| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08526649B2 |
Providing notification sounds in a customizable manner
Broadly speaking, the embodiments disclosed herein describe an apparatus, system, and method that allow a user to perceive notifications (audible or otherwise) corresponding to an external event in any manner deemed appropriate. |
| US08526648B2 |
System and method for providing hearing assistance to a user
A hearing assistance system, having an audio signal source, a transmission unit for transmitting audio signals from the audio signal source via a wireless right ear audio link to a right ear unit and a receiver unit, and an arrangement for stimulating the user's right ear, and via a wireless left ear audio link, a left ear unit having a receiver unit and an arrangement for stimulating the user's left ear, an arrangement for exchanging audio signals received from the transmission unit between the right and left ear units, a device for detecting the quality of the right and left ear links and an arrangement for selecting, as a function of the detected qualities of the right and left ear links, as input to the stimulating arrangement, the audio signals received by the respective receiver unit from the transmission unit, the audio signals received via the audio signal exchanging arrangement, and/or mixtures thereof. |
| US08526647B2 |
Listening device providing enhanced localization cues, its use and a method
A listening device includes an ear-part for being worn in or at an ear of a user, a microphone system including at least two microphones each converting an input sound to an electrical microphone signal, and a TF-conversion unit for providing a time-frequency representation of the at least two microphone signals. Each signal representation includes complex or real values of the signal in a particular time-frequency unit. The listening device also includes a DIR-unit with a directionality system providing a weighted sum of the at least two electrical microphone signals thereby providing at least two directional microphone signals having maximum sensitivity in spatially different directions and a combined microphone signal. Each time-frequency unit of the combined signal is attributable to a particular direction. A frequency shaping-unit modifies one or more selected time-frequency units to indicate directional cues of input sounds providing an improved directional output signal. |
| US08526646B2 |
Communication device
A system may include a personal electronic device having a housing and an ultra-wide band transceiver disposed within the housing. The system may also include a stereophonic system for sending audio information to a right ear and a left ear of a user, the stereophonic system having a second ultra-wideband transceiver. The ultra-wideband transceiver of the personal electronic device and the second ultra-wideband transceiver of the stereophonic system are adapted for providing audio communications therebetween. The stereophonic system may include a switch for switching between the plurality of personal electronic devices. The switch may be implemented in software or hardware. |
| US08526639B2 |
Digital mixer
On a digital mixer, each channel is given a channel definition defining whether the channel is to be used individually or to be used as a group along with a certain channel. When a channel strip to which a user desires to assign and a channel which the user desires to assign are selected, it is determined whether the selected channel is a channel to be used individually or to be used as a group. When it is determined that the selected channel is to be used as a group, channels belonging to the group are assigned to the selected channel strip so that the user can concurrently control respective channels' values of a parameter by use of an operating element provided on the selected channel strip. |
| US08526632B2 |
Microphone array for a camera speakerphone
A camera speakerphone having a microphone array may be used for videoconferencing. Example microphone array designs described herein may be used to perform Sound Source Localization (SSL) and improve audio quality of captured audio. In one example, an omni-directional camera speakerphone includes a base having a speaker and at least one microphone. A neck is coupled to the base which is coupled to a head. The head includes an omni-directional camera and at least one microphone. |
| US08526630B2 |
Active sound control apparatus
An active sound control apparatus includes a delay circuit for delaying the output of a frequency component of a sound effect by delaying an engine rotation frequency signal representative of an engine rotation frequency [Hz], a delay circuit for delaying the output of an amplitude component of the sound effect by delaying an engine rotation frequency change signal representative of an engine rotation frequency change [Hz/second], and delay circuits for delaying the output of all components of the sound effect by delaying a control signal for controlling the outputs of speakers. |
| US08526629B2 |
Audio output apparatus and compensation method thereof
An audio output apparatus including a digital operation unit, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a left channel unit, a right channel unit and a common unit is provided. During an initial setting, the digital operation unit detects a cross talk voltage on a left channel earphone unit in the left channel unit or a right channel earphone unit in the right channel unit, calculates a first ratio and a second ratio, and then performs an arithmetic operation on a left and a right channel signals according to the first and the second ratios, so as to obtain a compensated left channel signal and a compensated right channel signal respectively for eliminating a cross talk phenomenon. |
| US08526628B1 |
Low latency active noise cancellation system
Systems and methods described herein provide for low latency active noise cancellation, which alleviates the problems associated with analog filter circuitry. The present technology utilizes low latency digital signal processing techniques that overcome the high latency conventionally associated with conversion between the analog and digital domains. As a result, low latency active noise cancellation is performed utilizing digital filter circuitry which is not subject to the inaccuracies and drift of analog filter components. In doing so, the present technology provides robust, high quality active noise cancellation. |
| US08526627B2 |
Noise reduction device
A noise reduction device of the present invention comprises a control filter unit for generating a control sound signal to cancel out a noise, a control speaker for outputting a control sound according to the control sound signal from the control filter unit, an error microphone for detecting a residual sound by superimposing the noise upon the control sound output from the control speaker, and an obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle around the error microphone, wherein the control filter unit generates the control sound signal according to data from the error microphone and the obstacle detector. |
| US08526626B2 |
Display device on/off detection methods and apparatus
Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to determine whether a presentation device is ON or OFF comprises determining an audio signature based on an audio signal corresponding to an output of the presentation device, comparing the audio signature to a set of reference signatures corresponding to a set of known media content, and determining a result indicating whether the presentation device is ON or OFF based on whether the audio signature matches any of the set of reference signatures. |
| US08526624B2 |
Hearing aid
A hearing aid includes an audio signal input device, a signal processor and a signal output device which presents a processed audio signal perceivable as sound to an ear of a user. The signal processor includes fast acting level estimators and slow acting level estimators. A communication link between two hearing aids at each ear of a user allows the transmission between the two hearing aids of level estimates from the slow acting level estimators. |
| US08526620B2 |
Method and system for secure data collection and distribution
A data provider generates a data encryption key and an identifier, uses the data encryption key to encrypt data, sends the encrypted data and the identifier to a data requestor, and sends the data encryption key and the identifier to a crypto information server. The data requestor sends the identifier to the crypto information server to request the encryption key. The crypto information server authenticates the data requestor and, contingent on that authentication, sends the data encryption key to the data requestor. If a plurality of data instances are captured, then for each instance, a respective data encryption key and identifier are generated. |
| US08526613B2 |
Subscriber network receiving digital packets and transmitting digital packets below a predetermined maximum bit rate
Methods of providing a transport streams are disclosed. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises receiving an input transport stream having a plurality of packet identifier (PID) streams included therein, the plurality of PID streams comprising first, second, third, and fourth PID streams, decrypting the first PID stream, statistically multiplexing the second PID stream, encrypting the third PID stream, and transmitting the fourth PID stream, wherein the receiving, decrypting, statistically multiplexing, encrypting, and transmitting are implemented at a transport stream apparatus. |
| US08526610B2 |
Methods and apparatus for persistent control and protection of content
A novel method and apparatus for protection of streamed media content is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes control means for governance of content streams or content objects, decryption means for decrypting content streams or content objects under control of the control means, and feedback means for tracking actual use of content streams or content objects. The control means may operate in accordance with rules received as part of the streamed content, or through a side-band channel. The rules may specify allowed uses of the content, including whether or not the content can be copied or transferred, and whether and under what circumstances received content may be “checked out” of one device and used in a second device. The rules may also include or specify budgets, and a requirement that audit information be collected and/or transmitted to an external server. In a different aspect, the apparatus may include a media player designed to call plugins to assist in rendering content. A “trust plugin” is disclosed, along with a method of using the trust plugin so that a media player designed for use with unprotected content may render protected content without the necessity of requiring any changes to the media player. In one aspect, the streamed content may be in a number of different formats, including MPEG-4, MP3, and the RMFF format. |
| US08526609B1 |
Method for real-time compositing of encrypted video streams without decryption
A system, method and device for real-time compositing of encrypted video streams without having to decrypt each video stream is disclosed herein. A shared encryption key is derived to encrypt multiple incoming video streams to an encrypted master video stream, while retaining full interoperability with popular incumbent video encryption standards. Compositing video is then possible without having to decrypt the master video stream, thereby preserving the security of the copyrighted material. The invention preferably genlocks a digital video source to a master video stream. |
| US08526606B2 |
On-demand secure key generation in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network
A method is provided for generating on-demand cryptographic keys in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system. At least one unique identifier is obtained relating to a user of the vehicle. The host vehicle generates cryptographic keys for encrypting, decrypting, and authenticating secured messages between the host vehicle and at least one remote vehicle in the vehicle-to-vehicle communication system. The cryptographic keys are generated as a function of the at least one unique identifier. A respective cryptographic key used to decrypt or encrypt messages communicated between the host vehicle and the at least one remote entity is temporarily stored in a memory device of the host vehicle. The host vehicle utilizes the respective cryptographic key to decrypt or encrypt a secure message transmitted between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle. The respective cryptographic key temporarily stored in the memory device of the host vehicle is deleted after the vehicle-to-vehicle communications of the host vehicle is disabled. |
| US08526605B2 |
Data encryption to provide data security and memory cell bit wear leveling
Method and apparatus for encrypting and storing data to provide data security and memory cell bit wear leveling. In accordance with various embodiments, input data are provided for writing to a target page of memory in a storage array. A seed value is derived from a count value indicative of a number of times a write access has occurred on the target page of memory. A block encryption routine is applied to the input data using the seed value to generate encrypted output data that are thereafter written to the target page. |
| US08526604B2 |
Enabling wireless clients for low-power operation when clients require control messages from external sources for communication
A wireless station (A) is operated in a power-save mode, in which the station is alternately in power-ON and power-OFF states to reduce power consumption. Wireless station (A) computes at least some future time instances at which another wireless station (B) is expected to start transmitting control messages. Wireless station (A) is ensured to be in the power-ON state in corresponding time intervals encompassing durations of at least some of such future transmissions of control messages by wireless station (B), and is thereby enabled to receive the control messages. In an embodiment, the control messages correspond to group key message updates in which values of a decryption key are transmitted, wireless station (A) being a wireless client, wireless station (B) being an access point, with wireless stations (A) and (B) operating in a wireless network consistent with IEEE 802.11 specifications, and communication between wireless stations (A) and (B) being encrypted. |
| US08526602B2 |
Adjustment-value-attached block cipher apparatus, cipher generation method and recording medium
There is provided an adjustment-value-attached block cipher apparatus realizing block cipher processing that the amount of processing is small in adjustment-value-attached block cipher. The adjustment-value-attached block cipher apparatus includes: an encryption section performing encryption by a block cipher system; an input section accepting plaintext, an adjustment value and instruction information indicating first or second cipher processing; and a generator dividing the adjustment value into first and second adjustment values, encrypting the first adjustment value using the encryption section to generate cipher for offset, determining an offset value according to the cipher for offset and the second adjustment value, determining the sum of the offset value and the plaintext, and encrypting the sum using the encryption section to generate first ciphertext when the instruction information indicates the first cipher processing, and encrypting the plaintext using the encryption section to generate second ciphertext when the instruction information indicates the second cipher processing. |
| US08526599B2 |
Input/output apparatus and communication terminal
An input/output apparatus includes a speaker, a microphone, an adaptive filter circuit and a control circuit. The speaker is configured to output audio based on a voice-receiving signal. The microphone is configured to produce a voice-transmitting signal based on gathered audio. The adaptive filter circuit is configured to produce a residual signal based on a pseudo echo signal and a amplified voice-transmitting signal. The pseudo echo signal is produced from the voice-receiving signal and a transfer coefficient which expresses audio transfer properties between the speaker and the microphone. The amplified voice-transmitting signal is produced by causing a microphone amplification circuit to amplify the voice-transmitting signal. The control circuit is configured to stop output of the residual signal from the adaptive filter circuit during at least one of the speaker and the microphone is muted. |
| US08526598B2 |
Services and transactions in a telephony network
At a telephony service location remote from a caller and a call recipient, a request for establishing a connection to the call recipient is received. The request is initiated by the caller specifying a number associated with the call recipient. A call recipient originated command signal is received during a call connected phase, the call recipient originated command signal being a single command that is interpreted by the telephony service without the necessity of any additional command being sent. In response to receiving the call recipient originated command signal, a service or transaction is initiated between the caller and the call recipient other than a standard call connection transaction. The call recipient originated command signal is received from a communication device of the call recipient. |
| US08526594B2 |
System and method for improved directory assistance including re-dial feature
A directory assistance system includes a request handling module for receiving a plurality of incoming directory assistance requests from requesters and an agent platform for handling the directory assistance requests by providing at least one listing to the requester. A record database stores a record relating to the first request, and includes a first identifier, a time and a listing entry. An incoming request tracking module tracks second incoming directory assistance requests, by reviewing a second identifier associated with the directory assistance request, comparing the second identifier against the first identifiers in the records, and if a record has a matching first identifier to second identifier from request, then, prior to the second request being sent to the agent platform, offering to automatically provide the stored listing entry from the record to the requester. |
| US08526593B2 |
System and method for generating and utilizing organically grown content in a directory assistance environment
A method for providing directory assistance includes receiving a communication from a requestor for a desired contact listing and retrieving a requester profile relating to the requester where the profile including a calling history of the requester. At least one listing is retrieved in response to the communication for a desired contact listing, where the retrieving of the desired listing includes reviewing the calling history of the requester and including, among the at least one retrieved response, a predictive listing. |
| US08526592B2 |
Sip refer extensions
A system may include a call controller configured to receive a refer message configured to transfer a first endpoint of a call session, the call session being between at least the first endpoint at a first communications device and a second endpoint at a second communications device, the refer message indicating to transfer the first endpoint from the first communications device to a third communications device. The call control may be further configured to subscribe the first communications device to notification messages associated with the referral of the transferred call session, the subscription to the referral extending beyond the call transfer until termination of the call; and send, through the subscription to the first communications device, a notification message indicating termination of the transferred call. |
| US08526588B2 |
System and method for managing a conference call
A system, method, and computer program product for initiating a conference call are disclosed. The method includes running a conference call managing application. The method also includes receiving at least one participant-defined condition. The participant-defined condition is associated with at least one conference call defining a status of a participant's communication device to connect the participant to the conference call. At least one alert is sent out to at least all required participants of the conference call, in response to the participant-defined condition being satisfied to start the conference call. |
| US08526584B2 |
Device and method for preventing ion build-up in liquid crystal displays
A desktop network protocol telephone set has a network interface for connecting the telephone set to a local area network. An audio interface provides audio signals to and from a handset of the telephone set. A processing circuit is responsive to communications from the network interface. A control circuit coupled to the processing circuit is used for changing a driving frequency of the LCD panel. |
| US08526583B2 |
Media terminal adapter (MTA) local ringback option
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a media terminal adapter (MTA) for locally ringing back coupled telephones having a caller identification display. Management information base (MIB) objects are defined to enable a caller identification information function along with caller identification name and number in order to verify the caller identification information is working properly. A technician or user dials a predetermined digit string from a coupled telephone, and the MTA responds with the defined caller identification information. |
| US08526582B1 |
Methods and systems for managing telecommunications
Methods and systems for call processing are described. A call from a caller intended for a first party is received at a call processing system, which stores call signaling information associated with the call. A greeting is played to the caller, and a voice communication is received and recorded. At least a first portion of the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time to a terminal associated with the first person. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text and the text is stored and transmitted to a terminal associated with the first party. When a search query is received from the first party, the system searches the data store to determine if there is matching call having related matching call information. If there is a matching call, related information may be provided to the first party. |
| US08526570B2 |
Computed tomography method, computer software, computing device and computed tomography system for determining a volumetric representation of a sample
A computed tomography method for determining a volumetric representation of a sample comprises using reconstructed volume data of the sample from x-ray projections of the sample taken by an x-ray system, computing a set of artificial projections of said sample by a forward projection from said reconstructed volume data, and determining, essentially from process data of said reconstruction including said reconstructed volume data and/or said x-ray projections, individual confidence measures for single voxels of said volume data based on calculating, for each of said measured x-ray projections, the difference between the contribution of this measured x-ray projection to the voxel under inspection and the contribution from a corresponding artificial projection to the voxel under inspection. |
| US08526567B2 |
Shift register and display device and driving method thereof
The power consumption of a shift register or a display device including the shift register is reduced. A clock signal is supplied to a shift register by a plurality of wirings, not by one wiring. Any one of the plurality of wirings supplies a clock signal in only part of the operation period of the shift register, not during the whole operation period of the shift register. Therefore, the capacity load caused with the supply of clock signals can be reduced, leading to reduction in power consumption of the shift register. |
| US08526557B2 |
Signal transmission system, signal processing device, reference signal transmitting device, reference signal receiving device, electronic device, and signal transmission method
Disclosed herein is a signal transmission system including: a first signal processing section configured to perform signal processing on a basis of a reference signal; a high-frequency reference signal generating section configured to generate and transmit a high-frequency reference signal having a higher frequency than the reference signal such that the high-frequency reference signal is synchronized with the reference signal; a low-frequency reference signal generating section configured to receive the high-frequency reference signal from the high-frequency reference signal generating section, and generate a low-frequency reference signal having a lower frequency than the high-frequency reference signal such that the low-frequency reference signal is synchronized with the received high-frequency reference signal; and a second signal processing section configured to perform signal processing on a basis of the low-frequency reference signal generated by the low-frequency reference signal generating section. |
| US08526556B2 |
Method and system for delay locked loop for rake receiver
Certain aspects of a method and system for a delay locked loop for a rake receiver are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include normalizing a signal power of a first control channel based on a threshold value. A sampling time associated with at least one or more of the following: the first control channel, a second control channel, an on-time control channel, and a data channel, may be adjusted based on a comparison between the normalized signal power of the first control channel and a signal power of the second control channel. The second control channel may be delayed with respect to the first control channel by a particular time period. The first and second control channels may be common pilot control channels (CPICHs). The combined signal power of the first control channel may be normalized based on said threshold value. |
| US08526552B1 |
Noise estimation in communication receivers
A method includes receiving at a receiver a signal including reference symbols that is sent over a communication channel from a transmitter to the receiver. A response of the communication channel is estimated by applying one or more weighting values to the reference symbols. A noise correction factor is computed based on the weighting values. An estimate of a noise level in the received signal is computed based on the estimated response of the communication channel and the noise correction factor. The received signal is decoded based on the estimate of the noise level. |
| US08526548B2 |
Matched filter circuit apparatus in the base band process system of the terminal device and method thereof
The present invention discloses a matched filtering circuit apparatus in the baseband processing system of the terminal device and method thereof. The circuit apparatus comprises a control unit for controlling the processing procedures of de-scrambling, de-spreading, de-rotating and maximal ratio combining data, the output ports of the control unit connects with a V vector buffer unit, a shift integral selection unit and a coherent integral unit for implementing the matched filtering and data buffer. Due to the application of entirely pipeline design structure, the processes of data buffer and matched filtering can be carried out simultaneously, thus shortening time consumption of the terminal hardware accelerator and effectively improving the operation efficiency of the mobile communication terminal hardware system. |
| US08526546B2 |
Radio transmission device and radio transmission method
It is possible to improve the CQI reception performance even when a delay is caused in a propagation path, a transmission timing error is caused, or a residual interference is generated between cyclic shift amounts of different ZC sequences. For the second symbol and the sixth symbol of the ACK/NACK signal which are multiplexed by RS of CQI, (+, +) or (−, −) is applied to a partial sequence of the Walsh sequence. For RS of CQI transmitted from a mobile station, + is added as an RS phase of the second symbol and − is added as an RS phase of the sixth symbol. A base station (100) receives multiplexed signals of ACK/NACK signals and CQI signals transmitted from a plurality of mobile stations. An RS synthesis unit (119) performs synthesis by aligning the RS phase of CQI. |
| US08526539B2 |
Computational generation of narrow-bandwidth digital signals
A signal shaper generates an output signal representing a binary sequence, the output signal being the time-dependence of a signal value F. The signal shaper is input a first signal value F0 and a different second signal value F1, and receives a sequence of data bits. If the state of a first data bit and the state of a second data bit differ, the signal shaper controls the signal value F to change monotonically from the first signal value F0 or the second signal value F1 at a first point in time via one or more intermediate values at intermediate points in time to the second signal value F1 or the first signal value F0 at a later second point in time. On the time interval from the first point in time to the second point in time, the output signal may be a monotonic step function. |
| US08526538B2 |
Uplink precoding method in 4-Tx system
A method for a user equipment to precode and transmit an uplink signal efficiently in a 4-antenna system and a method for a base station to receive the transmitted signal efficiently are disclosed. Four antennas of a user equipment can be grouped by a 2-antenna unit. In consideration of this antenna group, it is able to perform precoding using antenna selection/DFT matrix of the antenna group unit. Moreover, a rank-3 codebook can be configured to include a precoding matrix of a type in consideration of power balance per antenna and a precoding matrix including one non-zero component only in one row for maintaining a good CM property. |
| US08526535B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with separate in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) phase power amplification and power amplifier pre-distortion and IQ balance compensation
A communications device, in one aspect as a portable wireless communications device, includes an in-phase modulator and power amplifier that receives a baseband I signal and modulates and amplifies the I signal. A quadrature modulator and power amplifier receives a baseband Q signal and modulates and amplifies the Q signal. A power combiner sums and outputs the I and Q signals. An I demodulator circuit receives a signal fed back from the I power amplifier and demodulates the fed back signal to produce demodulated I signals. A Q demodulator circuit receives a signal fed back from the Q power amplifier and demodulates the fed back signal to produce demodulated Q signals. A processor compares the digital, baseband I and Q signals with a demodulated I and Q signals to compensate for amplitude, frequency and phase modulation errors. |
| US08526533B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring I-Q mismatch
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of measuring I-Q mismatch in a system having a transmitter. The transmitter comprises an in-phase up-converter, a quadrature-phase up-converter, and a power detector. The method of measuring I-Q mismatch comprises measuring an in-phase transmit power at the power detector caused by transmitting an in-phase output signal to the in-phase up-converter, measuring a quadrature-phase transmit power at the power detector caused by transmitting a quadrature-phase output signal to the quadrature-phase up-converter, calculating a transmitter-gain-mismatch as a function of the in-phase transmit power and the quadrature-phase transmit power, measuring an I-Q transmit power at the power detector caused by simultaneously transmitting a gain-mismatch-compensated in-phase output signal to the in-phase up-converter and a gain-mismatch-compensated quadrature-phase output signal to the quadrature-phase up-converter, and calculating a transmitter-phase-mismatch as a function of the I-Q transmit power. |
| US08526532B2 |
Transmitter with dynamic equalizer
A method for filtering a signal having a series of symbols to be transmitted using the default coefficients, detecting occurrence of a series of consecutive common symbols followed by a different symbol in the series of symbols and based on detecting the occurrence, changing from the default coefficients to a second set of coefficients. |
| US08526530B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding feedback signal
A method and apparatus for encoding feedback signal is provided. The method includes: encoding feedback signals of three carriers to output a bit sequence; and transmitting the bit sequence on a High Speed-Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH). The encoding the feedback signals of the three carriers may specifically include: mapping the feedback signals of the three carriers into a codeword, in which the codeword can be selected from a codebook, and codewords in the codebook satisfy a particular code distance relationship. The method for jointly encoding feedback signals of three carriers in a Ternary Cell (TC) mode is provided. Feedback signals are transmitted over a single code channel. Therefore, power overhead is reduced, and system performance is improved. |
| US08526529B2 |
Radio access method for reduced PAPR
A wireless communication system is disclosed. A method for performing a radio access in the wireless communication system includes dividing an available frequency band into a plurality of subbands, generating a plurality of frequency domain sequences from a plurality of data symbol sequences by independently performing a Fourier transform process in each of the subbands, independently mapping each of the frequency domain sequences to a corresponding subband, generating one or more transmission symbols by performing an inverse Fourier transform process on the plurality of frequency domain sequences mapped to the available frequency band, and transmitting the one or more transmission symbols to a receiver. |
| US08526528B2 |
Beamforming in MIMO communication systems
A communication terminal includes first and second transmitters, which are coupled to produce respective first and second Radio Frequency (RF) signals that are phase-shifted with respect to one another by a beamforming phase offset, and to transmit the RF signals toward a remote communication terminal. The terminal includes a reception subsystem including first and second receivers and a phase correction unit. The first and second receivers are respectively coupled to receive third and fourth RF signals from the remote communication terminal. The phase correction unit is coupled to produce, responsively to the third and fourth RF signals, a phase correction for correcting an error component in the beamforming phase offset. |
| US08526527B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
A radio communication apparatus and an associated method are provided. The apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive first data and second data, which are transmitted from a plurality of antennas for spatial-multiplexing using a plurality of blocks, into which a plurality of consecutive subcarriers in a frequency domain are divided. The apparatus further includes a calculating unit configured to calculate a first absolute CQI value per each of the blocks for the first data and a second absolute CQI value per each of the blocks for the second data, and calculate a relative value of the second absolute CQI value with respect to the first absolute CQI value, per each of the blocks. The apparatus still further includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the first absolute CQI value and the relative value of the second absolute CQI value in the same block. |
| US08526526B2 |
Apparatus for transmission and reception with transmit diversity using cyclic subcarrier shift
Provided is a technology adopting multiple transmit antennas in a radio communication system. In a mobile communication system of a signal carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) scheme, it is possible to transmit data using the multiple transmit antennas, while maintaining a peak to average power ratio (PAPR) to be low. Also, it is possible to provide a new transmit diversity transmission even in a general radio communication system including an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), a code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme, and the like. |
| US08526518B2 |
Imbalance compensation for direct conversion communication systems
Most modern integrated circuit transceivers, especially wireless LAN, utilize a direct conversion radio architecture, which is highly advantageous from the perspectives of cost and flexibility, there exist several performance impairments, including gain and phase imbalances between the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) of a transmitter or receiver. Disclosed herein is a signal processing methodology and system for compensation of I/Q imbalance for a direct conversion packet-switched OFDM communications system. The imbalance, which accounts for transmitter I/Q imbalance, RX I/Q imbalance, phase/frequency error, and dispersive multipath fading. Both frequency dependent I/Q imbalance and frequency independent cases are considered, covering both wideband and narrowband modulation. The proposed estimation algorithms operate within the fully compliant framework of existing multi-user OFDM radio standards (WLAN, LTE, WimAX). These algorithms accurately estimate and correct transceiver I/Q imbalance on a packet-by-packet basis, all within the receiver's digital baseband. |
| US08526516B2 |
Systems and methods for multiple-input multiple-output communications systems
In a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication system, there is provided a method for error correction. The method includes receiving an original signal in an initial MIMO format, detecting an error in the original signal, and notifying a transmitter of the error detected in the original signal. The method also includes receiving a new retransmitted signal in a first retransmitted MIMO format, different from the initial MIMO format, the new retransmitted signal including at least a fraction of encoded bits of the original signal. The method also includes correcting the original signal by applying the new retransmitted signal to the original signal. |
| US08526515B2 |
Link quality metric based antenna selection for transceivers
A method and system for link quality metric based antenna selection for transceiver are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for selecting an antenna from multiple antennas associated with a receiver, includes receiving multi-carrier modulated signals via a currently active antenna of the receiver, and estimating a predicted packet error rate (PER) associated with a current receive path of the receiver. The current receive path is used to process the multi-carrier modulated signals. The method further includes selecting a next antenna from the multiple antennas for forming a next receive path of the receiver based on the predicted PER and a packet error history associated with at least one previous receive path. |
| US08526512B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus
A transmitting apparatus that converts a transmission digital signal to a high-frequency analog signal and transmits the high-frequency analog signal using a plurality of transmission frequencies, the transmitting apparatus including: a dividing unit that divides a transmission signal sequence into a plurality of blocks; a sub-block generating unit that applies pre-coding processing to the blocks and further divides the blocks after the pre-coding processing into sub-blocks; a frequency allocating unit that generates a frequency signal in which the sub-blocks are allocated to the transmission frequencies; and an inverse DFT processing unit that transforms the frequency signal into a time signal, wherein the transmitting apparatus sets the time signal as the transmission digital signal. |
| US08526506B1 |
System and method for transcoding with quality enhancement
System and method for transcoding enhancement. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides system for transcoding video. The system includes a controller module. The system also includes a decoding module, the decoding module including an interface for receiving a video in a first format, the video being characterized by a first dimension, the decoding module being adapted to converted the video from first format to a second format in response to a first control signal from the controller module. Furthermore, the system includes a first video processing module, the first video processing module being configured to processes the video in the second format to determined whether to remove one or more types of defects associated with the first video, the first video processing module furthering being adapted to remove one or more types of artifacts. |
| US08526505B2 |
System and method for transmitting digital video stream using SVC scheme
Disclosed is a system for transmitting a digital video stream, which supports decoding of a scalable video coding (SVC) scheme, the system includes a transmission terminal and a reception terminal, wherein the transmission terminal includes an encoder for encoding a high-definition digital video stream and a division transmission unit for dividing the high-definition video stream having a predetermined time unit into a first divided high-definition video stream and a second divided high-definition video stream by reducing a frame rate and for transmitting the first and second divided high-definition video streams, and the reception terminal includes a transmission coupling unit for receiving the first and second divided high-definition video streams transmitted from the transmission terminal, coupling the received streams according to validity thereof, and transmitting the received streams as a reception high-definition digital video stream; and a decoder for decoding the reception high-definition digital video stream transmitted from the transmission coupling unit. |
| US08526499B2 |
Bi-prediction coding method and apparatus, bi-prediction decoding method and apparatus, and recording medium
A bi-prediction decoding method includes determining whether or not a current block to be decoded is a bi-prediction coding mode by analyzing the coded data; recovering a decoding target motion vector by decoding the coded data in a case where it is determined that the current block is the bi-prediction coding mode; calculating the recovered decoding target motion vector, and a non-decoding target motion vector corresponding to a second reference picture based on a temporal distance between a current picture to which the current block belongs and a first decoding reference picture corresponding to the decoding target motion vector and a temporal distance between the current picture and a second decoding reference picture; and recovering the current block based on a generated prediction block by generating the prediction block for the current block based on the recovered decoding target motion vector and the calculated non-decoding target motion vector. |
| US08526496B2 |
Region sizing for macroblocks
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation. |
| US08526495B2 |
Apparatus and method of constrained partition size for high efficiency video coding
An apparatus and method for video coding and decoding with constrained PU partition are disclosed. In the High Efficient Video Coding (HEVC) system, rate-distortion function or other performance criterion usually is evaluated for various CU partition and PU partition during the encoding process in order to select a configuration with best possible performance. The PU design in the current HEVC development results in some redundancy that causes rate-distortion function or other performance criterion repeatedly evaluated for same PU configuration. Accordingly, constrained PU partition is developed to eliminate or reduce the redundancy in processing. Furthermore, necessary syntax to convey the information related to constrained PU partition between an encoder and a decoder is developed. Systems embodying the present invention has been shown to result in sizeable reduction in encoding and decoding time while the performance in terms of RD-rate remains approximately the same or slightly higher than a conventional HEVC system. |
| US08526491B2 |
Image encoding device, and image decoding device
The image encoding device of the present invention is an image encoding device that encodes a still image and a moving image, the device including: a determination unit that determines a first upper limit and a second upper limit, the first upper limit indicating an upper limit of the amount of code per picture of still images, and the second upper limit indicating an upper limit of the amount of code per picture in a moving image; an encoding unit that encodes each of the still images and the moving image in such a manner that the first and second upper limits are satisfied; a multiplexing unit that generates a stream by multiplexing the encoded still images and the encoded moving image; a generation unit that generates management information that identifies the first and second upper limits; and an output unit that outputs the stream and the management information. |
| US08526489B2 |
Personal video recorder
A sequence of picture slices is encoded as reference slices and non-reference slices, wherein the reference slices include B slices, by forming, for each B slice, at least one data packet containing data values derived from brightness and color information pertaining to the slice. The data packet for each B slice includes a header element indicating whether the B slice is a reference slice. The header element of each reference B slice has a value that depends on depth of the reference B slice in a hierarchy of discardability. |
| US08526487B1 |
Differential energy difference integrator
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a high-speed differential energy difference integrator (EDI) for adaptive equalizers. In an embodiment, the EDI includes two differential full-wave rectifiers providing differential outputs that are cross-coupled to the inputs of an integration capacitor. In one embodiment, the active areas of the transistors of the differential full-wave rectifiers are substantially the same. |
| US08526482B2 |
Non-contiguous variable length orthogonal codes
Systems for transmitting information symbols utilize ternary codes or pivot codes in conjunction with spread spectrum encoding. The systems comprise at least a first symbol source for supplying an information signal comprising at least a first stream of I,Q bit pairs, means for using either a ternary code or at least one pivot code for spreading the at least first stream of I,Q bit pairs and thereby respectively forming first chips and second chips, and a radio signal modulator for transmitting the first chips and second chips over a radio interface. |
| US08526480B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device comprising an optically pumped surface emitting vertical emitter which emits in a vertical main radiation direction, and at least one monolithically integrated pump radiation source for optically pumping the vertical emitter, wherein the pump radiation source emits pump radiation in a pump main radiation direction extending transversely with respect to the vertical main radiation direction. In accordance with the invention, suitably dimensioned vertical sections are provided such that modes of the pump radiation are forced completely or at least partly in a vertical direction from this section to reduce absorption losses of the pump radiation at conductive layers. |
| US08526479B2 |
Laser tube with distributed taps for a gas discharge RF-excited laser
A laser device is provided. The laser device includes a laser tube, and power devices distributed uniformly along the length of the laser tube. |
| US08526477B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device of one embodiment includes: a substrate; an n-type layer of an n-type nitride semiconductor on the substrate; an active layer of a nitride semiconductor on the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type layer of a p-type nitride semiconductor on the active layer. The p-type layer has a ridge stripe shape. The device has an end-face layer of a nitride semiconductor formed on an end face of the n-type semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the p-type semiconductor layer. The end face is perpendicular to an extension direction of the ridge stripe shape. The end-face layer has band gap wider than the active layer. The end-face layer has Mg concentration in the range of 5E16 atoms/cm3 to 5E17 atoms/cm3 at a region adjacent to the p-type layer. |
| US08526476B2 |
Semiconductor chip and method for manufacturing a semiconductor chip
A semiconductor chip with a semiconductor body has a semiconductor layer sequence with an active region provided for generating radiation. A mirror structure that includes a mirror layer and a dielectric layer that is arranged at least in regions between the mirror layer and semiconductor body is arranged on the semiconductor body. |
| US08526475B2 |
Broadening of rare earth ion emission bandwidth in phosphate based laser glasses
Disclosed are the use of phosphate-based glasses as a solid state laser gain medium, in particular, the invention relates to broadening the emission bandwidth of rare earth ions used as lasing ions in a phosphate-based glass composition, where the broadening of the emission bandwidth is believed to be achieved by the hybridization of the glass network. |
| US08526470B2 |
Synchronized commands for network testing
Methods and test systems for testing a network. A test system may emulate a plurality of users, each emulated user executing a user activity. Each emulated user activity may include one or more commands. At least some emulated user activities may include a first command associated with a first protocol synchronized with a second command associated with a second protocol different from the first protocol. The test system may report a result of emulating the plurality of users. |
| US08526466B2 |
Apparatus and method for prioritizing communications between devices
An apparatus and method for prioritizing communications between devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device for providing communications between at least one source device and at least one destination device comprises an input, logic, and an output. The input of the interface device receives data in a first format from the source device. The logic identifies the destination device for receiving the data. The logic then identifies a second format compatible with the destination device and translates the data from the first format to the second format. Transmission of the translated data is then prioritized by the logic based on characteristics of the translated data, which may include the format of the translated data or a service plan associated with the destination device or source device. The translated data is then transmitted to the identified destination device via the output. |
| US08526465B1 |
Media transmission using aggregated bandwidth of disparate communication channels
A method and/or system of transmitting media items using aggregating bandwidths of disparate communication channels between a media source and a media player. By using the combined bandwidth of more than one communication channel, a media item that requires a bandwidth larger than a single communication channel can be transmitted. The media source also converts the media item depending on the available bandwidth of the communication channels. By dynamically changing the formats of the media item, more robust and reliable communication between the media source and the media player can be achieved. |
| US08526463B2 |
System and method to support data applications in a multi-homing, multi-mode communication device
A method of transmitting and receiving data from a multi-homing network device to a data network includes defining a network policy and transmitting the network policy to a routing module. Further, the method includes receiving a route scope from the routing module. The route scope identifies a subset of data interfaces to the data network that satisfy the network policy wherein the subset of data interfaces are selected from a set of available data interfaces and wherein the subset of data interfaces includes at least one data interface. |
| US08526452B1 |
Quality of service packet scheduler design
Systems, methods, devices, and processors are described for quality of service (QoS) packet scheduling in satellite communications systems. A packet received at the QoS packet scheduler may be assigned a virtual departure time utilizing novel self-clocked fair queuing techniques. The virtual departure time for a packet assigned to a queue may depend on a different weight assigned to the queues. Queues may be treated as low latency queues in some cases and may be provided with committed information rates in other cases. Low latency queues may be assigned weights equal to infinity, or the reciprocal of the weight equal to zero. Queues with committed information rates may assign different weights to packets depending on whether the rate that packets are received exceeds the committed information rate. Packets may then be scheduled based on their virtual departure time order. |
| US08526450B2 |
Host device interface with a point of deployment (POD) and a method of processing broadcast data
A host device interfacing with a point of deployment (POD) and a method of processing broadcast data are disclosed. Herein, an Internet Protocol (IP) physical interface unit receives an Ethernet frame including broadcast data; and a routing engine transforms the Ethernet frame to an IP packet when a destination address included in the Ethernet frame matches with an address of a pod and routs the transformed IP packet to an extended channel connected to the POD. Accordingly, it is possible to protect contents using a conditional access provided by the existing cable card and process broadcast data received on all types of transmission protocols including an IP protocol over a wired/wireless network using a channel provided for connection between the existing cable card and the host device. |
| US08526446B2 |
Ethernet-based systems and methods for improved network routing
Ethernet-based networks for routing Internet Protocol (IP) traffic between source and destination sites. One embodiment includes a plurality of discrete data transmission backbones between the source and destination sites. The source site includes control means for distributing IP traffic at the source site to the plurality of backbones for transmission to the destination site. |
| US08526442B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using multiple connection identifiers based on traffic requirements
Methods and apparatus related to scheduling and/or utilization of air link traffic resources are described. A peer to peer connection holds a set of multiple connection identifiers for a plurality of successive traffic slots. Corresponding to a particular traffic slot, each of the connection identifiers in the set of connection identifiers has a different priority. Short term traffic needs are considered in the use of the multiple connection identifiers being held. For example, a communications device, corresponding to a peer to peer connection which is associated with a plurality of connection identifiers having different priorities, considers the amount and/or latency requirements of data to be transmitted at any given time when selecting which connection identifier to use when transmitting a traffic transmission request for a traffic segment which is in contention. |
| US08526439B2 |
Contention free pipelined broadcasting within a constant bisection bandwidth network topology
In an interconnection network, multiple nodes are connected to one of a first layer of switches. The first layer of switches is connected to one another through a second layer of switches. Each of the nodes is connected through one of multiple shared links connecting the first layer switches and the second layer of switches. A pipelined broadcast manager schedules a hierarchical pipelined broadcast through at least one switch of the first layer switches comprising non-root nodes by selecting two nodes among the non-root nodes connected to the at least one switch and scheduling each of multiple broadcast steps for the pipelined broadcast with at least one of an inter-switch broadcast phase and an intra-switch broadcast phase using the selected two nodes. |
| US08526426B2 |
Configuring guest users for a VoIP device of a primary user
A method to providing VoIP telephony to a plurality of users of a VoIP network includes authenticating and registering a primary user to a VoIP device to support call signaling associated with the primary user. A guest user subscriber of the VoIP network having a guest user directory number is authenticated in response to a password. The guest user directory number is mapped to the unique hardware identifier of the VoIP device, and a second set of VoIP parameters are downloaded from the VoIP network to the VoIP device in order to support call signaling associated with the guest user. VoIP calls are then within the VoIP network in response to the mappings of the primary user directory number and the guest user directory number to the same unique hardware identifier. |
| US08526420B2 |
Method and apparatus for autonomous uplink timing advance maintenance
According to some embodiments, a mobile device may calculate adjustments of a timing advance based on a determined relative downlink timing change. Adjustments of the timing advance may be made toward a target timing advance in accordance with an adjustment parameter. The adjustment parameter may be adapted based on a received timing advance command and at least one of: a calculated adjustment of the timing advance; and a difference between the target timing advance and the timing advance. In another aspect, self-adjustment of a timing advance performed by a mobile device may be configured based on a property of a communication channel between the mobile device and a base station. In another aspect, self-adjustment of a timing advance performed by a mobile device may be configured based on timing advance commands received from a base station. |
| US08526418B2 |
Power line communication network
A media access control (MAC) controller is disclosed for a network providing communication for network stations located at a plurality of customer premises and sharing a communication medium, each of the premises having a plurality of network stations. The MAC controller includes a virtual local area network (vLAN) controller, providing access to the communication medium for and communication among the stations located at a single customer's premises, to define a vLAN between them. A group local area network (gLAN) controller provides access to the communication medium for and communication among interfering vLANs, two vLANs being considered to be interfering when one can sense communications over the medium from a station in the other. A MAC controller is provided in at least one station in a vLAN. The MAC controller is preferably connected to use as the communication medium the portion of a power line at the output of the last step down transformer and utilizes a token passing protocol to control access to the medium. |
| US08526415B2 |
Method and system for providing acknowledged broadcast and multicast communication
A method and system to acknowledge a multicast message includes informing each node in a network about each multicast group to which it belongs, a relative position in each multicast group to which it belongs, and a group size of each multicast group to which it belongs, transmitting the multicast message, and transmitting, by each node in the multicast group, an acknowledgment in an assigned slot, which is determined by the relative position. |
| US08526413B2 |
Concatenating precoder selection for OFDMA-based multi-BS MIMO
A method of concatenating precoder selection is provided for OFDMA-based multi-BS multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). A cell-edge mobile station first determines a precoding matrix indexes (PMIs) for a serving base station and one or more cooperative base stations to optimize system performance. The mobile station then determines a plurality of corresponding weight factors for each of the base stations to further optimize system performance. The mobile station recommends the selected PMIs and weight factors to the serving base station, which shares the PMIs and weight factors with the cooperative base stations. Each base station then applies precoding using the recommended PMIs and weight factors. The weight factors are quantized to reduce computation complexity and to facilitate information feedback. In one embodiment, the weight factors are determined based on a pre-defined 3-bit uniform phase quantization rule. The concatenated precoder leads to large performance gain without introducing high computation complexity. |
| US08526410B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to interference management when sharing downlink bandwidth between wide area network usage and peer to peer signaling
Methods and apparatus related to the sharing of wide area network (WAN) downlink bandwidth with peer to peer communication signaling usage are described. A WAN, e.g., cellular, wireless communications device using a base station attachment point, transmits a signal to be used by a peer to peer wireless communications device for controlling its peer to peer transmit power level. The peer to peer wireless communications device receives and measures the strength of the power control signal from the WAN wireless communications device. The measurement information is used by the peer to peer wireless communications device in determining whether or not peer to peer signal transmission is permitted and/or in determining a peer to peer transmission power level. Thus the WAN device is able to manage interference from the peer to peer devices in its vicinity which impacts its recovery of WAN base station downlink signals. |
| US08526405B2 |
Routing network requests based on requesting device characteristics
Disclosed are systems and methods for responding to a web page request from a mobile device by providing the network address of a server hosting content formatted for the mobile device. The systems and methods include means and ways for redirecting a request for URL resolution from a DNS server to an enhanced DNS server with facilities to determine the kind of the requesting device, e.g., whether the requesting device is fixed or mobile. |
| US08526401B2 |
Power control protocol for highly variable data rate reverse link of wireless communication system
A subscriber unit performs power control of a reverse link by sending heartbeat messages to a base station, permitting the base station to determine a reverse link quality report. Using a reverse link quality report message received from the base station, the subscriber unit calculates its reverse power level and maintains the reverse power level during the standby state. |
| US08526395B2 |
Using code channel overrides to suppress CDMA wireless devices
Techniques for generating an interloping beacon which can control the behavior of a target wireless device on a CDMA frequency channel without noticeably altering the behavior of non-target wireless devices which share the frequency channel of the target wireless device's live beacon. The interloping beacon is an override beacon which overrides the live beacon's pilot channel and a control message on a code channel on which control messages may be addressed to the target wireless device. The override beacon provides the overriding pilot and the overriding control message only as long as is required for the target wireless device to respond to the overriding control message. The period of time during which the overriding pilot and the overriding control message are generated for the override beacon is so short that only the target wireless device responds without noticeable effect on collateral wireless devices. |
| US08526392B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mapping modulation symbols to resources in OFDM systems
A method for transmission, by dividing a transmission resource in a time domain subframe into a plurality of equal duration resource elements in a time and frequency domain, segregating the plurality of resource elements into a plurality of resource regions, modulating information to be transmitted to generate a sequence of modulation symbols at a transmitter, mapping the sequence of modulation symbols into the plurality of resource elements in the plurality of resource regions, and transmitting the modulation symbols via a plurality of antennas using the respective corresponding resource elements to a receiver. The mapping of the modulation symbols in at least one resource region is independent of a certain control channel information that is carried in said time domain subframe, and the mapping of the modulation symbols in at least another resource region is dependent upon said certain control channel information that is carried in said subframe. The information to be transmitted may be encoded to generate a plurality of code blocks, with roughly equal number of resource elements assigned to each of the plurality of code blocks in at least one resource region. Alternatively, the time domain subframe may contain only one resource region. |
| US08526389B2 |
Power scaling in multicarrier wireless device
A wireless device receives a control command for transmission of a random access preamble on a first cell. The wireless device transmits the random access preamble in parallel with a first control packet, a second packet and/or a third packet. The wireless device determines a transmission power for the random access preamble. If a total calculated transmission power exceeds a predefined value, the wireless device reducing or scaling linear transmission power of one or more of the at least one parallel uplink transmission considering a higher priority for the transmission power of the random access preamble. |
| US08526388B1 |
Interference control
Mechanisms for controlling communications conducted in multiple frequency bands so as to decrease an interference level between the communications. When an interference situation caused between an UL communication performed on at least one frequency band and a DL communication performed on another frequency band is determined, a partial denial processing is conducted so as to deactivate a dedicated part of resource blocks used for the first communication on the at least one frequency band of the first communication in the case of an interference situation being determined. The first communication is then continued in parallel to the second communication, on the basis of resources different from the dedicated part of resource blocks deactivated in the partial denial processing. |
| US08526382B2 |
Plug-and-play wireless network extension station and method of automatic configuration thereof
Provided is a plug-and-play wireless network extension station and its automatic configuration process. This wireless network extension station particularly explores any wireless network extension controller over a power-line network through a power-line communication technology. The process includes broadcasting exploration packet, determining the controller's network address from a response, automatically receiving wireless network configuration and establishing a connection after self-configuration. In one embodiment, the wireless network extension station at least includes a data processing unit, a wireless-network module for providing a wireless network access service and a power-line network bridging module for data transmission using the power-line communication technology. A station exploration communication module is also provided for exploring the controller's network address via broadcast and receiving wireless network configuration. The automatic connection and network configuration achieves the plug-and-play network extension. |
| US08526381B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing multi-carrier
An apparatus for managing a multi-carrier in a communication system supporting the multi-carrier receives channel quality information of multi-carriers from a terminal and directs the terminal to change a primary carrier from a current primary carrier to one carrier of the multi-carriers on the basis of reference information including channel quality information. |
| US08526379B2 |
Frequency overlay technique for a PICO cell system
To ameliorate interference between an indoor wireless pico cell system, for example in an aircraft, and public wireless communications systems operating in a surrounding or over-flown area, frequencies of operation of the indoor system are coordinated with those used by the public wireless systems in the surrounding area. The pico cell system operates one type of service on all or a portion of a band used for a different type of service by the public system. In the aircraft example, a pico cell system might support GSM narrowband service and CDMA broadband service. The airborne GSM operations use a portion, e.g. corresponding to a guard band, of CDMA service spectrum in the terrestrial network. The airborne CDMA service uses a band used for GSM service by the terrestrial network. The pico cell system dynamically changes its frequency band(s), as the aircraft flies over different areas. |
| US08526378B2 |
Uplink scheduling method and apparatus based on semi-persistent resource allocation scheme in mobile communication system
An uplink scheduling method by a terminal which performs a communication service according to a semi-persistent resource allocation scheme in a Base Station (BS) of a mobile communication system. The uplink scheduling method includes generating resource allocation control information including a particular field set to a value predetermined according to the semi-persistent resource allocation scheme, code-masking the particular field of the resource allocation control information by using a Cyclic Shift (CS) value for a Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) operation of the terminal, configuring a transport block including the code-masked resource allocation control information; and transmitting the transport block to the terminal. Therefore, the MU-MIMO can be implemented even in a Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) scheme. When the BS provides a VoIP service, service delay, which may occur due to lack of resources, does not occur, and resources can be immediately allocated. |
| US08526374B2 |
Physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission in multicarrier operation
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate selecting an uplink carrier for random access within a wireless environment having multiple carriers. Selection of an uplink carrier for random access can be randomly selected from a set of available uplink carriers. Additionally, the uplink carrier for random access can be selected based upon which uplink carrier is paired with an anchor carrier. Further, the uplink carrier for random access can be identified based upon a bandwidth related to the user equipment (UE). Reference signals can also be employed in order to identify an uplink carrier to perform random access. |
| US08526371B2 |
Frequency diverse transmissions in a wireless communication system
Techniques for dynamically mapping assigned resources to physical resources are described herein. In one design, a resource assigned for communication may be mapped to a first physical resource based on a first mapping function and to a second physical resource based on a second mapping function. The assigned resource may be configurable for hopping or no hopping. The first mapping function may be a transparent function or may map consecutive input indices to non-consecutive output indices. The second mapping function may be equal to an output of the first mapping function plus an offset defined by a step size and a hop value. The hop value may be configurable for the assigned resource and may be conveyed in a resource assignment. The hop value may be set to a first value to indicate no hopping or to a second value to indicate hopping by the step size. |
| US08526368B2 |
Wi-Fi access point characteristics database
A method and apparatus for determining characteristics of an access point device are disclosed. The method includes determining, at a first device, a characteristic of the access point device. At the first device, a signal is received from the access point device. The retrieved signal is communicated to a first database. In response to the communication, characteristic information is received from the first database. The characteristic information includes an estimate of the characteristic of the access point device including manufacturing information of the access point device. |
| US08526367B2 |
Front-end module network for femtocell applications
A wireless communication device includes a front-end module (FEM) network, an RF connection, and a system on a chip (SOC). A first set of FEMs is operable to output, via an antenna, a first outbound RF signal to a first wireless communication device and receive a first inbound RF signal via an antenna. A second set of FEMs is operable to output, via an antenna, a second outbound RF signal to a second wireless communication device, wherein the second outbound RF signal is representative of the first inbound RF signal, and receive a second inbound RF signal via an antenna, wherein the first outbound RF signal is representative of the second inbound RF signal. The SOC is operable to activate the first and second sets of FEMs, facilitate the first outbound RF signal representing the second inbound RF signal, and facilitate the second outbound RF signal representing the first inbound RF signal. |
| US08526364B2 |
Delivering system information in wireless communications network
A method of controlling user equipment in a wireless communications network, the method comprising: producing different system information for different groups of user equipment based on characteristics of the user equipment, sending the system information to said user equipment, and indicating to which group of the user equipment the system information is addressed. |
| US08526357B2 |
Methods and arrangements for handling unreliable scheduling grants in a telecommunication network
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for handling unreliable scheduling grants in a WCDMA-communication system. A user equipment detects that a received scheduling grant is unreliable and adjust its serving grant based on that information. The user equipment is also able to report continuously received unreliable grants as an event to the network, allowing the network to adapt its operation to reduce the unreliable grants. |
| US08526356B2 |
Transmission format selection for optimizing transmission of delay sensitive traffic
A method, scheduler, and processor program product for scheduling transmission of packets from a base station to a mobile station. A data rate control index is received from a mobile station. A transmission format is selected using the received data rate control index. The selected transmission format uses a payload size that is smaller than a largest compatible payload size for another transmission format corresponding to the received data rate control index and that is smaller than a total size of packets waiting to be transmitted. |
| US08526355B2 |
Method and apparatus in relaying system
An apparatus, comprising a channel estimator for estimating channel coefficients of communication channels of multiple-input-multiple-output communication, a precoder for applying the estimated channel coefficients to precode a transmit signal to cancel the impact of the communication channels on the transmit signal, a first controller for providing the transmit signal for multiple-input-multiple-output transmission in a first timeslot, a second controller for processing a multiple-input-multiple-output receive signal received in a second timeslot following the first timeslot, and a cancellator for cancelling the transmit signal from the receive signal. |
| US08526346B1 |
Power save communication mechanism for wireless communication systems
A power saving communication mechanism can be implemented on an access point and on a connected WLAN device in a wireless communication network so that the connected WLAN device transmits uplink data frames in response to receiving a trigger frame from the access point. The access point determines a number of connected wireless network devices in the wireless communication network and a number of power save intervals to be implemented in each beacon interval. Additionally, the access point can vary a trigger frame transmission sequence according to which trigger frames are transmitted to connected WLAN devices. The access point transmits the trigger frame to each connected WLAN device to request transmission of uplink data frames based on the trigger frame transmission sequence. The power saving communication mechanism can improve throughput, facilitate conservation of radio resources, and reduce power consumption. |
| US08526340B2 |
Selectively adaptable far-end echo cancellation in a packet voice system
A packet voice transceiver adapted to reside at a first end of a communication network and to send an ingress communication signal comprising voice packets to, and receive an egress communication signal comprising voice packets from, a second packet voice transceiver residing at a second end of the communication network. The packet voice transceiver includes a far-end echo canceller that reduces echo that is present in the egress communication signal. The far-end communicates with other functional components of the transceiver system and cancels echo or refrains from canceling echo based on the activity of the other functional components. |
| US08526337B2 |
Method and apparatus for communication in a TDD-based wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for communication in a TDD (Time Division Duplex) based wireless communication system. The present invention involves setting a first frame comprising a plurality of consecutive downlink subframes and a plurality of consecutive uplink subframes. The start point for the first uplink subframe in the plurality of consecutive uplink subframes, is located at a switching point in a second frame used by another system. |
| US08526332B2 |
Method and apparatus of detecting resource assignment information in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of detecting resource assignment information by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The UE detects a number of Assignment Advanced-MAP (A-A-MAP) groups and a number of a plurality of A-A-MAP Information Elements (IEs) included in each of the A-A-MAP groups, extracts type and flag of each of the plurality of A-A-MAP IEs; and performs blind detection of resource assignment information on the basis of the type and flag of each of the A-A-MAP IEs. |
| US08526324B2 |
Method of controlling radio resources, and radio system
There is provided a radio system, comprising: a receiver for receiving uplink channel traffic; a measuring unit for measuring periodicity of the received uplink channel traffic; and a control unit for controlling discontinuous uplink operation on the basis of the measured periodicity of the received uplink channel traffic. |
| US08526322B2 |
Apparatus and method for reporting measurement result in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of reporting a measurement result in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment receives, from a base station, measurement configuration information comprising a reporting condition for triggering reporting of a measurement result on M component carriers among N component carriers, where M≦N. The user equipment determines whether the reporting condition is satisfied by measuring the N component carriers. If the reporting condition is satisfied, the user equipment reports a measurement result on the M component carriers to the base station. |
| US08526321B2 |
Method and device for detecting of transmitting antenna configuration in long term evolution system
The present invention discloses a method and device for detecting transmitting antenna port configuration in a LTE system. The method includes: receiving a signal transmitted by a transmitting end at a receiving end, extracting from the signal a reference signal transmitted by each transmitting antenna port and descrambling; calculating and obtaining reference signal energy of each transmitting antenna port, dividing the reference signal energy into a first type of reference signal energy and a second type of reference signal energy, and determining a current bandwidth; and comparing the first type of reference signal energy with the second type of reference signal energy, and determining the number of transmitting antenna ports according to a comparison result. The present invention does not need to perform P-BCH blind detection multiple times to obtain the number of transmitting antenna ports, thus improving the performance of cell initial search and reducing the complexity of implementation. |
| US08526320B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic estimation of traffic reassignment
A method and apparatus for providing an estimation of traffic reassignment for a network are disclosed. For example, the method and apparatus provide an automatic estimation of traffic reassignment for a wireless network. |
| US08526317B2 |
Methods and apparatus for preemptive backoff for medium access in wireless peer-to-peer networks
A method of operating a wireless device is provided in which a number of neighboring nodes is estimated, a medium access priority to access a communication resource in a current timeslot is determined, and whether to transmit a scheduling control signal in the current timeslot is determined based on the number of neighboring nodes and the medium access priority. |
| US08526315B2 |
Flow state attributes for producing media flow statistics at a network node
A method in one embodiment includes allocating, by a node of a network, a flow label attribute identifying a media flow associated with a Session Description Protocol (SDP) media session. The media flow is between a sender and receiver nodes over a media transmission path of the network. The node further specifying a flow state attribute to generate media flow information and communicating the flow label and the flow state attribute to downstream nodes in the media transmission path. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US08526314B2 |
Methods and apparatus to provide service assurance for communication networks
Methods and apparatus to provide service assurance for communication networks are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a service provisioning server to initiate provisioning of a service to a user device, and a service testing server to perform a test of the service and to report a service test result to the service provisioning server, the service testing server responsive to a request from the user device to initiate the test of the service, the user device automatically generating the request in response to the service provisioning. |
| US08526313B1 |
System and method for extending connectivity tests through a packet network
A communication system extending Ethernet Operation and Management (OAM) Loopback Message (LBM) and Loopback Replay (LBR) functionality into a time division multiplexing (TDM) domain has a first interworking function (IWF) of an Ethernet network that transmits an Ethernet Operation and Management (OAM) Loopback Message (LBM) having a first type length value (TLV) field. The first IWF controls the first TLV field to indicate that a connectivity test is to extend beyond the Ethernet network. The communication system further has a second IWF of the Ethernet network that receives the Ethernet OAM LBM and interprets the first TLV field. In addition, the second IWF performs a TDM connectivity test across a TDM connection in response to the Ethernet OAM LBM and based on the first TLV field and transmits a reply for the Ethernet OAM LBM to the first IWF, the reply prompted by the LBM and comprising data based on the TDM connectivity test. |
| US08526312B2 |
Information detection method and apparatus for high speed downlink shared control channel
An information detection method and apparatus for a High Speed Downlink Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) are provided by the present disclosure, implementing the detection of HS-SCCH part1 with low false alarm probability and low false dismissal probability under the arbitrary combination of User Identifiers (UEID). The method is that: rate de-matching the front detection signal of each HS-SCCH part1 in the terminal HS-SCCH monitor set, obtaining the corresponding rate de-matched information; removing the user mask for the rate de-matched information of each HS-SCCH monitor channel; Viterbi decoding each rate de-matched information of which the user mask is removed, obtaining Viterbi-decoding 0 state accumulated metric of each HS-SCCH in HS-SCCH monitor set, and summing the absolute value of the soft information of each HS-SCCH monitor channel respectively, with the soft information being obtained by removing the user mask; according to the Viterbi 0 state accumulated metric of each HS-SCCH and the sum of absolute values of the corresponding soft information, obtaining determination variables of each HS-SCCH; selecting the maximum from the determination variables of HS-SCCH, comparing the maximum with the preset threshold, and determining whether the HS-SCCH of this user is detected. |
| US08526311B2 |
System for integrating a plurality of modules using a power/data backbone network
A Virtual Electrical and Electronic Device Interface and Management System (VEEDIMS) support architecture is provided. In one example, the VEEDIMS support architecture includes a vehicle layer and a shop layer. The vehicle layer has a module and a controller positioned in a vehicle. The module is configured to couple to a device via an input/output (I/O) interface compatible with the device and configured to couple to the controller via a cable adapted to simultaneously carry bi-directional data and uni-directional power to the module. The shop layer is separate from the vehicle layer and has a browser configured to communicate with an HTTP server in the module and an analysis tool configured to receive and analyze event driven and time series data from the controller. |
| US08526305B2 |
System and methods for reducing power consumed by a base station
The present invention provides systems and methods that enable a base station to consume less power. According to an embodiment of the invention, the base station reduces its power consumption by not continuously broadcasting control information. In such an embodiment, a mobile station that seeks access to a network to which the base station provides access does not search for broadcast control information prior to transmitting an access message to the base station, but rather simply transmits on a predetermined access channel an access request message. A base station that receives the access request message may unicast control information to the mobile station. |
| US08526304B2 |
Processing method for resource request in NGN
A processing method for the resource request in NGN, which includes the following steps: the service control layer in NGN transmits the corresponding resource request to the resource admission control layer after the service control layer receives the service request transmitted by an user; if the bandwidth applied by the resource request can not be satisfied, then the resource admission control layer adds the available bandwidth information into the corresponding resource request refusing message and transmits it to the service control layer when the resource admission control layer refuses the request. The service control layer and the user perform session negotiation of the corresponding service according to the available bandwidth information. The method can optimize QoS resource control, acquire the current resource status when the service control function is failed for resource application, negotiate QoS once again according to the current resource status, in order to performing service access rapidly and high effectively, thereby providing better service for users. |
| US08526303B2 |
Flow control mechanism in a data processing pipeline
Herein described are at least a system and a method for regulating data flow in a data pipeline that may be used in a video processing system. The system comprises a processor, one or more data buffers, and one or more processing stations. The one or more data buffers may be used to buffer corresponding processing stations. Each of the one or more processing stations may comprise a switching circuitry that is used to inhibit data transmission when a hold signal is received from the processor. The processor may send the signal in response to a feedback control signal generated by the one or more processing stations. The method may comprise determining if the processing time of a processing station exceeds a specified time. The method further comprises generating a feedback control signal to a processor if the specified time is exceeded. |
| US08526302B2 |
Motherboard with backup network circuit
A motherboard includes at least one backup network circuit except for a network circuit used in a normal setup. The motherboard includes a first network circuit, a second network circuit, a network port, a switch circuit and a driver. The switch circuit is configured for coupling the first network circuit or the second network circuit to the network port. The driver is configured for switching the switch circuit according to states of the network port and the first network circuit. |
| US08526300B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing resiliency in multicast networks
Techniques for providing resilient multicast traffic processing in a network element are described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, a network element separately joins equivalent multicast traffic streams at a first and second interface respectively. During uninterrupted operation, the network element processes the packets of the multicast traffic stream it receives at the first interface and drops the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream it receives at the second interface. Upon an interruption of the packets of the multicast traffic stream being received at the first interface, the network element transitions to processing the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream it receives at the second interface. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08526297B2 |
OFDM transmission/reception apparatus
An OFDM signal transmission apparatus is provided, which includes a mapping unit configured to map first signals into N subcarriers and second signals into M subcarrier(s) to form an OFDM signal, wherein N is larger than M. The first signals are each indicating a same bit of retransmission information and the second signals are each indicating a same bit of information other than retransmission information. The OFDM signal transmission apparatus further includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the formed OFDM signal. |
| US08526292B2 |
Manufacturing method for optical recording medium, optical recording medium, optical information device, and information reproducing method
Shape-wise thicknesses of a cover layer and first through (N−1)th intermediate layers of an optical recording medium having refractive indexes nr1, nr2 are converted into thicknesses t1, t2 of the respective layers having a predetermined refractive index which makes a divergent amount equal to a divergent amount of a light beam resulting from the thicknesses tr1, tr2, a difference DFF between the sum of a thickness “ti” through a thickness “tj”, and the sum of a thickness “tk” through a thickness “tm” is set to 1 μm or more (where i, j, k, and m are each any positive integer satisfying i≦j |
| US08526287B2 |
Optical disk apparatus
Provided is an optical disk apparatus capable achieving stable focus control or tracking control. A first detector receives reflected light from an object lens optical system, a second detector receives reflected light from a prescribed information layer, a positional deviation determination unit determines positional deviation between a focal point of a light beam and a point where information on the prescribed information layer is recorded or reproduced, on the basis of a signal from the second detector, a stray light determination unit determines a surface stray light component which is reflected light from the surface of an optical disk and is included in the signal from the positional deviation determination unit, on the basis of the signal from the first detector, and a stray light correction unit corrects the signal output from the positional deviation determination unit on the basis of the surface stray light component thus determined. |
| US08526284B2 |
Multilayer optical recording medium with interfacial surfaces
A multilayer optical recording medium includes a plurality of interfacial surfaces that reflect an incident light beam, and neighboring ones of the interfacial surfaces has a spacer therebetween. When a light incident surface side is defined as an upper surface side, a different thickness layer unit including the spacers having different thicknesses arranged sequentially is disposed on the lowermost layer side, and the spacers each having a thickness different from the thickness of any one of the spacers arranged in the different thickness layer unit are sequentially arranged above the different thickness layer unit. |
| US08526282B1 |
Method for replicating media using unique identifiers
Methods and apparatuses are provided to manage the replication of contest recording media by assigning unique identifiers for content and media, and manage a database of records corresponding to the unique identifiers which include information related to the use of the unique identifiers. In addition, methods and apparatuses are provided for responding to content copy authorization requests, and are synergistically integrated with media replication management methods and apparatuses by using the same database of records corresponding to unique identifiers as a basis for such responses. |
| US08526279B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting wobble defects in optical recording system
Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus. The apparatus includes a pick-up unit, such as an optical pick-up unit, a wobble channel and a defect detector. The pick-up unit generates a push-pull signal corresponding to a wobbled track of a storage medium. The wobble channel includes circuits to receive the push-pull signal, obtain a wobble signal from the push-pull signal, and calculate a wobble amplitude metric based on the wobble signal. The defect detector compares the wobble amplitude metric to a threshold to detect wobble defects. |
| US08526278B2 |
Recording method, recording device, optical disc, optical disc manufacturing method, and optical disc drive device
In a recording system (1), a personal computer (20) reads out boot information from an optical disc (31) in a predetermined order and records elements of the boot information in contiguous areas on the optical disc (32). In order to thus operate, the personal computer (20) refers to access records before reading out the boot information from the optical disc (31). The access records are generated by a protocol analyzer (11) at a start-up of a personal computer (10). Further, for each of the elements indicated by the access records, the personal computer (20) records, on the optical disc (32), an address conversion table in which that area on an optical disc (31) in which the element is recorded and that area on the optical disc (32) in which the element is recorded are correlated with each other. |
| US08526275B1 |
Systems and methods for dissipating heat from a near-field transducer in an energy assisted magnetic recording assembly
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a recording head for energy assisted magnetic recording. The recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT) having a preselected shape and a surface, a writing pole on the NFT, and a non-metal heat dissipator positioned between the NFT surface and the writing pole. The non-metal heat dissipator includes a first portion in contact with the NFT surface, the first portion extending beyond an edge of the NFT surface in a first direction substantially perpendicular to an air bearing surface (ABS) and parallel to the NFT surface. |
| US08526272B2 |
Day and time chronometer movement
A day clock has day, hour, and minute hands revolving continuously around a common center. It has a time adjustment knob and a day adjustment knob. When the day adjustment knob is pulled out, a set of gears are disengaged, allowing the day hand to be adjusted with that knob without affecting the other hands. Then, when the set of gears are reengaged, the time adjustment knob can be utilized to set the time of day. In order to set the day and time accurately, the user may first set the time to midnight with the time adjustment knob, pull out the day adjustment knob, set the day to a clock face line between days with that knob, push that knob back in, and then set the time to the correct time with the time adjustment knob. |
| US08526267B2 |
Electronic device
To suppress a timing window from being narrowed undesirably by the harmonic component of a signal output from a semiconductor component without imposing a burden on the semiconductor component that controls access.A capacitor element is arranged in series with a specific transmission path branching from a predetermined node of a signal transmission path and reaching to a ground plane, the signal transmission path supplying an enable control signal that indicates the validity of a clock signal and a command and address signal output from a semiconductor component that controls access on a substrate to another semiconductor component to be accessed on the substrate. The capacitor element functions as a short-circuit path to the ground plane for the harmonic component of the enable control signal and makes smaller the through rate and makes larger the timing window of the enable control signal compared to those when the capacitor element is not provided. |
| US08526254B2 |
Test cells for an unprogrammed OTP memory array
Test cells are included in a one-time programmable (OTP) memory array for detecting semiconductor fabrication misalignment, which can result in a potentially defective memory array. The test cells are fabricated at the same time as the normal OTP cells, except they are smaller in size along one dimension in order to detect mask misalignment along that dimension. Any fabricated test cell which cannot be programmed indicates a level of fabrication mask misalignment has occurred and the OTP memory array should not be used. |
| US08526253B2 |
Method of screening static random access memories for pass transistor defects
A method of screening static random access memory (SRAM) arrays to identify memory cells with bit line side pass transistor defects. After writing a known data state to the memory cells under test, a forward back-bias is applied to the load transistors of those cells. A write of the opposite data state is then performed, followed by a read of the memory cells. The process is repeated for the opposite data state. |
| US08526252B2 |
Quiescent testing of non-volatile memory array
A method and apparatus for testing an array of non-volatile memory cells, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM). In some embodiments, an array of memory cells having a plurality of unit cells with a resistive sense element and a switching device has a row decoder and a column decoder connected to the plurality of unit cells. A test circuitry sends a non-operational test pattern through the array via the row and column decoders with a quiescent supply current to identify defects in the array of memory cells. |
| US08526251B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus, method for delaying signal thereof, stacked semiconductor memory apparatus, and method for generating signal thereof
The semiconductor apparatus includes a reference delay value check unit configured to receive a source signal and delay the source signal to generate a reference delay signal; a process delay value check unit configured to receive the source signal and delay the source signal to generate a process delay signal; and a signal generation unit configured to receive the reference delay signal and the process delay signal, receive an input signal, and variably delay the input signal based on the reference delay signal and the process delay signal to generate an output signal. |
| US08526250B2 |
Address delay circuit of semiconductor memory apparatus
An address delay circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first group control pulse generation unit configured to generate a first control pulse after input of a first group column address strobe pulse and passage of a time corresponding to a first set multiple of one cycle of a clock, a second group control pulse generation unit configured to generate a second control pulse after input of a second group column strobe address pulse and passage of a time corresponding to a second set multiple of the one cycle of the clock, a first address storage unit configured to receive and store a first group external address in response to the first control pulse, and output a first group internal address, and a second address storage unit configured to receive and store a second group external address in response to the second control pulse, and output a second group internal address. |
| US08526247B2 |
Memories and methods for sharing a signal node for the receipt and provision of non-data signals
Memories and methods for providing and receiving non-data signals at a signal node are disclosed. One such memory includes first and second signal nodes, and first and second signal buffer. The first signal buffer is configured to be operative responsive to a first data strobe signal and further configured to be operative responsive to a non-data signal. The second signal buffer is configured to be operative responsive to a second data strobe signal. An example first data strobe signal is a read data strobe signal provided by the memory. In another example, the first data strobe signal is a write data strobe signal received by the memory. Examples of non-data signals include a data mask signal, data valid signal, error correction signal, as well as other signals. |
| US08526246B2 |
Write circuitry for hierarchical memory architectures
A memory architecture includes a plurality of local input and output circuitries, with each local input and output circuitry associated with at least one memory bank. The memory architecture also includes a global input and output circuitry, which includes a plurality of global sub-write circuitries, is coupled to the plurality of local input and output circuitries One global sub-write circuitry is enabled and provides a write-data to a selected local input and output circuitry. |
| US08526244B2 |
Anti-fuse circuit
An anti-fuse circuit including a programmable module, a read module, and a control module is provided. The programmable module has a plurality of data cells. The read module is coupled to the programmable module. During a normal operation, the read module distinguishes which one or more of the data cells are stressed. The control module is coupled to the programmable module. During a stress operation, the control module controls each stressed data cell to be coupled to a high voltage, a low voltage, and a control voltage. The first end of each stressed data cells is coupled to the low voltage, the second end of each stressed data cells is coupled to the high voltage, and the control end of each stressed data cells is coupled to the control voltage during the stress operation. |
| US08526243B2 |
Configurable digital and analog input/output interface in a memory device
Methods and memory devices are disclosed, for example a memory device that has both an analog path and a digital path that both share the same input/output pad. One of the two paths on each pad is selected in response to command signals that indicate the nature of the signal being either transmitted to the device or read from the device. Each digital path includes a latch for latching digital input data. Each analog path includes a sample/hold circuit for storing either analog data being read from or analog data being written to the memory device. |
| US08526241B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of improving failure-relief efficiency
According to one embodiment, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a row decoder. The memory cell array has NAND strings as a physical block, and word lines respectively connected to memory cells included in the NAND strings. The row decoder includes latch circuits and a drive circuit. When a failure exists within a corresponding first logical block, the latch circuits store a flag indicating the failure. The drive circuit inhibits driving of the word lines belonging to the first logical block when the flag is stored in the latch circuit corresponding to the first logical block to which the selected word lines belong, and allows the driving of the word lines belonging to the physical block including the first logical block when the flag is not stored in the latch circuit corresponding to the first logical block to which the selected word lines belong. |
| US08526240B2 |
Flash memory and memory cell programming method thereof
A programming method includes the following steps. A preset programming voltage is applied to a memory cell to program the memory cell. A first verify voltage is applied to the memory cell to detect a programming result of the memory cell. A programming voltage applied on the memory cell is adjusted according to the programming result of the memory cell. A flash memory is also provided. |
| US08526239B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory string coupled to a bit line, a page buffer configured to sense a sensing current of the bit line in an erase verification operation or a program verification operation, and a sensing control circuit configured to differently set a level of the sensing current in the erase verification operation and the program verification operation in order to sense the threshold voltage level of a selected memory cell of the memory string. |
| US08526238B2 |
Memory arrays and methods of operating memory
Apparatus and methods for determining pass/fail condition of memories are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a set of common lines, one for each rank of page buffers corresponding to a page, determine the pass/fail status of all connected memory cells, and the pass/fail status results for each line can be combined to determine a pass/fail for the page of memory. |
| US08526230B2 |
Methods and apparatus for write-side intercell interference mitigation in flash memories
Methods and apparatus are provided for write-side intercell interference mitigation in flash memories. A flash memory device is written by obtaining program data to be written to at least one target cell in the flash memory; obtaining one or more bits of program data for at least one aggressor cell to be programmed later than the target cell: and precompensating for intercell interference for the target cell by generating precompensated program values. The aggressor cells comprise one or more cells adjacent to the target cell, such as adjacent cells in a same wordline as the target cell and/or cells in an upper or lower adjacent wordline to the target cell. The precompensated program values for the target cell are optionally provided to the flash memory. |
| US08526226B2 |
Current control apparatus and phase change memory having the same
A current control apparatus of a phase change memory includes a temperature sensing block having an output voltage level which varies depending on temperature of an internal circuit and a write driver configured to control an amount of program current provided to a memory cell in response to the output voltage level of the temperature sensing block. |
| US08526223B2 |
Phase change random access memory device and related methods of operation
A method of operating a phase change random access memory (PRAM) device includes performing a program operation to store data in selected PRAM cells of the device, wherein the program operation comprises a plurality of sequential program loops. The method further comprises suspending the program operation in the middle of the program operation, and after suspending the program operation, resuming the program operation in response to a resume command. |
| US08526218B2 |
Memory design
A SRAM memory element comprises an influencing element which sets the state of the memory cells within the memory element on start-up to defined values. These defined values are set at the design stage such that on start-up the volatile memory contains firmware or other data. Dependent upon the implementation of the influencing element, the values of stored in the memory cells may be fixed or may subsequently be overwritten during operation of the device. The memory cell may comprise two cross-coupled inverters and the influencing element comprises at least one transistor arranged to connect the input to one of the inverters to ground or a power supply rail when voltage is applied to a controlling node of the transistor. |
| US08526215B2 |
Spatial correlation of reference cells in resistive memory array
The present disclosure relates to methods of selectively placing a reference column or reference row in a memory array. The method includes measuring a resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array and mapping a location of each measured variable resistive memory cell to form a map of the resistance state resistance values for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array. Then a column or row is selected to be a reference column or reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array, to minimize read operation errors, and forming a variable resistive memory cell memory array. |
| US08526213B2 |
Memory cells, methods of programming memory cells, and methods of forming memory cells
Some embodiments include methods of programming a memory cell. A plurality of charge carriers may be moved within the memory cell, with an average charge across the moving charge carriers having an absolute value greater than 2. Some embodiments include methods of forming and programming an ionic-transport-based memory cell. A stack is formed to have programmable material between first and second electrodes. The programmable material has mobile ions which are moved within the programmable material to transform the programmable material from one memory state to another. An average charge across the moving mobile ions has an absolute value greater than 2. Some embodiments include memory cells with programmable material between first and second electrodes. The programmable material includes an aluminum nitride first layer, and includes a second layer containing a mobile ion species in common with the first layer. |
| US08526212B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array in which memory cells each containing a variable resistive element and a rectifier element connected in series are arranged at intersections of a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings; and a control circuit for selectively driving said first wirings and said second wirings; wherein said control circuit applies a first voltage to said selected first wiring, and changes said first voltage based on the position of said selected memory cell within said memory cell array to apply a second voltage to said selected second wiring, so that a predetermined potential difference is applied to a selected memory cell arranged at the intersection between said selected first wiring and said selected second wiring. |
| US08526211B1 |
Memory program circuit
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for programming memory. In one aspect, a program circuit includes a first transistive element; a second transistive element coupled to a first end of the first transistive element; a burn subcircuit, the burn subcircuit including a third transistive element coupled to a fourth transistive element, where the drain of the third transistive element is coupled to a second end of the first transistive element, and the source of the third transistive element is coupled to the drain of the fourth transistive element; and a fifth transistive element coupled in parallel to the fourth transistive element. Control logic coupled to the first transistive element, the burn subcircuit, and the fourth transistive element selectively enables the second transistive element, selectively enables the fourth transistive element, and selectively enables the fifth transistive element to enable a read mode or a program mode. |
| US08526210B2 |
Semiconductor device with OTP memory cell
A semiconductor device with an OTP memory cell includes a first MOS transistor having a first gate terminal connected to a first line, and a first terminal connected to a first node, a second MOS transistor having a second gate terminal connected to a second line, and a first terminal connected to the first node, and a third MOS transistor having a gate terminal connected to a three line, and a first terminal of the third MOS transistor connected to the first node. |
| US08526208B2 |
Electrical circuit, in particular used for generating electrical power
An electrical circuit, in particular a circuit used for generating electric power, wherein this circuit comprises a generator with n phases, a converter and a transformer to which a p-phase load can be connected. The converter comprises m partial converters, each of the partial converters is composed of p units and each of these units is provided with n/m switching circuits. The switching circuits of the individual units are connected symmetrical to the generator. |
| US08526199B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor mounting substrate, a mother case having an opening and housing the semiconductor mounting substrate, a plurality of securing members provided along a rim of the mother case, a screw terminal, and a lid member. The screw terminal has a flat plate portion, an insertion portion extending from the flat plate portion, and a terminal bottom portion, is secured to the securing members by insertion of the insertion portion between adjacent securing members, and is electrically connected to the semiconductor mounting substrate on the terminal bottom portion side. The lid member closes the opening with the screw terminal secured to the securing members. The screw terminal is bent such that the flat plate portion faces an upper surface of the lid member closing the opening. The semiconductor device that can achieve reduction in size of the entire device is obtained. |
| US08526193B2 |
Display apparatus and method of fabricating the same
A display apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a light shielding layer including a first opening which transmits a light. The second substrate includes a shutter including a second opening which corresponds to the first opening, and a first flexible electrode part which is connected to one end of the shutter and transmits or blocks the light by moving the shutter. The first flexible electrode part includes a first flexible electrode, a second flexible electrode, and an insulation pattern. The insulation pattern insulates the first flexible electrode and the second flexible electrode from each other, and exposes upper and lower surfaces of the first flexible electrode and the second flexible electrode which are parallel to the second substrate, by covering portions of the first flexible electrode and the second flexible electrode. |
| US08526191B2 |
Assembly apparatus and electronic device using the same
An assembly apparatus includes a linkage member defining a first front sliding groove and a first rear sliding groove and a sliding member movably connected to the linkage and defining a second front sliding groove and a second rear sliding groove. The first front sliding groove corresponds to the second front sliding groove, and the first rear sliding groove corresponds to the second rear sliding groove. The assembly apparatus further includes a fixing base defining a curved groove, a control member including a first rotation pin and a second rotation pin, and a fixing pin fixed with respect to the fixing base. The first rotation pin is slidably received in the first and second rear sliding groove, the second rotation pin is slidably received in the curved groove, and the fixing pin is slidably received in the first and second front sliding groove. |
| US08526190B2 |
Mobile terminal apparatus, method of disposing flexible board, method of correcting closing manipulation, and method of preventing damage to flexible board
A mobile terminal apparatus includes upper and lower cases; a sliding-rotation-mechanism performing an opening-direction-sliding-movement through a sliding-supporting plate at opening manipulation, allowing the upper case to stand up at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower case after the opening-direction-sliding-movement, performing closing-direction-rotation-movement, standing up at the predetermined angle through the sliding-supporting plate at closing manipulation, and performing closing-direction-sliding-movement through the sliding-supporting plate after the closing-direction-rotation-movement; and a flexible board disposed so that electrical parts of the upper and lower cases are electrically connected to each other and a portion corresponding to a predetermined length just after the portion exposed from the upper case is adhered to the sliding-supporting plate through an adhesive. |
| US08526188B2 |
Bucket-style fire resistant enclosure and a method for making the same
A fire resistant enclosure comprising an enclosure base including a base cap and a bucket-style base body is provided. The base body includes a bottom wall with a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity. The side wall includes an upper peripheral edge that defines an opening in the base cavity. A data storage device positioned within the base cavity. Fire resistant insulation material is positioned within the base cavity to encapsulate the data storage device, wherein the insulation material fills the base cavity to a level below the upper peripheral edge, wherein the base cap is configured to be coupled with the base body to enclose the data storage device within the enclosure base. In another aspect, an enclosure base and an enclosure lid may be provided, wherein each include bucket-style bodies. The enclosure base and lid define a storage compartment for the data storage device. |
| US08526185B2 |
Collar for electrically grounding a heat sink for a computer component
To reduce the impedance of the ground path from a heat sink to a ground pad on a printed circuit board, and thus reduce electromagnetic interference, an electrically conductive collar is arranged around an opening in the heat sink. The electrically conductive collar may include an internal extension, such that the internal extension abuts the conducting member passed through the electrically conductive collar and the opening in the heat sink to electrically ground the heat sink to the ground pad on the printed circuit board. |
| US08526184B2 |
Devices having a thermal interface and methods of forming the same
A conduction-cooled enclosure comprises a card guide having a card guide channel, at least one controlled-volume cavity in the card guide channel, and a thermal interface material (TIM) in the at least one controlled-volume cavity. |
| US08526183B1 |
Data center cooling circulation
A system for cooling a computer data center includes a computer data center building; a plurality of computer racks arranged in a plurality of linear rows inside the computer data center building, with particular ones of the racks housing a plurality of computer systems; a plurality of cooling fluid conduits; and a plurality of cooling plants arranged outside the computer data center building along an exterior wall of the computer data center building. At least one of the cooling plants corresponds to one or more particular ones of the cooling fluid conduits and provides cooling for the corresponding conduit. |
| US08526180B2 |
Housing for encasing an object having an electrical connection
This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and/or system for housing a device. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shockproof and/or water tight seal. |
| US08526175B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device includes: a casing including a side surface having an opening part and a bottom surface orthogonal to the side surface; a frame provided at the bottom surface; a disk drive main body capable of being attached to and detached from the frame through the opening part; a disk tray which is operable to hold a disk, is capable of being inserted into and drawn out of the disk drive main body through the opening part, and has a hatch operable to close the opening part when the disk tray is inserted in the disk drive main body; and a coupling part through which the frame and the disk drive main body are coupled to each other in the vicinity of the opening part. |
| US08526174B2 |
Mounting apparatus for disk drives with different size
A mounting apparatus includes a drive bracket, a maintaining plate and a mounting bracket, the drive bracket includes a bottom plate, a first side plate and a second side plate, a receiving space is defined among the bottom plate, the first side plate and the second side plate, the receiving space is divided into a top portion and bottom portion by the maintaining plate. The top portion is adapted to secure a first disk drive, the mounting bracket is secured to the bottom portion of the two portions and configured for securing a second disk drive that is smaller than the first disk drive. |
| US08526157B2 |
Surge arrester and arrangement of a plurality of surge arresters to form an array
A surge arrester includes a gas-filled closed arrester body that is formed by a first annular ceramic body and two electrodes at a distance from one another. A second annular ceramic body is arranged in the interior of the arrester body and is at a distance from the first ceramic body and has a physical height that is less than the physical height of the first ceramic body. |
| US08526156B2 |
High speed signaling of power system conditions
A high-speed signaling device on a branch of an electric power distribution system modulates the signal from the branch and communicates the signal to an intelligent electronic device on a feeder to the branch at speeds sufficient for the intelligent electronic device to modify protection algorithms based on the signal from the high-speed signaling device. The intelligent electronic device may be a recloser control that controls protective equipment such as a recloser. The signal may be sent via infrared and/or radio frequency. The signal may be modulated so as to communicate information such as the phase with which it is associated. The high-speed signaling device may further communicate current information to the intelligent electronic device. |
| US08526154B2 |
Current transformer assembly and electromechanical switching device
A current transformer assembly includes input connections, output connections, current transformers placed between the input connections and the output connections, with at least one transformer output being electrically connected to the transformers. In at least one embodiment, the current transformer assembly includes an integrated wiring arrangement wherein a plurality of input connections is electrically connected to a plurality of output connections by way of the integrated wiring arrangement such that the wiring arrangement functions as an alternating wiring system. |
| US08526152B2 |
Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit
Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit including recording by a power supply management module a current sensing voltage for a power supply when no operating load is drawn from the power supply and dynamically calculating by the power supply management module output current of the power supply with an active load in dependence upon the recorded current sensing voltage. |
| US08526146B2 |
Electrical wiring device
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit coupled to the line terminals and configured to conduct a predetermined current flow when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power, the predetermined current flow does not simulate a fault condition. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts that are configured to provide electrical continuity between the line terminals, the load terminals and the at least one receptacle in a reset state and configured to interrupt the electrical continuity in tripped state. The interrupting contact assembly is energized to effect the tripped stated and substantially deenergized otherwise, the interrupting contact assembly being substantially prevented from effecting the reset state absent the predetermined current flow. |
| US08526144B2 |
Reset lockout with grounded neutral test
There is a fault circuit interrupter comprising at least one grounded neutral sensor and at least one test circuit configured to test the grounded neutral sensor. A further embodiment can also include at least one fault circuit which is configured to detect a current sent from the grounded neutral sensor. The device can also include a line side phase line, a line side neutral line, and a test line coupled to the line side neutral line and extending from a first region on the line side neutral line to a second region on the line side neutral line, with the grounded neutral sensor being positioned between the first region and the second region on the line side neutral line. This test circuit can comprise a switch, such as a manually operatable switch or it can comprise any one of solid state circuitry, a transistor, and/or a silicon controlled rectifier. |
| US08526139B2 |
Magnetic head and magnetic disk drive including an electrothermal body
A magnetic head and a magnetic disk drive using the same is disclosed. The head is capable of increasing efficiency in changing the flying height of an element portion by heat generation of a heater in the magnetic head using the heater as well as capable of suppressing the change of the flying height of the element portion at the time of recording. |
| US08526126B2 |
Objective
An objective is described consisting of a monolithic body of a material at least partly transparent for a part of an electromagnetic spectrum, and whose surfaces include a first optical refractive functional area serving as entrance area through which electromagnetic radiation can enter the objective, a second optical reflective functional area serving as a first mirror, a third optical reflective functional area serving as a second mirror, a fourth optical reflective functional area serving as a third mirror, a fifth optical reflective functional area serving as a fourth mirror, and a sixth optical refractive functional area serving as an exit area through which electromagnetic radiation can exit the objective, wherein the first to sixth optical functional areas are implemented such that a center shading-free, folded optical path extends from the entrance area through the monolithic body via first to fourth mirrors to the exit area, wherein no intermediate image level is located in the same between the entrance area and the exit area. |
| US08526123B2 |
Electronic apparatus
A control unit starts a first operation when a first detection unit detects rotation of an operation member in a first direction by an angle not less than a first angle and changes a control value for the first operation when a second detection unit detects rotation of the operation member in the first direction by an angle not less than a third angle larger than the first angle. Furthermore, the control unit starts a second operation when the second detection unit detects rotation of the operation member in a second direction by an angle not less than a fourth angle and changes a control value for the second operation when the first detection unit detects rotation of the operation member in the second direction by an angle not less than a second angle larger than the fourth angle. |
| US08526120B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens, including in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit; a second lens unit; a third lens unit; and a fourth lens unit, in which the second lens unit includes four lenses as a whole, in which a first lens and a second lens are disposed successively in order from the object side to the image side, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied: 7.8 |
| US08526117B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with zoom lens
A zoom lens including first to fifth lens units in order from an object side toward an image. The refractive powers of the first to the fifth lens units are positive, negative, positive, negative and positive, respectively. The distance between the first and the second lens units is increased at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and the distance between the second and the third lens unit is decreased at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. The first lens unit and the fourth lens unit are fixed for the zooming. When M2 and M3 are the amounts of movement of the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, respectively, the conditional expression; 0.2<|M2/M3|<5.0 is satisfied. |
| US08526112B2 |
Capsule endoscope
A capsule endoscope is provided with an imaging lens, capsule body, and a transparent cover. The capsule body is formed hollow, and has an opening at an end. The imaging lens is provided such that a part thereof is positioned inside the capsule body and the rest is protruded from the opening. The transparent cover is formed into a dope shape, and is attached to the end of the capsule body to cover the imaging lens protruded from the opening. The inside of a patient's body is captured using the transparent cover and the imaging lens designed to satisfy the following condition: |fD|/fL≦70 where fD is a focal length of the transparent cover, and fL is a focal length of the imaging lens. |
| US08526109B1 |
Portable projection screen device
A portable projection screen has a carrying frame, a movable frame, an elastically-rotating reel, a projection screen and two linkages. The carrying frame has a chamber communicating with an opening; the reel is coupled between two ends of the carrying frame in an elastically rotatable manner and is located in the chamber of the carrying frame; the projection screen is arranged via the opening between the movable frame and the carrying frame; the projection screen upper side connects to the movable frame and the lower side connects to the reel; the linkages arranged between the movable frame and the carrying frame, each linkage end respectively pivots to the movable frame and the carrying frame to form a first and a second pivoting part respectively; a third pivoting part is arranged between the two ends of each linkage; the pivoting parts of each linkage is provided an antislip structure. |
| US08526108B2 |
Image system with diffused imaging screen and method of manufacture
Provided are diffused but transmissive optical image projection screens and methods of their manufacture, including screens comprising acetal polymers such as polyoxymethylene. Such screens may be used in various applications, including but not limited electronic image display and control system comprising in various embodiments a microdisplay video projector that projects a high quality color image from a non-CRT image source onto a diffused but transmissive optical projection screen that is optically coupled with and viewable through a biocular adapted to this purpose. Systems are disclosed that are adapted to be mechanically coupled with a user to prevent relative movement between the biocular and the user, for instance in tactical applications. Closed-loop control electronics are provided for automatically controlling the brightness and chromaticity of the image. |
| US08526103B2 |
Laser system with highly linear output
A laser device having a semiconductor gain element optically coupled to an optical fiber by using an angled anamorphic fiber lens and including a wavelength-selective front reflector. The laser device possesses improved output characteristics such as a highly linear laser emission output, even when the amplification section produces a high amount of gain. Such a laser source can also be used in various applications such as pump lasers for fiber amplifiers or frequency doubling systems. |
| US08526101B2 |
Method of manufacturing display medium, display medium, and display apparatus
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a display medium, including preparing a first substrate on which a gap retaining member that retains a gap between substrates is disposed in a protruded form; applying an adhesive to a top surface of the gap retaining member; disposing a particle dispersion liquid on an area surrounded by the first substrate and the gap retaining member; and adhering the first substrate and a second substrate together via the gap retaining member, by contacting the second substrate with the adhesive applied to the top surface of the gap retaining member and drying the solvent of the adhesive so as to adhere the second substrate to the top surface of the gap retaining member by the adhesive component of the adhesive. The display medium and a display apparatus including the display medium and an electrical field-generating unit are also provided. |
| US08526099B2 |
Method for manufacturing microcapsules, and microcapsule, electrophoretic device and electric apparatus
A method for manufacturing microcapsules is provided. The microcapsules each include an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing at least one type of electrophoretic particles in a dispersion medium, and a capsule body made of an organic polymer and containing the electrophoretic dispersion liquid. The method includes forming droplets of the electrophoretic dispersion liquid by dispersing the electrophoretic dispersion liquid in an polar dispersion medium, and forming the capsule bodies by mixing a polymerization initiator and a polymerizable surfactant having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and a polymerizable group with the polar dispersion medium so as to coat the droplets with the polymerizable surfactant and induce a polymerization reaction to form the organic polymer. |
| US08526093B2 |
Electrically programmable reticle and system
An electrically programmable reticle is made using at least one electrochromatic layer that changes its optical transmissibility in response to applied voltages. Transparent conductor layers are configured to the desired patterns. The electrically programmable reticles are either patterned in continuous forms that have separately applied voltages or in a matrix of rows and columns that are addressed by row and column selects such that desired patterns are formed with the application of a first voltage level and reset with the application of a second voltage level. |
| US08526086B2 |
Metallised film and process for its manufacture
A metallised film includes at least one reflective layer (14, 17) of printed metallised ink, wherein the layer (17) of printed metallised ink includes a hardened binder incorporating at least one charge of metallised particles exhibiting a reflective metallic appearance, and the charge of metallised particles includes particles in the general form of platelets exhibiting reflective faces, and wherein the layer (17) of printed metallised ink is applied in contact with a layer (14, 15) exhibiting a surface tension greater than 40 dynes/cm and a smooth surface quality of specular reflection greater than 50%, measured in accordance with standard ISO 2813 with an angle of 60°. A process for manufacturing this film is also described. |
| US08526078B2 |
Sensor driving circuit, driver device, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus
There is provided a sensor driving circuit that includes: an image sensor that converts light reflected from an original to be read into electric signals; a driver circuit that drives the image sensor; and a timing generator circuit that outputs timing signals for use in control of the image sensor. The driver circuit includes a first inverting buffer circuit and a second inverting buffer circuit that are equivalent to each other and arranged in series connection of two stages with the first inverting buffer circuit at the first stage of the two stages. The timing signal output from the timing generator circuit has the same polarity as the polarity of an input signal fed to the image sensor. |
| US08526075B2 |
Tray for image reading device
A tray used to place granular materials on a reading surface of an image reading device has provided thereto a transparent bottom plate, a background vertically upstanding relative to the bottom plate, and reflective elements arranged at predetermined intervals parallel to the background. In order to enable an imaging means of the image reading device to receive a side view image of the granular materials in the thickness direction thereof with the granular materials placed on the bottom plate of the tray, the tray is provided with a technical means for bending and guiding, by the reflective elements, light from the granular materials in the thickness direction thereof to the direction of the optical axis of the imaging means. |
| US08526073B2 |
Optical reading document board, image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus
An optical reading document board, an image reading apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, the optical reading document board including a platen formed of transparent glass and having a top surface on which a document is placed, and a reflectance reduction layer coated on a bottom surface of the platen and having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the platen. |
| US08526072B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for protecting information on a user interface based on a viewability of the information
Methods, systems, and computer program products for protecting information on a user interface based on a viewability of the information are disclosed. According to one method, a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface is identified. An information viewability threshold is determined based on the information on the user interface. Further, an action associated with the user interface is performed based on the identified viewing position and the determined information viewability threshold. |
| US08526071B2 |
Image scanning device and image scanning method
An image scanning device and an image scanning method are provided. The invention is related to a miniaturized image scanning device and an image scanning method. The miniaturized image scanning device includes a housing, a first driving roller set, an entrance sensor, an image sensor, a reflective light source, a transmissive light source, and a control module. The housing has an entrance and an exit. The first driving roller set is disposed in the housing. The entrance sensor is disposed between the entrance and the first driving roller set. The image sensor, the reflective light source and the transmissive light source are disposed between the first driving roller set and the exit. The control module receives and processes signals outputted from the image sensor and the entrance sensor to control the operation of the image sensor, the first driving roller set, the reflective light source and the transmissive light source. |
| US08526067B2 |
Handheld portable scanner
The present invention relates to a scanner and more particularly pertains to a handheld portable scanner with integrated technologies which effectively combines lighting, electronics and mechanical technologies and has a small size and convenient portability, which comprises a scanner housing, a battery, scanning components and image processing components. The scanning components are composed of an optical scanning head and a scanning rod. The image processing components are composed of scan-speed testing components which are coupled with the scanning rod, a processing chip for processing of data scanned by the optical scanning head and image processing, and a scanner circuit. The present invention provides a handheld portable scanner which has a convenient portability and extensive functions. More importantly, with the coordination of the speed testing components and the processing chip, the present invention can correct scanning errors caused by uneven speed of manual scanning by means of computation of the chip, thereby ensuring that the scanning output is the same as the original document. To ensure the quality of the scanned document, reminder function is also available in case the dragging speed of the scanner is too fast. |
| US08526066B2 |
Analog processing circuit, analog integrated circuit device, image reading device, and image forming apparatus
A first clamping unit clamps a base voltage of an input image signal to a predetermined reference voltage. A sampling-and-holding unit samples and holds the image signal after clamping or a reference signal that becomes the base voltage of the image signal. An amplifying unit amplifies the image signal sampled and held by the sampling-and-holding unit. An analog-to-digital converting unit converts the image signal after amplification into a digital image signal. A second clamping unit clamps the reference signal to a predetermined voltage. |
| US08526065B2 |
Contact-type image reading apparatus
A contact-type image reading apparatus includes two image reading units each of which has light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally for reading an image on an original in two-dimensional directions, a first body unit which includes one of the two image reading units as a first image reading unit, and a second body unit which includes the other image reading unit as a second image reading unit disposed so as to be openable and closable with respect to the first body unit for sandwiching the original therebetween when the second body unit is closed.When the second body unit is closed, the second body unit is closed with respect to a surface where the first image reading unit is provided in the first body unit, and the second image reading unit is disposed to face the first image reading unit. |
| US08526063B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method, and system for encrypting or decrypting portion of image
An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus includes a pattern detection unit to detect whether an input image includes a specific pattern as a portion of the image, a conversion unit to convert the specific pattern into data in a predetermined format, an encryption unit to encrypt the data in the predetermined format and to generate an encryption pattern from the encrypted data, and an output unit to output an image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the encryption pattern rather than the specific pattern in the output image. |
| US08526062B2 |
Color lookup table compression
A technique to compress multidimensional color look-up tables by computing an inexpensive fit to the contents of the tables is provided. At each node of the table, the difference between the result of evaluating the fit and the original value at that node are completed. In one form, the parameters of the fit and the differences are stored and compressed, possibly losslessly. |
| US08526059B2 |
Printing calibration processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and printing calibration processing method
According to one embodiment, a printing calibration processing apparatus includes: a gradation-characteristic-data generating section configured to read images of a printed surface and a rear surface of a test chart output by an image forming section and generate gradation characteristic data of the surfaces; a gradation-correction-date creating section configured to determine a correction value of maximum gradation on the basis of gradation characteristics of the surfaces; a color-material-amount-conversion-data creating section configured to determine a maximum of a color material on the basis of the correction value of the maximum gradation; a color-material-amount-limitation processing section configured to perform, concerning image data for printing, limitation processing for setting the maximum of the color material as an upper limit of a color material use amount; and a gradation correcting section configured to apply gradation correction to the image data subjected to the limitation processing using the gradation correction data. |
| US08526057B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a selecting unit selecting a reference image from input images, a calculating unit calculating brightness ratios of the remaining input images as gains, a calculating unit calculating first weights for the remaining input images and calculating a second weight based on a brightness of image data as a synthesized image of the input image with the first weights, a generating unit generating a high-contrast image by performing weighting synthesis on the input images using the first weights and the second weight, a preparing unit preparing a tone conversion curve based on a brightness distribution of the high-contrast image and a brightness distribution as conversion target, and a generating unit performing the tone conversion on the high-contrast image based on the tone conversion curve, and generating the output image having the narrow tonal range. |
| US08526056B2 |
Device and method for printing with curable ink
A method for printing with curable ink is presented. The method comprises the steps of: generating an image wise pattern of spaced apart ink droplet locations for representing the image; and separating the pattern into at least first and second different interleaved portions, each portion comprising a plurality of droplet locations and the droplet locations of each interleaved portion being spaced apart from each other and spaced apart from the droplet locations of the remaining interleaved portions. In a first printing pass, ink droplets are deposited on the substrate at the drop locations of the first interleaved portion. Then, in a final printing pass, ink droplets are deposited on the substrate at the droplet locations of the second interleaved portion. The deposited ink droplets are then cured by exposing the deposited ink droplets to curing radiation in a first partial curing step between first and final printing passes and in a final curing step. |
| US08526052B2 |
Print data processing apparatus, control method for print data processing apparatus, and storage medium
A print data processing apparatus includes a first processor configured not to execute a command to convert print data to intermediate data when a resource is rasterized in accordance with a command to rasterize the resource of the print data, and to convert the print data which is not converted to the intermediate data to the intermediate data when rasterizing of the resource of the print data is finished, a management unit configured to manage the resource rasterized by the first processor so that a processor except the first processor can refer to the resource when the print data is converted to the intermediate data, and a second processor configured not to execute a command to rasterize the resource of the print data and to convert the print data to the intermediate data with reference to the resource managed by the management unit. |
| US08526049B2 |
Systems and methods for display list management
Systems and methods consistent with some embodiments of the present invention provide data structures and methods for the automatic storing, manipulating and processing of a intermediate printable data generated from a first printable data are presented. In some embodiments, the first printable data may take the form of a PDL description of a document and the intermediate printable data may take the form of a display list of objects generated from the PDL description.In some embodiments, a data structure for storing a intermediate printable data generated from a first printable data may comprise at least one memory pool, which may further comprise a plurality of uniformly sized segments to store the intermediate printable data; at least one global structure for storing information related to the one or more memory pools; and buffers for performing operations on the first printable data and the intermediate printable data. |
| US08526044B2 |
Template-based installation of workflow systems in a print shop environment
Systems and methods are provided for installing workflow servers for a print shop. One embodiment is a system that installs a workflow server for a print shop. The system accesses installation templates, configured for different categories of print shop, that describe a set of print shop resources expected to exist at the category of print shop. The system also installs workflow server software on a computer system of a print shop. During the installation, the system determines a category for the print shop, selects an installation template that matches the category of the print shop, and performs a dialogue of queries with a user to determine which resources of the set of print shop resources identified by the installation template are available to the print shop, wherein the dialogue excludes queries for print shop resources that are not in the set of print shop resources described by the installation template. |
| US08526043B2 |
Printing system, printing method, and printing control apparatus for splitting document
The printing system according to the present invention has a number-of-pages accepting part for accepting user-specified number of pages, which is referred to as splitting unit for splitting a document consisting of a plurality of pages; and a control part for controlling a printer output operation of the document in such a way that each of the split documents obtained by splitting the document from the first page sequentially in the splitting unit will undergo printer output process configured via a printing setting screen. |
| US08526041B2 |
Efficiently controlling a print output destination in association with an information processing apparatus that has issued a print request
Disclosed is a data processing apparatus including an application execution unit that transmits job data; a print-request-source notification unit invoked by the application execution unit to report print-request-source information specifying a print request source; a virtual printer driver that is invoked upon receiving the job data, extracts job information specifying print settings from the job data, generates a work space for image conversion, and generates drawing data of a higher image format from the job data in the work space; and a transmission processing unit that is generated as a private instance for the job data, selects a printer driver corresponding to output-destination printer information associated with a client or a user of the client, instructs the selected printer driver to print the drawing data, and displays transmission destination information and/or print information determined for the job data on the print request source. |
| US08526037B2 |
Printing service providing method and printing service providing system
A client terminal transmits a call request for using a MFP to a call control server. The call control server carries out authentication processing about a user and the MFP in response to the call request. If the authentication processing result is correct, the call control server transfers the call request to the printing service management server. The call request is transferred from the printing service management server to a printing service providing server and then transferred to the MFP via the call control server. Thus, a session of the client terminal and the MFP is established. The printing service providing server carries out processing for providing a predetermined printing service based on the call request from the client terminal. |
| US08526034B2 |
Data output device and data output method
A data output device according to the present invention comprises: an output device capable of outputting an image and/or a sound; a memory which stores a plurality of types of output data for outputting the image and/or the sound; a receiver for receiving, from a slot machine, a trigger signal including specification information for specifying the output data; and a controller, the controller programmed to conduct the processes of: (A) receiving the trigger signal from the slot machine through the receiver; and (B) extracting, from the memory, an output data corresponding to the specification information included in the trigger signal and causing the output device to output the image and/or the sound based on the extracted output data. |
| US08526032B2 |
Concurrent IPDS and non-IPDS print processing
Concurrent IPDS and non-IPDS print processing is provided. Because an IPDS print session may not usually be interrupted, non-IPDS print data is received through a separate, non-IPDS channel in the printer control unit. The non-IPDS data is rasterized (“ripped”) using spare processing cycles and stored in a rip spool. At an appropriate time, such as when fully rasterized, an interrupt request may be submitted to the IPDS host then controlling the printer. When the IPDS host relinquishes control of the printer, such as when the IPDS print job has been completed, the rasterized non-IPDS print data may be de-spooled to the print engine and printed. |
| US08526030B2 |
Image forming apparatus, power supplying method, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit reading an original document and generating image data; a power source unit supplying power to the reading unit; a power source switching signal output unit outputting a switching signal for switching between supply and shut-off of the power for any one of an image pickup element and an image processing unit; a measuring unit measuring a power stopping time while the power is shut off; a judging unit determining whether to carry out only a first initial setting when the measured power stopping time is less than a predetermined time and whether to carry out both the first initial setting and a second initial setting when the measured power stopping time is the predetermined time or more; and an initial setting unit carrying out only the first initial setting or the second initial setting also upon the determination by the judging unit. |
| US08526029B2 |
Image forming apparatus providing configurable options for paper information initialization, image forming system and computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit, a paper information storing unit, an initializing unit, a paper information comparing unit, a temporary stopping unit, and a printing unit. The receiving unit receives print jobs. The paper information storing unit stores paper information preset in the printed page. The initializing unit initializes the paper information stored in the paper information storing unit during a certain period. The paper information comparing unit compares the paper information of the page to be printed in the print job with the stored paper information. The temporary stopping unit temporarily stops printing according to the result of the comparison. The printing unit prints the print data of the page to be printed in the case that the paper information of the page to be printed is the same as the stored paper information or the stored paper information has been initialized. |
| US08526028B2 |
Avoiding redundant printing
A method, system, and computer usable program product for avoiding redundant printing are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application executing in a data processing system receives a request to print a document. A determination is made whether a valid shared print of the document is available, the valid shared print being a hard-copy of the document that is currently within a validity period and is available for sharing among multiple entities. The shared valid print is requested from a current owner of the shared valid print. If the request is successful, possession of the shared valid print is changed in a prints repository from the current owner to a new owner and a new printing of the document according to the request to print the document is suspended. |
| US08526024B2 |
Document data management system and image forming apparatus, server, method, and storage medium configuring document data management system
A server for managing the operation history of document data is characterized by comprising a first saving processing unit configured to save information included in the first information for identifying the original document and information included in the second information for identifying the duplicated document upon receipt of the first information and the second information, and a second saving processing unit configured to save information for identifying the duplicated document in each predetermined group after the saving is performed in the first saving processing unit, wherein the second saving processing unit, when the number of pieces of information for identifying the original document saved by the first saving processing unit is two or more, integrates each group including the same information as the saved information for identifying the original document into one group. |
| US08526020B2 |
Paper size support for a print system
Techniques are provided for allowing a print driver to recognize a paper size that is not supported by the print driver. A printing device informs the print driver (executing on a client device) that an input tray of the printing device supports a particular paper size. Alternatively, the printing device informs the print driver that a feature and/or option supported by the printing device has changed. The print driver requests the new paper size (or the set of features and options) from the printing device. The print driver receives the new paper size data from the printing device and updates its user interface to allow a user to select the new paper size as a supportable option. |
| US08526018B2 |
Method and system to automatically convert a file format and image forming apparatus used in the same
A method to automatically convert a format of a file through an image forming apparatus, the method including displaying list of tasks executable by the image forming apparatus and a list of files stored in the image forming apparatus, selecting a task to be executed from the list of tasks and a file from one or more files stored in the image forming apparatus that is an object of the selected task, converting a format of data of the selected file into a bitmap format and converting the bitmap format of the data into a format that is compatible with the selected task, and executing the selected task using the converted file. |
| US08526016B2 |
System and method for user-selectable soft font and print stream data template control in a printer driver
Printing systems and methods for user-selectable dynamic soft font and print stream data template control processing in a printer driver are provided. The system utilizes a print job driver screen that provides the user with a selectable option to convert soft fonts into graphics that are transferred to the printer. When using multi-byte fonts, and in particular when using multi-byte fonts in a character mangling operating system, printer memory may be rapidly allocated and consumed. However, soft fonts persist in printer memory for the length of the print job. The printer system provided herein allows the user to dynamically select an option to forgo soft font loading for the entire print job and instead transmit appropriate font graphics that are discarded from memory after use after a character threshold has been reached. |
| US08526013B2 |
Batterless absolute encoder
A batteryless absolute encoder determines the accuracy of absolute position information to be output when electric power is turned on and outputs an alarm signal in the case of abnormality. The batteryless absolute encoder includes an absolute position computing section, an absolute position storing section, and a determining section. The absolute position computing section computes the absolute position of a spindle to be detected, including the number of revolutions of the spindle, based upon detection signals output from four reluctance resolvers. The absolute position storing section stores the absolute position output from the absolute position computing section when electric power is turned off. The determining section compares an absolute position output from the absolute position computing section when electric power is turned on and the stored absolute position and outputs an alarm signal if a difference between the two absolute positions is larger than a predetermined value. |
| US08526011B2 |
Mobile projection system for scaling and orientation of surfaces surveyed by an optical measuring system
The present invention describes a device for surveying a surface (104) in a real world coordinate system (111). The device comprises a pattern projecting unit (101) adapted for projecting a predefined pattern (105) onto the surface (104), an optical measurement system (102) adapted for determining positional and image data of a projected pattern (106) on the surface (104), wherein the positional and image data are indicative of the predefined pattern (105) in a measuring coordinate system (112), and a processing unit (103) adapted for determining transformation data based on the predefined pattern (105) and the determined positional and image data of the projected pattern (106). The transformation data allow a transformation between the real world coordinate system (111) and the measuring coordinate system (112) to thereby survey the surface (104). |
| US08526008B2 |
Interferometer with paraboloidal illumination and imaging optic and tilted imaging plane
A Fizeau interferometer incorporates an off-axis paraboloidal reflector that forms virtual images of reference and test surfaces and a camera lens that converts the virtual images into real images on a camera detector surface. The camera detector surface is arranged together with the camera lens to accommodate tilting of the virtual images by the off-axis paraboloidal reflector. |
| US08526000B1 |
Atomic sensor physics package with integrated transmissive and reflective portions along light paths
In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section. |
| US08525998B2 |
Optical phase processing in a scattering medium
An optical phase processing system for a scattering medium. A first beam has a direction and a wavefront and the first beam is configured to enter a holographic recording medium. A scattering medium is illuminated by a signal beam generating at least one scattered beam. An interference pattern is recorded from the at least one scattered beam and the first beam. A second beam is generated in a direction opposite to the direction of the first beam, the second beam having a wavefront and a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the wavefront of the first beam, and the second beam is configured to enter the holographic recording medium. The second beam and the interference pattern interact to generate at least one reconstructed beam having a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the at least one scattered beam, and the at least one reconstructed beam is configured to be viewable through the scattering medium. |
| US08525996B2 |
Light emitting component measuring system and the method thereof
The invention discloses a light emitting component measuring system and the method thereof which is capable of measuring the optical proprieties of a plurality of the devices under test (DUT). Each DUT is capable of receiving electricity so as to output an initial ray, wherein each initial ray has a first wavelength range. The light emitting component measuring system comprises a filtering device and a sensing device. The filtering device comprises a first filtering portion which can filter a corresponding third wavelength of the said initial rays and output a plurality of first filtered rays simultaneously. Each first filtered ray has a second wavelength range respectively. The said sensing device receives the ray outputted from the filtering device and generates an optical data accordingly. |
| US08525993B2 |
Scatterometry measurement of asymmetric structures
Asymmetry metrology is performed using at least a portion of Mueller matrix elements, including, e.g., the off-diagonal elements of the Mueller matrix. The Mueller matrix may be generated using, e.g., a spectroscopic or angle resolved ellipsometer that may include a rotating compensator. The Mueller matrix is analyzed by fitting at least a portion of the elements to Mueller matrix elements calculated using a rigorous electromagnetic model of the sample or by fitting the off-diagonal elements to a calibrated linear response. The use of the Mueller matrix elements in the asymmetry measurement permits, e.g., overlay analysis using in-chip devices thereby avoiding the need for special off-chip targets. |
| US08525990B2 |
Fiber optic probe scatterometers for spectroscopy measurements
Fiber optic probe scatterometers for spectroscopy measurements are disclosed. An example device includes an optically transparent illumination tube, an opaque tube, an inner surface of the opaque tube being adjacent an outer surface of the illumination tube and the illumination tube being disposed within the opaque tube, and an optical fiber disposed within and spaced a first distance from the illumination tube, wherein the opaque tube is to be coupled to a spectrometer and an illumination source to provide a light signal along the illumination tube and to collect a scattered light signal via the optical fiber for the spectrometer. |
| US08525981B2 |
Return loss measurement system
A method may include injecting a test signal having a first optical launch power into a device under test via an optical splitter. The optical splitter includes at least two upstream ports and a downstream port and the test signal is injected in a first upstream port of the optical splitter. The device under test is coupled to the downstream port. Return loss associated with the device under test is measured at a second upstream input of the optical splitter. The RL measurement in stored a database. The injecting, measuring, and storing are repeated for a number of different optical launch powers. |
| US08525977B2 |
Phase measurement calibrating method and calibrating device based on liquid crystal light valve principle
Phase measurement calibrating method, calibrating device and ranging device based on the liquid crystal shutter principle are disclosed. A light wave is emitted by a light wave emitter (1) to a tested target through a first liquid crystal shutter (3). The light wave is reflected and returned from the tested target to be focused by an optical device, and is received by a receiver (7). The received light wave is used as the external light path beam of the measurement system. While the light wave is passing through the first liquid crystal shutter (3), a part of the light wave is reflected by the first liquid, crystal shutter (3) to pass through a second liquid crystal shutter (4). The light wave passing through the second liquid crystal shutter (4) is received directly by the receiver (7) and used as the internal light path beam for fundamental reference of the system phase measurement. The first liquid crystal shutter (3) and the second liquid crystal shutter (4) are switched respectively while the system operates so that the receiver (7) is utilized for comparing phases of the internal light path beam and the external light path beam received respectively to output phase shift for eliminating a fundamental reference. The calibrating method achieves phase compensation and calibration, increases measurement accuracy of a laser ranging operation, and enhances ranging stability of the system. |
| US08525976B2 |
Method for positioning a surface in relation to a light source using sensors
The invention relates to a method for positioning a surface in relation to a light source using sensors. The method can be used to control the position of a reflective surface (2) such that the reflected light (7) originating from a light source (1) falls on an objective point (8), through the use of a first sensor (4) which determines the position of the light source (1) in relation to a reference direction (9) and a second sensor (4) which is solidly connected to the reflective surface (2) and which determines the relative position of the reflective surface (2) in relation to the light source (1). Having ascertained these positions and the relative position of the reflective surface (2) in relation to the objective point (8), the method is used to determine the necessary movement to be applied to the reflective surface (2) so that the reflected light (7) falls on the objective point (8). The invention is intended to be used to reflect sunlight on a remote collector in order to illuminate buildings and, in general, for any use requiring reflected light to be directed to an objective point (8). |
| US08525972B2 |
Optimization of focused spots for maskless lithography
The focused spots of an active spot array projection system, such as a maskless lithographic projection system, are optimized within a relay of the projection system. A frequency modulator is positioned proximate to the pupil of the relay for reforming the focused spots while imaging the focused spots onto a photosensitive substrate. |
| US08525969B2 |
Repair structure for liquid crystal display panel and repairing method thereof
A repair structure for a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a repairing method thereof are disclosed. The LCD panel includes a plurality of common lines being parallel to a plurality of scan lines, and the common lines and the scan lines are alternately disposed on a substrate. Each of the common lines has a plurality of branches and gaps. The branches are parallel to a plurality of signal lines, and the gaps are defined between a trunk of the common lines and the branches. The branches overlap without contacting the signal lines. Each branch, the corresponding signal line and the pixel electrode are arranged so as to expose the corresponding gap. The gap is utilized for providing an external tool to cut off the common line to be disconnected from the branch. |
| US08525968B2 |
Liquid crystal panel substrate, liquid crystal panel, and electronic device and projection display device using the same
In a liquid crystal substrate in which a matrix of reflecting electrodes is formed on a substrate, a transistor is formed corresponding to each reflective electrode and a voltage is applied to the reflective electrode through the transistor. A silicon oxide film having a thickness of 500 to 2,000 angstroms is used as the passivation film and the thickness is set to a value in response to the wavelength of the incident light to maintain a substantially constant reflectance. |
| US08525966B2 |
Non-rectangular pixel array and display device having same
There is provided a display area made up of a pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference and the pixel array is made up of a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein a first conductor line group including a plurality of first conductor lines and a second conductor line group including a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third conductor line group including a plurality of third conductor lines are arranged so as to intersect with one another. Thus, without sacrificing brightness, viewability, and fidelity of an image, pixel array (display device) with the non-rectangular outer circumferential shape being excellent in design characteristics is realized. |
| US08525963B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display capable of reducing the stray capacitance of a non-display region and a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, gate lines and data lines intersecting each other on the first substrate to define pixels, a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate, a common electrode formed in a display area of the second substrate in which an image is displayed, and a floating electrode formed in a non-display region of the second substrate in which no image is displayed. |
| US08525960B2 |
Electro-optical device
An electro-optical device includes a substrate on which a TFT, a data line, a scanning line, a capacitance line, a first intermediate conductive layer, a second intermediate conductive layer, and a pixel electrode are formed. A first contact hole, via which the drain of the TFT and the first intermediate conductive layer are connected to each other, is formed in an area which overlaps, in plan view, with the data line. The above-described structure of this electro-optical device, which includes the intermediate conductive layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the pixel switching TFT, allows an increase in the pixel aperture ratio and also an increase in the storage capacitance. Besides, degradation in the quality of a displayed image due to steps formed, in the vicinity of the pixel electrode, on the surface of an alignment film is minimized. |
| US08525957B2 |
Display apparatus, electronic equipment, mobile electronic equipment, mobile telephone, and image pickup apparatus
In a display apparatus which includes a liquid crystal layer, two electrode layers which sandwich the liquid crystal layer, and a black matrix, and the black matrix has a plurality of light exit points which transmit light, and a light exit point group includes at least one light exit point, and the display apparatus has a plurality of lenses which project the light exit point group, and the plurality of lenses project images of the light exit point groups to be overlapped, and projected images of the plurality of lenses are formed on a retina of an eye of an observer by inducing overlapping of light exit points in the light exit point group which have been overlapped upon being projected by the lenses, on a pupil of the eye of the observer. |
| US08525952B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An illumination device includes a light source module, the module comprising: a substrate; a plurality of wiring lines provided on the substrate; and a plurality of LED devices implemented in the wiring lines: wherein the plurality of LED devices include a plurality of red LED devices, a plurality of green LED devices, and a plurality of blue LED devices: wherein the plurality of wiring lines include a wiring line having the plurality of red LED devices implemented in series, a wiring line having the plurality of green LED devices implemented in series, and a wiring line having the plurality of blue LED devices implemented in series; and wherein the plurality of wiring lines are connected in parallel and driven by a single power voltage. |
| US08525950B2 |
Light guide panel, backlight unit and display apparatus
A light guide panel, a backlight unit and a display apparatus are provided. A display apparatus includes a light guide panel including a first surface having a first pattern that increases luminance of backlight emitted from a light emitting unit, and a second surface having a second pattern that increases uniformity of luminance of the backlight emitted from the light emitting unit. |
| US08525949B2 |
Back light module and liquid crystal display device
The present invention discloses a back light module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. A back light module comprises a light guide plate; both sides of the light guide plate are respectively provided with multiple notches; the back light module is provided with riveted nut studs in the notches; and buffer parts are arranged between the riveted nut studs and the notches. In the present invention, because buffer material such as silicone, rubber and the like is arranged between each notch and each riveted nut stud of light guide plate, the buffer material can provide effective buffer function when the light guide plat is affected by impact force to avoid damage caused by direct impact between the light guide plate and the riveted nut studs. Thus, low cost is achieved because of simple process and economic material. In addition, the tight contact of the light guide plate and the riveted nut stud is kept by the buffer part, and the shake of the light guide plate is avoided. |
| US08525936B2 |
Communication apparatus, television receiver, video signal processing apparatus, communication method, program, and integrated circuit
A communication apparatus (100) includes: a communication unit (10) connectable to one end of a cable (50); a first detection unit (111) which detects a maximum transmission capability of an external device based on a communication standard with which the external device complies, the external device being connected to an other end of the cable (50) connected to the communication unit (10); a second detection unit (112) which detects a maximum transmission capability of the cable (50) connected to the communication unit (10); and an alert output unit (114) which outputs an alert when the maximum transmission capability of the cable (50) is smaller than the maximum transmission capability of the external device, the maximum transmission capability of the cable having been detected by the second detection unit (112), and the maximum transmission capability of the external device having been detected by the first detection unit (111). |
| US08525934B2 |
Video display apparatus for adjusting the degree of amplification of the input image according to image characteristics
Brightness expression without solid white pattern is enabled, and video expression with an improved black level is achieved. A distortion module (5) reduces the luminance of a backlight source according to the histogram of the video signal so that the contrast may be a predetermined target one. A configuration design unit (13) sets the gain according to the luminance level (BLreduced) of the backlight source selected by the distortion module (5). When setting the gain, the luminance level (BLref) for reference of the backlight source preset according to the video feature value is referenced. If the video feature value meets a predetermined condition, the input video signal is always amplified with the gain. If not, depending on the relation between the BLreduced and the BLref, the input video signal is amplified or not. |
| US08525933B2 |
System and method of creating or approving multiple video streams
In an embodiment, a system generates multiple video streams. The system includes a color grading device and an appearance mapping device. The appearance mapping device operates on the data generated by the color grading device, and both the output of the color grading device and the output of the appearance mapping device may be displayed (and edited) simultaneously. In this manner, the efficiency of the editing process is improved. |
| US08525930B2 |
Electronic billboard
An electronic billboard includes a display unit, a storage unit, a distance detection unit, and a processing unit. The storage unit stores a relationship table recording a relation between viewer distances and zoom proportions of displayed content by the display unit. The distance detection unit detects viewer distances of viewers. The processing unit controls a display mode of the display unit according to a comparison result of a viewer distance with a predetermined distance. |
| US08525924B2 |
Modular motion camera
Modular digital motion camera systems are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. The modules may be disassembled and reconstructed to convert the physical form of the camera, such as between ENG configurations, DSLR configurations and studio configurations. Universal lens mount modules are provided, to enable use of lens systems from a variety of commercial manufacturers. |
| US08525923B2 |
Focusing method and apparatus, and recording medium for recording the method
A focusing method and apparatus for providing focus evaluation value information regarding a focus region of an image of a subject, which is obtained by performing auto focusing, without having to enlarge the focus region, and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon the focusing method. Accordingly, a user may precisely and finely perform manual focusing on the focus region. |
| US08525922B2 |
Imaging device capable of reducing power consumption
An electronic camera is provided with a power-saving S-AF mode and a C-AF mode as focus adjustment modes. In the S-AF mode, focus adjustment is performed upon half depression of a release button. In the C-AF mode, the focus adjustment is repeated during a shooting mode regardless of the half depression of the release button to simplify the focus adjustment of a shooting time so that shooting is smoothly performed. When the electronic camera is set to the shooting mode, an AF controller obtains an Ev value representing subject brightness. The Ev value is compared with a threshold value stored in a memory. When the Ev value exceeds the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the S-AF mode. When the Ev value falls below the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the C-AF mode. |
| US08525916B2 |
Imaging apparatus using different driving methods according to estimation results
An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the optical system to generate image data, a driver operable to drive the focus lens along an optical axis of the optical system, and an autofocus adjusting unit operable to adjust a subject image formed on the imaging unit to be in focus by evaluating the image data generated by the imaging unit and by controlling the driver to drive the focus lens. When adjusting the subject image to be in focus anew after previously adjusting the subject image to be in focus, the autofocus adjusting unit estimates a focus position and controls the driver to drive the focus lens according to a driving method used for evaluating the image data generated by the imaging unit, and different driving methods are used for different results of the estimation. |
| US08525901B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device
There is provided a solid-state image sensing device including a pixel section in which cells are arrayed, each cell including a photoelectric conversion unit, a reading circuit reading out, to a detection unit, signal charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion unit, an amplifying circuit amplifying and outputting a voltage corresponding to the signal charges, and a reset circuit resetting the signal charges, an exposure time control circuit controlling an exposure time and controlling the exposure time to be equal for all cells, an A/D conversion circuit A/D-converting a signal output from the pixel section by changing a resolution of a signal level, line memories storing an A/D-converted signal, and a signal processing circuit processing output signals from the line memories to have a linear gradient with respect to an optical input signal amount by controlling an amplification factor in accordance with a resolution of a pixel output signal after A/D-conversion. |
| US08525899B2 |
Image-capturing device, user interface and method for selective color balance adjustment
There is provided a user interface on a display unit of an image-capturing device for selective color balance adjustment of an image. The user interface allows for an image to be divided into a plurality of regions. A user may select one or more regions on the user interface. The user interface also includes a control unit for adjusting a color balance value for each of the selected regions on the user interface based on user input. The user interface allows for adjustment of the color balance value for different regions of an image prior to the image being written onto a recording medium by the image-capturing device. |
| US08525894B2 |
Camera and camera control method
A camera according to the present invention, which is capable of continuous shooting before and after a still image shot according to photographer's operation, comprises: an imaging section converting an object image into image data; a still image shooting section obtaining image data of the still image according to release operation; a continuous shooting section obtaining the image data by continuous shooting before and after the obtaining of the still image in the still image shooting section; an image processing section performing image processing which is different from that of the image data obtained by the still image shooting section and changed sequentially, on the image data obtained by the continuous shooting section; and a recording section recording the image data image-processed by the image processing section. |
| US08525893B2 |
Image capturing apparatus with different shooting modes and image capturing apparatus control method thereof
The system control unit executes the following control when switching the mode from the first mode to the second one. When the first accumulation period is shorter than the first readout period, the system control unit controls the image sensor driving circuit and readout circuit so that the sum of the first and second readout periods fits into a 2-frame period. When the first accumulation period is longer than the first readout period, the system control unit controls the image sensor driving circuit and readout circuit so that the sum of the first accumulation period and second readout period fits into a 2-frame period. |
| US08525892B2 |
Imaging apparatus and control method therefor
In an imaging apparatus that enables still image shooting during movie recording in a movie recording mode, a first AF area to be focused is set in a imaging field, in still image shooting in a still image shooting mode, and focus control is implemented by utilizing the first AF area. In movie recording in the movie recording mode, focus control is implemented, by utilizing a second AF area that is set independently from the first AF area. In the case where, during the movie recording, still image shooting is instructed, focus control for the still image shooting is implemented, based on the second AF area instead of the first AF area. |
| US08525889B2 |
Apparatus and method for remote control of an image forming device using wireless data communication
A remote control apparatus and method are provided for controlling an image forming device using wireless data communication by establishing a wireless connection with the image forming device. A wireless interface receives image data stored in a storage medium of an image forming device and transmits a signal requesting an activity for an image corresponding to the received image data, using wireless data communication. A display unit displays an image using the received image data, and a user input unit receives an activity to be performed. By displaying images stored in the image forming device, or an external storage medium, using the wireless remote control apparatus and allowing a user to select an image among the displayed images and request the image forming device to perform an activity, such as a printing or editing activity, a specific activity can be requested from the image forming device without spatial limitation. |
| US08525886B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus for achieving the exchange of pieces of image data between a plurality of image processing apparatuses includes: a feature value extraction unit for extracting a feature value included in image data; a feature value transfer unit for transferring to another image processing apparatus a feature value extracted from image data to be exchanged; a feature value reception unit for receiving a feature value transferred from the other image processing apparatus; a first determination unit for determining whether the received feature value matches a feature value included in image data of a captured image; an image data transfer unit for transferring the image data of the captured image to the other image processing apparatus when there is a match between the feature values; and an image data reception unit for receiving image data of a captured image transferred from the other image processing apparatus. |
| US08525880B2 |
Security system including modular ring housing
A modular building system arrangement includes a plurality of electrical building systems. Each electrical building system has a housing with a mechanical connector that is connectable with a like connector of each other building system housing. Members of any subset of the building system housings are connectable with each other to form a building system assembly. The building systems of the building system assembly conjointly define an electrically conductive pathway interconnecting each of the building systems of the building system assembly. The pathway carries power and/or data. |
| US08525879B2 |
Depth detection method and system using thereof
A depth detection method includes the following steps. First, first and second video data are shot. Next, the first and second video data are compared to obtain initial similarity data including r×c×d initial similarity elements, wherein r, c and d are natural numbers greater than 1. Then, an accumulation operation is performed, with each similarity element serving as a center, according to a reference mask to obtain an iteration parameter. Next, n times of iteration update operations are performed on the initial similarity data according to the iteration parameter to generate updated similarity data. Then, it is judged whether the updated similarity data satisfy a character verification condition. If yes, the updated similarity data is converted into depth distribution data. |
| US08525878B2 |
Method for processing film images deviated from a film recording optical path of a moving picture camera
The invention relates to a method for processing film images which are deviated from the film-recording optical path of a moving picture camera and which are converted into digital assist signals (AS) with the aid of an image sensor which is arranged in the assist optical path (S4) of the moving picture camera which is periodically interrupted according to the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera. Said assist signals are fed to a data processing device at an image frequency corresponding to the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera. Said data processing device processes the assist images derived from the digital assist signal (AS) at the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera. In order to display the assist images at an assist frequency or the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera, the data processing device transmits the digital assist signals (AS) to a digital storage device or transmits them to a monitor in order to display the assist images at a standardized image frequency, e.g. 24 images/sec. The camera assist device is adapted to the peculiarities of the moving picture camera and enables, in particular, representation of special effects such as slow motion and quick motion which are generated with the aid of a moving picture film. |
| US08525877B2 |
Apparatus and method for conducting remote video inspection from above
An apparatus for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support structure, a telescoping mast held by a coupling and born by the support structure, an imaging system held by an extendable portion of the telescoping mast and an offsetting mechanism. The apparatus may further comprise an articulating radial arm with pivots for locating the telescoping mast. The support structure of the apparatus may also include an adaptor section for fitting to a receiver of a hitch of a vehicle. A method for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above is also disclosed. The method of inspection comprises the steps of locating an access point on a working surface, positioning an apparatus for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above, manipulating the telescoping mast above the access point, lowering it and reviewing images from the imaging system. |
| US08525874B2 |
Assistance system for visually handicapped persons
An assistance system for visually handicapped persons with visual impair in a part of their visual field aims at providing a technical solution for these persons, informing them actively about objects or movements in the visually impaired side, by way of body-worn sensors. |
| US08525872B2 |
Method for displaying a three-dimensional image and display apparatus for performing the same
A method for displaying a three-dimensional (“3D”) image includes; dividing the 3D image input from an external device into a first image frame corresponding to a first eye of a viewer and a second image frame corresponding to a second eye of the viewer, and generating a first compensation frame and a second compensation frame subsequent to the first image frame and the second image frame, respectively, and displaying the first compensation frame and the second compensation frame on a display panel. |
| US08525871B2 |
Content-aware wide-angle images
This specification describes technologies relating to digital images. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a source wide-angle image; identifying one or more locally salient features of the source wide-angle image; calculating a mapping from the source wide-angle image to a two-dimensional mapped wide-angle image according to constraints using the identified one or more spatially variable salient features; and rendering the mapped wide-angle image using the calculated mapping such that the mapped wide-angle image reduces distortion of the locally salient features relative to the distortion of the source wide angle image. |
| US08525870B2 |
Remote communication apparatus and method of estimating a distance between an imaging device and a user image-captured
A remote communication apparatus for receiving the image of a remote user captured by an imaging device to show the image to another user includes a zoom controller for controlling a zoom ratio defining the angle of view of the imaging device, and an estimator for estimating a distance between the imaging device and the remote user on the basis of the zoom ratio of the imaging device. |
| US08525867B2 |
Chatting service method interworking video phone service
The present invention implements a chatting the chatting service interworking with a video phone service which can transmit and receive a text during a video phone conversation without terminating the video phone conversation, and furthermore, it improves service quality of a video phone by transmitting and receiving a text during a video phone conversation if a video phone conversation is made in poor an unsuitable environment. |
| US08525864B2 |
Semiconductor laser driver and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A semiconductor laser driver to drive a semiconductor laser, the semiconductor laser includes a drive circuit to generate a drive current to cause the semiconductor laser to emit, and a current control circuit to cause the driving current to repeatedly increase and decrease in a predetermined cycle. |
| US08525862B2 |
Light emitting diode array integrated with lens, line printer head, and method of manufacturing the light emitting diode array
A lens integrated light emitting diode array, a line printer head using the light emitting diode array, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting diode array. The light emitting diode array includes a plurality of light emitting diodes formed on a surface of a transparent substrate and a plurality of lenses formed on another surface opposite to the surface of the transparent substrate, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are divided into a plurality of groups to be arranged to respectively correspond to the plurality of lenses. |
| US08525860B2 |
Printer
A printer comprises a conveying unit configured to convey a medium. The printer includes an image forming unit provided in a conveyance path of the medium, the image forming unit being configured to form an image with a temperature-sensitive ink, whose color is changed depending on a temperature, on the medium. A cutter for cutting the medium is provided in the conveyance path downstream of a medium conveyance direction of the image forming unit. Further, a coloring conversion unit is provided in the conveyance path downstream of a medium conveyance direction of the cutter. The coloring conversion unit is configured to change a coloring state of the image of the temperature-sensitive ink by heating or cooling the image of the temperature-sensitive ink formed on the cut medium. |
| US08525849B2 |
Designing support method, designing support equipment, program and computer-readable storage medium
A designing support equipment for displaying design information on a display unit and designing a product so as to easily design the outline of a whole product and details of the constituent elements of the product. The equipment comprises a display unit having a first display displaying design information logically expressing the electrical operation of objects to be designed, a second display displaying design information expressing a physical two-dimensional shape of the objects, and a third display displaying design information expressing a physical three-dimensional shape of the objects, selecting means for selecting at least two displays from the first to third displays, and control means for allowing the display unit to display the selected display from the first to third displays about the same object and varying the displayed contents of the first to third displays displayed on the display unit so as to keep the matching. |
| US08525846B1 |
Shader and material layers for rendering three-dimensional (3D) object data models
Methods and systems for material refinement for portions of a three-dimensional (3D) object data model are provided. An example method may include rendering a portion of a 3D object data model, and determining a first appearance metric between an appearance of the portion in the rendered view and a two-dimensional (2D) image. For one or more iterations, a modification to material properties associated with the portion may be determined based on the first appearance metric, and another view of the portion of the 3D object data model may be rendered. Also for the one or more iterations, another appearance metric between and an appearance of the portion in the rendered another view and the 2D image may be determined. Additionally, modified material properties for the portion that are associated with a minimum appearance metric of the one or more iterations may be stored for the 3D object data model. |
| US08525845B2 |
Display control apparatus, method, and program
A display control apparatus which controls display of information about a group of data having a predetermined relevance, the apparatus may include a means for generating a three dimensional model for display in accordance with a first item of information of the information about the group; and a means for controlling display of a second item of information that is the information about the group and different from the first item of information so as to be overlaid on a three dimensional image displayed based on the model. |
| US08525844B2 |
Display update for a wireless display device
Embodiments of partial update for a wireless display device include providing an update information message identifying a location of the partial update and the changed image data. A display source identifies changes in image data stored in a frame buffer, generates an update information message to identify the location of the changed image data and to provide the changed image data. A display sink receives the update information message and merges the changed image data with image data stored in a local frame buffer. |
| US08525842B1 |
System and method for utilizing semaphores in a graphics pipeline
A semaphore system, method, and computer program product are provided for use in a graphics environment. In operation, a semaphore is operated upon utilizing a plurality of graphics processing modules for a variety of graphics processing-related purposes (e.g. for example, controlling access to graphics data by the graphics processing modules, etc.). |
| US08525830B2 |
Point cloud generation system
A method, apparatus, and point cloud generation system for managing a point cloud. Vertices for a model of an object are identified. The object comprises a plurality of parts. Identifiers for the plurality of parts are associated with points in the point cloud using the vertices for the model of the object. |
| US08525826B2 |
System for iterative interactive ray tracing in a multiprocessor environment
A method comprises receiving scene model data including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene. The method generates a primary ray based on a selected first pixel data. In the event the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, the method determines primary hit color data and generates a plurality of secondary rays. The method groups the secondary packets and arranges the packets in a queue based on the octant of each direction vector in the secondary ray packet. The method generates secondary color data based on the secondary ray packets in the queue and generates a pixel color based on the primary hit color data, and the secondary color data. The method generates an image based on the pixel color for the pixel data. |
| US08525824B2 |
Liquid crystal display driver device and liquid crystal display system
There is provided a display driver device (liquid crystal driver) causing no degradation in display image quality even when a plurality of signal lines (source lines) of a display panel are divided into a plurality of groups as a countermeasure against EMI. With a liquid crystal display driver device (the liquid crystal driver) for generating image signals to be impressed to respective signal lines of a display panel upon receiving display image data, and outputting the image signals in a lump, corresponding to every one line, according to an output timing signal inputted from outside, output amplifiers, in the last stage of the liquid crystal driver, for outputting the image signals, respectively, are divided into a plurality of groups, and the output amplifiers of respective groups are caused to undergo a periodical change in output sequence while the respective image signals are slightly staggered in output timing by the group. |
| US08525818B2 |
Display system
A display system includes a display device, a driving circuit, a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a charge pump circuit and a control circuit. The driving circuit is disposed on the display device, and utilized for driving the display device. The FPC is externally coupled to the display device. The charge pump circuit is disposed on the FPC, and utilized for generating at least an output voltage to the driving circuit. The control circuit is disposed on the display device and coupled to the driving circuit, and utilized for generating a control signal to control the charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit has a control pin coupled to the control circuit for receiving the control signal generated from the control circuit. |
| US08525817B2 |
Pixel array module and flat display apparatus
A pixel array module includes a substrate, a pixel electrode array, a patterned conductive layer and a semiconductor circuit unit. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The pixel electrode array is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The patterned conductive layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and the patterned conductive layer is electrically connected to the pixel electrode array. The semiconductor circuit unit has at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal, which is electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer. A flat display apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08525816B2 |
Position pointer, variable capacitor and inputting apparatus
A position pointer is provided, which includes a housing having an opening, a bar-like rod disposed in the housing such that one end thereof projects from the opening, and a variable capacitor having a capacitance value which varies in response to pressure applied thereto through the rod. The capacitor includes a dielectric member having a first face portion opposite a second face portion, a first electrode section disposed on the first face portion of the dielectric member, a conductive member facing the second face portion of the dielectric member and forming a second electrode section when brought into contact with the second face portion of the dielectric member, and an elastic member coupled with the conductive member and adapted for biasing the conductive member away from the second face portion. A contact area between the conductive member and the second face portion varies depending on the pressure applied thereto through the rod. |
| US08525815B2 |
Optical touch system with display screen
An optical touch system includes a display screen having a contact surface, an infrared light source emitting infrared light to cover the contact surface, a linear infrared sensor having a sensing surface with a lengthwise direction thereof parallel to the contact surface, a processor, and a controller. The linear infrared sensor captures an image of the contact surface with an infrared portion representing a touch area of a contact object, the image having an aspect ratio greater than that of the contact surface. The processor determines the touch location of the contact object based on the aspect ratios of the image and the contact surface, the location of the infrared portion on the image, the area of the infrared portion and the area of the touch portion of the contact object on the contact surface. The controller executes an instruction according to the determined location of the contact object. |
| US08525812B2 |
Input device using touch panel
Provided is a touch panel including an analog switch area and a fixed switch area. An input device of the present invention includes: a touch panel; a case including an opening capable of housing the touch panel; a transparent resin film bonded to the top surface of the case; and an adhesive applied to the back surface of the transparent resin film in the opening. It is possible to make the case and the touch panel flush with each other, and accordingly to offer a seamless supporting structure by covering the top surfaces of the case and the touch panel with the transparent resin film. In addition, since the touch panel includes the analog switch area and the fixed switch area, it is possible to offer the input device which includes all the operation switches in the touch panel. |
| US08525811B2 |
Capacitive touch panel
A capacitive touch panel consists of a touch panel having a plural conductive wires, a multiplex selector electrically connected to the plural conductive wires of the touch panel, a first switch electrically connected to the multiplex selector, a first resistor having a first resistor value, a second switch electrically connected to the resistor and the first switch, a capacitor having a capacitance value, the capacitor electrically connected to the first switch and the second switch, a third switch electrically connected to the capacitor, an Analogue to Digital converter, a fourth switch electrically connected to the Analogue to Digital converter and the third switch, and an integrating circuit electrically connected to the second switch and the fourth switch. |
| US08525809B2 |
Digital capacitive touch panel structure
The present invention discloses a touch panel structure formed by an anti-scratch surface layer and a capacitive sensor layer, and a transparent lamination layer is used for pasting the two into a panel. The capacitive sensor layer includes an X-axis first transparent conductive layer and a Y-axis second transparent conductive layer formed on both sides of a transparent plastic carrier to provide a touch panel structure having the advantages of a relatively low material cost, a light weight, an easy manufacturing and molding, a better lamination yield and a flexible and break-free feature. |
| US08525801B2 |
Equalized capacitive touchpad and touch positioning method
An equalized capacitive touchpad and a touch positioning method for a capacitive touchpad use an equalizer to correct a sensed value detected from a sensing line of the capacitive touchpad, to thereby offset the attenuation of the sensed value due to the impedance of the sensing line. Thus, the sensed values generated from different positions along a sensing line are equalized, and the touch positioning accuracy of the capacitive touchpad is improved. |
| US08525794B2 |
Device and technique for assigning different inputs to keys on a keypad
Embodiments of the invention provide an effective keypad assembly and keypad layout for mobile computing devices. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide keyboard layouts and designs. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide for stack components to make keyboards operable on small-form factor devices. |
| US08525786B1 |
Multi-directional remote control system and method with IR control and tracking
A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller includes an IR LED which is operated as a modulated transmitter to control conventional remote functions and in a substantially continuous mode for tracking operation. The remote control system and method images the controller to detect the LED in tracking mode for control of a cursor or other GUI interface with mouse type functionality. |
| US08525781B2 |
Handheld portable pointing apparatus
A portable pointing apparatus utilized with a computing device such as a personal computer, laptop computer, and/or an Internet connected television. The pointing apparatus generally comprises a spin ball, a right click button, a left click button, and a hold button for performing various cursor movements and cursor operations on a display of the computing device. The hold button can be utilized to highlight data displayed on the computing device. The apparatus also includes a laser pointer for pointing out important data on the display. A tracking device generates a movement signal based on a movement of the pointing apparatus. The computing device receives a movement signal from a tracking system and controls the movement of a cursor displayed via the computing device. The pointing apparatus can be operated from any convenient location and can be of any shape or form for user comfort. |
| US08525770B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a timing controller and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal display panel provided a plurality of data lines; a data distributor distributing input data; a first and second memories equally storing data to be supplied to an odd-numbered data line among data distributed by the data distributor; a third and fourth memories equally storing data to be supplied to an even-numbered data line among data distributed by the data distributor; and a clock generator generating a divided clock reading and outputting a data stored at the first and second memories or the third and fourth memories. |
| US08525769B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus including color filters of RGBW mosaic arrangement and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes color filters, a display signal voltage application circuit, a common voltage application circuit, and a polarity inversion circuit. Each color filter corresponds to one of sub-pixels arranged two-dimensionally in a display section. The display signal voltage application circuit applies a display signal voltage to a pixel electrode of each of the sub-pixels. The common voltage application circuit applies a common voltage to a common electrode of each of the sub-pixels. The polarity inversion circuit inverts a polarity indicating a magnitude relationship between a pixel electrode voltage and the common voltage that is applied to the common electrode. The polarity inversion circuit makes the polarity of at least one of the sub-pixels arranged in a row of the display section different from the polarity of another sub-pixel of the same color arranged in the same row of the display section. |
| US08525766B2 |
Method of driving liquid crystal display device using alternating current voltages as storage capacitor voltage
A method of driving a liquid crystal display device, which includes first and second substrates, gate lines on the first substrate, data lines crossing the gate lines to define pixel regions, a thin film transistor connected to each gate line and each data line, a common line between adjacent gate lines, a pixel electrode in each pixel region and overlapping the common line, and a common electrode on the second substrate, includes steps of sequentially applying scanning signals to the gate lines, applying data signals to the data lines to supply the pixel electrode with pixel voltage, applying a common voltage to the common electrode, and applying a storage capacitor voltage to the common line, wherein the pixel voltage and the storage capacitor voltage are alternating current (AC) voltages having positive and negative polarities alternately with respect to the common voltage. |
| US08525760B2 |
Active matrix substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic device
An active matrix substrate is provided which does not cause reductions in the brightness of electroluminescence elements, and which comprises appropriate peripheral circuitry occupying a small area. The active matrix substrate comprises peripheral circuits to supply current to EL elements provided for each pixel, and corresponding to EL elements, and further comprises a holding element (C) which holds a control voltage, a first active element (T1) connected to the holding element (C) and which supplies current to a light-emitting portion (OLED) based on a control voltage, and a second active element (T2) connected to the holding element (C) and which controls the charging and discharging of the holding element. In particular, the second active element (T2) is configured as a multiple-control-terminal type active element. As a result, there are no fluctuations in the programmed current. |
| US08525755B2 |
Method and device for controlling a matrix plasma display screen
A control device for a matrix plasma display screen has a row driver circuit capable of sequentially selecting the rows of the matrix and a column driver circuit, for each column of the matrix, with an individual column driver unit that has at least a first transistor of the MOS type capable of emitting, towards each column of a desired set of columns, a state change signal in order to allow the transition of the set from a first state towards a second state, and a controller. The first transistor is capable of emitting state change signals that have a state that is transitional from a low state towards a high state; the controller has a control transistor with one electrode directly connected to the power supply terminal and another electrode capable of delivering a control voltage to the control electrode of the first transistor, so as to limit the value of the current flowing through the first transistor in the course of the transitional state, in such a manner as to regulate the rise time of the state change signal. |
| US08525752B2 |
System and method for automatically adjusting electronic display settings
Described are systems and methods for automatically adjusting a set of display settings. At least one image sample is displayed at a first display according to display settings of the first display. Electromagnetic radiation generated from the first display is collected. The electromagnetic radiation includes first image data related to the at least one image sample at the first display. An image sample is displayed at a second display according to display settings of the second display. Electromagnetic radiation generated from the second display is collected. The electromagnetic radiation includes second image data related to the image sample at the second display. A margin of error is determined between the first image data and the second image data. The display settings of the second display are adjusted to reduce the margin of error. |
| US08525750B2 |
Varying angle antenna for electromagnetic radiation dissipation device
A varying angle antenna design can be used with an electromagnetic radiation dissipation device to reduce exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The antenna captures radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone as it transmits. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle. Near the center of the antenna, the microstrip segments are narrower. |
| US08525747B2 |
Scanning antenna
An antenna has an antenna body having a plurality of first antenna elements situated along a first straight line. The antenna body includes a first conductive grounded surface and a second conductive grounded surface, the first and second grounded surfaces being situated essentially parallel to one another. A dielectric is situated between the first and second grounded surfaces. A signal conductor is also situated between the first and second grounded surfaces. The first antenna elements are designed as apertures situated above the signal conductor in the first grounded surface. Furthermore, the antenna is designed to emit a signal in a direction in space, depending on a frequency of the signal. At least two of the first antenna elements differ from one another in such a way that their power emissions are different. |
| US08525744B2 |
Radiated power measurement method, radiated power measurement coupler and radiated power measurement apparatus
In a method of measuring a radiation power generated from a DUT from an output of a measurement antenna, wherein the DUT is arranged in an ellipsoid enclosed space such that a radiation center of the radio wave is substantially coincided with the neighborhood of a first focal point. The radio wave radiated from the DUT and reflected from the wall surface is received by a receiving antenna arranged in the neighborhood a second focal point thereby to measure the total radiated power of the DUT from the output signal of the receiving antenna. One of the DUT and the receiving antenna is moved along the axis passing through the first and second focal points, and based on the measurement value maximizing the output signal power of the receiving antenna, calculating the total radiated power of the DUT. |
| US08525741B2 |
Multi-loop antenna system and electronic apparatus having the same
A multi-loop antenna system includes: a plurality of loop antennas disposed on a substrate and arranged such that each of extending lines extending respectively from geometric centers of the loop antennas to a center point that is bounded by the loop antennas has a predetermined length, and that each of the loop antennas is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the same by a predetermined distance; and a system module facing toward and being spaced apart from and parallel to the substrate such that the grounding plane is able to reflect radiation from the loop antennas. Each of the loop antennas includes first and second radiator portions operable in respective frequency bands; the former having opposite ends that respectively serve as signal-feed and grounding sections; the latter having opposite ends that are connected respectively to the signal-feed and grounding sections. |
| US08525735B2 |
Foldable/slideable apparatus for radio communication with backspace for an antenna
An apparatus for radio communication comprising an antenna element and first and second parts, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the first and second parts are movable with respect to one another between first and second configurations, and wherein movement of the apparatus from the first configuration into the second configuration provides a backspace which can be used as a backspace for the antenna element. |
| US08525733B2 |
Low-profile wide-bandwidth radio frequency antenna
The present invention relates to an RE antenna structure that includes a planar structure and a loading plate, such that the planar structure is mounted between a ground plane and the loading plate to form an RF antenna. The loading plate may be about parallel to the ground plane and the planar structure may be about perpendicular to the loading plate and the ground plane. The loading plate may allow the height of the RF antenna structure above the ground plane to be relatively small. For example, the height may be significantly less than one-quarter of a wavelength of RF signals of interest. The planar structure may include two conductive matching elements to help increase the bandwidth of the RF antenna structure. |
| US08525727B2 |
Position and velocity uncertainty metrics in GNSS receivers
A GNSS navigation system and navigation method for determining user position, user velocity, and improved uncertainty metrics for position and velocity. A measurement engine in an applications processor of the system determines pseudorange and delta range values over each time period for each received satellite signal, and also determines measurement noise variances for both pseudorange and delta range for the individual signals. The satellite-specific pseudorange and delta range measurement variances are used to determine the position and velocity uncertainties by a position engine, either by way of a least-squares linearization or by way of an enhanced Kalman filter. The uncertainties may be communicated to the system user, or used in generating an integrated position and velocity result from both the GNSS navigation function and an inertial navigation system result. |
| US08525720B2 |
Non-binary successive approximation analog to digital converter
A successive approximation analog to digital converter (SA-ADC) employs a binary-weighted digital to analog converter (DAC) to perform a non-binary search in determining a digital representation of a sample of an analog signal. In an embodiment, a subset of iterations needed to convert an analog sample to a digital value is performed using non-binary search with a radix of conversion less than two. As a result, search windows in iterations corresponding to the non-binary search overlap, and correction of errors due to a comparator used in the SA-ADC is rendered possible. Error correction being possible due to the non-binary search, the comparator is operated in a low-bandwidth, and hence low-power, mode during the non-binary search. The non-binary search in combination with the binary-weighted architecture of the DAC offer several benefits such as for example, less-complex implementation, shorter conversion time, easier and compact layout and lower power consumption. |
| US08525717B2 |
Half-bandwidth based quadrature analog-to-digital converter
A half-bandwidth based quadrature analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes in-phase circuitry, quadrature-phase circuitry, and digital complex processing circuitry. The in-phase circuitry includes an in-phase pair of ADCs, which provide an in-phase pair of sub-quadrature output signals, based on an analog in-phase input signal. Similarly, the quadrature-phase circuitry includes a quadrature-phase pair of ADCs, which provide a quadrature-phase pair of sub-quadrature output signals based on an analog quadrature-phase input signal. The digital complex processing circuitry combines, filters, and restructures the in-phase pair of sub-quadrature output signals and the quadrature-phase pair of sub-quadrature output signals to provide a digital in-phase output signal and a digital quadrature-phase output signal. Each of the in-phase pair of ADCs has about an ADC bandwidth. The in-phase circuitry has an input bandwidth, which is about equal to two times the ADC bandwidth in one embodiment of the in-phase circuitry. |
| US08525715B2 |
A/D conversion apparatus and DC-DC conversion apparatus
There is provided with an A/D conversion apparatus which the first terminal receives a reference voltage signal, the single-ended to differential converter conducts single-ended to differential conversion on the reference voltage signal to obtain a first differential signal, the A/D converter conducts A/D conversion on the first differential signal based on the reference voltage signal to obtain a first digital signal, the digital circuit detects a DC offset which is a difference between the first digital signal and a digital signal, the second terminal receives an input signal, the single-ended to differential converter conducts single-ended to differential conversion on the input signal to acquire a second differential signal, the A/D converter conducts A/D conversion on the second differential signal based on the reference voltage signal to acquire a second digital signal, and the digital circuit subtracts the DC offset from the second digital signal to obtain a third digital signal. |
| US08525711B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing nonlinearity calibration
A method for performing nonlinearity calibration includes the steps of: obtaining temporarily values of a plurality of compensation parameters by performing a perturbation-based calibration process on a nonlinear system with at least one predetermined input being applied to the nonlinear system; and updating the compensation parameters by performing the perturbation-based calibration process in an online manner, wherein the temporarily values are utilized as initial values of the compensation parameters for the step of updating the compensation parameters. In addition, the compensation parameters are utilized for controlling a compensation response of the perturbation-based calibration process. An associated apparatus is also provided. |
| US08525710B1 |
Audio amplifier offset reduction using digital input/output comparisons
An offset correction circuit removes DC offset from an analog audio output signal by comparing transitions of digital audio values to which the analog output signal is related to the output of a monitor that monitors the analog output signal. The monitor may be a zero-crossing detector and the transitions of the digital signal that are compared may be transitions of the most-significant bit (MSB) of the digital audio values. A filtering algorithm or filter circuit may be used to average a result of the comparison of the transitions, so that the offset is slowly and accurately removed. A chopped or autozero comparator may be used to further reduce error in the offset determination. |
| US08525709B2 |
Systems and methods for designing ADC based on probabilistic switching of memories
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a probabilistic analog to digital converter (ADC). The probabilistic ADC may be configured to convert an analog input to a variable-length or variable-amplitude pulse, apply the pulse to a plurality of memory elements as a switching pulse, and determine a digital value based on a number of memory elements that store a value after the switching pulse is applied. |
| US08525706B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding data
The method for encoding data includes: receiving data; determining one quantizer from among a plurality of quantizers having a same quantization step size and different offset values; and transmitting an indicator and a quantized coefficient related to the determined quantizer. The method for decoding data includes: receiving an indicator and a quantized coefficient related to a quantizer; determining one de-quantizer from among a plurality of de-quantizers by using the indicator; and acquiring reconstructed data by de-quantizing the quantized coefficient by using the determined de-quantizer. |
| US08525704B2 |
Displaying route information on a digital map image
A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a display image including a map view and route information, the map view being a three dimensional perspective elevation view. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: determining, from height information associated with a map object to be displayed in the display image, whether the object obscures a line of sight to the route information in the three dimensional perspective elevation; and displaying the map object in a format that is dependent on whether the map object is determined to obscure the line of sight. |
| US08525703B2 |
Interior rearview mirror system
A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle, and a display device. Data relevant to the geographical location of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link. The data may be wirelessly communicated from the external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and the data may be at least in part customized to the geographic location of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror system may include a link with a mobile accessory that may be a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle, and the mobile accessory may include at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen. |
| US08525701B2 |
Method and device for centralized management of warnings in an aircraft comprising several warning presentation interfaces
A method and a device for centralized management of warnings in an aircraft including a centralized system for management of warnings and a plurality of warning presentation interfaces. The method includes determining at least one warning in the centralized system according to at least one alarm activation signal received, presenting the at least one warning by a first interface of the plurality of warning presentation interfaces, filtering the at least one determined warning to determine whether to also present the at least one determined warning by a second interface of the plurality of warning presentation interfaces, the second interface being separate from the first interface, and presenting, by the second interface, the at least one determined warning, in response to a determination by the filtering that the at least one determined warning is to also be presented by the second interface. |
| US08525700B2 |
Control system and a method for information display systems for vehicles on cross roads
The various embodiments herein provide a system and method for managing information display for vehicles on cross roads. The system includes at least one panel to display a traffic regulatory information and advertisements, a central server, a programmable logic controller (PLC) connected to the central server, a plurality of sensors to detect the at least one panel position and any moving foreign objects. A display unit is managed online from a traffic control center to receive and display a real-time traffic information and a plurality of timers are provided for calculating a time schedule information of the traffic lights based on the traffic. The sensors control and transmit the time schedule information to the PLC. The time schedule information and traffic algorithms are transmitted by the PLC to a central control system for processing and estimating an optimum time schedule of traffic lights. |
| US08525699B2 |
Device for aiding flight for an aircraft
A device for aiding flight for an aircraft includes means for locating the localities situated in the operational area for rescue missions. The device is able to present to the crew a landmark of the positions of the localities in relation to the position of the aircraft, this landmark also indicating information connected with navigation and to flight regulations for each of the localities. The device relates to operations aircraft and more particularly rescue helicopters. |
| US08525696B2 |
Vehicle-mounted device and audio reproduction method
Upon reception of content information (step S1), a control unit decides a different notification sound in accordance with an identifier attached to the received content information (step S4). The control unit causes a reproduction unit (5) to reproduce the decided notification sound. Thus, the user can guess the content of the received content information. |
| US08525695B2 |
Automobile beacon, system, and associated method
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for alerting a pedestrian, such as a visually impaired pedestrian, of a vehicle in the vicinity. In general, signals are transmitted from a vehicle to a device carried by a pedestrian, such as a mobile terminal. In response, the pedestrian's device may generate an alarm, such as a vibration or an audible alarm, informing the pedestrian that a vehicle is nearby. In some cases, the pedestrian's device may transmit activation signals to the vehicle after receiving the signals from the vehicle. The activation signals may cause speakers on the vehicle to emit an audible alarm, alerting the pedestrian of the presence of the vehicle. |
| US08525694B2 |
Radio frequency identification object tracking
A computer-implemented method includes detecting, through an RF transceiver in communication with a vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags. The method also includes determining, via the vehicle computing system, a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds. The method further includes notifying, via the vehicle computing system, a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard. |
| US08525692B2 |
Techniques for limiting demand from an electricity meter with an installed relay
An electricity meter capable of performing a method for limiting an electricity load in communication with the electricity meter is disclosed. The electricity meter includes at least one load control and the electricity meter has one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers. Each of the one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers has a corresponding time-of-use demand threshold. The method comprises determining a present time-of-use tier; determining a present time-of-use demand for the electricity load in the present time-of-use tier; comparing the present time-of-use demand to the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier; and setting the at least one load control to a de-energize mode when a de-energize condition is satisfied. The de-energize condition may include sub-conditions such as the present time-of-use demand exceeding the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier. |
| US08525691B2 |
Electric equipment with digital interface and method for controlling the same
In electric equipment that has a digital interface, an operation that is normally performed by an output terminal during authentication processing is executed on equipment connected to an input terminal of the digital interface by the input terminal as an erroneous connection detection operation. When there is a proper response from the equipment connected to the input terminal of the digital interface in response to the erroneous connection detection operation, the electric equipment detects that the connected equipment has been erroneously connected. When an erroneous connection is detected, the electric equipment gives notice of the detection of the erroneous connection. |
| US08525689B2 |
Speaker enclosure design for efficiently generating an audible alert signal
Various inventive features are disclosed for efficiently generating regulation-compliant audible alerts, including but not limited to 520 Hz square wave alert/alarm signals, using an audio speaker. One such feature involves the use of a non-linear amplifier in combination with a voltage boost regulator to efficiently drive the audio speaker. Another feature involves speaker enclosure designs that effectively boost the output of the audio speaker, particularly at relatively low frequencies. These and other features may be used individually or combination in a given alarm-generation device or system to enable regulation-compliant audible alerts to be generated using conventional batteries, such as AA alkaline batteries. Various examples of efficiently generated regulation-compliant audible alerts and further enhancing such audible alerts by utilizing speaker enclosure designs are provided. |
| US08525688B2 |
Proximity detection alarm for an inductively charged mobile computing device
Illustrated is a system and method to activate an alarm where a mobile computing device is no longer proximate to a docking station that provides inductive charging and data transfer capabilities for the mobile computing device. The computer system includes at least one coil to provide inductive charging for a mobile computing device. Further, the computer system includes a processor to control the inductive charging of the mobile computing device. Additionally, the computer system includes a proximity sensor operatively connected to the processor, the proximity sensor to determine that the mobile computing device is proximate to the computer system. Moreover, the computer system includes an alarm logic module to activate an alarm when the mobile computing device is no longer proximate to the computer system. |
| US08525684B2 |
Method and system for locating and communicating with a user of a wireless communication device
A system and method switches a mobile device from a first wireless communication signal, to a second, different wireless communication signal to maintain or reestablish communication between the mobile device and a communication network. Switching occurs when the signal strength of the first wireless communication signal falls below a predefined threshold and a second communication signal is present. |
| US08525679B2 |
Sensor control for apparatuses for supporting and monitoring a person
A person support apparatus includes a frame and a support surface cooperating with the frame to support a person. The person support apparatus also has a sensor coupled to one of the frame and the support surface. The sensor detects at least one characteristic associated with the person. A controller is coupled to the sensor. In response to at least one of a condition of the frame, a condition of the support surface, a position of the person, or a condition of the person, the controller operates to control the sensor by at least one of changing a gain of the sensor and changing a manner in which a signal from the sensor is filtered. In some instances, the controller turns the sensor off. |
| US08525675B2 |
Security device
An anti-theft security device is particularly useful with bottles and is typically secured to a bottle neck. The device may carry an onboard alarm. The device typically includes a catch member which engages the bottle neck to secure the device to the bottle and a blocking structure to help block access to the catch member. |
| US08525674B2 |
Collective objects management system with object identification using addressable decoder units
A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an address decoder with a unique system address which enables generation of a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match, and a circuit for deriving operating power for the address decoder from an incoming address signal. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations. |
| US08525672B2 |
Passive entry and/or passive go system and associated operating method
A passive entry and/or passive go system and am associated operating method is provided. According to an embodiment of the invention, the following steps are performed in an electronic key of the passive entry and/or passive go system: generation of a reference input value, supplying the antenna circuit with the reference input value, measurement of the characteristic parameters, while the antenna circuit is supplied with the reference input value, storage of the characteristic parameters, measurement of a first output value of the antenna circuit, and determination of the field strength from the first output value and the characteristic parameters, whereby an effect of the characteristic parameters on the field strength is compensated. Use, for example, in motor vehicles. |
| US08525669B2 |
Interaction analyzer
A method of analyzing participant activity includes providing an identification unit to a participant, receiving signals from the identification unit, determining location of the participant based on the received signals, storing the location information and the associated timestamp and analyzing the stored information. |
| US08525662B2 |
Out of product indicator
An out of product indicator is provided. The out of product indicator includes a power generator, a sensor and an alarm. The power generator is configured to generate power based on an interaction with at least one aspect of the device it is coupled thereto. The sensor is configured to determine when a product is low. The alarm is coupled to receive power generated by the power generator. Moreover the alarm is activated based on an output of the sensor. |
| US08525661B2 |
Water vehicle braking display apparatus
A water vehicle braking display apparatus, the apparatus including at least one sensor adapted to detect changes in input information, a signal generator to generate a signal based upon changes detected in the input information, and a display mounted for at least visual display and operable to produce a display upon receipt that a change has occurred in the input information from the signal generator. |
| US08525659B2 |
LED tail lamp system for vehicle using pattern indication
A tail lamp system for a vehicle includes a dynamic signal unit, a control unit, a set of input lines electrically connecting the dynamic signal unit with the control unit, an LED display board, and a set of output lines electrically connecting the LED display board with the control unit. The dynamic signal unit provides a plurality of dynamic signals relating to various instant driving information of the vehicle. The control unit receives each of the dynamic signals of the dynamic signal unit and outputs a corresponding control signal. The LED display board receives the control signal from the control unit and displays a corresponding pattern according to the received control signal to indicate instant driving information of the vehicle, for example, turning, braking, temporary stop and breakdown of the vehicle. |
| US08525653B1 |
Anti-theft system for wheels and rims
A system for protecting vehicle wheels featuring a lug nut component for threading into a wheel; a keyhole disposed in the first end of the lug nut and a threaded second hole disposed in the second end; a sliding component disposed in the first hole biased in an up position and movable to a down position when a key is inserted; a sensor configured to detect the sliding component moving to the down position; a microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor; a transmitter operatively connected to the microprocessor; a receiver operatively connected to a car alarm system, wherein when the sensor detects the sliding component moving to the down position the transmitter sends an alarm signal to the receiver to activate the alarm system. |
| US08525651B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for pairing a controlled device with an RF remote control using an RFID tag
Systems and methods are operable to initiate a pairing process and a de-pairing process between a controlled device and a radio frequency (RF) remote control. An exemplary embodiment detects presence of a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag in an interrogation zone established by an RFID tag reader, automatically initiates a pairing process in response to detecting the presence of the RFID tag in the interrogation zone, and completes the pairing process between the RF remote control and the controlled device, wherein the pairing process identifies a unique identifier associated with the RF remote control. A subsequently received RF signal emitted by the RF remote control includes at least one command configured to control operation of the controlled device and includes the unique identifier. |
| US08525650B2 |
Remote shut-off gas meter
A retrofit system includes a body, a cup and a valve. The body has a top wall and a plurality of side walls defining a opening and a chamber and is configured to be connected to a gas meter such that the chamber is in fluid communication with a chamber of the gas meter. An inlet channel is configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet of a diaphragm disposed within the gas meter and an outlet channel configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet of the diaphragm. The cup is disposed within an aperture located in the top wall and defines compartment configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) controller and a power supply. The valve is connected to one of the inlet or outlet channels and is electrically coupled to the RF controller and the power supply. The valve is configured to close in response to receiving an electrical signal from the RF controller. |
| US08525649B2 |
Intelligent bail
An identification device is configured to be coupled externally to an optoelectronic device to provide connectivity and/or identification information in an optical network in which the optoelectronic device is implemented. The identification device may include an integrated circuit with unique identification information and a plurality of contacts coupled to the integrated circuit and configured to be coupled to an outside identification system. The outside identification system communicates with the identification device via the plurality of contacts to collect unique identification information, the ability to retrieve the unique identification information additionally implicating connectivity in some embodiments. The identification device may include a plurality of clips configured to engage corresponding posts on a latch of the optoelectronic device. |
| US08525648B1 |
Backscatter passive wireless controller with IMD frequency coding
A backscatter passive wireless control system and method employs frequency coding using frequency components generated from an interrogating field using a passive nonlinear element such as a diode in a passive transponder tag. In particular, InterModulation Distortion (IMD) frequency components may be generated which are shifted in frequency from the interrogating signal to assist in backscatter detection at a receiver but are still in band, e.g., in an ISM band. The shifted frequency components may be swept or stepped over a range and passive elements in the tag encode a tag ID by selecting specific frequencies to be backscattered. A manually operated switch may couple an antenna to the transponder to allow battery free control. |
| US08525647B2 |
Measurement system, measurement method and new use of antenna
The invention relates to a measuring system for detecting radio-frequency tags, a measuring method, and a new use for a leaky waveguide. The measuring system comprises a reading device and an antenna, which is connected to reading device for connecting to the tags. According to the invention, the antenna is a microstrip-type leaky waveguide having a length which is several times the operating wavelength of the tags. The invention permits reliable and precise RFID detection, for example, for a results service for sports events. |
| US08525645B2 |
Method of recognizing RFID tag for the purpose of preventing throughput inversion and RFID reader performing the same
A method of recognizing a tag in an RFID reader includes: obtaining a predetermined frame size in the case where throughput obtained by reflecting a slot length based on the remaining number of tags except for recognized tags within a frame progressing current tag recognition that substantially has a maximum value; and when the current frame size is different from the predetermined frame size, stopping the current progress of frame and changing the current frame size into the expected frame size. The method of recognizing a tag may further include when the current frame size is equal to the expected frame size, changing the current frame size into the frame size that does not cause a throughput inversion phenomenon for the remaining number of tags to be recognized within the frame progressing the current tag recognition. By the throughput inversion phenomenon, the occurrence of throughput loss can be prevented and the tag recognition time is reduced to recognize the tags at high speed. |
| US08525642B2 |
Methods and systems for communication protocol for distributed asset management
A sending device generates a MAC frame to be transmitted over a wireless network. The MAC frame indicates a frame transmission type. A payload portion of the MAC frame is defined in accordance with a payload specification of a distributed asset management protocol corresponding to the indicated frame transmission type. The MAC frame is transmitted over the wireless network and received by a receiving device that is defined to recognize the MAC frame as the indicated frame transmission type. The receiving device is defined to process the payload portion of the MAC frame in accordance with the payload specification of the distributed asset management protocol corresponding to the indicated frame transmission type. Network discovery includes successively transmitting the MAC frame at a defined interval during a first period of time. Then, the MAC frame transmission is ceased for a second period of time. Then, transmission of the MAC frame resumes. |
| US08525635B2 |
Oxygen-barrier packaged surface mount device
A method for producing a surface mount device includes providing a plurality of layers including a B-staged top layer and bottom layer, and a C-staged middle layer with an opening. A core device is inserted into the openings, and then the top and bottom layers are placed over and under, respectively, the middle layer. The layers are cured until the layers become C-staged. The core device is substantially surrounded by an oxygen-barrier material with an oxygen permeability of less than approximately 0.4 cm3·mm/m2·atm·day. |
| US08525633B2 |
Fusible substrate
A fuse element includes a substrate disposed between first and second terminals. The substrate includes an electrically insulative material. A conductive film is disposed on a first surface of the substrate and in electrical contact with the first terminal and second terminals. |
| US08525624B2 |
Short-circuit release having an optimized magnetic circuit
A short-circuit release is disclosed, in particular for a power circuit-breaker. In at least one embodiment, the short circuit release includes an armature and pole that are located inside a coil former and further includes a yoke plate and terminal connection that are positioned around the coil former. Arranged opposite the yoke plate is a magnetic plate resting against the terminal connection. |
| US08525620B2 |
BAW resonator filter bandwidth and out-of-band frequency rejection
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, devices and methods for improving both the bandwidth of a BAW resonator bandpass filter and the suppression of out-of-band frequencies above the passband. In various embodiments of the invention, blocker inductors are located in series between the filter input and the filter output to realize both bandwidth enhancement and improved out-of-band frequency rejection. For example, a first blocker inductor may be located at the input and a second blocker inductor may be located at the output of a BAW resonator bandpass filter. |
| US08525618B2 |
Metamaterial having a negative dielectric constant and a negative magnetic permeability
A unit of a metamaterial includes an uppermost part electrode, a lowermost part electrode, a first internal electrode, a second internal electrode, a third internal electrode, a fourth internal electrode, and a transmission line. The transmission line connects a section of the uppermost part electrode which extends in the −z direction to a section of the lowermost part electrode which extends in the +z direction. The length of the transmission line is set to substantially ½ of a resonant wavelength. The first internal electrode and the fourth internal electrode are respectively placed so as to be opposed to the uppermost part electrode and the lowermost part electrode. The first internal electrode and the fourth internal electrode are not electrically connected directly to each other. |
| US08525611B2 |
Enhanced electromagnetic coupling between a transmission line pair with reduced electromagnetic coupling to ground
According to one exemplary embodiment, a circuit board for reducing dielectric loss, conductor loss, and insertion loss includes a pair of transmission lines. The pair of transmission lines has sufficient thickness to cause substantial broadside electromagnetic coupling between the pair of transmission lines, where the pair of transmission lines is sufficiently separated from a ground plane of the circuit board so as to cause negligible electromagnetic coupling to the ground plane relative to the substantial broadside electromagnetic coupling. The pair of transmission lines thereby reduce dielectric loss, conductor loss, and insertion loss for signals traversing through the transmission line pair. The pair of transmission lines can be separated from the ground plane by, for example, at least 50.0 mils. |
| US08525610B2 |
Composite electronic module and method of manufacturing composite electronic module
An electronic component is mounted on a substrate so as to be in contact with a non-reciprocal circuit element. Therefore, there is no risk of the electronic component, which is arranged so as to be in contact with the non-reciprocal circuit element, being displaced as a result of being shifted by the magnetic force of permanent magnets included in the non-reciprocal circuit element and displacement of the electronic component as a result of being shifted by the magnetic force of the permanent magnets can be prevented. Therefore, since there is no risk of the electronic component being displaced by being shifted by the magnetic force of the permanent magnets, a space in which to mount a member that would function as an electromagnetic shield, such as a yoke, need not be provided on the substrate and the composite electronic module can be reduced in size and profile. |
| US08525604B2 |
Oscillator arrangement
The present invention relates to an oscillator arrangement, arranged for providing an oscillator output and phase noise detection and/or control of said oscillator output, the arrangement comprising a mixer (1) connected to a low-pass filter (2). The oscillator arrangement comprises a first oscillator (7) and a second oscillator (8), where the oscillators (7, 8) are inter-injection locked to each other by means of at least one coupling element (Q) in such a way that the oscillator output is acquired in quadrature automatically. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method. |
| US08525603B2 |
Oscillating signal generating device and related method
An oscillating signal generating device includes an oscillating circuit and a control circuit. The oscillating circuit includes: a resonator having a first terminal and a second terminal for generating an oscillating signal, a resistive element having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the resonator, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the resonator, and an oscillating start-up circuit having an input terminal coupled to the first terminal of the resonator and an output terminal coupled to the second terminal of the resonator. The control circuit generates a control signal to change the oscillating start-up circuit into a disable mode from an enable mode when the oscillating circuit generates an oscillating output signal under an operation mode, and outputs the oscillating signal generated by the resonator as the oscillating output signal of the oscillating circuit. |
| US08525600B1 |
Temperature-compensated crystal oscillator assembly
A protective assembly that is adapted to provide temperature isolation for an electronic device is disclosed. The assembly includes a housing having a cavity with a top surface and at least one side surface. The housing is configured to accept an electronic device having a top and a bottom in the cavity with the top of the electronic device proximate to the top surface of the cavity. The housing is further configured to maintain a vacuum within the cavity. The assembly includes at least one support disposed within the cavity. The at least one support is configured to contact the housing only at a first point proximate to the top surface of the cavity and contact the electronic device only at a second point that is proximate to the bottom of the electronic device. |
| US08525591B2 |
Signal level conversion circuit, physical quantity detection device and electronic apparatus
A signal level conversion circuit 1 includes a first differential amplifier circuit 10 and a second differential amplifier circuit 20. The first differential amplifier circuit 10 multiplies a potential difference between a first input signal and a second input signal by G1 thereby providing an output signal. The second differential amplifier circuit 20 multiplies a potential difference between the output signal of the first differential amplifier circuit 10 and the second input signal by G2 thereby providing an output, where the two gains satisfy the relation of G1×G2<0 and 0<−(G1+1)×G2<2. |
| US08525588B1 |
Vacuum electronic device
Various apparatuses and methods for a vacuum electronic device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vacuum electronic device includes a vacuum housing, an array of slow wave structures inside the vacuum housing sharing a common electron beam tunnel, an electron beam input port at a first end of the common electron beam tunnel, and an electron beam output port at a second end of the common electron beam tunnel. |
| US08525586B2 |
Gain stage with DC offset compensation and method thereof
A gain stage with DC offset compensation includes a gain amplifier and a compensation device. The gain amplifier is arranged to amplify an input signal according to a gain control signal. The compensation device is arranged to perform a DC offset compensation applied to the gain amplifier with an operating configuration based on the gain control signal. |
| US08525579B2 |
Electronic trimming circuit with reduced number of dedicated trimming pins
An electronic trimming circuit carries out a trimming operation on portions of an integrated device. The circuit includes N trimmable interconnected resistances, each connected in parallel to a respective shunt fuse. N trimming transistors are each connected to a respective one of the shunt fuses to force therethrough substantially the whole current flowing in the respective trimming transistor. N bias networks are each functionally connected to a control terminal of a respective one of the trimming transistors to directly bias an active junction thereof. An externally driven heating device is thermally coupled with the active junctions of the trimming transistors adapted to raise the temperature thereof. |
| US08525578B2 |
Semiconductor device having plural optical fuses and manufacturing method thereof
Such a device is disclosed that includes a first ladder fuse for which blowing points are arranged at a first coordinate and a second ladder fuse for which blowing points are arranged at a second coordinate. When adjustment data for adjusting circuit characteristics is within a first range, a trimming operation is performed on both the first and second ladder fuses, and when the adjustment data for adjusting the circuit characteristics is within a second range, the trimming operation is performed on the second ladder fuse without performing the trimming operation on the first ladder fuse. This configuration eliminates a necessity of irradiation on the first ladder fuse with a laser when the adjustment data is within the second range. |
| US08525576B2 |
Solid state drive and controlling method thereof
A controlling method is provided for preventing a solid state drive from being operated at a high temperature. The solid state drive includes a controlling circuit, a temperature detecting circuit and a plurality of dies. The dies are divided into n groups and accessed by the controlling circuit through n IO buses. The controlling circuit is in communication with the temperature detecting circuit for detecting a temperature of the solid state drive. The controlling method includes the following steps. Firstly, a judging step is performed to judge whether the temperature of the solid state drive is higher than a predetermined temperature. If the temperature of the solid state drive is higher than the predetermined temperature, the frequencies of n clock signals in the n IO buses are decreased. |
| US08525569B2 |
Synchronizing global clocks in 3D stacks of integrated circuits by shorting the clock network
There is provided a clock distribution network for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata. On each of the two or more strata, the clock distribution network includes a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations, a multiple-level buffered clock tree for driving the clock grid and including at least a root and a plurality of clock buffers, and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree. Inputs of at least some of the plurality of clock buffers on each of the two or more strata are shorted together using chip-to-chip interconnects to reduce skewing of the global clock signals with respect to the various chip locations. |
| US08525557B1 |
Merged tristate multiplexer
Various methods and structures related to tristate multiplexer circuits are disclosed. An embodiment provides a selection circuit in which selectively enabled input circuits are coupled to an output circuit through an output enable circuit such that a selected one of the selectively enabled input circuits is operable to provide a pathway for charging and discharging currents used to charge and discharge an output circuit transistor gate. This and other detailed embodiments are described more fully in the disclosure. |
| US08525556B2 |
Time-interleaved sample-and-hold
A time-interleaved sample-and-hold system includes a first sample-and-hold circuit and a second sample-and-hold circuit. The first sample-and-hold circuit and the second sample-and-hold circuit share a common sampling switch. A method of remediating a timing offset between a first sample-and-hold circuit and a second sample-and-hold circuit in a time-interleaved sample-and-hold system includes switching at least one shunt capacitor disposed between two logic gates in a timing circuit to adjust a delay between a timing signal for a common sampling switch electrically coupled to the first and second sample-and-hold circuits and a timing signal for at least one of the sample-and-hold circuits. |
| US08525555B2 |
Power detector
In a power detector, a comparator for detection receives an input signal and a reference voltage, and compares the input signal to the reference voltage around the switching time of active and inactive states of the output of the comparator in accordance with an output of an input switching signal generator. Except for the switching time, an input voltage for non-use of the comparator is inputs to the comparator for detection, and the differential inputs are fixed to the same potential. Therefore, aging reduction in the accuracy of power detection caused by BT degradation is effectively mitigated. |
| US08525548B2 |
Trigger circuits and event counters for an IC
Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (‘IC’). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred. |
| US08525547B2 |
USB isolator with advanced control features
A USB-based isolator system conveys USB signals between a pair of galvanically isolated circuit systems and supports controlled enumeration by a downstream device on upstream USB signal lines. The isolator system provides a multi-mode voltage regulator to support multiple voltage supply configurations. The isolator system further provides control systems for each of the isolated circuit systems and provides robust control in a variety of start up conditions. Additionally, the isolator system includes refresh timers and watchdog mechanisms to support persistent operation but manage possible communication errors that can arise between the isolated circuit systems. |
| US08525546B1 |
Majority dominant power scheme for repeated structures and structures thereof
Methods and structures for configuring an integrated circuit including repeated cells that are divided into banks having a respective power assist and a respective operational assist are provided. A method includes configuring the banks without power assist and operational assist. The method further includes selecting the power assist for a bank based on a determination that a weak cell remains in the bank after configuring the bank with the respective operational assist. |
| US08525544B2 |
Quantum computing circuits
A system for performing digital operations, including a first device configured to transform a digital input into one or more signals, at least one AB ring, the at least one AB ring irreducibly-coupled and configured to include at least three terminals, a second device configured to read a portion of a signal expressed upon two or more of the at least three terminals, and a third device configured to transform the portion of the signal expressed upon two or more of the at least three terminals into a digital output, the third device operationally connected to the second device. |
| US08525541B2 |
Test method of liquid crystal display panel
A test method of a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The liquid crystal display panel includes a plurality of pixels and a testing pad. The pixels are disposed at intersections between a first, a second, and a third data lines and a plurality of scan lines. In the test method, each of the scan lines is driven to connect liquid crystal capacitors of the pixels to the first, the second, and the third data lines. A first and a second test voltages are respectively supplied to the first and the second data lines, wherein the first test voltage is not equal to the second test voltage. The first data line is floated. The floated first data line is measured through the testing pad to determine whether the liquid crystal capacitors of the pixels electrically connected to the first and the second data lines are electrically connected with each other. |
| US08525540B2 |
Switch control unit, test apparatus and method for liquid crystal cell
The present invention discloses a switch control unit, a test apparatus and method for a liquid crystal cell. The switch control unit controls a signal input to the liquid crystal display driver and controls the output of the signal from the liquid crystal display driver accordingly, and includes a control signal generator and a switch module. The test apparatus for the liquid crystal cell comprises: a switch control unit connected with a gate driver, for controlling ON and OFF of a signal input to the gate driver and controlling ON and OFF of a gate scan signal accordingly. The test method for the liquid crystal cell comprises: inputting a test signal; controlling ON and OFF of a gate scan signal by controlling ON and OFF of a signal input to a gate driver so as to determine the badness positions on a screen. |
| US08525539B2 |
Electrical connecting apparatus and testing system using the same
An embodiment of an electrical connecting apparatus includes a chip unit having a plurality of electronic components arranged on the upper side of a chip supporting body, a probe unit having a plurality of contacts arranged on the lower side of a probe supporting body, and a connecting unit arranged between the chip unit and the probe unit and having a connecting member supporting body and a plurality of connecting members electrically connecting the chip unit to the probe unit. The chip unit, the probe unit and the connecting unit are vacuum-coupled. |
| US08525537B2 |
Method and apparatus for probe contacting
There is provided a method and a device for accurately detecting the contact of a mechanical probe with a contact object. The contact detecting device comprises a mechanical probe movable for being in contact with a contacted object, a charged particle beam source which generates a charged particle beam applied to the contacted object, a detector for detecting secondary particles or reflected particles from the contacted object, a calculating device which calculates, from a detection signal from the detector, a feature quantity of a shadow of the mechanical probe projected on the contacted object, and a control device which controls the operation of the mechanical probe. The calculating device calculates, as the feature quantity of the shadow of the mechanical probe, a shadow depth S(x, y), and obtains an evaluation value J(z), showing a distance between the contacted object and the mechanical probe, based on the shadow depth S(x, y). |
| US08525535B2 |
Test body, test arrangement, method for manufacturing of a test body, and method for determining a moisture content of the insulation of a power transformer during drying thereof
A test body for use in determining moisture content in a laminated insulation of a power transformer by measuring a dielectric frequency response of the test body. The test body has a laminated structure of the same material as the laminated insulation, and has a shape and a size to obtain moisture content characteristics that resembles the moisture content characteristics of the laminated power transformer insulation. The test body further includes electrodes, which are embedded in the laminated structure. |
| US08525534B2 |
Salinity independent multiphase measurements
Method and device for measuring the content of a fluid flow, the fluid containing a combination of at least two of gas, oil and/or water. The method comprising the steps of:—repeatedly measuring the electrical properties of a cross section of the fluid and detecting time sequences identified by low gas content, especially characterized in that a gas bubble is not present,—in said periods of low gas content measuring the density of the fluid in the flow, wherein the density measurements are performed in at least one period of low gas content and the a fluid density is calculated based on the measured densities over said period or periods. |
| US08525533B2 |
Conductivity detector for fluids
A conductivity detector detects the electrical conductivity of a fluid under analysis for determining chemical or physical properties of the fluid that are related its electrical properties. Such conductivity detectors may find use in, for example, hemodialysis systems for analyzing the effectiveness of the hemodialysis treatment. In an aspect, to improve accuracy of the conductivity measurements, the detector utilizes four-wire resistance measurement methods. In another aspect, to avoid fouling or contamination of the electrodes, the detector utilizes capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) methods so that the electrodes are physically unconnected to the fluid contained in a fluid chamber. In a possible further aspect, the fluid chamber may be a disposable component removable from the electrodes. The conductivity detector can include other features such as calibration circuits and features for electrically isolating the fluid under detection from the fluid in the rest of the system. |
| US08525528B2 |
Method and device for evaluating electric performances of an FDSOI transistor
A method for evaluating the electric performances of an FDSOI transistor, including the steps of: measuring capacitance and/or conductance of the FDSOI transistor, by applying a voltage VBG>0 on a substrate composed of semiconductor of the FDSOI transistor when the FDSOI transistor is NMOS or a voltage VBG<0 on the substrate composed of semiconductor of the FDSOI transistor when the FDSOI transistor is PMOS, depending on a voltage VFG applied between a gate and source and drain regions of the FDSOI transistor. |
| US08525523B2 |
Partial discharge analysis coupling device that generates a pulse signal and a reference signal
A partial discharge analysis (PDA) coupling device is provided. In one embodiment, a device includes: a connector electrically connecting a first coupling capacitor and a second coupling capacitor; a first conductive rod for electrically connecting the first coupling capacitor to a high voltage input; a second conductive rod for electrically connecting the second coupling capacitor to ground; a current transformer substantially surrounding a portion of the second conductive rod, the current transformer configured to generate a pulse signal; and a reference signal generator adjacent to the current transformer configured to generate a reference signal in phase with the pulse signal. |
| US08525522B2 |
Fault location in electric power delivery systems
Accurately calculating location of a fault even on a branched, non-homogenous, radial electric power distribution system. The calculation includes determining a calculated reactance or impedance to the fault, and uses the line parameters to determine locations on the system that match the calculated reactance to the fault. The calculation may further include a determination of faulted phase and eliminate fault location possibilities based on absence of the faulted phase at those locations. The calculation may further use data reported from line monitors such as faulted circuit indicators (FCIs). |
| US08525509B2 |
Low cost simplified spectrum analyzer for magnetic head/media tester
An electronic component tester characterizes electronic components such as magnetic head/media components measure performance parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio and overwrite evaluation. The electronic component tester has a tester process controller and a spectrum analyzer. The tester process controller generates calibration and control signals for the electronic component tester. The spectrum analyzer is in communication with electronic components such as magnetic head or media components to receive a response characterization signal resulting from a stimulus signal applied to the electronic components. The spectrum analyzer then determines a frequency spectrum of the response characterization signal. The spectrum analyzer is also in communication with the tester process controller for transferring the frequency spectrum to the tester process controller. The spectrum analyzer receives the calibration and control signals from the tester process controller for removing effects of an image frequency of the frequency spectrum and determining noise bandwidth of the frequency spectrum. |
| US08525504B2 |
Switching power supply and related control method
A switching power supply includes a power switch, an adjusting circuit and a limit signal generator. The power switch operates according to a switch control signal. The adjusting circuit adjusts the turn-on time of the switch control signal according to a limit signal and a detecting signal which corresponds to the current passing the power switch. When the detecting signal exceeds or is equal to the limit signal, the limit signal generator samples a reference signal and updates the limit signal according to the sampled reference signal. |
| US08525501B2 |
Power factor correction device simultaneously applying two trigger schemes
A power factor correction device includes a rectifier for converting an AC input voltage into a DC input voltage, an output module for generating and outputting a DC output voltage, an intermediate inductor coupled between the rectifier and the output module, a power switch for controlling an inductor current of the intermediate inductor and generating a source voltage, a reset module for generating a reset instruction according to the DC input voltage, the DC output voltage and the source voltage, an SR flip-flop for outputting a latch result according to a set instruction and the reset instruction, and a set module for generating the set instruction in response to variation of the intermediate inductor or variation of the latch result. |
| US08525500B1 |
Control signal generation and power supply circuitry
According to one configuration, a controller repeatedly loads a time delay circuit with a predetermined (count) value. The predetermined count value specifies an approximate time delay between activating and/or deactivating high side switch circuitry of one or more phases in the power supply. Based on passing of time as indicated by the time delay circuit, the controller generates control signals to control high side switch circuitry (of a same or different phase) in the power supply. The high side switch circuitry in one or more phases can be successively activated or spaced in time by an approximate amount of time as specified by the predetermined (count) value. |
| US08525498B2 |
Average input current limit method and apparatus thereof
The embodiment of invention discloses an average input current limit method and apparatus thereof. The apparatus comprises a switching circuit, a current average circuit and a current limit circuit. The current average circuit samples the input current of the switching circuit and generates a signal representative of the average value of the input current. The current limit circuit limits the signal so as to limit the average value of the input current. |
| US08525497B2 |
Using offset cancellation circuit to mitigate beat-frequency oscillation of phase currents in a multiphase interleaved voltage regulator
For a multiphase interleaved voltage regulator, an offset cancellation circuit is applied for each phase separately. The current loop gain of each phase is thus increased to mitigate the beat-frequency oscillation in phase currents when the beat frequency is below the bandwidth of the low-pass filter in the offset cancellation circuit, without introducing additional instability issue that is the drawback of increasing current-sensing gain. |
| US08525483B2 |
Control of battery charging power
In a first embodiment multiple power sources are selected and then combined. Selecting power rather than controlling power may be a cheaper way of controlling the amount of power delivered. In a second embodiment the logic to control power is removed from the battery charger so that the logic may be changed when a different battery is being charged. This permits all types of batteries to be charged if the power source is compatible with the battery. Other embodiments expand the types of power sources that may be used. |
| US08525482B2 |
Overcurrent protection circuit for connecting a current detection terminal to overcurrent detection resistors having different resistances
An overcurrent protection circuit of a rechargeable battery includes a current detection terminal and an overcurrent return resistor connecting part. A voltage converted from a discharge current of the rechargeable battery is detected at the current detection terminal. The overcurrent return resistor connecting part connects the current detection terminal to overcurrent detection resistors having different resistances in accordance with a level of the voltage detected at the current detection terminal when the voltage detected at the current detection terminal is equal to or greater than a discharge overcurrent detection voltage and a discharge overcurrent state in which an overcurrent flows from the rechargeable battery is detected. |
| US08525478B2 |
Power management circuit of rechargeable battery stack
A system includes a sensing module and a switching module. The sensing module is configured to sense output voltages of first and second cells connected in series in a rechargeable battery stack. The switching module is configured to alternately connect a capacitance across the first cell and the second cell at a switching frequency when a difference in the output voltages is greater than or equal to a first threshold. The switching module is further configured to stop alternately connecting the capacitance when the difference is less than or equal to a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is greater than the second threshold. |
| US08525477B2 |
Assigning addresses to multiple cascade battery modules in electric or electric hybrid vehicles
According to one aspect there is disclosed an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first battery module. The first battery module may include a switch configured to open or close a first current path from a first terminal of a battery to a second terminal of the battery when a second battery module is coupled to the first battery module; a current sensor configured to sense a current in a second current path, the second current path different from the first current path; and a local controller configured to control a state of the switch to open or close the switch, wherein closing the switch is configured to close the first current path, the local controller is further configured to detect the sensed current in the second current path, and the local controller is further configured to receive and store an identifier based at least in part on the current detected in the second current path. |
| US08525469B1 |
System and method using capacitors to power a camera having a motion sensor
A method and apparatus relates to systems powered by energy stored in capacitors. The capacitors may be charged using any desired power source. In one example, a camera system uses a combination of solar panels and a capacitive network to power the camera system with minimal required maintenance. |
| US08525468B2 |
Motor drive system with bus voltage control
A method for controlling a motor drive system, the system comprising an AC-DC converter coupled to a DC-AC inverter by a DC bus, a motor coupled to and driven by the inverter, and a load coupled to and driven by the motor is provided. The method includes accessing a motion profile for the motor and load and determining power losses of the converter, the inverter, the motor and the load. The method also includes controlling the voltage of the DC bus based upon the motion profile and the power losses to enhance the motor drive system efficiency, reliability and motor shaft performance. |
| US08525464B2 |
Rotation detecting apparatus and rotation detecting system
A rotation detecting apparatus for detecting a rotational state of a direct-current motor includes a driving device, a control device, an energization detecting device, an alternating-current component detecting device, and a rotational state detecting device. An impedance between brushes of the motor changes periodically in accordance with rotation of the motor. The alternating-current component detecting device detects change of an alternating-current component of electric current that is supplied to the motor based on an electrical quantity. The change of the alternating-current component is caused by change of the impedance caused in accordance with the rotation. The rotational state detecting device detects at least one of a rotation angle, a rotational direction, and a rotational speed of the motor based on a detection result of the alternating-current component detecting device. |
| US08525459B2 |
Code disk, optical encoder, and motor system
An optical encoder includes a light source, a light sensor array, and a code disk having a data track and a commutation pattern. The commutation pattern includes first, second, and third commutation tracks, each including a series of apertures configured to allow light to continuously pass from the light source to a respective light sensor of the light sensor array as the series of apertures passes over the first light sensor. The relative positions of the first, second, and third commutation tracks correspond to a commutation sequence of a brushless motor. |
| US08525458B2 |
Brushless motor position detection device
A brushless motor position detection device has a set of first Hall elements (main Hall ICs 18 for detecting magnetic pole positions) and a set of second Hall elements (sub-Hall ICs 19 for detecting magnetic pole positions) mounted on a plane facing a magnetic pole position detecting magnet 16 for detecting the position of a rotor 12. They are subjected to offset adjustment and are mounted in such a manner that the difference between the maximum value of the magnetic flux density at the mounting positions of the first Hall elements and the maximum value of the magnetic flux density at the mounting positions of the second Hall elements is held within a prescribed limit (mounted in such a manner as to have the offset of a prescribed machine angle in the circumferential direction) to bring the detection accuracy of the plurality of sets of the Hall elements into agreement. |
| US08525452B2 |
Counter electro-motoric force based functional status detection of an electro-motor
The present invention relates to a circuit for detecting a functional status of an electro-motor. Typical electro-motors need additional components to identify the functional status of the motor. This means additional weight for such motors determining the functional status. According to the present invention, a circuit is provided using a part of a motor as a sensor for detecting the functional status of the electro-motor. |
| US08525451B2 |
Motor control device, electric power steering system, and vehicle steering system
In a motor control device that is used for, for example, an electric power steering system or another vehicle steering system equipped with a motor, a relay circuit (40) that serves as a power supply breaker is provided in a power feed line (Lp2) of a pre-driver (22) of a circuit that is a component of the motor control device. The operation of the relay circuit (40) is controlled by a relay signal (S_rly) output from a microcomputer (21). |
| US08525450B2 |
Power factor correction drive circuit topologies and control for switched reluctance machines
Drive circuits that provide power factor correction and input current waveform shaping for controlling the speed and torque in a switched reluctance machine (SRM). The machine's phase windings are split into two segments, one of which is used for active power factor correction, input ac current waveform shaping and partial torque generation and the other of which is used for torque generation. |
| US08525442B2 |
Operating circuit for LEDs
An operating circuit is provided for an LED, which receives a voltage, and which supplies a voltage for the LED via a coil, having a first switch clocked by a control/regulating unit. Power is stored temporarily in the coil when the first switch is activated so that the power is discharged via a diode and via the LED when the first switch is turned off. A capacitor is arranged in parallel to the LED and maintains current through the LED during the demagnetization of the coil. A first switch generates a first sensor signal dependent on the current flowing through the first switch, and/or a second sensor unit, which detects whether demagnetization of the coil unit has occurred and generates a sensor signal. The signals are fed to the control/regulating unit and processed. The control/regulating unit reactivates the first switch when the coil is demagnetized and/or the diode is blocking. |
| US08525441B2 |
Lamp powering technology
A device is designed for channeling electricity to a lamp, and adjusts downwards the amount of power channeled to the lamp as a function of available electrical energy in the source. In so doing, a reduction in the available energy in the source causes a less proportionate reduction in luminosity of the lamp. This might be accomplished by passing the electricity through a passive network of resistors and diodes on its way down to the lamp. In one example, the electrical energy source may be a battery that is powered by one or more solar panels. In that case, the device may also perform the function of protecting the battery from being overly charged. It channels downwards a greater daily lamp's energy consumption than that of daily electrical charging from the solar panels, when the available battery energy is near its full capacity. |
| US08525437B2 |
Device for controlling current of LED
Disclosed herein is a device for controlling current of an LED including a constant current generator, a current mirror, and a current amplifier, the device controlling current of an LED, comprising: a selector outputting an L signal or an H signal according to an input control signal; and a current changing unit formed by connecting at least one switching unit in parallel, the switching unit including a transistor and a switch connected to the transistor in series. The device for controlling current of an LED adjusts current supplied to the current amplifier using a SEL input without an effect of a noise, thereby making it possible to change the current of the LED without separately changing a resistor. |
| US08525434B2 |
Method and apparatus for power driving
Aspects of the disclosure provide a power circuit to provide electric energy with control and protection for driving a load, such as a light emitting diode (LED) array, and the like. The power circuit includes a converter, a voltage feedback module, a current feedback module and a controller. The converter is configured to receive electric energy from an energy source and to deliver the electric energy for driving the load. The voltage feedback module is configured to generate a first feedback signal based on a voltage of the delivered electric energy. The current feedback module is configured to generate a second feedback signal based on a current of the delivered electric energy. The controller is configured to receive the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal, and to control the converter to receive and deliver the electric energy based on the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal. |
| US08525431B2 |
Modulated power lighting mode for lighting apparatus of high-pressure discharge lamp and projector
A lighting apparatus for a high-pressure discharge lamp that has an electric discharge container made of quartz glass, and containing a pair of counter electrodes and a power supply unit that supplies AC current to the high-pressure discharge lamp. The power supply unit has a stationary power lighting mode and a modulated power lighting mode that supplies current having power less than power in the stationary power lighting mode. The modulated power lighting mode supplies a rectangular AC current having a first term and a second term. A mean high-frequency current value supplied to a first electrode is greater than a mean current value supplied to a second electrode in the first term. A current is supplied to the second electrode for a term longer than the half-cycle period in the second term, the current being lower than the mean high-frequency current value supplied to the first electrode. |
| US08525430B2 |
Helical structure and method for plasma lamp
A plasma lamp apparatus includes a post structure with a material overlying a surface region of the post structure, which has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also has a helical coil structure configured along the post structure. The apparatus includes a bulb with a fill material capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation. A resonator coupling element configured to feed radio frequency energy to at least the helical coil causes the bulb device to emit electromagnetic radiation. |
| US08525428B2 |
Power supply apparatus and method for a backlight system
A power supply system includes a transformer having a primary winding on its primary side for coupling to a power source and one or more secondary windings on its secondary side. A first control circuit is disposed on the primary side of the transformer for controlling a current flow in the primary winding. A second control circuit disposed on the secondary side of the transformer, and the second control circuit is configured to provide a regulated output voltage. In the power supply system, the first control circuit is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the current flow in the primary winding without using a feedback control signal from the secondary side of the transformer. |
| US08525424B2 |
Circuitry and method for driving LED display
This disclosure provides a circuit and a method for driving an LED display. The driving circuit comprises a selection circuit for selecting a first light emitter from the plurality of light emitters, a pre-charging circuit for charging an equivalent capacitor of the display panel with respect to the selected first light emitter, and a power circuit for supplying power to the first light emitter after the first light emitter is selected, wherein the power circuit is configured to supply a driving current to the first light emitter in one or more stages. The driving circuit and method of this disclosure can be used to significantly increase the refresh rate and resolution of the LED display. |
| US08525422B2 |
Backlight apparatus
A backlight apparatus includes light emitting diode (LED) modules. Each LED module includes a first connection pin set, a second connection pin set, a driving circuit, a first LED string, and a second LED string. Each of the connection pin sets has a first and second power connection pins and a first and second ground connection pins. The first and second power connection pins are coupled to each other, and the first and second ground connection pins are coupled to each other. The first ground connection pin of the first connection pin set is coupled to the first power connection pin of the second connection pin set. The driving circuit is used to provide a driving signal. Each of the LED strings is serially connected between the second power connection pin and the second ground connection pin of each of the connection pin sets and receives the driving signal. |
| US08525420B2 |
Luminaire having a HID light source and a LED light source
A luminaire includes a primary HID light source housing having at least one selectively powerable HID lamp and an LED arm assembly having a secondary LED light source. In some embodiments the LED arm assembly may extend between a support structure and the HID light source housing and in other embodiments the LED arm assembly may be a stand alone assembly and extend from a support structure remote from the HID light source housing. The HID lamp may be powered during user selected peak hours and the LED light source may be powered during user selected non-peak hours. |
| US08525417B2 |
Discharge electrode array for thin-film solar cell deposition
A discharge electrode array for a silicon-based thin film solar cell deposition chamber is provided, relating to solar cell technologies. The discharge electrode array includes a signal feed component having a rectangular-shaped end, a flat waist corresponding to a feed-in port located in a hallowed rectangular area on a center region of a cathode plate having a shielding cover, connecting a feed-in power supply signal by surface contact. The electrode array includes at least a set of cathode plates and an anode plate, with two cathode plates sharing or surrounding one anode plate. Uniform large area and stable discharge driven by the RF/VHF power supply signal can be achieved, and the standing wave and the skin effect can be effectively removed. The production efficiency can be improved and the cost can be reduced. |
| US08525416B2 |
Process and device for controlling a plurality of LED assemblies of an automotive vehicle
A process and a device for controlling a plurality of LED assemblies of an automotive vehicle, each LED assembly (Gi) executing a specific lighting/signalling function. The electrical power level (Pi) delivered by the electrical source is modulated according to distinct power levels (Pi) with relation to the function associated with each LED assembly (Gi) and temporary multiplexing is executed in order to successively transmit the distinct power levels (Pi) to the assemblies (Gi) over a multiplexing period (Tmux). Demultiplexing is effected and each distinct electrical power level (Pi) is selectively delivered to the LED assembly (Gi) concerned. |
| US08525415B2 |
Vehicular LED lamp monitoring/controlling system
A vehicular LED lamp monitoring/controlling system includes a vehicular LED lamp having first and second LEDs. A selection/control unit is connected to and controls separate activation of the first and second LEDs and is connected to a malfunction detecting unit that detects operation of the first and second LEDs. The second LED is activated when the first LED operates abnormally. A power control unit can send a control signal to the selection/control unit to control luminance of each of the first and second LEDs. A vehicle speed monitoring unit connected to the power control unit reads a speed of a vehicle on which the vehicular LED lamp is mounted. When the vehicle is moving, the first or second LED provides normal luminance. When the vehicle is not moving, the first or second LED provides reduced luminance. |
| US08525407B2 |
Light source and device having the same
Deterioration of the whole electroluminescence layer which is caused by moisture penetration through the electroluminescence layer because of a pinhole in an electrode is prevented. A plurality of island-shaped electroluminescence layers are provided. That is, an electroluminescence layer is divided into plural layers. In addition, the plurality of island-shaped electroluminescence layers are interposed between a pair of common electrodes. Accordingly, even when moisture penetrates into one of the island-shaped electroluminescence layers, moisture does not penetrate into another of the island-shaped electroluminescence layers. |
| US08525403B2 |
Organic LED element, glass frit for diffusion layer for use in organic LED element, and method for production of diffusion layer for use in organic LED element
The present invention relates to an organic LED element sequentially including: a transparent substrate; a scattering layer; a first electrode; an organic layer; and a second electrode, in which the scattering layer includes a first glass material and a second glass material dispersed in the first glass material and having a different refractive index from the first glass material. |
| US08525391B2 |
Piezoelectric power apparatus
A piezoelectric power apparatus comprises a first case, at least one piezoelectric module and a rotating member, wherein the first case has a bottom surface and at least one hollow chamber recessed into the bottom surface, and the piezoelectric module is disposed into the hollow chamber. The piezoelectric module comprises at least one frame body, a moving member and a plurality of piezoelectric portions. The moving member is penetrated into the frame body. Each of the piezoelectric portions comprises a first end and a second end, each of the first ends is fixed at the frame body, each of the second ends is fixed at the moving member, and the moving member is moved back and forth in the frame body. The moving member is pivotally disposed at the rotating member. |
| US08525389B2 |
MEMS device with protection rings
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device and a method for fabricating the same are described. The MEMS device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on a substrate, and includes at least two metal layers, a first protection ring and a dielectric layer. The first protection ring connects two adjacent metal layers, so as to define an enclosed space between two adjacent metal layers. The dielectric layer is disposed in the enclosed space and connects two adjacent metal layers. The second electrode is disposed on the first electrode, wherein a cavity is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08525388B2 |
Vibration wave driving apparatus and manufacturing method of vibration body
A vibration wave driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a vibrator having at least a vibration body formed with a projecting portion having spring characteristics and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration wave driving apparatus using motion of the projecting portion to drive a driven body in contact with the projecting portion, wherein the vibration body includes a base portion and the projecting portion, the projecting portion includes two wall portions formed in parallel to a direction orthogonal to a drive direction of the driven body extending in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the base portion and two wall portions formed in parallel to the drive direction of the driven body extending in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the base portion and a contact portion including a contact surface with the driven body formed by connecting the wall portions. |
| US08525387B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator, motor, robot hand, and robot
A motor includes a vibrating plate having a projection part to be pressed against a driven member and a piezoelectric material provided on the vibrating plate, wherein a Young's modulus EL in the pressing direction of the vibrating plate and a Young's modulus ES in a direction crossing the pressing direction are different. |
| US08525386B2 |
Dynamically adjustable orthotic device
An orthotic device comprises a flexible support structure comprising at least one surface for contacting a body part of a user, a plurality of pressure sensors configured for coupling to a microcontroller, and a plurality of displacement regions. Each region defines a portion of said flexible support structure, wherein each portion includes at least one sensor disposed on or below the at least one surface and at least one electrically deformable unit. Each unit comprises at least one electroactive material and is configured for coupling to the microcontroller and to a power source. The device is dynamically adjustable to change its shape and support properties, when an electrical voltage is applied to the electroactive material under the control of a microcontroller. |
| US08525382B2 |
Electric motor having primary and auxiliary poles and brush gear
A motor has a stator having a stator core and field windings. The brush gear includes a plurality of brushes, a rotor including a shaft, a rotor core fixed to the shaft, a commutator fixed to the shaft adjacent the rotor core and rotor windings wound about teeth of the rotor core and connected to the commutator. The stator core has a yoke, 2P primary poles about which the field windings are wound, and 2P auxiliary poles. A control device controls the electrical connection of the field windings and the brushes so that 2P or 4P magnetic poles are selectively formed on the stator core when the field windings are electrified. P is an integer equal to or greater than 1. |
| US08525379B2 |
Motor
A motor including a motor case, a rotary shaft, and a connector module. The rotary shaft is accommodated and rotated in the motor case. The connector module includes a connector unit, which is electrically connected to an external device and supplies power, and a flat control circuit substrate, which controls rotation of the rotary shaft. The motor case includes an insertion opening into which the connector module is inserted along an insertion direction. The connector module includes a connector housing, which accommodates at least part of the control circuit substrate, and a flat relay, which electrically connects the control circuit substrate and the connector unit and is arranged at a right angle relative to the control circuit substrate. |
| US08525378B2 |
Axial gap electrical machine
An axial gap electrical machine employs unique architecture to (1) overcome critical limits in the air gap at high speeds, while maintaining high torque performance at low speeds, while synergistically providing a geometry that withstands meets critical force concentration within these machines, (2) provides arrangements for cooling said machines using either a Pelletier effect or air fins, (3) “windings” that are produced as ribbon or stampings or laminates, that may be in some cases be arranged to optimize conductor and magnetic core density within the machine. Arrangements are also proposed for mounting the machines as wheels of a vehicle, to provide ease of removing and installing said motor. |
| US08525377B2 |
Actuator with load cell
The actuator is of the roto-linear type and comprises a sleeve, a clevis and an operating rod which transmits the load. An electromagnetic sensor that measures and controls the load is placed inside the actuator, at the shoulder of the clevis. This sensor is associated with measurement means for processing the signals from the said winding, which winding are torus-shaped and arranged inside a field frame which is magnetically closed by an armature. |
| US08525374B2 |
Electric motor, and electric device having the motor
Provided is an electric motor that has a stator including a stator iron core having a stator winding, a rotor including a rotary member and a shaft, a bearing for supporting the shaft, and a bracket for fixing the bearing. Further included is an impedance adjusting member for adjusting at least one impedance of the impedance between the stator winding and the inner ring of the bearing, and the impedance between the stator winding and the outer ring of the bearing. The impedance adjusting member is a matching member for matching the individual impedances. The matching member is a capacitor interposed between the stator iron core and the bracket. |
| US08525372B2 |
Feather-touch dimming switch
A dimming switch comprises an enclosure with a mounting surface, a flat plate button mounted on the mounting surface, a dimming button, a tripping button, a dimmer mounted inside the enclosure, a resetting/tripping device, a dimming control circuit, a power input end configured to connect to a live wire of a power supply, and a power output end configured to connect to an electrical load. Pressing the flat plate button resets the resetting/tripping device, thereby electrically connecting the power input end with the power output end through the dimming control circuit. The dimming button is configured so that rotating the dimming button and pressing the dimming button up and down regulates the output voltage of the dimming control circuit. The tripping button and resetting/tripping device trip so that the electrical connection between the power input end and the power output end will be cut off. |
| US08525370B2 |
Wireless power circuit board and assembly
A circuit board assembly includes a multiple layer substrate, a wireless power transmitter control module, a wireless power coil assembly, and a plurality of ICs. The wireless power transmitter control module is supported by a layer of the multiple layer substrate and the wireless power coil assembly is fabricated on an inner layer of the multiple layer substrate. The ICs are mounted on an outer layer of the multiple layer substrate, wherein an IC of the plurality of IC is aligned to substantially overlap a coil of the wireless power coil assembly and is wirelessly powered by the wireless power transmitter control module via the coil. |
| US08525363B2 |
Horizontal-axis hydrokinetic water turbine system
A hydrokinetic water turbine system includes a frame structure, first and second shafts rotatably supported by the frame structure, and first and second rotors secured to the first and second shafts respectively and each having a plurality of spaced-apart blades so that the flowing stream of water revolves the first and second rotors about a central axis of the first and second shafts respectively. The first and second shafts are horizontally-disposed and coaxial and the first and second rotors are adapted to rotate in opposite directions. The blades are hollow and filled with a foam material to reduce weight and increase buoyancy. The frame structure is a substantially rectangular and open frame structure and includes frame members adapted to reduce a coefficient of drag of the frame structure. The frame members can be hollow and filled with a foam material to reduce weight and increase buoyancy. |
| US08525361B1 |
Pneumatic energy harvesting devices, methods and systems
An energy harvesting device may include a pneumatic system inlet configured to receive a pressurized gas; a pneumatic-to-electrical (PN/E) transducer that converts a flow of the pressurized gas into generated electrical energy; and an electrical device coupled to receive the electrical energy of the PN/E transducer. |
| US08525358B2 |
Power module and electronic device using the same
A power module is configured to provide power to an electronic device. The module includes a rechargeable battery, an electrical generator, and a driving member. The electrical generator includes a rotor. The driving member is used to drive the rotor to rotate, and includes a mainspring, a receiver to receive the mainspring, and a shaft including one end connected to the mainspring and an opposite end connected to the rotor, enabling the rotor to rotate in union with the shaft. A cable includes one end attached to the shaft with a portion of the cable wound around the shaft. When an opposite end of the cable is pulled, the shaft rotates in a first direction, compressing the mainspring, when the mainspring rebounds, the shaft rotates back in a second direction, and the unwound part of the cable is wound back onto the shaft. |
| US08525353B2 |
Microspring structures adapted for target device cooling
In a system for providing temporary or permanent connection of an integrated circuit die to a base substrate using electrical microsprings, a thermal element is provided that assists with cooling of the pad structure during use. The thermal element may be formed of the same material and my similar processes as the microsprings. The thermal element may be one or more block structures or one or more thermal microsprings. The thermal element may be provided with channels to contain and/or direct the flow of a thermal transfer fluid. Cooling of components associated with the pad structure (e.g., ICs) may be provided. |
| US08525350B2 |
Fusible I/O interconnection systems and methods for flip-chip packaging involving substrate-mounted stud bumps
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with bond pads formed on a surface of the semiconductor die. A UBM is formed over the bond pads of the semiconductor die. A fusible layer is formed over the UBM. The fusible layer can be tin or tin alloy. A substrate has bond pads formed on a surface of the substrate. A plurality of stud bumps containing non-fusible material is formed over the bond pads on the substrate. Each stud bump includes a wire having a first end attached to the bond pad of the substrate and second end of uniform height electrically connected to the bond pad of the semiconductor die by reflowing the fusible layer or applying thermal compression bonding. An underfill material is deposited between the semiconductor die and substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and substrate. |
| US08525348B2 |
Chip scale package and fabrication method thereof
A fabrication method of a chip scale package includes providing electronic components, each having an active surface with electrode pads and an opposite inactive surface, and a hard board with a soft layer disposed thereon; adhering the electronic components to the soft layer via the inactive surfaces thereof; pressing the electronic components such that the soft layer encapsulates the electronic components while exposing the active surfaces thereof; forming a dielectric layer on the active surfaces of the electronic components and the soft layer; and forming a first wiring layer on the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the electrode pads, thereby solving the conventional problems caused by directly attaching a chip on an adhesive film, such as film-softening, encapsulant overflow, warpage, chip deviation and contamination that lead to poor electrical connection between the electrode pads and the wiring layer formed in a subsequent RDL process and even waste product. |
| US08525344B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming bond wires between semiconductor die contact pads and conductive TOV in peripheral area around semiconductor die
A semiconductor wafer has a plurality of semiconductor die with contact pads. An organic material is deposited in a peripheral region around the semiconductor die. A portion of the organic material is removed to form a plurality of vias. A conductive material is deposited in the vias to form conductive TOV. The conductive TOV can be recessed with respect to a surface of the semiconductor die. Bond wires are formed between the contact pads and conductive TOV. The bond wires can be bridged in multiple sections across the semiconductor die between the conductive TOV and contact pads. An insulating layer is formed over the bond wires and semiconductor die. The semiconductor wafer is singulated through the conductive TOV or organic material between the conductive TOV to separate the semiconductor die. A plurality of semiconductor die can be stacked and electrically connected through the bond wires and conductive TOV. |
| US08525339B2 |
Hybrid copper interconnect structure and method of fabricating same
A hybrid interconnect structure containing copper regions that have different impurities levels within a same opening is provided. In one embodiment, the interconnect structure includes a patterned dielectric material having at least one opening located therein. A dual material liner is located at least on sidewalls of the patterned dielectric material within the at least one opening. The structure further includes a first copper region having a first impurity level located within a bottom region of the at least one opening and a second copper region having a second impurity level located within a top region of the at least one opening and atop the first copper region. In accordance with the present disclosure, the first impurity level of the first copper region is different from the second impurity level of the second copper region. |
| US08525331B2 |
Chip design having integrated fuse and method for the production thereof
A chip design (1) comprising an external supply connection (VBAT), an internal supply connection (VDD), an integrated circuit (2) that is coupled to the internal supply connection (VDD) for voltage supply, and a fuse (3) that electrically connects the internal supply connection (VBAT) and is arranged within the chip design (1). |
| US08525330B2 |
Connecting member for connecting a semiconductor element and a frame, formed of an Al-based layer and first and second Zn-based layers provided on surfaces of the Al-based layer
Provided is a connecting part for a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element, a frame, and a connecting part which connects the semiconductor element and the frame to each other, in which an interface between the connecting part and the semiconductor element and an interface between the connecting part and the frame respectively have the area of Al oxide film which is more than 0% and less than 5% of entire area of the respective interfaces. The connecting part has an Al-based layer and first and second Zn-based layers on main surfaces of the Al-based layer, a thickness ratio of the Al-based layer relative to the Zn-based layers being less than 0.59. |
| US08525325B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with leads and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a lead; forming an interior conductive layer having an interior top side and an interior bottom side, the interior bottom side directly on the lead; mounting an integrated circuit over the lead, the integrated circuit having an inactive side and an active side; forming an encapsulation directly on the inactive side and the interior top side; and forming an insulation layer directly on the active side and a portion of the interior bottom side. |
| US08525323B2 |
Encapsulating package, printed circuit board, electronic device and method for manufacturing encapsulating package
The present invention is: a package main body section having a hollow section; and an electronic device provided in the hollow section in the package main body section, in the package main body section, there being formed a through hole, through which the hollow section communicates with outside of the package main body section, and in the through hole, there being provided a sealing section in which a vicinity of the through hole is partly heated and a constituent material of the package main body section is melted to thereby block the through hole. |
| US08525322B1 |
Semiconductor package having a plurality of input/output members
A semiconductor package has a first substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive patterns formed thereon. A first semiconductor die is coupled to the plurality of conductive patterns. A second semiconductor die is coupled to the first semiconductor die by a die attach material. A third semiconductor die is coupled to the second semiconductor die by a die attach material. A second substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive patterns formed thereon is coupled to the third semiconductor die. A plurality of contacts is coupled to a bottom surface of the first substrate. A connector jack is coupled to the second substrate. A plurality of leads is coupled to the second semiconductor die by conductive wires. |
| US08525319B2 |
Selecting chips within a stacked semiconductor package using through-electrodes
A stacked semiconductor package includes first and second semiconductor chips including semiconductor chip bodies which have circuit units, first through-electrodes which pass through the semiconductor chip bodies at first positions, and second through-electrodes which pass through the semiconductor chip bodies at second positions and provide a chip enable signal to the circuit units. A spacer including a spacer body may be interposed between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, with an inverter chip embedded in the spacer body. Wiring patterns formed on the spacer body may connect the first through-electrodes of the first semiconductor chip with the second through-electrodes of the second semiconductor chip, the first through-electrodes of the first semiconductor chip with input terminals of the inverter chip, and output terminals of the inverter chip with the second through-electrodes of the first semiconductor chip. |
| US08525317B1 |
Integrated chip package having intermediate substrate with capacitor
An integrated chip package includes at least one semiconductor chip. The at least one semiconductor chip includes a first surface and a second surface. The integrated chip package includes an intermediate substrate. The intermediate substrate is electrically coupled via conductive bumps to the first surface of the at least one semiconductor chip. The intermediate substrate includes at least one capacitor electrically coupled to the at least one semiconductor chip. The at least one capacitor includes a trench capacitor. The integrated chip package includes a package substrate. The package substrate includes a first surface electrically coupled to the intermediate substrate via a plurality of bonding wires. |
| US08525315B2 |
Semiconductor power module and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor power module according to the present invention includes a base member, a semiconductor power device having a surface and a rear surface with the rear surface bonded to the base member, a metal block, having a surface and a rear surface with the rear surface bonded to the surface of the semiconductor power device, uprighted from the surface of the semiconductor power device in a direction separating from the base member and employed as a wiring member for the semiconductor power device, and an external terminal bonded to the surface of the metal block for supplying power to the semiconductor power device through the metal block. |
| US08525314B2 |
Stacked packaging improvements
A plurality of microelectronic assemblies (60) are made by severing an in-process unit including an upper substrate (40) and lower substrate (20) with microelectronic elements (36) disposed between the substrates. In a further embodiment, a lead frame (452) is joined to a substrate (440) so that the leads project from this substrate. Lead frame (452) is joined to a further substrate (470) with one or more microelectronic elements (436, 404, 406) disposed between the substrates. |
| US08525311B2 |
Lead frame for semiconductor device
A lead frame for a semiconductor device has a die pad with a first major surface for receiving an semiconductor die and a connection bar that encircles the die pad. First lead fingers that project from the connection bar towards the die pad have proximal ends close to the die pad and distal ends connected to the connection bar. The proximal ends of the first lead fingers lie in a first plane. Second lead fingers that project from the connection bar towards the die pad have proximal ends close to the die pad and distal ends connected to the connection bar. The proximal ends of the second lead fingers lie in a second plane that is parallel and spaced from the first plane. An isolation frame is disposed between the proximal ends of the first and second lead fingers. The isolation frame separates but supports the proximal ends of the first and second lead fingers. |
| US08525306B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
To suppress a short circuit between neighboring wires which is caused when the loop of a wire is formed into multiple stages in a semiconductor device in which a wiring board and one semiconductor chip mounted over a main surface thereof are electrically coupled with the wire. In a semiconductor device in which a chip is mounted on an upper surface of a wiring board and a bonding lead of the wiring board and a bonding pad of the chip are electrically coupled with wires, a short circuit between the neighboring wires is suppressed by making larger the diameter of the longest wire arranged in a position closest to a corner part of the chip than the diameter of the other wires. |
| US08525304B2 |
Semiconductor device
An insulating layer containing a silicon peroxide radical is used as an insulating layer in contact with an oxide semiconductor layer for forming a channel. Oxygen is released from the insulating layer, whereby oxygen deficiency in the oxide semiconductor layer and an interface state between the insulating layer and the oxide semiconductor layer can be reduced. Accordingly, a semiconductor device where reliability is high and variation in electric characteristics is small can be manufactured. |
| US08525300B2 |
Tunable ESD protection device
The present disclosure provides an ESD protection device. The device contains a bipolar junction transistor device that includes a collector, a base, and an emitter. The collector includes a first doped element and a more heavily doped second doped element disposed over the first doped element. The first and second doped elements each have a first doping polarity. The base is located adjacent to the collector and includes a third doped element having a second doping polarity different from the first doping polarity. A p-n junction is formed between the third doped element and one of the first and second doped elements. The emitter is formed over the base. The emitter includes a fourth doped element having the first doping polarity and forming a p-n junction with the third doped element. The fourth doped element is more heavily doped than the third doped element. |
| US08525298B2 |
Phase change memory device having 3 dimensional stack structure and fabrication method thereof
A phase change memory device having a 3-D stack structure and a fabrication method for making the same are presented. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a word line structure and one or more phase change structures. The word line structure extends in one first direction on the semiconductor substrate. The one or more phase change structures extend mutually in parallel from one sidewall of the word line structure. The, the memory cell including a switching device, one side of the switching device contacted with the one sidewall of the word line structure, a heating electrode formed on the other side portion of the switching device, and a phase change pattern, one sidewall of the phase change pattern contacted with the heating electrode. |
| US08525291B2 |
Semiconductor device
The cell size is reduced and device reliability is improved for a semiconductor device including plural transistors making up a multi-channel output circuit. In a multi-channel circuit configuration, a group of transistors having a common function of plural channels are surrounded by a common trench for insulated isolation from another group of transistors having another function. The collectors of mutually adjacent transistors on the high side are commonly connected to a VH power supply, whereas the emitters of mutually adjacent transistors on the low side are commonly connected to a GND power supply. |
| US08525289B2 |
Adjusting threshold voltage for sophisticated transistors by diffusing a gate dielectric cap layer material prior to gate dielectric stabilization
Sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed by providing a cap layer including a desired species that may diffuse into the gate dielectric material prior to performing a treatment for stabilizing the sensitive gate dielectric material. In this manner, complex high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of reduced temperatures and doses for a threshold adjusting species compared to conventional strategies. Moreover, a single metal-containing electrode material may be deposited for both types of transistors. |
| US08525285B2 |
Semiconductor device with groove structure to prevent molding resin overflow over a light receiving region of a photodiode during manufacture
A semiconductor device having a substrate including a photodiode; a resin layer formed on an upper surface of the substrate, the resin layer not covering a light receiving region of the photodiode, the resin layer including at least one groove surrounding the light receiving region; and a molding resin portion formed by mold-sealing the photodiode with the resin layer thereon so as not to cover the light receiving region. |
| US08525284B2 |
System for reducing sensor area in a back side illuminated CMOS active pixel sensor
The present invention relates to a backside illuminated (BSI) imager having a plurality of layers. A plurality of pixel sensors are positioned on a first layer of a substrate. Pixel select conductors are positioned on the substrate in front of the first layer. Pixel readout conductors including a plurality of output lines, pixel power conductors, and a ground conductor are positioned on the substrate in front of the pixel select conductors. A plurality of sample and hold capacitors coupled to the pixel output lines are positioned vertically and/or horizontally on the substrate in front of the ground conductor. |
| US08525283B2 |
Wafer lens array and method for manufacturing the same
A wafer lens array comprising a plurality of lens sections arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, a substrate section connecting the lens sections, and gap sections, wherein the lens surfaces in the lens section each have one or more curved surfaces; the gap section is a part projecting from outside than the inner edge of the lens section; and the inner surfaces of the gap sections are spread from a side near the lens section to the other side. |
| US08525281B2 |
Z-axis semiconductor fluxgate magnetometer
A z-axis fluxgate magnetometer is formed in a semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence, which significantly reduces the size and cost of the fluxgate magnetometer. The semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence forms a vertical magnetic core structure, a first wire structure wound around the magnetic core structure, and a second wire structure wound around the magnetic core structure. |
| US08525280B2 |
Array of magnetic tunneling junction film structures with process determined in-plane magnetic anisotropy
An MRAM array of MTJ memory cells is provided wherein each such cell is a layered MTJ structure located at an intersection of a word and bit line and has a small circular horizontal cross-section of 1.0 microns or less in diameter and wherein the ferromagnetic free layer of each such cell has a magnetic anisotropy produced by a magnetic coupling with a thin antiferromagnetic layer that is formed on the free layer. The array of MTJ memory cells so provided is far less sensitive to shape irregularities and edge defects of individual cells than arrays of the prior art. |
| US08525279B2 |
Single element three terminal piezoresistive pressure sensor
Embodiments of the invention provide for three-terminal pressure sensors (“3-TPS”), a method of measuring a pressure with a 3-TPS, and a method of manufacturing a 3-TPS. In some embodiments, the 3-TPS includes a semiconducting layer with cavity and a 3-TPS element having at least one piezoresistive layer overlapping at least a portion of the cavity and oriented at an angle selected to provide a desired sensitivity for the 3-TPS. The method of measuring a pressure with a 3-TPS is performed with a 3-TPS that includes an input terminal, first and second output terminals, and a 3-TPS element, the 3-TPS element overlapping at least a portion of a cavity at a predetermined angle. The method comprises providing an input signal to the input terminal of the 3-TPS, determining a difference between two output signals from the respective output terminals of the 3-TPS, and correlating the determined difference to a pressure. |
| US08525278B2 |
MEMS device having chip scale packaging
A method and device having chip scale MEMS packaging is described. A first substrate includes a MEMS device and a second substrate includes an integrated circuit. The frontside of the first substrate is bonded to the backside of the second substrate. Thus, the second substrate provides a cavity to encase, protect or operate the MEMS device within. The bond may provide an electrical connection between the first and second substrate. In an embodiment, a through silicon via is used to carry the signals from the first substrate to an I/O connection on the frontside of the second substrate. |
| US08525275B2 |
Methods of forming non-volatile memory devices
A non-volatile memory device includes a dielectric layer between a charge storage layer and a substrate. Free bonds of the dielectric layer can be reduced to reduce/prevent charges from leaking through the free bonds and/or from being trapped by the free bonds. As a result, data retention properties and/or durability of a non-volatile memory device may be enhanced. |
| US08525274B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor, a first surface passivation film including nitride, a second passivation film, a gate electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode. The semiconductor layer is provided on the substrate. The first surface passivation film including nitride is provided on the semiconductor layer and has at least two openings. The second surface passivation film covers an upper surface and a side surface of the first surface passivation film. The gate electrode is provided on a part of the second surface passivation film. The source electrode and the drain electrode are respectively provided on the two openings. In addition, the second surface passivation film includes a material of which melting point is higher than the melting points of the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. |
| US08525272B2 |
High-frequency switching transistor and high-frequency circuit
A switching transistor includes a substrate having a substrate dopant concentration and a barrier region bordering on the substrate, having a first conductivity type and having a barrier region dopant concentration that is higher than the substrate dopant concentration. A source region is embedded in the barrier region, and has a second conductivity type and has a dopant concentration that is higher than the barrier region dopant concentration. A drain region is embedded in the barrier region and is offset from the source region. The draining region has the second conductivity type and a dopant concentration that is higher than the barrier region dopant concentration. A channel region extends between the source region and the drain region, wherein the channel region comprises a subregion of the barrier region. An insulation region covers the channel region and is disposed between the channel region and a gate electrode. The barrier region dopant concentration and the substrate dopant concentration are chosen for generating a space-charge region around the source region and the drain region and for depleting the barrier region. |
| US08525271B2 |
Semiconductor structure with improved channel stack and method for fabrication thereof
A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure with a channel stack includes forming a screening layer under a gate of a PMOS transistor element and a NMOS transistor element, forming a threshold voltage control layer on the screening layer, and forming an epitaxial channel layer on the threshold control layer. At least a portion of the epitaxial channel layers for the PMOS transistor element and the NMOS transistor element are formed as a common blanket layer. The screening layer for the PMOS transistor element may include antimony as a dopant material that may be inserted into the structure prior to or after formation of the epitaxial channel layer. |
| US08525270B2 |
Structures and methods to stop contact metal from extruding into replacement gates
The methods and structures described are used to prevent protrusion of contact metal (such as W) horizontally into gate stacks of neighboring devices to affect the work functions of these neighboring devices. The metal gate under contact plugs that are adjacent to devices and share the (or are connected to) metal gate is defined and lined with a work function layer that has good step coverage to prevent contact metal from extruding into gate stacks of neighboring devices. Only modification to the mask layout for the photomask(s) used for removing dummy polysilicon is involved. No additional lithographical operation or mask is needed. Therefore, no modification to the manufacturing processes or additional substrate processing steps (or operations) is involved or required. The benefits of using the methods and structures described above may include increased device yield and performance. |
| US08525269B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a plurality of divided elements which are formed over a substrate, each of which containing a film having a predetermined pattern with the long-axis direction and the short-axis direction definable therein, and are arranged in a distributed manner in the same layer in the in-plane direction of the substrate, wherein the plurality of divided elements are arranged so that every adjacent divided element in a first direction has the long-axis direction thereof aligned differently from those of the neighbors, or, so that every adjacent divided element in the first direction is shifted in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction, by an amount smaller than the length of the divided element in the second direction. |
| US08525267B2 |
Device and method for forming Fins in integrated circuitry
A semiconductor FinFET device includes a plurality of gate lines formed in a first direction, and two types of fin structures. A first type of fin structures is formed in a second direction, and a second type of fin structures formed perpendicular to the first type of fin structures. A contact hole couples to one or more of the second type of fin structures. |
| US08525264B1 |
Photonic modulator with a semiconductor contact
A semiconductor structure includes a photonic modulator and a field effect transistor on a same substrate. The photonic modulator includes a modulator semiconductor structure and a semiconductor contact structure employing a same semiconductor material as a gate electrode of a field effect transistor. The modulator semiconductor structure includes a lateral p-n junction, and the semiconductor contact structure includes another lateral p-n junction. To form this semiconductor structure, the modulator semiconductor structure in the shape of a waveguide and an active region of a field effect transistor region can be patterned in a semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the modulator semiconductor structure and the active region, and is subsequently removed from the modulator semiconductor structure. A semiconductor material layer is deposited, patterned, and doped with patterns to form a gate electrode for the field effect transistor and the semiconductor contact structure for the waveguide. |
| US08525237B1 |
Electrically conductive polymer nanowires with incorporated viruses
Grafting M13 bacteriophage into an array of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanowires generated hybrids of conducting polymers and replicable genetic packages (rgps) such as viruses. The incorporation of rgps into the polymeric backbone of PEDOT occurs during electropolymerization via lithographically patterned nanowire electrodeposition (LPNE). The resultant arrays of rgps-PEDOT nanowires enable real-time, reagent-free electrochemical biosensing of analytes in physiologically relevant buffers. |
| US08525235B2 |
Multiplying pattern density by single sidewall imaging transfer
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a mandrel over a layer to be patterned. Dopants are implanted into exposed sidewalls of the mandrel to form at least two doped layers having at least one undoped region adjacent to the doped layers. The doped layers are selectively etched away to form pillars from the undoped regions. The layer to be patterned is etched using the pillars as an etch mask to form features for an integrated circuit device. A semiconductor device is also disclosed. |
| US08525234B2 |
Formation of FinFET gate spacer
Gate spacers are formed in FinFETS having a bottom portion of a first material extending to the height of the fins, and a top portion of a second material extending above the fins. An embodiment includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, the fin structure having a height and having a top surface and side surfaces, forming a gate substantially perpendicular to the fin structure over a portion of the top and side surfaces, for example over a center portion, forming a planarizing layer over the gate, the fin structure, and the substrate, removing the planarizing layer from the substrate, gate, and fin structure down to the height of the fin structure, and forming spacers on the fin structure and on the planarizing layer, adjacent the gate. |
| US08525231B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a base substrate; a semiconductor layer having a receiving groove, a protrusion part, a first carrier injection layer, at least two insulating patterns, and a second carrier injection layer provided on the base substrate, the insulating patterns being disposed to traverse the first carrier injection layer and the second carrier injection layer being spaced apart from the first carrier injection layer and disposed on a lower portion of the protrusion part; a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed to be spaced apart from each other on the semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode insulated from the source electrode and the drain electrode and having a recess part recessed into the receiving groove, wherein a lowest portion of the receiving groove contacts an uppermost layer of the first carrier injection layer or is disposed above the uppermost layer thereof, and an insulating pattern, disposed at an innermost portion of the semiconductor layer among the insulating patterns, traverses the first carrier injection layer and is disposed at the outside of both sides of the receiving groove in a thickness direction thereof. |
| US08525230B2 |
Field-effect transistor with compositionally graded nitride layer on a silicaon substrate
A field effect transistor including a compositionally graded group-III nitride layer on a silicon substrate. |
| US08525228B2 |
Semiconductor on insulator (XOI) for high performance field effect transistors
Semiconductor-on-insulator (XOI) structures and methods of fabricating XOI structures are provided. Single-crystalline semiconductor is grown on a source substrate, patterned, and transferred onto a target substrate, such as a Si/SiO2 substrate, thereby assembling an XOI substrate. The transfer process can be conducted through a stamping method or a bonding method. Multiple transfers can be carried out to form heterogenous compound semiconductor devices. The single-crystalline semiconductor can be II-IV or III-V compound semiconductor, such as InAs. A thermal oxide layer can be grown on the patterned single crystalline semiconductor, providing improved electrical characteristics and interface properties. In addition, strain tuning is accomplished via a capping layer formed on the single-crystalline semiconductor before transferring the single-crystalline semiconductor to the target substrate. |
| US08525224B2 |
III-nitride power semiconductor device
A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a first III-nitride power semiconductor device and a second III-nitride power semiconductor device formed in a common semiconductor die and operatively integrated to form a half-bridge. |
| US08525217B2 |
Method and device for resin coating
A device for resin coating is used for producing an LED package including an LED element covered with resin containing phosphor. In a state in which a trial coating material 43 is located by a clamp unit 63, a trial coating of resin applied to the trial coating material 43 is irradiated with excitation light and light emitted from the phosphor contained in the resin is measured by an emission characteristic measuring unit 39. A deviation of the measurement result of the emission characteristic measuring unit from a prescribed emission characteristic is determined, and then a proper amount of resin to be applied to the LED element is derived for actual production based on the deviation. |
| US08525215B2 |
Light emitting device, method of manufacturing the same, light emitting device package, and lighting system
Provided are a light emitting device, a method of manufacturing the same, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes: a light emitting structure layer including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer; an oxide protrusion disposed on at least a portion of the second conducive semiconductor layer; and a current spreading layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer and the oxide protrusion. |
| US08525214B2 |
Semiconductor chip assembly with post/base heat spreader with thermal via
A semiconductor chip assembly includes a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, a conductive trace, an adhesive and a support layer. The heat spreader includes a post, a base, an underlayer and a thermal via. The conductive trace includes a pad and a terminal. The semiconductor device is electrically connected to the conductive trace and thermally connected to the heat spreader. The post extends upwardly from the base into an opening in the adhesive, the base extends laterally from the post, the support layer is sandwiched between the base and the underlayer and the thermal via extends from the base through the support layer to the underlayer. The conductive trace provides signal routing between the pad and the terminal. |
| US08525212B2 |
Light emitting diode having electrode extensions
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses a light emitting diode including a lower contact layer having a first edge, a second edge opposite to the first edge, a third edge connecting the first edge to the second edge, and a fourth edge opposite to the third edge, a mesa structure arranged on the lower contact layer, the mesa structure including an active layer and an upper contact layer, a first electrode pad arranged on the lower contact layer, a second electrode pad arranged on the mesa structure, a first lower extension and a second lower extension extending from the first electrode pad towards the second edge, distal ends of the first lower extension and the second lower extension being farther away from each other than front ends thereof contacting the first electrode pad, and a first upper extension, a second upper extension, and a third upper extension extending from the second electrode pad. In addition, the first upper extension and the second upper extension extend from the second electrode pad to enclose the first lower extension and the second lower extension, and the third upper extension extends to a region between the first lower extension and the second lower extension. |
| US08525207B2 |
LED package using phosphor containing elements and light source containing same
A light-emitting diode package is described comprising a body including a hollow having a rim that extends outwardly from an open end of the hollow. A light emitting diode is positioned in the hollow and opposite the open end. A nongaseous transparent optical medium fills the hollow and a phosphor-containing element (PCE) is disposed over the hollow sealing the open end. The PCE has a solid body and a lateral portion including a periphery and dividing a top and a bottom. The bottom of the PCE is convex and in contact with the nongaseous transparent optical medium and the periphery of the PCE is in contact with the rim. |
| US08525204B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element and illuminating apparatus using the same
A semiconductor light emitting element, including: an n-type semiconductor layer having optical transparency with an emission wavelength of a light emitting layer, the light emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer, which are laminated; and a reflection film which is disposed on a side opposite to a surface from which light emitted from the light emitting layer is extracted, wherein the reflection film comprises: a transparent layer having optical transparency with the emission wavelength of the light emitting layer, and a metal layer, which is laminated on the transparent layer on a side opposite to the light emitting layer and is constituted by a metal material having a high reflectance, the transparent layer has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of a layer disposed on a side of the light emitting layer when viewed from the transparent layer, with the emission wavelength, and a thickness of the transparent layer is equal to or more than a value obtained by dividing a value of ¾ of the emission wavelength by the refractive index of the transparent layer. |
| US08525203B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting portion, a first layer, a second layer, and an intermediate layer. The semiconductor layers include nitride semiconductor. The light emitting portion is provided between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer and includes a quantum well layer. The first layer is provided between the light emitting portion and the p-type semiconductor layer and includes AlX1Ga1-x1N having first Al composition ratio x1. The second layer is provided between the first layer and the p-type semiconductor layer and includes Alx2Ga1-x2N having second Al composition ratio x2 higher than the first Al composition ratio x1. The intermediate layer is provided between the first layer and the light emitting portion and has a thickness not smaller than 3 nanometers and not larger than 8 nanometers and includes Inz1Ga1-z1N (0≦z1<1). |
| US08525200B2 |
Light-emitting diode with non-metallic reflector
A light-emitting diode (LED) device is provided. The LED device has a substrate, a reflective structure over the substrate, and an LED structure over the reflective structure. The reflective structure is formed of non-metallic materials. In one embodiment, the reflective structure is formed of alternating layers of different non-metallic materials having different refractive indices. In another embodiment, the reflective structure is formed of alternating layers of high-porosity silicon and low-porosity silicon. In yet another embodiment, the reflective structure is formed of silicon dioxide, which may allow the use of fewer layers. The reflective structure may be formed directly on the same substrate as the LED structure or formed on a separate substrate and then bonded to the LED structure. |
| US08525199B2 |
Solid-state image capturing device, method for manufacturing the same and electronic information device
In a solid-state image capturing device having the locations of photodiodes in each pixel unit to be different according to a sequence, the light receiving sensitivity and the luminance shading characteristic are improved. A circumferential portion of a microlens 12 which is arranged above a corresponding photodiode 11 is formed so as to overlap an adjacent microlens 12 thereto, and the locations of microlenses 12 in each pixel unit are different according to a sequence. Light of an image that is incident upon each of the microlenses 12 is incident upon approximately the same portion (e.g., central portion) of each of the respective photodiodes 11. |
| US08525194B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device, nitride semiconductor wafer and method for manufacturing nitride semiconductor layer
According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor device includes a foundation layer and a functional layer. The foundation layer is formed on an Al-containing nitride semiconductor layer formed on a silicon substrate. The foundation layer has a thickness not less than 1 micrometer and including GaN. The functional layer is provided on the foundation layer. The functional layer includes a first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer has an impurity concentration higher than an impurity concentration in the foundation layer and includes GaN of a first conductivity type. |
| US08525192B2 |
Die package including substrate with molded device
A package is disclosed. The package includes a premolded substrate having a leadframe structure, a first device attached to the leadframe structure, and a molding material covering at least part of the leadframe structure and the first device. It also includes a second device attached to the premolded substrate. |
| US08525181B2 |
Thin-film transistor array substrate, organic light-emitting display device comprising the thin-film transistor array substrate, and method of manufacturing the thin-film transistor array substrate
A thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate includes an active layer on a substrate and a lower electrode of a capacitor on the same level as the active layer, a first insulation layer on the active layer and the lower electrode and having a first gap exposing an area of the lower electrode; a gate electrode of the TFT on the first insulation layer, and an upper electrode of the capacitor on the lower electrode and the first insulation layer, the upper electrode having a second gap that exposes the first gap and a portion of the first insulation layer; a second insulation layer disposed between the gate electrode and source electrode and drain electrodes, and not disposed on the upper electrode, in the first gap of the first insulation layer, or in the second gap of the lower electrode. |
| US08525179B2 |
Thin film transistor and fabricating method thereof
A thin film transistor including a substrate, a semiconductor layer, a patterned doped semiconductor layer, a source and a drain, a gate insulation layer, and a gate is provided. The semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The patterned doped semiconductor layer is disposed on opposite sides of the semiconductor layer. The source and the drain are disposed on the patterned doped semiconductor layer and the opposite sides of the semiconductor layer, wherein a part of the semiconductor layer covered by the source and the drain has a first thickness, a part of the semiconductor layer disposed between the source and the drain and not covered by the source and the drain has a second thickness ranging from 200 Å to 800 Å. The gate insulation layer is disposed on the source, the drain and the semiconductor layer. The gate is disposed on the gate insulation layer. |
| US08525176B2 |
Thin film transistor, display device using the same, and thin film transistor manufacturing method
A TFT includes a supporting substrate, a gate electrode formed on the supporting substrate, a gate insulation film formed on the substrate so as to cover the gate electrode, a first semiconductor layer formed across from the gate electrode with respect to the gate insulation film, a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, and having a first thickness and a second thickness which is greater than the first thickness, an ohmic contact layer formed on the second semiconductor layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer, spacing apart with each other. |
| US08525175B2 |
Electronic device having an isolating element and display apparatus including the electronic device
An electronic device includes: multiple electronic elements each including a semiconductor film; and an element isolation region provided between adjacent ones of the multiple electronic elements, the element isolation region including a semiconductor film having a bandgap of 1.95 eV or more, an insulating film, and an element isolation electrode, the element isolation electrode being an electrode which is separated from the semiconductor film of the element isolation region by the insulating film and is applied with a voltage so as to increase a resistance of the semiconductor film of the element isolation region, to thereby electrically isolate the multiple electronic elements from one another. |
| US08525171B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and fabrication method of the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device capable of preventing deterioration due to penetration of moisture or oxygen, for example, a light-emitting apparatus having an organic light-emitting device that is formed over a plastic substrate, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using a plastic substrate. According to the present invention, devices formed on a glass substrate or a quartz substrate (a TFT, a light-emitting device having an organic compound, a liquid crystal device, a memory device, a thin-film diode, a pin-junction silicon photoelectric converter, a silicon resistance element, or the like) are separated from the substrate, and transferred to a plastic substrate having high thermal conductivity. |
| US08525169B1 |
Reliable physical unclonable function for device authentication
The present disclosure relates to a secure device having a physical unclonable function. The device includes an integrated circuit having a semiconducting material in at least one via in a backend of the integrated circuit. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing a secure device having a physical unclonable function. The method includes providing an integrated circuit and adding a semiconducting material to at least one via in a backend of the integrated circuit. In some instances a property of the semiconducting material in the at least one via is measured to derive a signature. |
| US08525168B2 |
Integrated circuit (IC) test probe
A test probe head for probing integrated circuit (IC) chips and method of making test heads. The test head includes an array of vias (e.g., annular vias or grouped rectangular vias) through, and exiting one surface of, a semiconductor layer, e.g., a silicon layer. The vias, individual test probe tips, may be on a pitch at or less than fifty microns (50 μm). The probe tips may be stiffened with SiO2 (and optionally silicon) extending along the sidewalls. A redistribution layer connects individual test probe tips externally. The probe tips may be capped with a hardening cap that also caps stiffening SiO2 and silicon along the tip sidewall. |
| US08525166B2 |
Zinc-tin oxide thin-film transistors
Methods of forming transparent zinc-tin oxide structures are described. Devices that include transparent zinc-tin oxide structures as at least one of a channel layer in a transistor or a transparent film disposed over an electrical device that is at a substrate. |
| US08525164B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a conductive layer formed in the junction region and a boundary layer arranged to wrap a side and a bottom of the conductive layer. |
| US08525159B2 |
Organic light emitting element
An organic light emitting element includes a pair of electrodes at least one of which has visible light transmittance; and an organic EL layer provided between the pair of electrodes. The organic EL layer includes at least an organic light emitting layer that emits light when a voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes. The organic light emitting layer includes an electron transport host material; and at least first and second guest materials. Each of the first and second guest materials has an emission peak in a blue to blue-green color region. The electron transport host material has an ionization potential (IPH) and an electron affinity (AFH), and the first guest material has an ionization potential (IPG1) and an electron affinity (AFG1) that satisfy Expression (1): IPH≦IPG1 and AFH |
| US08525157B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method for manufacturing the same
An OLED display and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The OLED display includes: a first substrate, an organic light emitting diode formed over the first substrate, the organic light emitting diode including a reflective surface configured to reflect light incident to the organic light emitting diode, a phase delay capping layer formed over the organic light emitting diode, configured to input linearly polarized light and output circularly polarized light, a second substrate disposed over the phase delay capping layer, and a polarizing plate formed over the second substrate, configured to pass through only linearly polarized light. |
| US08525153B2 |
Structure including voltage controlled negative resistance
Aspects of the invention provide a semiconductor tunneling device including voltage controlled negative resistance. In one embodiment, the semiconductor tunneling device includes: at least one pair of spaced apart terminals; an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer between the at least one pair of spaced apart terminals; and a dielectric capping layer extending continuously over the at least one pair of spaced apart terminals and the ILD layer. |
| US08525149B2 |
Photon source for producing entangled photons
A photon source comprising: a quantum dot; electrical contacts configured to apply an electric field across said quantum dot: and an electrical source coupled to said contacts, said electrical source being configured to apply a potential such that carriers are supplied to said quantum dot to form a bi-exciton or higher order exciton, wherein said photon source further comprises a barrier configured to increase the time which a carrier takes to tunnel to and from said quantum dot to be greater than the radiative lifetime of an exciton in the quantum dot, the quantum dot being suitable for emission of entangled photons during decay of a bi-exciton or higher order exciton. |
| US08525146B2 |
Electrical circuit component
An electrical circuit component includes a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes and a negative differential resistance (NDR) material. The first electrode and the plurality of second electrodes are connected to the NDR material and the NDR material is to electrically connect the first electrode to one of the plurality of second electrodes when a sufficient voltage is applied between the first electrode and the one of the plurality of second electrodes through the NDR material. |
| US08525145B2 |
Self-aligned, planar phase change memory elements and devices, systems employing the same and methods of forming the same
Phase change memory elements, devices and systems using the same and methods of forming the same are disclosed. A memory element includes first and second electrodes, and a phase change material layer between the first and second electrodes. The phase change material layer has a first portion with a width less than a width of a second portion of the phase change material layer. The first electrode, second electrode and phase change material layer may be oriented at least partially along a same horizontal plane. |
| US08525144B2 |
Programmable via devices
A device comprises a heater, a dielectric layer, a phase-change element, and a capping layer. The dielectric layer is disposed at least partially on the heater and defines an opening having a lower portion and an upper portion. The phase-change element occupies the lower portion of the opening and is in thermal contact with the heater. The capping layer overlies the phase-change element and occupies the upper portion of the opening. At least a fraction of the phase-change element is operative to change between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of an electrical signal to the heater. |
| US08525139B2 |
Method and apparatus of halogen removal
A wafer is provided into an entrance load lock chamber. A vacuum is created in the entrance load lock chamber. The wafer is transported to a processing tool. The wafer is processed in a process chamber to provide a processed wafer, wherein the processing forms halogen residue. A degas step is provided in the process chamber after processing the wafer. The processed wafer is transferred into a degas chamber. The processed wafer is treated in the degas chamber with UV light and a flow of gas comprising at least one of ozone, oxygen, or H2O. The flow of gas is stopped. The UV light is stopped. The processed wafer is removed from the degas chamber. |
| US08525137B2 |
Method for creating S/TEM sample and sample structure
An improved method and apparatus for S/TEM sample preparation and analysis. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods for TEM sample creation, especially for small geometry (<100 nm thick) TEM lamellae. A novel sample structure and a novel use of a milling pattern allow the creation of S/TEM samples as thin as 50 nm without significant bowing or warping. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide methods to partially or fully automate TEM sample creation, to make the process of creating and analyzing TEM samples less labor intensive, and to increase throughput and reproducibility of TEM analysis. |
| US08525136B2 |
Work piece with concealed surface defects
Methods for concealing random or uncontrolled surface defects from a work piece surface are provided, by applying a plurality of induced controlled defects over the random defects to alter the surface texture. |
| US08525134B2 |
Lithography system
A maskless lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target. At least one beam generator for generating a plurality of beamlets. A plurality of modulators modulate the magnitude of a beamlet, and a control unit controls of the modulators. The control unit generates and delivers pattern data to the modulators for controlling the magnitude of each individual beamlet. The control unit includes at least one data storage for storing the pattern data, at least one readout unit for reading out the data from the data storage, at least one data converter for converting the data that is read out from the data storage into at least one modulated light beam, and at least one optical transmitter for transmitting the at least one modulated light beam to the modulation modulators. |
| US08525132B2 |
Flat panel detector
Provided is a flat panel detector which prevents aging deterioration of characteristics of a phosphor layer, protects the phosphor layer from chemical alteration or physical impact, and maintains a stable contact state between a scintillator panel and a flat light receiving element. Disclosed is a flat panel detector comprising a scintillator panel comprising a scintillator provided with a phosphor layer on a substrate and a protective layer covering the phosphor surface of the scintillator, and the scintillator panel being placed on the surface of a flat light receiving element comprising plural picture elements which are two-dimensionally arranged, wherein a releasable adhesive layer is provided on the protective layer surface. |
| US08525125B1 |
Liquid metal ion source and secondary ion mass spectrometric method and use thereof
A liquid metal ion source for use in an ion mass spectrometric analysis method contains, on the one hand, a first metal with an atomic weight ≧190 U and, on the other hand, another metal with an atomic weight ≦90 U. One of the two types of ions are filtered out alternately from the primary ion beam and directed onto the target as a mass-pure primary ion beam. |
| US08525122B2 |
Data acquisition
An imaging detector includes processing electronics (208) with a thermal coefficient about equal to a negative of a summation of thermal coefficients of a photosensor array (204) and a scintillator array (202) of the detector. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter (302) that alternately converts first charge corresponding to impinging radiation into a first signal and second charge corresponding to decaying charge into a second signal and a logic unit (308) that corrects the first signal based on the second signal. In another instance, the imaging detector includes an A/D converter (302), an integrator offset voltage signal determiner (318), and a logic unit (308), wherein the determiner (318) induces an electrical current via an offset voltage, the A/D converter (302) measures the current, and the logic unit (308) calculates a resistance of the photosensor array (204) based on the reference voltage and the measured current. |
| US08525117B2 |
Optical delay combining for multiplexing in radiation imaging systems
Multiplexing for radiation imaging is provided by using optical delay combiners to provide distinct optical encoding for each detector channel. Each detector head provides an optical output which is encoded. The encoded optical signals can be optically combined to provide a single optical output for all of the detectors in the system. This single optical output can be coupled to a fast photodetector (e.g., a streak camera). The pulse readout from the photodetector can decode the arrival time of the event, the energy of the event, and which channels registered the detection event. Preferably, the detector heads provide coherent optical outputs, and the optical delay combiners are preferably implemented using photonic crystal technology to provide photonic integrated circuits including many delay combiners. |
| US08525110B2 |
Wind ion neutral composition apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to an apparatus that provides four simultaneous ion and neutral measurements as a function of altitude with variable sensitivity for neutral atmospheric species. The variable sensitivity makes it possible to extend the measurements over the altitude range of 100 to more than 700 kilometers. The four instruments included in the apparatus are a neutral wind-temperature spectrometer, an ion-drift ion-temperature spectrometer, a neutral mass spectrometer, and an ion mass spectrometer. The neutral wind-temperature spectrometer and ion-drift ion-temperature spectrometer are configured to separate O and N2 and O+ from H+ while the neutral mass spectrometer and the ion mass spectrometer are configured to separate mass with a resolution of one in sixty-four to enable metallic ion identification in the lower thermosphere. The energy analyzer features of the wind-temperature spectrometer and ion-drift ion-temperature spectrometer also enable the measurement of the thermosphere-to-exosphere transition in the Earth's upper atmosphere. |
| US08525109B2 |
Sampling system for use with surface ionization spectroscopy
In various embodiments of the invention, a device permits more efficient collection and transmission of ions produced by the action of a carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species into a mass spectrometer. In one embodiment of the invention, the device incorporates the source for ionization in combination with a jet separator to efficiently remove excess carrier gas while permitting ions to be more efficiently transferred into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In an embodiment of the invention, improved collection of ions produced by the carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species at greater distances from between the position of the analyte and the position of the mass spectrometer are enabled. |
| US08525107B2 |
Magnetic sector mass spectrometry based multi-parametric particle analyzer
An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample and an ionization system for receiving the particles. The ionization system is operable to atomize the particles received from the sample introduction system and ionize atoms from the atomized particles. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a magnetic sector mass analyzer comprising an array detector. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted to detect a transient signal of at least one element from individual particles from said stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The magnetic sector mass analyzer is adapted determine an amount of said at least one element from an individual particle using the transient signal detected during mass analysis of the ions from said individual particle. |
| US08525106B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting ions in a mass spectrometer maintained in a sub-atmospheric pressure regime
A method and apparatus for transmitting ions in a mass spectrometer from an ion source to a mass analyzer extracts analyte ions from the ion source in such a manner that the number of extracted analyte ions is maximized. The ions are then transmitted through an ion guide to the mass analyzer. The ion guide is filled with an interaction gas and its operating parameters are adjusted so that, as the ions pass through the ion guide, the analyte ion energy distribution width is narrowed and the analyte ions are collimated within the ion guide to improve the resolution and sensitivity of the mass analyzer. |
| US08525098B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device, method for manufacturing solid-state image pickup device, and camera
A solid-state image pickup device including a plurality of pixels on a light-receiving surface, photodiodes disposed on the light-receiving surface of a semiconductor substrate while being partitioned on the pixel basis, signal transferring portions which are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which read signal charges generated and stored in the photodiodes or voltages corresponding to the signal charges, insulating films disposed on the semiconductor substrate while covering the photodiodes, concave portions disposed in the insulating films, pad electrodes disposed on the insulating films, a passivation film which covers inner walls of the concave portions, which is disposed on the pad electrodes, and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide, and a core layer which is disposed on the passivation film while being filled in the concave portions and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide. |
| US08525094B2 |
Photoelectric conversion circuit
There are provided a photodiode 11, an inverting amplifier 12 which includes an operational amplifier 12a and a first resistor 12b, a second resistor 21 which has a smaller resistance value than the first resistor 12b and which is inserted between the positive side of a power supply and the photodiode 11, a differential amplifier 22 which outputs a voltage across both ends of the second resistor 21, and a diode 23 which is connected between a ground and a connection point between the photodiode 11 and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 12a and which changes to a non-conductive state when the inverting amplifier 12 is not saturated and changes to a conductive state when the inverting amplifier 12 is saturated so that the output current of the photodiode 11 is bypassed. |
| US08525091B2 |
Wavefront imaging devices comprising a film with one or more structured two dimensional apertures and their applications in microscopy and photography
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wavefront sensor comprising a film and a photodetector. The film has one or more structured two dimensional apertures configured to convert a phase gradient of a wavefront into a measurable form. The photodetector is configured to receive the wavefront through the one or more 2D apertures and measure the phase gradient of the wavefront. |
| US08525090B1 |
Pneumatically actuated control surface for airframe body
A projectile may include a body having an external surface, a stagnation port on the external surface, and a cavity. A spoiler may be translatable in the cavity between a retracted position, wherein the spoiler is substantially completely disposed in the cavity, and an extended position, wherein the spoiler projects from the external surface of the body. A pair of ports may be formed in the walls of the cavity. The pair of ports may be selectively fluidly communicable with the stagnation port. The spoiler may be translatable by pressurizing one of the pair of ports with compressed air and venting the other of the pair of ports. In the extended position, the spoiler may disturb an airstream around the projectile to induce a guidance maneuver for the projectile. |
| US08525086B2 |
Microwave heating appliance
A microwave heating appliance, capable of achieving a locally concentrated heating in answer to the purpose while achieving a uniform heating in the overall heating chamber in a normal mode, is provided. The microwave heating appliance includes a microwave generating unit, a waveguide for transmitting a microwave from the microwave generating unit, a heating chamber for housing a heated subject heated by the microwave, a rotating antenna for radiating the microwave to the heating chamber, a driving unit for rotating and driving the rotating antenna, a temperature distribution detecting unit for detecting a temperature distribution in the heating chamber, and a controlling unit for controlling a direction of the rotating antenna based on a detected result of the temperature distribution detecting unit so that a sharp part of radiation directivity of the rotating antenna in a direction decided based on the detected result. |
| US08525078B2 |
Welding gun
A welding gun precludes moisture from penetrating inside of a motor housing due by preventing development of negative pressure inside the motor housing. The welding gun includes a feed screw mechanism that is coupled to a servo motor and has a hollow rod that reciprocally moves in a predetermined direction by way of torque applied by the servo motor, and a moveable electrode tip that is connected to a leading end portion of the hollow rod and opens and closes relative to a fixed electrode tip according to the reciprocal movement of the hollow rod. The servo motor has a motor housing in which a motor housing hollow part accommodating a portion of the hollow rod to be reciprocally moveable is formed. A vent that ventilates the motor housing hollow part with ambient air is formed in the motor housing. |
| US08525077B2 |
Touch screen waveform design apparatus for welders
Welding systems and programming tools are described, in which a touch screen-based welding system configuration tool is provided having a touch screen display for designing welding power source waveforms or for configuring a system sequence controller, where the touch screen may be integrated into a welding system component. The touch screen displays information related to a switching type welding power source and/or a welding system sequence controller, as well as one or more touch activation indicia to allow a user to numerically or graphically configure the power source or the sequence controller by touching the touch activation indicia. |
| US08525076B2 |
Method and device for machining a workpiece
The invention relates to a method for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam, wherein a laser beam is guided by a beam guiding device over the surface of the workpiece within a working window. The beam guiding device and the workpiece are arranged in such a way that they are movable relative to one another in a direction of displacement along a displacement section and that they can occupy a first and a second relative working position to one another. According to the invention, a point on the workpiece can be machined from the second relative working position, said point being located behind the point which is machined from the first relative working position when viewed in the direction of displacement. |
| US08525074B2 |
Machining method and machining system for micromachining a part in a machine component
When forming a micromachined part by water jet guided laser machining at a machine component 20, a point for forming a micromachined part is machined while moving a laser head 7 side and machine component 20 side so as to obtain a desired shape of a micromachined part. |
| US08525073B2 |
Depth and breakthrough detection for laser machining
A system comprises a working laser beam, a sensing laser beam, first and second optical elements, an optical sensor, an aperture and a controller. The first optical element generates a coaxial beam from the working laser beam and the sensing laser beam. The second optical element focuses the coaxial beam onto a workpiece, such that the working laser beam machines the workpiece and the sensing laser beam reflects from the workpiece. The optical sensor senses an intensity of the reflected sensing beam. The aperture determines a focus position by translating along the reflected sensing beam, such that the reflected intensity is maximized. The controller determining a machining parameter of the working laser beam, based on the focus position. |
| US08525071B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object layer by layer
An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object (3) by applying and solidifying a powdery constituent material (3a) layer by layer at positions corresponding to the respective cross sectional area of the object (3) in the respective layer by exposure to a laser (7) or another energy source comprises a heating or cooling element (22) supplying heat to or removing heat away from the constituent material (3a) applied layer by layer. For smoothing the temperature distribution, an intermediate layer (23) having a highly anisotropic heat conductivity is provided. |
| US08525069B1 |
Method and apparatus for improved cutting life of a plasma arc torch
An improved electrode for use in a plasma arc torch. The electrode includes an electrode body, a cavity in a front face at a first end of the electrode body, and an insert disposed in the cavity. The first end of the electrode body is formed of high purity copper containing at least 99.81% copper. The insert has a first end and a second end and is formed of a high emissivity material. A diameter of the first end of the insert is less than a diameter of a second end of the insert. An electrode is compressed to retain the insert using radial compression. The invention also includes a method for forming the electrode, and a method of operation of an electrode in a plasma torch. |
| US08525067B2 |
Process of jet cutting arcuate openings
A process for the jet cutting of arcuate openings in a metal workpiece such as steel, by means of creating a jet along a predetermined axis, applying the jet to the workpiece, with the axis of the jet offset from the perpendicular, and rotating the jet around to describe the arc desired while maintaining the non perpendicular axis and terminating the cutting path just prior to completion of the opening. |