| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08463310B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for managing reverse link communication
An apparatus, system, and method efficiently manage reverse link resources by allowing a mobile station to select between transmitting a payload at a standard power level and transmitting a smaller payload at a boosted power level. The mobile station, therefore, can autonomously select a QoS (Quality of Service) level for physical layer packets. Based on reverse link transmission information received from a base station, the mobile station derives a reverse link transmission guideline defining the power levels and associated payloads for at least a standard service and boosted service. The mobile station selects a reverse link transmission power level from a plurality of power levels including at least a standard reverse link transmission power level associated with a standard payload size and a boosted reverse link transmission power level associated with a boosted payload size where the standard payload size is greater than the boosted payload size. |
| US08463309B2 |
Method and apparatus for uplink rate selection in the presence of multiple transport channels in a wireless communication system
Systems and methods for selecting data rates at which to transmit data over a primary uplink in the presence of one or more secondary uplink channels. One embodiment comprises a method including determining probabilities associated with numbers of attempted transmissions of data, determining the number of times pending data transmissions have been attempted, determining probabilities associated with the data transmissions, and allocating power for transmission of the data in a succeeding frame based upon the associated probabilities. In one embodiment, a highest supportable data rate for a primary uplink is initially selected. Then, power is allocated for a minimum set of channels on the primary uplink. Then, power is allocated for pending data transmissions on the secondary uplink. A maximum power level for the transceiver is then adjusted to account for the allocated power, and the highest supportable data rate for the primary uplink is recomputed. |
| US08463304B2 |
Short code provisioning and threading techniques for bidirectional text messaging
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to designate a selected thread identification value from a collection of thread identification values based upon recognition criteria. The selected thread identification value is utilized during bidirectional text messaging between a first user and a second user. |
| US08463296B2 |
Location-based services in a femtocell network
System(s) and method(s) are provided to route traffic and signaling between a set of networked femto access points (APs) and enable location-based services. A femto AP in the set of femto APs is functionally linked to a routing platform that manages traffic and signaling, and is functionally connected to a controller component that relays data and control to a femto network platform. Routing platform can exchange signaling with one or more femto APs to enable, at least in part, location-based services based at least in part on identifier(s) for a femto AP, access privileges, or time-of-flight measurements that assess propagation timing between a mobile device and a femto AP. Routing platform can supply timing configuration to enable predetermined spatial resolution of location estimates. Location estimates can be recorded and conveyed to a consumer layer. |
| US08463292B2 |
TDOA—based reconstruction of base station location data
Methods and apparatus for determining a position estimate for a base station transceiver node in a wireless communication system are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises obtaining a first set of time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurement data from a first plurality of mobile stations, the first set of TDOA measurement data corresponding to transmissions received at the first plurality of mobile stations from the first base station transceiver node and a second base station transceiver node, obtaining first mobile station location data identifying a mobile station position corresponding to each TDOA measurement represented in the first set of TDOA measurement data, and computing an estimated position for the base station transceiver node as a function of the first mobile station location data and the first set of TDOA measurement data. |
| US08463286B2 |
Systems and methods for accessing travel services using a portable electronic device
This is directed to systems and methods for integrating travel services in a single application available to a portable electronic device. Using the single application, a user can access and control travel services before arriving at the initial location of travel, on arriving at the initial location of travel, during travel, and after travel. Such services can include, for example, reserving a travel itinerary, checking-in remotely for a reservation, providing airport information, providing for social networking, obtaining dining or entertainment during travel, controlling and requesting cabin services, providing arrival notifications to third parties, providing destination location information, and the like. |
| US08463282B2 |
Overload detection in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for overload detection and control is disclosed. A base station may be in communication with one or more subscriber stations. Overload may be detected as a function of a plurality of parameters, each of which places a load on the base station. Both the type and degree of overload may be ascertained. Appropriate remedial measures may be implemented that are suitable to the type and degree of overload detected. |
| US08463281B2 |
Power setting
A downlink power is set for transmissions from a basestation of a cellular communications network, the cellular communications network comprising a group of such basestations. A target value for a signal strength with which the transmissions should be received, and a target value for a pathloss, based on measured values for pathlosses between basestations of the group, are both set. The downlink power is calculated, based on the target value for the signal strength, and on the target value for the pathloss. |
| US08463279B2 |
Methods and apparatus for application network-server determination for removable module-based wireless devices
Methods, apparatus and systems are presented that enable a network operator to control the source for network services in open market devices by provisioning the network operator-issued removable modules with network service provisioning information associated with the operator and configuring the open market wireless devices such that the device looks to the removable module first for the network service provisioning information before looking to device storage for any other provisioning information related to the network service. In this regard, the user of the open market wireless device is still provided access to the network service even if the network operator does not provide the service or provide access to the service. Additionally, the described aspects methods, systems and apparatus provide the network operator with an additional level of dynamic control over the source for network services by providing for a network-side proxying feature that allows the network operator to proxy network service requests sent from the open market wireless devices to a designated third party network service provider based on criteria defined by the network operator. |
| US08463277B2 |
Method for allocating paging resource to a mobile station having multiple subscriber identities and resource allocating apparatus thereof
A method for allocating paging resource to a mobile station, communicating with a communication network and having multiple subscriber identities, includes: allocating paging resource to the mobile station according to a first equipment identity and a first subscriber identity of the mobile station when the first equipment identity and the first subscriber identity are received for registration, and allocating the same paging resource to the mobile station when the first equipment identity and a second subscriber identity of the mobile station are received for registration, transmitting a paging message targeting at the first subscriber identity at a paging block with a first block index, and transmitting a paging message targeting at the second subscriber identity at a paging block with the first block index. |
| US08463276B2 |
Femtocell self organization and configuration process
A base station includes an interface for providing communication with at least one other base station and communication with a network server in a communication system, a processor coupled to the interface, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to connect to the network server using the interface, send information to the network server regarding femtocell capability, configure operating parameters of the base station based on the information, including to configure transmission power of the base station, and operate the base station based on the operating parameters. |
| US08463274B2 |
Resource allocation method and device
The present invention relates a resource allocation method and a resource allocation device. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a resource allocation method of a wireless communication system includes: allocating a resource to a first base station; determining whether or not a second cell that is smaller than a first cell is provided in a first cell region managed by the first base station; reducing the resource allocated to the first base station when the second cell is provided; and allocating resources remaining after reducing the resource to a second base station that manages the second cell. |
| US08463273B2 |
Cell re-selection in a cellular telecommunications network
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a method in a wireless cellular telecommunications device camped on a serving cell, the device storing a parameter obtained by decoding system information of a first cell. The method comprises: measuring an attribute of a signal received from a candidate cell; and, evaluating the candidate cell for re-selection based on the measured attribute according to a priority-based re-selection algorithm irrespective of the stored parameter. The parameter indicates a minimum required received signal code power. A device and computer readable medium are also provided. |
| US08463272B2 |
Wireless communication system and load balancing aware handover method therefor
An object of the invention is to provide a wireless communication system in which the load of each cell and interference between cells are taken into account. In a handover-candidate base station and a handover-source base station, parameters for interference-reducing scheduling and handover facilitating processing are adjusted based on the mutual load information. When the handover-candidate base station, to be used for load balancing, is a large-diameter cell, transmit power control and frequency scheduling are adjusted by taking account of the load state at a cell edge. When the handover-source base station has a small-diameter cell, the number of terminals to be handed over is adjusted by taking account of the load state of the handover-candidate base station. Thus, both of interference control and load balancing are achieved. |
| US08463269B2 |
System and method of wireless network selection based on list prioritized by service offered
Provided is a system and method of wireless network selection based on service offered. The wireless device scans for available wireless networks upon an event triggering registration. If the wireless device determines based on its SIM that none of the available wireless networks are high priority networks for registration, then the wireless device automatically selects an available wireless network for registration based on, for at least one of the available wireless networks that the wireless device previously registered to, whether CS (Circuit Switched) service was rejected but PS (Packet Switched) service was allowed. Next, the wireless device automatically attempts to register with the selected wireless network. In this manner, the wireless device attempts to register with a wireless network that does not reject CS service while allowing PS service. If the wireless device nonetheless registers with such a wireless network, then registration can be reattempted with another available wireless network. |
| US08463268B2 |
Mobile radio terminal apparatus
A control unit stores identification information of a cell which has received cell information and identification information of a position registration area to which the cell belongs, in association with each other, in a cell information storage area, and stores identification information of a position registration area where previous position registration has been executed, in a position registration area storage area. Then, the control unit receives, with priority, the cell information relating to the cell stored in the cell information storage area, which has been detected and which belongs to the position registration area where previous position registration has been executed. |
| US08463267B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of selecting broadcast service provider therein
A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit configured to search for at least one broadcast service provider based upon frequencies assigned to the at least one broadcast service provider and a controller configured to automatically select a first broadcast service provider from the at least one broadcast service provider and to output broadcast content provided by the selected first broadcast service provider. |
| US08463265B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method for registering a mobile communication terminal in a communication network
A mobile communication terminal is described comprising a first identity module; a second identity module; a detector configured to detect whether the mobile communication terminal is in a coverage area of a reference mobile communication network of the first identity module; and a controller, configured to, if it has been detected that the mobile communication terminal is not within the coverage area of the reference mobile communication network of the first identity module, determine a reference mobile communication network of the second identity module, and to start a registering process for registering the first identity module with the reference mobile communication network of the second identity module. |
| US08463263B2 |
Method for providing identity to user equipment and apparatus thereof
In a radio communications system, the identity of user equipment is provided upon receiving an access node a first message from at least one user equipment of a plurality of user equipment, where the first message includes information relating to the at least one user equipment. An identity for the at least one user equipment is generated by the access node based upon the information received. A second message that includes the identity is transmitted by the access node to the at least one user equipment, where a payload size for the identity is constant. |
| US08463262B2 |
Method for receiving control information in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method of receiving a control signal by a user equipment in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving control regions including the control channel relevant to each of a plurality of component carriers via a plurality of component carriers and detecting the control channel for the user equipment by performing blind decoding by a unit of CCE (control channel element) aggregated at a preset level in a search space included in the control regions. And, start positions of the search spaces in the plurality of component carriers is in a certain relationship. Moreover, the preset level is identically set for each of the plurality of component carriers. |
| US08463259B2 |
Servicing cell discovery during out of service
A user equipment is provided. The user equipment comprises a processor that, when the UE goes out of service area of a first cell, is configured to search for a suitable cell before the UE loses a connection to a network by checking for a suitable cell among cells proximate to the first cell, based on a timer before the UE loses the connection to the network. |
| US08463258B2 |
Extended wireless device activation
Various arrangements for activating a wireless device on a wireless network are presented. A request to attach to the wireless network may be received from the wireless device. The request may specify an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI). An authentication message may be transmitted to a detection device of the wireless network. The IMSI may be compared to a set of stored blocked IMSIs. Each IMSI of the set of stored blocked IMSIs may be prohibited from being used to access the wireless network. It may be determined that the wireless device may that corresponds to the IMSI is permitted to be attached to the wireless network. In response to determining the wireless device is permitted to attach to the wireless network, authentication of the wireless device may occur. |
| US08463254B2 |
System and method for over-the-air software loading in mobile device
A system and method updates software in a mobile device, which includes an application processor and associated application processor memory and a radio processor and associated radio processor memory and a serial port connecting the processors. The associated application processor memory stores an “n” byte digest signature that had been calculated. The software in the radio processor and associated radio processor memory can be updated by over-the-air software loading while checking the associated application processor memory for the “n” byte digest signature used for the over-the-air software loading. |
| US08463253B2 |
Flexible lifestyle portable communications device
A method may include receiving a call at a portable communication device, entering a first mode when the call is directed to a first device identifier associated with the portable communication device; and entering a second mode when the call is directed to a second device identifier associated with the portable communication device, wherein the first mode provides access to a first set of applications and a first set of user data and the second mode provides a second set of applications and a second set of user data. |
| US08463248B2 |
Method for transmitting data related to broadcasting contents, and mobile terminal using the same
A method for transmitting a data related to broadcasting contents and a mobile terminal using the same are disclosed, wherein the method includes displaying the broadcasting contents on a display unit by receiving and executing the broadcasting contents through an external server; obtaining access information of the broadcasting contents; generating the text message including the access information; and transmitting said text message to the other terminal. |
| US08463246B2 |
Contact management
A contact management system including: a computer in communication with a central database and a mobile device configured to communicate with the central database, wherein the mobile device includes a contact management module that interfaces with a wireless network to allow a user of the mobile device to access contact information in the central database, the contact management module configured to provide synching of contact information within the mobile device with the contact information in the central database. |
| US08463244B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying an event in a wireless terminal
A display apparatus for use in a wireless terminal is provided. A memory stores user interface (UI) data for cases mapped to events occurring in the wireless terminal. A controller collects the events occurring in the wireless terminal. The controller selects at least one executable case for the collected events. The controller selects UI data including a character image for the at least one selected executable case from the memory and outputs the selected UI data. A display unit displays the UI data. |
| US08463235B1 |
Protection from telephone phishing
Attempts to communicate telephonically by a mobile phone are detected. When an attempt is detected, an associated phone number is identified and transmitted to a server in order to glean corresponding security information. On the server, a database is maintained containing 1) phone numbers known to present potential security concerns and 2) descriptive security information concerning each of these phone numbers. The server receives phone numbers from mobile phones to check for security information, searches the database for received phone numbers, and transmits corresponding security information to the originating mobile phones. Security information concerning identified telephone numbers is received from the server by mobile phones. Responsive to the contents of the received security information, detected attempts to communicate telephonically are allowed to processed, blocked or otherwise processed. |
| US08463231B1 |
Use of radius in UMTS to perform accounting functions
A wireless access network system comprises a RADIUS (Remote Access Dial-In User System) arrangement with an associated RADIUS accounting function. The RADIUS arrangement is arranged to track access activity by a user accessing the network via wireless user equipment and via the RADIUS arrangement. The access activity is recorded in an accounting database which is associated with the RADIUS accounting function. The wireless access system also comprises a radio network controller which comprises a RADIUS client. The RADIUS arrangement is arranged to receive information from a radio network controller of the system in order to track the access activity. The Invention is applicable to cellular communication systems such as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). |
| US08463229B2 |
Coexistence for cognitive radio
A system for managing wireless communication in view of other potentially interfering wireless signal sources. Signal-related information may be collected from one or more apparatuses that are participating in a network. The information may then be evaluated in order to determine expected signal activity in the environment in which the apparatuses are operating. In some instances the signal activity may then be compared to a scan schedule utilized, for example, to identify legacy apparatuses operating in the environment. This scan schedule may be altered to avoid potential conflicts that may exist with the expected signal activity. The scan schedule may then be communicated to the networked apparatuses. |
| US08463225B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and operation method of the same
The present invention is provided to shorten the period of DC offset cancellation operation. One of terminals of two calibration resistors is connected to the differential output terminals of an active low pass filter having a filter process and an amplification function, and two input terminals of a voltage comparator and two terminals of a switch are connected to the other terminal of the two calibration resistors. In a calculation period of calculating digital control signals for reducing DC offset voltage, the voltage comparator detects calibration voltage depending on a voltage drop of one of the calibration resistors caused by analog current of a digital-to-analog converter. In a calibration period of reducing the DC offset voltage, the calibration analog current of the digital-to-analog converter responding to the digital control signal is passed to the input side of the filter via the switch. |
| US08463224B2 |
Arbitrary multiband overlay mixer apparatus and method for bandwidth multiplication
An apparatus and method for splitting a wide band input signal and overlaying multiple frequency bands on each path associated with one or more digitizers. All frequencies from the split signal on each path can be fed to a mixer. The local oscillator of each mixer receives a sum of signals, which can each be set to any arbitrary frequency, as long as an associated matrix determinant of coefficients is non-zero. Each oscillator signal is multiplied by a coefficient, which can represent phase and magnitude, prior to summing the oscillator signals together. Each mixer mixes a combined signal with the input, thereby generating a set of multiple overlaid frequency bands. The digitized signals are processed to substantially reconstruct the original input signal. Thus, the wide band input signal is digitized using multiple individual digitizers. In particular, a system can support two wide band signals using four digitizers of narrower bandwidth. |
| US08463216B2 |
Method and apparatus for sensing inter-modulation to improve radio performance in single and dual tuner
A method of performing alternate frequency switching in a radio includes tuning the radio to a primary frequency. A candidate alternate frequency is identified. It is determined whether the candidate alternate frequency is a third order inter-modulation artifact. Tuning is switched from the primary frequency to the candidate alternate frequency only if it is determined in the determining step that the candidate alternate frequency is not a third order inter-modulation artifact. |
| US08463214B2 |
Antenna diversity system
An antenna diversity system having a non-interrupt function is provided. The antenna diversity system includes: a plurality of antennas, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) circuits, and a signal processing unit. The RF circuits are respectively coupled to the antennas, wherein each RF circuit is utilized for operating in one of a plurality of channels. The signal processing unit is coupled to the RF circuits, and utilized for determining whether a signal quality value of at least one of the antennas lower than a threshold to generate a determining result, and determining whether to change the channel of at least one of the RF circuits according to the determining result, so as to make at least two of the RF circuits operating in a same channel of the channels. |
| US08463213B2 |
Reception method and reception apparatus
A radio transmitting apparatus that has a plurality of antennas and changes the number of modulated signals transmitted simultaneously according to the propagation environment and so forth. A transmission power changing section 12 of a radio transmitting apparatus of the present invention adjusts the pilot symbol signal level so as to match the data symbol composite signal level according to the number of transmit modulated signals set by a modulated signal number setting section 11. By this means, the operating range of received pilot symbols and the operating range of received data symbols become approximately the same on the receiving side, enabling pilot symbol quantization error to be reduced. As a result, the precision of radio wave propagation environment estimation, time synchronization, and frequency offset estimation using pilot symbols improves, and consequently data reception quality improves. |
| US08463208B2 |
DC power control for power amplifiers
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to transmission techniques that result in power savings relative to previous solutions. These techniques often transmit a signal-of-interest by using two paths, namely, a transmission path (which includes a power amplifier) and a control path. The signal-of-interest is evaluated in “fast-track” fashion on the control path, such that the control path can “tune” a DC supply signal provided to the power amplifier. Thus, when a delayed version of the signal-of-interest is provided over the transmission path to the power amplifier, the DC supply signal provided to the power amplifier helps ensure that the power amplifier has “just enough” DC supply to ensure reliable operation without dissipating excess power. In this way, the techniques disclosed herein help to reduce power consumption in transmitters, thereby potentially helping to extend battery life and reduce undesired heating for users. |
| US08463206B2 |
System and method for preserving input impedance of a current-mode circuit
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit comprises an input node configured to receive a current-mode input signal and an input stage that includes an input device communicatively coupled to the input node. The input device is configured to receive the input signal at the input node. The circuit additionally comprises bias circuitry communicatively coupled to the input stage and configured to provide a bias current for the input device. The bias circuitry is also configured to remove at least a portion of the bias current from the input signal through a feedback loop associated with the input node such that the input signal is received by the input device with at least a portion of the bias current removed. The circuit further comprises an output stage communicatively coupled to the input stage and configured to output a current-mode output signal based on the input signal. |
| US08463205B2 |
Transmitting apparatus operative at a plurality of different bands and associated method
A transmitting apparatus operative at a plurality of different bands includes at least a modulator, an intermediate frequency (IF) filter, and an offset phase-locked-loop (OPLL). Regardless at which one of the frequency bands the transmitting apparatus operates, a divisor of at least one frequency divider included within the OPLL is fixed, and a signal, which is outputted by a controllable oscillator and received by an offset mixer included within the OPLL, corresponds to a substantially fixed frequency. |
| US08463201B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing transmission leakage signal
An apparatus and method for removing a transmission leakage signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader are provided. The apparatus includes a removing unit having a device of a large impedance and a phase shifter capable of a wide range phase change with respect to a leakage signal, thereby optimally removing the transmission leakage signal irrespective of a change in the frequency characteristics and a change in the length of a cable. |
| US08463200B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus
In a wireless communication apparatus, when a first switch electrically connects a second antenna to an impedance matching circuit and a second switch electrically connects a first antenna to a reception circuit, a frequency signal output from an oscillator of the reception circuit is received by the second antenna and applied to the impedance matching circuit. Then, a controller controls the impedance of the impedance matching circuit so as to bring a RSSI voltage output from a signal strength detection circuit of the reception circuit into agreement with a reference RSSI voltage, thereby bringing the reference frequency of the first antenna into agreement with a reference frequency. |
| US08463197B2 |
Mobile communication method and operation apparatus
A mobile communication method according to the present invention causes: an operation apparatus 100 to transmit an operation halt instruction to a first radio station 200, when the first radio station 200 satisfies a first halt condition; causes the operation apparatus to transmit confirmation information for confirming whether or not to accept halting operation to a communication device 300 linked with a second radio base station 201, when the second radio station 201 satisfies a second halt condition; causes the operation apparatus 100 to transmit the operation stop instruction to the second radio base station 201, when it receives acknowledgement information for the confirmation information; causes the first radio base station 200 to gradually reduce transmission power of broadcast information when it receives the operation halt instruction and to halt stop after the transmission power of the broadcast information reaches a predetermined value; and causes the second radio base station 201 to stop when it receives the operation halt instruction. |
| US08463196B2 |
Method and decoder for decoding a wireless transmission from a predefined user
A method of decoding in a wireless receiver, a wireless transmission from a predefined user, the method comprising: receiving a wireless transmission signal (r(m)); determining a one or more interfering spreading codes (si(m)) contributing to the received wireless transmission signal (r(m)); estimating a one or more interferer symbols ({circumflex over (b)}i(m)) from the received wireless transmission signal (r(m)) and the or each interfering spreading codes (si(m)); calculating a one or more scaling factors (Pi(m)) at which the or each of the interferer symbols ({circumflex over (b)}i(m)) was originally transmitted; simulating an interference signal i(m) in the received wireless transmission signal (r(m)); removing the simulated interference signal i(m) from the received wireless transmission signal (r(m)) to produce a processed wireless signal (o(m)); and estimating a one or more symbols {circumflex over (b)}(m) transmitted by the predefined user in the processed wireless signal (o(m)). |
| US08463195B2 |
Methods and apparatus for spectrum sensing of signal features in a wireless channel
Methods and apparatus for sensing features of a signal in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus sense signal features by determining a number of spectral density estimates, where each estimate is derived based on reception of the signal by a respective antenna in a system with multiple sensing antennas. The spectral density estimates are then combined, and the signal features are sensed based on the combination of the spectral density estimates. |
| US08463194B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining propagation delays for use in wide area networks
A system and method for determining a signal propagation delay between a transmitter and a receiver, and for adjusting a transmission time based on the propagation delay. A central station inserts a marker into a transmitted signal at a time corresponding to a received timing signal. The MCT receives the signal from the central station and determines a time difference between receipt of the marker and the detection of the time interval event. A transmission by the MCT is adjusted by an amount of time proportional to the time difference. |
| US08463190B2 |
System and method for interference reduction in self-optimizing networks
A method for interference management in a self optimizing network includes determining quality of service constraints for a call; mapping the quality of service constraints for the call to a target signal-to-interference noise ratio; and transmitting power control signals for the call based on the target signal-to-interference noise ratio. The utility function can be optimized for each class of calls over the network so as to maximize the total number of calls that can be handled. |
| US08463187B2 |
Electronic apparatus and communication state notification function control method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a communication module, a communication state notification module, a notification function information obtaining module, and a notification function control module. The communication module executes close proximity wireless transfer. The communication state notification module notifies at least one of a start time and an end time of data transfer executed between the communication module and an external device, the data transfer being executed by the close proximity wireless transfer. The notification function information obtaining module obtains notification function information indicative of a capability relating to a communication state notification function of the external device from the external device. The notification function control module requests the external device to execute or suppress the communication state notification function by the external device, based on the obtained notification function information. |
| US08463181B2 |
Communication apparatuses and methods for flexibly providing various application profiles of a wireless communication system
A communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus comprises an external memory device and a communication unit. The external memory device stores software functions corresponding to a predetermined application profile of the wireless communication system. The communication unit comprises: a radio transceiver module transceiving radio frequency wireless signals and converting the radio frequency wireless signals to or from baseband signals; a baseband module converting the baseband signals to or from digital signals and processing the digital signals; an internal memory device storing a firmware programmed for controlling the radio transceiver module, the baseband module, and performing a physical layer protocol and a data link layer protocol of the wireless communication system; and a microprocessor accessing the software functions via an interface and executing the firmware and the software functions when implementing the predetermined application profile. |
| US08463178B2 |
Handover between ATC and satellite component of an integrated MSS/ATC system
A communications system comprising a first transceiver and a second transceiver, which system employs a device that measures power over a frequency band from sources other than those monitoring downlink radiation received at a radio terminal from the satellite, and a controller that receives these power measurements to determine on which frequency channel within a band a transmitter is to transmit. |
| US08463173B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a first sheet discharging path having a first dischargeable minimum sheet length; a second sheet discharging path having a second dischargeable minimum sheet length that is shorter than the first dischargeable minimum sheet length; a measuring unit that measures a length of the sheet; and a control unit. When the length of the sheet is shorter than the first dischargeable minimum sheet length in a state in which the first sheet discharging path is selected, the control unit is configured to: control the image forming unit to form the image on the measured sheet; convey the measured sheet downstream in a sheet conveying direction from the image forming unit; and stop conveyance of a sheet subsequent to the measured sheet at a position upstream in the sheet conveying direction from the measured sheet. |
| US08463170B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A fixing device of an image forming apparatus includes a magnetic core forming a magnetic path composed of a first path for induction-heating a specified area of a heating member and a second path for induction-heating only a smaller area as a reduction of the specified area and the magnetic field being composed of a common magnetic field region where both the first and the second paths pass and an uncommon magnetic field region where only the first path passes; and a magnetism adjusting member arranged at least over the uncommon magnetic field region and permitting the passage of magnetic fluxes propagating toward the heating member from the magnetic core in the uncommon magnetic field region when the magnetic path is switched to the first path while suppressing the passage of the magnetic fluxes in the uncommon magnetic field region when the magnetic path is switched to the second path. |
| US08463167B2 |
Image heating apparatus and image heating rotational body to be mounted on the image heating apparatus
According to embodiments, a heating member or a sliding member arranged in contact with the surface of a fusing roller is moved in an intersecting direction with the rotational direction of the fusing roller in a contact state with the heating member or the sliding member so as to prevent a scratch from being generated on the surface of the fusing roller or to repair the scratch. |
| US08463162B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The present invention is capable of changing the system speed quickly and highly accurately while using a CVT device with an advantage in its quietness to transmit a driving force to rotative parts.Specifically, in the case of using a sheet of thick paper as a recording sheet, the controller changes, for each of the pulleys, the distance between the pulley segments (S204) while starting up the DC motor as the driving source (S202). After that, the controller performs the feedback control on the rotation of the DC motor, based on a detection signal received from the encoder of the load shaft of the driven pulley, to achieve the target rotation speed of the load shaft (S206: NO, S207). |
| US08463158B2 |
Tandem photosensitive-member unit having grip part
An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame. |
| US08463154B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus is capable of collecting discharged toner satisfactorily even when a power source for discharging toner from a voltage application member to a moving member and a power source for collecting the discharged toner from the moving member onto an image bearing member are provided in common. |
| US08463149B2 |
Image forming apparatus
At a time for resetting a transfer voltage after a predetermined time period from the performance of ATVC in both a color mode and a monochrome mode, ATVC is performed only in a currently running mode. A transfer voltage in another mode that the ATVC has not been performed at that time is set based on results of the ATVC performed in both the color and monochrome modes and a result of the ATVC performed in the other mode at that time. |
| US08463148B2 |
Developing apparatus
A developing apparatus including a developing container for containing developer, the developing container having an opening portion, a developer carrying member for carrying the developer at the opening portion, a detecting member for detecting a developer amount, the detecting member detecting a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the detecting member, and a force receiving portion for receiving a force and moving the developing container between a first position in which a developing operation is performed by the developer carrying member and a second position in which the developing operation is not performed, wherein the capacitance can be detected in the second position, and the detecting member is a rotatable developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, the developer supplying member including a foam layer in which the developer can enter. |
| US08463145B2 |
Cartridge
A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit. |
| US08463144B2 |
Image forming device, identifying device, semiconductor integrated device, and identifying method
In an image forming device, a plurality of objects are detachably disposed, each of the objects having a storage area to store object-related information of the object, and configured to return, in response to an acquisition request, a signal with a voltage in a predetermined range which is distinctly different among the objects, the signal carrying the object-related information of the object. The image forming device includes a transmitting unit that transmits acquisition requests of object-related information to the objects respectively, a receiving unit that receives signals from the objects respectively, a voltage detection unit that detects a range of voltage of each of the signals received, and an identifying unit that identifies each of the objects respectively based on the ranges of voltage detected. |
| US08463143B2 |
Amplifier with offset compensator and optical receiver implemented with the same
An amplifier for an optical receiver is disclosed. The amplifier includes a common base buffer, a differential amplifier, and some buffer amplifiers, where circuit block from the common base buffer to the buffer amplifiers have the differential arrangement and are connected in series in this order. The amplifier further includes an offset compensator that receives the outputs of the buffer amplifier put in the rear end of the amplifier and outputs control signals, which are complementary to each other and filtered by a low-pass-filter, to the base of the transistors in the common base buffer to compensate the offset appeared in the output of the buffer amplifier. |
| US08463142B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for feedback control of coherent receiver
A method, an apparatus, and a system for feedback control of a coherent receiver are provided. The method for feedback control of the coherent receiver includes: obtaining a feedback control quantity according to a digital signal converted by an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC); and adjusting a signal amplitude output by a Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA) and a direct current component of an offset T device according to the feedback control quantity, until an analog signal input into the ADC is in a sampling range of the ADC, where the TIA is serially connected to the offset T device and then is connected to the ADC. Present invention has the following advantages: enabling the analog signal to adapt to the ADC sampling best, maximizing an effective information quantity sampled by the ADC and better supporting subsequent processing of a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) unit, thereby improving a coherent receiving performance. |
| US08463140B2 |
Reception device and reception method
A reception device includes at least a light receiving unit, a phase calculation unit, and a demodulation unit. The light receiving unit receives intensity-modulated light from a transmission device. The transmission device executes phase modulation to a bit stream as an object to be transmitted and emits the intensity-modulated light which has an intensity changing at a preset time cycle and a phase changing in response to the phase modulation, and the phase is maintained during M cycles. The phase calculation unit detects the intensity of the intensity-modulated light p times per cycle of the intensity-modulated light and repeatedly calculates the phase of the intensity-modulated light on the basis of a result of the detection. The demodulation unit executes demodulation, which corresponds to the phase modulation, to the phase calculated by the phase calculation unit, and generates transmitted bit stream. |
| US08463138B2 |
Multi-value optical transmitter
Provided is a multi-value optical transmitter in which a DC bias may be controlled to be stabilized so as to obtain stable optical transmission signal quality in multi-value modulation using a dual-electrode MZ modulator. The multi-value optical transmitter includes: D/A converters for performing D/A conversion on first and second modulation data which are set based on an input data series, so as to generate a first and a second multi-value signal, respectively; a dual-electrode MZ modulator including phase modulators for modulating light from a light source based on the first multi-value signal and the second multi-value signal, so as to combine optical signals from the phase modulators to output the optical multi-value signal; an optical output power monitor for detecting average power of the optical multi-value signal; and a DC bias control unit for controlling a DC bias for the dual-electrode MZ modulator, so as to maximize the average power. |
| US08463137B2 |
System and method for transmissions via RF over glass
A system and method are provided for controlling the transmission of RF signals that are to be carried as optical signals over an optical fiber network. Operationally, the optical signals are transmitted as “bursts” in accordance with a standard protocol. For the present invention, transmission control requires an ON/OFF control that incorporates a time delay. Specifically, a “burst” of signals (RF/optical) is initiated when power in the RF input signal passes a predetermined threshold. After an established turn-on time that is set by the time delay, the ON/OFF control activates a laser diode for transmission of the “burst.” Further, the present invention provides control for constant optical output power from the laser diode. Importantly, the laser diode is OFF when a “burst” is not being transmitted. |
| US08463133B1 |
Signal framing in a coherent optical receiver
A method and system for a estimating a most likely location of a periodic SYNC burst within an optical signal received through an optical communications system. A cross-correlation is calculated between a multi-bit digital signal derived from the optical signal and a known symbol sequence of the SYNC burst. The cross-correlation is logically partitioned into sub-blocks. A candidate sub-block in which the SYCN burs is mot likely located is identified, and analysed to estimate a location of the SYNC burst. |
| US08463131B1 |
Method and apparatus for conveying timing information
A method and apparatus for sending timing information using an optical signal. A first electrical signal comprising a pseudorandom binary sequence is generated. The first electrical signal comprising the pseudorandom binary sequence is modulated with a second electrical signal to form a modulated electrical signal. The second electrical signal includes timing data in a format used for global positioning systems. An optical carrier signal is modulated with the modulated electrical signal to form the optical signal using an optical transmitter. |
| US08463130B2 |
Method and system for implementing a wireless network
Aspects of the present invention provide a multi-band hybrid Gigabit wireless communication system which is enabled by a number of different complementary access technologies to realize ubiquitous hyper-connectivity, true broadband, seamless operation and low power consumption. The system is capable of serving fixed, nomadic and mobile scenarios. The multi-band wireless system is a low power wireless system which operates in different frequency bands covering the spectrum from radio wave to optical wave by making use of both regulated bandwidths and unregulated bandwidths. Using low power distributed antenna and low power indoor and outdoor antennas enables the use of unregulated bandwidths as well as regulated bandwidths as the low power nature of the signals reduces the possibility of interference with the regulated use of the signals. |
| US08463127B2 |
Optical switching architectures for nodes in WDM mesh and ring networks
Switching architectures for WDM mesh and ring network nodes are presented. In mesh networks, the switching architectures have multiple levels—a network level having wavelength routers for add, drop and pass-through functions, an intermediate level having device units which handle add and drop signals, and a local level having port units for receiving signals dropped from the network and transmitting signals to be added to the network. The intermediate level device units are selected and arranged for performance and cost considerations. The multilevel architecture also permits the design of reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers for ring network nodes, the easy expansion of ring networks into mesh networks, and the accommodation of protection mechanisms in ring networks. |
| US08463126B2 |
Optically variable filter array apparatus
In an optically variable filter array apparatus, WDM-signal light beams of m channels ranging in wavelength from λ1 to λn from optical fibers 11-1 to 11-m enter wavelength dispersion element 17 through concave mirror 16. Wavelength dispersion element disperses incident light beams in different directions according to their wavelengths and direct them to a concave mirror 18. In concave mirror, light beams of different channels are turned into strip-like parallel light beams and developed over xy plane according to channel and wavelength. Wavelength selection element 19 has pixels arranged in lattice pattern, for bringing a pixel at a position corresponding to to-be-selected channel and wavelength into a reflective state. Light beams reflected from wavelength selection element pass through the same path to exit from optical fibers 15-1 to 15-m. By changing reflection characteristics of wavelength selection element on a pixel-by-pixel basis, desired wavelengths of given WDM light can be selected. |
| US08463125B2 |
Optically variable filter array apparatus
In an optically variable filter array apparatus, WDM-signal light beams of m channels ranging in wavelength from λ1 to λn from optical fibers 11-1 to 11-m enter wavelength dispersion element 17. Wavelength dispersion element 17 disperses incident light beams in different directions according to their wavelengths. In lens 18, light beams of different channels are turned into strip-like parallel light beams and developed over xy plane according to channel and wavelength. Wavelength selection element 19 has pixels arranged in lattice pattern, for bringing a pixel at a position corresponding to to-be-selected channel and wavelength into a reflective state. Light beams reflected from wavelength selection element 19 pass through the same path to exit from optical fibers 15-1 to 15-m. By changing reflection characteristics of wavelength selection element 19 on a pixel-by-pixel basis, characteristics of optical filter can be varied, so that desired wavelengths of given WDM light can be selected. |
| US08463121B2 |
Ultra wide-range frequency offset estimation for digital coherent optical receivers
Methods and systems for receiving an optical signal using cascaded frequency offset estimation. Coherently detecting an optical signal includes compensating for a coarse laser frequency offset between a transmitting laser and a local oscillator laser by determining a maximum phase error (MPE) in the optical signal, compensating for a residual laser frequency offset between the transmitting laser and the local oscillator laser, and decoding data stored in the optical signal. |
| US08463119B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and controlling method therefor
An image pickup apparatus that is capable of reducing variation in the color temperature of a subject in a taken image and capable of shooting a more suitable image. The image pickup apparatus can shoot with emitting a light emitting unit. A color temperature acquisition unit acquires information about a color temperature of a light illuminating a subject. An emission control unit controls emission of the light emitting unit. The emission control unit determines emission light amount of the light emitting unit based on a color temperature difference between a color temperature of an illumination light of the light emitting unit and a color temperature based on the information acquired by the color temperature information acquisition unit. |
| US08463117B2 |
Water heating apparatus
A water heating apparatus includes a water tank having a plurality of sidewalls, a main heating member mounted inside and across the water tank, and at least one secondary heating or partition member extending between the main heating member and the sidewalls to form at least one water compartment with a water path. At least one tertiary heating member is provided on the inner surface of the water tank. The partition member can be spiral in shape. Each heating member has at least a multi-layer conductive coating of nano-thickness deposited thereon, and electrodes coupled to the multi-layer conductive coating. The multi-layer conductive coating comprises a structure and composition which stabilize performance of the heating member at high temperature. |
| US08463116B2 |
Systems for curing deposited material using feedback control
Systems are provided for curing a deposited curable material film using a light source and feedback system for monitoring the degree of curing using detected optical properties of the film. Operational parameters of the light source (e.g., power) are adjusted by a control system in response to the detected optical properties of the film. In certain embodiments, the curing system includes at least one light source in optical communication with an uncured material, a detector for monitoring an optical property of the curing material, and a feedback system for controlling the light emitted from the light source in response to the detector. |
| US08463112B2 |
Playback method and playback apparatus
When a skip operation is carried out and then another skip operation is carried out next, it is determined whether or not a direction of a first skip operation and a direction of a skip operation carried out next are opposite directions. If the direction of the skip operation carried out next is the opposite to the direction up to that point in time and there is a change point between scenes in a skip segment of the skip operation carried out next, skip processing is carried out such that the playback position is placed to the change point of this scene. Thereby, for example, when the content is played back after jumping past a CM, the boundary between the CM and program can be easily found, and the replay can be started. |
| US08463108B2 |
Client-side ad insertion during trick mode playback
A device plays back programming content in a trick mode while an advertising segment record is monitored. When an advertising segment beginning identified by the advertising segment record is encountered, playback of the programming content temporarily ceases. One or more advertisements are played back during the advertising segment, and then playback of the programming content in the trick mode resumes after an ending of the advertising segment is encountered. |
| US08463104B2 |
Digital broadcast receiving apparatus and method for controlling the same
There is provided a digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising an acceptance unit and a change unit. Subsidiary information includes application control information indicating “finishing” or “not finishing” the execution of a data broadcast application by an execution unit when a program included in broadcast program data in playback by a playback unit has been switched to another program. The acceptance unit is configured to accept a continuation instruction indicating continuing the execution of the data broadcast application by the execution unit even after a program included in the broadcast program data in playback by the playback unit is finished. The change unit is configured to, when the application control information has indicated “finishing” and the acceptance unit has accepted the continuation instruction, change the application control information so as to indicate “not finishing” before the program included in the broadcast program data in playback by the playback unit is finished. |
| US08463101B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording and reproducing motion picture with location information
A method and apparatus for recording and reproducing a motion picture with location information are provided. The method for reproducing the motion picture includes acquiring, when a request for playing a motion picture is detected, current location information of the mobile terminal using location data, retrieving location information included in the motion picture, comparing the current location information and the retrieved location information, and reproducing, when the current location information and the retrieved location information are substantially identical with each other, the motion picture. |
| US08463100B2 |
System and method for identifying, providing, and presenting content on a mobile device
The present invention is embodied in a system for synchronizing a mobile device with video output by a video output device. In one embodiment, the system comprises a data reader, a remote control, and a router. The data reader is configured to be connected to a video output device for reading digital codes associated with video or audio signals output by the video output device. The remote control has a user input mechanism and is configured to transmit an activation signal to the data reader after activation of the user input mechanism. The router is configured to be connected to a wide area network for transmitting data from the data reader to a remote data server. The router is also configured to establish a local data connection between the data reader and a mobile device. The data reader, after receiving an activation signal from the remote control, is further configured to transmit data indicative of a digital code or series of digital codes read by the data reader to the remote data server via the router. Additionally, the data reader, after receiving a request signal from the mobile device, is further configured to transmit data indicative of a digital code or series of digital codes read by the data reader to the mobile device via the router. |
| US08463093B2 |
Extension of steps in reflective optical gratings
An optical device includes a light-transmitting medium positioned on a base. The light-transmitting medium at least partially defines a free propagation region through which light signals travel. A reflective grating includes stepped reflecting surfaces positioned such that light signals that travel through the free propagation region are received by the reflecting surfaces. The reflecting surfaces are configured to reflect the light signal back into the free propagation region such that the light signals associated with different wavelengths separate as the light signals travel through the free propagation region. At least a portion of the reflecting surfaces each includes an overlapping region. Additionally, at least a portion of the reflecting surfaces each includes an overlapped region and un un-overlapped region. The reflecting grating is configured such that the light signals travel toward the overlapped regions and the un-overlapped regions before being reflected. The un-overlapped regions are positioned such that the un-overlapped regions receive the light signals but the overlapping regions are positioned between the overlapped region and the light signals so that the overlapping regions receive the light signals before the light signals can be received by the overlapped regions. |
| US08463091B2 |
Methods to reconfigure all-fiber optical cross-connects
This invention discloses methods to reconfigure highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch devices comprised of large numbers of densely packed fiber strands suspended within a common volume. In particular, methods enabling programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100's-1000's) are provided, whereby a two-dimensional input array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule-based fashion into a one-dimensional array. A particular algorithmic implementation for a system reconfigured by a three-axis robotic gripper as well as lateral translation of each row in the input port array is disclosed. |
| US08463086B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device in which light having a wavelength of 1.25 μm or greater is waveguided, includes: a first waveguide of embedded type that includes a semiconductor and is lattice-matched with InP, the first waveguide having a region having a first constant width equal to or greater than 1.50 μm and a first region narrower than the region; and a second waveguide of embedded type that includes another semiconductor having a refractive index different from that of the first waveguide, the second waveguide having a region having a second constant width smaller than 1.50 μm and a second region wider than said region. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are joined at an intermediate waveguide portion. The intermediate waveguide portion includes the first region and the second region and a joining plane on which the first region and the second region are joined. The joining plane has a width equal to or smaller than 1.35 μm. |
| US08463080B1 |
Liquid crystal waveguide having two or more control voltages for controlling polarized light
A waveguide and method for controllably altering an optical phase delay (OPD) of light traveling along a propagation direction through the waveguide. Many embodiments are disclosed, and in one example, a waveguide may include a core for guiding the light through the waveguide; at least one cladding adjacent the core, wherein the at least one cladding has liquid crystal molecules disposed therein; at least one electrode for receiving a first voltage for controllably altering the optical phase delay of the TE polarized light traveling through the waveguide; and at least one electrode for receiving a second voltage for controllably altering the optical phase delay of the TM polarized light traveling through the waveguide. |
| US08463078B2 |
Multi-bank TDI approach for high-sensitivity scanners
An apparatus and method for acquiring image data from a scanned, multi-bank time-delay and integrate (TDI) focal plane array (FPA) detector. Specifically a method and apparatus for warping and combining sequentially-acquired image data of a scene portion from multiple TDI detector banks into a single image having improved image quality, thereby providing improved FPA sensitivity. Also, a method and apparatus for enabling sensitivity and areal rate trade-offs in a multi-bank, scanning TDI FPA based on the number of TDI banks being used for sequential imaging of the same scene portion. |
| US08463074B2 |
System and method for rotating images
A system and method for rotating a source image by a first non-zero angle is provided. The method includes: defining a template for the source image, the template representing a rotation of the source image about an axis of the source image by second angle, where the second angle is the negative of the first non-zero angle; determining overlap between the template and the source image; separating the template into a plurality of strips covering at least the area of overlap; and for each strip: indentifying an initial pixel in the source image within the strip and storing the image data of the initial pixel; storing the image data of all remaining pixels within both the strip and the overlap in a database format in which the all remaining pixels is defined by a Y and X offset from the initial pixel. |
| US08463073B2 |
Robust recovery of transform invariant low-rank textures
A “Transform Invariant Low-Rank Texture” (TILT) Extractor, referred to as a “TILT Extractor” accurately extracts both textural and geometric information defining regions of low-rank planar patterns from 2D images of a scene, thereby enabling a large range of image processing applications. Unlike conventional feature extraction techniques that rely on point-based features, the TILT Extractor extracts texture regions from an image and derives global correlations or transformations of those regions in 3D (e.g., transformations including translation, rotation, reflection, skew, scale, etc.). These image domain transformations inherently provide information relative to an automatically determinable camera viewing direction. In other words, the TILT Extractor extracts low-rank regions and geometric correlations describing domain transforms of those regions relative to arbitrary camera viewpoints. The TILT Extractor also identifies sparse error in image intensity or other color channels resulting from noise, occlusions or other artifacts, thereby allowing elimination or reduction of such errors in images. |
| US08463072B2 |
Determining characteristics of multiple light sources in a digital image
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for determining characteristics of light sources. In one embodiment, an image comprising pixels may be received. The image may be affected by a plurality of light sources including a first light source and a second light source. The first light source and the second light source may overlap. The intensity and direction of each of the plurality of light sources in the image may be determined. In one embodiment, the color of each light source may also be determined. |
| US08463071B2 |
Navigating images using image based geometric alignment and object based controls
Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images. |
| US08463068B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatuses for pixel value correction using multiple vertical and/or horizontal correction curves
Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for approximating vertical and horizontal correction values in a pixel value correction calculation. Multiple vertical and/or horizontal correction curves are used and may be employed for one or more color channels of the imager. The use of multiple correction curves allows for a more accurate approximation of the correction curves for image pixels. |
| US08463067B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving visibility of image
An apparatus and method for improving visibility of an image. The apparatus includes: an image input module receiving an image; an illuminance sensing module sensing external illuminance; a visibility compensating module compensating the input image by mapping the input image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut on the basis of the sensed external illuminance; and an image output module outputting the compensated image. |
| US08463062B2 |
Image transmission apparatus, method, recording medium, image output apparatus and image transmission system including pattern determination unit
A server device compares an image before changing with an image after changing and specifies a difference image that is an image part different between the two images. The server device determines patterns of boxes (rectangles) enclosing the difference image. In image transmission from the server device, the box becomes a macro block being a unit of image compression. The server device specifies from among the patterns of the enclosing box group, an optimal box group that is a pattern of the enclosing box group requiring the shortest response time. The server device sets each of the boxes that make up the specified optimal box group as a unit of macro block, and performs compression coding of the difference image in the set units. The server device transmits partial image information including the compression-coded difference image and the coordinates of the difference image to the client device. |
| US08463061B2 |
Encoding and decoding two-dimensional signal using a wavelet transform
Encoding and decoding devices and methods are provided. All the components of LH, HL, HH sub-band coefficients of the same hierarchy and the same space coordinate are extracted as a set from a wavelet sub-band space. Furthermore, it is judged whether each component of each coefficient is zero and as 1-bit judgment result, the respective judgment results are combined to obtain multi-bit flag information. Upon encoding, firstly, the Huffman information is subjected to variable-length encoding by the Huffman encoding code. After this, only the coefficient values which are not zero are similarly subjected to the variable-length encoding by the Huffman code or the like and outputted. |
| US08463058B2 |
Calculation method for prediction motion vector
A method for calculating a prediction motion vector of a block to be coded, by performing a median operation using motion vectors of neighboring blocks. If one of the neighboring blocks has motion vectors MV1 and MV2, direction (forward or backward) information of reference pictures referred to, respectively, by the motion vectors are acquired and one of the motion vectors is selected with reference to the acquired direction information. Then, the median operation including the selected motion vector is performed to obtain the prediction motion vector of the block to be coded. |
| US08463056B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method that decode a portion of a code stream
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a partial decoder configured to decode a portion of a first code stream representative of coded image data into baseband image data; and an encoder configured to encode the baseband image data from the partial decoder into a second code stream having a format converted from the format of the first code stream, wherein the encoder encodes the baseband image data using a target value for parameters with respect to the second code stream, into the second code stream having the format thereof, and the partial decoder determines the portion to be decoded of the first code stream, using the target value, and decodes the determined portion of the first code stream. |
| US08463051B2 |
Modeling images as mixtures of image models
A system and method for generating an image representation are provided. The image is modeled as a set of mixture weights, one for each of a set of reference image models, such as Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). The weights are derived by optimizing an objective function in which each reference image model is associated with its respective weight. |
| US08463048B2 |
Method and an apparatus for difference measurement of an image
In a method and apparatus for difference measurement of an image, the image is detected by an image sensor array having (N×N) sensor elements, wherein N=2n, n≧2, and n being an integer number, each detected sample value is read as a positive or as a negative sample value according to a sign control pattern from a pattern control unit, and measurement values are generated for measurement template blocks of the image sensor array by a computing unit which computes for each measurement template block a weighted sum of the read sample values of the respective measurement template sensor elements depending on a predetermined measurement template. A measurement template block is, provided for at least four adjacent sensor elements of the image sensor array. The method/apparatus can be used in any kind of digital camera and allows for a fast generation of image data with a hardware implementation of low complexity. |
| US08463046B2 |
Beta-shape: compact structure for topology among spheres defining blending surface of sphere set and method of constructing same
There is provided a beta-shape, which is a compact structure for topology among spheres defining a blending surface of a sphere set. There is also provided a method of constructing the beta-shape, comprising: acquiring a Voronoi diagram of spheres; searching for partially accessible Voronoi edges; and obtaining faces of the beta-shape from the partially accessible Voronoi edges. Further, there is provided a method of utilizing the beta-shape to recognize pockets, which comprises the steps of acquiring the beta-shapes, and recognizing the pockets from the beta-shapes. |
| US08463044B2 |
Method and device of detecting object in image and system including the device
The present invention provides a method for detecting a specific object in an image to be detected, including: a feature extraction step for extracting an image feature of the image to be detected; and a detection step for detecting detection windows with various sizes of the image to be detected according to the extracted image feature by using classifiers with various sizes corresponding to at least a part of the detection windows with various sizes, so as to determine the presence and location of a specific object in the image to be detected. The invention further provides an object detection device and a system including the device. The method, device and system for detecting a specific object in an image to be detected can improve the precision and increase the speed of the object detection. |
| US08463043B2 |
Feature design for character recognition
An exemplary method for online character recognition of characters includes acquiring time sequential, online ink data for a handwritten character, conditioning the ink data to produce conditioned ink data where the conditioned ink data includes information as to writing sequence of the handwritten character and extracting features from the conditioned ink data where the features include a tangent feature, a curvature feature, a local length feature, a connection point feature and an imaginary stroke feature. Such a method may determine neighborhoods for ink data and extract features for each neighborhood. An exemplary character recognition system may use various exemplary methods for training and character recognition. |
| US08463038B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for correcting an image based upon features of the image
An image processing apparatus includes a division unit configured to divide an image into a plurality of areas, a calculation unit configured to calculate a feature amount for each division area, an area category determination unit configured to determine for each division area at least a night scene category or an under-exposure category based on the calculated feature amount, an entire category determination unit configured to determine a category of the entire image based on the result of category determination, and a processing unit configured to perform correction processing on the image based on the result of category determination by the entire category determination unit. |
| US08463029B2 |
Face and head detection
An image processing apparatus includes a face detection unit configured to detect a face area of a person from an image, and a head detection area setting unit configured to set a head detection area based on the detected face area of the person. An edge detection unit is configured to detect an edge from the set head detection area, and to generate an edge image which is comprised of the detected edge. An edge deletion unit is configured to delete an edge existing between the face and hair from the edge image, and an ellipse detection unit is configured to detect a candidate ellipse corresponding to a head area from an edge image from which an edge is deleted by the edge deletion unit. |
| US08463028B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read image data, a recognition unit configured to recognize a color of a handwritten portion designating a region in the image data and to recognize processing associated with the color of the handwritten portion, a display unit configured to display the recognized color and a content of the processing associated with the color, and a changing unit configured to change an association between the recognized color and the recognized content of the processing. |
| US08463027B2 |
Information processing apparatus determining group corresponding to input spectral data
An error calculation unit calculates a difference between approximate spectral data obtained by approximating input spectral data using principal component data and the input spectral data for each of a plurality of groups. An error determination unit determines to which of a plurality of groups the input spectral data belongs based on a comparison result by the error calculation unit. |
| US08463023B2 |
Enhanced input using flashing electromagnetic radiation
Enhanced input using flashing electromagnetic radiation, in which first and second images of an object are accessed. The first image being captured while the object is illuminated with projected electromagnetic radiation, and the second image being captured while the projected electromagnetic radiation is extinguished. A position of the object relative to the screen based on comparing the first and second images is determined. An application is controlled based on the determined position. |
| US08463022B2 |
Stereoscopic format converter
A device and method for converting one stereoscopic format into another. A software-enabled matrix is used to set forth predefined relationships between one type of format as an input image and another type of format as an output image. The matrix can then be used as a look-up table that defines a correspondence between input pixels and output pixels for the desired format conversion. |
| US08463020B1 |
Centralized immersive image rendering for thin client
A method and/or system for performing computationally intensive processing associated with rendering and displaying an immersive image in an immersive view server and performing minimal or no additional processing at a viewer device. The viewer devices send viewing parameters to the immersive view server. In response, the immersive view server generates and sends images that may be part of the immersive image for display in viewports of the viewer devices. The viewer devices receive and display the image received from the server without or with minimal additional processing of the received images. The immersive view server and the viewer devices need only communicate view parameters and images corresponding to the viewport. Resource intensive processing is performed at the immersive view server. Hence, minimal computational and memory resources are required at the viewer device to display the immersive image. |
| US08463019B2 |
Pseudo 3D image generation device, image encoding device, image encoding method, image transmission method, image decoding device, and image decoding method
A pseudo 3D image generation device includes frame memories that store a plurality of basic depth models used for estimating depth data based on a non-3D image signal and generating a pseudo 3D image signal; a depth model combination unit that combines the plurality of basic depth models for generating a composite depth model based on a control signal indicating composite percentages for combining the plurality of basic depth models; an addition unit that generates depth estimation data from the non-3D image signal and the composite depth models; and a texture shift unit that shifts the texture of the non-3D image for generating the pseudo 3D image signal. |
| US08463017B2 |
Method for minimising shrinkage and warpage in rotomoulding applications
The present invention discloses a method for mapping and controlling the three-dimensional shrinkage and warpage occurring in rotomoulding applications. |
| US08463016B2 |
Extending the field of view of a mask-inspection image
A technique for determining photo-mask defect disposition is described. In this technique, a target mask pattern is used to expand an initial region in a photo-mask that is included in an initial mask-inspection image. In particular, a revised mask-inspection image that includes the initial region and a region surrounding the initial region is generated based on the initial mask-inspection image and the target mask pattern. Then a corresponding simulated mask pattern is calculated in an inverse optical calculation using the revised mask-inspection image and an optical model of the mask-inspection system. This simulated mask pattern is used to simulate a wafer pattern in a photo-lithographic process, and disposition of a possible defect in the initial region is subsequently determined based on the simulated wafer pattern and a target wafer pattern. |
| US08463014B2 |
Optimal rotational trajectory determination for RA based on pre-determined optimal view map
A method for determining an optimal trajectory for 3-dimensional rotational X-ray coronary angiography for a C-arm X-ray system that has at least two degrees of freedom, where the C-arm X-ray system is defined by a rotational movement of the C-arm expressed in a left/right coronary artery oblique angle, and a roll motion of the C-arm expressed in a caudal/cranial angle. The method includes generating of a 3-dimensional representation of a center-line of a body vessel in a region of interest. generating at least one optimal view map. Further, an optimal trajectory for the X-ray system within the optimal view map is determined, where an optimal trajectory is at least determined by movements of the C-arm within its two degrees of freedom allowing image projections with minimal foreshortening and/or overlap while minimizing an exposure to X-rays. |
| US08463009B2 |
Evaluation method for a series of image data sets with two-fold elastic distortion of the image data sets
A series of image data sets of a region of an organism is acquired while the acquired region of the organism moves dependent on breathing and heartbeat, and supplied to a processor. The processor determines a first contour that moves depending on the breathing in the acquired image data sets. The acquired image data sets are distorted elastically in the processor into singly distorted image data sets such that the first contours of the singly distorted image data sets spatially correspond with one another. A second contour is determined in the processor in the acquired image data sets or in the singly distorted image data sets, this second contour moves depending on the heartbeat. The singly distorted image data sets are distorted elastically into doubly distorted image data sets such that the second contours of the doubly distorted image data sets spatially correspond with one another. Regions of the doubly distorted image data sets that spatially correspond to one another are evaluated in the processor across image data sets. |
| US08463006B2 |
System and method for using three dimensional infrared imaging to provide detailed anatomical structure maps
Calibrated infrared and range imaging sensors are used to produce a true-metric three-dimensional (3D) surface model of any body region within the fields of view of both sensors. Curvilinear surface features in both modalities are caused by internal and external anatomical elements. They are extracted to form 3D Feature Maps that are projected onto the skin surface. Skeletonized Feature Maps define subpixel intersections that serve as anatomical landmarks to aggregate multiple images for models of larger regions of the body, and to transform images into precise standard poses. Features are classified by origin, location, and characteristics to produce annotations that are recorded with the images and feature maps in reference image libraries. The system provides an enabling technology for searchable medical image libraries. |
| US08463003B2 |
Biometric information acquisition apparatus, biometric authentication apparatus, light guide, and image acquisition apparatus
A biometric information acquisition apparatus includes: a light guide that guides a light beam through a plurality of light reflective surfaces; and an image pickup unit that receives the light beam output from the light guide and captures a subject image. The light guide includes an input surface that receives the subject image and is provided at a front surface side; a first light reflective surface that is opposed to the input surface and is provided at a back surface side; and a second light reflective surface that extends in a thickness direction of the light guide. A subject image can be acquired within a desired range by employing the light guide, while suppressing an increase in size of the biometric information acquisition apparatus. |
| US08463000B1 |
Content identification based on a search of a fingerprint database
Surrogate heuristic identification is described, including an interface configured to present data associated with content and a fingerprint, wherein the content and the fingerprint are compared to another fingerprint using heuristic data, and a plurality of panels presented within the interface, wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to present other data generated from one or more functions performed by a logic module, wherein the one or more functions are associated with comparing the content and the fingerprint to the another fingerprint. |
| US08462996B2 |
Method and system for measuring human response to visual stimulus based on changes in facial expression
The present invention is a method and system for measuring human emotional response to visual stimulus, based on the person's facial expressions. Given a detected and tracked human face, it is accurately localized so that the facial features are correctly identified and localized. Face and facial features are localized using the geometrically specialized learning machines. Then the emotion-sensitive features, such as the shapes of the facial features or facial wrinkles, are extracted. The facial muscle actions are estimated using a learning machine trained on the emotion-sensitive features. The instantaneous facial muscle actions are projected to a point in affect space, using the relation between the facial muscle actions and the affective state (arousal, valence, and stance). The series of estimated emotional changes renders a trajectory in affect space, which is further analyzed in relation to the temporal changes in visual stimulus, to determine the response. |
| US08462994B2 |
Methods and systems for providing enhanced security over, while also facilitating access through, secured points of entry
Systems and methods provide the verification of a registered user with authorized access through a point of entry in coordination with registered user profile information obtained from a remote server after preliminary identification of the registered user based on an identification number obtained wirelessly from an RFID tag carried by the registered user when the user is located near a point of entry. Registered user profile information including at least one of a photograph, biometric template, and a user name can be obtained by a computer at a point of entry from a remote server after preliminary identification of the user based on an identification number wirelessly provided to a RFID reader from a RFID carried by a registered user when the user is located near a point of entry such as, for example, a sports venue, border crossing or access point to a secured facility. |
| US08462990B2 |
Infrared-ray thermal image analyzer
The IR camera (10) takes an IR thermal image of a surface of the structure (40). In the IR thermal image, temperature gradient is superposed besides temperature difference between non-defective and defective regions of the structure. The image processing unit (21) of the analysis unit (20) produces an image indicating distribution of a temperature variation other than a temperature gradient by extracting the distribution of the temperature variation from the IR thermal image. The image display unit (30) displays the image produced by the image processing unit (21). Since the distribution of the temperature variation other than the temperature gradient is extracted from the IR thermal image, a temperature difference between defective and non-defective regions in the structure (40) can be clearly displayed. Therefore, even if there exists a temperature gradient on the structure surface, the defect location in the structure can be easily determined. |
| US08462987B2 |
Detecting multiple moving objects in crowded environments with coherent motion regions
Coherent motion regions extend in time as well as space, enforcing consistency in detected objects over long time periods and making the algorithm robust to noisy or short point tracks. As a result of enforcing the constraint that selected coherent motion regions contain disjoint sets of tracks defined in a three-dimensional space including a time dimension. An algorithm operates directly on raw, unconditioned low-level feature point tracks, and minimizes a global measure of the coherent motion regions. At least one discrete moving object is identified in a time series of video images based on the trajectory similarity factors, which is a measure of a maximum distance between a pair of feature point tracks. |
| US08462986B2 |
Encoding and decoding data in an image for social networking communication
A printed medium comprises an encoded image, the encoded image including a value encoded therein, wherein the value is referenced to at least a marketing database and an associated social networking environment and wherein the value further enables communication through the social networking environment. |
| US08462985B2 |
Video evaluation apparatus, spatio-temporal frequency analyzing apparatus, video evaluation method, spatio-temporal frequency analyzing method, video evaluation program, and spatio-temporal frequency analyzing program
A video evaluation apparatus and video evaluation method capable of appropriately evaluating a video including of a plurality of frame images, using an objective standard. A reference characteristic, which is a predetermined spatio-temporal frequency characteristic about a video, is stored, and a video characteristic analyzer calculates a spatio-temporal frequency characteristic of a target video including a plurality of frame images. Then a video evaluation determiner calculates an evaluated value of the target video, based on a relative relation between the calculated spatio-temporal frequency characteristic and the stored reference characteristic. |
| US08462979B2 |
Optoelectronic angle sensor and method for determining a rotational angle about an axis
The invention relates to an optoelectronic angle sensor (1a) for determining a rotational angle about an axis (6), comprising a circular disk (2a) that can be rotated about the axis. Said circular disk comprises a coding, essentially over the entire surface, a flat photosensitive detector (3a), a device for producing an evaluable image of the coding on the detector and a memory and evaluation component (4a) for determining the rotational angle. A largely complete, or in particular an entire image of the coding is produced on the detector. The rotational angle is determined using a parameter-varying stochastic comparison method, from the image and a parameterised electronic reference pattern that is provided by means of the memory and evaluation component. |
| US08462977B2 |
Loudspeaker with magnetic elements fixedly provided on diaphragm
The present invention is to provide a loudspeaker, which includes a frame having a through hole centrally provided at a bottom side thereof, a coil tube with a coil unit fixedly mounted around the outer periphery thereof and having a first end fixed to the through hole and a second end received in a receiving space of the frame, a diaphragm attached to periphery of an opening of the frame, and a plurality of oppositely oriented magnetic elements fixed on the diaphragm, wherein every two adjacent magnetic elements are spaced apart by an appropriate distance, and the magnetic elements are located in the coil tube at positions that magnetic lines generated by the coil unit are highly concentrated. Since vibration of the magnetic elements caused by the magnetic forces generated from the coil unit is enhanced, output power of the loudspeaker will increase accordingly. |
| US08462976B2 |
Voice conference system
A voice conference system has a first voice-conference device having a speaker directed toward a first conferee and a second speaker directed toward a second conferee in one talk session room, and a second voice-conference device having a speaker directed to a third conferee and a fourth speaker directed toward a fourth conferee in another talk session room. When the first conferee talks, voice collecting beam signals picked up by microphones of the one voice conference device in excess of a predetermined threshold value are selected. The one voice conference device acquires voice collecting direction information, and then transmits voice communication data containing the voice collecting beam signal and the acquired voice collecting direction information to the another voice conference device, which acquires the voice collecting direction information from the received voice communication data, and emits the voice of the first conferee from the first speaker. |
| US08462971B2 |
Ear mold with adapter seal
When external receivers are used in hearing devices there is a need to suppress feedback further. An ear mold with a receiver is therefore proposed, having a receiver connector including a first snap-fit element at the sound outlet. An adapter is inserted directly into the ear mold and has a second snap-fit element, which is snapped into the first snap-fit element in a manner such that it can be released. A seal, which surrounds the receiver connector completely, is made of a more elastic material than the receiver connector and the adapter and is fitted between the receiver connector and the adapter. It is thus possible to secure the receiver in the ear mold in an acoustically sealed manner, so that there is less feedback. The seal however also ensures that less dirt reaches the receiver. |
| US08462970B2 |
Audio encoding and decoding method and associated audio encoder, audio decoder and computer programs
The invention relates to a method for ordering spectral parameters of ambisonic components to be encoded (A1, . . . , AQ) originating from an audio scene comprising N signals (Sii=1 to N), in which N>1, comprising the following steps: calculation of the respective influence of at least some spectral parameters, taken from a set of spectral parameters to be ordered, on an angle vector defined as a function of energy and velocity vectors associated with Gerzon's criteria and calculated as a function of a reverse ambisonic transformation in relation to said quantified ambisonic components; and allocation of a precedence order to at least one spectral parameter as a function of the influence calculated for said spectral parameter compared to the other calculated influences. |
| US08462965B2 |
Thermoacoustic module, thermoacoustic device, and method for making the same
A thermoacoustic module includes a substrate, at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located on the substrate, a cover board spaced from the substrate, and a sound wave generator. The cover board defines a plurality of openings. The sound wave generator is located between the cover board and the substrate. The sound wave generator is electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The sound wave generator is capable of causing a thermoacoustic effect. |
| US08462962B2 |
Sound processor, sound processing method and recording medium storing sound processing program
A sound processor includes a conversion unit converts a reference sound signal corresponding to a base of sound to be output and an observation sound signal based on each of sound signals output by a plurality of sound receiving units into frequency components, an echo suppression unit estimates echo derived from sound based on a converted reference sound signal and suppressing the estimated echo in a converted observation sound signal, a noise suppression unit estimates noise based on an arrival direction of sound and suppressing the estimated noise in the converted observation sound signal and an integrating process unit suppresses, with respect to each frequency component, echo and noise in the converted sound signal based on a observation sound signal obtained after echo suppression and a observation sound signal obtained after noise suppression. |
| US08462958B2 |
Apparatus and method for computing filter coefficients for echo suppression
A preferred embodiment of an apparatus for computing filter coefficients for an adaptive filter for filtering a microphone signal so as to suppress an echo due to a loudspeaker signal includes an extractor for extracting a stationary component signal or a non-stationary component signal from the loudspeaker signal or from a signal derived from the loudspeaker signal, and a computer for computing the filter coefficients for the adaptive filter on the basis of the extracted stationary component signal or the extracted non-stationary component signal. |
| US08462957B2 |
Hearing aid and method of controlling volume of hearing aid
A hearing aid (101) comprises a microphone (121) converting sound into an electrical signal, a processor (105) disposed inside a main body case (102), a first volume adjuster (104) having a variable resistor, and a receiver (123) converting an electrical signal into sound. The processor (105) has an amplifier (135) amplifying an electrical signal from the microphone (121), a second volume adjuster (105b) setting a degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and a controller (130) controlling the second volume adjuster (105b) and the amplifier (135). The controller (130) detects the resistance value of the variable resistor, determines whether or not the resistance value has exceeded a specific threshold, acquires a specific value for the degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and sets the degree of amplification by the amplifier (135) to this specific value when the controller determines that the resistance value has exceeded the specific threshold. |
| US08462956B2 |
Earhealth monitoring system and method IV
A system for monitoring sound pressure levels at the ear includes an ambient sound microphone (ASM) for receiving ambient sounds and an ear canal microphone (ECM) for producing audio signals as a function of ambient sound received at the ambient sound microphone and a sound signal received from an associated personal audio device. A logic circuit is operatively associated with the ASM and ECM calculates a total SPL_Dose experienced by the ear at a time t. The total SPL_Dose is calculated by determining SPL_Dose for periods Δt as measured at the ECM. The logic circuit may select an action parameter in response to the Total SPL_Dose. |
| US08462947B2 |
Managing user access in a communications network
A method of operating a node for performing handover between access networks wherein a user has authenticated for network access in a first access network. The method comprises receiving from a home network a first session key and a temporary identifier allocated to the user for the duration of a communication session. The identifier is mapped to the first session key, and the mapped identifier and key are stored at the node. A second session key is derived from the first session key and the second session key is sent to an access network, and the identifier sent to a user terminal. When the user subsequently moves to a second access network, the node receives the identifier from the user terminal. The node then retrieves the first session key mapped to the received identifier, derives a third session key and sends the third session key to the second access network. |
| US08462946B2 |
Apparatus and method for storing and reading a file having a media data container and metadata container
An apparatus for recording a file having a related media data container and a metadata container, the apparatus a receiver for receiving first data packets having packetized first media data samples based on a first clock, and for receiving second data packets having second media data samples based on a second clock different from the first clock, wherein the second media data samples are associated to the first media data samples, and for receiving first control packets including information for indicating a relationship of the first clock to a reference clock and for receiving second control packets including information for indicating a relationship of the second clock to the reference clock, and a recorder for storing the received first and second data packets and at least a portion of the received first and second control packets in the media data container, and for storing associated metadata in the metadata container, the associated metadata having timing information of the received first and second data packets and the received first and second control packets and location information indicating a location of the stored first and second data packets and the stored first and second control packets in the media data container. |
| US08462944B2 |
Method of public key generation
A potential bias in the generation of a private key is avoided by selecting the key and comparing it against the system parameters. If a predetermined condition is attained it is accepted. If not it is rejected and a new key is generated. |
| US08462939B2 |
RNS-based cryptographic system and method
The RNS-based cryptographic system and method uses a symmetric residue number system (RNS) for encryption and decryption of messages, i.e., the sender and receiver agree upon a set of relatively prime numbers, referred to as the basis, whose product is an integer, and both the RNS and the integer are kept secret. To break the cipher, an attacker must factor the secret integer, which is unknown to the attacker, given only the upper bound of the unknown integer, a problem referred to as blind factorization of the unknown integer, which is a computationally hard problem. The method may be combined with a discrete logarithm problem, and the ciphertext may be padded with random values to hide the upper bound of the unknown integer. When the ciphertext requires multiple blocks, subsets of the basis and/or the random number padding may be used to prevent collision attacks. |
| US08462937B2 |
Power supply with digital control loop
One embodiment of a power supply apparatus includes a first switcher coupled to provide VOUT from a VSUPPLY. A cascaded second switcher is coupled to provide a subscriber line interface circuit target VBAT from VOUT, wherein the first switcher is placed in one of an active mode and an inactive mode in accordance with a function of VSUPPLY and VBAT, wherein in the active mode VOUT VSUPPLY ≥ 1 , wherein in the inactive mode VOUT≈VSUPPLY. |
| US08462934B1 |
System, method, and computer readable medium for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform in order to receive a customer call
A system and method for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform in order to receive a customer call. The system may include a web server call notification module that receives an automatic number identification and information relating to an establishment whose phone number was dialed, and a virtual automated call distributor (VACD). Further, the system may include an interactive voice response (IVR) system that requests an agent's identification from the VACD, wherein the VACD and the web server are coupled to the IVR system, and wherein the VACD selects the agent's identification and routes a customer's information to an agent desktop environment (ADE) coupled to the VACD. Also included may be an access platform that receives the customer's information and updates an ADE phone control state session on an agent's desktop, wherein the customer's information is routed to the ADE environment through a message transfer layer. |
| US08462931B2 |
Monitoring signal path quality in a conference call
It is recognized in the disclosed technique that the way impairments on a conference call are diagnosed and handled in the prior art can sometimes be as distracting as the impairments themselves. The disclosed technique attempts to address some of the disadvantages in the prior art by monitoring the signal path quality on a conference call and, based on the quality of the signals received, performing one or more actions that are intended to minimize distractions while handling the impairments. In particular, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the technique performs a multi-threshold evaluation of media signals that are received at a conferencing server. If a measure of the impairment being considered exceeds a first threshold, but not a higher second threshold, then a first set of actions is taken to handle the impairment. If the measure exceeds the second threshold, then a more-extreme second set of actions is taken. |
| US08462925B2 |
User-defined identity mapping for directed communications
Methods and systems for mapping user-defined identities in data communication networks. By mapping and translating identities based on a calling party identifier, a called party identifier, and the carrier instance, enhanced communication services are enabled. Enhanced communication services offer virtual private phone numbers, shared group numbers, and interconnection between different voice and messaging services and applications. |
| US08462924B2 |
Method and device for generating phone bill
The present invention discloses a method and a device for generating a phone bill, which is applied to a charging system in the communication field, wherein the method comprises a preprocessing process and a process of combining phone bills, wherein in the preprocessing process, the charging system uses multiple threads for preprocessing a plurality of service logs simultaneously, and each service log is preprocessed to generate one or more intermediate phone bills, wherein information in the service log is converted into information required for the intermediate phone bills when performing preprocessing, and a single thread is used for processing in the process of combining phone bills to generate required phone bills one by one, and during each process of generating a phone bill, the charging system collects and combines the intermediate phone bills required for generating present phone bill, accomplishes encoding record serial numbers and file serial numbers, and generates one phone bill. The present invention reduces the processing complexity while guaranteeing the processing capacity of the system. |
| US08462921B2 |
Efficiency report incorporating communication switch statistics
Systems and methods for generating an efficiency report, which in one embodiment among many, can be broadly summarized by a representative method of obtaining a set of switching statistics from a database of a communication switch and integrating this set of switching statistics with a set of work statistics of an operator to generate an efficiency report. Another embodiment can be described as an efficiency report generator that has logic configured to receive an operator work statistic that has been generated in a first computing element using a first entry code, to translate the first entry code into a second entry code, to use this second entry code to store the operator work statistic together with a call statistic received from a communication switch, in a database of the efficiency report generator, and to process these statistics to generate an efficiency report. |
| US08462920B2 |
Registration, verification and notification system
A registrant provides at least one registrant electronic contact, such as a telephone number, during a registration process. The registrant's information may be compared to a database of such information. The registrant is verified by establishing a connection with the registrant via the registrant contact. The verification code is communicated to the registrant, which is input into an on-line form. Notification events are established, and the registrant is notified of the occurrence of a previously established notification event by establishing a connection with the registrant via the registrant contact. |
| US08462918B2 |
Method and system for managing interactive communications campaigns with text messaging
A messaging platform includes a text messaging subsystem that includes a suite of enhancements that facilitate implementation of a multi-channel communications strategy with high level and fine-grained control over outbound message creation or inbound message handling. |
| US08462917B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically building conversational systems
A system and method provides a natural language interface to world-wide web content. Either in advance or dynamically, webpage content is parsed using a parsing algorithm. A person using a telephone interface can provide speech information, which is converted to text and used to automatically fill in input fields on a webpage form. The form is then submitted to a database search and a response is generated. Information contained on the responsive webpage is extracted and converted to speech via a text-to-speech engine and communicated to the person. |
| US08462913B2 |
Detection of X-ray scattering
A radiation detecting apparatus includes a collimator and a detector, the collimator having a material for blocking radiation and a region that is a sector of an annulus or multiple regions in a configuration in the shape of a sector of an annulus for allowing transmission of the radiation. The detector is spaced a distance from the collimator such that when a radiation source and sample crystal material are positioned at suitable positions, the radiation is collimated by the collimator and contacts the sample a predetermined distance from the detector at multiple of locations corresponding to the region or regions of the collimator. The Bragg diffracted radiation from the crystal material at two or more and preferably all of the locations overlap at the detector. |
| US08462908B2 |
Digital phase locked loop circuitry and methods
Phase locked loop circuitry operates digitally, to at least a large extent, to select from a plurality of phase-distributed candidate clock signals the signal that is closest in phase to transitions in another signal such as a clock data recovery (“CDR”) signal. The circuitry is constructed and operated to avoid glitches in the output clock signal that might otherwise result from changes in selection of the candidate clock signal. Frequency division of the candidate clock signals may be used to help the circuitry support serial communication at bit rates below frequencies that an analog portion of the phase locked loop circuitry can economically provide. Over-transmission or over-sampling may be used on the transmit side for similar reasons. |
| US08462907B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce wander for network timing reference distribution
A network component comprising a first adaptation component, a second adaptation component, a system Phase-Locked-Loop (PLL) coupled to the first adaptation component, a comparison and voting logic component coupled to the first adaptation component and the system PLL component, a compensation logic component coupled to the comparison and voting logic component, and a positive/negative delay component coupled to the second adaptation component and the compensation logic component. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a comparison and voting logic function block configured to compare a plurality of internal timing references in a system PLL synchronization area, a compensation logic function block configured to calculate an offset value if any of the internal references substantially deviates from an expected value in a deterministic outcome, and a delay function block configured to add the calculated offset value to a timing reference that is forwarded to a subsequent node. |
| US08462906B1 |
Apparatus and methods for detection and correction of transmitter duty cycle distortion
One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes a transmitter buffer circuit, a duty cycle distortion (DCD) detector, correction logic, and a duty cycle adjuster. The DCD detector is configured to selectively couple to the serial output of the transmitter buffer circuit. The correction logic is configured to generate control signals based on the output of the DCD detector. The duty cycle adjuster is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the serial input signal based on the control signals. Another embodiment relates to a method of correcting duty cycle distortion in a transmitter. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US08462905B2 |
Receiver circuit
A first phase adjustment circuit adjusts phases of a data decision clock signal and a first boundary decision clock signal according to a phase adjustment amount based on an output signal of a data decision circuit and an output signal of a first boundary decision circuit. A second phase adjustment circuit adjusts a phase of a second boundary decision clock signal according to a result of adding the phase adjustment amount and a phase adjustment amount offset. An adaptive equalization control circuit adjusts an equalization coefficient of an equalization circuit according to a data width of an output signal of the equalization circuit based on a logical comparison result between the output signal of the data decision circuit and an output signal of a second boundary decision circuit when the phase adjustment amount offset is changed. |
| US08462904B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhancing channel estimation
A noisy frequency-domain channel estimate enhancer includes an over-sampler configured to transform the noisy frequency-domain channel estimate into a time-domain channel estimate that is virtually over-sampled by an integer factor m. The over-sampler is connected to a de-interleaver configured to divide the time-domain channel estimate into m de-interleaved sub-vectors. The de-interleaver is connected to a suppressor configured to suppress noisy taps from each de-interleaved sub-vectors to form m noise suppressed sub-vectors. The suppressor is connected to a selector configured to select a noise suppressed sub-vector associated with a highest signal-to-noise ratio. The selector is connected to a discrete Fourier transformer configured to transform the selected noise suppressed sub-vector into a noise suppressed preliminary frequency-domain channel estimate. The discrete Fourier transformer is connected to a phase-shifter configured to phase-adjust the taps of the noise suppressed preliminary frequency-domain channel estimate to form an enhanced frequency-domain channel estimate. |
| US08462902B1 |
Interference control in a broadband powerline communication system
A broadband powerline communication system makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve system performance. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. In order to avoid interference, certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be selectively masked based on the determination. The spectrum characteristics may be determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used. |
| US08462900B2 |
Reception device, integrated circuit, and reception method
An OFDM demodulation unit 13 transforms transmission signals in the time domain into demodulation vectors Y in the frequency domain; an equalization unit 14 estimates channel response vectors H′ based on the demodulation vectors Y, and calculates equalization vectors X′ by equalizing the demodulation vectors Y based on the estimated channel response vectors H′; and an interference removal unit 15 calculates error component vectors indicating error components pertaining to ISI and ICI related to the demodulation vectors Y, based on the equalization vectors X′ and the channel response vectors H′, generates demodulation vectors Y′ by removing the error component vectors from the demodulation vectors Y, and outputs the generated demodulation vectors Y′. |
| US08462897B1 |
Nonlinear detectors for channels with signal-dependent noise
A non-linear detector for detecting signals with signal-dependent noise is disclosed. The detector may choose a data sequence that maximizes the conditional probability of detecting the channel data. Since the channel may be time-varying and the precise channel characteristics may be unknown, the detector may adapt one or more branch metric parameters before sending the parameters to a loading block. In the loading block, the branch metric parameters may be normalized and part of the branch metric may be pre-computed to reduce the complexity of the detector. The loading block may then provide the branch metric parameters and any pre-computation to the detector. The detector may then calculate the branch metric associated with the input signal and output the channel data. |
| US08462894B2 |
Receiver circuit and receiver apparatus including the same
In a receiver circuit, an analog signal processor frequency-converts an input high frequency signal into a baseband signal, and performs low pass filtering at a cutoff frequency below a desired-wave band. An ADC converts an output of the analog signal processor into a digital signal. A digital signal processor compensates an output of the ADC for a signal component in the desired-wave band which has been attenuated by the filtering operation of the analog signal processor. |
| US08462889B2 |
Oversampling digital receiver for radio-frequency signals
A system and method for receiving a RF signal, comprising a device for digitizing, without prior alteration of frequency, an analog RF representation of each of a plurality of RF signals to produce a respective plurality of digital RF signals having a respective associated RF digital clock, the plurality of digital RF signals having a sufficiently high respective associated clock rate to preserve an information content of an information communication present in the analog RF representation; a switch matrix adapted to concurrently switch the plurality of digital RF signals and associated digital RF clock to ones of a plurality of digital signal processors; and a control adapted to selectively automatically control the concurrent switching of a plurality of digital signals and associated digital clock to the respective plurality of digital signal processors; wherein the digital signal processors produce processed representations of information contained in respective analog RF representations. |
| US08462886B2 |
Mobile wireless terminal device and base station search method
According to one embodiment, a mobile wireless terminal device includes a receiver detecting a beacon and a communication module detecting a base station identification. The receiver comprises an accumulation module accumulating levels of a sampling received wireless signal to obtain a reception profile, a correlation module detecting a shift amount maximizing a correlation between a present reception profile and a past reception profile, a first detector detecting a beacon, when a difference between the detected shift amount and a default amount is larger than a predetermined amount, in accordance with a difference between a shifted profile by the default amount, and the present reception profile, and a second detector which detects a beacon, when the difference is not larger than the predetermined amount, in accordance with a difference between a shifted profile by the detected shift amount, and the present reception profile. |
| US08462883B2 |
Transmission apparatus and method of controlling the same
A transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes: a baseband signal generator; a local oscillator; a modulator that generates a modulation signal by multiplying a baseband signal by a carrier wave signal including a local oscillation frequency; a power amplifier that amplifies the modulation signal; a filter having a pass bandwidth that is narrower than a frequency bandwidth that can be set or emerge in the local oscillator and removes at least a part of unwanted component generated in association with the modulation signal that is amplified; and a frequency bandwidth inside/outside decision unit that decides that the local oscillation frequency is out of a predetermined bandwidth. The transmission apparatus controls one of the baseband signal generator and the local oscillator to reduce the modulation signal when it is decided by the frequency bandwidth inside/outside decision unit that the local oscillation frequency is out of the predetermined bandwidth. |
| US08462881B2 |
Method for digitally predistorting a payload signal and radio station incorporating the method
A radio station providing a digital predistortion to be imposed on a payload signal is disclosed. The digital predistortion is usable as a digital predistortion for one or more of the transmit paths of the radio station. The radio station provides coupled transmit signals to be switched as a selected one of the coupled transmit signals along a common feedback path. A digital predistortion update unit is adapted to update the digital predistortions in order to linearise a transfer characteristics of the transmit paths according to a hierarchy of the transmit paths. A method of digitally predistorting a payload signal in order to linearise a transmit characteristics of the transmit paths is disclosed. |
| US08462880B2 |
System and method for transmitter electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction
A device for Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) reduction in an Ethernet system has an Ethernet compatible device. The Ethernet compatible device has a filter for adjusting a signal outputted by the Ethernet compatible device for EMI reduction. |
| US08462878B2 |
Method for transmitting signals for achieving diversity gain
A method for transmitting signals for achieving diversity gain is provided. In a communication system having multiple independent transmission paths, a signal is transmitted by mapping it to different independent transmission paths at initial transmission and at retransmission, thereby obtaining diversity gain. Especially, real and ideal components of a transmission signal are mapped to different transmission paths, thereby obtaining additional gain. |
| US08462875B2 |
Timing regenerating device
A timing regenerating device regenerates a process timing for demodulating a reception signal in a spread spectrum communication system. The timing regenerating device includes a signal extracting unit that extracts a baseband signal from the reception signal on which an inverse spread processing is performed and a reference clock generating unit that converts the baseband signal into an electric power and generates a reference clock for a latch timing of the baseband signal output from the signal extracting unit based on the electric power. |
| US08462874B2 |
Methods and apparatus for minimizing inter-symbol interference in a peer-to-peer network background
The methods and apparatus described herein are used to operate a wireless device. One method of operating a wireless device includes filtering a first set of digital samples using a first filter at a first time to generate a first signal, transmitting the first signal, filtering a second set of digital samples using a second filter at a second time to generate a second signal, and transmitting the second signal. In one embodiment, an apparatus for operating a wireless device includes a processor configured to filter, at a first wireless device, a first set of digital samples using a first filter at a first time to generate a first signal, transmit, from the first wireless device, the first signal, and filter, at the first wireless device, a second set of digital samples using a second filter at a second time to generate a second signal. |
| US08462870B2 |
Multi-antenna communication apparatus and method of multi-antenna communication
A transmitter includes a mapping unit that maps first information data to a first layer and maps second information data a part of which is duplicative of and a part of which is different from the first information data to a second layer, a coding unit that generates transmission data by performing error detection coding and error correction coding on the first and second information data, and a transmitting unit that transmits the transmission data from the antennas corresponding to the respective layers. A receiver includes a reception processing unit that separates received data into layer data, a decoding unit that generates a soft-decision value for each of the layers, a combining unit that combines soft-decision values corresponding to information data mapped to the plurality of layers in duplicate, and a deciding unit that performs hard-decision on the layer data using a soft-decision value. |
| US08462869B2 |
Channel information prediction system and channel information prediction method
Provided is a channel information prediction system which uses a low ray element in a transformation MIMO CSI to calculate a first prediction filter coefficient. By using the obtained first prediction filter coefficient, the system executes a first prediction for predicting channel information upon a radio signal transmission in the future and suppresses a component of the ray contained in the low ray element. By using the low ray component in which the ray component is suppressed, the system executes a second prediction for predicting channel information upon a radio signal transmission in the future. |
| US08462865B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting a sub-channel signal in a communication system using an orthogonal frequency division multiple access scheme
Methods of transmitting an receiving symbols by a Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS) and a Base Station (BS) are provided. The method for receiving symbols by the MSS includes receiving symbols from the BS, wherein the symbols are mapped onto data sub-carriers using a sequence, wherein the sequence includes result values, the result values being generated by applying, to a basic sequence, an offset and a number of cyclic shifting, the basic sequence having a length identical to the number of data sub-carriers. The method for transmitting symbols by the MSS includes transmitting symbols to the BS, wherein the symbols are mapped onto data sub-carriers using a sequence, wherein the sequence includes result values, the result values being generated by applying, to a basic sequence, an offset and a number of cyclic shifting, the basic sequence having a length identical to the number of data sub-carriers. |
| US08462861B2 |
Methods and apparatus for multipath mitigation
Methods and apparatus for mitigating multipath signal interference comprising transmitting a first signal and second signal that is a copy of the first signal, transmitting the first signal centered at a first frequency, transmitting the second signal centered at a second frequency separated from the first frequency by a selected distance, receiving at a receiving node the first and second signals, estimating a signal quality of the received first and second signals, and decoding a first one of the received first and second signals based upon the estimated signal qualities of the received first and second signals. |
| US08462860B2 |
Increased capacity communications systems, methods and/or devices
Communications architectures, systems, devices and/or methods are disclosed that can increase capacity of conventional OFDM/OFDMA systems, devices, methods and/or protocols by as much as 100%. Conventional OFDM/OFDMA transmitter/receiver architectures, methods, systems and/or devices are improved upon via additional signal processing to provide the increased capacity and reduce non-linear distortion effects on higher-order modulation alphabets such as, for example, 256-QAM. |
| US08462857B2 |
Method and receiver for decoding digital information
In a method for decoding digital information, a bit-stream signal comprising binary information is received at a digital receiver utilizing wired communication. The received bit-stream signal is sampled for each binary value at least two different sampling points within an eye pattern associated with the related binary value in order to obtain a hard-bit value for each sampling point. A single soft-bit value for each binary value based on the hard-bit values of the relevant binary value is generated and the bit value of the binary value is determined by subjecting the soft-bit values to a soft-decision algorithm. |
| US08462855B2 |
Method and apparatus for stream parsing and picture location
In one embodiment of the invention, video data is received in a buffer and parsed for a first and second start code to determine whether a complete video picture is present. After failing to identify the second start code, additional video data is added to the buffer and parsed beginning from a subsequent starting point, which is based on the first ending point. |
| US08462854B2 |
Method and device for reconstructing a sequence of video data after transmission over a network
A method of reconstructing a sequence of video data in a receiving device after the video sequence has been transmitted in encoded form over a network, the encoded video sequence comprising containers of encoded video data, wherein the method includes the following steps: determining (809) containers of encoded video data affected by data losses during their transmission over the network, determining (813) the time that would be necessary for decoding said containers of encoded video data affected by data losses if they had not been affected by data losses, allocating (819, 820, 821) the time thus determined to reconstructing video data of the sequence. |
| US08462849B2 |
Reference picture selection for sub-pixel motion estimation
A video coding system includes a prediction module configured to perform multi-reference picture sub-pixel motion estimation. Reference pictures are selected for the sub-pixel motion estimation based on full-pixel motion estimation. A cost function is used to select the reference pictures from one or more groups of reference pictures for a block in a macroblock. The cost is based on full-pixel motion estimation errors and a predicted motion vector for the block. The selected reference pictures are used for sub-pixel motion estimation to get the final motion vector for each block. |
| US08462838B2 |
Programmable SFP or SFP+ module
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a small form factor pluggable (SFP or SFP+) module may include an equalizer and a logic controller. The equalizer may be configured to receive data, provide signal information to a logic controller based on the received data, equalize the data based on equalization instructions received from the logic controller, and transmit the equalized data. The logic controller may be configured to transmit the signal information received from the equalizer receive programming instructions provide the equalization instructions to the equalizer based on the programming instructions, receive control inputs associated with the data, and provide status outputs based on the control inputs and the programming instructions. The SFP or SFP+ module may be configured to plug into a small form factor (SFF) host connector. |
| US08462837B2 |
Constellation-multiplexed transmitter and receiver
A device of dynamic communication of information allows, on the average, non-integer bits per symbol transmission, using a compact code set or a partial response decoding receiver. A stream of selectable predetermined integer bits, e.g., k or k+1 data bits, is grouped into a selectable integer number of bit vectors which then are mapped onto corresponding signal constellations forming transmission symbols. Two or more symbols can be grouped and further encoded, so that a symbol is spread across the two or more symbols being communicated. Sequence estimation using, for example, maximum likelihood techniques, as informed by noise estimates relative to the received signal. Each branch metric in computing the path metric of a considered sequence at the receiver is weighted by the inverse of the noise power. It is desirable that the constellation selection, sequence estimation and noise estimation be performed continuously and dynamically. |
| US08462834B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating and processing transmitter signals
Transmitter signals are modulated with one or more codes which may represent a pulse even though the code(s) are not shaped as pulses. The code(s) may be generated by defining a pulse by its Fourier components, and then adding random phases to the Fourier components. A time-domain signal may then be created, which may serve as the code to be modulated on a carrier wave. Upon reflection of the transmitter signal, the received signal may be processed by a receiver to recover the pulse. The time-of-flight of the transmitter signal can then be determined, enabling distance measurements to be made. |
| US08462833B2 |
Method for acquiring satellite signal and satellite signal receiving device
Methods and apparatuses for acquiring a satellite signal includes generating a differential code using first, second and third segments of a satellite signal received from a positioning satellite, obtaining a correlation value by performing a correlation using the differential code and a replica of the spreading code, and acquiring the satellite signal using the correlation value. The differential code is generated by performing a differential operation on a spreading code from the positioning satellite. |
| US08462829B2 |
System and method for communicating in a lossy environment
A method of wireless communication in a lossy environment entails generating a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) code string that includes a pseudo-noise (PN) sequence followed by instances of shifted PN sequences, where the shifted PN sequences are produced in response to the content of the message. The PN sequence includes a plurality of chips arranged in a first order, and each of the shifted PN sequences includes the plurality of chips arranged in another order. A beacon signal modulated by the DSSS code string is transmitted from a transceiver and received at a receiver within the communication system. Correlation peaks are formed at the receiver, where each correlation peak is associated with one of the PN sequences or one of the shifted PN sequences. Shift values are determined from the correlation peaks and the shift values are decoded to produce the message at the receiver. |
| US08462828B1 |
System for generating coherent single-frequency single transverse mode light pulses
A system is provided to generate coherent single-frequency and single transverse mode light pulses. A laser produces a linearly-polarized continuous wave beam defined by a single longitudinal and transverse mode. A first rotator processes the beam such that optical polarization is rotated during a first time period and not rotated during a second and third time period. A second rotator is operated during the first period to rotate optical polarization of the beam, during the second period to not rotate the beam, and during the third period to rotate the beam. An optical loop amplifies the beam during the first and second periods. An amplifier device can be added to the loop for amplification. A first beam splitter allows the beam to enter the loop and a second splitter directs the beam along the loop during the first and second periods and out of the loop during the third period. |
| US08462827B2 |
Photonic crystal device
The objective of the invention is to provide a photonic crystal device which enables efficient confinement of carriers while preventing the deterioration of device characteristics. Specifically a photonic crystal device has a photonic crystal in which media with different refractive indexes are regularly arranged, wherein an active region (11) includes an active layer (12) and carrier confinement layers (13, 14) provided on the top and bottom of the active layer (12) respectively for confining carriers. The photonic crystal is formed by a buried growth layer (15) with a larger bandgap than that of the active region (11). |
| US08462826B2 |
Laser device
A laser device includes a seed laser, an amplifier, a detector, and an optical element arranged to direct radiation emitted by the seed laser towards a plasma generation site. The optical element is arranged to direct towards the detector amplified spontaneous emission radiation which has been emitted by the seed laser and has been reflected from a droplet of fuel material. The detector is arranged to trigger generation of a laser radiation pulse by the seed laser when the reflected amplified spontaneous emission radiation is detected. |
| US08462824B2 |
Phase-matched generation of coherent soft and hard X-rays using IR lasers
Phase-matched high-order harmonic generation of soft and hard X-rays is accomplished using infrared driving lasers in a high-pressure non-linear medium. The pressure of the non-linear medium is increased to multi-atmospheres and a mid-IR (or higher) laser device provides the driving pulse. Based on this scaling, also a general method for global optimization of the flux of phase-matched high-order harmonic generation at a desired wavelength is designed. |
| US08462822B2 |
Method of and photonic device for eliminating or substantially reducing sensitivity to polarization of an injected optical signal and method of manufacturing such photonic device
An photonic device, comprising one section of a material which is different from the material of another section such that the two sections present different optical birefringent index values. This causes a first set of polarization modes to move in a spectral space with a different velocity than a second set of polarization modes. A bias current, or voltage, is used for controlling the overall birefringence effect in the device. The biasing for controlling the birefringence effect is performed such the TE modes and the TM modes of the device are made to coincide in their respective spectral position. Thus the device is made insensitive, or presents substantially reduced sensitivity, to the polarization of any incoming optical signal. |
| US08462821B1 |
Precision timing using a modified synchronization operation
A master node is configured to receive, from a slave node, a request to perform a modified two-step synchronization (sync) operation in a manner that precludes transmitting a follow-up packet; generate a sync packet in a manner that includes information associated with a previous time that a prior sync packet was transmitted to the slave node; transmit the sync packet to the slave node; receive, from the slave node, a delay request packet; transmit, to the slave node, a delay response packet, where the delay response packet stores information associated with another time at which the delay request packet was received, and where transmitting the delay response packet enables the slave node to calibrate a clock, hosted by the slave node, to a master clock, hosted by the master node, based on the previous time and the other time. |
| US08462813B2 |
Method and system for asymmetric operation in a network node in an energy efficient network
An Ethernet network comprising multi-rate link partners that may be operable to communicate symmetrically and/or asymmetrically via any of a plurality of channels. The multi-rate link partners may monitor one or more factors that may affect their power consumption and/or energy efficiency. During operation, an uplink and/or downlink communication rate may be configured, based on the monitoring, to enable asymmetrical data rate operation. The monitored factors may comprise prior or current data rates, bit error rate, packet error rate, latency, queued data and/or tasks, for example. The multi-rate link partners may comprise a twisted pair PHY, an optical PHY or a backplane PHY. In order to reduce power consumption and/or improve energy efficiency, one or more of the uplink communication rate and/or the downlink communication rate may be lowered. The power consumption may be reduced for a multi-rate PHY, a host computer and/or a MAC controller. |
| US08462810B2 |
Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique. |
| US08462809B2 |
Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique. |
| US08462805B2 |
Graceful restart method of router, router and communication network thereof
A graceful restart (GR) method of a router, and a router and a communication network thereof are provided. The method includes the following steps. A control plane enters a GR state. Label switched path (LSP) packets sent by a neighbor router are received, and the label information of the control plane is recovered according to the LSP packets. Whether the label information is completely recovered is determined. If the label information is completely recovered, the GR state is exited, and label information of a forwarding plane is updated according to the recovered label information of the control plane. The GR method of a router, the router, and the communication network decide whether to exit the GR state by detecting whether the label information of the control plane is completely recovered. This can precisely control the time of exiting the GR state is controlled and improve the reliability of the router. |
| US08462804B2 |
Self-cleaning mechanism for error recovery
A system manages a buffer having a group of entries. The system receives information relating to a read request for a memory. The system determines whether an entry in the buffer contains valid information. If the entry is determined to contain valid information, the system transmits the information in the entry in an error message. The system may then store the received information in the entry. In another implementation, the system stores data in one of the entries of the buffer, removes an address corresponding to the one entry from an address list, and starts a timer associated with the one entry. The system also determines whether the timer has exceeded a predetermined value, transferring the data from the one entry when the timer has exceeded the predetermined value, and adds the address back to the address list. |
| US08462803B2 |
Discontinuous reception (DRX) timer triggered with the transmission of a buffer status report (BSR)
A method implemented at a user equipment (UE) may include receiving a grant from a base station permitting the user equipment to transmit data to the base station and transmitting data to the base station, where the data includes a buffer status report (BSR) that indicates an amount of data in a buffer of the UE. The method may further include starting or restarting a discontinuous reception (DRX) timer when the data including the BSR is transmitted to the base station. The method may additionally include monitoring (730) a control channel during a duration of the DRX timer. In another implementation, a method may include receiving a feedback message in response to the data transmission including the BSR, and starting or restarting the discontinuous reception (DRX) timer when the feedback message is received. The feedback message may include an acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK). In a further implementation, a method may include starting a process specific hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) round trip time (RTT) timer upon transmission of the data including the BSR, starting a grant timer when the HARQ RTT timer expires, and monitoring the control channel during a duration of the grant timer. |
| US08462799B2 |
Distributed application communication routing system for internet protocol networks
IP-based messages composed by distributed applications on-board an aircraft are routed to ground destinations through non-IP based communication interfaces that use packet data transmission. Addressable routing daemons resident in on-board computers are used to route messages from an on-board TCP/IP network to a selected communication interface. A communications management controller routes the messages to the communication interfaces by addressing the routing daemon associated with the communication interface selected to transmit the message. |
| US08462798B2 |
Multiplexing media components of different sessions
An apparatus and a method are provided for multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media. The method includes distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment, and identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier. The method further includes sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function including a policy decision function, and authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function. Furthermore, the method includes enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application. |
| US08462797B2 |
Method of priority based transmission of wireless video
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting, over a wireless link, video that is coded in multiple layers such that higher priority for the use of the transmission resources may be given to the lower layers of the layered video stream. The level of priority is signified by the session identification parameters, i.e., by the source and destination ip addresses and port numbers. These parameters are assigned to the base layer and to the one or more additional layers, respectively, such that at least two of said layers are assigned different parameter sets. At least the base layer is then transmitted on the wireless link. |
| US08462795B2 |
Method and device for transmitting control message based on multi-ring ethernet
A method and device for transmitting a control message based on a multi-ring Ethernet are provided, wherein the method comprises the following steps: control virtual local area networks of a main ring and a sub-ring are configured (S1002); and a main ring node receives a sub-ring control message from the sub-ring, forwards the sub-ring control massage to the other main ring nodes on the main ring via a data plane, and synchronously realizes the blocking or opening of the sub-ring control message and a data message in the data plane (S1004). The present disclosure solves the problem that the time for the main ring node to process the sub-ring control message is too long during existing control message transmission process, avoids the control message loop situation caused by the transmission of the sub-ring control message over the main ring, and improves the network performance. |
| US08462792B2 |
Networks having plurality of nodes
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of communicating in a network with a plurality of nodes. In the method, information is gathered from the plurality of nodes, where information from each node specifies other nodes from which the node detected messages. Based on the gathered information, a transmit sequence according to which the plurality of nodes are to transmit is determined. Other methods and devices are also disclosed. |
| US08462790B2 |
Label switching in fibre channel networks
Methods and apparatus are provided for label switched routing in fiber channel networks. Techniques are provided for implementing label switching based on particular characteristics of fiber channel networks. By using label switching, mechanisms such as traffic engineering, security, and tunneling through networks that do not support fiber channel frames can be implemented. |
| US08462785B2 |
Mobile WIMAX network system having private network and mobile IP terminal processing method thereof
A mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) network system having a private network and a mobile Internet Protocol (IP) terminal processing method thereof are provided. A private access control router performs an initial access procedure for a WiMax terminal requesting initial access. When a mobile IP address is set in the WiMax terminal, a mobile IP registration procedure for the WiMax terminal is performed according to a mobile IP standard. When the WiMax terminal is a local subscriber WiMax terminal, a virtual IP address for accessing the private network mapped to the mobile IP address is registered in an IP mapping table. A single private access control router can process a local intranet service and a public Core Network (CN) service without an additional access control router and a local subscriber WiMax terminal can receive simultaneously the local intranet service and the public CN service without any special operation. |
| US08462783B2 |
Method and a node device for transferring a message based on traffic engineering tunnels
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a node device for transferring a message based on MPLS TE tunnels. The main principle of the embodiments is to determine a switching node at which MPLS TE tunnel switching is needed, and to set routing and forwarding information for tunnel switching between different MPLS TE tunnels at the switching node. The switching node switches and transfers message into different MPLS TE tunnels according to the routing and forwarding information. The present invention makes the sum of the whole network edge bandwidth resources much higher than that of the bandwidth resource at the network core, allows the network resources to converge layer by layer, and avoids the N-square problem of the tunnel number effectively and lightens the load on the network core nodes by the large number of tunnels and the load of RSVP-TE state refreshing. |
| US08462782B2 |
System and method for using sequence ordered sets for energy efficient Ethernet communication
A system and method for using sequence ordered sets for energy efficient Ethernet communication. Sequence ordered sets can be generated by a first device for communication of parameter(s) to a second device, which parameters can be used in implementing an energy efficient Ethernet control policy. Sequence ordered sets can be used in communication between physical layer devices, or between a physical layer device and a media access control device. In one example, the sequence ordered set can identify a point at which a rate transition is to occur. |
| US08462781B2 |
Systems and methods for in-line removal of duplicate network packets
Systems and methods are disclosed for in-line removal of duplicate network packets in network packet streams operating at high speeds (e.g., 1-10 Gbps and above). A hash generator applies at least one hash algorithm to incoming packets to form one or more different hash values. The packet deduplication systems and methods then use the one or more hash values for each incoming packet to identify data stored for previously received backs and use the identified data to determine if incoming packets are duplicate packets. Duplicate packets are then removed from the output packet stream thereby reducing duplicate packets for downstream processing. A deduplication window can further be utilized to limit the amount of data stored for previous packets based upon one or more parameters, such as an amount of time that has passed and/or a number of packets for which data has been stored. These parameters can also be selected, configured and/or adjusted to achieve desired operational objectives. |
| US08462777B2 |
System and method for implementing a multistage network using a two-dimensional array of tiles
A network, including: a first tile having a processor, a top brick connected to the processor, a first bottom brick, and a first intermediate brick; a second tile having a second intermediate brick and a second bottom brick; multiple connections connecting the top brick with the second intermediate brick and the first intermediate brick with the second bottom brick using a passthrough on an intermediate tile between the first and second tiles, where the first, intermediate, and second tiles are positioned in a row; and a third tile having a plurality of caches connected to a third bottom brick, where the second and third tiles are positioned in a column, and the first bottom brick, second bottom brick, and third bottom brick belong to a bottom layer of the network, and where the first and second intermediate bricks belong to an intermediate layer of the network. |
| US08462776B2 |
Communication module having a communication interface element and communication interface element
A communication interface element for a communication module is provided, which module contains a message memory and a first data path to and from the message memory via which data and/or messages are transmitted to and from the message memory. The communication interface element provides an additional, second data path in the communication module and includes switching arrangement configured in such a way that predefinable data and/or messages of the first data path are transmitted over the additional, second data path. |
| US08462774B2 |
Virtual IP interfaces on multi-chassis link aggregates
Aggregation Switches connected via a virtual fabric link (VFL) are each active and each coupled to a multi-chassis link aggregate group (MC-LAG), which is assigned to a multi-chassis link aggregate group virtual local area network (MC-LAG VLAN). A virtual Internet Protocol (IP) interface is allocated to the MC-LAG VLAN and configured on both Aggregation Switches. |
| US08462771B2 |
Method for changing between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection between at least two radio communication appliances, associated radio communication appliance, network component and radio communication system
To change between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection as selectable communication connections between at least one first connected radio communication appliance and at least one second connected radio communication appliance in a radio communication system, a first of these two communication connections is selected and set up by at least one connected radio communication appliance and/or by at least one control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system. A change is made from this first communication connection, which has been set up, to the second communication connection under the control of a radio communication appliance which is connected to the first communication connection and/or under the control of that control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system which is connected to the first communication connection by activating the second communication connection while the first communication connection still exists. |
| US08462769B2 |
System and method for managing created location contexts in a location server
A system and method for creating a location uniform resource identifier (“URI”) for determining the location of a target device. A location request may be received for a target device. Location context information may be collected for the target device including starting information, validating information and policy information. This collected location context information may be encrypted in a location information server and converted to a form compatible with URI syntax. A location URI may then be constructed as a function of the converted information. |
| US08462768B2 |
Providing session initiation protocol (SIP) call control functions to public switched telephone network (PSTN)-based call controller
A device receives information associated with an outbound call from a calling party via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and generates a request for the outbound call from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using a remote procedure call (RPC) interface. The device also enables communication, via the remote procedure call (RPC) interface, of the outbound call with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based device associated with a called party. |
| US08462765B2 |
Method and apparatus to perform ranging operations for wireless stations
Certain embodiments provide methods and apparatus for adjusting timing in an SDMA system. One method for adjusting the timing of packet transmissions in a wireless communications system, that may be performed by an access point, includes receiving ranging signals from a plurality of wireless network nodes, determining timing adjustment information for adjusting starting timing of packet transmissions from the wireless network nodes based on the ranging signals, and communicating the timing adjustment information to the wireless network nodes. |
| US08462762B2 |
Radio communication system, coordinator unit and communications terminal
A radio communication system including a coordinator unit and at least one communications terminal configured for the radio communication system in which access to the radio resource is performed in accordance with time-division multiplexing, where the radio resource is divided into determinate time frames, the coordinator unit assigns to the at least one communications terminal, at least one useful data transmission time slot whose temporal position is determined in sequential time frames with respect to the beginning of the particular time frame, and the individual time frames are structured such that they contain a synchronization time slot, at least one useful data transmission time slot of equal length and one additional dynamic time slot. |
| US08462761B2 |
Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique. |
| US08462758B2 |
Channel quality information feedback techniques for a wireless system
Channel quality information feedback techniques for a wireless system are described. An apparatus may comprise a base station having base station logic to determine a channel quality indicator feedback dimension value representing a number of resource blocks for an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system to be measured by a subscriber station based on a matching ratio value, and a transceiver to send the channel quality indicator feedback dimension value to the subscriber station. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08462757B2 |
Method for adjusting transmitter output power
A description is given for a method for operating a wireless multichannel CDMA transmitter, wherein a power metric based on a particular signal configuration is determined, the power metric being determined as a function of power weighting factors used in the channels of the particular signal configuration, and wherein the transmitter output power is adjusted based on the power metric. |
| US08462754B2 |
Antenna sharing for radio frequency signals in same frequency bands
A wireless device for receiving composite signals is disclosed. The wireless device includes an antenna. The wireless device also includes a first amplifier coupled to the antenna. The wireless device further includes a second amplifier coupled to the antenna. The wireless device also includes a first receiver. The wireless device further includes a second receiver. The wireless device also includes a first switch that couples the first receiver to the output of either the first amplifier or the second amplifier. The wireless device further includes a second switch that couples the second receiver to the output of either the first amplifier or the second amplifier. |
| US08462749B2 |
Techniques for 40 megahertz (MHz) channel switching
Embodiments of the invention include methods, articles, and apparatuses to provide information related to channels transmitted and received according to a wireless communications protocol. One embodiment of the invention provides a method comprising generating channel offset information corresponding to an extension channel within a channel of a wireless communications protocol, and transmitting the channel offset information as part of channel information to be transmitted to one or more remote devices communicating according to the wireless communications protocol. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08462746B2 |
Wireless receiver with intermittent shut-off of RF circuits
A terminal (24) for use in a wireless network (20) includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver (30), which is configured to receive and downconvert a RF signal. The RF signal includes downlink frames, each downlink frame including at least an allocation zone followed by a data zone. The allocation zone contains an indication of a time allocation in the data zone during which downlink data will be transmitted to the terminal. An analog/digital (A/D) converter (36) converts the output signal from the RF receiver into a stream of digital samples. A digital processing circuit (40, 52, 54, 56) processes the digital samples so as to identify the time allocation and to recover the downlink data transmitted during the identified time allocation, while shutting down the RF receiver during at least one interval during the downlink frame that is outside the identified time allocation. |
| US08462744B2 |
Wireless parameter setting method, base station, management apparatus, control method, and computer program
A method of making a management apparatus that manages a wireless parameter of a wireless network formed by a base station set the wireless parameter in a wireless communication apparatus, comprising the steps of causing the base station to request the management apparatus to start a wireless parameter setting process when a start of wireless parameter setting is designated in the base station, causing the management apparatus to notify the base station of wireless parameter setting information containing wireless parameter setting start enable/disable information when the management apparatus receives the request from the base station, causing the base station to notify the wireless communication apparatus of the wireless parameter setting information received from the management apparatus, and causing the wireless communication apparatus to execute or stop the wireless parameter setting process for a wireless setting apparatus based on the wireless parameter setting information received from the base station. |
| US08462741B2 |
Uplink power control for multiple transmit antennas
Techniques for controlling the transmit power of a user equipment (UE) using multiple antennas for uplink transmission are described. In one design, the UE receives at least one transmit power control (TPC) command for the multiple antennas. The UE adjusts the transmit power for each antenna based on the TPC command(s). In one design, the UE receives a single TPC command for all antennas and adjusts the transmit power for each antenna based on this TPC command. All antennas may then have equal transmit power. In another design, the UE receives multiple TPC commands for multiple antenna groups, one TPC command for each antenna group. Each antenna group may include one antenna or more than one antenna. The UE adjusts the transmit power for each antenna group based on the TPC command for that antenna group. All antennas in each antenna group may have equal transmit power. |
| US08462737B1 |
System and method for a MIMO split-physical layer scheme for a wireless network
The present application describes a system and method for dynamically employing split-physical layer (PHY) functionality across multiple access heads to establish multiple paths between a client device (CD) and an access network in order to address one or more of the above described coverage issues. In some embodiments multiple input multiple output (MIMO) space-time coding is employed. Space-time coding may include contemporaneously transmitting one spatial stream or multiple spatial streams through each access head. In some embodiments macro diversity is also employed. Macro transmit diversity may include transmitting a same signal, consisting of one or more spatial streams, from one or more access heads such that a CD can use a strongest signal of the signals transmitted from at least one access head or diversity combining of two or more of the transmitted signals to recover the transmitted signal at the CD. Space-time coding may include contemporaneously receiving one spatial stream or multiple spatial streams through each access head. Macro receive diversity may include receiving a same signal from a CD at one or more access heads such that a strongest signal of the signals received at one or more access heads can be used to recover a signal or diversity combining of two or more of signals received at different respective access heads can be used to recover the transmitted signal. |
| US08462736B2 |
Telecommunications method and apparatus for facilitating positioning measurements
A wireless terminal (30) capable of operating in a discontinuous mode comprising and method for operating such wireless terminal (30) facilitate measurements pertaining to position of the wireless terminal (30). The method includes receiving a message from the radio access network (28). The measurement request message is configured to indicate that measurements are to be performed by the wireless terminal on downlink signals transmitted by the base station or by the base station on downlink signals transmitted by the base station. The method further comprises, as a result of or after receiving the message, changing operation of the wireless terminal (30) from a discontinuous mode to a modified mode to facilitate performance of the measurements. Relative to the discontinuous mode at least one of following are shortened or eliminated in the modified mode: (i) the non-reception periods, and (ii) the non-transmission periods. “Changing from a discontinuous mode . . . to a modified mode” includes one or more of: (1) changing mode of the wireless terminal (e.g., changing from a discontinuous mode [such as discontinuous reception (DRX) or discontinuous transmission (DTX)] to a continuous transmission mode); (2) changing from the discontinuous mode (a first discontinuous mode) to a modified discontinuous mode (a second discontinuous mode). |
| US08462735B2 |
Multiple simultaneous wireless connections in a wireless local area network
Multiple simultaneous associations with Wireless Access Points (WAPs) may be formed by a given wireless client to enable handoffs between the WAPs to be accelerated and, optionally, to enable both WAPs to provide simultaneous wireless services to the wireless client. Upon forming a primary association with one WAP the wireless client scans for beacon signals from other WAPs. Upon detecting another WAP, the wireless client transmits a Request To Send (RTS) message to the new WAP indicating the identity of the primary WAP. The wireless client may also identify the new WAP to the primary WAP using a RTS message. The primary and secondary WAPs exchange information so that, in the event of a handoff, the required information has already been shared with the new WAP. Optionally, the several WAPs may provide simultaneous service to the wireless client. |
| US08462732B2 |
Method and system for fast layer 3 hand-over
The present invention relates to a method of seamlessly providing a satellite multimedia Internet service to a fixed subscriber belonging to a lower user network even in a satellite shadow environment and shortening a hand-over processing time between heterogeneous networks by applying a fast layer 3 hand-over technology between satellite and wireless networks in a mobile satellite terminal device. |
| US08462730B2 |
Wireless mobile station, wireless base station control device, wireless system and wireless cell management method
A wireless mobile station (1) includes: an acquisition unit (12a) acquiring an adjacent cell list, in a first wireless cell which is a communication area of a wireless base station (2) established a wireless link with the wireless mobile station, defining a second wireless cell adjacent to the first wireless cell; a search unit (13) searching wireless cells which is detectable in the first wireless cell, and measuring a wireless quality sensed by the wireless mobile station from a third wireless cell which is not included in the adjacent cell list among the detected wireless cells; and a determination unit (14) estimating a wireless quality sensed by the wireless mobile station from the third wireless cell on assumption that the third wireless cell is added to the adjacent cell list, and determining whether or not the third wireless cell is to be added to the adjacent cell list by using a result of the estimation. |
| US08462729B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate network processes
One determines (101, 102) that a given wireless mobile two-way communications platform is updating its network location (using, for example, an 802.16(e)-compatible protocol) at a time when there is no downlink traffic to provide to the platform and at a time when the platform should conduct at least one of an authenticator relocation process and an Internet Protocol address renewal process. In response to such determinations, one then automatically provides (103) to the platform, as part of updating the network location for the platform, an indication (such as, for example, a downlink traffic pending (DTP) flag) that the platform has pending downlink traffic notwithstanding that there is, in fact, no downlink traffic to provide to the wireless mobile two-way communications platform. Subsequent to this, one can then automatically cause (104) the platform to effect at least one of the authenticator relocation process and the Internet Protocol address renewal process. |
| US08462725B2 |
Inter-cell discovery and communication using time division multiple access coexistence beaconing protocol
A self-coexistence window reservation protocol for a plurality of Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) cells operating in a WRAN over a plurality of channels includes a sequence of self-coexistence windows that uniquely identifies a transmission period for each WRAN cell. A self-coexistence window reservation protocol is included within the first packet of a Coexistence Beaconing Protocol period identifying when each WRAN cell associated with a particular channel will transmit. When not actively transmitting, a WRAN cells remains in a passive, receiving mode to accept data. As the transmissions of each WRAN cell operating on a particular channel are scheduled, contention for a transmission period is eliminated. |
| US08462722B2 |
Access control for machine-type communication devices
A device type-dependent approach to access control is used to independently control network access by machine-type communication (MTC) and non-MTC devices. A plurality of access classes are defined for each device type. The base station selectively controls access to the network by each device type by sending an access control mask for each defined device type to the wireless terminals within the network. |
| US08462716B1 |
Method and apparatus for using multiple codebooks for wireless transmission to a plurality of users in a cell
Systems and/or methods are described for use of progressively higher-resolution codebooks for communication with one or more receivers within a cell of a base station. |
| US08462709B2 |
Multiple frequency band operation in wireless networks
Embodiments for bandwidth allocation methods, detecting interference with other systems, and/or redeploying in alternate bandwidth are described. Higher bandwidth channels may be deployed at channel boundaries (410), which are a subset of those for lower bandwidth channels (310), and may be restricted from overlapping. Interference may be detected (930) on primary, secondary, or a combination of channels, and may be detected in response to energy measurements (910) of the various channels. When interference is detected, a higher bandwidth Basic Service Set (BSS)(100) may be relocated to an alternate channel, or may have its bandwidth reduced to avoid interference. Interference may be detected based on energy measured on the primary or secondary channel, and/or a difference between the two. An FFT (1010) may be used in energy measurement in either or both of the primary and secondary channels. Stations may also monitor messages from alternate systems to make channel allocation decisions. Various other aspects are also presented. |
| US08462705B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling uplink power in a wireless access system
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for reporting power headroom in a user equipment of a multi-carrier system, includes receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signal comprising uplink resource allocation information from a base station; transmitting at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) signal and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal to the base station in a predetermined subframe based on the uplink resource allocation information in accordance with a transmission mode; calculating one or more power headroom values for the predetermined subframe in accordance with the transmission mode; and transmitting a report message comprising the one or more power headroom values to the base station, wherein the user equipment reports its first and second type power headroom values when operating in transmission mode A, or reports its first type power headroom value when operating in transmission mode B. |
| US08462704B2 |
Enabling interoperability of dual-radio and single-radio devices for vehicular multi-channel operations
Methods and systems are disclosed for interoperations between single-radio (channel switching) devices, dual radio devices, and single-radio (always-on) devices in radio communication systems, both with and without a safety channel. The methods and systems may be applied in communication systems for wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE), such as those according to IEEE 802.11p. When there is a safety channel, some embodiments add a Safety Channel Interval within an operation period. Other embodiments disclose how various device types can operate to coordinate safety message transmissions, both with and without a safety channel. |
| US08462702B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing highly compressed enhancement layer data
Multimedia application data formats often use data packets and may contain packetized hierarchical layers with a base layer (BL) and one or more enhancement layers (EL). Packets that comprise variable length coded data typically provide padding bits, which can be used for adding checksum information. The checksum information refers to both, the decoded base layer and decoded enhancement layer packet data, and is used for detecting synchronization loss between the layers. Though the packets provide different individual amounts of padding bits, this variable amount of bits per packet is sufficient for adding check-sum information for synchronization related purposes. This allows e.g. out-of-sync detection even if the enhancement layer encoding provides no overhead information for synchronization, in particular no packet headers and no packet synchronization words. |
| US08462701B2 |
System and method for received channel power indicator (RCPI) measurement
A received channel power indicator (RCPI) value is used as a measure of the received RF power in the selected channel, measured at the antenna connector. This parameter is a measure by the PHY sublayer of the received RF power in the channel measured over the PLCP preamble and over the entire received frame. RCPI is a monotonically increasing, logarithmic function of the received power level defined in dBm. |
| US08462700B2 |
Terminal device, communication system, terminal method and information memory medium
There is provided a terminal device or the like which can prevent a user from fall in trouble with an unknown third person when the user executes a network game or the like over a computer communication network. As terminal devices establish a connection in an ad-hoc mode, individual unique identification information thereof are exchanged and a communication for a game is carried out, the terminal devices saves the unique identification information of the communication counterparty. When the terminal devices establish a connection in an infrastructure mode, introduction requests each specifying the saved unique identification information are transmitted to a server device, the server device transmits introduction responses each informing an address of the terminal device to the terminal devices which have transmitted an introduction request specifying the unique identification information of the communication counterparty, and the terminal devices carry out a communication for the game. |
| US08462696B2 |
Method, radio system, mobile terminal and base station for providing local breakout service
There is provided a radio system wherein a mobile terminal is configured to detect availability of a local breakout service to an Internet protocol gateway; to start a network entry to the local breakout service; and to configure an Internet protocol stack of the mobile terminal on the basis of received configuration data. A serving base station of the mobile terminal is configured to establish a radio bearer for the local breakout service; to provide a dynamic host control protocol relay function for mapping data of the mobile terminal using a local Internet protocol address to the established radio bearer; and to provide the local breakout service to the Internet protocol gateway while retaining user access control and a remote Internet protocol gateway of a packet core network of the public mobile network for the mobile terminal. |
| US08462695B2 |
Apparatus and methods for multi-radio coordination of heterogeneous wireless networks
Embodiments of systems and methods for multi-radio coordination of heterogeneous wireless networks are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08462693B2 |
System and method for enabling wireless data transfer
A method of enabling wireless data transfer to an electronic device having a transceiver structured to interact in a first mode with a first wireless network and in a second mode with a second wireless network, including repeatedly powering up the transceiver and enabling the second mode to await receipt of a second beacon signal through the second wireless network, receiving an instance of the second beacon signal with an indication of availability of data to be transferred to the electronic device through the first wireless network, and in response to the receiving of the instance of the second beacon signal with the indication of availability of the data, enabling the first mode to receive the data through the first wireless network. |
| US08462691B2 |
Ad hoc communication system
A number of data relay devices, e.g. mobile telephones, (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), are conveyed by vehicles and move relative to each other. They form a vehicular ad hoc wireless network (19, 29, 39, 49), etc in which data stored by a device (20) (either own-generated or relayed from another device (10) is transmitted either directly or by means of one or more other devices (30) to a network access point (90) which interfaces with a cellular network. When two devices (20, 30) come into proximity to each other, they use an opportunistic routing algorithm to determine a forwarding direction for the data. A retransmit timer is triggered on transmission of data, and messages which are unacknowledged at the expiry of the timer period are retransmitted. The timer period dynamically follows local congestion conditions and is recalculated at each transmission by the expression, timer minimum period/recent forwarding success(t). The current recent forwarding success at time t, RFS(t), is calculated from the RFS(t−1) calculated for the immediately preceding transmission and from the current forwarding success, CFS, by the expression RFS(t)=4/5 RFS(t−1)+1/5 CFS(t) where CFS is the square of the ratio of the available buffer space in the target device to the size of the payload in the source device. |
| US08462686B2 |
Apparatus for collision mitigation of multicast transmissions in wireless networks
Message formats and apparatus are described that reserve access to a communication medium in a multicast system. A first message, a multicast request-to-send message, includes a duration field having information representing the reserved time for a communication medium, multicast receiver and transmitter address fields, and bits that specifies a destination that is expected to reply to the multicast digital message. The bits that specify a destination can be extended to a plurality of fields that each contain different destination identifiers. Example destination identifiers include association identifiers or media access control addresses. Alternately, the bits that specify a destination can have a first field containing an offset and a second field indicating destinations with respect to the offset. A second message includes a duration field and multicast receiver and transmitter address fields. The second message is used to cancel a data transmission resulting from a multicast request-to-send message. |
| US08462684B1 |
Power saving technique for a wireless device
A system and method are disclosed for decreasing the amount of power consumed by a data transmitter in a wireless device when transmitting media (audio and/or visual) data or other data received from a media source or other source. A transmission circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or WLAN chip, is configured to deactivate the data transmitter for a deactivation interval and aggregate the media data (or other consistent-rate data) in a buffer while the data transmitter is deactivated. At the end of the deactivation interval, the data transmitter is activated and the aggregated data packets are transmitted. The data transmitter may be repetitively deactivated and activated for transmitting the data. The deactivation interval may be based on the data sampling rate, the transmission rate of the data transmitter, the capacity of the buffer, and/or other factors. |
| US08462669B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining PT server having controlling function
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a controlling PT server. A mobile communication terminal transmits a group generation request message to a PT XDMS, and the PT XDMS determines a specific PT server having the largest number of members as a controlling PT server. The PT XDMS generates group identity information by using an address of the specific PT server, and transmits a group generation response message including the group identity information to the mobile communication terminal. Then, the mobile communication terminal transmits the group identity information of the group generation response message to a PT server with being included in an INVITE message. The PT server certifies the group identity information included in the INVITE message, and determines whether or not itself is to be operated as a controlling PT server. |
| US08462664B2 |
Identification of dual plane topologies
In one embodiment, two neighboring nodes adjacent to each end-point node of a domain may be associated with a “dual” (a logical structure). A first of the two neighboring nodes may be placed into a first family (and group) of the dual, while a second of the two neighboring nodes may be placed into an opposing second family (and group). Augmentations may then be performed, recursively merging and connecting the duals and/or groups, as well as connecting unplaced nodes to particular duals, families, and groups, according to forced augmentations and/or unforced augmentations where no forced augmentations exist. In the end, it may be determined whether the domain supports dual plane topologies based on whether a solution having one resultant dual with a single group in each opposing family is reached from the recursive augmentations. |
| US08462663B2 |
Location of mobile network nodes
The physical position of a movable node in a network is determined by sending a broadcast message from the movable node repeated through a path comprising at least a first node, a second node, and a third node, wherein the first, second, and third nodes have known locations. The movable node receives the broadcast message from the first, second, and third nodes, and measures the time from sending the repeated broadcast message to the time the broadcast message is received from each of the first, second, and third nodes. The movable node determines the distance from the movable node to the first, second, and third network nodes by using at least a known turnaround time and known message propagation velocity, such that the position of the movable node is determined. |
| US08462660B2 |
Carrier bearing method and device, and radio remote unit
A carrier bearing method includes obtaining transmit power of each carrier borne on all power amplifiers in a radio remote unit after detecting that transmit power of a carrier borne on a power amplifier in the radio remote unit changes; adjusting a correspondence between the carriers and the power amplifier in the radio remote unit according to the obtained transmit power; and bearing each carrier on its corresponding power amplifier according to the adjusted correspondence. The device and base station are used to implement the above method. |
| US08462659B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to the assessment of mobile communications network infrastructure latency through high-speed channels
A network monitoring apparatus in a mobile communications network monitors, for a predetermined time, TCP packets in the network that tend to comprise end-user traffic using the high-speed data path but not the low-speed data path to provide monitored packet information. The network monitoring apparatus uses this monitored packet information to identify the fastest end user-experienced communication exchanges within the mobile communications network. By one approach, the network monitoring apparatus effectively filters out most or all of the end-user traffic that uses the low-speed data path when providing that monitored packet information. This can comprise, for example, tending to utilize data pertaining to TCP packets that correspond to higher traffic volume (and hence that are likely being conveyed via a high-speed data path) while also tending to discard data that pertains to TCP packets to that correspond to low traffic volume (and hence that are likely being conveyed via a low-speed data path). |
| US08462657B2 |
Channel quality indicator transmission timing with discontinuous reception
A user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE includes a processor configured to begin channel quality indicator (CQI) transmissions using an assigned periodic CQI reporting resource before the start of the on-duration of a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation mode. |
| US08462654B1 |
Communications system with bonding engine configured for maximum packet fragment size as adapted to communications line pairs and related method
A communications system includes at least one telecommunications access module coupled to a plurality of communications subscriber line pairs and comprising at least one bonding engine. A module is configured to receive a provisioning request and determine the total number of communications subscriber line pairs available to form a bonding group and select at least one bonding engine for the bonding group. A data processor is configured to determine a maximum packet fragment size for the data packets based on the total number of available subscriber line pairs forming the bonding group. A maximum packet fragment size is adapted to the number of communications line pairs within the bonding group and the bonding engine fragments the data packets into the packet fragments. A transmitter receives the packet fragments and transmits the packet fragments over the communications subscriber line pairs forming the bonding group. |
| US08462649B2 |
Communication device
A communication device includes a communication control unit for conducting communication with a destination device according to a first communication sequence or a second communication sequence more suitable for communicating through an IP network than the first communication sequence. The communication device further includes an IP network determining unit for determining whether the communication is conducted through the IP network. When the IP network determining unit determines that the communication is conducted through the IP network, the communication control unit conducts the communication according to the second communication sequence. |
| US08462648B2 |
Data communication
A management device is used in an access network including a plurality of data connections between end user devices and an aggregation transceiver device where the connections are aggregated for onward connection through the access network. The access network stores a plurality of different profiles, each of which specifies a set of values for a plurality of parameters associated with each data connection. The device applies one of the stored profiles to each connection, and receives a notification in the event of one of a predetermined set of notifiable events occurring on the connection. It is determined if more than a predetermined number of notifications are received within a predetermined period for a respective connection and, in the event of such a determination being made, a different one of the profiles is caused to be applied to the connection. |
| US08462645B1 |
Interactive advertising system, business methods and software
Enhanced features and functionality of a radio station website, and offline advertising operations are disclosed to improve listener interactions, provide improved services to users, and enable more effective radio or television-based advertising. |
| US08462643B2 |
MIMO WLAN system
A multiple-access MIMO WLAN system that employs MIMO, OFDM, and TDD. The system (1) uses a channel structure with a number of configurable transport channels, (2) supports multiple rates and transmission modes, which are configurable based on channel conditions and user terminal capabilities, (3) employs a pilot structure with several types of pilot (e.g., beacon, MIMO, steered reference, and carrier pilots) for different functions, (4) implements rate, timing, and power control loops for proper system operation, and (5) employs random access for system access by the user terminals, fast acknowledgment, and quick resource assignments. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the frequency responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminals. The spatial processing may then be simplified by taking advantage of the reciprocal nature of the downlink and uplink and the calibration. |
| US08462639B2 |
System and method for testing automated provisioning and maintenance of operations support systems
The present invention provides a complete virtual multi-vendor EMS based network that behaves identical to the network elements of the EMS clients. A virtual network simulator is built that has the ability to faithfully simulate the behavior of any vendor's EMS to represent the data objects required by the TMF 814 specification. This allows automatic provisioning and maintenance of the Operation Support Systems to fully test new functionality against complete EMS based network without depending upon the availability of any physical equipment, thereby providing much quicker, low cost, extremely life-like testing environment. |
| US08462635B1 |
Resource reservation protocol with traffic engineering point to multi-point label switched path hierarchy
The invention is directed toward techniques for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) upstream label assignment for the Resource Reservation Protocol with Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE). The techniques include extensions to the RSVP-TE that enable distribution of upstream assigned labels in Path messages from an upstream router to two or more downstream routers of tunnel established over a network. The tunnel may comprise a RSVP-TE P2MP Label Switched Path (LSP) or an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast tunnel. The techniques also include extensions to the RSVP-TE that enable a router to advertise upstream label assignment capability to neighboring routers in the network. The MPLS upstream label assignment using RSVP-TE described herein enables a branch router to avoid traffic replication on a Local Area Network (LAN) for RSVP-TE P2MP LSPs. |
| US08462633B2 |
Apparatus and method for moving a receive window in a radio access network
A method of moving a receiving window in a wireless mobile communication system, wherein the AM RLC of the transmitting side sends information of the last discarded SDU regardless of continuity of the discarded SDUs. The AM RLC of the receiving side checks whether all SDUs from the start point of the receiving window up to the last discarded SDU are successfully received, delivers the SDUs that are successfully received to an upper layer, and discard only those SDUs that are not successfully received. |
| US08462632B1 |
Network traffic control
Information about the transmission of packets or other information can be inferred based at least in part upon the state of one or more queues used to transmit that information. In a networking example, a hook can be added to a free buffer API call from a queue of a NIC driver. When a packet is transmitted and a buffer freed, the hook can cause information for that packet to be transmitted to an appropriate location, such as a network traffic control component or control plane component, whereby that information can be compared with packet, source, and other such information to infer which packets have been transmitted, which packets are pending, and other such information. This information can be used for various purposes, such as to dynamically adjust the allocation of a resource (e.g., a NIC) to various sources based at least in part upon the monitored behavior. |
| US08462629B2 |
Cooperative operation of network transport and network quality of service modules
Methods, systems, and apparatus provide efficient and flexible networking quality of service as well as transport protocol design. A hybrid transport/network quality of service (HTNQ) scheme improves the performance of TCP over specific links or network paths that are subject to high latency, a high bandwidth-delay product, high packet loss, and/or bit errors. A callback mechanism can be used between a packet scheduler and a transport module to control the transmission rate of packets across one or more connections or links. |
| US08462627B2 |
Media data transfer in a network environment
In a wireless network environment, a method of transmitting data from a source device to a set of sink devices, the method comprising the steps of: (a) initially the source device broadcasting packet data collectively to each of the sink devices; (b) the sink devices collecting packet data and identifying missing packets that have been missed; (c) upon a sink device detecting a missed a packet, the sink device separately requesting the transmission of the missed packet by the source device; and (d) the source device separately sending missed data packets. |
| US08462616B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating a frequency shift and a time shift
An apparatus for estimating a frequency shift and a time shift in a CDMA signal based on a CDMA code associated with a CDMA signal, having a modulation removal stage for removing a data modulation from the CDMA signal to obtain a modified CDMA signal. The apparatus further has a frequency domain transformer for transforming the modified CDMA signal to the frequency domain to obtain a modified CDMA spectrum and a frequency shift detector for detecting a group of candidate frequency shifts based on the modified CDMA spectrum. The apparatus further has a processing stage for processing the CDMA signal and a candidate frequency shift to obtain the time shift, when a combination of the CDMA signal, the CDMA code and the candidate frequency shift fulfills an optimization criterion and for selecting the candidate frequency shift as the frequency shift. |
| US08462614B2 |
Buffer-based generation of OVSF code sequences
In one embodiment, a buffer-based method for generating codes (such as Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) codes) for spreading and despreading data, without using a chip-rate counter. First, a buffer is populated with initial values based on a received spreading factor and desired code index. Next, a timing strobe is received, and the values in the buffer are changed upon receipt of the timing strobe based on an algorithm that is independent of any count value associated with the timing strobe. Finally, a code sequence value is generated based on the values in the buffer. |
| US08462613B2 |
Channel estimation for long term evolution (LTE) terminals
The present invention relates to a method of channel estimation comprising two major steps. The first step is the least-squared and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) estimations on the pilot resource elements to generate the channel response estimates at the predefined pilot locations. The second step of the channel estimation, which utilizes the results from the first step to compute the channel response estimates for the remaining resource elements, comprises the following three operations: (i) averaging of each pair of adjacent pilot resource elements in the frequency direction to obtain the channel response estimate of the resource element in the middle of those two pilot resource elements; (ii) MMSE interpolation in the time domain for all the sub-carriers containing pilot signals; and (iii) linear interpolation in the frequency direction for all the sub-carriers not containing any pilot signals. |
| US08462611B2 |
Pilot design for OFDM systems with four transmit antennas
Pilot, preamble and midamble patterns are provided that are particularly suited for four transmit antenna OFDM systems. Pilots are inserted in a scattered manner for each of the four antennas, either uncoded, space-time coded in pairs, space-time frequency coded in pairs, or space-time-frequency coded. |
| US08462607B1 |
Optical disc with a discontinuous surface structure
Disclosed herein is an optical disc having an information area situated between an internal edge and an external edge of the optical disc. The optical disc includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a recording layer, a reflecting layer and a number of surface structures. The second substrate is disposed over the second substrate, the recording layer and the reflecting layer are disposed between the two substrates, and the reflecting layer is disposed between the first substrate and the recording layer. The surface structures are discontinuously disposed on the surface of the second substrate. |
| US08462606B2 |
Optical information recording medium, reproducing device for optical information recording medium, control method and control program for the reproducing device, and medium with the control program recorded therein
A super-resolution medium (1) has a medium identification information for specifying a type of medium recorded in a medium information area (3) by use of pre-pits having a length not shorter than a length of a resolution limit of an optical system in a reproducing device (10). |
| US08462605B2 |
Method of manufacturing a limited use data storing device
Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed. |
| US08462604B2 |
Method and apparatus for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium
A method and an apparatus for reading data from or writing data to an optical recording medium is described, the data being stored as marks having different lengths. Marks having a length below the limit of diffraction at a first wavelength are read or written with the first wavelength, whereas marks having a length above the limit of diffraction at the first wavelength are read or written with a second wavelength larger than the first wavelength. |
| US08462602B2 |
Data recovery device and method
A data recovery device including an analog to digital converter (ADC), a filtering-equalizing unit, a zero crossing detector, a data phase locked loop, a data mapping unit and an estimation unit is provided. The ADC converts a radio frequency signal to a plurality of sampling data points. The sampling data points are converted to a plurality of retiming data points and a clock signal by the filtering-equalizing unit, the zero crossing detector and the data phase locked loop. The data mapping unit selects a plurality of maximum data points and minimum data points from the returning data points, and determines whether to map the maximum data points and the minimum data points to other levels for partially reconstructing the retiming data points. The estimation unit recovers the reconstructed retiming data points to a modulation signal. |
| US08462598B2 |
Information providing system, reproduction device and method, information providing device and method, recording medium, and program
This invention relates to an information providing system, a reproducing apparatus, a reproducing method, an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, a recording medium, and a program. If an instruction is given to download a Japanese language audio file, update files corresponding to the content recorded on an optical disc 11 are downloaded. After being downloaded as the update files, audio stream files in Japanese are recorded to a local storage 12 along with accompanying clip information files, play list files for controlling reproduction of the audio stream files, and an updated navigation program file. The updated navigation program is used illustratively to reproduce a clip 3 audio stream file in Japanese. This invention applies among others to players to which a recording medium that stores contents is removable. |
| US08462595B2 |
Optical pickup assembly
An optical pickup assembly that has flexible beams that support an objective lens for adjustment in a focusing direction and a tracking direction. The flexible beams are used to support and move the objective lens. A controller operates electromagnetic actuators that move the flexible beams. |
| US08462594B1 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head capable of preventing propagated light being absorbed by magnetic pole
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a medium facing surface, a magnetic pole, a waveguide including a core and a cladding, and a plasmon generator. The magnetic pole is located forward of the core in the direction of travel of a magnetic recording medium. The plasmon generator is disposed between the core and the magnetic pole. The core has an evanescent light generating surface facing toward the plasmon generator. The plasmon generator has a front end face located in the medium facing surface, a flat surface facing toward the'evanescent light generating surface, and first and second side surfaces that are at a distance from each other and are located farther from the evanescent light generating surface than is the flat surface. |
| US08462589B2 |
Apparatus for generating seismic signals having distinguishing signatures
A seismic system has a plurality of seismic sources. Each of the seismic sources includes a reaction mass movable with respect to a geological structure and includes an actuator moving the reaction mass. The movement of the reaction mass emits a source signal as seismic energy into the geological structure. In the system, each of the source signals is generated from a base vibratory signal segmented into a plurality of segments, where the base vibratory signal sweeps from an initial frequency to a final frequency. Each of the segments has a partition of sweep frequencies different from the other segments. Each of the source signals has a distinguishing arrangement of the segments different from the other source signals. |
| US08462587B2 |
Generating seismic vibrator signals having distinguishing signatures
A method and apparatus for generating a seismic source signal are provided for generating energy in the form of a plurality of time sequence vibratory signals, the vibratory signals being partitioned as a function of time and/or frequency, wherein each of the plurality of signals comprises a distinguishing signature. The partitioned vibratory signals are emitted into a terrain of interest as seismic source signals for conducting a seismic survey. |
| US08462586B2 |
Direction controllable lighting unit with ultrasound
A direction controllable lighting unit 10 for use in a lighting system is described. The light emission of the lighting unit 10 may be directed into different directions, e. g. by use of a mechanically movable element 14, 60. At least two ultrasound transmitters 20a, 20b, or ultrasound receivers 21a, 21b are disposed at the lighting unit 10 such that they differ in position, or in direction or shape of the spatial intensity distribution or spatial distribution of reception sensitivity. A mobile control element 46 has at least one corresponding ultrasound transmitter or receiver 50. A difference between a signal from a transmitter received at multiple receivers, or a signal of multiple transmitters received at a single receiver is used to determine a relative direction of the direction controllable lighting unit 10 and the control element 46, and to control the direction of the lighting unit 10 in dependence thereof. |
| US08462584B2 |
Sonic borehole caliper and related methods
A method and apparatus for determining an effective cross-sectional area of a borehole including one or more sources for generating tube or Stoneley waves in the borehole; receivers for measuring amplitudes of the waves; and means to relate said measured amplitudes to said effective cross-sectional area or related parameters. |
| US08462578B2 |
Charge pump circuit with fast start-up
A charge pump circuit (300) includes a charge pump (330), and clocking circuitry that includes a clock generator (310) and a bypass circuit (320). The clocking circuitry generates clock signals and higher frequency alternative clock signals, for driving the charge pump. Upon start-up of the charge pump circuit and depending on a present value of an output voltage of the charge pump, the clocking circuitry couples to the charge pump either the alternative clock signals and not the clock signals, or the clock signals and not the alternative clock signals. Prior to completion of start-up of the charge pump circuit, at least two rows of pump unit cells are driven by a same alternative clock signal, thereby causing a pump unit cell in a row to charge/discharge at a same time as another pump unit cell in another row, thereby decreasing a start-up time of the charge pump circuit. |
| US08462577B2 |
Single transistor driver for address lines in a phase change memory and switch (PCMS) array
The present disclosure relates to the fabrication of non-volatile memory devices. In at least one embodiment, a single transistor may be used to drive each address line, either a wordline or a bitline. Both an inhibit voltage and a selection voltage may be driven through these single transistor devices, which may be achieved with the introduction of odd and even designations for the address lines. In one operating embodiment, a selected address line may be driven to a selection voltage, and the address lines of the odd or even designation which is the same as the selected address line are allowed to float. The address lines of the odd or even designation with is different from the selected address lines are driven to an inhibit voltage, wherein adjacent floating address lines may act as shielding lines to the selected address line. |
| US08462576B2 |
State-monitoring memory element
Embodiments of the invention relate to a state-monitoring memory element. The state-monitoring memory element may be implemented by degrading an input voltage supply to the state-monitoring memory element across a diode and/or a transistor. One or more current sources may be used to stress the state-monitoring memory element. A logic analyzer may be used to analyze the integrity of the state-monitoring memory element and trigger appropriate actions in the IC, e.g., reset, halt, remove power, interrupt, responsive to detecting a failure in the state-monitoring memory element. Multiple state-monitoring memory elements may be disturbed in different locations on the IC for better coverage. |
| US08462571B2 |
DRAM and method for testing the same in the wafer level burn-in test mode
A dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and a method for testing the DRAM are provided. The DRAM includes a memory cell, a bit line associated with the memory cell, a local buffer, and a bit line sense amplifier (BLSA). The local buffer receives a first power voltage as power supply. The local buffer provides a ground voltage to the bit line when a data signal is de-asserted and provides the first power voltage to the bit line when the data signal is asserted. The BLSA receives a second power voltage as power supply. The BLSA provides the second power voltage to the bit line when the data signal and a wafer level burn-in test signal are both asserted. The second power voltage may be higher than the first power voltage. The wafer level burn-in test signal is asserted when the DRAM is in a wafer level burn-in test mode. |
| US08462568B2 |
Command latency systems and methods
Examples of command latency systems and methods are described. In some examples, phase information associated with a received command signal is stored, a received command signal is propagated through a reduced clock flip-flop pipeline and the delayed command signal is combined with the stored phase information. The reduced clock flip-flop pipeline may use a clock having a lower frequency than that used to issue the command signal. Accordingly, fewer flip-flops may be required. |
| US08462565B2 |
Differential threshold voltage non-volatile memory and related methods
Embodiments and examples of differential threshold voltage non-volatile memories and related methods are described herein. In one example, a method for providing an integrated circuit can comprise providing a memory cell coupled to a first bitline and to a second bitline, and at least one of (a) providing a read assist mechanism configured to couple to the memory cell via the first and second bitlines, or (b) providing a memory reset mechanism configured to couple to the memory cell via the first and second bitlines. Providing the memory cell can comprise providing a first transistor comprising a first threshold voltage, providing a second transistor comprising a second threshold voltage, and cross-coupling the first and second transistors of the memory cell together. A difference between the first and second threshold voltages can correspond to a logic state of the memory cell. Other embodiments, examples, and related methods are also disclosed herein. |
| US08462564B1 |
Flash memory programming power reduction
A non-volatile memory device includes an array of non-volatile memory cells. When programming the memory cells, a voltage supply source is used that includes multiple independent charge pumps. The independent charge pumps supply the programming voltage to different ones of bit lines in the array of memory cells. Using multiple charge pumps tends to reduce output voltage fluctuations and thereby reduce power loss. |
| US08462562B1 |
Memory device with area efficient power gating circuitry
A memory device comprises a memory block, a power gating transistor, and control circuitry. The memory block includes at least one memory cell comprising a storage element electrically connected to a source potential line, a drive strength of the storage element being a function of a voltage level on the source potential line. The power gating transistor, in turn, is connected between the source potential line and a voltage source. The control circuitry is operative to configure the power gating transistor to electrically connect the source potential line to the voltage source while the memory block is in a first mode, and to clamp the source potential line at a voltage different from that of the voltage source when the memory block is in a second mode. |
| US08462560B2 |
Semiconductor device, method for controlling the same, and semiconductor system
The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized (FIG. 2). |
| US08462559B2 |
Memory erase methods and devices
Memory devices and erase methods for memories are disclosed, such as those adapted to discharge an erase voltage from a memory block while protecting low voltage string select gate transistors by maintaining the string select gate transistors in a turned on state during discharge. |
| US08462558B2 |
Program and erase methods for nonvolatile memory
Methods of programming or erasing a nonvolatile memory device having a charge storage layer including performing at least one unit programming or erasing loop, each unit programming or erasing loop including applying a programming pulse, an erasing pulse, a time delay, a soft erase pulse, soft programming pulse and/or a verifying pulse as a positive or negative voltage to a portion (for example, a word line or a substrate) of the nonvolatile memory device. |
| US08462556B1 |
Method for operating a high density multi-level cell non-volatile flash memory device
A localized trapping multi-level memory cell operating method includes the following steps. First, a localized trapping memory cell with the initial threshold voltage of approximately 2.5V is provided. Next, an erasing operation is performed to obtain a negative threshold level having uniform charge distribution along the channel region. Taking into account the over-erasure issue in the erasing operation, a programming operation is performed to precisely adjust the threshold voltage to a predetermined level of −2V to −1V. Then, with this negative voltage as a new initial state, a corresponding programming operation is performed and electrons are locally injected into the storage layer. By controlling the quantity of injected electrons, the MLC storage is achieved. |
| US08462552B2 |
Use of emerging non-volatile memory elements with flash memory
Memory devices and methods of operating memory devices are provided, such as those that involve a memory architecture that replaces typical static and/or dynamic components with emerging non-volatile memory (NV) elements. The emerging NV memory elements can replace conventional latches, can serve as a high speed interface between a flash memory array and external devices and can also be used as high performance cache memory for a flash memory array. |
| US08462551B2 |
Flash multi-level threshold distribution scheme
A threshold voltage distribution scheme for multi-level Flash cells where an erase threshold voltage and at least one programmed threshold voltage lie in an erase voltage domain. Having at least one programmed threshold voltage in the erase voltage domain reduces the Vread voltage level to minimize read disturb effects, while extending the life span of the multi-level Flash cells as the threshold voltage distance between programmed states is maximized. The erase voltage domain can be less than 0V while a program voltage domain is greater than 0V. Accordingly, circuits for program verifying and reading multi-level Flash cells having a programmed threshold voltage in the erase voltage domain and the program voltage domain use negative and positive high voltages. |
| US08462549B2 |
Methods and apparatus for read-side intercell interference mitigation in flash memories
Methods and apparatus are provided for read-side intercell interference mitigation in flash memories. A flash memory device is read by obtaining a read value for at least one target cell; obtaining a value representing a voltage stored in at least one aggressor cell that was programmed after the target cell; determining intercell interference for the target cell from the at least one aggressor cell; and obtaining a new read value that compensates for the intercell interference by removing the determined intercell interference from the read value for the at least one target cell. The new read value can optionally be provided to a decoder. In an iterative implementation, one or more intercell interference mitigation parameters can be adjusted if a decoding error occurs. |
| US08462546B2 |
Reducing temporal changes in phase change memories
A phase change memory in the reset state may be heated to reduce or eliminate electrical drift. |
| US08462545B2 |
Semiconductor phase change memory using multiple phase change layers
In accordance with some embodiments, a phase change memory may be formed in which the thermal conductivity in the region outside the programmed volume of phase change material is reduced. This may reduce the power consumption of the resulting phase change memory. The reduction in power consumption may be achieved by forming distinct layers of phase change material that have little or no mixing between them outside the programmed volume. For example, in one embodiment, a diffusion barrier layer may be maintained between the two distinct phase change layers. In another embodiment, a face centered cubic chalcogenide structure may be utilized. |
| US08462542B2 |
Bit-by-bit write assist for solid-state memory
A solid-state memory in which write assist circuitry is implemented within each memory cell. Each memory cell includes a storage element, such as a pair of cross-coupled inverters, that is connected in series with a pair of power switch transistors between a power supply node and ground. One of the power switch transistors is gated by a word line indicating selection of the row containing the cell, and the other is gated by a column select signal indicating selection of the column containing the cell in a write cycle. Upon a write to the cell, both power switch transistors are turned off, removing bias from the inverter that assists its change of state in a write operation. In other embodiments, a single power switch transistor gated by either a word line or a column select signal may be used. |
| US08462527B1 |
Universal AC adaptor
Power from an AC source at a source voltage is converted for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range. DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation are provided in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage. First stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage is provided in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module. |
| US08462526B2 |
DC/AC chopper type power converter for non-insulated type power conditioner with gain calibration of measuring circuit
A power converter enhances conversion efficiency from DC power to AC power. A first chopper circuit chops DC voltage from a photovoltaic panel at a system frequency producing a first square-wave whose voltage level changes positively. A second chopper circuit chops the first square-wave at a frequency double the system frequency producing a second square-wave whose voltage level changes negatively and adds the first square-wave and the second square-wave to produce a third square-wave that changes positively and negatively in a sine-wave manner. A third chopper circuit charges and discharges by chopping the third square-wave at a third frequency fixed by timing according to a difference between the third square-wave and a sine-wave voltage. PWM control is performed on the charge and discharge outputs such that the difference is corrected, producing a sine-wave voltage that continuously changes positively and negatively. A spike noise of an output voltage is suppressed. |
| US08462521B2 |
Shielding assembly
A shielding assembly comprises a pair of opposite first sidewalls, a pair of opposite second sidewalls, a pair of opposite first covers, a pair of latching portion and a pair of opposite second covers. The first sidewalls and the second sidewalls are connected with each other to collectively form a hollow frame. The first covers are resiliently connected to the first sidewalls, respectively, and suitable to be bent to collectively cover the hollow frame. The pair of latching portions extend the first covers and are bent perpendicular to the first covers, respectively. A pair of gaps are defined respectively on two tail ends of each of the latching portions. The second covers are resiliently connected to the second sidewalls, respectively, and are bent to cover on the first covers and latched in corresponding gaps. |
| US08462518B2 |
Power inverter docking system for photovoltaic modules
An electronics module docking system includes docking member removably coupled to a photovoltaic module. The docking system includes a first connector port electrically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module is selectively coupleable to the docking member. The docking system includes a housing to enclose an electronics module. The housing may include second connector port that is selectively engageable to the power electronics module. The power electronics module and the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled to one another upon selective engagement of the connector ports. The inverter housing is receivable by and removably coupleable to the docking member allowing the inverter housing to be removably coupleable to the photovoltaic module. |
| US08462515B2 |
Electronic device with slide-in circuit board
An exemplary electronic includes a casing and a circuit board. The casing includes a bottom plate and two side plates extending upward from two opposite sides of the bottom plate, respectively. Hooks are formed on the bottom plate. Two guiding members are located at the side plates, respectively. The circuit board defines engaging slots corresponding to the hooks of the bottom plate, respectively. During assembly of the circuit board to the casing, the circuit board is inserted into the casing and slides between the side plates with two opposite lateral sides thereof sliding along the guiding members, until the hooks of the bottom plate are received in the engaging slots of the circuit board and the circuit board is thereby secured in the casing. |
| US08462513B2 |
Portable apparatus
First and second housings of a metal sheet are superposed over each other and fixed to each other by bolts to form an element receiving space. An antenna is fixed to the second housing by a bolt so as to be adjacent to the first housing. A hook section is fixed to the first housing. The hook section is inserted in a hole of the antenna, a step-shaped forward lower step section of the hook section is engaged with the peripheral edge of the hole in the antenna, and thus the first housing and the antenna are fixed to each other. The antenna is embedded in resin and covered by the resin. |
| US08462511B2 |
Stacked semiconductor package
A stacked semiconductor package including a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board is provided. The first printed circuit board may include a first surface upon which a first semiconductor chip is mounted and a second surface upon which at least one connecting structure is attached. The first printed circuit board may further include at least one thermal via and a heat sink and the at least one thermal via and the heat sink may be disposed under the first semiconductor chip with the heat sink being disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The second printed circuit board may include a third surface upon which a second semiconductor chip is mounted. The second printed circuit board may be disposed under the first printed circuit board with the at least one connecting structure connecting the first printed circuit board to the second printed circuit board. |
| US08462510B2 |
Board-level package with tuned mass damping structure
A board-level package includes a printed circuit board, a semiconductor die package mounted on the printed circuit board, a tuned mass structure, and a support structure mounted to the printed circuit board and supporting the tuned mass structure. |
| US08462508B2 |
Heat sink with surface-formed vapor chamber base
A heat sink comprises a vapor chamber base formed in a three-dimensional arrangement that mirrors topology of underlying structures on a substrate upon which the heat sink can be mounted, and at least one fin coupled to the vapor chamber base. |
| US08462502B2 |
Structural fabric of a storage apparatus for mounting storage devices
A storage device mounting structure with excellent handleability for storage devices is provided.A storage device mounting structure according to this invention includes a unit for housing a plurality of storage devices, a chassis for housing the unit, and a guide mechanism for supporting the unit and guiding it into or out of the chassis, wherein the unit has an open area for inserting the plurality of storage devices from a front face of the unit into the unit and is supported by the guide mechanism so that the unit can freely move rotationally to make a surface of the unit, where the open area exists, positioned at the front of the chassis. |
| US08462499B2 |
Information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a cooling module configured to cool an electronic component, a thermoelectric element configured to absorb heat generated from the electronic component, and to generate first electricity by performing a thermoelectric conversion by use of the heat, a determination module configured to determine whether the supply source is a battery, and a switcher configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, the thermoelectric element performing the thermoelectric conversion and the cooling module is driven by the first driving electricity generated from the first electricity in the first mode, and the thermoelectric element absorbing the heat and the cooling module is driven by the second driving electricity generated by use of second electricity from a supply source includes a battery in the second mode. |
| US08462498B2 |
Battery disconnect scheme for a portable data terminal
A portable data terminal includes a housing; a controller operating software and supported by the housing; a battery well formed in the housing; a male connector disposed in the battery well comprised of a plurality of male contacts; a battery pack for seating in the battery well having a female connector comprised of a plurality of female contacts for electrically mating with corresponding male contacts to electrically connect the battery pack with the male connector when the battery pack is seated in the battery well, such that when the battery pack is unseated from the battery well and disconnected from the male connector, a signal male contact is electrically unmated from it's corresponding signal female contact to initiate a shut down procedure before other male contacts are electrically unmated from their corresponding female contacts, such that the other male/female contact pairs continue to provide power to the portable data terminal until shut down of the portable data terminal. |
| US08462495B1 |
Disk drive carrier and disk drive enclosure cooling system
A cooling system having a enclosure, a plurality of disk drives stored in the enclosure, a first portion of the disk drives having housings with a first form factor and a second portion of the disk drives having housings with a second form factor smaller than the first form factor, and an air baffle system for directing a flow of air internal the enclosure over portions of the housing of the second portion of the disk drives while at the same time creating a wall to maintain the flow of air over neighboring ones of the first portion of the disk drives (the external flow). |
| US08462492B2 |
Sliding module for electronic device
A sliding module includes a first section, a second section, a sliding plate, a rotary plate, a connecting rod, and at least one elastic member. The sliding plate is fixed to the first section. The rotary plate is rotatably connected to the second section, and the sliding plate is slidably connected to the rotary plate. The connecting rod is connected to the first section and the second section. One end of the at least one elastic member is fixed to the rotary plate, the other end of the at least one elastic member is fixed to the sliding plate. When the sliding plate and the first section slide relative to the second section, the connecting rod rotates the rotary plate relative to the second section, causing the first section to move and rotate relative to the second section into a tilted orientation. |
| US08462491B2 |
Platform for military radio with vehicle adapter amplifier
A platform for a military radio with a vehicle adapter amplifier has been developed. The apparatus includes a base for supporting at least one SINCGARS RT-1523 radio. The platform has a first power supply that includes a DC power converter for converting 110/220 alternating current into +28 Volt direct current and a second power supply that converts +28 Volt direct current into +6.75 Volts direct current, +13 Volts direct current and +200 Volt direct current. The platform includes a vehicle adapter power amplifier that provides range extension to said SINCGARS RT-1523 radio. |
| US08462490B2 |
Mobile terminal case, mobile terminal having the same and method for manufacturing mobile terminal
Disclosed is a mobile terminal case, a mobile terminal having the same, and a method of manufacturing a mobile terminal case, and the mobile terminal may include a case forming an external shape with a curved surface, and a film member mounted on the case, wherein the film member may include a base film combined with the case and made of a synthetic resin material, and a metal film mounted on a surface of the base film and at least part of which is formed to correspond to the curved surface. |
| US08462488B2 |
Electronic device and peripheral element ejecting method thereof
An electronic device capable of ejecting a peripheral element is disclosed, including a housing, a first wheel and a driving unit. The housing has a chamber, wherein the peripheral element is stored in the chamber. The first wheel is disposed in the housing, wherein the first wheel contacts the peripheral element. The driving unit is disposed in the housing, the driving unit rotates the first wheel, and the first wheel moves the peripheral element from a first position to a second position. |
| US08462484B2 |
Method for manufacturing electrolytic capacitor with electrically conductive solid layer and electrolytic capacitor with electrically conductive solid layer
A method for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor including: forming a capacitor element having an anode foil and a cathode foil; impregnating the capacitor element with a dispersion solution containing particles of an electrically conductive solid or aggregates thereof and a dispersion solvent to form an electrically conductive solid layer having the particles of the electrically conductive solid or the aggregates thereof in the capacitor element ; and impregnating the capacitor element having the electrically conductive solid layer with a solvent containing no supporting salt. |
| US08462483B2 |
Multilayer anode
The invention relates to the field of electrical engineering, in particular to multilayer film electrodes for electrolytic capacitors. The proposed multilayer anode is implemented as a substrate with a developed surface on which are sequentially arrayed a conforming layer of a valve metal, which is connected by a heterojunction formed by nanoparticles of the substrate metal and of the valve metal, which are geometrically closed between each other, and an oxide coating. The substrate is connected to the film base through a nanocomposite barrier layer, which comprises a differentiated mixture of the materials being joined, whose content varies relative to each other,[so that] together they amount to 100%, where the working surface is formed in practice by the substrate metal. What is novel is that a metal with a hardness 2-4 times greater than that of the valve metal, preferably titanium, is used as the substrate material, and the pores of the valve-metal layer are limited in size to the range 1-104 nm. The proposed technical solution has made possible improvement of the multilayer anode for an electrolytic capacitor, ensuring superior basic technical performance. |
| US08462482B2 |
Ceramic capacitor and method of manufacturing same
In a ceramic capacitor according to the present invention, an interdiginated pair of internal electrodes are arranged, on a substrate, perpendicular to a surface of the substrate, and a ceramic dielectric member is filled into a gap between this pair of internal electrodes. For this reason, the dimensions of the internal electrodes do not substantially change before and/or after the formation of the ceramic dielectric member, whereby the dimensions formed at the time of internal electrode can be maintained. According to this ceramic capacitor, since the internal electrode dimensions can be easily controlled like this, dimensional control of internal electrode spacing can also be easily carried out. |
| US08462481B2 |
Lightning protection system and aircraft comprising such a system
An anti-lightning system for a composite structure having an external surface configured to be subjected to an air flow, the aforementioned system including at least one electrically conducting strip and fasteners attaching this strip to the aforementioned structure. According to the disclosed embodiments, with this structure including holes configured to accept the fastenings for the strip, at least some these fastenings comprise an attachment element that attaches the lightning to this structure. This attachment element is configured to be inserted in the hole with its upper part substantially flush with the external surface of the structure, this attachment element being in electrical contact with the electrically conducting strip. The electrically conducting strip is configured to be positioned on the opposite side of the structure to the external surface and electrically earthed. |
| US08462474B2 |
Reclosing system for power transmission line
There is provided a reclosing system for a power transmission line, which performs high-speed reclosing using protection relays. The protection relays are provided at different terminals of the power transmission line. Each of the protection relays is configured to send the reclosing command to the circuit breaker when a line voltage at the phase with the accident, detected by the metering voltage transformer after the phase with the accident is cut off, falls within an allowable range. The allowable range is determined based on a line voltage assumed at the phase when the phase is normal. |
| US08462472B1 |
Electric safety circuit for use with an electric receptacle
An electric safety circuit for use with an electric receptacle includes a relay and contacts in which power from a mains is supplied through the contacts to the receptacle only when the contacts are closed; a transistor for controlling the relay to open or close the contacts; an enabling device for supplying an enabling signal to the transistor to close the contacts when a plug of an electrically connected device is inserted into the receptacle, the electrically connected device is turned on, and there is no electrical contact by a person with the power supplied to the electrically connected device; and a disabling device for supplying a disabling signal to the transistor to open the contacts when there is electrical contact by a person with the power supplied to the electrically connected device. |
| US08462468B2 |
Magnetic head and magnetic disk drive to be used for shingled recording method
In a magnetic head to be used for a shingled recording method, degradation of a signal resolution and a decrease in a signal-to-noise ratio which are caused by an asymmetrical inter-bit transition curvature are prevented, and a low bit error rate is realized. A magnetic head includes a recording head and a reproducing head. The reproducing head includes a pair of magnetic shields and a sensor sandwiched between the pair of magnetic shields. The gap between the magnetic shields is formed so that the longitudinal direction thereof gets inclined by a certain angle with respect to a cross-track direction in line with the shape of a curvature of an inter-bit transition on an effective record track in a record pattern recorded on a recording medium. |
| US08462460B1 |
Shock mount and retainer for a disk drive enclosure
One embodiment relates to an improved enclosure and shock mount for a disk drive. The enclosure and shock mount provide shock and vibration isolation to protect the components of the disk drive. In one embodiment, shock mounts are provided on the disk drive assembly. An enclosure comprises an upper component and a lower component. Retaining features are provided to join the enclosure together and captivate the shock mounts with a desired pre-load. |
| US08462458B1 |
Writing spirals based on servo tracks of a different sample rate
Methods, devices and systems include, in some implementations, a method including: writing, using a head having a read element and a write element, a band of spiral sets, the band of spiral sets including a first spiral set and a second spiral set different from the first spiral set; writing, using the write element, servo information that includes one or more sets of servo wedges while the read element is servoing on the first spiral set; and servoing the read element on the second spiral set based on one or more determined conditions under which writing the servo information coincides with reading data from the first spiral set. |
| US08462457B1 |
Electrostatic discharge protection circuit for magneto-resistive read elements
A read head circuit includes a read element configured to read data stored magnetically on a platter and includes first and second terminals. A write element writes data on the platter. A normally-ON transistor includes first, second and control terminals. The first and second terminals of the transistor are connected to a respective one of the first and second terminals of the read element. The control terminal receives a control voltage referenced from a power terminal. The power terminal powers the read element or the write element. Responsive to the control terminal being powered by the power terminal, the normally-ON transistor provides an open circuit between the first terminal of the read element and the second terminal of the read element. Responsive to the control terminal not being powered by the power terminal, the normally-ON transistor shorts the first and second terminals of the read element. |
| US08462455B2 |
Systems and methods for improved servo data operation
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and media formats for efficiently determining a position error of a head in relation to a storage medium. In one case, a system is disclosed that includes a storage medium with a series of data. The series of data includes a first defined marker and a second defined marker located a distance from the first defined marker, and position location data. The systems further include a first detector circuit that is operable to detect the first defined marker and to establish a location of the first defined marker, and a second detector circuit that is operable to detect the second defined marker and to establish a location of the second defined marker. The systems further include an error calculation circuit and an interpolation circuit. The error calculation circuit is operable to calculate an interpolation offset based at least in part on the location of the first defined marker and the location of the second defined marker. The interpolation circuit is operable to interpolate the position location data and to provide an interpolated position location data. |
| US08462451B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
A lens barrel includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder configured to rotate around an optical axis relative to the first cylinder and to move a lens holding frame holding a lens in an optical axis direction, a force unit arranged outside of the second cylinder, a force relay member arranged outside of the second cylinder and configured to contact the force unit, a first roller fixed to the force relay unit and configured to contact a first surface of the second cylinder, and to transmit a force to the first surface of the second cylinder, the force being applied by the force unit and relayed by the force relay unit; and a second roller fixed to the first cylinder, and configured to contact a second surface inside of the second cylinder, and to restrict a movement of the second cylinder in the optical axis direction by the force. |
| US08462446B2 |
Optical imaging lens assembly
This invention provides an optical imaging lens assembly comprising five lens elements with refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side: 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 negative refractive power; a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; and a fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface, at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, and made of plastic. By such arrangement, photosensitivity and total track length of the optical imaging lens assembly can be reduced, and the aberration and astigmatism of the assembly can be effectively corrected. Moreover, high image resolution can be obtained. |
| US08462445B2 |
Zoom lens barrel
A lens control apparatus having a zoom lens includes first and second operation members that give a zoom instruction for moving the zoom lens, and a controller that changes a zoom stop position to a first pattern according to the operation of the first operation member, and changes the zoom stop position to a second pattern, which has an interval wider than that in the first pattern, according to the operation of the second operation member. |
| US08462443B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A high-performance zoom lens system which is compact and has a wide view angle at a wide-angle limit and a high zooming ratio in a balanced manner, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the first lens unit is composed of at most two lens elements, the second lens unit is composed of two lens elements, the third lens unit is composed of three lens elements, in order from the object side to the image side, including an object side lens element having positive optical power, a lens element having negative optical power, and an image side lens element having positive optical power, and the conditions: fT/fW>6.0 and ωW≧30 (fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit, ωW: a half view angle at a wide-angle limit) are satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided. |
| US08462442B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A high-performance zoom lens system which is compact and has a wide view angle at a wide-angle limit and a high zooming ratio in a balanced manner, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the first lens unit is composed of at most two lens elements, the second lens unit is composed of two lens elements, the third lens unit is composed of three lens elements, and the condition: nd>1.75 (nd: a refractive index to the d-line of each lens element constituting the zoom lens system) is satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided. |
| US08462439B2 |
Athermal apochromatic telecentric F-theta lens with low F-number
A compact F-theta lens suitable for precise mapping and aerial photography has an F# of not more than 4.5 and a full field of view of 60° (high quality field over) 53°. The lens is near-telecentric to less than 6°, apochromatic from 450 nm to 650 nm, and athermal from −15° C. to +40° C. Embodiments have a focal plane diameter of 104 mm and are compatible for use with a CMOS 1.8 gigapixel multiple FPA. In some embodiments the focal length is 101 mm and the back working distance is more than 10 mm. In embodiments the lens includes three groups of optical elements, with an aperture located between the first and second groups. In some of these embodiments, the first group has at least three elements, while the second and third groups have four and three elements respectively, and the diameter of the first two groups, including housing, is less than 65 mm. |
| US08462438B2 |
Lens for projection and projection-type display apparatus
In constructing a lens for projection substantially consisting of seven lenses, and the reduction side of which is telecentric, a first-lens-group is composed of two lenses including at least one negative lens. A second-lens-group is composed of a positive second-group first-lens having a convex surface facing the magnification side, a negative second-group second-lens having a concave surface facing the magnification side, a positive second-group third-lens having a convex surface facing the reduction side, a positive second-group fourth-lens, and a positive second-group fifth-lens in this order from the magnification side. The formulas (A) and (B) are satisfied: 1.2≦Bf/f≦2.5 (A); and f23/f≦1.5 (B), where Bf is a back focus in air of an entire lens system, f is the focal length of the entire lens system, and f23 is the focal length of an air lens between a reduction-side surface of the second-group second-lens and a magnification-side surface of the second-group third-lens. |
| US08462437B2 |
Passive louver-based daylighting system
A daylighting system for use in a building including a louver array having a first longitudinal element, and a second longitudinal element spaced therefrom. At least one of the first and second elements has an asymmetrical profile, each of the first and second longitudinal elements has a bottom profile including a parabolic surface, portions of opposing surfaces of the first and second longitudinal elements define a compound parabolic concentrator profile having a non-horizontal centerline that is tilted upwards, and the array prevents line of sight therethrough. A louver for a daylighting system includes (i) a leading edge defined by a leading connecting surface disposed between a parabolic concentrator surface and a flat surface; and (ii) a trailing edge defined by a trailing connecting surface disposed between a lower compound parabolic concentrator profile, and an upper compound parabolic concentrator profile. A method for designing a louver profile is provided. |
| US08462431B2 |
Method and device for spectral control in frequency conversion laser amplifiers
The invention relates to a method of spectral control in a frequency-shift laser chain for producing ultra-short pulses and comprising at least two laser-crystal amplifier stages, for cooling the crystal of one of the amplifier stages of the chain. |
| US08462430B2 |
Optical fiber amplifier and a control method therefor
An optical amplifier having two erbium doped fiber coils and a pump laser diode is described. A tunable optical power splitter is used for variably splitting the optical pump power for the laser diode between the two erbium doped fiber coils, and variable tilters can be used for correcting the gain tilt of the amplifier. The variable splitter and the tilters can include thermally tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometers. |
| US08462425B2 |
Oscillator-amplifier drive laser with seed protection for an EUV light source
As disclosed herein, in a first aspect, a device may comprise: an oscillator producing a light output on a beam path; a target material for interaction with light on the beam path at an irradiation site; a beam delay on the beam path the beam delay having a beam folding optical arrangement; and a switch positioned along the beam path and interposed between the oscillator and the beam delay; the switch closable to divert at least a portion of light on the beam path from the beam path, the switch having close time, t1 and the beam path having a length, L1, along the path from the switch to the irradiation site; with t1 |
| US08462420B2 |
Tunable plasmonic filter
A tunable plasmonic filter or an optical filtering method discloses plasmonic filter structure and a voltage or current source. An intensity or wavelength of light transmitted through the filter structure is modulated by the intensity of a voltage or current from the voltage or current source. The plasmonic filter structure is located between electrodes electrically connected to the voltage or current source. The plasmonic filter structure is configured such that the incident light is resonant with at least one plasmonic mode on the structure, and a predetermined wavelength will perturb the metallic plasmonic structure in surface plasmon on energy bands for the wavelength selective transmission of light. |
| US08462418B1 |
Continuous variable aperture for forward looking infrared cameras based on adjustable blades
A continuous variable non-circular aperture for an infra-red camera is formed by a plurality of positionable metal blades arranged to define there between an aperture of non-circular shape. A rotatable actuator plate positions the blades. Actuator rotation in one direction moves the metal blades to increase the size of the non-circular aperture without changing the non-circular shape of the aperture and vice-versa when the actuator plate is rotated in the opposite direction also maintaining the non-circular aperture shape. A preferred non-circular shape for a continuous variable aperture now possible is a rectangle; another is configured as a racetrack. |
| US08462415B2 |
Connecting structure for micromechanical oscillating devices
A connecting structure for micromechanical oscillating devices, in particular micromechanical oscillating mirrors. The connecting structure is at least indirectly connectable to a micromechanical oscillating structure, on the one hand, and to an elastic element, on the other hand, for measuring torsions of the micromechanical oscillating structure, and includes at least one, in particular at least two, preferably three, legs which are situated parallel to a rotation axis of the micromechanical oscillating structure, and at least one further leg which is situated perpendicularly to the rotation axis. The extension of the connecting structure parallel to the rotation axis has at least two-and-a-half times, in particular three times, the extension of the connecting structure perpendicular to the rotation axis, and includes at least one resistance element for measuring torsions of the connecting structure, the resistance element being situated in the area of increased mechanical stress when the connecting structure undergoes torsion. |
| US08462410B2 |
Mirror device, mirror array, optical switch, mirror device manufacturing method, and mirror substrate manufacturing method
A mirror device includes a mirror (153) which is supported to be pivotable with respect to a mirror substrate (151), a driving electrode (103-1-103-4) which is formed on an electrode substrate (101) facing the mirror substrate, and an antistatic structure (106) which is arranged in a space between the mirror and the electrode substrate. This structure can fix the potential of the lower surface of the mirror and suppress drift of the mirror by applying a second potential to the antistatic structure. |
| US08462409B2 |
Optical wave correction for a holographic projection system
A holographic projection system with an optical wave tracking system sets the propagation direction of a modulated wave uses a position control system and an eye finder. It provides an adjustable optical wave correction system which compensates for deformations of the wave which are dependent on the current eye position. Largely dynamic changes and deformations in the form structure of the modulated and conditioned wave are reduced, which result from changes in the propagation direction of the aligned, optically enlarged and modulated wave on a focusing display screen. The optical wave correction system includes adjustable wave form means and computer means which set the optical behavior of the wave form means using the positional data from the current eye position. The adjustable wave form means are located in the light path between an illuminating system for the spatial light modulation means and the display screen of the projection system. |
| US08462405B2 |
Image-reading apparatus
An image-reading apparatus includes a light dividing unit that divides irradiated light so that a part of the light having a first wavelength is diffracted, and a part of the light having a second wavelength is transmitted; a first light measuring unit that measures an intensity of light entering into a first measuring area, and outputs first measurement information indicating the measured intensity; a second light measuring unit that measures an intensity of light entering into a second measuring area, and outputs second measurement information indicating the measured intensity; an image-forming unit that forms an image of a subject for reading in the first measurement area, and that forms a virtual image in the second measurement area using light diffracted by the light dividing unit; and a generation unit that corrects the first measurement information on the basis of the second measurement information. |
| US08462402B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling light source in image scanning apparatus
The method to control a light source in an image scanning apparatus includes emitting light onto a reference surface having a predetermined reflectivity from a light source, detecting a shading level representing an intensity of the light reflected from the reference surface, and controlling the light intensity from the light source by using the shading level and the reference level. |
| US08462395B2 |
Device for detecting the presence of a tangible document in an image acquisition apparatus
An image acquisition apparatus, including a housing, the housing includes an internal space and a substantially transparent surface for supporting a tangible document during an image acquisition operation, a document sensing device for detecting if at least a portion of the transparent surface is covered by the tangible document, the document sensing device including a transparent support structure for supporting at least one edge of the tangible document, a layer of coating configured to reflect light, wherein the layer of coating covering at least a portion of the external surfaces of the transparent support structure, a first light source and a light intensity sensor disposed inside the internal space. |
| US08462394B2 |
Document type classification for scanned bitmaps
Systems and methods are described that facilitate determining an original document format for a scanned document by analyzing a bitmap thereof. Text objects are extracted from the document, binarized, and segmented to identify text. Page orientation and text size are used to distinguish between a slideshow-type document, and a word processing or spreadsheet-type document. To further distinguish between the word processing and spreadsheet types, text column structure and count is analyzed. |
| US08462388B2 |
Identifying a color separation wherein a banding defect originates
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for banding defect detection in user document images to improve image quality trend analysis in multifunction digital imaging system architectures. The present banding detection process uses region-based, time sequence analysis, and graylevels of image regions in a collection of a sequence of regions, to improve banding detection. The present method independently analyzes the colorant separations to detect banding due to sources that are colorant-dependent, e.g., due to a single developer housing. This identification can be performed in the presence of multiple banding defects. |
| US08462385B2 |
Color matching for color management systems
Embodiments herein provide for color conversion in production printing systems. The color conversion system includes a processor operable to receive a print job and convert the print job into a full sheetside bitmap comprised of an array of color pixels. The full sheetside bitmap is destined for color conversion via an ink limitation algorithm. The color conversion system also includes an image identification module operable to identify a portion of the print job for a level of color accuracy and to designate that portion of the print job for color conversion via a color accuracy algorithm. The processor is operable to convert a color value of the identified portion of the print job using the color accuracy algorithm. The processor also converts color values of the remainder of the print job using the ink limitation algorithm. |
| US08462381B2 |
Dot position measurement method, dot position measurement apparatus, and computer readable medium
According to an aspect of the present invention, by correcting the measurement positions of each line block with a reference line block serving as a reference point, the effect of disruption of the read image lattice caused by the image reading apparatus can be diminished, whereby the effect of paper deformation can be reduced, making highly accurate dot position measurement possible. |
| US08462378B2 |
Image forming apparatus for producing plural images on a single sheet with a user selected integration pattern
An image forming apparatus is provided to enable a user to integrate plural images on a single sheet in a pattern controlled by the user. The apparatus includes an image acquiring portion that acquires document images, and integration pattern determining portion that makes settings relating to the integration and an integrated document image generating portion that generates the integrated document images corresponding to the integration pattern. The apparatus includes a print portion that prints the integrated document images. |
| US08462376B2 |
Image forming apparatus and computer-readable medium
Disclosed an image forming apparatus to form an image on a basis of an image data file stored in an external memory, including: an expansion memory to expand the image data file; a memory residual capacity calculating section to calculate a residual capacity of the expansion memory; a memory occupying amount predicting section to predict a memory occupying amount necessary to expand the image data file into the expansion memory; a specification section to specify an image formable image data file which is processable by the image forming apparatus among the image data files stored in the external memory on a basis of the residual capacity of the expansion memory and the memory occupying amount, and a display controlling section to display a file name of the specified image formable image data file in a display section. |
| US08462369B2 |
Hybrid image processing system for a single field of view having a plurality of inspection threads
The present invention provides a hybrid image processing system, which generally includes an image processing unit for receiving image data corresponding to a set of images, generating commands for processing the image data, and sending the images and the commands to an image processing unit of the hybrid image processing system. Upon receipt, the image processing unit will recognize and interpret the commands, assign and/or schedule tasks for processing the image data to a set of (e.g., special) processing engines based on the commands, and return results and/or processed image data to the image interface unit. |
| US08462368B2 |
Printing device management based on topics of interest and object locators
A system for managing printing device related objects on a network, comprising a GUI, by first selecting a topic of interest from a category of interests; then selecting a predefined object locator, which filters objects based on associated criteria. The system enables graceful scaling, wherein the number of topics of interest in the first GUI pane and the complexity of the displayed information in the second GUI pane stay roughly constant even when the number of devices and objects in an organization increases significantly. The methods also include Static, Dynamic, Permanent, and Temporary object locators; hierarchically displayed topics and object groupings displayed in an integrated manner; defining new topics, topic actions, and object locators; and selecting an action for property and printing device related object, then displaying a topic of interest associated with the selected action. |
| US08462367B2 |
Printer voice portal
A printer portal including a network connection arranged to transfer user voice command input and printer portal output, a telephony system arranged to receive user voice command input and generate printer portal output via the network connection, a printing device arranged to print information responsive to the telephony system based on the user voice command input, and an access module arranged to control user access to portions of the printer portal is described. The printer portal stores location information about the printer portal. A method for printing information at a printer portal is described. A user voice command input is received at a printer portal. The printer portal analyzes the command input using a telephony system. Information is printed at the printer portal if the command input includes a print request to print information at the printer portal. |
| US08462366B2 |
Delivery expert system, method and computer program product
Embodiments disclosed herein can facilitate delivery of a document from a source to a destination over a network where an initial delivery attempt has been unsuccessful. Actions to be taken are based upon input conditions which may include a time-variable set of input conditions such as identifying non-business days and/or hours at the destination. The document can be a fax, an email, or a voice mail. The actions may include resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt, cancelling the document, sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information, identifying the destination as a technical problem, or a combination thereof. |
| US08462365B2 |
Image forming apparatus and print controlling method for the same
An image forming apparatus includes: a combining unit configured to combine a document image and a coded image; a setting determining unit configured to determine whether a setting for combining a document image including a previously combined coded image and an other coded image is made when a reproduction of the document image is instructed; and a prohibiting unit configured to prohibit the combining unit from combining the document image including the previously combined coded image and the other coded image according to the setting when the result of the determination indicates that the setting is made. |
| US08462359B2 |
Position measuring device
A position measuring device includes a plurality of concave marks, a light source portion, a light receiving portion, and a concave portion measuring portion. The concave marks are formed on an external wall of an object to be a measuring target. Each of the plurality of the concave marks includes a plurality of concave portions disposed on a concentric circle with a preset concave mark central position to be a center of the concentric circle. The concave portions are provided so that densities of the concave portions become lower as distances from the concave mark central position become longer in each of the concave marks. The light source portion irradiates the object with an irradiating light. The light receiving portion receives a reflected light from the object, the refracted light being originated from the irradiating light. The concave portion measuring portion measures each three-dimensional position of the concave marks. |
| US08462358B2 |
Device for detecting movement and forces
The invention relates to an apparatus for input of movements and/or registration of forces, comprising at least one light source, at least one position sensitive device (PSD) and at least one diaphragm, wherein at least one of these three elements is moveable with respect to the two other elements. The light source is arranged at a mounting so that light from the light source is emitted through an opening in the mounting and through the at least one diaphragm onto the at least one PSD. |
| US08462357B2 |
Device and method for obtaining three-dimensional object surface data
The concept includes projecting at the object surface, along a first optical axis, two or more two-dimensional (2D) images containing together one or more distinct wavelength bands. The wavelength bands vary in intensity along a first image axis, forming a pattern, within at least one of the projected images. Each projected image generates a reflected image along a second optical axis. The 3D surface data is obtained by comparing the object data with calibration data, which calibration data was obtained by projecting the same images at a calibration reference surface, for instance a planar surface, for a plurality of known positions along the z-axis. Provided that the z-axis is not orthogonal to the second optical axis, the z-axis coordinate at each location on the object surface can be found if the light intensity combinations of all predefined light intensity patterns are linearly independent along the corresponding z-axis. |
| US08462354B2 |
Aircraft icing detector
A method for aircraft surface contamination detection and measurement includes: mounting a laser probe on an airfoil; positioning the laser probe to emit laser energy at multiple pre-determined surface points along the leading edge of the airfoil; and using a processor device for activating the laser probe and obtaining measurement data for generating a surface contour of the shape and accurate measurement of the depth of airfoil icing in the surface target area. The icing data is presented to the pilot in a display that alerts him to the icing and accurately shows the depth and shape of the airfoil icing. |
| US08462352B2 |
Surface inspection tool and surface inspection method
A surface inspection tool 110 measures scattering light intensity of scattering light generated by irradiated irradiation light in association with a measurement coordinate on a wafer 200 with patterns and inspects the surface roughness of the wafer 200. The surface inspection tool includes a controller 250 which extracts measurement coordinate of the measured scattering light intensity that is equal to or more than a lower limit threshold L, sets an inspection range 406 of the surface roughness inspection in a partial layout 405a of a part of the whole layout 401 of the pattern corresponding to the periphery of the extracted measurement coordinate, and obtains the surface roughness in the inspection range 406. |
| US08462351B2 |
Measurement method and measurement apparatus
The present invention provides a measurement apparatus including a reflector configured to reflect a light traveling from an optical system, a detector configured to detect a light incident thereon via the reflector and a measurement optical system including one of a reference surface and a wavefront conversion element, and a load application device configured to apply a load to the reflector in an application direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the load application device applying a compression load to a first portion of the reflector below the optical axis, at a magnitude corresponding to an angle and a position of the first portion, in the application direction thereat, and applying a tension load to a second portion of the reflector above the optical axis, at a magnitude corresponding to an angle and a position of the second portion, in the application direction thereat. |
| US08462350B2 |
Optically enhanced holographic interferometric testing methods for the development and evaluation of semiconductor devices, materials, wafers, and for monitoring all phases of development and manufacture
Improved methods and systems for inspection imaging for holographic or interferometric semiconductor test and evaluation through all phases of device development and manufacture. Specifically, systems and methods are disclosed for extending the range of optical holographic interferometric inspection for testing and evaluating microelectronic devices and determining the interplay of electromagnetic signals and dynamic stresses to the semiconductor material are provided in which an enhanced imaging method provides continuous and varying the magnification of the optical holographic interferometric images over a plurality of interleaved optical pathways and imaging devices. Analysis of one or more holographic interference patterns displays internal and external stresses and the various effects of such stresses upon the operating characteristics of features within the features, interior structures or within the internal surfaces of the semiconductor device at any stage of development or manufacture. |
| US08462349B1 |
System and method for a self-referencing interferometer
Systems and methods are described herein for a self-referencing interferometer. The interferometer can comprise an improved spatial phase shifter that reduces the number of components, size and complexity of the spatial phase shifter and maintains a common path for a combined reference beam and signal beam. The self-referencing interferometer further comprises a single mode fiber shunt for filtering the reference beam and further reducing the size of the interferometer. The angle of the reference beam can be tilted before being recombined with the single beam which further simplifies the spatial phase shifting component of the interferometer. |
| US08462346B2 |
Representation of spatial-frequency data as a map
A method for representing the structural information in a biological or physical sample is disclosed. In this method, a time-frequency representation of the spatial distribution within a sample is transformed into a color representation of the data. Furthermore, due to the directional sensitivity of the method for gathering the data, information about the structural anisotropy of the sample can also be encoded from the data. The application of this method to one or more regions within the sample enables a map to be generated which clearly illustrates quantitative measures of the structures present. |
| US08462345B2 |
In-plane optical metrology
A structure that is located adjacent to a measurement target on a substrate is used to convert incident radiation from an optical metrology device to be in-plane with the measurement target. The structure may be, e.g., a grating or photonic crystal, and may include a waveguide between the structure and the measurement target. The in-plane light interacts with the measurement target and is reflected back to the structure, which converts the in-plane light to out-of-plane light that is received by the optical metrology device. The optical metrology device then uses the information from the received light to determine one or more desired parameters of the measurement target. Additional structures may be used to receive light that is transmitted through or scattered by the measurement target if desired. |
| US08462343B2 |
Wireless sensor system for environmental monitoring
A wireless sensor system is provided that utilizes reliable, small, inexpensive and low power-consuming sensor nodes for monitoring environmental parameters that can communicate through wireless transmitters to a base station. The sensor nodes preferably incorporate anti-biofouling protection, so as to withstand continuous field deployment in streams and/or riparian areas. |
| US08462342B2 |
Spectral colorimetric apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A spectral colorimetric apparatus includes a housing which includes a side wall. An outer surface of the side wall is an adjustment surface capable of adjusting a position of a linear sensor by moving while attaching the linear sensor to the adjustment surface. The linear sensor is supported by the side wall of the housing while abutting on the adjustment surface and receives a light beam that is dispersed by a concave surface reflection type diffraction element and passes through an opening portion. The adjustment surface is parallel to a tangential line at a part of a Rowland circle of the concave surface reflection type diffraction element, through which a light beam received by the linear sensor passes. |
| US08462341B2 |
Mounting for deviation angle self compensating substantially achromatic retarder
A system, method of configuring, and application a system for introducing a relative phase retardation into orthogonally polarized components of an electromagnetic beam entered thereinto, wherein the system involves a substantially achromatic multiple element retarder system for use in wide spectral range (for example, 190-1700 nm) rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer and/or polarimeter systems. |
| US08462340B2 |
Gel particle measuring apparatus
A gel particle measuring apparatus detects a gel particle production starting point with high sensitivity, for measurement of a target substance in a sample by a gelation reaction. The gel particle measuring apparatus includes a sample cell accommodating a sample and a solution containing a reagent, a stirring device for stirring a mixed solution including the sample and the solution containing the reagent, a coherent light source that irradiates the mixed solution with coherent light, a transmitted light detecting device outside the sample cell, on the opposite side of the coherent light source, a transmitted light fluctuation detecting device for detecting a fluctuation component of the transmitted light, and a gel particle production determining device for determining at least the production state of gel particles, which leads to timing of phase transition of the mixed solution from a sol phase to a gel phase. |
| US08462334B2 |
Sensor system with plasmonic nano-antenna array
In order to provide the high sensitivity SERS active substrates needed for rapid and sensitive chemical/biological agent detection, the present invention provides a Plasmonic Nano-antenna Array (PNA) substrate with large local electromagnetic field enhancements; a controllable and repeatable nano-fabrication process for creating the PNA surface; and a system design for a compact, portable device capable of using the PNA technology to acquire and analyze target molecular samples. Both 2D and 3D systems are provided. |
| US08462333B2 |
Apparatus for performing SERS
An apparatus for performing SERS includes a substrate and flexible nano-fingers, each of the nano-fingers having a first end attached to the substrate, a free second end, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, in which the nano-fingers are arranged in an array on the substrate. The apparatus also includes an active material layer disposed on each of the second ends of the plurality of nano-fingers, in which the nano-fingers are to be in a substantially collapsed state in which the active layers on at least two of the nano-fingers contact each other under dominant attractive forces between the plurality of nano-fingers and in which the active material layers are to repel each other when the active material layers are electrostatically charged. |
| US08462332B2 |
Multi-layer slides for analysis of urine sediments
Visual analysis of urine samples is carried out with the use of a slide consisting of three layers containing an enclosed viewing chamber which receives a urine sample deposited by pipette into an opening on the outer layer of the slide. From the inlet opening the sample enters an inlet chamber in the middle layer and passes through a capillary passageway into the viewing chamber where it is inspected for particles and sediments. |
| US08462328B2 |
Efficient telecentric optical system (ETOS)
A new architecture for machine vision system that uses area sensor (or line sensor), with telecentric imaging optics compound with telecentric illumination module is described. The illumination module may include a bright field illumination source and/or a dark field illumination source. The telecentric imaging optics includes an upper imaging module having an aperture stop and a lower imaging module positioned between the upper imaging module and object, such that the light source and the aperture stop are located in the back focal plane of the lower imaging module. The lower imaging module images the illumination source into a plane of an aperture stop of the upper imaging module. The optical axis of the upper imaging module is offset with respect to the lower imaging module. The optical axis of the telecentric illumination module is offset with respect to the axis of the lower imaging module in the opposite direction. |
| US08462326B2 |
Schlieren type ultrasonic wave observer system
The invention discloses the Schlieren type ultrasonic wave observer system. The invention states optics interference by the ultrasonic wave sound field after perturbation the medium, and combines to make the interference penetration optical projection the image, the goal lies in the observation ordinary naked eye blind ultrasonic wave sound field distribution. Characteristic of the invention using the spectroscope and the reflector combination, as well as microcontroller precise time delay control, might formerly be limited under the 4F optical field length limit to enhance largely the field of vision the several fold. |
| US08462324B2 |
Monitoring fibers in an optical ribbon cable
A system for monitoring an optical cable includes a cable having monitor fibers solely for monitoring cable status. The monitor fibers may be fibers selected from optical fibers having a higher mechanical sensitivity to mechanical stresses than other fibers in the cable, which may attenuate earlier than the other fibers in the event of cable degradation. The monitor fibers may be in communication with a transmitter and receiver, for transmitting and receiving a monitor signal. The receiver may be in communication with an alarm, the alarm being operative to send an alert signal when an increased attenuation is detected from the monitor signal, the increased attenuation being indicative of the status of the optical cable. |
| US08462319B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting deformations on a vehicle component
An apparatus and a method for detecting deformations of a vehicle component on a motor vehicle are disclosed, which are capable of unambiguously determining the location and temporal progression of the deformation, as well as the severity of the deformation, within a very short time after the deformation of the vehicle component begins. An emitter unit together with a detector unit is displaced relative to an aperture component disposed on the vehicle component upon deformation of the vehicle component. A beam path of a light beam between the emitter unit and the detector unit is interrupted or opened when the aperture component is displaced relative to the emitter unit, thereby changing an illumination intensity detected by the detector unit. A signal representative of the illumination intensity is transmitted from the detector unit to an evaluation unit. |
| US08462314B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate. The apparatus also includes a barrier member, surrounding a space between the projection system and, in use, the substrate, to define in part with the projection system a reservoir for liquid. A radially outer surface of the barrier member facing a portion of projection system and a radially outer surface of the portion of the projection system facing the barrier member each have a liquidphobic outer surface. The liquidphobic outer surface of the barrier member and/or the liquidphobic outer surface of the portion of the projection system has an inner edge that defines in part the reservoir. |
| US08462311B2 |
Display panel and method of repairing bright point thereof
A display panel has a portion of a color filter or patterned color layer with a thickness of at least half of the cell gap of the display panel, wherein the repair method includes providing a energy light beam to the portion of the color filter or the patterned color layer in the sub-pixel region with a bright point defect to make the portion of the color filter or patterned color layer have porous structure so that bright point is repaired to become a grey point or a dark point. |
| US08462305B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode spaced apart with a gap therebetween, a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first and second subpixel electrodes include a plurality of branches, and each of the first and second subpixel electrodes includes a plurality of subregions. The branches extend in different directions in different subregions. |
| US08462304B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device using the same
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer and an electrode structure. The second substrate is substantially parallel to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrode structure is disposed on the first substrate. The electrode structure includes a first branch portion and a second branch portion. The first branch portion includes first branch electrodes. The two adjacent first branch electrodes are substantially parallel to each other and separated apart by a first interval. The second branch portion includes second branch electrodes. The two adjacent second branch electrodes are substantially parallel to each other and separated apart by a second interval. Any first branch electrode corresponds to at least part of one of the second intervals. Any second branch electrode corresponds to at least part of one of the first intervals. |
| US08462303B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes liquid crystals which are sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein on the first substrate is provided, a thin-film transistor, a drain electrode line to which a video signal is applied, a gate electrode line to which a gate signal is applied, a pixel electrode and a common electrode consisting of transparent conductive films, a first insulating layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, a and second insulating layer formed between the common electrode and the first substrate, wherein on the second substrate is provided, a color filter which includes a plurality of coloring layers of different colors, the coloring layers having different light transmittances, wherein a common line consisting of a metal to which a common voltage is applied, the common line being formed between the first substrate and the second insulating layer. |
| US08462302B2 |
Multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display device and pixel structure thereof
An MVA LCD device includes a first alignment region, a second alignment region, a third alignment region, and a fourth alignment region. The liquid crystal molecules disposed in the first alignment region have a first aligning direction, and the azimuth angle of the first aligning direction is substantially between 70 and 110 degrees. The liquid crystal molecules disposed in the second alignment region have a second aligning direction, and the azimuth angle of the second aligning direction is substantially between 160 and 200 degrees. The liquid crystal molecules disposed in the third alignment region have a third aligning direction, and the azimuth angle of the third aligning direction is substantially between 250 and 290 degrees. The liquid crystal molecules disposed in the fourth alignment region have a fourth aligning direction, and the azimuth angle of the fourth aligning direction is substantially between −20 and 20 degrees. |
| US08462299B2 |
Reflection type liquid crystal display device, display apparatus, and projection system
A reflection type liquid crystal display device comprises a glass substrate provided with a transparent electrode, and an Si driving circuit substrate provided with a light reflecting electrode, the glass substrate and the Si driving circuit substrate being disposed opposite to each other so that the transparent electrode and the light reflecting electrode are opposed to each other, with a liquid crystal layer composed of vertically aligned liquid crystals being interposed therebetween, wherein at least the condition of d·Δn·|Δ∈|2≧5 is satisfied, where d (μm) is the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, Δn is the refractive index anisotropy of the vertically aligned liquid crystals, and |Δ∈| is the magnitude of the dielectric constant anisotropy of the vertically aligned liquid crystals. |
| US08462298B2 |
Display with RGB color filter element sets
An electronic display containing a light source and a color filter set, the color filter set comprising: a green color filter having a green filter layer comprising a first pigment having its maximum absorption at a wavelength from 600 to 700 nm wherein at least 90 volume percent of the first pigment particles have a particle size less than 300 nm, and a second pigment having its maximum absorption at a wavelength from 400 to 500 nm wherein at least 90 volume percent of the second pigment particles have a particle size less than 300 nm, and wherein the green filter layer has a transmittance of 60% or more at a wavelength of 520 nm and of no more than 10% at a wavelength of 480 nm and of no more than 10% at a wavelength of 590 nm; a blue color filter having a blue filter layer; a red color filter having a red filter layer; and wherein the color gamut defined by the electronic display has a % NTSCx,y ratio greater than 88%. |
| US08462292B2 |
Optically transmissive substrates and light emitting assemblies and methods of making same, and methods of displaying images using the optically transmissive substrates and light emitting assemblies
Images are displayed in response to a video signal using a light emitting assembly having one or more optically transmissive substrates, films or sheets, each having at least one pattern of optical elements on or in the substrates, films or sheets. A plurality of light sources are configured to illuminate one or more output areas of one or more of the substrates, films or sheets. The light emitting assembly is configured to emit light through the pattern of optical elements and produce a predetermined luminance profile of the light emitting assembly. At least one of the light sources is dimmed or boosted in response to an input video signal while operating a liquid crystal display as a light valve to illuminate the liquid crystal display by the light emitting assembly. At least some adjacent substrates, films or sheets may have portions that overlap, and at least one pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of the substrates, films or sheets may be configured so that discontinuities between the adjacent substrates, films or sheets are minimized. A predetermined light output from the light emitting assembly may be produced by varying the electrical input to at least some of the light sources. |
| US08462289B2 |
Display device
A liquid crystal display panel formed by using a TFT substrate and a color filter substrate is polished to decrease the thickness thereof so that it can be curved. The liquid crystal display panel and various optical sheets are sandwiched between a frame forming a curved surface and a light guide plate forming a curved surface, to thereby form a curved surface. An upper polarizer plate and a lower polarizer plate are, respectively, sandwiched between the surface cover and the liquid crystal display panel, and between the liquid crystal display panel and the optical sheet, and are not adhered or are partly adhered to the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US08462286B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A method of manufacturing, with high mass productivity, liquid crystal display devices having highly reliable thin film transistors with excellent electric characteristics is provided. In a liquid crystal display device having an inverted staggered thin film transistor, the inverted staggered thin film transistor is formed as follows: a gate insulating film is formed over a gate electrode; a microcrystalline semiconductor film which functions as a channel formation region is formed over the gate insulating film; a buffer layer is formed over the microcrystalline semiconductor film; a pair of source and drain regions are formed over the buffer layer; and a pair of source and drain electrodes are formed in contact with the source and drain regions so as to expose a part of the source and drain regions. |
| US08462284B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display array substrate
A liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display array substrate are disclosed herein. The liquid crystal display array substrate includes scan lines, data lines, first rows of pixel units, and second rows of pixel units. The first rows of pixel units and the second rows of pixel units are arranged alternately. Each of the first rows of pixel units has first pixel structures disposed in a row direction and electrically connected to the scan lines and the data lines, respectively. Each of the second rows of pixel units has second pixel structures disposed along the row direction and electrically connected to the scan lines and the data lines, respectively. The first capacitance value of the first storage capacitor of each first pixel structure is greater than the second capacitance value of the second storage capacitor of each second pixel structure. |
| US08462283B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, pixel array substrate and pixel structure thereof
A pixel structure includes at least one first sub-pixel electrode, at least one second sub-pixel electrode, at least one common line, at least one first transistor electrically connected to the first sub-pixel electrode, and at least one second transistor electrically connected to the second sub-pixel electrode. The common line overlaps and is coupled respectively with the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode so as to respectively form a first storage capacitor and a second storage capacitor. The second storage capacitor is larger than the first storage capacitor. A first adjusting capacitor of the first transistor is larger than a second adjusting capacitor of the second transistor. |
| US08462281B2 |
Array substrate for liquid crystal display device with storage electrodes on the semiconductor layer and method of fabricating the same
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a substrate including a display region and a non-display region, a driving circuit in the non-display region, at least a first thin film transistor (TFT) in the display region, a storage capacitor in the display region including a first storage electrode, a second storage electrode, and a third storage electrode, wherein the first storage electrode includes a first semiconductor layer and a counter electrode, and the third storage electrode includes a first transparent electrode pattern and a first metal pattern, a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel region in the display region, and a pixel electrode connected to the first TFT in the pixel region. |
| US08462274B2 |
Systems and methods for mitigating visible envelope effects
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are provided to compensate for the “envelope effect” that appears to an end user as a result of the sampling and digital processing of near-Nyquist frequency components of a video information signal. Embodiments of the present invention improve image quality by effectively nullifying gamma correction in areas where the envelope effect exists, enabling the human eye to perceive the displayed signal without the envelope effect. |
| US08462272B2 |
Method of acquiring program guide information, program guide method appropriate for the same, and program guide apparatus
A method acquires program guide information in an image signal receiver, and program guide method and apparatus use the same. In the program guide apparatus, information immediately required by a user is obtained first, and information of less preferential channels is obtained next, thus presenting a smooth interface to the user. The method of acquiring program guide information for channels includes acquiring the program guide information for each channel by scanning accessible channels while a received program is not displayed. The program guide apparatus includes a tuner tuning a channel, a program guide information detector, a memory, a key input, a microprocessor, and a character signal generator. |
| US08462268B2 |
Video processor timing generation
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a clock and timing generation scheme for a video signal processor (e.g., a scaler), which enables fast switching between different input video standards without disturbing the output clock or timing. The scheme also may minimize the number of video frames that are dropped or repeated at the output. This may be achieved by locking the video's output timing to the input timing and also by utilizing a frame buffer to remove instantaneous discontinuities caused when an input is changed. |
| US08462266B2 |
Image processing device and method, and image display device and method
An image processing device and method, and an image display device and method which realizes a high-definition displayed video by reducing motion blur caused by a holding-type display system and reducing motion blurs of the displayed video caused by the time integration effect of an image sensor while suppressing deterioration of an image. The image display device includes a motion vector detection section (101) which detects a motion vector in each predetermined region between the frames of an inputted image signal, and an edge emphasis part (2) which emphasizes the high-frequency component of the inputted image signal and an interpolated image signal generated by an FRC part (100) according to the motion amount of the inputted image signal detected by the motion vector detection section (101). This compensates the high-frequency component attenuated by the time integration effect of the image sensor to reduce the apparent motion blurs to improve the sharpness of the displayed image. By making the degree of edge emphasis of the interpolated image signal smaller than that of the inputted image signal, the sharpness of the displayed image is improved without making the image deterioration of the interpolated image signal distinct. |
| US08462265B2 |
Gradient adaptive video de-interlacing
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of video signal fields, characterizing at least one portion of at least one of the plurality of video signal fields, determining a value for a pixel using inter-field de-interlacing if the characterization satisfies a first criteria, determining a value for a pixel using motion compensated de-interlacing if the characterization satisfies a second criteria, and determining a value for a pixel using intra-field de-interlacing if the characterization satisfies a third criteria. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a storage medium having stored instructions that when executed by a machine result in the method. |
| US08462264B2 |
Video scan converter for performing interlaced to progressive scan conversion
A video scan converter processes a video stream including a first coding unit, which has been obtained by encoding a pair of fields N1 and N2 that has come from a first frame of film video, and a second coding unit, which has been obtained by encoding a pair of a field N3 that has also come from the first frame and a field M1 that has come from a second frame, not the first frame. The video scan converter includes: a decoder, which receives the video stream, decodes the first and second coding units, and sequentially outputs the data of the respective fields N1, N2, N3 and M1; and a scan converter, which generates a frame based on associated two of those fields that have been supplied from the decoder. In outputting a frame associated with the field N3, the scan converter generates the frame based on the fields N1 and N2 without using the data of the field N3. |
| US08462260B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus includes a pixel unit divided into at least two regions which generates pixel signals, driving controllers which controls reading of the pixel signals from the regions, a storage unit storing pixel signals for one screen, a timing controller controlling a timing when the pixel signals are read from the storage unit based on a setting value of an input frame rate, and a timing generator which generates a driving signal for performing the reading processes of the pixel signals the regions in parallel in terms of time when the frame rate is larger than a predetermined threshold value and generates a driving signal for performing the reading processes of the pixel signals from the regions in series in terms of time when the frame rate is not larger than the predetermined threshold value, and which supplies the generated driving signal to the driving controllers. |
| US08462259B2 |
Focusing image display device and method for displaying same
A focusing image display device is equipped with an autofocus processor, a spatial frequency detector, a magnification determiner and a focusing image display processor. The autofocus processor performs an autofocus operation using an image within a partial area of an effective pixel area. The spatial frequency detector calculates a spatial frequency of a focusing image within the partial area after the autofocus operation is completed. The magnification determiner determines the magnification of the focusing image in accordance to the spatial frequency. The focusing image display processor modifies the resolution of the focusing image with respect to the magnification. |
| US08462257B2 |
Image pickup lens, image pickup apparatus and mobile terminal
Provided is a small-sized five-element image pickup lens which ensures a sufficient lens speed of about F2 and exhibits various aberrations being excellently corrected. The image pickup lens is composed of, in order from the object side, a first lens with a positive refractive power, including a convex surface facing the object side; a second lens with a negative refractive power, including a concave surface facing the image side; a third lens with a positive or negative refractive power; a fourth lens with a positive refractive power, including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fifth lens with a negative refractive power, including a concave surface facing the image side. The image-side surface of the fifth lens has an aspheric shape, and includes an inflection point at a position excluding an intersection point with the optical axis. |
| US08462255B2 |
Lens barrel, image pickup device, and lens barrel manufacturing method
A lens barrel includes a fourth lens, a prism, and a sixth lens. The fourth lens receives a light flux incident along a first optical axis. The prism includes a reflecting surface reflecting the light flux passing through the fourth lens to a direction along a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis. The sixth lens receives the light flux reflected by the prism. A second group frame includes an opening portion, a prism retaining frame that is arranged in a more inner position than the opening portion and in which the prism is contained, and a plurality of adhesive pockets arranged on an area around the prism retaining frame and being open to the side of the opening portion. Adhesive agent is filled in the adhesive pockets. |
| US08462254B2 |
Image pickup apparatus capable of setting a photographic condition and control method therefor
An image pickup apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a setting item screen for displaying setting items regarding a photographic condition, and a setting value screen configured to display setting values regarding the setting item selected on the setting item screen; an operation unit configured to select one of the setting items on the setting item screen and to select one of the setting values on the setting value screen; and a control unit configured to set a setting item regarding the photographic condition according to the setting value selected on the setting value screen, wherein if a state of the image pickup apparatus is changed from a state in which the selected setting item is active to non-active, the display unit continuously displays information indicating that the selected setting item is currently selected even when the selected setting item is non-active. |
| US08462252B2 |
Solid state imaging device, driving method for solid state imaging device, imaging apparatus, and image input apparatus
At a transfer electrode to which a normally low transfer pulse is applied, the time period in which the negative potential is applied is long, and an electric field is applied to a gate insulating film, such that the device's reliability decreases. To overcome this drawback, a negative side potential (VL′) of a normally low vertical transfer pulse (Vφ3, Vφ4) is set smaller in the absolute value than a negative side potential (VL) of a normally high vertical transfer pulse (Vφ1, Vφ2). Thereby, while the influence of increase in the dark current is being suppressed, the electric field being applied to the gate insulating film is reduced. |
| US08462248B2 |
Active pixel sensor with mixed analog and digital signal integration
An active pixel sensor includes mixed analog and digital signal integration on the same substrate. The analog part of the array forms the active pixel sensor, and the digital part of the array does digital integration of the signal. |
| US08462247B2 |
Single gate pixel and operation method of single gate pixel
A single gate pixel of an image sensor, architecture of the single gate pixel, and an operation method of the single gate pixel may be provided. The single gate pixel includes a first transfer unit to transfer a charge, generated by a light detector element, to an accumulation (ACC) node, a second transfer unit to transfer the charge, accumulated in the ACC node, to a Floating Diffusion (FD) node, a connection unit to connect the light detector element to a driving voltage, and a reset unit to reset a voltage of the FD node based on a reset control signal. |
| US08462246B2 |
Apparatus and method for CDS and ADC with multiple samplings in image sensor
For analog to digital conversion with correlated double sampling in an image sensor, a pixel signal from a given pixel is sampled to generate a respective sampled signal N-times, with N>1 within a horizontal scan time period. A ramp signal is generated with a respective ramping portion for each respective sampled signal. Each respective sampled signal is compared with a respective ramping portion to generate a respective comparison signal that determines a respective digital code. The N respective digital codes are summed to generate a final digital code with reduced random noise. |
| US08462245B2 |
Image sensor for minimizing variation of control signal level
There is provided an image sensor capable of minimizing level variations of a control signal inputted to a unit pixel. The image sensor includes a plurality of unit pixels, each supplied with a first power voltage for converting an inputted signal into an electrical signal; and a control block supplied with a second power voltage for providing control signals to each unit pixel in order to stably operate each unit pixel, wherein the control block includes a conversion unit for outputting the control signals under the first power voltage, not the second power voltage. |
| US08462243B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device, method for reading signal of solid-state image sensing device, and image pickup apparatus
An image sensor including a pixel array having vertical signal lines, each interconnected to one of columns of the pixel array, and a column processor including a unit readout circuit provided for each of sets of a predetermined number of columns. The unit readout circuit includes input switches, each connected to a corresponding one of the vertical signal lines and being sequentially turned on and off, an input capacitor having one end commonly connected to the input switches, a reference switch for selectively providing a reference voltage to the input capacitor, an operational amplifier connected to the other end of the input capacitor, a reset switch for selectively providing a short-circuit between input and output ends of the operational amplifier, and a feedback circuit provided for each of the columns and including a feedback switch and a feedback capacitor connected in series between the two ends of the operational amplifier. |
| US08462239B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and electronic imaging device having multi-stage element isolation layer
A solid-state imaging device and an electronic device that includes the solid-state imaging device prevents shifting of a photoelectric conversion region due to long-wavelength light passing to subsurface portions of the solid-state imagine device. The device include a photo diode having an upper layer of a first conductivity type formed over a second layer having an accumulation region of a second conductivity type. The upper layer is a light-receiving portion of the photodiode. A multi-stage element isolation layer is included and has a plurality of layers of the first conductivity type, such that a first lateral side of a first stage of the multi-stage layer abuts the accumulation portion, and a second stage of the multi-stage layer is separated by a width W from the accumulation region of an intermediate portion of a second conductivity type. |
| US08462238B2 |
Camera design for the simultaneous capture of near-infrared and visible images
The present invention aims to capture two images simultaneously in the visible part of the spectrum and a NIR image. This is achieved through a camera for simultaneously capturing a visible and near-infrared image by at least a sensor producing sensor response data and having at least one color filter array (CFA) comprising at least four different filters, said color filter array having visible and near-infrared light filters, and said camera comprising means to obtain a visible image while using the sensor response data from the visible part of the spectrum and a NIR image using the sensor response data from the near-infrared part of the spectrum. |
| US08462226B2 |
Image processing system
An image processing system providing a monitor image in which an image of a characteristic region is easily viewed. The image processing system includes an image obtaining section that obtains a moving image; a characteristic region information obtaining section that obtains information indicating positions of characteristic regions in a plurality of moving image constituting images included in the moving image; and an image generating section that generates display images having substantially the same size as each other, by reducing or enlarging each of images of the characteristic regions included in the plurality of moving image constituting images, based on the positions indicated by the information obtained by the characteristic region information obtaining section. |
| US08462220B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving low-light performance for small pixel image sensors
Method and apparatuses processing pixel values from a captured image include receiving an array of digital pixel values corresponding to a captured image, and computing a rolling sum of the array of pixel values. Computing a rolling sum includes selecting successive groupings of the pixel values, each grouping comprising N×M pixel values, summing pixel values in each of the successive groupings, and forming an output image using the summed pixel values. |
| US08462217B2 |
Image pickup device, flash image generating method, and computer-readable memory medium
When a displacement between a reference frame of a plurality of images acquired by continuous image pickup and a target frame is less than a first threshold indicating that such a frame is not likely to be affected by occlusion, smoothing is performed on an object area through a morphological operation with a normal process amount. Conversely, when a displacement between the reference frame of the plurality of images acquired by continuous image pickup and a target frame is larger than or equal to the first threshold, smoothing is performed with the process amount of morphological operation being increased than a normal process amount. |
| US08462212B1 |
Correlating detected events with image data
According to one configuration, a computer environment includes a first monitoring system, a second monitoring system, and an analyzer. The first monitoring system produces video of an item being entered into a point of sale system. The second monitoring system monitors events associated with entering of the item into the point of sale system. The analyzer detects, via a communication from the second monitoring system, an occurrence of at least one event associated with entering of the item. Based on communication, the analyzer correlates the at least one event to a particular time in the video when the at least one event occurred. |
| US08462210B2 |
Vehicle periphery displaying apparatus
A vehicle periphery displaying apparatus including an imaging device, a display device and a display controller is disclosed. The imaging device is configured to capture a vehicle periphery image with a wide horizontal filed of view. The display device includes a display screen, a dimension of the display screen in a vertical direction being larger than that in a horizontal direction. The display controller is configured to produce a predetermined-part image so that a part of the vehicle periphery image corresponds to the predetermined-part image. The display controller is further configured to cause the display device to display the vehicle periphery image and the predetermined-part image on the display screen such that the vehicle periphery image and the predetermined-part image are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. |
| US08462207B2 |
Depth ranging with Moiré patterns
A method for three-dimensional mapping of an object, including projecting with a projector a set of fringes on the object and capturing an image of the object in a camera. The method further includes processing the captured image so as to detect a Moiré pattern associated with the object and so as to extract depth information from the Moiré pattern, and configuring the projector and the camera so that a locally unambiguous characteristic of the Moiré pattern is related to a depth of the object. |
| US08462201B2 |
Stereoscopic image displaying method and stereoscopic display device thereof
A stereoscopic image displaying method and a stereoscopic display device thereof is provided. The stereoscopic image displaying method includes a data providing step, a polarization adjusting step, and a backlight controlling step. The stereoscopic display device includes a display panel, a light modulation device, and a backlight module which are respectively configured to perform the data providing step, the polarization adjusting step, and the backlight controlling step. In the backlight controlling step, the time of turn-on and turn-off is adjusted. Alternatively, in the data providing step, black-image data is added. |
| US08462199B2 |
Apparatus method and system for imaging
There is provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention an optical assembly including a set of optical paths, wherein two or more optical paths receive an image from a common surface. The optical paths may direct received images onto a common image sensor generating a complex multidimensional data set, an image processing block may extrapolate each of the subset of optical paths printed on the image sensor and may generate a multidimensional data set based on the collected images. |
| US08462193B1 |
Method and system for processing audio signals
A multimedia conferencing system includes a loud speaker system, one or more microphones for receiving a local audio signal and a remote audio signal, a state machine and an echo canceller that operates in conjunction with two reference signals to remove substantially all of a feedback signal component in the local audio signal that results from reinforcing and playing the local audio signal over the loud speaker system. The state machine operates to detect that only the local audio is active, and if so controls the operation of the echo canceller such that only the feedback component of the local audio signal is removed and the local audio signal is not suppressed. |
| US08462191B2 |
Automatic suppression of images of a video feed in a video call or videoconferencing system
In one embodiment, a method for determining whether to suppress images of a video feed in a video call or videoconference is provided. A communications server receives a first video feed from a first client and determines whether a face is present in images of the first video feed. The communication server determines whether to suppress images of the first video feed from a second video feed based on whether a face is detected in images of the first video feed. The communication server suppresses images of the first video feed from the second video feed in response to determining to suppress images of the first video feed and disseminates the second video feed to a second client. |
| US08462190B2 |
Voice communication device, voice communication method, and voice communication program
Provided is a voice communication device for carrying out voice communication among a plurality of locations, including: a sound source direction identification block for identifying a direction of a sound source; a voice sender block for sending the collected voice to a different location; a voice receiver block for receiving a voice from a different location; a player block for playing the received voice; a playing information setting block for setting playing information for the voice being played; a speaker volume storage block for acquiring the direction of the sound source for which the playing information is set from the sound source direction identification block and storing the direction of the sound source in association with the playing information; and a voice manipulating block for acquiring the playing information corresponding to the direction of the sound source of the voice and manipulating the voice based on the playing information. |
| US08462188B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same
Light sources emit light beams onto deflecting surfaces of a deflecting unit through incident optical systems. The deflecting unit deflects the light beams in a uniform direction to form images onto different surfaces to be scanned through imaging optical systems. An optical path length, or a distance from a deflection point of the deflecting unit to a surface to be scanned, of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned closest to the deflecting unit is different from that of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned farthest from the deflecting unit. Also, the following condition is satisfied: 0.85 |
| US08462186B2 |
Decoloring apparatus and sheet transport control method
There is provided a decoloring apparatus including: an image reading unit; a decoloring processing unit; a transmission unit which transmits image data read by the image reading unit to a predetermined management apparatus; a receiving unit which receives a result of determination processing performed on the side of the management apparatus for the sheet from which the image data was read, based on the image data transmitted by the transmission unit; and a transport control unit which controls sheet transport time intervals for secondly or later transported sheets based on a time period from transmission of the image data of a firstly transported sheet by the transmission unit until receiving of the determination result for the firstly transported sheet by the receiving unit if the image reading unit is caused to sequentially read images on three or more sheets. |
| US08462185B2 |
Recording medium removing apparatus, erasing apparatus, automatic document feeding apparatus, and recording medium removing method
According to one embodiment, an erasing apparatus including a recording medium removing apparatus includes: a thickness determining unit configured to determine whether the thickness of a recording medium is equal to or larger than a first threshold, a conveyance guide forming a conveying path for the recording medium; a conveyance guide displacing device configured to lift the conveyance guide if the thickness determining device determines that the thickness of the recording medium is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and a removing mechanism configured to remove, from a recording medium conveying path, the recording medium determined as unconveyable. |
| US08462183B2 |
Electronic apparatus and image forming apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a main body; a maintenance member operated by an operator for maintenance; and a hand touch member disposed on the maintenance member. The hand touch member is formed of a conductive material, and is connected to a ground portion disposed in the main body. |
| US08462179B2 |
Scene independent method for image formation in lenslet array imagers
A method and system is provided for performing high-resolution image assembly regardless of observed scene content. An imaging system, including a focal plane array and lenslet array can be calibrated to account for subimage shifts. A calibration module can determine the subimage shifts by calculating an average point source position reference point coordinates for each of the subimages, and then determining the difference between the average point source position and the reference point coordinates for each subimage. The imaging system can then be calibrated utilizing the subimage shifts for each of the plurality of subimages. Finally, an assembly module can perform a high-resolution image assembly with the calibrated imaging system. |
| US08462177B2 |
Systems and methods for providing content for use in multiple environments
Systems and methods for using design and/or constraint information in selecting, editing, creating, and managing content for multiple operating environments. For example, an image editor feature of a content management system can receive constraints and/or design requirements identifying specific image sizes that are needed for offering a piece of content on one or more operating environments. This information may be used to guide or restrict a user to select appropriate image portions. A selection marquee, sized based on the constraint information, may be positioned on a displayed image to select an image portion to use for that particular image requirement. The marquee size enforces the image constraint. Design and constraint information may also be used to inform selection, editing, and creation of other constraints and other types of assets, including, but not limited to, text and video assets. |
| US08462170B2 |
Picture attribute allocation
The invention concerns image processing and, in particular, the processing of picture attribute fields for an image. A method of obtaining a new picture attribute field of an image is disclosed in which a picture attribute value at one position is allocated to a new position in the image in dependence upon the value of a parameter, such as luminance data, at the original position and at the new position and/or in dependence on the distance between the original position and the new position. The invention may be used to process picture attribute fields comprising: motion vectors; motion vector confidence; segment labels; depth labels; texture labels. |
| US08462169B2 |
Method and system of immersive generation for two-dimension still image and factor dominating method, image content analysis method and scaling parameter prediction method for generating immersive sensation
A system and method for generating immersive sensation for a two-dimensional still image is provided. The method for generating immersive sensation including: converting a color space of an inputted image; loading a background mask to separate a foreground image and a background image from the inputted image; achieving attribute information for each of the foreground image and the background image, based on a perceptual attribute with respect to the color space, via an image content analysis; predicting scaling parameters based on the attribute information; and enhancing the inputted image based on the scaling parameter. |
| US08462166B2 |
Graphics system which measures CPU and GPU performance
Analyzing an application executing on a target device. An application may be executed on a target device. Low cost measurement may be gathered regarding the application executing on the target device. In response to a trigger, high cost measurement data may be gathered regarding the application executing on the target device. The high cost measurement data may include graphics commands provided by the application. The graphics commands and related information may be stored and provided to a host. The host may modify the graphics commands to perform experiments to determine performance issues of the application executing on the target device. The host may determine whether the performance is limited by the CPU or the GPU and may determine specific operations that are causing performance issues. The host may provide suggestions for overcoming the performance issues. |
| US08462163B2 |
Computer system and motion control method
[PROBLEMS] To naturally and smoothly move a control target such as a virtual actor by using a small data amount and effectively perform data setting for it.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A computer system includes means for storing node data on a key frame and edge data such as a transition direction between nodes and a frame rate and execution means for shifting to another node by a morphing process determined by the edge data when shifting from one node to another node. Moreover, when inputting data, node icons are connected by an edge icon so as to enable effective data input. In data registration of the morphing process, feature line data is manually inputted for one image of an image pair and then a feature point in the vicinity of the both ends of the feature line is searched so as to automatically compensate the feature line data. |
| US08462159B2 |
Subdividing geometry images in graphics hardware
A system may include a graphics memory, a data bus, a processor, and a vertex shader. The data bus may be operatively connected to the graphics memory. The processor may send vertex data to the graphics memory via the data bus. The vertex shader may read the vertex data from the graphics memory and may subdivide the vertex data into subdivided vertex data. The vertex shader may also write the subdivided vertex data to the graphics memory. |
| US08462158B2 |
Translating RenderMan shading language code
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for translating RenderMan shading language code. |
| US08462157B2 |
Computing the irradiance from a disk light source at a receiver point
Techniques are disclosed to determine the irradiance from a disk light source with much higher accuracy than may be obtained using the common approximation often used currently. By pre-computing, SH coefficients using a specific coordinate frame, only six SH coefficients need to be stored in a first and second texture, one used to determine irradiance of a point within the radius of a disk light source and another for more distant points. |
| US08462156B1 |
Method and system for generating shadows in a graphics processing unit
A method and system for generating shadows for a graphics processing unit. Specifically, the method determines whether a potential blocker occludes light from reaching a point of a scene in an image space. The light is generated from a light source. A width of a corresponding penumbra is determined for the point. The width is based on a width of the light source, a depth of the potential blocker from the light source, and a depth of a receiver from the light source. The receiver includes the point. A percentage closer filtering kernel size is scaled in proportion to the width of the corresponding penumbra. Thereafter, percentage closer filtering is performed for the point using the kernel size that is scaled in order to shade a pixel corresponding to the point. |
| US08462155B1 |
Merging three-dimensional models based on confidence scores
In an embodiment, a method merges a plurality of three-dimensional models, each having been generated from images of a camera having a different viewpoint. For respective voxels in a plurality of voxels, a plurality of distance values are determined. Each determined distance value is a distance from the voxel to a three dimensional model from the plurality of three-dimensional models along a perspective of a camera model used to generate the three-dimensional model. When at least one of the determined distance values indicates that the distance between the voxel and the three dimensional model exceeds a threshold and the voxel is located above the corresponding three-dimensional model, a confidence score is determined indicating a degree to which the perspective of the camera model of the corresponding three-dimensional model is oriented to face the voxel. Based on the determined confidence score, the voxel into a merged three-dimensional model is determined. |
| US08462154B2 |
System and method for determining a virtual curve in an object model
A method for a CAD system, a CAD system, and instructions for a CAD system. A method includes loading an object model, the object model including a blend face. The method also includes finding underfaces of the blend face and constructing an intersection curve according to the underfaces. The method also includes trimming the intersection curve according to the blend face to produce a virtual blend curve, and storing the virtual blend curve. |
| US08462151B2 |
Sending three-dimensional images over a network
A benefit is obtained for sending digital information over a network. The digital information is representative of three-dimensional images which include photographic images. The receiving computer renders the images from the received digital information, and a viewer at the receiving computer can interactively choose a viewpoint or perspective to view the images on a display of the receiving computer. The benefit to the sender can be monetary compensation and/or increased recognition of the sender, for example. |
| US08462149B2 |
Method and apparatus for real time 3D mesh compression, based on quanitzation
An apparatus for 3D mesh compression based on quantization, includes a data analyzing unit (510) for decomposing data of an input 3D mesh model into vertices information (511) property information (512) representing property of the 3D mesh model, and connectivity information (515) between vertices constituting the 3D mesh model: and a mesh model quantizing unit (520) for producing quantized vertices and property information of the 3D mesh model by using the vertices, property and connectivity information (511, 512, 513). Further, the apparatus for 3D mesh compression based on quantization includes a decision bit encoding unit (535) for calculating a decision bit by using the quantized connectivity information and then encoding the quantized vertex information, property information and connectivity information (511, 512, 513) by using the decision bit. |
| US08462140B2 |
Electronic apparatus having a stylus with a cord retractor connected thereto and an assembly of a cord retractor and a stylus
An electronic apparatus includes a machine body, a stylus, and a cord retractor. The machine body includes a housing and an electronic component module mounted in the housing. The cord retractor includes an inner axle mounted in one of the stylus and the housing, a spool rotatably sleeved around the inner axle, a biasing component mounted between the inner axle and the spool, and having a pair of ends connected respectively to the inner axle and the spool such that the spool is operated to rotate resiliently relative to the inner axle, and a connecting cord wound around the spool and that may be unwound therefrom, and having a first end connected to the housing and a second end connected to the stylus. An assembly of a cord retractor and a stylus is also disclosed. |
| US08462139B2 |
Solid state image sensor suitable for touch screens
Disclosed is a sensor apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, a digital to analog converter for providing a ramp signal, A comparator for comparing the output level of each pixel to said ramp signal, and memory for storing the digital value that corresponds to said output level for each pixel, the sensor apparatus thereby converting the analog output level of each pixel to a digital value. The apparatus operates by providing an analog output that is sourced from the digital to analog converter used to provide said ramp signal. |
| US08462138B2 |
Optical touch module capable of increasing light emitting angle of light emitting unit
An optical touch module includes a screen and at least one optical positioning device disposed on the screen. The optical positioning device includes a case, at least one light emitting unit, a circuit board, a transparent diffusing part and an image capturing unit. The light emitting unit is disposed on case for emitting invisible light. The circuit board is electrically connected to the light emitting unit for controlling the light emitting unit. The transparent diffusing part is disposed at a light emitting side of the light emitting unit. A bar structure is formed on a light entrance surface of the transparent diffusing part for scattering the invisible light to be distributed over a touch surface of the screen. The image capturing unit is disposed on the case to capture an optical image for a touch object on the touch surface when the touch object is illuminated by the invisible light. |
| US08462127B2 |
Touch screen and method for positioning coordinate
The present invention relates to a touch screen and a method for positioning a coordinate. The touch screen includes a sensor array layer and a microprocessor. The sensor array layer includes M×N capacitive sensors, wherein M rows of the capacitive sensors are disposed along a first axis, and N columns of the capacitive sensors are disposed along a second axis. The microprocessor includes a plurality of pins correspondingly coupled to the capacitive sensors. When the touch screen is touched to change at least one of sensing values of the capacitive sensors in the sensor array layer, the microprocessor performs an interpolation calculation to determine a touched coordinate according to the sensing values sensed by the capacitive sensors. |
| US08462120B2 |
Handheld electronic device and associated method enabling the output of non-alphabetic characters in a disambiguation environment
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with text disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device includes a number of non-alphabetic characters that are assigned to keys and that can be accessed directly by the text disambiguation software without the need to activate a non-alphabetic input routine or to additionally actuate a |
| US08462106B2 |
Image magnification based on display flexing
Systems and methods control resizing a presentation of an image on a flexible display. A user flexes a flexible display in a particular manner to control magnification or size reduction of the image presented on the display. The amount of magnification or size reduction of the image presented on a flexible display increases along with the absolute magnitude of flexible display flexing. The flexible display can be double flexed within a defined time to indicate that another action is to be taken, such as fitting the presently displayed document to the width of the flexible display or fitting the entire document to the flexible display. The direction of flexing, such as flexing in a concave or a convex direction, is a flexing characteristic that causes other desired actions. |
| US08462104B2 |
E-paper display control based on conformation sequence status
A system for one or more portions of one or more regions of an electronic paper assembly having one or more display layers includes, but is not limited to: obtaining information associated with one or more changes in one or more sequences of two or more conformations of one or more portions of one or more regions of the electronic paper assembly and controlling display of one or more portions of one or more display layers of the electronic paper assembly regarding display of second information in response to the information associated with the one or more changes in the one or more conformations of the one or more portions of the one or more regions of the electronic paper assembly. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08462102B2 |
Driving methods for bistable displays
The disclosure relates to driving methods for bistable displays, in particular, driving methods comprising interleaving driving waveforms. |
| US08462101B2 |
Apparatus for and method of controlling backlight of display panel in camera system
An apparatus controls a backlight of a display panel of a camera system. The apparatus includes a sub-pixel extracting unit, an ambient light luminance calculating unit, and a backlight controller. The sub-pixel extracting unit extracts sub-pixel luminance values from image data, where the image data is indicative of a current image frame defined by a plurality of pixels, and where each of the pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels. The ambient light luminance calculating unit calculates an ambient light luminance value of the current image frame from the sub-pixel luminance values extracted by the sub-pixel extracting unit. The backlight controller which generates a backlight control signal based on a comparison between the calculated ambient light luminance value of the current image frame and an ambient light luminance value of a previous image frame. |
| US08462100B2 |
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. |
| US08462098B2 |
Electro-optical device, shift register circuit, and semiconductor device
An electro-optical device is configured to be capable of using a region of a gate line drive circuit efficiently and preventing rising speed of a gate line selection signal from decreasing (rising delay), and a shift register circuit is composed of a single conductivity type transistor which is suitable for the device. The gate line drive circuit including an odd driver to drive odd rows of a plurality of gate lines, and an even driver to drive even rows thereof. Each unit shift register in the odd and even drivers receives a selection signal in the second previous row and activates its own selection signal two horizontal periods later. A start pulse of the even driver is delayed in phase by one horizontal period with respect to a start pulse of the odd driver. |
| US08462096B2 |
Shift register, display and method for driving shift register
A shift register comprises: a first output circuit controlled by a first clock signal to output a signal to a first output signal line; a second output circuit controlled by a second clock signal with a phase different from a phase of the first clock signal to output a signal to a second output signal line; a first control signal line connected to the first and second output circuits; and a second control signal line connected to the first and second output circuits. |
| US08462091B2 |
Method for driving liquid crystal display apparatus
In one embodiment of the present invention, when a still image is displayed, applied voltages respectively corresponding to a total of n (n being an integer of not less than 4) types of gradation 0 to (n−1) are outputted to pixels. When a moving image is displayed, an applied voltage corresponding to a predetermined gradation m (1≦m≦(n−2)) is applied to the pixels instead of applied voltages respectively corresponding to gradations of less than the predetermined gradation m. Overdrive driving is performed with respect to a total of n types of gradation. |
| US08462084B2 |
Display device and display unit
A display device capable of improving the view angle characteristics without deteriorating the outside light contrast and a display unit using it are provided. The display device includes a first electrode, an organic layer including a light emitting layer and a second electrode sequentially over a substrate, and having a resonator structure in which light generated in the light emitting layer is resonated between a first end and a second end. An end face of the first electrode on the light emitting layer side is the first end having a step shape. A distance adjustment layer that fills in the step shape and has a flat surface on the second electrode side is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and thereby the second end is planarized, and an optical distance between the first end and the second end is varied according to the step shape. |
| US08462077B2 |
In-plane RFID antenna
Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for providing an RFID device for integration into a tire. A printed circuit board (PCB) is provided with notches in opposed ends of the PCB that are provided with guide portions as a part of the notches that function as threads to guide an end portion of a matching single pitch helical antenna into appropriately placed vias on the PCB. Threading of the helical antenna is assisted by use of an assembly jig having antenna guiding channels and PCB retaining positioning elements. |
| US08462075B2 |
Apparatus for mounting an object to a railing
Apparatus are described for mounting an object to a structure having a railing. The apparatus includes a base attachable to the object and configured for placement on the structure proximate the railing. The apparatus further includes an adjustable compression mechanism positioned between the base and the railing configured to secure the base to the structure with a selected force. The mechanism includes a first plate on the base, a second plate movable relative to the first plate for producing a selected height of the mechanism and a threaded member attached to the first plate and the second plate. The threaded member is configured to move the second plate relative to the first plate to achieve the selected height and apply the selected force. |
| US08462068B2 |
Log periodic antenna and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a log periodic antenna and a manufacturing method thereof. In the log periodic antenna, antenna elements are attached to an antenna body to thereby simplify a structure of the antenna, the antenna can be manufactured in various designs without restriction to the configuration of the antenna, and the number of contacting points between the antenna element and a feeder is minimized to thereby simplify the manufacturing process. By the antenna, it is possible to produce the log periodic antenna of the simple structure and of various designs without the restriction to the antenna configuration by attaching the signal pattern and ground pattern to the pattern receiving surface. |
| US08462067B2 |
Apparatus for an antenna system
An apparatus for an antenna system comprising one or more blades for splitting the electromagnetic field received by an antenna into a plurality of sections corresponding to separate beams and redirecting said plurality of sections for detection by a plurality of detectors. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of blades for splitting the field into successively smaller and smaller portions. The plurality of detectors can be positioned outside the focal region of the antenna system. The apparatus may further comprise focusing means for focusing the sections of the field onto another blade or a detector. There is also provided an antenna system comprising a plurality of feed horns for producing a plurality of beams; and a plurality of elements for redirecting said beams towards a focal region of the antenna system so as to form a group of closely packed beams for transmission by the antenna system. |
| US08462066B2 |
Long-distance wireless-LAN directional antenna alignment
A unitized device and method to optimize directional antenna alignment for long-distance communications using the low-cost IEEE 802.11 (and related) compatible RF-chipsets (originally designed for short range Wireless-LAN and Wireless-PAN networks). The device combines these chipsets, along with a microprocessor, software, electronics to drive a directional antenna, and the motors and gearing necessary to physically move a directional antenna, into a unitized low weight, and low cost assembly designed to enable reliable digital radio links of many miles or more to be established with minimal costs, time, and installer skill. In one embodiment, the software methods incorporated into the software of this unitized device can include methods necessary to automatically or semi-automatically configure and align the directional antenna to one or more distant target sources. Various mechanical designs, as well as various software and electronics methods, are also disclosed. |
| US08462064B2 |
Multiband dismount antenna
Antennas and methods for controlling antennas for producing electromagnetic radiation in a desired direction over a wide range of wavelengths. A current distribution is controlled in one or more conductive radiating elements of an antenna to form, at every wavelength within a pattern wavelength range, an antenna radiation pattern having a peak in a direction substantially orthogonal to a length of an elongated conductive radiating element or elements. By careful control of the current distribution, the pattern wavelength range is made exceptionally broad. In the case of a dipole antenna, the pattern wavelength can range from about ⅓l to at least about 8l, where l is an approximate combined length of a pair of elongated elements forming a dipole antenna. Alternatively, in the case of a monopole antenna, the pattern wavelength range can extend from about ⅙l to at least about 4l, where l is an approximate overall length of the monopole antenna. |
| US08462056B2 |
Built-in antenna for portable terminal
A built-in antenna for a portable terminal is provided. The built-in antenna includes a substrate including a ground region and a non-ground region, an antenna radiator formed in a pattern with a preset shape within the non-ground region of the substrate, at least one sub-radiation pattern formed in a pattern type while including a preset spacing distance from the antenna radiator, and a conductive plate with a preset height, electrically connecting the sub-radiation pattern to the antenna radiator and/or the sub-radiation pattern. |
| US08462055B2 |
Portable terminal
A portable terminal comprises: a terminal body having a receiver for sound output; a first antenna disposed in the terminal body, and operating at a first band; a second antenna disposed at a position different from the first antenna, and operating at a second band, wherein the second antenna comprises: a first conductor having a physical condition to be operable at the second band; and a second conductor having a physical condition to resonate an electromagnetic wave of the first band so as to reduce a field strength of the first band near the to receiver. |
| US08462053B2 |
Systems and methods for setting a multi-band antenna based on location
The present disclosure includes systems and methods for setting a multi-band tunable antenna, a quad-band antenna, or the like based on location information. Specifically, the present invention may include a mobile computing device, circuitry connected to an antenna, an operational method, and the like where location data is used to set operating frequencies and other parameters in the antenna. The location data may be provided from a wireless base station, from a global position system (GPS), or the like. Advantageously, the present invention simplifies antenna design and operation, allowing use of a tunable dual-band antenna in lieu of conventional quad-band antennas. Further, the present invention includes automated systems and methods for tuning the multi-band tunable antenna without requiring user input. |
| US08462052B2 |
RFID tag and manufacturing method thereof
An RFID tag having a tag antenna and an LSI chip, comprising: a power-supply pattern on which the LSI chip is mounted; a patch antenna that functions as the tag antenna; and a high-frequency connection section that makes a high-frequency connection between the power-supply pattern and the patch antenna. The high-frequency connection section is formed, for example, by forming a slot in the patch antenna, layering one end of a small dipole antenna that functions as the power-supply pattern over the slot so that it crosses over the slot, and supplying power from the small dipole antenna to the patch antenna. |
| US08462047B1 |
Antenna, base station, and beam processing method
The present disclosure provides an antenna, a base station, and a beam processing method. The method includes: performing, by a hybrid network, phase adjustment for signals received from a base station transceiver, generating signals having a preset phase, and sending the signals to a power dividing apparatus; performing, by the power dividing apparatus, amplitude adjustment for the signals, and outputting multipath signals having an array amplitude and the preset phase to multiple antenna arrays; and transmitting, by the multiple antenna arrays, the multiple signals having the array phase and the array amplitude, where in the multipath signals, the array phase of each path of signals is the same as the preset phase, or the array phase of at least one path of signals is opposite to the preset phase. The present disclosure reduces the complexity and cost of a beamforming network. |
| US08462046B2 |
Managing the measurement of signals
For managing measurements on signals, a quality of received signals, for which a measurement circuit provides measurement results, is monitored. In the case that the quality does not exceed a set quality before an end of a reporting period, a reporting of measurement results that are available at the end of the reporting period is caused. In the case that the quality exceeds the set quality at a measurement instant before the end of the reporting period, the measurement circuit is put to a sleep mode and a reporting of extrapolated measurement results is caused, the extrapolated measurement results being measurement results from a measurement instant before the measurement circuit was put to a sleep mode extrapolated to the end of the reporting period. |
| US08462045B2 |
Satellite based position of a cellular terminal
At least one set of values of parameters is determined, each set of values defining a respective troposphere model. The at least one determined set of parameter values is then assembled for transmission via a wireless communication network to a wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of the wireless terminal. |
| US08462043B2 |
Method for detecting radar signals affected by interference
A method for detecting radar signals consisting in identification of Presumed Pulse Repetition Intervals (PPRI) by checking the set of hardware reported signals with the time-shifted set of the same signals and checking the set of PPRI with the time-shifted images of the same set of PPRI for validating radar signals. The checking of received signals and the validation of PPRI, use functions generating scores from the difference between values of characteristics of checked elements and the standard deviation of errors from calibration measurements of the same characteristics. |
| US08462041B2 |
Device for receiving secondary radio signals with quasi-dynamic or dynamic sectoring of the space to be monitored and corresponding method
A device and method for secondary radar signal reception with quasi-dynamic or dynamic sectoring of a space to be monitored. The device includes at least one antenna assembly including antenna elements for the reception of transmitted secondary radar signals, a signal processing unit connected via a connection point to the antenna elements for the joint processing of received antenna signals, outputs associated with a couple matrix in the signal processing unit and individual receivers. The couple matrix includes adjustable coefficients for sectoring of the space to be monitored and for performing a superposition of the antenna signals using a multiplicative-additive combination of the received antenna signals. In the case of dynamic sectoring of the space, each receiver receives for each receipt telegram another weighted superposition of the antenna signals with certain couple coefficients, and in the case of quasi-dynamic sectoring the adjustable coefficients are fixed over a longer time period. |
| US08462040B2 |
Resolution enhancement system (RES) for networked radars
Embodiments provide methods, systems, and/or devices that can provide measurements of the inherent reflectivity distribution from different look angles using N radar nodes. Doppler weather radars generally operate with very good spatial resolution in range and poor cross range resolution at farther ranges. Embodiments provide methodologies to retrieve higher resolution reflectivity data from a network of radars. In a networked radar environment, each radar may observe a common reflectivity distribution with different spreading function. The principle that the underlying reflectivity distribution should remain identical for all the nodes may be used to solve the inverse problem to determine intrinsic reflectivities. |
| US08462034B2 |
Synchronous switching in high-speed digital-to-analog converter using quad synchronizing latch
A synchronizing circuit compatible with a quad switching scheme in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to synchronize turning on or off of switches for steering current to a differential output. The synchronizing circuit receives signals from a decoder and synchronizes control signals to the switches by a clock signal. In one embodiment, the synchronizing circuit includes a predictor circuit and a latch circuit. The latch circuit may include four sets of cross-coupled inverters where a set of cross-coupled inverters are activated at a time. By using the synchronizing circuit in conjunction with the quad switching scheme, linearity of analog output from the DAC can be improved and data dependent noise in the analog output can be removed or reduced. |
| US08462026B2 |
Pulse code modulation conversion circuit and method
A circuit includes an enhanced frequency range linear pulse code modulation conversion circuit. The enhanced frequency range linear pulse code modulation conversion circuit is driven by a clock signal within a frequency range. The enhanced frequency range linear pulse code modulation conversion circuit provides enhanced frequency range linear pulse code modulated information. More specifically, the enhanced frequency range linear pulse code modulation conversion circuit is provided by selectively decimating and interpolating non-enhanced frequency range linear pulse code modulated information based on a desired output sampling frequency and the frequency range. |
| US08462023B2 |
Encoding method and encoding apparatus for B-transform, and encoded data for same
An encoding method and encoding apparatus for B-transform, and encoded data for same are provided. The apparatus is for encoding input data and includes: a B-transform unit for performing a B-transform on the input data to generate a binary expression; and an encoder for removing one or more binary symbols from the binary expression and scanning the binary expression with the one or more binary symbols removed to generate a bitstream. According to the method and apparatus, it is possible to encode uniform distribution data efficiently, and using the B-transform by its characteristics for reducing the bit number in the generation of the binary expressions from the B-transform operation on the uniform distribution data enhances the data compression performance. |
| US08462022B2 |
Control unit for domestic appliances
A control unit comprising a light guide is formed and positioned in a circuit board for providing visual indication to a user of an appliance, such as a cooktop. The light guide receives light from a source, typically in the form of an LED on the circuit board, typically positioned laterally to the light guide, and the light guide receives and directs the light to the user. In some embodiments, the light guide is positioned behind a cover, which may have indicia thereon for providing operating information to the user. Portions of the light guide may be coated with an electrically conductive coating so as to also form a portion of a capacitance touch switch for detecting user input for controlling operation of the appliance. |
| US08462021B2 |
Apparatus and method for simulating a vehicle tracking device in a vehicle
A simulated vehicle tracking device is installed in a conspicuous location in a vehicle. The simulated vehicle tracking device outwardly resembles the appearance of a functional vehicle tracking device, including one or more indicator lights that turn on to simulate the operation of indicator lights on a functioning vehicle tracking device. An functional vehicle tracking device is installed in an inconspicuous location in the vehicle. A person inclined to disable vehicle tracking will remove or disable the simulated vehicle tracking device instead of the functional vehicle tracking device. |
| US08462019B1 |
Position-dependent system, apparatus, and method for generating runway visual aids presented on an aircraft display unit
A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for generating runway visual aids on an aircraft display unit, where such visual aids could be comprised of surface markings corresponding to the runway. Navigation data and runway data may be provided to an image generating processor which, in turn, generates an image data set representative of at least one visual aid corresponding to one runway located in the scene outside the aircraft. The intensity or brightness of a visual aid could vary when the aircraft is operating on the approach phase of flight. The variation of such intensity could be defined as a function of the navigation data and the data representative of one or more waypoints. The image data set may be provided to a Head-Down Display unit, a Head-Up Display unit, or both, each visual aid is presented on the screen of the display unit. |
| US08462013B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for communicating while logging with wired drill pipe
Aspects of the inventions generally provide a method and apparatus for coupling a communication sub to a wired drill pipe. In one aspect, a surface of a coupler head is non threaded and configured to provide a retaining force. In another aspect, a coupler head is coupled to a body, and a support mechanism is coupled to the body and configured to secure the coupler head within a receiving end of the wired drill pipe. In another aspect, a method of placing a communication sub involves inserting the communication sub into the receiving end of the wired drill pipe, adjusting the position of the communication sub until an indication of signal communication between the communication sub and the wired drill pipe is observed, and after the indication of signal communication is observed, retaining the communication sub within the receiving end until removal of the communication sub is desired. |
| US08462012B2 |
Anti-collision method for drilling wells
Methods for drilling a new well in a field having a plurality of existing cased wells using magnetic ranging while drilling are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of drilling a new well in a field having an existing cased well includes drilling the new well using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a drill collar having by an insulated gap, generating a current on the BHA while drilling the new well, such that some of the current passes through a surrounding formation and travels along a casing of the existing cased well, measuring from the BHA a magnetic field caused by the current traveling along the casing of the existing cased well, and adjusting a trajectory of the BHA to avoid a collision between the new well and the existing cased well based on measurements of the magnetic field. |
| US08462009B2 |
System and method for introducing a substrate into a process chamber
A system and method for introducing a substrate into a process chamber is provided. A presence or absence of a substrate on a stage in an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor or a flat panel display may be determined by lift pins used for loading and unloading a substrate, the introduction of another substrate may be prevented and a broken state or the erroneously loaded state of the substrate may be detected. An opening or closing of a gate valve may also be determined, and the introduction of a substrate into the process chamber may be prevented while the gate valve is closed. |
| US08462001B2 |
Environmental alarm sensor panel and related method for a telecommunication cable station
An environmental alarm sensor panel for a telecommunication cable station (TCS) is provided. The sensor panel can includes a plurality of alert sensors for measuring environmental conditions and other conditions in an equipment room of the TCS. The sensors are hard wired to an equipment interface panel for telecommunication equipment in the equipment room. The equipment interface panel is connected to the telecommunication equipment and is in communication with a network operation center (NOC), which is located remotely from the TCS and monitors the status of the TCS. According to an embodiment, the alarm sensor panel includes one or more dry contact temperature alert sensors, a humidity alert sensor, a smoke alert sensor and a power alert sensor. The sensors are configured to generate respective alert signals when selected conditions exist (e.g., the temperature of the equipment room is outside of one or more selected temperature ranges, the humidity of the equipment room is outside of a selected humidity range, smoke or fire is present, or a power source has come on or gone off). Monitoring equipment in the NOC is configured to detect and record the alert signals, and generates respective alarms in response to detecting the alert signals. Thus, the warrantor(s) of the telecommunication equipment and personnel in the TCS and/or NOC can have records of environmental breaches and data for any recourse on possible warranty claims and equipment failures. |
| US08461999B2 |
Capturing body movement related to a fixed coordinate system
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a kinematic sensor may be carried by or on one or more body segments of a user to obtain one or more kinematic variables based at least in part on movement of the user with respect to a fixed, global reference system. The kinematic sensor comprises a tri-axial accelerometer sensor, a gyroscope sensor, and a magnetometer sensor to define the global reference system and to obtain kinematic data. The kinematic data may be transmitted via a wireless link to a remote information handling system or device, for example to monitor a health status of the user based at least in part on movement of the user with respect to the fixed, global reference system. |
| US08461997B2 |
Transceiver unit in a measurement system
A measurement system, comprises a sensor wire and a transceiver unit. The sensor wire comprises an insertable portion configured to be inserted in a blood vessel of a patient's body and a sensor disposed within the insertable portion at a distal end of the sensor wire. The sensor is configured to measure a variable inside the patient. The transceiver unit comprises: a housing adapted to be connected to a proximal end of the sensor wire; and a first communication module within the housing adapted to wirelessly communicate by a communication signal with an external second communication module in order to transfer information to the external second communication module. The communication signal, including sensor values, is generated by the transceiver unit and transferred as a data stream. The housing is configured to remain external to the patient's body. |
| US08461996B2 |
Infant monitor
A method and device (10) are provided for monitoring regular movement of a human body (34), such as an infant's body. The method includes attaching the device (10) to the body (34) with a protuberance (24) of the body in abutment with the body, so that the protuberance is deflected as the body moves regularly. The deflection of the protuberance (24) is monitored and an alarm (18,19,20,52) is activated if the pattern of deflection of the protuberance changes to a predetermined extent, e.g. if it is disrupted. |
| US08461995B1 |
Displaying advertisements based on electronic tags
A system is provided for displaying advertisements based on electronic tags. The system includes a mobile device, a server, and a display. The mobile device reads information from a plurality of radio frequency identification tags associated with a plurality of items and transmits the information. The server receives the information, selects an advertisement based on the information, and transmits the selected advertisement. The display receives the selected advertisement and displays the selected advertisement. |
| US08461993B2 |
Wireless systems having multiple electronic devices and employing simplified fabrication and matching, and associated methods
A means and method to connect multiple IC chips to a single apparatus where the IC chips may function as a passive system or network in space. The collection of antennae and coupled near field devices form a pool of energy in which multiple devices may be introduced so as to provide a pool of energy and/or to function as a network or networks of devices including IC chips. |
| US08461992B2 |
RFID coupler for metallic implements
An RFID tagged implement assembly includes a metallic implement, and a wireless RFID transponder. The RFID transponder includes a housing; an inductive coupler within the housing, and an RFID chip coupled with the inductive coupler. The inductive coupler is inductively coupled with the metallic implement. |
| US08461991B2 |
Security light with plural possible directions of illumination
A security light is provided comprising a mounting base for attachment to a support therefor; sensor means on the mounting base for detecting the presence of a person or moving object within a radial range of the sensor means and within any one of a plurality of angularly adjacent sectors radiating from the mounting base that together cover an angular field of operation of the security light. A light source and reflector assembly has an angular field of illumination at least equal to the angular field of each of the angularly adjacent sectors and is angularly movable relative to the mounting base between a plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of angularly adjacent sectors so as to be selectively directed in a direction in which the field of illumination covers an entire sector. A stepper motor is provided for rotating the light source assembly between said possible positions in response to activation of the sensor means associated with a particular one of the adjacent sectors and an associated microcontroller that is connected to said sensor means is programmed to cause the stepper motor to receive a required number of electrical pulses to move the light source assembly angularly, as may be necessary, such that it becomes directed towards a sector in which the sensor means detected the presence of a person or moving object. |
| US08461988B2 |
Personal emergency response (PER) system
A method of automatically requesting assistance for a patient includes wearing a wireless device with one or more accelerometers on the patient to detect patient motion; determining a fall based on detected motions; and automatically requesting assistance for the patient if needed. |
| US08461981B1 |
Security sensor with remote communications capability
A system and method for monitoring the state of a guard, in which a biological sensor is attached to the guard, and a wireless transmitter is attached to the sensor via a microprocessor. The transmitter transmits any changes in the biological state of the guard to a remote receiver. The remote receiver can be programmed to automatically send an alert to various entities, which can then send in replacements. |
| US08461979B2 |
Footwear products including data transmission capabilities
Footwear systems include an article of footwear and a data transmission system engaged with the article of footwear. The transmission system transmits data to a remote system, such as a display system, another data transmission system, a processing system, etc. Such footwear systems further may include activation systems for activating the transmission and/or display systems. The transmitted data may be used for various purposes, such as: (a) identifying a user of the article of footwear; (b) activating targeted advertising or product information; (c) confirming the user's presence at a specific location and/or at a specific time; (d) determining start, finish, and/or intermediate split times for specific user; (e) confirming athletic equipment usage; (f) providing data for a game or reward program; (g) registering the user for an event or competition; or the like. |
| US08461973B2 |
Integrated vehicle cellular telephone detection system
There is provided a structure and a method to detect a signal prompted by the use of a wireless communications device in a motor vehicle or, optionally, in the area of a vehicle operator station. A signal detection will set off audible and/or visual alarms. The alarms may continue until the signal is no longer detected. |
| US08461970B2 |
Motor vehicle having a display and a camera
A motor vehicle has a first display and a first camera. An environmental image of the part of the environment of the vehicle lying behind the motor vehicle can be recorded using the first camera and the environmental image recorded using the first camera can be completely or partially displayed on the first display. The first display is disposed inside the motor vehicle such that the recorded environmental image, or a part of the recorded environmental image, may be perceivable as a virtual image behind a side pane of the motor vehicle for a driver of the vehicle. |
| US08461968B2 |
Mattress for a hospital bed for use in a healthcare facility and management of same
A mattress or support surface including an identifier to enable the mattress or support surface to be associated with a location in the healthcare facility and more particularly a room within the healthcare facility. |
| US08461967B2 |
Device and method for analysing radio-frequency systems
The invention relates to a device for analysing radio-frequency systems. Such a device comprises means for detecting radio-frequency electromagnetic signals, and means for determining at least one analog property of the radio-frequency signal received form the reader. According to the invention, the device further comprises means for producing an electromagnetic excitation signal in order to excite the radio-frequency tag, and means for determining at least one analog property of the return signal received from the radio-frequency tag. The device permits the effective analysis of RFID systems, for example, in system-installation and error-searching situations. |
| US08461962B2 |
System and method for systematizing provisioning of two bins replenishment systems
The present invention relates to a system and method for systematizing provisioning of two bins replenishment systems. The system comprises a database and a reader. The database stores location information and product identification for each product, the location information including rack identification, row information, and bin information. The reader receives an input from a user corresponding to a product to be provisioned, extracts from the database location information by correlating the input with the product identification, and outputs the location information to the user. The method comprises inputting a product identification corresponding to a product to be provisioned, extracting from a database location information corresponding to the product identification, and outputting the extracted location. |
| US08461958B2 |
System for monitoring and control of transport containers
The invention comprises a unit and system for remote monitoring and controlling of various conditions in a container during cargo. The system includes a local wireless or cable (wired) network with a local station and access points positioned in the vicinity of location of containers, a remote central station connected with the Internet and a container-mounted means for monitoring and control of reefer equipment, each of which includes a processor (CPU) and a transceiver of wireless local communication, a GPS-receiver and a transceiver of cellular communication (with all of them being connected to the said processor). In addition the processor (CPU) of the device is connected to the controller of reefer equipment, while the transceiver of wireless local communication is made so that the creation of Personal Area Network (PAN) with mobile electronic devices (e.g., Notebook, Pocket PC, PDA) is possible, and establishment of wireless communication with a communication gateway of the said local network is also possible. |
| US08461956B2 |
Over-current protection device
An over-current protection device includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a resistive device and a temperature sensing switch. The first conductive member includes a first electrode foil and a second electrode foil those are formed on a same plane. The resistive device is laminated between the first conductive member and the second conductive member and exhibits positive temperature coefficient or negative temperature coefficient behavior. The temperature sensing switch can switch the first electrode foil and the second electrode foil between electrically conductive status and current-restriction status, e.g., open circuit, according to temperature variation. The threshold temperature of the temperature sensing switch is lower than the trip temperature of the resistive device. |
| US08461954B2 |
Reactor-securing structure
A reactor-securing structure includes, one end of a first-side stay and one end of a second-side stay that are connected to portions of a reactor which are separated from each other at the two sides of a coil axial direction. The other end of the first-side stay and the other end of the second-side stay are fastened in states overlapping the inverter case. A first-side overlapping portion is formed by having the other end of the first-side stay overlap the inverter case, and a second-side overlapping portion is formed by having the other end of the second-side stay overlap the inverter case. A portion of the first-side overlapping portion and a portion of the second-side overlapping portion, when seen from a plan view, are provided in the same range relating to the length direction of the I-shaped section forming the reactor. |
| US08461950B2 |
Electromagnetic switching device
An electromagnetic switching device including: a housing; fixed contacts disposed in the housing; a movable contact which is brought into contact with the fixed contacts and separated from the fixed contacts; and a driving unit disposed at one side of the housing and driving the movable contact, wherein the fixed contacts are disposed to be perpendicular to a direction in which the movable contact moves. Thus, noise generation can be suppressed and external size can be reduced. |
| US08461948B2 |
Electronic ohmic shunt RF MEMS switch and method of manufacture
An electrostatic ohmic shunt radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch and method of manufacturing includes a co-planar waveguide (CPW) transmission line comprising a plurality of slots and a plurality of pillars, wherein a space between successive ones of the plurality of pillars is defined by one of the plurality of slots; a plurality of electrodes positioned in the slots; a conductive contact beam elevated over the CPW transmission line and the plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of conductive contact dimples positioned between the conductive contact beam and the CPW transmission line, wherein the plurality of pillars are adapted to prevent physical contact between the plurality of electrodes and the conductive contact beam. |
| US08461947B2 |
Installation switching device
An installation switching device which rapidly disconnects short-circuit currents is provided. A contact lever is arranged at least partially in an air gap in a magnetic circuit such that, in case of a short circuit, the interaction between current flow and magnetic flux within the air gap can result in an electrodynamic force effect, which leads to rapid opening of at least one contact point. A switching mechanism acts via a first operating connecting line on the contact lever to open the contact point and/or to keep it open. In case of overcurrent tripping, an overcurrent release acts, by a switching mechanism and via a second operating connecting line, on the switching mechanism to open the contact point and keep it open. In case of short-circuit tripping, the contact lever acts via a third operating connecting line on the switching mechanism to keep the contact point open. |
| US08461945B2 |
First and second U-shape waveguides joined to a metallized dielectric carrier by a U-shape sealing frame
The present invention relates to a transition arrangement comprising a first surface-mountable waveguide part, a second surface-mountable waveguide part and a dielectric carrier material with a metalization provided on a first main side. Each of the first and second surface-mountable waveguide parts comprises a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, which second and third walls are arranged to contact a part of the metalization, where the first and second surface-mountable waveguide parts are arranged to be mounted on the dielectric carrier material in such a way that the first and second surface-mountable waveguide parts comprise ends which are positioned to face each other. The transition arrangement further comprises an electrically conducting sealing frame that is arranged to be mounted over and covering the ends, where the electrically conducting sealing frame has a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, where the second and third walls are arranged to contact a part of the metallization. |
| US08461943B2 |
High-frequency signal transmission line
A flexible high-frequency signal transmission line includes a dielectric body including laminated flexible dielectric layers. A signal line is provided in the dielectric body. A grounding conductor is arranged in the dielectric body to be opposed to the signal line via one of the dielectric layers. The grounding conductor is of a ladder structure including a plurality of openings and a plurality of bridges arranged alternately along the signal line. A characteristic impedance of the signal line changes between two adjacent ones of the plurality of bridges such that the characteristic impedance of the signal line rises from a minimum value to an intermediate value and to a maximum value and falls from the maximum value to the intermediate value and to the minimum value in this order. |
| US08461941B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave resonator with adjustable resonance frequency and use of such a resonator in the field of telephony
A bulk acoustic wave resonator has an adjustable resonance frequency. A piezoelectric element is provided having first and second electrodes. A switching element is provided in the form of a MEMS structure which is deformable between a first and second position. The switching element forms an additional electrode that is selectively disposed on top of, and in contact with, one of the first and second electrodes. This causes a total thickness of the electrode of the resonator to be changed resulting in a modification of the resonance frequency of the resonator. |
| US08461938B2 |
Directional couplers for use in electronic devices, and methods of use thereof
Embodiments include directional couplers, electronic devices within which they are incorporated, and methods for using directional couplers. An embodiment of a directional coupler includes a set of coupled lines and a reflection coefficient manipulator. The set of coupled lines includes first and second conductive structures. The first conductive structure has a first port, a second port, and a substantially linear, first conductive central portion between the first port and the second port. The second conductive structure has a third port, a fourth port, and a substantially linear, second conductive central portion between the third port and the fourth port. The reflection coefficient manipulator is integrated with the set of coupled lines and is disposed in proximity to a gap between the first and second conductive structures. The reflection coefficient manipulator, which includes slots, protrusions, or both, is configured to equate reflection coefficients of the first and second conductive structures. |
| US08461934B1 |
External oscillator detector
An IC includes first and second pads. The first pad is configured to receive an external clock. Alternatively, the first and second pads are configured to be coupled to a crystal oscillator and receive a reference clock. Alternatively, the second pad is configured to be grounded. The IC includes an internal oscillator for generating an internal clock, and an oscillator detector coupled to the second pad. The oscillator detector includes a transistor having a gate coupled to the second pad configured to pull a source-drain region to a first state if the second pad receives the reference clock or allow the source-drain region to be pulled to a second state if the second pad is grounded. The IC includes a buffer for transferring the first state to the internal oscillator for keeping the internal oscillator enabled and transferring the second state to the internal oscillator for disabling the internal oscillator. |
| US08461933B2 |
Device and method for frequency calibration and phase-locked loop using the same
The frequency calibration device includes a logic unit for gating the clock signal according to a gating window signal to generate a gated clock signal, and a divider for dividing the gated clock signal by a divisor in frequency to generate a frequency indication signal, and output digits of the divider are set to the divisor in a calibration cycle, and the frequency indication signal is a most significant bit of the output digits. |
| US08461929B2 |
Power amplifier
A power amplifier includes a first amplifier unit, a second amplifier unit, and an attenuator. The second amplifier receives a signal from the first amplifier unit and amplifies the signal. The attenuator is provided between the first and second amplifier units. The attenuator has arms, including at least one parallel arm and at least one series arm, and has switches connected to the arms to switch the electrical connection states of the arms with respect to the first and second amplifier units. The at least one parallel arm and the at least one series arm are alternately arranged, in the order named, as viewed in the direction from the first amplifier unit to the second amplifier unit. |
| US08461927B2 |
Power amplification circuit having transformer
In order to realize a wider bandwidth of a frequency characteristic of a power amplification circuit, outputs of differential push-pull amplifiers which are matched at respectively different frequencies are combined together by secondary inductors, and the combined signal is outputted. |
| US08461923B2 |
Logarithmic mean-square power detector with servo control loop
A variable gain amplifier includes a plurality of amplification elements arranged to generate amplified representations of an RF input signal at a plurality of nodes. A plurality of controllable response elements each have an input coupled to a different one of the nodes to receive a different one of the amplified representations of the RF input signal. A scale factor generator is coupled to each of the controllable response elements. The scale factor generator receives a gain control signal and generates scale factor signals for varying the response of each of the controllable response elements such that as the scale factor generator sweeps through a full range of the gain control signal, the response of each of the controllable response elements is, in succession, increased smoothly to a peak and thereafter decreased smoothly to a lower level to produce a scaled output. A summing element is coupled to the controllable response elements for combining the scaled outputs of the controllable response elements to generate an output of the variable gain amplifier having a given gain range. |
| US08461921B2 |
Amplifier module with multiple operating modes
An amplifier module with multiple operating modes is described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a plurality of amplifiers. The apparatus may also include a plurality of switches, each switch coupled to an output of an associated amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers and configured to provide an amplified signal in a first mode and bypass the associated amplifier and provide an associated bypass signal in a second mode. Further, the apparatus may include an output circuit including a plurality of matching circuits, each matching circuit coupled to an associated amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers and an associated switch in the plurality of switches. |
| US08461920B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A layout for a semiconductor integrated circuit device can maintain a sufficient capacitance of a capacity cell even when a height of the cell is lowered. In this layout, power supply wiring extending along a first direction supplies a first supply voltage, power supply wiring and power supply wiring extending in parallel with the power-supply wiring supply a second and a third supply voltages respectively. Capacitive element is formed of a transistor that receives the first supply voltage at its source and drain, and receives the second or the third supply voltages at its gate. Capacitive element is disposed under power supply wiring such that it strides over a portion at power supply wiring side and a portion at power supply wiring side. |
| US08461918B2 |
Switched capacitor circuit
A switched capacitor circuit includes: an operational amplifier; a first capacitor; a first switch that charges the first capacitor by connecting the first capacitor between an inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and discharges the first capacitor by disconnecting the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier in a predetermined period; and a first output terminal that outputs an output voltage of the switched capacitor circuit, wherein after a predetermined period from a time when the first switch connects the first capacitor between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier, the first output terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier are connected to each other. |
| US08461914B2 |
Reference signal generating circuit
According to an aspect of the invention, a reference signal generating circuit includes a band gap reference main unit that includes a first cascode current mirror unit having a plurality of first conductive-type transistors; a second cascode current mirror unit having a plurality of second conductive-type transistors; a reference unit that uses a band gap to generate a reference signal; a first bias voltage generating unit that generates a bias voltage of the second cascode current mirror unit; a second bias voltage generating unit that generates a bias voltage of the first cascode current mirror unit; and an output unit that generates a reference signal based upon an output of the band gap reference main unit to generate and outputs the reference signal, wherein the second cascode current mirror unit is connected between the first cascode current mirror unit and the reference unit. |
| US08461911B2 |
Semiconductor switch for switching terminals
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor switch includes a voltage generator, a driver, a switch section, and a power supply controller. The voltage generator is configured to generate a first potential and a negative second potential. The first potential is higher than a power supply voltage supplied to a power supply terminal. The driver is connected to an output of the voltage generator and is configured to output the first potential in response to input of high level and to output the second potential in response to input of low level. The switch section is configured to switch connection between terminals in response to an output of the driver. The power supply controller is configured to control the output of the voltage generator. |