| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08468049B2 |
Systems and methods for providing direct communication from personalized targeted advertisements
A method of creating a personalized targeted advertisement for displaying on a webpage of a website is disclosed. The personalized targeted advertisement includes features to provide direct communication between a sender and a recipient of the personalized targeted advertisement. A selection of an advertisement template from a plurality of advertisement templates is detected. Then, a media file and a custom message are received to build the personalized targeted advertisement. The personalized targeted advertisement is then sent to the recipient identified by a unique identification. The advertising server is notified so that the personalized targeted advertisement can be displayed when the recipient identified by the unique identification logs into the website. |
| US08468044B2 |
Just-in-time insurer's flooring evaluation and replacement system
The present invention is directed to a system, and method for making and using the same, for an on-site evaluation of flooring materials, condition, and value, and further, for providing replacement flooring. The present invention provides an effective and uniform way to more objectively evaluate flooring and/or provide replacement flooring to the benefit of both an insurer and a customer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flooring evaluation system which includes flooring evaluators equipped with a portable apparatus for evaluating flooring which includes an objective evaluation approach using evaluation logic to determine a current monetary market value, or “as new” or pre-use value, which takes into account flooring characteristics, and/or a depreciated value which takes into account loss factors such as wear, appearance, and other degradative considerations. Further, the system of the present invention can include flooring providers which participate in the installation of a selected replacement flooring. The present invention is directed to an interconnected system which includes estimation logic, project management logic and installation logic for managing an insurance claim from start to finish in a just in time fashion. |
| US08468041B1 |
Using reinforcement learning to facilitate dynamic resource allocation
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that allocates resources to projects in a computer system. During operation, the system determines a current demand by a project for a resource, and a current allocation of the resource to the project. The system also uses a computational model to compute an expected long-term utility of the project for the resource. Next, the system trades the resource between the project and other projects in the computer system to optimize expected long-term utilities. During this process, the system uses a reinforcement learning technique to update parameters of the computational model for the expected long-term utility of the project based on performance feedback. |
| US08468040B1 |
System and method for identifying and upgrading a transmission grid
A system and method for upgrading or otherwise improving performance and/or operation of a transmission grid are provided. The system and method involve identifying transmission grid constraint(s), e.g., transmission bottlenecks or other causes of system congestion, and implementing step(s) to alleviate such constraint(s) on terms and conditions that shift initial capital requirements away from grid owners/operators. The capital-shifting mechanisms generally include installation of and/or access to equipment for monitoring and/or measuring grid performance parameter(s) on a predetermined basis, e.g., in real-time, on a daily basis or the like. A processor is provided that is programmed to calculate a payment stream to be paid to the independent party responsible for effectuating the grid performance upgrade based on measurement of performance parameters. |
| US08468036B2 |
Efficient market for financial products
A data processing system is disclosed that provides an efficient market for financial products in which statistics regarding a plurality of stored data records containing financial product underwriting standards are calculated, stored in a data storage device, then made available to a data processing system participant at a price which is reduced for fees obtained from transactions associated with the data processing system participant in accordance with a predetermined netbacking schedule stored in a netbacking database, and/or based on the data processing system participant providing one or more financial product data records. |
| US08468029B2 |
Subscriptions for assistance related to health
An interactive network-based health-related data management system provides provisions of health regimen information from an end-user and/or vendor and/or publisher. In an implementation, a subscription data for one or more subscriptions for the health regimen information is accepted by the system. To this end, the system provides the health regimen information according to the subscription data pertaining to the end/user and/or the vendor and/or the publisher. |
| US08468028B2 |
People engine optimization
Some embodiments promote website credibility and the optimization of websites for people by automatedly quantifying various elements of a website into component credibility scores. In some embodiments, a set of encoded credibility scoring rules are used to compute each of the component credibility scores, wherein the credibility scoring rules are derived based on factors that have been identified by a grouping of people that preferably represent a primary demographic of users that consume the content of a particular classified type of website. In some such embodiments, the credibility scoring rules are derived from commonality that is identified from a sample set of known credible and/or non-credible websites of a particular classification. Once the credibility scoring rules are defined, the system applies the rules to other websites having the same classification as those from which the rules are derived to automatically generate credibility scores for the other websites. |
| US08468024B2 |
Generating a frame of audio data
A method of generating a frame of audio data for an audio signal from preceding audio data for the audio signal that precede the frame of audio data, the method comprising the steps of: predicting a predetermined number of data samples for the frame of audio data based on the preceding audio data, to form predicted data samples; identifying a section of the preceding audio data for use in generating the frame of audio data; and forming the audio data of the frame of audio data as a repetition (602) of at least part of the identified section to span the frame of audio data, wherein the beginning of the frame of audio data comprises a combination of a subset of the repetition (602) of the at least part of the identified section and the predicted data samples. |
| US08468023B1 |
Handsfree device with countinuous keyword recognition
A handsfree device, which is coupled to a data processing device, may be operable to monitor at least one audio stream for occurrence of at least one keyword. Upon recognition of the at least one keyword, the handsfree device may establish a first connection between the handsfree device and the data processing device for launching a voice interface in the data processing device. The handsfree device may send audio data received after the recognition of the at least one keyword to the data processing device, via the first connection for responding to the audio data via the voice interface. During a keyword configuration operation, the handsfree device may send at least one inputted keyword to the data processing device for recording. The handsfree device may receive, via a second connection, the recorded at least one keyword from the data processing device for keyword configuration of the handsfree device. |
| US08468012B2 |
Acoustic model adaptation using geographic information
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an audio signal that corresponds to an utterance recorded by a mobile device, determining a geographic location associated with the mobile device, adapting one or more acoustic models for the geographic location, and performing speech recognition on the audio signal using the one or more acoustic models model that are adapted for the geographic location. |
| US08468010B2 |
System and method for language translation in a hybrid peer-to-peer environment
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to send and/or receive audio speech translations to facilitate communications between users who speak different languages. |
| US08468009B1 |
Hardware emulation unit having a shadow processor
A hardware emulator having an emulation unit with a shadow processor is described. The shadow processor is capable of performing an extra look up table (LUT) operation in addition to the LUT operation performed by a processor within the emulation unit. The emulation unit comprises a memory for supplying a first amount of data to a shadow processor register, wherein the shadow processor register stores the first amount of data for later retrieval. The data stored in the shadow processor register function as operands for a truth table stored in the memory and are used to select a function bit out from the memory. The selected function bit out represents a Boolean evaluation of the operands. |
| US08468004B2 |
Methods of use of a nonwoven keratinous tissue mimic
In one embodiment, a method of modeling interactions with keratinous tissue may comprise the steps of providing a nonwoven mimic and performing an act on the mimic as may be performed on keratinous tissue. The nonwoven mimic has a surface energy representative of keratinous tissue. In another embodiment, a method of modeling interactions with keratinous tissue may comprise the steps of: providing a mimic comprising from about 60% or greater rayon, from about 40% or less polyester, and a surface energy representative of keratinous tissue; and performing an act on the mimic as may be performed on keratinous tissue. The mimic is preferably a nonwoven mimic. |
| US08468003B2 |
Automated fiducial marker planning system and related methods
A system and method are described for determining candidate fiducial marker locations in the vicinity of a lesion. Imaging information and data are input or received by the system and candidate marker locations are calculated and displayed to the physician. Additionally, interactive feedback may be provided to the physician for manually selected or identified sites. The physician may thus receive automatic real time feedback for a candidate fiducial marker location and adjust or accept a constellation of fiducial marker locations. 3D renderings of the airway tree, lesion, and marker constellations may be displayed. |
| US08467999B2 |
Method of three-dimensional optimization design for asymmetric cusp magnetic field in MCZ single crystal furnace
A method of three-dimensional optimization design for an asymmetric cusp magnetic field in an MCZ single crystal furnace is disclosed. An optimization design for structural parameters of the magnetic field includes first establishing a three-dimensional magnetic model by using ANSYS software, varying parameters of the model, determining a span between upper and lower parts of coils, determining a number of transverse turns of the coils and the thickness of a shield. An optimization design for specification parameters of the coils of the magnetic field includes determining a relationship between heat and specification parameters of the coils and between heat transfer of the coils at their copper pipe walls and the specification parameters of the coils, analyzing heat absorbed by cooling water, establishing an optimization model of a system, and optimizing the specification parameters of the coils of the magnetic field using the ANSYS software. |
| US08467996B2 |
Spectral analysis operating system
Collecting and analyzing spectral data can be challenging when multiple analysis instruments need to be integrated and monitored by a quality control agent within a laboratory, industrial plant, field operation, or even an aerospace environment. The spectral analysis system and method, as presented, provides improved quality control, process control, and data management through unique feedback mechanisms between all hardware and software components within an analytical environment. Through spectral analysis presented, meaningful information is extracted from a spectral signal and fed back into the spectral analysis system to enhance overall system performance. A centralized database is provided to allow multiple users the opportunity to query the database for historical spectral records that can lead to the generation of meaningful reports. Additional hardware can be adapted to the present spectral analysis system in order to monitor a variety of physical phenomena in addition to monitoring a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| US08467994B2 |
Monitoring system and display for use in a monitoring system
A monitoring system for use in monitoring a machine includes at least one sensor for use in measuring at least one operating condition of the machine and at least one monitoring module coupled to the at least one sensor. The at least one monitoring module includes at least one display formed integrally with the monitoring module and configured to display real-time data representative of a currently measured operating condition of the machine and to display historical data representative of a previously measured operating condition of the machine such that a user is enabled to visually compare the historical data with the real-time data. |
| US08467989B2 |
Clearance measuring method and measuring unit
The present invention provides a method for measuring a clearance (13) between facing surfaces of a first member (11) and a second member (12). The method includes a step (S1) of bringing a pair of probes each having a tip end (14) slightly larger than the clearance (13) into direct contact with the clearance (13) and measuring a separation distance between the two tip ends (14), and a calculating step (S2) of calculating and measuring a clearance value (d1) on the basis of the separation distance between the tip ends (14). |
| US08467985B2 |
Automated synchronization of data between electrical grids
A method and system of automatically correlating data measured by monitoring devices that monitor first and second electrical grids. The second electrical grid producing alternating current signals that are electrically isolated from alternating current signals produced by the first electrical grid. An example power monitoring device includes a controller, a first monitoring device interface and a second monitoring device interface. The first monitoring device interface is coupled to a first monitoring device in the first electrical grid and the second monitoring device interface is coupled to a second monitoring device in the second electrical grid. A first counter stores data counts of occurrences from the first electrical grid. A second counter stores data counts of occurrences from the second electrical grid. A synchronization monitoring algorithm automatically synchronizes the first and second counters by associating a data count from the first counter with a data count from the second counter with a time from either the first or second grid corresponding to the occurrence of an event on either the first or the second electrical grid or both. |
| US08467984B2 |
Systems, methods and computer readable media for estimating capacity loss in rechargeable electrochemical cells
A system includes an electrochemical cell, monitoring hardware, and a computing system. The monitoring hardware periodically samples charge characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The computing system periodically determines cell information from the charge characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The computing system also periodically adds a first degradation characteristic from the cell information to a first sigmoid expression, periodically adds a second degradation characteristic from the cell information to a second sigmoid expression and combines the first sigmoid expression and the second sigmoid expression to develop or augment a multiple sigmoid model (MSM) of the electrochemical cell. The MSM may be used to estimate a capacity loss of the electrochemical cell at a desired point in time and analyze other characteristics of the electrochemical cell. The first and second degradation characteristics may be loss of active host sites and loss of free lithium for Li-ion cells. |
| US08467983B2 |
Method for detecting conflicts between outage requests and power supply guarantee requests in a power grid
A method detects conflicts between a power supply guarantee request (PSGR) and an outage request (OR) in a power grid. The method comprises receiving a first outage device set including OR related devices and a power supply guarantee device set including PSGR related devices. Geographic information about devices in the power grid is used to determine a second outage device set, which includes devices in the first outage device set and accompanying outage devices that need to be in outage together with devices in the first outage device set. Power grid topology information is used to determine a power grid outage scale in which all devices in the second outage device set can be in outage. For each device in the power supply guarantee device set, the method detects whether the device is included in the power grid outage scale, to determine any conflict between the PSGR and OR. |
| US08467982B2 |
Device and method for locating partial discharges
A method for locating partial discharges occurring at a discharge site (2) in an electric apparatus (3) with elongate geometry and generating corresponding electric pulses (4) propagating in opposite directions along the apparatus (3) from the discharge site (2) comprises the steps: (11) of detecting the pulses (4) picked up by a first and a second sensor (5, 7), connected to the apparatus (3) and spaced out along the same; (15) of deriving shape, phase and amplitude parameters for each of the signals detected; (17) of separating the sets of signals detected in each sensor into respective subsets which are uniform in terms of pulse waveform; (18) of identifying the subsets of signals relating to partial discharges and classifying them; (19) of correlating the subsets relating to different sensors and similarly classified, in order to derive a pair of subsets of signals relating to the same discharge site (2); (12) of selecting, for the pair of correlated subsets, at least one pair of homologous pulses (4) detected in different sensors in the same time interval; and (13) of calculating the distance between the discharge site (2) and the sensors, based on the selected pair of homologous pulses (4). |
| US08467976B2 |
Fetal genomic analysis from a maternal biological sample
Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining at least a portion of fetal genome are provided. DNA fragments from a maternal sample (maternal and fetal DNA) can be analyzed to identify alleles at certain loci. The amounts of DNA fragments of the respective alleles at these loci can be analyzed together to determine relative amounts of the haplotypes for these loci and determine which haplotypes have been inherited from the parental genomes. Loci where the parents are a specific combination of homozygous and heterozygous can be analyzed to determine regions of the fetal genome. Reference haplotypes common in the population can be used along with the analysis of the DNA fragments of the maternal sample to determine the maternal and paternal genomes. Determination of mutations, a fractional fetal DNA concentration in a maternal sample, and a proportion of coverage of a sequencing of the maternal sample can also be provided. |
| US08467973B2 |
Pairing processes for preparing alloreactive cytotoxic T cells
Provided in certain embodiments are methods for pairing patient cells and donor cells to prepare cytotoxic T cells. Such cytotoxic T cells could be administered to the patient for treating certain disorders, such as a cancer (for example, brain cancer). |
| US08467971B2 |
Structure based alignment and clustering of proteins (STRALCP)
Disclosed are computational methods of clustering a set of protein structures based on local and pair-wise global similarity values. Pair-wise local and global similarity values are generated based on pair-wise structural alignments for each protein in the set of protein structures. Initially, the protein structures are clustered based on pair-wise local similarity values. The protein structures are then clustered based on pair-wise global similarity values. For each given cluster both a representative structure and spans of conserved residues are identified. The representative protein structure is used to assign newly-solved protein structures to a group. The spans are used to characterize conservation and assign a “structural footprint” to the cluster. |
| US08467970B2 |
Function homology screening
A method of screening biologically active agent based on the analysis of complex biological responses in culture. Methods for selecting cells and culture conditions for such screens are provided, as well as the identification of an optimized set of discrete parameters to be measured, and the use of biomap analysis for rapid identification and characterization of drug candidates, genetic sequences acting pathways, and the like. A feature of the invention is simultaneous screening of a large number of cellular pathways, and the rapid identification of compounds that cause cellular responses. |
| US08467969B2 |
Marking apparatus having operational sensors for underground facility marking operations, and associated methods and systems
Methods, apparatus and systems for performing a marking operation to mark a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using a marking device. Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface via actuation of an actuation system of the marking device. A location tracking system detects a location of the marking device. One or more input devices of the marking device detect(s) one or more operating conditions of the marking device, and marking information is logged into local memory of the marking device. In one aspect, at least some operating information relating to the one or more detected conditions of the marking device are included in the marking information logged into memory. |
| US08467963B2 |
Map building system, building method and computer readable media thereof
A map building system, method and computer readable media thereof are provided, which are applied to a movable apparatus or which with a server apparatus. The system includes at least two distance sensing units, a inertial sensing unit, a parameter processing unit, and a display unit. The distance sensing units detect a distance between the movable device and at least one obstacle object and create at least two range data. The inertial sensing unit detects moving mode of the movable device and creates at least one moving data. The parameter processing unit calculates an area map data according the range data and the moving data. The area map data is shown on the display unit. |
| US08467962B2 |
Navigation system and lane information display method
A navigation system includes a lane information acquiring unit 27 for acquiring both the number of lanes of a road which forms an intersection, and lane information which defines a road branching off from each of the lanes, a lane direction determining unit 28 for determining the direction of each of the lanes on the basis of both the lane information acquired by the lane information acquiring unit, and a road attribute of an incoming road coming into the intersection and a road attribute of an outgoing road extending from the intersection, the road attributes of the incoming and outgoing roads being included in map data acquired by a map data acquiring unit, and a lane information display unit 29 for displaying the direction of each of the lanes determined by the lane direction determining unit with an arrow. |
| US08467961B2 |
Technique for effective navigation based on user preferences
In a navigation device, user profiles may be stored and used to navigate a user who may be driving in a vehicle, on foot, or in another mode of transportation. Each user profile corresponds to one of the user's personae. In one embodiment the user business profile corresponds to the user's business persona, which is different from the user personal profile corresponding to the user's personal persona. The navigation device provides the user with a navigated route, together with information concerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile. In some embodiments, blockages may be established using the device to avoid selected areas, e.g., high crime areas, in the navigated route, or to block transmission of selected information concerning, e.g., uninteresting facilities and events, to the navigation device. |
| US08467958B2 |
System and method for trip routing with configurable constraints
A method of analyzing a path by defining a plurality of contiguous geographical regions, each to have a uniform value of a characteristic affecting travel through the region and evaluating the path from a point in an origin region through an intermediate region to a point in a destination region. Related methods and means of representing paths, and systems to implement the methods are also described and claimed. |
| US08467957B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating routes using real-time public transportation information
A method and system are provided for providing a transportation route to a user terminal. Travel information is received at a route-generating unit from the user terminal. Public transportation information, including real-time public transportation information, is received at the route-generating unit from a public transportation information unit. One or more transportation routes are determined in accordance with the received travel information and the received public transportation information at the route-generating unit. The one or more transportation routes are transmitted from the route-generating unit to the user terminal. |
| US08467956B2 |
Navigation system with lane-level mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: detecting an acceleration for monitoring a movement of a device; determining a travel state based on the acceleration; identifying a travel sequence involving the travel state; setting a lane-level granularity movement as a predetermined sequence of the travel state; and determining the lane-level granularity movement with the travel sequence matching the predetermined sequence for displaying on the device. |
| US08467954B2 |
Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels. |
| US08467952B2 |
Map generating device, and memory medium storing map generating program
A map generating device constructed to generate a map wherein character rows of a first kind which are disposed near road symbols representing roads selected as a route from a start point to a destination point and which identify buildings and other facilities, for example, are oriented according to respective different directions of movement of the user of the map on the respective roads toward the destination point, so that the character rows of the first kind can be easily read by the user tracing the route while relying on the character rows of the first kind. Also disclosed is a memory medium storing a map generating program which is executed by a computer to generate the map. |
| US08467950B1 |
Air demand adjusted compressor control
A motor controller unit facilitates modifying pressure thresholds and motor operation mode for an air compressor in a hybrid commercial vehicle as a function of vehicle air demand and comprises a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions comprising monitoring vehicle air system pressure, calculating air demand generated by the vehicle air system, and determining that the vehicle air system air demand is greater than a predetermined air demand threshold. A cut-out pressure threshold for the compressor motor is increased and the air compressor motor is switched from an on/off mode to a continuous run mode wherein pressure is maintained in the air system to be between a cut-in pressure threshold and the increased cut-out pressure threshold. The compressor motor operates in the continuous run mode until air demand falls below the predetermined air demand threshold. |
| US08467949B2 |
Methods and systems for turbine line replaceable unit fault detection and isolation during engine startup
Systems and methods for isolating a performance anomaly within one or more line replaceable units (LRUs) on a gas turbine engine by monitoring the start up transient are presented. The system comprises a set of sensors, an anomaly detector and a fault isolation reasoner. Each sensor of the set monitors at least one operating parameter of at least one engine component. The anomaly detector is configured to detect an anomaly in a component by comparing a particular value of an operating parameter to a base line value of that parameter. The specific cause of the startup anomaly is isolated utilizing a set of component reasoners that is based on the nature of the detected anomaly. The key events during the engine startup are identified by the combination of monitoring physically relevant phases of a startup and monitoring the engine control schedule. The values at these key events are used for comparing at the anomaly detector. |
| US08467948B2 |
Omnidirectional moving body operation system and omnidirectional moving body operation method
A vehicle target velocity calculator of an omnidirectional moving body converts a manipulated vector which is a manipulated variable of the omnidirectional moving body instructed by an operator by using an operation portion of an operation device to a manipulated vector of the omnidirectional moving body in the relative coordinate system based on an angle difference between the presence direction of the omnidirectional moving body detected by the operation device sensor unit and the presence direction of the operation device detected by the vehicle sensor unit, and determines the target moving velocity vector according to the converted manipulated vector. The wheel velocity command calculator instructs a wheel drive unit to drive the base body according to this target moving velocity vector. |
| US08467943B2 |
Method for controlling a work machine during operation in a repeated work cycle
A method is provided for controlling a work machine during operation in a repeated work cycle including the steps of establishing a control strategy on the basis of at least one condition that varies in the course of the work cycle, and controlling at least one device in a work machine power transmission system in response to the established control strategy. |
| US08467935B2 |
Automobile electronic control unit comprising a voltage step-up device and control method
An electronic control unit (3) for a motor vehicle includes a microcontroller (30) which controls the operation of an engine of the motor vehicle, a regulator (31) of a voltage delivered to the microcontroller (30) by an electric power source (2), and a voltage step-up device (32) including control elements (321) suitable for activating at least one inductive load (320) coupled to the power source (2), an activation which consists of successive energy accumulations and discharges by the at least one inductive load. The at least one inductive load (320) is shared with at least one second device (4) that is internal or external to the electronic control unit (3), a second device whose operation is controlled by the electronic control unit. A method for controlling at least one inductive load (320) coupled to an electric power source (2) of a motor vehicle is also described. |
| US08467933B2 |
System and method for controlling an emergency notification feature based on driver status
A system for controlling the operation of performing emergency notification in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a controller configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of whether the driver is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver from a key ignition device positioned on at least one of a primary key and the secondary key. The controller is configured to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is configured to selectively control the operation of performing emergency notification based on whether the driver of the vehicle is one of the primary driver and the secondary driver. |
| US08467929B2 |
Good checking for vehicle wheel speed sensors
A controller for determining whether a previously-detected vehicle wheel speed sensor malfunction still exists. The controller includes an electronic, non-volatile memory, and an electronic processing unit connected to the electronic, non-volatile memory. The electronic processing module includes a malfunction monitoring module, a failure handling module, and a signal checking module. The malfunction monitoring module monitors the operation of at least one wheel speed sensor and generates a fault signal when the at least one sensor malfunctions. The failure handling module causes drive cycle information and the fault information to be stored in the electronic, non-volatile memory. The signal checking module performs a signal check on information from the at least one wheel speed sensor. A tell-tale indicator is deactivated and/or a vehicle control system resumes normal operation if the wheel speed sensor passes the signal check. |
| US08467926B2 |
Method and system for valve operation control
Methods and systems are provided for raising the speed of a hybrid electric vehicle operating in an electric-only mode. During conditions when the vehicle is driven only by an electric motor, vehicle speed may be raised by spinning the engine unfueled using power from a system battery, while adjusting valve operation to reduce engine pumping losses. In this way, vehicle speed may be raised more efficiently and without damaging rotating transmission components. |
| US08467924B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for hybrid vehicle
In a hybrid vehicle including: a first battery; a first boost converter for converting an output voltage of the first battery and outputting the output voltage to a motor generator; a second battery; and a second boost converter for converting an output voltage of the second battery and outputting the output voltage to the motor generator, an ECU performs HV drive control for driving the hybrid vehicle by using driving power of both an engine and the motor generator, and stops the second boost converter, when an SOC(1) that is a value indicating a state of charge of the first battery is smaller than a threshold value α or when an SOC(2) that is a value indicating a state of charge of the second battery is smaller than a threshold value β. |
| US08467908B2 |
Home energy management system incorporating a pool pump
An energy management system for a home network comprising a plurality of power consuming devices including a pool pump is provided. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display device. The central controller further includes a scheduling algorithm configured to enable a user to program a schedule for the pool pump. |
| US08467907B2 |
Automated valve with self-contained valve actuator system
A self-contained valve actuator of the present invention can comprise an actuator component. This actuator can be linear or quarter turn depending on the valve. The actuator can be double acting which means the piston will move once to open and once to close. The self-contained valve system uses hydraulic fluid to operate the valve. The valve system is directly powered with electric power from a battery. Solar panels are also incorporated to capture solar energy and convert this energy into electrical energy. This converted electrical energy is stored in the battery which enables the battery to continuously supply energy while substantially reducing the possibility of exhausting battery power. This resupply of electrical energy and the use of the hydraulic fluid creates a self-contained valve actuation system. |
| US08467905B2 |
Environment control system
A control system for governing temperature and humidity levels within a confined space including a controller communicatively coupled to a cooling system, a heating system, a duct system, a plurality of environmental sensors for detecting temperature and humidity levels within the confined space and external to the confined space, and an external air intake for introducing air external to the confined space to within the confined space. The control system may further include predictive heating and predictive cooling configurations having a computing device communicatively connected to the controller and to an environmental forecast source. |
| US08467904B2 |
Reconstruction, retargetting, tracking, and estimation of pose of articulated systems
A control system and method generate joint variables for motion or posing of a target system in response to observations of a source system. Constraints and balance control may be provided for more accurate representation of the motion or posing as replicated by the target system. |
| US08467902B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating pose of mobile robot using particle filter
A method and apparatus for estimating the pose of a mobile robot using a particle filter is provided. The apparatus includes an odometer which detects a variation in the pose of a mobile robot, a feature-processing module which extracts at least one feature from an upward image captured by the mobile robot, and a particle filter module which determines current poses and weights of a plurality of particles by applying the mobile robot pose variation detected by the odometer and the feature extracted by the feature-processing module to previous poses and weights of the particles. |
| US08467901B2 |
Calibration of a base coordinate system for an industrial robot
A method for calibration of a base coordinate system of an industrial robot in relation to a work area includes: mounting a first part of a kinematic coupling which is constrained in the same number of degrees of freedom as the robot, on the robot wrist interface of the robot, mounting a second part of the kinematic coupling in the work area, moving the robot including the base portion to the work area, set the robot in compliant control mode, move the first part of the kinematic coupling to mate with the second part, storing axis positions of the robot during mating of the kinematic coupling, determining the position and orientation of the base portion based on the stored axis positions and a kinematic model of the robot, and on basis thereon calibrating the base coordinate system of the robot. |
| US08467899B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles
An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. |
| US08467897B2 |
Pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and methods of storing and retrieving pharmaceuticals
A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval system and a method of storing and retrieving pharmaceutical containers from the system. The system includes a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval and a controller operatively coupled to the device to control storage and retrieval functions of the device. The device includes a gantry assembly, a shelving assembly, a user access assembly, and a user authorization system that function in a coordinated manner to carry out the storage and retrieval functions of the device. |
| US08467896B2 |
Feedback for polishing rate correction in chemical mechanical polishing
A substrate having a plurality of zones is polished and spectra are measured. For each zone, a first linear function fits a sequence of index values associated with reference spectra that best match the measured spectra. A projected time at which a reference zone will reach the target index value is determined based on the first linear function, and for at least one adjustable zone, a polishing parameter adjustment is calculated such that the adjustable zone has closer to the target index at the projected time than without such adjustment. The adjustment is calculated based on a feedback error calculated for a previous substrate. The feedback error for a subsequent substrate is calculated based on a second linear function that fits a sequence of index values associated with reference spectra that best match spectra measured after the polishing parameter is adjusted. |
| US08467893B2 |
Objective measurement of audio quality
In an apparatus for objective perceptual evaluation of speech quality, parameters BandwidthRef and BandwidthTest representing the bandwidth are forwarded to a calculator 30 for calculating the relative bandwidth difference ΔBW between a reference signal and a test signal. ΔBW is forwarded to a calculator 32, which determines the value of a weighting parameter α. Preferably a sealing unit 33 scales or normalizes the disturbance density D and the asymmetric disturbance density DA, for example to the range [0,1]. The values of ΔBW and α are forwarded to a bandwidth compensator 34, which also receives the preferably scaled disturbance density D and asymmetric disturbance density DA. The bandwidth compensated disturbance densities D*, DA* are forwarded to a linear combiner 42, which forms a score representing predicted quality of the test signal. |
| US08467890B2 |
Method and system for detecting interrupts from detachable electronic accessories or peripherals
Aspects of a method and system for detecting interrupts from detachable electronic accessories or peripherals are provided. In this regard, a hardware audio CODEC may be operable to compare a voltage on one or more biased pins of an accessory or peripheral port to one or more reference voltages and filter one or more output signals generated from the comparison. When an accessory or peripheral is coupled to the accessory or peripheral port, interrupts from the accessory or peripheral may be detected based on results of the comparison and/or the filtering. An interrupt may be detected when the voltage on the one or more pins may be below the one or more reference voltages. An interrupt may be detected when the voltage on the one or more pins may be below the one or more reference voltages for a plurality of consecutive clock cycles. |
| US08467889B2 |
Mixing signal processing apparatus and mixing signal processing integrated circuit
User is allowed to designate a desired mode defining the respective numbers of channels and mixing buses, and processing for mixing input signals of the number of channels corresponding to the designated mode is performed repetitively to generate signals for the individual buses. The time of arrival of the last step in the mixing processing for the number of channels, corresponding to the designated mode, is detected to output an accumulation result obtained at the last step, and new accumulation is started with a digital audio signal inputted at a step following the last step. Digital audio signals processed by a first signal processing circuit are stored into a memory and transmitted to a second signal processing circuit via a cascade-connection. The second signal processing circuit adds the audio signal, processed for each of the steps, to audio signals input via the cascade-connection and writes added signal into the memory. |
| US08467887B2 |
System for controlling lighting devices
Disclosed is a lighting control system including: a switching means for selecting one of a plurality of scenarios; a gateway for matching at least one of on/off control signals, color temperature control signals, color control signals, or dimming control signals for a plurality of lamps with the plurality of scenarios, storing a resultant data, and outputting control signals matched with the scenario selected from the switching means; and a lighting device for receiving the control signals outputted from the gateway, and according to the received control signals, turning on/off each of the lamps, adjusting a color temperature or a color of each of the lamps, or a dimming level of each of the lamps. |
| US08467886B2 |
Mobile object apparatus, mobile object system, imaging device and method, and alerting device and method
A mobile object apparatus is provided. The mobile object apparatus includes an object having a first function; a moving unit that is capable of moving so as to move the object; a driving unit configured to drive the moving unit; and a receiver configured to receive a command from outside. The driving unit controls the moving unit according to the command received so that a second function is achieved. |
| US08467885B2 |
Networked electrical interface
An electrical interface may include a switching mechanism and a control module. The switching mechanism can selectively couple a source of electricity to a load and the control module can be coupled to the switching mechanism. The control module may generate a query for information from a web server and control the switching mechanism based on a response to the query. |
| US08467884B2 |
Gastrointestinal electrical stimulation
The present invention is directed to a method of stimulating the vagus nerve of a subject. |
| US08467883B2 |
Spring passive lead anchor and methods and devices using the anchor
A lead anchor includes a body defining at least one first portion of a lead lumen, the body having a first opening and a second opening. An obstructing member is disposed within the body. The obstructing member defines a second portion of the lead lumen. A spring is disposed in the body and configured and arranged to operate on the obstructing member so that the second portion of the lead lumen is coterminous with the at least one first portion of the lead lumen and forms a continuous lead path when the spring is compressed and the second portion of the lead lumen is offset from the at least one first portion of the lead lumen when the spring is not compressed. |
| US08467880B2 |
System for transmitting electrical current to a bodily tissue
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate, a power source, a connector, electrical circuitry, and an electrode assembly. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface different than the first surface. The power source has a positive terminal and a negative terminal Each of the positive terminal and the negative terminal are coupled to the substrate. The power source is configured to provide power to an external stimulator coupled to the apparatus. The connector is disposed proximate to the first surface of the substrate and is electrically coupled to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source. The connector is configured to electrically couple the external stimulator to the power source. The electrical circuitry is coupled to the substrate. The electrical circuitry is configured to electrically couple the connector to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source. At least one of the connector or the electrical circuitry is configured to prevent a short circuit of the electrical circuit. The electrode assembly is coupled to the second surface of the substrate. At least one electrode of the electrode assembly is configured to contact bodily tissue and to facilitate transmission of an electrical current through the bodily tissue. |
| US08467876B2 |
Breathing disorder detection and therapy delivery device and method
A device and method are provided for managing the treatment of a patient with respiratory disorders or symptoms. Respiratory parameters are sensed and recorded and communicated to an external device to provide information to a patient and/or provider for further treatment or diagnosis. Also respiratory disorders such as apnea or hypoventilation may be treated by electrically stimulating the diaphragm muscle or phrenic nerve in response to a sensed respiratory parameter or characteristic. |
| US08467871B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for cardiac resynchronization therapy mode selection based on intrinsic conduction
Systems and methods for selecting a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) mode involve sensing electrocardiogram (ECG) data for a patient, identifying a PR interval from the sensed ECG data, comparing the PR interval to a threshold, and selecting a CRT mode by selecting between a synchrony optimization mode and a preload optimization mode, the selection based on the comparison of the PR interval to the threshold. A synchrony optimization mode may be selected if the parameter is less than the threshold, and may optimize CRT for fusion between a left ventricular pulse and an intrinsic wavefront. The preload optimization mode may be selected if the parameter is greater than the threshold, and may optimize CRT for fusion between respective wavefronts of the left ventricular pace and a right ventricular pace. |
| US08467869B2 |
Method and system for modulating eating behavior by means of neuro-electrical coded signals
A method for modulating eating behavior comprising (i) generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body, (ii) generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body, and (iii) transmitting at least one of the confounding neuro-electrical signals to a subject to modulate the subject's sense of taste or smell. In a preferred embodiment, both confounding neuro-electrical signals are transmitted to the subject to modulate the subject's sense of taste and smell. |
| US08467866B2 |
Biosignal detecting apparatus
A biosignal detecting apparatus is disclosed. The biosignal detecting apparatus includes a pair of detecting electrodes which is attached to a human body for detecting a biosignal from the human body, a biosignal detecting circuit which receives the biosignal detected by the detecting electrodes and processes the detected biosignal, a transmitting electrode which is attached to the human body for transmitting the biosignal processed by the biosignal detecting circuit via the human body to an external apparatus and for transmitting a radio wave generated by a circuit in the biosignal detecting apparatus, and a circuit connected to one of the detecting electrodes which circuit receives the radio wave transmitted from the human body via the transmitting electrode and executes impedance matching between the biosignal detecting apparatus and the human body based on the received radio wave transmitted from the human body via the transmitting electrode. |
| US08467865B2 |
Method for detecting both pre-cancerous and cancerous tissues
A method for characterizing tissues within a subject as cancerous or non-cancerous includes determining the electrical properties of the subject. The electrical properties of the subject are fit to a model and a characteristic frequency of each tissue is then calculated. Each tissue is finally characterized as cancerous or non-cancerous if its characteristic frequency lies above a threshold value. |
| US08467861B2 |
Accessory for performance-monitoring device
There is provided an electric apparatus for monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a person, comprising an attaching mechanism configured to enable the attachment of the electric apparatus to a wearable item, first and second electrodes for electrical contact with the skin of the person, wherein, during operation, the first electrode is placed between the wearable item and the skin of the person and the second electrode is placed on the opposite side of the wearable item, a detector configured to detect the electrocardiogram signal between the two electrodes, and a transmitter configured to transmit wirelessly information regarding the electrocardiogram signal detected by the detector. |
| US08467860B2 |
Portable system and method for monitoring of a heart and other body functions
Portable systems and methods for continuous and discontinuous monitoring of a user's heart activity, for obtaining a complete, up to twelve-lead electrocardiogram reading are disclosed. A plurality of wearable wired or wireless sensors obtain raw electrocardiogram data from the user. The raw electrocardiogram data is transmitted to data storage media, which include computer instructions for converting the raw data to a complete, up to twelve-lead electrocardiogram reading. The computer instructions can compare the electrocardiogram to one or more predetermined threshold parameters and/or medical standards. The results of the comparison, the electrocardiogram, the parameters, the raw data, the user's location, or combinations thereof, can be transmitted to one or more destinations, which can include medical facilities, insurance providers, emergency responders, and/or family physicians or specialists. The system is thereby usable both for transmitting alerts during emergency situations, and for routine monitoring and diagnosis. |
| US08467855B2 |
Syringe needle guiding apparatus
Provided is a syringe needle guiding apparatus 4 which creates images of a blood vessel 9 which cannot be directly seen with the naked eyes and of a syringe needle 10 inserted into a body, and which includes a monitor 3 allowing the recognition of the three-dimensional relationship between the blood vessel 9 and the needle 10. In the syringe needle guiding apparatus 4 provided here, the blood vessel 9 is seen through by using near infrared rays and also a part of the needle 10, which cannot be seen through because it is inserted into a body, is reproduced in a form of virtual image. A virtually synthesized image of the blood vessel 9 and the needle 10 is displayed on the monitor 3. Then, a target 88 at which the needle 10 is to be inserted, a direction, a distance 12-A, an angle 12-B of the needle with respect to the blood vessel, and the like are displayed in the synthesized image, so that the positional relationship between the blood vessel and the needle 10 is recognized in a three-dimensional manner. |
| US08467854B2 |
Neurovascular intervention device
The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly to an improved intravascular intervention device. In one embodiment, an intravascular intervention device includes a microcatheter configured for intravascular delivery, an imaging wire received within the microcatheter, and a treatment device received within the microcatheter, wherein the imaging wire and the treatment device may be simultaneously advanced. The treatment device is configured to perform intravascular intervention. For example, the treatment device may be configured to deliver a stent, an embolic coil and/or a thrombolytic agent. In this embodiment, the intravascular intervention device may image the area of interest while performing the intravascular intervention, thus allowing imaging to take place in real time. |
| US08467850B2 |
System and method to determine the position of a medical instrument
A medical imaging method for the navigation of a guidable medical instrument intended to be moved inside the body of a patient, comprising: receiving at least one 2D image of a cavity of a patient, acquired by an acquisition device, for which cavity a 3D representation is available; receiving at least one data item on the force applied to the medical instrument to control a guiding of the medical instrument inside the patient's body; and combining data derived from information on applied force, the 2D image and the 3D representation to determine the position of the medical instrument. |
| US08467841B2 |
Superconducting magnet coil system with quench protection for the prevention of excessive localized currents
A superconducting high-field magnet coil system comprising several radially nested main coil sections (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) which are connected to each other in series in such a fashion that currents of the same direction flow through them during operation, wherein a first main coil section (EHS) is disposed radially further inward than a second main coil section (ZHS) and at least one intermediate main coil section (ZW) is disposed radially between the first and the second main coil section (EHS, ZHS), and with a superconducting switch (11) via which all main coil sections (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) can be superconductingly short-circuited in series, is characterized in that the first main coil section (EHS) and the second main coil section (ZHS) are directly successively series-connected and the first main coil section (EHS) and the second main coil section (ZHS) are bridged by a common quench protection element, which does not bridge the at least one intermediate main coil section (ZW). The magnet coil system realizes quench protection for selectively preventing excess currents in magnet coil areas in which the excessive mechanical force load associated with an excess current would damage the superconductor. |
| US08467837B2 |
MAC controlled sleep mode/wake-up mode with staged wake-up for power management
A power management scheme for a wireless communications device processor substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By incorporating controls for sleep and wake-up mode transitions in the processor's control logic, improved power savings with reduced latency is provided, obviating the need for hardware-focused solutions with elaborate signaling mechanisms. A fully integrated power management with staged wake-up operations controlled by the MAC solution consumes less power than the conventional wireless LAN solutions in standby mode. |
| US08467832B2 |
Mobile communication method and server device
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes step of determining to change a manager of a radio base station from a first network device to a second network device, step of notifying the first network device and the second network device of the determination result, step of transmitting a reset request to the radio base station, step of performing reset operation by the radio base station, step of notifying the radio base station of address information of the second network device and step of connecting to the second network device by the radio base station using the notified address information. |
| US08467831B2 |
Method of and apparatus for interfacing and connecting a wireless device and a wireless network using a subscriber identity module having plural IMSI associates with different network operators
A wireless device includes a single SIM, plus an application module adapted to enable the device to operate as though it included two or more different SIMs. The module, referred to as a ‘proprietary applications module’ (PAM) is connected to, or built into, a wireless device (WD). The PAM is capable of switching all incoming traffic by associating the WD to one specific subscriber identity sub-module, referred to as “Local SIM” (LS). It can also switch or re-route all outgoing traffic by associating the same WD with a different subscriber identity sub-module, typically a “Roaming SIM” (RS). In a preferred embodiment, the PAM, RS and LS are built-into a single SIM for use in a WD; alternatively the PAM is built-into a WD and the RS and LS are built-into the single SIM. |
| US08467830B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of providing broadcasts thereto
A terminal, a computer program product and a method of providing broadcasts thereto by which a single SIM card can receive broadcasts provided by a plurality of broadcast providers in a manner of deactivating a function of receiving broadcasts provided by a first broadcast provider. A function of only receiving a broadcast provided by a first broadcast provider is deactivated, broadcasts of a plurality of broadcast providers in a current area are searched, and information for the searched broadcasts are displayed. |
| US08467828B2 |
Audio I O headset plug and plug detection circuitry
A single prong, multiple signal conducting plug and plug detection circuitry is provided. The plug may be electrically coupled to a stereo headset including a microphone. The plug may include four signal conducting regions arranged in a predetermined order along the length of the prong. Detection circuitry may be operative to determine whether a microphone type of plug (e.g., a four region plug including a microphone region and two audio regions, or a three region plug including microphone region and only one audio region) or a non-microphone type of plug (e.g., stereo plug) is inserted into the jack of an electronic device (e.g., mobile phone). Detection circuitry may also detect user activated functions performed in response to user activation of one or more switches included with the headset. For example, the headset may include a single switch for performing a function with respect to a microphone (e.g., end-call function). |
| US08467825B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to achieve low power consumption and a long lifetime of a semiconductor device having a wireless communication function. The object can be achieved in such a manner that a battery serving as a power supply source and a specific circuit are electrically connected to each other through a transistor in which a channel formation region is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The hydrogen concentration of the oxide semiconductor is lower than or equal to 5×1019 (atoms/cm3). Therefore, leakage current of the transistor can be reduced. As a result, power consumption of the semiconductor device in a standby state can be reduced. Further, the semiconductor device can have a long lifetime. |
| US08467823B2 |
Method and system for CPRI cascading in distributed radio head architectures
A method of communicating between a base band unit and a plurality of remote radio heads includes the steps of receiving a first signal through an antenna in a first remote radio head, transmitting the first signal to a second remote radio head through a digital radio interface, receiving a second signal through an antenna in the second remote radio head, compensating for a delay accrued in the first signal, adding the first signal and the second signal to obtain a resulting signal, and transmitting the resulting signal to a base band unit through a digital radio interface. |
| US08467822B2 |
Method of transmitting data block information in a cellular radio system
A method in a transmitter for transmitting a transport format indication from a transmitter to a receiver (505) where each value of the transport format indication identifies at least two transport block sizes. Hereby a more flexible use of different transport block sizes is enabled. |
| US08467821B1 |
System and method for anticipating transmit power requirements in wireless mobile units communicating with a base station
In wireless communications systems, power conservation is important. The communications system anticipates the need to vary the signal strength of transmitting mobile units, and provides that base station with information concerning the direction of the mobile unit relative to the base station which is utilized in handing off the mobile unit from one base station to another. |
| US08467818B2 |
Communication system and management method thereof
Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system and management method thereof. The communication system includes: a radio transceiving layer, including a radio transceiving node combination, where the radio transceiving node combination includes at least one type of the following: a macro cell RRU, a Pico cell RRU, and a Pico cell BRU; a local computing layer, including a local computing node, connected to a radio transceiving node in one or multiple neighboring radio transceiving node combinations and configured to execute all communication processing or a first part of communication processing of a cell corresponding to the local computing node; a centralized computing layer, including a centralized computing node, connected to the local computing node in the local computing layer and configured to execute a second part of communication processing, where the all communication processing includes the first part and second part of communication processing. |
| US08467817B2 |
Generic business notifications for mobile devices
The present disclosure involves systems and computer-implemented methods for providing generic push notifications to mobile devices. One process includes monitoring at least one business process for an occurrence of a triggering event. In response to the occurrence of the triggering event, at least one parameter associated with the particular triggering event is identified. A user associated with the at least one business process and the particular triggering event is identified, and a message for the user is generated, where the generated message identifies a mobile business application associated with the particular triggering event and includes the at least one identified parameter. The generated message can then be sent to a mobile device associated with the user. In some instances, the generated message may be an SMS message, and can include embedded code to allow the mobile device to launch the identified mobile business application. |
| US08467813B2 |
Method for monitoring a paging message without paging lost and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A processor is coupled to a transceiver and includes at least a first processor logic unit for initiating a cell selection or a cell reselection procedure to camp on a target cell and obtain a plurality of paging parameters carried in one or more system information messages transmitted by the target cell via the transceiver and a second processor logic unit for monitoring a paging identifier on a downlink control channel via the transceiver to check whether there is any forthcoming paging message before the paging parameters are obtained from the target cell. |
| US08467808B1 |
Mobile object location-based privacy protection
A system, method and apparatus for creating and implementing a privacy zone around a mobile object are described herein. A privacy zone is a geographic location proximate to a mobile object in which mobile device functionality is reduced when a mobile device is inside the boundaries of the privacy zone. A locator subsystem tracks the location of the mobile object to update the location of the privacy zone. Further, the locator subsystem monitors for mobile devices that may interface with the privacy zone. Once a mobile device is found to be within a privacy zone, the pre-determined mobile device features will preferably be disabled. |
| US08467807B1 |
Mobile coupon with varying discount based on consumer location
A method for distributing a location aware mobile coupon (LAMC) based on a current location of a consumer using a mobile device. The method includes: receiving the current location of the mobile device from a location aware service (LAS) provider; comparing the current location of the mobile device to a retail location of a merchant to determine that the consumer is in proximity to the retail location of the merchant; obtaining pre-generated LAMC terms of the merchant specifying a maximum price discount of an item offered by the merchant; determining, in response to determining that the consumer is in proximity to the retail location, a price discount of the LAMC using a pre-determined formula based on the maximum price discount and a distance of the consumer to the retail location; and sending the LAMC including the price discount to the mobile device used by the consumer. |
| US08467806B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting location services with a streamlined location service layer
Techniques for supporting location services with a streamlined location service layer are described. In one design, a terminal may receive a location service request from an application that is internal or external to the terminal. The terminal may exchange at least one message with a location server to establish an extended location session of a particular duration via the streamlined location service layer. The terminal can thereafter obtain location service from the location server at any time within the particular duration of the extended location session, e.g., whenever a location request is received from the application. The terminal may obtain location service any number of times and at any time during the extended location session. The terminal or application may emulate a more complex location service based on location information received from all of the times in which location service is obtained by the terminal. |
| US08467804B2 |
Mobile terminals and methods for regulating power-on/off of a GPS positioning circuit
A method for determining location of a mobile terminal includes repetitively switching power-on and power-off to a GPS receiver circuit which determines location of the mobile terminal using GPS signals. The power-on to power-off duty cycle of the GPS receiver circuit is regulated in response to distance that the mobile terminal has moved from a previously determined location. The power-on to power-off duty cycle can be regulated in response to identifying GPS isolation, in response to an acceleration-determined distance from previous GPS-determine location, an acceleration-determined velocity of the mobile terminal, availability of position assistance information from a cellular system, presence/absence of signals from a WLAN/Bluetooth device, and/or detection of a new cellular base station ID. |
| US08467803B2 |
Communications system
A method performed by a EUTRAN base station, the method including generating a request for resource status information. The request defines a periodicity when update messages including said resource status information should be sent. The method further including sending the generated request to a neighboring EUTRAN base station, receiving one or more resource status update messages from the neighboring base station in response to the requested resource status information in accordance with said defined periodicity, and performing load balancing operations in dependence upon the received one or more resource status update messages. |
| US08467801B2 |
Channel sounding techniques for a wireless communication system
A technique for channel sounding in a wireless communication system includes determining respective geometries of multiple subscriber stations with respect to a serving base station. Respective time periods for sounding a channel between the multiple subscriber stations and the serving base station are then set based on the respective geometries of the multiple subscriber stations. |
| US08467800B2 |
Method for monitoring radio equipment for communication between a mobile terminal and a cellular infrastructure with spread spectrum and arrangement for performing said method
Parameters for the propagation channels between each mobile terminal (14, 14A, 14B) and several fixed transceivers (13) are measured and a report message transmitted to a radio network controller (12), indicating at least one part of the measured parameters. The radio network controller processes the report messages. The parameters measured for each fixed transceiver are a propagation profile, including at least one propagation path associated with a reception energy and the parameters given in the report messages for at least one transceiver, comprise data on the energetic distribution in the propagation profile, taken into account by the radio network controller in processing. |
| US08467799B2 |
Method and system for assigning physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources
A base station includes a transmit path circuitry to transmit a downlink (DL) grant in a single control channel element (CCE) to a subscriber station in a subframe n-k while the subscriber station performs an orthogonal transmit diversity scheme using N transmit antennas (N-Tx ORT) with N being a positive integer greater than 1. The transmit path circuitry is further configured to transmit data streams to the subscriber station. The base station also includes a receive path circuitry to receive an acknowledgement signal from the subscriber station in response to the data streams. The acknowledgement signal is carried in at least two physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources in a subframe n. A first resource of the PUCCH resources corresponds to the control channel element used to transmit the downlink grant, and a second resource of the PUCCH resources is assigned by a mapping function. |
| US08467796B2 |
Radio resource group selection method for a radio resource management
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method of managing radio resource(s) using a group selection indicator so as to effectively utilize the radio resource(s) in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. |
| US08467790B2 |
Mechanism to update the CSG cell access check upon PLMN change at handover
Solving dual errors for user equipment UE checking whether a private cell is allowed when handing over between serving and target cells, where the PLMN and/or EPLMNs list of the serving and target cells may differ. The serving cell may send a one-bit indication that there is a change in a handover command or system information SI6 message after which the UE may or may not refrain from reporting new cells until it performs a registration/location area update in the target cell. The target cell may trigger in the UE a registration update then provide the UE with the PLMN of the target cell. The serving cell can provide the PLMN of the target cell in a SI6 message or handover command, which the UE may use in place of or in addition to the PLMN/EPLMN of the serving cell when checking whether a private/closed subscriber group cell is allowed. |
| US08467789B2 |
Telephone with automatic switching between cellular and VoIP networks
A mobile communication device includes, in part, a cellular communication module, a first antenna adapted to receive and transmit data between the mobile communication module and a cellular network, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication module, a second antenna adapted to receive and transmit data between the Wi-Fi communication module and a VoIP network, a signal monitoring circuit, and a switching circuit adapted to switch an existing communication from the cellular communication module to the Wi-Fi communication module or vice versa. |
| US08467787B2 |
Method and apparatus for searching for modes and frequencies
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for searching for modes and frequencies. The method includes: obtaining signal energy of all frequency grids within a frequency range; obtaining energy of each mode on a smallest bandwidth according to the signal energy of the grids; sorting the energy on the smallest bandwidths of all modes; and accessing a specified number of frequencies and modes of the highest energy in the sorting result. With the present invention, energy on the smallest bandwidths of all modes at a frequency band is obtained and sorted and then an access mode is determined according to the sorting result. Thus the access mode to use for a specified frequency can be quickly determined so as to improve the access success rate of a terminal in the subsequent access process. |
| US08467781B2 |
Apparatus and method of reporting logged measurement in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of reporting logged measurements of an user equipment in a wireless communication system is provided. The user equipment in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected mode receives from a base station a Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) configuration. The user equipment transitions from the RRC connected mode to an RRC idle mode and logs measurements based on the MDT configuration. The user equipment transmits to the base station a logging indicator indicating an availability of the logged measurement. |
| US08467774B2 |
System for targeting advertising content to a plurality of mobile communication facilities
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. |
| US08467773B1 |
System and methods for pre-caching broadcast content for merchandising on a wireless mobile device
Systems and methods for providing users of wireless mobile devices with content available for purchase are disclosed. Content is loaded into a cache memory in the wireless mobile device and the user is provided with a preview of the content and the ability to purchase the content. If the user does not purchase the content, then the content is purged from the cache memory. |
| US08467772B2 |
Mobile terminal and teletext information providing system and method using the same
Disclosed are a mobile terminal and a Teletext information providing system, and particularly, a system and method for providing latest updated Teletext information. The mobile terminal comprises: a wireless communication unit which receives a Teletext updated from a WAP server; a Teletext buffer memory which stores specific page information of the received Teletext; a central processing unit which controls the display of the specific page information of the Teletext on the basis of time information set by a user; and a Teletext update display unit which displays that the specific page information of the Teletext is received. |
| US08467768B2 |
System and method for remotely securing or recovering a mobile device
The present invention provides a system and method for remotely securing, accessing, and managing a mobile device or group of mobile devices. The invention enables a remote access web page to be generated by a server and displayed on a client computer. The server receives requested actions from the client computer and interacts with the mobile device to perform the actions. In the case of a lost or stolen device, the invention enables a user to take actions leading to the recovery or destruction of the device and data stored on it. The invention enables multiple types of remote access, including: locking the device, backing up data from the device, restoring data to the device, locating the device, playing a sound on the device, and wiping data from the device. The invention may be used to provide both self-help and administrator-assisted security for a device or group of devices. |
| US08467766B2 |
Methods and systems for managing payment sources in a mobile environment
Methods and systems for selecting a payment source for use in making a mobile financial payment utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone (cellphone) or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA). A mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) is coupled for electronic communications with one or more financial service providers with which the user maintains one or more accounts, and also for wireless communications with mobile devices. The mobile device displays information corresponding to accounts available to the user as a payment source for use in connection with making a payment using the mobile device. The user selects a payment source for making a payment. The mobile device generates a mobile payment instruction comprising information corresponding to the payment and a selected payment source. The mobile payment instruction is wirelessly communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS generates an MFTS payment instruction that includes an amount, information corresponding to the identified payee, and information indicating the selected payment source. The MFTS payment instruction is communicated to the payment instruction recipient, which effects the payment utilizing the selected payment source. |
| US08467765B2 |
Apparatus and method of explicit indication of call from emergency call centre
A method in a mobile device includes receiving an incoming call. An emergency signal, associated with an incoming call, is detected. The emergency signal indicates the incoming call is from an emergency call center. Responsive to detecting the emergency signal, the emergency call is automatically answered, and information identifying the incoming call as an emergency call is displayed on the mobile device. |
| US08467763B2 |
Alarm system with two-way voice
Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system. |
| US08467762B2 |
Frequency converting device, television device and frequency converting method
According to an embodiment, a frequency converting device is provided with a duty adjusting unit that generates a 1/N local signal, which is a local signal with a duty ratio of 1/N, when N is an integral number not smaller than 3 and an N-th high-frequency component included in the local signal is a target of inhibition. Further, this is provided with a mixer that outputs difference or sum between/of the 1/N local signal and an input signal. |
| US08467758B2 |
Frequency tuning circuit, phase-locked loop circuit, communication apparatus, and storage apparatus
According to one embodiment, a register outputs a first control code in first and second operation modes, saves the first control code as a third control code at an end of the first operation mode, and outputs the third control code at a beginning of a third operation mode. In the first operation mode, a digital-to-analog converter supplies a control signal with a control voltage to a voltage controlled oscillator. In the second operation mode, the control signal is supplied to a buffer amplifier, the amplifier drives a bandlimiting filter, and the filter generates the control voltage. In the third operation mode, the control signal is supplied to the filter, and the filter generates the control voltage. |
| US08467755B2 |
Direct conversion tuner
A direct conversion tuner down-converts television signals, cable signals, or other signals directly from an RF frequency to an IF frequency and/or baseband, without an intermediate up-conversion step for image rejection. The direct conversion tuner includes a pre-select filter, an amplifier, an image reject mixer, and a poly-phase filter. The pre-select filter, amplifier, and the image reject mixer can be calibrated to provide sufficient image rejection to meet the NTSC requirements for TV signals. The entire direct conversion tuner can be fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate without requiring any off-chip components. The tuner configuration described herein is not limited to processing TV signals, and can be utilized to down-convert other RF signals to an IF frequency or baseband. |
| US08467752B2 |
Receiving device and control method for receiving device
A receiving device that can maintain a desired search condition is provided.There are provided storing means (RAM 15b) for storing a category contained in upper category information of a channel under reception, display means (LCD 17) for displaying the stored category, instructing means (touch panel 18) for accepting an instruction of execution of search, searching means (main microcomputer 15) for searching a channel containing the stored category as the upper or lower category information when the search execution is instructed, tuning means (satellite tuner 12) for tuning and receiving the searched channel, and control means (main microcomputer 15) for shifting to a state that the category of the search condition can be input when the search execution is instructed, storing the category concerned as a new search condition into the storing means when the category is input and making the searching means perform search, and making the display means display the category concerned. |
| US08467751B2 |
Serial interface communication test apparatus and test method using the same
A test apparatus for testing quality of serial interface communication between two CPUs of a dual-mode handset includes a processor module and a switch module. The processor module includes two serial ports, each serial port includes an output connector and an input connector, and the two input connectors respectively connected to the two CPUs. The output connector of either serial port connected to either CPU via the switch module. The processor module controls the CPU connected to the output connector to work when the switch module is switched on, and checks data transmission between the two CPUs via the two input connectors when the switch module is switched off. |
| US08467747B2 |
Multi-band wide band power amplifier digital predistortion system
A high performance and cost effective method of RF-digital hybrid mode power amplifier systems with high linearity and high efficiency for multi-frequency band wideband communication system applications is disclosed. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multiple operating frequency bands on the same PA system over a very wide bandwidth. In addition, the present invention supports multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers and multi-channels. |
| US08467743B2 |
Multi-antenna reception scheme
A device comprises a first antenna and a second antenna. During data transmission, only the first antenna transmits data. During data reception, the second antenna is the main reception antenna and the first antenna operates as a diversity antenna. |
| US08467741B2 |
Mobile tower system
This invention discloses a mobile tower system in which a telescoping tower may be with a plurality of tower structures may be extended to a height much greater than its contracted length. The tower may be transported horizontal, rotated to a vertical position and then the individual tower structures extended and secured via spring pins relative to the adjacent tower structure, the erection of the tower sections may be with external equipment such as a boom truck, or utilizing an internal hydraulic cylinder. |
| US08467740B2 |
High-frequency module
A high-frequency module includes a switch IC. An antenna filter is connected to a common terminal of the switch IC and arranged adjacent to an antenna. The antenna filter is a low-pass filter whose attenuation band includes higher harmonic frequency bands of GSM1800/GSM1900 transmission signals and TDS-CDMA transmission signals. An individual-terminal filter is connected to one individual terminal of the switch IC. The individual-terminal filter is a low-pass filter whose attenuation band includes higher harmonic frequency bands of GSM850/GSM900 transmission signals. |
| US08467734B2 |
Wireless transceiver within an electrical receptacle system
An electrical receptacle assembly having a housing that includes a wireless transceiver electrically coupled to one or more antennas that can be integrated into the receptacle housing itself or in the receptacle's faceplate. The one or more antennas can be one or more dipoles or a single loop antenna. The housing also houses a power converter that derives its power directly from the line connection to the outlet. A junction box includes an integrated antenna reflector for improved radio direction and propagation relative to the antenna(s). Or, an antenna reflector insert is placed within the junction box behind the electrical receptacle assembly. The electrical receptacle assembly further includes a temperature sensor, a PLC module, or a current/voltage sensor and communicates associated data via its wireless transceiver. A status indicator is disposed on the front of the housing. A reset switch on housing resets the electronics to a default state. |
| US08467733B2 |
System and methods for wireless broadband delivery of data
A system and method for wireless data delivery is provided. The communication may be between the antenna arrays of an airborne platform (such as aircraft) and a surface base station. The antenna arrays may generate a plurality of directional synchronization beams directed in at a plurality of corresponding spatial directions. Other antenna arrays receive the directional synchronization beam and respond in kind, providing the original antenna array a way to determine directionality of the other antenna arrays. The antenna arrays may then receive a training beam. The training beam includes known data, such as a Fourier Matrix, which may then be utilized to generate weights. Weights may then be utilized to modify either of the phase or amplitude of a base signal which is then sent to each of the elements of the antenna array in order to achieve directionality of the signal propagation. Thus, a directional beam may be formed which is oriented toward the source of the training beam, which may be a base station or the like. It may also be desirable to identify sources of interference. Interference sources are all non-desired sources of radiation within the target frequency range. Lastly, the system may steer one or more nulls in order to substantially attenuate the sources of interference. |
| US08467731B2 |
Radio resource scheduling for intra-system interference coordination in wireless communication systems
A radio resource scheduling method for scheduling radio resources used for communications in a radio communication system includes user equipment configured to communicate with transceiver stations on the radio resources. The transceiver stations are configured to exchange coordination messages concerning radio resources affected by intra-system interference. The radio resource scheduling method includes allocating to each user equipment served by a transceiver station a corresponding radio resource and a corresponding transmission power level to communicate with the serving transceiver station. Allocating is based on coordination messages exchanged by the serving transceiver station. |
| US08467728B2 |
Method of allocating radio resources in multi-carrier system
A method of allocating radio resources in a multi-carrier system is disclosed, by which a signaling message can be efficiently transmitted according to necessity of a user equipment. In a user equipment of a mobile communication system transceiving data using a plurality of subcarriers, the present invention includes the steps of if the signaling message to be transmitted is generated in the user equipment, generating a preamble sequence according to a user equipment identifier to identify the user equipment, transmitting a preamble signal including the preamble sequence and the signaling message to a base station, and receiving an acknowledgement signal for the preamble signal generated according to the user equipment identifier. |
| US08467725B2 |
Initiating wireless communication between a vehicle and an access point
Methods and a vehicle are provided for initiating a short range radio frequency (RF) connection between the vehicle and an access point. The vehicle includes transceiver circuitry comprising receiver circuitry and transmitter circuitry, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS coordinates, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the GPS receiver for determining a location of the vehicle in response to the GPS coordinates. The controller is also coupled to the transmitter circuitry for providing a probe request thereto for transmission to the access point in order to initiate the short range RF connection in response to the location of the vehicle. |
| US08467723B2 |
Base station apparatus, mobile apparatus, and communication method
A mobile communication system includes a plurality of RAT (Radio Access Technology) and can eliminate the need of a control channel for reporting RAT information. An LTE relay station has a cover area identical to a cover area owned by a WLAN host station and relays/transmits the signal received from an LTE base station to a mobile station in the cover area of the LTE relay station. The LTE relay station adds to the signal received from the LTE base station, one of the offsets: a frequency offset, a time offset, and a power offset as information indicating that the mobile station which receives a relay signal from the local station is located in the cover area of WLAN and transmits the signal after offset addition to the mobile station located in the cover area of the LTE relay station (i.e., the cover area of WLAN). |
| US08467718B2 |
Communication system, information analyzing apparatus and information analyzing method
For easily and quickly collecting data regarding macroscopic population distribution, and easily and quickly obtaining the survey results, an RNC includes: a location registration signal receiver that receives location registration signals, and a signal number counting module that counts the number of the location registration signals for each sector, and an information analyzing apparatus includes: a population distribution calculation module that calculates population distribution information based on the number of the location registration signals; and an output module that outputs the population distribution information. |
| US08467716B2 |
Automated essay scoring
Systems and methods for building a trait model for essay evaluation are provided. At least one evaluated essay is received. A plurality of features pertaining to one or more traits from the at least one evaluated essay are identified and extracted. The one or more traits comprise writing errors, discourse, or vocabulary usage. A plurality of vector files based upon the plurality of features are created. A trait model for essay evaluation based upon the plurality of vector files is built. The trait model is evaluated, where the evaluation includes mapping features of a new essay to the trait model by navigating a multi-branched decision tree. At each branch of the decision tree, a value associated with the features of the new essay is used to determine how to proceed through the trait model. |
| US08467710B2 |
Image forming apparatus for controlling fixing of toner on a paper and controlling cooling of the paper based on a conveyance path to which the paper is to be conveyed
Disclosed in an image forming apparatus including a conveyance section to convey a paper, a first fixing device to fix a toner on the paper by heat fixing, a first cooling device to cool the paper in which the toner is fixed, a second fixing device to fix the toner on the paper by heat fixing, a second cooling device to cool the paper in which the toner is fixed, a conveyance path switching section to switch a conveyance path of the paper between a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path and a control section to control so as to carry out cooling by operating the second cooling device and not operating the first cooling device when the paper is to be conveyed to the first conveyance path and so as to carry out cooling by operating the first cooling device when the paper is to be conveyed to the second conveyance path. |
| US08467708B2 |
Developer unit for an image forming apparatus with a circulative structure for developer agent
A developer unit for an image forming apparatus is provided. The developer unit includes a developer device with a developer agent carrier, a developer agent container arranged in an upper position with respect to the developer device. The developer agent container is formed to have a fitting wall, which is curved inward at a position to be adjacent to the developer device. The developer agent container includes an agitator, which is rotated to sweep an inner surface of the fitting wall and stir developer agent in the developer agent container. The fitting wall is formed to have a first feeding hole and a first collecting hole. A first angle between a direction, in which the first collecting hole is oriented, and a vertical direction is larger than a second angle between a direction, in which the first feeding hole is oriented, and the vertical direction. |
| US08467707B2 |
Image forming agent storage unit, method for filling image forming agent storage unit with image forming agent, and image forming apparatus
An image forming agent storage unit includes a body portion and a pair of a protrusion portion. The body portion extends in an insertion direction in which the image forming agent storage unit is inserted into an image forming apparatus. The pair of a protrusion portion is disposed on an outer face of the body portion and extends along the insertion direction. An approximate geometrical center of gravity of a cross-sectional shape of the body portion is disposed between the pair of the protrusion portion. One of the protrusion portions is disposed on an upper right angle position between an upper portion of the body portion and a right portion of the body portion and the other of the protrusion portions is disposed on a lower left angle position between a lower portion of the body portion and a left portion of the body portion. |
| US08467701B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum onto the recording material, and mounting portions for demountably mounting cartridges arranged substantially in a vertical direction, the unit being movable, in a state that the cartridge is demountably mounted to the mounting portions, between a transfer position for transferring the developed image from the transfer member onto the recording material in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, for mounting and demounting the cartridges relative to the mounting portion; a first path for mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to such a mounting portion of the mounting portions as is provided at a topmost position; and a second path, different from the first path, for mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to the mounting portion. |
| US08467698B2 |
Image forming apparatus with multiple driving units for driving different components of the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus may include a sheet conveying belt that conveys a sheet to a position opposed to an image carrier, and a cleaning unit that cleans the sheet conveying belt. The sheet conveying belt may be driven by a first driving unit such as a first motor while the cleaning unit may be driven a second driving unit such as a second motor. In one or more arrangements, the second driving unit is independent from the first driving unit. Additionally or alternatively, the first driving unit may also be configured to drive an image carrier and/or a developing unit. |
| US08467697B2 |
Cleaning member for image forming apparatus, charging device, unit for image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
The present invention provides a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, including: a shaft body; and an elastic material that is wound on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body in a spiral shape, the elastic material satisfying the following expressions. (A1): 1 |
| US08467696B2 |
Heating roller having resistive heating element and fusing device including heating roller
The present invention provides a heating roller including a resistive heating layer and a fusing device including the heating roller. By separately disposing a plurality of electrodes in an axis direction of the heating roller, and by independently controlling each electrode, the heating roller may correspond to various papers having different sizes. Accordingly, the temperature of the heating roller may be stably controlled. |
| US08467691B2 |
Image forming apparatus including two sensors for detecting toner image density
An image forming apparatus includes a belt; a plurality of rollers for stretching the belt; a mechanism for generating a force, at an end portion of the belt, in a direction in which lateral deviation of the belt is corrected; a forming device for forming a toner image on the belt; a first sensor capable of detecting a density of the toner image formed on the belt on one end side of the belt; a second sensor capable of detecting the density of the toner image formed on the belt on the other end side of the belt; and a control device for selecting one of the first and second sensors which provides smaller variation in a result of detection when the belt is free from the toner image, and for controlling an image forming condition of the forming device on the basis of a detection result of the density of the toner image by the selected sensor. |
| US08467690B2 |
Method and system for cancellation of chromatic dispersion combined laser phase noise
Methods and systems are provided for cancellation of chromatic dispersion combined laser phase noise. A method may include measuring a differential of laser phase noise using two optical pilot signals, the pilot signals each having a different optical frequency, or using an optical carrier and a pilot signal. The method may also include determining an approximate laser phase noise present in an optical system based on the measured differential of laser phase noise. The method may further include compensating for laser phase noise based on the determined approximate laser phase noise. |
| US08467683B2 |
Mapping method, apparatus, and system for data transmission
A mapping method, an apparatus, and a system for data transmission are provided, so as to solve a problem that mapping between a Passive Optical Network (PON) service transmission path and a Pseudo Wire (PW) and/or a Packet Switched Network (PSN) tunnel cannot be realized on a premise of ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) of data transmission. Data packets are classified according to own attribute information in PSN tunnel information and/or PW information. When Multi Protocol Label Switch (MPLS) tunnel information carried in the data packets includes the PSN tunnel information or the PW information, the data packets are classified according to Class of Service (CoS) information, and/or label information in the PSN tunnel information or the PW information; and then the classified data packets are respectively mapped to service transmission paths of different PONs. The invention is applied to a PON to support packet switching technology. |
| US08467682B2 |
Reliable load-balanced multi-photonic star configuration
A photonic-based distributed network switch that utilizes multiple photonic broadcast stars and separate optical transmitters to improve overall reliability, allow load balancing, and provide failover for the network switch and the network with which the switch is used. |
| US08467681B2 |
Method for characterizing wavelength switched optical network signal characteristics and network element compatibility constraints for generalized multi-protocol label switching
An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured to perform a path computation using signal compatibility constraints information for a network element (NE) in a wavelength switched optical network (WSON), wherein the signal constraints information are communicated at a Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) control plane layer and comprise a plurality of signal attributes and a plurality of NE compatibility constraints. A network component comprising a transmitter unit configured to transmit signal compatibility constraints via GMPLS signaling, wherein the signal compatibility constraints define the signal compatibility constraints for a NE in a WSON. A method comprising receiving signal compatibility constraints for a NE in a WSON, performing a path calculation based on the signal compatibility constraints for the NE, and sending signal compatibility constraints associated with a computed path. |
| US08467680B2 |
Optical bandwidth control device
An in-line optical control device, method, and computer-readable medium for controlling bandwidth in a dry fiber line are provided herein. The in-line optical control device includes a splitter, an optical switch, and a processing device. The splitter may be configured to split an input signal. The optical switch may be configured to receive and selectively connect a first portion of the split input signal to the dry fiber line. The optical switch may thereby control a rate of data transmitted over the dry fiber line. The processing device may be configured to control the optical switch based on whether a characteristic of the input signal conforms to a predetermined limit using a second portion of the split input signal. The processing device may thereby control bandwidth in the dry fiber line. |
| US08467676B2 |
Sparing for multi-wavelength optical transmitter
A multi-wavelength optical transmission system includes a plurality of primary optical transmitters, each being configured to provide directly modulated analog optical signals at non-uniformly spaced apart wavelengths. An optical multiplexer having a plurality of optical input ports receives the analog optical signals from each of the plurality of primary optical transmitters and provides a wavelength division multiplexed signal over an optical fiber coupled at an output thereof. A spare optical transmitter is coupled to an input port of the optical multiplexer and, in response to detecting failure of a failed one of the plurality of primary optical transmitters, is tuned to provide a directly modulated analog optical signal at a spare wavelength that is selected as to be non-uniformly spaced relative to at least some of the non-uniformly spaced apart wavelengths according to tuning data. |
| US08467674B1 |
Walking stick with IMU
An elongated member is provided with one or more imaging sensors, location sensors, and a switch in its bottom end. For example, in an embodiment the elongated member may be a walking stick and the one or more imaging sensors may be one or more cameras Such a walking stick takes pictures of its surrounding environment and keeps records of its location when the switch touches the ground, so that the pictures and location information can be used to create a virtual simulation of the area that a user of the walking stick has walked through. |
| US08467671B2 |
Patient infusion media warmer and method of use
A warming unit and method for warming an infusion medium prior to introducing the medium into a patient's body. The apparatus includes an outer casing, inlet and outlet tubes secured to the outer casing, a fluid conduit for transporting the infusion medium through the warming unit, and a heating element disposed proximate to the fluid conduit for warming the infusion medium flowing therethrough. The warming unit can form part of a system, which further includes a controller for controlling various functions of and separate from the warming unit, a reservoir containing the infusion medium, and a power source for powering the warming unit. |
| US08467665B2 |
Playback device, computer program, playback method
A playback device judges whether a connected display device is equipped to display only interlaced video or both interlaced and progressive video. If equipped to display both interlaced and progressive video, a mode setting unit 15 sets an operation mode of the playback device to an image quality mode for interlaced signal output or a continuity mode for progressive signal output, according to a user selection received via a GUI. If continuity mode is set, the playback device decodes the video stream and performs progressive signal output. |
| US08467664B2 |
Recording medium, playback device, and integrated circuit
A pair of main-view and sub-view video streams and a graphics stream are recorded on a BD-ROM disc. Metadata is provided in each GOP in the sub-view video stream. The metadata includes offset information. The offset information specifies offset control for a plurality of pictures constituting a GOP. Offset control is to provide a left offset and right offset for the horizontal coordinates in a graphics plane to generate a pair of graphics planes, and to combine them separately with main-view and sub-view video planes. The sub-view video stream is packetized and multiplexed in a transport stream. A header of each TS packet includes a TS priority flag. TS packets containing the metadata have a different value of TS priority flag from TS packets containing sub-view pictures. |
| US08467662B2 |
Playback terminal, time-of-day management method, and content playback system
A playback terminal (10) prevents a problem that content cannot be viewed because of a time adjustment carelessly made to a clock by a user. The playback terminal (10) receives content and usage expiration information of the content from a content server (20) and plays back the content, the playback terminal including: a content storage unit (14) which stores the content; a content expiration information storage unit (15) which stores the usage expiration information; a clock unit (16) which manages time-of-day information; a clock setting instruction unit (12) which receives an entry of a time of day to be set to the clock unit (16); and a control unit (11) which rejects the entry from the clock setting instruction unit (12) or performs control so that the time-of-day information of the clock unit (16) is not updated to the time of day entered from the clock setting instruction unit (12), while the usage expiration information corresponding to the content stored in the content storage unit (14) is stored in the content expiration information storage unit (15). |
| US08467659B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US08467658B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US08467655B2 |
Patch panel cable information detection systems and methods
A communications system includes a plurality of patch panels, wherein each patch panel has a plurality of connector ports on a front surface thereof that are each connected to a respective communication line, and one or more optical couplers/connector ports on a rear surface thereof for linking two or more patch panels together. A cable for linking patch panels includes opposite ends and a respective connector at each end that is configured to be removably secured within a respective coupler/connector port on the rear surface. Each connector has an RFID tag attached thereto. An RF antenna is secured to each patch panel adjacent each respective coupler, and each antenna is configured to activate and read information from a cable RFID tag when a cable connector is secured within a coupler adjacent thereto. |
| US08467652B2 |
Glass fiber connection module
The invention relates to an optical fiber connection module, comprising a housing (1) for accommodating optical fiber connection interfaces, the housing (1) being formed with first fixing means (9) in order to fix the optical fiber connection module on round bars (11), the housing (1) being formed with second fixing means (13) in order to fix the optical fiber connection module to round bars (11), the second fixing means (13) being arranged offset towards the rear with respect to the first fixing means (9). |
| US08467649B2 |
Large effective area fiber
An optical fiber with a glass core extending from a centerline to a radius R1 wherein R1 is greater than about 5 μm; a glass cladding surrounding and in contact with the core. The cladding has a depressed annular region, the inner radius of said depressed annular region is spaced from said core a distance greater than 1 μm and less or equal to than 5 μm. The core and the cladding provide a fiber with cable cutoff less than 1550 nm, and an effective area at 1550 nm greater than 120 μm2 and bend loss of ≦0.7 dB/turn on a 20 mm diameter mandrel. |
| US08467647B2 |
Splittable optical fiber ribbons
A splittable optical fiber ribbon has a decreased propensity for fiber fallout along a longitudinal split. Fibers adjacent to a split location, called border fibers, have increased bond strength between their ink-coating and a surrounding matrix material. The bond strength is increased by first partially curing an ink that covers the border fibers, coating the partially-cured fibers with a matrix material, and then substantially fully curing the ink and the matrix material substantially simultaneously. The ribbon may include one or more grooves to enhance splitting the ribbon into subsets. |
| US08467644B1 |
Light guide assembly for a radiation detector
A method of fabricating a light guide assembly includes the steps of providing an array of generally frustum-shaped light guides made of a light-transmissive material, providing an optical isolation frame of interconnected slats made of an opaque material, wherein the slats are arranged and profiled to correspondingly match the gaps between the light guides and the outer gap around the periphery of the light guide array, and bonding the light guide array and the optical isolation frame to each other. |
| US08467642B2 |
Waveguide type optical device
An arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the present invention including an input channel waveguide, an input slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide, a polarization dependence eliminating means, an output slab waveguide, a temperature compensating means, and an output channel waveguide is characterized in that the temperature compensating means compensates for the temperature dependence of the optical path lengths in the channel waveguides of the arrayed waveguide, and the polarization dependence eliminating means eliminates the temperature dependence and the polarization dependence of the arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer/demultiplexer at the same time. |
| US08467639B2 |
Zinc oxide diodes for optical interconnections
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for zinc oxide diodes for optical interconnections. One system includes a ZnO emitter confined within a circular geometry in an oxide layer on a silicon substrate. An optical waveguide is formed in the oxide layer and has an input coupled to the ZnO emitter. A detector is coupled to an output of the optical waveguide. |
| US08467638B2 |
Suspension board with circuit
A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board including a metal supporting board, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board, a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer, and an optical waveguide disposed on the circuit board. The optical waveguide includes an under clad layer, a core layer formed on the under clad layer, and an over clad layer formed on the core layer and included in the core layer when projected in the thickness direction of the core layer. The optical waveguide is provided with a positioning portion to position the optical waveguide and a near-field light generating unit for generating near-field light by a light emitted from the optical waveguide, and a protective layer to cover the positioning portion. |
| US08467635B2 |
Optical modulator
An optical modulator having a high stability is provided. In the optical modulator according to the present invention, a phase modulation by an electro-optic effect is made on an optical substrate of an electro-optic material while the setting of an operating point by a thermal-optic effect is made on a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) substrate of quartz, silicon, or the like. Such configuration can suppress the influence of thermal drift or the like because no heat is applied directly to the optical substrate of the electro-optic material. In addition, breakage and warpage of the substrate due to heat are also mitigated. Further, quartz used for the PLC has a low thermal conductivity, approximately one-fifth of that of the LN substrate (approximately 1 W/(m·K)), and therefore, a desired phase difference can be maintained with a low power consumption, and thus, the operating point becomes stabilized. |
| US08467632B2 |
Waveguide electro-absorption modulator
During operation of an electro-absorption modulator, an optical signal is conveyed, using an optical waveguide in the electro-absorption modulator, to a semiconductor layer that substantially fills a gap between two portions of the optical waveguide. Then, the optical signal is electro-absorption modulated by selectively applying a voltage to electrodes that produces an electric field, approximately perpendicular to the midline of the optical waveguide, in the semiconductor layer. These electrodes are coupled to the edges of the semiconductor layer at the periphery along the width of the semiconductor layer by intervening layers. Furthermore, the intervening layers include a material that has a lower index of refraction than the semiconductor layer, and a lower optical absorption than the electrodes. |
| US08467631B2 |
Method and apparatus for identification of image uniqueness
A processor executing a display driver receives a new image object that has one or more identifiers. The processor makes a first determination as to whether the new image object matches one of a plurality of previously received image objects based on the one or more identifiers. If no match is found, the processor makes a second determination as to whether the new image object matches one of the plurality of previously received image objects based on comparing a hash of the new image object to hashes of the plurality of previously received image objects. If a matching previously received image object is found from either the first determination or the second determination, a reference to the matching previously received image object is sent to a client. If no matching previously received image object is found, the new image object is sent to the client. |
| US08467630B2 |
Image processing device and processing method for generating a super-resolution image
An image processing device and the processing method thereof are provided. The device includes an image correcting module, an object-motion detection module and an image blending module. The image correcting module estimates a plurality of local motions of the non-selected images relative to the target image and a plurality of global motions, and performs a plurality of motion corrections to generate a plurality of corrected images. The object-motion detection module judges whether or not the difference between each of the local motions and the corresponding global motion is greater than a threshold value to generate a plurality of object-motion indicators. The image blending module performs an arithmetic operation on each pixel of the target image and each pixel of the corrected images according to the object-motion indicators so as to generate a super-resolution image. |
| US08467624B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing circuit, and image processing method
A disclosed image processing apparatus divides an image into code-blocks of different levels by a wavelet transform, generates information codes of code-block-related information items related to the code-blocks of the different levels using separate tag trees corresponding to the different levels, and generates code data in which the image is encoded. The image processing apparatus comprises a coordinate generating unit that generates an x coordinate and a y coordinate of each of the code-blocks of each of the levels wherein a unit in an x direction and in a y direction is defined by a size of the individual code-blocks of the corresponding level; and an address generating unit that generates a multiple so a combination value of a bit combination of the y coordinate and the x coordinate of each code-block as an address for storing the information code of the code-block in a first storage unit. |
| US08467621B2 |
Method of determining motion vectors and a reference picture index for a current block in a picture to be decoded
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining first and second motion vectors of blocks other than the current block. The other blocks neighbor the current block at one of a left, top and top right position. A direction of the first and second motion vectors of the at least one neighboring block is obtained by a decoder. First and second prediction motion vectors of the current block are determined based on the obtained directions of the at least one neighboring block and by applying a median operation to the first motion vectors of the at least one neighboring block and applying a median operation to the second motion vectors of the at least one neighboring block. |
| US08467618B2 |
Data processing device, image encoding/decoding device and data processing system
An image encoding/decoding device includes a first circuit and a second circuit for providing initial setting to image processing modules. The image encoding/decoding device does not receive information, which is initially set to the image processing modules, directly from an external CPU, and control information for the initial setting is set to the first circuit from the CPU. The second circuit reads in initial setting information and setting-target information of the initial setting information from outside using the control information set in the first circuit and transfers the initial setting information to an image processing module according to the setting-target information. The CPU does not need to set the whole information, which is initially set to the image processing modules, directly to the image encoding/decoding device, and also does not need to set both a transfer source address and a transfer destination address as in DMA transfer. |
| US08467612B2 |
System and methods for navigation using corresponding line features
A method for navigating identifies line features in a first three-dimensional (3-D) image and a second 3-D image as a navigation platform traverses an area and compares the line features in the first 3-D image that correspond to the line features in the second 3-D image. When the lines features compared in the first and the second 3-D images are within a prescribed tolerance threshold, the method uses a conditional set of geometrical criteria to determine whether the line features in the first 3-D image match the corresponding line features in the second 3-D image. |
| US08467602B2 |
Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. |
| US08467601B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for creating multiple layers from an image
A method for creating a plurality of layer images from an input image is provided. The method includes analyzing an input image for color content to detect at least one dominant color in the image and for shape recognition to detect at least one object in the image. The method also includes generating a concentric grid for the input image based on the color content analysis and the shape recognition for a depth calculation of the input image. The concentric grid includes a center point, a plurality of lines that radiate from the center point, and a plurality of concentric circles that expand at a spatial distance in the input image. The concentric circles divide the input image into a plurality of sections, each of which represents an equal spatial depth. The method further includes generating a plurality of layer images using at least two of the plurality of sections. |
| US08467600B2 |
Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. |
| US08467599B2 |
Method and apparatus for confusion learning
A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications. |
| US08467598B2 |
Unconstrained spatially aligned head-up display
A system for providing a spatially aligned head-up display to a user viewing a scene through a display the system includes: an image sensing system including at least one image sensor deployed to sample images of the user's face, the image sensing system generating data derived at least in part from the images; a display for displaying visible indications to the user superimposed on the scene; and a control system associated with the image sensing system and the display, the control system being configured to: process data from the image sensing system to determine a position and attitude of the user's face, determine a viewing direction from at least one eye of the user to a point of interest within the scene, and actuate the display to display a visible indication aligned with the viewing direction that provides a spatially aligned head-up display to the user. |
| US08467595B2 |
Defect review system and method, and program
A system is provided that realizes both reduction in coordinate error and improvement in throughput and allows observation of a micro-defect. The system includes: a function of measuring an amount of displacement between preliminarily calculated coordinates and an actual specimen position; a function of optimizing a coordinate correction formula so as to minimize the amount of displacement from the measured amount of displacement; and a function of calculating variation of displacement between the preliminarily calculated coordinates and the actual specimen position by statistical processing. When a value of coordinate variation is sufficiently small with respect to the field of view of an image for observation, which is to be a defect observation image, the system acquires only the image for observation without performing acquisition of an image for search, which is to be a defect search image. |
| US08467593B2 |
Method and system for calculating weight of variable shape product manufactured from product blank
A computerized system, method, and computer-readable media implementing a method for determining a weight of a product, and optionally its shipping weight and postage are described. A product having a variable shape in two dimensions wherein the shape is defined in the two dimensions by a set of cutlines is manufactured from a product blank of known weight. The weight of the product is determined from the number of pixels in a scaled image of the cutlines, the image having the same aspect ratio as the product blank. The weight of the product blank and the ratio of the pixels to corresponding to product surface area relative to the total number of pixels in the image are used to calculated the actual weight of the product. |
| US08467592B2 |
Substrate media distortion analysis
Embodiments described herein are directed to detecting and/or measuring distortions of substrate media that can occur during a printing process. The distortion can be detected and/or measured using a composite image generated from a reference image having a first periodic pattern and print image, disposed on a test substrate media, having a second periodic pattern. The first and second periodic patterns are specified so that the composite image includes a moiré pattern having moiré fringes resulting from interference between the first periodic pattern associated with the reference image and the second periodic pattern associated with the print image. The moiré fringes can be used to detect and calculate an amount of distortion of the test substrate media. |
| US08467591B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
A batch of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the currency bills. Serial numbers are extracted from the image data for each of the currency bills. Each extracted serial number is compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a first currency bill database to determine if a currency bill associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill. Each extracted serial number is further compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a second currency bill database to determine if one of the plurality of currency bills associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill. |
| US08467585B2 |
Methods and apparatus to analyze computed tomography scan data
Methods and apparatus to analyze healthcare images are disclosed. An example method includes performing a threshold procedure and a watershed procedure on data obtained via a scan of a brain to generate a plurality of segments based on blood volumes associated with the segments; generating one or more statistics related to the each of the segments; and integrating the statistics into image data associated with the scan such that a first one of the statistics corresponding a first one of the segments is to be displayed to a user of the image data in response to receiving an input from the user in connection with the first one of the segments. |
| US08467571B2 |
Ordered recognition of connected objects
An image recognition apparatus that recognizes an object related to a certain object in an image sequentially recognizes an object from the image in accordance with recognition-order information that indicates an object order in an object sequence including the certain object, the related object, and an object connected between those objects. The apparatus determines whether or not an object recognized in a current turn of recognition has a connective relationship with an extracted object obtained in a previous turn of recognition, and obtains the object that has been determined as having a connective relationship as an extracted object. Based on an object extracted by a repetition of the above processing, that is, recognition, connective relationship determination, and obtaining, in the above-described recognition order, the related object is associated with the certain object. |
| US08467568B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for gesture-activation
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed recognizing gestures. A sequence of images is captured by a camera and compared to a stored sequence of images in memory. A gesture is then recognized in the stored sequence of images. |
| US08467562B2 |
Ear canal fitting unit and biological signal measuring device
Disclosed herein is an ear canal fitting unit including: a tube configured to be capable of being inserted into an ear canal; an electrode configured to have flexibility and be so disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the tube that a predetermined gap is formed between the electrode and an inner surface of the ear canal; pressing means for deforming the electrode in such a direction as to get away from the outer circumferential surface of the tube and pressing the electrode against the inner surface of the ear canal; and suppressing means for suppressing push-back of the electrode pressed against the inner surface of the ear canal. |
| US08467559B2 |
Silicon microphone without dedicated backplate
Various embodiments of a silicon microphone sensing element without dedicated backplate are disclosed. The microphone sensing element has a circular or polygonal diaphragm with a plurality of perforated springs suspended above the front side of a conductive substrate. The diaphragm is aligned above one or more back holes in the substrate having a front opening smaller than the diaphragm. In one embodiment, a continuous perforated spring surrounds the diaphragm and has a shape that conforms to the diaphragm. A plurality of perforated beams connects the spring to rigid pads that anchor the movable diaphragm and spring. In another embodiment, there is a plurality of perforated springs having double or triple folding configurations and a plurality of perforated beams connecting the diaphragm to rigid pads. Also disclosed is a scheme to integrate the silicon microphone sensing element with CMOS devices on a single chip. |
| US08467557B2 |
Coaxial speaker system with improved transition between individual speakers
A coaxial speaker system that minimizes detrimental sound wave reflections from its high frequency speaker. The coaxial speaker system includes a high frequency speaker coaxially mounted within a low frequency speaker. The high frequency speaker includes a sound reproducing membrane, a voice coil assembly and magnet assembly for actuating the sound reproducing membrane in response to an electrical audio signal, and optionally a wave guide horn for directing sound waves produced by the sound reproducing membrane. The wave guide horn has a throat disposed adjacent the sound reproducing membrane and a mouth disposed opposite the throat. The low frequency speaker also includes a sound reproducing membrane assembly and a voice coil assembly and magnet assembly for actuating the sound reproducing membrane assembly in response to an electrical audio signal. At least a portion of the low frequency speaker sound reproducing membrane assembly is positioned adjacent the mouth of the wave guide horn (or adjacent the outer edge of the high frequency speaker sound reproducing membrane when no horn is provided) to inhibit the detrimental effects of sound waves produced by the high frequency speaker that reflect off the low frequency speaker. |
| US08467551B2 |
Vehicular directional microphone assembly for preventing airflow encounter
A microphone mounting assembly (800A/800b) include one or more transducers (801) mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) (805) where a spacer (803) is used having a channel (807) positioned on the PCB (805) for allowing acoustical energy to pass through the channel (807) to a port (809) in the PCB (805). A first cover (811) is positioned over the channel (807) for disrupting the direct encounter with airflow into the channel (807) while a top section (813) having a second cover (815) is further positioned adjacent to the first fabric cover (811) for preventing debris from obstructing the first fabric cover (811). |
| US08467544B2 |
Filter coefficient setting device and echo prevention device
A filter coefficient setting device for setting a filter coefficient of an echo prevention device including a first FIR filter, and a second FIR filter, comprises: a filter coefficient initial setting portion configured to set a predetermined filter coefficient for the first and second FIR filters when the echo prevention device is started. |
| US08467542B2 |
Sound recording device, sound recording method, and sound recording program embodied on computer readable medium
In order to facilitate the operation to select a directional microphone and a non-directional microphone, an IC recorder includes a directional microphone having directivity, a non-directional microphone not having directivity, a scene selection portion to select one of the four scenes of oral dictation, conference, lecture, and music, a first EEPROM for storing in advance a correspondence table that assigns either one of the directional microphone and the non-directional microphone to each of the four scenes, and a microphone switching portion to switch, between the directional microphone and the non-directional microphone, to the one assigned to the selected scene by the correspondence table in response to one of the four scenes being selected by the scene selection portion. |
| US08467541B2 |
Universal auxiliary component connecting system for a personal audio-set
A universal auxiliary component connection system that operably connects an auxiliary component to a variety of different personal audio-sets using the connection cables supplied with each personal audio-set. In one embodiment, a clip operably connects the personal audio-set engaging fitting of the connection cable, and the clip is detachably secured to the auxiliary component. Accordingly, this connection system allows a variety of different personal audio-sets to be operably connected to the same auxiliary component without requiring the auxiliary component to offer a variety of different fixed connectors. |
| US08467535B2 |
Accelerated verification of digital signatures and public keys
Accelerated computation of combinations of group operations in a finite field is provided by arranging for at least one of the operands to have a relatively small bit length. For example, a technique for verifying a signature of a message can include applying a first mathematical function to a combination of the first signature component and the second message portion to obtain an intermediate component, using the intermediate component to generate a first value and a second value, where a second mathematical function applied to the first value and the second value obtains the intermediate component, and determining the ephemeral public key based on the first value, the second value, the second signature component, the base point of the elliptic curve, and a long-term public key of the long-term private-public key pair. The technique can include verifying whether a representation of the first message portion satisfies a predetermined characteristic. |
| US08467532B2 |
System and method for secure transaction of data between a wireless communication device and a server
The present invention provides a system and method for a set of Extensible Authentication Protocols (EAPs) that can serve Confidentiality, Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (CAAA) issues at an affordable cost. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system and method is provided to generate random sequences (through prime numbers) which can be used in the authentication process of certificateless extensible authentication protocols (EAPs) for mobile and wireless communications. The invention also provides a light weight security with better performance in comparison to the lower layer chip level security provided by 2G, 3G or 4G applications. |
| US08467531B2 |
Mobile terminal with encryption chip and related network locking/unlocking method
A mobile terminal is provided with a network lock functionality for a network. The mobile terminal includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) slot configured to host a SIM card or an unlocking device, a control chip, an encryption chip, and a network locking module. The control chip is coupled to the SIM slot through a first interface, the encryption chip is coupled to the SIM slot through the first interface to communicate with a module inserted into the SIM slot, and the network locking module is coupled to the encryption chip through a second interface. Further, the network locking module is configured to perform the network lock functionality. The network locking module also has an “open” state supporting a network unlocking operational mode and a “close” state supporting a network locking operational mode. In addition, the encryption chip is configured to determine whether the module inserted into the SIM slot is the SIM card or the unlocking device and, when the encryption chip determines that the inserted module is not the unlock device, to set the “open” state or the “close” state of the network locking module to control the mobile terminal to enter in the network unlocking operational mode or the network locking operational mode, respectively. |
| US08467530B2 |
System and method for encrypting and decrypting document reproductions
The present invention is directed to a system and method for secure document transmission. A sender selects a portion of an original document containing confidential information using a highlighter, bracketing, underlining, or other identifying marks. The original document is then scanned to generate an electronic version, which is subject to optical character recognition to locate the portions of the document containing confidential information based on the identifying marks. These portions containing confidential information are then encrypted and a hybrid document containing non-encrypted portions and encrypted portions is generated. The hybrid document is then sent to a recipient, along with a decryption key. The hybrid document is then marked by the recipient to designate those areas containing encrypted information. The marked document is then scanned to generate an electronic version, which is analyzed to identify which portions require decryption based on the identifying marks made by the recipient. These portions are decrypted and a complete reproduction of the original document is generated for the recipient. |
| US08467522B2 |
Universal ISDN/POTS splitter
A 7th order splitter for replacing the known 9th order splitter of an ISDN/POTS telecommunication system and reducing thereby the space occupied on the board as well as the cost. The 7th order splitter comprising, between line terminals (Line+, Line−) and POTS/ISDN terminals, the cascade connection of a LC filter cell (L21a, L12b, C21) and several elliptical filter cells (L22a, L22b, C22, C24, C25; L23a, L23b, C23, C26, C27). One or more of these filter cells is associated with a damped series resonance circuit comprising a capacitor (C21; C22; C23) series coupled with an RL circuit (R21, L24; R22, L25; R23, L26) between two winding (L21a, L21b; L22a, L22b; L23a, L23b) of a symmetrical coil of the associated filter cell. Each RL circuit is constituted by the parallel coupling of a resistor (R21; R22; R23) and a coil (L24; L25; L26). |
| US08467519B2 |
System and method for processing calls in a call center
A system and method for processing calls in a call center are described. A call session from a caller via a session manager and including incoming text messages of a verbal speech stream is assigned. The incoming text messages are progressively visually presented throughout the call session to a live agent on an agent console operatively coupled to the session manager. The incoming text messages are progressively processed through a customer support scenario interactively monitored and controlled by the live agent via the agent console. The incoming text messages are processed through automated script execution in concert with the live agent. Outgoing text messages are converted into a synthesized speech stream. The synthesized speech stream is sent via the agent console to the caller. |
| US08467512B2 |
Method and system for authenticating telephone callers and avoiding unwanted calls
A service that handles incoming telephone calls without bothering the telephone subscriber is disclosed. The service permits a call to go through to a subscriber if the service determines that the call is not unwanted and the caller has been unauthenticated. The authentication is based on challenging the caller to prove its identity rather than relying on caller ID displays. Prospective callers pre-register with the service providing caller account information. When a caller is issued a challenge, the caller may prove its authenticity by supplying the challenge back to the service along with its registered information. |
| US08467497B2 |
System and method for motion adaptive optimization for radiation therapy delivery
A system and method of optimizing delivery of a radiation therapy treatment. The system optimizes treatment delivery in real-time to take into account a variety of factors, such as patient anatomical and physiological changes (e.g., respiration and other movement, etc.), and machine configuration changes (e.g., beam output factors, couch error, leaf error, etc.). |
| US08467496B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring moisture content in a biological material
A method for measuring moisture content in a biological material in an automated procedure is disclosed. The method comprises the step of: providing a reference database for a plurality of different material types with known moisture content. Further, a sample of biological material, such as chips of wood, pulp, grain, crop or sugar canes, are scanned with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels and the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material is determined at said two energy levels. Subsequently, a material type in the reference database most resembling the biological material of the biological material of the sample is identified, and the moisture content of the sample of biological material is determined based on the identified material type and the determined amounts of radiation transmitted through the sample. |
| US08467495B2 |
Radiographic image capturing apparatus and radiographic image capturing method
In a radiographic image capturing apparatus, a biopsy region positional information calculator calculates a three-dimensional position of a biopsy region in an object to be examined based on two radiographic images which are acquired in a stereographic image capturing process, an irradiated field calculator calculates a new irradiated field covering the biopsy region based on the calculated three-dimensional position of the biopsy region and two angles at which a radiation source is disposed in the stereographic image capturing process, and a collimator controller controls a collimator to change the irradiated field of the radiation to the new irradiated field in a next stereographic image capturing process. |
| US08467489B2 |
Data clock recovery system and method employing delayed data clock phase shifting
A data clock recovery system is provided. A phase detector is configured to sample an input data stream by way of a data clock and a second clock to generate a first signal indicating whether a data clock lags or leads a preferred phase of the data clock in relation to an input data stream. A phase controller is configured to process the first signal to shift a phase of the second clock toward a second preferred phase, and to shift a phase of the data clock toward the first preferred phase after the shifting of the phase of the second clock. |
| US08467484B2 |
Reception control method and wireless communication apparatus
When receiving a signal from the antenna #1 (initially receiving a signal from an omnidirectional antenna), a guard interval correlator 12 calculates correlation of a guard interval portion of the received signal and an output measuring unit 13 measures a peak output of the guard interval correlator 12. A comparator 14 compares the peak output measured by the output measuring unit 13 with a preset threshold, and when the peak output falls below the preset threshold and outputs an antenna switching control signal to an antenna switch 11, and the antenna switch 11 switches to the antenna #2 having a different directivity. |
| US08467481B1 |
Channel estimation for a WLAN through increased use of preamble
A method and system for improving channel estimation in a wireless device is disclosed. Aspects of the exemplary embodiment include receiving a data packet wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter, the packet including a preamble portion and a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes at least one training field and a second field; performing a first channel estimation using the training field; and using the second field to refine the first channel estimation. |
| US08467478B2 |
Propagation channel estimation apparatus, receiver, and propagation channel estimation method
An apparatus includes a selection unit that selects an estimation target path to be used to estimate a propagation channel estimation value, among a plurality of paths based on a characteristic value of each path; a determination unit that determines an estimated reception time at which a signal as a target of estimation of the propagation channel estimation value among signals propagating through the estimation target path is received; an estimation unit that estimates an amplitude and a phase of the signal propagating through the estimation target path at the estimated reception time as a propagation channel estimation value of the estimation target path; and a processing unit that performs an interpolation/extrapolation process using the propagation channel estimation value of the estimation target path to estimate the propagation channel estimation value at a time other than the estimated reception time of the signal propagating through the estimation target path. |
| US08467474B2 |
Monitor for spectral degradation of transmitter or receiver
A monitor for a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver is proposed. The transmitter, receiver or transceiver has at least one component with at least one varying setting parameter controlled by a parameter controller to adjust a spectral degradation of a signal processed by the transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. The monitor comprises an input for receiving the at least one varying setting parameter from the parameter controller, and a setting parameter analyzer for evaluating the at least one varying setting parameter to determine whether the at least one component is normally operating within a desired operating range and to issue a warning signal in case the at least one component is abnormally operating within the desired operating range. The varying setting parameter may be, for example, predistortion parameters or tuning parameters of a voltage controlled oscillator. A corresponding method for monitoring a transmitter, receiver or transceiver is also proposed. Furthermore, a computer program product comprising instructions for the manufacture of the monitor and a computer program product that enable a processor to carry out the monitoring method are proposed. |
| US08467469B2 |
Method and user equipment for transmitting precoding matrix information, and method and base station for configuring precoding matrix
An apparatus and method for a precoding matrix are disclosed. A codebook used for selecting a precoding matrix is comprised of m subgroups each including n precoding matrices. A user equipment indicates a specific precoding matrix selected from the codebook by transmitting to a base station a first codebook index indicating one of the m subgroups and a second codebook index indicating one of n precoding matrices in a subgroup. The base station configures the specific precoding matrix from the codebook based on the first and second codebook indexes. |
| US08467467B2 |
Apparatus and method for partial adaptive transmission in multiple-input multiple-output system
An apparatus and method for partial adaptive transmission in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system are provided. The method includes estimating a correlation matrix between Transmit (Tx) antennas and an average Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and generating a long-term precoding matrix composed of a predetermined number of dominant eigen dimensions of the correlation matrix by using the estimated correlation matrix and average SNR. The apparatus and method provide a new adaptive MIMO transmission method capable of reducing the feedback information overhead and maximizing performance. |
| US08467457B2 |
System and a method for controlling one or more signal sequences characteristics
The present invention provides controllers, systems and methods that apply techniques for determining signal sequence characteristics that propagate through a sequence of buffers. One of the buffers represents buffering characteristics of a network through which the signal sequence propagates. The signal sequence may include packets of a media stream and the network may include a wireless network. |
| US08467453B2 |
Motion vector calibration circuit, image generating apparatus and method thereof
A motion vector calibration circuit includes a select circuit, a local minimum detection circuit, a sine wave detection circuit, a threshold value detection circuit and a decision circuit. Correct motion vectors are passed using a recursive method, thereby achieving high accuracy and reducing computational volume. |
| US08467452B2 |
Distributing candidate vectors based on local motion complexity
A system and method for distributing candidate motion vectors divides a picture frame (110) into a plurality of segments (120), where each segment (120) includes a plurality of pixel blocks (130). The local motion complexity of each segment may then be measured by determining a Sum-of-Absolute Differences (SAD) between pixel blocks (130) of the frame (110a) and pixel blocks (130)of an adacent frame (110b) and summing the SAD values for the pixel blocks (130) within each segment (120). The maximum, minimum and average SAD value for the segments may be used to define a distribution function that distributes candidate vectors to conform with a desired maximum, minimum and average number of candidate vectors per block. This distribution function is then used to determine the number of candidate vectors to assign to pixel blocks (130) based on the measured SAD value of the associated segment (120). |
| US08467445B2 |
Video watermarking
A method of watermarking a video signal includes encoding the video signal using at least one encoding parameter that is time-varied according to a watermarking pattern. The parameter affects information lost while encoding the signal. The parameter may be a quantization factor corresponding to a particular coefficient of an encoding transform. The parameter may be an element of a quantization matrix corresponding to a particular coefficient in a block DCT transform. The method may be implemented in devices with limited processing resources by means of a software update. The method enables the devices to imprint an encoded signal with a robust watermark, which may survive subsequent decompression and recompression. Alternatively, a video signal may be watermarked by modifying a magnitude of a non-dc spatial frequency component in a manner which varies with time according to a watermarking pattern. Corresponding watermark detection methods and watermarking devices also are disclosed. |
| US08467444B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing system for performing processing of dividing a moving image into tiles and packetizing and outputting information corresponding to each tile includes a process time measuring packet generation unit adapted to generate and transmit a process time measuring packet in which a packet sending time is set to measure a packet process time, a packet process time measuring unit adapted to measure, based on the packet sending time set in the process time measuring packet and the reception time of the process time measuring packet, the packet process time necessary for processing a packet, a determination unit adapted to determine, based on the packet process time, the timestamp of the moving image divided into the tiles, and a packetization unit adapted to execute processing of packetizing and outputting the timestamp and the information of the moving image divided into the tiles. |
| US08467443B2 |
Object priority order compositor for MPEG-4 player
An object priority order compositor for an MPEG-4 player having a drawing node list generator including an object priority order register, a drawing node extractor, a field-node extractor, and an object priority order manager including an object rendering sequencer and an object instruction manager. The drawing node list generator makes a list by receiving a scene tree from a parser manager and extracting drawing nodes necessary for presentation on a screen from the scene tree by a depth first search. The object priority order manager handles insert, delete, and replace commands received from scene constitution information to determine priority order of an object. The object priority order compositor performs presentation of objects based on a priority order for objects when a scene change, in which an object is inserted, deleted, or replaced in real time by user interaction, as required in an MPEG-4 scene of high capacity multimedia objects. |
| US08467442B2 |
Image searching device and method, program and program recording medium
An encoded code stream is searched for a frame generally coincident with a specific frame without having to decoding the frame to its original image. The present invention provides an image search device that searches an object encoded code stream formed by compression coding of a plurality of frames for a frame generally coincident with a specific one, which includes a decoder for making entropy decoding of the object encoded code stream to generate quantization coefficients of each frame, a matching unit for making matching between the quantization coefficients of the specific frame and those of each frame which are generated by the decoder and correspond in sample position to those of the specific frame, and a judging unit for judging, based on the result of matching, whether the frame is generally coincident with the specific one. |
| US08467441B2 |
Pulse width modulation communication system
In a PWM communication system, a sensor unit transmits as reference pulses transmission signals, which exhibit duty cycles of 100% and 0%, respectively, prior to transmission of a transmission signal, which has data items compressed thereinto by a signal processing circuit. An input capture circuit of an ECU measures the duty time and the PWM cycle of the transmission signal according to a timer clock of a timer circuit. A signal processing circuit of the ECU produces a duty cycle correction factor k based on the measured duty times and PWM cycles of the reference pulses, produces receiving data based on the duty time and the PWM cycle of the transmission signal, and the duty cycle correction factor, and separates the receiving data into sensor output values of a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. |
| US08467439B2 |
Adaptively switching equalization operations in a node of a wireless network
At a node of a wireless network, equalization operations performed on signals received from a transmitter are adaptively switched to be equalized by an iterative turbo receiver or a linear receiver. A theoretical expression of a post-equalization SINR of a capacity-achieving receiver is used to estimate the post-equalization SINR performance of the turbo receiver. The estimated post-equalization SINR performance is then used as a basis to determine whether the received signal is to be equalized by the turbo receiver or the linear receiver. |
| US08467433B2 |
Apparatus for and method of making pulse-shape measurements
A receiver includes a pre-correlation filter that forms an image of the average chip shape of a received signal over a specified period of time. The filter includes an array of complex accumulation registers that accumulate measurements that are associated with signal samples from specific ranges of locations, or code chip phase angles, along a spread-spectrum chip. Using the accumulated measurements, the receiver estimates the location of the chip transitions in a direct path signal component. The receiver may thereafter change the starting point, size and number of ranges, such that the accumulation registers accumulate more detail from the chip edges. The receiver in addition may compare the accumulated measurements with a reference pulse shape to determine if any interference is present in the received transmission that will distort ranging information calculated from the received signal. |
| US08467425B1 |
Method for generating high-energy and high repetition rate laser pulses from CW amplifiers
A method for obtaining high-energy, high repetition rate laser pulses simultaneously using continuous wave (CW) amplifiers is described. The method provides for generating micro-joule level energy in pico-second laser pulses at Mega-hertz repetition rates. |
| US08467420B2 |
Systems and methods for synchronizing various types of data on a single packet
Data recording systems and methods for synchronizing data of a plurality of different data types on a single packet. The methods involve: receiving the data and an audio frame containing voice data and timing data communicated over a plurality of channels; generating, in response to the reception of the audio frame, a combined packet on which the audio frame and at least a portion of the data are time synchronized to each other; and substantially simultaneously storing the combined packet in a primary data store and a secondary data store of a data recorder for subsequent use in reconstructing events leading up to a crash of a land vehicle, aircraft or vessel. The portion of data may include data link data, flight data and/or image/video data. The channels may include a cockpit channel and a plurality of pilot channels. |
| US08467419B2 |
System and method for delivering content in a unicast/multicast manner
The present invention is a system and method for enabling multicast synchronization of initially unicasted content. Multiple unicast streams are synchronized in order to convert the unicast streams into a multicast stream. Each unicast stream may be accelerated or slowed down in relation to a reference stream to a common point within each stream upon which the unicast streams are replaced by a multicast stream of the same content. |
| US08467417B2 |
Method and system for synchronization between network elements
A system for synchronizing a first network device and a second network device. The first network device comprises an interface configured to release over a communication link a first signal carrying a first data stream clocked by a first clock signal. The second network device comprises an interface configured to receive the first signal over the communication link. The second network device also comprises a clock extraction module configured to generate an extracted clock signal from the received first signal; and a data coding module configured to clock a second data stream with an output clock signal selected based on a speed of a locally generated clock signal relative to the first clock signal or the extracted clock signal, thereby to produce a second signal for transmission from the second network element to the first network element. By clocking the second data stream with the fastest available clock signal, greater link utilization can be achieved. Furthermore, synchronism between the first and second network elements reduces the incidence of sync slips, which permits a reduction in the size of inter-frame gaps and also affords the use of a clock frequencies exceeding the nominal rate, leading to even greater link utilization. |
| US08467412B2 |
Adaptive rate shifting for delivery of video services to service groups
A video stream is provided to a set top box of a viewer to fulfill the viewer's request for a video on-demand service. The video stream is encoded at one of a plurality of encoding rates selected by a Service Quality Manager based on parameters defined for a service group, which in various embodiments may comprise the viewer, or the viewer along with other customers serviced by a single QAM. The parameters used for determining the encoding rate may involve currently allocated bandwidth, the viewer's service parameters, other customer's service parameters, and historical data regarding encoding rate selection data. The encoding rate used to encode a stream may be modified during streaming in response to other service requests. The encoding rate may be shifted based on anticipated service requests from other members in the service group. |
| US08467410B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and computer program
Random access operation is performed under a communication environment in which a plurality of communication modes having different transmission rate coexist with small overhead. A high-grade communication station spoofs information of a packet length and a rate in a decoding portion so that a value of (packet length)/(rate) corresponds to a duration where the communication is hoped to be stopped. The other station receiving the spoofed information receives the rest of the packet with the designated rate during the interval designated by the value of (packet length)/(rate). In this case, the packet length and the rate are not those of actually transmitted packet so that this packet is discarded. |
| US08467402B2 |
Digital audio communication system
Embodiments of the present invention allow users to post or publish audio information to a destination on a digital network. A particular embodiment provides a user interface for recording and uploading a short comment, remark, song segment, sound effect or any other audio portion. The comment can be sent directly to another user's device or can be published or uploaded to a network site, web page, user group or other location. A user interface allows organizing, reviewing, editing, tagging, transferring and other types of processing or manipulation in association with the audio portion to be transferred, or which has been received. |
| US08467398B2 |
Subscriber network system and method of setting information in concentrator thereof
A subscriber network system is provided which is capable of reducing the response time and reducing the device cost. In the subscriber network system, a control cell is received that includes an ID portion, a data portion, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) portion. The control cell is processed in cooperation with a virtual path identifier (VPI), where the processing obtains the ID portion and the CRC portion. The ID portion and the CRC portion are processed and the ID portion is compared to a first stored value and the CRC portion is compared to a second stored value to produce information. A cell is produced to include the information and the produced cell is used to facilitate a connection in a network. |
| US08467397B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling a wireless feeder network
An apparatus and method are provided for controlling a wireless feeder network used to couple access base stations of an access network with a communications network. The wireless feeder network connects base stations coupled to the communications network and feeder terminals coupled to associated access base stations. Each feeder terminal has a feeder link with a feeder base station. The method includes allocating resource blocks for the feeder base stations and feeder terminals to establish the feeder links. The resource blocks are allocated between a centrally administered schedule and at least one feeder base station administered schedule. Network traffic being carried by the feeder links is monitored to determine at least one characteristic. The resource blocks are reallocated between the centrally administered schedule and the at least one feeder base station administered schedule in dependence on the at least one characteristic of the network traffic. |
| US08467393B2 |
Packet flow offload to remote destination with routing bypass
A network utilizes centralized control for the transport of a packet flow to a destination via an intermediary network. The network identifies the intermediary network best suited for offloading the packet flow and then develops a routing policy based on Multiprotocol Label Switching or other circuit-switching type techniques. This ensures that the packets of the packet flow are automatically forwarded to a peering router connected to the identified intermediary network, and ensures that the peering router automatically outputs the packets of the packet flow to the identified intermediary network in a manner that bypasses autonomous routing decisions by the routers of the network. |
| US08467389B2 |
Subscription Management and Routing Protocol (SMRP) and Method
A method of propagating multicast subscription and routing information between routers in a network, and constructing forwarding tables in the routers, allowing providers of the data (the publishers), and the multicast recipients of the data (the subscribers) to be decoupled from and have no knowledge of one another. This is done without the need to maintain (Source Network, Published-Multicast-Group) State in the routers, for a highly scalable solution in those applications where there is a possibility for a large, or infinite number of Published-Multicast-Groups, and in those applications where messages are being routed by content, so it is impossible to identify published-multicast-groups. |
| US08467388B2 |
Reporting multicast bandwidth consumption between a multicast replicating node and a traffic scheduling node
A multicast replicating network node (203) according to the present invention reports to a traffic scheduling network node (205) information (231) indicative for the bandwidth consumed by multicast services or indicative for the bandwidth available for unicast services on a line coupled to the multicast replicating network node (203). The traffic scheduling network node (205) this way stays aware of the multicast bandwidth occupancy on different subscriber lines and access node uplinks without serious impact on its processing requirements. |
| US08467387B2 |
System and method for peer-to-peer hybrid communications
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables two endpoints to directly establish and maintain a communication session after authenticating with an access server. |
| US08467384B2 |
Method and system for call processing
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method includes receiving a first setup message transmitted by a first endpoint, the first setup message an attempt by the first endpoint to setup a call with a second endpoint, the setup message sent by the first endpoint to an IP address of a call manager after the first endpoint registered with a gatekeeper, the IP address of the call manager supplied to the first endpoint by the gatekeeper in response to a request by the first endpoint to the gatekeeper for an IP address of the second endpoint. The method further includes attempting to setup the call between the first and second endpoints by transmitting a second setup message to the second endpoint. |
| US08467382B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing a control plane across multiple optical network domains
Method and apparatus for providing a control plane across multiple optical network domains is described. In one example, topology and resource discovery is employed in a transport network having a plurality of control domains. Topology information for each of the control domains is summarized to produce summarized topology information. The summarized topology information for each of the control domains is exchanged among the control domains. At each of the control domains, the summarized topology information of each of the control domains is combined to produce combined topology information. The combined topology information is passed among network elements within each of the control domains using an intra-domain routing protocol. |
| US08467378B2 |
Intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and point-to-multipoint connectivity
An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and point-to-multipoint connectivity are provided that can provide significant advantages. A method for providing a point-to-multipoint service to control point-to-multipoint connections using an intelligent network and a switched virtual circuit over an ATM network includes receiving a request from a calling party to establish a point-to-multipoint connection, determining if the calling party is authorized to make point-to-multipoint connections, rejecting the request if the calling party is not authorized to establish point-to-multipoint connections, analyzing the request to determine if the bandwidth requested for the point-to-multipoint connection is within authorized bandwidth limits, and rejecting the request if the bandwidth requested is not within authorized bandwidth limits. An intelligent network for providing VToA and point-to-multipoint connectivity is also provided. |
| US08467375B2 |
Hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods
The present disclosure provides hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods for a private and dedicated multi-point Ethernet Private Local Area Network (EPLAN). The network systems and methods include a Layer 1 infrastructure service with the inclusion of reserved, dedicated packet switch capacity upon which clients can build their personal, private packet networks. In the systems and methods described herein, packet networking methods are not used to partition the isolated LAN connectivity. Instead, dedicated Ethernet Private LANs (EPLs) are defined between dedicated virtual switching instances (VSIs) that are defined, as necessary, within larger packet-optical switches. Each VSI is partitioned from the remainder of its packet switch fabric as a dedicated, private resource for a specific EPLAN. A packet network is then built by the customer on top of the private EPLAN bandwidth and operated as an isolated, private network with no influence by other carrier's network resources. |
| US08467374B2 |
Communication device, communication method and communication system
There is provided a communication device including a first communicating unit, a second communicating unit that has a plurality of antennas, a first communication processing unit that processes a signal received by the first communicating unit, allows the first communicating unit to transmit a signal, and a second communication processing unit that processes a signal received by the second communicating unit, allows the second communicating unit to transmit a signal. The second communication processing unit includes an adjusting unit that adjusts a signal to be transmitted from each of the plurality of antennas based on an adjustment factor, a transmission beam pattern candidate setting unit that derives at least one transmission beam pattern based on a first transmission request and a second transmission request, and a beam pattern applying unit that applies any of the set at least one transmission beam pattern candidate based on first requested-beam-pattern identification information. |
| US08467372B2 |
Wireless communication system with reordering of data symbols and related methods
A wireless communication system may include a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a message including data symbols arranged to include an attention packet and sequencing packets thereafter. The sequencing packets may include common value first portions with each data symbol having a same value, and marker second portions having a marker data symbol. The wireless communication system may include a wireless receiver configured to receive the message from the wireless transmitter based upon the attention packet and the sequencing packets by determining a time delay based upon the positions of the marker data symbol, and reordering data symbols of the message based upon the determined time delay. |
| US08467370B2 |
Beaconing techniques in frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) wireless mesh networks
Methods include those by which nodes in a Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) wireless network may be flexibly configured for beacon transmission and reception. The method may allow for any node to synchronize to any other node's given frequency to receive one or more beacon (broadcast) packets from that node at the designated period. The method may include sending, by a first node, a message to one or more neighbor nodes and responding, by the one or more neighbor nodes, with a message to the first node, the response message including a beacon frequency, a beacon transmit time and information about the current hopping sequence. The first node periodically programs its receiver to the beacon frequency at the beacon transmit time and uses the hopping sequence to receive information including at least one of routing information and timing updates for hopping channel synchronization from the one or more neighbor nodes. |
| US08467367B2 |
Multiplexing and transmission of traffic data and control information in a wireless communication system
Techniques for transmitting traffic data and control information in a wireless communication system are described. In an aspect, traffic data and control information may be multiplexed at a coded data level. A user equipment (UE) may encode traffic data to obtain coded traffic data, encode control information to obtain coded control data, multiplex the coded traffic data and the coded control data, modulate the multiplexed data, and generate SC-FDMA symbols. In another aspect, traffic data and control information may be multiplexed at a modulation symbol level. The UE may encode and modulate traffic data to obtain data modulation symbols, encode and modulate control information to obtain control modulation symbols, multiplex the data and control modulation symbols, and generate SC-FDMA symbols. The UE may perform rate matching for traffic data to account for control information. The UE may also perform multiplexing and puncturing for different types of control information. |
| US08467361B2 |
Intelligent wireless access point notification
In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can perform determining identification information associated with the first wireless access point from at least a first signal; determining that a first instance of encountering the first wireless access point has concluded; storing information associated with the first instance of encountering the first wireless access point; determining the identification information associated with the first wireless access point from at least a second signal; determining that a second instance of encountering the first wireless access point has concluded; storing information associated with the second instance of encountering the first wireless access point; determining that the first wireless access point has been encountered at least a number of times; and displaying, in a menu usable by a user, at least a portion of the identification information associated with the first wireless access point. |
| US08467360B2 |
Base station, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method
A base station includes at least one first application section, a determining section, and a controlling section. Each of the first application sections executes one of a plurality of first application programs corresponding to one of a plurality of first application services utilizing a first wireless communication service provided by a mobile virtual network operator. The determining section receives a connection request to connect to the first application service from a first terminal for using the first wireless communication service, and determines the first application section corresponding to the first application service specified in the connection request. The controlling section controls communications between the determined first application section and a server managed by the mobile virtual network operator and between the determined first application section and the first terminal. |
| US08467357B2 |
Flexible MAC superframe structure and beaconing method
A flexible wireless system and method that support both centralized and distributed modes of MAC protocols, use a new recurring MAC superframe comprising: a beacon period, a data/sense/sleep period for data selective communication, sleep and channel sensing for detecting primary users in cognitive systems; and a signaling window used for exchanging network entry messages and channel reservation requests, the system including beacon operation, a peer beacon device in distributed mode and a master beacon device in centralized mode which are used to selectively participate in the beacon operation, as well as a slave beacon device associated with the master device. The system may employ controlled channel access for the beacon period, the channel access being reservation based. The invention provides a unified MAC protocol that can be adopted in the standards, and supports flexible operation in distributed mode or centralized mode, and seamless transfer from one to the other. |
| US08467355B2 |
System and method for providing wireless local area networks as a service
A wireless local area network (WLAN) system is provided. The system comprises a WLAN network controller and a plurality of access points. The WLAN network controller is in communication with each of the plurality of access points via a transport data network. The WLAN network controller is configured to perform one or more network control functions for the benefit of the plurality of access points. The network control functions may be selected from management and operation, client authentication, mobility, and per-user administration. The WLAN network controller is remotely located and operated with respect to the plurality of access points. |
| US08467354B1 |
Systems and methods for software-implemented telephony devices in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) system
Systems and methods for providing configurable, reusable software-implemented telephony devices for use in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system. A device platform data store associates account owners with information identifying at least one instance of a telephony device provided on behalf of the account owner. The instances are implemented via a computer program component which comprises (a) reusable device logic (in a CCXML document) defining the behavior of the telephony device and (b) configuration information (also in a CCXML document) comprising specific device properties for the telephony device. In response to an incoming communication, a processor accesses the device platform data store to identify the device logic of a telephony device that is to be activated, and (b) executes the device logic in accordance with the configuration information to provide the specific telephony function of the telephony device for a communication session on behalf of the account owner. |
| US08467353B2 |
Time-slotted data packets with a preamble
A method and apparatus are used to support the transmission of data to a user over multiple allocated data channels. Data packets are transmitted in time-slots of the allocated data channels to corresponding target receivers without the need for explicitly assigning particular time-slots to a target user well in advance of transmitting any data packets in the time-slots. Instead, each data packet transmitted in a time-slot includes a header label or preamble indicating to which of multiple possible receivers a data packet is directed. The preamble also preferably includes decoding information indicating how a corresponding data payload of the data packet is to be processed for recapturing transmitted raw data. |
| US08467350B2 |
Conferencing PSTN gateway methods and apparatus to facilitate heterogeneous wireless network handovers for mobile communication devices
For initially establishing a voice call, a first connection leg for the voice call is established between a mobile device operating in a wireless network and a conference room of a conferencing gateway. A second connection leg is established via the conferencing gateway between a processor and a communication device connected in a telephone network. Subsequently, the processor sends a message to the conferencing gateway for transferring the second connection leg from between the processor and the communication device to the conference room and the communication device, for initially establishing the voice call. The conference gateway is configured to combine media streams of connection legs of the voice call. |
| US08467347B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing signals
Incoming signals that are sparse in the code-correlation domain, such as CDMA signal (GPS signals being a specific example of such signals) are processed by sampling the incoming signal at irregular time intervals at an average rate that is significantly lower than the Nyquist rate; which in the case of GPS signals is the chip rate of a pseudorandom code sequence that is embedded in the signal. The sampled signal is processed with locally generated signals that are also sampled the same irregular time intervals. |
| US08467343B2 |
Method for preparing random access procedures and terminal thereof
A random access procedure between a mobile terminal and a network is performed based upon the characteristics of a RACH preamble. If the RACH preamble was explicitly signaled by the network, a downlink channel is monitored until a new transmission is indicated according to radio resource allocation information received from the network. If the RACH preamble was not explicitly signaled by the network, a contention resolution timer is started and the downlink channel is monitored until the contention resolution timer expires. Such monitoring of downlink channels in a more efficient manner, results in effective reduction in power consumption. |
| US08467338B2 |
Scheduling wireless communication
A method of scheduling wireless communication for one or more data flows, wherein, for each data flow, there is: a corresponding queue to store data of that data flow; one or more quality-of-service parameters associated with that data flow; and a flow type associated with that data flow, there being a plurality of possible flow types; wherein the method comprises, during each time frame of a sequence of time frames, the steps of: maintaining, for each of the plurality of possible flow types, a queue list that identifies the queues corresponding to data flows of that flow type; and processing the queue lists in a predetermined order, in which processing a queue list comprises, for each queue identified in that queue list, attempting to schedule the communication of data stored on that queue during a current time frame in dependence upon the one or more quality-of-service parameters associated with the corresponding data flow and an amount of bandwidth available for the wireless communication during the current time frame. |
| US08467336B2 |
Transmission of synchronization information in a heterogeneous wireless communication system
A communication system includes at least a large service area (LSA) base station and a small service area (SSA) base station. Primary synchronization information is required by mobile communication devices for communication with the LSA and SSA base stations. Secondary synchronization information is required for communication with the LSA base station and tertiary synchronization information is required for communication with the SSA base station. A controller allocates transmission of the primary synchronization information from at least one of the base stations over a physical channel having a defined transmission time and transmission frequency. The controller also allocates transmission of the secondary synchronization information from at least one of the base stations over a second physical channel having a second defined transmission time and second transmission frequency. |
| US08467334B2 |
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication method and apparatus using the same
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication method and apparatus are provided. A MIMO communication apparatus includes a selected beamforming vector determining unit to determine a selected beamforming vector corresponding to a selected user, a performance information generating unit to generate performance information corresponding to where a non-selected beamforming vector is allocated to a non-selected user, and an additional beamforming vector selecting unit to select an additional beamforming vector corresponding to the non-selected user based on the performance information. |
| US08467332B2 |
Information receiving apparatus and information transmitting apparatus
A transmitting apparatus sequentially transmits a wireless packet PK1 for data streaming transmission with a non-transmission period therebetween to a receiving apparatus. A predetermined proportion of non-transmission periods are assigned to a period for transmitting a wireless packet PK2 for control information transmission from the information receiving apparatus to the information transmitting apparatus. The wireless packets PK1, PK2 contain time-position information indicating a second non-transmission period that is not assigned to the transmission from the receiving apparatus to the transmitting apparatus. The receiving apparatus and another transmitting apparatus different from the transmitting apparatus transmitting the wireless packet PK1 can identify the time position of the second non-transmission period by the time-position information contained in the wireless packets PK1, PK2, and can communicate to each other during the second non-transmission period. |
| US08467331B2 |
Common mode and unified frame format
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for generating a frame structure that can be used with multiple transmission schemes, such as a Single Carrier (SC) transmission scheme and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) transmission scheme. |
| US08467330B2 |
Method of scheduling and admission control for guaranteed bit rate and/or maximum bit rate services
The present invention provides a method of scheduling guaranteed bit rate and/or maximum bit rate applications. Embodiments of the method may include setting, for a mobile node during a time interval, a first weight equal to a sum of a previous first weight associated with the mobile node during a previous time interval and a correction factor that is a linear function of a difference between a first bit rate and an indication of a throughput of the mobile node. Embodiments of the method may also include scheduling communication with the mobile node based on the first weight. |
| US08467329B2 |
Method of transmitting system information related to point-to multipoint service
A method of receiving system information performed by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes receiving, from a network, an indicator indicating a change of system information related to a point-to-multipoint service on a physical control channel, and receiving changed system information related to the point-to-multipoint service in response to the indication. |
| US08467328B2 |
Scheduling method and scheduling device for MBMS, and base station including this scheduling device
A scheduling method for multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) is provided according to the present invention, comprising steps of: configuring service specific information and service scheduling information separately from MBMS service data to form an MCCH control message of an MBMS control channel; and transmitting the MCCH control message and the MBMS service data to a receiving end, wherein the service specific information and the service scheduling information are applied with a single-frequency network combining scheme. |
| US08467327B2 |
Sensor network system and communication method thereof
Provided are a communication method and system for sensor network. In reporting event occurrence in a real-time sensor network application, a cycle time is divided into an event announcement period and a data transmission period to provide real-time transmission performance and energy efficiency. Each of the periods is again divided into the number of slots equal to the maximum depth of a network. Respective nodes sequentially operate according to their depths in a routing tree during the event announcement period to receive the signal transmitted from the lower node. To remove sleep delay, a slot next to the signal reception slot becomes a signal transmission slot. A node sensed an event transmits a signal informing event occurrence during its signal transmission slot, and this signal includes only the address of the transmission node. When a signal does not exist in the event announcement period, no traffic occurs in the data transmission period and the upper nodes maintain a sleep state. When a signal is transmitted during the event announcement period, nodes transmitting/receiving a corresponding signal operate during the data transmission period to transfer data packets. |
| US08467323B2 |
Method in a communication device providing data services over a packet access radio interface and a communication device
A method in a communication device (200) providing data services over a packet access radio interface comprises monitoring (400) a control channel for signalling messages for data packets for the communication device, receiving data packets for a data service of a first type with a first periodicity and receiving (402) data packets for the data service of a second type with a second periodicity, the second periodicity being greater than the first periodicity. The method further comprises selecting (404) to not monitor the control channel for signalling messages for a period of time in response to detecting a data packet of the second type received by the communication device. A communication device is also described. |
| US08467321B1 |
Real time voice quality statistics in audio teleconferencing
A method and system and computer readable medium for a voice quality measuring device that provides real-time, near real-time or contemporaneous voice quality statistics about impairments external to the voice quality conference bridge system, i.e. from participant's calls coming from a communication network into a voice quality conference bridge system is disclosed. The reports generated by the voice quality statistics provided by the voice quality measuring device will enable carriers to identify voice quality impairments. Moreover, the reports will also enable the customers to see, by means of the voice quality statistics, on a call-by-call basis, whether any voice quality impairments are external to the conferencing bridge system. |
| US08467319B1 |
Systems and methods for setting up a session in a collaborative communication system
A collaborative communication system comprises a highly flexible architecture that facilitates connecting communication devices and networks to establish multimedia collaboration sessions in a manner that allows distribution of various services and features throughout the collaborative communication system to provide scalability and selectable combination of cost, resource usage, and performance. |
| US08467313B1 |
PHY bandwidth estimation from backpressure patterns
The present invention provides a system and method of determining available bandwidth at a physical layer (PHY) device at a server on a broadband network. A link layer controller of a master administrator adaptively polls a PHY device over a set of time intervals. During polling, the controller places a PHY device's address on a line of a bus and awaits a response from the PHY device. Based upon the response from the PHY device, the administrator can determine whether the PHY device has available bandwidth. The link layer controller uses this information to recalculate its polling scheme to better make use of the available bandwidth over the shared transmission medium to which each PHY device in the network is attached. |
| US08467312B2 |
Verifiable and accurate service usage monitoring for intermediate networking devices
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, an intermediary networking device provides a service intermediary or intermediate connection between a network and one or more communications devices; implements a service policy set for assisting control of the intermediate networking device use of a service on the network, in which the service policy set includes one or more service policies, each policy being associated with either the intermediate networking device or a communications device; and monitors use of the service based on the service policy set; and in which the one or more of the communication devices include a service usage notification capability, and the implementation of the first service policy set is verified. |
| US08467311B2 |
Method and system for avoiding flooding of packets in switches
Certain aspects of a method and system for avoiding flooding of packets in switches may include a network comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one or more hosts. One of the plurality of switches may communicate a discovery request to the one or more hosts to determine a MAC address of the one or more hosts. One of the plurality of switches may receive a discovery response from the one or more hosts in response to the communicated discovery request. One of the plurality of switches may update their L2 databases with the MAC addresses of the one or more hosts based on the received discovery response. If the MAC address of a destination host is listed in the L2 database, a switch may communicate a received packet to the destination host using one or more other switches based on the MAC address in the L2 database. |
| US08467308B2 |
Communication session quality indicator
An approach for providing a quality indicator in support of a communication session between a near end station and a far end station over a data network. The quality of the communication session in a direction of the near end station sending to the far end station is determined. A message containing statistics associated with the communication session is transmitted according to a prescribed protocol to the near end station to notify the near end station of the quality of the communication session. The prescribed protocol supports real-time data exchange. The present invention has particular applicability to SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) IP (Internet Protocol) telephony services. |
| US08467306B2 |
Blending telephony services in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem
An Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) gateway application server includes an originating application server module adapted to invoke call control services in response to requests initiated by a voice over Internet Protocol (IP) (VoIP) client associated with a communication device such as an IP telephone. Disclosed gateway application servers include a proxy server module adapted to notify the communication client of session control messages intended for the communication device. |
| US08467300B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a mobile telecommunications network
The basic concept of the present invention is to utilize the terminal as an auxiliary information collector in networks where the regular network-based information collection is not possible and/or for providing information that complements the information that the network-based Access Awareness Entity collects by itself. The terminal collects information related to the access network directly, through retrieval of explicitly available information, and indirectly, through measurements and statistics. The collected information is delivered to the network-based Access Awareness Entity. |
| US08467298B2 |
Applying a table-lookup approach to load spreading in forwarding data in a network
A method provides load distribution that selects one of a set equal cost paths for each flow that minimizes imbalance in the distribution of flows across the set of equal cost paths. The method includes calculating the set of equal cost paths to each destination node, generating a set of next hop discriminators, each next hop discriminator to uniquely identify one of the equal cost next hops, populating the load distribution table by storing, according to a distribution mechanism, in each load distribution table entry one of the next hop discriminators from the set of next hop discriminators, receiving a first PDU from a first flow and performing a lookup of one of the next hop discriminators in the load distribution table by using values at the bit locations of the first PDU directly as an index into a CAM. |
| US08467295B2 |
System and methods for distributed quality of service enforcement
A grid router including devices forwarding session data over an unreliable network between the devices, and distributed means providing quality of service levels defined per session given network or device congestion, the devices including session-handling units and egress units forwaring session data to devices external to the network, the router transporting the data across a link with acknowledgement, identifying link congestion and modifying the transporting as a function of the congestion, the router also connecting a multicast session, token bucket shaper with token bucket shapers of external devices, joining session token bucket shapers used for unicast and multicast sessions to the multicast session, token bucket shaper and deducting tokens consumed by the multicast session from a token budget of the session token bucket shaper, the router attributing priorities to a single traffic session as the session moves through the router while keeping packet order within the session. |
| US08467294B2 |
Dynamic load balancing for port groups
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet at an input port of a network device, the input port having a plurality of queues with at least one queue for each output port at the network device, identifying a port group for transmitting the packet from the network device, the port group having a plurality of members each associated with one of the output ports, and selecting one of the queues based on utilization of the members. An apparatus for load balancing is also disclosed. |
| US08467290B2 |
Methods and systems for distributed authentication and caching for internet protocol multimedia subsystem and other session initiation protocol systems
Network elements in IMS or other SIP systems are configured to pre-authenticate SIP requests either as proxy or by snooping. One or more of these network elements are pre-loaded with a local database copy of the user profiles as typically contained in the HSS inside of the IMS control structures. A master database, such as the one typically contained in the HSS, is distributed to all network elements using database distribution methods. Advantageously, pre-authentication solves bottleneck issues in the SIP mechanism by allowing an end user device to use fully authenticated SIP requests. This prevents the requirement to perform authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) all the way back to the core IMS network, alleviating lag and scaling issues. Additionally, network elements including can become aware of the services requested through SIP requests, and track these requests for optimization. Specifically, resources requested based upon SIP requests can be cached. |
| US08467288B2 |
Method of path switching and node apparatus
An intermediate node apparatus in a first path including a start node apparatus, an end node apparatus, intermediate node apparatuses, and links between these node apparatuses, including a failure notification message transmission unit transmitting a failure notification message to the start node apparatus, when it is detected that a level of deterioration in transmission quality of a link among the links included in the first path is equal to or higher than a first threshold, and backup path setting device that receives a path setting message for setting a second path from the start node and sets the second path. |
| US08467287B2 |
High available method for border gateway protocol version 4
High availability BGP4 is based on redundant hardware as well as redundant software that replicates the RUN state of BGP4. There are two copies, respectively active and backup, of BGP4 running on two separate redundant hardware platforms. All BGP4 internal implementations apply various methods to replicate the running state of BGP4 independently of peer network routers. When this hardware or software fails on one redundant hardware platform, peer routers are unaware of the failure. Internally, based on duplicative states, the local router recovers from the failure and keeps the protocol running. During the recovery period, the local router can bring up a backup again. In the HA architecture, these activities are not detected by peer routers, such that there is no instability to the Internet backbone caused by BGP4 failure. |
| US08467283B2 |
Short-pulse light source, laser light emitting method, optical device, optical disk device, and light pickup
The present invention can control output of pulses from a semiconductor laser.In the present invention, a short-pulse light source (1) applies a laser drive voltage (DJ) having a pulse-shaped drive voltage pulse (DJw) to a semiconductor laser (3), thereby causing the semiconductor laser (3) to emit specific output light (LAp), as laser light (LL), having a pulse-shaped specific peak (APK) and a specific slope (ASP), an emission intensity of the specific slope (ASP) being lower than an emission intensity of the specific peak (APK). The short-pulse light source (1) controls a voltage pulse half-width (Thalf), which is a pulse width of the drive voltage pulse (DJw), by setting a pulse width (Ws) of a set pulse (SLs), thereby adjusting a ratio between the specific peak (APK) and the specific slope (ASP). |
| US08467281B1 |
Techniques for identifying devices having slow response times
Described are techniques for identifying a data storage volume exhibiting a performance problem. First information indicating a sorted ordering of a plurality of maximum response times is displayed for a plurality of data storage volume. A first of the plurality of data storage volumes having a largest one of the plurality of maximum response times is selected. In response to such selecting, additional information is displayed in the user interface about the first data storage volume. The additional information includes at least one workload or performance characteristic of the first data storage volume. |
| US08467279B2 |
Magnetic and optical rotating storage systems with audio monitoring
An integrated circuit for controlling a data storage device. The integrated circuit includes: a drive module configured to control operation of the data storage device, wherein the data storage device is of a particular quality; and an audio monitoring module in communication with the drive module, wherein the audio monitoring module is configured to analyze an audio signal generated by the data storage device while the drive module is controlling the operation of the data storage device. The particular quality of the data storage device is determinable based on the analysis of the audio signal. |
| US08467273B2 |
Leap second and daylight saving time correction for use in a radio controlled clock receiver
A novel and useful system and method for leap second and daylight saving time (DST) correction for use in a radio controlled clock (RCC) receiver. The RCC receiver extracts schedule information from the frame, including the time for the DST transition and whether a leap second needs to be added at the end of this half-year. Linear error correcting coding is used for the leap second and the DST on/off indications, while non-linear error correcting coding (e.g., a look up table) is used for the DST schedule to enhance reception reliability in the presence of noise and interference. The one second/one hour corrections are scheduled to occur when they should take place and the correction is applied exactly when DST or leap second is to go into effect, without having to receive anything around the time of the correction. |
| US08467272B2 |
Timepiece with internal antenna
A timepiece with an internal antenna, including: a case that is made from a conductive material; a movement that is housed in the case and has a plurality of motors that drive staffs disposed at a plurality of locations; a dial that is made from a nonconductive material; and a patch antenna that is disposed inside the case on the back side of the dial, receives radio signals transmitted from an external source, and includes a dielectric and an electrode formed in the dielectric; wherein the patch antenna is disposed separated at least a specific distance from the inside surface of the case, and the staffs are disposed between the case and the patch antenna. |
| US08467270B2 |
Smart-watch with user interface features
A smart-watch can include a wristband, a base, a battery and a first auxiliary component. The wristband can include a voltage line. The base can be coupled to the wristband and include a housing, a processor, and a wireless transceiver in communication with the processor. The wireless transceiver can be configured to connect to a wireless network. The battery can be coupled to the housing and be in communication with the processor and the voltage line. The first auxiliary component can be coupled to the wristband in communication with the voltage line and be powered by the battery. |
| US08467268B2 |
Pressure release encoding system for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location
A pressure release encoding system for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location include a downhole tool with a valve for providing a fluid restriction to fluid passing in the wellbore, a sensor positioned in the wellbore for sensing a downhole condition in the wellbore, a brake cooperative with the valve for moving the valve between at least two positions in timed relation to the downhole condition sensed by the sensor, and a detector positioned at the surface location for providing a measurement value at the surface location correlative to the time between the changes of the pressure of the fluid in the wellbore. The system associates position of the valve with pressure transduction. The sensor is an inclination sensor for sensing an angle of inclination of the wellbore. |
| US08467265B2 |
Interpolation and deghosting of seismic data acquired in the presence of a rough sea
A technique for processing seismic data acquired in a seismic survey conducted in the presence of a rough sea includes receiving a first dataset that is derived from data acquired by a first set of seismic sensors generally towed at a first depth in the seismic survey and receiving a second dataset that is derived from data acquired by a second set of seismic sensors generally towed at a second depth that is different than the first depth in the seismic survey. The first dataset is indicative of at least pressure measurements, and the second dataset is indicative of at least crossline particle motion measurements. The technique includes determining crossline particle motion measurements in the presence of a relatively flat sea surface based at least in part on the crossline measurements that are indicated by the second dataset and the pressure measurements that are indicated by the first dataset. |
| US08467264B2 |
Acquiring near zero offset survey data
To acquire near-zero offset survey data, a survey source and a first streamer attached to the survey source are provided, where the first streamer has at least one survey receiver. A second streamer separate from the survey source and the first streamer includes survey receivers. Near-zero offset data is measured using the at least one survey receiver of the first streamer. |
| US08467262B2 |
Method of controlling non-volatile memory device
A method of controlling a non-volatile memory device includes comparing the number of banks that are in operating states with a threshold value. If the number of the banks is smaller than the threshold value, data stored in a standby bank is read. If there is no bank having data to be read, a standby bank is programmed. If the number of the banks is equal to or greater than the threshold value or if the reading or the programming is performed, it is determined whether there is a reading or programming command to be performed. If there is the reading or programming command to be performed, the process is repeated from the comparing step. The programming may include programming of a most significant bit (MSB) page or a least significant bit (LSB) page. |
| US08467254B2 |
Memory apparatus
A memory apparatus includes a mimic redundant device comparator, a reference delay signal generator, and a signal comparison controller. The mimic redundant device comparator is configured to receive an input signal and to delay the input signal according to a mimic delay, so as to generate a comparison signal. The reference delay signal generator is configured to receive the input signal and to delay the input signal according to a plurality of reference delays, so as to generate a plurality of reference delay signals. The signal comparison controller is configured to receive the reference delay signals and the comparison signal. According to a time difference between the comparison signal and the reference delay signals, the signal comparison controller is configured to generate a selected signal and to generate a delay control signal according to the selected signal. |
| US08467246B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, operating method thereof and memory system including the same
A method of operating a non-volatile memory device includes storing one or more addresses of word lines (WLs), but not the entire addresses of the WLs, into a latch, the WLs disposed between a string selection line (SSL) and a ground selection line (GSL), selecting a first WL from the latch, performing an erasing operation on memory cells associated with the string selection line (SSL), the memory cells associated with the SSL constituting a memory block, and verifying the erasing operation on memory cells associated with the selected first WL. |
| US08467243B1 |
nvSRAM with inverted recall
A process of operating a memory circuit involves RECALLing a state of a volatile memory cell from a nonvolatile memory cell, and inverting an output of the volatile memory cell after every other RECALL. |
| US08467241B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
In a semiconductor layer, information is written by applying a first potential to a first electrode, applying a second potential that is lower than the first potential to all of back gate electrodes, applying a third potential that is higher than the first potential to the first to (i−1)th front gate electrodes, and applying a fourth potential that is between the second and third potentials to the ith and subsequent front gate electrodes, where “i” is a positive integer and identifies a specific location to which information is to be written. |
| US08467239B2 |
Reversible low-energy data storage in phase change memory
A phase change memory (PCM) device utilizes low energy pulses to write data to PCM storage elements (cells). Methods, devices and systems are described that use low energy reset pulses to reset cells that have been previously set using a method that keeps a portion of the PCM cells in an amorphous phase. The reset is reversible by utilizing a low energy set pulse. |
| US08467236B2 |
Continuously variable resistor
A continuously variable resistor is disclosed. The continuously variable resistor may comprise a first chalcogenide layer and a second chalcogenide layer. The second chalcogenide layers may be connected to the first chalcogenide layer and may have a metal interspersed within it. The second chalcogenide layer may be metal-rich, in a state of solid solution with the interspersed metal. The continuously variable resistor may be configured to exhibit NDR behavior. The continuously variable resistor may be configured to have three or more substantially non-volatile resistance states. |
| US08467234B2 |
Magnetic random access memory devices configured for self-referenced read operation
A magnetic random access memory cell includes a sense layer, a storage layer, and a spacer layer disposed between the sense layer and the storage layer. During a write operation, the storage layer has a magnetization direction that is switchable between m directions to store data corresponding to one of m logic states, with m>2. During a read operation, the sense layer has a magnetization direction that is varied, relative to the magnetization direction of the storage layer, to determine the data stored by the storage layer. |
| US08467233B2 |
Asymmetric static random access memory cell with dual stress liner
A solid-state memory in which each memory cell is constructed of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) inverters implemented with dual stress liner (DSL) technology. Asymmetry is incorporated into each memory cell by constructing one of the inverter transistors or the pass-gate transistor using the stress liner with opposite stress characteristics from its opposing counterpart. For example, both of the p-channel load transistors and one of the n-channel driver transistors in each memory cell may be constructed with a compressive nitride liner layer while the other driver transistor is constructed with a tensile nitride liner layer. In another implementation, one of the n-channel pass-gate transistors is constructed with a compressive nitride liner layer while the other pass-gate transistor is constructed with a tensile nitride liner layer. Improved cell stability due to the resulting asymmetric behavior is implemented in a cost-free manner. |
| US08467232B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device which includes a bit line, m (m is a natural number of 3 or more) word lines, a source line, m signal lines, first to m-th memory cells, and a driver circuit, the memory cell includes a first transistor and a second transistor for storing electrical charge accumulated in a capacitor, and the second transistor includes a channel formed in an oxide semiconductor layer. In the semiconductor device, the driver circuit generates a signal to be output to a (j−1)th (j is a natural number of 3 or more) signal line with the use of a signal to be output to a j-th signal line. |
| US08467231B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
The semiconductor device is formed using a material which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of a transistor; for example, an oxide semiconductor material, which is a wide gap semiconductor, is used. When a semiconductor material which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of a transistor is used, the semiconductor device can hold data for a long period. In addition, the timing of potential change in a signal line is delayed relative to the timing of potential change in a write word line. This makes it possible to prevent a data writing error. |
| US08467226B2 |
Programming an array of resistance random access memory cells using unipolar pulses
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to programming a non-volatile memory device. |
| US08467220B2 |
DRAM device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a DRAM device having 4F2 size cells and a method for fabricating the same. The DRAM device comprises plural word lines arranged parallel to each other in one direction, plural bit lines arranged parallel to each other and in an intersecting manner with the word line, and plural memory cells having a transistor and a capacitor connected electrically to a source terminal of the transistor. A gate terminal of the transistor is filling an associated trench between two adjacent memory cells in a bit line direction and simultaneously covering a sidewall of said two adjacent memory cells via a gate insulating film interposed between the gate terminal and said two adjacent memory cells. An interval between the gate terminals in the bit or the word line direction, is more distant than 1F, and the F means minimal processing size. |
| US08467212B2 |
Rectifier circuit
A high power factor rectifier circuit, provided with switching sections connected to an AC power supply for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage, is formed with a bypass circuit provided. The bypass circuit, when the voltage of the AC power supply becomes higher than the voltage across a smoothing capacitor provided on the DC output side, makes a charge current flowing from the AC power supply to the capacitor bypass the switching section by making the switching section out of conduction. Thus, a rectifier circuit is provided which can be safely operated without causing any damage, or with minimized damage, even though an inrush current flows at turning-on the power or at recovery from a power interruption. |
| US08467204B2 |
High voltage power supply
A high voltage power supply is provided. The high voltage power supply includes an inverter which converts a DC voltage input to the high voltage power supply into a first AC voltage, a transformer including an input winding unit and a plurality of output winding units, wherein the input winding unit receives the first AC voltage from the inverter and the plurality of output winding units generates and outputs a second AC voltage, and a voltage multiplier unit which boosts the second AC voltage output by the transformer and outputs a boosted voltage, and the voltage multiplier unit includes a plurality of voltage multipliers which are connected to each other in series and the plurality of voltage multipliers may be connected to the plurality of output winding units respectively. |
| US08467199B2 |
Two-stage insulated bidirectional DC/DC power converter using a constant duty ratio LLC resonant converter
A two-stage insulated bidirectional DC/DC power converter is disclosed. A two-stage insulated bidirectional DC/DC power converter according to an embodiment of the invention has the characteristic of including: an LLC resonant converter operating at a constant duty ratio; a bidirectional converter joined to a front part of the LLC resonant converter and configured to perform a booster converter function of outputting the input voltage at a consistent input voltage for the LLC resonant converter, and a buck converter function of reducing the voltage by way of the LLC resonant converter and then outputting a consistent voltage; and a bidirectional converter control unit configured to control changes in an input voltage of the bidirectional converter and regulate an output voltage of the LLC resonant converter to thereby maintain a consistent input voltage of the LLC resonant converter, such that the LLC resonant converter operates at a constant duty ratio. |
| US08467198B2 |
DC-to-AC converting circuit with wide input voltage
A DC-to-AC converting circuit includes a transformer, a first modulation switching circuit, a second modulation switching circuit and a third modulation switching circuit, an inverter switching circuit and a controlling unit. Under control of the controlling unit, two of the first, second and third modulation switching circuits are selectively enabled according to the magnitude of the input voltage, so that electric energy of the input voltage is magnetically transmitted to the first primary winding, a second primary winding or a serially-connected winding assembly of the first primary winding and the second primary winding, and a turn ratio of the transformer is adjustable. |
| US08467197B2 |
Systems and methods for compensating for electrical converter nonlinearities
Systems and methods are provided for delivering energy from an input interface to an output interface. An electrical system includes an input interface, an output interface, an energy conversion module coupled between the input interface and the output interface, and a control module. The control module determines a duty cycle control value for operating the energy conversion module to produce a desired voltage at the output interface. The control module determines an input power error at the input interface and adjusts the duty cycle control value in a manner that is influenced by the input power error, resulting in a compensated duty cycle control value. The control module operates switching elements of the energy conversion module to deliver energy to the output interface with a duty cycle that is influenced by the compensated duty cycle control value. |
| US08467195B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes: a first circuit board having a mounting surface; a shield casing disposed so as to face the mounting surface of the first circuit board and cover an electronic component mounted on the mounting surface; a battery disposed so as to face the shield casing at a position next to the first circuit board in a first direction which is parallel to the mounting surface of the first circuit board; and a first rib provided on a surface of the shield casing so as to extend in the first direction, one end of the first rib being disposed at a position corresponding to the first circuit board in a second direction, the other end of the first rib being disposed at a position corresponding to the battery in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the mounting surface. |
| US08467193B2 |
Electronic control unit
A resin board is fixed to a plate member made of metal by a fixing member. A semi-conductor module and a capacitor are mounted on a first surface of the resin board. A first ground pattern is formed on the first surface and electrically connected to the plate member by means of the fixing member. A connector is also provided on the first surface such that the first ground pattern is interposed between the semi-conductor module and the connector. The heat from the semi-conductor module and the capacitor is transmitted to the plate member via the first ground pattern and the fixing member. |
| US08467192B2 |
Method for producing a rollable web and a rollable web
A method for producing a rollable web with successive antennas, where an electronic chip is attached to an antenna in a predetermined position. The position of an electronic chip changes with respect to the antenna when compared to at least some of the chips within individual and successive antennas. A rollable web includes successive antennas, where electronic chips are attached to antennas in a predetermined position. In the rollable web, the position of a chip changes with respect to the antenna compared to at least some of the chips within individual and successive antennas. |
| US08467191B2 |
Assemblies including heat sink elements and methods of assembling
A heat sink assembly comprises a plurality of components and a plurality of mounting tabs. A component attachment surface of each mounting tab is attached to a component and heat sink attachment surfaces of the plurality of mounting tabs are at least substantially coplanar. A heat sink element is attached to at least some of the plurality of mounting tabs at the heat sink attachment surface thereof. A method of assembling a heat sink assembly comprises attaching a plurality of mounting tabs to at least one substantially planar assembly surface of an assembly fixture. Each mounting tab is attached to a heat-generating component to form a mechanical and thermal coupling therebetween. The assembly fixture is removed from the plurality of mounting tabs, and a heat sink element is attached to mounting tabs of the plurality. |
| US08467190B2 |
Balanced cooling system and method for high-density stacked cages
Systems and methods for balanced cooling of electrical systems, including electrical systems containing transceivers used in electrical and optical communication. An electrical system includes a cage, where the cage has a top, front and bottom. The cage contains a plurality of upper bays disposed in the front of the cage. Each of the plurality of upper bays is configured to receive a transceiver. The cage also contains a plurality of lower bays disposed in the front of the cage. Each of the lower bays is configured to receive a transceiver. Additionally, each of the plurality of upper bays is stacked on one of the plurality of lower bays. An upper heat sink extends from the outer surface of the top of the cage and a lower heat sink extends from the outer surface of the bottom of the cage. |
| US08467186B2 |
Tablet PC cover with integral keyboard
A cover for a tablet PC with an integral keyboard provides two outer covering faces and a resilient mounting frame fixing a tablet PC therein, hinged on a keyboard component. By hinging partway along one outer covering face, the mounting frame can assume a wide variety of angles. The keyboard component has embedded within its underside a ferromagnetic member attracted by an embedded metal strip in the other covering face, fixing the keyboard and mounting frame at any desired angle. The resilient mounting frame has an ejection assembly opposite the hinging of the resilient mounting frame and keyboard component, allowing one-handed release of the tablet PC, and an embedded implant corresponding to and detectable by a configurable circuit board encased in the keyboard component. |
| US08467183B2 |
Tablet computer case and associated methods
Tablet computer cases and associated methods are disclosed and described. In one embodiment, a tablet computer case may include a first panel configured to releasably engage and hold a tablet computer of a predetermined size and shape, a second panel having a keyboard a hinge rotatably attaching the two panels, and a communication connector that allows the keyboard to communicate with the tablet computer. |
| US08467182B2 |
Docking station
A docking station including a housing and a linkage mechanism is provided. The housing has a supporting-surface and an inner-surface opposite to each other, in which the supporting-surface is suitable to support an electronic apparatus. The linkage mechanism includes a sliding-member disposed on the inner-surface, at least one latching-member slidably coupled to the sliding-member and a connector disposed on the sliding-member. The sliding-member slides back-and-forth along a sliding-path to bring the latching-member sliding back-and-forth along the sliding-path. The travel distance of the sliding-member on the sliding-path is greater than the travel distance of the latching-member on the sliding-path. The connector slides with the sliding-member and is protruded out of or hidden into the housing. The latching-member locks or unlocks the electronic apparatus and the connector is connected to or separated from the electronic apparatus with the sliding of the sliding-member. |
| US08467181B2 |
Fixing mechanism for fixing a portable device and related computer system
A fixing mechanism for fixing a portable device includes a casing. A track is disposed on the casing for guiding the portable device to slide. At least one hole is formed on the casing. The fixing mechanism further includes at least one spherical component installed inside the hole on the casing for wedging into a sunken part on the portable device so as to fix the portable device inside the casing. The fixing mechanism further includes a resilient component installed on a side of the casing and the spherical component for providing resilient force to the spherical component so as to push the spherical component to wedge into the sunken part on the portable device. |
| US08467178B2 |
Tablet computer case and associated methods
Tablet computer cases and associated methods are disclosed and described. In one embodiment, a tablet computer case may include a first panel configured to releasably engage and hold a tablet computer of a predetermined size and shape, a second panel having a keyboard a hinge rotatably attaching the two panels, and a communication connector that allows the keyboard to communicate with the tablet computer. |
| US08467175B2 |
System and method for an optimizable rack solution
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for an optimizable rack solution is presented. The system and method is directed to an optimizable rack that includes a frame. The frame has both a primary portion and a detachable portion. The primary portion may contain a primary enclosure and the detachable portion may container a secondary enclosure. Each of the primary enclosure and secondary enclosure are sized to hold a plurality of computing systems. Detaching the detachable portion of the frame both reduces the size and computing systems capacity of the frame. |
| US08467174B2 |
Portable electronic device with fastening structure
A fastening structure for a portable electronic device includes a main housing and a frame. The main housing defines a slot. A protrusion and a block are formed at two opposite sides of the slot. The frame includes a tab. The tab defines a locking hole. The block pushes the tab toward the protrusion to allow the protrusion to be latched in the locking hole for connecting the frame to the main housing. |
| US08467171B2 |
Temporary power distribution panel
A temporary power distribution panel for use at a construction site comprises a box-like cabinet with an interior, an exterior, and a rear side having upper and lower hangers positioned on the rear side of the cabinet for securing the cabinet to a post, wall, or wall stud. The panel further comprises an electric power inlet for electrically coupling the cabinet to a source of electric power and a plurality of electric power outlets for providing electric power to the construction site and internally coupled to the electric power inlet. The temporary power distribution panel further includes an interior fire extinguisher closet and an emergency alarm bell. |
| US08467170B2 |
Electrodes and electric double layer capacitance devices comprising an activated carbon cryogel
Electrodes and electric double layer capacitance (EDLC) devices containing an activated carbon cryogel having a tunable pore structure are disclosed. The disclosed electrodes and devices find utility in any number of electrical energy storage and distribution applications. |
| US08467161B2 |
Device for protecting a DC voltage converter
A device for controlling and regulating a DC voltage converter. The device may have one or more power output stages and a control unit with a signal ground line. The one or more power output stages and the control line have a mutual ground potential. A switch for electrically disconnecting the signal ground line is provided. The switch is opened, when the DC voltage converter is active and the switch is closed, when the DC voltage converter is inactive. |
| US08467153B1 |
Disk drive head gimbal assembly having a flexure tail with folded bond pads
A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a read head and a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly includes a load beam and a laminate flexure. The laminate flexure includes a structural layer, a dielectric layer, and a conductive layer. The laminate flexure includes a tongue portion that connects to the read head and a flexure tail that extends away from the tongue portion. The flexure tail includes a plurality of flexure bond pads. Each of the plurality of flexure bond pads is folded upon itself. |
| US08467151B1 |
Disk drive comprising an interconnect with transmission lines forming an approximated lattice network
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, a preamp, and an interconnect for coupling the head to the preamp. The interconnect comprises a first transmission line stacked with a second transmission line, and a dielectric between the first transmission line and second transmission line. The transmission lines form an approximation of at least one inductor/capacitor ladder network and an approximation of at least one inductor/capacitor lattice network. The lattice network comprises a first leg and a second leg, and a cross-over hub for interconnecting the first leg and the second leg. |
| US08467150B2 |
Recording head, disk drive with recording head, and recording method using recording head
According to one embodiment, a recording head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording medium, a trailing shield opposed to the main pole with a gap therebetween, a spin-torque oscillator at least a part of which is located between the main pole and the trailing shield and configured to apply a high-frequency magnetic field to the recording medium, and an auxiliary oscillator configured to apply an auxiliary magnetic field to the spin-torque oscillator. |
| US08467146B2 |
Apparatus for clamping disk and motor assembly having the same
There are provided an apparatus for clamping a disk and a motor assembly having the same. The apparatus for clamping a disk according to the present invention includes an apparatus for clamping a disk, including: a rotor case jointed with an outer peripheral surface of a shaft and rotating together with the shaft; a flange part including a disk mounting surface formed at a radial outer side of the rotor case and formed to be inclined as the disk mounting surface is toward the radial outer side; and a clamping member pressing and clamping the disk to the rotor case, wherein an inclination of the disk mounting surface of the flange part is changed depending on the position of the pressing point to the disk of the clamping member. |
| US08467143B2 |
Servo patterning and writing compatible with planarization of patterned magnetic disks
Embodiments herein illustrate patterned servo data that is used to facilitate subsequent servo writing to a magnetic disk while allowing the patterned disk to be planarized with a relatively simple planarization process. One disk drive system includes a magnetic disk that is patterned with magnetic lands and nonmagnetic grooves. The magnetic disk also includes bootstrap bands that may be configured at an inner diameter of the magnetic disk. The magnetic lands of the bootstrap bands have varying sizes and are patterned as servo data having a uniform polarity of magnetization. The bootstrap bands have a width that is sufficiently narrow to support an air bearing surface of a slider. The data tracks are circumferentially configured proximate to the bootstrap bands. The slider reads the patterned servo data to facilitate writing of additional servo data in the data tracks. |
| US08467141B2 |
Read channel with oversampled analog to digital conversion
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a signal in a read channel using an oversampled analog to digital conversion. An oversampled analog to digital conversion is performed on an analog input signal to generate a plurality of digital samples corresponding to the analog input signal for a given bit interval. A data detection algorithm can then be applied on one or more of the digital samples to obtain a detected output. The oversampled analog to digital conversion simplifies the analog design by transferring at least a portion of the equalization and/or filtering processes to the digital domain. |
| US08467140B2 |
Magnetic recording apparatus and magnetic recording evaluating apparatus
A magnetic recording apparatus includes: a magnetic recording medium having a recording surface on which a plurality of magnetic recording cells magnetically isolated from each other are arranged; a magnetic writing element recording information to the magnetic recording cells under a condition in accordance with setting information; a magnetic reading element reproducing information recorded in the magnetic recording cells; a memory storing the setting information for writing; and a processor for executing a program code. The program code includes a test module, responsive to a test write start signal, for repeating writing and reading test information by the magnetic writing and reading elements and calculating a quality index value representing quality of writing of the reproduced test information with the setting information changed, and a write module for selecting setting information with which the quality index value satisfies a predetermined condition, and writing the selected information in the memory. |
| US08467135B2 |
Zoom lens with high optical performance and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens comprises a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear group including at least two lens units and having a positive refractive power as a whole, in order from an object side to an image side. An interval of each of the lens units changes in a zoom operation, the rear group includes a lens unit R having a positive refractive power at the most image side, the lens unit R includes a lens having a concave surface at the image side and having an aspherical surface shape where a negative refractive power becomes stronger with increasing distance from an optical axis, and focal lengths f1, fR, and fw of the first lens unit, the lens unit R, and a whole system at a wide-angle end, respectively, are appropriately set. |
| US08467134B2 |
Compact zoom lens
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; a third lens group having a positive refractive power and including one piece of positive lens; and a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth lens groups are sequentially disposed in an order from an object side to an image surface side of the zoom lens, all distances between adjacent lens groups change and the third lens group performs focusing while zooming from a wide angle position to a telephoto position, and a following condition is satisfied: 0<(L23W−L23T)/L23W<0.5, wherein L23W denotes a distance between a lens surface of the image surface side of the second lens group and lens surface of the object side of the third lens group in the wide angle position, and L23T denotes a distance between a lens surface of the image surface side of the second lens group and a lens surface of the object side surface of the third lens group in the telephoto position. |
| US08467133B2 |
See-through display with an optical assembly including a wedge-shaped illumination system
This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes a light transmissive wedge-shaped illumination system with angle selective coatings and an LED lighting system coupled to an edge of the wedge. An angled surface of the wedge directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user. |
| US08467130B2 |
Retardation film, method of producing the same and display device
A retardation film is provided and is formed by laminating a thermoplastic norbornene resin film, an anchor layer, an alignment film and a phase difference layer in this order. In this retardation film, the anchor layer is formed by applying an anchor material including a tri-, or more-functional acrylate monomer of 50 parts by weight or more and 90 parts by weight or less onto the thermoplastic norbornene resin film and then, drying and curing the anchor material with ultraviolet light. |
| US08467128B2 |
Polarizing cube and method of fabricating the same
A polarizing cube includes a pair of identical and symmetric triangular prisms which sandwich a thin optical composite plate containing a planner array of reflective straight wires spaced apart in parallel as a built-in wire grid polarizer. All of its subcomponents and the polarizing cube itself are physically and optically symmetrical to one of its diagonal planes so as to provide improved integration and robustness for projection display application. The cubic configuration of the disclosed polarizer can be readily produced through common means and sequences typically used in semiconductor wafer fabrication processes, including photolithographic patterning, gap dielectric filling and planarization, and wafer thinning, bonding and cutting among others. |
| US08467125B2 |
Image taking optical system and image taking apparatus
Disclosed herein is an image taking optical system including at least one lens provided on an optical path; a first infrared-ray absorption filter made from a resin material with a film shape and provided on the optical path; a multi-layer film provided with an infrared-ray absorption function and provided on the optical path; and a second infrared-ray absorption filter made from a resin material with a film shape and provided on the optical path, wherein the first infrared-ray absorption filter, the multi-layer film and the second infrared-ray absorption filter are provided at locations arranged along the optical path in a direction from a photographing-object side to an image side, and the multi-layer film has a spectroscopic-characteristic adjustment function and a light reflection characteristic. |
| US08467121B2 |
Optical signal processing
An optical signal processor may include an optical waveguide loop, and first and second phase modulator loops. Each of the first and second phase modulator loops may be in optical communication with the optical waveguide loop. The first and second phase modulator loops may include respective control signal input ports to control phase modulation applied by the first and second phase modulation loops. The optical waveguide loop may include two input ports to direct input signals in opposite directions in the optical waveguide loop and may further include an output port to output resulting signals. |
| US08467112B2 |
Image reading device
An image sensor reads an image from a document sheet disposed on a document holding portion of a platen glass while the image sensor is moving along the platen glass in a predetermined direction or reads an image from a document sheet fed by a document feeder while the image sensor is stopped at the image reading position. A discharge guide member guides a document sheet which has passed the image reading position in a direction downstream from the platen glass. A sliding mechanism slides a first plate that faces the document holding portion selectively between a first position and a second position along the platen glass in a sliding direction parallel to the predetermined direction. The image reading position is within the document holding portion. The first plate, when in the first position, covers the image reading position, and the first plate, when in the second position, is separated from the image reading position. |
| US08467110B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image reading method
An image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a document placing unit on which a document is placed, a light source unit in which light sources are arrayed in a depth direction, a light source drive unit that drives the light sources, and a light source control unit that controls so that the light sources are divided into a plurality of groups to be driven. An image sensor is provided at a position capable of receiving light emitted from the light sources and reflected by the document on the document placing unit. Further, the document size is detected through detection of a position of an edge of the document from an output signal from the image sensor. Then, the light source drive unit is controlled so that, when the image is to be read, the light sources are activated to illuminate the document. |
| US08467109B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An apparatus includes: a scanner to scan an image; a first determiner to determine an attribute of a feature of the image; a processor to perform a first processing on data representing the image; a storer to store the data subjected to the first processing; a receiver to instruct to output the image represented by the data stored and to receive an input for deciding an output image to be output of the image; a decider to decide, according to the input received, the output image; a second determiner to determine an attribute of a feature of the output image; a reliability determiner to determine, in accordance with the input, whether the attribute determined by the first and/or second determiner is reliable; and a processor to output, by performing a second processing on the data, output data representing the output image, in accordance with a result of the reliability determination. |
| US08467100B1 |
Halftoner block employing average values and shifts
Halftoning apparatus and method that may generate and employ average values and shifts are described herein. The apparatus may include an unpacker to determine shifts and average values for a plurality of input pixel values, each pair of average value and shift being associated with a corresponding pair of the input pixel values. The apparatus may further include a halftone core coupled to the unpacker to receive the shifts and the average values from the unpacker and to generate pairs of output pixel values based at least in part on the received shifts and average values, wherein the output pixel values are for generating pixels of an image. |
| US08467099B2 |
Directional halftone method with enhanced edge and detail rendition
As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning by adapting 2nd generation halftone techniques to the spatial frequency content of an image utilizing a spot function introduced in conjunction with a technique for determining seed locations, which results in halftone images exhibiting improved edge and detail rendition. A dominant orientation of pixels in an input image is employed to select a pre-generated stochastic screen used to determine the seed locations. |
| US08467094B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program
This invention provides an image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program for executing efficient image formation while ensuring user friendliness. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus according to this invention permits changing an image forming condition during execution of an operation of forming an image while conveying a plurality of sheets each on which the image is to be formed at the first interval, and restricts changing the image forming condition during execution of the operation of forming an image while conveying the plurality of sheets at the second interval shorter than the first interval. |
| US08467091B2 |
Print label editing apparatus enabling operator to edit the print contents for a print-receiving tape used to produce print labels
This disclosure discloses a print label editing apparatus comprising: an operation device that enables an operator to edit print contents to be printed on a print-receiving tape; a display device that displays a print image to be printed; a reference position determining portion that determines whether or not a first reference position in a printable area for an object area exists, based on a preset position of said object area, said object area including a print object within said printable area of a printing device for said print-receiving tape; and an object resetting portion that scales and resets said object area by using said first reference position as a standard in a case where it has been determined that said first reference position exists by said reference position determining portion and a scaling operation that enlarges or reduces said print object has been performed by said operation device. |
| US08467090B2 |
Color selection apparatus and method for producing low metameric color merchandise
A methodology and apparatus provide the customers and other decision makers the ability to make decisions, such as purchase decisions and other selections, based solely on non-verbal and non-textual, non-symbolic or non-hieroglyphic prints on a substrate. |
| US08467085B2 |
Image processing apparatus, data amount reducing method, and data amount reducing program embodied on computer readable medium
In order to reduce the data amount of image data while preventing degradation of image quality, an MFP includes an image data acquiring portion to acquire image data, a region extracting portion to extract regions having predetermined attributes from the image data, a selecting portion to select one of the extracted regions, a reduction portion to reduce the data amount of the image data by processing the selected region in a manner predetermined for the attribute of that region, and a comparing portion to compare the data amount of the image data after reduction of the data amount with a predetermined target value, in which the selecting portion selects the regions one by one until the comparing portion determines that the data amount of the image data is equal to or less than the target value. |
| US08467080B2 |
Printing control system, printing control server, image forming apparatus, program, and printing control method
To provide a mechanism for causing a printing apparatus in which a user logged to display data printable by the user, there is provided a printing control method in a printing control system in which the image forming apparatus includes the steps of transmitting the input user identification information to the printing control server, and displaying the printing data information list received from the printing control server, so that the printing data printable by the image forming apparatus and the printing data not printable by the image forming apparatus can be discriminated from each other. |
| US08467079B2 |
System and method for location based printing for healthcare data
A printing system for printing health care data is provided. The printing system includes a processor operably connected to a user device and to a plurality of printers that is configured to associate a location with the user device, and to select at least one printer from among the plurality of printers to provide a print out requested from the user device based on the location associated with the user device. |
| US08467074B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling the image forming apparatus, and storage medium
A method for controlling an apparatus, including a plurality of lockable discharge units configured to discharge a printed product having an image formed thereon based on a received job to any one of the plurality of lockable discharge units, includes managing information about a lockable discharge unit to which the printed product is discharged in association with information about a user, notifying the user to prompt picking up the printed product discharged to the lockable discharge unit based on the managed information, and determining whether a particular user is using the plurality of lockable discharge units based on the managed information, wherein, in a case where the particular user is using the plurality of lockable discharge units, the notification is performed. |
| US08467072B2 |
Target apparatus and method of making a measurement with the target apparatus
A target includes a contact element having a region of spherical curvature, a retroreflector rigidly connected to the contact element, a transmitter configured to emit an electromagnetic signal, a temperature sensor disposed on the target, configured to measure an air temperature, and configured to send the measured air temperature to the transmitter. |
| US08467070B2 |
Method and scanning arrangement for the contactless scanning of three-dimensional objects and device for holding the objects
The invention concerns a method for the contactless scanning of three-dimensional objects (1). The objects are scanned using a bundled light beam (7), preferably using a laser beam. The object is scanned in at least two different measuring sections. When scanning in two different measuring sections, the measuring lines on the object (1) are not parallel. As an alternative or additional option, the object (1) is rotated during one measuring operation and not during the other. |
| US08467067B2 |
Dynamic light-scattering measuring apparatus using low-coherence light source and light-scattering measuring method of using the apparatus
There is provided a dynamic light-scattering measuring apparatus including: a Mach-Zehnder interferometer; and a low-coherence light source. Further, there is provided a method for measuring light-scattering intensity of particles in a medium, including the steps of: providing a Mach-Zehnder interferometer; and measuring light-scattering intensity from light emitted from a low-coherence light source, in accordance with a dynamic light-scattering intensity measuring process. |
| US08467066B2 |
Mixture segregation testing devices and methods
Methods and devices are provided to measure segregation in solid particulate mixtures. Light energy is projected through a transparent barrier and reflected off a surface of a mixture volume. The constituent fraction in the mixture is determined by analyzing the mixture reflected light as a combination of the constituents' known reflected light spectral contents and intensities. This is accomplished at multiple surface locations to provide constituent fraction data over the mixture volume surface. |
| US08467056B1 |
Variable angle, fiber optic coupled, light scattering apparatus
A light scattering apparatus and methods for using a light scattering apparatus that performs at angles other than the standard 90 or 180 degrees and can analyze a variety of samples including, but not limited to, solids, crystals, liquids, gases and combinations thereof. |
| US08467054B2 |
Virtual core flow cytometry
A sheathless flow cytometry system is disclosed wherein a fluid containing particles of interest, for example cells, flows through a sensing region, and is illuminated in the sensing region with one or more light source. Light resulting from the interaction of the particles with the illumination is received by an objective, and focused toward a field stop having an aperture comprising relatively large end portions and a relatively small center portion. Light deflectors, such as prisms, are disposed over the relatively large end portions of the aperture. The system is arranged such that light from particles in focus in the sensing region is focused on the relatively small center portion of the aperture. Peripheral detectors are positioned to receive light from the light deflectors, and a scatter detector is positioned to receive light passing through the center portion. The detector signals may be used to identify which of the detector signals correspond to particles in focus as they passed through the sensing region. |
| US08467040B2 |
Method and apparatus for sorting cells
A method, apparatus, and system for a sorting flow cytometer include an objective lens having an optical axis coaxially aligned with the flow path at the focal point. A controllable energy source selectively alters an analyte according to a determination of whether the analyte is in a desired sub-population. In various embodiments, one or both of the emission from the controllable energy source and/or the emission from an illumination energy source passes through the objective lens. In some embodiments in which the emission from the controllable energy source passes through the objective lens, the objective lens may focus the emission from the controllable energy source at a different point than the focal point of a signal detected from the analyte and, in particular, at a point closer to the objective lens. |
| US08467038B2 |
Method and device for measuring optical properties of an optically variable marking applied to an object
A method for measuring optical properties of an optically variable marking applied on an object, the method including the steps of illuminating the optically variable marking so as to form a first light reflected by the marking at a first view angle and a second light reflected by the marking at a second view angle, the first and second lights having different spectral compositions as a result of the optically variable marking, refracting the second reflected light through a optical unit so as to redirect the second reflected light toward an optical sensor, capturing the first light and the second refracted light with the optical sensor simultaneously; and determining optical properties of the optical variable marking based on the captured first and second lights. |
| US08467037B2 |
Method and device for optimizing the orientation of a laser anemometer on an aircraft
A method and device for optimizing the orientation of a laser anemometer on an aircraft. The device can determine an optimal orientation of a sighting axis of the anemometer and deduce therefrom the orientations of the other sighting axes. |
| US08467031B2 |
Illumination system for illuminating a mask in a microlithographic exposure apparatus
An illumination system of a micro-lithographic projection exposure apparatus is provided, which is configured to illuminate a mask positioned in a mask plane. The system includes a pupil shaping optical subsystem and illuminator optics that illuminate a beam deflecting component. For determining a property of the beam deflecting component, an intensity distribution in a system pupil surface of the illumination system is determined. Then the property of the beam deflecting component is determined such that the intensity distribution produced by the pupil shaping subsystem in the system pupil surface approximates the intensity distribution determined before. At least one of the following aberrations are taken into account in this determination: (i) an aberration produced by the illuminator optics; (ii) an aberration produced by the pupil shaping optical subsystem; (iii) an aberration produced by an optical element arranged between the system pupil surface and the mask plane. |
| US08467026B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display device includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes formed of a frame-shaped connection electrode and electrode bodies arranged in parallel to one another in a frame of the connection electrode and supported by and connected to the connection electrode; and a common electrode insulated from the plurality of pixel electrodes. |
| US08467024B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and fabricating method of the same
A liquid crystal display panel is capable of implementing high resolution without reducing an aperture ratio. A liquid crystal display panel includes: a substrate; a sustain electrode at a pixel region on the substrate; opaque wires positioned around the pixel region, having a lattice form extending in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, and coupled with the sustain electrode; a gate wire and a data wire insulated from the gate wire with a second insulating layer interposed therebetween and extending in the second direction; a thin film transistor coupled with the gate wire and the data wire; and a pixel electrode coupled with the thin film transistor. The sustain electrode includes a transparent conductive material, and the opaque wires includes a conductive material having an electrical resistance lower than that of the transparent conductive material. |
| US08467023B2 |
Anti-reflection film and display device
An anti-reflection film that can provide high visibility and has an anti-reflection function by which reflection of incident light from external can be further reduced, and a display device having such an anti-reflection film. A plurality of contiguous pyramidal projections is arranged in a geometric pattern, so that reflection of incident light is prevented. In addition, a protective layer formed of a material having a lower refractive index than the pyramidal projections is provided so as to fill a space between the plurality of pyramidal projections. The plurality of pyramidal projections has a hexagonal shape and can be densely arranged with no space therebetween. Further, since six sides of each pyramidal projection are provided at a different angle from the base, light can be effectively scattered in many directions. |
| US08467020B2 |
Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a color filter substrate and a liquid crystal display device which enable easy color design for a liquid crystal display panel, can suppress both a switching domain and disclination, and can also suppress a decrease in the aperture ratio. The color filter substrate of the present invention has a structure in which adjacent color filters have respective projections that project toward each other and are in contact with each other on a light-shielding member; a structure in which color filter regions for same-color dots adjacent to each other are partially connected on the shielding member; or a structure in which the above structures are combined. |
| US08467017B2 |
Polarizing element, method for producing same, liquid crystal device, electronic apparatus, and projection display
A polarizing element includes a substrate; a plurality of protruded threads formed on one of surfaces of the substrate in a rough stripe pattern when viewed two-dimensionally, each of the protruded threads having a side surface forming a slope inclined with respect to the one surface of the substrate; a plurality of metal thin wires each formed on the slope of the each protruded thread so as to be cantilever-supported by the slope and each extended in an extension direction of the protruded thread; and a protection film covering the protruded threads and the metal thin wires. |
| US08467016B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel with polarization wire grid and method for fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display panel includes first and second substrates bonded to each other, a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, a plurality of first polarization wire grids formed on the first substrate, and a plurality of second polarization wire grids formed on the second substrate. |
| US08467010B2 |
Liquid crystal display module
There is provided a LCD module. The LCD module comprises a back plate, a light guiding plate provided on the back plate, an upper frame provided on the light guiding plate in contact with an edge of the light guiding plate, a liquid crystal display panel provided on the upper frame, and a silica gel pad disposed between the upper frame and the liquid crystal display panel. The surface of the silica gel pad that is in contact with the liquid crystal display panel is a curved surface. |
| US08467007B2 |
Display having diagonally ordered columns of lenticular lens
A display device includes a screen having first and second overlapping lenticular screen structures. The first overlapping lenticular screen structure is a series of columns having a negative slope and the second overlapping lenticular screen structure is another series of columns having a positive slope. The display provide three dimensional views in horizontal and vertical dimensions and maintains three-dimensional capabilities even when viewers tilt their heads. |
| US08467006B2 |
Transparent conductive film, method for production thereof and touch panel therewith
A transparent conductive film includes: a transparent film substrate; a transparent conductor layer provided on one or both sides of the transparent film substrate; and at least one undercoat layer interposed between the transparent film substrate and the transparent conductor layer; wherein: the transparent conductor layer is patterned; and a non-patterned portion not having the transparent conductor layer has the at least one undercoat layer. |
| US08467001B2 |
Video system capable of controlling ambient light and control method thereof
A video system suitable for being set in one of several scene modes and controlling one of several ambient light sources is disclosed. The video system includes a storage unit, a signal transceiver, and a control module. The storage unit stores several brightness setting values, in which the brightness setting values correspond to the scene modes and/or several specification data respectively, and the specification data is contained in the several ambient light sources respectively. The signal transceiver is used for receiving the specification data of one of the ambient light sources. The control module is electrically coupled to the signal transceiver, and controls the signal transceiver to transmit a corresponding brightness setting value in the storage unit to the ambient light source according to the set scene mode and the received specification data. |
| US08466993B2 |
Image sensing using solid-state image sensing elements
This invention makes it possible to provide a technique for suppressing a decrease in resolution of a sensed image even when an image sensor on which solid-state image sensing elements with different sensitivities are arranged is used. A demosaic unit obtains a color component of a given pixel, sensed at the first sensitivity, by performing interpolation calculation using color components of pixels each of which is adjacent to the given pixel and is sensed at the first sensitivity. The demosaic unit also obtains a color component of a given pixel, sensed at the second sensitivity, by performing interpolation calculation using color components of pixels each of which is adjacent to the given pixel and is sensed at the second sensitivity. |
| US08466988B2 |
Image pickup apparatus having zoom function
An image pickup apparatus that is capable of changing a zoom speed in a wide range in accordance with an amount of movement of a zoom lever without oversizing the zoom lever, and has excellent operability of the zoom lever. An amount of change of zoom speed relative to an amount of movement of the zoom lever during when the zoom lever is operated from a first neutral position in a first or second direction differs from that during when the zoom lever is operated from a second neutral position in the first or second direction. Thus, the zoom speed can be varied in a wide range according to the amount of movement of the zoom lever, while ensuring the operability of the zoom lever. |
| US08466986B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image capturing control method, and storage medium storing program for image capturing
An image capturing control method includes obtaining temporally-continued image data items while driving the image capturing unit at one of predetermined continuous capturing speeds, temporarily holding the obtained image data items, sequentially compressing the temporarily held image data items at a predetermined compression ratio, determining whether or not the compressed image data items falls within a predetermined data volume, performing control of recompressing the image data items at a compression ratio higher than the predetermined compression ratio, when it is determined that compressed image data items does not fall within the predetermined data volume, and setting the number of recompression for each of the image data items according to a continuous capturing speed of the driven image capturing unit. |
| US08466982B2 |
Low common mode driver
Techniques to provide a replica bias circuit for a high speed and low voltage common mode driver. In an embodiment, a pre-driver is coupled to provide driver input voltages to the driver, which driver includes a set of circuit elements coupled to provide, based on the driver input voltages, an output signal of a differential output. In another embodiment, a regulator circuit is coupled to provide regulated power to the pre-driver and driver, where the regulator circuit includes a scale replica circuit having a replica of the first set of circuit elements. |
| US08466980B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing picture privacy in video
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing picture privacy in video. The method includes separating, by the processor, pixels of a first type from pixels of a second type in a current gray-scale frame based on a decision threshold, where each of the pixels of the first and second types includes an image pixel value, and applying, by the processor, a privacy filter to the pixels of the first type. The privacy filter is configured to randomly swap the image pixel values within a pixel area to occur at different locations in the pixel area. The method further includes combining, by the processor, the filter pixels of the first type with the pixels of the second type. |
| US08466979B2 |
Digital imaging processor and method of improving user recognition in the digital imaging processor
A digital image processor and method of improving user recognition in the digital image processor are provided. The digital image processor includes a view finder for a user to view a subject and a display unit on which an image is electrically realized, the digital image processor includes: a sensing unit for sensing rotation of the digital image processor; a detecting unit disposed at one side of the view finder and comprising an emission unit for emitting light and a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected by the user; and a control unit for increasing time for emitting light from the emission unit when the rotation is sensed by the sensing unit and controlling power supply to the display unit based on an output value corresponding to an amount of incident light onto the light receiving unit. |
| US08466978B2 |
Digital image processor for a digital camera
There is provided a digital image processor. An exemplary digital image processor comprises a pre-processor arranged to pre-process received digital images having a first resolution into a lower resolution to form pre-processed digital images. The pre-processor may be arranged to output the pre-processed digital images to a display independently from the received digital images being stored for subsequent post-processing. The exemplary digital image processor may also comprise a post-processor arranged to post-process received digital images that have been stored for post-processing. |
| US08466976B2 |
Digital camera providing high dynamic range images
A method for producing a high-dynamic-range image, comprising receiving a low-resolution image of the scene having a first resolution and captured at a first exposure level; receiving a high-resolution image of a scene having a second resolution and captured at a second exposure level different from the first exposure level, the second resolution being greater than the first resolution; forming a representative low-resolution image from the high-resolution image; forming a residual image corresponding to differences between the high-resolution image and the representative low-resolution image; forming a low-resolution high-dynamic range image by combining the low-resolution image and the representative low-resolution image; producing the high-dynamic-range image by combining the low-resolution high dynamic range image and the residual image; and storing the high-dynamic-range image in a processor accessible memory. |
| US08466975B2 |
Image pickup devices and methods of processing image signals using image pickup devices
An image pickup device may include a sensor array including a plurality of pixels and an actuator operatively connected to the sensor array. The actuator may be configured to sequentially move the sensor array, in a horizontal or vertical direction by one pixel pitch, in response to a control signal. A method of processing image signals using an image pickup device may include moving the plurality of pixels by the one pixel pitch using the actuator in order to allow multiple pixels to be sequentially located at a position on which light is incident, and sequentially detecting color component signals of each of the multiple pixels from the incident light. |
| US08466974B2 |
Apparatus and methods for controlling image sensors
A computer-implemented method for controlling an image sensor includes loading an image file having data sets associated with multiple image sensors respectively, identifying the image sensor if identification data included in one of the data sets matches to the image sensor, and configuring the image sensor according to configuration data included in the data set matching to the image sensor. The identification data indicates an identity of the image sensor. The configuration data indicates operation parameters of the image sensor. |
| US08466973B2 |
Computer device and method for adapting the compression rate of digital images
A computer device for a digital picture taking application includes a camera having an optical system, an electronic image sensor providing raw image data, and an image data compressor, a display, a computing subsystem and a data bus interfacing the computing subsystem with the image data compressor. The image data compressor generates a compressed picture data stream from the raw image data using a variable and externally controllable compression rate. A CPU and bus bandwidth manager monitors the available CPU utilization and bus bandwidth depending on activities of the computer program applications and allocates bus bandwidth to active computer program applications. |
| US08466971B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Sensed image data obtained by controlling opening/closing of a shutter based on a signal for controlling the opening/closing timing of the shutter of an image sensing device is acquired. Exposure characteristic data indicating the exposure characteristic of the image sensing device in unit opening/closing of the shutter is acquired. A motion vector regarding an image represented by the sensed image data when acquiring the sensed image data is acquired. The image represented by the sensed image data is corrected based on the signal for controlling the opening/closing timing of the shutter, the exposure characteristic data, and the motion vector. |
| US08466970B2 |
Imaging apparatus, method, system integrated circuit, and program for correcting inclination of subjects in an image
An imaging apparatus wherein a captured image is subjected to a rotational transform so as to correct the inclination of one or more subjects in the captured image. The imaging apparatus defines, with reference to a physical inclination detected by a sensor, an angle range in which the image is to be processed. The imaging apparatus then processes the captured image and detects lines therein and inclination angles thereof. The imaging apparatus then creates histograms indicative of frequency distributions of the inclination angles of those lines, and selects, in the created histograms, an inclination angle having a frequency that satisfies a predetermined criterion, as a rotational angle to be used for the rotational transform. |
| US08466965B2 |
Wall plate digital television antenna signal meter and method
A wall plate assembly having a television channel select switch, a channel display, and a signal strength display. A circuit board on the rear of the wall plate includes a television antenna connector, a television output connector, and control electronics. The control electronics displays the selected channel in the channel display, determines the signal strength for the selected channel in any signal on the television antenna connector and displays it in the signal strength display. The control electronics delivers the signal for the selected channel to the television output connector. |
| US08466961B2 |
Apparatus and method for outputting video images, and purchasing system
The video input unit inputs video data. The reference data input unit inputs a plurality of reference data relating to the video data. The extraction condition determining unit determines, from the identification information of the plurality of reference data, an item of identification information in correspondence with a period of time elapsed after receipt of an output request. The reference data extracting unit extracts the reference data having the determined identification information. The analyzing unit calculates the level of similarity between the frames in the input video data and the reference data, and extracts frames whose level of similarity is greater than a first threshold value. The video generating unit generates output video data that includes the extracted frames. The output unit outputs the generated output video data. |
| US08466960B2 |
Liquid droplet recognition apparatus, raindrop recognition apparatus, and on-vehicle monitoring apparatus
Disclosed is a liquid droplet recognition apparatus for detecting liquid droplets attached to a front surface of a transparent member. The apparatus includes an image pickup apparatus that picks up a vertically polarized light image and a horizontally polarized light image at the front surface of the transparent member from a side of a rear surface of the transparent member; and a signal processing unit that determines whether the liquid droplets are attached to the front surface of the transparent member based on a polarized-light image ratio composed of the vertically polarized light image and the horizontally polarized light image picked up by the image pickup apparatus. |
| US08466952B2 |
Analysis of video composition of participants in a video conference
A method of determining whether a video frame meets the design composition requirements associated with a video conference, said method comprising steps performed by a processor of: providing design composition requirements for the video frame, wherein the design composition requirements are available at runtime; analyzing captured video content from a video conference, to determine whether a participant of interest is present in a video frame of the video content; and analyzing the video frame to determine if it meets the design composition requirements for the video conference. |
| US08466949B2 |
Exposure device and image forming apparatus
There is provided an exposure device including: a light-emitting element array having an elongated support and plural light-emitting elements, the light-emitting elements being arranged in at least one row along a length direction of the support such that a spacing between two adjacent light-emitting elements is a pre-specified first spacing; and a hologram element array having a hologram recording layer disposed on the support and plural hologram elements formed, the plural hologram elements corresponding with each of the light-emitting elements and being formed such that a spacing along the support length direction between two adjacent hologram elements is the first spacing, and a diameter in the support length direction of each of the plural hologram elements being larger than the first spacing, such that a respective light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements is diffracted and focused toward a pre-specified image-forming plane by the corresponding hologram element. |
| US08466948B2 |
Optical scanning device including a plurality of light sources
An optical scanning device includes a plurality of light sources, at least two securing units provided for each of the light sources, and a substrate for driving the light sources. The components are arranged such that the direction “A” in which the light sources are arranged has an upward slant with respect to a lateral direction (i.e. X direction) of the substrate, and the direction “B” in which the at least two securing units provided for each of the light sources are arranged has a downward slant with respect to the lateral direction of the substrate. Accordingly, a compact optical scanning device can be provided. |
| US08466946B2 |
Image forming apparatus and light intensity correction method
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an optical writing device including, a light source section composed of a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a main scanning direction; an optical section including a plurality of coupled lenses to form an image on a light exposure face by gathering light emitted from the light emitting elements; and a storage section to store first correction data for correcting the light intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements and second correction data for correcting an optical characteristic specific to the coupled lens, and a control section to read out the first correction data and the second correction data from the storage section of the optical writing device and to correct the first correction data based on the second correction data. |
| US08466944B2 |
Device and process for marking a moving object by laser
Device and process for marking a moving object by laserA process for marking a moving object by means of a laser using a laser system with a laser beam with the ability to mark within a working area characterised in that: the position of the object to be marked is obtained by means of a sensor, and the speed of the object to be marked is varied in relation to the position of the object to be marked relative to the working area and/or the position of the laser beam within the working area. |
| US08466938B2 |
Transferred medium
A transferred medium is provided. In one exemplary embodiment a transferred medium includes a projection part projected in a transferring direction. The projection part can be integrally formed at a front end of the transferred medium. The transferred medium can have a plate shape that can be nipped between a feed driving roller that is rotationally driven and a feed driven roller that is rotationally driven in contact with the feed driving roller. The transferred medium can also be configured to be transferred in the transferring direction with the rotation of the feed driving roller. Further, the transferred medium can include a plurality of the projection parts at its front end in a direction perpendicular to the transferring direction of the transferred medium with a predetermined pitch. Other embodiments of a transferred medium are also disclosed. |
| US08466936B2 |
Color gamut mapping method for multimedia equipment, a television and a color processing apparatus
A color gamut mapping method for multimedia equipment is disclosed. This method performs color gamut mapping on a video signal received by the multimedia equipment and gives an output, wherein the video signal is in a first color gamut while display light of the multimedia equipment is in a second color gamut. The color gamut mapping method for multimedia equipment comprises the steps of: converting the received video signal into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal, and calculating a two-dimensional plane according to the luminance signal and the chrominance signal, wherein the two-dimensional plane intersects the first color gamut to obtain a first region and intersects the second color gamut to obtain a second region; calculating location of a to-be-mapped point corresponding to the video signal in the first region according to the luminance signal and the chrominance signal of the video signal, and calculating a mapping point in the second region by making calculations on the to-be-mapped point to output a mapping point signal. |
| US08466934B2 |
Touchscreen interface
A user interface including a display screen and an input device. The input device is for example a touchscreen, a touch pad, and one or more proximity sensors. The input device detects an input event, more specifically a pointing object placed in proximity therewith. Parameters of the input event include distance of the pointing object from the input device, speed of displacement of the pointing object towards the input device, direction of displacement of the pointing object towards the input device, and direction of displacement of the pointing object relative a plane of the input device. The display screen effects output events or magnification events. A field of view on the display screen (i.e. an area on the display screen) is magnified. At least one of scale of magnification, size of field of view to be magnified and size of resultant magnified field of view is dependent on at least one of the parameters of the input event. A user interface method for controlling magnification events effected by the display screen in response to signals generated by the input device is also provided by the present disclosure. |
| US08466933B2 |
Information processing unit having communication function
An information processing unit is configured so that in a case where a display-rotating button 4 or 11b is operated by a user so as to select a second display mode, and where either a communication unit 5 or 13 is in an activated state and the user does not halt the action of the communication unit 5 or 13, the display mode is shifted to a mode other than the second display mode. Thereby, it is possible to urge the user to change the posture of a main body 1. |
| US08466932B2 |
System and method for automatically selecting electronic images depending on an input
A system and a method for automatic selection of images, which are displayed on a screen. Embodiments of the invention relate to a system for automatically selecting electronic images depending on an input, which includes input analyzing means being adapted for receiving an input, for analyzing the received input for dominant colors, and for outputting the analyzed dominant colors, image analyzing means being adapted for receiving electronic images, for analyzing each electronic image for colors dominant in tile image and for outputting tile analyzed dominant colors, and image selection means being adapted for receiving the outputted dominant colors from the input analyzing means and the image analyzing means, for processing the received dominant colors, for selecting an electronic image based on the processing, and for signaling the selection. This allows to automatically influence lighting in an environment such as a home, retail or hospitality environment. |
| US08466931B2 |
Color modification of objects in a virtual universe
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for modifying an object. In one embodiment, the process obtains avatar tracking data that identifies a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object. The range includes a viewable field. The process then calculates modified pixel color values to form a modified color in response to detecting a condition for triggering modification of the object. Thereafter, the process modifies a color of the object to form the modified color when the location of the set of avatars is within the range of the object. |
| US08466930B2 |
Color adjustment circuit
The fact that B and R are close to a U axis and to a V axis, respectively, is noted. On that basis, from an example of color adjustment parameters set in directions of colors, it is found out that, when inputted V is in a negative range, B has a small influence. Accordingly, a B component is omitted from calculation in order to reduce a calculation amount. Similarly, components having small influences are omitted when B is in a positive range, when U is in the positive range, and when U is in the negative range. Thereby, adjustment parameters AR, AG, and AB set in directions shown in the drawing can be defined. When inputted V is in the positive range, a V component can be adjusted by multiplying AR by the inputted V. Similar processing is performed when inputted V is in the negative range, when U is in the positive range, and when U is the negative range, respectively. With this taken into consideration by setting values of the adjustment parameters for respective RGB larger than 1 or smaller than 1, color transformation processing for adjusting darkness/lightness of colors can be performed, independently of brightness, so as to bring values of U and V close toward a color component to be increase in intensity. This allows reduction in load of color transformation processing. |
| US08466928B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus for inputting a plurality of rectangular images each composed of n×n pixels and outputting line-by-line image data in which one line is composed of n×n×m pixels. A line buffer stores n lines of image data, each line is composed n×n×m pixels. The apparatus generate a write address for writing a rectangular image to the line buffer memory and a read-out address for reading line-by-line image data out of the line buffer memory, and changes over a method of generating the write address between a first write-address generating method and a second write-address generating method whenever m rectangular images are written to the line buffer, and changes over the read-out address between a first read-out-address generating method and a second read-out-address generating method whenever n lines of image data are read out of the line buffer. |
| US08466923B2 |
Method and apparatus for contolling writing of data to graphic memory
A method and apparatus for controlling writing of data to a graphic memory is provided. In the method and apparatus, a plurality of consecutively input data pieces are controlled to be not consecutively written to the same memory area in terms of time or space. |
| US08466912B2 |
Content display device, content display method, content display program, recording medium, server apparatus, content providing method and content providing program
A content display device effectively displays content utilizing a visible area which is not hidden in a display area which is partially hidden, without changing the state of the display area. The content display device has: a determining means that determines whether or not one of display areas is partially hidden when the display areas arranged on a screen overlap each other; a specifying means that, when it is decided that one of the display areas is partially hidden, specifies a visible area included in the display area which is partially hidden; an acquiring means that acquires content comprising a feature portion of content positioned in the visible area at the time of display of the content in the display area which is partially hidden; and a display means that displays the acquired content in the display area which is partially hidden. |
| US08466910B2 |
Display drive apparatus and display apparatus
A display pixel including a light-emitting element and a drive element for supplying current flowing in a current path to the light-emitting element is applied with a detection voltage based on a predetermined unit voltage. Based on a value of current flowing in the current path of the drive element, a specific value corresponding to an element characteristic of the drive element is detected. A gradation voltage corresponding to a luminance gradation of display data is generated. Based on the specific value and the unit voltage, a compensated voltage is generated. By compensating the gradation voltage based on the compensated voltage, a compensated gradation voltage is generated. And the compensated gradation voltage is supplied to the display pixel. |
| US08466904B2 |
Light sensing circuit and flat panel display including the same
A light sensing circuit for use in auto brightness control (ABC), and a flat panel display including the light sensing circuit. The light sensing circuit includes a first photodiode; a second photodiode which is electrically connected to the first photodiode and includes a shielding film for shielding externally incident light; a first voltage fixing unit which is connected to the first photodiode and the second photodiode and maintains a voltage applied to the first photodiode at a certain value; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which generates a digital value that depends on a current flowing in the first photodiode and the second photodiode. Accordingly, the light sensing circuit can precisely sense the brightness of a surrounding environment and drive a flat panel display with the most suitable brightness. |
| US08466903B2 |
Display apparatus and position detecting method
An image generating unit of a display apparatus generates a determination image based on first and second light reception images obtained from light reception cells in a light-emission period and in a non-light-emission period, respectively. An image determining unit determines whether or not an image of an object to be detected is included in the determination image, stores data corresponding to the determination image as initial data into a storage when the object image is not included in the determination image, and stores the data corresponding to the determination image as detection data into the storage when the object image is included in the determination image. A position determining unit determines at least an object position based on an image represented by the detection data in the storage and an image represented by the initial data in the storage. |
| US08466902B2 |
Infrared sensor integrated in a touch panel
An infrared source is configured to illuminate the underside of one or more objects on or above a touchable surface of a touch panel. Infrared light reflected from the underside of the object(s) is detected by an infrared sensor integrated in the touch panel below the touchable surface. |
| US08466901B2 |
Optical touch system having integrated optical touch apparatus and panel apparatus and operating method thereof
An optical touch system is disclosed. The optical touch system comprises a panel apparatus and an optical touch apparatus. The panel apparatus includes a first position and a second position. The optical touch apparatus includes a light emitting module, a light path adjusting module, a light sensing module, and a processing module. The light emitting module and the light sensing module are set on the first position and the second position respectively. The light emitting module emits a sensing light, and the sensing light is reflected by the light path adjusting module to form a reflected light. The light sensing module receives the reflected light and generates a sensing result according to whether the light sensing module receives the reflected light. The processing module determines the touch point position formed on the panel apparatus according to the sensing result. |
| US08466900B2 |
Capacitance sensor and information input apparatus
Provided is a capacitance sensor including: a first electrode including a first region gradually larger in height with respect to a width direction parallel to a first direction in parallel with a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second region gradually smaller in height with respect to the width direction, and a third region causing the first and second regions to be opposed; a second electrode opposed to the first region in the second direction, and gradually smaller in height with respect to the first direction in parallel with the second direction; a third electrode opposed to the second region in the second direction and gradually larger in height with respect to the first direction in parallel with the second direction; and a support body supporting electrode groups including the first to third electrodes while connected via the third region, and arranging those groups along the second direction. |
| US08466898B2 |
Input device and display device including the same
An input device includes an insulation layer having a first main surface, and a second main surface positioned on the opposite side of the first main surface, a first detection electrode pattern provided on the first main surface of the insulation layer and arranged along a first direction, a second detection electrode pattern arranged along a second direction and having an intersection region provided on the second main surface of the insulation layer so as to intersect with the first detection electrode pattern in a plan view, and a detection region provided on the first main surface of the insulation layer, and a conductive electrode provided on the second main surface of the insulation layer, in which the conductive electrode has an opening, and the intersection region of the second detection electrode pattern is positioned in the opening. |
| US08466897B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus
An information processing apparatus comprising a touch screen which detects a touch input by a user detects the position and pressure of each of a plurality of pressed points corresponding to a plurality of touch inputs existing at the same time on a touch screen. Then, the front/rear overlap relationship of the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen is changed based on the difference in pressure between the detected plurality of pressed points. |
| US08466893B2 |
Use of a two finger input on touch screens
A system and method for detecting at least two-finger input on a touch screen of a display such as computer, etc. includes a display screen; a sensing grid arranged for sensing touch on said display screen; a plurality of electrodes connected electrically to the sensing grid. A controller receives an output from the sensing grid, and a module identifies at least two points on the grid indicating locations of the display screen that have been touched by a user and identifies a geographic portion of the display screen to be identified based on said at least two points. As the position of the fingers are relative to the position of the screen via change in a direction of a Z-coordinate, a variable zoom can be provided by the sensing grid commensurate with different distances that the multiple fingers are sensed from the display screen. |
| US08466887B2 |
Method and system for handling multiple touch input on a computing device
A system for handling multi-touch input on a computing device enables the device to handle multi-touch input where each touch input is provided to a separate application executing on the device. In response to a first touch input, a first application generates and registers a first connection point with a link component. Similarly, a second application generates and registers a second connection point in response to a second touch input. The link component then provides the second connection point to the first application and notifies the first application that it should complete a communication connection with the second application. The two applications then exchange information to determine a coordinator application that will execute first in response to the input. The information exchange may include a handshake process in which each application may request or provide information and notify the other application that it will or will not execute an operation. After the coordinator is selected, the selected application executes an operation. |
| US08466883B2 |
Identifying contacts on a touch surface
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device. |
| US08466879B2 |
Multi-touch manipulation of application objects
The manipulation system described herein provides a common platform and application-programming interface (API) for applications to communicate with various multi-touch hardware devices, and facilitates the interpretation of multi-touch input as one or more manipulations. Manipulations map more directly to user intentions than do individual touch inputs and add support for basic transformation of objects using multiple touch contacts. An application can use manipulations to support rotating, resizing, and translating multiple objects at the same time. The manipulation system outputs two-dimensional (2D) affine transforms that contain rotation, scale, and translation information. Thus, using the manipulation system the application author can focus more on building touch-capable applications and let the manipulation system handle the underlying transformations and communication with the multi-touch hardware. |
| US08466878B2 |
Handheld electronic device including automatic preferred selection of a punctuation, and associated method
A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, which includes an input apparatus having a number of input members that are capable of being actuated, wherein at least one of the input members has a plurality of selectable output alternatives, includes detecting as a first input an actuation of an input member, generating a first output, detecting as a second input an actuation of an input member having a plurality of selectable output alternatives comprising at least a primary punctuation and a secondary punctuation, determining that said first output has a predetermined characteristic, preferring as a second output said secondary punctuation, and outputting said second output. |
| US08466876B2 |
Terminal
A terminal includes a lower housing; an upper housing slidably installed with respect to the lower housing; and a pressing member with both ends being supported by the lower and upper housings, respectively, for providing variable levels of pressure in diverse directions according to a sliding position of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing, wherein one end of the pressing member is movably linked to the lower housing. The small-sized pressing member provides a maximum level of pressure to facilitate the sliding movement of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing. Thus, space utilization can be improved. |
| US08466875B2 |
Electroencephalogram interface system, electroencephalogram interface apparatus, method, and computer program
An electroencephalogram interface system includes: sections for measuring an electroencephalogram and an eye movement; an output section for presenting on a screen an option related to a device operation; a highlight determination section for, if a predetermined time has elapsed since a rotational angular velocity of the eye movement becomes equal to or less than a threshold value, identifying a region of the screen in which the user is fixing one's gaze based on the eye movement, and determining an option to be highlighted; an interface section for highlighting the determined option, and determining an operation of the device based on an event-related potential in the signal based on the timing of highlighting the option; and a timing adjustment section for adjusting a timing of beginning highlighting based on the eye movement after a process of displaying the option on the screen is begun and until the option is displayed on the screen. |
| US08466872B2 |
Input apparatus
An input apparatus includes a case, an operation body stored rotatably in the case, a magnetic body fixed to the operation body, a magnet provided around the operation body, a magnetic detection element for detecting a magnetic flux from the magnetic body, and a frame for retaining the case. The magnetic detection element faces the operation body with a predetermined space therebetween. The frame includes depression sections for causing the magnetic detection element to elastically contact the lower surface of the case. This input apparatus can accurately detect a rotation angle. |
| US08466871B2 |
Input apparatus for in-vehicle devices
An input apparatus for in-vehicle devices is easy to use and facilitates recognizing the position of fingertips. For this, the input apparatus includes a control unit including a recess allowing fingers to be inserted thereinto and having a control surface on an inner side wall thereof, a control switch disposed on the control surface, and a camera horizontally photographing the fingers inserted into the recess; and a display unit displaying an image of the fingers photographed by the camera to overlay on a control screen. |
| US08466870B2 |
E-paper application 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: one or more conformation sensor modules configured to direct 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 one or more coordination modules configured to direct coordinating the 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 with one or more commands. 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. |
| US08466868B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method for driving the same
An organic light emitting display device having low power consumption is disclosed. Power in the device is saved by precharging data lines if the data of the current frame has a higher voltage than the data of the previous frame. Accordingly, if the data lines are precharged the data line driving buffer does not need to use as much power. |
| US08466854B2 |
Organic electro-luminescent device package and fabricating method thereof
An organic electro-luminescent device package includes an organic electro-luminescent device array substrate, a transparent cover, and a frit. The organic electro-luminescent device array substrate includes a first substrate and a plurality of organic electro-luminescent devices arranged on the first substrate in an array. The transparent cover is disposed over the organic electro-luminescent device array substrate. The transparent cover includes a second substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the second substrate. The organic electro-luminescent devices are located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The frit is disposed between the organic electro-luminescent device array substrate and the transparent cover to surround the organic electro-luminescent devices. The frit is located between the first substrate and a portion of the conductive layer, and the portion of the conductive layer corresponding to the frit is transparent. |
| US08466846B1 |
Ultra wide band balanced antipodal tapered slot antenna and array with edge treatment
The present disclosure is directed to a dual-polarized antenna array including a first BAVA, a second BAVA and a cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes first, second and third U-channel modules connected via first and second frame portions. The first U-channel module, the second U-channel module, and the first frame portion receive first, second and third edge portions of a substrate of the first BAVA, respectively. The second U-channel module, the third U-channel module, and the second frame portion receive first, second and third edge portions of a substrate of the second BAVA, respectively. When received within the cradle assembly, the substrate of the first BAVA is oriented perpendicular to the substrate of the second BAVA. The first BAVA is a vertical polarization input and the second BAVA is a horizontal polarization input. |
| US08466845B2 |
Wide bandwidth balanced antipodal tapered slot antenna and array including a magnetic slot
A balanced, antipodal tapered slot antenna includes one or more antenna elements or unit cells having metallic cross walls that are located in spaces between the adjacent elements of the antenna. The elements can include vias interconnecting metallic conductors of the elements and one or more magnetic slots in the metallic conductors. A plurality of the antenna elements or unit cells can be arranged in an antenna array that has a mirrored configuration with adjacent intermediate neighboring elements of the antenna array mirrored one-dimensionally with elements reversed along the E-plane, or doubly-mirrored, two-dimensionally, in the E-plane and the H-plane by reversing the orientation of alternate elements. Metallic cross walls and metallic rods are disposed in a non-electrically contacting relationship with adjacent antenna elements. The substrate of the antenna includes dielectric material located at the aperture of the antenna element. |
| US08466842B2 |
Window antenna
A vehicle window assembly. The window assembly includes a glass ply and an electro-conductive coating located on a surface of the glass ply. The electro-conductive coating has an outer peripheral edge that is adapted to be spaced from an inner metal edge of a vehicle frame so as to define an antenna slot. The electro-conductive coating includes at least one deleted portion adjacent the outer peripheral edge, wherein the deleted portion is sized to tune the antenna slot to a desired resonant frequency. |
| US08466840B2 |
Wireless transmission device and computer system using the same
A wireless transmission device and a computer system using the same are provided. The wireless transmission device is adapted to a computer system having a first housing and a second housing, a display is disposed in the first housing, and a motherboard is disposed in the second housing. The wireless transmission device includes a first antenna and a signal processing module. The first antenna is disposed in the side edge of the first housing opposite to the second housing and the signal processing module is disposed in the second housing. The signal processing module is connected with the first antenna via a cable, and it also has a second antenna, so as to process a wireless signal transmitted by the first antenna and the second antenna. |
| US08466839B2 |
Electronic devices with parasitic antenna resonating elements that reduce near field radiation
Antennas are provided for electronic devices such as portable computers. An electronic device may have a housing in which an antenna is mounted. The housing may be formed of conductive materials. A dielectric antenna window may be mounted in the housing to allow radio-frequency signals to be transmitted from the antenna and to allow the antenna to receive radio-frequency signals. Near-field radiation limits may be satisfied by reducing transmit power when an external object is detected in the vicinity of the dielectric antenna window and the antenna. A proximity sensor may be used in detecting external objects. A parasitic antenna resonating element may be interposed between the antenna resonating element and the dielectric antenna window to minimize near-field radiation hotspots. The parasitic antenna resonating element may be formed using a capacitor electrode for the proximity sensor. A ferrite layer may be interposed between the parasitic element and the antenna window. |
| US08466838B2 |
Circularly polarized microstrip antennas
The present invention in one aspect relates to a circularly polarized antenna having a conductive ground layer, a conductive patch and a dielectric substrate formed between the conductive ground layer and the conductive patch. The conductive patch formed in a square shape with four equal sides and has four square slots with each formed in the central portion of each side, and two rectangular slots orthogonally formed in the central area of the square such that one rectangular slot is aligned with one diagonal of the square, the other rectangular slot is aligned with the other diagonal of the square, and the junction of the two rectangular slots is coincident with the geometrical center of the square. |
| US08466835B2 |
Systems and methods for clock correction
A non-GPS satellite-based system enables correction of a local clock in a user device to facilitate GPS-based location determination. |
| US08466833B2 |
Monitoring system for an inner area of a machine
A monitoring system for an inner area of a machine includes a radar source radiating or injecting radar radiation into the inner area and a radar receiver receiving radar radiation reflected in the inner area and emitting the reflected radar radiation as a received signal. A control and evaluation unit determines an actual signature from the received signal and compares the actual signature to a stored nominal signature representing a fault-free machine. An output unit outputs a fault error signal when a discrepancy between the actual signature and the nominal signature exceeds a tolerance value. |
| US08466830B2 |
Electronic scanning radar apparatus, receiving wave direction estimating method, and computer-readable storage media storing receiving wave direction estimation program
An electronic scanning radar apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave, and a receiving unit including a plurality of antennas receiving a receiving wave coming from a target. The receiving wave is formed from a reflection wave of the transmission wave reflected at the target. A beat signal generation unit is configured to generate beat signals in response to the transmission wave and the receiving wave. A frequency resolution processing unit is configured to obtain complex number data calculated from beat frequencies having signal levels obtained by performing a frequency resolution for the beat signals based on a predetermined frequency width. A peak detector is configured to detect an existence of the target by detecting peak signal levels of the beat frequencies, and a direction detecting unit is configured to calculate an incoming direction of the receiving wave based on a normal equation having an order. |
| US08466829B1 |
Super-angular and range-resolution with phased array antenna and multifrequency dither
A radar system comprises an electromagnetic transmitter and an array of antenna elements connected in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output manner for routing signals reflected from the target to a plurality of receive beam rotation processors. The receive beam rotation processing for each antenna element includes application of rotation frequency offsets to the received signals and summation in summing and differencing adders to generate I and Q components of the rotating beams. The I and Q components for each element are summed to generate received signals including angle-or-arrival (AOA) information. The AOA information is further processed by correlating with reference replica AOA signals and by averaging to determine the actual AOA. The transmitter may have multiple contrarotating beams generated by application of frequency offsets. The transmit and receive beam rotations may be synchronized. |
| US08466827B2 |
Object detecting device
An object detecting device which can reduce the influence of an error caused by temporal displacement between a detection result by a radar and a detection result by image processing and thus, the precision of object detection can be improved. In one particular embodiment, the device may receive image data captured by a camera and radar data from a radar unit. The device searches the image data for the target object, and also extracts detection points from the radar data that correspond to the target object. The position of the target object in the image is corrected in accordance with the radar detection data. |
| US08466825B2 |
Combined electromagnetic wave absorber
An electromagnetic wave absorber is provided which has an outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption property with a return loss of 20 dB or greater in a wide frequency band of 30 MHz to 20 GHz. A combined electromagnetic wave absorber includes a magnetic absorber plate, a crossed electromagnetic wave absorber disposed on the magnetic absorber plate, and a compact electromagnetic wave absorber disposed in a space defined by the dielectric loss plates of the crossed electromagnetic wave absorber on the magnetic absorber plate. When viewed in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic absorber plate, the compact electromagnetic wave absorber is configured in a multilayer structure having a plurality of electromagnetic wave absorbent layers with a low dielectric layer interposed therebetween. |
| US08466823B2 |
Cascade analog-to-digital converting system
A novel analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system using a two-step conversion is disclosed. The ADC system is capable of achieving high sampling rate, low power consumption and low complexity. The new proposed ADC is formed by cascading a flash ADC having high sampling rate and low resolution with a successive approximation (SA) ADC having low power consumption and low sampling rate. |
| US08466822B2 |
Analog-to-digital conversion apparatus and signal processing system
An AD conversion apparatus includes: a first AD converter for converting an input analog signal into a first digital signal; a second AD converter for converting an analog signal obtained as a result of multiplying the input analog signal by a coefficient α into a second digital signal; a first computing unit for multiplying the first digital signal output by the first AD converter by α2 obtained as a result of squaring the coefficient α; a second computing unit for multiplying the second digital signal output by the second AD converter by α−1 which is the reciprocal of the coefficient α; and a third computing unit for computing a difference between a first computation result output by the first computing unit and a second computation result output by the second computing unit and outputting the difference as a result of AD conversion carried out on the input analog signal. |
| US08466821B2 |
Delta sigma ADC
A ΔΣADC is provided that is capable of suppressing increase of a circuit scale without losing noise shaping function even when a switching speed of a switch for performing time-division process is lower than a sampling rate of the ΔΣADC. For a code values provided by a comparator (105), the ΔΣADC (100) has a first storage section (106-1) and a second storage section (106-2) respectively for signal sequences (a first signal sequence and a second signal sequence) constituting a time-divisionally combined signal. Then, one of the two storage sections (i.e. the first storage section (106-1) and the second storage section (106-2)) that corresponds to a branch selection signal is configured to store the code value obtained from the comparator (105). On the other hand, one of the two storage sections (i.e. the first storage section (106-1) and the second storage section (106-2)) that is not the storage section corresponding to the branch selection signal is configured to hold the already stored code value. |
| US08466819B2 |
System and method for selective wavelength interleaved filtered technique (SWIFT) ADC
A system and method for selective wavelength interleaved filtering technique for analog to digital conversion (ADC) comprises a remote aperture for analog input, a modulator operable to transform the analog input into an initial optical signal, a photonic front end having high resolution optical filters operable to filter the optical signal into multiple subsequent optical signals and supply local oscillators for downconversion into electrical signals, a segmented subsystem having a plurality of ADCs, each operable to receive and convert one subsequent optical signal of the optical signals, and a memory buffer and process subsystem operable to reconstruct the converted subsequent optical signals into a digital representation of the analog input by executing reconstruction algorithms. Provision is made for compensation of distortions arising in the electrical to optical to electrical conversion process. The optical filters can include a self-registered filter wherein individual passbands are intrinsically aligned to one another. |
| US08466817B2 |
Electronic device and method for driving an internal function block of a processor of the electronic device to operate in a linear region
An electronic device and a method for driving an internal function block of a processor of the electric device to operate in a linear region. The electronic device comprises a processor having two multiple purpose pins (MPP1 and MPP2), an external device connection port, and two resistance elements. The external device connection port is further connected to the MPP1 and at a tested voltage. The first resistance element is connected between a high level voltage and the external device connection port. The second resistance element is connected between the external device connection port and the MPP2. The processor is configured to output the high or low level voltage at MPP2 when the tested voltage is in a non-linear operating region, to guarantee the tested voltage to a linear operating region of the function block which is coupled to the MPP1 by a multiplexing design. |
| US08466816B2 |
Method and apparatus for serializing bits
A circuit for serializing bits including a clock circuit and a serializer. The clock circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of clock signals from a received master clock signal. A plurality of bits may be transmitted to the serializer in response to a transition of a first clock signal. The serializer may comprise a system of latches and a rotary circuit. The system of latches may be configured to receive a first half of the plurality of bits in response to a first transition of a second clock signal and to receive a second half of the plurality of bits in response to a transition of a third clock signal. The rotary circuit may be configured to receive the plurality of bits from the system of latches and to output each bit at a particular time based on a plurality of rotary clock signals. |
| US08466814B2 |
Touch sensor
A touch sensor includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that is transparent with respect to light in a visible wavelength band, an upper clad and a lower clad formed on the top face and the bottom face of the PCB, a light source for emitting light to a side of the PCB, and a key top layer disposed on the upper clad. |
| US08466809B2 |
System comprising two combined instruments mounted on board an aircraft and method implementing the system
The invention relates to a system including two integrated electronics instruments mounted onboard an aircraft and communication links between the two integrated electronics instruments, each integrated electronics instrument including independent determination of flight parameters of the aircraft and display of either flight parameters or navigation parameters of the aircraft. The system also includes a selection module making it possible to choose, from the sensors of the two integrated electronics instruments, those retained for determining the flight parameters. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a method using the system described above. The method includes selecting from the two integrated electronics instruments the sensors retained for determination of the flight parameters according to their availability, and displaying the determined flight parameters on the display of any one or both of the integrated electronics. |
| US08466804B2 |
Incursion collision avoidance system for vehicle traffic control
A system to identify junctions of restricted areas to approaching vehicles, including at least one warning signal generator adapted to transmit the warning signal into areas traversed by the vehicles approaching the restricted areas, a receiver in each of the vehicles receiving the transmitted warning signals when the vehicle approaches one of the restricted areas, and an alarm responsive to the warning signal, which produces an alarm signal detectable by a vehicle operator. |
| US08466798B2 |
Refrigerant charge level detection
A system includes a first sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed temperature of a liquid refrigerant line that is within or extending from an outlet of a condenser coil of an air conditioner or heat pump unit. The system includes a second sensor that provides an output indicative of a sensed pressure in the liquid refrigerant line. A controller is configured to determine at least one target pressure value from the output indicative of the sensed temperature of the liquid refrigerant line. The controller is configured to determine if the level of refrigerant charge is at, above or below an acceptable level based on a comparison of the output indicative of sensed pressure to the at least one target pressure value. The system includes a display that displays an indication of whether the level of refrigerant charge is at, above or below an acceptable level. |
| US08466794B2 |
Head impact event reporting system
Head impact event evaluation systems and methods. A system and computer implemented method for event detection includes collecting sensor data transmitted from one or more sensor devices being attached to one or more users. The sensors transmit data when an event results in sensor data above a threshold value. At least one force is determined based on the collected sensor data. At least one force vector is determined based on a location of one or more sensors associated with the sensor devices and the determined at least one of the linear or rotational force. At least a portion of a human form is displayed with the determined force vector based on the determined at least on force vector on a display. |
| US08466792B2 |
Portable radio frequency identification system
A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) system and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the RFID system includes a portable structure including a frame with a base supported by a plurality of wheels, an antenna tower and at least one removable shelf therein. The RFID system also includes an RFID reader located on the at least one removable shelf and at least one antenna mounted on the antenna tower and coupled to the RFID reader. The RFID system still further includes a computer system located on the at least one removable shelf and coupled to the RFID reader, and a power subsystem located on the at least one removable shelf and coupled to the RFID reader and the computer system. |
| US08466788B2 |
Device and method for protection against intrusion into the landing gear housing of aircraft
The disclosed embodiments relate to a device for protection against intrusions into the landing gear housings of an aircraft, including at least one sensor, for at least one housing, covering at least one housing entry area and connected to a calculator capable of processing the data from the sensor for detecting the intrusion of a target and generating intrusion occurrence information for triggering an alarm, wherein the calculator is connected to a device for providing aircraft flight phases and/or ground speed information, the device including a means adapted for changing the detection status from an active mode to an inactive mode based on the flight phases and/or ground speed information. |
| US08466787B2 |
Service method of gas appliances
A service method of gas appliances includes: Detecting the gas appliances at the client ends to generate detecting signals. Transmitting the detecting signals to a service end. Identifying which client end the detecting signals come from. Examining the detecting signals to find whether the gas appliance has an abnormal condition; and informing the client end when the abnormal condition is found. After all, the service end may monitor the gas appliances at the client end, and inform the client for repair when the gas appliance has detected an abnormal signal or has damaged parts. |
| US08466786B2 |
Locking mechanism with sabbath control unit
A lock mechanism for locking a door or the like with a Sabbath control unit comprises a Sabbath control unit comprising an optical device including a light beam emitter and detector spaced apart with a line of sight path between them, the optical device operative to provide output indicating if a light beam emitted by the emitter is received by the detector, and a locking mechanism comprising a moving member operative to be displaced between a locked state position wherein the door is locked and an unlocked state position wherein the door is unlocked, wherein the moving member is operative to block the line of sight path while in the locked state position and to clear the line of site path while in the unlocked state position, and wherein the Sabbath control unit is operative to activate an electronic device in response to output indicating that the light beam emitted by the emitter has not been received by the detector. |
| US08466783B2 |
Alarm analysis system and a method for providing statistics on alarms from a process control system
An alarm analysis system for providing statistics on alarms collected by a process control system including an alarm server receiving and storing alarms from one or more processes supervised by the control system. The alarm analysis system is run on the alarm server and the alarm analysis system is adapted to automatically produce and display the statistics in real time based on the alarms stored in the alarm server. |
| US08466780B2 |
Vehicle exterior rearview mirror system with indicator module
An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror casing and a reflective element and an indicator module having a housing, a circuit element and a lens element. The circuit element includes at least one light emitting diode. When the light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes through the lens element. The housing includes at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching the indicator module at the mirror assembly. The lens element is disposed at an aperture of the mirror casing, whereby the lens element is viewable at the exterior of the mirror assembly and the housing of the indicator module is substantially concealed by the mirror casing. The indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of the vehicle that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the vehicle. |
| US08466771B2 |
Sintered metal oxide for thermistor, thermistor element, thermistor temperature sensor, and method for producing sintered metal oxide for thermistor
Disclosed is a sintered metal oxide used for thermistors, which includes a complex oxide represented by the following general formula: La1-yAy(Cr1-xMnx)O3 (with the proviso that A represents at least either one of Ca or Sr, and x and y satisfy 0.0≦x≦1.0 and 0.0 |
| US08466766B2 |
Inductor core shaping near an air gap
An inductor core device, and method of forming same, that has at least a first inductor core section and typically has a second inductor core section, both formed of stacked layers of conductive material. The second core section may be positioned relative to the first core section to define an air gap therebetween and the sections are preferably profiled between their respective end faces and broad surfaces to reduce the eddy current losses induced in the core section(s) near the air gap. Various embodiments, “profile” shaping configurations, and core section arrangements are disclosed. |
| US08466765B2 |
Core and coil construction for multi-winding magnetic structures
Multi-winding magnetic structures and methods of making multi-winding magnetic structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multi-winding magnetic structure includes a core constructed of a magnetic material and a plurality of windings. The core includes a core top, a core bottom, and a plurality of columns. The core top has an exterior edge defining a shape of the core top. A central section of the core top has a substantially constant thickness that defines a thickness of the core top. The core bottom is beneath the core top and has an exterior edge defining a shape of the core bottom. A central section of the core bottom has a substantially constant thickness that defines a thickness of the core bottom. The thickness of one of the core bottom and the core top decreases from an edge of its central section to its exterior edge. The plurality of columns extends from the core bottom to the core top and the plurality of windings are wound around the columns. |
| US08466762B2 |
Magnetically actuated system
A magnetically actuated system includes a conductor and a magnetic field apparatus to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field apparatus includes magnets and magnetically permeable materials to focus the magnetic field in areas of the conductor that produce a drive torque when the conductor carries a current. |
| US08466760B2 |
Configurable power supply using MEMS switch
Systems and methods for forming a configurable power supply uses a plurality of dual substrate MEMS switches to couple a plurality of power cells to provide a selectable, or variable, output voltage. The same circuit may output two different voltages to power two different circuits of the device, or may distribute the load evenly amongst the cells. Thus, the configurable power supply may extend the lifetime and improve the reliability of the device, or decrease its weight, size and cost. |
| US08466759B2 |
Reversible electromagnetic contactor
A reversible unit (10) is attached by being mounted over a pair of adjacently disposed electromagnetic contactors (1a) and (1b). The reversible unit (10) includes a pair of interlock plates (11) and (12), a lock piece (13), and a unit case (10b) accommodating the pair of interlock plates (11) and (12) and the lock piece (13). The lock piece (13) rotates in a first direction with the movement of one of the interlock plates (12) in a turn-on operation of one of the electromagnetic contactors (1a) to prevent the movement of the other interlock plate (11), and rotates in a second direction different from the first direction with the movement of the other interlock plate (11) in a turn-on operation of the other electromagnetic contactor (1b) to prevent the movement of one of the interlock plates (12). The unit case (10b) is provided with a lock piece display window (10g) which allows determination of the rotation of the lock piece (13) in the first direction or the second direction. |
| US08466758B1 |
Impedance tuner with integrated bias network
Single and multi-probe slide screw impedance tuners incorporate DC bias networks. The bias networks can be inserted at the test port, between DUT and first tuner probe/slug, or at the idle port, between tuner probe/slug and load or source. The bias networks are designed and optimized for different frequency and DC power (current, voltage) ranges and are insertable and exchangeable, depending on the application. The effects are short-circuit protection, higher compactness and shorter supply lines leading to: a) better control of spurious oscillations and IF impedance and b) improved sideband up-mixing behavior of the DUT in modulated-signal nonlinear applications. |
| US08466757B2 |
Multilayer common mode filter
A multilayer common mode filter is provided, which can inhibit cracks from occurring, while securing the magnetic coupling between coil conductors. Since magnetic layers are disposed in an inner region of spiral first and second coil conductors, the multilayer common mode filter can secure the magnetic coupling between the first and second coil conductors. In a columnar part including these magnetic layers, magnetic and nonmagnetic bodies are arranged alternately in the laminating direction, whereby the total volume of the magnetic layers in the inner region can be kept smaller than in the case where a magnetic layer penetrates through the inner region of the coil conductors. As a result, at the time of firing a matrix, the difference in the amount of shrinkage between the nonmagnetic and magnetic layers can be suppressed, so as to inhibit cracks from occurring at their interfaces. |
| US08466754B1 |
Low phase noise MEMS-based oscillator with bifurcation and parametric noise squeezing
The present invention is a method for reducing phase noise in oscillator signals. For example, the oscillator may be a low phase noise MEMS-based oscillator and may include a resonator (ex.—a MEMS resonator). Further, the resonator of the oscillator may be operated near a bifurcation point. Still further, the MEMS resonator may be parametrically pumped in such a way so as to redistribute the quadrature signal noise (ex.—phase noise) to in-phase noise (ex.—amplitude noise). |
| US08466753B2 |
Surface mounted crystal oscillator
A metal base having plural protrusions at its bottom is engaged with and placed on standing metal pins in plural through holes provided in a base board, and a circuit board is fitted to an upper end of the metal pins. A crystal resonator is arranged on the circuit board via a heater element, and the metal base is covered with a metal cover, thereby obtaining a sealed structure of the crystal resonator. A two-stage counterbored portion including a first-stage and a second-stage counterbored portions is formed in the bottom of the base board, and a solder or conductive resin is filled in a gap between the first-stage counterbored portion formed around the metal pin inserted into the through hole, and the through hole and the metal pin to fix the metal pin in the though hole. Slits penetrating through the base board are formed around the metal pin. |
| US08466752B2 |
System and method for supporting different types of oscillator circuits
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an oscillator circuit comprises, a first pad associated with a first terminal of an oscillator and a second pad associated with a second terminal of the oscillator. The oscillator is configured to generate an oscillating signal and communicate the oscillating signal from the second terminal to a clock distributor coupled to the second pad. The oscillator circuit further comprises an oscillator gain element comprising an output node coupled to the first pad and an input node coupled to the second pad. The oscillator circuit also comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to the first pad. The oscillator circuit additionally comprises a switching circuit coupled to the gain element. The switching circuit is configured to enable the gain element when the oscillator comprises a resonator and disable the gain element when the oscillator comprises a voltage controlled oscillating module. |
| US08466751B2 |
High-precision and low-consumption quartz oscillator
A precise, low-consumption low-frequency oscillator includes a low-consumption low-frequency oscillator, operating at a frequency FA, a temperature-compensated oscillator B used as frequency standard, operating at a frequency FB, and a circuit for supplying a stable frequency Fcorr. |
| US08466747B1 |
Integrated-circuit amplifier with low temperature rise
An integrated circuit comprises a GaAs substrate thermally and mechanically mounted on a SiC substrate. The GaAs substrate is doped to define first and second transistors. Circuit conductors are defined on the GaAs substrate, which conductors interconnect the source of the first transistor to neutral and the drain to the source of the second transistor. Conductors connect the gate of the second transistor to neutral, to define a cascode amplifier. The SiC substrate supports first and second matching circuits, one of which is connected to the gate of the first transistor, and the other of which is connected to the drain of the second transistor. |
| US08466743B2 |
Ground-referenced common-mode amplifier circuit and related method
Disclosed is an amplifier circuit configured to amplify a pulse stream. The amplifier circuit comprises a switching block including a first switch operable to couple an output node of the switching block to a positive reference voltage, a second switch operable to couple the output node to a ground reference voltage and a third switch operable to couple the output node to a negative reference voltage. The amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the pulse stream into an amplified signal detectable at the output node such that the amplified signal has a common-mode voltage level substantially equal to zero volts. In one embodiment, the amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the pulse stream in accordance with a Class-D amplification scheme. In one embodiment, the output node can be directly connected to a load device without a DC blocking capacitor being interposed between the output node and the load device. |
| US08466741B2 |
Transimpedance amplifier, integrated circuit and system
An integrated circuit according to one embodiment includes a first transimpedance amplifier and a second transimpedance amplifier. In the integrated circuit, one of the first transimpedance amplifier and the second transimpedance amplifier is set into an enabled state and the other is set into a disabled state. The first transimpedance amplifier and the second transimpedance amplifier share an input transistor. The first transimpedance amplifier has a first resistor provided between a feedback node thereof and an input node connected to the input transistor. The second transimpedance amplifier has a second resistor provided between a feedback node thereof and the first resistor. A feedback resistor of the second transimpedance amplifier is configured with a series connection of the first resistor and the second resistor. |
| US08466740B2 |
Receiving circuit, LSI chip, and storage medium
A receiving circuit with a simple circuit structure for performing wireless communication utilizing electromagnetic induction is provided. An LSI chip and a storage medium where wireless communication utilizing electromagnetic induction is performed and the circuit scale and circuit size can be reduced are provided. The following receiving circuit may be used: a parallel circuit where two diode elements whose directions are opposite are connected in parallel is used, one end of the parallel circuit is connected to the other end of a coil whose one end is connected to a ground potential line, and a capacitor is connected in series with the other end of the parallel circuit. A transistor whose leakage current is markedly reduced may be used as a diode in the receiving circuit. Such a receiving circuit may be used in an LSI chip or a storage medium. |
| US08466735B2 |
High temperature gate drivers for wide bandgap semiconductor power JFETs and integrated circuits including the same
Gate drivers for wide bandgap (e.g., >2 eV) semiconductor junction field effect transistors (JFETs) capable of operating in high ambient temperature environments are described. The wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices include silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices. The driver can be a non-inverting gate driver which has an input, an output, a first reference line for receiving a first supply voltage, a second reference line for receiving a second supply voltage, a ground terminal, and six Junction Field-Effect Transistors (JFETs) wherein the first JFET and the second JFET form a first inverting buffer, the third JFET and the fourth JFET form a second inverting buffer, and the fifth JFET and the sixth JFET form a totem pole which can be used to drive a high temperature power SiC JFET. An inverting gate driver is also described. |
| US08466734B2 |
Gate driving circuit for power semiconductor element
A gate driving circuit for driving a power semiconductor element can include a MSINK that is an n-channel metal-oxide silicon field-effect transistor (MOSFET) with a low resistance value for rapidly drawing out the charges accumulated on the gate of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a MSOFT that is an n-channel MOSFET with a high resistance value for slowly drawing out the charges. By shifting the time for turning ON of these MOSFETs, soft interruption can be performed rapidly and surely when overcurrent or short circuit current flows in the IGBT. Therefore, device breakdown is minimized or avoided and noise generation is suppressed. |
| US08466726B2 |
Duty cycle correction systems and methods
Duty cycle correction systems and methods of adjusting duty cycles are provided. One such duty cycle correction system includes a duty cycle adjustor and a variable delay line coupled to the duty cycle adjustor. First and second phase detectors have first inputs coupled to the duty cycle adjustor through an inverter and second inputs coupled to the variable delay line. The phase detectors cause the delay line to align rising or falling edges of signals at the output of the delay line with rising or falling edges, respectively, of signals at the output of the inverter. The controller simultaneously causes the duty cycle adjustor to adjust the duty cycle of the output clock signal until the rising and falling edges of signals at the output of the delay line are aligned with rising and falling edges, respectively, of signals at the output of the inverter. |
| US08466722B2 |
Startup and protection circuitry for thin oxide output stage
A method for startup and operation of an output stage of a transmitter, the output stage comprising a first protection field effect transistor (FET) and a second protection FET includes enabling a startup circuit; providing a first bias voltage to the first protection FET in the output stage and a second bias voltage to the second protection FET stage in the output stage by the startup circuit; disabling the startup circuit and enabling a protection voltage generator; providing the first bias voltage to the first protection FET in the output stage by the protection voltage generator; and providing the second bias voltage to the second protection FET in the output stage by a second bias voltage power supply. |
| US08466721B2 |
Injection locked frequency divider and PLL circuit
An injection locked frequency divider and a PLL circuit, having a wide operating frequency bandwidth and capable of reducing the influence of any parasitic capacitance, are provided. Injection locked frequency divider (100) includes ring oscillator 140 that cascade-connects first amplifier circuit (141) including N-channel MOS transistor (111) and P-channel MOS transistor (112), and second amplifier circuit 142 and third amplifier circuit (143) that have the same configuration as first amplifier circuit (141) in three stages in a ring; N-channel MOS transistor 150 in which the sources of N-channel MOS transistors (111, 121, 131) in the respective stages are connected to the drain thereof; and differential signal injection circuit (160) that injects injection signal I1 to the gates of P-channel MOS transistors (112, 122, 132) in the respective stages and injects a reverse phase signal of injection signal I1 as a differential signal to the gate of N-channel MOS transistor (150). |
| US08466713B2 |
Phase detection method and phase detector
Phase detection techniques in which an input signal is sampled to obtain several samples at different points in time with respect to a clock, said different points in time comprising an earliest point and latest point. The detection techniques further include generating a phase control signal obtained from the several samples of the input signal. |
| US08466708B2 |
State detection device for power supply system
A state detection device for power supply system comprises: a measurement unit that obtains current, voltage, and temperature at a chargeable and dischargeable power storage unit as measurement values; a storage unit that stores property information of the power storage unit; an arithmetic unit that uses different methods to calculate first and second states of charge for the power storage unit based upon the measurement values and the property information; a conflict detection unit that detects a conflict in an event that a difference between the first state of charge and the second state of charge is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold; and a correction unit that corrects the property information during charging or discharging of the power storage unit in response to the conflict having been detected by the conflict detection unit. |
| US08466700B2 |
System that measures characteristics of output signal
A system including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit includes analog components configured to receive an input signal and provide an output signal based on the input signal. The second circuit is configured to measure characteristics of the output signal to test the first circuit. At least one of the output signal and another output signal is fed back to provide the input signal and generate an oscillation in the output signal. |
| US08466698B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor, which senses current passing through a harness via a terminal of a battery, includes a resistor through which current passes, a current sensing circuit which measures the current passing through the resistor based on a potential difference between two positions along the direction in which current is passed through the resistor, a power supply circuit which supplies power to the current sensing circuit, and at least one capacitor which is connected to at least one of an input terminal and an output terminal of the power supply circuit to smooth input/output voltage. The resistor includes a flat energizing path, and the capacitor is disposed in an area other than a plane of projection of the energizing path on a board on which the current sensing circuit and the power supply circuit are mounted. |
| US08466697B2 |
Arrangements for detecting discontinuity of flexible connections for current flow and methods thereof
A detection circuit arrangement in a plasma processing chamber having movable lower electrode is provided. The arrangement includes flexible connector having a first flexible connector end, a second flexible connector end and at least a slit. At least portion of the slit is disposed in a direction parallel to a line drawn between two flexible connector ends. One end is coupled to the movable lower electrode and another end is coupled to a component of the plasma processing chamber. Flexible connector provides low impedance current path between the movable lower electrode and the component of the plasma processing chamber. The arrangement also includes means for detecting current flow through conductor material disposed on one side of the slit. The means for detecting includes at least a coil wound around the conductor material and a detector circuit coupled to the coil for detecting the current flow interruption due to a tear. |
| US08466691B2 |
Determination of insulation resistance of an electric DC circuit
A method for determining an insulation resistance of an electric DC circuit having at least a first and a second terminal includes performing a measurement cycle, verifying whether the change of a measured current exceeds a predetermined change rate, calculating a total insulation resistance, and calculating a first insulation resistance between the first terminal and a reference potential and a second insulation resistance between the second terminal and the reference potential. An insulation resistance measurement circuit is also provided for carrying out the aforementioned method. |
| US08466690B2 |
High voltage insulation monitoring sensor
A sensor for condition monitoring the high voltage insulation of an electrical, generation, transmission or distribution system and/or an item of plant is described. The sensor comprises an impedance measurement unit that connects directly, via a single point of connection, to the electrical system to be tested. The electrical components of the impedance measurement unit are arranged so that high frequency partial discharge signals and low frequency power cycle information signal are preferentially transmitted through separate branches. Analysis of these separated signals thus enables extraction of information about the insulation of the electrical system being monitored. Safe operation of the sensor for users is also achieved through an opto-electronic circuit being employed to control the impedance measuring unit. |
| US08466687B2 |
System and method for detecting defects
A system including a charge source and at least one voltage measurement device is disclosed. The charge source is for generating a charging environment to produce at least one of a voltage profile and a current on an area of dielectric material disposed over a conductive substrate. The area of dielectric material includes a first area containing a subsurface defect. The area of dielectric material also includes a second area that is defect-free. The at least one voltage measurement device is for outputting voltage measurements at different positions over the area of dielectric material. The voltage measurements over the first area differ from voltage measurements over the second area to define a voltage differential. |
| US08466686B2 |
Test patch system
A test system for taking a sample of a constituent on a surface utilizing a fluid source includes an upper body and a concomitant mating lower body that includes an aperture in a portion thereof. A central fiber portion and a support extend through upper body aperture to provide a consistent surface for contacting the surface to be tested. |
| US08466682B2 |
Apparatus and method for downhole electromagnetic measurement while drilling
A directional resistivity tool includes a pair of transmitters deployed between at least one pair of receivers. Each of the transmitters and receivers preferably includes collocated z-mode and x-mode antennae. Exemplary embodiments may further include additional receivers, for example, additional pairs of receivers deployed axially about the transmitters or one or more deep reading receivers deployed on one axial end of the transmitters. Tools in accordance with the invention enable directional resistivity measurements to be acquired at multiple depths of investigation using fewer transmitter firings than conventional tools. |
| US08466678B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhanced in vivo MRI imaging
A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of abnormal tissues of the present invention utilizing a magnetic resonance imaging system in communication with a computer. The apparatus is configured to define a confidence region using a probability based confidence interval calculation such as multivariate or bivariate analysis for at least two parameters in a normal tissue sample by making a magnetic resonance image, and then to evaluate a second sample by making a magnetic resonance image. Parameters detectable by magnetic resonance imaging 3 are selected from t1, t2, t2*, signal intensity, and diffusion. |
| US08466673B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting concavo-convex shape surface defects
A detection method for detecting a concavo-convex shape surface defect existing on a ferromagnetic metal object including sensing a signal attributed to strain of the concavo-convex shape surface defect having a size in a range of 0.5 to 6 μm. The signal is magnetic flux leaking from the ferromagnetic metal to which magnetic flux is applied. A detecting apparatus incorporates a magnetizer for magnetizing a ferromagnetic metal and a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in the direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the ferromagnetic metal to sense a signal attributed to strain of a concavo-convex shape surface defect having a size in a range of 0.5 to 6 μm. |
| US08466672B2 |
Method of processing encoder signals
A method of processing signals in a rotary encoder of the kind which comprises at least one annular track of encoding regions arranged as an alternating pattern of first encoding regions and second encoding regions. The encoder including first and second detectors, each of which is arranged to produce a first alternating output signal as the track of encoding regions rotates about its axis past the detector. The detector identifying a usable pair of transitions and a rejectable pair of transitions and utilizing the pairs of transitions to produce a compensated position measurement for the rotary encoder. |
| US08466670B1 |
Pulsed power supply
A power supply for a gated load includes a power current source controlled by a current magnitude signal. A capacitor integrates the power current to produce load voltage. The power current is sampled, and compared with a reference voltage appearing across a reference capacitor, to produce the current magnitude signal. The reference voltage is controlled by a window comparator which charges the reference capacitor when the load voltage exceeds an upper threshold, and discharges the reference capacitor when the load voltage is less than a lower threshold. The window comparator is enabled by the load gating signal. |
| US08466668B2 |
Transient differential switching regulator
The present invention provides a transient differential switching regulator for a DC power supply. In one aspect, an output of the regulator is provided between a positive voltage line and a return line. A switching circuit switches the regulator between a normal mode, wherein the output voltage is controlled at a set-point voltage, and a current mode wherein the output current is controlled so as not to exceed a peak current limit. In one aspect, an output of the regulator is provided between a positive voltage line and a return line. A first inductance is disposed in the positive voltage line, and a second inductance is disposed in the return line. In another aspect a current detecting circuit is configured to perform dual functions of measuring the DC current so as to protect against an over-current condition arising during the normal operation mode and detecting high transient current conditions. |
| US08466666B2 |
Multi-stage voltage regulating circuit with automatic thermal compensation and regulating method thereof
A multi-stage voltage regulating circuit and method with automatic temperature compensation comprises a plurality of charge-pumps, a temperature compensator, a comparative unit and a control logic circuit; wherein, the temperature compensator detects the ambient temperature and outputs a reference voltage related to the ambient temperature, the comparative unit compares the voltage of the output power source to the reference voltage output by the temperature compensator and outputs a comparative signal based on the comparison, and the control logic circuit controls the charging/discharging operations of the charge-pumps based on the comparative signal and voltages of input power sources connected to said charge-pumps to automatically regulate the voltage of the output power source. |
| US08466662B2 |
Power transfer between independent power ports utilizing a single transformer
An example power delivery network includes an energy transfer element, a main power port, and a main port interface. The energy transfer element includes multiple windings, where a first power converter transfers power between a first power port and a first winding, and a second power converter transfers power between a second winding and a second power port. The main port interface is coupled cyclically reverse a dc voltage received at the main power port and provides a cyclically reversed voltage to a third winding of the energy transfer element at a fixed duty ratio, where the transfer of power between the first power port and the first winding is independent of the transfer of power between the second winding and the second power port. Also, the main power port has an effective impedance less than an effective impedance of the first power port and the second power port. |
| US08466655B2 |
Charging system for vehicle
A charge control device includes a charge power detection unit for detecting charge power supplied to a power storage device; a target value determination unit for determining a target value of the charge power to the power storage device; a first feedback control unit for correcting the target value based on the difference between the charge power and the target value to generate a power command value; a supply power detection unit for detecting supply power output from the charger; a guard target value determination unit for determining a guard target value corresponding to an upper limit value of the power command value based on allowable power of a system for charging; a second feedback control unit for correcting the guard target value based on the difference between the supply power detected by the supply power detection unit and the guard target value; and an upper limit guard processing unit for limiting the target value corrected by the first feedback control unit based on the guard target value corrected by the second feedback control unit. |
| US08466652B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a charging circuit
This invention utilizes the power electronics of a switched reluctance motor controller and the phase windings of a switched reluctance motor to make up a single stage boost converter capable of charging a battery with power factor correction (PFC) in the AC line. |
| US08466650B2 |
Method for powering a surveillance camera using solar generated wireless energy
A method for generating electricity from solar power to a surveillance camera, relying on a photovoltaic panels (1) circuit interruption device (3,9); charge controller (4); batteries (5); surveillance camera (7); electrical wires, and fuses. The photovoltaic panel(s) will generate electrical power that will provide sufficient power to run the surveillance camera. |
| US08466649B2 |
Heat removal from motor components
An electrical machine having a rotor component configured to rotate with respect to a stator component includes a sensing arrangement to sense electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical machine parameters during machine operation. The electrical machine also includes a fluid sprayer coupled to a cooling controller. The cooling controller activates the fluid sprayer to spray cooling fluid on a portion of the electrical machine in response to in response to the sensed electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical machine parameters. |
| US08466648B2 |
Motor control device and out-of-step detecting method
A motor control device for a stepping motor including at least two phase coils and a rotor is provided. The motor control device includes a control unit which applies a pulse voltage subjected to pulse width modulation, to each of the at least two phase coils, a back electromotive voltage measuring unit which provides a halt period to temporarily halt the application of the pulse voltage to one of the phase coils when a direction of the coil current flowing in the one phase coil is switched, and which measures a back electromotive voltage induced in the one phase coil during the halt period, an out-of-step detecting unit which detects an out-of-step of the stepping motor if the measured back electromotive voltage satisfies a predetermined criterion, and a voltage control unit which sets a voltage for all phase coils other than the one phase coil to a constant voltage during the halt period. |
| US08466647B2 |
Sensor-type brushless DC motor
Disclosed herein is a sensorless-type brushless DC motor, including: a magnet provided in a rotor; and a stator formed by winding a coil on a core stacked with sheets while facing the magnet, wherein the position of the rotor is detected by detecting back electromotive force induced to the coil, the back electromotive force includes a harmonic component 5 times higher than a fundamental wave, and an amplitude ratio of the 5-times harmonic wave to the fundamental wave is set to be 1% or more. Further, the sensorless-type brushless DC motor can prevent a failure in detecting an initial position of the rotor by controlling a waveform of the back electromotive force and minimize an increase of a starting time. |
| US08466646B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining angular position
The position of a rotor of a motor is determined. The motor includes a stator having a plurality of coils. The rotor includes at least one rotating magnetic field device. When the rotor is moving below a threshold speed, the current in the coils is measured. A pre-programmed data structure is accessed. The data structure stores stator currents associated with predetermined rotor positions. A first absolute position of the rotor is determined from the data structure according to the measured current from each of the coils. When the rotor is moving above the threshold speed, one or more rising or falling edges of magnetic field strength associated with the at least one rotating magnetic field device are sensed. At least one timing aspect of the rising and falling edges of magnetic field strength are compared to determine a second absolute position of the rotor. |
| US08466645B2 |
Motor control circuit
A motor control circuit for a motor is provided. The motor control circuit drives the motor based on torque command data. The torque command data is output by adding speed error data output from a speed error detecting section based on a first reference clock and a speed pulse and phase error data output from a phase error detecting section based on a second reference clock and the speed pulse. Each of the speed error data and the phase error data is output within a detection range set by a setting section provided for each of the speed error detecting section and the phase error detecting section. |
| US08466643B2 |
Motor drive device, and motor drive method
A motor drive device includes a drive controller for generating drive signal “trq”, a limiter for limiting a value of drive signal “trq” within a range, a limit value generator for generating limit value “lmt”, and a drive output section for generating an energizing signal in response to an output signal from the limiter. The limit value generator generates a comparison signal by adding offset value “ofs” to drive signal “trq” and updates limit value “lmt” based on a size relation between a value (trq+ofs) of the comparison signal and limit value “lmt”. |
| US08466641B2 |
Power tool having an electric brake
The invention relates to a method for decelerating a drive movement of a power tool and to a power tool suitable for carrying out the method, having a drive driven by a motor, an energy supply device for the provision of electrical energy, a controller having a motor controller for activating the motor and an operating-state recognition module which is to detect at least one operating-state variable and, as a function of this, to output a brake signal, the controller being designed to initiate, as a function of the brake signal, a braking procedure in which brake cycles are provided which have a first time segment, in which the motor is short-circuited, and a second time segment in which current is fed to the motor opposite to its original direction of rotation. |
| US08466633B2 |
Illumination controlling device for vehicle
An illumination controlling device for a vehicle includes a controlling portion to change a luminance phase of a meter based on operation of an operating portion and to maintain a luminance phase of a lighting while the lighting is extinguished. The controlling portion changes the luminance phase of the meter based on the operation of the operating portion and changes the luminance phase of the lighting to correspond to the luminance phase of the meter if the operating portion is operated in a state that the luminance phase is different between the meter and the lighting while the lighting is illuminated. |
| US08466632B2 |
LED device
An LED device is provided. The LED device implements an efficient dimming operation. The LED device includes a triac dimmer for receiving an AC voltage and adjusting an angle of the AC voltage, a ballast for receiving the AC voltage from the triac dimmer and generating an AC voltage pulse, a bridge diode unit for generating a DC voltage pulse using the AC voltage pulse, an LED for receiving a DC current and emitting a light, an LED drive controller for receiving a dimming signal and controlling the DC current passing through the LED, and a dimming signal generator for receiving the AC voltage pulse from the ballast and generating a pulsating dimming signal for compensating an output of the triac dimmer and providing the dimming signal to the LED drive controller. |
| US08466631B1 |
Lamp driver with triac dimmer compensation
A circuit for dimming a lamp is provided. The circuit includes a triac dimmer that adjusts the voltage level of an input AC waveform based on the setting of a dimmer switch. The output of the dimmer is provided to a power supply circuit that drives the lamp based on the voltage level at the dimmer output. The power supply circuit includes a compensation circuit that compensates for loss of dimmer output signal caused by the triac when the dimmer switch is adjusted for full output. The compensation circuit is configured to engage at dimmer output voltage levels between full power supply voltage and a voltage threshold. The voltage threshold may be based on the dimmer output voltage level when the dimmer switch is set for full output. The compensation circuit essentially disengages to allow the lamp to dim when the dimmer output voltage level falls below the threshold. |
| US08466630B2 |
Discharge lamp lighting apparatus
A discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes a capacitor, a charge circuit for charging the capacitor, a switching element, a gate driving circuit that controls ON and OFF states of the switching element, a simmer current supply circuit for passing simmer current through a discharge lamp, a starting circuit that impresses high voltage to a starting electrode, and an electric discharge sequence control circuit that generates the gate signal and the starting signal. When lighting the discharge lamp, a sequence of the gate signal corresponding to an alternating repetition of the ON and OFF states of the switching element is generated. Before outputting the starting signal, the switching element is ON as a stand-by state. Then the sequence starts when the starting signal is outputted. |
| US08466629B2 |
Lamp tube with detachable power rectifier member
A lamp tube includes a encapsulation and a power rectifier member. The power rectifier member includes a power rectifier to convert alternating current (AC) energy into direct current (DC) energy. A first holder defining a first cavity for receiving the power rectifier, and a second cavity for detachably receiving and electrically connecting with one end of the encapsulation; and a first side cover detachably connected to the first holder to cover the first cavity. |
| US08466628B2 |
Closed-loop load control circuit having a wide output range
A load control circuit, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) driver, for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, such as an LED light source, comprises a regulation transistor adapted to be coupled in series with the load, and a feedback circuit coupled in series with the regulation transistor, whereby the load control circuit is able to control the magnitude of a load current conducted through the load from a minimum load current to a maximum load current, which is at least approximately one thousand times larger than the minimum load current. The feedback circuit generates at least one load current feedback signal representative of the magnitude of the load current. The regulation transistor operates in the linear region to control the magnitude of the load current conducted through the load in response to the magnitude of the load current determined from the load current feedback signal. |
| US08466626B2 |
Light management system device and method
A lighting control system is disclosed. The lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and/or outdoor lighting. The lighting control system includes a control module with a night light for providing low-level night light illumination and one or more sensors for operatively controlling the indoor and/or outdoor lighting and the night light in response to measured light levels and/or detected motion. The system is preferably configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and/or outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values. |
| US08466625B2 |
Illumination device and method controlling the same
An illumination device and a method controlling the same are provided. The illumination device produces a pulse width modulation signal to control an illumination light source of the illumination device. The illumination light source is used to illuminate an environment. A driver of the illumination device provides a current to the illumination light source so the illumination light source emits light and a light detecting element of the illumination device detects a first brightness in the environment when the pulse width modulation signal is at high potential. The driver stops providing the current to the illumination light source and the light detecting element detects a second brightness in the environment when the pulse width modulation signal is at low potential. Thus, through a single light detecting element, two different levels of brightness in the illuminated environment are detected. |
| US08466623B2 |
Impedance matching methods and systems performing the same
Provided are an impedance matching method and a matching system performing the same. The method includes: measuring an electrical characteristic of the power transmission line including the matching system and the load; extracting a control parameter for impedance matching from the electrical characteristic of the power transmission line; and controlling the matching system by using the control parameter. The extracting of the control parameter comprises utilizing an analytic coordinate system that quantitatively relates the electrical characteristic of the matching system to the electrical characteristic of the power transmission line. |
| US08466620B2 |
Bi-color license plate frame
A bi-color license plate frame, for surrounding a license plate of a vehicle, comprises a rectangular body comprising an aperture that is adapted to show a license plate, and a wall defining a hollow frame space inside the wall, a plurality of light-emitting elements contained in the frame space, and a controller that is electrically connected to the light-emitting elements and that controls the light intensity of the light-emitting elements according to the braking status of the vehicle. The wall of the rectangular body is translucent to the light of the light-emitting elements, and comprises a light diffusion layer, whereby surface illumination is provided when the light-emitting elements are turned on. Bi-color may include metal look and color emitted by the light-emitting elements, or red or black color of the light-diffusion layer and color emitted by the light-emitting elements. |
| US08466617B2 |
Organic electroluminescence display apparatus
An organic electroluminescence display apparatus includes an organic light emitting layer disposed on a substrate, a thin film sealing layer on the organic light emitting layer, the thin film sealing layer being configured to seal the organic light emitting layer, a polarizer disposed on the thin film sealing layer, a touch screen panel disposed on the polarizer, and a window layer disposed on the touch screen panel. |
| US08466616B2 |
Flat panel display device and encapsulation substrate thereof
A flat panel display device having an improved encapsulation structure includes a glass substrate; a light emission unit formed on the glass substrate; an encapsulation substrate formed on the glass substrate; and frit sealing a space between the glass substrate and the cover layer. The encapsulation unit includes a metal layer formed of a metallic material and a cover layer stacked on the metal layer and formed of a glass material in order to cover the light emission unit. In the above encapsulation structure, pressure resistance and vapor permeability resistance of a flat panel device may be improved and thus deterioration of a light emission unit due to permeation of moisture may be prevented. Also, heat radiation capacity may be improved and thus deterioration in performance of a product may be prevented. |
| US08466615B2 |
EL functional film and EL element
An EL element 1 comprises EL functional layers 6, 10 comprising Ga2O3:Eu between a thick film insulator layer 16 and an upper electrode 12 provided on a substrate 2 on which a lower electrode 4 was formed and a light-emitting layer 8 comprising MgGa2O4 formed therebetween. The EL functional layers 6, 10 have the dual functions of insulating layers and electron doping layers. Due to this, the EL element 1 has a low drive voltage and high light-emitting brightness, and the structure of the EL element is simplified. |
| US08466609B2 |
Method and apparatus for positioning a ceramic induction discharge body relative to an induction coil
An electrodeless or induction ceramic HID lamp includes a ceramic arc body having a generally spheroidal portion enclosing a discharge chamber and an induction coil received around a perimeter portion of the spheroidal portion. At least one leg extends from the spheroidal portion of the arc body. A mounting structure connects the arc body to the surrounding lamp assembly. In one arrangement, a mounting tube is received over at least a portion of the leg, and may further include a light transmissive shroud that also abuts with the induction coil to precisely locate the arc body relative to the coil. In another arrangement, first and second mounting members extend from spaced locations of the arc body, either as pins or legs extending from the spheroidal portion, or radially extending legs from an equatorial portion of the arc body. In still another arrangement, a ceramic mounting member extends from the arc body and includes a thin peripheral rim having spaced ridges to engage spaced locations of the induction coil. |
| US08466605B2 |
Patterned ultrasonic transducers
There is provided a transducer array for lysing an adipose tissue, the transducer array comprising at least one unitary piece of piezoelectric material having first and second opposing surfaces; and one or more conductive layers on each of said first and second opposing surfaces, wherein at least one of said one or more conductive layers comprises a plurality of electrode elements. |
| US08466598B2 |
Electric rotating machine
An electric rotating machine includes a multi-phase stator coil that is wound on a stator core in a distributed winding manner. Each of phase windings of the stator coil is formed of an electric wire bundle which includes a plurality of insulation-coated electric wires that are electrically connected to one another. Each of the electric wire bundles forming the phase windings has in-slot portions, which are respectively received in corresponding slots of the stator core, and turn portions that are located outside the slots of the stator core to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions. Each of the electric wire bundles further includes a plurality of insulating layers that are respectively formed at predetermined positions, at which the turn portions of the electric wire bundle overlap those of the other electric wire bundles, so as to surround the electric wires of the electric wire bundle. |
| US08466596B2 |
Laminated core
A laminated core 10 improves material yield and prevents cracks or breakages of core pieces by relaxing stress on connecting portions 13. A connected core segment 14 to be the laminated core 10 includes: a V-shaped cutout 17 located radially inward from the connecting portion 13, the cutout 17 opening in a radially inward direction with an opening angle of 360°/n given that n is a number of core segments 19; a slit 18 located radially outward from the connecting portion 13, the slit 18 dividing adjacent segment yokes 12 located radially outward from the connecting portion; a first through-hole 20 having a circular arc formed in a radially outward end of the cutout 17 in contact with the connecting portion 13; and a second through-hole 21 having a circular arc formed in a radially inward end of the slit 18 in contact with the connecting portion 13. |
| US08466595B2 |
Hydroelectric turbine
A hydroelectric turbine having a stator and a rotor housed concentrically within the stator, the turbine having a circumferentially disposed array of magnets on a rim of the rotor, and wherein the stator is slotless in configuration and is formed from a wire winding as opposed to the conventional toothed laminations, the turbine further having an annular array of individual coils mounted on the stator concentrically inwardly of the wire winding, each coil being provided with a dedicated rectifier to convert AC current induced in the coil into DC, preferably for transmission to a remote location. |
| US08466593B2 |
Rotor for an induction motor and method for fabricating
A method for fabricating a rotor assembly for an induction motor includes assembling a shorting end ring onto the rotor assembly which includes a steel laminate stack and a plurality of conductor bars. The shorting end ring includes a plurality of grooves aligned with corresponding portions of the conductor bars extending from a first end of the steel laminate stack. Assembling includes inserting the corresponding portions of the conductor bars into the grooves of the shorting end ring. The shorting end ring is affixed to the rotor assembly by applying a compressive force around a perimeter of the shorting end ring to deform the conductor bars. |
| US08466590B2 |
Plug-in sensor board for brushless direct current motor
A brushless direct current motor including a rotor having permanent magnets, which rotates in a commutation created alternating magnetic field of a stator (1) is provided, which magnetic field is created by a coil system of wire coils (3) applied on an insulating body (4) in the circumferential direction and spaced apart from each other. Control electronics are provided for controlling the electric wire coils, spaced apart from each other, of the control system provided in the stator (1), with non-contact rotary position sensors (5) being allocated to the phases of the coil system (2). In the direct current motor according to the invention the rotary position sensors (5) are arranged on a sensor carrier (13). The sensor carrier (13) can be fastened at least at one face of the stator (1), and positioning aids cooperating with each other are arranged between the sensor carrier (13) and the adjacent stator face, which determine a relative position of the stator (1) in reference to the sensor carrier (13) and the rotary position sensors (5) arranged thereupon. If applicable, the direct current motor can be produced in an automated production method with little expense. |
| US08466588B2 |
Heat dissipating device of an electromotor
A heat dissipating device of an electromotor is a composite cooling device driven in a powerless manner and used for stirring a cooling liquid applied on a surface of a casing of the electromotor. The heat dissipating device includes a pair of bearings fitted on the casing, and a roller disposed at outer ring seats of the pair of bearings. The roller has a sealed chamber therein, the chamber covers a surface of the casing located in a disposition region of the bearings, and at least one outer blade is disposed outside the roller. Thereby, composite heat dissipating of liquid cooling and air cooling of the electromotor is implemented with a cooling liquid injected into the chamber of the roller and a wind force applied on the outer blade. |
| US08466577B2 |
Wind turbine with adjustable electrical generator
A wind driven turbine includes a perimeter rim that carries a rotor, and a stator is positioned at the annular path of the rotor with field coils positioned on opposite sides of the rotor that generate electricity in response to the rotation of the rotor. A proximity gauging means selectively maintains the field coils at predetermined distances from the rotor. The wind turbine may be mounted on a floatable support. |
| US08466569B2 |
Increasing exposure tool alignment signal strength for a ferroelectric capacitor layer
An improved alignment structure for photolithographic pattern alignment is disclosed. A topographical alignment mark in an IC under a low reflectivity layer may be difficult to register. A reflective layer is formed on top of the low reflectivity layer so that the topography of the alignment mark is replicated in the reflective layer, enabling registration of the alignment mark using common photolithographic scanners and steppers. The reflective layer may be one or more layers, and may be metallic, dielectric or both. The reflective layer may be global over the entire IC or may be local to the alignment mark area. The reflective layer may be removed during subsequent processing, possibly with assist from an added etch stop layer, or may remain in the completed IC. The disclosed alignment mark structure is applicable to an IC with a stack of ferroelectric capacitor materials. |
| US08466568B2 |
Multi-component device integrated into a matrix
The invention relates to an electronic device, having a front face 8 and a rear face 8′, fitted with at least one discrete integrated component, comprising: a) the active face 10 of the component appearing to the side of the front face 8; b) coating material 3, present at least laterally relative to the component, ensuring the so-called component is held in the device; and c) an insulating buffer layer 6, absent from the active face 10 of the component, separating the coating material 3 from this component 4. |
| US08466567B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with stack interconnect and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a connection carrier having base device pads and base interconnect pads on a carrier top side of the connection carrier; connecting a base integrated circuit to the base device pads and mounted over the carrier top side; mounting base vertical interconnects directly on the base interconnect pads; attaching a base package substrate to the base integrated circuit and directly on the base vertical interconnects; forming a base encapsulation on the base package substrate, the base device pads, and the base interconnect pads; and removing a portion of the connection carrier with the base device pads and the base interconnect pads partially exposed opposite the base package substrate. |