最新美国发明专利第2013-09-17期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08537952B1	Fractional-N frequency synthesizer with separate phase and frequency detectors A fractional-N PLL uses separate charge pumps under the control of separate frequency and phase detectors. Phase jitter from an N divider is linearized by the use of a circuit that generates pulses from the output of the N divider. After frequency lock, the frequency detector turns off the frequency charge pump. After phase lock, activity in the phase detector down charge pump is minimized, reducing the overall noise produced by respective phase and frequency detector charge pumps.
US08537951B2	Detection of jitter in a communication network A network entity and computer program for detecting occurrence of transmission resynchronizations in a network carrying packets subject to variable delays, and adaptively varying the play out time of data packets. The method may include that the packets are received at a network entity and forwarded by delaying them by a jitter protection time, and determining for a predetermined time period a set of arrival time jitter values. A peak to peak value may be determined indicating the largest difference among the values included in the determined set of arrival time jitter values and detecting an out of range condition. The peak to peak value may be compared with the jitter protection time when the out of range condition is detected and detecting that a resynchronization occurred on the basis of the comparing.
US08537950B2	Architecture to remove a bimodal dynamic DC offset in direct conversion receiver Apparatus for controlling the generation of a DC signal at the output of a mixer, so that the DC signal is predictable, enabling a static offset compensation voltage to offset the DC signal. The apparatus comprises a mixer configured to receive a first and a second input signal, the mixer being such as to generate a first DC signal at the output of the mixer when the first and second input signals have the same frequency and a first relative phase, a phase detector for determining the relative phase of the first and second signals, and a phase modifier configured to modify the phase of the second signal relative to the first signal in dependence on the determination of the relative phase between the first and second signals such that the resulting DC signal at the output of the mixer is the first DC signal.
US08537949B1	Systems, circuits and methods for filtering signals to compensate for channel effects Transmitter waveform dispersion penalty (“TWDP”) is decreased in a transmitter. A binary data signal is received for transmission over a channel that exhibits TWDP. The data signal is shifted less than a full clock cycle to generate at least one post cursor signal. The post cursor signal is subtracted from the data signal to generate a transmitter output data signal for transmission over the channel. In addition to decreasing TWDP, data dependent jitter is also reduced for data transmission across a channel that exhibits a multi-pole transmission characteristic. A main data signal and at least one cursor signal, which is shifted at least a portion of a clock period from the main data signal, is generated. The cursor signal is filtered to filter out effects based on the second pole of the multi-pole transmission characteristic. The main data signal is subtracted from the filtered cursor signal to generate the transmitter output data signal. Circuits and methods for transmitting serial data streams over a channel compliant with KR and SPI specifications are also disclosed.
US08537948B2	Clock synchronization in shared baseband deployments A method and an interface unit is provided to maintain timing synchronization between a first Radio Equipment Controller (REC) and a second REC operating with a multi-standard base station. The first REC receives a synchronization signal and synchronized data output is generated from the synchronization signal. A clock signal is then generated from the synchronized data output. At the second REC, the synchronized data output is received and a synchronization source is then reconstructed from the first clock signal. A timing and frequency component of a second clock signal is then aligned to that of the reconstructed synchronization source, such that the second REC can maintain synchronization with the first REC.
US08537946B2	Wireless communication method, wireless communication system and base station One of the objects of the present invention is to more completely avoid impossibility of access between a mobile station and a base station, in wireless communication using an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulation scheme. In one embodiment, a base station removes a guard interval from an OFDM symbol received from a PHS terminal through a timing correction channel at two different timings to obtain two effective symbols, calculates a timing correction amount by including one timing, at which an guard interval is removed for the effective symbol that has caused detection of one correlation peak within a predetermined timing detection range of two correlation peaks detected from the respective effective symbols, into a differential from reference timing of the base station at the time of detection of the one correlation peak, and transmits the timing correction amount to the PHS terminal by means of a timing correction burst.
US08537945B1	Synchronization of time accurate strobe (TAS) messages An apparatus includes Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry and baseband circuitry. The RF circuitry is configured to receive strobe messages that are based on a system clock over a digital interface, and to communicate synchronously with the system clock based on the received strobe messages in accordance with a Radio Access Technology (RAT) that is selected from among multiple different RATs. The baseband circuitry is configured to generate the strobe messages, to delay the strobe messages by a delay that depends on the selected RAT, and to send the delayed strobe messages to the RF circuitry over the digital interface.
US08537944B2	Apparatus with a plurality of filters An apparatus comprises a filter unit comprising a plurality of different filters each configured to filter a first signal when selected. The apparatus may further comprise a control unit configured to select one of the plurality of filters depending on a strength of the first signal. Related methods may also be performed.
US08537943B1	Sum and forward Elam receiver A method for receiving signals in a receiver having a plurality of receive elements may include a transmitted signal in a plurality of receive elements to form a plurality of receive element signals, generating a plurality of uncorrelated chipping sequences, and encoding each the plurality of receive element signals with a different one of the chipping sequences to form a plurality of encoded signals, and combining the plurality of encoded signals into a combined signal. The plurality of encoded signals may include a first encoded signal, a second encoded signal, and a third encoded signal. Combining may include combining the first encoded signal with the second encoded signal to generate a first combined signal, and combining the first combined signal with information indicative of the third encoded signal to generate a second combined signal.
US08537941B1	Bit-synchronous feedback control of receiver sensitivity A receiver including an amplifying section for converting a relatively low power digital input signal into a relatively high power digital output signal is configured to utilize an adjustable feedback signal that is synchronous with the bit rate of the incoming digital signal so as to modify the level of the feedback signal as a function of time along the width of each bit of the digital input signal, increasing the bandwidth of the receiver at the leading edge of each incoming bit and decreasing the bandwidth otherwise.
US08537939B2	Reception apparatus, reception method, reception program, and reception system Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a spectrum inversion detection section configured to detect the occurrence or absence of spectrum inversion in a received signal complying with the Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 standard known as DVB-T2, using a P1 signal constituting the received signal; a spectrum inversion section configured to perform a spectrum inversion process on the received signal if the occurrence of the spectrum inversion is detected at least by the spectrum inversion detection section; and a demodulation section configured to demodulate the received signal having undergone the spectrum inversion process if the occurrence of the spectrum inversion is detected by the spectrum inversion detection section, the demodulation section further demodulating the received signal yet to undergo the spectrum inversion process if the absence of the spectrum inversion is detected by the spectrum inversion detection section.
US08537934B2	System and method for multi-carrier modulation A method of compensating for carrier frequency and phase errors of a received multi-carrier modulated signal. The received multi-carrier signal including modulated carriers for transmitting known data and unmodulated carriers for error correction, comprising, time domain down converting the received multi-carrier signal to base-band to provide a down-converted signal, the down-converted signal including a plurality of modulated carriers for transmitting known data and unmodulated carriers for error correction. Sampling an unmodulated carrier of the down-converted signal to provide received data samples. Providing a reference signal derived from the unmodulated carrier of the down-converted signal. And, estimating phase errors from a phase difference between the ummodulated carrier and the reference signal derived from the unmodulated carrier of the down-converted signal to provide a plurality of received sample phase error estimates for each modulated carrier.
US08537926B2	Cognitive receiver architecture This invention describes a cognitive radio receiver architecture where multiple specialized receiver algorithms are executed in parallel. For example, maximal ratio combiner and beam forming algorithms may be running parallel. The receiver system computes solutions using different hypotheses of channel conditions and chooses the best result, i.e. is able to decode data from one of the parallel receivers.
US08537923B2	Apparatus and method for determining modulation and coding scheme for adaptive modulation and coding scheme in multiple input multiple output system A method and apparatus is provided for determining a modulation and coding scheme in a Multiple Input Multiple Output system with a Maximum Likelihood Detector (MIMO-MLD), in which an upper bound and a lower bound of a Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) for the MIMO-MLD are determined, an effective Signal to Noise Ratio (eSNR) is computed using a relation between the upper bound and the lower bound, a channel quality is estimated using the eSNR, and a modulation and coding scheme is determined using the estimated channel quality.
US08537920B2	Apparatus and method for transmitting data using multi-antenna Provided are an apparatus and method for transmitting data using a multi-antenna. The apparatus includes a transmission buffer selecting unit for selecting transmission buffer of an antenna group corresponding to characteristics of each aggregated Medium access control Protocol Data Units (MPDU) when a list of aggregated MPDUs to transmit is received; a data transmitting unit for generating a list of aggregated MPDUs to transmit with storage information of the aggregated MPDUs, transferring the generated list to the transmission buffer selecting unit and transmitting corresponding aggregated MPDUs through the selected transmission buffer; and a timing controlling unit for controlling a transmission timing of each aggregated MPDU.
US08537914B2	Multi-resolution precoding codebook Systems and methods are for generating a codebook by: generating a multi-resolution codebook by selecting a common precoder index from a low resolution codebook for a group of adjacent resource blocks (RB)s and for each RB within the group, selecting a high-resolution codebook to fine-tune each RB precoder; and generating feedback for the multi-resolution codebook by quantizing channel state variations.
US08537913B2	Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding a multichannel signal An apparatus for encoding/decoding a multichannel signal. The apparatus for encoding/decoding a multichannel signal processes phase parameters for phase information among a plurality of channels constituting the multichannel signal in consideration of the characteristics of the multichannel signal. The apparatus generates an encoded bit stream for the multichannel signal using the processed phase parameters and the mono signal extracted from the multichannel signal.
US08537909B2	Method for transmitting signals using HARQ scheme to guarantee constellation rearrangement gain A method for transmitting signals using a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) scheme to guarantee a constellation rearrangement gain having a predetermined level or more is provided. Predetermined code blocks are encoded, sub-block interleaving is performed with respect to the encoded code blocks, and the sub-block interleaved code blocks are transmitted according to redundancy version (RV) start locations of the sub-block interleaved code blocks. The RVs are set such that the order of bit streams modulated by an M-QAM (M>4) scheme is changed upon a retransmission. In addition, the RVs are set such that the RV start locations applied to code blocks having different sizes are different.
US08537904B2	Pre-processing device and method before encoding of a video image sequence The invention relates to a method of processing an image of a video image sequence, wherein it comprises the following successive steps: a step for computing a complexity value representative of the complexity of said image; a first step of morphological processing applied on said image, said first step generating a first processed image; a second step for mixing said image and said first processed image depending on said complexity value, said second step generating a mixed image; a third step of morphological processing applied on said mixed image, said third step generating a second processed image; and a fourth step for mixing said mixed image and said second processed image depending on said complexity value.
US08537903B2	De-blocking and de-ringing systems and methods Disclosed herein are various embodiments of decoding systems and methods. In one embodiment, among others, a decoding system comprises a de-blocking system configured to receive decoded video data and decoding information and remove blocking artifacts from the decoded video data, and a de-ringing system configured to remove ringing artifacts from the de-blocked video data.
US08537900B2	Automatic temporal layer bit allocation Disclosed herein are techniques and computer readable media containing instructions arranged to determine a bit allocation for a temporal base layer and at least one temporal enhancement layer. The techniques are enhanced to yield improved reproduced quality for the case where both a temporal base layer and at least one temporal enhancement layer is being used. An exemplary method for determining a bit allocation to one base layer includes initializing a bit allocation between the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, determining a quality difference between the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, expressed, for example, in the Quantizer Parameter of the last picture of each layer within a GOP, and determining a new bit allocation between the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer based on the quality difference and at least one constant factor.
US08537898B2	Compression with doppler enhancement Methods, medium, and machines which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decode, decompress and display digital video images. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including, but not limited to, the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. In a Doppler improvement aspect of the invention, Doppler velocity scales are incorporated into grayscale compression methods using two bits. Variable formats may be selected and Doppler encoding can be turned on and off based on the image content. Frames or sets of pixels may be distinguished by automated analysis of the characteristics of an image, such as the presence of Doppler enhanced pixels.
US08537886B1	Reconfigurable equalization architecture for high-speed receivers Systems and methods are disclosed for employing an equalization technique that improves equalizer input sensitivity and which reduces power consumption. In particular, an equalization architecture is described that includes a continuous-time linear equalizer and a decision feedback equalizer, each with offset cancellation that enables the equalizer to be used at high data rates. In addition, the equalization structure has a power-saving mode for bypassing the decision feedback equalizer. These offset cancellation and power-saving features are enabled and controlled using programmable logic on a programmable device.
US08537883B1	Detector for low frequency offset distortion A system for removing low frequency offset distortion from a digital signal, the system comprising an analog-to-digital converter to convert an analog frequency signal associated with an optical storage medium to a digital frequency signal; an equalizer to equalize the digital frequency signal; an estimator to estimate a low frequency offset distortion of the digital frequency signal; a compensator to substantially cancel the low frequency offset distortion of the digital frequency signal from the equalized digital frequency signal using the estimate; and a decoder to decode the equalized digital frequency signal having the low frequency offset distortion substantially cancelled therefrom.
US08537877B2	Channel qualification for an adaptive frequency hopping method by means of bit or packet error rate measurement and simultaneous field strength measurement This disclosure relates frequency channel qualification in wire-free communications system.
US08537876B2	Frequency hopping pattern and arrangment for sounding reference signal A method, an apparatus, and a computer program that includes forming frequency hopping position of the sounding reference signal is based on a hopping pattern. The hopping pattern of the sounding reference signal is configured to utilize a tree assignment for a frequency allocation of the sounding reference signal and to support at least one frequency band branch per layer. The hopping pattern of the sounding reference signal is also configured to provide consecutive sounding reference signals on widely separated frequency allocations.
US08537874B2	High fill-factor efficient vertical-cavity surface emitting laser arrays An array of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) may be fabricated with very high fill-factors, thereby enabling very high output power densities during pulse, quasi-continuous wave (QCW), and continuous wave (CW) operation. This high fill-factor is achieved using asymmetrical pillars in a rectangular packing scheme as opposed prior art pillar shapes and packing schemes. The use of asymmetrical pillars maintains high efficiency operation of VCSELs by maintaining minimal current injection distance from the metal contacts to the laser active region and by maintaining efficient waste heat extraction from the VCSEL. This packing scheme for very high fill-factor VCSEL arrays is directly applicable for next generation high-power, substrate removed, VCSEL arrays.
US08537868B2	Laser diode write driver feedback, current mirror, and differential-pair circuitry An optical disk drive system associated with a laser diode is described. The optical disk drive system comprises a current generator for receiving input signals; a current switch coupled to receive timing signals; a current driver coupled to receive output signals from the current switch and the current generator, the current driver further comprising a driver with wave shape control selected from the group consisting of a laser diode read driver and a laser diode write driver, wherein the driver with shape control is operative for transmitting at least one output signal that is a scaled version of at least one of the output signals received from the current generator, wherein the current driver is operative for transmitting at least one output signal driving the laser diode.
US08537866B2	Generating laser pulses of narrow spectral linewidth based on chirping and stretching of laser pulses and subsequent power amplification Techniques and devices for producing short laser pulses based on chirping and stretching of short seed laser pulses and subsequent power amplification. Such laser pulses with relatively narrow spectral bandwidths can be used in certain laser applications where narrow spectral bandwidth laser pulses are advantageous. In the examples described in this document, the generated laser pulses with relatively narrow spectral bandwidths may have relatively long pulse durations (e.g., greater than 1 ps) due to the stretching operation in the pulse generation.
US08537863B2	Methods and apparatus for reception of dynamic information by inactive receivers Methods and apparatus for the resource-efficient reception of selected segments of system information in receivers. In one embodiment, a wireless device can automatically receive and store segments of pilot channel information, which may be decoded at a later time. By time-shifting the decoding of pilot channel information (or selectively obviating portions thereof based on “intelligent” filtering), the wireless device can reduce the radio and processing burdens for monitoring radio channels. In one variant, the majority of the wireless device can power down for a “snoozing” mode, wherein the device wakes at a later point in order to decode the cached context information data. Various methods for selectively receiving and filtering context information for storage are also disclosed, as well as network apparatus and associated business methods.
US08537862B2	Transmit downlink control information with higher order modulation A method is provided for applying HOM to a PDCCH to transmit control information from an access node to a UE. The method comprises: selecting a DCI format for a HOM PDCCH; determining a DCI block of the HOM PDCCH according to the selected DCI format; generating a sequence of coded bits to be transmitted from the DCI block; multiplexing the sequence of coded bits of the HOM PDCCH with coded bits of other PDCCHs to form a sequence of multiplexed bits; scrambling the sequence of multiplexed bits to form a sequence of scrambled bits; modulating the scrambled bits to form a sequence of modulation symbols; and transmitting the sequence of modulation symbols, where a PDCCH is transmitted on an aggregation of one or more CCEs.
US08537859B2	Reassembly of mini-packets in a buffer A system comprises a processor, a reassembly buffer that receives mini-packets, and at least one data structure that comprises bits. The bits indicate the presence or absence of each of the mini-packets in the reassembly buffer and further indicate whether one of the mini-packets is a final mini-packet in a series of the mini-packets. The processor uses the bits to determine whether all mini-packets forming the series are present in the reassembly buffer. As a result of the determination, the processor causes the series to be read from the reassembly buffer.
US08537856B2	Communication subsystem for wireless devices or the like Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a wireless terminal may include an application subsystem and a communication subsystem. The communication subsystem in one embodiment may enable a virtual direct interface to a remote network to be presented to the application subsystem via a wireless communication system air link interface. The communication subsystem may allow applications of the application subsystem to be independent of any particular radio technology or network implementation of a wireless communication system air link interface. Once a session is established between the communication subsystem and the wireless communication system air link interface, the application subsystem may gain access to the remote network through the communication subsystem via a transport interface.
US08537854B2	Method and system for providing interdomain traversal in support of packetized voice transmissions An approach provides interdomain traversal to support packetized voice transmissions. A request for establishing a voice call is received from a source endpoint behind a first network address translator of a first domain, wherein the request specifies a directory number of a destination endpoint within a second domain. A network address is determined for communicating with the destination endpoint based on the directory number. Additionally, existence of a second network address translator within the second domain is determined. If the network address can be determined, a media path is established between the source endpoint and the destination endpoint based on the network address to support the voice call.
US08537848B2	Flexibly integrating endpoint logic into varied platforms In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an integrated endpoint having a virtual port coupled between an upstream fabric and an integrated device fabric that includes a multi-function logic to handle various functions for one or more intellectual property (IP) blocks coupled to the integrated device fabric. The integrated device fabric has a primary channel to communicate data and command information between the IP block and the upstream fabric and a sideband channel to communicate sideband information between the IP block and the multi-function logic. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08537846B2	Dynamic priority queue level assignment for a network flow Forwarding a flow in a network includes receiving the flow at a switch, determining an optimized priority queue level of the flow at the switch, and forwarding the flow via the switch using an optimized priority queue level of the flow at the switch. The flow passes through a plurality of switches, including the switch, in the network, and the optimized priority queue level of the flow at the switch is different from a priority queue level of the flow at a second switch of the plurality of switches. The second switch routes the flow at the second switch using the different priority queue level for the flow.
US08537837B2	Switch with virtual network identifier re-write capability A switch includes a processor, an ingress port having ingress port logic, and an egress port. It may also include a virtual network identifier rewrite component for rewriting a virtual network identifier in a data frame received the ingress port with a new virtual network identifier. Also included is a virtual network identifier rewrite rule set, where a rule may have one or more of the following: a received virtual network identifier, a source Fiber Channel identifier (FCID) address, an ingress port identifier, and a new virtual network identifier. The ingress port logic may insert a received virtual network identifier into the data frame received at the ingress port, where the virtual network identifier may correspond to the ingress port. The virtual network identifier rewrite component may assign the new virtual network identifier to the data frame according to a specific virtual network identifier rewrite rule.
US08537827B2	System and method for establishing a communication path using labels A communication path is established by a sequence of nodes so that a data packet is transferred using labels each being assigned to a data link connecting each pair of adjacent nodes along the communication path. The sequence of nodes includes an origination node, one or more relay node, and a termination node, with being positioned in this order along the communication path. The origination node provides each of downstream nodes of the origination node with a path message for requesting establishment of the communication path. Each relay node, upon being provided with label assignment request information, performs label assignment processing for assigning a label to a data link connecting the relay node and an adjacent upstream node without depending on the label assignment processing performed on other nodes along the communication path so that the label assignment processing is concurrently performed on each of the downstream nodes.
US08537826B2	Communication apparatus, communication apparatus controlling method, and network system A terminal connected to a network stores association information between a physical address and a logical address of the terminal as first association information in an address association information storing unit. The terminal obtains association information between a physical address and a logical address, which is transmitted to the terminal via the network, as second association information. The terminal determines, based on the first association information stored in the storing unit and the second association information, whether or not the logical address included in the first association information is duplicate. If the logical address is determined to be duplicate, the first association information is notified to a device belonging to the network to which the terminal belongs, and the device is instructed to resolve duplication of the logical address.
US08537825B1	Lockless atomic table update Upon detecting a data event initiating an update to a table, a first classifier index associated with the data event is identified. From a classifier table, the current position in a first dimension of the table associated with the classifier index is determined. An open position in the first dimension of the table is also identified. Updated data is stored in the open position within the table. In the classifier table, the open position storing the updated data is associated with the classifier index.
US08537823B1	Processor traffic segregation for network switching and routing A network switch includes a memory to store associations between at least one flooding domain and a plurality of network interfaces. A classifier assigns a processor code to selected packets received at one or more of the network interfaces. The processor code includes a flag indicating if a packet is to be processed by a processor. A transfer circuit transfers packets among the network interfaces based on the associations and transfers the selected packets to the processor based on the processor code independently of transfer of packets to at least one flooding domain.
US08537822B2	Methods and apparatus for providing alternative paths to obtain session policy A method for a user agent to access a session policy in a network is provided. The method comprises the user agent receiving in a header field of a response message a plurality of uniform resource identifiers (URIs) for a policy server, wherein each of the plurality of URIs uses a different policy channel protocol.
US08537821B2	Methods, systems, and products for emergency communications Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing emergency communications. A database of addresses is queried to determine if a communications address is an emergency communications address. When the communications address is the emergency communications address, then a location coordinate is retrieved and mapped to a location of an emergency services provider.
US08537813B2	Supporting both packet and circuit-based wireless networks Middleware may accommodate both packet data and circuit data services in the same cellular telephone. A cellular telephone may travel between networks that are packet and circuit data service based. A protocol middleware may determine whether packet data services are available, and, if so, may determine the mobility management state of the system. Depending on the mobility management state of the system, inappropriate applications may be closed or suspended.
US08537812B2	Enabling quality voice communications from web page call control A system and method of bypassing the regulated portion of the Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) to establish carrier-grade voice transmissions and/or IP data communications between an Internet Calling Person having a first telephone and a first PC coupled to a first Local Service Access Provider (LSAP) and an Internet Called Party having a second telephone and a second PC coupled to a second different Local Service Access Provider (LSAP).
US08537810B2	E-tree using two pseudowires between edge routers with enhanced learning methods and systems An e-tree service that includes establishing two pseudowires (PW) between edge network elements with enhanced address learning is described. In one embodiment, a root PW and a leaf PW are used for carrying packets from a root node and from a leaf node, respectively. When a network element receives a packet on the root PW, the network element associates the source Media Access Control (MAC) address of the packet with the logical port associated with the root PW in a root PW MAC address table, and also associates the source MAC address with the logical port associated with the leaf PW in a leaf PW MAC address table. When a network element receives a packet on the leaf PW, the network element associates the source MAC address of this packet with the logical port that is associated with the root PW in the root PW MAC address table.
US08537803B2	Synchronized channel access in coexisting wireless networks A system and method for arbitrating channel access in a wireless device including co-located network transceivers are disclosed herein. A wireless device includes a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver. The first transceiver is configured for operation with a first wireless network. The second transceiver is configured for operation with a second wireless network. The wireless device further includes logic that determines which of the first and second transceivers is enabled to transmit at a given time. The logic causes the first transceiver to transmit a notification signal indicating a time period during which the second transceiver of the wireless device will perform a first wireless transaction, and during which, based on receiving the notification signal, a different wireless device performs a second wireless transaction via the second wireless network without transmitting a notification signal.
US08537792B2	Terminal control apparatus and radio LAN system When prohibiting data transmission by a radio communication terminal, such as a radio communication terminal L-STA, a terminal control apparatus generates radio data including information about a data transmission prohibition time interval in an L-SIG which is a header region which each radio communication terminal can recognize in common, and, if a use state checking unit 21 has checked to see that a channel CH_a is being not used, transmits the radio data to the radio communication terminal L-STA and so on in the form of frames which the radio communication terminal L-STA can recognize by using the channel CH_a.
US08537788B2	Apparatus and method of transmitting ACK/NACK information and apparatus and method of receiving ACK/NACK information An apparatus and method of transmitting ACK/NACK (acknowledgement/negative ACK) information in downlink and an apparatus and method of receiving the ACK/NACK information are disclosed. The present invention configures ACK/NACK information on multiple UL codeword transmission using a PHICH and at least one NDI, whereby the ACK/NACK information on the multiple UL codeword transmission is transmitted to a user equipment without additional PHICH resource allocation. The present invention extends the conventional HI codeword and/or arranged position on a signal constellation, thereby transmitting ACK/NACK information on multiple UL codeword transmission to a user equipment without additional PHICH resource allocation.
US08537787B2	System and method for mapping and decoding codewords in acknowledgement information communications A system and method for mapping and decoding codewords in acknowledgement information communications are provided. A method for communications device operations includes determining a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) response for each component carrier (CC) in a set of configured CCs, thereby producing a set of HARQ responses, generating an information vector from the set of HARQ responses, encoding the information vector based on a (n, k) linear block code corresponding to the set of configured CCs, and transmitting the encoded information vector. A unique set of bits selected from the information vector is assigned to represent a HARQ response for each different CC in the set of configured CCs. The (n, k) linear block code is obtained by a linear transformation of an original (n, k) linear block code, where n is a length of code words, and k is a length of information vectors.
US08537786B2	Method and apparatus for improving continuous packet connectivity in a wireless communications system A method of improving CPC for a UE in a wireless communications system includes receiving a reconfiguration message, determining the content of a second information element, abbreviated to IE, included in a first IE when the first IE is included in the reconfiguration message, wherein the first IE is used for indicating timing information of a discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception, abbreviated to DTX-DRX, operation and the second IE is used for selecting a timing of the DTX-DRX operation, and using the content of the first IE without storing the content of the first IE when the content of the second IE is a new timing.
US08537785B2	Method and apparatus for cell/sector coverage of a public channel through multiple antennas A method for cell/sector coverage of a public channel through multiple antennas includes: dividing the physical resource for transmitting public channel signals in a frame into N physical resource blocks; generating N weighting vectors, where: each weighting vector comprises M weighting coefficients, M is equal to the number of antennas, and the difference of average antenna gain for N weighting vectors in different directions of a whole cell/sector is less than a preset value; selecting one of the N weighting vectors for each of the N physical resource blocks respectively, where the weighting vector varies with different physical resource blocks; and using the M weighting coefficients in the selected weighting vectors to weight the public channel signals in M antennas respectively, and transmitting the weighted public channel signals through the M antennas. In addition, an apparatus for cell/sector coverage of a public channel through multiple antennas is disclosed.
US08537782B2	Soft handoff in OFDMA system Soft handoff in an OFDMA system is disclosed. If the pilot signal strength for a base station exceeds the defined threshold, the base station is added to an active set list. Subcarriers in a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols are divided and allocated into subchannels. The OFDM symbols are divided and multiplexed. A soft handoff zone with a first dimension of the subchannels and a second dimension of the divided and multiplexed OFDM symbols is defined. The soft handoff zone has subcarriers with a subchannel definition, for example, an identical permutation.
US08537778B1	Methods and systems for initiating a handoff based on EV-DO DRCLock Methods and systems are provided for initiating a handoff of an access terminal based on EV-DO DRCLock. In an embodiment, an access node (i) makes a determination that a DRCLock is set for at least a threshold number of coverage areas in an active set for an access terminal operating on a first carrier in a first wireless network, and (ii) in response to making the determination, initiates a handoff of the access terminal from the first carrier to at least one of (a) a second carrier and (b) a second wireless network.
US08537776B2	Wireless device A wireless device and technology operable to optimize communications during an emergency is disclosed. The wireless device can detect communication congestion in a base station, and search for alternate base stations that can provide annunciation information during the emergency. If a suitable base station can be found, handoff is made and the annunciation information is acquired.
US08537773B2	Systems and methods for network MIMO Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems and methods are provided for enabling network MIMO among base stations (BSs) and a mobile station (MS). A BS configure a network MIMO zone based on an indication of at least one other BS eligible for network MIMO. The network MIMO zone is defined by resources having at least time and frequency dimensions allocated for master transmission under control of the BS, or slave transmission under control of the other BS eligible for network MIMO. The BS can transmit data on the network MIMO zone to the MS. Where there is no data to transmit to the MS, the BS may transmit data on the network MIMO zone to another MS. To configure the network MIMO zone, the BS may look up in a table combinations of the eligible BSs associated with the indication.
US08537771B2	Method of multiple-input-multiple-output wireless communication Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for selectively modulating a data frame of a signal using either a frequency-multiplexing modulation method or a spatial-multiplexing modulation method based on a predetermined criterion.
US08537768B2	Mobile station apparatus, mobile communication system, and communication method In a mobile communication system in which an space of a physical downlink control channel for a mobile station apparatus to search is defined based on a mobile station identity assigned from a base station apparatus, the base station apparatus places a physical downlink control channel including a first mobile station identity or a physical downlink control channel including a second mobile station identity in a search space of a physical downlink control channel corresponding to the first mobile station identity when the base station apparatus assigns a plurality of mobile station identities to the mobile station apparatus, and when a plurality of mobile station identities is assigned from the base station apparatus, the mobile station apparatus performs decoding processing of the physical downlink control channel including the first mobile station identity and the physical downlink control channel including the second mobile station identity in the search space of the physical downlink control channel corresponding to the first mobile station identity.
US08537761B1	Incorporation of mesh base stations in a wireless system The present invention provides methods for incorporating and operating a mesh base station in a wireless network. The mesh base station may utilize common wireless resource allocations as a corresponding wireless base station while transmitting to wireless subscriber stations during the same time period. The mesh base station obtains a data packet from the wireless base station over a backhaul link during a scheduled time period and transmits the data packet to the designated wireless subscriber station during another scheduled time period. The wireless base station and the mesh base station may also receive data packets from wireless subscriber stations during a same time period. A wireless network may be configured with two mesh base stations at an approximate boundary of two adjacent sector coverage areas, where a coverage area is supported by a wireless base station and each mesh base station supports wireless subscriber stations within a coverage radius.
US08537757B2	Adaptive call admission control for use in a wireless communication system The invention relates to communication systems and to systems and methods for implementing adaptive call admission control (CAC) in such systems. Adaptive call admission control can determine what CPE to base station calls (connections) are allowed at any given time. CAC, coupled with precedence, can further determine what connections are suspended if less bandwidth is available than is currently committed. Multiple techniques are disclosed to select connections for suspension. These techniques include suspending enough connections through the affected CPE until there is enough bandwidth to meet the remaining commitment, randomly (or in a round robin fashion) choosing connection to suspend from the entire set of connection, and using precedence priority levels.
US08537755B2	Rate matching device In rate matching and interleaving in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, use of a circular buffer following interleaving may be avoided by reading out interleaved data directly from the interleaver in a manner which matches an expected output from a circular buffer. The read out data may be rate matched according to instructions from upper layers. The order in which the data is read out is configured to match the expected rate matched output from a circular buffer. In this manner use of a circular buffer may be avoided, resulting in saved memory costs.
US08537754B2	Network requested packet data protocol context activation A packet switched (PS) core network (CN) supporting several quality of services levels, comprising at least a serving node (SGSN), a gateway node (GGSN), a home location register (HLR), a short message service gateway and interworking unit (SMS-GMSC, SMS-IWMSC), charging gateway functionality (CGF), and a public data network (PDN) comprising an application server (AS). The core network is adapted for carrying out a packet data protocol (PDP) context activation in which a PDP address is assigned to a mobile station and in which a given quality of service is assigned through the network in a communication session between the mobile station and the application processor in question, whereby the application server (AS) initiates a context activation in which the QoS is seeked altered for the mobile station.
US08537744B2	Method of discovering an ad-hoc on-demand distance vector route having at least a minimum set of available resources in a distributed wireless communications network In a wireless communication network (300) comprising a plurality of devices (100), a method of discovering a route for transmitting data from a source device (110A) to a destination device (110D) via multi-hop relay, includes broadcasting from the source device (110A) a route discovery request for transmitting data to the destination device (HOD). The route discovery request includes: a first field indicating a hop-count limit, a second field indicating a number of slots, X, required for transmitting the data, a third field indicating an ID for the source device (110A), and a fourth field indicating an ID for the destination device (HOD). The source device (110A) then receives a route discovery response indicating a route from the source device (110A) to the destination device (HOD). The route discovery response includes a first field indicating a number of hops between the source device (110A) and the destination device (HOD).
US08537738B2	Method and a system of video multicast scheduling Methods and systems for scheduling multicast transmissions that includes scheduling layered data for one or more multicast transmissions across a plurality of sub-channels using multi-resolution modulation. The sub-channels for each transmission may have diverse or uniform capacities. Scheduling includes allocating sub-channels to the layers of the layered data.
US08537734B2	Method and arrangement for saving radio resources by determining power offset values in the user equipment The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method in a user equipment of saving radio resources in a communication network system comprising a communication network node (15) communicating withto one or more user equipments (18) on uplink (17) and downlink (16) data channels over a radio interface, whereby a transmission power 5 value on said uplink data channel (17) is determined by adding a power offset value to a pre-determined reference power value. A carrier-to-interference (C/I) value on said uplink data channel (17) is determined and said power offset value is then determined based on said determined carrier-to-interference value, whereby said power offset value is determined in said user equipment (18) instead of being received over said radio interface 10 from said communication network node (15).
US08537733B1	Dynamic power mode switch in a wireless ad-hoc system In ad-hoc wireless networks, functionality can be implemented to dynamically enable/disable an ad-hoc power save mode depending on whether or not the WLAN device is in a continuous traffic environment. The WLAN devices in the ad-hoc wireless network can use beacon frames to transmit a power mode switch request, to respond to a received power mode switch request (to indicate acceptance or rejection of the received power mode switch request), and to indicate a power mode switch status. The WLAN devices switch the power mode if all the WLAN devices in the ad-hoc wireless network accept the power mode switch request. Changing the power mode depending on the environment can improve power savings, data throughput, and reliability.
US08537730B2	Method and apparatus for sensing channel availability in wireless networks A method and apparatus for sensing channel availability in a wireless network are described including switching to a first candidate channel for operational data transmission and reception sensing a previous operating channel for availability, determining if the previous operating channel is available, switching back to the previous operating channel if the previous operating channel is available and one of continuing to use the candidate channel for operational data transmission and reception and immediately switching to a second candidate channel for operational data transmission and reception and switching to the second candidate channel for operational data transmission and reception after a pre-determined period of time. Also described is a system for sensing channel availability in a cognitive network including an RF unit, for switching channels, a sensing unit for sensing channel availability and a media access control unit for controlling the sensing unit and the RF unit.
US08537727B2	Avionic system comprising a controller and at least one peripheral that are linked by a line mutualized for power and data According to a first aspect the invention relates to a device forming a central controller (C) intended to be linked to a remote peripheral (P1-PN) by way an electrical power line (L), comprising a power transmitter (1) and a low-pass litter (CC—BF) arranged between the power transmitter and the electrical line, as well as means for transmitting/receiving data (3) in baseband and a high-pass filter (CC—HF) arranged between the data transmission/reception means and the electrical line, the electrical line being of the kind mutualized for the transmission of power at low frequency from the central controller to the remote peripheral and for the simultaneous bidirectional transmission of data in baseband at high frequency between the central controller and the remote peripheral. The invention also relates to a remote peripheral (P1-PN) as well as to the system comprising a central control linked to one or more remote peripherals by an electrical line mutualized for the transmission of power and of bidirectional data simultaneously.
US08537720B2	Aggregating data traffic from access domains According to one embodiment, a first message identifying a best root node of a spanning tree may be generated. The spanning tree may be implemented by an access domain. The message may be generated independently of a spanning tree protocol instance. The first aggregation node may transmit the first message to a plurality of access nodes of the access domain. Data traffic from the plurality of access nodes may be received. Each access node of the plurality of access nodes may implement a spanning tree protocol instance that selects the best root node as a root node of the spanning tree. The data traffic may be aggregated with other data traffic of a plurality of access domains, and the aggregated data traffic transmitted to an aggregation network.
US08537713B2	Carrier frequency acquisition method and apparatus having improved reliability for detecting carrier acquisition or loss thereof A carrier signal acquisition technique is disclosed. An improved course carrier frequency offset algorithm is employed in conjunction with a conventional fine carrier frequency offset algorithm. The course carrier frequency offset algorithm estimates large offsets that are multiples of the carrier spacing that may occur at system startup. A spectral null is placed in the center of the transmit spectrum and is thereafter located in a received signal. The position of the spectral null provides an estimate of the local oscillator carrier offset. A frequency finite state machine (FSM) processes a number of metrics to ensure the reliability of the course carrier frequency offset and of transitions between acquisition and tracking modes. The frequency FSM will utilize the frequency offset (modin) generated by a MODSC algorithm provided one or more predefined thresholds are satisfied.
US08537708B2	Packet transmission method and nodes This is a method for transmitting packets. The transmission method includes measuring a time taken for feedback indicating that a packet including context information has been lost; and switching between a first mode and a second mode based on the measured time taken for the feedback, the first mode being a mode for periodically transmitting a packet including the context information and the second mode being a mode for transmitting a packet including the context information in response to the feedback indicating that a packet including the context information has been lost.
US08537703B2	Multicarrier packet communication system Messages transmitted between a receiver and a transmitter are used to maximize a communication data rate. In particular, a multicarrier modulation system uses messages that are sent from the receiver to the transmitter to exchange one or more sets of optimized communication parameters. The transmitter then stores these communication parameters and when transmitting to that particular receiver, the transmitter utilizes the stored parameters in an effort to maximize the data rate to that receiver. Likewise, when the receiver receives packets from that particular transmitter, the receiver can utilize the stored communication parameters for reception.
US08537699B2	Managing video adaptation algorithms Techniques are described for controlling the operation of a dynamic rate adaptation algorithm by modifying control parameters exposed by the dynamic rate adaptation algorithm. In one aspect, an apparatus comprises a rate adaptation module comprising a plurality of control parameters. The rate adaptation module monitors conditions of a network and adjusts a coding rate of a media encoder based on the network conditions and the plurality of control parameters. Each of the plurality of control parameters specifies a threshold value or a timing value that controls a response of the rate adaptation algorithm to the network conditions. The apparatus also comprises a client that receives a value for a first one of the plurality of control parameters and sets the first control parameter to the received value.
US08537698B2	Communication system A communication system has a communication control unit, communication terminal units and communication units. The communication control unit and the communication terminal units communicate according to a first protocol. The communication units mutually communicate according to a second protocol. A specific communication unit of the communication units has a data analyzer and a data transmitter. The data analyzer judges whether or not second monitoring information represents a steady state. The data transmitter transmits the control information corresponding to the second monitoring information to at least one related second communication terminal unit through the communication control unit according to the first protocol if the second monitoring information represents an unsteady state. Thereby, the load connected to the second communication terminal unit is controlled.
US08537696B2	System, method, and computer program product for scheduling burst profile changes based on minislot count A system and method are presented for changing physical layer (PHY) parameters in a PHY device of a communications system. New parameters are written to a first-in first-out queue in a serial interface, while the scheduled time for the changeover is written to a control register in the serial interface. When the time for the changeover occurs, the parameters are written to the PHY device via a port of the serial interface.
US08537682B2	Tunnel provisioning with link aggregation A method for processing data packets in a communication network includes establishing a path for a flow of the data packets through the communication network. At a node along the path having a plurality of aggregated ports, a port is selected from among the plurality to serve as part of the path. A label is chosen responsively to the selected port. The label is attached to the data packets in the flow at a point on the path upstream from the node. Upon receiving the data packets at the node, the data packets are switched through the selected port responsively to the label.
US08537680B2	Hierarchical flow-level multi-channel communication Embodiments herein provide systems and methods of transferring data in a communication system. An embodiment transfers data by assigning a portion of data among groups of channels coupled to a remote node, such assigning being based on the respective flows to which the portion is associated. The portion of data across is at least two channels in the assigned group of channels, and the split portions are transferred substantially simultaneously among the channels to which they are assigned.
US08537678B2	MMS (multimedia messaging service) decoding method, MMS decoder and mobile terminal The present disclosure discloses a multimedia messaging service (MMS) decoding method, an MMS decoder and a mobile terminal. The method comprises the steps of: parsing an original MMS data packet, acquiring all the non-SMIL (synchronized multimedia integration language) files in it, and counting the number of all the non-SMIL files as the first non-SMIL file number; determining whether an SMIL file exists in the parsing result, if yes, pre-parsing the SMIL file, obtaining the number of the non-SMIL files described by the SMIL file, and counting the number as the second non-SMIL file number, comparing the first non-SMIL file number with the second non-SMIL file number to obtain the formal SMIL file to be parsed; integrally parsing the formal SMIL file to be parsed, obtaining the data structure describing the playing layout of MMS, and taking the data structure and all the non-SMIL files obtained in step A as the MMS decoding result. The present disclosure improves the MMS decoding effect and the user experience.
US08537675B2	Loss tolerant transmission control protocol A particular device includes a transmitter. The transmitter is adapted to estimate a packet erasure rate for packets of a data window to be transmitted to a receiver. The transmitter is adapted to determine a number of proactive forward error correction (FEC) packets for the data window based on the estimated packet erasure rate. The transmitter is adapted to determine a packet size for the packets in the data window based on a window size of the data window and the determined number of proactive FEC packets. The transmitter is also adapted to transmit the data window to the receiver. The packets in the transmitted data window have a size corresponding to the determined packet size and include the determined number of proactive FEC packets.
US08537673B1	Fairness algorithm for bundle resource utilization Resource utilization required for processing packets associated with multilink bundles of a router are tracked. Corrective actions can be taken to provide fair usage of the available resources by comparing actual usage to a predetermined threshold value, and taking corrective actions if that threshold is exceeded.
US08537670B2	Router congestion control A router, implemented in hardware and/or hardware in combination with software for routing packets, so as to limit congestion. The router monitors incoming data flows as well as the queue length of its buffer to control the rate of incoming data flows via a flow controller. The flow controller uses at least one of: a Smith predictor, a proportional-integral controller, a proportional-derivative controller, and a proportional controller.
US08537666B2	Radio resource release controlling method, radio base station, and mobile station A mobile station performing a voice communication by using a radio resource, including a determination unit configured to determine whether an inputted packet is in a talk-spurt state or in a silent state; a message generating unit configured to generate a resource release request, when the determination unit determines that the inputted packet is in the silent state; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the resource release request to a radio base station.
US08537664B2	Method and system for accelerating transmission of data between network devices A method and system for transferring data between a sender and a receiver in a packet-based network is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a data channel, establishing a feedback channel, sending data to the receiver over the data channel, sending an acknowledgment to a sender on the feedback channel at a predetermined interval, using the acknowledgment to track data sent successfully and unsuccessfully to the receiver, resending data unsuccessfully sent to the receiver, and self-tuning to optimize throughput based upon the acknowledgement and react to changing network conditions.
US08537662B2	Global detection of resource leaks in a multi-node computer system A process is disclosed for identifying and recovering from resource leaks on compute nodes of a parallel computing system. A resource monitor stores information about system resources available on a compute node in a clean state. After the compute node runs a job, the resource monitor compares the current resource availability to the clean state. If a resource leak is found, the resource monitor contacts a global resource manger to remove the resource leak.
US08537660B2	High availability transport protocol method and apparatus A system and method supporting efficient, scalable stateful switchover of transport layer connections in a telecommunications network element. One method involves receiving, at a network element comprising an active transport protocol process coupled to a standby protocol process, a request to configure a first transport layer connection maintained at the active transport protocol process for stateful switchover; receiving an event associated with the first transport layer connection; creating a message containing replicated event information based on the received event; sending the message to the standby transport protocol process; and processing the message at the standby transport protocol process, wherein the standby transport protocol process replicates state information for the first connection.
US08537657B2	Cross domain modulation scheme for a wireless communication link In certain embodiments, a wireless communication link includes a wireless receiver that receives a circular polarized signal from a remotely configured transmitter. The circular polarized signal has a polarization vector that rotates at a radial velocity. The wireless receiver determines a phase deviation in the radial velocity of the polarization vector and demodulates information from the circular polarized signal according to the determined phase deviation. The phase deviation is caused by a frequency deviation of the circular polarized signal generated by the transmitter.
US08537655B2	Multiplicative updating of precoder or postcoder matrices for crosstalk control in a communication system An access node of a communication system is configured to control crosstalk between channels of the system. Vectoring circuitry in the access node estimates crosstalk between channels of the system, generates a compensation matrix based on the crosstalk estimates, and generates compensated signals based on the compensation matrix. The compensation matrix, which may be a precoder matrix or a postcoder matrix, is generated using a multiplicative update process in which a previous version of the compensation matrix comprising one or more non-zero off-diagonal elements is updated by at least one of pre-multiplying by a first auxiliary matrix and post-multiplying by a second auxiliary matrix, with a given one of the auxiliary matrices also comprising one or more non-zero off-diagonal elements. The compensated signals may be pre-compensated signals or post-compensated signals.
US08537653B2	Optical information recording medium and drive device An optical information recording medium includes at least one recording layer, a protective layer that transmits a focused laser beam, and a super-resolution functional layer that changes an optical characteristic in a local region smaller than the diffraction limit determined by the optical performance of the focusing optical system and the wavelength of the laser beam during at least the period of irradiation by the focused laser beam. The maximum thickness (K) between the light incidence surface of the protective layer and the recording layer is 0.083 mm.
US08537652B2	Optical recording/reproducing apparatus having label printer and method for printing labels on optical disk An optical recording/reproducing apparatus having a label printer for printing labels on an optical disk and a method for printing labels on an optical disk. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical disk drive unit recording and reproducing information on a recording surface of an optical disk, a label printer module printing labels on a label surface of the optical disk using thermal transfer, and a controller controlling a label printing operation of the optical disk drive unit and the label printer module, wherein the label printer module includes a ribbon cartridge in which a thermal transfer ribbon to which dyes are attached is wound and which is disposed to face the label surface of the optical disk mounted in the optical disk drive unit, and a thermal printhead transferring the dyes attached to the thermal transfer ribbon onto the label surface of the optical disk using thermal transfer.
US08537651B2	Optical disc device An optical disc device includes an optical source for emitting an optical beam, an incident intensity control circuit for controlling an intensity of the optical beam emitted from the optical source, an objective lens for focusing the optical beam on an optical disc, an optical detector for receiving the optical beam reflected from the optical disc, and a servo signal generation circuit for generating a focus error signal from the optical detector, by this configuration, the optical beam is varied once to a third optical beam intensity to be present in between a first optical beam intensity and a second optical beam intensity when varying from the first optical beam intensity up to the second optical beam intensity different from the first optical beam intensity, and the incident intensity control circuit is controlled such that the variation of focus error signal is not exceeded over a predetermined range.
US08537650B2	Optical read/write apparatus An optical read/write apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light-splitting element configured to split a light beam emitted from a light source into multiple light beams including a write beam and a read beam; an optical system configured to converge the write and read beams onto the same track on an optical storage medium; a photodetector including a light receiving element configured to detect the read beam reflected from the optical storage medium and output an electrical signal; and a divider configured to generate a read signal by dividing the signal detected by the light receiving element by a signal that represents a write modulated component and that is obtained by detecting a part of the light beam emitted from the light source.
US08537649B2	Optical retrieval system, data storage system, data storage medium and method of optical retrieval and data storage An optical data retrieval system configured to retrieve data from a data storage medium, including: a source of n path-entangled photons, where n is an integer of at least 2; a detector system configured to determine if n photons have been received; and a mechanism to direct photons from the source to the data storage medium and to the detector system.
US08537647B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus, which records information in an optical recording medium, includes: a mode-lock laser unit including a saturable absorber section that applies a bias voltage, a gain section that feeds a gain current, a semiconductor laser that emits laser light used to record the information on the optical recording medium, and an external resonator; an optical modulation unit performing amplification modulation on the laser light emitted from the mode-lock laser unit; a reference signal generation unit generating a master clock signal and supplying a signal synchronized with the master clock signal to the gain section of the semiconductor laser; a recording signal generation unit generating a recoding signal based on the master clock signal; and a driving circuit generating a driving pulse used to drive the optical modulation unit based on the recording signal.
US08537644B2	Heat source management in data storage device An apparatus and associated method is presently disclosed for a control circuitry capable of managing a heat source used in data storage applications. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a heat source directed at a data storage medium with a synchronization signal and a serial interface that are each selectively activated via a demultiplexed write gate signal. The selective activation allows for pulsed operation of the heat source resulting in reduced duty cycle and temperature during a write operation.
US08537642B2	Watch striking mechanism The watch striking mechanism (1) includes at least one gong (11) fixed to a gong-carrier (12) and at least one hammer (2) for activating the vibration of the gong. The striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element (20) in the form of a moving micro-magnet, which is arranged on a striking portion of the hammer, and a second magnetic element (21) in the form of a fixed micro-magnet, which is arranged in one part of the gong. The second magnetic element is at least partly opposite the first magnetic element and is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the first magnetic element. In a striking mode, said hammer may be driven in the direction of the gong to activate the vibration of said gong via a magnetic impulse due to the repulsion force of the two magnetic elements.
US08537638B2	Methods for subsurface parameter estimation in full wavefield inversion and reverse-time migration Method for converting seismic data to obtain a subsurface model of, for example, bulk modulus or density. The gradient of an objective function is computed (103) using the seismic data (101) and a background subsurface medium model (102). The source and receiver illuminations are computed in the background model (104). The seismic resolution volume is computed using the velocities of the background model (105). The gradient is converted into the difference subsurface model parameters (106) using the source and receiver illumination, seismic resolution volume, and the background subsurface model. These same factors may be used to compensate seismic data migrated by reverse time migration, which can then be related to a subsurface bulk modulus model. For iterative inversion, the difference subsurface model parameters (106) are used as preconditioned gradients (107).
US08537632B2	Method of erasing semiconductor memory device A method of erasing a semiconductor memory device comprises grouping a plurality of word lines of each memory block into at least two groups based on intensity of disturbance between neighboring word lines; performing an erase operation by applying a ground voltage to all word lines of a selected memory block and by applying an erase voltage to a well of the selected memory block; and first increasing the ground voltage of one group of the groups to a positive voltage during the erase operation.
US08537629B1	Method of testing bitline in non-volatile memory device A method of testing bitlines in a non-volatile memory device is introduced. The non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array and a plurality of bitlines crossing the memory cell array. Each of the bitlines has a first end and a second end. The bitlines are divided into a first group and a second group. The testing method includes applying a supply voltage (for charging) or a ground voltage (for discharging) to a specific group of bitlines. The bitlines are tested in two testing stages, namely an open-circuit bitline test and a short-circuit bitline test, based on the feature that a defective bitline cannot be charged or discharged. The open-circuit bitline test and the short-circuit bitline test are quick and dispense with a lengthy programmed/erasing process.
US08537628B2	Test mode control circuit in semiconductor memory device and test mode entering method thereof A test mode control circuit is provided to strictly allow entry into a test mode or prevent a boot failure from occurring during a boot operation for a built-in parallel bit test. The test mode control circuit includes a latch, a real entry signal detector, an entry determinator, and a mode control signal generator. When a real entry signal is detected, the entry signal determinator generates an entry determination signal and a test mode control signal is obtained from the mode control signal generator.
US08537627B2	Determining fusebay storage element usage Used fusebay storage elements are counted so that storage of data may begin at a first unused storage element. Repair register length and a number of previous passes are stored in a fuse header of a fusebay. When a bit of data is sent to the repair register, a repair register position tracker value is changed by one until it reaches a first value. When the first value is reached, a pass tracker value is changed by one. If the first value is not reached, the steps are repeated. A bit counter and/or a page counter may be included.
US08537624B2	Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same A semiconductor memory device that may perform a second operation during a first operation comprises a command decoder for generating a decoded command signal, a suspend pulse and a resume pulse, and a storage unit for storing the decoded address signal, the decoded command signal and a data signal in response to the suspend pulse and providing the decoded address signal, the decoded command signal and the decoded data signal as a stored address signal, a stored command signal and a stored data signal, respectively, in response to the resume pulse.
US08537617B2	Source side asymmetrical precharge programming scheme A method for programming a NAND flash string. In the present method, wordlines are driven to a first pass voltage for coupling a string precharge voltage provided by a source line to the memory cells, where the string precharge voltage is greater than the first pass voltage. With the exception a first wordline corresponding to a first memory cell adjacent to a selected memory cell, all the other wordlines are driven to a second pass voltage greater than the first pass voltage. The first memory cell is positioned between the selected memory cell and a string select device. A second wordline corresponding to a second memory cell adjacent to the selected memory cell is driven to a first supply voltage for turning off the second memory cell. A third wordline corresponding to the selected memory cell is driven to a programming voltage greater than the second pass voltage. A bitline is then coupled to the selected memory cell.
US08537615B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device When selectively erasing one sub-block, a control circuit applies, in a first sub-block, a first voltage to bit lines and a source line, and applies a second voltage smaller than the first voltage to the word lines. Then, the control circuit applies a third voltage lower than the first voltage by a certain value to a drain-side select gate line and a source-side select gate line, thereby performing the erase operation in the first sub-block. The control circuit applies, in a second sub-block existing in an identical memory block to the selected sub-block, a fourth voltage substantially identical to the first voltage to the drain side select gate line and the source side select gate line, thereby not performing the erase operation in the second sub-block.
US08537607B2	Staggered magnetic tunnel junction A staggered magnetic tunnel junction includes a free magnetic layer extending in a lateral direction between a first end portion and an opposing second end portion and a tunneling barrier disposed between a reference magnetic layer and the first end portion and forming a magnetic tunnel junction. Current flows through the free magnetic layer in the lateral direction to switch the magnetic tunnel junction between a high resistance state and a low resistance state.
US08537602B2	5T SRAM memory for low voltage applications An embodiment of a memory device of SRAM type integrated in a chip of semiconductor material is proposed. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells each for storing a binary data having a first logic value represented by a first reference voltage or a second logic value represented by a second reference voltage. Each memory cell includes a bistable latch—having a main terminal, a complementary terminal, a set of field effect main storage transistors coupled to the main terminal for maintaining the main terminal at the reference voltage corresponding to the stored logic value or to a complement thereof, a set of field effect complementary storage transistors coupled to the complementary terminal for maintaining the complementary terminal at the reference voltage corresponding to the complement of the logic value associated with the main terminal—and a field effect access transistor for accessing the main terminal. The chip includes an isolated well, the access transistor and at least one of the complementary storage transistors being formed in the isolated well.
US08537601B2	Memory controller with selective data transmission delay A DRAM controller component generates a timing signal and transmits, to a DRAM, write data that requires a first time interval to propagate from the DRAM controller component to the DRAM and to be sampled by the DRAM on one or more edges of the timing signal, a clock signal that requires a second time interval to propagate from the DRAM controller component to the DRAM, and a write command, associated with the write data, to be sampled by the DRAM on one or more edges of the clock signal. The DRAM controller component includes series-coupled delay elements to generate respective incrementally delayed signals, and a multiplexer to select one of the delayed signals to time the transmission of the write data, such that transmission of the write data is delayed based on a difference between the first time interval and the second time interval.
US08537599B2	Memory cells, non-volatile memory arrays, methods of operating memory cells, methods of reading to and writing from a memory cell, and methods of programming a memory cell In one aspect, a method of operating a memory cell includes using different electrodes to change a programmed state of the memory cell than are used to read the programmed state of the memory cell. In one aspect, a memory cell includes first and second opposing electrodes having material received there-between. The material has first and second lateral regions of different composition relative one another. One of the first and second lateral regions is received along one of two laterally opposing edges of the material. Another of the first and second lateral regions is received along the other of said two laterally opposing edges of the material. At least one of the first and second lateral regions is capable of being repeatedly programmed to at least two different resistance states. Other aspects and implementations are disclosed.
US08537596B2	Overwriting a memory array A data storage system including a memory array including a plurality of memory devices programmable in greater than two states. A read/write control module may overwrite data in the memory array without violating a constraint during the overwrite process. The memory array may be an m×n memory array.
US08537594B2	Resistance change element and resistance change memory According to one embodiment, a resistance change element includes a first film provided on a first electrode side, a second film provided on a second electrode side, a barrier film sandwiched between the first film and the second film, and metal impurities added in the first or second film, the metal impurities migrating between the first and second films bi-directionally according to a direction of a first electric field generated between the first and second electrodes. The resistance change element has a first resistance state when the metal impurities are present in the first film, and the resistance change element has a second resistance state different from the first resistance state when the metal impurities are present in the second film.
US08537593B2	Variable resistance switch suitable for supplying high voltage to drive load A circuit for supplying a high voltage to load is described. An example of such a circuit could be used in the peripheral circuitry of a non-volatile memory device for supplying a program voltage from a charge pump to a selected word line. The circuit includes a charge pump that generates the high voltage and decoding circuitry that is connected to receive this high voltage and selectively apply it to a load. The decoding circuitry receives the high voltage through a switch, where the switch is of a variable resistance that progressively passes the high voltage in response to a control signal. In a particular example, the switch includes a transistor connected between the charge pump and the decoding circuitry, where the control gate of the transistor is connected to the output of a second charge pump that is connected to receive the high voltage and a settable clock signal as its inputs.
US08537592B2	Arrays of nonvolatile memory cells and methods of forming arrays of nonvolatile memory cells An array of nonvolatile memory cells includes a plurality of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells. The tiers individually include a first plurality of horizontally oriented first electrode lines and a second plurality of horizontally oriented second electrode lines crossing relative to the first electrode lines. Individual of the memory cells include a crossing one of the first electrode lines and one of the second electrode lines and material there-between. Specifically, programmable material, a select device in series with the programmable material, and current conductive material in series between and with the programmable material and the select device are provided in series with such crossing ones of the first and second electrode lines. The material and devices may be oriented for predominant current flow in defined horizontal and vertical directions. Method and other implementations and aspects are disclosed.
US08537591B2	Variable resistance devices, semiconductor devices including the variable resistance devices, and methods of operating the semiconductor devices Methods of operating semiconductor devices that include variable resistance devices, the methods including writing first data to a semiconductor device by applying a reset pulse voltage to the variable resistance device so that the variable resistance device is switched from a first resistance state to a second resistance state, and writing second data to the semiconductor device by applying a set pulse voltage to the variable resistance device so that the variable resistance device is switched from the second resistance state to the first resistance state to the second resistance state. The reset pulse voltage is higher than the set pulse voltage, and a resistance in the second resistance state is greater than in the first resistance state.
US08537578B2	Redundant control method for a polyphase converter with distributed energy stores An inverter having three phase modules with an upper valve arm and a lower valve arm having each at least three two-pole subsystems connected in series, which each subsystem having a storage capacitor, is controlled in the event of failure of one or more subsystems by setting the terminal voltage of the failed subsystems permanently to zero, setting the terminal voltage of a corresponding number of fault-free subsystems in corresponding fault-free valve branches likewise to zero, and increasing the capacitor voltages of the fault-free subsystems of the failed valve branches such that their sum is equal to the sum of the capacitor voltages of the subsystems of a corresponding fault-free valve branch, while leaving the control of the fault-free phase modules unchanged. In this way, a symmetrical voltage system with maximum amplitude is obtained at the inverter outputs.
US08537576B2	Generation of highly accurate and highly dynamic direct currents from a rectifier group and an active filter which is connected in parallel with the load for smoothing purposes A power supply for generating temporally specifiable, open- and closed-loop controlled current paths includes a first controllable rectifier group that includes at least one rectifier having a smoothing inductor at an output. An active filter is connected in parallel to a load, the active filter including a second rectifier group with at least one rectifier and a pulse bridge connected to an output thereof. A second-order low pass filter has a clock inductor, a capacitor, and an RC damping, the clock inductor being connected located at an output of the pulse bridge. A voltage of the at least one rectifier of the first controllable rectifier group and a voltage of the active filter in an open and closed loop is controlled, a first controlled system controlling a current of the at least one rectifier of the first controllable rectifier group of the power supply system in open and closed loop via a first controller by an output-side open- and closed-loop controlled variable, and a second controlled system of a second controller for a load current and a subordinate controller for a load voltage controlling the active filter in open and closed loop using a feedforward control variable.
US08537574B2	Power source controlling semiconductor integrated circuit and insulated direct-current power source device A power source controlling IC controlling a current flown through the primary side winding of a transformer is provided with an external terminal to which a detected voltage from the secondary side is fed back through a photocoupler; a control circuit generating and outputting a control signal of a switching element controlling the current according to an input voltage; a voltage generating circuit generating an internal reference voltage based on the input voltage; a pull-up section connected to the terminal to pull up the potential of the terminal to the internal reference voltage to give a bias voltage to a light receiving element of the photocoupler; and a voltage comparing circuit comparing the voltage of the external terminal and a predetermined reference voltage, wherein the control circuit stops outputting the control signal based on the output of the first voltage comparing circuit when detecting an abnormality.
US08537573B2	System and method for providing control for switch-mode power supply System and method for providing control for switch-mode power supply. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for regulating a power converter. The system comprises a signal processing component that is configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage, to process information associated with the first voltage and the second voltage, to determine a signal based on at least information associated with the first voltage and the second voltage, and to send the signal to a switch for a power converter. The switch is regulated based on at least information associated with the signal. The signal processing component is further configured to determine the signal to be associated a first mode, if the first voltage is higher than a first threshold.
US08537572B2	Method and apparatus for providing power conversion using an interleaved flyback converter with automatic balancing A method and apparatus for converting DC input power to DC output power. The apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel connected flyback circuits. A controller is coupled to the switches within the flyback circuits to provide accurate timing and automatic current balancing amongst the plurality of flyback circuits.
US08537567B2	Method of manufacturing electronic device and electronic device A method of manufacturing an electronic device, the method includes: preparing a first lead frame having a first lead, the first lead having a first portion located in a first region; electrically connecting the first lead and a first electronic part; bending the first lead such that the first portion is located outside the first region; arranging a second lead frame to overlap the first lead frame such that a second portion of a second lead of the second lead frame is located in the first region; and electrically connecting the second lead and the second electronic part.
US08537566B2	Display unit having anti-EMI capability A display unit includes a lower cover, a display disposed on the lower cover, a metal bracket securing the display on the lower cover and an upper cover fixed to the lower cover to sandwich the display and the bracket between the lower cover and the upper cover. The bracket includes a plate pressing a back side of the display towards the lower cover and a tab contacting a lateral face of the display. The bracket is grounded.
US08537559B2	Compliant insert for electronics assemblies A compliant insert is provided to support electronic assemblies to mitigate the effects of external loading. The insert comprises a polymer material having a durometer of between 10 and 90 on the Shore A scale and a 3-D negative relief on the surface of the polymer material. The 3-D negative relief is the negative of the 3-D positive relief of a specified geometric design of an electronics assembly. The compliant insert is mated with an instance of the electronics assembly such that the 3-D negative relief of the polymer material engages the 3-D positive relief of the assembly's PCB and electronic components. The polymer material is compliant enough to absorb the vertical and lateral spacing tolerances of the electronic components and stiff enough to mitigate deflections under loading.
US08537558B2	Electronic module with improved latch mechanism An electronic module (100) comprises a base portion (1) having a receiving space (110), a panel portion (2), a printed circuit board (3) disposed in the base portion and a latch mechanism assembled to the base portion. The latch mechanism includes an actuator member (63), a fastening member (64) connected with one end of the actuator member, a pull tape (65) connected with another end of the actuator member, an elastic member (61) and a slider member (62). The fastening member is assembled to the slider member, and the elastic member is shielding outside the slider member.
US08537555B2	Heat-dissipating casing for communication apparatus A heat-dissipating casing for a communication apparatus accommodates a circuit board having a power element and includes an insulating case, a lid coupled to the insulating case, and a thermally conductive metal member. The insulating case has a receiving space, a first opening, and a second opening. The first and second openings communicate with the receiving space. The thermally conductive metal member is fixed to the inside of the insulating case, seals the second opening, and dissipates heat generated by the power element. The heat-dissipating casing is effective in dissipating heat, characterized by its low weight and low production costs, and conducive to protection and dust prevention.
US08537548B2	Method, apparatus and computer system for vortex generator enhanced cooling Some embodiments of a method, apparatus and computer system are described for vortex generator enhanced cooling. The computer system may include a housing and an apparatus. The apparatus may include one or more vortex generators coupled to a heat spreader and positioned in close proximity to an electronic component, and a flow of air to provide for an exchange of thermal energy, where the flow of air is provided by a configuration of the housing, and where the one or more vortex generators may promote turbulence to enhance the exchange of thermal energy of the electronic component. In some embodiments, an air mover may be used to increase the flow of air in the housing. Other embodiments are described.
US08537539B2	Air conditioning systems for computer systems and associated methods Computer systems with air cooling systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, a computer system can include a computer cabinet holding multiple computer modules, and an air mover positioned in the computer cabinet. The computer system can also include an airflow restrictor positioned proximate to an air outlet of the computer cabinet, and an overhead heat exchanger mated to the computer cabinet proximate to the air outlet.
US08537537B2	Comfortable laptop computer stand A laptop computer stand includes a case having a top, a bottom, right and left sides, a front, and a back. The stand further includes a plurality of speakers disposed at right and left sides of the top, and an audio hub coupled to the speakers. The audio hub is configured to receive audio signals from a laptop computer coupled to the audio hub, and control the speakers to output audio from the audio signal. The stand further includes a cooling fan disposed in the body below the top. The top includes a top grate formed therein configured to output air blown by the fan, and the back includes a back grate configured to intake air blown out the top grate. The air blown by the fan is configured to circulate between the top of the stand and the bottom of a laptop computer positioned on the top of the stand.
US08537536B1	Rapid deployment mobile data center A portable air cooled data center can include interior fans, a heat sink integrally serving as part of a wall or ceiling, and an outer heat pipe assembly in thermal communication with the heat sink allowing for heat dissipation. External fans can pull external air over the outer heat pipe assembly. A first transducer can monitor inner air temperature within the data center, a second transducer can monitor the outer heat pipe assembly, and a third transducer can be secured proximate to a fin side of the heat sink. A controller can be connected to the transducers, fans, and a power supply. Computer instructions can be used to monitor temperatures from the transducers, compare the temperatures to preset limits, and individually or simultaneously actuate, regulate, or turn off the fans when monitored temperatures meet or exceed preset limits.
US08537535B2	Data storage device cage An exemplary data storage device cage includes a main body and an electrical connector positioned on the main body. The main body includes a rectangular flat plate and two side plates respectively extending upward from opposite edges of the flat plate. The flat plate has at least a pair of tabs opposite to each other. The at least two tabs are respectively contiguous with but offset inward from the two side plates and positioned to cooperatively hold a data storage device therebetween. The electrical connector is positioned between the two side plates for electrically connecting the data storage device to an external device.
US08537534B2	HDD mounting assembly and computer case having same A hard disk drive (HDD) mounting assembly includes a fixing plate and a cover thereon including a side plate perpendicular to the fixing plate and a top plate opposite to the fixing plate. The side plate includes a first through hole defined therein and a first fastener corresponding to the first through hole. A HDD of a first size is fixed in the HDD mounting assembly by the first fastener through the first through hole. The top plate includes a second through hole defined therein and a second fastener corresponding to the second through hole. A HDD of a second size is fixed in the HDD mounting assembly by the second fastener through the second through hole, and the first size is different from the second size.
US08537531B2	Cover glass to housing interface system A display cover to housing interface system includes a display screen fronted by a display cover having front and obverse faces and a distal edge between the faces around a circumference thereof (i.e., edge thickness), and also an outer housing that provides support for the display cover. A portion of the display cover distal edge or thickness is fully exposed to outside, such that the display cover is exposed and substantially visible when viewed directly from the front and at least one side while installed. The display cover can be glass, while the housing is metal. A protective layer located between the housing and display cover protects the display cover from the housing. Various support components hold the display cover in place, and can include magnets and/or a stabilizer assembly affixed along a bottom edge of the display cover and adapted to couple to a bottom chin of the housing.
US08537529B2	Optical disk player without screws to position the cover An optical disk player includes a main body, a hinge, and a display. The main body includes a cover and an opposite base. The hinge includes a fixing portion coupled with the cover of the main body. The display is pivotably connecting to the main body by the hinge. The fixing portion defines a locating hole thereon. The cover defines a holding portion and a first locking portion. The first locking portion comprises a pole and a hook at an end of the pole. The holding portion of the cover is engaged in the corresponding locating hole of the fixing portion. The hook and the pole of the first locking portion clasp different sides of the fixing portion.
US08537525B2	Coating liquid for manufacturing electrode plate, undercoating agent, and use therof This invention relates to a coating formulation for manufacturing an electrode plate, which contains a solution of a hydroxyalkylchitosan and an organic acid and/or its derivative in an aprotic polar solvent, and an active material added to the solution and kneaded with the solution, the electrode plate, a manufacturing process of the electrode plate, a battery, a capacitor, and an undercoating formulation. According to this invention, a coating formulation for manufacturing an electrode plate for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery or an electrode plate for an electric double layer capacitor having excellent adhesion and improved contact resistance between an active material layer and a collector, the electrode plate, its manufacturing process, the battery and the capacitor can be provided.
US08537524B1	Capacitor structure in a semiconductor device An on-chip capacitor includes a first layer first polarity conducting strip and a first layer second polarity conducting strip, wherein the first layer second polarity conducting strip is arranged adjacent to and spaced apart from the first layer first polarity conducting strip, a second layer first polarity conducting strip and a second layer second polarity conducting strip, wherein the second layer second polarity conducting strip is arranged adjacent to and spaced apart from the second layer first polarity conducting strip, wherein the second layer second polarity conducting strip is arranged overlying the first layer second polarity conducting strip, wherein the second layer first polarity conducting strip is arranged overlying the first layer first polarity conducting strip; wherein the first layer first-polarity conducting strip electrically couples with the second layer first polarity conducting strip; and wherein the first-layer second polarity conducting strip electrically couples with the second layer second-polarity conducting strip.
US08537521B2	Electronic device and method for producing electronic device An electronic device includes a plurality of internal electrode layers and dielectric layers alternately laminated. The particle size of the first dielectric particles contacting one laminating direction end face of the internal electrode layer is larger than the particle size of second dielectric particles contacting another laminating direction end face of the internal electrode layer. A thickness of a first ceramic layer formed by the first dielectric particles is smaller than a thickness of a second ceramic layer formed by the second dielectric particles.
US08537520B2	Semiconductor device and method of controlling electrostatic actuator A semiconductor device applies a hold voltage Vhold to an upper electrode of an electrostatic actuator and a ground voltage to a lower electrode. After the semiconductor device sets the voltage of the lower electrode to a test voltage Vtest, it eliminates the hold voltage Vhold from the upper electrode and places the voltage of the upper electrode in a high impedance state. The potential difference between the upper electrode and the lower electrode is set to Vhold−Vtest=Vmon. Thereafter, the voltage of the lower electrode is returned to the ground voltage. Whether the electrostatic actuator is placed in an open state or in a closed state is determined by measuring the capacitance between the electrodes based on the amount of drop of the voltage of the upper electrode due to capacitance coupling at the time.
US08537518B2	Remote operation of a motor control center subunit disconnect A system and method are provided for remotely actuating a subunit disconnect in a motor control center subunit. A motor control center subunit includes a subunit housing configured to fit within a motor control center and a subunit disconnect configured to selectively control a supply power to motor control components of the subunit housing. A control mechanism is attached to the subunit housing to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect and a remote control device communicates with the control mechanism and is configured to operate the control mechanism to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect.
US08537517B1	System and method for fast-acting power protection A fast-acting power protection system and a related method of power protection are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the fast-acting power protection system includes a current limiting block capable of reducing or shutting down an unwanted current or voltage surge at an input terminal of the fast-acting power protection system. The fast-acting power protection system also integrates an output voltage clamp and the current limiting block in one piece of monolithic semiconductor material, wherein the output voltage clamp protects an electrical device connected to an output terminal of the fast-acting power protection system from an unwanted voltage surge by rapidly clamping an output voltage to a clamp voltage. Furthermore, the fast-acting power protection system also protects from a reverse polarity input voltage and dielectrically isolates a MOSFET for reverse polarity protection from other current-limiting MOSFET's inside the current limiting block.
US08537509B2	Ground fault detecting and controlling method for parallel-structured high voltage system The present invention relates to a ground fault detecting and controlling method for a parallel-structured high voltage system, and more particularly, such a ground fault detecting and controlling method for a parallel-structured high voltage system, in which it can be more precisely determined whether or not the system operation is emergently stopped based on individual insulation resistance values for respective items of the system, and it can be determined whether there is the possibility of temporary operation of the system in the emergency stop situation of the system operation. According to the present invention, a combined insulation resistance ground fault reference value is calculated based on individual insulation resistance values for respective items of the system, and the entire system is controlled by using the calculated combined insulation resistance ground fault reference value such that a high-accuracy ground fault detecting and controlling method can be provided.
US08537508B2	Sensing and control electronics for a power grid protection system Systems and method for detecting potentially harmful harmonic and direct current signals at a transformer are disclosed. One such system includes a plurality of detection components electrically connected to electrical signal lines leading from one or more connection points on a power grid, and a plurality of threshold detectors, each threshold detector configured to compare an incoming signal from a detection component to a predetermined signal having a threshold. The system also includes a controller receiving an output from each of the plurality of threshold detectors and configured to drive at least one external component in response to receiving an indication from at least one of the plurality of threshold detectors of a detected signal above a threshold.
US08537507B2	MEMS-based switching systems A device for controlling an electrical current includes control circuitry, a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch in communication with the control circuitry, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current, a Hybrid Arcless Limiting Technology (HALT) arc suppression circuit disposed in electrical communication with the MEMS switch to receive a transfer of electrical energy from the MEMS switch in response to the MEMS switch changing state from closed to open, the HALT arc suppression circuit including a capacitive portion, and a variable resistance arranged in parallel electrical communication with the capacitive portion of the HALT arc suppression circuit, the variable resistance to dissipate a portion of the transferred electrical energy.
US08537504B2	Current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer, shielding and seed layers A current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) or giant magnetoresistance (GMR) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer, shielding and seed layers is proposed for high-resolution magnetic recording. The ferromagnetic buffer layer is preferably formed of an amorphous Co—X (where X is Hf, Y, Zr, etc.) film. It provides the CPP read sensor with microstructural discontinuity from a ferromagnetic lower shield, thus facilitating the CPP read sensor to grow freely with preferred crystalline textures, and with ferromagnetic continuity to the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting as a portion of the ferromagnetic lower shield. The ferromagnetic shielding layer is preferably formed of a polycrystalline Ni—Fe film. It exhibits magnetic properties exactly identical to those of the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting identically as the ferromagnetic lower shield, and a uniform columnar grain morphology, thus initiating a uniform large grain morphology in the CPP read sensor.
US08537503B2	CPP structure magnetoresistive head According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive head has a magnetoresistive sensor film between a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer. The magnetoresistive sensor film is formed by stacking at least a pinning layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, an intermediate layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer, in which a sense current flows so as to pass through an interface between the intermediate layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, and a resistance change of the magnetoresistive sensor film in accordance with the change of an external magnetic field is detected. Also, a lateral side metal layer having an electric resistivity lower than the electric resistivity of the pinning layer is disposed at least on a side wall of the pinning layer among side walls of layers constituting the magnetoresistive sensor film, the lateral side metal layer being in contact with the lower shield layer. Other embodiments are described as well.
US08537501B2	Write head with modified side shields A write head, the write head having an air bearing surface, the write head including a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing surface, a leading surface that is opposite the trailing surface, and first and second surfaces; a trailing shield proximate the trailing surface of the magnetic write pole; first and second gaps proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnetic write pole; first and second side shields proximate the first and second gaps, each of the first and second side shields having a trailing shield surface; and first and second antiferromagnetic-coupling layers positioned between the trailing shield surfaces of the first and second side shields and the trailing shield.
US08537499B2	Disk drive suspension having flexure and load beam with insulating space between load beam and conductor of flexure A slit is formed between two opposite side portions of a metal base made of an electrically conductive material. The slit penetrates the metal base thicknesswise and extends longitudinally relative to the metal base. An insulating layer is formed on the metal base. A first conductor is formed within the slit. The first conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the slit. A second conductor is formed on the insulating layer. The second conductor faces the first conductor across the insulating layer. The second conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the first conductor. The metal base and the first conductor consist of a common base material, such as a stainless-steel plate. The first conductor is formed by etching the base material.
US08537495B1	Magnetic writer having a split yoke A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer are described. The magnetic transducer includes a first pole, a write gap, a second pole, a first coil, and a second coil. The first pole has a front portion on which at least a portion of the write gap resides. The second pole includes a split yoke that includes a first portion and a second portion. At least a portion of the first coil resides between the first portion of the split yoke and the first pole. At least a portion of the second coil resides between the second portion of the split yoke and the first pole.
US08537494B1	PMR head with an angled stitch layer A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The magnetic transducer includes a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) pole, an additional pole, a stitch, a shield, a write gap between the PMR pole and a portion of the shield, and at least one coil that energizes at least the additional pole. The PMR pole has a first front portion proximate to the ABS, while the additional pole is recessed from the ABS. The stitch resides between the PMR pole and the additional pole and has a stitch front portion between the front portion of the PMR pole and the additional pole. At least a portion of the write gap resides on the front portion of the PMR pole. At least a portion of the additional pole resides between the PMR pole and the shield.
US08537489B1	Detecting radial head position using spiral wedge information in self-servo-write Writing servo wedge code to a disk is disclosed. A first selected burst demodulation window is determined. A final radial head position is computed based at least in part on the first selected burst demodulation window. Servo wedge code is written to a disk based at least in part on the final radial head position.
US08537488B2	Method for specifying control value for controlling clearance adjustment amount between head and disk, disk drive device and manufacturing method thereof Embodiments of the present invention help to reduce damage of a head element portion or a magnetic disk in a procedure for specifying a heater power value for adjusting a clearance between the head element portion and the magnetic disk. In an embodiment of the present invention, an HDC/MPU sequentially performs data writing and reading while increasing heater power. The HDC/MPU further determines whether or not a head slider has retrieved the data properly. When the data cannot be retrieved properly, the HDC/MPU specifies a heater power value in a normal operation based on the heater power value at which the data could not be retrieved properly.
US08537482B1	Systems and methods for inter-track interference cancellation in magnetic recording channels A receiver for a hard disk drive system includes an analog front end module configured to sample a read-back signal and to output a digital read-back signal. An equalizer module is configured to generate a data vector based on the digital read-back signal. A detector module is configured to generate a decision vector based on the data vector. A re-timing module is configured to generate a first revised data vector based on the data vector and the decision vector. The re-timing module re-samples a plurality of samples in the data vector in a non-sequential time order to generate the first revised data vector. An inter-track interference (ITI) cancellation module is configured to remove ITI from the first revised data vector and to generate a second revised data vector.
US08537478B2	Lens barrel, camera and mobile information terminal A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder configured to be accommodated within a fixed frame; a plurality of lens groups configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position in which at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is stored in the fixed frame and an extended position in which the at least one portion of the plurality of lens groups is extended out of the fixed frame; and a retractable lens group configured to be retracted into the fixed frame through an opening in a wall of the fixed frame when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position.
US08537477B2	Lens barrel and optical device A lens barrel comprises barrier blades that open and close in a directional orthogonal to an optical axis; an optical system retention frame that includes a first surface along a direction orthogonal to the axis, the optical system retention frame retaining the optical system and movable with respect to the barrier blades in a direction along the axis; and a coupling plate includes a second surface relatively movable with respect to the first surface, the coupling plate causing the barrier blades to open and close by the coupling plate rotating about the axis; wherein, when the barrier blades are opened, the first surface is can move in the axis direction without abutting against the second surface and, when the barrier blades are closed, the first surface abuts against the second surface and movement of the first surface in the axis direction is restricted.
US08537475B2	Composite optical element The present invention relates to composite optical elements, and particularly to a composite optical element including a first optical component and a second optical component coupled to the first optical component.The present invention is advantageous in enhancing optical properties.A composite optical element (1) includes a first optical component (10) and a second optical component (20). The first optical component (10) is made of first glass and has a lens surface (12). The second optical component (20) is made of a material different from the first glass, is coupled to the first optical component (10) at a lens surface (22), and has a lens surface (22) at a side opposite to the first coupling surface (21). The lens surface (12) partially has a first uneven region (12a). The lens surface (22) partially has a second uneven region (22a).
US08537462B2	Microscope stage A microscope stage (14) comprising a platform (16), a specimen holder (18) resting on the platform (16) and a positioning device (20) for moving the specimen holder (18) in a plane of displacement parallel to the platform (16) is described. The microscope stage (14) includes a positioning device (20) having two displacing devices (34, 36) which are mechanically decoupled from each other and of which a first displacing device (34) is designed to move the specimen holder (18) along a first axis in the plane of displacement, and a second displacing device (36) is designed to move the specimen holder (18) along a second axis in the plane of displacement, which second axis runs transversely to the first axis.
US08537461B2	Method and configuration for the optical detection of an illuminated specimen A method for the optical detection of an illuminated specimen, wherein the illuminating light impinges in a spatially structured manner in at least one plane on the specimen and several images of the specimen are acquired by a detector in different positions of the structure on the specimen. An optical sectional image and/or an image with enhanced resolution is then calculated. The method includes generating a diffraction pattern in the direction of the specimen in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to the pupil. A structured phase plate with regions of varying phase delays is dedicated to the diffraction pattern in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to said pupil, and different phase angles of the illuminating light are set.
US08537455B2	Display device with improved display performance A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of display units and a plurality of partitioning walls. The second substrate is disposed above the first substrate. The display units are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and each of the display units has a dielectric solvent. The partitioning walls are disposed between adjacent display units correspondingly, and a dielectric constant of each of the partitioning walls is less than that of the dielectric solvent adjacent thereto. Because the dielectric constant of the partition walls is less than that of the dielectric solvent adjacent to the partition wall, a capacitance value induced at the partition wall by a driving voltage can be decreased. Thus, crosstalk phenomena can be avoided in the display unit that is not driven.
US08537454B2	Display medium driver, non-transitory computer-readable medium, display device, and method of driving display medium A display medium driver includes a translucent display substrate, a rear substrate that is opposed to the display substrate with a gap interposed therebetween, a dispersion medium enclosed between the substrates, a first particle group dispersed in the dispersion medium so as to migrate by applying a first voltage across the substrates, and a second particle group dispersed in the dispersion medium so as to migrate by applying a second voltage across the substrates, the driver including a setting unit setting a voltage value and a voltage application time of the first voltage with which the first particle group does not migrate at the time of causing the second particle group to migrate depending on a display density of the second particle group and a voltage application unit first applying the first voltage across the substrates and then applying the second voltage across the substrates.
US08537451B2	Processes for producing electrochromic substrates and electrochromic articles made therefrom The present invention provides a process for producing an electroactive substrate. The process includes providing a substrate having an oxidant layer on a surface thereof, exposing the surface containing the oxidant layer to a vapor containing an aryl or heteroaryl monomer that is polymerizable to form an electroactive polymer, and polymerizing the aryl or heteroaryl monomer in the presence of a volatile Lewis base to form a polyaryl or polyheteroaryl electroactive polymer film on the surface of the substrate. The invention also provides electroactive substrates formed by the process.
US08537450B2	Two-dimensional scanning and reflecting device A two-dimensional scanning and reflecting device includes a vibration component and a scanning component. The vibration component has a free end. The scanning component includes a frame body, a mass block, and a mirror. The frame body is connected to the free end of the vibration component. A natural frequency of the mirror corresponds to a second frequency. The mass block is disposed on the frame body in an eccentric manner, and the mass block and the natural frequency of the mirror correspond to a first frequency. When the vibration component receives a multi-frequency signal having the first frequency and the second frequency, the mirror vibrates in an axial direction with the first frequency, and vibrates in another axial direction with the second frequency.
US08537443B2	Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium An image processing apparatus includes a document correction section and a display control section. The document correction section carries out rotation processing with respect to a document image so that a first reference direction from a reference side of a document to a side facing the reference side coincides with an upper-to-lower direction of the document image which has been subjected to the rotation processing. Further, before the rotation processing is carried out, the display control section causes the display apparatus to display an image in which the document and a mark indicating the reference side of the document to a user are shown in accordance with the document image. This allows a user to easily predict how the document shown in the document image will be oriented after the document image is subjected to the rotation processing, before the user inputs a command to carry out the rotation processing.
US08537440B2	Image reading apparatus and method, and storage medium An image reading apparatus that can automatically read images on a plurality of pages stored in electronic paper without setting the electronic paper on a page-by-page basis even when using an original fixed reading method. A scanner unit reads an image on an original placed on an original platen glass by scanning the original by moving a reading unit from one end of the original to the other end. Communication with electronic paper is carried out to acquire image information stored in the electronic paper. An image file of which image is to be read is selected from the displayed image information. An image display on the electronic paper placed on the original platen glass is controlled by communicating with the electronic paper using a communication unit. The scanner unit scans in images of the selected image file displayed on the electronic paper on a page-by-page basis.
US08537438B2	Information processing apparatus in which a plurality of types of print drivers and plurality of graphics units run, control method therefor, and program It is determined whether a combination of an output requesting application and a printer driver designated as an output destination is a combination of the first application and first printer driver or a combination of the second application and second printer driver. When it is determined that the combination of the output requesting application and the printer driver is neither of these combinations, confirmation information to confirm whether to execute a print process is output.
US08537437B2	Image reading apparatus An image reading apparatus having a lower unit with a controller and an upper unit rotatably attached to the lower unit to rotate about a rear end of the upper unit is provided. The upper unit includes a sheet conveyer, an upper image reader connected with the controller via a flat cable, and an external covering. A rearward-extending section of the flat cable extends rearward from the upper image reader and is drawn in an area below a part of a frame of the sheet conveyer and to a rear section of the upper unit to reach an inner surface of the external covering at the rear end of the upper unit. A widthwise-extending section of the flat cable extends from the rear end of the upper unit along the inner surface of the external covering in a direction orthogonal to reach an outlet of the upper unit.
US08537432B2	Image-reader initializing setting of image process In an image reader, the first reading unit outputs first image data corresponding to the image of the first surface of the original document. The second image reading unit outputs second image data corresponding to the image of the second surface of the original document. The image process circuit acquires at least one of a part of the first image data and a part of the second image data from the storing unit, and performs an image process on the image data acquired from the storing unit. When the image process circuit finishes performing the image process on either the first image data or the second image data, the initialization instruction unit instructs initializing either the first setting or the second setting corresponding to the either the first image data or the second image data and the image process circuit initializes the either the first setting or the second setting.
US08537429B2	Document scanning device having light guide that illuminates document and reference plate A document scanning device includes a pair of light guides that extend in a main scanning direction of a document and illuminate the document, and a reference plate that is positioned closer to the light guides than the document. Each of the light guides has a first area that illuminates the document and a second area that illuminates the reference plate. Each light guide illuminates the reference plate over a wider area between the light guides in the second area than each light guide illuminates the document in the first area. Therefore, the center of the reference plate is illuminated and a sufficient amount of light is reflected on the reference plate.
US08537426B2	Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program for generating an integrated duplicate by printing images of a plurality of documents on a single sheet of recording paper or a plurality of continuously-fed sheets of recording paper An image forming apparatus includes an image reader that reads each of the plurality of documents and obtains image data corresponding thereto; a code detection/analysis portion that detects, from the image data, identification codes included in the documents and including output processing information which is information relating to an output processing method for the image data; a image group extraction portion that extracts an image data group made up of image data including the output processing information that is identical with each another; and a representative image determination portion that determines, within the image data group, at least one piece of representative image data; and a code deletion portion that deletes identification codes other than those for the representative image data within the image data group.
US08537425B2	Method for optimizing the search for trapping regions Methods disclosed permit the identification of frame buffer pixels for trapping. In some embodiments, flags associated with pixels in the frame buffer may be used to provide an indication of pixels for trapping. A first bit in a flag associated with a pixel may be set when the pixel is painted. In some embodiments, the method discloses a process for setting the value of a second bit in the flag to determine if the pixel associated with the flag lies on an object boundary. The pixel is identified as a candidate for trapping based on the value of the at least one flag.
US08537422B2	Image data generation method and device, and stencil printing apparatus, with density conversion based on pressing pressure based on recording medium width or thickness An input of image data is received, and information of width and/or thickness of a recording medium, which receives an image representing the image data to be recorded thereon, is received. Then, a preset pressing pressure value, which is used when the image is recorded on the recording medium, is obtained based on the information of width and/or thickness, and information of image density in the reference area, which is a part of the image data, is obtained. Then, converted image density information is obtained by converting the information of image density in the reference area based on the pressing pressure value and the information of image density, and image data is generated according to the thus obtained converted image density information.
US08537418B2	Image processing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, image processing method used in the image forming apparatus, and program product used in the image forming apparatus An image processing device, which can be incorporated in an image forming apparatus and perform an image processing method, includes a first image sensor unit including multiple image sensor chips arranged in a line to read an image of a document by converting light incident from the document into electrical signals, a chroma calculation unit to calculate chroma data from an image signal constituted by the electrical signals of the image read by the first image sensor unit, and a chroma adjustment unit to adjust the chroma by using the chroma data calculated by the chroma calculation unit to perform, only on a low-chroma image signal, a conversion process for reducing the chroma to suppress color irregularities occurring at intervals corresponding to widths of the multiple image sensor chips of the first image sensor unit.
US08537415B2	Inkjet printer In an inkjet printer, a feeding side tension applying means is provided with a feeding side tension adjustment mechanism, which is structured of a feeding side ballast arm that is extended toward a winding side tension applying means and vertically swingable around a rotation shaft perpendicular to a feeding direction of a printing medium and a feeding side ballast member that is attached to a tip end of the feeding side ballast arm, and a winding side tension applying means is provided with a winding side tension adjustment mechanism which is structured of a winding side ballast arm that is extended toward the feeding side tension applying means and vertically swingable around a rotation shaft perpendicular to the feeding direction of the printing medium “M” and a winding side ballast member that is attached to a tip end of the winding side ballast arm.
US08537413B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium When printing by generating a composite low-frequency image based on an input image, performing dodging processing, and changing a size of the input image to an output image size, if the output image size is much smaller than the input image size, wastefulness occurs in the composite processing of the low-frequency image, and the overall performance of the printing process deteriorates. To solve these problems, a plurality of blurry images having a different blurriness level from an input image are generated, print setting information to be used in printing of the input image is input, a size of a composite low-frequency image is calculated based on the print setting information, a composite low-frequency image is generated in the calculated size from the plurality of blurry images, and dodging processing is performed on the input image using the generated composite low-frequency image.
US08537410B2	Tint block image generation program and tint block image generation device using multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data A computer-readable tint block image generation program that causes a computer to execute a tint block image generation step of generating tint block image data including a latent image portion and a background portion which have different output densities to be reproduced during copying has: a camouflage pattern registration step of inputting and storing in a memory multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data; and a tint block image data generation step of generating a latent image portion image data based on a latent image portion screen for an area corresponding to the latent image portion, and generating a background portion image data based on a background portion screen for an area corresponding to the background portion, for grayscale values of the multi-grayscale camouflage pattern data.
US08537406B2	Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium capable of suppressing an increase in processing load in determination of a color range A data processing apparatus determines a color range based on a dot counting value of a number of colors smaller than a number of colors subjected to thinning processing. Thus, even if the number of ink colors subjected to the thinning processing is great, a processing load of the determination of the color range can be reduced.
US08537405B2	Controller, control apparatus, and image-forming apparatus A controller includes: a sub-control substrate that includes a first memory storing first control information to be used for controlling at least one of a plurality of modules of a processing apparatus, and controls the at least one of the plurality of modules by using the stored first control information while the controller is connected to the processing apparatus; and a main control substrate that includes a second memory and controls an operation of the sub-control substrate; and wherein: if a first operation is performed, the main control substrate acquires second control information that is to be used for controlling at least one of the plurality of modules and is determined from the first control information, and stores the acquired second control information in the second memory, when the controller is connected to the processing apparatus, and a second operation is performed, the main control substrate supplies the second control information stored in the second memory to another controller included in the processing apparatus, and stores the second control information in the another controller.
US08537403B2	Method and arrangement for use of shared resources in a network A method for controlling and monitoring, from a server, transfers of jobs from clients connected in the network to shared resources connected in the network.
US08537397B2	Image processing apparatus and check control method for controlling an output image check function According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an information adding unit, an execution determination unit, and an execution control unit. The information adding unit determines whether or not to store first information to which a predetermined value is added, in a storage unit, based on a result of analysis of image data, and adds the predetermined value to the first information and stores the first information in the storage unit in association with the image data when the determination is positive. The execution determination unit determines whether the first information with the predetermined value added thereto is in the storage unit or not. The execution control unit controls whether or not check of print quality is to be executed before the execution of print of the image data, based on the result of the determination by the execution determination unit.
US08537396B2	Print document conversion apparatus, print document conversion method, and computer readable medium A print document conversion apparatus includes a plurality of software-based conversion units and a controller. The plurality of software-based conversion units perform a software-based conversion process for converting print document data described in a page description language into page image data having a bitmap image format. Each of the plurality of software-based conversion units requests a hardware-based image processing apparatus that executes specific image processing in the software-based conversion process to execute the specific image processing, and generates the page image data including a result of the image processing executed by the hardware-based image processing apparatus in response to the request. The controller activates an additional software-based conversion unit that performs the software-based conversion process when a state where at least one of the plurality of software-based conversion units waits for the hardware-based image processing apparatus to complete the image processing possibly occurs.
US08537391B2	Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same and program of the same An image forming apparatus comprises a reception unit configured to receive the print job from the external apparatus, a unit configured to spool the received print job, a development unit configured to develop the spooled print job to a printable data, a unit configured to detect network disruption in the network, and a control unit configured to, in a case of detecting the network disruption in the middle of spooling and developing the received print job, stop the development of the print job for a stop state and set a subsequent print job which is not in the stop state as an object of the development.
US08537388B2	Information processing apparatus for image processing on a character stamp by embedding an image rendering a character string of a stamp In an information processing apparatus which can edit print data capable of including an image resource, provided is a method which performs suitable image processing on a character stamp image by embedding an image rendering a character string of a stamp and attaching information for distinguishing the embedded image.
US08537386B2	Method and system for generating smart banner pages for use in conveying information about a rendered document to a user A computer-implemented method and system for conveying information associated with a rendered job is disclosed herein. In general, data can be automatically generated, in response to a request by a user to render a job via a rendering device, wherein the data includes information indicative of the job. Thereafter, the data can be rendered for the user in a displayable format in association with the rendering of the job via the rendering device in order to convey to the user sufficient information indicative of how the job was processed and rendered via the rendering device in the event that the user encounters unexpected processing and rendering of the job.
US08537384B2	Integrated task management systems and methods for executing rule-based operations A system for integrating multiple software modules configured to produce output according to established business rules is provided. The system in one embodiment coordinates the printing of a variety of labels and reports according to a set of complex business rules. Complex output tasks may be distributed to remote computers in a network for optimum efficiency. The system may be configured to comply with one or more standard database connectivity standards in order to provide a generic interface with foreign systems. The method in one embodiment includes acquiring an input, sending a query to a database, retrieving business rules and associated tasks, and building scripts or commands for each task.
US08537383B2	Decoloring device and function management method When the presence or absence of a malfunction is respectively determined in a decoloring section or a separation device, and it is determined that either the decoloring section or the separation device is malfunctioning, only the other is executable.
US08537379B2	Document reading apparatus having a function for reading a document on a display screen and image forming apparatus including the document reading apparatus A document reading apparatus includes an integral display portion integrally provided with the area sensor portion and a main CPU for controlling screen display of the integral display portion, in which reflection light from an object placed on a screen of the integral display portion is detected by the area sensor portion. Based on an area of reflection light from the object detected by the area sensor portion, the main CPU determines whether or not the object is a document, and when determined that it is a document, it sets a document reading mode for reading the document placed on the screen by the area sensor portion.
US08537377B2	Absolute position encoder In an absolute position encoder, a multi-spectral light source illuminates a position on a topographic surface at an angle of incidence determined from a vector normal to the surface. A target on, and positionally-registered to, the topographic surface comprises a variable grating that diffracts the incident light to form a multi-spectral diffraction pattern in which the angular dispersion of the diffraction pattern varies with the absolute position of the incident light along the grating. A chromatically responsive sensor detects a narrow band of the diffraction pattern through an entrance aperture positioned at an angle of detection determined from the vector normal to the topographic surface and outputs a signal responsive to the change in the angular dispersion of the detected narrow band of the diffraction pattern. The source/sensor unit maintains (within an acceptable noise tolerance) its geometric relationship to the vector normal to the topographic surface at the position of illumination. A processing element uses a system transfer function to map the detected signal to an absolute-position on the topographic surface.
US08537375B2	Method and apparatus for using gestures to control a laser tracker A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to direct a light beam from the tracker to a retroreflector and lock onto the retroreflector includes projecting a first light to the retroreflector. Also, moving by the user the retroreflector in a predefined spatial pattern which corresponds to the command; reflecting a second light from the retroreflector, the second light being a portion of the first light; obtaining first sensed data by sensing a third light which is a portion of the second light and imaging the third light onto a photosensitive array on the tracker and converting the third light on the photosensitive array into digital form. Further, determining the first sensed data corresponds to the predefined spatial pattern; pointing the light beam from the tracker to the retroreflector; and locking onto the retroreflector with the tracker light beam.
US08537372B2	Coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and method of compensating errors in a CMM A coordinate measuring machine for determination of at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point on an object to be measured. The coordinate measuring machine comprises a stationary base, a probe head for approaching the measurement point and a frame structure for linking the probe head to the base. A first reference path is provided by an optical reference beam, wherein the reference beam extends along a guide of a linear drive mechanism so that the reference path is parallel to a first direction. Furthermore, at least one displacement sensor is assigned to the reference beam, the reference beam and the displacement sensor being designed and arranged in such a way, that a displacement of the movable member of the linear drive mechanism relative to the first reference path is measurable being indicative of a translational and/or rotational displacement of the movable member from its ordinary bearing position.
US08537369B1	Method and apparatus for measuring the shape and thickness variation of a wafer by two single-shot phase-shifting interferometers A method and system is disclosed for utilizing two single-shot phase shift interferometers to simultaneously measure wafer shape and thickness variation of two sides of a wafer.This system is able to extract the front height, the back height, and the thickness variation of a wafer in a single data acquisition.This system, when utilized with a fast shutter speed, decreases the insensitivity to vibration. Algorithms are introduced that extract the true thickness variation of a wafer even when the wafer is vibrating.The effects of air turbulence can be reduced by a phase averaging technique.
US08537367B2	Optical imaging for optical device inspection An optical imaging apparatus based on optical frequency domain measurement (OFDM) collects scatter data at multiple locations within or on the DUT as a function of time. A light source launches light into a device under test (DUT) which scatters light at one or more locations along the DUT. A light detector detects a portion of light scattered at each of multiple locations along the DUT. Data is determined using OFDM data processing that corresponds to an amount of light collected at each of the multiple locations along the DUT as a function of time. The data is stored for each of the multiple locations along the DUT. User information is provided that indicates an amount of light scattered at each of the multiple locations along the DUT based on the stored time domain data. The OFDM processing permits fine time resolution (e.g., 0.1 picoseconds) that allows small optical delay distances (e.g., 30 microns) to be resolved and allows for accurate detection of small amounts of scatter (e.g., one trillionth) to be detected simultaneously with the fine time resolution.
US08537360B2	Automated soybean phenotyping for iron deficiency chlorosis A system for evaluating the susceptibility of a soybean plant to iron deficiency chlorosis is described. Soybean plants are planted in range and rows multiple micro-plots and a cart is used to pass a radiometric sensor over the micro-plots. The cart may have a sensor housing that is divided into multiple partitions with a radiometric sensor assembly positioned within each partition. Each sensor assembly generates a data signal and a computer receives and stores the data signals. The field cart is positioned above the range. The number of partitions corresponds to the number of rows in the range and each sensor assembly is positioned above a single row.
US08537356B2	Opto-fluidic nanoparticle detection apparatus Provided herein are new methods and apparatus for quantitative measurement and analysis of particles, including new apparatus systems to process and detect nanoparticles in suspension. By focusing a laser beam at the center of a reservoir, nanoparticles are concentrated by optical energy, and fluorescent intensity at the focal point of the laser is measured to quantify particle concentration in the reservoir. The techniques may be applied to the analysis of suspensions of nanoparticles, including natural particles (e.g., microorganisms including whole viruses, bacteria, animal cells, and proteins) and synthetic particles (e.g., colloidal latexes, paints, pigments, and metallic or semiconductor nanoparticles) for medical and industrial applications, among others.
US08537355B2	Method and device for measuring a chemical composition of a liquid metal suitable for coating a steel strip A method and a device measure a chemical composition of a liquid metal suitable for coating a steel strip. The method measures a chemical composition of a liquid metal suitable for coating a steel strip for which the liquid metal is formed continuously in a first cavity, and the composition of the liquid metal is measured on a direct measurement surface thereof, for which a specimen of the liquid metal reaching the measurement surface is heated to a chosen temperature so as to isolate principally iron-based impurities from the measurement surface. Several embodiments of devices suitable for implementing the method are also presented.
US08537352B2	Cuvette, insert, adapter and method for optically examining small amounts of liquid A cuvette comprising at least one insert with two measuring surfaces, wherein the insert is a measurement tip, which has the two measuring surfaces on one end, which is distanced from another end of the measuring tip, and an adapter for insertion in a cuvette shaft of an optical measuring device and means of insert and adapter for releasably holding the at least one insert in the adapter with the measuring surfaces at a separation distance from each other for the positioning of a sample between the measuring surfaces in a beam path of the optical measuring device passing through the cuvette shaft.
US08537351B2	Inspection apparatus and inspection method An object mounting mechanism includes: a plate member on which an object is mounted. Bumps are arranged on an upper surface of the plate member which faces a reverse face of the object. In addition, the bumps are arranged sparsely in an area of a surrounding part of the plate member and densely toward an area of a center part of the plate member.
US08537349B2	Monitoring of time-varying defect classification performance Systems and methods for monitoring time-varying classification performance are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to: receiving one or more signals indicative of one or more properties of one or more samples from one or more scanning inspection tools; determining populations of one or more defect types for the one or more samples according an application of one or more classification rules to the one or more signals received from the one or more scanning inspection tools; determining populations of the one or more defect types for the one or more samples using one or more high-resolution inspection tools; and computing one or more correlations between populations of one or more defect types for one or more samples determined from application of one or more classification rules applied to one or more signals received from the one or more scanning inspection tools and populations of the one or more defect types for the one or more samples determined using the one or more high-resolution inspection tools.
US08537348B2	Light emitting diode verification system A light emitting diode (LED) verification system is provided having a mounting module for securing an LED board for testing. The mounting module includes a thermal management system for controlling the temperature of the LED board. A mounting plate is provided for centering the LED board. A clamp is provided for securing the LED board. A hood is positioned over the mounting module. The hood has a top and a base. The mounting module is positioned at the base of the hood. The mounting plate centers the LED board with respect to a centerline of the hood. A light meter is positioned at the top of the hood and centered with respect to the centerline of the hood. The light meter measures light emitted from the LED board.
US08537341B2	Physical quantity sensor and physical quantity measuring method A physical quantity sensor includes: a semiconductor laser which emits laser light to a measurement target; an oscillation wavelength modulating device that operates the semiconductor laser such that at least one of a first oscillation period and a second oscillation period alternately exists; a detector that detects an electrical signal including interference waveforms, the interference waveforms being caused by a self-coupling effect of the laser light and return light from the measurement target; a signal extracting device that measures each cycle of the interference waveforms whenever the interference waveform is input; a cycle correcting device that compares each cycle of the interference waveforms with a reference cycle to correct the cycles of the interference waveforms; and a calculating device that calculates at least one of displacement and velocity of the measurement target based on each of the cycles of the interference waveforms corrected by the cycle correcting device.
US08537338B1	Street curb and median detection using LIDAR data A method of extracting street and road data from a dataset obtained using LIDAR techniques to scan a terrestrial region of the earth's surface of interest to form the dataset. The method includes: converting the dataset into an implicit representation using a population function; converting the implicit representation into 2D point data which are supplied to an agglomerative Gaussian mixture decomposition module, the agglomerative Gaussian mixture decomposition module automatically and parsimoniously fitting the 2-D point data with a set of Gaussian components; and modeling a segment of a street grid in the dataset by Gaussian models and constraining the Gaussian models to align with each other and a dominant orientation of the streets in order to detect streets. Ray tracing techniques may be used to detect curbs and medians.
US08537337B2	Method and apparatus for analyzing tree canopies with LiDAR data A system and method for analyzing a canopy of a forest by analyzing the spatial uniformity of LiDAR data point heights in a number of areas surrounding a tree top, where the areas are smaller than the expected size of the crown of the tree. In one embodiment, the spatial uniformity is quantified as a canopy closure vector based on an analysis of the LiDAR data point heights in a frequency domain. In one particular embodiment, the standard deviation of the frequency components in the cells of a number of rings centered around the average value in an FFT output matrix is used to quantify the spatial uniformity.
US08537334B2	Measuring apparatus and projection exposure apparatus having the same A measuring apparatus which measures a substrate on which a mark formed with a resist is formed via lithography. An acquisition unit acquires information of an edge interval in an image of the mark under two different measurement conditions, and a calculation unit calculates a defocus value in the lithography based on a difference between the edge intervals of which information is acquired under the two different measurement conditions.
US08537332B2	Projection exposure tool for microlithography with a measuring apparatus and method for measuring an irradiation strength distribution A projection exposure tool (10) for microlithography with a measuring apparatus (36) disposed in an optical path (28) of the projection exposure tool (10) for the locally and angularly resolved measurement of an irradiation strength distribution. The measuring apparatus (36) includes a measuring field with an arrangement (56) of focusing optical elements (42) disposed at respective individual points of the measuring field (41), a common image plane (44) for the focusing optical elements (42), a locally resolving radiation detector (46) with a recording surface (48) for the locally resolved recording of a radiation intensity, the recording surface (48) being disposed in the common image plane (44), and the radiation detector outputting radiation intensity signals for a plurality of angle values indicative of a respective angularly resolved irradiation strength distribution for at least one of the individual measuring field points.
US08537330B2	Lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method and computer readable medium In a lithographic apparatus, a part of a reflector is heated and cooled. The rate of heating and/or the rate of cooling is adjusted to adjust the temperature of the part. The change in temperature of the part exerts a force on the reflector, which changes its shape.
US08537329B2	Rescue circuit of display panel and rescue method thereof The present invention discloses a rescue circuit of display panel and a rescue method thereof. The rescue circuit includes an amplifier, a first conductive line, a second conductive line, and a third conductive line. The amplifier has an input end and an output end. The first conductive line and the second conductive line intersect and are isolated from signal input terminals of the plurality of signal lines. The first conductive line is electrically connected to the input end and the second conductive line is electrically connected through an electrical resistor to the output end. The third conductive line intersects and is isolated from signal distal ends of the signal lines and is electrically connected to the output end. The rescue method includes performing a welding operation and performing a cutting operation. With such a rescue, a broken signal line may effectively overcome the problem of weak line with the electrical resistor connected to the second conductive line.
US08537318B2	Liquid crystal display device and electronic appliance A pixel electrode or a common electrode is a light-transmissive conductive film; therefore, it is formed of ITO conventionally. Accordingly, the number of manufacturing steps and masks, and manufacturing cost have been increased. An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic appliance each having a wide viewing angle, less numbers of manufacturing steps and masks, and low manufacturing cost compared with a conventional device. A semiconductor layer of a transistor, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode of a liquid crystal element are formed in the same step.
US08537317B2	Multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display comprising slanting slits extending along diagonals of a plurality of pixel electrodes wherein the slanting slits have a length of ⅓ the total length of the diagonals of the pixel electrodes In a multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and liquid crystal molecules are combined to form an LC alignment unit. In the LC alignment unit, at least two slits crossing each other at one point are created in the common electrode; and slanting slits are created in the pixel electrode, extending along diagonals of the pixel electrode. The slits in the common electrode and the slits in the pixel electrode stagger from one another.
US08537315B2	Liquid crystal display having alignment areas and electrode areas with particular boundaries and openings A liquid crystal display (LCD) structure is provided. A first alignment layer and a first electrode layer are disposed on a liquid crystal layer. A second electrode layer and a second alignment layer disposed under the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment layer and the second alignment layer respectively have a plurality of alignment areas with different aligning directions. At least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer includes a substrate material and a plurality of openings, and at least includes a plurality of electrode areas. The boundaries of the electrode areas correspond to the boundaries of the alignment areas. The directions of the openings in the electrode areas are between the aligning directions of the corresponding alignment areas of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.
US08537295B2	Methods of switching and apparatus comprising an electrically actuated variable transmission material A method of switching an electrically actuated variable transmission layer is disclosed. The layer is between a first electrode and a second electrode, and when a sufficiently high frequency alternating electric field is applied between the first and second electrodes, a selective region of the layer in between the first and second electrodes is switched. Apparatus for use as a glazing pane having a sheet of glazing material and an electrically actuated variable transmission layer facing the sheet of glazing material is also disclosed. The layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode. There is an electric field generator in electrical communication with the electrodes and being configured to produce an alternating electric field of sufficient strength and of a sufficiently high frequency to switch a selected region of the layer in between the first and second electrodes.
US08537293B2	Autostereoscopic display device A switchable autostereoscopic display device comprises a display panel (60) and an imaging arrangement (620 for directing the output from different pixels to different spatial positions to enable a stereoscopic image to be viewed. The imaging arrangement comprises a blue phase LC material. A controller switches the blue phase material to an isotropic state for the 2D mode and to a birefringent state for the 3D mode. This arrangement enables a switchable lens arrangement to be formed without alignment layers. This can give a high angle performance thin switchable arrangement.
US08537287B2	Projection television and fixing method of screen unit of projection television Screws that fasten a screen unit to a body are inserted from the front side of the body, a front cover that covers and conceals the screws is provided on a front surface of a frame, this front cover is fastened to the body by screws inserted into the body from its rear side, a rear cover that covers and conceals the screws is provided on a rear surface of the body, a front safety switch that detects opening of the front cover and a rear safety switch that detects opening of the rear cover are provided, and emission of a laser light beam of an optical engine is stopped when a detection signal of at least one of the front safety switch and the rear safety switch is output.
US08537286B2	Method for controlling bidirectional remote controller and bidirectional remote controller implementing the method A method for controlling a bidirectional remote controller is provided, which can directly transmit settings desired by a user to a display device. The method for controlling the bidirectional remote controller includes the bidirectional remote controller receiving from a display device and displaying on the display device a menu screen, selecting a menu from the displayed menu screen, and transmitting to the display device at least one of a control command for displaying an active window that corresponds to the selected menu and a control command for executing a function that corresponds to the selected menu on the display device.
US08537283B2	High definition frame rate conversion An image interpolator for high-definition images is presented that utilizes a two or more level hierarchical decomposition for complexity reduction. At the lowest level, after a block-based motion estimator, a pixel-based motion vector selector and a motion vector-based halo reducer, an occlusion-based adaptive motion field interpolator provides preliminary motion vectors for higher resolution level. At the high resolution level, a new motion estimation refining based on the double consideration of eventual occlusion region and motion vector precision refines the preliminary motion vectors, and again a motion vector-based halo reduction re-corrects the refined motion vectors. A new motion compensated image interpolator with controllable features for multiple interpolated images is presented. A versatile post-processing configuration for remaining artifacts may also be included.
US08537282B2	Method and apparatus for composition of subtitles Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
US08537280B2	Display apparatus, communication apparatus, displaying method and program recording medium A display apparatus can avoid a load increase and display rapidly the video of a selected channel. The display apparatus includes a synchronizing unit. The synchronizing unit adjusts a timing, in which a video is displayed based on a predetermined reference frame received and decoded at first after channel selection, toward shifting earlier than a time of original display of the video based on a time information attached to the reference frame.
US08537278B1	Enhancing the resolution and quality of sequential digital images In particular embodiments, a process relating to the creation of a high-resolution video from a low-resolution video. In a particular embodiment, the process receives as input a sequence of low-resolution video frames. The process first determines a matching score for consecutive frames in the sequence, where the matching score is based on a preliminary global transformation between consecutive frames. From the matching scores, the process determines a set of matching windows and relative-motion estimates and then uses the set and estimates to calculate more thorough global transformations and any residual relative-motion which can be explained using independent object motion and/or optical flow. The process uses the latter global transformation and any independent object motion and/or optical flow to create motion trajectories and to generate high-resolution frames by interpolating low-resolution frames at trajectory-defined points, using regular-to-irregular spatio-temporal interpolation. The process then restores the frames, using deblurring, and outputs them.
US08537268B2	Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming, the intervals between the respective lens units vary, the third lens unit comprises a plurality of lens elements, and the condition (I-1): 0.47<\|f31/fG3\|<1.00 (fT/fW>2.0, f31: a focal length of a most object side lens element in the third lens unit, fG3: a focal length of the third lens unit, fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied, having a high resolution and a short overall optical length (overall length of lens system), and still having a view angle of 70° or greater at a wide-angle limit, which is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking, and yet having a large aperture with an F-number of about 2.0 at a wide-angle limit; an imaging device; and a camera.
US08537264B2	Image capturing apparatus, method, and program for performing an auto focus operation using invisible and visible light An image capturing apparatus includes an image pickup unit including an image pickup element that captures a plurality of colors in ranges of visible and invisible light incoming through an image capturing lens, a pixel value calculating unit that calculates a pixel value of each pixel regarding at least one of the captured colors, a contrast value calculating unit that calculates a contrast value for each color based on the calculated pixel values, a correction value calculating unit that calculates a focus correction value for a distance from a current position of the image capturing lens to a focus position based on a temporal change in the calculated contrast values of the at least one color, and an image capturing lens driving unit that drives the image capturing lens based on the calculated focus correction value.
US08537263B2	Optical navigation devices and associated methods The imaging device has an imaging surface and a sensor, wherein the imaging surface is illuminated and reflects at least some of the illumination to the sensor to detect an image. The imaging device has a width and an optical path passing therethrough, wherein the optical path exhibits distortion as a result of the width of the device and the nature of the optical path. The imaging device includes an optical element which in use compensates for the distortion by generating a magnification profile across a tangential plane of the device at the sensor.
US08537257B2	Eclipse elimination by monitoring the pixel signal level An anti-eclipse circuit for an imaging sensor monitors the photo signal level output by a pixel to determine whether the photo signal corresponds to the pixel being operated at a saturated state. If so, there is a risk that the pixel may be susceptible to an eclipse distortion. When the pixel is detected as being operated in a saturated state, the anti-eclipse circuit pulls up the reset signal level previously stored in a sample and hold circuit to an appropriate voltage level in order to prevent an eclipse distortion from arising.
US08537255B2	Image sensors Image sensors including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of photo detecting elements, a dielectric layer, a plurality of color filters, and a plurality of micro lenses. The photo detecting elements may be in the semiconductor substrate and may convert an incident light into an electric signal. The dielectric layer may be on the semiconductor substrate and may include a plurality of photo blocking regions on regions between the photo detecting elements. The color filters may be on the dielectric layer and may be disposed corresponding to the plurality of photo detecting elements, respectively. The micro lenses may be on the plurality of color filters and may be disposed corresponding to the plurality of photo detecting elements, respectively.
US08537254B2	Image signal processing device and solid-state imaging device According to the embodiment, a feedback clamp circuit is included, which increases or decreases a clamp parameter so that a black level approaches a target value while controlling a change amount of the clamp parameter, which sets the black level, based on the black level read out from OB pixels.
US08537253B2	Defect pixel detection apparatus and method for detecting defect pixel A defect pixel detection apparatus includes an image sensor which includes an effective pixel configured to have a photoelectric conversion element and an output unit configured to output a pixel signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element, a first reference pixel configured to have the same pixel configuration as the effective pixel and be optically shielded, and a second reference pixel configured to have a pixel configuration different from that of the effective pixel, a defect level acquiring unit configured to acquire a defect level of a target pixel in the image sensor, and a defect pixel determination unit configured to determine whether the target pixel is a defect pixel by comparing a defect level of the target pixel with a defect detection threshold according to a type of the pixel.
US08537248B2	Image capture and manipulation Systems and techniques to provide image capture and manipulation. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes receiving an input stream including image data from a source, displaying the input stream in real-time including displaying a plurality of instantiations of the stream at a same time, each stream different, the step of displaying including applying a filter to each instantiation of the input stream, and receiving a prompt to select one of the instantiations of the stream.
US08537244B2	Image processing apparatus and method, and computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer program for executing the method An embodiment of the invention provides an image processing apparatus and method capable of reducing power consumption by controlling supply of a clock to a memory when correction is performed on image data. The image processing apparatus includes an image correction unit including a plurality of line memories to maintain image data line-by-line and perform correction on the image data, a number-of-line-memories determination unit for determining the number of line memories necessary for the correction performed by the image correction unit line-by-line, and a line memory control unit for controlling supply of a clock to the plurality of line memories based on the number of line memories determined by the number-of-line-memories determination unit to supply a clock to the line memories used for the correction performed by the image correction unit line-by-line and stop supply of the clock to line memories not used for the correction.
US08537243B2	Display control apparatus A camera which can accurately inform a photographer of the number of times image taking is possible is disclosed. The camera comprises an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image to an electric signal, an image processing circuit which applies image processing to the image data obtained by using the image-pickup device and generates processed image data, a recording circuit which records the processed image data in a recording medium, a control circuit which causes the image processing circuit to perform image processing on the image data obtained through one-time image taking under a plurality of different conditions to generate a plurality of the processed image data, and an information output unit which outputs information on the remaining number of times image taking is possible.
US08537240B2	White balance correction in a captured digital image A method for correcting white balance in a captured digital image includes storing raw sensor data representative of the captured digital image in a memory and normalizing the raw sensor data by applying an illuminant-independent shading and vignetting correction to the raw sensor data. The method continues with applying a plurality of illuminant-dependent shading and vignetting correction masks to the raw sensor data and comparing the illuminant-dependent shading and vignetting correction result with the illuminant-independent shading and vignetting correction result.
US08537238B2	Digital camera and method for capturing and deblurring images The present invention proposes a digital camera and a corresponding method for capturing and deblurring images which remove several disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the hardware limitation as well as the motion restriction of the known conventional MIP approach have been overcome. According to the proposed approach, image frames are electronically moved by an electronic frame shifting means. This allows a frame shifting in any type or fashion, wherein no complicated hardware arrangement is needed, as this has been required according to the known conventional MIP approach. The proposed deblurring approach is not limited to any type of frame shifting pattern, and it is furthermore not limited to a one-dimensional motion of the frames, as it also works for the case of a two-dimensional frame motion. Similar as in the conventional Motion Invariant Photography approach, the frame shifting results in a motion-invariant blurred image which can be deconvoluted by a single deconvolution.
US08537236B2	Automatic adjustment of capture parameters based on reference data Reference data associated with an image capture device is collected while the image capture device is directed toward a scene area. A capture control on the image capture device is automatically adjusted based at least in part on the reference data.
US08537231B2	User interface system based on pointing device The user interaction system comprises a portable pointing device (101) connected to a camera (102) and sending pictures to a digital signal processor (120), capable of recognizing an object (130) and a command given by the user (100) by moving the pointing device (101) in a specific way, and controlling an electrical apparatus (110) on the basis of this recognition. (Characteristic) pattern generation means (116) can be included in the system for facilitating object recognition.
US08537230B2	Imaging apparatus, an imaging method, a reproducing apparatus, a reproducing method and a program An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging part; and an imaging control unit for instructing a user to take a predetermined target subject to store a resulted image taken by the imaging part in accordance with the instruction on a recording medium.
US08537229B2	Image reconstruction Techniques for reconstructing an image of an object are provided. In some embodiments, an image reconstructing system includes one or more cameras, one or more light sources and an image processor. The cameras are configured to capture images of an object and the light sources are configured to irradiate the object. The image processor is configured to process the images to generate a first representation of the object and a second representation of the object, and to generate a reconstructed image of the object based on the first representation and the second representation.
US08537225B2	Image pickup apparatus and image conversion method To reduce degradation of image quality occurring upon correction of an image shake, provided is an image pickup apparatus including: an image pickup optical system; an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an image formed by the image pickup optical system; a processing unit for processing a taken image; a detection unit for detecting a shake of the image pickup apparatus; and an image stabilizing unit for decentering an image stabilizing lens unit formed as a part of the image pickup optical system based on a detection result from the detection unit. The processing unit performs the process by using an image restore filter corresponding to a position of the image stabilizing lens unit at a time of image taking.
US08537224B2	Image capture device having a shake metter An electronic image capture device including an image capture array, an optional image stabilization gyro, a processor, and a display is configured to detect the amount shaking of the device either prior to, or during image capture. When the shaking of the device exceeds a threshold required for the capture of quality images, the user of the image capture device is notified through the display that excessive shake has been detected and may be advised on methods to reduce or eliminate the shake.
US08537223B1	Spectrum sensing engine Systems, methods, and devices for reducing interference with digital television transmissions occurring over a bandwidth are disclosed. The digital television signal is correlated to a reference digital television field sync signal. A non-coherent correlation power measurement is determined based on the correlation of the received digital television signal to the reference digital television field sync signal. A plurality of maximum non-coherent correlation power measurements are determined over multiple field times. An energy estimate for the digital television transmission is determined based on the maximum non-coherent correlation power measurements. A transmit mask filter is generated based on the energy estimate. The transmit mask is applied to transmissions to reduce interference with detected digital television transmissions.
US08537215B2	Multi-camera skin inspection system for extruded ceramic honeycomb structures A multi-camera skin inspection system for inspecting the outer skin and the skin perimeter of extruded ceramic honeycomb structures is disclosed. The system has a camera that captures first digital line images of a line-illuminated portion of the outer skin as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form a scanned digital image of the outer skin. The system also has second and third cameras that respectively capture second and third digital line images of illuminated first and second endfaces, including the corresponding first and second skin perimeters, as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form scanned digital images of the ceramic honeycomb structure perimeters. The system also forms a composite image from the three scanned images and identifies at least one defect in the ceramic honeycomb structure from the composite image.
US08537212B2	Recording apparatus and recording method thereof Disclosed is a recording apparatus including: a movement cycle determining section which receives moving image data including image contents of an object which performs a movement in which a movement state and a non-movement state are alternately and periodically repeated, and determines an operating period which corresponds to the movement state and a static period which corresponds to the non-movement state; and a recording control section which records the number of frame image data, per unit time, for forming the moving image data in the static period to be smaller than in the operating period, when the moving image data is recorded.
US08537211B2	Image managing apparatus In an image managing apparatus connected to: an image processing apparatus receiving an image signal from an imaging apparatus capturing a medical examination image; and an image recording apparatus recording a captured image, an apparatus information storage stores an image processing apparatus type. An apparatus ID acquiring unit acquires an image processing apparatus identifier from the connected image processing apparatus. An apparatus type acquiring unit reads out the type of the connected image processing apparatus based on the image processing apparatus identifier acquired by the apparatus ID acquiring unit. If the image processing apparatus type read by the apparatus type acquiring unit indicates that the apparatus can transmit an image file directly to the image recording apparatus, a file acquiring unit reads out from the image recording apparatus an image file that the image processing apparatus stores directly in the image recording apparatus.
US08537210B2	Controlling light source with endoscope type A light source device for an endoscope, characterized by having a light source for supplying illuminating light to an object, endoscope connection unit optically connected to an endoscope that has discrimination information for discriminating the kind of endoscope, discrimination unit for discriminating the endoscope based on the discrimination information of the endoscope connected to the endoscope connection unit, change unit for the changing illumination condition of the illuminating light, and control unit for controlling the change unit based on the result of discrimination by the discrimination unit.
US08537208B2	Apparatus and method for displaying three-dimensional image according to position of user An apparatus and method for displaying a three-dimensional image according to the position of a user, in which the distance between a display panel displaying a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional optical panel converting a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional image is controlled in accordance with the position of the user to provide an optimized three-dimensional image. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional optical device converting a displayed two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional image, a position measurement module measuring the position of the user who converges on the three-dimensional image, a crosstalk calculator calculating the level of crosstalk that can occur in the position of the user, and a driver adjusting a position of the three-dimensional optical device if the level of crosstalk exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US08537205B2	Stereoscopic video display apparatus and display method In one embodiment, a stereoscopic video display apparatus includes: a plane display unit including a display screen in which first to third subpixels having respectively different color components are arranged in a matrix form; and an optical plate. The plane display unit includes a configuration obtained by arranging a first subpixels and the second subpixels alternately on a first subpixel row, arranging the third subpixels on a second subpixel row adjacent to the first subpixel row, arranging the first subpixels and the second subpixels alternately on a third subpixel row adjacent to the second subpixel row to have a sequence opposite to that on the first subpixel row, arranging the third subpixels on a fourth subpixel row adjacent to the third subpixel row, and arranging a set of the first to fourth subpixel rows in the column direction of subpixels on the display screen repeatedly.
US08537204B2	3D television broadcasting system Television broadcasting systems of this invention comprise an imaging system, and transmission system, and a displaying system. The imaging system captures two-dimensional images of an object at different focal plane, and generates an all-in-focused image and depth profile. A data signal carrying the image data is generated and transmitted over a broadcasting system compatible with commercial two-dimensional television broadcasting, cable, and/or alternative systems. The depth profile is transmitted by using vacant space in video/audio signal within the allocated channel bandwidth. The data signal is received by the displaying system and the extracts the all-in-focused image and depth information from the data signal. The object is restored from all-in-focused image and depth profile and displayed on the displaying system as a three-dimensional spatial image. Viewers having conventional two-dimensional display device can watch enhanced two-dimensional images.
US08537203B2	Scanning beam with variable sequential framing using interrupted scanning resonance A scanning device for use in an endoscope or other applications can be driven to scan a region with one or more different scanning parameters during successive scanning frames. The scanning device, which can include an optical fiber or reflective surface driven by an actuator to move relative to one or more axes, can be provided with a drive signal that is different during successive scanning frames so that the scanning pattern can be caused to differ between the successive scanning frames by one or more of size, amplitude in at least one direction, depth, duration, shape, and resolution. Thus, different scanning frames can be employed for imaging, carrying out a diagnosis, rendering a therapy, and/or monitoring a site, using the appropriate scanning pattern, appropriate light source, and other parameters for each function that is carried out by the scanning device.
US08537201B2	Combining video data streams of differing dimensionality for concurrent display Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to combining video data streams of differing dimensionality for concurrent display. An embodiment of an apparatus includes an interface to receive multiple video data streams, a dimensionality of each video stream being either two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D). The apparatus further includes a processing module to process a first video data stream as a main video image and one or more video data streams as video sub-images, the processing module including a video combiner to combine the main video data stream and the sub-video data streams to generate a combined video output. The processing module is configured to modify a dimensionality of each of the video sub-images to match a dimensionality of the main video image.
US08537195B2	Automatic video layouts for multi-stream multi-site telepresence conferencing system A videoconference multipoint control unit (MCU) automatically generates display layouts for videoconference endpoints. Display layouts are generated based on attributes associated with video streams received from the endpoints and display configuration information of the endpoints. An endpoint can include one or more attributes in each outgoing stream. Attributes can be assigned based on video streams' role, content, camera source, etc. Display layouts can be regenerated if one or more attributes change. A mixer can generate video streams to be displayed at the endpoints based on the display layout.
US08537193B1	Wireless video conferencing with mobility A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for managing a handoff of a video session including a plurality of devices. The method can include monitoring a signal strength in a first access technology of a mobile device within a first video session. The method can additionally include detecting a change in the signal strength of the at least one mobile device and determining a second access technology for the mobile device. Moreover, the method can include establishing a second video session using the second access technology for the mobile device and the other devices within the first video session.
US08537189B2	Thermal printer and driving method thereof Provided is a thermal printer for printing information on thermal paper having a thermosensitive layer formed on both sides thereof, including first and second thermal heads, the first thermal head printing on one side of the thermal paper and the second thermal head printing on the other side of the thermal paper; a first platen installed at a position opposite the first thermal head, and configured to move for closing so as to approach the first thermal head and move for opening so as to be distanced therefrom; a second platen installed at a position opposite the second thermal head, and configured to move for closing so as to approach the second thermal head and move for opening so as to be distanced therefrom; and a control unit configured to control the first and second platens.
US08537187B2	Thermal transfer printing device A thermal transfer printing device includes a thermal transfer printing module and a paper ejecting module. The paper ejecting module includes a D-shaped ejecting roller, a driving gear, a switching roller, a spring, and a stopper. During a thermal transfer paper is printed by the thermal transfer printing module, the spring provides a friction force to the switching roller. In response to the friction force, the switching roller is driven by the driving gear, and the D-shaped ejecting roller is not contacted with the thermal transfer paper. After the printing task of the thermal transfer printing module is completed, the friction force provided by the spring allows the D-shaped ejecting roller to transport the thermal transfer paper.
US08537179B2	Image processing apparatus and method and image display apparatus A first intermediate image generating means (1) generates an intermediate image (D1) by extracting a component of an input image (DIN) in a particular frequency band; a second intermediate image generating means (2) generates an intermediate image (D2) having a frequency component higher than intermediate image (D1); an intermediate image processing means (3M) generates an intermediate image (D3M) by suppressing low-level noise included in intermediate image (D1); an intermediate image processing means (3H) generates an intermediate image (D3H) by suppressing low-level noise included in intermediate image (D2); and an adding means (4) adds the input image (DIN) and intermediate image (D3M) and intermediate image (D3H) together to obtain a final output image (DOUT). Even if the input image includes a fold-over component on the high-frequency side or does not include an adequate high-frequency component, an enhanced image can be obtained without enhancing noise.
US08537176B2	Method and apparatus for generating dithered image data for stereoscopic image display A method and apparatus capable of reducing or preventing dithering noises in 3D dither for displaying stereoscopic or 3D images are provided. The method entails generating image data in which two consecutive frames have the same dithered image data.
US08537175B1	Video enhancement for large scale applications A video enhancement server enhances a video. A scene segmentation module detects scene boundaries and segments the video into a number of scenes. For each frame in a given scene, a local white level and a local black level are determined from the distribution of pixel luminance values in the frame. A global white level and global black level are also determined from the distribution of pixel luminance values throughout the scene. Weighted white levels and black levels are determined for each frame as a weighted combination of the local and global levels. The video segmentation server then applies histogram stretching and saturation adjustment to each frame using the weighted white levels and black levels to determine enhanced pixel luminance values. An enhanced video comprising the enhanced pixel luminance values is stored to a video server for serving to clients.
US08537170B2	Organic light emitting display with reduced driving frequency and method of driving the same An organic light emitting display and a method of driving the same, in which a driving frequency is lowered and at the same time a production cost is reduced. The organic light emitting display includes: a display region divided into a left part and a right part; a first data driver adapted to supply a data signal to data lines of the left part; a second data driver adapted to supply the data signal to data lines of the right part; and first and second memory groups wherein, when one of the first and second memory groups stores data to be supplied to the left and right parts therein, another one of the first and second memory groups supplies data to the first and second drivers, and wherein, when one of the first and second memory groups receives a reading signal in parallel, another one of the first and second memory groups receives a writing signal in series. With this configuration, the frequency of a clock included in a reading signal supplied to a line memory is lowered, thereby reducing a production cost.
US08537165B2	Method and apparatus for automatic coalescence of connected rigid bodies The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for simulating the motion of three dimensional models, toys, games, etc. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a plurality of three dimensional objects for motion simulation. The method may also include determining at least two three dimensional objects from the plurality of three dimensional objects that do not move relative to each other during motion simulation. A super body may then be constructed that represents the determined at least two three dimensional objects, and a motion of the super body computed at a physics simulation engine to simulate motion of the super body and any remaining three dimensional objects that are not part of the super body.
US08537158B2	Parallel triangle tessellation Triangles are tessellated by an algorithm that is adapted for efficient parallel processing. A plurality of input triangles for tessellation are received. Within each input triangle, a number of tessellated vertices and a number of output triangles to be generated are calculated. A scan-based methodology accesses data stored in lookup tables to generate locations of the output triangles within the input triangle. In some implementations, multiple output triangles within the input triangle are generated simultaneously by parallel processing. A tessellated input triangle is divided into the multiple output triangles that are rendered in a computer graphic system.
US08537157B2	Three-dimensional shape user interface for media content delivery systems and methods Exemplary three-dimensional (“3-D”) shape user interfaces for media content delivery systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content delivery computing system maintaining data representative of a 3-D shape model including a plurality of shape faces, dynamically selecting, in accordance with a shape content selection heuristic, display content for association with at least one of the plurality of shape faces, and utilizing the data representative of the 3-D shape model to render a graphical representation of a 3-D shape in a graphical user interface. In some examples, the method further includes the computing system feeding the dynamically selected display content, which may include one or more video feeds, into at least one of the plurality of shape faces in real time. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08537156B2	Computer aided design method and system for modular layouts The invention relates to the design of layouts for a room in which a user wishes to position elements figuring in a collection of catalogs. Prior art systems only allow incremental construction by making direct selections from one or more catalogs. The inventive system and procedure allow rapid, overall construction of several solutions satisfying a certain number of constraints determined by the room, the user or the distributor of the equipment to be positioned, as well as rules derived from experience in the field of the equipment concerned. The method is subdivided into the steps of spatial analysis, definition of layout templates, selection of candidates from the collection of catalogs and optimization of the positioning. The system permits simultaneous visualization in three dimensions of optimum solutions and the printing of two-dimensional assembly drawings. The procedure and the system are preferably applicable to kitchen layouts.
US08537154B2	Attraction system and attraction providing method A theater (54) can be divided into a plurality of booths (64) by booth partition walls (68). By moving the booth partition walls (68), the plurality of booths (64) are combined to form a combined theater (66). When the theater (54) is divided in the plurality of booths (64), each booth (64) provides a booth picture in which images of visitors seated in the booth (64) are incorporated as characters. The combined theater (66) provides a combined-theater picture with the use of screens (70) of all the booths (64). Each booth (64) provides a default picture when a fault occurs in the function of generating a booth picture.
US08537150B2	Method and control board for eliminating power-off residual images in display and display using the same A method and a control board for eliminating power-off residual images in a display and a display using the same are provided. The method includes the following steps of providing a first voltage to compensate a second voltage which is used for sequentially turning on all scan lines within a display panel when the display is in power-off, and then forming a third voltage to turn on all scan lines within the display panel according to the compensated second voltage.
US08537149B2	Pixel array and display panel having the same A pixel array having a plurality of pixel structures is provided. At least one of the pixel structures includes a scan line, a data line, an active device, a pixel electrode, a capacitor electrode line, a readout line and a sensing device. The scan line and the data line are disposed on a substrate. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device. The capacitor electrode line electrically couples with the pixel electrode. The readout line is disposed parallel to the data line. The sensing device is electrically connected to the scan line and the readout line, and the sensing device is connected to an adjacent capacitor electrode line.
US08537147B2	Display device and flexible substrate output terminal arrangement In one embodiment, a display device includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels and signal lines. A flexible substrate is electrically connected to the display panel through a connection portion. A driving circuit is mounted on the flexible substrate to drive the signal lines. The driving circuit includes first and second edges respectively opposing to input and output side ends of the flexible substrate, and a plurality of output terminals of the driving circuit are arranged along the first and second edges. The output terminals are set so as to be classified into two groups of valid output terminals to supply a signal to the signal lines and invalid output terminals not used to output a signal to the signal lines, and the valid output terminals are arranged along the second edge of the driving circuit so as to be sandwiched by the invalid output terminals.
US08537146B1	Methods and apparatus for toggling between graphics processing unit video scanouts One embodiment of the invention sets forth a method for toggling between video scanouts generated by a plurality of graphics processing units. The method includes the steps of transmitting a set of programming instructions to a first graphics processing unit and to a second graphics processing unit, configuring a first state machine within the first graphics processing unit to cause a trigger signal to be included with each video frame transmitted by the first graphics processing unit for display, and configuring a second state machine within the second graphics processing unit to cause a trigger signal to be included with each video frame transmitted by the second graphics processing unit for display. The method advantageously creates a direct relationship between the transmission frequencies of the individual graphics processing units and the switching frequency of a video bridge, not relying on a driver to control the video bridge switching.
US08537144B2	Method and device for avoiding image misinterpretation due to defective pixels in a matrix display The present invention relates to a system and a method for avoiding misinterpretation of images due to defective pixels present in matrix addressed electronic displays during display time. This may be very important e.g. in the medical world. The method comprises obtaining information on the presence of the defective pixels in the display, and modulating the operation of the display so as to indicate, emphasize or warn for the presence of said defective pixels on the actual display having defect pixels, or adapting the image content of the defective pixels or of pixels in the neighborhood of the defective pixels so as to indicate, emphasize or warn for the presence of said defective pixels in a copy of the displayed image. Such copy may be a hard copy or an electronic copy.A corresponding device is also provided.
US08537139B2	Optical touch control device and optical touch control system An optical touch control device includes a detection area, a plurality of image capturing modules, for capturing a plurality of images on the detecting area, and a processing module, coupled to the plurality of image capturing modules, for determining a touch status of the detection area according to variations of the plurality of images, wherein a plurality of capture angles of the plurality of image capturing modules relative to the detection are greater than 90°.
US08537132B2	Illuminated touchpad The present invention pertains to improved feedback mechanisms for touch pads. One aspect relates to devices capable of illuminating the touch sensitive surface of the touch pad. Another aspect relates to methods for providing visual feedback at the touch pad.
US08537129B2	Techniques for recognizing movement of one or more touches across a location on a keyboard grid on a touch panel interface Briefly, a method and apparatus for recognizing movement of one or more touches across a location on a keyboard grid on a touch panel interface is disclosed. The method may receiving user input with a touch panel interface, recognizing movement of one or more touches across a location on a keyboard grid on the touch panel interface, and performing an action associated with the movement of one or more touches across the location on the keyboard grid on the touch panel interface.
US08537128B2	Portable multi-touch input device A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.
US08537123B2	Touch sensing apparatus and sensing signal processing method thereof A touch sensing apparatus for accelerating a sensing signal processing operation is provided. The touch sensing apparatus includes a plurality of sets of horizontal sensing lines, a plurality of sets of vertical sensing lines, a plurality of processing circuits, and a plurality of sensing units. The plurality of sensing units output a plurality of sets of horizontal and vertical sensing signals via the plurality of sets of horizontal and vertical sensing lines respectively. Each processing circuit is coupled to corresponding sets of horizontal and vertical sensing lines. Furthermore, disclosed is a sensing signal processing method essentially including scanning the plurality of sets of horizontal sensing lines in synchronization for synchronously fetching the plurality of sets of horizontal sensing signals during a first interval, and scanning the plurality of sets of vertical sensing lines in synchronization for synchronously fetching the plurality of sets of vertical sensing signals during a second interval.
US08537122B2	Touch screen adapter for monitor A touchscreen adapter may fit between a display and a display mount and may resolve the presence and position of a touch to the surface of the display. In some embodiments, the touchscreen adapter may sense using a strain gage sensor mechanism. The touchscreen adapter may have a male mechanical interface to the display and a female mechanical interface to the display mount. In some embodiments, the two mounts may be the same size and format, enabling the touchscreen adapter to be inserted between a display and display mount for a given display. The touchscreen adapter may provide an electronic interface to a computer system to transmit a presence and position of a touch made to the display.
US08537118B2	Handheld electronic device and method for disambiguation of text input and providing spelling substitution A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. The device is structured to identify and output representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input. The device is additionally structured to identify and output representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a known spelling substitution particular to a language active on the handheld electronic device.
US08537117B2	Handheld wireless communication device that selectively generates a menu in response to received commands A handheld wireless communication device configured to send and receive text messages. The device is hand cradleable with a body configured to be held in one hand by an operator during text entry. A display is located on a front face of the body and upon which information is displayed to the operator during text entry. A key field is also located on the front face of the body and that includes a plurality of alphanumeric input keys and menu control keys. A microprocessor is provided that receives operator commands from the keys and the trackball navigation tool and which affects corresponding changes to the display based on user input. The key field is arranged such that the keys in lateral exterior key columns are associated with an application function.
US08537114B2	Mouse device operable with variable button-pressing force A mouse device is operable with a variable button-pressing force. The mouse device includes a mouse base, a mouse case, a button disposed on the mouse case, a pressing plate contacted with the button, and the sliding member contacted with the pressing plate. The sliding member is partially protruded out of the mouse base, and movable with respect to the mouse base. When the sliding member is moved to a first position and contacted with a first touching part of the pressing plate, the force required for pressing the button is equal to a first downward external force. Whereas, when the sliding member is moved to a second position and contacted with a second touching part of the pressing plate, the force required for pressing the button is equal to a second downward external force.
US08537112B2	Control system for navigating a principal dimension of a data space Systems and methods are described for navigating through a data space. The navigating comprises detecting a gesture of a body from gesture data received via a detector. The gesture data is absolute three-space location data of an instantaneous state of the body at a point in time and physical space. The detecting comprises identifying the gesture using the gesture data. The navigating comprises translating the gesture to a gesture signal, and navigating through the data space in response to the gesture signal. The data space is a data-representational space comprising a dataset represented in the physical space.
US08537111B2	Control system for navigating a principal dimension of a data space Systems and methods are described for navigating through a data space. The navigating comprises detecting a gesture of a body from gesture data received via a detector. The gesture data is absolute three-space location data of an instantaneous state of the body at a point in time and physical space. The detecting comprises identifying the gesture using the gesture data. The navigating comprises translating the gesture to a gesture signal, and navigating through the data space in response to the gesture signal. The data space is a data-representational space comprising a dataset represented in the physical space.
US08537110B2	Virtual device buttons Various implementations of virtual device button simulation are disclosed.
US08537100B2	Backlight module and display apparatus The present invention provides a backlight module and a display apparatus. The backlight module comprises at least two light sources; a plurality of light guide units corresponding to the light sources and disposed at one side thereof; and at least one reflective layer formed between the two adjacent light sources, wherein a portion of the reflective layer extends between two of the light guide units corresponding to the two light sources. The present invention can enhance the number of the locally dimmed regions and improve the light interference problem between the different lighting regions.
US08537098B2	Retention and other mechanisms or processes for display calibration A “burn-in” is purposely performed on an LCD panel. The “burn-in” is calculated to compensate for an artifact or malfunction of a display using the LCD panel. The “burn-in” may be calculated, for example, to compensate for brightness levels in a light field emanating from the backlight of a dual modulation display. The burn in performed, for example, during periods of “power-off” of the display (e.g., when the backlight of an LCD is off).
US08537096B2	Connector and a display apparatus having the same A display apparatus including: a backlight unit generating a light; a display panel receiving the light to display an image; a backlight driving circuit receiving a driving power and a control signal from an external system to drive the backlight unit; a display panel control circuit receiving a driving signal and an image signal from the external system to control the display panel; and a connector electrically connecting the external system to the backlight driving circuit and the display panel control circuit, wherein the driving power, the control signal, the driving signal and the image signal are transmitted through the connector.
US08537094B2	Shift register with low power consumption and liquid crystal display having the same A shift register comprises a plurality of stages. In one embodiment, each stage includes a first output, a second output, a pull-up circuit electrically coupled between a node and the second output, a pull-up control circuit electrically coupled to the node, a pull-down control circuit electrically coupled between the node and the first output, and a control circuit electrically coupled to the node and the first output.
US08537092B2	Shared buffer display panel drive methods and systems Methods of driving source lines and/or circuits/systems for driving source lines are provided. Source lines of a display device are driven by comparing first data for driving a first buffer associated with a first source line of the display device and second data for driving a second buffer associated with a second source line of the display device and selectively disabling the second buffer and driving the second source line of the display device with the first buffer based on the comparison of the first and second data.
US08537090B2	Driving circuit and organic electroluminescence display thereof An organic electroluminescence display capable of reducing a size of a data driving unit by decreasing an area of a D/A converter, and a driving circuit thereof. The data driving unit includes a first decoder to generate a first selection signal to correspond to a data signal; a first switch unit to receive first voltages and second voltages and to select one of the first voltages or the second voltages to correspond to the data signal; a second switch unit to select first and second reference voltages from the selected first or second voltages in response to the first selection signal; a second decoder to generate a second selection signal to correspond to the data signal; and a grey level voltage generating unit to receive and distribute the first and second reference voltages, selected by the switch units, to generate grey level voltages and to select and output one grey level voltage to correspond to the second selection signal.
US08537080B2	Display apparatus and drive method therefor, and electronic equipment A drive section sequentially supplies respective scanning lines with a control signal and supplies respective signal lines with a video signal to carry out a correction operation for holding a voltage equivalent to a threshold voltage of a drive transistor in a holding capacitance, and subsequently performs a write operation for writing the video signal in the holding capacitance, and before the correction operation, the drive section switches potentials at the bias line and adds a coupling voltage to one current terminal of the drive transistor via an auxiliary capacitance to carry out a preparation operation for an initialization to set a potential difference between a control terminal and the one current terminal of the drive transistor larger than the threshold voltage.
US08537078B2	Pixel circuit, driving circuit, light emitting apparatus, electronic apparatus and driving method of pixel circuit Disclosed is a pixel circuit including a light emitting element having one terminal and the other terminal, a driving transistor that supplies a driving current to the one terminal of the light emitting element, a first power line electrically connected to the other terminal of the light emitting element and receiving a first potential, a control transistor provided between a second power line, which receives a second potential, and a source of the driving transistor, and having a gate that receives a control signal through a control line, a first capacitor provided between the second power line and a gate of the driving transistor, a second capacitor provided between the gate and the source of the driving transistor, and a select transistor provided between a data line, which receives a data potential, and the gate of the driving transistor, and having a gate that receives a scanning signal through a scanning line.
US08537077B2	Display device and method of driving the same A display device and a method of driving the same in which moving image blurring is prevented and a contrast ratio is enhanced by providing a light-emitting element, switching transistors, and a driving transistor with driving signals that include specific voltages at predetermined times, so that the light-emitting element does not emit light for an entire frame and the light output is not influenced by a threshold voltage of the driving transistor.
US08537076B2	Video circuit The invention relates to a video circuit (1) for processing video signals which show images on a display panel with linear light transition, comprising a gamma correction circuit (3), a quantizer (11) and a sub-field generator circuit (8). To save computing time, a random-access memory (7) replaces the quantizer (64).
US08537070B2	Antenna sheet, tag, and method of manufacturing tag An antenna sheet includes a mounting section on which an integrated circuit (IC) chip electrically connected with an antenna pattern is mounted, a first loop forming section that extends from both ends of the mounting section that holds the IC chip therebetween and forms a first loop, an intersection portion in which at least parts of both forefronts of the first loop forming section intersect with each other, and a second loop forming section that extends from the forefronts of the first loop forming section that intersect in the intersection portion and forms a second loop outside the first loop.
US08537069B2	Radio frequency identification tag An RFID tag is disclosed, wherein the RFID tag includes a radiation pattern printing on an upper surface of a first dielectric substrate, a cross (+) type slot formed towards an upper part, a lower part, a left-side and a right-side on the basis of a center of the radiation pattern to divide a left-side radiation pattern and a right-side radiation pattern, a plurality of first connection patterns formed inside the upper part of the cross (+) type slot, connecting the left-side radiation pattern with the right-side radiation pattern, a tag chip settled inside the lower part of the cross (+) type slot, a feeding loop pattern electrically connecting the tag chip and the left-side radiation pattern, and the right-side radiation pattern, and a plurality of second connection patterns connecting the left-side radiation pattern and the right-side radiation pattern at an end part of the feeding loop pattern.
US08537063B2	Antenna for reception of satellite radio signals emitted circularly, in a direction of rotation of the polarization An antenna for reception of satellite radio signals emitted circularly in the direction of rotation of polarization has a conductive base surface, an antenna connection point, an antenna element connection point and at least two antenna elements. The first antenna is a conductor loop disposed parallel to the base surface. The loop antenna has capacitors disposed along the conductor loop. The antenna connection point is coupled to an interruption of the loop antenna. This connection point feeds a ring current into the loop antenna. At least one additional antenna element extends between the antenna element connection point and the loop antenna. The additional antenna element has a polarization orientated perpendicular to the polarization of the loop antenna and an orthogonal phase in the far field.
US08537062B1	Low-profile antenna assemblies A low-profile antenna assembly includes at least two antennas co-located under a cover. At least one of the at least two antennas includes an antenna configured for use with AM/FM radio. And, at least one of the at least two antennas includes an antenna configured for use with at least one or more of SDARS, GPS, cell phones, Wi-Fi, DAB-VHF-III, DAB-L, etc.
US08537061B2	System and apparatus for locomotive radio communications In one embodiment, a radio communication system comprises a removable antenna platform and an antenna interface bulkhead connected to a roof of a locomotive. The antenna platform includes a blind mate connector connected to an antenna mount. The antenna mount is connected to a ground plane. The antenna interface bulkhead includes a blind mate connector configured to mate with the blind mate connector of the antenna platform when the antenna platform is attached to the antenna interface bulkhead. The antenna interface bulkhead is configured to attach to the antenna platform in one orientation. Thus, one or more antennas may be quickly attached to or removed from the roof of the locomotive reducing maintenance time for the locomotive when an antenna upgrade may be desired.
US08537060B2	Glass antenna for car A glass antenna of a vehicle is provided, in which the pattern of the antenna is positioned at the sealant provided between a window glass and the vehicle body for indirect grounding. With this, the impedance characteristic and reception level of the antenna can be increased in a cost-effective way.
US08537058B2	Antenna assembly and electronic device using the same An antenna assembly includes a slide mechanism, a chassis, and an antenna. The slide mechanism includes a fixed plate and a slide plate slidably mounted on the fixed plate. The chassis is mounted on the slide plate. The antenna is mounted on the chassis. The antenna is contained between the fixed plate and the slide plate when the slide mechanism is retracted, and exposed when the slide mechanism is extended.
US08537057B2	Mobile terminal with two antennas for reducing the RF radiation exposure of the user For a mobile terminal for receiving wireless transmissions from a transmitter and transmitting wireless transmissions to a receiver it proposed to provide an antenna arrangement having a plurality of antenna elements each provided on or within a common body or a respective body of the terminal in a defined spatial relation to a conducting chassis part, wherein at least one first antenna element is located on a first side and at least one second antenna element is located on a second side of the same conductive chassis part or of the respective conducting chassis part, wherein high frequency circuitry, for transmitting a respective wireless transmission, is adapted to simultaneously drive said first antenna element and said second antenna element by feeding the same or corresponding high frequency signals to said first antenna element and to said second antenna element.
US08537055B2	Portable electronic device and magnetic antenna circuit A portable electronic device and a magnetic field antenna circuit are provided for making it possible to keep an antenna resonance frequency in a fixed range even if temperature changes. A mobile telephone device (1) is provided with a second communication unit driven by a chargeable battery (43) to execute a predetermined function and an RFID unit (41) accompanied with magnetic communication. The RFID unit (41) includes a magnetic antenna unit (50), which can transmit or receive a wireless signal by a magnetic field, and a capacitor (52), one terminal of which is connected with the magnetic antenna unit (50) to generate a predetermined resonance frequency. The capacitor (52) is characterized in having a temperature-reactance characteristic reverse to an amount of an inductance value that fluctuates as the magnetic antenna unit (50) changes in accordance with temperatures.
US08537050B2	Identification and analysis of source emissions through harmonic phase comparison The present invention is a signal processing method to significantly improve the detection and identification of source emissions. More particularly, the present invention offers a processing method to reduce the false alarm rate of systems which remotely detect and identify the presence of electronic devices through an analysis of a received spectrum the devices' unintended emissions. The invention identifies candidate emission elements and determines their validity based on a frequency and phase association with other emissions present in the received spectrum. The invention compares the measured phase and frequency data of the emissions with a software solution of the theoretically or empirically derived closed-form expression which governs the phase and frequency distribution of the emissions within the source. Verification of this relationship serves to dramatically increase the confidence of the detection.
US08537049B2	Multi-function radar device Provided is a multi-function radar apparatus capable of measuring both a distance to a target object and a temperature of the target object with high accuracy. A transmission signal produced from a high-frequency signal generating unit (9) is amplified by a transmission signal amplifying unit (12) while intermittently stopped by a transmission intermittent stop switch (11), and is emitted to a target object (13) via a circulator unit (2). A reflected wave from the target object (13) is input as a reception signal to a transmitting and receiving antenna (1) while the transmission signal is emitted, and a radiated wave from the target object (13) is input as the reception signal thereto while the transmission signal is not emitted. The reception signal is amplified by a reception signal amplifying unit (3) via the circulator unit (2), and is mixed by a frequency converting unit (4) with the transmission signal branched by a high-frequency signal branching unit (10) to thereby generate a beat signal. A signal processing unit (6) calculates the distance to the target object (13) and the temperature of the target object (13) based on the beat signal amplified by a beat signal amplifying unit (5).
US08537047B2	Digital requantization process and devices The invention relates to the digital signal requantization, at a given quantization step size, of a first word received in a first period of time and encoded in a first number of bits, into a second word, with a quantization error equal to a third number. A sequence of third words is outputted, equal to the second word, with the sequence subdivided into a first group comprising a number of third words that is equal to the third number and a second group of third words. Before outputting them, the correction means adds a least significant bit to the third words of the first group and adds or subtracts least significant bits to or from the third words of the second group, such that the sum of the least significant bits added to and subtracted from the second group is zero.
US08537046B2	System and method for analog to digital (A/D) conversion In one embodiment, a method for converting an analog input value to a digital output value is disclosed. A successive approximation is performed. The analog input is quantized to a first quantized value, which is converted to a first analog value using a DAC. The first analog value is subtracted from the analog input value to form a first residue. The first residue is quantized to form a second quantized value, and a second residue is formed by converting the second quantized value to a second analog value using the DAC and subtracting the second analog value from the first residue value. The second residue is then quantized to form a third quantized value. The first, second and third quantized values are converted into a digital output value. The first, second and third quantized values each have at least three levels.
US08537045B2	Pre-charged capacitive digital-to-analog converter Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a charge redistribution DAC with two sets of capacitors that provides a DAC output by sharing charges between a plurality of pairs of capacitors in lieu of charging the capacitors using traditional external reference voltages. The charge redistribution DAC may comprise a plurality of pairs of first and second capacitors that each has a first side and a second side, and a group of first switches and a group of second switches. Each first or second switch selectively controls connection of the first side of a respective first or second capacitor to one of a pair of output signal lines according to a DAC input word. The charge redistribution DAC further may comprise a group of bridging switches each connected between second sides of paired first and second capacitors.
US08537039B2	Distortion correcting device There is provided a distortion correcting device in which a first A/D converter A/D converts a first input signal to obtain a first converted signal, a second A/D converter A/D converts a second input signal to obtain a second converted signal wherein the second input signal is a signal obtained by reducing an amplitude of the first input signal, or the first input signal is a signal obtained by increasing an amplitude of the second input signal, the exponentiator obtains an exponential signal by raising the second converted signal to an n-th power (“n” is an integer of 2 or more), a adaptive correlation controller carries out adaptive correlation control based on the exponential signal and the second converted signal to generate a distortion signal that is an n-th power component contained in the exponential signal, and a distortion remover removes the distortion signal from the first converted signal.
US08537030B2	Pedestrian alert system and method A pedestrian warning or alert system and method are disclosed. The warning system is mounted on an electric vehicle. The warning system includes a front speaker system, a rear speaker system, a front pedestrian detector, a rear pedestrian detector, and an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the front speaker system, the rear speaker system, the front pedestrian detector, and the rear pedestrian detector. The ECU commands the front speaker system to emit a warning sound based on the front pedestrian detector detecting a pedestrian-shaped object and commands the rear speaker system to emit a warning sound based on the rear pedestrian detector detecting a pedestrian-shaped object. The ECU is coupled to a microphone, the signal of which is used to estimate an ambient noise level. The intensity and frequency of the warning sound commanded from the front and/or rear speaker system is based on the ambient noise level.
US08537029B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating utility meter communication Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating utility meter communication are provided. One or more communications to be transmitted by a utility meter may be identified by the utility meter. A cost associated with the transmission of the one or more communications may be determined by the utility meter, and a determination may be made as to whether the cost satisfies one or more cost parameters. If it is determined that the cost satisfies the one or more cost parameters, the one or more communications may be transmitted by the utility meter. If, however, it is determined that the cost does not satisfy the one or more cost parameters, the one or more communications may be stored by the utility meter for subsequent transmission.
US08537027B2	Method for controlling an electronic device and electronic device In a method for controlling an electronic device (1) with a programmable component and an independent microcontroller (10) and in such an electronic device (1), by the microcontroller (10), the component is monitored, a malfunction of the component is identified and the component is reprogrammed.
US08537025B2	Electronic device enabling near-field contactless communications A portable electronic device comprises an antenna ANT connected to an integrated circuit CI, allowing the establishment by the integrated circuit of near-field contactless communications with an external system. The antenna comprises several windings E1, E2 linked together by current-conducting means. Each winding has its ends connected to connection terminals of a circuit. The antenna then comprises, at the minimum, a winding E1 connected to the terminals for connection to the integrated circuit CI able to establish contactless communications with an external system, and a winding E2 connected to the terminals for connection to a peripheral component CP1, which can comprise one or more circuits connected in series, and which is powered remotely by the antenna.
US08537023B2	Method and apparatus pertaining to automatic electrical-fault detection An automatic fault detector momentarily interrupts a provision of operating power to a load having a minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to thereby provide a testing window and then applies a test voltage during this window that is less than the minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to the load and monitors for a power-to-ground fault. By one approach the aforementioned momentarily interruption of power is neither frequent enough nor long enough in duration to substantially impair the provision of power to the load. Accordingly, load performance is not noticeably diminished. One can then responsively prohibit subsequent provision of the operating power to the load. One can then continue to monitor for the power-to-ground fault while continuing to prohibit provision of operating power to the load. If and when the fault disappears, these teachings will then accommodate automatically resuming an ordinary provision of power to the load.
US08537011B2	Marine optic fiber security fence A fence for establishing a secure marine perimeter includes a floating platform, at least two uprights extending to a predetermined height, at least one anchor, at least one anchor line, an optic fiber net extending from a first predetermined point above the surface of the body of water to a second predetermined point below the surface of the body of water, the optic fiber net including at least one optic fiber with an input end and an output end, a light transmitter connected to the input end introducing an input optic signal into the optic fiber, a light receiver connected to the output end receiving an output optic signal from the optic fiber, and a processor comparing the output optic signal with the input optic signal and generating an alarm if a difference between the input optic signal and the output optic signal exceeds a predetermined alarm threshold.
US08537010B2	Automated vault mapping and security system A system and method to enhance vault security and management. An identity of a user is electronically validated. A floor plan of the vault and associated location of an authorized resource is retrieved in access computer. The user is then signaled a location of the resource within the vault.
US08537009B2	Container security devices, systems, and method A dosimeter is disclosed for use in container including outer walls defining an interior volume, the dosimeter including: a radon detection element adapted to detect a radon level for the interior volume; a neutron detection element adapted detect a neutron level for the interior volume. The dosimeter is adapted to measure the radon level and neutron level for a period of time, compare the measured radon level to a first threshold, compare the measured neutron level to a second threshold, and determine information indicative of the presence or absence of fissile material within the interior volume based on the comparisons.
US08537005B2	Point-of-transaction checkout system with zero-footprint cordless electro-optical reader A checkout system employs a bi-optical workstation having dual windows and a main reader for electro-optically reading indicia on products to be processed at the workstation through at least one of the windows. The workstation is supported by a countertop and has a raised housing extending upwardly away from the countertop. An auxiliary cordless reader is used for electro-optically reading the indicia in a handheld mode when the main reader is not operated. A cradle bounds a compartment in which the auxiliary cordless reader is removably received when not in the handheld mode. The cradle is supported by the raised housing above and remote from, and out of direct contact with, the countertop to form a zero-footprint therewith.
US08537002B2	Lost and found tagging and communication system and method A method and system of facilitating communication between a finder of an article and an owner of the article including providing a unique ID to the owner and allowing the owner to register an association between the ID and owner contact information, allowing the owner to associate the ID and a virtual locale with the article, and forwarding communications of the finder of the article to the owner where the finder may provide no more information to the virtual locale than the ID and the communication.
US08536999B2	Method for dynamic creation of a GeoFence in a wireless system A method and apparatus for creating a dynamic GeoFence area by determining an instant reference point using a first set of pseudorange measurements received by a GeoFence device, defining the dynamic GeoFence area referenced to the instant reference point, determining a position fix using a second set of pseudorange measurements, and comparing the position fix to the dynamic GeoFence area. In one aspect, an alert message based on the comparison results is presented to a user.
US08536990B2	Hospital bed with nurse call system interface unit A system for use in a healthcare facility having a nurse call system with a nurse call computer located remotely from patient rooms is provided. The system includes a hospital bed having communication circuitry configured for communicating data from the hospital bed. An interface unit is spaced from the hospital bed. The interface unit has a first connector to which the hospital bed couples via a wired connection, a second connector which is communicatively coupled to the nurse call system, and circuitry comprising a third connector for connection to an external device.
US08536988B2	Self-organizing extensible distributed sensor array architecture This invention relates to methods and systems for providing data from a distributed array. In one aspect, the array is a sensor array that includes sensor nodes that are each associated with one or more sensors, and the data includes sensor data acquired from the sensors by the sensor nodes. The sensor array employs modular and interchangeable sensor nodes that are capable of self-organizing in response to a network disruption while maintaining a flow of synchronized data to the event monitor. This self-organizing characteristic enables the overall network of nodes to be self-healing and easily extensible. The improved fault resilience makes it possible to deploy the sensors without requiring complex monitoring or fault diagnosis. Embodiments of the invention can be employed in any number of applications, including without limitation, tunnel activity detection, seismic/acoustic monitoring/detection and other applications where gathering sensor data may be desired.
US08536987B2	Medication dosing monitor A patient-portable medication event monitor is disclosed which is capable of detecting the dispensing of doses of a particular medication from the monitor, comparing the dispensing detected with information concerning the desired dosing regimen for the certain medication and displaying graphically to the patient at least one feedback indication of the patient's degree of compliance or deviation with the desired regimen.
US08536981B2	Warning system for signaling the presence of a radio frequency communication and manufacturing method The invention relates to a warning device for signaling the presence of a radio frequency communication. The system includes an indicator perceptible to a user and an activation circuit to sense or detect energy originating from the communication and to activate the indicator. The device is distinguished in that the indicator is a vibrator. The invention also relates to a radio frequency communication device, such as a chip card, a passport, an insert, a mobile telephone, having the warning system, and a method of fabrication.
US08536978B2	Detection of duress condition at a communication device A communication or computing device having a touchscreen interface is adapted to detect a duress condition upon user access through input of a gesture-based password or authentication code. One or more force sensors are provided for detection of force applied at the touchscreen surface, and interoperate with processing elements to detect input of a gesture-based password through contact at the touchscreen interface; determine that force detected by at least one of the force sensors during input of the password exceeds a predefined threshold; and compares the input password with previously stored information to determine that the input password substantially corresponds to the previously stored information. If the input password substantially corresponds to the previously stored information and the detected pressure exceeds the threshold, a duress condition is determined for the device.
US08536977B2	Method and apparatus for a rolling code learning transmitter A barrier movement operator system having a receiver for receiving, learning and responding to transmitted rolling code type access codes; at least one trained transmitter for operating the system by transmitting a rolling code type access code to the receiver; at least one learning transmitter for learning the rolling code type access code from said trained transmitter in order to operate the system; a controller for evaluating the relationship between the learning transmitter rolling type access code and the trained transmitter rolling type access code; and a device for providing a barrier movement in response to access codes received by the receiver. The barrier movement operator provides a method of learning valid security codes by a security code receiver comprising the steps of receiving a first security code, then within a predetermined period of time receiving a second security code, having a predetermined relationship to the first security code; and storing a representation of the second security code as a valid security code.
US08536974B2	Read apparatus of RF tag and method of controlling read of RF tag An RF tag system includes a first reader/writer unit and a second reader/writer unit. A first reader/writer control unit is configured to control the first reader/writer unit to read a first data from a first RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the first reader/writer unit. A second reader/writer control unit is configured to control the second reader/writer unit to read a second data from a second RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the second reader/writer unit. A monitoring section is configured to issue a selection instruction and to monitor the first reader/writer unit through the first reader/writer control unit, and the second reader/writer unit through the second reader/writer control unit. A switching section is configured to select one of the first reader/writer control unit and the second reader/writer control unit in response to the selection instruction from the monitoring section.
US08536964B2	Micro-electro-mechanical switch beam construction with minimized beam distortion and method for constructing Disclosed is a micro-electro-mechanical switch, including a substrate having a gate connection, a source connection, a drain connection and a switch structure, coupled to the substrate. The switch structure includes a beam member, an anchor, an anchor beam interface and a hinge. The beam member having a length sufficient to overhang both the gate connection and the drain connection. The anchor coupling the switch structure to the substrate. The anchor beam interface coupling the anchor to the hinge. The hinge coupling the beam member to the anchor at a respective position along the anchor's length, the hinge to flex in response to a voltage differential established between the gate and the beam member. The switch structure having gaps between the substrate and the anchor in regions proximate to the hinges.
US08536960B2	Filter structure In a filter structure for suppressing a spurious signal, a conductor layer in a printed circuit board includes a pattern with interconnected pattern elements (106 to 114). A pattern element includes a low-impedance conductive region (119) the capacitance of which against a second conductor layer of the printed circuit board is dominant over the inductance. A pattern element includes at least two adjacent high-impedance conductor strips (115, 116) in a first direction, connected to a low-impedance conductive region, and at least two adjacent high-impedance conductor strips (117, 118) in a second direction, connected to the low-impedance conductive region. The inductance of each high-impedance conductor strips is dominant over the capacitance against the second conductor layer. The high-impedance conductor strips form together with the low-impedance conductive region a plurality of resonance points in the frequency range, thus achieving sufficient stop-band width.
US08536956B2	Directional coupler In a directional coupler, sub-lines or main lines are electromagnetically coupled to each other to degrade isolation characteristics. A capacitor is located between the sub-lines or between the main lines to cause the isolation characteristics to have poles in order to improve the isolation characteristics of the directional coupler.
US08536952B2	Oscillation device Provided is an oscillation device capable of obtaining a stable oscillation frequency by compensating for a change in oscillation frequency caused with an elapse of operating time of a quartz-crystal oscillator. A difference value ΔF between a frequency difference between first and second quartz-crystal oscillators after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from a reference time and a frequency difference between the first and second quartz-crystal oscillators at the reference time is determined.
US08536951B2	Buffer for temperature compensated crystal oscillator signals A buffer is provided. The buffer includes a buffering stage that receives an enable signal and an input signal and that provides an output signal and a bandgap stage that is coupled to the buffering stage and that is activated and deactivated by the enable signal. In particular, the buffering stage includes a buffering substage that includes a buffering transistor that is coupled to the input stage, wherein the buffering transistor is formed on a substrate, and wherein the buffering transistor has a channel with a doping concentration that is approximately the same as the substrate.
US08536948B2	Power amplifier A power amplifier according to the present invention includes: an input-side transformer which has an annular primary coil which is a first metal line and a plurality of linear secondary coils which are second metal lines, and matches input impedance and divides the input signal into a plurality of split signals; push-pull amplifiers each including a pair of transistors for amplifying one of the split signals; and an output-side transformer which has an annular secondary coil which is a third metal line and a plurality of linear primary coils which are fourth metal lines, and combines the amplified split signals and matches output impedance, two input terminals of the pair of transistors being connected to each other via each of the second metal lines and two output terminal of the pair of transistors being connected to each other via each of the fourth metal lines.
US08536945B2	Differential output stage A differential output stage configured for receiving differential input signal comprising first and second signals, comprising a first output for providing a first output signal, and a second output providing a second output signal, the first and second output signals together forming a differential output signal, a first voltage buffer and first controlled current source each connected to the first output, the first voltage buffer being driven by a signal in-phase with the first input signal, the first controlled current source being driven by a signal in-phase with the second input signal, and a second voltage buffer and second controlled current source each connected to the second output, the second voltage buffer being driven by a signal in-phase with the second input signal, the second controlled current source being driven a signal in-phase with by the first input signal.
US08536944B2	Differential amplifier with de-emphasis A programmable current driver provides de-emphasis capability. A number of identical transmitter slices, consisting of a unit current source and a unit differential pair, are connected in parallel to the termination resistors. As the transmitter slices are identical, the current density through the differential pairs are identical, and the VDS voltages across them (as well as the VDS voltages across the unit current sources) are the same, ensuring that the current through each slice is identical (within the limits of device matching). Biasing circuitry ensures that each unit current source sinks a current having a fixed proportion to the total current.
US08536939B2	Cross-coupled multipath feedforward operational amplifiers An operational amplifier can include a plurality of amplifiers connected to form a plurality of amplification paths extending from an input terminal to an output terminal of the operational amplifier. An amplifier in one of the amplification paths can include an intrinsic amplification-transistor capacitance connected between a first amplifier input and a first amplifier output, and a cross-coupling capacitor connected between the first amplifier input and a second amplifier output. A plurality of the amplification paths can include series-connected amplifiers connected in parallel with the cross-coupled amplifier. The cross-coupling capacitor can have a capacitance value selected as a function of the intrinsic capacitance and a gain experienced between the amplifier inputs and outputs. The operational amplifier can include an AC coupling capacitor connected in series with the cross-coupled amplifier. The operational amplifier can be arranged in feedback configuration.
US08536937B2	Electric circuit A transistor has variation in a threshold voltage or mobility due to accumulation of factors such as variation in a gate insulating film which is caused by a difference of a manufacturing process or a substrate to be used and variation in a crystal state of a channel formation region. The present invention provides an electric circuit which is arranged such that both electrodes of a capacitance device can hold a voltage between the gate and the source of a specific transistor. Further, the present invention provides an electric circuit which has a function capable of setting a potential difference between both electrodes of a capacitance device so as to be a threshold voltage of a specific transistor.
US08536928B1	Constant VGS charge pump for load switch applications An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a transistor circuit and a voltage generator circuit. The voltage generator circuit is configured to generate an activation voltage for the transistor circuit using an output voltage at an output of the transistor circuit, and maintain a gate-source voltage (VGS) of the transistor circuit at a substantially constant voltage above the output voltage when a magnitude of the generated activation voltage is less than a device voltage rating of the IC and when the magnitude of the generated activation voltage meets or exceeds the device voltage rating of the IC.
US08536926B2	Gilbert mixer A Gilbert mixer (200) comprising four switching transistors (Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6), two intermediate frequency transistors (Q1, Q2), and one or more DC decoupling components (202). The one or more DC decoupling components (202) are coupled between the switching transistors (Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6) and the intermediate frequency transistors (Q1, Q2) in order to DC decouple the switching transistors (Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6) from the intermediate frequency transistors (Q1, Q2).
US08536922B2	Clock distribution network Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a clock path with a combination of current-mode logic (CML) based and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) components.
US08536921B2	Uniform-footprint programmable-skew multi-stage delay cell Described embodiments provide a delay cell for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit. The delay cell includes a delay stage to provide an output signal having a programmable delay. The delay cell has a selectable delay value from a plurality of delay values and a selectable output skew value from a plurality of output skew values, where the cell size and terminal layout of the delay cell are uniform for the plurality of delay values and the plurality of output skew values. The delay stage includes M parallel-coupled inverter stages of stacked PMOS transistors and stacked NMOS transistors. The stacked transistors have configurable source-drain connections between a drain and a source of each transistor, wherein the selectable delay value corresponds to a configuration of the configurable source-drain connections to adjust a delay value of each of the M inverter stages and an output skew value of the delay cell.
US08536920B2	Clock circuit with delay functions and related method A clock circuit with delay functions includes a first clock tree and a delay module. The first clock tree provides a first clock signal and includes a first clock root and a plurality of first sub-trees. The delay module is coupled to the first clock root or a designated sub-tree among the plurality of first sub-trees for delaying the first clock signal. The delay module includes at least two delay segments, wherein each delay segment includes a delay and a connection net. The delay time caused by each delay segment is substantially the same.
US08536913B2	Transition time lock loop with reference on request Output driver feedback circuitry limits output slew rates across a wide range of output loads. A transition time lock loop architecture of the feedback circuitry compares a transition time pulse with a reference pulse to adjusts transition time of an output signal for various process-voltage-temperature (PVT) process corners, output voltage domains and output capacitances. Reference pulse generation circuitry provides a reference pulse in phase with the transition time pulse for each rise and fall of the output signal.
US08536911B1	PLL circuit, method of controlling PLL circuit, and digital circuit A PLL circuit includes a digital PLL circuit and an analog PLL circuit, wherein the digital PLL circuit includes a first digital phase detector configured to detect a first phase difference between a reference clock signal and a first feedback clock signal, and a phase accumulator configured to generate, as the first feedback clock signal, a digital oscillating signal having oscillating frequency that changes in response to the detected first phase difference, and wherein the analog PLL circuit includes a second digital phase detector configured to detect a second phase difference between the digital oscillating signal generated by the phase accumulator and a second feedback clock signal, and a voltage controlled oscillator configured to receive a voltage value changing in response to the detected second phase difference and to generate the second feedback clock signal that oscillates at frequency responsive to the voltage value.
US08536909B1	Power good signal generating circuit A circuit includes first to fifth resistors and first to third electronic switches. The circuit allows a signal from a first terminal of the second electronic switch to change from a low level to a high level gradually, and to change from a high level to a low level abruptly.
US08536907B2	Power on reset signal generating apparatus and method A power on reset signal generating apparatus is provided. The power on reset signal generating apparatus includes a trigger capacitor, a reference current supplying circuit, and a current regulator. One end of the trigger capacitor is coupled to a ground voltage, and the other end of the trigger capacitor generates a power on reset signal. The reference current supplying circuit is coupled to a signal generating end. The current regulator is coupled to the signal generating end, and the signal generating end draws a splitting current to adjust the value of the current received by the trigger capacitor.
US08536906B2	Direct drive waveform generator A high voltage waveform is generated that is similar to a low voltage input waveform. The high voltage waveform is a series of pulses that are applied directly to the device. An error signal controls the frequency, magnitude, and duration of the pulses. A feedback signal derived from the high voltage waveform is compared with the input waveform to produce the error signal.
US08536895B2	Configuration of a multi-die integrated circuit An embodiment of an integrated circuit (IC) is described. This embodiment of the IC includes an interposer; a first die on an interposer, where the first die generates a global signal propagated through the interposer; and a second die on the surface of the interposer and coupled to the global signal. The first die and the second die each is configured to implement a same operating state concurrently in response to the global signal.
US08536890B2	Semiconductor inspecting device and semiconductor inspecting method A semiconductor inspecting device comprises a probe card for transmitting a signal or power supply to semiconductor wafers having one or more subject chips formed therein, and is constituted such that the first semiconductor wafer faces the first face of the probe card and such that the second semiconductor wafer faces the second face of the probe card on the opposite side of the first face. The probe card includes one or more inspecting chips, which can perform non-contact transmissions with the first subject chip in the first semiconductor wafer and the second subject chip in the second semiconductor wafer.
US08536882B2	Method and device for position detection A method and the device for position detection are disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of conductive strips intersecting each other to form a plurality of intersecting regions. A pair of depressed strips intersecting on any intersecting region contact each other to form a depressed intersecting region. When a high voltage and a low voltage are separately provided to the first ends of each pair of overlapping strips, the voltages at the second ends of each pair of overlapping strips are detected so as to determine each depressed intersecting regions.
US08536875B2	Testing flex and APFA assemblies for hard disk drives A tester for a testing a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) flex circuit prior to electrical installation of a Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA) includes a shorting block that makes electrical contact to the bondpads on the sample. The shorting block includes one or more electrical contacts that are electrically grounded and have a size and/or configuration to contact the bondpads as well as the surface of the sample around the bondpads to accommodate positioning tolerances of the sample under test, without need for optics, precise probes, or precision stages. The electrical contacts of the shorting block may be, e.g., a matrix of pogopins or a flexible electrically-conductive material. During testing, the bondpads are shorted together and to ground with the shorting block while it is determined whether Short failures are properly detected. While the shorting block is not engaged with the bondpads, it is determined whether open failures are properly detected.
US08536874B1	Integrated circuit voltage domain detection system and associated methodology A voltage sensing module for an integrated circuit (IC) that supports operation at a plurality of different voltage levels includes a voltage generation module that generates first and second voltages based on an operating voltage level of the IC. A comparing module receives the first and second voltages and generates a voltage determination signal based on the first and second signals. The voltage determination signal selectively configures an input/output I/O pad of the IC.
US08536862B2	Apparatus and method of obtaining field by measurement Above a sample (9) having magnetic domains, a distribution of magnetic force in a measurement plane (91) is obtained as a magnetic force image using a MFM, an auxiliary magnetic force image is obtained by performing measurement in a measurement plane (92) away from the measurement plane (91) by a distance d, and a difference between them is divided by the distance d to obtain a magnetic force gradient image. The magnetic force image and the auxiliary magnetic force image are Fourier transformed and substituted into a three-dimensional field obtaining equation derived from a general solution of the Laplace equation, and the three-dimensional field indicating the magnetic force is obtained. A state of the magnetic domains at the surface (93) of the sample (9) can be obtained with high accuracy by obtaining the three-dimensional field.
US08536860B2	Method and apparatus for non-destructive testing A method and apparatus in which at least two different test phases are performed on a test object, selected from: conventional eddy current testing, partial saturation eddy current testing, and ultrasonic testing. Measurement data sets are obtained from the at least two different test phases, with each measurement data set comprising measurement data corresponding to a plurality of test positions. The data sets are combined in a data processing means and the combined measurement data is processed to evaluate a damage condition of the test object. In a preferred embodiment, all of conventional eddy current testing, partial saturation eddy current testing, and ultrasonic testing are performed. The apparatus may be provided in two or more sub-assemblies, of which one may be an internal test tool and one may be an external tool. Alternatively, the apparatus may be capable of carrying out all three of the test phases.
US08536856B2	Apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling detection of stray voltage anomalies Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
US08536855B2	Adjustable shunt regulator circuit without error amplifier An adjustable shunt regulator circuit has two current paths in parallel, with each current path having a bipolar transistor therein with the bases of the bipolar transistors of the two current paths connected in common. One of the current paths has a high impedance node. A MOS transistor has a gate connected to the high impedance node, and a source and a drain. A resistor divide circuit is connected in parallel to the source and drain of the MOS transistor and provides the output of the regulator circuit. The resistor divide circuit has a first resistor connected in series with a second resistor at a first node. A feedback connects the first node to the bases of the bipolar transistors connected in common of the two current paths.
US08536844B1	Self-calibrating, stable LDO regulator A substantially unconditionally stable LOD regulator includes has first and second current paths. The first current path provides a reference current. The second current path receives an input voltage for developing a differential current with respect to the reference current based on the input voltage. The second current path has a sense resistor for sensing the differential current. A first current source biases the first and second current paths. A third current path senses the differential current and develops the input voltage in response thereto to control the differential current. A second current source biases the second current path. A first voltage follower circuit receives a first voltage on a first side of the sense resistor to provide an analog voltage output, and a second voltage follower circuit receives a second voltage on a second side of the sense resistor to provide a digital voltage output.
US08536842B2	Sensorless self-tuning digital current programmed mode (CPM) controller with multiple parameter estimation and thermal stress equalization A multiphase controller for a DC-to-DC power supply includes logic to estimate parameters for multiple phases that provide a combined output at a load. The estimated parameters include a current estimate and an effective resistance estimates for each phase so that a power estimate for each phase can be produced. The logic adjusts the operation of the phases using the power estimate for each phase.
US08536841B2	PWM control circuit of a converter and the control method thereof A PWM control circuit of a power converter includes an upper-bridge element Q1, connected to a lower-bridge element Q2 by a node, which activates by a driver Q1 and Q2 for switching-on and switching-off; the driver is controlled by a PWM signal. The node further connects to an output inductor and an output capacitor and controls the current of the output inductor to charge the output capacitor to produce an output voltage VOUT. A virtual ripple current PWM circuit includes a DC reference voltage level unit, an integrator-plus-DC bias voltage eliminator, a phase synthesizer, a dual reference voltage level generator, and a PWM generator.
US08536840B2	Bidirectional power converters Circuits and methods for bidirectional power conversion are provided that allow mobile and other devices to generate power suitable to support multiple modes of operation. The bidirectional power converters of the present invention may operate in both step up and step down configurations rather than having a single dedicated conversion function and use many of the same components thereby reducing converter size and complexity. In some embodiments, the converter of the present invention may be used to provide a power component of a communications link, such as a USB link.
US08536838B2	Capacitance check and voltage monitoring circuit for use with a circuit protection device A circuit protection device includes a plasma gun, at least one capacitor communicatively coupled to the plasma gun, and a monitoring circuit communicatively coupled to the at least one capacitor. The capacitor is configured to store electrical energy and to provide the electrical energy to the plasma gun. The monitoring circuit is configured to measure a charge property of the at least one capacitor, determine a charge status of the at least one capacitor based on the measured charge property, and output at least one signal indicative of the charge status.
US08536832B2	Video game controller charging system having a docking structure A video game controller charging system is provided. The video game controller charging system includes a base; at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to at least one video game controller while it is being charged; and at least one DC port on the base configured to couple to and provide DC power to a power input port of the at least one video game controller. The video game controller charging system may also include a current detector, a charging status indicator, at least one docking bay, and/or an AC-to-DC converter adapted to convert externally supplied power to the DC power provided to the power input port of at least one video game controller. The base of a charging station may include a recess having at least one electrical contact and a power input for connection to a power supply.
US08536828B2	Coordinating contactless communication and charging functions An electronic device includes a contactless integrated circuit card function unit, a contactless charging function unit, and a switching unit. The contactless integrated circuit card function unit includes a clamp circuit and realizes a contactless integrated circuit card function. The clamp circuit suppresses excessive voltage of a signal received at an antenna whose operating frequency is a predetermined frequency. The contactless charging function unit commonly uses the antenna and realizes a contactless charging function. The switching unit invalidates or reduces the function of the clamp circuit when the contactless charging function unit is used.
US08536827B2	Mobile electronic device AC charger mount A device for mounting a mobile electronic device to an alternating current charger is provided. The mount allows the user to charge a mobile electronic device with the alternating current charger provided by the original equipment manufacturer of the mobile electronic device. The mount also protects the mobile electronic device from damage.
US08536826B2	Data processing system, electronic vehicle and maintenance service system An electric vehicle information system prevents circulation of non-authentic batteries and battery components for electric vehicles. An electric vehicle data processing system is employed that performs, on an electric vehicle battery module having a plurality of battery cells installed therein, authentication of individual battery cells and the battery module itself in a hierarchical manner using a microcomputer. An electric vehicle is configured so as to cause the microcomputer of the data processing system to accumulate voltage history and charge history of the batteries in a nonvolatile storage circuit. The history information and the electric vehicle ID can be gathered by a maintenance device and a data server via an electronic control unit of the electric vehicle. A maintenance service system may thus be provided.
US08536822B2	Voltage-controlled stepper motor driver A stepper motor driver system includes: a digital signal controller configured to digitally synthesize synthesized analog voltage signals that will induce a desired velocity of a stepper motor when applied to a pair of stepper motor windings; and voltage amplifiers, communicatively coupled to the digital signal controller, configured to amplify the synthesized analog voltage signals to produce amplified analog voltage signals and to output the amplified analog voltage signals; where the digital signal controller is configured to synthesize the analog voltage signals by affecting at least one of a phase or an amplitude of each of the analog voltage signals as a function of the desired velocity of the stepper motor.
US08536820B2	Modular electric socket assembly and assembly method thereof A modular electric socket assembly comprises a male plug unit electrically connected to a cover plate member having at least one electric socket, and a female plug unit retained in a wall and electrically connected to an electric supply system. Pins of the male plug unit are coupleable with corresponding cavities of the female plug unit. In one embodiment, the socket assembly is a strip assembly having a panel on which are printed a plurality of conductive elements, a cover plate member having at least two socket regions and attached to the panel, and a male plug unit interconnected with the panel. The conductive elements are arranged so as to connect in electrically conductable alignment a user device coupled to a selected socket region, each contact of the panel associated with the selected socket region, conductors associated with the male plug unit, and conductors associated with the female plug unit.
US08536817B2	Saddle-shaped trajectory generator for two intersecting pipes An apparatus for generating a saddle-shaped trajectory for intersection of two cylindrical conduits. The apparatus includes an encoder module, a motorized axial module connected with the encoder module and movable only in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of an intersecting cylindrical conduit and a motorized rotatable module connected with the motorized axial module and rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the intersecting cylindrical conduit. Control software provided in one of the modules includes an algorithm providing control of the modules for generation of the saddle-shaped trajectory on the two cylindrical conduits. The algorithm requires input of only a radius of each of the cylindrical conduits.
US08536812B2	Motor control device and electrical equipment with motor controlled thereby A motor control device includes a current detecting unit detecting current flowing into a motor winding, a speed/electrical angle estimating unit estimating a rotational speed and an electrical angle of the motor, based on the current, a load torque estimating unit estimating load torque to be developed by a load, from a torque current obtained based on the current and the electrical angle, a motor constant and inertia moment of the motor inclusive of the load, a load torque phase calculating unit calculating a phase of periodic fluctuation indicated by the load torque, a torque-compensating current determining unit determining a sinusoidal torque-compensating current, based on the load torque phase, and an amplitude/phase adjusting unit detecting speed fluctuation of the motor to adjust amplitude and phase of the torque compensating current by increasing or decreasing the amplitude and the phase so that the speed fluctuation is reduced.
US08536809B2	Control device for vehicle electric drive motor and vehicle with the same A controller for vector-controlled motor of vehicle judges whether a battery needs to be warmed up in accordance with an output of a battery temperature sensor, and when the battery needs to be warmed up, in situation (i) where the vehicle is stopped, sets a q-axis current value of the motor at zero, or when a brake is released from the situation (i), sets a q-axis current at a value corresponding to a drive torque for a vehicle creep operation, and sets a d-axis current at a value for battery warm-up. When the battery needs to be warmed up in situation (ii) where the vehicle is running, the controller sets a q-axis current at a value corresponding to a drive torque of vehicle running and sets a d-axis current at a value for the battery warm-up in relation to the q-axis current value.
US08536808B2	CMOS bootstrap circuit for DC/DC buck converter using low voltage CMOS diode A modified bootstrap circuit utilized, for example, in a high voltage DC/DC CMOS buck converter to convert a high input voltage (e.g., 24V) to a regulated voltage (e.g., 4V) for use, for example, by an LED driver circuit. The bootstrap circuit utilizes a feedback diode and a PMOS switch to avoid high reverse diode voltages across a low voltage bootstrap diode. A bootstrapped buck converter implements the bootstrap circuit to generate a high gate voltage on a high-side NMOS switch during all operating phases. The PMOS switch is controlled by the NMOS switch's output voltage to pass a system voltage (e.g., 5V) through the bootstrap diode whenever the output voltage drops low (e.g., 0V), and to shut off when the output voltage subsequently rises such that the feedback diode forward biases to pass the output voltage to the anode of the bootstrap diode.
US08536803B2	Fluorescent lamp power supply Various embodiments of a fluorescent lamp power supply are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a power supply includes a power input connected to a pulse generator. The power supply also includes a filter connected to a variable pulse width output on the pulse generator and to the power input. The filter is adapted to substantially block at least one harmonic frequency component of the variable pulse width output and to substantially pass a fundamental frequency component of the variable pulse width output. The power supply also includes a power output connected to the filter, wherein an amplitude at the power output is related to the pulse width at the variable pulse width output.
US08536801B1	System and method for individually modulating an array of light emitting devices A system and method are provided for powering a lighting device having one or more arrays of LEDs. Three current sourcing circuits each include a switching element having a source coupled to an input power source. A microcontroller includes a processor, a communications module, an internal clock oscillator, a counter, and program instructions executable to cause the processor to carry out the control functions. Desired light intensity levels are stored as individual output level data, and pulse density modulated output values are generated for each of the stored output level data using carry overflow logic. The generated output values are converted to output signals and provided to the respective current sourcing circuits, wherein current is sourced through the switching elements to respective LEDs of a given color based on a pulse density modulated signal applied to the gates of the respective switching elements.
US08536800B2	Illuminating device and controlling method thereof To a constant-current power supply whose output current can be variably set, light emitting modules can be connected in parallel. A control unit recognizes connection information outputted from an information output unit provided in each of the light emitting modules and varies the output current of the constant-current power supply. Drive can be controlled in response to a state of the connected light emitting modules such as the connecting number of light emitting modules.
US08536799B1	Dimmer detection In at least one embodiment, a lighting system receives an input signal, such as a supply voltage, that can be affected by a dimmer. The supply voltage can be affected by a dimmer when, for example, a dimmer phase cut (i.e. chopped) the supply voltage. A dimmer detection system of the lighting system determines if a dimmer is affecting the supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system also determines a type of the dimmer, such as detecting if the dimmer is a leading edge or trailing edge dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system provides dimmer type data to one or more other circuits such as a switching power converter controller. The one or more other circuits utilize the dimmer type data to affect their operation.
US08536798B2	LED drive circuit, LED illumination component, LED illumination device, and LED illumination system An LED drive circuit is provided that is connectable to a phase-control light controller and drives an LED load by use of a voltage obtained by rectifying a phase-controlled alternating current voltage inputted from the phase-control light controller. The LED drive circuit includes: a first phase angle detection portion that detects a phase angle in a present cycle; a second phase angle detection portion that detects a phase angle in a cycle preceding the present cycle by at least one cycle; a bias portion that generates a detection signal by adding a predetermined delay time to a phase angle obtained by averaging the phase angle detected by the first phase angle detection portion and the phase angle detected by the second phase angle detection portion; and a drive portion that starts current supply to the LED load at timing based on the detection signal generated by the bias portion.
US08536797B2	Semiconductor light source apparatus and semiconductor light source control method A semiconductor light source apparatus includes a constant current switch controller that detects a voltage applied to a path when each one of the charging path and the discharging path is selected and switches the plurality of switching elements by calculating a switching duty ratio of the plurality of switching elements so that a current flowing through the passive element is maintained at a constant value in accordance with detection results, and a duty controller that adjusts a voltage value supplied by the power supply circuit in accordance with the switching duty ratio calculated by the constant current switch controller.
US08536795B2	Apparatus for driving field emission lamp This control device, for a representative lamp L1, by way of a power control circuit 20, detects the cathode current Ik from a resistor TRk1, and controls a high-voltage stabilizing circuit 10, and performs drive control so that the gate voltages, which were divided from the output voltage Vgo from the high-voltage stabilizing circuit 10, become suitable voltages. Moreover, the control device, for other lamps L2, . . . , Ln, by way of the power control circuit 20, changes the voltage dividing ratio of impedance dividing by resistors R2—1, R2—2, . . . , Rn—1, Rn—2 for the output voltage Vgo using control elements Q2, . . . , Qn, and performs control so that the cathode current of each of the lamps L2, . . . , Ln becomes the same as the cathode current of the representative lamp L1.
US08536794B2	Lighting system with lighting dimmer output mapping A system and method map dimming levels of a lighting dimmer to light source control signals using a predetermined lighting output function. The dimmer generates a dimmer output signal value. At any particular period of time, the dimmer output signal value represents one of multiple dimming levels. In at least one embodiment, the lighting output function maps the dimmer output signal value to a dimming value different than the dimming level represented by the dimmer output signal value. The lighting output function converts a dimmer output signal values corresponding to measured light levels to perception based light levels. A light source driver operates a light source in accordance with the predetermined lighting output function. The system and method can include a filter to modify at least a set of the dimmer output signal values prior to mapping the dimmer output signal values to a new dimming level.
US08536793B2	Controlling a current supplied to a load A process for controlling a current supplied to a load includes, in at least one aspect, detecting input to control a current supplied to a load operated by a driving signal, and in response to detecting the input, modifying the driving signal to control the current supplied to the load, wherein modifying the driving signal comprises alternately applying a first duty cycle and a second duty cycle to the driving signal.
US08536792B1	System and method for distributed lighting device control A system for distributed light control, including a light circuit, a first device associated with the light circuit, a second device associated with the light circuit, a network communicatively connecting the light circuit, the first device, and the second device, where the first device is configured to actuate the light circuit based upon a control command sent on the network and in accordance with configuration data stored at the first device, where the second device includes a shadow configuration comprising a copy of the configuration data, where the second device is configured to generate a shadow image of the light circuit based upon the control command and the shadow configuration, and where the shadow image comprises a computed status of the light circuit.
US08536785B2	Organic light emitting display and method for manufacturing the same An organic light emitting display includes a first substrate including a plurality of anode electrodes on an insulating layer and a plurality of pixel definition layers around the plurality of anode electrodes. An impact absorbing layer is spaced from the plurality of pixel definition layers, and a spacer is on an upper surface of the impact absorbing layer. A second substrate faces the first substrate and is spaced from the first substrate by the spacer.
US08536783B2	Electroluminescent device with protective means for contact areas The invention relates to an electroluminescent device (10) comprising a substrate and on top of the substrate a substrate electrode, a counter electrode and an electroluminescent layer stack with at least one organic electroluminescent layer (50) arranged between the substrate electrode (20) and the counter electrode (30), and an encapsulation means (90) encapsulating at least the electroluminescent layer stack, the electroluminescent device (10) comprises at least one contact means (60), for electrically contacting the counter electrode (30) to an electrical source.The invention discloses that at least one protective means (70) is arranged on the substrate electrode (20), wherein the protective means (70) is electrically non-conductive and is at least fully covering the area below the contact means (60).
US08536766B2	Device utilizing piezoelectric element A device using a piezoelectric element includes a layered piezoelectric element and a driven member. The layered piezoelectric element includes an active portion formed of stacked piezoelectric layers each being sandwiched between a first internal electrode layer and a second internal electrode layer, and an inactive portion (first end inactive portion) formed of a first end piezoelectric layer stacked on the active portion. The driven member is bonded to the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer by means of an adhesive. The piezoelectric layers and the first end piezoelectric layer are formed such that the porosity of the inactive portion is greater than that of the active portion. Therefore, since numerous open pores are emerged on the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer, the adhesive enters into the open pores to have the driven member be strongly bonded to the top surface.
US08536765B2	Method and apparatus for unlocking a portable terminal using piezoelectric sensors The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for unlocking a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for unlocking a portable terminal capable of canceling a hold state of the portable terminal without using a hold key. A portable terminal may include at least one piezoelectric sensor. When a squeeze operation signal is generated as pressure is applied to the at least one piezoelectric sensor, the hold state of the portable terminal is canceled.
US08536761B2	Piezoelectric resonator having mesa type piezoelectric vibrating element A piezoelectric resonator includes: a piezoelectric plate having a vibrating portion surrounded by a peripheral portion; and an excitation electrode on the piezoelectric plate, wherein long sides of the vibrating portion and excitation electrode are parallel to a piezoelectric plate long side. Assuming a piezoelectric plate long side length X, a vibrating portion thickness t, a vibrating portion long side length Mx, an excitation electrode long side length Ex, and a piezoelectric plate flexure vibration wavelength λ, λ/2=(1.332/f)−0.0024 (piezoelectric resonator resonance frequency f), (Mx−Ex)/2=λ/2, Mx/2={(A/2)+(1/4)}λ (where, A is a positive integer), and X≧20t. A protruding portion is disposed on a vibrating portion extension line and parallel to a vibrating portion short side. Assuming a protruding portion length Dx, Dx=(λ/2)×m (where, m is a positive integer). Assuming a distance Sx between the vibrating and protruding portions, Sx=(λ/2)×n±0.1λ (where, n is a positive integer).
US08536756B2	Motor and electrical equipment equipped with same A motor includes a stator having a stator iron-core on which a winding is wound, a rotor having a rotary body holding a permanent magnet opposed to the stator along a circumferential direction and a shaft joined to the rotary body such that it extends through the rotary body at the center, bearings supporting the shaft, two conductive brackets for fixing the bearings, and a printed circuit board on which a drive circuit for driving the winding is mounted. A dielectric layer is provided between an outer wall of the rotary body and the shaft, the two brackets are electrically connected together, and a capacitor is connected between the stator iron-core and the brackets for adjusting impedance.
US08536752B2	Voltage regulated permanent magnet machine A permanent magnet generator comprises a stator core, a plurality of windings situated on the stator core, and a plurality of stress elements. The stress elements apply or relieve mechanical stress in response to control signals from a generator controller, thereby increasing or reducing voltage across the stator windings.
US08536751B2	Electromagnetic device with reversible generator-motor operation An electromagnetic device has a stator and a rotor rotating between facing surfaces of the stator and bearing a plurality of magnets distributed at regular intervals along its periphery. The magnets are so arranged that they form a sequence of alternately opposite poles on the surfaces of the rotor directed towards the stator, and the stator comprises two sets of independently supported magnetic yokes located at both sides of the rotor in front of the magnets. The magnetic yokes have two axially oriented arms, the end surfaces of which, in static conditions of the rotor, at least partly face a pair of successive magnets on a same surface of the rotor.
US08536746B2	Electromotive adjustment drive for a motor vehicle An electric-motor adjustment drive is provided for an adjustment element in a motor vehicle, in particular a window lifter, that has a drive module, which includes a pole pot that supports a motor shaft, and having an electronic module having a circuit board, which can be inserted into a housing of a brush holder, which housing is connected to the drive module. The circuit board is retained in an insertion plane perpendicular to the motor shaft by the housing of the brush holder in a form- and/or force-closed manner, wherein a number of contact elements for motor contacting and/or for interference suppression are arranged in the housing, which contact elements are contacted within the housing when the circuit board is inserted.
US08536745B2	Linear vibrator Disclosed herein is a linear vibrator having a mass body which is accommodated in a casing defining an internal space and is vibrated. The linear vibrator includes a bracket supporting the linear vibrator from a lower position. The bracket has a depression in a bottom thereof such that a coil lead wire of a coil is placed in the depression, thus preventing friction between the coil lead wire and a movable unit.
US08536743B2	Vehicle drive device A rotating electrical machine configured with a rotor and stator. The rotor is rotatably supported radially inside of a stator that has coil end portions on both sides in an axial direction, and which is structured so that oil is supplied from an axial first direction side to the coil end portions on the both sides in the axial direction. A communication oil passage provided in at least one of the rotor and the rotor support member, is configured to communicate with a first opening and a second opening from an oil collecting portion. The first opening opens radially inside the coil end portion on the axial first direction side, and the second opening opens radially inside the coil end portion on an axial second direction side, which is the other side in the axial direction of the rotor.
US08536737B2	System for inductive power provision in wet environments Inductive power providing systems suitable for wet environments are disclosed. Water resistant inductive outlets include primary inductors incorporated into water resistant work-surfaces. Water resistant inductive power receivers include secondary inductors incorporated into water resistant casings. Secondary inductors are configured to couple with primary inductors thereby providing power to electrical loads connected thereto.
US08536727B2	Wind energy generating system A wind energy generating system includes a driving unit driving a shaft and a power generating module is connected to the driving unit and includes a first stator and a first rotor which rotates relative to the first stator. A blade is fixed to the first rotor by a link. A solar power unit is fixed to the power generating module. A power storage unit is located in the driving unit and a control unit is connected to the driving unit. A detection unit is electrically connected to the control unit. The first rotor rotates relative to the first stator to generate electric power and the detection unit detects the speed of the blade and adjusts the speed of the shaft to increase the relative speed between the first rotor and the first stator, or to slow the speed of the relative speed to protect the blade.
US08536725B2	Compact wind and water turbine systems A fluid driven electrical generation system with most of the electrical generation components in an inner hollow of a housing that is driven to rotate by trapper structures that trap energy from the fluid.
US08536722B1	Wind-turbine-generator control system, wind turbine generator, wind farm, and wind-turbine-generator control method In a wind turbine generator, the rotation of the rotor is speeded up by a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor and is transferred to a synchronous generator. In a state in which the wind turbine generator is interconnected to a utility grid, and the synchronous generator reaches a synchronous speed, if no mechanical power is transferred to the synchronous generator, a wind-turbine control system operates the synchronous generator as a synchronous condenser, thus controlling the magnitude of the field current of the synchronous generator. Thus, the wind turbine generator can supply reactive power to the utility grid without adding new equipment, such as a reactive power compensator using a semiconductor switch.
US08536720B2	Modular wind energy unit with simple electrical connections A wind energy apparatus is made up of a plurality of modular wind energy devices or units. Each unit has a housing and at least two turbines mounted on the housing. Each of the turbines has a blade set extending upward from the housing. Each blade set has a vertical axis extending upward in relation to the housing. Each of the turbines has a generator connected thereto, each generator being disposed in the housing, and having a rotor and a stator. Each turbine is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing, and mounted to the rotor so that they rotate together. Each housing has a positive connector and negative connector on each side of the respective unit. The units, when placed together, connect their respective poles, positive and negative, together completing a circuit. Therefore, one may connect multiple units together.
US08536717B2	Integrated circuit package and method of assembling an integrated circuit package A method of assembling an integrated circuit package is disclosed. The method comprises placing a die on a substrate of the integrated circuit package; coupling a plurality of wire bonds from a plurality of bond pads on the die to corresponding bond pads on the substrate; applying a non-conductive material to the plurality of wire bonds; and encapsulating the die and the plurality of wire bonds. An integrated circuit package is also disclosed.
US08536714B2	Interposer, its manufacturing method, and semiconductor device At least one embodiment provides an interposer including: a lower wiring substrate; an upper wiring substrate disposed over the lower wiring substrate via a gap; and through-electrodes which penetrate through the upper wiring substrate and the lower wiring substrate across the gap to thereby link the upper wiring substrate and the lower wiring substrate, portions of the through-electrodes being exposed in the gap.
US08536712B2	Memory device and method of manufacturing the same A memory device has a laminated chip package and a controller plate. In the laminated chip package, a plurality of memory chips are laminated. An interposed chip is laminated between the laminated chip package and the controller plate. A plurality of opposing wiring electrodes are formed at an opposing surface of the controller plate. A plurality of outside wiring electrodes are formed on the rear side of the opposing surface. Connection electrodes connecting the opposing wiring electrodes and the outside wiring electrodes are formed on the side surface of the controller plate. The interposed chip has a plurality of interposed wiring electrodes. The plurality of interposed wiring electrodes are formed with a common arrangement pattern common with an arrangement pattern of the plurality of opposing wiring electrodes. The controller plate is laid on the interposed chip.
US08536711B2	Chip-stacked semiconductor and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device includes a through electrode that penetrates through a silicon substrate, an isolation trench provided to penetrate through the silicon substrate to surround the through electrode, a first silicon film in contact with an inner surface of the isolation trench, a second silicon film in contact with an outer surface of the isolation trench, and an insulation film provided between the first and second silicon films.
US08536701B2	Electronic device packaging structure An electronic device packaging structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base, an emitter, a collector, and a gate. The emitter and the gate are disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor base. The collector is disposed on a second surface of the semiconductor base. A first passivation layer is located on the first surface of the semiconductor base surrounding the gate. A first conductive pad is disposed on the first passivation layer. A second conductive pad is disposed on the collector on the second surface. At least one conductive through via structure penetrates the first passivation layer, the first and second surfaces of the semiconductor base, and the collector to electrically connect the first and second conductive pads.
US08536700B2	Stackable electronic package and method of fabricating same An electronic package includes a first layer having a first surface, the first layer includes a first device having a first electrical node, and a first contact pad in electrical communication with the first electrical node and positioned within the first surface. The package includes a second layer having a second surface and a third surface, the second layer includes a first conductor positioned within the second surface and a second contact pad positioned within the third surface and in electrical communication with the first conductor. A first anisotropic conducting paste (ACP) is positioned between the first contact pad and the first conductor to electrically connect the first contact pad to the first conductor such that an electrical signal may pass therebetween.
US08536696B2	Conductive pin attached to package substrate A package substrate including an outermost interlayer resin insulating layer, a pad structure formed on the outermost interlayer resin insulating layer, a conductive connecting pin for establishing an electrical connection with another substrate, the conductive connecting pin being secured to the pad structure via a solder, and via holes formed through the outermost interlayer resin insulating layer and for electrically connecting the pad structure to one or more conductive circuits formed below the outermost interlayer resin insulating layer, the via holes being positioned directly below the pad structure.
US08536695B2	Chip-last embedded interconnect structures The various embodiments of the present invention provide a novel chip-last embedded structure, wherein an IC is embedded within a one to two metal layer substrate. The various embodiments of the present invention are comparable to other two-dimensional and three-dimensional WLFO packages of the prior art as the embodiments have similar package thicknesses and X-Y form factors, short interconnect lengths, fine-pitch interconnects to chip I/Os, a reduced layer count for re-distribution of chip I/O pads to ball grid arrays (BGA) or land grid arrays (LGA), and improved thermal management options.
US08536694B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device having a structure that can reduce stress due to difference in coefficients of thermal expansion and prevent or suppress generation of cracks, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method, are provided. The semiconductor device includes a single crystal silicon substrate having a main face on which semiconductor elements are formed and a side face intersecting with the main face, and a sealing resin provided covering at least a portion of the side face. The side face covered by the sealing resin is equipped with a first face with a plane direction forming an angle of −5° to +5° to the plane direction of the main face.
US08536692B2	Mountable integrated circuit package system with mountable integrated circuit die A mountable integrated circuit package system includes: mounting an integrated circuit die over a package carrier; connecting a first internal interconnect between the integrated circuit die and the package carrier; and forming a package encapsulation over the package carrier and the first internal interconnect, with the integrated circuit die partially exposed within a recess of the package encapsulation.
US08536690B2	Integrated circuit packaging system with cap layer and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: attaching a semiconductor die to a die pad of a leadframe; forming a cap layer on top of the semiconductor die for acting as a ground plane or a power plane; and connecting the semiconductor die to the cap layer through a cap bonding wire.
US08536689B2	Integrated circuit package system with multi-surface die attach pad An integrated circuit package system is provided including an integrated circuit package system including an integrated circuit and a lead frame. The lead frame has a multi-surface die attach pad and the integrated circuit is mounted to the multi-surface die attach pad.
US08536687B2	Semiconductor device having separated heatsink and chip mounting portion A technology with which the reliability of a package making up a semiconductor device can be enhanced is provided. A feature of the technical idea of the invention is that: a heat sink unit and an outer lead unit are separated from each other: and the outer lead unit is provided with chip placement portions and each of the chip placement portions and each heat sink are joined together. As a result, when a sealing body is formed at a resin sealing step, tying portions function as a stopper for preventing resin leakage and the formation of resin burr in a package product can be thereby prevented. In addition, camber does not occur in the heat sink unit and cracking in a sealing body caused by winding (camber) can be suppressed.
US08536686B2	Semiconductor device According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first frame, a semiconductor element fixed to the first frame, a second frame, a third frame and a resin package. The second frame faces the first frame and is away from the first frame, the second frame being electrically connected to the semiconductor element via a metal wire. The resin package covers the semiconductor element, the first frame, and the second frame. The first frame and the second frame are exposed in one major surface of the resin package. The third frame juxtaposed to one of the first frame and the second frame, the third frame being continuously exposed from the major surface of the resin package to a side surface in contact with the major surface.
US08536685B2	Shielded semiconductor device structure In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed to include a plurality of conductor layers that interconnect electrical signals between semiconductor elements of the semiconductor device. A metal shield layer is formed overlying a portion of the plurality of conductor layers. A signal re-distribution layer is formed overlying the metal shield layer.
US08536682B2	Low-voltage bidirectional protection diode A vertical bidirectional protection diode including, on a heavily-doped substrate of a first conductivity type, first, second, and third regions of the first, second, and first conductivity types, these regions all having a doping level greater than from 2 to 5×1019 atoms/cm3 and being laterally delimited by an insulated trench, each of these regions having a thickness smaller than 4 μm.
US08536676B2	Corona prevention in high power MMICs The present invention is drawn to an MMIC capacitor comprising a dielectric material interposed between a metal top plate and a metal bottom plate; and a passivation layer having the composition of the dielectric material and applied to the capacitor components such that thickness of the layer eliminates a corona effect. The invention also includes a method for passivating a layer of SiN material onto a top plate having a thickness sufficient to reduce a corona effect dependent on an applied voltage.
US08536675B2	Thermally insulated phase change material memory cells A memory cell structure and method for forming the same. The method includes forming a pore within a dielectric layer. The pore is formed over the center of an electrically conducting bottom electrode. The method includes depositing a thermally insulating layer along at least one sidewall of the pore. The thermally insulating layer isolates heat from phase change current to the volume of the pore. In one embodiment phase change material is deposited within the pore and the volume of the thermally insulating layer. In another embodiment a pore electrode is formed within the pore and the volume of the thermally insulating layer, with the phase change material being deposited above the pore electrode. The method also includes forming an electrically conducting top electrode above the phase change material.
US08536673B2	Light receiving circuit Provided is a light receiving circuit for detecting a change in amount of light, in which an input circuit at a subsequent stage is compact and inexpensive and current consumption is low. The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for supplying a current corresponding to an amount of incident light; an N-channel MOS transistor including a drain supplied with the current from the photoelectric conversion element; and a control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor via a low pass filter so that a drain voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor becomes a desired voltage. The control circuit outputs a control state output signal, which is a GND terminal voltage when a delay amount of control on the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor performed via the low pass filter is less than a desired delay amount, and is the drain voltage of the NMOS transistor when the delay amount of control on the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor performed via the low pass filter is the desired delay amount or more. The light receiving circuit outputs the control state output signal as an output signal.
US08536668B2	Seed layer and free magnetic layer for perpindicular anisotropy in a spin-torque magnetic random access memory A magnetic layer that includes a seed layer comprising at least tantalum and a free magnetic layer comprising at least iron. The free magnetic layer is grown on top of the seed layer and the free magnetic layer is perpendicularly magnetized. The magnetic layer may be included in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack.
US08536665B2	Fabrication of piezoelectric single crystalline thin layer on silicon wafer The present invention relates a method of fabricating a piezoelectric device through micromachining piezoelectric-on-silicon wafer. The wafers are constructed so that piezoelectric layer is a single wafer having a thin layer from 5 to 50 μm.
US08536664B1	MEMS device with integrated memory cells A MEMS device can include an actuator, a base formed from a substrate, and a plurality of memory cells integrated with the base. At least a portion of the base can be configured to move in response to the actuator. A miniature camera can include a base comprising a frame, a stage, and a plurality of flexures configured to connect the stage with the frame. The flexures can be adapted to bend to permit the stage to move relative to the frame. The camera can include a plurality of memory cells integrated with the base, a lens mount secured to the stage, a lens barrel secured to the lens mount, an image sensor, and an actuator adapted to move the stage relative to the frame and the image sensor.
US08536663B1	Metal mesh lid MEMS package and method A metal mesh lid MEMS package includes a substrate, a MEMS electronic component coupled to the substrate, and a metal mesh lid coupled to the substrate with a lid adhesive. The metal mesh lid includes a polymeric lid body having a top port formed therein and a metal mesh cap coupled to the lid body. The metal mesh cap covers the top port and serves as both a particulate filter and a continuous conductive shield for EMI/RF interferences. Further, the metal mesh cap provides a locking feature for the lid adhesive to maximize the attach strength of the metal mesh lid to the substrate.
US08536660B2	Hybrid process for forming metal gates of MOS devices A semiconductor structure includes a first MOS device including a first gate, and a second MOS device including a second gate. The first gate includes a first high-k dielectric over a semiconductor substrate; a second high-k dielectric over the first high-k dielectric; a first metal layer over the second high-k dielectric, wherein the first metal layer dominates a work-function of the first MOS device; and a second metal layer over the first metal layer. The second gate includes a third high-k dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and the third high-k dielectrics are formed of same materials, and have substantially a same thickness; a third metal layer over the third high-k dielectric, wherein the third metal layer and the second metal layer are formed of same materials, and have substantially a same thickness; and a fourth metal layer over the third metal layer.
US08536658B2	Mechanisms for forming ultra shallow junction The embodiments of methods and structures are for doping fin structures by plasma doping processes to enable formation of shallow lightly doped source and drain (LDD) regions. The methods involve a two-step plasma doping process. The first step plasma process uses a heavy carrier gas, such as a carrier gas with an atomic weight equal to or greater than about 20 amu, to make the surfaces of fin structures amorphous and to reduce the dependence of doping rate on crystalline orientation. The second step plasma process uses a lighter carrier gas, which is lighter than the carrier gas for the first step plasma process, to drive the dopants deeper into the fin structures. The two-step plasma doping process produces uniform dopant profile beneath the outer surfaces of the fin structures.
US08536656B2	Self-aligned contacts for high k/metal gate process flow A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of gate stacks located on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each gate stack includes, from bottom to top, a high k gate dielectric layer, a work function metal layer and a conductive metal. A spacer is located on sidewalls of each gate stack and a self-aligned dielectric liner is present on an upper surface of each spacer. A bottom surface of each self-aligned dielectric liner is present on an upper surface of a semiconductor metal alloy. A contact metal is located between neighboring gate stacks and is separated from each gate stack by the self-aligned dielectric liner. The structure also includes another contact metal having a portion that is located on and in direct contact with an upper surface of the contact metal and another portion that is located on and in direct contact with the conductive metal of one of the gate stacks. Methods of forming the semiconductor structure using a replacement gate and a non-replacement gate scheme are also disclosed.
US08536655B2	Semiconductor device with power element and circuit element formed within the same semiconductor substrate Even in the case where negative current flows in a semiconductor device, the potential of a semiconductor substrate is prevented from becoming lower than the potential of a deep semiconductor layer which is a component of a circuit element, and a parasitic element is prevented from operating, which accordingly prevents malfunction of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes the n-type semiconductor substrate, a power element, the circuit element, and an external circuit. The external circuit includes a power supply, a resistive element having one end connected to the power supply, and a diode having its anode electrode connected to the other end of the resistive element and its cathode electrode connected to the ground. To the other end of the resistive element, a semiconductor layer is connected.
US08536653B2	Metal oxide semiconductor transistor A metal oxide semiconductor transistor includes a substrate including a first well, a second well, and an insulation between the first well and the second well, a first gate structure disposed on the first well, a second gate structure disposed on the second well, four first dopant regions disposed in the substrate at two sides of the first gate structure, and in the substrate at two sides of the second gate structure respectively, two second dopant regions disposed in the substrate at two sides of the first gate structure respectively, two first epitaxial layers disposed in the substrate at two sides of the first gate structure respectively and two first source/drain regions disposed in the substrate at two sides of the first gate structure respectively, wherein each of the first source/drain regions overlaps with one of the first epitaxial layers and one of the second dopant regions simultaneously.
US08536652B2	Non-volatile memory devices including low-K dielectric gaps in substrates A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, can be provided by forming a gate insulating layer and a gate conductive layer on a substrate that includes active regions that are defined by device isolation regions that include a carbon-containing silicon oxide layer. The gate conductive layer and the gate insulating layer can be sequentially etched to expose the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer. The carbon-containing silicon oxide layer can be wet-etched to recess a surface of the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer to below a surface of the substrate. Then, an interlayer insulating layer can be formed between the gate insulating layer and the gate conductive layer on the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer, where an air gap can be formed between the carbon-containing silicon oxide layer and the gate insulating layer.
US08536650B2	Strained ultra-thin SOI transistor formed by replacement gate A semiconductor structure is described. The structure includes a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer; a channel associated with the transistor and formed on a first portion of the SOI layer; and a source/drain region associated with the transistor and formed in a second portion of the SOI layer and in a recess at each end of the channel, where the second portion of the SOI layer is substantially thicker than the first portion of the SOI layer. A method of fabricating the semiconductor structure is also described. The method includes forming a dummy gate in a semiconductor substrate; performing a SIMOX process to form a SOI layer such that a first portion of the SOI layer under the dummy gate is substantially thinner than a second portion of the SOI layer; forming a source/drain extension in the SOI layer; and recessing the source/drain extension for forming a source/drain region; epitaxially growing the second portion of the SOI layer; forming an insulating layer over the epitaxial growth; removing the dummy gate for forming a gate opening; and filling the gate opening with a gate dielectric material and a gate conductor material.
US08536648B2	Drain extended field effect transistors and methods of formation thereof In an embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor device includes a first region having a first doping type, a channel region having the first doping type disposed in the first region, and a retrograde well having a second doping type. The second doping type is opposite to the first doping type. The retrograde well has a shallower layer with a first peak doping and a deeper layer with a second peak doping higher than the first peak doping. The device further includes a drain region having the second doping type over the retrograde well. An extended drain region is disposed in the retrograde well, and couples the channel region with the drain region. An isolation region is disposed between a gate overlap region of the extended drain region and the drain region. A length of the drain region is greater than a depth of the isolation region.
US08536642B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A vertical transistor comprises a semiconductor region, a pillar region formed on the semiconductor region, a gate insulating film formed so as to cover a side surface of the pillar region, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, a first impurity diffusion region formed in an upper portion of the pillar region, and a second impurity diffusion region formed in the semiconductor region so as to surround the pillar region. The first impurity diffusion region is formed so as to be spaced from the side surface of the pillar region.
US08536640B2	Deuterated film encapsulation of nonvolatile charge trap memory device A nonvolatile charge trap memory device with deuterium passivation of charge traps and method of manufacture. Deuterated gate layer, deuterated gate cap layer and deuterated spacers are employed in various combinations to encapsulate the device with deuterium sources proximate to the interfaces within the gate stack and on the surface of the gate stack where traps may be present.
US08536639B2	I-shape floating gate for flash memory device and fabricating the same The present invention discloses a floating gate structure of a flash memory device and a method for fabricating the same, which relates to a nonvolatile memory in a manufacturing technology of an ultra-large-scaled integrated circuit. In the invention, by modifying a manufacturing of a floating gate in the a standard process for the flash memory, that is, by adding three steps of deposition, two steps of etching and one step of CMP, an -shaped floating gate is formed. In addition to these steps, all the other steps are the same as those of the standard process for the flash memory process. By the invention, a coupling ratio may be improved effectively and a crosstalk between adjacent devices may be lowered, without adding additional photomasks and barely increasing a process complexity, which are very important to improve programming speed and reliability.
US08536638B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having lower leakage current between semiconductor substrate and bit lines A semiconductor device includes a bit line that is provided in a semiconductor substrate, a silicide layer that has side faces and a bottom face surrounded by the bit line and is provided within the bit line, an ONO film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and sidewalls that are in contact with the side faces of a trapping layer in the ONO film over the portions of the bit line located on both sides of the silicide layer, the sidewalls being formed with silicon oxide films including phosphorus.
US08536634B2	Memory device transistors Method and device embodiments are described for fabricating MOSFET transistors in a semiconductor also containing non-volatile floating gate transistors. MOSFET transistor gate dielectric smiling, or bird's beaks, are adjustable by re-oxidation processing. An additional re-oxidation process is performed by opening a poly-silicon layer prior to forming an inter-poly oxide dielectric provided for the floating gate transistors.
US08536633B2	Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor with electrostatic-discharge protection and voltage-stabilizing capacitor and method for manufacturing the same The present invention relates to a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) with electrostatic-discharge (ESD) protection and a voltage-stabilizing capacitor, and a method for manufacturing the same and is applied to a chip, including a P-type substrate, a conductor layer, a first N-type doping region, a second N-type doping region, and an N-type well. The conductor layer is coupled to the ground; the first N-type doping region is coupled to the power supply; the second N-type doping region is coupled to a VDD pad (power-supply pad). Thereby, when the chip is not installed or not operating, the MOSFET can be used for ESD protection. When the chip is operating, the conductor layer, the first N-type doping region, the second N-type doing region, and the N-type well form a gate capacitor as a voltage-stabilizing capacitor between the power supply and the ground. Hence, the objective of fully utilization is achieved. In addition, the chip size is saved and thus the cost thereof is reduced.
US08536630B2	Transistor devices and methods of making In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a transistor device comprises: providing a semiconductor topography comprising a gate conductor disposed above a semiconductor substrate between a pair of dielectric spacers; anisotropically etching exposed regions of the semiconductor substrate on opposite sides of the dielectric spacers to form recessed regions in the substrate; oxidizing exposed surfaces of the substrate in the recessed regions to form an oxide thereon; removing the oxide from bottoms of the recessed regions while retaining the oxide upon sidewalls of the recessed regions; and isotropically etching the substrate such that the recessed regions undercut the pair of dielectric spacers.
US08536628B2	Integrated circuit having memory cell array including barriers, and method of manufacturing same An integrated circuit device (e.g., a logic device or a memory device) having (i) a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells (for example, memory cells having electrically floating body transistors) arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes at least one transistor having a gate, gate dielectric and first, second and body regions, wherein: (i) the body region of each transistor is electrically floating and (ii) the transistors of adjacent memory cells include a layout that provides a common first region and/or a common second region. Each common first region and/or second regions of transistors of adjacent memory cells includes a barrier disposed therein and/or therebetween, wherein each barrier provides a discontinuity in the common regions and/or includes one or more electrical characteristics that are different from one or more corresponding electrical characteristics of the common regions. A plurality of electrical contacts, wherein an electrical contact is disposed on a (i) common first region and/or second region and (ii) barrier(s) associated therewith which is disposed therein and/or therebetween. Also disclosed are inventive methods of manufacturing such integrated circuit devices.
US08536621B2	Quantum-well-based semiconductor devices Quantum-well-based semiconductor devices and methods of forming quantum-well-based semiconductor devices are described. A method includes providing a hetero-structure disposed above a substrate and including a quantum-well channel region. The method also includes forming a source and drain material region above the quantum-well channel region. The method also includes forming a trench in the source and drain material region to provide a source region separated from a drain region. The method also includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the trench, between the source and drain regions; and forming a gate electrode in the trench, above the gate dielectric layer.
US08536619B2	Strained MOS device and methods for forming the same A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; and a stressor in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate stack. The stressor comprises at least a first portion with a first top surface lower than the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08536618B2	Light emitting diode structure utilizing zinc oxide nanorod arrays on one or more surfaces, and a low cost method of producing such zinc oxide nanorod arrays A method of fabricating a Light Emitting Diode with improved light extraction efficiency, comprising depositing a plurality of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods on one or more surfaces of a III-Nitride based LED, by growing the ZnO nanorods from an aqueous solution, wherein the surfaces are different from c-plane surfaces of III-Nitride and transmit light generated by the LED.
US08536615B1	Semiconductor device structures with modulated and delta doping and related methods A semiconductor device may include a doped semiconductor region wherein a dopant concentration of the semiconductor region is modulated over a plurality of intervals. Each interval may include at least one portion having a relatively low dopant concentration and at least one portion having a relatively high dopant concentration. A plurality of delta doped layers may be included in the plurality of intervals. Related methods are also discussed.
US08536609B2	Organic light emitting diode display An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, an organic light emitting diode provided on the substrate and including a first electrode, an organic emission layer, and a second electrode, a packed layer on the organic light emitting diode, and a protective layer on the packed layer, the protective layer including at least one of a graphene oxide and a graphene nitride.
US08536607B2	Manufacturing method of LED base plate, LED base plate and white light LED structure An LED base plate enabling the LED to emit high luminance white light. The base plate has a reflective surface, and protrusions disposed on the reflective surface have top portions formed with curved surfaces. The protrusions have bottom widths of 2 to 4 micrometers and heights of 1.2 to 1.8 micrometers, with adjacent protrusions having spaces of 0.6 to 3 micrometers. An InGaN epitaxy layer is coated on the reflective surface of the base plate and emits ultraviolet of wavelength in the range of 380 to 410 nanometer when the InGaN epitaxy layer is electrified. Ultraviolet light reflected by the reflective surface of the base plate and the protrusions stimulates and mixes fluorescent compounds of zinc oxide and yttrium aluminum garnet to generate complementary light of ultraviolet light. High luminance white light scatteringly emitted is used for illumination.
US08536606B2	Light emitting device, light emitting device package including the same and lighting system Disclosed is a light emitting device including a light emitting structure comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, a first electrode disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second electrode disposed on the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and a low temperature oxide film disposed on the light emitting structure, with an irregular thickness.
US08536605B2	Micro-bead blasting process for removing a silicone flash layer Using compression molding to form lenses over LED arrays on a metal core printed circuit board leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the contact pads that are later required to connect the arrays to power. A method for removing the flash layer involves blasting particles of sodium bicarbonate at the flash layer. A nozzle is positioned within thirty millimeters of the top surface of the flash layer. The stream of air that exits from the nozzle is directed towards the top surface at an angle between five and thirty degrees away from normal to the top surface. The particles of sodium bicarbonate are added to the stream of air and then collide into the top surface of the silicone flash layer until the flash layer laterally above the contact pads is removed. The edge of silicone around the cleaned contact pad thereafter contains a trace amount of sodium bicarbonate.
US08536604B2	Light emitting diode and method for fabricating the same A light emitting diode and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The light emitting diode includes: a transparent substrate; a semiconductor material layer formed on the top surface of a substrate with an active layer generating light; and a fluorescent layer formed on the back surface of the substrate with controlled varied thicknesses. The ratio of light whose wavelength is shifted while propagating through the fluorescent layer and the original light generated in the active layer can be controlled by adjusting the thickness of the fluorescent layer, to emit desirable homogeneous white light from the light emitting diode.
US08536603B2	Optoelectronic semiconductor chip and method of producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip An optoelectronic semiconductor chip having a semiconductor layer sequence with a plurality of layers arranged over one another includes an active layer with an active region which emits electromagnetic radiation in an emission direction when in operation, a first grating layer on the active layer which, in an emission direction, has a plurality of stripes in the form of grating lines extending perpendicularly to the emission direction with spaces arranged therebetween, and a second grating layer on the first grating layer which covers the stripes of the first grating layer and the spaces and which comprises a transparent material applied by non-epitaxial application.
US08536590B2	Light emitting element package A light emitting element package includes a substrate, at least two light emitting element modules and an encapsulation member. The substrate includes a circuit layer. The circuit layer includes a plurality of solder pads. The at least two light emitting element modules are mounted on the substrate. Each of the at least two light emitting element modules includes a plurality of light emitting elements. Each light emitting element of the at least two light emitting element modules is electrically coupled to neighboring light emitting element in serial through the solder pads. The at least two light emitting element modules are reversely arranged. The encapsulation member is configured to encapsulate the at least two light emitting element modules on the substrate.
US08536588B2	Display device having an antenna and method of manufacturing same A display device and a method of manufacturing the same, the display includes: an electrode plate operable to have a radio-frequency wave to pass therethrough; a light-emitting portion disposed in a direction of one surface of the electrode plate, the light-emitting portion including the electrode plate serving as a back electrode; and an antenna disposed in a direction of another surface of the electrode plate, the antenna having a stripline structure or a microstrip line structure and using a potential of the electrode plate as a reference potential.
US08536579B2	Electronic device having spatially inverted thin film transistors The invention relates to an electronic device including a sequence of a first thin film transistor (TFT) and a second TFT, the first TFT including a first set of electrodes separated by a first insulator, the second TFT comprising a second set of electrodes separated by a second insulator, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are formed from a first shared conductive layer and a second shared conductive layer, the first insulator and the second insulator being formed by a shared dielectric layer. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an electronic device.
US08536576B2	Array substrate and display device An array substrate includes: a plurality of display areas, an outer area of the display area, in which a common wiring and an external connection terminal, which is connected to one of the scanning wiring, the signal wiring, and the common wiring, are provided; a connection wiring, which connects the external connection terminal with the common wiring of an adjacent display panel; and a connection part, which has a contact hole provided at the common wiring of the adjacent display panel, wherein the connection wiring is disposed across the cutting position of the insulation substrate and is connected to the contact hole at the connection part, and wherein the connection part is disposed at an area, at which a sealing member to bond an opposite substrate disposed to face the display area, or the inner side of the sealing member, which is the display area side.
US08536573B2	Plating process and structure A system and method for plating a contact connected to a test pad is provided. An embodiment comprises inserting a blocking material into vias between the contact and the test pad. In another embodiment a blocking structure may be inserted between the contact and the test pad. In yet another embodiment a blocking layer may be inserted into a contact stack. Once the blocking material, the blocking structure, or the blocking layer have been formed, the contact may be plated, with the blocking material, the blocking structure, or the blocking layer reducing or preventing degradation of the test pad due to galvanic effects.
US08536571B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a gate electrode over a substrate; forming a gate insulating film over the gate electrode; forming an oxide semiconductor film; performing heat treatment to form a second oxide semiconductor film after the step of forming the first oxide semiconductor film; forming a first conductive film; forming a first resist mask including regions whose thicknesses are different; etching the second oxide semiconductor film and the first conductive film using the first resist mask to form a third oxide semiconductor film and a second conductive film; reducing the size of the first resist mask to form a second resist mask; selectively etching the second conductive film using the second resist mask to remove a part of the second conductive film so that a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed.
US08536568B2	Display device The invention is directed to a higher contrast in a display device having a lighting device as a front light. A lighting portion is attached to a reflective liquid crystal display portion. A first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate made of a glass substrate etc. are attached to each other with a sealing layer coated on those peripheral portions therebetween. The back surface of the first transparent substrate is attached to the reflective liquid crystal display portion, and an organic EL element is formed on the front surface of the first transparent substrate. The organic EL element is sealed in a space surrounded by the first transparent substrate, the second transparent substrate, and the sealing layer. The organic EL element is formed in a region corresponding to a pixel region of the reflective liquid crystal display portion. A desiccant layer is formed on the front surface of the second transparent substrate.
US08536567B2	Organic light emitting display and fabrication method thereof An organic light emitting display includes: a substrate, a buffer layer arranged on the substrate, a semiconductor layer arranged on the buffer layer, a gate insulating layer arranged on the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode arranged on the gate insulating layer, an inter-layer dielectric layer arranged on the gate electrode, a source/drain electrode arranged on the inter-layer dielectric layer, an insulating layer arranged on the source/drain electrode, an non-transmissive layer arranged on the insulating layer; and an organic light emitting diode arranged on the insulating layer.
US08536566B2	Systems, methods and apparatus for active compensation of quantum processor elements Apparatus and methods enable active compensation for unwanted discrepancies in the superconducting elements of quantum processor. A qubit may include a primary compound Josephson junction (CJJ) structure, which may include at least a first secondary CJJ structure to enable compensation for Josephson junction asymmetry in the primary CJJ structure. A qubit may include a series LC-circuit coupled in parallel with a first CJJ structure to provide a tunable capacitance. A qubit control system may include means for tuning inductance of a qubit loop, for instance a tunable coupler inductively coupled to the qubit loop and controlled by a programming interface, or a CJJ structure coupled in series with the qubit loop and controlled by a programming interface.
US08536565B2	Nitride-based light-emitting device A nitride-based light-emitting device includes a substrate and a plurality of layers formed over the substrate in the following sequence: a nitride-based buffer layer formed by nitrogen, a first group III element, and optionally, a second group III element, a first nitride-based semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second nitride-based semiconductor layer.
US08536562B2	Methods of forming memory structures and methods of forming memory arrays Some embodiments include methods of forming memory structures. An electrically insulative line is formed over a base. Electrode material is deposited over the line and patterned to form a pair of bottom electrodes along the sidewalls of the line. Programmable material is formed over the bottom electrodes, and a top electrode is formed over the programmable material. The bottom electrodes may each contain at least one segment which extends at angle of from greater than 0° to less than or equal to about 90° relative to a planar topography of the base. Some embodiments include memory structures having a bottom electrode extending upwardly from a conductive contact to a programmable material, with the bottom electrode having a thickness of less than or equal to about 10 nanometers. Some embodiments include memory arrays and methods of forming memory arrays.
US08536559B2	Phase change memory A phase change memory (PCM) is provided which includes a substrate, a plurality of bottom electrodes, a plurality of top electrodes, a plurality of phase change materials, and a plurality of thermal disturbance-preventing parts. The bottom electrodes are disposed in the substrate, and the top electrodes are disposed on the substrate. The phase change (PC) materials are disposed between the top and bottom electrodes, and each of the PC materials is conducted with one of the top electrodes and one of the bottom electrodes. The thermal disturbance-preventing parts are utilized to reduce the effect of thermal disturbance upon the PCM.
US08536558B1	RRAM structure with improved memory margin Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) structures are formed with ultra-thin RRAM-functional layers, thereby improving memory margins. Embodiments include forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over a bottom electrode, forming a sacrificial layer over the ILD, removing a portion of the ILD and a portion of the sacrificial layer vertically contiguous with the portion of the ILD, forming a cell area, forming a metal layer within the cell area, forming an interlayer dielectric structure above or surrounded by and protruding above the metal layer, a top surface of the interlayer dielectric structure being coplanar with a top surface of the sacrificial layer, removing the sacrificial layer, forming a memory layer on the ILD and/or on side surfaces of the interlayer dielectric structure, and forming a dielectric layer surrounding at least a portion of the interlayer dielectric structure.
US08536557B2	Light emitting device and light emitting device package Provided is a light emitting device, a method for manufacturing the light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device of the embodiment includes a first conductive semiconductor layer; a second conductive semiconductor layer; and a active layer including a quantum well and a quantum bather between the first conductive semiconductor layer and the second conductive semiconductor layer, wherein the energy band gap of the quantum well is gradually changed into parabolic toward a center of the quantum well.
US08536556B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing nonvolatile memory device A nonvolatile memory device includes: a first interconnection extending in a first direction; a second interconnection extending in a second direction nonparallel to the first direction; and a memory layer placed between the first interconnection and the second interconnection and reversibly transitioning between a first state and a second state by a current supplied via the first interconnection and the second interconnection. A cross section parallel to the first and the second direction of the memory layer decreases toward the second interconnection.
US08536554B2	Three-terminal metal-insulator transition switch, switching system including the same, and method of controlling metal-insulator transition of the same Provided are a 3-terminal MIT switch which can easily control a discontinuous MIT jump and does not need a conventional gate insulating layer, a switching system including the 3-terminal MIT switch, and a method of controlling an MIT of the 3-terminal MIT switch. The 3-terminal MIT switch includes a 2-terminal MIT device, which generates discontinuous MIT in a transition voltage, an inlet electrode and an outlet electrode, which are respectively connected to each terminal of the 2-terminal MIT device, and a control electrode, which is connected to the inlet electrode and includes an external terminal separated from an external terminal of the inlet electrode, wherein an MIT of the 2-terminal MIT device is controlled according to a voltage or a current applied to the control electrode. The switching system includes the 3-terminal MIT switch, a voltage source connected to the inlet electrode, and a control source connected to the control electrode.
US08536553B2	Apparatus and method for detecting radiation An apparatus and method for detecting radiation are provided. The apparatus includes an upper electrode layer transmitting radiation; a first insulating layer blocking charges from the upper electrode layer; a photoconductive layer becoming photoconductive upon exposure to the radiation; a second insulating layer protecting the photoconductive layer from a plasma discharge; a lower substrate facing the second insulating layer; a plurality of barrier ribs defining a cell structure between the second insulating layer and the lower substrate; a gas layer included in an inner chamber inside the cell structure and generating a plasma discharge; a bottom electrode formed on the lower substrate; a first radio frequency (RF) electrode formed over the bottom electrode and connected to a ground source; a second RF electrode to which RF power for generating plasma is applied; and a third insulating layer surrounding the first and second RF electrodes and thus insulating the first and second RF electrodes from the gas layer and the bottom electrode.
US08536550B2	Method and apparatus for cleaning collector mirror in EUV light generator A method for cleaning collector mirrors in an EUV light generator in which a target is made into a plasma state and EUV light generated is collected by a collector mirror, the method being adopted to the EUV light generator for cleaning contaminants adhering thereto, the method comprising: preparing at least two collector mirrors; locating one of the mirrors at an EUV light condensing position while locating the other mirror at a cleaning position; determining whether the mirror at the cleaning position is cleaned while determining whether the mirror at the light condensing position requires cleaning; and once determined that the mirror at the cleaning position is cleaned and the mirror at the light condensing position requires cleaning, conveying the mirror at the light condensing position and requiring cleaning to the cleaning position while conveying the mirror at the cleaning position and having been cleaned to the light condensing position.
US08536549B2	Light source employing laser-produced plasma A system and a method of generating radiation and/or particle emissions are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the system includes at least one laser source that generates a first pulse and a second pulse in temporal succession, and a target, where the target (or at least a portion the target) becomes a plasma upon being exposed to the first pulse. The plasma expand after the exposure to the first pulse, the expanded plasma is then exposed to the second pulse, and at least one of a radiation emission and a particle emission occurs after the exposure to the second pulse. In at least some embodiments, the target is a solid piece of material, and/or a time period between the first and second pulses is less than 1 microsecond (e.g., 840 ns).
US08536548B2	Particle beam therapy system A particle beam therapy system that prevents dispersion of a charged particle beam, reduction of the energy thereof, and upsizing of the system and can accurately monitor the opening shape of a multileaf collimator so as to perform high-accuracy particle beam therapy. An image-capturing unit that takes an image of an outer end of a respective downstream side face of a leaf plate is provided for each row of leaves in such a way as to be situated at a position that is at an outer side of an irradiation field; and adjusted in such a way that a foot of a perpendicular line from a viewpoint, of the image capturing unit, to the downstream side face of a leaf plate, is situated at a position that is at an inner side of the position of the outer end when the leaf plate is maximally driven in the departing direction.
US08536547B2	Ring gantry radiation treatment delivery system with dynamically controllable inward extension of treatment head Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a ring gantry having a central opening sufficiently large to accommodate a body of a patient positioned along a longitudinal axis and extending therethrough, and a gantry tilting mechanism configured to tilt the ring gantry to a plurality of different tilt angles relative to the longitudinal axis. A radiation treatment head is coupled to the ring gantry and is rotatable around said central opening in at least a 180 degree arc. The radiation treatment head is mechanically coupled to the ring gantry such that a distance by which the radiation treatment head extends inwardly toward the central opening relative to the ring gantry is dynamically controllable.
US08536545B2	Delayed emission detection devices and methods Embodiments of the present invention relate to a delayed emission detection device comprising a time-gated illumination source configured to provide excitation light to fluorophore during an excitation period and a light detector configured to receive emissions released from the fluorophore during a collection period after the excitation period.
US08536542B2	Flow cytometry analysis across optical fiber An apparatus and method for analyzing a fluid with particle analytes, where the fluid is fed through a passageway within an optical fiber and excitation light is guided by the optical fiber across the passageway and intersects the fluid therein. The optical core is made multimode and is adapted to shape the excitation light with a uniform spatial illumination over a cross-section of the optical core and the passageway is configured relative to the optical core such that the particle analytes are exposed to substantially equal excitation light while circulating in the passageway.
US08536541B2	Station for disinfecting publicly-used equipment A device for disinfecting publicly-used equipment includes a plurality of reflective units disposed along the interior of each wall of the device. Each of the reflective units can include a reflective back section and at least three reflective sections disposed about the reflective back section. UV lamps can be disposed to extend along the walls, and at partially disposed adjacent to a one or more reflective back sections of the reflective units. The UV lamps together with the reflective units collectively direct sufficient UV light on the equipment such that the equipment can be disinfected. The walls and ceiling of the device define a tunnel into which the equipment to be disinfected is inserted. Optionally, the device can include a door to prevent children and others from entering the tunnel while the UV lamps are illuminated.
US08536540B2	Charged particle beam apparatus and method for stably obtaining charged particle beam image Since charging characteristics differ between the outer circumferential portion and the center portion of a sample to be inspected, equivalent inspection sensitivities cannot be obtained in the outer circumferential portion and the center portion of the sample to be inspected. A sample cover is provided in the outer circumferential portion of a sample holder on which the sample to be inspected is placed. Charging characteristics of the sample cover are changed according to charging characteristics of the sample to be inspected. Consequently, uniform charged states can be formed in the outer circumferential portion and the center portion of the sample. Inspection/observation of the outer circumferential portion of the sample can be realized at higher sensitivity than in the past.
US08536536B2	Method and system for measuring the concentration of different compounds present in particulate material The present invention comprises a method and a system of collection and analysis for in situ determination of concentrations of minerals in granular material originating from a shaft under excavation, in a continuous, non-intrusive manner in real time. According to the present invention granular material collected passes to a granular material collector, subsequently entering a reading module which determines the concentration of different materials by spectroscopic methods. The granular material collected comes from drilling dust which rises along a boring tool of an excavating bit. The concentration data of different minerals in the granular material being analysed at a given moment may be processed and transmitted to establish and/or correct logistic and operational procedures such as, for example, in an excavation or in an overall process wherein it is set.
US08536534B2	Radiographic imaging device The present invention provides a radiographic imaging including, provided at an insulating substrate, sensor portions for radiation detection that generate charges due to receive radiation or light converted from radiation, first signal lines that are connected to the sensor portions for radiation detection and through which flow electric signals that correspond to the charges generated at the sensor portions for radiation detection, and second signal lines having a substantially same wiring pattern as the first signal lines. Detection of radiation is carried out on the basis of a difference between an electric signal flowing through the first signal line and an electric signal flowing through the second signal line, or a difference between values of digital data obtained by digitally converting an electric signal flowing through the first signal line and an electric signal flowing through the second signal line, respectively.
US08536533B2	Detection device Reflective means comprising substrates, selectively reflects electromagnetic radiation whose frequency lies between 3×109 Hz and 1013 Hz, and includes, for example, a layer of high resistivity silicon, on which the radiation is arranged to be incident, and means for selectively generating charge carriers in the layer to reflect the radiation, for example, by illuminating a face of the substrate with electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength lies between 5 μm and 100 mn in order to generate the charge carriers. The reflective means may form part of an imaging device in which a scene to be imaged is illuminated by radiation which passes through the reflective means in a coaxial arrangement, the reflected radiation being received by the reflective element while the reflective region is scanned over its entire surface, to produce a stream of radiation reflected from the scene which can be detected and used to drive a display. Noise produced by reflection from areas of the reflective means other than the scanned spot may be reduced by crossed polarizers, and the substrates may be grooved to form the polarizers, as well as to simplify the scanning arrangement. Other applications are for chemical signature detection.
US08536531B2	Proximity sensing apparatus and sensing method thereof The present invention discloses a proximity sensing apparatus and a method thereof. The proximity sensing apparatus comprises a panel, a first light-emitting unit, a second light-emitting unit and a sensing unit. The panel comprises a plurality of transparent areas. The first light-emitting unit is located at one side of the panel and emits a plurality of first light signals through one of the transparent areas. The second light-emitting unit is located at the same side as the first light-emitting unit of the panel and emits a plurality of second light signals through one of the transparent areas. The sensing unit is located at the same side as the first light-emitting unit of the panel and senses the reflected first light signals or the reflected second light signals reflected by an object. Wherein, the sensing unit is closer to the first light-emitting unit than to the second light-emitting unit.
US08536527B2	Imaging based on cosmic-ray produced charged particles Techniques, apparatus and systems for obtaining tomographic images of a volume of interest by using charged particle tomography detection systems.
US08536525B2	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.
US08536524B2	Fast mud gas logging using tandem mass spectroscopy Systems and methods for high speed mud gas logging are described. A general workflow of mud gas logging uses tandem mass spectroscopy. The workflow involves first separating the volatile components of the hydrocarbons (typically C8 and below) from the drilling fluid using a fluid extractor (or degaser). Extracted gases are then diluted in air and transported to an analyzer, which measures the concentration of each of those gases in air. A tandem mass spectroscopy-based analyzer is used that is able to quantify each of those hydrocarbon components, including resolving isomeric species, while tolerating the presence of the non-hydrocarbons. According to some embodiments, triple quadrapole mass spectroscopy is used.
US08536521B2	Mass spectrometry systems Described herein are methods that may be used related to mass spectrometry, such as mass spectrometry analysis, mass spectrometry calibration, identification of proteins/peptides by mass spectrometry and/or mass spectrometry data collection strategies. In one embodiment, the subject matter discloses a phase-modeling analysis method for identification of proteins or peptides by mass spectrometry.
US08536520B2	Method for generation and use of isotopic patterns in mass spectral data of simple organisms A method for identifying a biological analyte that is affected by a stressor is disclosed in which two substantially identical biological samples are provided, with a first sample being a control sample and a second sample being an experimental sample. The control sample is grown with a nutrient having an isotope of a first atom, whereas the experimental sample is grown with a nutrient having a second isotope of the first atom. The experimental sample is grown with a stressing agent and regimen. The samples are admixed, and the formed composite is mass spectroscopically assayed for analyte peaks. The ratio of first isotope to second isotope is determined for the peaks, as is a sample median isotopic ratio. The ratio for assayed analyte peaks is compared with the median ratio. An analyte whose isotopic ratio significantly deviates from the median ratio is an analyte affected by the stressing agent.
US08536516B2	Multi-channel source assembly for downhole spectroscopy A multi-channel source assembly for downhole spectroscopy has individual sources that generate optical signals across a spectral range of wavelengths. A combining assembly optically combines the generated signals into a combined signal and a routing assembly that splits the combined signal into a reference channel and a measurement channel. Control circuitry electrically coupled to the sources modulates each of the sources at unique or independent frequencies during operation.
US08536512B2	Opto-electronic circuit board and manufacturing method for the same There is provided an opto-electronic circuit board that includes a first board, a second board coupled with the first board via solder, where the second board is mounted with an electronic circuit and a photoelectrical conversion device, and a wall disposed between an optical coupling portion and the solder. The optical coupling portion is for optically coupling an optical waveguide with the photoelectric conversion device, where the optical waveguide is formed in the first board.
US08536510B2	Multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is provided having a casing that forms an outer shape of each of a projector and an optical receiver. The casing includes a frame body having a front face and two ends opened, a pair of caps to cover both ends of the frame body, and a light transmissive plate to cover the opened front face of the frame body 3. In the inner surfaces of both side plates of the frame body, supports are formed extending along the corresponding side edges of the opening of the front face. Both side edges of the light transmissive plate 6 are supported by the supports, and both ends thereof are supported by the caps. Portions of the caps that support the light transmissive plate 6 include communication portions to communicate with the supports of the frame body 3, and a string-like elastic member is disposed around a closed loop formed by each support and each communication portion. The light transmissive plate 6 is held between the string-like elastic member and at least one fixing member disposed for the frame body and the caps. This configuration facilitates fixing of the light transmissive plate and changing of a size of the frame body.
US08536509B2	Scanner arrangement The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for scanning a scanning area (16, 36) comprising a scanner (10, 30, 42, 54) that generates a scanning field (12) which is defined between two legs spaced from each other by a scanning angle (A), and which scanner is adapted to control at least one blocking means (18, 38, 50) for a passageway (32, 56), said passageway (32, 56) being delimited at least in its horizontal extension. The invention is characterized in that a scanner (10, 30, 42, 54) is mounted at a distance, as viewed in the passage direction (14), from the passageway (32, 56) and thus also from the controlled blocking means (18, 38, 50), and that the scanning field (12) is directed towards the passageway and extends through the passageway (32, 56).
US08536507B2	Integrated proximity sensor and light sensor Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity and to detect light. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and a detector of electromagnetic radiation; the detector has a sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when sensing proximity, and to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter when sensing visible light. The emitter may be disabled at least temporarily to allow the detector to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter, such as ambient light. In one implementation, the ambient light is measured by measuring infrared wavelengths. Also, a fence having a non-IR transmissive material disposed between the emitter and the detector to remove electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US08536502B2	Vehicle for launching from a gas gun A vehicle for launching from a gas gun having a housing; preferably incorporating a precessional attitude control system; and utilizing a flared base, fins, or active use of the attitude control system during passage through the atmosphere. Subtly canting the fins can produce desired spinning of the vehicle. The propulsion system can employ liquid, hybrid, or solid fuel. A removable aero-shell assists atmospheric flight with thermal protection being provided by anticipated ablation, an ablative aero-spike, or transpirational cooling. And a releasable sabot enhances the effectiveness of the launch.
US08536498B2	Induction heating device for a metal plate An induction heating apparatus for heating a traveling metal plate includes an induction coil for surrounding the metal plate. The induction coil includes an upper induction coil for being located above the metal plate and a lower induction coil for being located below the metal plate. The upper and lower induction coils are spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the metal plate a constant distance across a transverse direction of the metal plate. Each of the upper induction coil and the lower induction coil is arranged obliquely at an edge area of the metal plate so as to form an oblique angle with the transverse direction of the metal plate.
US08536492B2	Processing multilayer semiconductors with multiple heat sources A method and apparatus for rapid thermal annealing comprising a plurality of lamps affixed to a lid of the chamber that provide at least one wavelength of light, a laser source extending into the chamber, a substrate support positioned within a base of the chamber, an edge ring affixed to the substrate support, and a gas distribution assembly in communication with the lid and the base of the chamber. A method and apparatus for rapid thermal annealing comprising a plurality of lamps comprising regional control of the lamps and a cooling gas distribution system affixed to a lid of the chamber, a heated substrate support with magnetic levitation extending through a base of the chamber, an edge ring affixed to the substrate support, and a gas distribution assembly in communication with the lid and the base of the chamber.
US08536490B2	Wireless signal transmission device and method thereof An electric kettle includes a kettle body, a base, a heating element and a wireless signal transmission device. The wireless signal transmission device includes a controller circuitry, a first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver, and a light reflection arrangement. The light reflection arrangement includes a first reflective mechanism provided on the kettle body, and a second reflective mechanism provided on the base, wherein when the kettle body is rotatably and detachably coupled with the base through a lower and an upper connector, wherein when one of the first and the second wireless transceiver is activated to generate a wireless signal toward another of the wireless transceiver, the wireless signal is subject to multiple reflections by the first and the second reflective mechanism until the wireless signal reaches the corresponding first and the second wireless transceiver.
US08536489B2	Hob and method for producing a hob A hob includes a cooking surface with a glass ceramic defining a cutout in an outside edge of the glass ceramic, and an insert in the cutout including a material that is different from the glass ceramic and which is permeable to light in a blue spectral range.
US08536488B2	Elevated welding-type cable support system A cable management system for a welding-type system includes a support column extending in a first direction from a first end supported by a welding-type device to a second end arranged above the welding-type device. The cable management system also includes a cable support arranged on the second end of the support column that extends in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction. Accordingly, a portion of the cable support extends away from the welding-type device to allow a cable supported thereon to extend below the cable support and proximate to the welding-type device.
US08536480B2	Encoder dampening mechanism In an encoder dampening mechanism for an electric spot welding gun equipped with a motor that is accommodated inside of a motor housing and causes a hollow rotor to rotate, and an encoder main body that detects a rotation angle of the hollow rotor, the encoder dampening mechanism includes: a thin plate that is formed with a top surface that is larger in a surface area than a base surface of the encoder main body, and on which the base surface of the encoder main body is installed within the top surface; and a thin plate mounting portion that connects the thin plate to the motor housing via the thin plate support part and the thin plate pressure part, which dampen vibration.
US08536476B2	Illuminated keyboard An illuminated keyboard includes plural keys, a membrane switch circuit member and an illumination module. The illumination module is used for emitting plural light beams. When the membrane switch circuit member is triggered by depressing a key, the membrane switch circuit member issues a corresponding key signal. The membrane switch circuit member includes plural light-guiding zones. Each of the light-guiding zones is filled with the corresponding light-guiding layer, so that no vacant space is formed in the light-guiding zone. As a consequence, the light-guiding layer is structurally rigid, and the possibility of abrading the light-guiding layer is minimized.
US08536466B2	Terminal box and solar cell module According to one embodiment, a terminal box includes a box case placed on and fixed to a back film of a solar cell string and a terminal panel formed on the box case. The box case includes a case main body placed on and fixed to the back film of the solar cell string and a terminal panel fixing portion for placing and fixing the terminal panel above the case main body. An opening for passing an output lead wire through the terminal panel is formed continuously from the bottom face of the case main body to the top face of the terminal panel. One edge of the terminal panel is provided so as to protrude from the terminal panel fixing portion such that the tip of the output lead wire can be bent and latched on.
US08536464B2	Multilayer substrate A multilayer substrate is provided with a conductor plane region in which a plurality of conductor planes are disposed; a clearance region disposed adjacent to the conductor plane region so that the plurality of conductor planes are excluded from the clearance region. A plurality of signal vias are disposed through the clearance region so that the plurality of signal vias are isolated from the plurality of conductor planes. A conductor post is connected to one of the plurality of conductor planes and disposed between two of the signal vias in the clearance region.
US08536461B2	Printed circuit board having stiff and flexible characteristics A printed circuit board comprising a hard portion of at least one main hard PCB, and at least one secondary hard PCB; and a flexible portion to connect the main hard PCB to the secondary hard PCB both physically and electrically and enabling the secondary hard PCB to move in relation to the main hard PCB.
US08536460B2	Composite double-sided copper foil substrates and flexible printed circuit board structures using the same A double-sided copper foil substrate, which comprises: a polymer layer; a first copper foil; an adhesive layer formed on the polymer layer such that the polymer layer is sandwiched between the adhesive layer and the first copper layer; and a second copper foil causing the adhesive layer to be sandwiched between the second copper foil and the polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer and the adhesive layer have a total thickness of from 12 to 25 μm. The present invention further provides a flexible printed circuit board structure utilizing the composite double-sided copper foil substrate of the present invention, wherein the second double-sided copper foil substrate has a trench for exposing a portion of the adhesive layer. The double-sided copper foil substrate of the present invention are lower in rebound and satisfying the demand for the greater number of bending and sliding cycles under a lower R angle, and particularly is suitable for thin and flexible electronic products.
US08536458B1	Fine pitch copper pillar package and method An electronic component package includes a substrate having an upper surface. Traces on the upper surface of the substrate extend in a longitudinal direction. The traces have a first latitudinal width in a latitudinal direction, the latitudinal direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Rectangular copper pillars are attached to bond pads of an electronic component, the copper pillars having a longitudinal length and a latitudinal second width. The latitudinal second width of the copper pillars is equal to and aligned with the first latitudinal width of the traces. Further, the longitudinal length of the copper pillars is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the trace and equal to the length of the bond pads. The copper pillars are mounted to the traces with solder joints.
US08536455B2	High performance data cable A high performance data cable which has an interior support or star separator. The star separator or interior support extends along the longitudinal length of the data cable. The star separator or interior support has a central region. A plurality of prongs or splines extend outward from the central region along the length of the central region. Each prong or spline is adjacent with at least two other prongs or splines. The prongs or splines may be helixed or S-Z shaped as they extend along the length of the star separator or interior support. Each pair of adjacent prongs or splines defines grooves which extend along the longitudinal length of the interior support. At least two of the grooves have disposed therein an insulated conductor. The interior support can have a first material and a different second material. The different second material forms an outer surface of the interior support.
US08536454B2	Housing system for receptacles A housing system for covering a receptacle mounted on a board includes a base, a first flap and a second flap. Each of the first and second flaps has a proximal end, a distal end and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends. Each of the first and second flaps is mounted to the first and second opposing walls of the base such that each of the first and second flaps pivotally moves about a connection point with each of the first and second opposing sidewalls at the proximal end of each of the first and second flaps, between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the intermediate portions of each of the first and second flaps are a first distance from each other and the distal ends of the first and second flaps are a second distance from each other. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
US08536450B2	Sheath providing protection against radiation, in particular from the electric field generated by electric cables A sheath is disclosed which provides protection against radiation. The sheath surrounds or is configured to surround at least a neutral cable, a earth cable and a phase cable which are all connected to the power grid. The sheath includes an outer layer made from electrically insulating plastic which covers an inner layer made from electrically conductive material, elements being provided to connect the layer of electrically conductive material to an electrical conductor intended to be earthed. The conductor to be earthed takes the form of a wire, all or part of which is made from electrically conductive material that extends internally along the entire length of the sheath and which is in electrical contact, at least along part of the length thereof, with the inner layer of electrically conductive material.
US08536446B2	Inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells Multijunction solar cells that may include a first solar subcell with a first band gap, and a second solar subcell disposed over the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap. The solar cells may also include a grading interlayer disposed over the second solar subcell that may include a third band gap greater than the second band gap. The grading interlayer may not include phosphorus. The solar cells may also include a third solar subcell disposed over the interlayer that is lattice mismatched with respect to the second solar subcell. The third solar subcell may have a fourth band gap smaller than the third band gap.
US08536445B2	Inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells A method of forming a multijunction solar cell comprising an upper subcell, a middle subcell, and a lower subcell comprising providing first substrate for the epitaxial growth of semiconductor material; forming a first solar subcell on said substrate having a first band gap; forming a second solar subcell over said first subcell having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; and forming a grading interlayer over said second subcell having a third band gap larger than said second band gap forming a third solar subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than said second band gap such that said third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said second subcell.
US08536442B2	Slidable mounting system for solar modules Methods and devices are provided for rapid solar module installation. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic module is provided comprising of a plurality of photovoltaic cells a plurality of photovoltaic modules; at least a first type of mounting bracket in contact with the module; at least a second type of mounting bracket, wherein the brackets are configured to interlock and connect multiple modules together.
US08536441B2	Solar apparatus for concurrent heating and power generation duty Solar apparatus for concurrent heating and power-generation duty having a base load bearing structure and a load bearing structure supported on the base load bearing structure secured to the plant solar concentrator so as to allow rotation of the concentrator with an established maximum rotation angle, with both a first alternate rotation movement in a circular direction and a horizontal plane along the base load bearing structure, and a second alternate movement along a curved path around a vertical plane orthogonal to the horizontal plane. The solar concentrator is actuatable with said first and second movement during the day by respective first and second actuators, controlled by a microprocessor, depending on the corresponding orientations of the concentrator, detected by first and second sensors, in a manner to orientate the concentrator for receiving maximum solar radiation during the day.
US08536440B2	Semiconductor nanowire thermoelectric materials and devices, and processes for producing same The present invention provides nanowires and nanoribbons that are well suited for use in thermoelectric applications. The nanowires and nanoribbons are characterized by a periodic compositional longitudinal modulation. The nanowires are constructed using lithographic techniques from thin semiconductor membranes, or “nanomembranes.”
US08536439B2	Thermoelectric device A thermoelectric device including a first insulating substrate (A) and a second insulating substrate (B) stacked on each other. Including a first electrode (2b) formed on the upper surface of the first insulating substrate (A), a pair of second electrodes (3c, 4c) individually formed on opposite surfaces thereof and connected to each other via a through-hole (7), and a thermoelectric material (5b) provided in the form of a thin film so as to contact the first electrode (2b) and the second electrode (3c). Furthermore, including a pair of third electrodes (8b, 9b) formed on opposite surfaces of the second insulating substrate (B) and connected to each other via a through-hole (10) while one of the third electrodes (8b, 9b) is connected to the first electrode (2b).
US08536434B2	Retrofit kit and method for tuning and miking resonant side drumhead The resonant drum head mounted speaker cone retrofit kit improves the sound of the drum on audio recordings and in live sound situations and changes the way the drum is miked in live and studio applications. The center of the resonant drumhead is cut out and a speaker cone assembly is attached thereon facing outwards. The speaker cone, which also vibrates from this pressure, now becomes the miked surface of the instrument. Using otherwise conventional miking techniques, a wider range of attack and tone characteristics can be obtained from the drumhead. Additionally, use of optional speaker cone sizing, composition options and differences in tension also contribute to define and tune the sound characteristics based on end user preference.
US08536432B1	Guitar rest A rest for guitar-like instruments is internally configured to receive the bottom of a guitar-like instrument and to allow the instrument to lean against another object. Preferably, a groove is provided in the bottom of the rest to allow the rest to fit over the handle of an amplifier. Also, the cavity is preferably shaped such that the back of the top of the guitar-like instrument leans on a wall or other supporting structure.
US08536431B1	Tremolo A fulcrum tremolo includes intonation modules for fine tuning or macro tuning, an unitary component forming a base plate and an adaptor plate. An improved bearing arrangement features integrated riser posts, combining the bearing axle housing with traditional riser posts, an improved bearing axle supporting bearings positioned within recesses in a bearing housing. A plain end and a threaded end of the bearing axle cooperate with a riser post having a larger plain opening and a second riser post having a threaded opening. The plain end and a ring spacer, positioned between a bearing and the second riser post, positions the bearings away from the tremolo wherein the axle is slideably positioned within the first riser post as the second end of the axle is threadedly secured to the second riser post and thereby adjustably secures the bearing arrangement relative to the body of the instrument for pivotal movement.
US08536428B1	Maize variety hybrid X08A163 A novel maize variety designated X08A163 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A163 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A163 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A163, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A163. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A163.
US08536426B1	Maize variety hybrid X08A104 A novel maize variety designated X08A104 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A104 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A104 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A104, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A104. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A104.
US08536425B2	Plants and seeds of corn variety CV144332 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV144332. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV144332, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV144332 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV144332 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV144332.
US08536422B1	Maize variety inbred PH13BA A novel maize variety designated PH13BA and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH13BA with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13BA through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH13BA or a locus conversion of PH13BA with another maize variety.
US08536420B2	Compositions and methods for genetic modification of plants Methods for the targeted integration of nucleotide sequences into a plant are provided. Transfer cassettes comprising nucleotide sequences of interest flanked by non-identical recombination sites are used to transform a plant comprising a target site. The target site contains at least a set of non-identical recombination sites corresponding to those on the transfer cassette. Exchange of the nucleotide sequences flanked by the recombination sites is effected by a recombinase.

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