wireless channels and to detect electric field intensities of the wireless channels. The control unit detects, by the communication unit, the electric field intensities of the wireless channels in a predetermined communication limiting period in a period during which wireless communication with an unspecified wireless terminal device existing in the network is prohibited in a period in which the beacon signal is transmitted. |
| US08457007B2 |
Global switch resource manager
An apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprises: a plurality of resources to process packets of data in a plurality of data streams each comprising a plurality of the packets of data, wherein at least one of the data streams has at least one performance requirement; a memory to store a data stream table; a data stream table manager to determine whether the performance requirements of the at least one of the data streams can be accepted based on entries in the data stream table, and to store the performance requirements for the at least one of the data streams as entries in the data stream table when the performance requirements for the at least one of the data streams are acceptable; and a resource programmer to program the resources according to the data stream table. |
| US08457005B2 |
Method and system for establishing cooperative routing in wireless networks
A system and method is presented for establishing relayed communications involving (1) sending a request message from a source node to a destination node through a plurality of intermediate nodes, (2) receiving the request message at the destination node, and (3) sending an acceptance message from the destination node to the source node through at least a subset of the intermediate nodes, wherein an intermediate node relays the request or acceptance message by receiving the message and re-transmitting the message, and wherein the intermediate node is capable of receiving the message from more than one other intermediate node. |
| US08457003B2 |
Controller that instructs data to be held when a network abnormality is detected
This invention enables an abnormality analysis to be easily and reliably performed in the FA system of the EtherCAT (registered trademark). A controller has a protocol monitor function of operating in a monitor system program, and constantly monitors data communicated with a remote device. The controller has an abnormality diagnosis function of detecting abnormality, and thus holds the data monitored immediately before when abnormality is detected. As the protocol monitor function is incorporated, a protocol monitor does not need to be newly plugged into the network as an external device after the occurrence of abnormality, and the data that becomes the cause can be held from the abnormality that occurred first by monitoring from the beginning of the operation of the system and can be used for analysis. |
| US08457002B2 |
Method and apparatus for grant loss detection and related processing in a wireless communication network
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving wireless communication network performance and efficiency, based on detecting the occurrence of grant loss in relation to the transmission of scheduling grants to mobile terminals over a downlink control channel. Grant loss detection is based on detecting erasure events corresponding to the transmitted scheduling grants, and the incidence of grant loss with respect to a given mobile terminal can be tracked and used to compensate the control value(s) used for link adaptation of the downlink control channel, with respect to that terminal. Additionally, or alternatively, when a given grant is determined to be lost, a new grant is sent and the HARQ redundancy version is reset for the newly scheduled transmission. |
| US08456999B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for enhanced transmission selection-capable simulated traffic generation
Various aspects of the disclosed technology relate to the generation for test purposes of test traffic, in a manner compliant with advanced flow control. |
| US08456998B2 |
Reducing channel overhead in a wireless coexistence network
A system composed of a device configured to communicate, using a first wireless protocol, with a node. The system also comprises a processor coupled to the device and configured to determine whether the node operates in a coexistence mode. If the processor determines that the node operates in a coexistence mode then, as a result, the processor determines when the node operates in the first wireless protocol and communicates, by way of the device and without solicitation from the node, with the node when the node operates in the first wireless protocol. |
| US08456996B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved MBMS capacity and link management through robust and performance optimal soft combining
A method for wireless communication is disclosed that includes receiving a plurality of sets of transport blocks, each set of transport blocks associated with a radio link from a plurality of radio links in soft combining; performing a filtering operation of block errors in the plurality of radio links; and removing one or more radio links from the plurality of radio links in soft combining based on the filtering operation. An apparatus and processing system for performing the method are also disclosed. |
| US08456992B2 |
Low-power policy for port
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include determining, by a port processor, a buffer length based on an amount of data stored in a port controlled by the port processor, comparing the buffer length to a low-power buffer threshold, determining a link utilization based on a number of packets transmitted by the port, comparing the link utilization to a link utilization threshold, and placing the port into a low-power state based on the comparison of the buffer length to the low-power buffer threshold and the comparison of the link utilization to the link utilization threshold. |
| US08456983B2 |
Method and system for arranging link resource fragments
The present invention relates to the field of optical communication and provides a method and system for arranging link resource fragments. The method comprises: configuring cascade services in a link in advance; generating a preset arrangement method according to an initial channel number of occupied channel(s) in the link and a cascade number of service born in the channel(s) (S210); a local end node that initiates a link resource arrangement notifying an opposite end node to arrange link resource fragments (S220); the local end node and the opposite end node reconfiguring a cross connection according to the preset arrangement method (S230). The method and system of the present invention can re-arrange the channel resources within one link, and integrate the scattered channel resource fragments into complete and available resources with a broader bandwidth, thus achieving the maximum utilization of the link bandwidth resources. |
| US08456982B2 |
System and method for fast network restoration
An approach is provided for enabling fast network restoration. A node, within a network of multiple protocol label switching (MPLS) nodes, detects a failure condition affecting the node. A micro-loop with a neighboring node of the affected node is detected. A label is determined for a subsequent hop from the neighboring node to break the micro-loop for redirecting of traffic to a destination node in the network, wherein the subsequent hop does not create a loop with respect to the affected node. |
| US08456979B2 |
Objective lens and optical information recording/reproducing apparatus
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for an optical disc using a light beam having a wavelength of λ including: an objective lens that converges the light beam onto a recording surface of the optical disc and satisfies a condition: 0.48 < d · ( n - 1 ) f 2 < 0.75 ( 1 ) where f represents a focal length (unit: mm) of the objective lens with respect to the wavelength λ, d represents a thickness (unit: mm) of the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens, and n represents a refractive index with respect to the wavelength λ; a photoreceptor to receive the beam reflected from the optical disc; a detector to detect quality of a signal, and an objective lens driving unit to tilt the objective lens in a direction to improve the quality of the signal based on a result of detection by the detector. |
| US08456975B2 |
Phase error detection apparatus, phase error detection method, and reproduction apparatus
A phase error detection apparatus includes: a sampling block; a first phase error calculation block; a second phase error calculation block; and a selective output block. |
| US08456973B1 |
Optical disc drive test
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an optical disc drive test. In one embodiment, an optical disc drive of a host electronic device performs a test on itself. The host electronic device requests information about the test from the optical disc drive. The optical disc drive reports information about the test in response to the request. |
| US08456970B2 |
Information recording apparatus, information recording method, and information recording/processing program
An information recording apparatus recording disc structure definition information defining a structure of an optical disc, in management areas of the optical disc including a data area and the management areas positioned on inner and outer periphery sides of the data area, includes: a memory which stores disc structure definition information of a new version including an invalid mark which cannot be interpreted as the disc structure definition information by an information reproducing apparatus and an information recording/reproducing apparatus being non-adaptive; and a recording control element for, when the disc structure definition information of the new version is recorded in the management areas, controlling recording of the disc structure definition information of the new version so the invalid mark is positioned at a position in the management areas in which all or part of disc structure definition information of an old version without the invalid mark needs to be recorded. |
| US08456969B1 |
Laser integrated recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording
A magnetic stack includes a self-supporting substrate that carries first and second layer(s). The first layer(s) comprise a magnetic write pole, and the second layer(s) comprise a semiconductor laser. At least one of the second layer(s) is monocrystalline and incompatible with epitaxial growth on the substrate. No support substrate other than the self-supporting substrate attaches to the second layer(s). The magnetic stack may include a near field transducer (NFT) disposed to receive light emitted by the laser. A waveguide may transmit light from the laser to the NFT, or the NFT may couple to the laser without an intervening waveguide. The magnetic stack may be configured for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). |
| US08456968B1 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having dual heat sink layers
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a main pole and a plasmon generator disposed to align along the direction of travel of a recording medium; a first heat sink layer having two portions that are located on opposite sides of the plasmon generator in the track width direction; a second heat sink layer having two portions that are located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction; and a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the plasmon generator and the main pole. The first and second heat sink layers are each made of SiC or AlN. The nonmagnetic layer is made of a material that is lower in thermal conductivity at 25° C. than alumina. |
| US08456962B2 |
Magnetic head for microwave assisted magnetic recording
A magnetic head that writes information to a recording medium includes a magnetic pole layer that generates a writing magnetic field to the recording medium, a microstripline that is disposed in proximity to the magnetic pole layer and to which high frequency current is applied, and a ferromagnetic thin film that is disposed on a portion of the microstripline that faces the recording medium, and that generates a high frequency alternate-current (AC) magnetic field to be applied to the recording medium, using a current magnetic field generated on the microstripline due to the high frequency current. |
| US08456959B2 |
Timepiece with wireless communication function
A timepiece with a wireless function, including a movement for displaying time; a conductive case that holds the movement; a crystal that is disposed on the face side of the case and covers the face side of the movement; a conductive plate that is electrically conductive, disposed between the movement and the crystal, and reflects radio waves; and an antenna that has a substantially annular, conductive antenna electrode, and is disposed along the outside edge of the conductive plate between the conductive plate and the crystal. |
| US08456957B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer for a proximity sensor
An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a piezoceramic resonator plate and a coupler. The resonator plate is supported to the coupler in cantilever relation. The coupler extends transverse to the resonator plate for acoustically coupling the resonator plate to a medium in contact with the coupler. |
| US08456954B1 |
Holographic navigation
A method and apparatus that coherently correlates, in either the frequency domain, or the real domain, an image of a terrain with an extant holographic image of the terrain. Strong correlations indicates matches between features common between the two holograms, or a hologram and an image, and location of the strong correlations indicates position of the features relative to the imager (e.g. a sonar aboard a ship, or a radar aboard a helicopter). Correlation information can be used for navigation. |
| US08456950B2 |
Method for wave decomposition using multi-component motion sensors
Three-axis velocity data, obtained along with pressure data in a marine seismic survey, are rotated to a ray direction. Plane wave decomposition is applied in the ray direction to the rotated velocity data. The pressure data and the velocity data are combined to generate at least one of up-going and down-going wave fields. The at least one of up-going and down-going wave fields are used in a time-space domain to image the earth's subsurface. |
| US08456949B2 |
Method for determining signal quality in dual sensor seismic streamer signals
A method for determining quality of signals acquired using marine seismic streamers having pressure responsive sensors and motion responsive sensors includes cross ghosting pressure responsive seismic signals and contemporaneously acquired motion responsive seismic signals. First filters are determined that cause the cross ghosted pressure responsive signals to substantially match the cross ghosted motion responsive signals. Second filters are determined that cause the cross ghosted motion responsive signals to substantially match the cross ghosted pressure responsive signals. The first and second filters are convolved and the convolution is used to determine signal quality. |
| US08456944B2 |
Decoder circuit of semiconductor storage device
The present invention provides a row decoder of a semiconductor storage device that prevents an increase in a circuit area while maintaining a high operation speed. Namely, the row decoder of the semiconductor storage device includes a word line selection circuit that has voltage application MOS transistors for each of plural word lines, the voltage application MOS transistors applying a normal voltage to the word lines corresponding to memory cells selected among plural memory cells positioned at a portion where the plural word lines intersect plural bit lines in a predetermined normal operation, and applying a high voltage in a predetermined high voltage operation; and a level shift circuit that outputs the normal voltage or a ground voltage lower than the normal voltage in the normal operation, and that outputs the normal voltage or the high voltage in the high voltage operation, to the voltage application MOS transistor. |
| US08456943B2 |
Electronic device and method for preventing data loss in memory storage device and electronic device assembly
An electronic device includes a memory storage device, a storing unit, and a voltage increasing unit. The storing unit is used for receiving the supply voltage to store energy and releasing energy to generate an standby voltage when the power supply stops providing the supply voltage. The voltage increasing unit is used for receiving the standby voltage, increasing the standby voltage, and providing the increased standby voltage to the memory storage device for preventing data loss in the memory storage device. A related method for preventing data loss in a memory storage device and an electronic device assembly are also provided. |
| US08456939B2 |
Voltage regulation circuitry
Voltage regulation circuitry is provided comprising a pull-up p-type threshold device connecting a supply voltage node to an output voltage node, the pull-up p-type threshold device configured to be switched off in dependence on a control signal. A pull-down stack connects the output voltage node to a reference voltage node, the pull-down stack comprising a pull-down p-type threshold device and a pull-down n-type threshold device connected in series. An inverter is configured to receive an input from the output voltage node and is configured to generate a cut-off signal, wherein the pull-down n-type threshold device is configured to be switched on in dependence on the control signal and the pull-down p-type threshold device is configured to be switched off in dependence on the cut-off signal. |
| US08456935B2 |
Memory and method for sensing data in a memory using complementary sensing scheme
In a memory (100), a local data line pair (116, 118) is precharged to a first logic state and a global data line pair (101, 104) is precharged to a second logic state. A selected memory cell is coupled to the local data line pair (116, 118) to develop a differential local data line voltage. The differential local data line voltage is subsequently amplified to form an amplified differential local data line voltage. A selected one of the global data line pair (101, 104) is driven to the first logic state in response to the amplified differential local data line voltage to form a differential global data line voltage. |
| US08456933B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and method for generating programming current pulse
A semiconductor apparatus includes a first write control code generation unit configured to generate first write control codes which have fixed value for a first time and are cyclically updated after the first time, a second write control code generation unit configured to generate a second write control code, and a data write unit configured to output a first programming current pulse in response to the first write control codes, or a second programming current pulse in response to the second write control code. |
| US08456930B2 |
Variable resistance memory device having equal resistances between signal paths regardless of location of memory cells within the memory array
A memory device including variable resistance elements comprises a plurality of memory cells configured to store data; a first signal transmission/reception unit and a second signal transmission/reception unit configured to transmit a signal to the memory cells or receive a signal from the memory cells; a first transmission line arranged to couple first ends of the memory cells to the first signal transmission/reception unit; and a second transmission line configured to couple second ends of the memory cells to the second signal transmission/reception unit, wherein a first resistance of a first signal path coupled between the first and second signal transmission/reception units through a first memory cell of the memory cells is substantially equal to a second electrical resistance of a second signal path coupled between a second memory cell and the first and second signal transmission/reception units through a second memory cell of the memory cells. |
| US08456928B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of reference voltage in a computer memory system
A method provides improved signal quality in a computer memory system. In one embodiment, a digital signal is generated having a voltage interpreted with respect to a reference voltage. The reference voltage is dynamically adjusted as a function of the traffic intensity at which the digital signal is directed to a particular receiver. A training phase may be performed for each DIMM of the memory system, to construct a lookup table correlating suitable reference voltages with different traffic intensities. The lookup table may be referenced during a subsequent execution phase, to dynamically select a reference voltage according to changing traffic intensity. The dynamically selected reference voltage value may be enforced by using transistors to selectively recruit resistors of a resistor network. |
| US08456922B2 |
Method for erasing memory cells in a flash memory device using a positive well bias voltage and a negative word line voltage
A memory device of the non-volatile type including a memory array having a plurality of memory cells organized as sectors, each sector having a main word line associated with a plurality of local word lines, each local word line coupled to the main word line by a respective local word line driver circuit, each of the local word line driver circuits consisting of a first MOS transistor coupled between the respective main word line and a respective local word line and a second MOS transistor coupled between the respective local word line and a first biasing terminal. |
| US08456920B2 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of executing high-speed page copy
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, first and second data caches, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control, with use of the first and second data caches, a read operation of reading data from the selected memory cell of the memory cell array, and a write operation of writing data in the selected memory cell of the memory cell array. The control circuit is configured to execute, at a time of the read operation, an arithmetic operation of the data held in the first data cache by using the first and second data caches, and to generate the data which is to be written in the selected memory cell. |
| US08456919B1 |
Method and apparatus to provide data including hard bit data and soft bit data to a rank modulation decoder
A method includes providing data including hard bit data and soft bit data to a rank modulation decoder. |
| US08456918B2 |
NAND flash memory device and method of operating same to reduce a difference between channel potentials therein
An flash memory device includes a block of NAND cell units, each NAND cell unit in the block includes n memory cell transistors MC controlled by a plurality of n wordlines, and is connected in series between a string selection transistor SST connected to a bitline and a ground selection transistor GST. While a programming voltage Vpgm is applied to a selected wordline WL, a cutoff voltage Vss is applied to a nearby unselected wordline closer to the ground selection transistor GST to isolate a first local channel Ch1 from a second local channel Ch2. As the location i of the selected wordline WL increases close to the SST, the second channel potential Vch2 tends to increase excessively, causing errors. The excessive increase of Vch2 is prevented by modifying the voltages applied to string select lines (SSL) and/or to the bit lines (BL), or the pass voltages Vpass applied to the unselected wordlines (WL |
| US08456916B2 |
Non-volatile memory unit cell with improved sensing margin and reliability
An only-one-polysilicon layer non-volatile memory unit cell includes a first P-type transistor, a second P-type transistor, a N-type transistor pair, a first and second coupling capacitors is provided. The N-type transistor pair has a third transistor and a fourth transistor that are connected. The third transistor and the fourth transistor have a first floating polysilicon gate and a second floating polysilicon gate to serve as charge storage mediums, respectively. One end of the second coupling capacitor is connected to the gate of the second transistor and is coupled to the second floating polysilicon gate, the other end of the second coupling capacitor receives a second control voltage. One end of the second coupling capacitor is connected to the gate of the second transistor and is coupled to the second floating polysilicon gate, the other end of the second coupling capacitor receives a second control voltage. |
| US08456914B2 |
Memory device with multiple planes
Disclosed herein is a device that includes at least one selection/non-selection voltage receiving line, at least one word line operatively coupled to the selection/non-selection voltage receiving line, and a plurality of memory cells coupled to the word line; a selection voltage source line; and a selection voltage supply circuit comprising a first switch circuit and a first driver circuit driving the first switch circuit to be turned ON or OFF, the first switch circuit including a first node coupled to the selection voltage source line, a second node coupled to the selection/non-selection voltage receiving line of the first memory plane and a third node coupled to the selection/non-selection voltage receiving line of the second memory plane, and the first driver circuit being provided in common to the first and second memory planes. |
| US08456909B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same, which can secure the structural stability of a three-dimensional nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device includes one or more columnar channel plugs, a plurality of word lines and a plurality of dielectric layers stacked alternately to surround the columnar channel plug, a memory layer disposed between the word line and the columnar channel plug, a plurality of word line connection portions, each of the word line connection portions connecting ends of word lines of a common layer from among the plurality of word lines, and a plurality of word line extension portions extending from the word line connection portions. |
| US08456908B2 |
Multi-dot flash memory and method of manufacturing the same
A multi-dot flash memory includes active areas arranged in a first direction, which extend to a second direction crossed to the first direction, the first and second direction being parallel to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, floating gates arranged in the first direction, which are provided above the active areas, a word line provided above the floating gates, which extends to the first direction, and bit lines provided between the floating gates, which extend to the second direction. Each of the floating gates has two side surfaces in the first direction, shapes of the two side surfaces are different from each other, and shapes of the facing surfaces of the floating gates which are adjacent to each other in the first direction are symmetrical. |
| US08456906B2 |
Memory and operation method therefor
An operation method for a memory device having a plurality of memory cells includes: reading the plurality of memory cells by a first word line voltage to get a first number of a first logic state; reading the plurality of memory cells by a second word line voltage to get a second number of the first logic state, the second word line voltage different from the first word line voltage; and using the second word line voltage as a target word line voltage if the first number of the first logic state is equal to the second number of the first logic state. |
| US08456905B2 |
Efficient data storage in multi-plane memory devices
A method for data storage includes initially storing a sequence of data pages in a memory that includes multiple memory arrays, such that successive data pages in the sequence are stored in alternation in a first number of the memory arrays. The initially-stored data pages are rearranged in the memory so as to store the successive data pages in the sequence in a second number of the memory arrays, which is less than the first number. The rearranged data pages are read from the second number of the memory arrays. |
| US08456904B2 |
Sub volt flash memory system
Various circuits include MOS transistors that have a bulk voltage terminal for receiving a bulk voltage that is different from a supply voltage and ground. The bulk voltage may be selectively set so that some MOS transistors have a bulk voltage set to the supply voltage or ground and other MOS transistors have a bulk voltage that is different. The bulk voltage may be set to forward or reverse bias pn junctions in the MOS transistor. The various circuits include comparators, operational amplifiers, sensing circuits, decoding circuits and the other circuits. The circuits may be included in a memory system. |
| US08456903B2 |
Magnetic memory with porous non-conductive current confinement layer
A magnetic element having a ferromagnetic pinned layer, a ferromagnetic free layer, a non-magnetic spacer layer therebetween, and a porous non-electrically conducting current confinement layer between the free layer and the pinned layer. The current confinement layer forms an interface either between the free layer and the non-magnetic spacer layer or the pinned layer and the non-magnetic spacer layer. |
| US08456901B2 |
Spin-torque transfer magneto-resistive memory architecture
A system includes a processor and a memory array connected to the processor comprising a first memory cell comprising a first magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a first bit line and a second terminal, and a first field effect transistor having a source terminal connected to a second bit line, a gate terminal connected to a word line, and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the first magnetic tunnel junction device, and a second memory cell comprising a second magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a third bit line and a second terminal, and a second field effect transistor having a source terminal connected to the second bit line, a gate terminal connected to the word line, and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the second magnetic tunnel junction device. |
| US08456897B2 |
Low cost multi-state magnetic memory
A multi-state current-switching magnetic memory element has a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ), for storing more than one bit of information. The MTJ includes a fixed layer, a barrier layer, and a non-uniform free layer. In one embodiment, having 2 bits per cell, when one of four different levels of current is applied to the memory element, the applied current causes the non-uniform free layer of the MTJ to switch to one of four different magnetic states. The broad switching current distribution of the MTJ is a result of the broad grain size distribution of the non-uniform free layer. |
| US08456891B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cells having oxygen diffusion barrier layers therein
A nonvolatile memory cell includes first and second electrodes and a data storage layer extending between the first and second electrodes. An oxygen diffusion barrier layer is provided, which extends between the data storage layer and the first electrode. An oxygen gettering layer is also provided, which extends between the oxygen diffusion barrier layer and the data storage layer. The oxygen diffusion barrier layer includes aluminum oxide, the oxygen gettering layer includes titanium, the data storage layer includes a metal oxide, such as magnesium oxide, and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a material selected from a group consisting of tungsten, polysilicon, aluminum, titanium nitride silicide and conductive nitrides. |
| US08456890B2 |
Multi-level resistance change memory
According to one embodiment, a multi-level resistance change memory includes a memory cell includes first and second resistance change films connected in series, and a capacitor connected in parallel to the first resistance change film, a voltage pulse generating circuit generating a first voltage pulse with a first pulse width to divide a voltage of the first voltage pulse into the first and second resistance change films based on a resistance ratio thereof, and generating a second voltage pulse with a second pulse width shorter than the first pulse width to apply a voltage of the second voltage pulse to the second resistance change film by a transient response of the capacitor, and a control circuit which is stored multi-level data to the memory cell by using the first and second voltage pulses in a writing. |
| US08456889B2 |
Semiconductor devices including variable resistance materials and methods of operating the same
Semiconductor devices including variable resistance materials and methods of operating the semiconductor devices. The semiconductor devices use variable resistance materials with resistances that vary according to applied voltages as channel layers. |
| US08456887B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a cell array having plural memory cells arranged in matrix, each memory cell including a variable resistor having a resistance reversibly variable to store data corresponding to the resistance of the variable resistor; a selection circuit operative to select a memory cell from the cell array; and a write circuit operative to execute certain voltage or current supply to the memory cell selected by the selection circuit to vary the resistance of a variable resistor in the selected memory cell to erase or write data. The write circuit terminates the voltage or current supply to the selected memory cell in accordance with resistance variation situation of the variable resistor in the selected memory cell when current flowing in the selected memory cell reaches a certain level appeared after the data erase or write. |
| US08456886B2 |
Reliable set operation for phase-change memory cell
A Phase-Change Memory (PCM) device and a method of writing data to the PCM device are described. The PCM device includes a multi-phase data storage cell having at least a Set state and a Reset state that may be established using a heater configured to heat the data storage cell. A memory interface may be coupled with the heater configured to write data to the data storage cell, the data being represented by the Set or the Reset states. A write Reset pulse is used to place the data storage cell in the Reset state corresponding to a read value that is less than a read threshold. A write Set pulse that is a predetermined function of the write Reset pulse is used to place the data storage cell in the Set state. The PCM device may include additional intermediate states that enable each data storage cell to store two or more bits of information. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08456884B2 |
Semiconductor device
Both decreasing access time and power consumption and improving storage bit count per one word line are compatibly attained. A memory cell array 1 has a configuration in which at least one row of memory cells MC having a fuse device F with a resistance value variable according to a flowing current and a plurality of cell transistors (TRB1 and TRB2) connected in parallel with respect to the fuse device F is arranged. In the relevant semiconductor device, out of the plurality of cell transistors (TRB1 and TRB2), the number of cell transistors turned ON is controllable by a writing control signal (WRITE) inputted from outside and an internal logic circuit 5 (and a word line drive circuit 4). |
| US08456882B2 |
Method and system for providing dual magnetic tunneling junctions usable in spin transfer torque magnetic memories
A method and system for providing a magnetic junction usable in a magnetic memory are described. The magnetic junction includes first and second pinned layers, first and second nonmagnetic spacer layers, and a free layer. The first pinned layer has a first pinned layer magnetic moment and is nonmagnetic layer-free. The first nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the first pinned and free layers. The free layer resides between the first and second nonmagnetic spacer layers. The second pinned layer has a second pinned layer magnetic moment and is nonmagnetic layer-free. The second nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the free and second pinned layers. The first and second pinned layer magnetic moments are antiferromagnetically coupled and self-pinned. The magnetic junction is configured to allow the free layer to be switched between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. |
| US08456880B2 |
Multiple layers of memory implemented as different memory technology
Circuits and methods that use third dimension memory as a different memory technology are described. The third dimension memory can be used for application specific data storage and/or to emulate conventional memory types such as DRAM, FLASH, SRAM, and ROM or new memory types as they become available. A processor-memory system implements a memory operable as different memory technologies. The processor-memory system includes a logic subsystem and a memory subsystem, which includes third dimension memory cells. The logic subsystem implements memory technology-specific signals to interact with the third dimension memory cells as memory cells of a different memory technology. As such, the memory subsystem can emulate different memory technologies. The logic subsystem can be fabricated FEOL on a substrate and the memory subsystem can be fabricated BEOL directly on top of the substrate. An interlayer interconnect structure can electrically couple the logic subsystem with the memory subsystem. |
| US08456879B2 |
Switching power supply apparatus
Provided is a switching power supply apparatus capable of suppressing heat generation from a power supply to improve the efficiency of conversion during a power supply operation and accurately detecting only a current flowing through a load to achieve more stabile control. Since a first closed loop made up of a fourth diode (27d), a third inductor (25c) and a fourth electronic switch (24d) and a second closed loop made up of a second diode (27b), a first inductor (25a) and a second electronic switch (24b) do not include a fourth inductor (25d) and a second inductor (25b) through which an AC output current supplied to a load (28) flows, an unnecessary current does not flow through the first or second closed loop. |
| US08456877B2 |
Data exchange between inverters in an inverter system
The invention relates to an inverter system (1) with several inverters (2), each of which having at least one control unit (6), with at least one line (7) each being provided between the inverters (2) for data exchange, as well as to an inverter (2), and to a method of operating several inverters (2) in such an inverter system (1). To achieve a high transmission safety, and a high data-transmission rate, it is provided that each inverter (2) has a communication device (8) which is connected to a control unit (6) of the inverter (2) and to the data lines (7) of two neighboring inverters (2), and which has a switching device (13), the switching device (13) being configured to switch the data lines (7) between a ring system and between a bus system logically based on this ring system. |
| US08456875B2 |
Power supply device and uniform current control method
A power supply device for providing an output voltage includes a first resonant converter, a second resonant converter, a first converting circuit, and a current regulating circuit. The first resonant converter is for converting a first input voltage into the output voltage. The second resonant converter is for converting a second input voltage into the output voltage. The output ends of the first and second resonant converters are coupled in parallel. The first converting circuit is coupled to the first resonant converter and is operable to provide the first input voltage to the first resonant converter. The current regulating circuit receives signals related to output currents of the first and second resonant converters, and drives operation of the first converting circuit according to the signals received thereby such that the output currents of the first and second resonant converters have substantially equal magnitudes. |
| US08456873B2 |
Method and apparatus for a power conversion device
There is provided an apparatus and methods for a power conversion device. The method includes rectifying a mains voltage to produce a dc voltage and placing the dc voltage on a bus. The bus is coupled to an output converter and has a switch. The method also includes monitoring the bus voltage using voltage sensing circuitry and determining whether the voltage on the bus exceeds a threshold. If the voltage exceeds a threshold, the switch is turned off. |
| US08456868B2 |
Controller for a resonant switched-mode power converter
An embodiment of the invention relates to an LLC power converter including a controller configured to regulate an output characteristic of the power converter by controlling a power converter switching frequency. In a first mode of operation, the controller turns off a secondary-side power switch earlier than a turn-off time of a primary-side power switch by a time difference that is controlled by a resistor coupled to an external circuit node. In a second mode of operation, the controller turns on a secondary-side power switch at substantially the same time as the primary-side power switch, and turns off the secondary-side power switch after a maximum on time that is a nonlinear function of a load current of the power converter. The nonlinear function is a substantially constant function of the load current for a value of the load current higher than a threshold value. |
| US08456863B2 |
Hybrid service device and system
A hybrid service device, which can be embedded in a wall, includes a control module disposed on a first circuit board, a transmission functional module disposed on a second circuit board, and a service module disposed on a third circuit board. The control module includes a first circuit board connector and a socket, wherein the second circuit board is pluggable disposed on the socket, such that the first circuit board and the second circuit board are substantially parallel and the control module is electrically connected with the transmission functional module. The service module includes a second circuit board connector, wherein the third circuit board is pluggable connected with the first circuit board connector. The hybrid service device is connected with a first signal transmission line from the wall for receiving a transmission signal with a first format, and the hybrid service device selectively transform the first format to a second format and then transmits the transmission signal with the second format to an external access equipment by wired/wireless transmission. |
| US08456861B2 |
Display modules and methods of fixing flexible circuit boards therein
A method of fixing a flexible circuit board. The method comprises the following steps: providing a flexible circuit board having a locating hole, providing a display module frame having a locating element corresponding to the locating hole, passing the locating element through the locating hole, bonding the flexible circuit board to the frame and deforming the locating element for to fix the flexible circuit board on the frame. |
| US08456860B2 |
Electronic device having inner holder for functional module
An exemplary electronic device includes a housing, a left rail and a right rail assembled in the housing, and a holder assembled on the left and right rails and received in the housing. The holder can slide out from the housing for securing a functional module thereon. The holder includes a bottom plate glidingly assembled on the left and right rails, and front and rear plates both pivotally secured on the bottom plate. The front and rear plates are both elastically biased to rotate about the bottom plate. When the holder is at least partially received in the housing, the front and rear plates are in original closed positions. When the holder is almost totally slid out from the housing, the front and rear plates rotate about the bottom plate to be in open positions for providing resilience to secure the functional module. |
| US08456859B2 |
System card architecture for switching device
It is an object of the present invention to provide switching equipment for communications networks, which switching equipment supports high-speed signalling between switch cards and line cards. Hence, the invention relates to a switching device for communications networks comprising a plurality of line cards and at least one switch card. The line cards comprise connection means arranged on or close to one edge of each line card, and the at least one switch card comprises matching connection means arranged on one flat side of said switch card. In this way, when said switch card is arranged substantially perpendicular to said line cards with said flat side of the switch card facing and at least partially overlapping said edges of the line cards, interconnection is achieved between the connection means of the line cards and the matching connection means of the at least one switch card. |
| US08456857B2 |
Backplane for an electronic mounting rack
A backplane arrangement is provided for an electronic mounting rack with a base backplane with several contact strips, wherein a free space, into which at least one additional backplane can be inserted, is provided on the base backplane. |
| US08456854B2 |
Method of repair of electronic device and repair system
A repair system which prevents heating of weakly heat resistant devices together and causing deterioration of the quality when preheating a first surface of the circuit board, wherein an electromagnetic induction material is buried in advance inside the circuit board near a specific electronic device envisioned as needed repair when becoming a defective electronic device in a production process and an electromagnetic coil emitting electromagnetic waves to an electromagnetic induction member in the vicinity of the repair device is provided and the heat generated by the electromagnetic induction member due to the electromagnetic waves enables the repair device to be heated and detached from the circuit board. |
| US08456851B2 |
Flex circuit with single sided routing and double sided attach
A flex circuit having conductive traces formed on only one side of a base film for attaching to both sides of a DITO touch sensor panel is disclosed. By having conductive traces formed on only one side of the base film, the number of process steps and fabrication cost can be reduced because only a single etching step is needed. Furthermore, because the flex circuit is thinner, the resultant space savings can be utilized for other features in a device without enlarging the overall device package. |
| US08456849B2 |
Conductive film stacked member, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
A conductive film stacked member includes: a first conductive film formed on a substrate; and a second conductive film formed on the first conductive film, wherein the width of the second conductive film is narrower than the width of the first conductive film, and the second conductive film has a surface convexly curved in the direction away from the first conductive film in a cross-sectional view. |
| US08456847B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes: a display unit that displays information; and a frame that fixedly surrounds the display unit and is fixed to a terminal case, wherein the frame includes at least one supplementary module mounting unit allowing a supplementary module that performs a different function from that of the display unit to be integrally mounted thereon. A supplementary module different from the display unit is integrally mounted on a frame constituting a display assembly, so handling and assembling can be facilitated and production cost can be reduced. |
| US08456842B2 |
Electronic device
An exemplary electronic device includes a shell, a mother board and a metal sheet disposed at an inner side of the shell, an electronic apparatus fixed on the mother board, and a heat conducting plate thermally connecting the electronic apparatus with the metal sheet. The metal sheet is located between the shell and the mother board to shield electro magnetic interference from the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus generates heat when working. The electronic apparatus is located between the mother board and the metal sheet, and is spaced from the metal sheet. |
| US08456841B2 |
Container data center
A container data center includes a container, at least one power supplying assembly, at least one cooling assembly, and at least one server assembly. The power supplying assembly, the cooling assembly, and the server assembly are received in the container. The cooling assembly is positioned between the power supplying assembly and the server assembly. The power supplying assembly includes a first frame and a plurality of power boxes supported in the first frame, and is for supplying power to the cooling assembly and the server assembly. The cooling assembly includes a second frame and a plurality of cooling devices supported in the second frame, and is for cooling the power supplying assembly and the server assembly. The server assembly includes a third frame and a plurality of servers supported in the third frame. |
| US08456832B1 |
Data storage drive carrier
A data storage drive carrier configured for insertion into 2U or 3U slots of an electrical chassis. The carrier has a pair of opposing side members, at least one of the members being a flexible, inwardly bowed member and front and back members. A first side member is fixedly attached to the front member to form a rigid L-shaped portion of the carrier; and a second side member and the back member are pivotally attached to the L-shaped portion. The second one of side members and the back member are pivotally attached to the L-shaped portion at first ends and second ends thereof are attached to together to form a closed frame after receiving therein the drive. A light pipe is disposed within a groove formed in one of the side members, one end of the pipe being disposed adjacent to a light source of a rearward interposer to receive optical signal emitted by the source and an opposite end disposed adjacent a front end of the carrier. |
| US08456828B2 |
Hard disk drive assembly
A hard disk drive (HDD) assembly includes an HDD rack and a dummy HDD. The rack includes a front wall and two sidewalls perpendicularly extending from opposite ends of the front wall. A number of spaced fixing holes are respectively defined in each of the sidewalls. A number of protrusions extend from opposite ends of the dummy HDD and engage with the corresponding fixing holes of the rack. |
| US08456826B2 |
Flash memory stick
A flash memory stick includes a clasp member, a connecting member, and a USB connector. The clasp member extends along a first direction and the connecting member extending from an end of the clasp member and along a second direction. The USB connector extending from an end of the connecting member and along a third direction. The second direction is different from the first direction and the third direction. |
| US08456825B2 |
Connection structure and electronic device using the same
An electronic device includes a first base member, a second base member detachably connected to the first base member and a connection structure. The connection structure includes an assembling latch and a magnetic piece. The assembling latch is located in the first base member. The magnetic piece is located in the second base member and provides a driving force. The magnetic piece attracts the assembling latch, the assembling latch partially moves out the first base member and is partially received in the second base member to connect and assemble the first base member and the second base member side by side. When the first base member and the second base member are detached, the assembling latch moves back to and is received in the first base member. |
| US08456816B2 |
Structure assembled to panel
A structure assembled to a panel includes a panel 7, a hood 6, and a filter 5, and is arranged such that the hood 6 and the filter 5 are assembled to the panel 7 independently from each other by the engagement between resiliently engaging claws and engaging concavities. |
| US08456814B2 |
Enclosure for an electrical system
An enclosure for an electrical system is provided. The enclosure includes at least three panels, a support structure, and a top. The support structure supports the at least three panels. The at least three panels are not removable when the top is not opened passed a predetermined. The at least three panels are removable when the top is opened passed the predetermined position. |
| US08456813B2 |
Optical disc reproduction apparatus
An optical disc reproduction apparatus includes a main body, a display unit, a two-axis hinge, and a battery pack. The two-axis hinge has a joint member to connect the two-axis hinge to the main body. The main body has not only a hinge mounting-housing portion to attach and house the joint member of the two-axis hinge but also a housing recess to house a battery housing of the battery pack on right and left sides of the hinge mounting-housing portion on a back end. The battery pack has a U-shaped recess in a center. The recess is located in a position corresponding to the hinge mounting-housing portion in the main body and has a width larger than that of the hinge mounting-housing portion in a rightward-leftward direction. |
| US08456812B2 |
Electronic device housing and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic device housing includes a bottom housing, a support frame, a display panel, and a side frame. The bottom housing includes a base plate and four sidewalls extending from a periphery of the base plate. The support frame is welded to the sidewalls of the bottom housing. The support frame is received in the bottom housing and made up of at least two support plates, two ends of each are welded to ends of the adjacent support plates. The support frame forms at least two welding lines at joints of the at least two support plates, and each welding line corresponds to a middle portion of one sidewall. The display panel is positioned on the support frame sandwiched between the support frame and the side frame. The side frame is connected to a top edge of the bottom housing. |
| US08456810B2 |
Power supply assembly
A power supply assembly includes an enclosure body, a cover panel mounted to the enclosure body, a power supply, and a positioning element mounted to the cover panel. The enclosure body includes a bottom panel, a rear panel substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, and a side panel substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel and the rear panel. The power supply assembly is mounted in the enclosure body and is prevented from moving in a first direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the rear panel, and a second direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the side panel, and disposed between the bottom panel and the cover panel. The positioning element includes a first ladder-shaped positioning tab abutting two adjacent surfaces of the power supply and preventing the power supply assembly from moving in a third direction, that is substantially perpendicular to the cover panel and the second direction. |
| US08456807B2 |
Common mode magnetic device for bus structure
A magnetic device mounting system is disclosed, such as for use in electrical cabinets for distribution of power via power bus bars. The system includes a common mode magnetic device that has an opening configured to receive extensions of a set of parallel bus bars. A non-conductive support is provided, along with a conductive extension, the non-conductive support and extension being configured to coordinate to engage the opening and to support the common mode magnetic device via attachment to the bus bar. |
| US08456800B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component
A multilayer ceramic electronic component comprises an element body obtained by stacking dielectric layers (thickness t1) and electrode layers (thickness t2). The dielectric layer includes a compound expressed by ABO3 (A includes Ba, and may include Ca or Sr; and B includes Ti, and may include Zr or Hf), and includes 0.75 to 2.0 moles of MgO, 0.4 to 1.0 mole of an oxide of Y, Dy, Ho and the like in terms of the oxide, and 0.4 to 0.8 mole of SiO2 per 100 moles of the compound. A segregation phase containing Mg is formed in at least a part of an electrode missing portion. Line coverage of the electrode layer is 60 to 90% and relations of 0.3 μm≦t1≦2.0 and 0.3 μm≦t2<1.0 μm are fulfilled. |
| US08456797B1 |
Laminated chip electronic component, board for mounting the same, and packing unit thereof
A laminated chip electronic component includes: a ceramic body including internal electrodes and dielectric layers; first and second external electrodes formed to cover both end portions of the ceramic body in a length direction; an active layer in which the internal electrodes are disposed in an opposing manner, while having the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, to form capacitance; upper and lower cover layers formed on upper and lower portions of the active layer in a thickness direction, the lower cover layer having a thickness greater than that of the upper cover layer; and additional electrode layers disposed irrespective of a formation of capacitance within the lower cover layer. |
| US08456796B2 |
Monolithic electronic component and method for manufacturing monolithic electronic component
A monolithic electronic component includes a laminate including a plurality of stacked insulating layers and a plurality of internal electrodes which extend between the insulating layers and which have end portions exposed at predetermined surfaces of the laminate, first plating layers disposed on the predetermined surfaces of the laminate, and second plating layers disposed on the first plating layer. The first plating layers are made of a metal different from that used to make the internal electrodes. The first plating layers are formed by electroless plating. The second plating layers are formed by electroplating. |
| US08456795B2 |
Hard start kit for multiple replacement applications
A hard start capacitor replacement unit has a plurality of capacitors in a container sized to fit in existing hard start capacitor space. The capacitors are 4 metallized film capacitors wound in a single cylindrical capacitive element. The container has a common terminal and capacitors value terminals for the plurality of capacitors, which may be connected singly or in combination to provide a selected capacitance. An electronic or other relay connects the selected capacitance in parallel with a motor run capacitor. The hard start capacitor replacement unit is thereby adapted to replace a wide variety of hard start capacitors. |
| US08456793B2 |
Systems and methods for ionization using adjusted energy
A method, performed by a driver, provides a current through a load after ionization that forms a circuit for the current through the load. The method includes, in any practical order, (a) accomplishing a first ionization; (b) in response to the first ionization, determining a first energy; and (c) attempting a second ionization using a second energy less than the first energy. |
| US08456790B2 |
Wind power generation system
In one embodiment, a wind-power generating system 10 includes: a lightning protecting device including a receptor 70 provided on a blade surface and a lightning conductor 73 grounding the receptor 70; an airflow generating device 60 provided on the blade surface and including first and second electrodes 61, 62 separated via a dielectric 63; a discharge power source 65 including switches 90, 91 able to connect the first and second electrodes 61, 62 to output terminals 84, 85 respectively and a switch 92 able to connect the first or second electrode 61, 62 to a grounding conductor 100; and a thundercloud detecting device detecting information regarding thundercloud approach. When the information regarding the thundercloud approach is detected, the second electrode 62 is connected to the grounding conductor 100 and the first and second electrodes 61, 62 are disconnected from the output terminals 84, 85. |
| US08456786B2 |
Bridging unit
A converter cell of a modular converter is provided. The converter cell includes a bridging unit which has a mechanical bistable relay, an electronic switch, a drive for switching the relay and the electronic switch, and an energy store for supplying power to the mechanical relay, the electronic switch and the drive. The drive includes passive overvoltage detection configured to charge the energy store if the overvoltage is exceeded. The drive includes an additional switch which is closed when a voltage on the energy store exceeds a predefined value, and the drive supplies current from the energy store to at least one of the relay and the electronic switch. The drive has hysteresis, such that, if the voltage on the energy store is undershot, at least one of the relay and the electronic switch is still supplied with current from the energy store. |
| US08456780B1 |
Uncoupled piezoelectric milli-actuator assembly
An actuator arm for a hard-disk drive (HDD) is disclosed. A piezoelectric element is disposed within a well of an actuator arm. The piezoelectric element is aligned with a neutral axis of the actuator arm. |
| US08456777B2 |
Storage medium exchanging device wrong insertion preventing part blocking at least part of movable cell non-doorway
A storage medium exchanging device to discharge a movable cell, which is one of plural magazine cells for storing a storage medium inserted from a doorway, and to store the movable cell, include a carrying part on which the movable cell is mounted; and a wrong insertion preventing part which generates discharging force to make the carrying part discharge from the magazine and blocks at least a part of a non-doorway of the discharged movable cell. |
| US08456774B1 |
Compensating asymmetries of signals using piece-wise linear approximation
A system including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is configured to (i) select a first portion of a signal based on a first offset, (ii) amplify the first portion of the signal according to a first function, and (iii) scale the amplified first portion based on a first factor to generate a first compensation for asymmetry in the first portion of the signal. The second circuit is configured to (i) select a second portion of the signal based on a second offset, (ii) amplify the second portion according to a second function, and (iii) scale the amplified second portion based on a second factor to generate a second compensation for asymmetry in the second portion of the signal. |
| US08456773B2 |
Lens module
A lens module includes a holder, a connecting loop, engaging pins, an adjustment ring, a fixing pin; and a lens unit. The holder includes a barrel having a receiving space. The barrel defines sliding slots. The adjustment ring defines guiding grooves and a stopping slot. The connecting loop is received in the receiving space, the adjustment ring is sleeved over the barrel, and each engaging pin is secured with the connecting loop, an end of each engaging pin passing through a corresponding sliding slot and into a corresponding guiding groove. The fixing pin passes through the stopping slot and fixed with the barrel, the lens unit is secured with the connecting loop, the adjustment ring is rotated relative to the holder, and the engaging pin slides along the guiding groove, to cause the lens unit to axially move without rotating relative to the holder. |
| US08456771B2 |
Holding arrangement for an optical element
A holding arrangement for an optical element includes a basic structure surrounding an optical element and a mounting device by which the optical element can be supported on the basic structure with two degrees of freedom for a rotational movement about an optical axis and a translational movement along a first axis which extends perpendicularly to the optical axis and intersects the optical axis in a center. The mounting device includes four joint locations arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center and at least one parallel rocker which is displaceable parallel to the first axis. A manipulator unit includes a holding arrangement. |
| US08456770B2 |
Method of switching from immersion objective lens to dry objective lens
A microscope apparatus capable of removing liquid from an observation field of view of a dry objective lens, when an immersion objective lens is switched to the dry objective lens, is provided. The microscope apparatus includes a specimen XY stage on which a specimen is placed, a dry objective lens and an immersion objective lens that collect light from the specimen, a movable revolver that selectively disposes one of these objective lenses at a position facing the specimen, and a control unit that controls the specimen XY stage and movable revolver such that the relative positions in the XY direction are changed until the immersion objective lens is disposed at a non-observation region of the dry objective lens, prior to switching of these objective lenses. |
| US08456767B2 |
Objective optical system
Provided is a high-performance objective optical system which is compatible with a high-pixel-count image acquisition device, in which focusing can be achieved according to a change in object point distance and which has sufficient depth of field at the individual object point distances. Provided is an objective optical system (1) including, in order from an object side, a first group (G1), a second group (G2), and a third group (G3), in which the first group (G1) includes, in order from the object side, a plano-concave lens (L1) and a meniscus lens (L2) whose convex surface is towards an image side and in which the second group (G2) includes a positive meniscus lens whose convex surface is towards the object side and moves in the direction of an optical axis to perform focusing. |
| US08456766B2 |
Photographing optical system
This invention provides a photographing optical system, in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and concave image-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface and both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; wherein the photographing optical system has four lens elements with refractive power. By such arrangement, the total track length and photosensitivity of the photographing optical system can be effectively reduced, and high image resolution can be obtained. |
| US08456765B1 |
Wide-conversion lens
A wide-conversion lens, in order from the object-side to the image-side, includes a first lens with negative refraction power, a second lens with negative refraction power, a third lens with positive refraction power, a fourth lens with positive refraction power, and a fifth lens with negative refraction power. The first lens includes a surface facing the object side. The wide-conversion lens satisfies the following conditions: R1<0; Vd2−Vd1≧19; Vd2−Vd3≧35. Wherein, R1 is the curvature radius of the surface of the first lens; Vd1 is the Abbe number of the first lens; Vd2 is the Abbe number of the second lens; Vd3 is the Abbe number of the third lens. |
| US08456764B2 |
Projection lens
A projection lens includes, in order from the magnification end to the minimization end thereof: a first lens group of a negative refractive power; and a second lens group of a positive refractive power. The projection lens satisfies the formula: 0.061 |
| US08456759B2 |
Lens system with reduced length, wide view angle, and high resolution
A lens system includes a first to fifth lenses. The second and fifth lenses have negative refractive power and the others have positive refractive power. The lens system satisfies: D/TTL>1.05; Z/Y>0; G3R1/F3>G1R1/F1>0; G1R2/F1 |
| US08456758B1 |
Image capturing lens system
This invention provides an image capturing lens system in order from an object side to an image side comprising five lens elements with refractive power: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element with both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; a plastic fourth lens element with both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; and a plastic fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface, both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof. By such arrangement, the lens system of the invention has larger chief ray angle, and thereby not only the total track length of the system can be reduced, but also better image quality can be obtained. |
| US08456752B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging device
An interchangeable lens unit comprises a second lens group unit, a focus lens unit, a fourth lens group unit, a zoom ring unit, and a focus motor. The zoom ring unit mechanically transmits operational force inputted to a zoom ring to the second lens group unit and the fourth lens group unit. The focus motor electrically drives the focus lens unit in the Z axis direction with respect to the second lens group unit. When the zoom ring is operated in a state in which no power is being supplied to the focus motor, a gap is always ensured in the Z axis direction between the focus lens unit and the second lens group unit. |
| US08456751B2 |
Optical system having fisheye zoom lens and optical apparatus having the optical system
An optical system includes, in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power. The optical system satisfies: 1.70≦Yt/Yw≦2.5, Y=2×f×sin(θ/2) (85°≦θ≦90°), and 3.45≦bfw/|f1|≦7, where fw is the shortest focal length, ft is the longest focal length, f is an arbitrary focal length that satisfies fw≦f≦ft, θ is an angle between the optical axis and a principal ray of an off-axis light flux incident upon a lens surface closest to the object, Y is a formed image height of a ray incident at the angle θ, Yw is the largest image height at the shortest focal length, Yt is the largest image height at the longest focal length, f1 is a focal length of the first lens unit, and bfw is a back focus at the shortest focal length. |
| US08456746B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, which does not move for zooming, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, which moves during zooming, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, which moves during zooming, an aperture stop, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power, which does not move for zooming. The fourth lens unit includes a first lens sub-unit, a focal length conversion optical system configured to be inserted into or removed from an optical path, and a second lens sub-unit. A focal length of the second lens sub-unit, a distance from the aperture stop to a lens surface at the most object side of the second lens sub-unit, and an F-number of the entire zoom lens at a wide-angle end are appropriately set. |
| US08456745B2 |
Compact eyepiece using an imersed field lens
A first embodiment is a lens system having a plurality of refractive and reflective spherical elements that work as a magnifier to produce a distortion free, less than 1%, image with optical correction over a wide field of view. The system has at least one concave reflecting surface, and at least three convex refracting surfaces with the sign of the radius of one of the convex refracting surfaces being opposite of the sign of the radius of remaining two convex refracting surfaces. A second embodiment is a lens having a concave reflecting element which is on a substrate that is a negative lens by transmission with an index of refraction between 1.6 |
| US08456744B2 |
Beam combiner for use in a head-mounted display device and beam splitter
A beam combiner for combining a first beam cluster with a second beam cluster that is not parallel to the first, to form a common beam cluster. The beam combiner includes a transparent body for the first beam cluster, which has a superimposition region that is encountered by the first beam cluster as it passes through the body. The superimposition region is split into a first section and a second section. Only the first section formed from interspaced reflective and/or refractive deflection elements causes a deflection of the second beam cluster by reflection and/or refraction, such that the first beam cluster forms the common beam cluster with the deflected second beam cluster once it has left the body. |
| US08456742B2 |
Optical component manufacturing method, and lens, lens unit and camera module
Provided is an optical component manufacturing method wherein various types of information, including information relating to each optical component, can be relatively easily printed on each optical component, even in the case where a plurality of optical components are manufactured in a batch. A lens, a lens unit and a camera module manufactured by using such method are also provided. Prior to dividing camera modules into individual camera modules, a pattern to be printed on each camera module, i.e., printing contents determined based on information on a first lens array or the like after formation, is printed on the surface of the first lens array at one time. Thus, information specific to each camera module can be printed even by the relatively simple method. |
| US08456737B2 |
Amplification optical fiber and optical fiber amplifier and resonator using the same
The invention provides an amplification optical fiber, which can output light with a good beam quality even when a higher-order mode is excited, and an optical fiber amplifier using the amplification optical fiber.An amplification optical fiber 50 has a core 51 and a clad 52 covering the core 51. The core 51 propagates light with a predetermined wavelength in at least an LP01 mode, and an LP02 mode, and an LP03 mode. When the LP01 mode, the LP02 mode, and the LP03 mode are standardized by power, in at least a part of a region where the intensity of the LP01 mode is larger than at least one of the intensities of the LP02 mode and the LP03 mode, the active element is added to the core 51 at a higher concentration than the central portion of the core. |
| US08456733B2 |
Coloured particles for electrophoretic displays
The present invention discloses the use of functionalized particles as electrophoretic displaying particles, wherein the functionalized particles are SiO2, Al2O3 or mixed SiO2 and Al2O3 particles comprising, covalently bound to an oxygen atom on the surface, a radical of formula (1), wherein R1 and R2 are independently of each other hydrogen, particle surface-O—, or a substituent, n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, B is the direct bond or a bridge member, and D is the residue of an organic chromophore. |
| US08456731B2 |
Electro-wetting display device and driving method thereof
An electro-wetting display device includes a light guide plate having a light incident surface and a light output surface, a light source, a transparent electrode, a dielectric layer, a transparent non-polar solution layer, a counter substrate, a light emitting material layer, a counter electrode layer and a transparent polar solution layer. The light source is disposed near the light incident surface. The transparent electrode layer is disposed on the light output surface. The dielectric layer covers the transparent electrode layer and has refractive index n1. The transparent non-polar solution layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and has refractive index n2, and n2≧n1. The counter substrate is disposed above the transparent non-polar solution layer. The light emitting material layer and the counter electrode are disposed on the counter substrate. The transparent polar solution layer is disposed between the counter substrate and the light guide plate. |
| US08456729B2 |
Weather-responsive shade control system
An automatic daylighting method adjusts a window covering to block direct sunlight from entering the room through a window when the exterior sky condition is a sunny sky state and, subject to blocking direct sunlight, provides a desired daylighting interior light illuminance level and, if possible, a desired interior solar heat gain through the window. To prevent window covering oscillation, a delay may be used when the sky condition changes from a sunny to overcast state. The covering control may be based on various factors including interior light illuminance entering the window, a room heating or to cooling mode, whether the room is occupied by people, whether occupants have manually operated an adjustable window covering, and the exterior sky condition. The method may also detect an interior temperature level, e.g., to determine a heating or cooling mode of the room. |
| US08456725B2 |
Optical system that selectively provides either of a collimated light beam or a convergent light beam
There is provided a method that includes projecting a collimated light beam from an optical system to a plane during a first mode of operation of the optical system, and projecting a convergent light beam from the optical system to the plane during a second mode of operation of the optical system. The method further includes, (a) during the first mode of operation, controlling a trajectory of a first light bundle in a first light path in the optical system, to steer the collimated light beam through the plane at a designated incidence angle, and (b) during the second mode of operation, controlling a trajectory of a second light bundle in a second light path of the optical system, to steer the convergent light beam to a target position in the plane. There is also provided an apparatus and a system that employs the method. |
| US08456720B2 |
Reducing noise induced by color mixing spot color recipe search
What is disclosed is a novel system and method to reduce noise induced by color mixing in a color management system. At least one device color recipe is obtained for a target spot color. The recipe is defined for a color marking device and defines a range of marking device color values for a target L*a*b color value. Next, a minimal value and a maximum value of each color value in the range of color values for said target L*a*b color value are identified. An iterative process of searching is performed until the printed color test patch produces a visually acceptable smoothness while matching color accuracy. This iterative process includes generating at least one additional new device color recipe from color values within the range of color values. At least one of the new device color recipes is selected and provided to the color marking device for rendering. |
| US08456719B2 |
Automatic document feeder, image reading device having the same and image forming apparatus having the same
Disclosed are an automatic document feeder capable of moving a pickup device between a standby position and a pickup position and carrying out a document pickup operation by using a single driving source, an image reading device having the same and an image forming apparatus having the same. The automatic document feeder includes a pickup device, a lifting device and a pickup driving device. The pickup device includes a pickup roller to pick up a document sheet. The lifting device moves the pickup device between a standby position and a pickup position. The pickup driving device includes a pickup motor to rotate in a first direction and a second direction. The pickup motor drives the pickup roller by rotating in the first direction, and drives the lifting device by rotating in the second direction. |
| US08456716B2 |
Light source unit, optical scanner including same, and image forming apparatus including the optical scanner
A light source unit includes a holder, a light source, coupling lens, and a support member. The light source is supported by the holder and projects a light beam against a target. The coupling lens adjusts an optical axis of the light beam. The support member contacts the holder and the coupling lens to fix the coupling lens in place on the holder after the coupling lens adjusts the optical axis of the light beam. The holder and the coupling lens are adhered to the support member using an adhesive agent. An optical scanner includes a rotary deflector to deflect and scan the light projected from the light source unit, a scan optical element to focus the light deflected by the rotary deflector, and the light source unit. An image forming apparatus includes the optical scanner. |
| US08456708B2 |
Image processing device performing color conversion and producing scaled image
An image processing device converts input image data to converted image data and produces scaled image data based on the converted image data. Each set of converted pixel data in the converted image data includes an achromatic color value and a plurality of chromatic color values. The achromatic color value indicates an amount of an achromatic color material. Each of the plurality of chromatic color values indicates an amount of one of a plurality of chromatic color materials. An achromatic color is produced by mixing at least one of the achromatic color material and the plurality of chromatic color materials. Each set of scaled pixel data in the scaled image data corresponds to at least one set of converted pixel data. The image processing device produces each set of scaled pixel data based on the corresponding at least one set of converted pixel data. |
| US08456707B2 |
Duplication prevention method and system
An invisible ink management method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor data associated with an image to be duplicated and a duplication command enabling reproduction of the image. The computer processor receives a command for enabling a duplication prevention functionality and generates a first copy of the image. The computer processor enables an invisible ink spray nozzle. In response, the invisible ink spray nozzle sprays a plurality of invisible images on the first copy. The plurality of invisible images are invisible under first lighting conditions and are visible under second lighting conditions. |
| US08456705B2 |
System, method and software for reducing printer colorant usage
A system, method, and printer controller software for reducing printer colorant usage by using printer controller software which controls the deposition by the printer of the printer colorant on the printable medium in response to selected print image quality and printer colorant reduction criteria, as well as identifying printer colorant deposition characteristics of the printable medium, identifying characteristics of the printer, and identifying characteristics of the printer colorant. |
| US08456700B2 |
Spectral matching guide for spot color print applications
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for generating a spectral matching guide for spot color print applications. Spectral matching values are determined for spot colors obtained from a library of spot colors. A spectral matching guide is created from the spot colors and their respective spectral matching values in a manner more fully disclosed herein. Thereafter, when a user desires to render a job in a particular spot color, the associated spectral matching value for that spot color can be obtained from the spectral matching guide. In other embodiments, recommendations in the form of a suggested printer to use, a media type, a halftone screen, and other meaningful assistance can be provided for selection of spot colors for a given print/copy job that are less sensitive to varying illuminations. The present spectral matching guide provides meaningful extensions in spectral color reproduction in print/copy job environments. |
| US08456699B2 |
System and method for creating a data-bearing image
A system for creating a data-bearing image can include a reference image generator configured to apply a clustered-dot halftone screen to a continuous-tone image. The resulting reference halftone image includes carrier cells in which a pixel cluster can be shifted to at least two shift positions in the carrier cell. The system also includes a payload encoder configured to segment the data payload and encode data segments into one of the carrier cells by shifting the cluster to one of the shift positions. The system also includes an output device configured to output the resulting data-bearing halftone image. |
| US08456686B2 |
Printing apparatus, method, and program for selecting, displaying, and printing group images based on selected dates
According to this invention, the date range can be intuitively designated by designating up, down, left, and right directions, and images stored in a storage medium can be easily restricted to images which may be subjected to printing. In order to restrict images stored in a memory card on the basis of the date, a region for inputting the start date of the date range is displayed at the upper portion of a display window on a display device, and a region for inputting the end date is displayed at the lower portion. One of the regions is designated and selected with up and down direction keys. A date in the selected region is changed with left and right direction keys. Images having storage dates between the start date and the end date are decided as printing target candidates. |
| US08456685B2 |
Image forming apparatus searching an registering objects of interest in a cache based on a criterion
An object attribute is determined with respect to an object and a determination is performed as to whether or not to execute image cache processing in response to the object attribute. By switching processing in accordance with this, execution of time-consuming image specifying processing is kept to a necessary minimum and performance reductions can be avoided. Furthermore, cache registration is avoided for images having low reusability, which achieves improvements in cache usage efficiency and improvements in cache search efficiency, thereby enabling performance to be improved. |
| US08456680B2 |
Printer network system, server device, and computer-readable recording medium
In a printer network system including a client device and a server device connected to the client device via a network, the server device includes a virtual print processor unit which receives a request of a print job from an application unit of the client device and generates image data as intermediate data and job definition data that define print settings of the print job, and an exclusive access control unit which controls exclusively writing and reading of the image data and the job definition data. The client device includes an output condition control unit which determines one of output destinations meeting conditional information in accordance with predetermined rules. A delivering unit acquires the job definition data and the image data by communicating with the exclusive access control unit, selects a printer driver corresponding to the output destination, and transmits a print command to the printer driver. |
| US08456679B2 |
System and method for generating a remote job submission accelerator report in a multi-function device
A system and method for generating a remote job submission accelerator report with respect to a network multi-function device. A multi-function device can be configured to receive a job from a mobile communication device via a submission path. A text representation with respect to the submission path and a spatial representation with respect to the text representation can be automatically generated. An accelerator report can be generated based on the text representation and the spatial representation and the report can be added to a cover page of the job. Such an approach effectively enables client-less job submission with respect to the multi-function device. |
| US08456678B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image reading method
An image reading method includes generating pattern data for correcting a reading characteristic of a document reading apparatus, displaying the generated pattern data, reading the displayed pattern data, and correcting the reading characteristic of the document reading apparatus based on the generated pattern data and the read pattern data. |
| US08456676B2 |
Image reading device and image processing method utilizing the same
An image processing apparatus provided with a reader for reading an original image, a connection unit for connection with a network to which plural computers are connected, and a transfer unit for transferring the image data, read by the reader, to a computer through the connection unit, the apparatus comprising a specifying unit for specifying a desired one among the computers connected through the connection unit, and a designation unit for designating image reading by the reader, wherein the transfer unit is adapted to transfer the image data, read by the reader in response to the designation by the designation unit, to a computer specified by the specifying unit. |
| US08456675B2 |
Image forming process management device, management method and computer readable medium
A management device includes a receiving unit, a judgment unit, a permission unit and a change unit. The permission unit permits the image forming device to perform a requested image forming processes, if the judgment unit judges that a number of image forming process which have been performed is within a first upper limit value. The change unit sets, if the number of image forming process which have been performed exceeds the first upper limit value through the requested and permitted image forming processes being performed, a second upper limit value used for limiting image forming processes at the next time based on an excess amount from the first upper limit value. |
| US08456673B2 |
Printing system for switching connection modes by inserting or removing a recording medium
A display control apparatus includes a communication control unit configured to control a first communication for receiving a video signal based on image data from a printing apparatus using a first communication protocol for receiving a video signal, and a second communication for sending image data to the printing apparatus using a second communication protocol for sending data to be used for printing. The communication control unit performs control to communicate with the printing apparatus using the second communication protocol in response to a storage medium being connected to the display control apparatus, and performs control to communicate with the printing apparatus using the first communication protocol in response to receiving a notification indicating that a storage medium is connected to the printing apparatus. |
| US08456671B2 |
Communication system, information storage device, management device, and terminal device
A communication system, information storage device, management device, and terminal device which enable information transmission which takes into consideration the circumstances on the receiving side, are provided. An external equipment 9 transmits to a commanding device 4 service information, indicating the type of service which it itself provides and the service execution priority or the service state. The commanding device 4 stores the received service information, and transmits the service information to an image capture device 1. The image capture device 1 selects the external equipment 9 as the transmission destination for content information based on the received service information, and transmits the content information. |
| US08456669B2 |
Printing system
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a print system is provided comprising a plurality of networked print engines in communication with one another, a presence detector, and a controller to communicate with the presence detector to determine a user presence and to access usage data of each of the plurality of print engines. The controller combines and shares the user presence and the usage data to adjust operations of the plurality of print engines enabling quick entry to, and quick exit from, power saving mode of at least two of the plurality of print engines. |
| US08456666B2 |
Printer driver interface and methods
Disclosed are methods of controlling printing of a document using a printer driver interface, and corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments receive a print command to print a document having a document size, display the printer driver interface, the printer driver interface including the document size, display a selectable paper output size on the printer driver interface, the selectable paper output size allowing a user to select a user-selected one of a plurality of different paper output sizes, display user-selectable scaling options on the print driver interface, the scaling options for applying scaling to an image to be printed on the user-selected one of the plurality of different paper output sizes, receive from the user the user-selected one of the paper output sizes, and control printing of the document using the user-selected one of the paper output sizes. |
| US08456662B2 |
Control for display of multiple versions of a printable document for locked print
An approach is provided for implementing locked printing on a printing device with control of the display of multiple versions of locked print data. The printing device includes a locked print process that determines whether the names of two or more locked print jobs stored at the printing device are the same. In response to determining that the respective names of the print jobs are the same, the locked print process causes to be displayed, on the user interface, a group print job name representing the two or more print jobs, instead of causing to be displayed the names of the print jobs individually. Embodiments also include printing the print data of a selected print job when a user requests that the print data associated with the group print job name be printed, and allowing a user to view the print jobs associated with the group print job name. |
| US08456661B2 |
Authentication printing technique
The authentication printing technique of the invention obtains attachment information regarding attachment of a preset device, such as a hard disk drive, to a printing apparatus. In response to a request for a printing operation with the printing apparatus, the authentication printing technique refers to the obtained attachment information and restricts an authentication printing process according to the attachment information of the preset device. The authentication printing process externally receives print data and prints the received print data on completion of a preset authentication operation. This arrangement effectively reduces the potential for leakage of information from the device attached to the printing apparatus. |
| US08456656B2 |
Method for setting function options and multi function peripheral using the same
A method for setting function options and a multi function peripheral (MFP) using the same are provided. The MFP at least includes an image sensor and an option switch, wherein the option switch includes a sliding groove and a shift lever, and the shift lever is disposed in sliding way in the sliding groove. The method includes using the image sensor to obtain an option image of the option switch; judging a corresponding position relating to the shift lever in the option image; and setting a peripheral function according to a function option corresponding to the corresponding position. |
| US08456649B2 |
Retro-reflector for image-guided operation systems
A retro-reflector for image-guided operation systems, comprising eight cube corners, wherein the tips of the cube corners are adjacent to each other and each cube corner is formed from three reflective faces, comprising a protection against contamination which prevents dirt from being deposited in the cube corners. |
| US08456646B2 |
Vision recognition system for produce labeling
A vision recognition system is provided for use with a high speed, automatic produce labeling machine. The system uses laser profiling to direct a sheet of light transversely to the longitudinal axis of a produce feed conveyor. The sheet of light periodically impacts, and generates laser profiles of, the surfaces of the produce items, such as pears, being fed by the conveyor to one or more labeling machines. The laser profiles are used to generate real world (x,y) coordinates of the domes of the incoming produce items, which are passed to the labeling machine or machines. Real world height (or z) coordinates may also be created and passed to the labeler. |
| US08456644B2 |
Measurement of changes in surfaces of objects
Deformations of a surface of a test object can be measured by attaching mirrors to a surface of a test object, each mirror having a reflective surface with a dimension and a radius of curvature smaller than those of the surface of the test object. Light is directed towards the mirrors and a reference surface, and interference patterns are generated using light reflected from the mirrors and the reference surface. Changes in the surface of the test object are determined based on the interference patterns. |
| US08456635B2 |
Methods and apparatus to obtain suspended particle information
Example methods and apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes emitting light from a light source, dividing the light source into a first path and a second path, and directing the first path to a first container comprising a plurality of particles in a suspension material. The example method also includes directing the second path to a second container containing a suspension material devoid of particles, retrieving a first transmission value of the first path through the first container, and retrieving a second transmission value of the second path through the second container. The example method further includes directing the first and second paths to the second and first containers, respectively, retrieving a third transmission value of the first path through the second container, retrieving a fourth transmission value of the second path through the first container, and calculating a ratio of the first and second transmission values to the third and fourth transmission values to determine an indication of transmissivity for a given wavelength. |
| US08456633B2 |
Spectrometric process monitoring
Spectrometric apparatus that include an array of detector elements and exhibits a number of capabilities is disclosed. The elements can be responsive to incident radiation to produce an output signal that includes information from the incident radiation. A spectrally selective element can be located in an optical path between the radiation source and the array, with an analysis module responsive to the output signal operative to analyze spatial distribution of spectral information received by the array. The apparatus can also correct for differences in intensity and spectral variability for spectral image signals and/or compare the spectral image signals with a pattern in spatial-spectral coordinate space. Detector elements can be responsive to scattering, and spatial information in their output can be analyzed. |
| US08456632B2 |
Vectorial polarimetry method and apparatus for analyzing the three-dimensional electromagnetic field resulting from an interaction between a focused illuminating field and a sample to be observed
A method and apparatus for analysing the three-dimensional electromagnetic field resulting from an interaction between a focused illuminating beam and a sample to be observed, by characterising the distribution of the state of polarization of light across a measurement plane, the method comprising the steps of generating a beam of illuminating light; controlling the state of polarization at different positions across the beam width of the light beam; focussing said illuminating light beam to a focus, wherein said focus is a tight focus and said focused light has a suitable three-dimensional vectorial structure at the focus; detecting and measuring the state of polarization of the reflected light at different positions across the width of the measurement plane to retrieve information on the three-dimensional vectorial electromagnetic interaction of the illuminated focused field and the sample. |
| US08456631B2 |
Apparatus and method of producing a light beam for an optical measurement instrument
An apparatus for providing a light beam for use in a diffraction instrument (1) includes a device (10; 17; 28) for generating a light beam; and means (12, 21; 24) for shaping the light beam generated by the device (10; 17; 28), dimensioned, in use, to determine the beam shape, and including: an aperture (21; 25) and means (13; 24) for rejecting spatial frequency components above a certain range in the light beam. The apparatus further includes a spatial low-pass filter (14; 15; 26; 27) arranged to filter a beam provided by the beam shaping means. |
| US08456626B2 |
Luminometer and methods of operation
The present invention is directed to a luminometer and methods which provides simple and effective measurement of a plurality of wells in a plurality of strips in an automatic fashion. The luminometer may be used in CLIA (Chemi Luminescent Immuno Assays). The luminometer allows for CLIA micro strip reading, and reads break-apart wells, with a plurality of wells per strip, and calculates results instantly and automatically. The luminometer has an automatic carrier positioning system which selectively positions the plurality of wells in the plurality of strips at a measuring position, wherein the drive system associated with the positioning system drives the carrier along a single axis of movement. An optical track system automatically provides Y axis movement of the carrier. The luminometer may have a calibration system for maintaining proper operation of the system in measurements therewith. |
| US08456624B2 |
Inspection device and inspecting method for spatial light modulator, illumination optical system, method for adjusting the illumination optical system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
There is disclosed an inspection device for inspecting a spatial light modulator having a plurality of optical elements arrayed two-dimensionally and controlled individually, said inspection device comprising, a conjugate optical system which is arranged optically downstream the spatial light modulator and which forms a conjugate plane optically conjugate with an array plane where the plurality of optical elements are arrayed, a photodetector having a detection surface arranged on or near the conjugate plane, and an inspection unit which inspects optical characteristics of the plurality of optical elements, based on a result of detection by the photodetector. |
| US08456621B2 |
Measurement system and measurement processing method
This invention is directed to extract the scattering characteristic of a measurement target together when measuring the surface shape in a measurement system, which measures the surface shape of a measurement target, by the pattern projection method. To accomplish this, the measurement system includes an illumination unit which irradiates a measurement target with dot pattern light, a reflected light measurement unit which receives the reflected light at a reflection angle almost equal to a incident angle, and a reflected light extraction unit which extracts the inclination of the surface of the measurement target, based on the shift amount between the light receiving position of the received reflected light and a predetermined reference position, and extracts the luminance value of the reflected light and the dot diameter of the dot pattern light as information about the scattering characteristic. |
| US08456612B2 |
Exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing device
An exposure apparatus projects a pattern of an original onto a substrate by a projection optical system to expose the substrate, wherein the projection optical system includes a mirror assembly, and the mirror assembly includes a first mirror member which has a first reflecting surface and is configured to bend an optical axis of the projection optical system, a second mirror member which has a second reflecting surface and is configured to bend the optical axis, a supporting mechanism configured to support the first mirror member and the second mirror member, and the supporting mechanism is positioned to position the first mirror member and the second mirror member while a positional relationship between the first mirror member and the second mirror member is maintained. |
| US08456610B2 |
Environmental system including vacuum scavenge for an immersion lithography apparatus
A liquid containment system is used for a liquid immersion lithography apparatus in which a substrate is exposed through liquid between an optical member of a projection system and the substrate. The liquid containment system includes a liquid containment member which confines the liquid, the liquid containment member including a removing inlet which removes the liquid from a gap between the liquid confinement member and the substrate. The liquid containment system also includes an actuator by which the liquid containment member is moved. |
| US08456609B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus which prevents damages due to leaked out liquid from expanding and can maintain exposure accuracy and measuring accuracy. The exposure apparatus includes a first stage which is movable relative to the projection optical system, a second stage which is movable relative to the projection optical system, and a liquid immersion system that is capable of forming a liquid immersion region of a liquid under the projection optical system. The first and second stages are moved in a state in which a first overhang portion provided at the first stage and a second overhang portion provided at the second stage are brought close to or in contact with each other, such that the liquid immersion region is moved from one of upper surfaces of the first and second overhang portions to the other of the upper surfaces of the first and second overhang portions. |
| US08456597B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first insulating substrate. A pixel electrode is formed on a top surface of the first insulating substrate. The pixel electrode has a first opening pattern at each pixel area. The pixel electrode is substantially rectangular in shape with first second long sides, and first and second short sides. The pixel electrode is divided into an upper region defined by the first and second long sides and first short side, and a lower region defined by the first and second long sides and second short side. A common electrode is formed on a bottom surface of a second insulating substrate, and has a second opening pattern at each pixel area. The first and second opening patterns each have a plurality of openings, the openings of the first opening pattern and the second opening pattern being alternately arranged parallel to each other. |
| US08456596B2 |
Transparent display device and displaying method using the same
A transparent display device includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) module and a transparent reflector. The LCD module includes an LCD panel having a liquid crystal layer, a light source providing light to the LCD panel, and a polarizing plate disposed between the light source and the LCD panel to polarize light from the light source. The transparent reflector and the LCD module are spaced apart. The transparent reflector displays the image by reflecting the image provided from the LCD panel. The transparency of the transparent reflector may be controlled, and the transparent reflector may have a curved shape. |
| US08456586B2 |
Portable computer display structures
An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components. |
| US08456585B2 |
Fabrication method of liquid crystal display device having driving circuit-integrated array substrate
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes providing a first substrate having a first region and a second region; forming an active pattern in the first and second regions of the first substrate; forming a first insulation film on the first substrate; forming a first gate electrode with a low-resistance conductive material on an upper portion of the active pattern; forming a second gate electrode to completely cover the first gate electrode on an exposed portion of the first gate electrode; forming N type source and drain regions in the active pattern of the first region by doping an n+ impurity ion; forming P type source and drain regions in the active pattern of the second region by doping a p+ impurity ion; forming a second insulation film on the first substrate; forming N type source and drain electrodes electrically connected with the N type source and drain regions on the first region and forming P type source and drain electrodes electrically connected with the P type source and drain regions on the second region; and attaching the first and second substrates. A low-resistance wiring can be implemented on a large-scale liquid crystal display panel by forming a second gate wiring of a clad structure at an upper portion of a low-resistance first gate wiring. |
| US08456581B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes an array substrate which includes a plurality of signal lines, a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of auxiliary capacitive lines, a plurality of pixels, an auxiliary capacitive line driving circuit, a logic circuit, a first auxiliary capacitive voltage supply line, a second auxiliary capacitive voltage supply line, and a power supply line, an opposite substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. Each of the pixels includes a switching element, a pixel electrode, and an auxiliary capacitive element. A first common line and a second common line are connected to each other on one end side and are in a non-connected state in parts other than the part on the one end side. A common voltage is supplied to the first common line and the second common line from the one end side. |
| US08456579B2 |
Dynamic RF AGC switch/mixer for optimal NTSC video detection
This disclosure presents an apparatus and method for automatic gain control correction for a television signal in which the Radio Frequency (RF) and Intermediate Frequency (IF) power signal levels are collected for a band of channels, identifying a channel having a strong RF power signal level and an IF gain signal level that is lower than a nominal IF gain signal level, comparing the identified channel RF gain signal level with the RF gain signal level of adjacent channels to identify the relative power signal levels of the channel and associated adjacent channels, and applying correction to the channel wherein there is an imbalance in the RF and IF power signal levels of the identified channel. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08456576B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, and program
A signal processing apparatus includes a lower-level region data detecting section detecting, in luminance data of an input video signal, luminance data corresponding to a value in a set lower-level region, and a data converting section converting a value of the luminance data corresponding to the lower-level region to a set conversion value. |
| US08456574B2 |
Recovery of service mode data corruption
Service mode data is stored in a television chassis or set by duplicating all the data that is accessible by service mode, i.e. by storing the same data twice, in two separate areas of a single memory device or two separate memory devices. A “working memory” is always accessible by the chassis. A “reserved memory” is normally not accessible by the chassis. At the factory, the same service mode data is input to both the working memory and the reserved memory. The chassis microprocessor would normally only access the working memory. If any data in the working memory is changed (intentionally or not), the original factory data can be recovered from the reserved memory and copied to the working memory by executing a specific access operation. |
| US08456573B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing digital multimedia broadcast service using an external device and a digital TV
An apparatus and a method for providing a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service using a digital TeleVision (TV) and an external device are provided. It is determined whether a received broadcast channel supports a Multi Mode Service (MMS), and if so, one of subchannels included in the broadcast channel is set to a main channel. The digital TV reproduces a broadcast signal via the main channel, and broadcast signals of subchannels excluding the main channel are transmitted to at least one external device in communication with the digital TV. |
| US08456569B2 |
Camera body and imaging unit attachable to and detachable from camera body, and imaging apparatus
A camera body includes a camera body connector and a recess to which an imaging unit including an optical system, an image pickup device, and an imaging unit connector is detachably attached to be placed therein. The recess includes a back wall, an upper wall, and a side wall to be opened to a lower side, a front side, and a lateral side of the camera body. The camera body has a guide mechanism to control a position of the camera body connector in relation to a position of the imaging unit connector. The imaging unit has a rear surface on which at least two guiding grooves provided to be extended between opposite edges of the imaging unit and an engagement plate section are formed. The imaging unit has a biasing member to bias the imaging unit toward the back wall. The guide mechanism has at least two guide protrusions provided on the back wall and inserted into the at least two guiding grooves and an engagement claw formed on the back wall so as to face the engagement plate section and to engage with the biasing member when the imaging unit is attached to the camera body. |
| US08456568B2 |
Illumination device with improved remote control
The present invention relates to an illumination device comprising at least one light source and a reflector system forming a spotlight (1), one or several actuators (5) arranged to pivot the spotlight (1) relative in a mounting base (4) for varying an illumination angle, and a camera (13) attached to the spotlight (1) and aligned to acquire images of an illumination region (7) to which the spotlight (1) is directed. The spotlight (1) is designed to comprise a central region from which the illumination region (7) is visible and which does not reflect or emit light of the light source towards the illumination region (7), wherein the camera (13) is arranged in said central region on an optical axis (14) of the spotlight (1). With the proposed illumination device an exact aiming of the spotlight (1) can be achieved even in applications in which the illuminated region (7) is close to the spotlight (1) without causing undesired shadows in the illumination region (7). |
| US08456564B2 |
Imaging lens, imaging device, and mobile terminal
Provided are a wafer scale lens, which is so short in an optical total length with respect to an image height that it can correct an aberration satisfactory, and an optical system including the wafer scale lens and having a thin lens element on the side closest to the image. The optical system includes a first lens having a positive refractive power relative to an object, and a second lens arranged on the side of the image of the first lens and having a recessed shape on the side of the object. At least one lens is arranged on the side of the second lens. When that one of the lenses arranged on the side of the image of the second lens, which is arranged on the side closest to the image, is an i-th lens (i>3), this i-th lens includes an i-th lens flat plate and is formed on the object side of the i-th lens flat plate but has a refractive index different from that of the i-th lens flat plate, and a lens element having a convex shape on the object side where the main light ray of the maximum image height passes. Moreover, the ratio between the optical axial distance (or the lens distance) between a (i−1)-th lens and the i-th lens and the optical axis distance (or the optical total length) from the object side face of the first lens to the image face is 0.01 to 0.15. |
| US08456563B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with on chip lenses with adjust characteristics to render pixel output sensitivities more uniform
A solid-state imaging device includes: an imaging unit wherein a plurality of light sensing units formed in a matrix and a plurality of interconnections are formed among the plurality of light sensing units; a color filter that is disposed over the imaging unit, and delivers colors to the light sensing units in accordance with a predefined rule; and on-chip lenses that are disposed corresponding to the light sensing units on a one-by-one basis over the color filter, and have light-collection characteristics varying in accordance with differences among sensitivities of the light sensing units, where the differences among the sensitivities of the light sensing units are generated, when the same colors are delivered to the light sensing units in accordance with the same rule, owing to the fact that positions of the individual interconnections relative to the light sensing units vary periodically. |
| US08456562B2 |
Image pickup unit
In an image pickup unit, a first optical system holding frame has a hole axis orthogonal to an optical axis of photographing light made incident on a first object lens group, and a through-hole portion through which a second optical system holding frame can be inserted and arranged is formed in the first optical system holding frame and the first optical system holding frame and the second optical system holding frame are set relatively movable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographing light made incident on the first object lens group and the second optical system holding frame and a third optical system holding frame are set relatively movable in a direction along the optical axis of the photographing light made incident on a solid-state image pickup device such that predetermined optical performance adjustment can be performed during assembly. |
| US08456556B2 |
Sensing pixel arrays and sensing devices using the same
A sensing pixel array is provided and includes a plurality of pixels disposed in an array. Each pixel operates during an exposure period and a readout period and generates a readout signal. Each pixel includes a sensing unit and a sampling unit. The sensing unit senses light to generate a sensing signal during the exposure period. The sampling unit samples the sensing signal to generate a sensing output signal which serves as the readout signal during the readout period. During the exposure period, the sampling unit acts as a memory unit for storing an input signal and outputting an accessed output signal which serves as the readout signal. |
| US08456550B2 |
Image capturing system for correcting signals output from defective pixels
An image capturing system includes a signal correction unit which corrects a signal output from a defective pixel in an optical black region based on a signal output from a normal pixel. The optical black region has a plurality of pixel blocks. Each of the plurality of pixel blocks has a plurality of pixels each including one or more elements which have the same functions as in the remaining pixels and which have relative positions different from the remaining pixels. The signal correction unit corrects the signal output from the defective pixel in the optical black region based on a signal output from a normal pixel which is included in another pixel block different from the pixel block of the defective pixel in the optical black region and includes one or more elements having the same functions and same relative positions as in the defective pixel. |
| US08456542B2 |
Imaging apparatus that determines a band of sound and emphasizes the band in the sound
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device configured to image an object, a sound receiving device configured to receive an ambient sound, a phonation determining device configured to determine whether the object imaged by the imaging device is producing a sound or not, an object characteristic determining device configured to determine a characteristic of the object if the phonation determining device determines that the object is producing the sound, a band determining device configured to determine a band of the ambient sound which suits the characteristic of the object and emphasize the band in the ambient sound, and a recording device configured to record the ambient sound in which the band is emphasized. |
| US08456539B2 |
Method of automatic task execution with triggering by object attribute recognition, and electronic apparatus for implementing the method
A method of automatic task execution is adapted to be performed by an electronic apparatus that includes an image-capturing module and a processing module. The method includes the steps of: a) recording in the processing module a relationship between a visible physical attribute of an object and a corresponding task to be executed by the processing module; b) configuring the electronic apparatus for capturing an image containing a target using the image-capturing module; c) configuring the processing module to determine if the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image captured by the image-capturing module; and d) when the visible physical attribute of the object is found in the image, configuring the processing module to execute the corresponding task automatically. |
| US08456532B1 |
Internet protocol camera transcode avoidance
A method and a system for transcode avoidance of a data stream from a camera at a client device are described. A camera generates data streams with each data stream having a corresponding data configuration. A web server discovered by the camera dynamically determines data configuration for each data stream, the configuration of the client device, and the network conditions at the client device. The web server dynamically identifies a data stream for the client device based on the data configuration of each data stream from the camera, the configurations of the client device, and the network conditions at the client device so that the client device or an intermediary device do not need to transcode the identified data stream. The web server refers the client device to receive the identified data stream from the camera. |
| US08456531B2 |
Video alignment and calibration for video quality measurement
Video alignment and calibration, which is needed for video quality measurement in full-reference mode, is performed continuously on the videos being measured to account for alignment parameters that may change over time. With this technique, the quality of video files and/or live video streams can be measured in full-reference mode in real-time. During video alignment, the temporal and spatial offsets, as well as any spatial, luminance or color transformations between the two videos are measured; during video calibration, the video frames are adjusted for these offsets and transformations so that the video quality can be measured correctly. |
| US08456529B2 |
Device and method for evaluating connectivity between a video driver and a display
A device for evaluating connectivity between a video driver and a display, the device comprises a first video driver, a first output connector, a first terminating resistance; wherein the device is characterized by comprising a first comparison unit; wherein the first video driver has an output port that is coupled to the first output connector, to the first terminating resistance and to the first comparison unit; wherein the first output connector is configured to be coupled via a first cable to a first input of the display; wherein the first comparison unit is adapted to perform comparisons between a voltage level on the first terminating resistance to multiple thresholds and to determine whether a display first input impedance is substantially equal to the first terminating resistance, whether the display first input impedance is substantially lower then the first terminating resistance, or whether the first video driver is disconnected from the display; wherein the comparisons are executed during a pixel information idle period. |
| US08456526B2 |
Video effect using movement within an image
A video effect is created that provides an experience to a viewer of freezing time during an event that is the subject of a video presentation, investigating the event during that frozen moment in time, and (optionally) resuming the action of the event. During that frozen moment in time, the video can move around the scene of the event and/or zoom in (or out) to better highlight an aspect of the event. In one embodiment, there will be a transition from video captured by a broadcast camera (or another camera) to a high resolution still image, movement around the high resolution still image, and a transition from the high resolution still image back to video from the broadcast camera (or another camera). |
| US08456523B2 |
Laser processing head and method for compensating for the change in focus position in a laser processing head
The invention relates to a laser machining head (100) for machining a workpiece by means of a working laser beam (108), with a camera (102) with an imaging lens system (116) arranged in front of said camera in the beam path for observing a machining region of the workpiece that is being machined by means of the working laser beam (108), with a focusing lens system (114) for focusing the working laser beam (108) on the workpiece surface (104) or on a position defined in relation to the workpiece surface (104), and with an evaluation unit (122) which is designed to calculate a corrective adjusting displacement (ΔZos, ΔZB) by means of an adjusting displacement (ΔdKL) of the imaging lens system (116) in the direction of the optical axis in order to refocus the camera image when there is a shift in the focal point of the focusing lens system (114), which corrective adjustment displacement compensates a shift in the focal point of the focusing lens system (114) in relation to the workpiece surface (104) or with respect to a position defined in relation to the workpiece surface (104). |
| US08456522B2 |
Achieving focus in a digital pathology system
Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slide data with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation. |
| US08456519B2 |
Video display system, video display method and display apparatus
A video display apparatus includes pixels arranged in lines, a scanning signal transferor that supplies scanning signals to the pixels, and a data signal transferor that supplies a video signal to the pixels. A first controller supplies the video signal to the data signal transferor and causes the scanning signal transferor to supply a first scanning signal that corresponds to a first picture to the lines in the display from a head line to a final line and a second scanning signal that corresponds to a second picture subsequent to the first picture to the lines in the display from the final line to the head line. |
| US08456514B2 |
3D display device with controllable device for tracking visibility regions
A 3D display device with controllable device for tracking visibility regions is disclosed, and includes a controllable device for tracking a visibility region, generated by way of superposition of light source images, in a observer plane of the display device. In preferred embodiments, the cladding of a waveguide comprises at least one material with optical properties of an anisotropic liquid, or at least two materials with optical properties of an isotropic liquid; a matrix arrangement of control electrodes defines multiple positions to be generated for local exit points in the cladding of the waveguide at which the total reflection is locally cancelled; and a system controller modifies positions of the output coupling points for superposing the output-coupled light through the lens array to the visibility region by displacing an output coupling point, or by switching off one output coupling point and switching on another one. |
| US08456512B2 |
Electronic device for capturing panoramic images
An electronic device and a method enable capturing a 360° panoramic image by a digital camera having a fixed angle lens. A number of frames is set for capturing the 360° panoramic image of the digital camera unit. The electronic device receives an initial azimuth of the digital camera unit from an electronic compass and determines rotation points of the digital camera unit. A current azimuth from an electronic compass of the electronic device is received and the rotated angle of the digital camera unit is calculated. The electronic device captures at least one image if the digital camera unit rotates to one of the rotation points. |
| US08456495B2 |
Power control method of light emitting device for image display, light emitting device for image display, display device and television receiver
In a method of controlling power of a light emitting device for image display that irradiates illumination light from divided regions, light emission brightness data of each light emitting element of the light emitting device is determined based on image data for image display (S20). Power in each region and total light emission power are computed based on the light emission brightness data of each light emitting element for each region (S40). If the computed total light emission power exceeds predetermined allowable power, the power in each region is limited so that the total light emission power is equal to or less than the predetermined allowable power (S50). |
| US08456488B2 |
Displaying digital images using groups, stacks, and version sets
A method and apparatus for managing digital images is provided. A collection of digital images may be managed using a digital image system that displays images using groups, stacks, and versions. A group is a set of unordered digital images that may be visually represented, in a first state, using a representative image, and in a second state, by each digital image in the group. Stacks are similar to groups, except that each digital image in a stack has a rank, and each digital image in the stack is depicted in order of its rank. Versions are similar to groups, except that one or more images in the group are derived from another image in the group. |
| US08456487B2 |
Virtual staging apparatus and method
A process of staging a live or pre-recorded performance that follows a schedule is disclosed. The performance involves electronic and mechanical media that are computer controlled, preferably so as to create a virtual reality of events. When an action that is not normal to the schedule occurs, the timing, speed, or sequence of one or more media activities are adjusted to compensate for the action so that the action does not adversely affect the continuity and totality of the performance to the audience. Computer hardware and software embodiments include a script of a scheduled performance and a control program that steps through the script while allowing for flexibility and adaptation of the performance in response to an action that is not normal to the schedule. A control interface to the sensory stimuli device may be provided to sensory stimuli associated with the performance by the control program. |
| US08456485B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method, head mounted display, program, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus that corrects chromatic aberration that occurs in a display optical system, using a display unit in which respective pixels have a plurality of primary color elements that emit light of respectively differing primary colors, the apparatus comprises an acquisition unit adapted to acquire a displacement amount in which the position of a primary color element used as a light source is used as a reference, for light of each primary color emitted by a primary color element of the display unit, a calculation unit adapted to calculate a display position in the display unit for each primary color component of each pixel in a display image, based on the acquired displacement amount, and a display control unit adapted to display each primary color component of each pixel of the display image at the display position of the display unit calculated by the calculation unit. |
| US08456484B2 |
Apparatus and methods for wrapping texture onto the surface of a virtual object
The invention provides techniques for wrapping a two-dimensional texture conformally onto a surface of a three dimensional virtual object within an arbitrarily-shaped, user-defined region. The techniques provide minimum distortion and allow interactive manipulation of the mapped texture. The techniques feature an energy minimization scheme in which distances between points on the surface of the three-dimensional virtual object serve as set lengths for springs connecting points of a planar mesh. The planar mesh is adjusted to minimize spring energy, and then used to define a patch upon which a two-dimensional texture is superimposed. Points on the surface of the virtual object are then mapped to corresponding points of the texture. The invention also features a haptic/graphical user interface element that allows a user to interactively and intuitively adjust texture mapped within the arbitrary, user-defined region. |
| US08456477B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program for generating and displaying network structures
An information processing apparatus includes a network structure generation unit that generates a network structure showing relations formed between registered users at a predetermined time based on user information containing attribute information showing attributes of the registered user registered with a social networking service (SNS) and registration time information showing a registration time of the registered user, and relation information containing relation formation information showing a relation formed between the registered users on the SNS, and relation formation time information showing a relation formation time, a network image generation unit that generates a network image representing the generated network structure with the registered user as a node and a relation formed between the registered users as an edge, and a network image display unit that chronologically displays the generated network images at a plurality of the predetermined times. Accordingly, a change of SNS operation conditions can efficiently be grasped. |
| US08456476B1 |
Predicting constraint enforcement in online applications
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a primary node that represents a first pose of an online character. The first pose is associated with a constraint being inactive. The method also includes identifying the primary node representing a second pose of the online character. The second pose is associated with the constraint being active. The method also includes calculating the difference between the primary node of the second pose and the primary node of the first pose. Further, the method includes applying the difference to the primary node of the first pose. |
| US08456474B2 |
Method for rendering outline of polygon and apparatus of rendering outline of polygon
A database compiler sequentially selects element points constituting an outline of a polygon corresponding to polygon data obtained from a map database. When it is determined that one of the selected polygon element points is positioned on a map mesh boundary, a coordinate of the polygon element point is shifted toward an inside portion of the polygon by 1 point. When the polygon is to be displayed in an emphatic manner, the polygon data which has been coordinate-shifted is obtained. When it is determined that a portion of the outline of the polygon corresponding to the obtained polygon data is positioned on one of the map mesh boundaries, the portion of the outline is displayed in a non-emphatic manner and the remaining portions of the outline are displayed in an emphatic manner. |
| US08456466B1 |
Resolving ambiguous rotations in 3D manipulation
A three-dimensional transformation of a three-dimensional object is calculated by a solver using an algorithm that reduces deviation between projected two-dimensional locations of three-dimensional contact points on a surface of the object after object transformation and two dimensional locations of touch points placed on a multi-touch display device. The algorithm is biased to generate a three-dimensional transformation that preferentially rotates the object in one direction over an opposite direction when all three-dimensional contact points are located at substantially the same depth along a Z-axis away from an image plane of the multi-touch display device and when transformation is then triggered by touch points moving such that a Euclidean distance between at least two of the touch points decreases. |
| US08456465B2 |
Display apparatus utilizing protective image for a period of display of 3D image
A display apparatus is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display panel that displays at least one of a two dimensional (2D) image and a three dimensional (3D) image, and a driver that is driven so as to display an image on the display panel. The driver includes a 3D image conversion unit that converts the 3D image into a protective image if a length of a period during which the 3D image is displayed on the display panel is longer than a length of a first period. |
| US08456464B2 |
Method for driving a liquid crystal display monitor and related apparatus
A method for driving a liquid crystal display monitor including a display panel with a plurality of pixels includes receiving image data which includes a plurality of image signals corresponding to the plurality of pixels, initiating a column inversion procedure for driving the display panel to display the image data, comparing the plurality of image signals during the column inversion procedure to generate a comparison result, and deciding whether to initiate a charge sharing function of the plurality of pixels according to the comparison result. |
| US08456463B2 |
Low voltage driver for high voltage LCD
A low voltage driver for a higher voltage LCD includes a plurality of LCD drive bias voltage input-terminals; an LCD drive voltage output terminal; an input transistor switching circuit having at least one switch for each LCD drive bias voltage for selecting one of the bias voltages; an output transistor switching circuit, responsive to the input transistor switching circuit, for applying the selected one of the bias voltages to the LCD drive voltage output terminal, the transistors of the switching circuits having a predetermined breakdown voltage; a level shifter for providing switching voltages counterpart to the plurality of bias voltages; a logic circuit for enabling the first transistor switching circuit to select a one of the bias voltages and applying a set of counterpart switching voltages to the input and output transistor switching circuits for connecting the selected one of the bias voltages to the output terminal and applying a set of switching voltages to the input and output switching circuits which limit the voltage across the transistor junctions in the switching circuit to less than the predetermined breakdown voltage. |
| US08456459B2 |
Adhesion type area sensor and display device having adhesion type area sensor
A lightweight, thin, small size semiconductor device is provided. A pixel has a display portion, and a light receiving portion comprising a photodiode. A transistor is used with the semiconductor device for controlling the operation of the display portion and the light receiving portion. |
| US08456458B2 |
Display system for generating three-dimensional images and method thereof
A display system for generating three-dimensional images includes a liquid crystal panel, a driving voltage generation circuit, and a liquid crystal lens. The liquid crystal panel is used for receiving a three-dimensional image signal. The driving voltage generation circuit is used for generating a set of square-wave voltages and a direct current voltage alternately according to the three-dimensional image signal. The liquid crystal lens is used for adjusting refraction angles of a plurality of liquid crystals of the liquid crystal lens to output a three-dimensional image according to the set of square-wave voltages and the direct current voltage. |
| US08456455B2 |
Display driving device and display apparatus
A display driving device is provided which drives a display panel having source lines provided for columns of pixels and which includes: first switches sw1 provided for the source lines; second switches sw2 provided for the source lines; AMP units 52 which are provided for the source lines and drive a pixel signal to the source lines via the second switches; an external power source 48 applying an intermediate voltage of the pixel signal to an intermediate voltage line, the intermediate voltage having a level between a minimum voltage level and a maximum voltage level of the pixel signal; and a control circuit 47 controlling turning on and off the first switches and the second switches, wherein the control unit temporarily turns off at least part of the second switches, and concurrently, temporarily turns on corresponding ones of the first switches during a transition period of the pixel signal. |
| US08456454B2 |
Display panel
A display panel is disclosed, which includes a substrate, a shift register array, plural scan lines, a compensating circuit, a first repair line, and a second repair line. The shift register array having plural shift registers is disposed on a non-display area of the substrate. The scan lines connect to the shift registers respectively to drive plural display units. The first repair line and the second repair line are connected to the compensating circuit and bridged over two ends of each scan line in the non-display area, respectively. |
| US08456453B2 |
Wireless file transmission
A computer system which includes one or more wireless interface devices that are adapted to communicate with a remote host over a radio link. Each of the wireless interface devices is a pen-based device which includes an ink field in which pen events are translated into pen data packets and transmitted to the remote host over the radio link. Local inking is provided at the wireless interface device in order to maintain the pen paradigm in essentially real time. |
| US08456451B2 |
System and method for differentiating between pointers used to contact touch surface
A touch system comprises a touch surface and at least one camera acquiring images of the touch surface. A pointer contact data generator generates pointer position data in response to pointer contact with the touch surface, the pointer position data representing where on the touch surface pointer contact is made. A processor communicates with the at least one camera and the pointer contact data generator. The processor analyzes acquired images to determine the type of pointer used to contact the touch surface, and processes the pointer position data in accordance with the determined type of pointer. In the preferred embodiment the processor distinguishes between pointer tip touch surface contacts, pointer backend touch surface contacts and finger touch surface contacts. A writing function is invoked in response to pointer tip touch surface contacts. An erase function is invoked in response to pointer backend touch surface contacts. Mouse events are generated in response to finger touch surface contacts. |
| US08456448B2 |
Light-tactility conversion system, and method for providing tactile feedback
A light-tactility conversion system is provided which includes a light emitting device including an illumination unit capable of emitting light at a same time to a plurality of illumination areas in different illumination patterns, and an illumination control unit for controlling the illumination unit and making the illumination unit project an image, and also for controlling the illumination patterns in units of pixels of the projected image and making the illumination unit emit light to specific illumination areas in specific illumination patterns, and a vibration device including an illumination pattern detection unit for detecting an illumination pattern of light received from the light emitting device, and a vibration control unit for generating a vibration pattern corresponding to the illumination pattern detected by the illumination pattern detection unit and vibrating an oscillator in the vibration pattern. |
| US08456445B2 |
Touch screen and method for adjusting screen objects
A touch screen and method are provided for adjusting the positioning of touch sensing objects in response to the position of the application of one or more touches. The touch screen, includes, but is not limited to a display face including an object, the display face configured to display a symbol associated with the object, and circuitry defining the object and configured to sense the position of at least one touch on at least a portion of the object. A touch screen controller is configured to adjust the object in response to the position of the at least one touch. |
| US08456443B2 |
Single-layer touch sensors
A two-dimensional capacitive sensor device comprises first, second, and third sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode has a varying width along a first direction, a maximum width at a first edge along the first direction, and a minimum width at a second edge along the first direction. The second sensor electrode has a varying width along the first direction and substantially identical widths at the first edge and second edge. The third sensor electrode has a varying width along the first direction, a minimum width at the first edge, and a maximum width at the second edge. The first, second, and third sensor electrodes have substantially equal surface area and are arranged in a first sensor cell with the second disposed between the first and third sensor electrodes. The two-dimensional capacitive sensor device comprises a plurality of sensor cells disposed in a repeated fashion in a single layer. |
| US08456441B2 |
Selective input system and process based on tracking of motion parameters of an input object
A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system. |
| US08456439B2 |
Graphical authentication for a portable device and methods for use therewith
A portable device includes a touch screen that includes a display screen and that generates touch screen data in response to a user's interaction with the touch screen. A processor executes a security application for authenticating the user to the portable device that provides first display data to the touch screen for displaying a security prompt on the display screen. Touch screen data is received from the touch screen in response to the user's interaction with the touch screen and is processed to determine when an authentication shape is recognized as being indicated by the touch screen data. The user is authenticated to the portable device when the authentication shape is recognized as being indicated by the touch screen data. |
| US08456436B2 |
Input device and input method
An input-mode determination unit determines an input mode to be a graphic mode in the case where the number of sets of coordinates included in a coordinate sequence stored in the coordinate-sequence storage unit is smaller than a predetermined number and points represented by the coordinates are within a predetermined distance range, and otherwise, determines the input mode to be a curve mode. A line-to-draw sequence generation unit generates a line-to-draw sequence according to the input mode which the input-mode determination unit has determined to be. |
| US08456434B2 |
Touch sensor and operating method thereof
Provided are a touch sensor and a method of operating the same. The touch sensor includes: a pulse signal generator for generating a pulse signal of which pulse width is calibrated in response to a control code; a pulse signal transmitter for transmitting the pulse signal when a touch object is out of contact with a touch pad and stopping transmitting the pulse signal when the touch object is in contact with the touch pad; a pulse signal detector for detecting the pulse signal transmitted through the pulse signal transmitter; and a controller recognizing a non-contact state and adjusting the control code to calibrate the pulse width of the pulse signal when the pulse signal detector detects the pulse signal. In the above-described configuration, the contact of the touch object with the touch pad can be sensed more precisely, and the occurrence of a malfunction in the touch sensor due to changed operating conditions can be prevented. As a result, the operating reliability of the touch sensor can be enhanced. |
| US08456433B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method and selection method of user interface icon for multi-touch panel
The present invention provides a signal processing apparatus and a signal processing method of a man-machine interface. The signal processing method comprises steps of: receiving a first touch signal; recognizing an object corresponding to the first touch signal; determining whether a second touch signal is received while receiving the first touch signal; and selecting the object corresponding to the first touch signal when receiving the second touch signal. |
| US08456428B2 |
User interface for mobile computing device
A mobile computing device includes a housing, a touch screen display coupled to the housing, a processor coupled to the touch screen display, and a user input device responsive to a sliding manipulation by a user. The processor may be configured to activate a keyboard entry area on the touch screen display responsive to the sliding manipulation. The mobile computing device may include a cellular phone. |
| US08456427B2 |
Floating capacitive couplers used to enhance signal coupling in a capacitive touchpad
A capacitive touchpad comprised of drive electrodes and at least one sense electrodes disposed on or within an insulating substrate material, wherein an electrically floating capacitive coupler is disposed adjacent to both the drive electrodes and the sense electrode to thereby enhance signal coupling between the drive electrodes and the sense electrode caused by introduction of a pointing object. |
| US08456424B2 |
Input display device, electronic apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium
An input display device comprises an operation panel including a first display operation area that enables operation screens to be switched hierarchically based on a selected operation key and to display a fixed-arrangement of operation keys in respective layers, and a second display operation area that displays an operation history indicating that the operation key has been selected; a selected key use determination unit configured to determine which of the operation keys has been selected when the operation key is selected from one of the first display operation area and the second display operation area; a storage processing unit configured to successively store results determined by the selected key use determination unit into a storage device as operation history information; and a selected key use history display control unit configured to display the operation history information stored in the storage device into the second display operation area. |
| US08456419B2 |
Determining a position of a pointing device
The present invention is directed toward a system and process that controls a group of networked electronic components using a multimodal integration scheme in which inputs from a speech recognition subsystem, gesture recognition subsystem employing a wireless pointing device and pointing analysis subsystem also employing the pointing device, are combined to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired. In this multimodal integration scheme, the desired action concerning an electronic component is decomposed into a command and a referent pair. The referent can be identified using the pointing device to identify the component by pointing at the component or an object associated with it, by using speech recognition, or both. The command may be specified by pressing a button on the pointing device, by a gesture performed with the pointing device, by a speech recognition event, or by any combination of these inputs. |
| US08456416B2 |
Image recognition apparatus, and operation determination method and program therefor
An image for an operator is extracted, and an operation determination unit employs a relationship, relative to a marker of an operation input system, for the operator, who is standing behind the marker when viewed by a video camera. When a body part of the operator comes to the front of an operation plane, as viewed by the video camera, the operation determination unit determines that an action for an input operation has been started, and examines the shape and the movement of each individual body part (an open hand, two fingers that are being held up, etc.), and determines whether the shape or the movement is correlated with one of operations that are assumed in advance. |
| US08456415B2 |
Object, method and system for transmitting information to a user
An object for transmitting information to a user includes an information detection device for detecting and receiving an information signal, a touch detector for transmitting a touch detection signal upon detection of the user touching the object, and an electronic switch for electronically coupling the information detection device to a tactile stimulation unit upon receipt of the touch detection signal such that information signal is transmitted from the information detection device to a part of the user touching the object via the tactile stimulation unit. In this way, the object is suitable for transmitting information only to the user touching the object, and this information is hidden from and not transmitted to other users. |
| US08456412B2 |
Method of driving the backlight of a liquid crystal display device being effective in reducing an influence by light leaked from other light-emitting regions to one light-emitting region
There is provided a method of driving a backlight of a liquid crystal display device capable of eliminating leakage of light from adjacently-placed light emitting blocks. A gray level and maximum gray level of an input video signal are inputted for every light-emitting block. An output average gray level is calculated and a lighting control signal corresponding to converted luminance is outputted. The drivers responding to the lighting control signal makes LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) emit light. An average gray level from an output from sensors is calculated. An average gray level, based on an average gray level and a light leakage rate, by taking light leakage into consideration. A gray level correcting signal is outputted in the light-emitting block based on the above output average gray level. An output average gray level is corrected in response to a gray level correcting signal. |
| US08456411B2 |
Display unit, display device and information processing apparatus
A display unit having a pivot function and prolonged lives of light sources has been implemented according to the present invention. The display unit includes: a screen that is changeable between a first position and a second position and displays an image; at least one first light source that illuminates the screen in the first position; at least one second light source that illuminates the screen in the second position; and a turn-on control section that controls turning on of the first light source and the second light source according to a position. A display device and an information processing apparatus each provided with the display unit have also been implemented according to the present invention. |
| US08456409B2 |
Gate drive circuit and display apparatus having the same
Gate drive circuit includes a plurality of stages connected one after another to each other. An m-th stage includes a pull-up section outputting a first clock signal as a gate signal of the m-th stage to an output terminal, a pull-down section applying a low voltage to the output terminal, a carry section outputting the first clock signal as a carry signal of the m-th stage in response to the high voltage of the first node signal, a first carry holding section maintaining the carry signal of the m-th stage at the low voltage in response to the high voltage of the first clock signal and a second carry holding section maintaining the carry signal of the m-th stage at the low voltage in response to a high voltage of the second clock signal. |
| US08456408B2 |
Shift register
A shift register includes multiple stages each generating a scan signal at an output terminal and including a level pull-up circuit, a level pull-down circuit, a driving circuit and a level controlling circuit. The level pull-up circuit makes the scan signal equal a first clock signal in response to an enabled level of a first control signal. The level pull-down circuit makes the scan signal equal a first voltage in response to an enabled level of a second control signal. The driving circuit controls the first control signal to be the enabled level and a disabled level in response to an enabled level of an input signal and the enabled level of the second control signal, respectively. The level controlling circuit controls the second control signal to be the disabled level and the enabled level in response to the enabled level and the disabled level of the input signal, respectively. |
| US08456404B2 |
Voltage boosting power supply circuit for monitoring charging voltage with predetermined voltage to detect boosted voltage, and boosted voltage control method
A power supply circuit of the present invention includes a voltage boosting capacitor, a first switch, a second switch, an addition comparison circuit, and a control circuit. The first switch charges the voltage boosting capacitor by applying a first voltage thereto. The second switch connects a second voltage serially to the voltage boosting capacitor that is already charged, thereby boosting the voltage therein. The addition comparison circuit adds up the voltage of the voltage boosting capacitor and the second voltage and compares the comparison result, with a predetermined threshold value. The control circuit controls the on/off state of the first switch according to the comparison result of the addition comparison circuit. |
| US08456403B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal display panel including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines crossing the data lines, and pixels arranged in m×n matrix; a register for defining polarity pattern information, frame rotation information, and line rotation information to determine a polarity of a data voltage charged in N lines, wherein N is a positive integer less than n; a timing controller for generating a polarity control signal to control polarities of data voltages charged in n lines of the liquid crystal display panel based on the information read from the register; and source drive ICs for converting the polarities of the data voltages supplied to the data lines in response to the polarity control signal. |
| US08456400B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device including a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes, a capacitor electrode, a control circuit, a scanning line driving circuit, and a data line driving circuit. |
| US08456396B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor are provided. In the first transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a first wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fifth wiring. In the second transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a third wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a sixth wiring. In the third transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fourth wiring. In the fourth transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to the second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the sixth wiring; a gate terminal is connected to the fourth wiring. |
| US08456393B2 |
Method of manufacturing a light emitting, photovoltaic or other electronic apparatus and system
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, such as a lighting device having light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a power generating device having photovoltaic diodes. The exemplary method includes forming at least one first conductor coupled to a base; coupling a plurality of substrate particles to the at least one first conductor; converting the plurality of substrate particles into a plurality of diodes; forming at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of spherical diodes; and depositing or attaching a plurality of substantially spherical lenses suspended in a first polymer, with the lenses and the suspending polymer having different indices of refraction. In some embodiments, the lenses and diodes have a ratio of mean diameters or lengths between about 10:1 and 2:1. In various embodiments, the forming, coupling and converting steps are performed by or through a printing process. |
| US08456392B2 |
Method of manufacturing a light emitting, photovoltaic or other electronic apparatus and system
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, such as a lighting device having light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a power generating device having photovoltaic diodes. The exemplary method includes forming at least one first conductor coupled to a base; coupling a plurality of substantially spherical substrate particles to the at least one first conductor; converting the substrate particles into a plurality of substantially spherical diodes; forming at least one second conductor coupled to the substantially spherical diodes; and depositing or attaching a plurality of substantially spherical lenses suspended in a first polymer. The lenses and the suspending polymer have different indices of refraction. In some embodiments, the lenses and diodes have a ratio of mean diameters or lengths between about 10:1 and 2:1. In various embodiments, the forming, coupling and converting steps are performed by or through a printing process. |
| US08456391B2 |
Pixel circuit driving method, light emitting device, and electronic apparatus including a variable driving signal
Provided is a method of driving a pixel circuit including a light emitting element and a driving transistor which are connected in series, and a storage capacitor disposed between the path between the light emitting element and the driving transistor and the gate of the driving transistor, the method including the steps of: supplying a driving signal, of which the time rate of change of the potential varies over time, to a gate of the driving transistor; stopping the supply of the driving signal at a point in time which is set to be variable in accordance with a gradation specified for the pixel circuit; and supplying a driving current corresponding to an open circuit voltage of the storage capacitor to the light emitting element. |
| US08456384B2 |
Plasma display device
A plasma display device is disclosed. The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel (PDP), a printed circuit board assembly (PBA), and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) electrically connecting electrodes of the PBA and the PDP. In some embodiments, the FPC is formed of two films with signal lines therebetween and electrodes on opposite sides. |
| US08456383B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling a liquid crystal segment display
Circuit and method for controlling a liquid crystal segment (1) display wherein the shape of the control signals of the segments (e1, e2, b1, b2) is adapted according to a supply voltage (Vdd) so as to compensate at least partially the opacity variations caused by the supply voltage variations. |
| US08456382B2 |
Light emitting device, driving support system, and helmet
It is an object to provide a driving support system and a display device suitable for the driving support system. According to the driving support system, change in driver's mental and physical conditions can be caught instantaneously and a warning light emission display is given within the forward sight of the driver in order to call the driver's attention. A light emitting device of the driving support system can display a far side of the display. A display may be switched between a transmission mode and a non-transmission mode by adjusting a movable polarizer. |
| US08456378B2 |
Electronic device and display method
To provide a technology of moving and displaying an object concealed on a first display unit to and on a second display unit. An electronic device including a first display unit and a second display unit displays an object as a graphical user interface on the first display unit, detects that the object gets concealed, determines whether or not the concealed object is coincident with a predetermined condition, and displays the object coincident with the predetermined condition on the second display unit. When a detection unit detects that the object does not get concealed, the display of the object is deleted from on the second display unit. |
| US08456372B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with human interface diversity antenna and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable handheld housing, and a wireless transceiver carried by the housing. A pair of an antennas are positioned in side-by-side relation preferably in the upper portion of the portable handheld housing. A human interface diversity controller is connected to the wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with the plurality of antennas based upon a relative position of the portable handheld housing with respect to a hand of a human user. The device can select or weight the antennas based upon the position of the device when being held by a user. |
| US08456371B2 |
Shielding antennas in wireless application devices
An antenna assembly that includes an antenna module fitting between a display panel of an electronic device and a metallic cover of the device. The antenna module includes an antenna and a support for the antenna. A shielding layer fits between the antenna module and the cover. The shielding layer has a grounding area configured for electrical connection with the antenna and for electrical isolation from the cover. |
| US08456368B2 |
Antenna device and radio-wave receiver with such antenna device
A radio-wave receiver is provided with a hollow-cylindrical case, a plate-like module member accommodated within the cylindrical case, a transparent member closing one opening end of the cylindrical case, a cover closing the other opening end of the cylindrical case, and an antenna structure disposed on the side position of the plate-like module member. The antenna structure is provided with a core including a plurality of plate-like magnetic members layered on each other in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the plate-like module member, a coil wound around a central straight part of the core, and bent end portions extending from both ends of the core and bent to conform to the inner periphery of the cylindrical case. |
| US08456365B2 |
Multi-band monopole antennas for mobile communications devices
Antennas for use in mobile communication devices are disclosed. The antennas disclosed can include a substrate with a base, a top, a front side and a back side; a first conductor can be located on the first side of the antenna substrate; and a second conductor can be located on the second side of the antenna substrate. The conductors can have single or multiple branches. If a conductor is a single branch it can, for example, be a spiral conductor or a conducting plate. If a conductor has multiple branches, each branch can be set up to receive a different frequency band. A conductor with multiple branches can have a linear branch and a space-filling or grid dimension branch. A conducting plate can act as a parasitic reflector plane to tune or partially tune the resonant frequency of another conductor. The first and second conductors can be electrically connected. |
| US08456355B2 |
Partial ambiguity fixing for multi-frequency ionospheric delay estimation
A method is suggested for robust estimation of a subset of carrier phase integer ambiguities for precise ionospheric delay estimation. The advantages of this method are the precise estimation of receiver and satellite biases, an increase in the number of reliably fixable ambiguities, and an improved accuracy for the ionospheric delay estimation. |
| US08456352B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automatic STC from sea state measurement via radar sea clutter eccentricity
Methods and apparatus to receive radar return information from signals transmitted by a radar, process the radar return information to identify sea clutter, process the sea clutter to fit an ellipse to arrange horizon of the sea clutter as a function of azimuth to determine a sea state, and select sensitivity time control (STC) attenuation of the sea clutter based upon the sea state. |
| US08456350B2 |
Methods and apparatus for sea state measurement via radar sea clutter eccentricity
Methods and apparatus to fit the range extent of radar sea clutter to an ellipse to determine sea state. From one or more ellipse parameters, a sea state, which can include direction, can be identified. In one embodiment, the system autonomously determines the sea state and automatically selects non-isotropic STC filtering based on the ellipse that measures the sea state. |
| US08456349B1 |
Three dimensional radar method and apparatus
A bistatic radar receiver is centrally located within an array of multiple bistatic transmitters at an airport to precisely determine bird positions and altitudes. Bird target reflections from multiple transmitters are received by the radar receiver. Target location is determined by the transmitter location, receiver location, and measured transmitter-to-target-to-receiver ranges. Target position and altitude accuracy is similar to GPS. The radar receiver antenna is composed of a vertical array of elements and rotated 360 degrees in azimuth. The output of each element is downconverted, digitized, and digitally beamformed to provide multiple simultaneous antenna beams each electronically scanned in elevation. When bistatic transmitters cannot be deployed, a narrow-azimuth wide-elevation transmit antenna beam is overlapped with a wide-azimuth narrow-elevation receive antenna beam electronically scanned in elevation to provide a composite narrow azimuth and elevation beamwidth. |
| US08456340B2 |
Self-timed digital-to-analog converter
A tracking module that tracks the operation of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The DAC tracking module may be included on-chip with a DAC, and be formed with similar circuit components as a DAC. The DAC tracking circuit may output a signal indicating that the DAC within a SAR ADC has settled to an approximate value during each bit conversion. A differential solution is also provided. Power may be optimized because optimal conversion speed may be achieved, and a comparator within the DAC may be turned off or placed in a standby mode at the end of bit conversions, and before the next conversion cycle in response to the signal output by the DAC tracking module. |
| US08456329B1 |
Wand controller for aircraft marshaling
In one preferred embodiment, an aircraft marshaling wand controller displays aircraft marshaling instructions to a pilot on a video display monitor on-board an aircraft, such as an aircraft on an aircraft carrier. When an aircraft marshal uses arm motion gestures to form aircraft marshaling instructions for the pilot on the aircraft, the wand controller of the present invention senses or detects those gesture motions, and generates digitized command signals representative of those gesture motions made by the aircraft marshal. A wireless transceiver then transmits those digitized command signals to the aircraft for display on the video monitor for viewing by the pilot. |
| US08456317B2 |
Sensor module
A sensor module is mounted at a windshield of a vehicle. The sensor module can be connected, via a fastening section that is arranged on a module housing, to an element that is fixed to the vehicle body or to an element which is connected to a part that is fixed to the vehicle body. A sensor is accommodated in the module housing and is retained such that it can be displaced and/or pivoted from a first starting position into a second end position in order to rest against the windscreen. The adjusting movement can be initiated by an adjusting element which can be preloaded in the direction of the end position by means of a spring element and can be blocked in the starting position by means of a blocking element. Also, a delaying element is provided that can influence a parameter of the adjusting movement. |
| US08456312B2 |
Domestic water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus with water valve control
A domestic water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus to monitor and detect water leaks and to alert a user by an aural buzzer and by illuminated green, red, or yellow LEDs of an operative state of the apparatus incorporates one or more sensor sets, each sensor set having one or more leak detectors connected to a central controller; the central controller having for each sensor set a respective comparator set and a respective LED set, and the central controller connected to and controlling the aural buzzer and controlling a water valve to control water leaks originating from a domestic water supply by electrically controlling the water valve. |
| US08456311B2 |
Sensor with mount
An assembly includes a mount (10) and a sensor (30), in particular a rain/light sensor for a motor vehicle, the mount (10) including at least two abutments (12) for a clamping bracket (50), wherein at least one clamping bracket (50) is hinge-fitted to the sensor (30) at two bearing points, the clamping bracket (50) being adapted to swivel between a mounting position and a clamping position, in which it urges the sensor (30) against the mount (10) with a pretensioning force. |
| US08456310B2 |
Method of and apparatus for repelling aquatic creatures
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for repelling aquatic creatures and finds particular application in the protection of surfers (or surfboards) and personal watercraft such as surf skis, paddle skis and the like from shark attack. The drawing illustrates the device 10 installed on the underside of a surfboard 100, the device 10 consisting of a pair of housings 102, 104 connected to one another by a cable tray 106. One of the housings 102, 104 houses the device circuitry and the other of the housings 102, 104 houses a rechargeable power source. The device circuitry comprises electrodes connected in a circuit and adapted for immersion in a body of water, such that the water, in use, completes the circuit. |
| US08456309B2 |
Within-patient algorithm to predict heart failure decompensation
This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for predicting heart failure decompensation using within-patient diagnostics. A method comprises detecting an alert status of each of one or more sensors; calculating an alert score by combining the detected alerts; and calculating a composite alert score, the composite alert score being indicative of a physiological condition and comprising a combination of two or more alert scores. |
| US08456308B2 |
Attachment detection method and system
An attachment detection method and system. The method includes receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system, attachment data describing different devices associated with and attachable to an electro/mechanical apparatus. The computer processor retrieves first data describing a first attachment device currently attached to the electro/mechanical apparatus and analyzes the attachment data with respect to the first data. In response to the analysis, the computer processor determines specified protective gear required for operation of the electro/mechanical apparatus and the first attachment device. The computer processor generates indication data specifying required usage of the specified protective gear and presents the indication data to a user. |
| US08456307B2 |
Method for producing sheet with IC tags, apparatus for producing sheet with IC tags, sheet with IC tags, method for fixing IC chips, apparatus for fixing IC chips, and IC tag
A method of producing a sheet 1 with IC tags comprises the steps of: preparing and feeding a sheet 21a with electrical conductors formed thereon; providing an adhesive 18 on the sheet 21a with electrical conductors; preparing multiple IC chips 20 and successively feeding the IC chips 20; successively arranging each IC chip 20 on the electrical conductors 22 of the sheet 21a; and fixing each IC chip 20 onto the electrical conductors 22 through the adhesive 18. The sheet 21a with electrical conductors formed thereon includes a non-conductive sheet 21 and a pair of electrical conductors 22. The pair of electrical conductors 22 of the sheet 21a with the electrical conductors are provided on the non-conductive sheet 21, extend in the feed direction, and are spaced apart from each other. |
| US08456304B2 |
Perimeter security system
A security system for detecting physical intrusion in a monitored area including a plurality of radio units arranged in a network around the monitored area to determine received signal strength and pass variations thereof through the radio units to a base station. |
| US08456293B1 |
Providing electronic content based on sensor data
Techniques are described for using sensor data derived from a monitoring system to drive personalized content. Sensor data captured by a monitoring system may be used to determine attributes of users of the monitoring system and/or attributes of a property monitored by the monitoring system. The determined attributes may be used to select content to present to users of the monitoring system. Content presentation may be made through the monitoring system and may be triggered based on events detected by the monitoring system. |
| US08456292B2 |
Door mirror
A door mirror includes a turn signal lamp for indicating a traveling direction; a foot lamp; and a housing that houses the turn signal lamp and the foot lamp, wherein the turn signal lamp and the foot lamp are provided in the housing such that the turn signal lamp and the foot lamp are provided with outer lenses lying adjacent to each other such that light based on a turning on of one lamp is guided to an outer lens of the other lamp. |
| US08456289B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing haptic function in a portable terminal
An apparatus and a method for providing a haptic function in a portable terminal are provided. The method for providing the haptic function in the portable terminal includes determining information which denotes a movement of the portable terminal, generating a haptic data to stimulate a user's tactile sense according to the information and generating a vibration corresponding to the haptic data. |
| US08456287B2 |
Indicator system for a medication container
An indicator system for use on a medicine bottle to indicate the times and dates of the last dosage taken and the next dosage to be taken, including means for registering time and date when the bottle is opened and then closed. |
| US08456281B2 |
Non-contact IC medium communication device
The present invention provides a non-contact IC medium communication device (1) capable of detecting a non-contact IC medium (25) in a desired area with a simple configuration, by obtaining, from each of separate read areas, identification information of the non-contact IC medium that exists within the read area and a signal level of a reception signal received from the non-contact IC medium, the identification information and the signal level being associated with each other, performing difference operation or division with respect to respective signal levels of reception signals from the separate read areas, for each of the identification information, to obtain a composite signal level, and extracting the identification information whose composite signal level falls within a predetermined threshold range. The present invention further provides a method thereof, a program thereof, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program. |
| US08456273B2 |
Chip resistor device and a method for making the same
A chip resistor device includes: a dielectric substrate that has top and bottom surfaces and two opposite edge faces interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces; two electrodes that are formed on two opposite sides of the dielectric substrate and that cover the edge faces and parts of the top and bottom surfaces; a resistor layer that is formed on one of the top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric substrate between the electrodes and that is brought into contact with the electrodes; and a heat conductive layer that is disposed on the resistor layer oppositely of the dielectric substrate and between the electrodes, that contacts the resistor layer and the two electrodes, and that has a higher resistance than that of the resistor layer. A method for making the chip resistor device is also disclosed. |
| US08456271B1 |
Optical proximity switch
An optical proximity switch includes a potentiometer for setting a switching point and supported for rotation through multiple turns, a crosswheel supported for rotation and including a visible position index visible, and a cam drive rotatably coupled to the potentiometer and the crosswheel. |
| US08456267B2 |
High-impedance DC-isolating transmission line transformers
A composite transmission line transformer includes at least one core, a first port, a second port, and one or more pairs of transmission lines wound about the core(s). Each transmission line is in signal communication with the first port and the second port. For each pair, the transmission lines are interconnected in series at the first port and at the second port such that the first port and the second port are DC-isolated from each other. |
| US08456266B2 |
Transformer coil assembly
A vacuum cast or “solid” transformer coil assembly and a method of manufacturing thereof are provided. A solid transformer coil assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention, includes a dielectric substrate, the coil windings provided around the substrate, and an epoxy compound encapsulating the substrate and the coil windings. The substrate is provided with raised “buttons” comprising the same epoxy material as the epoxy compound used for encapsulation. The buttons maintain a specific distance between the coil and the dielectric substrate. The buttons are arranged such that they support the windings and allow the encapsulating epoxy to flow around them flooding the entire mold without entrapping air or creating voids. |
| US08456263B2 |
Winding arrangement for an inductive component
The scope of the invention is a winding arrangement for an inductive component that consists at least of a core (9) and of a winding structure placed around the core and consisting of planar winding sheets (11). Inside the winding structure there is cooling medium that is adapted to transfer excess heat away from the winding. |
| US08456262B2 |
Electromagnetic solenoid
An electromagnetic solenoid includes first and second stators arranged at two axial end sides of a coil. The first stator includes an annular radial core part, an axial core part cylindrically extending from an inner end of the radial core part toward the second stator, and a core corner part having an outer corner surface at an intersection of the radial and axial core parts. A plunger guide includes a cylindrical sleeve inward of the stators, a flange extending radially outward from the sleeve along a side of the radial core part opposed to the coil, and a plunger-guide corner part having an inner corner surface at an intersection of the sleeve and the flange. The outer and inner corner surfaces of the core corner part and the plunger-guide corner part abut on each other in a contact portion linearly or in area along an entire circumference. |
| US08456261B2 |
Electromagnetic switch
The electromagnetic switch includes an excitation coil serving as an electromagnet when energized, a fixed core magnetized by the electromagnet, a movable core configured to move by being attracted by the fixed core being magnetized, a pair of fixed contacts interposed in an electrical circuit, and a movable contact configured to move in accordance with movement of the movable core to make and break electrical connection between the fixed contacts. The electromagnetic switch further includes a stopper for restraining movement of the movable core for preventing short-circuit between the fixed contacts through the movable core due to abrasion of members of the electromagnetic switch. |
| US08456260B2 |
MEMS switch
A MEMS switch comprises a substrate, first and second signal lines over the substrate, which each terminate at a connection region, a lower actuation electrode over the substrate and movable contact electrode suspended over the connection regions of the first and second signal lines. An upper actuation electrode is provided over the lower actuation electrode. The connection regions of the first and second signal lines are at a first height from the substrate, wherein signal line portions extending from the connection regions are at a lower height from the substrate, and the lower actuation electrode is provided over the lower height signal line portions, so that the lower height signal line portions are buried. The area available for the actuation electrodes becomes larger and undesired forces and interference are reduced. |
| US08456250B2 |
Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having resonators
Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having resonators are described. Phase shifters are included in the circuits and used to shift the phase of the output signal(s) of the resonators. In some implementations, the phase shifters are configured in a feedback loop with the resonators. One or more of the apparatus described herein may be implemented as part, or all, of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). |
| US08456249B2 |
Micro-scale system to provide thermal isolation and electrical communication between substrates
A microscale apparatus includes a microscale rigidized Parylene strap having a reinforcement structure extending from a first side of the strap, a first silicon substrate suspended by the microscale rigidized Parylene strap, the microscale rigidized Parylene strap conformally coupled to the first substrate, and a second substrate conformally coupled to the microscale rigidized Parylene strap to suspend the first silicon substrate through the microscale rigidized Parylene strap. |
| US08456248B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for supplying a capacitive load
A circuit arrangement (S) for supplying a load (P), whose essential electric property is capacitance, from a DC voltage source (U0) has a switch element (S1), which in the operational state is alternately switched between the conductive and non-conductive state, and at least one component (L1, L2) whose essential property is inductance, the load (P) being coupled into the circuit arrangement (S) in parallel to the component (L1, L2) so that the load (P) and the component (L1, L2) form a parallel resonant circuit, the switch element (S1) is connected between the parallel resonant circuit and a base voltage (GND) and the DC voltage source is to be applied in parallel (U0) to the load. The circuit arrangement (S) according to the invention can be used to drive the capacitive load (P) in a bipolar manner, the supply of the load in the non-conductive phase of the switch element (S1) being achieved by the component (L1, L2). |
| US08456245B2 |
Two LO and two mixers generating high frequency LO signal
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system that provides a high frequency local oscillator (LO) signal. The system comprises a first LO that generates a first frequency LO signal component, a mixer that generates a difference signal from the first frequency LO signal component and a second frequency LO signal component, and a second LO that generates the second frequency LO signal component that is a harmonic of the difference signal. |
| US08456244B2 |
Apparatus and methods for adjusting voltage controlled oscillator gain
Apparatus and methods for adjusting a gain of an electronic oscillator, such as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for compensating for VCO gain variations includes a charge pump controller. The charge pump controller can be configured to select a VCO gain model based on a comparison of a VCO gain indicator and a threshold value stored in a memory, obtain VCO gain model parameters from the memory corresponding to the selected VCO gain model, and compute a charge pump current control value using the VCO gain model parameters. The charge pump current control value can be used to compensate for VCO gain variations. |
| US08456240B2 |
Differential amplifier stage with integrated offset cancellation circuit
A differential amplifier stage and method for offset cancellation include an amplifier having an input and an output. An internal offset cancellation circuit has an input for receiving a control signal to control offset cancellation in the amplifier. The offset cancellation circuit is integrated with the amplifier but isolated from the input and the output of the amplifier, and, in accordance with its isolation, an impedance of the stage is unaffected by the offset cancellation circuit. |
| US08456231B2 |
Filter circuit
In a filter circuit comprising a plurality of low pass filters (LPFs) that are connected in series, each of the plurality of LPFs comprises a switched-capacitor circuit (SC), and a fully-differential amplifier (AMP) which amplifies a signal output from the SC, and outputs the amplified signal. An AMP of an LPF which inputs a signal output from a 1-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprises a discrete-time type common-mode feedback circuit, and an AMP of an LPF which outputs a signal output from the filter circuit comprises a continuous-time type common-mode feedback circuit. |
| US08456230B2 |
Adaptive filter with coefficient determination based on output of real time clock
An adaptive filter implemented in a communication system transmitter or receiver has a real time clock associated therewith, and one or more coefficients of the adaptive filter are determined based at least in part on an output of the real time clock. For example, the adaptive filter may comprise a coefficient update engine and a memory for storing a plurality of sets of adaptive filter coefficients in association with respective time indicators derived from the output of the real time clock, with the coefficient update engine being configured to determine a particular one of the sets of filter coefficients for use by the adaptive filter based at least in part on one or more of the time indicators. The time indicators may comprise respective time stamps generated based on the output of the real time clock at respective times at which the corresponding sets of coefficients are determined. |
| US08456228B2 |
Low power reference
A low power reference device is disclosed. The low power reference device includes a precision reference module, a low power reference module, a calibration module, an output module and one or more sequencers. The precision reference module is configured to output a first reference signal while the low power reference module is configured to output a second reference signal. The calibration module is configured to receive the first and second reference signals and output a correction signal to the low power reference module. The output module is configured to receive the first and second reference signals and output a final reference signal. The one or more sequencers are configured to drive each of the precision reference modules, low power reference module, calibration module and output module according to a predetermined timing sequence. |
| US08456225B1 |
Negative charge pump
Generally, this disclosure provides negative charge pump circuitry that is configured to supply a voltage that is less than a reference voltage (such as ground). The charge pump circuitry includes blocking circuitry that reduces or eliminates charge leakage so that a negative voltage may be developed at the output. The charge pump circuitry generally includes complimentary pairs of MOS switches that switch in a complimentary fashion according to charge developed on complimentary capacitors to provide a negative voltage power supply. |
| US08456223B2 |
Integrated circuit with power gating
An integrated circuit includes a main power rail, a ground power rail as well as a virtual main power rail and a virtual ground power rail. Combinatorial logic circuitry is connected to draw its power from the virtual main power rail and the virtual ground power rail. Signal value storage circuitry is connected to draw its power from one of the main power rail and the ground power rail with the other power connection being to a virtual rail. The integrated circuit has an operational mode, a retention mode and a power off mode. In the retention mode, the voltage difference across the combinatorial logic circuitry is a low power voltage difference insufficient to support data processing operations whereas the voltage difference across the signal value storage circuitry is higher and is sufficient to support signal value retention within the signal value storage circuitry. |
| US08456222B2 |
Electronic devices and methods
The present invention relates to an electronic device, which comprises: a first module, comprising an I/O pad for being an interface between the electronic device and an external device, and receiving a first bias source; a second module, coupled to the first module, comprising a register, and receiving a second bias source; and a signal converter, coupled between the first module and the second module. Wherein when one of the first and second bias sources is stable and the other is unstable, the signal converter outputs a first predetermined bias value to the first or second modules receiving the unstable bias source. |
| US08456219B2 |
H bridge driver circuit
A PWM mode for turning on and off two output transistors by an output of a high impedance circuit and a constant voltage mode for controlling voltages at two output terminals by an output of an op amp are provided. Then, the two modes are switched by a switching signal. |
| US08456217B2 |
Apparatus for interfacing circuit domains
An interface circuit for controlling a cross-domain signal link between a first circuit domain and a second circuit domain in a circuit may include first and second controllers, each of the first and second controllers including a first input coupled to a first voltage source of the first circuit domain and a second input coupled to a second voltage source of the second circuit domain. The interface circuit may further include a first switch controlled by an output of the first controller, the first switch including a first end coupled to the cross-domain signal link and a second end coupled to a first defined voltage state, and a second switch controlled by an output of the second controller, the second switch including a first end coupled to the cross-domain signal link and a second end coupled to a second defined voltage state, in which during a power-up of the circuit, if one of the first and second voltage sources is unavailable, at least one of the first and second controllers generates a control signal to engage at least one of the first and second switches and pull the cross-domain signal link to one of the first and second defined voltage states, while providing cross-domain protection against field-induced charge device model (FICDM) stress conditions at small drivers and receiver inputs connected to the signal interface link. |
| US08456216B2 |
Level shifter
A level shifter includes a driving signal generating unit, a driving unit, and a current path forming unit. The driving signal generating unit is configured to generate a pull-up signal and a pull-down signal in response to an input signal, which may swing between a first high level and a first low level. The driving unit is configured to generate an output signal swinging between a second high level and a second low level in response to the pull-up signal and the pull-down signal. The current path forming unit is configured to form a current path between the pull-up signal and the pull-down signal in response to the pull-up signal and the pull-down signal. |
| US08456213B2 |
Initialization circuit and bank active circuit using the same
An initialization circuit comprises a section signal generator generating a section signal, of which a prescribed section is enabled in response to a power-up signal, a first oscillator generating a first period signal in response to the section signal, a first period multiplier generating a first multiplied signal by multiplying a period of the first period signal, and a signal selector transferring the first multiplied signal or a second multiplied signal selectively as a self-refresh enable signal in response to the section signal. |
| US08456212B2 |
Duty correcting circuit, delay-locked loop circuit including the circuit, and method of correcting duty
A duty correcting circuit includes a duty steerer circuit, a differential clock generator, and a charge pump circuit. The duty steerer circuit corrects a duty cycle of an input clock signal in response to a duty control signal and generates an output clock signal. The differential clock generator generates two internal clock signals having a phase difference of 180° from each other based on the output clock signal. The charge pump circuit performs a charge pump operation in a differential mode in response to the internal clock signals to generate a duty control signal. |
| US08456208B2 |
Circuit for clamping current in a charge pump
A circuit for clamping current in a charge pump is disclosed. The charge pump includes switching circuitry having a number of switching circuitry transistors. Each of first and second pairs of transistors in the circuit can provide an additional path for current from its associated one of the switching circuitry transistors during off-switching of that transistor so that a spike in current from the switching circuitry transistor is only partially transmitted through a path extending between the switching circuitry transistor and a capacitor of the charge pump. |
| US08456206B2 |
Phase-locked loop lock detect
Apparatus and methods for detecting a lock in a phase-locked loop (PLL) are disclosed. In one aspect, a lock detect component includes a reference multiplier and a lock detect. The reference multiplier can receive a reference signal, a divider signal, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) output generated by a VCO in a PLL from which the divider signal is generated. The reference multiplier can also generate a multiplied reference signal using the reference signal and the VCO output. The multiplied reference signal can have a frequency that is an integer multiple of a frequency of the reference signal. The lock detect can detect a phase lock of the reference signal and the divider signal based at least in part on comparing a signal generated from a delayed reference signal and a signal generated from a delayed divider signal for a predetermined period of time. |
| US08456204B2 |
Phase-locked loop systems using adaptive low-pass filters in switched bandwidth feedback loops
Methods and systems directed toward a PLL circuit including a local lock detector receiving an error signal and providing a lock signal, and a charge pump for receiving the error signal and providing a charge signal. A loop filter provides a first loop filter bandwidth and a second loop filter bandwidth. The loop filter includes a first low-pass filter configured to receive the charge and lock signals, alter a filter characteristic in response to the lock signal, and provide a first filter signal. The loop filter includes a second low-pass filter configured to receive the first filter and lock signals, alter a filter characteristic in response to the lock signal, and provide a loop filter signal. The PLL circuit includes a VCO for receiving the loop filter signal and providing an output signal, and a divider for receiving the output signal and dividing it to provide the reference signal. |
| US08456202B2 |
Latch divider
There are numerous types of dividers that have been employed at various frequency ranges. For many very high frequency ranges (i.e., above 30 GHz), dividers in CMOS have been developed. However, many of these designs use multiple stages. Here, however, a single stage divider has been provided that is adapted to operate at very high frequencies (i.e., 120 GHz). To accomplish this, it uses parasitic capacitances in conjunction with inductor(s) to form an LC tanks so as to take advantages of parasitics that normal degrade performance. |
| US08456197B2 |
Differential data sensing
A first sensing circuit has input terminals coupled to a true differential signal line and a complementary differential signal line. A second sensing circuit also has input terminals coupled to said true signal and said complementary signal. Each sensing circuit has a true signal sensing path and a complementary signal sensing path. The first sensing circuit has an imbalance that is biased towards the complementary signal sensing path, while the second sensing circuit has an imbalance that is biased towards the true signal sensing path. Outputs from the first and second sensing circuits are processed by a logic circuit producing an output signal that is indicative of whether there a sufficient differential signal for sensing has been developed between the true differential signal line and the complementary differential signal line. |
| US08456194B2 |
Level shifter with primary and secondary pull-up circuits
A level shifter includes first and second input terminals, first and second output terminals, first pull-down circuitry operable to pull down one of the first and second output terminals responsive to signals present on the first and second input terminals, first pull-up circuitry operable to pull up the first output terminal responsive to a signal present on the second output terminal or pull up the second output terminal responsive to a signal present on the first output terminal, and second pull-up circuitry operable to pull up one of the first and second output terminals responsive to the signals present on the first and second input terminals. |
| US08456191B2 |
Data-driven integrated circuit architecture
The exemplary embodiments provide a reconfigurable integrated circuit architecture comprising: a configurable circuit element configurable for a plurality of data operations, each data operation corresponding to a context of a plurality of contexts; a plurality of input queues; a plurality of output queues; one or more configuration and control registers to store, for each context of the plurality of contexts, a plurality of configuration bits, a run status bit, and a plurality of bits designating at least one data input queue and at least one data output queue; and an element controller coupled to the configurable circuit element and to the one or more configuration and control registers, the element controller to allow loading of a context configuration and execution of a data operation upon the arrival of input data in the context-designated data input queue when the context run status is enabled and the context-designated data output queue has a status to accept output data. |
| US08456189B2 |
Differential signal termination circuit
A multi-mode differential termination circuit has a pair of differential input terminals for receiving external differential signals, a pair of series-connected load elements coupled between said differential input terminals, and an analog interface terminal coupled a common junction point of said load elements. A bias circuit is coupled to the common junction point of the load elements for selectively applying a bias voltage thereto in response to a digital control signal. A control input receives the digital control signal to activate the bias circuit. |
| US08456187B2 |
Implementing temporary disable function of protected circuitry by modulating threshold voltage of timing sensitive circuit
A method and circuits for implementing a temporary disable function at indeterminate times of circuitry to be protected in a semiconductor chip, such as in an integrated circuit or a system on a chip (SOC) by modulating threshold voltage shifts of a timing sensitive circuit, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The timing sensitive circuit is designed to be sensitive to threshold-voltage shifts and is placed over an independently voltage controlled silicon region. Upon startup, the independently voltage controlled silicon region is grounded, and then is left floating. Each time a hack attempt or predefined functional oddity is detected, charge is applied onto the independently voltage controlled silicon region. After a defined charge has accumulated, the device threshold voltages in the timing sensitive circuit above the independently voltage controlled silicon region are modulated causing the timing-sensitive circuit to fail. |
| US08456186B2 |
Reliability evaluation test apparatus, reliability evaluation test system, contactor, and reliability evaluation test method
A reliability evaluation test apparatus of this invention includes a wafer storage section which stores a wafer in a state wherein the electrode pads of a number of devices formed on the wafer and the bumps of a contactor are totally in electrical contact with each other. The wafer storage section transmits/receives a test signal to/from a measurement section and has a hermetic and heat insulating structure. The wafer storage section has a pressure mechanism which presses the contactor and a heating mechanism which directly heats the wafer totally in contact with the contactor to a predetermined high temperature. The reliability of an interconnection film and insulating film formed on the semiconductor wafer are evaluated under an accelerated condition. |
| US08456185B2 |
Test adapter and method for achieving optical alignment and thermal coupling thereof with a device under test
Independent assemblies are compliantly mounted to a force transfer mechanism to optically align and thermally couple a device under test (DUT) to a test apparatus. A first assembly includes an optical connector. The first assembly has an alignment feature and a first compliant interface. A second assembly includes a thermal control member and force transfer members coupled to a structure. A passage permits a portion of the arm of the first assembly to extend through the structure. The force transfer members provide respective seats for an additional compliant interface. The alignment feature engages a corresponding feature to align the optical connector with the DUT before the compliant interfaces compress under an external force. Compliant mounting of the assemblies accommodates manufacturing tolerances in the DUT so that contact forces on the DUT are relatively consistent and thereby enable consistent optical and thermal coupling between the test apparatus and the DUT. |
| US08456180B2 |
Capacitive switch reference method
An example capacitive switch apparatus comprises a capacitive switch sensor providing a capacitive switch signal, a capacitive reference sensor providing a capacitive reference signal, and an electronic circuit, receiving the switch and reference signals and detecting switch activation by comparing the switch signal level with a threshold level. The threshold level is adjusted as a function of the reference signal level. The reference signal is obtained, for example during periods of operator proximity to the reference sensor. For a finger-operated switch, the reference signal is obtained when a finger is proximate the reference sensor. |
| US08456177B2 |
System and method of occupant detection with a resonant frequency
An occupant detection system that includes an electrode arranged proximate to an expected location of an occupant for generating an electric field between the electrode and the occupant proximate thereto. An electrical network coupled to the electrode forms a resonant circuit that includes the occupant as part of the resonant circuit. A controller coupled to the resonant circuit is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit indicative of an occupant presence, and a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency indicative of a humidity value proximate to the electrode. 7. A method for detecting a vehicle applies an excitation signal to the resonant circuit, determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and determines a humidity value based on a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency. |
| US08456173B2 |
Signal acquisition system having probe cable termination in a signal processing instrument
A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable with the signal cable coupled to a signal processing instrument via an input node. The input node is coupled to an input current amplifier via input circuitry. The input circuitry provides at least one of resistive and capacitive termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable. The termination of the resistive center conductor signal cable in the signal processing instrument provides a signal acquisition system where the capacitive loading of a device under test at higher frequencies is reduced by reducing the input capacitance of the probe tip circuitry resulting in an increase in the signal acquisition system bandwidth. |
| US08456171B2 |
Semiconductor test system and relay driving test method therefor
It is aimed to provide a probe card test system and a relay driving test method for probe cards which can automatically and continuously perform tests without bringing needle tips into contact with a number of relays mounted on a probe card and by using a device. In a probe card test system for testing a probe card using a tester, the probe card includes a substrate having a first probe and a first relay connected to the first probe, a relay controller for the first relay and a first measurement channel for connecting the first relay and the first probe to the tester are further provided on the substrate. The tester includes a DC power supply, a control board for controlling the relay controller for the first relay, and a first measurement circuit connected to the first measurement channel, the DC power supply and a voltmeter. The first measurement circuit includes a first resistor having a predetermined time constant and a first changeover switch to be connected to the first measurement channel. The DC power supply and the first resistor are connected to the first changeover switch, and the first measurement channel is switchingly connected to the DC power supply or the first resistor by the first changeover switch. |
| US08456168B2 |
Systems and methods for testing the standoff capability of an overhead power transmission line
An overhead power transmission line system includes detector circuitry to detect a flashover event on a power line conductor in response to test over voltage excitations applied to the power line conductor applied. Processing circuitry establishes an operational voltage level for the power line conductor taking into account the lowest applied test over voltage excitation that causes a flashover event. |
| US08456165B2 |
Device for highly precise synchronization of the NMR transmission frequency to the resonance frequency of an NMR line while taking into consideration a non-constant RF phase
A device has a first control loop (28) with which a frequency RF of an RF generator is synchronized with a resonance frequency F0 of an NMR line. A phase shifter (22) is provided to rotate the radio frequency phase of the NMR receiver system in the first control loop. The phase shifter is controlled by a second control loop (27) whose input signal comes from a signal extraction stage. |
| US08456164B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for 3D magnetic density imaging and magnetic resonance imaging
Three-dimensional (3D) tomographic image of a target object such as soft-tissue in humans is obtained in the method and apparatus of the present invention. The target object is first magnetized by a polarizing magnetic field pulse. The magnetization of the object is specified by a 3D spatial Magnetic Density image (MDI). The magnetic field due to the magnetized Object is measured in a 3D volume space that extends in all directions Including substantially along the radial direction, not just on a surface as in prior art. This measured data includes additional information overlooked in prior art and this data is processed to obtain a more accurate 3 D image reconstruction in lesser time than in prior art. The methods and apparatuses of the present invention are combined with frequency and phase encoding techniques of Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) technique in prior art to achieve different trade-offs. |
| US08456161B2 |
Polarizing nuclei solids via spin transfer from an optically-pumped alkali vapor
The present invention relates to a method and system for polarizing a solid compound of interest via spin transfer from an optically-pumped alkali vapor. In one embodiment, the method provides a cell which contains a solid compound as well as pure alkali metal and some amount of buffer gas. The cell is heated to vaporize some of the pure alkali. Resonant laser light is passed through the cell to polarize the atomic vapor, a process known as “optical pumping.” Optical pumping can transfer order from photons to atoms, causing a buildup of vapor atoms in one angular momentum state. This vapor polarization is then transferred through the surface of the solid compound in order to polarize the nuclei in the bulk of the compound. This can produce nuclear polarizations in the sample many times larger than the limit set by thermal equilibrium. The method can be used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
| US08456160B2 |
Three axis field monitor
The gauss meter devices of the present invention are small, low power 3 axis field monitor board which detects DC to slow varying magnetic fields. The unit is designed to be embedded into a system which may be sensitive to magnetic fields and needs to continuously measure the magnitude of the field around it. The unit continuously monitors and logs magnetic fields on X, Y and Z axes and it also logs the vector summation of the X, Y and Z axes. The unit may be controlled and queried by wired serial communication means or by means of an integrated radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The RF transceiver may utilize a proprietary communication protocol or a standard wireless communication protocol such as ZigBee, Bluetooth or any of the IEEE communications standards. The many configuration settings of the device may be changed by the user by issuing commands to the device from an established command set. Novel use is made of solid state electronics to calibrate the unit digitally instead of by the traditional use of mechanical potentiometers, physical trimming of resistors and so forth. Therefore, the units may be calibrated by an automated system. All calibration and configuration data is stored in nonvolatile memory. |
| US08456159B2 |
Stabilization system for sensors on moving platforms
A stabilized field sensor apparatus collects field data, in particular magnetic field data, with reduced motion noise. The apparatus includes a tear drop shaped housing, a tow frame in the housing, a plurality of vibration isolating dampers spaced around the frame, a base assembly mounted to the dampers, a support pedestal having a bottom end fixed to the base assembly and an upper free end, a single spherical air bearing connected to the upper free end of the pedestal, an instrument platform with a lower hollow funnel having an upper inside apex supported on the air bearing for a one point support, principal and secondary gyro stabilizers for maintaining pivotal and rotational stability, and at least one field sensor mounted to the instrument platform for collecting the field data while being stabilized against motion noise including vibration, pivoting and rotation from the base assembly, from the tow frame and from the housing. Stabilization of the instrument platform is enhanced by preserving accurate balance through a dynamic balancing system whereby small masses are moved under computer control to maintain the center of mass of the instrument platform at the center of rotation of the spherical air bearing. The dynamic stabilization process is made more precise by actively vibrating the instrument platform by a set of linear vibrators. |
| US08456155B2 |
Radio-frequency power amplifier
A power amplifier includes: an input matching circuit including an inductor, the input matching circuit receiving an input signal and matching input impedances with each other; an amplifier amplifying the input signal that is passed through the input matching circuit; and a test circuit, wherein the test circuit includes: a capacitor connected to the inductor in the input matching circuit through first test switch; a negative resistance transistor provided between the inductor and first voltage source terminal with second test switch being interposed between the inductor and the negative resistance transistor; and a current source transistor provided between second voltage source terminal and the inductor, wherein, in testing, first and second test switches and the current source transistor are turned on to cause the inductor and the test circuit to form a oscillator and, in normal operation, first and second test switches and the current source transistor are turned off. |
| US08456154B2 |
Low voltage differential signaling test system and method
In a low voltage differential-mode signaling (LVDS) test system and method, a positive signal waveform and a negative signal waveform of an LVDS signal pair are obtained. A differential-mode high voltage, a differential-mode low voltage, and a common-mode noise are measured according to the positive signal waveform and the negative signal waveform. The measurement results are output to an output device. |
| US08456153B2 |
Digital multimeter having improved recording functionality
A digital multimeter automatically records measurements of electrical or physical parameters. The multimeter may record the measurements based on events such as the passage of time, fluctuations or deviations in the measurements, or user inputs. In some examples, the digital multimeter operates at a reduced power setting during automatic recording operations. |
| US08456150B2 |
Hand-held phase-shift detector for sensor applications
The invention is directed to a novel phase-shift detector capable of interfacing with an array of sensors. The detector is light-weight, portable and capable of fitting within the palm of a hand. The detector may be used in conjunction with a variety of diagnostic, biosensor and chemical sensor applications. |
| US08456145B2 |
Device and method for single board energy-saving and single board
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a single board energy-saving device, which includes: a power calculation module, configured to detect the input current of the single board, and calculate the real-time power of the single board according to the detected input current and a previously measured and obtained input voltage of the single board; a single board energy-saving control module, configured to determine the load condition of the single board according to the real-time power of the single board and send a voltage adjustment command according to the load condition; a power supply adjustment module, configured to receive the voltage adjustment command and adjust the bus voltage of the single board according to the voltage adjustment command. The corresponding embodiments of the present invention also disclose a single board energy-saving method and a single board. Through the foregoing technical solutions, energy-saving is realized for the single board. |
| US08456144B2 |
Power supply with non-isolated DC DC splitting
A power supply with non-isolated DC DC splitting includes n conversion cells that are interlaced. The splitting switch of each cell is placed in a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit makes it possible to obtain a switching to the open state of said switch at zero current and voltage. The ripple at the input and output is minimized and the efficiency improved. In particular, the wiring inductances in the charge transfer loop of each cell no longer have negative effects on the efficiency. The cell may be of boost, buck, buck/boost, Cuk or SEPIC topology. |
| US08456142B2 |
System and method for powering an information handling system in multiple power states
Power is supplied to an information handling system chipset with a single voltage regulator having dual phases. A first phase of the voltage regulator provides power to a low power state power rail in an independent mode to support a low power state, such as a suspend or hibernate state. A second phase of the voltage regulator provides power to a run power state power rail in combination with the first phase by activation of a switch, such as a MOSFET load switch, that connects the low power state power rail and the run power state power rail. Voltage sensed from both power rails is applied to control voltage output so that the run power state power rail is maintained within more precise constraints than the low power state power rail. |
| US08456141B2 |
Boost converter with integrated high power discrete FET and low voltage controller
A boost converter for high power and high output voltage applications includes a low voltage controller integrated circuit and a high voltage, vertical, discrete field effect transistor, both of which are packed in a single package on separate electrically isolated die pads. |
| US08456133B2 |
Control method of battery-system for improving safety
Disclosed herein are a method of controlling the operation of battery modules in a battery system, which includes two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies, wherein the battery system further includes energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy, and the method includes, when a specific battery module or a specific battery module assembly is abnormally operated, connecting the abnormally operated battery module or the abnormally operated battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy, and a battery system that is capable of performing the battery system control method. |
| US08456132B2 |
Secondary battery system
A secondary battery system that is light in weight and low in cost is provided, which comprises a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series. A plurality of first diodes each has an anode connected to a negative electrode of the corresponding secondary battery. A plurality of second diodes each has a cathode connected to a positive electrode of the corresponding secondary battery. A plurality of capacitors is each connected to a junction portion between the cathode of the first diode and the anode of the second diode. An alternating current power source is commonly connected to the junction portions through the capacitors. |
| US08456131B2 |
Smart wall plate
An apparatus for providing electricity to a portable electronic device comprising: a wall plate that surrounds and attaches to an electrical wall receptacle, a charging cradle with a platform for supporting a portable electronic device; a male charging connector coupled to an opening slot in the charging cradle's platform, wherein the charging connector is insertable into a female charging port of a portable electronic device; and a transformer circuit coupled to the male charging connector, wherein the transformer circuit transforms a receiving electricity to an output electricity having an output voltage, an output current and an output wattage wherein the output electricity is within a range sufficient for charging the portable electronic device. |
| US08456130B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing recycled batteries to surface charge an automobile battery
Method and apparatus comprising used batteries for surface charging an automobile battery. A surface charge provides a time limited window in which to start a vehicle comprising a surface charged battery for example. Use of used batteries provides for environmentally effective manner in which to deal with the tremendous amount of used batteries that are discarded worldwide each year. The apparatus may comprise a charging circuit to allow for recharging the used batteries. Recharging “non-rechargeable” batteries at least once provides a destination for used batteries that have until now been discarded. Embodiments may comprise an LED to signify when a target battery comprises sufficient surface charge to warrant an attempt to start an engine. The apparatus is a small portable device that can stored anywhere in a vehicle. |
| US08456129B2 |
Outdoor monitoring system
An outdoor monitoring system includes a camera, a direct-current adapter, a solar cell unit and a power management unit. The power management unit includes a controller, a rechargeable power source, a first voltage detection circuit, and a second voltage detection circuit. The first voltage detection circuit detects a charging voltage of the solar cell unit for charging the rechargeable power source. The second voltage detection circuit detects an output voltage of the rechargeable power source applied to the camera. The controller selectively connects the rechargeable power source or the direct-current adapter to the camera according to the output voltage and connects or disconnects the rechargeable power source to the solar cell unit according the output voltage and the charging voltage. |
| US08456127B2 |
Method of obtaining image of disc and apparatus for driving disc
Provided is a method of obtaining an image of a disc, in which the method obtains an image of an analysis or test result object of a disc by minimizing a difference between the positionings of a magnet of the disc and a magnet of a feeding unit, and an apparatus for driving a disc, wherein the apparatus performs the method. The method includes: fixing a positioning of a disc by using magnetic attraction between a first magnet installed on the disc and a second magnet installed on a feeding unit; minimizing a difference between the positionings of the first and second magnets; and obtaining an image of an analysis or test result object of the disc. |
| US08456124B2 |
Parallel mechanism
A parallel mechanism includes a base portion, a bracket to which an end effecter is attached, a plurality of actuators attached to the base portion, a plurality of arms through which the plurality of actuators and the bracket are coupled together in parallel, and a control device arranged to control the actuators. When the end effecter in a stopped state is moved to a target position, the control device is arranged to control the actuators so that a level of acceleration at which the end effecter is accelerated is higher than a level of deceleration at which the end effecter is decelerated. |
| US08456123B2 |
Conveyance system and automated manufacturing system
A conveyance system. The conveyance system includes a movable device for conveying an article, and a robot selected from the group consisting of an articulated robot and an orthogonal robot. The movable device is configured to be both vertically and horizontally movable; and, the robot is mounted on the movable device. The robot includes a hand and a gripper disposed on the hand. The gripper is configured to hold the article. The movable device and the robot are configured to convey the article in conveyance operations that include an extraction, a conveyance, and an installation, of the article; the range of the conveyance operations lies within a working range of the robot from a present position that is selected with priority. The movable device is configured to remain in a stationary state when the article is conveyed by the robot using the conveyance operations within the working range. |
| US08456119B2 |
Driving device of brushless DC motor for fan and driving method thereof
A driving device of a brushless DC motor for a fan includes a protection circuit, a storage circuit, a control circuit and a bridge circuit. The protection circuit is electrically connected with an auxiliary power. The storage circuit electrically connected with the protection circuit receives the auxiliary power. The control circuit is electrically connected with the protection circuit and the storage circuit. The bridge circuit electrically connected with the control circuit has a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit and a fourth switching unit. The first and second switching units are coupled with one end of a motor coil. The third switching unit and the fourth switching unit are coupled with the other end of the motor coil. The first switching unit is electrically connected with the third switching unit, and the second switching unit is electrically connected with the fourth switching unit. |
| US08456116B2 |
Power supply system and method with remote variable frequency drive (VFD)
In at least some embodiments, a system includes a first remote tool. The system also includes a variable frequency drive (VFD) coupled to the first remote tool, wherein the output of the VFD powers the first tool and wherein at least part of the VFD is in situ with the first remote tool. |
| US08456113B2 |
Electric switch
An electric switch for an electric tool with an electric motor. The switch has first electrical terminals for electrical connection to a voltage supply and second electrical terminals for electrical connection to the electric motor. The switch has an actuating mechanism which can be adjusted between an initial position and a final position, wherein the electric motor is switched off when the actuating mechanism is located in the initial position and is switched on when the actuating mechanism is not located in the initial position. The switch also has a braking circuit for braking the electric motor, the braking circuit operating when the actuating mechanism is reset to the initial position. The switch also has a reversal circuit for switching over the direction of rotation of the electric motor. The braking circuit is arranged between the second electrical terminals and the reversal circuit. |
| US08456112B2 |
Control of a linear motor
Disclosed is a linear electric motor having a fixed primary comprising a stator divided into a number of sections, including a translating secondary having an operative length longer than any two adjacent sections of the stator in the form of a reaction plate, and a connecting means for connecting only those sections of the stator that are at least partially covered by the reaction plate. The position of the reaction plate relative to the stator is determined by monitoring current in the active representative sections. Power is supplied to each stator section individually, with power supplied in a modulated manner to end active stator sections only partially covered by the reaction plate. A measurement of the current to the active representative section is used to control output voltage to all energized stator sections and is used to determine the change in position of the reaction plate. |
| US08456109B1 |
Lighting system having a dimming color simulating an incandescent light
A lighting system has a white light source and a color light source, a control circuit pulses the white and color light sources and changes relative duty cycles of the light sources to alter a color output of the lighting fixture, in response to a change in a control signal from a controller. A comparator compares a reference voltage relating to an aggregate current driving the light sources to a signal voltage relating to the periodic signal from a signal generator. The comparator controls a switch that controls one of the light sources. A duty cycle of the color light source varies inversely to a duty cycle of the white light source. |
| US08456106B2 |
LED driver with extended dimming range and method for achieving the same
A circuit for powering of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) string has a switching power converter. A brightness control circuit is coupled to the switching power converter to allow a duration of a conductive state of the power converter to exceed a duration of a conductive state of the LED string for maintaining a current magnitude in the LED string constant. |
| US08456105B2 |
Driving circuit capable of enhancing energy conversion efficiency and driving method thereof
A driving circuit includes a switch, a detecting unit, and a current supply unit. A first terminal of the switch is used for coupling to a first terminal of a first LED group of a plurality of LED groups and receiving a first voltage, and a third terminal of the switch is used for coupling to a first terminal of a last LED group of the plurality of LED groups. The detecting unit is used for outputting a switch control signal to a second terminal of the switch for controlling turning-on and turning-off of the switch. The current supply unit has a plurality of input current terminals, and a ground terminal coupled to ground, where each input current terminal of the plurality of input current terminals is used for coupling to a second terminal of a corresponding LED group of the plurality of LED groups. |
| US08456103B2 |
Current regulator apparatus and methods
An apparatus according to the present invention provides regulated pulsed current to an LED from a voltage source such as a rectified AC voltage. The present inventions provide methods for delivering regulated pulsed current to an LED from the voltage source. |
| US08456096B2 |
Thermally controlled driver/switching regulator, and methods of controlling and/or regulating a driver and/or switching regulator
Circuits for regulating and/or controlling integrated circuits such as drivers and switching regulators generally include a first switch configured to control or regulate a current, voltage drop or voltage boost; a first regulator or driver configured to transmit first pulses to the first switch, the pulses having a first pulse width; and pulse width modulation circuitry configured to (i) reduce the first pulse width when a first thermal threshold is met and (ii) increase the first pulse width when a second thermal threshold is met, the second thermal threshold being less than the first thermal threshold. |
| US08456084B2 |
Organic light-emitting device
A organic light-emitting device includes a substrate including at least a base material, at least one organic light-emitting element which includes (a) a pair of electrodes provided on the substrate and an organic compound layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, and (b) provides a light-emitting area, an inorganic sealing layer provided on the organic light-emitting element and the surface of the substrate, and an adhesion layer which is provided between the substrate and the inorganic sealing layer and only on the periphery of the light-emitting area for closely contacting the surface of the substrate and the inorganic sealing layer, and inhibits moisture from intruding at an edge of the inorganic sealing layer. |
| US08456083B2 |
Lighting device
One object is to provide a lighting device having a large irradiation range at low cost. One object is to provide a lighting device with improved light extraction efficiency at low cost. The lighting device includes a light-transmitting base, a first light-transmitting electrode formed over almost the whole area of a surface of the light-transmitting base, an EL layer over the first light-transmitting electrode, and a second electrode over the EL layer. The light-transmitting base has a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a prismatic shape, or a pyramidal shape whose bottom surface is the surface of the light-transmitting base. |
| US08456082B2 |
Surface-emission light source with uniform illumination
An extended area uniform light source providing uniform luminance is taught for displays and other applications where the light emission can be planar or have curvature. The uniform light source is achieved using a combination of a blue light-emitting electroluminescent layer and a highly stable inorganic photoluminescent color conversion layer to tailor the color spectrum of the emitted light. The invention thus encompasses the uniform light source, displays incorporating the uniform light sources as well of methods of making such light sources and displays. |
| US08456080B2 |
Display device for detecting misregistration and width variation and method of manufacturing same
A display device capable of early finding a sign such as misregistration or width variation of an emission layer formed by a layer transfer method, and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. In an inspection region 150 outside of an effective region 110, inspection pixels Px2 made up of organic light-emitting elements 10R, 10G and 10B are provided, and a distance W2 between the inspection pixels Px2 on both sides of a color targeted for inspection is shorter than a distance W1 between display pixels Px1 on both sides of the color targeted for inspection. Based on a change in a chromaticity or a spectrum shape of EL or PL light emission of the inspection pixel Px2, a sign such as misregistration of a red-light emission layer 15CR, a green-light emission layer 15CG, is found at an early stage. |
| US08456075B2 |
Fluorescent lamp for cold environments
The invention relates to a fluorescent lamp (1) adapted for cold environments, which comprises an elongated main tube (11), fixing devices (12) at each end of the fluorescent lamp (1) for fixing the fluorescent lamp (1) in a light fitting (27), two electrodes (15) placed inside the main tube (11), a heat-insulating outer tube (20) that surrounds the main tube (11) and creates an airspace (22) between the main tube (11) and the outer tube (20). Each fixing device (12) comprises an end cap (41) with a radial part (41b), that delimits an outer end plane of the fluorescent lamp (1), and with an axial peripheral part (41a), that is connected to an end of the outer tube (20). An axial spacer (29, 31) with low heat conductivity has a first end part (33) that is connected to an end (34) of the main tube (11) and a second end part (38) that adjoins the outer end plane and keeps the main tube (11) separate from the end cap (41) in order to reduce the transmission of heat from the main tube (11) to the end cap (41) and the outer tube (20). |
| US08456071B2 |
Structure of spark plug designed to ensure improved productivity
A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine. The spark plug is equipped with a metal shell, a ground electrode joined to the metal shell, and a center electrode disposed in the metal shell. The ground electrode has a protrusion formed on a top end thereof. The metal shell and the ground electrode are covered with a plated layer which has a thickness of 2 μm to 18 μm, which minimizes the possibility of peeling of the plated layer from the ground electrode while keeping the plated layer as thin as possible without sacrificing the resistance to corrosion on the ground electrode. |
| US08456066B2 |
Piezoelectric / electrostrictive material, piezoelectric / electrostrictive ceramic composition, piezoelectric / electrostrictive element, and piezoelectric motor
There is provided a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having little decease of Qm even in a high electric field in the case of a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is characterized in that the rate of Qm in an electric field of 10 V/mm is 30% or more with respect to Qm in an electric field of 1 V/mm. |
| US08456065B2 |
Stiffness-enhanced surface-mounted piezoelectric devices
Surface-mounted piezoelectric devices are disclosed, of which an exemplary device includes a tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece having a base portion and a pair of vibrating arms extending from the base portion. The device includes a package defined by a wall. The package includes a cavity accommodating the tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece and at least one columnar body situated between the vibrating arms in the cavity. |
| US08456062B2 |
Surface acoustic wave sensor device and method of controlling liquid using the same
A surface acoustic wave sensor device includes a main body and a liquid controller disposed external to the main body. The main body includes a sample chamber, a surface acoustic wave sensor connected to the sample chamber, a first disposal chamber connected to the surface acoustic wave sensor and channels connecting the sample chamber, the surface acoustic wave sensor and the first disposal chamber. The liquid controller controls flow of a sample through the main body. |
| US08456056B2 |
Rotor core for rotating electric machine
A rotor core for a rotary electric machine includes a plurality of ring-shaped core plates. The core plates are formed by joining arc-shaped segments. The core plate segments each include a protruding portion that is formed on one surface of each of the segments and has an end in the circumferential direction that is arc-shaped, and a recessed portion that is formed on the other surface and has an end in the circumferential direction that is arc-shaped, and to which the protruding portion of the core plate segment of another layer is fitted when the core plates are laminated. An interference fit is provided between the protruding portion width of the core plates and the recessed portion of the core plates in the radial direction and a loose fit is provided in the circumferential direction. |
| US08456055B2 |
Core block, and magnetic pole core using core blocks for motor
A core block has an arm portion, and a yoke portion extending circumferentially at an end of the arm portion. At least the yoke portion is configured such that a plurality of core segments are stacked in multiple levels in an axial or radial direction. Each of the core blocks has engaging portions formed at respective opposite ends of the yoke portion and adapted to connect adjacent core blocks. In a first-level core segment, each of the engaging portions has a protrusion extending circumferentially from a corresponding one of the opposite ends of the yoke portion, and a recess juxtaposed radially to the protrusion and adapted to receive the protrusion of an adjacent core block. In a second-level core segment, each of the engaging portions has the protrusion and the recess provided in positionally reversed relation with those of the first-level core segment with respect to the radial direction. |
| US08456049B2 |
Drive apparatus
A heat sink is provided on a motor. A power module is provided on the heat sink to switch current supply to motor coils. A control circuit substrate is arranged on the heat sink and connected electrically to the power module. A power circuit substrate is connected electrically to the power module and arranged at an opposite side of the control circuit substrate relative to the heat sink. A control circuit connector is electrically connected to the control circuit substrate. A power circuit connector is electrically connected to the power circuit substrate. The control circuit connector and the power circuit connector are arranged between the control circuit substrate and the power circuit substrate. |
| US08456042B2 |
Linear vibrator
A linear vibrator is disclosed. The linear vibrator includes a cover, a base forming a hollow space together with the cover and defining a plurality of sidewalls, a pair of elastic members received in the hollow space, a weight with a plurality of laterals suspended in the hollow space by the elastic members, and a magnet assembly provided with a plurality of magnetic poles and accommodated in the weight. Each elastic member defines at least a fastening arm comprising a connecting portion, an inner arm extending from one end of the connecting portion for abutting against the lateral of the weight, and an outer arm extending from another end of the connecting portion for abutting against the sidewall of the base. The extending direction of the inner arm and the outer arm of each fastening arm is the same. The magnetic poles of magnet assembly near the coil are opposite to each other. A height of the linear vibrator with the structure can be reduced. |
| US08456038B2 |
Adjustable inductive power transmission platform
An adjustable inductive power transmission platform includes inductive power outlets embedded into adjustable modules having multiple configurations. The inductive power outlets are configured to couple with inductive power receivers to provide power to electrical loads wired thereto. The multiple configurations of the adjustable modules allow the position of the inductive power outlets to be adjusted to match the locations of inductive receivers to suit changing requirements. |
| US08456037B2 |
Shunt switch, semiconductor device, module and electronic device
A shunt switch allowed to improve isolation, a semiconductor device, a module and an electronic device each of which includes the shunt switch are provided. The shunt switch includes: a transmission line, a ground; and a shunt line electrically coupling the transmission line and the ground, in which two or more of the shunt lines are arranged in parallel to one another, and an impedance between the two or more shunt lines is higher than an impedance of the transmission line. |
| US08456035B2 |
Power supply controller
Main arrays (MA1-MAm) of solar cells (2) are provided so as to correspond to shunt circuits (SM1-SMm), respectively. Charge arrays (CA1-CAn) are provided so as to correspond to shunt circuits (SC1-SCn) and charging circuits (CH1-CHn), respectively. Each shut circuit operates independently from other shunt circuits, and each charging circuit operates independently from other charging circuits. |
| US08456032B2 |
Rotational kinetic energy conversion system
An energy conversion system for converting between one form of input energy selected from a mechanical energy and electrical energy, and an output energy selected from a mechanical energy and electrical energy using a linearly displaced magnetic component interacting with an orbitally displaced magnetic component. |
| US08456031B1 |
Underwater pumped-hydro energy storage
Device and methods associated with underwater pumped-hydro energy storage are disclosed. An underwater pumped-hydro energy storage device includes a submersible tank that includes an inlet and an outlet. A pump is disposed at the outlet of the submersible tank to evacuate water from the submersible tank in a surrounding body of water. A valve is disposed at the inlet of the at least one submersible tank to control a flow of the water into the submersible tank from the surrounding body of water. Moreover, a turbine power unit is to generate output electrical power from the flow water into the submersible tank. |
| US08456022B2 |
Weldable contact and method for the production thereof
A solderable contact for use with an electrical component includes a pad metallization on a substrate, and an under bump metallization over at least part of the pad metallization. The under bump metallization is in an area for receiving solder. The pad metallization is structured to reveal parts of the substrate surface. The under bump metallization is in direct contact with the parts of the substrate. |
| US08456011B2 |
Method to control metal semiconductor micro-structure
A method of forming a metal semiconductor alloy that includes forming an intermixed metal semiconductor region to a first depth of a semiconductor substrate without thermal diffusion. The intermixed metal semiconductor region is annealed to form a textured metal semiconductor alloy. A second metal layer is formed on the textured metal semiconductor alloy. The second metal layer on the textured metal semiconductor alloy is then annealed to form a metal semiconductor alloy contact, in which metal elements from the second metal layer are diffused through the textured metal semiconductor alloy to provide a templated metal semiconductor alloy. The templated metal semiconductor alloy includes a grain size that is greater than 2× for the metal semiconductor alloy, which has a thickness ranging from 15 nm to 50 nm. |
| US08456008B2 |
Structure and process for the formation of TSVs
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; an interconnect structure over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the interconnect structure comprises a top inter-metal dielectric (IMD); an opening penetrating the interconnect structure into the semiconductor substrate; a conductor in the opening; and an isolation layer having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion physically connected to each other. The vertical portion is on sidewalls of the opening. The horizontal portion is directly over the interconnect structure. The integrated circuit structure is free from passivation layers vertically between the top IMD and the horizontal portion of the isolation layer. |
| US08456005B2 |
Transparent conductive film and method for producing the same
A transparent conductive film which is excellent in transparency, electrical conductivity, in-plane uniformity and durability is disclosed, comprisinga metal conductive pattern and a transparent conductive material on a transparent film substrate, wherein the transparent conductive material contains a conductive polymer and at least one of a conductive fiber and a conductive metal. A production method thereof is also disclosed. |
| US08455997B2 |
High power semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate, a metal pattern formed on the insulating substrate, a power terminal bonded onto the metal pattern, and a plurality of power chips bonded onto the metal pattern. The plurality of power chips are all separated from the power terminal by a distance sufficient to thermally isolate the plurality of power chips from the power terminal. |
| US08455996B1 |
Wafer level packaging method and a packaging structure using thereof
The present invention discloses a wafer level packaging method and a packaging structure for packaging a first wafer and a second wafer. The first wafer has a back side and an active side, and further, the active side of the first wafer has a MEMS element. The step of forming two through silicon vias is performed first. A first electrical interconnect and a first bonding ring are formed on the active side of the first wafer. The former connects with one of the through silicon vias, the later surrounds the MEMS element and connects with the other of the through silicon vias. The step of forming a second bonding ring and a second electrical interconnect is then performed. And then, a voltage will be applied to the through silicon vias through the back side of the first wafer. |
| US08455993B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with multiple row leads and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a first lead adjacent and staggered to a second lead, the first lead having a first external connection portion with a first external conductive layer and a first internal connection portion, the first external connection portion oriented laterally outwards from the first internal connection portion, and the second lead having a second external connection portion with a second external conductive layer and a second internal connection portion; connecting an integrated circuit device with the first internal connection portion and with the second internal connection portion; forming an encapsulation over the integrated circuit device with the first lead and the second lead exposed; and forming a solder mask on the encapsulation, on the first lead, and on the second lead with the first external conductive layer and the second external conductive layer exposed from the solder mask. |
| US08455988B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with bumped lead and nonbumped lead
An integrated circuit package system includes: forming an external interconnect; forming a terminal having a cavity adjacent to and downset from a portion the external interconnect; connecting a first integrated circuit with the external interconnect; and forming an encapsulation over the first integrated circuit with cavity filled with the encapsulation, the terminal extending from the encapsulation, and the external interconnect partially exposed from the encapsulation. |
| US08455987B1 |
Electrically isolated power semiconductor package with optimized layout
A packaged power semiconductor device is provided with voltage isolation between a metal backside and terminals of the device. The packaged power semiconductor device is arranged in an encapsulant defining a hole for receiving a structure for physically coupling the device to an object. A direct-bonded copper (“DBC”) substrate is used to provide electrical isolation and improved thermal transfer from the device to a heatsink. At least one power semiconductor die is mounted to a first metal layer of the DBC substrate. The first metal layer spreads heat generated by the semiconductor die. In one embodiment, the packaged power semiconductor device conforms to a TO-247 outline and is capable of receiving a screw for physically coupling the device to a heatsink. |
| US08455985B2 |
Integrated circuit devices having selectively strengthened composite interlayer insulation layers and methods of fabricating the same
An integrated circuit device includes a plurality of stacked circuit layers, at least one of the plurality of circuit layers including a composite interlayer insulation layer including laterally adjacent first and second insulating material regions having different mechanical strengths and dielectric properties and a plurality of circuit components disposed in the composite interlayer insulation layer. The first insulating material region may have a lower dielectric constant and a lower mechanical strength than the second insulating material region such that, for example, the first insulating material region may be positioned near signal lines or other circuit features to reduce capacitance while using the second insulating material region near a location that is susceptible to localized mechanical stress, such as a fuse location, an external connection bonding location or a scribe line location. |
| US08455984B2 |
Integrated circuit structure and method of forming the same
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure comprises the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; forming a hole extending from the first side of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate; filling the hole with conductive material; thinning the second side of the semiconductor substrate to a first predetermined thickness, so that the bottom of the hole does not protrude from the second side of the semiconductor substrate; and etching the second side of the semiconductor substrate to a second predetermined thickness, thereby exposing the bottom of the hole. |
| US08455981B2 |
Doped graphene electronic materials
A graphene substrate is doped with one or more functional groups to form an electronic device. |
| US08455979B2 |
Three dimensional integrated deep trench decoupling capacitors
A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a plurality of deep trench decoupling capacitors on a first substrate; forming a plurality of active circuit devices on a second substrate; bonding the second substrate to the first substrate; and forming electrical connections between the deep trench capacitors and the second substrate. |
| US08455978B2 |
Semiconductor circuit structure and method of making the same
A semiconductor circuit structure includes an interconnect region, and a material transfer region. The semiconductor circuit structure includes a conductive bonding region which couples the material transfer region to the interconnect region through a bonding interface. The conductive bonding region includes a barrier layer between a conductive layer and bonding layer. The bonding layer is positioned towards the material transfer region, and the conductive layer is positioned towards the interconnect region. |
| US08455976B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of blowing fuse thereof
A semiconductor device comprises an active region including a core circuit forming region and a buffer forming region, and a fuse element forming region arranged on a corner of the active region and to be able to be electrically fused. It is possible to arrange the fuse element without forming the fuse in the core circuit forming region by arranging the fuse element forming region at the corner of the active region. |
| US08455974B2 |
N well implants to separate blocks in a flash memory device
A semiconductor memory device that has an isolated area formed from one conductivity and formed in part by a buried layer of a second conductivity that is implanted in a substrate. The walls of the isolated area are formed by implants that are formed from the second conductivity and extend down to the buried layer. The isolated region has implanted source lines and is further subdivided by overlay strips of the second conductivity that extend substantially down to the buried layer. Each isolation region can contain one or more blocks of memory cells. |
| US08455971B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving charge transfer in backside illuminated image sensor
The present disclosure provides an image sensor device and a method of forming the image sensor device. In an example, an image sensor device includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a sensor element disposed at the front surface of the substrate, the sensor element being operable to sense radiation projected toward the back surface of the substrate; and a transparent conductive layer disposed over the back surface of the substrate, the transparent conductive layer at least partially overlying the sensor element. The transparent conductive layer is configured for being electrically coupled to a bottom portion of the sensor element. |
| US08455970B2 |
Lead frame assembly, package structure and LED package structure
A package structure is adapted for mounting at least one light emitting diode (LED) die. The package structure includes an insulating housing having a top surface that is formed with a cavity, and a lead frame unit. The lead frame unit includes a first lead frame portion and a second lead frame portion. The first lead frame portion is covered by the insulating housing, and has a die-bonding area exposed within the cavity and adapted for mounting the LED die. The second lead frame portion is covered by the insulating housing, and has a conductive surface exposed outwardly of the top surface of the insulating housing and adapted for electrical connection with an end of a conductive wire. |
| US08455968B2 |
Storage element and memory device
Disclosed herein is a storage element, including: a storage layer which has magnetization vertical to a film surface and in which a direction of the magnetization is changed in correspondence to information; a magnetization fixing layer which has magnetization vertical to a film surface becoming a reference of the information stored in the storage layer, which is composed of plural magnetic layers, and which has a multilayered ferri-pin structure into which the plural magnetic layers are laminated one upon another through a non-magnetic layer(s); and an insulating layer made of a non-magnetic material and provided between the storage layer and the magnetization fixing layer. |
| US08455967B2 |
Memory element and memory device
There is disclosed a memory element including a layered structure including a memory layer that has magnetization perpendicular to a film face and a magnetization direction thereof varies corresponding to information; a magnetization-fixed layer that has magnetization that is perpendicular to the film face; and an insulating layer that is provided between the memory layer. An electron that is spin-polarized is injected in a lamination direction of the layered structure, and thereby the magnetization direction of the memory layer varies and a recording of information is performed with respect to the memory layer, a magnitude of an effective diamagnetic field which the memory layer receives is smaller than a saturated magnetization amount of the memory layer, and the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer have a film thickness in such a manner that an interface magnetic anisotropy energy becomes larger than a diamagnetic energy. |
| US08455960B2 |
High performance HKMG stack for gate first integration
Semiconductor devices are formed with a silicide interface between the work function layer and polycrystalline silicon. Embodiments include forming a high-k/metal gate stack by: forming a high-k dielectric layer on a substrate, forming a work function metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicide on the work function metal layer, and forming a poly Si layer on the silicide. Embodiments include forming the silicide by: forming a reactive metal layer in situ on the work function layer, forming an a-Si layer in situ on the entire upper surface of the reactive metal layer, and annealing concurrently with forming the poly Si Layer. |
| US08455956B2 |
Multi-drain semiconductor power device and edge-termination structure thereof
An embodiment of a semiconductor power device provided with: a structural body made of semiconductor material with a first conductivity, having an active area housing one or more elementary electronic components and an edge area delimiting externally the active area; and charge-balance structures, constituted by regions doped with a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity, extending through the structural body both in the active area and in the edge area in order to create a substantial charge balance. The charge-balance structures are columnar walls extending in strips parallel to one another, without any mutual intersections, in the active area and in the edge area. |
| US08455953B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A sinker layer is in contact with a first conductivity-type well and a second conductivity-type drift layer, respectively, and is separated from a first conductivity-type collector layer. A second conductivity-type diffusion layer (second second-conductivity-type high-concentration diffusion layer) is formed in the surface layer of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the sinker layer. The second conductivity-type diffusion layer and the first conductivity-type collector layer are isolated from each other with an element isolation insulating film interposed therebetween. |
| US08455951B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a rectangular shape, and a via hole that has an elliptic shape or a track shape having a linear portion in a long-axis direction of the track shape, a long axis of the elliptic shape or the track shape being arranged in a long-side direction of the substrate. |
| US08455949B2 |
ESD protection element and ESD protection device for use in an electrical circuit
An ESD protection element for use in an electrical circuit having a fin structure or a fully depleted silicon-on-insulator structure. The fin structure or the fully depleted silicon-on-insulator structure contains a first connection region having a first conductivity type; a second connection region having a second conductivity type, which is opposite to the first conductivity type; and also a plurality of body regions which are formed alongside one another and which are formed between the first connection region and the second connection region. The body regions alternately have the first conductivity type and the second conductivity type. The ESD protection element has at least one gate region formed on or above at least one of the plurality of body regions, and also at least one gate control device which is electrically coupled to the at least one gate region. |
| US08455947B2 |
Device and method for coupling first and second device portions
This disclosure relates to devices and methods relating to coupled first and second device portions. |
| US08455946B2 |
Lateral stack-type super junction power semiconductor device
A lateral stack-type super junction power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial stack structure on the semiconductor substrate, having a first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer; a drain structure embedded in the epitaxial stack structure and extending along a first direction; a plurality of gate structures embedded in the epitaxial stack structure and arranged in a segmental manner along the first direction; a source structure between the plurality of gate structures; and an ion well encompassing the source structure. |
| US08455944B2 |
Semiconductor device having a trench-gate transistor
A semiconductor device includes, on a semiconductor substrate, an active region surrounded by an STI region, a gate trench formed in one direction transverse to the active region, a gate insulating film formed on a side surface of the gate trench, an insulating film formed on a bottom of the gate trench and thicker than the gate insulating film, and a gate electrode having at least a part of the gate electrode formed in the gate trench. Portions of the semiconductor substrate present in the active region and located on both sides of the gate trench in an extension direction of the gate trench function as a source region and a drain region, respectively. A portion of the semiconductor substrate located between the side surface of the active region (the side of the STI region) and the side surface of the gate trench functions as a channel region. |
| US08455942B2 |
Semiconductor device having vertical-type channel
A semiconductor device includes an active region including a surface region and a first recess formed below the surface region, the active region extending along a first direction; a device isolation structure provided on an edge of the active region; a gate line traversing over the surface region of the active region along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a second recess formed in the device isolation structure to receive a given portion of the gate line into the second recess; a first junction region formed in the active region beneath the first recess and on a first side of the gate line; and a second junction region formed on a second side of the gate line and above the first junction region. The first and second junction regions define a vertical-type channel that extends along lateral and vertical directions. |
| US08455941B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body including electrode films stacked in a first direction; a conductive pillar piercing the stacked body in the first direction; an inner insulating film, a semiconductor pillar, an intermediate insulating film, a memory layer, and an outer insulating film provided between the conductive pillar and the electrode films. The inner insulating film is provided around a side face of the conductive pillar. The semiconductor pillar is provided around a side face of the inner insulating film. The intermediate insulating film is provided around a side face of the semiconductor pillar. The memory layer is provided around a side face of the intermediate insulating film. The outer insulating film is provided around a side face of the memory layer. |
| US08455938B2 |
Device comprising a field-effect transistor in a silicon-on-insulator
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that has a semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) structure, which includes a substrate, an insulating layer such as an oxide layer on the substrate and a semiconductor layer on the insulating layer with a field-effect-transistor (FET) formed in the SeOI structure from the substrate and deposited layers, wherein the FET has a channel region in the substrate, a gate dielectric layer that is made from at least a part of the oxide layer of the SeOI structure; and a gate electrode that is formed at least partially from a part of the semiconductor layer of the SeOI structure. The invention further relates to a method of forming one or more field-effect-transistors or metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors from a semiconductor-on-insulator structure that involves patterning and etching the SeOI structure, forming shallow trench isolations, depositing insulating, metal or semiconductor layers, and removing mask and/or pattern layers. |
| US08455936B2 |
Configurable memory sheet and package assembly
A configurable memory sheet includes a plurality of segmentable memory banks arranged on a repeating grid such that the plurality of segmentable memory banks can be configured for applications with a variety of circuit elements, where the plurality of segmentable memory banks are configured into memories by their connections to the variety of circuit elements. |
| US08455934B2 |
Image sensor having four-transistor or five-transistor pixels with reset noise reduction
The invention relates to image sensors produced with CMOS technology, whose individual pixels, arranged in an array of rows and columns, each consist of a photodiode (PD1) associated with a charge storage region (N2) which receives the photogenerated charge before a charge readout phase. To eliminate the risk of introducing kTC-type noise into the signal, during the reset of the storage zone (N2) at the end of a readout cycle, the invention proposes that the storage zone be divided into two parts one of which (N2b), adjacent to the reset gate (G3), is covered by a diffused region (P2) of the same type of conductivity as the substrate in which the photodiode is formed, this region being brought to the fixed potential of the substrate, and the other (N2a) of which is not covered by such a region and is not adjacent to the reset gate. |
| US08455932B2 |
Local interconnect structure self-aligned to gate structure
A common cut mask is employed to define a gate pattern and a local interconnect pattern so that local interconnect structures and gate structures are formed with zero overlay variation relative to one another. A local interconnect structure may be laterally spaced from a gate structure in a first horizontal direction, and contact another gate structure in a second horizontal direction that is different from the first horizontal direction. Further, a gate structure may be formed to be collinear with a local interconnect structure that adjoins the gate structure. The local interconnect structures and the gate structures are formed by a common damascene processing step so that the top surfaces of the gate structures and the local interconnect structures are coplanar with each other. |
| US08455930B2 |
Strained semiconductor device with facets
A semiconductor device having a substrate including a major surface, a gate stack comprising a sidewall over the substrate and a spacer over the substrate adjoining the sidewall of the gate stack. The spacer having a bottom surface having an outer point that is the point on the bottom surface farthest from the gate stack. An isolation structure in the substrate on one side of the gate stack has an outer edge closest to the spacer. A strained material below the major surface of the substrate disposed between the spacer and the isolation structure having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a transition plane at an acute angle to the major surface of the substrate. |
| US08455928B2 |
Micro electro mechanical device and manufacturing method thereof
A micro structure and an electric circuit included in a micro electro mechanical device are manufactured over the same insulating surface in the same step. In the micro electro mechanical device, an electric circuit including a transistor and a micro structure are integrated over a substrate having an insulating surface. The micro structure includes a structural layer having the same stacked-layer structure as a layered product of a gate insulating layer of the transistor and a semiconductor layer provided over the gate insulating layer. That is, the structural layer includes layers formed of the same insulating film as the gate insulating layer and the same semiconductor film as the semiconductor layer of the transistor. Further, the micro structure is manufactured by using each of conductive layers used for a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode of the transistor as a sacrificial layer. |
| US08455922B2 |
Programmable gate III-nitride semiconductor device
A III-nitride semiconductor device which includes a charged gate insulation body. |
| US08455920B2 |
III-nitride heterojunction device
A III-nitride heterojunction semiconductor device having a III-nitride heterojunction that includes a discontinuous two-dimensional electron gas under a gate thereof. |
| US08455917B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, in a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, a first clad layer includes an n-type nitride semiconductor. An active layer is formed on the first clad layer, and includes an In-containing nitride semiconductor. A GaN layer is formed on the active layer. A first AlGaN layer is formed on the GaN layer, and has a first Al composition ratio. A p-type second AlGaN layer is formed on the first AlGaN layer, has a second Al composition ratio higher than the first Al composition ratio, and contains a larger amount of Mg than the GaN layer and the first AlGaN layer. A second clad layer is formed on the second AlGaN layer, and includes a p-type nitride semiconductor. |
| US08455916B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device having a structure in which oxygen and moisture are prevented from reaching light emitting elements, and a method of manufacturing the same, are provided. Further, the light emitting elements are sealed by using a small number of process steps, without enclosing a drying agent. The present invention has a top surface emission structure. A substrate on which the light emitting elements are formed is bonded to a transparent sealing substrate. The structure is one in which a transparent second sealing material covers the entire surface of a pixel region when bonding the two substrates, and a first sealing material (having a higher viscosity than the second sealing material), which contains a gap material (filler, fine particles, or the like) for protecting a gap between the two substrates, surrounds the pixel region. The two substrates are seated by the first sealing material and the second sealing material. Further, reaction between electrodes of the light emitting elements (cathodes or anodes) and the sealing materials can be prevented by covering the electrodes with a transparent protective layer, for example, CaF2, MgF2, or BaF2. |
| US08455915B2 |
Light emitting device
The light emitting device according to the present invention includes a resin molded body having a recess, a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member each having terminal portions respectively exposed from a first outer side surface and second outer side surface which are opposite outer side surfaces among the outer side surfaces of the resin molded body, and a light emitting element mounted on the first electrically conductive member exposed at a bottom surface of the recess. The recess has a first bottom surface on which the light emitting element is mounted and a second bottom surface arranged at a higher position of the outer periphery of the first bottom surface. |
| US08455914B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device including a second metal layer, a second conduction type semiconductor layer on the second metal layer, an active layer on the second conduction type semiconductor layer, a first conduction type semiconductor layer on the active layer, a first metal layer on the first conduction type semiconductor layer, an insulating layer being disposed on a peripheral portion of an upper surface of the second metal layer and being disposed under a lower surface of the second conduction type semiconductor layer, and a passivation layer on lateral surfaces of the insulating layer, the second conduction type semiconductor layer, the active layer and the first conduction type semiconductor layer, the passivation layer being on an upper surface of the second metal layer, wherein a lateral surface of the insulating layer is adjacent to a lateral surface of the second metal layer. |
| US08455912B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
A light-emitting device which includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; and a light emitting layer provided between the first and second semiconductor layers, the device comprises a first electrode formed on the first semiconductor layer; a second electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer; and a light-transmissive electrode covering the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode, wherein contact between the second electrode and the second semiconductor layer is non-ohmic, and the second electrode has a stacked structure including a lower layer and an upper layer whose contact resistance with the light-transmissive electrode is lower than that of the lower layer, part of the second electrode being exposed through an opening formed in the light-transmissive electrode. |
| US08455911B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light-emitting device using an ITON layer for a transparent conductor and realizing low drive voltage, high luminance efficiency, and uniformed light emission intensity distribution is provided. The semiconductor light-emitting device includes: a substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer formed on the substrate; an active layer formed on the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type semiconductor layer formed on the active layer and whose uppermost part is a p-type GaN layer; an ITON (Indium Tin Oxynitride) layer formed on the p-type GaN layer; an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) layer formed on the ITON layer; a first metal electrode formed on a part on the ITO layer; and a second metal electrode formed in contact with the n-type semiconductor layer. |
| US08455910B2 |
Method of manufacturing light emitting diode packaging lens and light emitting diode package
A method of manufacturing light emitting diode packaging lens and packages made by using the method are disclosed in the present invention. By using electrophoretic deposition, one or more layers of phosphors are coated onto one surface of a cup which has a curved portion. The cup is used for the packaging lens. Thickness of phosphor layer can be controlled and distribution of phosphor particles is uniform. Therefore, light emitting diode packages with the lens can be a uniform light source. |