| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08577020B2 |
Communication terminal apparatus
A communication terminal apparatus is connected to a single telephone line and is configured to be selectively connected either to a telephone set or to a facsimile machine. A pseudo ring back tone generator generates a repetitive pseudo ring back tone transmitted to a calling party in response to an incoming call. A pseudo ring signal generator generates a pseudo ring signal for driving a ringer of the telephone set to ring in response to the incoming call. A tone detector detects a CNG signal indicative that the incoming call is a facsimile. A controller controls at least the pseudo ring back tone generator and the pseudo ring signal generator. A table correlates a plurality of ring back tones with corresponding countries. If a ring back tone for a country meets a predetermined condition, the controller sets a predetermined pseudo ring back tone to the pseudo ring back tone generator. |
| US08577016B1 |
Methods and systems for processing and managing telephonic communications using ring pools
An online and offline communication processing and tracking using data processing and data/voice networks is described. A phone address from a phone address number pool is automatically assigned to a first entity. A call quality rating is determined and recorded. A call from a caller directed to the phone address is received at a call bridging system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. Based at least in part on the call quality associated with the caller call, the caller call is assigned to a first location in a call queue. An outbound call is generated from the call bridging system and the inbound and the outbound calls are bridged. One or more parameters of the bridged call are compared to the call quality rating. An indication is recorded regarding the successful bridging of the calls in association with an entity identifier. |
| US08577012B2 |
Session transfer method and user equipment
In the field of communications, a session transfer method and a User Equipment (UE) are provided, so as to solve the problem that when a UE is involved in a voice session and a video session at the same time, session transfer cannot be performed. The technical solution according to the present invention includes: determining a session in an active state among a video session and a voice session; and initiating transfer of the session in the active state, so that a network side transfers the session in the active state to a Circuit Switched (CS) domain, and transfers a session in an inactive state among the video session and the voice session. The session transfer method and the UE may be applied in a radio communication network. |
| US08577011B1 |
Distributed call pickup group for VoIP system
A distributed call pickup group system comprises a call manager having an extension module. The extension module further comprises a group pickup module, a group pickup call stack, a backup group pickup module and a monitoring group pickup module. The extension module controls and manages the functionality associated with the group pickup feature. The group pick module advantageously allows any extension regardless of its location in the system or the switch to which it is connected to be included within a pickup group. The backup group pickup module provides fault tolerance for the pickup functionality such that if a particular switch and its associated group pickup module fail, a backup group pickup module is identified and made operational. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for creating a group pickup list, a method for performing through pickup and a method for backing up group picked up. |
| US08577010B2 |
Telephone relay device, method of relaying telephones, and program therefor
A second device (120) has a first virtual terminal and a second virtual terminal. The second device (120) switches the access point of a third telephone terminal (32) to the first virtual terminal and switches the access point of a second telephone terminal (22) to the second virtual terminal by control of a first device (110). Then, the first virtual terminal is put on hold. Then, the first virtual terminal calls the first telephone terminal by an outgoing call for forwarding to a first telephone terminal (12). Then, the first device (110) connects the first telephone terminal (12) to the third telephone terminal (32). |
| US08577007B2 |
Call shuffling
A method for automatically scheduling phone calls, including dynamically assigning priorities to each of a plurality of a user's contacts, selecting one of the plurality of the user's contacts based on highest priority, wherein random selection is used in case more than one contact has the highest priority, placing a phone call to the selected contact, and updating the priority of the selected contact, if the placing a phone call successfully reaches the selected contact. A telephone and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed. |
| US08577005B2 |
Automatic reporting of unwanted or unlawful telephonic communication
The present invention is directed to methods for a called party to report unwanted telephone calls to jurisdictional authorities. These calls may be unwanted, unlawful, or other calls. In the methods of the present invention, the called party dials a code comprised of a series of digits, which triggers the switching node associated with the called party to generate a series of messages, at least one of which encompasses the originating telephone number of the unwanted call. At least one of the messages is directed to the proper reporting authority such that the called party reports the unwanted event. Called parties can take further actions, such as including additional messaging or blocking subsequent calls from the calling party number. The reporting authority can take further action as well, such as matching the called party number with subscriber or geographic information. |
| US08577004B2 |
Predictive contact information representation
A probability that one or more contacts may be selected is determined. The probability that one or more contact may be selected may be determined based on one or more information types stored in a device and which may be used by a prediction engine module to determine the probability that one or more contacts may be selected by a user. Such information types may include location information of the user and location information associated with contacts in a contact list; distance to a particular location; time, both absolute and relative to times associated with calendar entries, and the like. High probability contacts may be assembled and displayed in a predictive contact list. |
| US08576995B1 |
System and method for connecting an endpoint to an active multimedia communications session on a data network by setting metadata associated with a telephone call
The present disclosure includes a system and method for connecting an endpoint, such as a client device, to an active multimedia communications session on one network using metadata included in a communication initiated on another network. In some embodiments, the initial network is the PSTN and the second network is the Internet. In some embodiments, the system includes a multimedia contact center on the second network and only a telephone call on the first network. |
| US08576994B2 |
Visual voice messaging state synchronization
Managing shared voice messages across the multiple voice messaging systems of the various recipients of a message. A server may act as a gateway and may interact with the multiple voice messaging systems and multiple user devices of the recipients. The server may retrieve voice messages from the sender voice messaging system and may transmit the voice message to the disparate voice messaging systems of the recipients with or without user assistance. The voice messages may be transcoded as necessary. the server then may determine the status of the voice message in the voice messaging systems of the recipients and may update the message status in the sender's and the recipients' voice message systems accordingly. |
| US08576992B2 |
Mixed protocol multi-media provider system incorporating a session initiation protocol (SIP) based media server adapted to operate using SIP messages which encapsulate GR-1129 advanced intelligence network based information
A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a Private Service Exchange (PSX) defined on the system from a plurality of IP-communication devices. The system includes a Network Gateway Controller (GSX) coupled to the PSX and to a media sever (MS). The PSX is coupled to at least one IP Service Control Point (IP-SCP), which is operative to process the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services. The IP-SCP further selectively directs the requests to the media server, via the PSX and GSX. The media server operates to form a preliminary multi-media communication path with a calling communication device. The MS further operates to play a plurality of announcements to the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path, as well as to collect caller-entered data from the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path. |
| US08576989B2 |
Beam forming apparatus
The present specification discloses a beam chopping apparatus, and more specifically, a helical shutter for an electron beam system that is employed in radiation-based scanning systems, and more specifically, a beam chopping apparatus that allows for variability in both velocity and beam spot size by modifying the physical characteristics or geometry of the beam chopper apparatus. The present specification also discloses a beam chopping apparatus which provides a vertically moving beam spot with substantially constant size and velocity to allow for substantially equal illumination of the target. In addition, the present specification is a beam chopping apparatus that is lightweight and does not cause an X-ray source assembly employing the beam chopper to become heavy and difficult to deploy. |
| US08576987B2 |
X-ray diagnostic apparatus and X-ray diagnostic method including switching an X-ray generator from an abnormal high voltage generator to a normal high voltage generator
According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes X-ray generators, X-ray detectors, high voltage generators, a switching device, an abnormality detection unit and a control unit. The high voltage generators are configured to apply voltages to the X-ray generators. The switching device is configured to switch outputs from the high voltage generators to the X-ray generators. The abnormality detection unit is configured to detect an abnormality in the high voltage generators. The control unit is configured to control the switching device to switch from an output from a high voltage generator of which abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detection unit toward a corresponding X-ray generator to an output from another high voltage generator toward the corresponding X-ray generator. |
| US08576974B2 |
Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of reactor pressure vessel
An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus for inspecting weld zones in a reactor pressure vessel, the inspection apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe 6 for emitting an ultrasonic wave; a probe holding unit 60 for holding the ultrasonic probe 6 such that a ultrasonic wave transmitting surface of the ultrasonic probe 6 is kept in direct contact with or at a constant distance from the outer surface of the reactor pressure vessel 1; a pressing unit 50 for pressing the probe holding unit 60 parallel to a central axis of a control rod drive housing 8 against the reactor pressure vessel; and a rotator 40 for rotating the probe holding unit 60 and the pressing unit 50 about the central axis of the control rod drive housing 8. |
| US08576973B2 |
Container-loading cask for at least one nuclear fuel assembly, a gripping device and loading method
A cask for loading at least one nuclear fuel assembly in a transport container, including a body with a longitudinal axis (X) capable of sealably covering an upper end of a container, at least one aperture (10) for letting through a fuel assembly, at least one means for connecting to pneumatic confinement means and at least one means (56) capable of maintaining a means (58) for sealing a chamber of the container inside the cask and at a distance from an entrance of said chamber during loading, wherein the maintaining means (56) includes a first arm (60) rotationally mobile around a first axis and a second arm (62) attached to the first arm (60) and rotationally mobile relatively to the first arm, said cask also including external means for controlling the arms (68,86), and wherein the second arm (62) includes a housing (76) for receiving the sealing means. |
| US08576972B2 |
Radioisotope production structures, fuel assemblies having the same, and methods of using the same
Example embodiments are directed to tie plate attachments having irradiation targets and/or fuel assemblies having example embodiment tie plate attachments with irradiation targets and methods of using the same to generate radioisotopes. Example embodiment tie plate attachments may include a plurality of retention bores that permit irradiation targets to be contained in the retention bores. Irradiation targets may be irradiated in an operating nuclear core including the fuel assemblies, generating radioisotopes that may be harvested from the spent nuclear fuel assembly by removing example embodiment tie plate attachments. |
| US08576970B2 |
Phase-locked loop
A PLL circuit (1a, 1b) for generating a pixel-clock signal based on a hsync signal. The PLL circuit comprises a phase-frequency detector arranged to receive the hsync signal and a frequency divided pixel-clock signal, and generate up and down signals based on the hsync signal and the frequency-divided pixel-clock signal. A charge pump (20) is arranged to generate an output signal based on the up and down signals and a loop filter (30) is arranged to generate a frequency-control signal based on the output signal of the charge pump (20). Furthermore, a VCO (40a, 40b) is arranged to generate an oscillating signal and adjust the frequency of the oscillating signal in response to the frequency-control signal. The VCO (40a, 40b) is adapted to have a tuning range with a center frequency which is larger than or equal to 4 GHz. A programmable first frequency divider (50) is arranged to generate the pixel-clock signal by frequency division of the oscillating signal, and a programmable second frequency divider (60) is arranged to generate the frequency divided pixel-clock signal by frequency division of the pixel-clock signal. |
| US08576969B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting sync mark
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for detecting marks. The method includes receiving a data signal from a channel. Further, the method includes matching the data signal to a template that corresponds to a predetermined pattern transmitted over the channel to detect marks, prior to decoding the data signal into a decoded bit stream. |
| US08576967B2 |
Semiconductor device and communication method
It is possible to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device and a communication method in which communication can be performed between circuits with a large degree of freedom of clock frequency which can be set in each of the circuits, a decisive operation, and a small communication latency. The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a first circuit that performs processing based on a first clock signal, the first clock signal having a frequency M/N times as large as a frequency of a second clock signal (N is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer larger than N); a second circuit that performs processing based on the second clock signal; and a communication timing control circuit that generates a communication timing signal to control a timing at which the first circuit performs communication with the second circuit. The communication timing control circuit generates the communication timing signal determined by a frequency ratio information and a phase relation information, the frequency ratio information setting a frequency ratio of the first clock signal to the second clock signal, the phase relation information indicating a phase relation between the first clock signal and the second clock signal. |
| US08576965B2 |
Methods and systems for interference cancellation in multi-mode coexistence modems
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure support techniques for interference cancellation in a multi-mode wireless modem that supports coexistence of different radio technologies. |
| US08576962B1 |
Determining cross-polarization isolation using a modulated carrier
A method of and system for determining cross-polarization isolation is described. In one embodiment, a modulated signal is obtained from a communication link. The modulated signal includes a modulated co-polarized signal component and a modulated cross-polarized signal component. Cross-polarization isolation is determined using the modulated co-polarized signal component and the modulated cross-polarized signal component. The determined cross-polarization isolation can be used to adjust an antenna. |
| US08576960B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient AMLD matrix computations
The computation of code-specific channel matrices for an Assisted Maximum Likelihood Detection (AMLD) receiver comprises separately computing high rate matrices that change each symbol period, and a low rate matrix that is substantially constant over a plurality of symbol periods. The high and low rate matrices are combined to generate a code-specific channel matrix for each receiver stage. The high rate matrices include scrambling and spreading code information, and the low rate matrices include information on the net channel response and combining weights. The low rate matrices are efficiently computed by a linear convolution in the frequency domain of the net channel response and combining weights (with zero padding to avoid circular convolution), then transforming the convolution to the time domain and extracting matrix elements. Where the combining weights are constant across stages, a common code-specific channel matrix may be computed and used in multiple AMLD receiver stages. |
| US08576952B2 |
Configurable all-digital coherent demodulator system for spread spectrum applications
A configurable all-digital coherent demodulator system for spread spectrum digital communications is disclosed herein. The demodulator system includes an extended and long code demodulator (ELCD) coupled to a traffic channel demodulator (TCD) and a parameter estimator (PE). The demodulator also includes a pilot assisted correction device (PACD) that is coupled to the PE and the TCD. The ELCD provides a code-demodulated signal to the TCD and the PE. In turn, the TCD provides a demodulated output data signal to the PE. The PACD corrects the phase error of the demodulated output data based on an error estimate that is fed forward from the PE. Accumulation operations in the ELCD, TCD, and PE are all programmable. Similarly, a phase delay in the PACD is also programmable to provide synchronization with the error estimate from the PE. |
| US08576949B2 |
Method and apparatus for store and replay functions in a digital radio broadcasting receiver
A method for receiving and processing a digital radio broadcasting signal includes: receiving a digital radio broadcasting signal comprised of two or more multicast contents, playing a first one of the multicast contents, and concurrently storing a second one of the multicast contents. A receiver that implements the method is also provided. |
| US08576947B2 |
System and method for simultaneous MIMO signal testing with single vector signal analyzer
Signal conversion circuitry and method for converting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) packet data signal transmission to a plurality of complex data samples for processing by shared test equipment, e.g., a single vector signal analyzer (VSA). |
| US08576944B2 |
Signal transmitting apparatus for OFDM system and parameter adjusting method thereof
A signal transmitting apparatus for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system comprises a compandor, a predistortor, a power amplifier and a feedback module. The compandor is configured to compress and expand a transmitted signal. The predistortor is configured to perform a predistortion operation on output signals of the compandor. The power amplifier is configured to amplify output signals of the predistortor. The feedback module is configured to adjust parameters of the compandor and the predistortor based on a feedback signal. |
| US08576942B2 |
High efficiency transmitter
A transmitter includes: a decoder for transforming an IQ signal into a linear sum of two vectors which have non-negative coefficients, respectively, which form an angle of (π/4), and which are included in eight vectors representing directions indicated by eight angles of (−π/2), 0, (π/2), π, (−3π/4), (−π/4), (π/4), and (3π/4), respectively, and for outputting information upon magnitudes and angles of the two vectors; a phase generator for generating eight phase signals corresponding to phases of (−π/2), 0, (π/2), π, (−3π/4), (−π/4), (π/4), and (3π/4), respectively, and outputting the eight phase signals; and a selector for selecting two phase signals having phases equivalent to angles of the two vectors, from among the eight phase signals, and amplifying the two phase signals having been selected, based on the information upon the magnitudes and the angles, and outputting, as a plurality of amplification signals, the two phase signals having been amplified. |
| US08576941B2 |
Configurable basis-function generation for nonlinear modeling
Digital predistorter circuits with selectable basis function configurations are described. In some embodiments, an input scaling block is introduced prior to a basis function generator structure. The input scaling factor is based on the input signal's average power. In other embodiments, configurable connection coefficients are used to construct the orthogonal basis functions. Multiple sets of tap weights for the predistorter are maintained, each set corresponding to a given basis function configuration. In an example method for pre-distorting an input signal to compensate for distortion introduced by an electronic device, a statistic characterizing the input signal is calculated, and one of a pre-determined set of basis function configurations is selected, based on the statistic. A set of pre-distortion model weights corresponding to the selected basis function configuration are determined, after which the selected basis function configuration and the corresponding set of pre-distortion model weights are applied to the input signal. |
| US08576940B2 |
Systems/methods of adaptively varying a bandwidth and/or frequency content of communications
Embodiments are provided wherein a bandwidth of a waveform sequence that is transmitted by a transmitter in order to convey information is varied. According to additional embodiments, a set of frequencies that is used to provide frequency content to the waveform sequence is also varied and comprises non-contiguous first and second frequency intervals wherein a third frequency interval that is between the first and second frequency intervals remains devoid of providing frequency content to the waveform sequence in order to avoid interference. The invention is relevant to 4G LTE carrier aggregation systems/methods and/or other aspects of 4G LTE. Various transmitter/receiver embodiments are disclosed including direct synthesis transmitter/receiver embodiments. |
| US08576937B2 |
Precoding apparatus and method in a wireless communication system using multiple input multiple output
A transmission apparatus in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)-based wireless communication system. The transmission apparatus includes at least two antenna groups each having at least two antennas, wherein the antenna groups are spaced apart by a first distance and transmit antennas in each antenna group are spaced apart by a second distance which is shorter than the first distance. A channel coding and modulation unit channel-codes and modulates a desired transmission data stream. A precoding unit precodes the channel-coded and modulated signal separately for each antenna group and each antenna in the same antenna group. Thereafter, a transmission processing unit transmission-processes the output signal from the precoding unit. |
| US08576930B2 |
Receiver for signal communication apparatus and related signal communication apparatus
A receiver of a signal communication apparatus; the apparatus including a transmitter adapted to transmit coded signals, the receiver for receiving the signal and a wireless interface interposed between the transmitter and the receiver and having a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The receiver includes a decoder configured to decode the received signal and circuitry coupled to the receiving antenna and capable of triggering the decoder if the value of the received signal is outside a logical hysteresis having a first logic threshold having a value smaller than the value of the direct current component of the received signal and a second logic threshold having a value greater than the value of the direct current component of the received signal. |
| US08576928B2 |
Capacitive divider transmission scheme for improved communications isolation
A communication system comprising a first and second transceiver is provided. The first transceiver has a first and second port coupled to a communication medium, wherein a first differential capacitor couples the first and second ports together. The second transceiver has a third and fourth port each AC coupled to the communication medium, wherein a second differential capacitor couples the third and fourth ports together. |
| US08576924B2 |
Piecewise processing of overlap smoothing and in-loop deblocking
A video processing apparatus and methodology are implemented as a combination of a processor and a video decoding hardware block to decode video data by performing piecewise processing of overlap smoothing and in-loop deblocking in a macroblock-based fashion. With this approach, a smaller on-board memory may be used for the in-loop filtering operations of the video decoding hardware block. By pipelining the piecewise processing operations, latency in the filtering operations is hidden and the filtering output is smoothed, thereby avoiding the need for bursts of fetching and storing of blocks. |
| US08576923B2 |
Bitstream navigation techniques
A request may be received to navigate through a bitstream by a navigation time, the bitstream having a plurality of data sequences, each of the plurality being associated with a different presentation time of the bitstream. The navigation time may be correlated with a number of bytes from a current location of the bitstream to a target location of the bitstream. The bitstream may be navigated to reach the target location within the bitstream, based on the number of bytes. Navigation may then occur from an initial start code proximate to the target location within the bitstream to a further start code until a final start code is reached that has a timestamp which, compared to a timestamp of the current location, indicates a presentation time that corresponds to the navigation time and thereby satisfies the request. |
| US08576922B2 |
Capturing media in synchronized fashion
Techniques for synchronizing audio and video content for presentation to a user at a same rate are provided. Streams of content from two or more sources of media, each media source having an associated clock, are synchronized by a synchronizing component and processor with respect to a master clock. As well, techniques are provided for ensuring that output devices are synchronized at preview startup. That is, such techniques ensure that the output devices start playing the media at the same time as well as at the same rate. |
| US08576920B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal
The method includes receiving a multi-view video stream including a random access picture, which includes a random access slice. The random access slice references only a slice corresponding to a same time and a different view of the random access picture. Type information indicating whether the random access slice is predicted from one or two reference pictures is obtained, and a reference picture list is initialized using view number information and view identification information included in obtained initialization information according to the type information. A prediction value of a macroblock in the random access picture is determined based on the initialized reference picture list, and the macroblock is decoded using the prediction value. |
| US08576918B2 |
Method and apparatus for signaling and decoding AVS1-P2 bitstreams of different versions
Aspects of a method and system for signaling and decoding AVS1-P2 bitstreams of different versions are provided. A sequence user data indicating decoding version information such as a decoding version identifier, for example, may inserted into an AVS1-P2 bitstream. The decoding version information may be, for example, AVS1-P2 Rm52j_r1 or AVS1-P2. The AVS1-P2 bitstream may be decoded based on the decoding version information. The sequence user data may be inserted in the AVS1-P2 bitstream during AVS encoding or during AVS1-P2 bitstream transcoding. Upon receiving the AVS1-P2 bitstream, the sequence user data may be detected and extracted to determine the decoding version information. The received encoded AVS1-P2 bitstream may be decoded based on the decoding version information. When no specific decoding version information can be decided, default decoder version information may be used by the video decoder. |
| US08576917B2 |
Image processing method to reduce compression noise and apparatus using the same
An image processing method which adaptively reduces compression noise of a digital image and an image processing apparatus using the same are provided. The image processing method determines weight to reduce compression noise of an image based on local information and frame information, and processes the image according to the weight. Therefore, noise is adaptively reduced according to an image, and also noise is reduced with the optimal extent. |
| US08576916B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing bus traffic of a texture decoding module in a video decoder
Techniques for reducing bus traffic during texture decoding of a video bitstream are provided. In one configuration, a wireless communication device (e.g., cellular phone, etc.) comprises a processor configured to execute instructions operative to decode and separate in a bitstream macroblock (MB) information and residual packet data. The residual packet data is used to generate codec-independent non-zero MB-packets having a universal order that is codec independent. The codec-independent non-zero MB-packets and MB information are then used for reconstructing pixels of a respective frame of the video bitstream. |
| US08576915B2 |
Position coding for context-based adaptive variable length coding
Particular embodiments include a method, an apparatus, and logic embodied in tangible computer-readable medium that when executed carries out a method of encoding an ordered sequence of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data. One embodiment is a context adaptive variable length coding method that includes position coding the positions of zero-valued and non-zero valued coefficients by either a mixed method that encodes either the run length of zeroes preceding a non-zero coefficient or the run length of nonzero-valued coefficients preceding a zero-valued coefficients. Another includes position coding that uses a variable length code for two parameters respectively indicating the number of zero-valued coefficient positions and nonzero-valued coefficient positions still to be coded. |
| US08576912B2 |
Encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus
An encoding apparatus having a direct mode as a prediction mode, when a pixel with opposite parity from a top field to a bottom field, for example, is referred to for obtaining a reference vector in the direct mode, performs correction by adding or subtracting a value corresponding to a half pixel to or from a value of the obtained reference vector. The encoding apparatus, when a pixel with opposite parity is referred to for obtaining a first and a second direct vector by temporally scaling the corrected reference vector, performs correction by adding or subtracting a value corresponding to a half pixel to or from values of the obtained direct vectors. |
| US08576908B2 |
Regions of interest for quality adjustments
Quality settings established by an encoder are adjusted based on information associated with regions of interest (“ROIs”). For example, quantization step sizes can be reduced (to improve quality) or increased (to reduce bit rate). ROIs can be identified and quality settings can be adjusted based on input received from a user interface. An overlap setting can be determined for a portion of a picture that corresponds to an ROI overlap area. For example, an overlap setting is chosen from step sizes corresponding to a first overlapping ROI and a second overlapping ROI, or from relative reductions in step size corresponding to the first ROI and the second ROI. ROIs can be parameterized by information (e.g., using data structures) that indicates spatial dimensions of the ROIs and quality adjustment information (e.g., dead zone information, step size information, and quantization mode information). |
| US08576906B2 |
Adaptive filtering
A method and device for determining an adaptive filter having multiple filter parameters, wherein a first filter parameter has a first level of adaptivity and a second filter parameter has a second, different level of adaptivity. Parameter values for the first filter parameter are determined among a first set of allowable filter parameter values. Parameter values for the second filter parameter are correspondingly determined among a second, different set of allowable filter parameter values. The different levels of adaptivity in the filter parameters are achieved because the second set includes more allowable filter parameter values than the first set. The adaptive filter is advantageously used in filtering in intra- or inter-predication during video encoding and decoding. |
| US08576899B2 |
Method and system for robust digital subscriber loop communication
A DSL communication system and a method for configuring a DSL communication system. The method includes training at least one anchor DSL modem transmitter to transmit information over at least one anchor line at an anchor bit rate that is determined based on an allowable tolerable noise level and a minimum allowable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) margin; training one or more other DSL modem transmitter to transmit information over one or more other line at a bit rate that is determined by a current noise level and a target SNR margin, wherein the target SNR margin is higher than the minimum allowable SNR margin; and transmitting information by at least one trained DSL modem transmitter to at least one DSL modem receiver. |
| US08576898B2 |
SLOC spot monitoring
Systems and methods for controlling transmission of signals are described. A camera-side modem is configured to receive two signals from a video camera and to extract a received passband signal from a transmission line. A detector in the camera-side modem generates an enable signal when the received passband signal is identified. The enable signal is used to control transmission of at least one of the baseband video signal and the passband video signal. The passband signal may be identified by an estimate of mean square error in a quadrature amplitude demodulator, a measurement of reliability provided by a constellation detector, a measurement of reliability based on a sequence of frame synchronizations and/or an estimate of mean square error in an equalizer. The detector may monitor a gain factor in an automatic gain control module of the camera-side modem and/or a magnitude of the received passband signal. |
| US08576896B2 |
Decoding of orthogonal space time codes
Implementations of improved OSTC decoding are disclosed where received channel output corresponding to a partial OSTC codeword may be used to generate estimated channel output, and where the received channel output and the estimated channel output may be used to reconstruct the OSTC codeword. |
| US08576894B2 |
Systems and methods for using code space in spread-spectrum communications
Systems and methods for improving the performance of direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication systems. In one embodiment, a system comprises at least one communication channel that utilizes two different orthogonal spreading codes and corresponding portions of the available orthogonal code space. Portions of the data processed by the communication channel are demultiplexed into different streams and covered with corresponding, different orthogonal spreading codes. The streams covered by the different orthogonal codes are then combined and transmitted via the same communication channel. One embodiment utilizes at least two different Walsh codes of different lengths (+− and ++−−) in order to make use of the three quarters of the Walsh space not utilized by low-rate legacy channels. |
| US08576893B2 |
Systems and methods for high data rate ultra wideband communication
A high data rate UWB system implements a frame structure that uses a connected set of m-sequences comprising the lowest possible cross-correlation and perfect, or near perfect autocorrelation. Each m-sequence can be used to identify a different piconet A very efficient code matched filter can then be used to decode the frames and achieve synchronization with a piconets. |
| US08576887B2 |
Semiconductor laser driving unit, optical scanner having semiconductor laser driving unit, and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a semiconductor laser driving unit that outputs a driving current for driving a semiconductor laser. A value of a correction current is set in such a manner as to determine a rising characteristic and/or a falling characteristic of an output of the driving current in accordance with a value of the driving current. |
| US08576877B1 |
System and method of providing a broadband digital loop carrier cabinet
A broadband digital loop carrier and method for distributing communications signals to customers of a service provider may include a multi-service access platform unit and line termination unit in communication with the multi-service access platform unit. In one embodiment, the line termination unit is a multiplexer. The line termination unit may be configured to operate communications equipment that operates at bandwidths that are lower than cards operating in the multi-service access platform unit. |
| US08576875B2 |
Systems and methods of improving performance of transport protocols in a multi-path environment
Devices, systems, and methods of improving transport protocol performance in a multi-path environment are disclosed. One network device comprises a transport-layer proxy; and a multi-path traffic distributor coupled to the transport-layer proxy. The transport-layer proxy is configured to receive packets, each associated with a transport-layer connection, from a transport-layer endpoint. The proxy is further configured to deliver at least a portion of the received packets to the multi-path traffic distributor. The multi-path traffic distributor is configured to: assign each of the delivered packets to one of a plurality of data flows, and to transmit each of the delivered packets on an outbound path associated with the assigned data flow. |
| US08576872B2 |
Multi-hop wireless mesh network medium access control protocol
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate mitigating a hidden node condition in a wireless mesh network wherein nodes utilize a request-to-send/clear-to-send (RTS/CTS) protocol in conjunction with an asynchronous hybrid automatic repeat request protocol. For instance, a node may contend for a set of subcarriers by sending an RTS signal over the desired subcarriers, and may receive a CTS signal over the contended subcarriers, wherein the CTS signal indicates which subcarriers the node may transmit data over. If another node has won the contention for a particular subcarrier, requesting node may adjust a power level at which it transmits an RTS or a data packet in order to permit the requesting node to utilize the subcarrier without interfering with the winning node. |
| US08576866B2 |
Hierarchical rate limiting of control packets
Line cards receive control packets and perform a hierarchical rate limiting on those control packets. A set of identifier keys are extracted from the control packets and the protocol of those control packets are determined. At a first level, the control packets are rate limited per unique set of identifier keys per protocol. Those packets which fail the first rate limiting level are dropped. Those packets which pass the first rate limiting level are rate limited at a second level per protocol type. Those packets which fail the second level rate limiting are dropped while those packets which pass the second level rate limiting are sent to the control card for further processing. |
| US08576860B2 |
Wireless/LAN router queuing method and system
A queuing method and system for wireless/LAN routers processes and routes an incoming data packet from a wireless mobile network to a destination server. The system uses a wireless transport module to initiate storage of the data packet in a permanent storage device while simultaneously forwarding the data packet to the destination server. A database thread is used to manage the operations being performed on the data packet and for initiating the storage of the data packet in a permanent storage device based on a permanent storage queue. A main thread is used to simultaneously forward the data packet to the destination server. The wireless transport module is adapted to determine whether the data packet has been acknowledged by the destination server and aborting the storage of the data packet in the permanent storage device once acknowledgment from by destination server has been received. |
| US08576859B2 |
ACM packet fetch and clustering
Systems, methods, devices, and processors are described for packet clustering and frame formation in ACM systems. A stream of packets may be received at a gateway. During each cycle, a group of packets from the stream may be fetched according to QoS parameters. The group of packets may be clustered according to modcode to produce a packet list. In some embodiments, packets may be arranged and grouped according to transport steam identifier and modcode to produce a packet list. The packet lists may be clustered sequentially from lower order modcode to higher order modcode. Various frame packing techniques are also described. |
| US08576858B2 |
Multiple transmission paths for hierarchical layers
A method for hierarchical communication of a set of source data includes: receiving source data representing content to be communicated to a data terminal; pre-coding at least some of the source data using pre-coding schemes to generate sets of representation data; associating the sets of representation data with coding and modulation schemes; generating transmissions by applying the coding and modulation schemes to the sets of representation data; transmitting a first transmission to the data terminal on a first communication link; and transmitting a second transmission to the data terminal on a second communication link, wherein the second communication link differs from the first communication link. |
| US08576851B2 |
Integrating data with conversations
A facility for integrating data in conversations is provided. In various embodiments, the facility sends a first message to a responding computing device to begin a conversation, receives a second message associated with the conversation from the responding computing device, determines whether the received message contains an indication of data that is to be associated with the conversation and, when the received message contains an indication of data that is to be associated with the conversation, renders the data. The facility can comprise an application server that receives from an initiator a first message associated with a conversation and responds to received messages, a conversation component that handles messages associated with the conversation, and an integration component that determines whether there is data that is to be associated with the conversation and, if so, adds an indication of the data to a second message that it sends to the initiator. |
| US08576850B2 |
Band control apparatus, band control method, and storage medium
A band control apparatus including: a buffer memory configured to hold and output data units on a first-in first-out basis; a counter memory configured to hold a counter value; and a processor configured to add a value to the counter value on a basis of a rule, reduce, when a first one of the data units is output from the buffer memory, cause, when a first condition of a total size of the data units being smaller than a buffer threshold is satisfied, the first data unit to be output when a second condition that the counter value is larger than the size of the first data unit is satisfied and the counter value is larger than a counter threshold, and cause, when the first condition is not satisfied, the data units to be output in sequence with the first data unit first, until a third condition is satisfied. |
| US08576848B2 |
Scalable multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) based networks
Example scalable multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) based networks, and methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to implement the same are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining at an area border router (ABR) an OSPF metric representing a cost associated with transporting data between a provider edge router (PER) and the ABR within a non-zero OSPF area, replacing at the ABR a first MPLS label included in a BGP message received from the PER with a second MPLS label associated with the PER and assigned by the ABR, replacing at the ABR a next-hop attribute included in the BGP message with a value representing a loopback address of the ABR, updating at the ABR a route cost attribute included in the BGP message to include the OSPF metric, and re-advertising from the ABR the modified BGP message into an OSPF area 0. |
| US08576846B2 |
Peer-to-peer communication in ad hoc wireless network
For a peer-to-peer call in an ad hoc wireless network, a wireless device performs discovery of a target wireless device, performs authentication of the target wireless device and generates a session key (e.g., using a pre-shared key or a certificate provisioned on the wireless device), forms an ad hoc wireless network with the target wireless device, and communicates peer-to-peer with the target wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network. The wireless device may perform discovery with a list of identifiers for wireless devices designated to communicate with this wireless device. The wireless device may derive a service set identifier (SSID) used to identify the ad hoc wireless network based on its user-specific identifier (e.g., its phone number) and/or a user-specific identifier for the target wireless device. The wireless device may also performs IP address discovery using the user-specific identifier for the target wireless device. |
| US08576843B2 |
Packet format for a distributed system
A method is provided for transmitting a packet including information describing a bus transaction to be executed at a remote device. A bus transaction is detected on a first bus and a network packet is generated for transmission over a network. The network packet includes an opcode describing the type of bus transaction. One or more control signals of the bus transaction map directly to one or more bits of the opcode to simplify decoding or converting of the bus transaction to the opcode. The packet is transmitted to a remote device and the bus transaction is then replayed at a second bus. In addition, the packet includes a data field having a size that is a multiple of a cache line size. The packet includes separate CRCs for the data and header. The packet also includes a transaction ID to support split transactions over the network. Also, fields in the packet header are provided in a particular order to improve switching efficiency. |
| US08576840B2 |
Assigning packets to a network service
This document describes tools that assign packets to a network service. The tools receive a control packet lacking a tag associating the control packet with a network service and assign the control packet to a network service by adding a tag to the control packet. The tools may also receive a tagged data packet on a port and determine that the tag does not match any of a set of network tags associated with the port. Consequently, the tools assign the data packet to a default network service. The tools may also receive a set of conditions for a port and assign data packets received on the port that satisfy one of the conditions to a network service associated with the satisfied condition and data packets that do not satisfy one of the conditions to a default network service. |
| US08576837B1 |
Voice packet redundancy based on voice activity
One embodiment, having a corresponding method and computer program, features an apparatus comprising: an input circuit configured to receive packets of encoded voice data, wherein the encoded voice data includes intervals of voice activity and intervals of silence, and wherein each of the packets includes a packet sequence indicator; and a first packet circuit configured to transmit two or more of each packet that includes one or more of the intervals of voice activity, and configured to transmit only one of each packet that includes only intervals of silence. |
| US08576836B2 |
Method for handling unanswered calls
Reliable and interactive communication between parties is allowed even in those cases in which an incoming call cannot be answered due to inconvenience, inopportunity and/or impoliteness, e.g., during an important meeting, a conference or a ceremony. A packet-switched connection between the called party and the calling party is established in response to an action intended for terminating an incoming call performed at the called party's terminal. |
| US08576825B2 |
Method and system for sensing available spectrum in wireless communication systems
Managing RF spectrum usage by secondary, or unlicensed, devices in portions of the RF spectrum where licensed, or primary, services operate is a requirement of cognitive radio systems. To perform the necessary spectrum scanning, a transition period, such as a TTG or RTG can be extended and the scanning performed during the extended period. The presence of a primary service signal can also detected by detecting an energy signature of the primary service signal in a known sequence. In both cases, there is no need to define quiet periods during which secondary devices scan the RF spectrum, thus resulting in saving of resources and improved QoS. |
| US08576823B2 |
Generating pilot sequence for reference signal
A network element may provide a plurality of user equipments with a dedicated pilot sequence for uplink reference signal transmission. A user equipment may, after receipt of a dedicated pilot sequence, spread the pilot sequences using a block spreading method. |
| US08576819B2 |
Routing data in a cluster
Various techniques for routing data through a cluster are disclosed. The cluster includes a number of nodes that support communications by an access terminal. A node may be configured to use an identifier assigned to an access terminal to route data associated with the access terminal to another node in the cluster. The identifier is assigned by any node in the cluster. |
| US08576810B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting secondary synchronization signal
a method and apparatus for detecting a secondary synchronization signal, the method including: calculating a channel estimation compensation value of each sub-carrier of a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) symbol in different Cyclic Prefix (CP) modes; obtaining-a coherent accumulative results of even half frames and odd half frames of each sub-carrier according to the channel estimation compensation value of each sub-carrier of said SSS symbol; generating a SSS sequence; obtaining an index of the SSS sequence corresponding to an over-threshold value of a first round detection, determining indexes composed of the SSS sequence used in a second round detection according to said index, using coherent accumulative results of all the sub-carriers in the even and odd half frames and SSS sequences of all the sub-carriers to obtain an over-threshold value of the second round detection; and obtaining a CP mode, and calculating a cell ID and a radio frame boundary. |
| US08576807B2 |
Channel interleaving structure for a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate employing a hybrid transmission structure in a wireless communication environment. Each transport block (e.g., MAC PDU) can be split into multiple code blocks. Moreover, each of the code blocks can be further divided into two or more code block segments. Further, code block segments from a given code block can be transmitted over a channel during disparate time slots of a subframe. Also, within a given subframe, code block segments corresponding to differing code blocks can be transmitted sequentially in time. Utilization of the foregoing can enable employment of a pipelined decoder structure at a receiver while allowing for optimization of time/frequency diversity. |
| US08576805B2 |
Subscriber-controlled registration technique in a CDMA system
A subscriber controlled registration protocol, a subscriber monitors a congestion indicator signal broadcasted by a base station with which it desires to register. If the congestion indicator signal indicates that the base station is operating in a congested state, the mobile station selects another base station in the system. Otherwise, it attempts to register with the first selected base station. |
| US08576803B2 |
Communication system
A communication system includes sector units composing base stations, and mobile subscriber stations each being in sectors corresponding to the sector units. The mobile subscriber stations transmit channel estimation signals to the sector units corresponding to the sector and sector units corresponding to sectors contiguous to the sectors. A sector unit that corresponds to the sector forms, based on a channel estimation signal received from the mobile subscriber station in the sector corresponding to the sector unit and channel estimation signals received from the adjacent mobile subscriber stations in the sectors contiguous to the sector, a transmission beam that is directed to the mobile subscriber station but is not directed to the adjacent mobile subscriber stations to transmit data to the mobile subscriber station. By configuring the system in such a manner, interference from contiguous sectors can be avoided. |
| US08576802B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving unbalance of service of cell edge in wireless local area network
A method and apparatus for improving unbalance of service at a cell edge in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). A method of an Access Point (AP) for improving unbalance at service of a cell edge in a WLAN includes monitoring for a continuous decrease of a signal strength of a station over a predefined duration, determining if the station is to handover, when the continuous decrease of the signal strength occurs, and decreasing a transmit power of the AP, when it is determined that the corresponding station is to handover. |
| US08576800B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing data to a mobile device using plural access points
A system and method for providing connectivity between mobile devices and access points of a network without redundant solicitation of communication by the mobile device at each access point is described. The method involves receiving a data packet at a first access point in a control group; transmitting the data packet from the first access point to the mobile device; determining if the mobile device acknowledges receipt of the data packet; responsive to determining that the mobile device failed to acknowledge receipt of the data packet, forwarding the data packet to a second access point; and transmitting the data packet from the second access point to the mobile device. |
| US08576789B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating ranging channel for synchronized mobile station in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for allocating a ranging channel for a synchronized mobile station in a wireless communication system is provided. A base station (BS) allocates the ranging channel for the synchronized mobile station in a first subframe and a first subband. An index of the first subframe and an index of the first subband are determined respectively based on an index of a second subframe and an index of a second subband in which a ranging channel of a non-synchronized mobile station is allocated. |
| US08576785B2 |
Method of wireless communication using authentication information
A data communication method includes providing a sender node having a data packet of information. The data packet includes at least one first field and a second field. The second field has content that is dependent upon actual content of the at least one first field. The content of the second field of the data packet is transmitted from the sender node to a receiver node. The receiver node is used to predict the actual content of the first field of the data packet. The receiver node is used to calculate the content of the second field of the data packet based upon the predicted content of the first field. The predicted content of the first field is confirmed to be equivalent to the actual content of the first field. The confirming step includes comparing the calculated content of the second field to the transmitted content of the second field. |
| US08576783B2 |
Apparatus and method for uplink scheduling in a communication system
An uplink scheduling apparatus and method in a communication system are provided. In the uplink scheduling method, a scheduling metric is calculated for each Mobile Station (MS). An MS with a high priority level is selected according to the calculated scheduling metric. The number of subchannels and a product of a modulation order and coding rate (MPR) are extracted according to input variables for the selected MS. The number of subchannels to be allocated to the selected MS is determined according to the MPR and the subchannels are allocated to the selected MS. The scheduling metric is updated for the each MS. |
| US08576781B2 |
Femtocell architecture in support of voice and data communications
Methods and systems for providing voice and date services in a femtocell wireless network. The proposed approach integrates IWLAN architecture into femtocell architecture by introducing a gateway to serve both IWLAN and femtocell users. The proposed approach handles the voice and data in a different way so that it enhances the data handling efficiency while re-using existing MSC investment. The proposed approach carries the data traffic from a femtocell base station to the gateway in native IP packet, instead of encapsulating them in 3G data, thus enhancing the efficiency and performance for the data traffic. The data traffic can then be sent to GGSN or directly to packet data network. The approach tunnels voice traffic to MSC through the gateway as in conventional Iu-CS approach. |
| US08576774B2 |
Method of generating low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) binary preamble sequences for OFDM systems
A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to generate low peak-to-average power ratio binary preamble sequences for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems described. |
| US08576767B2 |
Method and system for providing a satellite interface to support mobile communication services
An approach provides a satellite air interface to efficiently support communication with a terrestrial network. One or more packets associated with a data communication session are received from a terrestrial network configured to provide cellular communications. A frame representing the packet for transmission is generated over a satellite link to a user terminal. Signaling information for the transmission of the packet over the terrestrial network is modified or eliminated for transmission over the satellite link. |
| US08576758B2 |
Remote wake-up system, WWAM module and terminal
Disclosed are a remote wake up system based on a WWAN module, a WWAN module and a terminal. The system includes a terminal; a WWAN module adapted to receive and/or send information in a wireless manner; and a security control module adapted to perform a security validation on the call information received by the WWAN module when the terminal is in a sleep state, and the security control module is further adapted to generate a wake-up signal and sending the wake-up signal to the terminal in order to wake up it, in the case of passing the security validation. |
| US08576754B2 |
TDD base station for code group synchronization
A time division duplex (TDD) base station having a code group out of N code groups includes circuitry configured to transmit a primary synchronization code along with a plurality of secondary synchronization codes. The plurality of synchronization codes are quadrature phase shift keying modulated and number less than (log2 N)+1. The plurality of synchronization codes are used to identify the code group of the TDD base station. |
| US08576753B2 |
System and method for wireless relay frame structure, protocol, and operation
A relay station is provided for use in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations communicatively coupled to a backhaul network and at least one mobile station. The relay station is shared by at least a first base station and a second base station. The relay station includes a transceiver, a controller and relay circuitry. The transceiver transmits signals to and receives signals both base stations and a mobile station. Signals transmitted to the base stations include a single preamble, MAP and FCH. The controller is electrically connected to the transceiver and is operable to measure a signal quality of the mobile station while connected to the first base station. The relay circuitry is electrically connected to the controller and is operable to conduct a phased handoff from the first base station to the second base station based on the signal quality. |
| US08576752B2 |
Single channel full duplex wireless communication
A single channel full duplex wireless communication system includes a processor, a transmitter, a receiver, a secondary transmission path, a combining element, a primary transmission feedback path and a secondary transmission feedback path. The transmitter transmits a transmission signal via a transmission path. The receiver receives a received signal via a reception path. The transmitter and the receiver utilize one channel to transmit and receive signals. The transmission signal causes self-interference. The processor estimates a first transfer function and feeds the secondary transmission path with the transmission signal adjusted by the first transfer function to reduce the transmission signal leaked to the reception path. The combining element combines the transmission signal with the adjusted secondary transmission path signal to remove the self-interference. The primary transmission feedback path output is modified by a second transfer function. The secondary transmission feedback path output is modified by a third transfer function. |
| US08576750B1 |
Managed conference calling
The subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented in, among other things, a method. In these examples, the method includes receiving a request to join a conference call from a user, and determining whether the user is allowed to join the conference call based on an access policy configurable by a moderator of the conference call. The method may also include upon determining that the user is allowed to join the conference call, connecting the user to the conference all, determining a set of permissions granted to the user for participating on the conference call based on the access policy, and outputting a user interface to the user or sending a message to another computing device to cause the other computing device to output the user interface to the user, wherein the user interface includes a set of conference call management options based upon the set of permissions granted to the user. |
| US08576749B2 |
Multi-point video conference system and media processing method thereof
This invention discloses a multi-point video conference system and the media processing method thereof. The multi-point video conference system includes a softswitch, an application server and terminals. The softswitch is responsible for protocol adaptation and calling process, and performing the interconnection with other systems as an external interface of the conference system. The application server is responsible for service logic control and charging. The characteristic of this invention lies in that: the terminals behaved as conference participants including a conference chairman and ordinary conference members. Any terminal registered on the softswitch could be a conference member, and the conference chairman must be a SIP soft terminal with video conference service capability in order to realize the media control. The invention realizes the media control on the basis of the soft terminal behaved as the conference chairman, therefore any terminal user that has registered on the softswitch can initiate or participate a multi-point video conference, and the participant terminal number of the video conference is not limited. |
| US08576741B2 |
Method for transitioning between multiple reception levels
There is provided a method for enabling a user equipment (UE) to transition between a non-discontinuous reception (Non-DRX) level and at least one discontinuous reception (DRX) level. The UE in a DRX level wakes up periodically to monitor a scheduling channel. The method includes receiving a DRX indicator in a Non-DRX level with continuously monitoring the scheduling channel and transitioning from the Non-DRX level to a DRX level indicated by the DRX indicator. The UE can transition between multiple DRX levels by an explicit command/signaling. |
| US08576737B1 |
Intelligent specification of forward-link rate-control
A method and system is disclosed for dynamic adjustment of forward-link rate-control parameters. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a base station will determine a requested forward-link data rate by measuring a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the forward link, and looking up a corresponding forward-link data rate in one of three different tabulations of SNR threshold values against forward-link data rates. The AT will operate in a first state in which the access terminal uses a single tabulation for both increasing and decreasing measurements of SNR, and upon receiving a message from the base station indicating high time slot utilization on the forward link, the AT will transition to operating in a second state in which the access terminal uses a dual tabulation, wherein one of the dual tabulations is used for increasing measurement of SNR, and the other is used for decreasing measures of SNR. |
| US08576736B1 |
Method and system for spread spectrum signal acquisition without a pilot signal
A cellular wireless communication network transmits spread spectrum signals that are spread by a pseudonoise (PN) code with any of a plurality of PN offsets, such that different coverage areas use different PN offsets. In each coverage area, the network transmits a plurality of forward link channels, each defined by a respective Walsh code, without transmitting a pilot signal. A wireless communication device (WCD) begins operating in a given coverage area and determines the PN offset used in the given coverage area by receiving a forward link signal having a Walsh code of a sync channel, paging channel, or other channel that transmits a broadcast message. The WCD selects a target bit sequence that would be expected to be included in the broadcast message. The WCD finds an effective PN offset that enables the WCD to despread the forward link signal and recover the target bit sequence. |
| US08576733B2 |
Control of access terminal operation based on interference information
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate distributing and utilizing interference information in a wireless communication environment. Interference information can be generated by a base station by evaluating uplink conditions, and disparate interference information can be collected from neighbor base station(s). Interference information associated with the base station and the neighbor base station(s) can be transmitted by the base station to access terminal(s). An access terminal that receives that interference information associated with the base station and the neighbor base station(s) can control an operation based at least in part upon the interference information. For example, the access terminal can adjust a transmit power, select a target serving base station for handover, and/or choose a random access channel (RACH) resource to use for random access as a function of the interference information associated with the base station and the neighbor base station(s). |
| US08576732B2 |
Method and apparatus for reliably transmitting radio blocks with piggybacked ACK/NACK fields
Piggybacked acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement (PAN) bits in unreliable bit positions of a modulated symbol are swapped with data bits located in more reliable bit positions. In addition, a power offset value may be applied to the symbols containing the PAN bits. |
| US08576728B2 |
Resource management in dynamic network environments
A system comprises a communications network configured to support transmission of a plurality of communications streams and a resource manager communicatively coupled to the communications network and configured to provision resources of the communications network to the plurality of communications streams. The system may further comprise a performance test manager communicatively coupled to said communications network and configured to identify a communication stream from said plurality of communications streams, identify a test network path for said identified communication stream that is substantially free of other network traffic, and perform a performance test over said test network path. |
| US08576723B2 |
High speed counter design
Techniques for incrementing counters in an efficient manner. In one set of embodiments, counter logic circuits are provided that can operate at higher frequencies than existing counter logic circuits, while being capable of being implemented in currently available field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or fabricated using currently available process technologies. The counter logic circuits of the present invention may be used to increment statistics counters in network devices that support line speeds of 40 Gbps, 100 Gbps, and greater. |
| US08576722B2 |
System and method for modifying connectivity fault management packets
A system and method for modifying connectivity fault management packets. Network performance information is extracted from a communications network using connectivity fault management packets. The connectivity fault management packets are received. The configuration of the connectivity fault management packets is modified to obtain additional network performance information from the communications network. |
| US08576718B2 |
Network-aware adapter for applications
Streams of data traffic from various applications may be handled by a network-aware adapter module as part of a greater platform for filtering communicating the streams to intelligent network components. A distinguishing factor associated with a given data stream may be determined and used as a basis for selecting a QoS policy setting for the given data stream. The selected QoS policy setting may then be signaled to a media access control layer to take advantage of the QoS function of the embedded underlying active media type that is active and optimal (both from technical and business perspective) to carry out the communication for the application. |
| US08576717B2 |
System and method for detecting rogue traffic using flow statistics with a list of authorized engines
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for determining rogue traffic using flow statistics and a list of authorized media engines. A system configured according to this disclosure receives data associated with a group of packets in a media queue, such as the source network address where the packets originated, the destination network address for the packets, and an indication of an associated queue for the packets. The system then verifies the data received by comparing the source network address to a list of network addresses of known media engines. The system further verifies that the indication of an associated queue for the packets is correct for the packets. Should the system detect failure in the verification of known media engines or the verification of indication of associated queues, the system generates a notification. |
| US08576716B2 |
Method and apparatus for data processing
A method for data processing is provided, the method comprises: determining the predicted transmission time required by the data packet to be transmitted currently during the transmission course and the residence time for the data packet residing in the buffer; when the sum of the predicted transmission time and the residence time is greater than the predetermined air interface time delay, discarding the data packet. By utilizing the technical scheme of the invention, the discarding time of the data packet is dynamically adjusted, the packet discarding rate is reduced, and the service quality is improved. An apparatus for data processing is also provided. |
| US08576715B2 |
High-performance adaptive routing
A method for communication includes routing a first packet, which belongs to a given packet flow, over a first routing path through a communication network. A second packet, which follows the first packet in the given packet flow, is routed using a time-bounded Adaptive Routing (AR) mode, by evaluating a time gap between the first and second packets, routing the second packet over the first routing path if the time gap does not exceed a predefined threshold, and, if the time gap exceeds the predefined threshold, selecting a second routing path through the communication network that is potentially different from the first routing path, and routing the second packet over the second routing path. |
| US08576705B2 |
Upstream channel bonding partial service using spectrum management
A method and computing device receives data packets on an upstream bonding group in full service mode, where the upstream bonding group includes a set of channels and each channel has a transmission quality. The method detects that a select channel in the set of channels is impaired when the transmission quality of the select channel is below a threshold value, and transitions the receiving of the data packets from full service mode to partial service mode by disabling data grant scheduling on the select channel. The method monitors the select channel using a spectrum management method while the receiving of the data packets is in partial service mode. The method transitions the receiving of the data packets from partial service mode to full service mode when a result from the spectrum management method indicates that the select channel can transmit data packets error free. |
| US08576704B2 |
Communication system, communication device, integrated circuit, and communication method
A communication system includes communication devices that are connected with one another in a ring via a serial link. In the communication system, one communication device issues a standby packet for causing each communication device connected to a part of the link that is not involved with data transfer to switch to standby mode. Each communication device connected to this part of the link relays the standby packet from an immediately preceding communication device in the link to an immediately succeeding communication device in the link, and after relaying the standby packet, causes the own device to switch to standby mode. Further, a communication device that performs communication with said one communication device issues a loopback packet for causing each communication device connected to a part of the link that is involved with data transfer to switch to loopback mode. Each communication device connected to this part of the link relays the loopback packet from an immediately preceding communication device in the link to an immediately succeeding communication device in the link, and after relaying the loopback packet, causes the own device to switch to loopback mode. |
| US08576701B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for active-standby switchover
The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies and discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for active-standby switchover. The method includes: copying at least one packet group to a standby board; recording the copied packet group and generating a transmission rule chain table of an active board according to a sequence of copying, so that the standby board generates a transmission rule chain table of the standby board which is the same as the active transmission rule chain according to the sequence of copying; and transmitting the packet group according to the sequence of the transmission rule chain table of the active board. By using the method, resuming transmission from a breakpoint upon an active-standby switchover is enabled. |
| US08576697B2 |
Mobile radio system capable of controlling base radio station without impossibility
A mobile radio system comprises first through N-th radio base stations, where N represents a positive integer which is greater than one. On a start-up sequence of an n-th radio base station, a base station control apparatus transmits an n-th individual identifier as a station identifier, to the n-th radio base station to allocate the n-th individual identifier to the n-th radio base station, where n is a variable between one and N, both inclusive. The base station control apparatus transmits a transmission message signal having the n-th individual identifier as a transmission individual identifier to the n-th radio base station to carry out a link connection between the base station control apparatus and the n-th radio base station. In the n-th radio base station, an ATM reception section compares the transmission individual identifier with the n-th station identifier to abandon the transmission message signal when the transmission individual identifier is not coincident with the n-th station identifier. A CPU makes the ATM reception section become a reset state when the ATM reception section continues to abandon the message signal during a predetermined time duration. |
| US08576695B2 |
Preamble formats for MIMO wireless communications
A method for generating a preamble of a frame for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication begins by, for each transmit antenna, generating a carrier detect field. The method continues by, for a first grouping of the transmit antennas, generating a first guard interval, and at least one channel sounding field. Continuing, the method applies cyclical shift prior to transmission via the first grouping of the transmit antennas. When the MIMO wireless communication includes more than the first grouping of the transmit antennas, for another grouping of the transmit antennas. For the another grouping of the transmit antennas, generating at least one other channel sounding field. The method proceeds by generating the first guard interval prior to the at least one other channel sounding field, and applying another cyclical shift prior to transmission via the another grouping of the transmit antennas. |
| US08576692B2 |
Transmission of UE-specific reference signal for wireless communication
Techniques for transmitting UE-specific reference signals (UE-RSs) in a wireless network are described. In an aspect, a UE-RS may be transmitted in different manners depending on the number of layers used for data transmission. In one design, a cell may determine subcarriers for a UE-RS based on a frequency shift if data is transmitted on one layer and based on a predetermined set of subcarriers (with no frequency shift) if data is transmitted on multiple layers. In another aspect, a UE-RS may be transmitted on subcarriers determined based on a frequency shift for data transmission on multiple layers. In yet another aspect, a UE-RS may be transmitted from a plurality of cells to a UE for coordinated multi-point (CoMP). In yet another aspect, a UE-RS may be transmitted in a data section of a subframe including only the data section. |
| US08576691B2 |
Method and apparatus for crosstalk channel estimation
A method and apparatus for crosstalk channel estimation based on a measured signal-to-noise (SNR) of a loaded line. The method for channel estimation includes: loading, on a newly added line K, a combination of K-1 signals sent on lines 1 to K-1; obtaining a measured SNR of the line K loaded with the combination of the K-1 signals sent on the lines 1 to K-1; and calculating crosstalk channels of the line K according to K-1 coefficients of the K-1 signals sent on the lines 1 to K-1 and the measured SNR. Embodiments of the present invention may be used for relevant network communications systems such as xDSL systems. |
| US08576690B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a multi-sensor receiver in a DSM3 environment
In accordance with one embodiment, a method is implemented in a vectored system for improving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a far end transmitted signal on a victim line in the system. The method comprises mitigating, by the vectored system, self-induced far-end crosstalk (self-FEXT) on the victim line based on self-FEXT mitigation coefficients and receiving, by a second sensor, information relating to at least one of: self-FEXT of the vectored system, external noise, and the far end transmitted signal. The method further comprises learning, at the second sensor, coefficients relating to self-FEXT coupling into the second sensor and removing self-FEXT from the second sensor based on the learned coefficients. Upon removal of self-FEXT from the second sensor, a linear combiner configured to combine information relating to the victim line and the second line is learned. The method further comprises applying the learned linear combiner and readjusting the self-FEXT mitigation coefficients to remove any residual self-FEXT on the victim line after application of the learned linear combiner. |
| US08576688B2 |
Optical data recording medium and method for reproducing recorded data
An optical data recording medium, in which irradiation of a light beam is used for recording and/or reproducing data includes (i) a substrate having an a rise and/or a recess which are a light-incident surface, (ii) a reflective layer, provided on the light-incident surface of the substrate, for reflecting the light beam, (iii) a light absorption layer for converting, to heat, a light of the light beam to heat on the surface of the reflective layer, (iv) a reproducing layer, provided on the surface of the heat-light converting layer, having a transmittance that changes in accordance with a light intensity distribution of the light beam. The optical data recording medium is excellent in super-resolution property, and enables reproduction of a shorter mark length. |
| US08576684B2 |
Compatible optical pickup and optical information storage medium apparatus using the same
An optical pickup and an information storage medium system using the same. The optical pickup includes a light source that emits light having a plurality of different wavelengths. The optical pickup includes a diffraction device having a plurality of diffraction patterns corresponding to the plurality of different wavelengths to divide the light incident from the light source unit into main light and sub light. The optical pickup further includes a photo-detector having a first main light reception unit that receives the main light and a first sub light reception unit that receives the sub light so as to detect an information signal and/or an error signal by receiving reflected light. The first sub light reception unit of the photo-detector is shaped so as to reduce reception of noise sub light due to diffraction based on an undesired diffraction pattern of sub light generated the diffraction device. |
| US08576681B2 |
Optical information recording medium, optical information recording apparatus and optical information recording method
An optical information recording medium includes a recording layer in which a track is formed, the track having recording marks linearly arranged thereon. Each recording mark has a dimension corresponding to a reference mark length, which serves as a reference, in a track direction along which the track extends, the dimension being smaller than dimensions of the recording mark in two directions perpendicular to the track direction. |
| US08576680B2 |
Circuit for generating a signal for controlling reproduction of data recorded on an optical disc
According to one embodiment, a circuit for generating a signal has an amplifier, first and second detection circuits, first and second A/D converters, and a digital signal processing circuit. The amplifier amplifies an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of a reflected light from an optical disc. The first detection circuit detects an upper envelope of an output signal from the amplifier, and outputs an upper envelope signal. The second detection circuit detects a lower envelope of an output signal from the amplifier, and outputs a lower envelope signal. The first A/D converter converts the upper envelope signal into a first digital signal. The second A/D converter converts the lower envelope signal into a first digital signal. The digital signal processing circuit performs calculation processing of the first and the second digital signals, and outputs a signal for controlling reproduction of data recorded on the optical disc. |
| US08576676B2 |
Flexible cable for optical pickup and optical disc drive including the same
A flexible cable is provided. The flexible cable includes a base film having a band shape, a plurality of wiring layers disposed on the base film and extending in one direction, and a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film and partially adjusting the elasticity of the flexible cable. |
| US08576671B1 |
ABS design with multiple heaters
A TAMR (thermal assisted magnetic recording) equipped DFH (dynamic flying height) type slider ABS design, when operating in a HDD (hard disk drive) produces exceptional low pressure/stiffness for improved touch down detection and back-off efficiency as well as wear and damage reduction due to the improved capabilities as well as reduction in heat transfers. The supplementation of the slider with multiple heaters, three herein, disposed about the write-head in the cross-track direction provides the slider with enhanced dynamic stability that would normally not be achievable with the exceptional low pressure/stiffness. |
| US08576670B2 |
Electronic timepiece and time difference correction method for an electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece has a function for receiving satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites for capturable positioning information based on the received satellite signal and a positioning calculation unit that generates positioning information. A time information adjustment unit corrects the internal time information based on the time difference in the assumed positioning region when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning does not contain a time difference boundary. The positioning calculation unit reselects the specific number of positioning information satellites and continues the positioning calculation when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region contains a time difference boundary. The reception unit terminates satellite signal reception when the time difference evaluation unit determines that the assumed positioning region does not contain a time difference boundary. |
| US08576669B2 |
Hour notification
A position information acquisition section acquires position information about a mobile terminal, and a storage section stores hour information and position condition information inputted to an interface section in association with each other. When the hour shown by a clock becomes the hour indicated by the hour information stored in the storage section, a comparison section compares the position condition information stored in association with the hour information, with the position information acquired by the position information acquisition section. If the position information corresponds to the position condition information as a result of the comparison, a notification section gives a notification. |
| US08576667B2 |
Underwater communications
An environmental monitoring system including at least one underwater measurement device and a transmitter for transmitting data from the measurement device to an above water station using a magnetically coupled antenna. |
| US08576664B2 |
Moving object detection system
A moving object detection system is provided with an existence detection part, an integrating part and an existence judgment part. Based on first and second detection signals, the existence detection part calculates a rotation angle of each transition factor that is obtained from the first and second detection signals and rotates around the origin in a two-dimensional coordinate system. The existence detection part is configured so that the rotation angle becomes less than 90 degrees. The integrating part integrates each rotation angle to obtain an integrated angle. The existence judgment part judges whether or not a moving object approaching or leaving a receiver of the device exists in a detection area based on the integrated angle and a threshold angle. |
| US08576660B2 |
Ultrasonic imaging in wells or tubulars
An ultrasonic imaging method is provided. A wideband acoustic pulse is fired at a wall. A wideband response signal is received. The wideband response signal is processed to select an impedance measurement frequency. A wavelet having a characteristic frequency approximately equal to the impedance measurement frequency is fired. A wavelet response signal is received. A reflection coefficient is determined from the wavelet response signal. An impedance measurement is calculated from the reflection coefficient. Related tools and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08576657B1 |
Method for calibrating a plurality of data channels in a vector sensor
A system, processor and method of use for calibration processing is provided to calibrate acoustic vector sensor data collected at comparatively close range. Vector sensor data collected at close range includes data collected with source-to-receiver separations ranging from a one-tenth to approximately two acoustic wavelengths. The calculations substantially account for the acoustic impedance of a spherically diverging wave front, where the curvature is sufficiently pronounced to cause errors in resulting measurements in the calculations. The processing uses information contained within the vector sensor data to increase the accuracy of the vector sensor data. |
| US08576653B2 |
Hidden refresh method and operating method for pseudo SRAM
In an exemplary hidden refresh method for a pseudo SRAM, a system clock is received. A duty-on period of the system clock signal is adapted for performing a data access operation such as write or read operation. A refresh clock signal subjected to the control of the system clock signal is generated. A duty-on period of the refresh clock signal is non-overlapped with the duty-on period of the system clock signal. A refresh control pulse then is triggered by a starting edge of the duty-on period of the refresh clock signal to activate a word line, for performing a refresh operation. |
| US08576651B2 |
Temperature compensation of conductive bridge memory arrays
Methods for operating a semiconductor memory array including dynamically adjusting control line voltages (e.g., unselected word line or unselected bit line voltages) based on one or more array conditions associated with the semiconductor memory array are described. The one or more array conditions may include a temperature associated with the semiconductor memory array or a particular number of write cycles associated with the semiconductor memory array. In some embodiments, an intermediate voltage is generated based on the one or more array conditions and applied to the unselected word lines and the unselected bit lines of the semiconductor memory array. The one or more intermediate voltages may be generated such that a first voltage difference across unselected memory cells sharing a selected word line is different from a second voltage difference across other unselected memory cells sharing a selected bit line based on the one or more array conditions. |
| US08576650B2 |
Method for semiconductor memory interface device with noise cancellation circuitry having phase and gain adjustments
A memory interface circuit is provided, comprising: a first signal output circuit configured to output a first signal via a first signal line to a first I/O terminal; a second signal output circuit configured to output a second signal via a second signal line to a second I/O terminal; and a noise cancellation circuit having at least one phase adjusting element and at least one gain adjusting element to reduce a noise signal induced on the second signal line due to the presence of the first signal on the first signal line, wherein the second signal line is disposed adjacent to the first signal line. |
| US08576647B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a bit line; a data bus line corresponding to the bit line; a selection transistor that controls electrical connection between the bit line and the data bus line; a write amplifier that writes data to the bit line through the data bus; and a test circuit. The test circuit sets the bit line to a first potential during a test period regardless of an operation of the write amplifier, sets the data bus line to a second potential and then sets the data bus line in a floating state to detect transition of the data bus line from the second potential to the first potential, with the selection transistor being activated to electrically connect the bit line and the data bus line. |
| US08576641B1 |
Method of and circuit for providing non-volatile memory in an integrated circuit
A method of providing non-volatile memory in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method may comprise storing a plurality of data blocks in volatile memory elements of the integrated circuit, wherein each data block of the plurality of data blocks comprises a plurality of data bits; reading back the plurality of data bits associated with a data block of the plurality of data blocks; determining, by a control circuit, whether values read back for the plurality of data bits associated with the data block indicate valid data in the data block; and reading back, for another data block of the plurality of data blocks, stored data bits to determine a value for the other data block. A circuit for providing non-volatile memory in an integrated circuit is also disclosed. |
| US08576639B2 |
Memory device having switch providing voltage to bit line
A memory device in which a circuit reads a cell condition. A terminal provides voltage to a bit line of the circuit via a switch. The circuit outputs and enables storage of a first logical value when the voltage provided from the terminal does not exceed a threshold value. The circuit outputs and enables storage of a second logical value when the voltage provided from the terminal exceeds the threshold value. The output and storage occurs in the absence of an electrical connection between the cell and circuit. The switch provides voltage supplied from the terminal to the bit line of the circuit. The voltage increases from a value which does not exceed the threshold to a value which exceeds the threshold. |
| US08576633B2 |
1T smart write
The threshold voltages of particular nonvolatile memory cells on a word line are selectively increased on a column by column (cell by cell) basis. A selective program is performed on some of the cells, and simultaneously a program inhibit on other of the cells, resulting in all of the cells having a threshold voltage that falls between a minimum acceptable value and a maximum acceptable value. |
| US08576631B2 |
Techniques for sensing a semiconductor memory device
Techniques for sensing a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique(s) may be realized as a semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns and data sense amplifier circuitry coupled to at least one of the plurality of memory cells. The data sense amplifier circuitry may comprise first amplifier circuitry and resistive circuitry, wherein the first amplifier circuitry and the resistive circuitry may form a feedback loop. |
| US08576630B2 |
Non-volatile memory device with plural reference cells, and method of setting the reference cells
A non-volatile memory device has an array of non-volatile memory cells, a first plurality of non-volatile memory reference cells, with each reference cell capable of being programmed to a reference level different from the other reference cells; and a second plurality of comparators. Each of the comparators is connectable to one of the first plurality of non-volatile memory reference cells and to one of a third plurality of memory cells from among the array of non-volatile memory cells. |
| US08576627B2 |
Memory array with inverted data-lines pairs
At least one data-line pair has a first data line aligned with a first column of memory cells and a second data line aligned with a second column of memory cells. The first data line is coupled to the second column of memory cells and the second data line is coupled to the first column of memory cells. |
| US08576624B2 |
On chip dynamic read for non-volatile storage
Dynamically determining read levels on chip (e.g., memory die) is disclosed herein. One method comprises reading a group of non-volatile storage elements on a memory die at a first set of read levels. Results of the two most recent of the read levels are stored on the memory die. A count of how many of the non-volatile storage elements in the group showed a different result between the reads for the two most recent read levels is determined. The determining is performed on the memory die using the results stored on the memory die. A dynamic read level is determined for distinguishing between a first pair of adjacent data states of the plurality of data states based on the read level when the count reaches a pre-determined criterion. Note that the read level may be dynamically determined on the memory die. |
| US08576619B2 |
Phase change random access memory apparatus performing a firing operation
A phase change random access memory (PCRAM) apparatus includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of phase change memory cells; and a firing control unit configured to provide a firing voltage for firing the plurality of phase change memory cells to a global bit line in response to an enable signal based on a test mode signal. |
| US08576616B2 |
Magnetic element and nonvolatile memory device
According to one embodiment, a magnetic element includes first and second conductive layers, an intermediate interconnection, and first and second stacked units. The intermediate interconnection is provided between the conductive layers. The first stacked unit is provided between the first conductive layer and the interconnection, and includes first and second ferromagnetic layer and a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first and second ferromagnetic layers. The second stacked unit is provided between the second conductive layer and the interconnection, and includes third and fourth ferromagnetic layers and a second nonmagnetic layer provided between the third and fourth ferromagnetic layers. A magnetization direction of the second ferromagnetic layer is determined by causing a spin-polarized electron and a magnetic field to act on the second ferromagnetic layer. |
| US08576613B2 |
SRAM devices and methods of manufacturing the same
Example embodiments relate to an SRAM device and a method of manufacturing the same. The SRAM device may include first transistors operating in a horizontal direction and second transistors that are disposed on the first transistors to operate in a vertical direction. In example embodiments, the second transistors may be vertically connected to the first transistors. In example embodiments, the second transistors may be vertical transistors that include vertical gates surrounding vertical channels. |
| US08576612B2 |
Low leakage high performance static random access memory cell using dual-technology transistors
A memory cell includes a storage element, a write circuit coupled to the storage element and a read circuit coupled to the storage element. At least a portion of the storage element and at least a portion of the write circuit are fabricated using a thicker functional gate oxide and at least a portion of the read circuit is fabricated using a thinner functional gate oxide. |
| US08576610B2 |
Semiconductor device having floating body type transistor
A semiconductor device is disclosed in which a signal line and a drive circuit driving the signal line in response to a signal to be transmitted are provided. A transistor of a floating body type is further provided that includes a gate, a source, a drain, and a body between the source and drain which is brought into an electrically floating state. The gate is connected to the signal line, and at least one of the source and drain is connected to a control node that is supplied with a control signal. The control signal is configured to receive a control signal that changes from the first level to a second level during the period of time when the drive circuit is driving the signal node. |
| US08576606B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment herein includes a memory cell array. The memory cell array includes memory cells each provided between a first line and a second line and each including a variable resistor. A control circuit applies through the first and second lines a voltage necessary for a forming operation of the memory cell. A current limiting circuit limits a value of a current flowing across the memory cell during the forming operation to a certain limit value. The control circuit repeats an operation of applying the voltage by setting the limit value to a certain value and an operation of changing the limit value from the certain value, until forming of the memory cell is achieved. |
| US08576605B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a memory cell array configured by plural memory cells each including a variable resistor and each provided between first and second lines. A control circuit applies to a memory cell through the first and second lines a writing voltage for writing data or a reading voltage for reading data. A sense amplifier circuit senses data retained in a memory cell based on a current flowing through the first line. In a data writing operation, the control circuit applies a writing voltage to each of n number of memory cells configuring one unit such that the memory cells may be supplied with different resistance values. In a data reading operation, the sense amplifier circuit compares level relationship of the resistance values of n number of memory cells configuring one unit and reads out n! patterns of data from the one unit. |
| US08576604B2 |
Identifying and correcting a bit error in a FRAM storage unit of a semiconductor device
An embodiment of semiconductor device including a control unit and an FRAM storage unit is disclosed. The FRAM storage unit contains FRAM cells. The control unit includes a predetermined test data pattern. The control unit is configured to read the FRAM cells that contain a test data pattern in a margin-mode, compare the read out bit information with the test data pattern to determine whether a bit error is present in the dedicated FRAM cells. When a bit error is present, the control unit is configured to read-out the complete FRAM storage unit in a recovery-mode and refresh all FRAM cells of the FRAM storage unit by writing back the read out bit information to the respective FRAM cells. In the margin-mode, the read operation is performed using a lower read-sensitivity compared to the read operation reading out the complete FRAM storage unit that is performed in the recovery-mode. |
| US08576602B2 |
One-time programmable memories using polysilicon diodes as program selectors
Polysilicon diodes fabricated in standard CMOS logic processes can be used as program selectors for One-Time Programmable (OTP) devices, using electrical fuse, contact/via fuse, contact/via anti-fuse, or gate-oxide breakdown anti-fuse etc. as OTP element The diode can be constructed by P+/N+ implants on a polysilicon as a program selector. The OTP device has an OTP element coupled to a polysilicon diode. The OTP devices can be used to construct a two-dimensional OTP memory with the N-terminals of the diodes in a row connected as a wordline and the OTP elements in a column connected as a bitline. By applying a high voltage between a selected bitline and a selected wordline to turn on a diode in a selected cell for suitable duration of time, a current flows through an OTP element may change the resistance state. The cell data in the OTP memory can also be read by turning on a selected wordline and to couple a selected bitline to a sense amplifier. The wordlines may have high-resistivity local wordlines coupled to low-resistivity global wordlines through conductive contact(s) or via(s). |
| US08576600B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory array configured to include memory cells for storing input data and Code Address Memory (CAM) cells for storing setting data used to set an operation condition; an operation circuit configured to perform a CAM read operation by supplying a read voltage to the CAM cells, perform a test operation for detecting unstable CAM cells in each of which a difference between a threshold voltage and the read voltage is smaller than a permitted limit, from among the CAM cells, and perform an erase operation or a program operation for the unstable CAM cells; and a controller configured to control the operation circuit so that the program operation for storing the setting data in the unstable CAM cells is performed if the number of unstable CAM cells detected in the test operation is greater than a permitted value. |
| US08576595B2 |
Method and apparatus of providing a biased current limit for limiting maximum output power of power converters
A biased current-limit circuit for limiting a maximum output power of a power converter includes an oscillator for generating a pulse signal and an oscillation signal. A waveform generator generates a waveform signal in response to the oscillation signal. A sample-hold circuit is used to sample the waveform signal to generate a hold signal in response to a switching signal. The sample-hold circuit further samples the hold signal to generate a current-limit threshold in response to a second-sampling signal. A current comparator is utilized to compare a current-sensing signal with the current-limit threshold to limit a maximum on-time of the switching signal. |
| US08576593B2 |
AC-DC power converting apparatus having sub-converters connected in series between main converter and AC power supply
A power converting apparatus is configured with single-phase sub-converters (4) connected to AC input lines of individual phases of a three-phase main converter (3) in series therewith. In a control device (12) for performing output control of the power converting apparatus, a current command value calculating circuit (20) which adjusts a DC voltage command given to the main converter (3) so that DC voltages of the sub-converters (4) follow a command and generates AC current commands so that a DC voltage of the main converter (3) follows the DC voltage command is configured with a CPU, and AC currents are controlled by switching output voltage levels of the sub-converters (4) at an AC side thereof so that deviations of instantaneous AC current values from the AC current commands become smaller. |
| US08576592B2 |
Power converter with low ripple output
A power supply includes two or more input waveforms being shaped or selected so that after being separately level-shifted and rectified, their additive combination results in a DC output waveform with substantially no ripple. The power supply may comprise a waveform generator, a level conversion stage for step up or down conversion, a rectification stage, and a combiner. The waveform generator may generate complementary waveforms, preferably identical but phase offset from each other, such that after the complementary waveforms are level-converted, rectified and additively combined their sum will be constant, thus requiring no or minimal smoothing for generation of a DC output waveform. The level conversion may be carried out using transformers or switched capacitor circuits. Feedback from the DC output waveform may be used to adjust the characteristics of the input waveforms. |
| US08576587B2 |
Predictive synchronous rectification controller, switching power converter with predictive synchronous rectification controller and controlling method thereof
A predictive synchronous rectification controller for controlling at least one synchronous rectification switch is provided. The synchronous rectification controller has a ramp generator, a peak sampling unit, and an output control unit. The ramp generator receives a synchronous signal and generates a ramp signal accordingly. The peak sampling unit generates a predicted reference voltage signal by retrieving a peak voltage of the ramp signal. The output control unit compares the ramp signal with the predicted reference voltage signal to generate a synchronous rectification control signal to control a conducting state of the switch. |
| US08576583B2 |
Sampled charge control for resonant converter
This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for controlling a converter. In an example, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) can be configured to provide a first pulse train to control the converter. The frequency of the first pulse train of the VCO can be modulated using information indicative of an operating condition of the converter to maintain a desired DC voltage at an output. In an example, the VCO can include a frequency divider configured to provide a second pulse train to the output using information from the first pulse train. |
| US08576582B2 |
DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter includes a current-source power converter that converts direct current into alternating current; a transformer that transforms the voltage of the alternating current output from the current-source power converter; a rectifier that converts the alternating current the voltage of which has been transformed by the transformer, into direct current; and a capacitor that is connected in series with winding of the transformer on the rectifier side, and blocks a direct-current component from being applied to the transformer. |
| US08576580B2 |
Horizontal cable manager
A cable manager provides horizontal cable management of adjacent patch panels or network equipment on network distribution racks. The cable manager includes a central section and a front cable routing section and is mountable on a network rack. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and includes a first plurality of spaced fingers. The cable manager can also include a rear cable routing section that includes a second plurality of spaced fingers. The first plurality of spaced fingers and the second plurality of spaced fingers may be sloped to provide hand access. One or more passthrough openings can be provided in the central section to allow routing of cabling from the front section to the rear section. An air dam may be inserted into the passthrough openings to control the flow of cool inlet air. Either or both of the front and rear sections can include a removable cover. |
| US08576575B2 |
Printed circuit and printed circuit of touch panel
A printed circuit includes a number of conductive wires. The conductive wires include at least one first conductive wire section, at least one second conductive wire section, and at least one first connection section. An angle between the at least one first conductive wire section and the at least one first connection section is defined as angle αn, the angle αn is in a range from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees. An angle between the at least one second conductive wire section and the at least one first connection section is defined as angle βn, the angle βn is in a range from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees. The angle αn and βn are not simultaneously be 180 degrees. αn−αn−1≠0, βn−βn−1≠0, wherein n is the number of the plurality of conductive wires. |
| US08576572B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a housing, a circuit board, an antenna, electronic components, and a wiring part. The circuit board is built inside the housing on which an opening is formed. The antenna is facing one surface of the circuit board. Electronic components are disposed at the position facing the antenna through the circuit board, on the other surface of the circuit board, in a state such that the electronic components are not fixed to the circuit board The wiring part passes through the opening of the circuit board, with one end connected to the electronic components on one side of the circuit board and other end connected to the circuit board on the other surface of the circuit board. |
| US08576565B2 |
Electronic device cooling structure
A cooling structure (10A) for an electronic device includes: a housing provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; a fan; and a circuit board (2) disposed in the housing. A heat generating component (3) is mounted on one surface of the circuit board (2). A heat release member (4) having fins (45) and a heat transfer plate (41) is disposed between the one surface of the circuit board (2) and an opposite wall (12) of the housing. The heat release member (4) extends, in an arrangement direction of the fins (45), beyond both sides of the heat generating component (3). For example, in an intermediate zone, a resistant layer (8) for suppressing heat transfer from the fins (45) to the opposite wall (12) is formed between the opposite wall (12) and the fins (45). |
| US08576559B2 |
Extracting apparatus for storage module
An extracting apparatus for a storage module includes a bracket and a holder. The bracket includes a fastener. The holder is withdrawable mounted to the bracket. The holder is for fixing the storage module. The holder includes a handle. The handle includes an arm pivotably connecting with the holder and an operating portion pivotably connecting with the arm. The operating portion is operated to fold to abut the arm, and the fastener latching the handle to fixedly mount the holder on the bracket. |
| US08576557B2 |
Stand for portable hand held device
The stand is made of a pair of hingedly connected plates for holding a portable device in a clamped upright position for viewing and for use purposes. The plates are hinged at one end and biased by a spring into a closed position to clamp about opposite sides of the portable device. The edges of the plates are provided with a rubberized bead to provide a non-slip surface. |
| US08576554B2 |
Power supply containment device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a power supply containment device for a computing system. According to one embodiment, the power supply containment device includes a main housing and a clamp portion coupled to the main housing. The clamp portion is configured to extend perpendicularly from the main housing so as to securely hold a power supply between the clamp portion and main housing of the containment device. |
| US08576553B2 |
Base with counterweight for display screens
Embodiments are directed towards a support structure for electronic displays with a counterweight that is directed towards maintaining a center of gravity for the support structure, display, and counterweight over the support structure. Embodiments further disclose mechanisms for indirectly coupling the display and providing for counterweight rotations. |
| US08576547B2 |
Electrical switch board smoke detector unit
A safety module (24) is adapted to be connected to one or more smoke detectors (36) and mounted adjacent circuit breakers (12, 14) on a switch board (10). The safety module has an arm (26) that overlies the circuit breaker levers (28, 30) of the adjacent circuit breakers (12, 14). When a smoke alarm activates the arm (26) moves the circuit breaker levers (28, 30) to an open position. |
| US08576544B2 |
Hermetically sealed capacitor assembly
A capacitor assembly that includes a conductive polymer electrolytic capacitor that is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas is provided. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the ceramic housing is capable of limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the conductive polymer of the capacitor. In this manner, the conductive polymer is less likely to oxidize in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly. |
| US08576541B2 |
Electrolyte system
An electrolyte system having a conductive salt dispersed in a solvent mixture, the solvent mixture having an organic nitrile solvent and a co-solvent. The concentration of the conductive salt in the electrolyte system is 1.25 molar to 3.0 molar. |
| US08576538B2 |
Electronic component and substrate module
A multilayered body includes capacitor conductors and an internal conductor, which together define a capacitor. A first external electrode is connected to one of the capacitor conductors via a set of lead electrodes. A second external electrode is connected to the other capacitor conductor via another set of lead electrodes. The internal conductor faces the capacitor conductors. |
| US08576531B2 |
Multiphase electric circuit for shutting down a current conducted over respectively one AC power controller
In one embodiment of the present invention, a multiphase electric circuit is disclosed for shutting down a current conducted over respectively one AC power controller. The neutral points of the voltage systems connected to the phases are not connected to each other via a neutral conductor. The AC power controller of each phase is provided with two thyristors. A single series connection is connected parallel to all phases, which series connection comprises a capacitor and a number of parallel-connected quenching switches corresponding to the number of phases. The capacitor can be charged up via a diode bridge and a transformer. |
| US08576527B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for creating one or more slow-speed communications channels utilizing a real-time communication channel
An intelligent electronic device having a slow speed communications link creates one or more virtual communications channels using unused or dedicated bits from a primary real-time communications channel. The virtual communications channels are used to transport low-speed information, such as fault location information, device configuration information, device revision information, and date/time information. |
| US08576522B2 |
Shunt regulator at excitation output of generator control unit for overvoltage protection
An electrical system includes a generator; a generator control unit connected to the generator; and a shunt regulator connected to an excitation output of the generator control unit, wherein the shunt regulator is configured to overload the excitation output of the generator control unit in the event of an overvoltage condition in the electrical system, such that an output voltage of the generator does not exceed a predetermined ceiling voltage during the overvoltage condition. |
| US08576521B2 |
Adaptive light detection for arc mitigation systems
A controller-based detection system configured to adaptively learn to distinguish between detected light that is indicative of an arc fault event and detected light that is not related to an arc fault event. In particular, the detection system is configured to observe the electrical power system as it is operated under various conditions to induce light events that are unrelated to arc fault events. Using the observed information about the light events that are unrelated to arc fault events, the detection system determines one or more detection algorithms. During normal operation of the electrical power system, the adaptively determined one or more detection algorithms are utilized to identify arc fault events in the electrical power system. |
| US08576516B2 |
Magnetic disc apparatus including a thermal actuator as part of a two-stage actuator
A magnetic disc apparatus includes a micro actuator for two-stage actuator having a first stage and a second stage, and a slider mounted to the miro actuator and having a head element to perform recording and reproduction into/from a magnetic disc. A thermal actuator and a spring part are provided on a table, on which the slider is put. The thermal actuator is connected to the slider, and the thermal actuator includes a V-shaped thin film resistance. |
| US08576515B2 |
Thin film structure with controlled lateral thermal spreading in the thin film
An apparatus includes a non-metallic interlayer between a magnetic data storage layer and a heat sink layer, wherein interface thermal resistance between the interlayer and the heat sink layer is capable of reducing heat flow between the heat sink layer and the magnetic data storage layer. The apparatus may be configured as a thin film structure arranged for data storage. The apparatus may also include thermal resistor layer positioned between the interlayer and the heat sink layer. |
| US08576511B1 |
Disk drive executing log structured writes to physical zones based on power mode
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of physical zones including a first physical zone and a second physical zone, wherein the first physical zone comprises data tracks recorded at a first data rate and the second physical zone comprises data tracks recorded at a second data rate different than the first data rate. A write command is received including data and at least one logical block address (LBA). One of the first and second physical zones is selected based on a power parameter affecting a power consumption of the disk drive, and the data is written to a data sector in the selected physical zone. A physical block address (PBA) is assigned to the data sector, and an LBA to PBA map is updated for the written data. |
| US08576504B2 |
Motor driving apparatus and optical apparatus
The motor driving apparatus includes a motor driving a driven member, and a controller performing, from a start of driving of the motor, acceleration drive of the motor on the basis of a predetermined acceleration pattern with open-loop control, and then perform, in response to increase of a driving speed of the motor or the driven member to a predetermined speed, drive of the motor with feedback control. The controller changes the predetermined acceleration pattern and the predetermined speed depending on a magnitude of a load acting on the motor or the driven member. |
| US08576502B2 |
Miniaturized lens assembly
A miniaturized lens assembly includes a first lens, a stop, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens, all of which are arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens is made of plastic material, is a meniscus lens with negative refractive power, and includes a convex surface facing the object side. The second lens is made of plastic material and is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The third lens is made of glass material and is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The fourth lens is made of glass material, is a biconcave lens with negative refractive power, and is adhered to the third lens to form a compound lens. The fifth lens is made of plastic material, is provided with positive refractive power, and includes an aspheric surface. |
| US08576500B2 |
Photographing lens system
A photographing lens system including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first positive lens element having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second negative lens element, the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; a third lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric and at least one of which being provided with at least one inflection point; and an aperture stop disposed between an imaged object and the second lens element; wherein there are three lens elements with refractive power. |
| US08576498B2 |
Optical imaging lens assembly
An optical imaging lens assembly, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, comprising: the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, the second lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, the third lens element with positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface, the fourth lens element with refractive power having both optical surfaces being aspheric, the fifth lens element with refractive power having a concave image-side surface and both optical surfaces being aspheric, wherein a stop and an image sensor disposed on an image plane are also provided. By such arrangements, the image pickup optical system satisfies conditions related to shorten the total length and to reduce the sensitivity for use in compact cameras and mobile phones with camera functionalities. |
| US08576489B2 |
Multihybrid artificial compound eye with varied ommatidia
A wide angle imaging system combines compound array fore-optics with single axis relay optics to generate distortion free images with an infinite depth of field. A curved first array of objective lenslets focuses multiple apertures of light through the tubes of a louver baffle terminated by field stops. A curved second array of field lenslets, positioned immediately after the field stops, passes the light beams through an array of pupil planes. A curved final array of erector lenslets refocuses the beams into a curved array of sub-images. The relay optics transform the curved array of sub-images into a flat final image that is contiguous. The fore-optics and relay optics are optimized concurrently to achieve much higher performance than is possible in either compound array optics or sequential optics. This is accomplished by varying the lenslet radii of the fore-optics in annular increments to compensate for aberrations introduced by the relay lenses. |
| US08576486B2 |
Optical film, antireflection optical element and master
An optical element includes a base and a large number of structures arranged on the surface of the base, the structures being projections or depressions. The structures are arranged at a pitch shorter than or equal to a wavelength of light in a use environment. An effective refractive index in the depth direction of the structures gradually increases toward the base and has two or more inflection points. |
| US08576484B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes: a display unit in which sub-pixels are periodically arranged at a first sub-pixel pitch in a first direction of a screen, each pixel is formed by the plurality of sub-pixels, the pixels are periodically arranged at a first pixel pitch in the first direction, and a plurality of viewpoint images is displayed on a display surface; and a barrier unit in which transmissive sections having a first width in the first direction are periodically arranged. On the assumption that pS1 is the first sub-pixel pitch, pP1 is the first pixel pitch, dPB is a distance between the display surface of the display unit and the barrier section, and α and m (where m=0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1 (where N is the number of plurality of viewpoint images)) are a constant greater than 0, the first width wB1 is expressed by following expression; w B 1 = ( α p P 1 2 · d PB + m ) · p S 1 . |
| US08576483B2 |
Microscope and focusing method
Disclosed herein is a microscope, including: an illumination optical system; a first image creation optical system; a second image creation optical system; an illumination-field-diaphragm focus adjustment section; and a characteristic-quantity computation block, wherein the illumination-field-diaphragm focus adjustment section adjusts the image creation position for the illumination field diaphragm on the basis of the characteristic quantity computed by the characteristic-quantity computation block. |
| US08576481B2 |
Method and apparatus of detecting an opening in an optical transmission fiber of a ROPA system
Method and apparatus for detecting an opening in a transmission fiber connecting a discrete gain unit to a pump unit of a Remote Optically Pumped Amplifier (ROPA) system. The method comprises measuring an optical power entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber, the optical power being in a selected wavelength range, and establishing that the optical power lacks an ASE noise power component generated by the gain unit. The lack of this component indicates the presence of a break or opening in the transmission fiber, and triggers corrective action whereby pump lasers within the pump unit are shut down or have their power reduced to a safe level. |
| US08576480B2 |
Optical amplifier and an optical amplification method
An optical amplifier using the evanescent light to control the optical output level is provided. The optical amplifier includes: a waveguide path transmitting an optical signal; an optical amplification unit formed on the waveguide path and amplifying the optical signal by an excitation light; an irradiation unit irradiating the excitation light to the optical amplification unit; an optical detection unit generating an electric signal which corresponds to a detected light; a branching unit branching an evanescent light being the optical signal outputted from the optical amplification unit and leaked outside the waveguide path, and focusing the evanescent light on the optical detection unit; a wavelength detection unit detecting a wavelength multiplicity of the optical signal based on the detected evanescent light; and a light amount adjustment unit adjusting a light amount of the excitation light irradiated by the irradiation unit based on the wavelength multiplicity. |
| US08576475B2 |
MEMS switch
A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch includes an active device, an immovable metal layer and a movable metal layer is provided. The immovable metal layer is disposed on the active device and the movable metal layer is disposed above the immovable metal layer. Accordingly, an insulating cavity is formed between the immovable metal layer and the movable metal layer. Further, the active device is capable of driving the movable metal layer. Compare to thin film transistor, since the operation performance of the MEMS switches would not affected by carrier mobility and on-off current ratio, display performance of the display device can be easily improved. |
| US08576473B2 |
Smart window
A smart window including: a thermochromic or thermotropic transmittance controlling layer; and a heater layer for generating heat in response to an external energy source and for supplying the heat to the transmittance controlling layer. |
| US08576470B2 |
Electro-optic displays, and color alters for use therein
An electro-optic display having a color filter array is produced by attaching together a direct thermal imaging layer (112) and a backplane (102) having a two-dimensional array of pixel electrodes. The direct thermal imaging layer (112) is then exposed to temperatures sufficient to form a plurality of differently colored areas in the direct thermal imaging layer, the plurality of differently colored areas being aligned with the two-dimensional array of pixel electrodes. |
| US08576469B2 |
Light screening apparatus including roll-up actuators
There are provided a light screening apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof. The light screening apparatus includes a substrate, a transparent electrode, a plurality of roll-up actuators and a plurality of light screening patterns. The substrate includes a light-transmitting region and the transparent electrode is formed on one surface of the substrate. Each roll-up actuator, which has opaque characteristics, is fixed on the circumference portion of the light-transmitting region and includes a fixing end and a moving part which extends from the fixing end. Gaps are formed between adjacent roll-up actuators, and the light screening patterns are formed on the substrate at locations corresponding to the gaps. The light-screening patterns prevent light incident through the gaps from being transmitted to the light-transmitting region. |
| US08576462B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image reading system
An apparatus includes: a light source opposite to one surface of a medium; a backing member opposite to another surface of the medium and including a backing surface opposite to the another surface of the medium; an imaging unit opposite to the one surface of the medium and at a position different from the light source in a conveyance direction, and to pick up an image of the medium and the backing surface on which a shadow of the medium is formed due to light from the light source; and a processor to generate image data including the image of the medium and the backing surface based on a result by the imaging unit, wherein the backing surface is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction, and a gap between the path and the backing surface decreases from a light source side toward an imaging unit side. |
| US08576460B2 |
Image reading device
An image reading device includes a light source; a light guiding member; an imaging optical system that reflects the light, which faces a first direction from the object, in a second direction intersecting the first direction by a reflective plane disposed in the first direction of the object, that makes the light, which is reflected by the reflective plane, converge toward the second direction by an emission portion disposed in the second direction of the reflective plane, and that images an erect equal-magnification image of the object in the second direction of the emission portion; and an optical sensor that is disposed in the second direction of the emission portion of the imaging optical system, and detects the erect equal-magnification image that is imaged by the imaging optical system, in which the light guiding member is disposed at an object side of the emission portion in the first direction. |
| US08576459B2 |
Erecting equal-magnification lens array plate, optical scanning unit, and image reading device
An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes: a first lens array plate provided with a plurality of first lenses arranged on a first surface and a plurality of second lenses arranged on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a second lens array plate provided with a plurality of third lenses arranged on a third surface and a plurality of fourth lenses arranged on a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. The first and second lens array plates form a stack such that the second surface and the third surface face each other. The erecting equal-magnification lens array plate receives light from a linear light source facing the first surface and forms an erect equal-magnification image of the linear light source on an image plane facing the fourth surface. An annular slope is formed around each second lens and each third lens. |
| US08576456B2 |
Secondary scan to ensure transient document erasure
Systems and methods of ensuring the erasure of transient documents are disclosed. The systems and methods include an imaging device that sends a transient document with a pre-printed image into an erase cycle to attempt to remove the image from the document. After the erase cycle, a scanner scans the transient document and converts the transient document into a digital image. A processor compares bit depths of individual bits of the digital image to a bit depth threshold. Depending on the comparison and a number of completed erase cycles, the transient document enters an additional erase cycle, completes as sufficiently erased, or is rejected as not sufficiently erased. |
| US08576454B2 |
Image forming device, image forming method and program
The problem of the present invention is to be capable of executing color shift correction processing also in consideration of a mechanical inclination component in an image forming device. For solving the problem, the image forming device according to the present invention comprises information processing unit, first measurement requesting unit, holding unit of curve information, notifying unit of curve information, receiving unit of a measurement pattern image, measurement processing unit, determining unit of a result of the measurement processing, and second measurement requesting unit. |
| US08576453B2 |
Method of printing document based on black optimization printing option and image forming apparatus and host device to perform the same
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus supporting a black optimization printing option in a host apparatus includes executing a printer driver of the image forming apparatus, setting the black optimization printing option in a user interface of the executed printer driver, generating a second color matching table by using an existing first color matching table and color properties corresponding to red, blue, and green values of a document to be printed based on the set black optimization printing option, selecting a first printing method to print the document by using the first color matching table or a second printing method to print the document by using the second color matching table, based on the red, green, and blue values of the document, and transmitting the document and print data of the document to which a color matching table corresponding to the selected printing method is applied to the image forming apparatus. |
| US08576451B2 |
Versatile moiré-free halftone geometry that uses frequency vector shearing
As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate the generation of halftone screens for moiré-free color halftoning. A first fundamental frequency vector and a second fundamental frequency vector of a halftone cell are sheared using a selected shearing value. The shearing value is selected as an offset in a fast scanning or slow scanning direction. The selected shearing value satisfies various moiré-free conditions associated with the identified frequency vectors and is capable of being selected for multiple halftone screens. The halftone screens generated using the sheared frequency vectors are used for moiré-free halftoning. |
| US08576448B2 |
Clustered halftone generation
A method for generating a clustered halftone representation of a continuous-tone image for printing includes applying a search technique. In the search technique, evaluation of a similarity between an initial halftone and the continuous-tone image includes application of an initialization filter to an initial error image that represents a difference between the initial halftone and the continuous-tone image. Evaluation of a similarity between each updated halftone, formed by modifying a previously-evaluated halftone, and the continuous-tone image includes application of an update filter that is different from the initialization filter to an updated error image that represents a difference between the updated halftone and the continuous-tone image. Relating computer program product and data processing system are also disclosed. |
| US08576447B2 |
Error diffusion halftoning with bandpass noise shaping
Error diffusion halftoning includes using a quantizer having an input and an output; and using a system having a bandpass characteristic to modify the quantizer input without feeding the quantizer output directly into the quantizer input. The error diffusion halftoning can produce clustered pixel halftone patterns that can be reliably reproduced by laser printers and other electro-photographic devices. |
| US08576430B2 |
Job schedule generation using historical decision database
A method for determining a print job schedule for a printing production facility having a set of availably printing resources, comprising: defining one or more scheduling classifications; receiving one or more print jobs, each print job having a print job description specified by a set of print job attributes; determining one or more scheduling classification corresponding to the received print jobs; using a processor to automatically determine the print job schedule for the received print jobs using an answer set programming language solver responsive to the print job descriptions, a set of resource descriptions, a set of scheduling rules, and a historical decision database. |
| US08576424B2 |
Printing system and control method
A printing system including plural devices can appropriately stop normally operating devices in a short time when a problem occurs in any one of the plural devices. The printing system has devices that execute processes for printing on printing paper, device control units that control the devices, and a central control unit that centrally controls the devices. When a problem is detected in one device, the central control unit sends, as a command for a process to be executed immediately, a stop device command for stopping the other device to the device control unit that controls the device in which a problem is not detected. The device control unit that receives the stop device command executes a process based on the stop device command with priority over processes based on other commands, and stops the device. |
| US08576422B2 |
Print system, print server, control method thereof, and program capable of registering printer configuration information in a service provider in an environment in which a service for providing the printing function is utilized
A client terminal transmits a request to a printing apparatus for a registration web page for registering, in a print server, a printing apparatus used in a print service provided by the print server. The printing apparatus collects configuration information of the printing apparatus in response to reception of the request, and creates link information which contains the collected configuration information and is used to access the print server. The printing apparatus then generates a registration web page containing the created link information, and transmits it to the client terminal. The print server receives the configuration information of the printing apparatus transmitted from the client terminal via the registration web page transmitted to the client terminal. The print server creates printing apparatus information which associates the configuration information with user information of the user of the client terminal, and manages it in a storage medium. |
| US08576419B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus for detecting that document reading unit is positioned at document reference line
An image reading device that can be incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a housing including a first housing member having a document reading area and a second housing member attached to the first housing member, a document reading unit disposed inside the housing to read a document while moving in a sub-scanning direction of the housing, a document reference line formed on the first housing member to position the document placed on the document reading area in the sub-scanning direction, and a reference position detector positioned on a plane surface of a square that extends perpendicular to the document reading area along a main scanning direction of the document reference line to detect a reference position of the document reading unit as the document reading unit moves in the sub-scanning direction. |
| US08576417B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes: a memory that stores a plurality of image forming modes; a contact controller that controls a status of contact between a plurality of image-forming units and an intermediate transfer member on the basis of an image forming mode selected from among the plurality of image forming modes, so that an image-forming unit used for image forming represented in the selected image forming mode is contacted with the intermediate transfer member, and another image-forming unit is moved away from the intermediate transfer member; and an image-quality adjusting unit that adjusts, if the status of contact is changed by the contact controller, an image quality of an image that is to be transferred onto the intermediate transfer member from the image-forming unit that is in contact with the intermediate transfer member. |
| US08576416B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof and storage medium that changes UI setting data to setting for substitutional execution of function by another apparatus
An image processing apparatus, connectable with plural image processing apparatuses via a network, which performs image processing. UI setting data is received from an another image processing apparatus, and it is determined whether or not a function included in the received UI setting data can be executed by the apparatus itself. If it is determined that the function cannot be executed by the image processing apparatus, a first image processing apparatus which can execute the function is retrieved on the network. Then setting is changed such that the function is substitutionally executed by the first image processing apparatus. |
| US08576413B2 |
Printing system, printing apparatus, print setting method and recording medium
A printing system has a terminal apparatus and a printing apparatus that are interconnected via a network. The terminal apparatus includes an obtainer that gains access to the printing apparatus and obtains print setting screen data stored in the printing apparatus, a display that displays on itself a print setting screen according to the obtained print setting screen data, an input part that inputs print setting data via the print setting screen displayed on a display thereof, and a transmitter that transmits the inputted print setting data to the printing apparatus. And the printing apparatus includes a receiver that receives the print setting data from the terminal apparatus, and a code generator that generates an appropriate print controlling code for the received print setting data. |
| US08576407B2 |
Contactless optical glide head using at least two concurrent interference signals and a multi-channel light detector for detecting disk asperities
A device for detecting disk asperities. The device includes an optical glide head. The glide head is not required to physically contact a disk for detection of the disk asperities. The optical glide head includes a waveguide configured to transmit light onto the disk and receive reflected light from the disk. |
| US08576402B2 |
Optical navigation with specular reflection blocking
A system for optical navigation includes a light source and an imaging system. The light source illuminates a navigation surface. The navigation surface reflects light from the light source. The imaging system is located approximately within a path of the reflected light. The imaging system includes a lens, a mask, and an image sensor. The lens receives reflected light from the navigation surface. The lens focuses a specular portion of the reflected light to a focus region. The mask is located at approximately the focus region. The mask filters out substantially all of the specular portion of the reflected light and passes at least some of a scatter portion of the reflected light outside of the focus region. The image sensor generates a navigation signal based on the scattered portion of the light that passes outside the focus region and is incident on the image sensor. |
| US08576401B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of a consumable
The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus. |
| US08576400B2 |
Optoelectronic methods and devices for detection of analytes
Herein are disclosed optoelectronic methods and devices for detecting the presence of an analyte. Such methods and devices may comprise at least one sensing element that is responsive to the presence of an analyte of interest and that may be interrogated optically by the use of at least one light source and at least one light detector. |
| US08576399B2 |
Method and apparatus for turbidity measurement
A method for turbidity measurement in a measured medium uses a turbidity sensor, which comprises at least a first and a second emitter and at least a first and a second detector. The first and the second emitters are excited one after the other to produce light signals directed into the measured medium; wherein each light signal travels along a first propagation path through the measured medium to the first detector, and is converted by such into a first detector signal; and travels along a second propagation path through the measured medium to the second detector, and is converted by such into a second detector signal. A turbidity value is ascertained based on the first and the second detector signals; wherein, by means of at least one additional detector, to which at least one of the light signals travels along an additional propagation path, an additional detector signal is ascertained, and, on the basis of the additional detector signal, the turbidity value is checked as regards its plausibility. |
| US08576398B2 |
Concentration measuring device, concentration measuring arrangement and concentration measuring method
A concentration measuring device for determining a concentration of gas or particles in a measurement volume includes at least one housing having an opening for communication with the measurement volume, a light source for transmitting measurement light through the housing into the measurement volume, a light receiver for receiving the measurement light after its passage through the measurement volume and an evaluation unit which is designed for determining the concentration of gas or particles from the measurement light received at the light receiver. In accordance with the invention at least one body of solid material is arranged in the at least one housing such that the measurement light path largely passes through the at least one solid body within the housing, with the portion of the measurement light path within the at least one housing not passing through the at least one solid body having a specified total length. |
| US08576397B2 |
Device and method for determining a gas concentration in a flowing gas mixture
The invention relates to a method for determining a gas concentration in a flowing gas mixture, wherein the flowing gas mixture includes solids having a defined size distribution, wherein by way of an optical spectrometer the concentration of a gas is measured in the flowing gas mixture, which includes a measurement beam of the optical spectrometer being conducted during the measurement through a measurement channel having walls made of a gas-permeable material. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out such a method. |
| US08576393B2 |
Method and apparatus for optical inspection, detection and analysis of double sided wafer macro defects
Method and apparatus for detection and characterization of defects, and working order assessment of fab processing operation. |
| US08576392B2 |
Multiplexed optical fiber crack sensor
An optical fiber crack detector that includes a plurality of FBG sensors positioned within one or more fibers that are operable to reflect a defined wavelength of an optical input beam. The crack detector includes a light source for generating the optical input beam that propagates down the optical fiber and interacts with the FBG sensors. A wavelength of the optical beam that is reflected by the FBG sensors is detected, and if a crack in the component damages the fiber between an FBG sensor and the detector circuit, where one or more of the reflected signals are not received, the detector knows that a crack has occurred. By strategically placing a plurality of the FBG sensors along the fiber, a crack that damages the fiber in multiple locations between multiple FBG sensors, or in multiple fibers, can provide an indication of the length of the crack. |
| US08576386B2 |
Detecting particulate contaminants in a fluid
A vibration detector (1) comprising at least one fiber optic sensor (2) mechanically coupled to a flexible support member (3). The vibration detector (1) is mounted on the outside of the pipeline and a signal from the fiber optic sensor is measured. This signal is indicative of whether the vibration detector is experiencing vibrations due to collisions of contaminant particles with each other and/or with the walls of the pipeline. A method for detecting particulate contaminants in a fluid flowing in a pipeline is also provided. |
| US08576384B2 |
Distance detecting sensor and close range detecting method
The present invention discloses a distance detecting sensor. The distance detecting sensor includes a casing, a focusing lenses, a circuit board mounted with several electronic elements, an emitting device for emitting infrared light, and a receiving device for receiving and sensing a reflected infrared light. The distance detecting sensor is configured to have a high detection accuracy and improved detection performance. |
| US08576381B2 |
Method and apparatus for quantitative 3-D imaging
Described is a method and apparatus for obtaining additional information from an object and a method for surface imaging and three-dimensional imaging. Single lens, single aperture, single sensor system and stereo optic systems may be modified in order to successfully generate surface maps of objects or three-dimensional representations of target objects. A variety of the aspects of the present invention provide examples of the use of an addressable pattern in order to overcome mismatching common to standard defocusing techniques. |
| US08576380B2 |
Method and apparatus for using gestures to control a laser tracker
A method for optically communicating, from a user to a six degree-of-freedom (6DOF) laser tracker, a command to control operation of the tracker includes providing a rule of correspondence between commands and pose patterns, each pattern including a change in a coordinate from an initial to a final pose, each pose having three translational coordinates and three orientational coordinates. Also, selecting a first command from among the commands and measuring the coordinate of a first pose of the 6DOF target with the tracker. Further, changing between first and second times, the coordinate of the pose of the target and measuring the coordinate of a second pose of the target with the tracker. Also, determining the first command based on the difference between the measured coordinates of the first and second poses according to the rule of correspondence and executing the first command by the tracker. |
| US08576379B2 |
Position measurement method, position control method, measurement method, loading method, exposure method and exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A part of a plate of a predetermined shape detachably mounted on a moving body is detected by an alignment system while the position of the moving body is measured by a measurement unit that sets a movement coordinate system of the movement body, and based on the detection results and the measurement results of the measurement unit corresponding to the detection results, position information of an outer periphery edge of the plate is obtained. Therefore, even if there are no alignment marks on the moving body for position measurement, the position of the plate, or in other words, the position of the moving body can be controlled on the movement coordinate system set by the measurement unit, based on the position information of the outer periphery edge of the plate. |
| US08576378B2 |
Illumination optical system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An illumination optical system comprises a first polarization control unit which is located between a light source and a pupil of an illumination optical system, and a second polarization control unit which is located between the first polarization control unit and the pupil, wherein a region on the pupil includes a plurality of partial regions which are classified into a first group including a partial region having a largest area, and a second group including a partial region different from the partial region having the largest area, and the second polarization control unit controls a polarization state in the partial region which belongs to only the second group. |
| US08576375B2 |
Optical member-holding apparatus, method for adjusting position of optical member, and exposure apparatus
There is provided is an optical member-holding apparatus which can hold a plurality of optical members of two different optical systems, even when the optical members exist in a common barrel in a mixed manner, such that the relative positions between the optical members can be easily adjusted; and which holds a mirror in a projection optical system and a mirror in an illumination optical system and includes a barrel unit, an inner ring holding the mirror, a holding member holding the mirror, a support plate attached to the barrel unit, and a holding-supporting mechanism attached to the support plate and adjusting the relative position of the mirror to the mirror. |
| US08576367B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel device with a transparent conductive film formed pixel electrode and gate pad and data pad on substrate and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display panel device includes a thin film transistor array substrate having a gate line provided on a substrate, a data line intersecting the gate line and having a gate insulating pattern disposed therebetween to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor provided at the intersection between the gate line and the data line, a protective film for protecting the thin film transistor, a pixel electrode provided at the pixel area and connected to the thin film transistor, a gate pad connected to the gate line and formed from a transparent conductive film included in the gate line, and a data pad connected to the data line and formed from the transparent conductive film, and a color filter array substrate joined with the thin film transistor array substrate to be opposed to each other, wherein the protective film is provided at an area where it overlaps with the color filter array substrate to expose the transparent conductive films included in the gate pad and the data pad. |
| US08576366B2 |
Pixel array
A pixel array includes pixel sets. Each pixel set includes a first and second scan lines arranged in parallel on a substrate, a data line not parallel to the first and second scan lines, a first active device electrically connecting the first scan line and the data line, a second active device electrically connecting the second scan line and the data line, a first pixel electrode electrically connecting the first active device, a second pixel electrode electrically connecting the second active device, and an auxiliary electrode pattern that includes a connecting portion and a first and second branch portions. A gap is between the first and second pixel electrodes. The connecting portion underneath the gap between the first and second pixel electrodes partially overlaps the first and second pixel electrodes. The first and second branch portions connect the connecting portion and partially overlap the first and second pixel electrodes, respectively. |
| US08576365B2 |
Display panel
A display panel including a first plate, a second plate, and a spacer and a display medium between the first plate and the second plate is provided. The first plate has a first substrate, a scan line and a data line on the first substrate, an active device electrically connected to the scan line and the data line, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the active device, and a first common electrode electrically insulated from the pixel electrode and alternatively arranged with the pixel electrode. The second plate has a second substrate, a second common electrode on the second substrate and disposed corresponding to the first common electrode of the first plate, and a floating electrode electrically insulated from the second common electrode and disposed corresponding to the pixel electrode of the first plate. |
| US08576361B2 |
Transreflective liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof having uneven patterns consisting of organic material in the reflective portion
A transflective liquid crystal display device and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed in the present invention. The transflective liquid crystal display device includes a substrate having a reflective portion and a transmissive portion, a gate line on the substrate, a data line crossing the gate line and defining a pixel region, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a first organic material layer in the pixel region, the first organic material layer having a plurality of uneven patterns at the reflective portion, a second organic material layer on the first organic material layer, the second organic material layer having an open portion at the transmissive portion, and a reflective layer on the second organic material layer having a transmissive hole at the open portion. |
| US08576360B2 |
Color filter substrate, liquid crystal display panel, and liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a color filter substrate in which reduction in display qualities is suppressed even if color mixing is generated when a plurality of differently colored transparent layers are formed by a method using a liquid material, such as an ink jet method, and to provide a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device each including the color filter substrate. The color filter substrate of the present invention comprises a plurality of color display units, each of the color display units including four or more differently colored transparent layers, wherein the color filter substrate includes a frame structure which surrounds each of the differently colored transparent layers, and the differently colored transparent layers are arranged such that an average of color difference values for pairs of adjacent differently colored transparent layers becomes minimum. |
| US08576357B2 |
Liquid crystal displays with laminated diffuser plates
In a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is attached to the lower side of the LCD panel. Some, or all, of the light management layers may be attached together as a laminated stack of films. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is formed with a recessed region on one side and another optical film positioned within the recessed region. |
| US08576350B2 |
Image displaying apparatus
A display apparatus is provided which includes a display panel, a signal board for processing an image signal used in an image display, and a power source board for supplying power from a power source to the signal board and the display panel. The signal board and the power source board are disposed in a horizontal direction relative to the display panel, and a projection portion, being disposed higher above a surface of the power source board than a circuit element of the power source board and not being connected with a member opposing to a mounting side of the circuit element, is provided on the surface of the power source board where the circuit element is mounted. |
| US08576346B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate for liquid crystal display
A thin film transistor array panel which includes a substrate; a first gate line disposed on the substrate; a second gate line disposed adjacent to the first gate line; a gate insulating layer disposed on the first gate line and the second gate line; a semiconductor pattern disposed on the gate insulating layer and overlapping with the first gate line; a data line crossing the first gate line and the second gate line; a thin film transistor connected to the second gate line and the data line; and a floating electrode disposed on the semiconductor pattern, wherein the floating electrode is disposed at a same layer as the data line. |
| US08576344B2 |
Projection control device, projection control method, and program
An information processing apparatus that includes a main body, a member movably attached to the main body, a first detector configured to detect an orientation of the member with respect to the main body, a second detector configured to detect whether the main body is connected to a cradle apparatus, and a processor configured to output a command for controlling an operation of a projection device based on an output of the first and second detectors. |
| US08576340B1 |
Ambient light effects and chrominance control in video files
Methods and systems for controlling ambient light effects associated with video content are provided. The method includes providing a receiving device configured to parse an incoming video file. The video file includes at least one track specifying at least one ambient light effect associated with at least one portion of the video file. The at least one track includes chrominance control data specifying at least one light color to be generated by the at least one lighting device. The method also includes parsing the video file at the receiving device to separate the track specifying the ambient light effect and the chrominance control data and sending a command to at least one lighting device to generate the ambient light effect specified in the track and the chrominance control data. |
| US08576334B2 |
Camera body component arrangement
A camera body is provided that includes a base member, a body mount, a focal plane shutter and a fastening member. The body mount is configured to support an interchangeable lens. The fastening member is configured to fasten the focal plane shutter unit to the base member. The body mount, the base member, and the focal plane shutter unit are disposed between a subject side of the camera body and a user side of the camera body in that order. The focal plane shutter unit is fastened to the base member that faces toward the user side of the camera body. |
| US08576333B2 |
Photographic device having light-blocking film
A photographic device includes a body, and at least an optical assembly and multiple auxiliary light sources surrounding the optical assembly are disposed in the body. A front cover is disposed on a front end of the body, and a protecting mirror is disposed on the front cover. Light emitted by the auxiliary light sources passes through the protecting mirror and illuminates a photographic area. A light-blocking film is disposed on the protecting mirror corresponding to the optical assembly, so as to prevent the light emitted by the auxiliary light sources from entering the optical assembly after reflected by the protecting mirror. |
| US08576332B2 |
LCD apparatus with camera module, and method of making same
An exemplary liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display device and a cameral module. The liquid crystal display device includes a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate parallel to the first glass substrate, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first glass substrate and the second substrate; and the cameral module includes a lens, and an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is located between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, and is separated from the liquid crystal layer, and the lens is located on an opposite side of the first glass substrate to the image sensor, and an optical axis of the lens is aligned with a central normal of the image sensor. |
| US08576331B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that performs exposure control, method of controlling the image pickup apparatus, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of not only detecting whiteout or blackout but also effectively achieving exposure control. In the image pickup apparatus, an entire-screen brightness frequency distribution is detected based on a picked-up image signal. The image pickup apparatus calculates a first exposure control value from the entire-screen brightness frequency distribution. The image signal is divided into a plurality of small areas, and the brightness of each of the small areas is detected. The image pickup apparatus calculates a second exposure control value from the brightness. The image pickup apparatus calculates an exposure correction value based on the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value. An exposure value is calculated using the exposure correction value and an exposure value of the image signal. The image pickup apparatus performs exposure control of the image pickup section based on the calculated exposure value. |
| US08576327B2 |
Focus bracket photographing imaging apparatus, reproduction display apparatus, image recording method, and reproduction displaying method
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an image pickup device, a photographing position determining device configured to determine a plurality of photographing positions to continuously photograph a subject, and an image data dividing device configured to divide image data obtained by the image pickup device into a plurality of large sections and to divide the image data into a plurality of small sections each being smaller than the large section. The photographing position determining device configured to determine one or more reference positions as the photographing positions based on focused information of the large sections, and when a number of the photographing positions determined based on the large sections is less than a predetermined number, to additionally determine the photographing position based on focused state information of the small sections such that the predetermined number of the determined photographing positions is obtained. |
| US08576325B2 |
Generating still images and video by capture of images projected by light passing through a display screen
Methods and systems for generating still images and video by capture of images projected by light passing through a display screen are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes controlling light emitting components of a display screen to activate in a sequence for displaying a sequence of images. For example, in an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display screen, the method may include controlling a subset of the display screen OLEDs to activate in sequence to display a sequence of images. The displayed sequence of images may appear to a viewer of the display screen to be a still image or a video. The method may control light emitting components different subsets of the LEDs to be activated in the sequence, such that different areas of the display screen display images in each part of the sequence. |
| US08576322B2 |
Image shooting apparatus, video display apparatus, and video processing system therewith
An image shooting apparatus records video information obtained by shooting a subject, and transfers the video information to an external appliance by communication conforming to the HDMI standards. The image shooting apparatus also records rotation information representing how, when a video based on the video information is displayed on the external appliance, the video is to be rotated, and, when transferring the video information, transmits the rotation information to the external appliance by use of CEC conforming to the HDMI standards. Thus, an image shooting apparatus that transmits a shot video to an external appliance also transmits rotation information by use of CEC so as to be capable of making the external appliance display the shot image in a rotated state. |
| US08576311B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and manufacturing apparatus
An image processing apparatus having a plurality of Bayer arrays each including 4 pixels sharing a common electrode connected to a vertical signal line wherein: each of the pixels has a pixel electrode connected to a horizontal signal line; and the location of each of the horizontal signal lines and the location of each of the pixel electrodes each connected to one of the horizontal signal lines are determined so that the locations in a neighboring Bayer array are a mirror image of counterpart locations in another Bayer array adjacent to the neighboring Bayer array. |
| US08576310B2 |
Image processing apparatus, camera module, and image processing method
According to one embodiment, a second determining unit performs defect determination according to an illumination light component, which is a component of illumination light irradiated onto an object, of pixel values of a plurality of adjacent pixels. A third determining unit performs defect determination according to a reflectivity component, which is a component based on a unique reflectivity of the object, of the pixel values of the plurality of adjacent pixels. |
| US08576307B2 |
Imaging device having a characteristic converting section
To convert a pixel value obtained from a non-reference photoelectric conversion characteristic into a pixel value obtained from a reference photoelectric conversion characteristic without variation, and to prevent generation of fixed pattern noise in an image. An image sensor 3 is constituted of pixels having photoelectric conversion characteristics, in which a linear characteristic is on the low luminance side with respect to an inflection point, and a logarithmic characteristic is on the high luminance side with respect to the inflection point. A conversion information storage 68 stores, as conversion information, coefficients “c”, “d”, “e”, and “f” of two kinds of linear functions (y=c·log(x)+d, and y=e·log(x)+f), which are approximation equations expressing the logarithmic characteristic of each of the pixels, where y designates a pixel value, and x designates a luminance value of incident light. A linear converter 64 converts a pixel value obtained from the logarithmic characteristic into a pixel value obtained from the linear characteristic by using the approximation equations specified by the coefficients. |
| US08576300B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor
An image capturing apparatus and a control method therefor provide privacy protection by obtaining the current location of the image capturing apparatus and determining whether or not the current location is within a preset location information addition-inhibited area. If the image capturing apparatus is within a location information addition-inhibited area, the image capturing apparatus and control method therefor do not add location information to captured image data. |
| US08576299B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with pixels having photodiodes with different exposure times, signal processing method of solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array section and a signal processing section. The pixel array section is configured to include a plurality of arranged rectangular pixels, each of which has different sizes in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a plurality of adjacent ones of which are combined to form a square pixel having the same size in the vertical and horizontal directions. The signal processing section is configured to perform a process of outputting, as a single signal, a plurality of signals read out from the combined plurality of rectangular pixels. |
| US08576297B2 |
Spectral improvement of digital camera color images
Systems and methods for modifying a color image of a scene are provided. The systems and methods involve illuminating at least a portion of the scene with a light having a known spectral power distribution, and detecting a finite number of spectral components of light received from the scene under such illumination. The detected values of spectral components of light received from the scene are used to modify the color image or rendition of the scene. |
| US08576288B2 |
Image processing unit, image processing method, and image processing program
An image processing unit includes a memory unit, a comparative image generator to generate a comparative image from a non-reference image, an image divider to divide a reference image, a non-reference image, and a comparative image into image blocks of a predetermined size, a motion data calculator to calculate motion data between the reference image and comparative image, an average calculator to calculate an average of pixel output values for each image block of the reference image and the comparative image, a threshold determiner to determine a threshold for synthesis determination according to the average of pixel output values of an image block of the reference image, a synthesis determiner to determine whether or not the image blocks of the reference image and of the non-reference image are suitable for synthesis, and a ratio determiner to determine a synthesis ratio of the image blocks determined as suitable for synthesis. |
| US08576282B2 |
Security system with operator-side privacy zones
A system and method for operator-side privacy zone masking of surveillance is provided. The system includes a video surveillance camera equipped with a coordinate engine for determining coordinates of a current field of view of the surveillance camera; and a frame encoder for embedding the determined coordinates with video frames of the current field of view. The system also includes a privacy zone information database for storing coordinates of predefined privacy zones; and a video viewing unit for viewing stored video frames. The video viewing unit is in communication with the frame storage unit and the privacy zone information database. |
| US08576281B2 |
Smart network camera system-on-a-chip
Aspects of a method and system for processing video data are disclosed and may include detecting, within a single chip in a programmable surveillance video camera, one or more moving objects in a raw video signal generated by the programmable surveillance video camera. One or more characteristics of the detected one or more objects may be extracted within the single chip in the programmable surveillance video camera. The extraction may be based on the raw video signal and may be performed prior to compression of the raw video data. The characteristics of the detected one or more objects may include shape, texture, color, motion presence, motion direction, sequence name, location, links, and/or alarm type. One or more textual representations of at least one of the characteristics of the detected one or more objects may be generated within the single chip in the programmable surveillance video camera. |
| US08576276B2 |
Head-mounted display device which provides surround video
A see-through head-mounted display (HMD) device, e.g., in the form of augmented reality glasses, allows a user to view a video display device and an associated augmented reality image. In one approach, the augmented reality image is aligned with edges of the video display device to provide a larger, augmented viewing region. The HMD can include a camera which identifies the edges. The augmented reality image can be synchronized in time with content of the video display device. In another approach, the augmented reality image video provides a virtual audience which accompanies a user in watching the video display device. In another approach, the augmented reality image includes a 3-D which appears to emerge from the video display device, and which is rendered from a perspective of a user's location. In another approach, the augmented reality image can be rendered on a vertical or horizontal surface in a static location. |
| US08576275B2 |
Method and system for progressive delivery and synchronization of discrete content in rich media services
A method for authoring and sending from a network element and receiving at a mobile device, rich media, the sending having the steps of checking whether the rich media includes discrete content; if yes, sending a low resolution version of the discrete content with the rich media; and subsequently sending a higher resolution version of the rich media. The receiving having the steps of receiving a low resolution version of the discrete content in the rich media; rendering the rich media; receiving a higher resolution fragment of the discrete content; and incrementally applying the higher resolution fragments to the low resolution version of the discrete content. |
| US08576271B2 |
Combining direct and routed communication in a video conference
A video conference cross-links at least a portion of the clients for point to point communication while still using a video conference server. The video conference server continues to manage some aspects of the video conference for the cross-linked clients and may be configured to perform audio/video processing for some of the clients in a video conference. For example, the video conference server may perform audio/video processing and routing of streams for clients that do not have the capabilities to perform the processing directly. Clients that are able to process their audio/video needs may directly connect to other clients through cross-links while still using the video conference server for management. |
| US08576270B1 |
Intelligent call management and redirection
The disclosed systems and methods provide intelligent device inspection and interrogation in an application layer system to route packet-based network calls. These systems and methods can be used to detect the status of a specified endpoint. Endpoint devices can be configured to communicate status information to a central call manager. Endpoints can also be periodically polled to request device information. Pre-defined rules applied at the central call manager can be used to process call flow based on the device information. These rules can be configured so that a call that is not completed for any reason can be transferred to another destination such as a video mail service or an automated or live operator service. |
| US08576266B2 |
Imaging apparatus with moveable media guide
An imaging apparatus including a media supply, a transport path, a supply path for transporting sheets of photothermographic imaging media from the media supply to the transport path, a drive roller driving sheets of imaging media along the supply path, and a media guide moveable from a normally closed position to an open position to provide a continuous surface for moving a sheet of imaging media from the supply path onto the transport path in a first direction along the transport path, and wherein the media guide is moveable from the open position to the normally closed position upon the entire sheet of imaging media being moved onto the transport path to block the sheet of imaging media from entering the supply path when moving along the transport path in a direction opposite the first direction. |
| US08576261B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device (100A) of the present invention includes an active matrix substrate (220); a counter substrate (240); and a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer (260). The liquid crystal display device (100) has a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including a plurality of subpixels. The plurality of subpixels include a red subpixel (R), a green subpixel (G), and a blue subpixel (B). When each of adjacent two of the plurality of pixels represents an achromatic color at a certain grayscale level, a luminance of a blue subpixel (B) included in one of the two adjacent pixels is different from a luminance of a blue subpixel (B) included in the other of the two adjacent pixels. |
| US08576258B2 |
Brightness compensation apparatus and application method thereof
For improving the brightness decay of a display due to its aging, a non-volatile memory such as Flash can be used to store a brightness accumulation value of each point of the display, and each point can be compensated for its brightness accordingly. However, the non-volatile memory suffers from incorrect write-in data or temporary power disconnection, and thus the error will exist all the time to make the display non-even. Hence, the present invention uses a multiple data backups and CRC error detection, plus new/old data comparison to protect data the non-volatile memory from incorrect brightness compensation value so as to uniform the brightness of the display. |
| US08576255B2 |
Image correction method and image display device
A luminance distribution at the highest gradation level is corrected to a curved plane luminance distribution in such a manner that the maximum gradation input to a display panel shows a curved luminance plane having the highest luminance at the center of the display panel and a lower luminance in the peripheral area of the display panel. The luminance distribution at the minimum gradation is corrected in such a manner that the minimum gradation shows a curved luminance plane having the lowest luminance at the center of the display panel and a higher luminance in the peripheral area of the display panel. |
| US08576254B2 |
Electronic picture frame and image display method thereof
An electronic picture frame and an image display method thereof are provided. In the electronic picture frame, a plurality of images are arranged and displayed on one side of a screen, and among the plurality of images, an image at a particular position is enlarged and displayed. Alternatively, a screen is divided into a plurality of sub-screens, so images stored in each of a plurality of storage areas can be displayed on a respective sub-screen. Accordingly, the images stored in the plurality of storage areas can be displayed on the electronic picture frame in diverse forms. |
| US08576250B2 |
Method, apparatus, media, and signals for applying a shape transformation to a three dimensional representation
A method, apparatus, media and signals for applying a shape transformation to at least a portion of a three dimensional representation of an appliance for a living body is disclosed. The representation is defined by an input plurality of coordinates representing a general shape of the appliance. The method involves identifying a coordinate location of a datum plane with respect to the representation of the appliance, the datum plane defining a transform volume within which the shape transformation is to be applied, the transform volume extending outwardly from and normal to a first surface of the datum plane. The method also involves identifying input coordinates in the plurality of input coordinates that are located within the transform volume. The method further involves modifying the identified input coordinates in accordance with the shape transformation to produce a modified representation of the appliance, and storing the modified representation of the appliance in a computer memory. |
| US08576249B2 |
Map display device
There are provided: a map display control unit that brings up a map on display at a display monitor; a stormy weather condition information reception unit that receives stormy weather condition information; and a stormy weather condition information display control unit that provides a storm path forecast, indicating a predicted path of a storm, based upon the stormy weather condition information by superimposing the storm path forecast over the map on display at the display monitor. The stormy weather condition information display control unit displays the storm path forecast by using a fan-shaped range centered on a current position of the storm with an arc thereof passing through a predicted position that the storm is estimated to assume. |
| US08576247B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting pixel values
The described embodiments comprise a system that adjusts pixel values to produce visual effects in a frame to be displayed. During operation, the system receives coordinates and pixel-adjustment values for one or more control points within the frame. Next, the system calculates pixel-adjustment values for pixels in the frame based on the coordinates and the pixel-adjustment values for the one or more control points. The system then applies the pixel-adjustment values to the pixels within the frame and displays the frame. |
| US08576242B2 |
Image processing using meshes and gradient information
A boundary correction unit divides an object area into plural meshes, and specifies, of a pixel group positioned on one side, in a direction toward the interior of the object area, of a mesh to which a boundary vertex positioned on the frame of the object area belongs, a pixel at a position where the amount of change in color in the direction is equal to or smaller than a threshold value as a correction pixel for each boundary vertex. The boundary correction unit obtains a curve that connects adjacent correction pixels to each other for each set of adjacent correction pixels, and obtains the area surrounded by the obtained curves as a non-correction area. The boundary correction unit updates the object area by assigning the values of respective pixels on the frame of the non-correction area to those of corresponding pixels positioned on the frame of the object area. |
| US08576240B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display apparatus includes a backlight unit generating light, a display panel including a plurality of pixels controlling transmittance of the light based upon pixel data, a timing controller compensating the pixel data, and a data driver driving the display panel based upon the compensated pixel data. The display panel includes a first area to which the light having a first brightness is supplied and a second area to which the light having a second brightness lower than the first brightness is supplied. The timing controller compensates for the pixel data supplied to at least one area of the first and second areas using a predetermined compensation value to reduce a brightness difference between the first and second areas. |
| US08576238B1 |
High speed display of high resolution image
A system maintains data from different resolution levels of an image in textures of a graphics processing unit (GPU). Image data is organized into multiple resolution layers of an image. Data from the lower resolution level(s) is used to process an image while higher resolution data is loaded. In one embodiment, a first resolution representation of the image having a lowest resolution level using data resident in the GPU memory is drawn prior to drawing a portion of a second resolution representation having a higher resolution level using data resident in the GPU memory. |
| US08576236B2 |
Mechanism for granting controlled access to a shared resource
Disclosed are methods and systems for granting an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in a multi-ASIC environment controlled access to a shared resource. A system includes a first ASIC, a second ASIC, and a shared memory that stores a shared resource and a data set partitioned into fields. The first ASIC writes data to a first subset of the fields and reads data from the fields. The first ASIC includes first logic that computes a first value based on the data read from the fields. The second ASIC writes data to a second subset of the fields and reads data from the fields. The second ASIC includes second logic that computes a second value based on the data read from the fields. Based on the first and second values respectively computed by the first and second logic, only one of the first and second ASICs gains access to the shared resource. |
| US08576235B1 |
Visibility transition planning for dynamic camera control
A camera control system is provided that uses global planning to compute large, occlusion free camera paths through complex environments, incorporating visibility of a focus point into the search strategy, so that a path is chosen along which the focus target is in view or, in general, to compute a visibility graph. A visibility roadmap data structure permits precomputation of coarse representations of collision-free paths through an environment, together with estimates of pair-wise visibility between scene portions. At runtime, path planning can be done using the precomputed roadmap values to find a coarse path, and then refined to the camera path using occlusion maps computed on-the-fly. Iterative smoothing, together with a physically-based camera model, can be used to have the path followed by the camera smooth in both space and time. The data structure can be adapted at runtime to deal with dynamic occluders that move in an environment. |
| US08576234B2 |
Simulating animation during slideshow
A method and system for simulating an animation effect during the display of a digitally encoded picture, including the steps of: storing a plurality of predetermined animation effects; identifying at least one selected portion of the picture by means of a main subject identification algorithm; selecting at least one of the predetermined animation effects; modifying the display of the picture according to the selected at least one predetermined animation effect, so that the at least one selected portion of the picture is emphasized. |
| US08576232B2 |
Apparatus, method, and system for drafting multi-dimensional drawings
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for interfacing with a surface within a computer-aided drawing environment includes determining that a plurality of curves operable to define the surface constitute a P×1 surface condition. A P×1 surface condition is defined by a number of first curves equal to P and only one second curve. P is an integer greater than zero. The method also includes converting the P×1 surface condition into an N×M surface condition in response to determining that a plurality of curves constitute a P×1 surface condition. An N×M surface condition is defined by a number of third curves equal to N and a number of fourth curves equal to M. N and M are integers greater than one. The method also includes constructing an N×M surface under the N×M surface condition. The method also includes modifying the N×M surface to edit a drawing. |
| US08576227B1 |
System and method for estimating light transport using bidirectional path tracing
Systems and methods for estimating light transport between respective points includes selecting a plurality of first sub-paths extending the first point A. and selecting a plurality of second sub-paths extending from a second point B. A plurality of transport paths are constructed, wherein each one of the plurality of the first sub-paths is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of second paths, and wherein each transport path comprises one first sub-path and one second sub-path. Two or more of the transport paths are sampled, and a light transport value for each of the sampled transport paths is calculated to estimate the light transported between first point A and second point B. |
| US08576224B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated part positioning based on geometrical comparisons
A method of determining a rigid motion between a master solid model and an approximated target model (or, more generally, between any two models having different types) includes identifying, within each model, geometrical entities having a unique characteristic, and then determining the best match between the identified geometric entities. The system provides, in machine-readable form, a master model comprising a precise definition of a three-dimensional solid and a target model comprising a simplified definition of the three-dimensional solid. Then it identifies a first set of geometric entities (e.g., planar faces) within the master model that have a unique characteristic (e.g., planar area), and identifies a second set of geometric entities in the target model that have the unique characteristic. The system then determines a best match between a member of the first set of geometric entities and a member of the second set of geometric entities using, for example, a Hungarian matching algorithm. Linear edges of matched faces are compared to determine the appropriate rigid motion. |
| US08576223B1 |
Multiple label display for 3D objects
A method for viewing a 3D object is described. The method includes obtaining viewable data of a 3D object and displaying a portion of the 3D object based on a current view. The method also includes retrieving at least one identification label for items within the current view, defining a first axis within the current view, and selecting, from a plurality of positions along the first axis, a position that has a smallest angle between the selected position and a selected item. The method further includes displaying the identification label associated with the selected item at a point along a second axis within the current view between the selected position and the selected item. Systems and machine-readable storage media are also described. |
| US08576221B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating mesh models of feathers
Provided are an apparatus and a method for generating mesh models of feathers. The apparatus for generating the mesh models of the feathers includes a geometrical model analyzing unit that analyzes groups of barbs included in a geometrical curve model of the feather; a calculating unit that calculates the number of grids for each of the groups of barbs by applying curve lengths of the barbs and an average length of the curve lengths included in each of the groups of barbs; and a mesh model generating unit that constructs the geometrical curve models as polygonal mesh models based on the number of grids. According to the present invention, it extracts curved points by using characteristics of a model of a feather and constructs polygonal meshes by using the extracted curved points, thereby making it possible to physically and realistically express the forced physical variation of the polygonal meshes. |
| US08576208B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for controlling stereo glasses shutters
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for controlling stereo glasses shutters. In use, a right eye shutter of stereo glasses is controlled to switch between a closed orientation and an open orientation. Further, a left eye shutter of the stereo glasses is controlled to switch between the closed orientation and the open orientation. To this end, the right eye shutter and the left eye shutter of the stereo glasses may be controlled such that the right eye shutter and the left eye shutter simultaneously remain in the closed orientation for a predetermined amount of time. |
| US08576204B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing display streams
Apparatus, systems and methods for the synchronization of asynchronous display streams are disclosed. For example, a method is disclosed including receiving a first display data stream, receiving a second display data stream, determining a temporal offset between the first display data stream and the second display data stream, and adjusting at least one blanking interval of the second display data stream to reduce the temporal offset. Other implementations are also disclosed. |
| US08576202B2 |
Bezel-less acoustic touch apparatus
An acoustic touch apparatus is provided that includes a substrate capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh-type or Love-type waves. The substrate has a front surface, a back surface, and a curved connecting surface formed between the front surface and the back surface. The apparatus also includes at least one acoustic wave transducer and at least one reflective array, the acoustic wave transducer and the reflective array behind the back surface of the substrate. The acoustic wave transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving surface acoustic waves to or from the reflective array. The reflective array is capable of acoustically coupling the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface and across the front surface via the curved connecting surface. Various types of acoustic touch apparatus with edge sensitive touch functions can be provided, according to specific embodiments. |
| US08576200B2 |
Multiple-input touch panel and method for gesture recognition
A touch panel capable of recognizing at least one gesture and the method thereof are provided. The touch panel comprises: a first optical unit, comprising a first light emitting element and a first light receiving element, arranged at a first position of the touch panel; a first optical element arranged along a first edge of the touch panel for reflecting light; a second and a third optical element arranged along a second and a third edge of the touch panel, respectively, for retro-reflecting the light, the second edge being adjacent to both the third edge and the first edge; and a processing unit for recognizing the at least one gesture according to changes to distance and slope of possible touch points. |
| US08576198B2 |
Digital capacitive touch panel structure
The present invention discloses a touch panel structure formed by an anti-scratch surface layer and a capacitive sensor layer, and a transparent lamination layer is used for pasting the two into a panel. The capacitive sensor layer includes an X-axis first transparent conductive layer and a Y-axis second transparent conductive layer formed on both sides of a transparent plastic carrier to provide a touch panel structure having the advantages of a relatively low material cost, a light weight, an easy manufacturing and molding, a better lamination yield and a flexible and break-free feature. |
| US08576197B2 |
Noise blanking for capacitive touch displays
Disclosed are various embodiments of a capacitive touchscreen or touch panel system comprising a controller operably connected to a first plurality of drive electrodes and a second plurality of sense electrodes. The controller includes a noise disruption detector circuit, a user noise source detector/anticipator circuit, clock control logic circuitry operably connected to the noise disruption detector circuit and to the user noise source detector/anticipator circuit, at least one static-clocked digital filter circuit operably connected to and controlled by the clock control logic circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) operably connected to the clock control logic circuitry, firmware operably connected to the CPU; and touch position circuitry configured to deliver signals indicative of touch positions on the touchscreen to a host controller. The controller is configured to employ at least one of the CPU and the firmware to cause the clock control logic circuitry to inhibit operation of the digital filter circuit in response to a signal representative of excessive noise levels being provided by either the noise disruption detector circuit or the user noise source detector/anticipator circuit. |
| US08576193B2 |
Brick layout and stackup for a touch screen
A touch sensor panel is disclosed having an array of co-planar single-layer touch sensors fabricated on a single side of a substrate. The sense (or drive) lines can be fabricated in a single strip as columnar or zig-zag patterns in a first orientation, and the drive (or sense) lines can be fabricated as rows of polygonal (e.g. brick-shaped or pentagonal) conductive areas in a second orientation. Each sense (or drive) line in the first orientation can be coupled to a separate metal trace in the border area of the touch sensor panel, and each polygonal area in the second orientation can also be coupled to a metal trace in the border area of the touch sensor panel. The metal traces can allow both the row and column lines to be routed to the same edge of the substrate for flex circuit attachment. |
| US08576191B2 |
Display and control device for medical equipment
A display and control device for medical equipment, comprising several identically configured display/control units, which are located on a base unit. The base unit is equipped with a bus, to which the display/control units and components of the medical equipment are connected. The base unit comprises connection devices, which are used to connect the display/control units to the bus. Once a display/control unit has been connected, a configuration unit transmits configuration data to the display/control unit and only then defines which function the display/control unit is to fulfill. This permits defective display/control units to be simply replaced. The construction of the display/control units is likewise simple and not susceptible to malfunctions. |
| US08576190B2 |
Touch panel and display device including the same
The gap between a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate is greater in a terminal region in which a flexible printed circuit and anisotropic conductive films are inserted, than the gap between the first and second transparent substrates in a detection region. A guide portion which is used to guide an end of the flexible printed circuit at which the anisotropic conductive films are provided, into the gap between the first and second transparent substrates, is provided on the first or second transparent substrate. |
| US08576185B2 |
Display device
A display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a first touch panel comprising a first display module, a second touch panel comprising a second display module, and a contact detection module located between the first touch panel and the second touch panel. A control module performs display control of the first touch panel and the second touch panel based on operations of the first touch panel, the second touch panel, and the contact detection module. |
| US08576183B2 |
Devices and methods for controlling both LED and touch sense elements via a single IC package pin
Devices and methods for minimizing a number of I/O pins needed to control LED and touch sense operations are described and disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method comprises controlling at least one light emitting diode (LED) element via a single pin, and controlling at least one touch sense element via the single pin. In an embodiment, a touch-sensitive light emitting diode (LED) display device comprises at least one LED element, at least one touch sense element, and a controller integrated in an integrated circuit (IC) and coupled to the at least one LED element and the at least one touch sense element via a single pin. The controller is configured to communicate via the pin with the at least one LED element and the at least one touch sense element. |
| US08576176B2 |
Method and apparatus for alphabet input
A method and apparatus for inputting letters by combining basic elements obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters, so as to provide excellent letter intuitiveness and recognition. According to the present invention, a letter may be input by pressing one of or sequentially pressing two of keys to which basic elements , , , , , , , †, , —, and obtained by separating and symbolizing strokes of letters are assigned, and letters may be rapidly and conveniently input by minimizing key pressing paths. |
| US08576172B2 |
Pointer tracking across multiple overlapping coordinate input sub-regions defining a generally contiguous input region
A touch system comprises overlapping coordinate input sub-regions defining a generally contiguous input surface. Each coordinate input sub-region generates pointer coordinate data in response to pointer contacts thereon. When a pointer contact is made on a region of a coordinate input sub-region that overlaps with an adjacent coordinate input sub-region, each overlapping coordinate input sub-region processes acquired images to derive pointer data and triangulates the position of the pointer using the derived pointer data. Thereafter, the triangulated positions generated by the overlapping coordinate input sub-regions are processed in accordance with defined logic thereby to determine the position of the pointer contact relative to the touch surface. |
| US08576171B2 |
Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback to touch-sensitive input devices
Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback to touch-sensitive input devices are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes an input device having a housing having an exterior surface; a touch-sensitive surface configured to transmit a contact signal indicating a contact with the touch-sensitive surface; a sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor configured to sense movement of the input device and to transmit a sensor signal indicating movement of the input device; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect based on an actuator signal, the actuator signal based at least in part on the contact signal. |
| US08576169B2 |
System and method for determining an attitude of a device undergoing dynamic acceleration
A system and a method for determining an attitude of a device undergoing dynamic acceleration is presented. A first attitude measurement is calculated based on a magnetic field measurement received from a magnetometer of the device and a first acceleration measurement received from a first accelerometer of the device. A second attitude measurement is calculated based on the magnetic field measurement received from the magnetometer of the device and a second acceleration measurement received from a second accelerometer of the device. A correction factor is calculated based at least in part on a difference of the first attitude measurement and the second attitude measurement. The correction factor is then applied to the first attitude measurement to produce a corrected attitude measurement for the device. |
| US08576165B2 |
Input device and method, information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and program
An input device includes: an operating section which is held by a user and operated in a three-dimensional free space in order to operate an information processing apparatus by remote control; a calculation section which calculates a hand shake related value for controlling selection of an image to be controlled which is displayed on the information processing apparatus, the hand shake related value being relevant to an amount of hand shake of the operating section; and an output section which outputs the hand shake related value as an operation signal for operating the information processing apparatus by remote control. |
| US08576156B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An auxiliary capacitor line driving circuit (5), provided in a surrounding region located around a display region (R1) in a liquid crystal display panel, generates auxiliary capacitor driving signals, and includes: first and second voltage trunk lines (VCS1, VCS2) which carry two different voltages, respectively; at least one control signal line (VCTRL1, VCTRL2) carrying one control signal; and a plurality of TFTs (T1, T2, T3, T4) each alternately supplying, to the respective auxiliary capacitor lines (CSn, CSn+1, and the like) in a given cycle, the two different voltages supplied to the auxiliary capacitor line driving circuit (5). Therefore, a liquid crystal display device employing multi-picture element drive method can be provided as a liquid crystal display device that achieves narrowing of a picture frame region as a non-display region and an external circuit board. |
| US08576155B2 |
Source line driving circuit, active matrix type display device and method for driving the same
If the frequency of a clock signal is increased, the pulse width of a sampling pulse is decreased, and the amount of time for a video signal to be written to a source line is inadequate. Sampling pulses (sam) rise sequentially in synchronization with the rise of a start pulse (SP). As the start pulse (SP) rises, synchronized with the rise of clock signals (CK, CKB), the sampling pulses (sam) fall off sequentially, delayed by half the period of the clock signals (CK, CKB) for every step. As a result, the sampling pulses (sam) with a pulse width longer than one period of the clock signals (CK, CKB) are generated. In a period Ta, a desired video signal (VIDEO) is written to its corresponding source line. In this way, the time for half a period of the clock signal can be secured for writing to the source line. |
| US08576152B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for driving same
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixel units, a scanning driver configured to provide scanning signals to scan the pixel units, a data driver configured to provide data voltage signals to the pixel electrode of the pixel units; and a common voltage driver configured to provide a common voltage signal to the common electrodes of the pixel units. Each pixel unit includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode, and the pixel units cooperatively display picture frame by frame. A dummy cycle period is defined between two sequent normal frame periods. The common voltage signal is an alternating current voltage signal in each normal frame period, and a polarity of the common voltage signal is fixed in the dummy cycle. A method for driving a liquid crystal display is also provided. |
| US08576147B2 |
Display device and electronic device
A display device suppresses the influence of variations of a current value supplied to a light emitting element caused by a temperature change. In particular, luminance variations caused by a temperature gradient in a pixel portion due to a heat generated from a source signal line driver circuit are suppressed. In a display device including a gate signal line provided in a row direction, a source signal line provided in a column direction, and a light emitting element in a pixel portion arranged in matrix corresponding to the gate signal line and the source signal line, a column of monitor elements is provided beside the pixel portion, a constant current is supplied to each row of the monitor elements, and a voltage generated at the monitor element for each row of pixels is applied to light emitting elements of the corresponding row. |
| US08576142B2 |
Display device and control method therefor
One embodiment provides a display device, including: a luminous flux generator which generates luminous flux including image information; a reflector plate which reflects the luminous flux generated by the luminous flux generator toward one eye of a viewer; a head detector which detects a head of the viewer by using at least two pairs of distance sensors; a controller which controls a position of the reflector plate based on an output from the head detector; and a driver which drives the reflector plate based on an output from the controller. |
| US08576141B2 |
Three-dimensional display device and image presentation method
A three-dimensional display device includes a plurality of transmissive display units arranged in different depth positions in view from an observer and a moiré vanishing element for diffusing light. The moiré vanishing element has a spatial frequency characteristic to cut off a spatial frequency more than a spatial frequency having a cycle being twice as large as an interval of boundaries of pixels forming a first transmissive display unit arranged behind the moiré vanishing element in the view from the observer. |
| US08576140B2 |
Methods and systems for simultaneous local and contextual display
Methods and systems for simultaneous local and contextual display comprise displaying a smaller, “local” image on a first surface using a first device having limited screen real estate. A second, larger, “contextual” image is simultaneously displayed on a larger second surface, which may comprise a projector screen or a separate computer monitor screen. The contextual image may be projected onto the second surface using the first device, or the first device may be coupled to a second device for displaying the contextual image. The local image comprises a subset of the contextual image such that a user may view both the fine detail of the local image using the first device and the context of the local image within the contextual image on the second surface. |
| US08576139B2 |
Narrowcast media content distribution and display system with content biasing engine
A media content distribution and display system and method that includes a central server, a number of remote display devices, and an electronic network for communicating therebetween. The central server receives and stores a plurality of media content, where each of the media content has one or more attributes associated therewith that relate to characteristics of the media content. The remote display devices receive the media content from the central server. Each remote display device includes at least one electronic display, one or more target attributes associated with the remote display device that relate to environmental variables of the remote display device, and a biasing engine for comparing the media content attributes with the target attributes, and for causing the electronic display to display only those of the media content having one or more of the attributes associated therewith that satisfy a predetermined matching criteria. |
| US08576135B1 |
Bicone antenna
A bicone antenna is provided with high bandwidth and beneficial return loss performance. The antenna is dipole based and thus its radiation pattern is not strongly influenced by shape and size of a nearby ground plane. A parasitic element comprising a conductive band encircling the antenna's feed structure improves matching, gain flatness, and makes the antenna less susceptible to detuning. |
| US08576127B1 |
UWB MIMO broadband antenna system for handheld radio
The present invention is directed to antenna system embodiments which allow for hand-held, ultra-wideband (UWB) multi-antenna operation to be realized within the severe size constraints necessary for Department of Defense (DOD) hand-held missions. Further, the antenna system embodiments disclosed herein provide a miniature UWB multiple antenna solution for multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) and radiation pattern null steering suitable for hand-held soldier radios. |
| US08576126B2 |
Dipole antenna and electronic device having the same
A dipole antenna includes interconnected first and second grounding portions, first and second connecting portions bending respectively from the first and second grounding portions in a substantially same direction, first and second extending portions extending respectively from the first connecting portion, and third and fourth extending portions extending respectively from the second connecting portion. The second extending portion is disposed closer to the first grounding portion than the first extending portion. The fourth extending portion is disposed closer to the second grounding portion than the third extending portion. |
| US08576125B2 |
Planar wideband antenna
An approximately planar wideband antenna can include a first conductive portion coupled to a dielectric portion and mechanically supported by the dielectric portion, the first conductive portion including at least one edge corresponding to a planar conic section, such as including one or more of an elliptic, a parabolic, or a hyperbolic shape. Such an antenna can be electrically coupled to a matching circuit, the matching circuit configured provide a specified input impedance corresponding to a specified range of frequencies. Such a range of frequencies can span at least an octave, or more. |
| US08576116B2 |
High speed high resolution wide range low power analog correlator and radar sensor
Systems, methods and apparatus related to a high speed, high dynamic range and low power consumption radar system are provided herein. The radar system may include an analog correlator which combines various pulse replication schemes with various parallel integrator architectures to improve the detection speed, dynamic range, and power consumption of conventional radar sensors. The radar system may further include a matched filter for determining a match of a portion of a received PCR signal and producing an output signal in response to further improve the speed of detection of the radar system. |
| US08576115B2 |
Vehicle length sensors
A vehicle length sensor for a vehicle such as a variable length truck, the sensor being provided with a mount for mounting the sensor on a vehicle and being arranged with a detection circuit arranged to measure, in use, a length of a vehicle to which the sensor is mounted. Typically, the detection circuit comprises a transmitter circuit, which is arranged to transmit radiation along the length of the vehicle, and a receiver circuit that is arranged to receive radiation that was transmitted by the transmitter circuit and reflected from the vehicle, and in which the detection circuit is arranged to determine from the reflected radiation the length of the vehicle. The sensor may also act as a lane change assistant, comparing the range of other vehicles to the length of the vehicle to which it is mounted. |
| US08576110B2 |
Fast ray trace to identify radar multipaths
A method of detecting a target in a room using a radar system having a transmitter for irradiating the object, a sensor for receiving reflected radiation, and circuitry for analyzing the reflected radiation to determine at least one characteristic thereof, the method including determining at least one parameter for each wall of a plurality of walls of a room containing the target; determining possible signal paths between the target and the sensor for paths including up to N reflections based on the at least one parameter of each wall and the location of the sensor; calculating target image locations based on the possible signal paths; and processing the received radiation to determine a target location based on target image locations. |
| US08576108B1 |
Passive expendable decoy
In one embodiment, a passive expendable decoy for an aircraft is provided by ejecting passive radiators from the aircraft along a transmission line trailing from the aircraft and excited by a jammer on the aircraft, such that the radiators accelerate under aerodynamic drag forces to the end of the transmission line and couple energy from the transmission line to free space. This provides angular deception to a tracking radar or homing missile since the point of radiation along the transmission line is determined by the instantaneous position of the expendable radiating element. |
| US08576103B2 |
Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC)
Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC). With respect to a codeword that is provided to a DAC, a processing module (e.g., a rollover processor) operates to compare the codeword to threshold(s) in accordance with adaptively partitioning the codeword into one or more sub-codewords when the codeword has a magnitude greater than at least one of the thresholds. In instances that the codeword is less than a threshold, the codeword may be provided directly to a DAC for use in generating a first analog signal. However, if the codeword is a larger than a threshold, then that portion of the codeword which is greater than the threshold may be provided to an alternative component such as one or more auxiliary or additional DACs, one or more other circuitry components, etc. in accordance with generating at least one additional analog signal to be combined with the first analog signal. |
| US08576097B2 |
Coding using a mapping between a syntax element and a code word
A method comprising receiving a syntax element to be encoded as a code word of a set of code words, determining a mapping between the syntax element and the code word on the basis of a hierarchy level in a tree structure, using the mapping to obtain the code word, and updating the mapping is disclosed. |
| US08576096B2 |
Apparatus and method for low complexity combinatorial coding of signals
During operation of an encoder, a signal vector (x) is received. A first multi-precision operand (Ψ′k) will be generated based on the signal vector to be encoded. A mantissa operand and an exponent operand are generated. Both the mantissa operand and the exponent operand are representative of a second multi-precision operand that is based on the signal vector to be encoded. A portion of Ψ′k is selected to be modified based on the exponent operand. A part of Ψ′k is modified based on the mantissa operand to produce a modified multi-precision operand (Ψ′k+1). Finally, a multi-precision codeword is generated for use in a corresponding decoder. |
| US08576086B2 |
Limit signal indicator and method for operating a limit signal indicator
In a limit signal indicator for determining two positions of a pneumatically operated positioning device, a position sensor detects a position of the positioning device. A first signal transmission contact, a second signal transmission contact, and a microprocessor are provided. The first and the second signal transmission contacts each output a respective electrical limit position signal, the limit position signals representing an adoption of the first and the second positions or of at least one position of the positioning device above or below a predetermined set limit value. At least one of the signal transmission contacts is connected for signal transmission so that in case of a malfunctioning of a signal transmission, the switch amplifier is capable of generating an emergency signal above a maximum limit value or below a lower limit value, and to transmit the emergency signal to an external processing location. The microprocessor, upon detecting a specific operational malfunctioning, actuating the positioning device and executing an emergency procedure according to which the same emergency signal is generated and output at the second signal transmission contact. |
| US08576081B2 |
Physiological condition estimation device and vehicle control device
Provided are a physiological condition estimation device and a vehicle control device capable of preventing an error in the operation of an apparatus, such as a vehicle, and improving the safety of the operation of the apparatus. The physiological condition estimation device includes an eye-open time acquiring unit that acquires the eye-open time of the driver, a variation calculating unit that acquires a variation in the eye-open time acquired by the eye-open time acquiring unit, and a drowsiness predicting unit that determines the physiological condition of the driver on the basis of the variation in the eye-open time acquired by the variation calculating unit. In this way, since the physiological condition is determined on the basis of the variation in the eye-open time, it is possible to detect a slight reduction in the arousal level and estimate a significant reduction in the arousal level to a value that will cause an error in the driving of the vehicle in the future. |
| US08576079B2 |
Biological information monitoring apparatus with particular display features
A biological information monitoring apparatus operable to receive biological information measured by a detector adapted to be attached to a patient, and operable to display the biological information on a display, includes: a first display controller which displays an alarm on the display; and a second display controller which displays, on the display, first information which responses to the displayed alarm. |
| US08576076B2 |
Automatic surgical sponge counter and blood loss determination system
A surgical sponge detection system includes a device for automatically counting soiled surgical sponges which includes a reader which scans each sponge entered and determines sponge type from a tag affixed to each sponge and a control unit which processes data received from reader contained within sponges entered. The reader includes a non-optical scanner means which can read an indicating means on the sponges even when the indicating means is covered with blood or other body fluids. |
| US08576070B2 |
Method and device for verification of non intrusion into a system and/or non-violation of the integrity of an object or the contents thereof
The invention relates to a method and device for verification of non-violation of the integrity of a system or the identity of an object. An authentication seal is used, comprising a physical authenticator with bubbles (3) produced by a chaotic process on the production thereof, a characteristic of which is to be always unique and non-reproducible. A representation of said identifier with bubbles is stored in the form of an image and/or digitally in a database local or remote to the address (17), for authentication of the assignment of the identifier in situ or on the object for protection. Said authenticator is provided with a physical connection (16) which permits connection to the site or object for identification. Any attack on the integrity of the seal, whether on the authenticator and/or the connection, irreversibly alters the total seal such as to render the same un-reusable. Said authentication seal comprises a means for prevention of violation of the integrity of a site or the identity of an object and provides proof of an effective violation. |
| US08576063B2 |
System and method for tracking position of moving object
The present invention relates to a system and method for tracking the position of a moving object. A system for tracking the position of a moving object includes: WSNs composed of a plurality of sensor nodes, each generating connection release information representing that the connection between the corresponding WSN and a moving object having a moving node serving as a sensor node attached thereto has released if having perceived the departure of the moving object; base stations managing the plurality of WSNs and collecting position information on the plurality of sensor nodes; a node information database storing the position information on the plurality of sensor nodes collected by the plurality of base stations; middleware checking the current position information on the moving object stored in the node information database if receiving the connection release information through any of the plurality of base stations, and deleting the current position information on the moving object stored in the node information database if the checked current position of the moving object is in a WSN having perceived the departure of the moving object; and a moving-object tracking application provided with the position information on the moving object by the middleware to track the position of the moving object. According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently process information of a WSN managed by each base station in middleware managing a plurality of base stations, thereby improving the accuracy in tracking the position of a moving object. |
| US08576056B2 |
Vehicle guidance system
A method and apparatus for monitoring movement of a vehicle system. A sensor system monitors movement of a structure relative to a vehicle. The structure is connected to the vehicle in the vehicle system. A computer system identifies a number of distances from the sensor system to a number of objects associated with the structure. The computer system identifies an orientation of the structure relative to the vehicle using the number of distances from the sensor system associated with the vehicle to the number of objects. The computer system determines whether the orientation of the structure meets a number of criteria. The computer system initiates an operation for the vehicle system in response to an absence of a determination that the orientation meets the number of criteria. |
| US08576055B2 |
Collision avoidance assisting system for vehicle
A collision avoidance assisting system for a vehicle, for expecting a risk of colliding upon a moving object (or a moving obstacle), including a pedestrian, more correctly, but without annoying a driver, excessively, by estimating the risk to be excessively high, comprises a moving object detecting means for detecting a moving object existing on periphery of the vehicle; a footway boundary detecting means for detecting a position and a configuration of a footway boundary object on periphery of the vehicle; a risk estimation means for estimating a risk that the moving object detected by said moving object detecting means collides on the vehicle; and an alarm means for calling an attention to a driver of the vehicle, upon basis of the risk of collision estimated by the risk estimation means, wherein the risk of collision between the moving object, which is detected by the moving object detecting means, and that vehicle is estimated by taking at least the position information of the moving object, the position information of the footway boundary object and conditions of the circumferences thereof. |
| US08576052B2 |
RF tag reader and writer
The present invention relates to an RF tag reader and writer including: a communication unit which communicates with an RF tag as a target from which information is obtained and obtains the information held in the RF tag; and a communication stability determination unit which determines that stable communication with a specific RF tag is being established when the same information is obtained over a predetermined plural number of times from the RF tag communicating with the communication unit. |
| US08576048B2 |
Method for accessing a locked object
A method for accessing a locked object. A first SMS message addressed to a short code and requesting access to the locked object is received by an Approval Authority computer and/or short code from one of a locked object and a requestor's wireless communication device. The Approval Authority computer determines whether to grant the requested access, and sends, back to one of the locked object and the requestor's wireless communication device, one of an access code for the locked object and a SMS reply containing the access code. If the requested access is granted, the Approval Authority also initiates billing the requestor a predetermined fee for the access. |
| US08576045B2 |
Synchronization of electronic article surveillance systems having metal detection
A method and system are provided for minimizing metal detection signal interference by dividing a standard EAS system metal detection burst timeslot into a plurality of timeslots per burst in order to minimize triggering metal detection false alarm signals between adjacent metal detection systems. The method and system include synchronizing a plurality of metal detection systems by generating a signal having a predefined time duration and segmenting the signal into multiple timeslots per signal. A selected timeslot that is assigned to each of the plurality of metal detection systems is stored and the system performs metal detection using the assigned timeslot. |
| US08576044B2 |
Hand controller for a camera crane
A controller for a camera crane has a rocker button pivotally supported in or on a controller housing about a first pivot axis. A shaft of an electrical component, such as a variable resistor, is on a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis. An arm is attached to the shaft. A spring urges the arm to a center position. Movement of the rocker button moves the arm. Due to the offset of the first and second pivot axes, movement of the rocker button results in proportionally reduced movement of the shaft of the electronic component. Smooth crane arm movements are readily achieved as the controller is less sensitive to the operators hand or finger movements. |
| US08576040B2 |
Multilayer type power inductor
Disclosed herein is a multilayer type power inductor including: a plurality of body layers including internal electrodes and having magnetic material layers stacked therein; and a plurality of gap layers, wherein the gap layer has an asymmetrical structure. In the multilayer type power inductor, portions that are in contact with the body layers have, a non-porous structure, which is a dense structure, and portions that are not in contact with the body layers have a porous structure, such that the gap layer has the asymmetrical structure. Therefore, a magnetic flux propagation path in a coil is dispersed to suppress magnetization at a high current, thereby making it possible to improve a change in inductance (L) value according to the application of current. |
| US08576039B2 |
Inductor structure
An inductor structure includes an even number of segments, each segment adjacent to two segments, each segment including a loop, each loop having a first end and a second end; and a crossover section adjacent to each segment, the crossover section coupling each of the first ends and second ends of the loops so as to cause current to circulate around the loop of each segment in an opposite rotational direction to the direction of current circulation in the loops of the segments adjacent to that segment. |
| US08576038B2 |
Tap changer with a polarity switch for a variable transformer
The invention relates to a step switch provided with a preselector and a polarity circuit, a separate polarization resistance being respectively provided at the beginning and the end of the stepped winding. Optionally, the two polarization resistances can be connected continuously or via separate polarity switches. |
| US08576035B2 |
Magnetic field generating module, manufacturing method of magnetic field generating module, and method for promoting magnetic force
A magnetic field generating module includes a housing, a plurality of interpoles, a plurality of short poles and a plurality of windings. The housing has an annular section and an inner side. The interpoles disposed on the inner side in the housing are arranged around an inner periphery of the annular section with the same intervals. The short poles are disposed on the inner side in the housing and distributed between the interpoles evenly. A first interval is formed between the adjacent short poles, and a second interval equal to the first interval is formed between each of the interpoles and the adjacent short pole. The windings are respectively disposed corresponding to the interpoles and located between the interpoles and the short poles. The magnetic field generating module of the invention has more concentrated magnetic lines so as to prompt the magnetic flux density and the magnetic force. |
| US08576022B2 |
Tuning a programmable power line filter
Tuning a programmable power line filter, the power line filter including a live line, a neutral line, and a ground line connected to input terminals of the filter on an input side of the filter, the live line and the neutral line connected through inductors in the filter to output terminals on an output side of the filter, X-capacitors selectably connected through tuning switches between the live line and the neutral line, Y-capacitors selectably connected through tuning switches between the live line and ground and/or between the neutral line and ground, and a tuning control circuit connected to the tuning switches and selectably connected through one or more programming switches to the load, including measuring by the tuning control circuit the input impedance of the load and programming by the tuning control circuit the tuning switches in dependence upon the input impedance of the load. |
| US08576017B2 |
Synchronous full-bridge oscillator
An electronic high frequency induction heater driver, for a variable spray fuel injection system, uses a zero-voltage switching oscillator that utilizes a full H-bridge topology wherein the semiconductor switches are synchronized within the bridge for function. The induction heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, multiplies a supply voltage through a self-oscillating series resonance, wherein one component of the tank resonator circuit comprises an induction heater coil magnetically coupled to an appropriate loss component so that fuel inside a fuel component is heated to a desired temperature. |
| US08576015B2 |
Signal generator
Provided is a signal generator. The signal generator includes an insulating substrate, a chip disposed on the insulating substrate and including an oscillator including a capacitance element determining a resonant frequency signal, and a plurality of conductive lines disposed on the same surface of the insulating substrate to be spaced apart from each other. At least one of the plurality of conductive lines is electrically connected with the oscillator and provides an inductance element determining the resonant frequency signal to the oscillator. |
| US08576014B2 |
System and method for selecting optimum local oscillator discipline source
A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The device also includes a prioritizer comprising at least two inputs, each input configured to receive a respective second signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The prioritizer is configured to determine an accuracy of at least one second signal of the at least two second signals in relation to a second signal assigned to be a most accurate of the at least two second signals. The prioritizer is also configured to order the at least two second signals from most accurate to least accurate. The LO is disciplined to correct an offset error of the LO relative to a most accurate second signal that is available to the device, based on the order of the at least two second signals. |
| US08576012B2 |
Single-to-differential conversion circuit
A single-to-differential conversion circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a transforming unit. Each of the first and second transistors has first, second and third terminals. The transforming unit has first, second, and third induction elements. The first induction element has a first inductive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, and a second inductive terminal coupled to a voltage source. The second induction element has a first inductive terminal to be coupled to the voltage source, and a second inductive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor. The third induction element has a first inductive terminal coupled to the first terminals of the first and second transistors, and a second inductive terminal coupled to ground. The third induction element electrically couples to the first and the second induction elements according to first and second coupling parameters, respectively. |
| US08576011B2 |
Amplifier with high power supply noise rejection
An amplifier with high power supply rejection is disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, an amplifier includes a first stage configured to receive a signal to be amplified, a second stage comprising an input transistor coupled to the first stage, and further comprising at least one additional transistor, and a voltage regulator configured to received a first supply voltage and generate a regulated supply voltage, the first supply voltage coupled to the at least one additional transistor, the regulated supply voltage coupled to the first stage and the input transistor of the second stage to improve power supply noise rejection of the apparatus. |
| US08576010B2 |
Apparatus and method for a switched capacitor architecture for multi-band doherty power amplifiers
An apparatus and method for a switched capacitor architecture for multi-band Doherty power amplifiers are provided. The apparatus is for amplifying Radio Frequency (RF) signals, and the apparatus includes a multi-band Power Amplifier (PA) including a plurality of input matching circuits including switchable capacitors, and a plurality of output matching circuits including the switchable capacitors, wherein the multi-band PA is tunable to more than one RF frequency band. |
| US08576008B2 |
Radio frequency signal gain control
An RF receiver is described comprising a common gate common source LNA with a variable resistor in the source of the common gate transistor, a variable resistor in the source of the common source transistor, and a variable resistor in the RF input. A Smart Gain Control varies the resistance in the resistors to produce linear amplification in the LNA while maintaining input matching. Further, a broad dynamic range RSSI is described that implements a feedback control loop to maintain signal power within a sensitivity range of the power detector in the RSSI. |
| US08576003B2 |
Cascaded class D amplifier with improved linearity
An amplifier includes first and second stages. The first stage includes an input node for receiving an analog input signal, an analog digital converter for converting the analog input signal to a digital input signal, and a first switching circuit for outputting a first analog intermediate output signal in response to receiving a digital pulse width modulated signal that is based on the digital input signal. The second stage is configured to receive a pulse width modulation quantization error of the first stage, scale the pulse width modulation quantization error of the first stage by a gain factor to produce a scaled pulse width modulation quantization error of the first stage, and output a second analog intermediate output signal based on the scaled pulse width modulation quantization error of the first stage. A summation circuit combines the first and second analog intermediate output signals to generate an amplified output signal. |
| US08575996B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus transmitting signals between stacked chips
A semiconductor apparatus may include a transmission control signal generation unit, a fuse signal transmission unit, a reception control signal generation unit and a fuse signal reception unit. The transmission control signal generation unit receives a clock signal and generates a plurality of divided clock signals based on the clock signal to output transmission control signals from the plurality of divided clock signals. The fuse signal transmission unit transmits fuse information in synchronization with the transmission control signals. The reception control signal generation unit receives the clock signal and generates the plurality of divided clock signals, and generates reception control signals based on the plurality of divided clock signals. The fuse signal reception unit receives the fuse information in synchronization with the reception control signals. |
| US08575995B2 |
Capacitance type input device
A detection electrode and an X-driving electrode (first driving electrode) are stacked through a sensor side insulating layer, at the side of a sensor portion of a film base material, and a Y-driving electrode (second driving electrode) is formed on the same forming surface as the detection electrode. The X-driving electrode is formed of a first conductive layer, the detection electrode and the Y-driving electrode are formed in a stacked structure of a second conductive layer having a resistance lower than the first conductive layer and a third conductive layer having a resistance higher than the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. |
| US08575994B2 |
Circuit and method for generating a clock signal
A clock source is configured to provide an oscillating signal to be divided into a clock signal. A temperature sensor senses a first temperature of the clock source. The clock source is subjected to at least one second temperature implemented by a temperature alteration module. A calibration module calibrates the clock signal based on the at least one second temperature, the first temperature, a reference signal, and the oscillating signal at the at least one second temperature. |
| US08575993B2 |
Integrated circuit with pre-heating for reduced subthreshold leakage
Certain semiconductor processes provide for the use of multiple different types of transistors with different threshold voltages in a single IC. It can be shown that in certain ones of these semiconductor processes, the speed at which high threshold transistors can operate at decreases with decreasing temperature. Thus, the overall processing speed of an IC that implements high threshold transistors is often limited by the lowest temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function. Embodiments of a system and method that overcome this deficiency by “pre-heating” the IC (or at least portions of the IC that implement the high threshold transistors) such that the IC can operate at a frequency (once pre-heated) higher than what would otherwise be possible for a given, minimum temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function at are provided. |
| US08575991B2 |
Switching circuit sharing a resistor for switching devices
Disclosed herein is a resistor-sharing switching circuit including: a first switching device and a second switching device; and a resistor whose first end is connected to a control signal input end to which a control signal for controlling bodies of the first switching device and the second switching device is applied and whose second end is connected to the bodies of the first switching device and the second switching device. |
| US08575990B2 |
Matrix-stages solid state ultrafast switch
A semiconductor switching device for switching high voltage and high current. The semiconductor switching device includes a control-triggered stage and one or more auto-triggered stages. The control-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, a breakover switch, a control switch, a turn-off circuit, and a capacitor. The control-triggered stage is connected in series to the one or more auto-triggered stages. Each auto-triggered stage includes a plurality of semiconductor switches connected in parallel, a breakover switch, and a capacitor. The control switch provides for selective turn-on of the control-triggered stage. When the control-triggered stage turns on, the capacitor of the control-triggered stage discharges into the gates of the plurality of semiconductor switches of the next highest stage to turn it on. Each auto-triggered stage turns on in a cascade fashion as the capacitor of the adjacent lower stage discharges or as the breakover switches of the auto-triggered stages turn on. |
| US08575987B2 |
Level shift circuit
A level shift circuit of the invention includes a CMOS inverter circuit that receives an input pulse signal having a crest value of a first potential, a latch circuit that operates on a power supply of a second potential which is higher than the first potential, and a power supply circuit that supplies a power supply of not less than the first potential and less than the second potential to the CMOS inverter circuit. The latch circuit has one end thereof connected to an output end of the CMOS inverter circuit and outputs from the other end thereof an output pulse signal having a crest value of the second potential and a same phase as the input pulse signal. The power supply circuit functions to limit the power supply when the input pulse signal assumes at least the ground level. |
| US08575984B1 |
Multistage latch-based isolation cell
A multistage latch-based isolation cell is provided. The isolation cell includes a latch to receive a first binary signal and an enable signal. The latch initially supplies a second binary signal with an unknown value in response to the enable port receiving an enable signal having a first polarity value, and subsequent to receiving the first binary signal with a first value, supplying the second binary signal with the first value. The isolation cell includes a delay device to receive the enable signal and to supply a delayed enable signal. A reset latch receives the second binary signal, the delayed enable signal, and a reset pulse. The reset latch supplies a third binary signal equal to the first value in response to the reset latch receiving the reset pulse, followed by the delayed enable signal with the first polarity value, followed by the second binary signal. |
| US08575982B1 |
Systems and methods including features of power supply noise reduction and/or power-saving for high speed delay lines
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of noise reduction and/or power saving. According to one or more illustrative implementations, for example, innovations consistent with delay lines in clock/timing circuits such as Delay-Lock-Loop (DLL) and/or Duty Cycle Correction (DCC) circuits are disclosed. |
| US08575980B2 |
PLL circuit, error correcting method for the same, and communication apparatus including the same
A PLL circuit includes: the number-of-accumulated clocks detecting portion detecting the number of accumulated clocks of an oscillation circuit as a digital value; a periodicity detecting portion detecting periodicity of a digital value of a fractional portion of the number of accumulated clocks of the oscillation circuit with a first reference clock as a reference; a corrected value calculating portion calculating a corrected value; and an adding portion adding the corrected value to the fractional portion of the number of accumulated clocks with the first reference clock from the starting points of the periods of the periodicity. |
| US08575972B2 |
Digital frequency synthesizer device and method thereof
A first plurality of clock signals including a first clock signal and a second clock signal is received, the first and second clock signal out of phase with each other. A second plurality of clock signals comprising a third clock signal and a fourth clock signal is received, the third and fourth clock signals out of phase with each other. A plurality of enable signals are received. A fifth clock signal is determined based on the first plurality of clock signals and the plurality of enable signals. A sixth clock signal is determined based on the second plurality of clock signals and the plurality of enable signals. A seventh clock signal is determined based on the fifth clock signal and the sixth clock signal. |
| US08575971B1 |
Current mirror and current cancellation circuit
Techniques are described to mirror currents and subtract currents accurately. In an implementation, a circuit includes a first current source coupled to a first node to provide a current IPD1 and a current mirror coupled to the first node through a first switch T1 to provide a current IREF1. In a closed configuration, the current IREF1 flows from the current mirror into the first node. A sigma delta modulator controls the switch T1 such that over a period of time an average current flowing from the current mirror into the first node is equal to the current IPD1 flowing out of the first node. The sigma delta modulator generates a digital output to control switch T2 to allow a current IREF2 into a second node, thus subtracting a portion of a current IPD2 at the second node over a period of time. |
| US08575966B2 |
Method of operating phase-lock assistant circuitry
A method of operating a charge pump of a phase-lock assistant circuit includes determining a first relative timing relationship of a phase of a data signal to a phase of a first phase clock. A second relative timing relationship of the phase of the data signal to a phase of a second phase clock is determined, and the first and second phase clocks have a 45° phase difference. An up signal and a down signal are generated in response to the first relative timing relationship and the second relative timing relationship. The charge pump circuit is driven according to the up signal and the down signal. |
| US08575964B2 |
Inactivity triggered self clocking logic family
Localized logic regions of a circuit include a local comparator electrically connected to a local resistive voltage circuit, to a local resistive ground circuit, and to a local register structure. The local comparator supplies a clock pulse to the local register structures when the local reference voltage is below a local voltage threshold. Activity in the local combinatorial logic structure causes the local reference voltage to drop below the local reference voltage independently of changes in the global reference voltage causing the comparator to output the clock pulse (with sufficient delay to allow the logic results to be stored in the registers only after setup times have been met in the local logic devices). This eliminates the need for a clock distribution tree, thereby saving power when there is no activity in the local combinatorial logic structure. |
| US08575958B2 |
Programmable on-chip logic analyzer apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may cause an event trigger state machine associated with a programmable on-chip logic analyzer (POCLA) to transition to a programmable state at a programmable number of occurrences of a programmable set of events associated with a first subset of signals on a first subset of input signal paths. States associated with a second subset of signals on a second subset of input signal paths may be stored at a time relative to a transition to the programmable state if a set of storage criteria have been met. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08575952B2 |
Semiconductor device and test method
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit block, a second circuit block, a first lead-out line coupled to the first circuit block, a second lead-out line coupled to the second circuit block, a first pad coupled to the first lead-out line, a second pad coupled to the second lead-out line, and a shielding line provided between the first lead-out line and the second lead-out line. |
| US08575951B2 |
Method for testing multiple coupons
A method for testing multiple coupons is described. The x, y, and theta offset coordinates of a reference structure for each coupon are determined. Additionally, the x and y offset coordinates between the reference structure and the first test device are determined. After the reference data from all of the coupons have been determined, the testing sequence for all of the coupons can be initiated and completed without further intervention. |
| US08575950B2 |
Static/dynamic resistance measuring apparatus and method
A resistance measuring apparatus which includes a variable voltage source, a signal display circuit, a bridge consisting of a first standard resistor, a second standard resistor, an adjustable resistor and the unknown resistor, a bridge balance display circuit and a dynamic voltage display circuit alternatively connected within the bridge. The resistance measuring apparatus is adapted to measure static resistance and dynamic resistance variation of an unknown resistor in the case of external environment having changed dramatically. |
| US08575947B1 |
Receive demodulator for capacitive sensing
A first integration capacitor stores charge from a positive signal portion. A second integration capacitor stores charge from negative signal portion. The voltage across the first and second integration capacitors is measured differentially. The presence of a conductive object proximate to a capacitance sensing element is detected based on the measured differential voltage between the first and second integration capacitors. |
| US08575945B2 |
Subsea line monitoring device
A subsea line monitoring device includes a diagnostic unit adapted to be deployed, in use, in a subsea location and having a first connector, the diagnostic unit being operable, in use, to output a signal indicative of the integrity of a line or device connected to the first connector. The subsea line monitoring device may be deployed on a long term or permanent basis at the subsea location. |
| US08575944B2 |
Foreign object detection in inductive coupled devices
A primary device for inductive power transfer to a secondary device is disclosed. The primary device includes a primary coil, the primary device being configured to (i) operate in a first mode during which the primary coil transfers power through inductive coupling to the secondary device, and (ii) operate in a second mode during which a foreign object is detected. The primary device further includes a primary controller configured to operate the primary coil (i) using a first frequency during the first mode, and (ii) using a second frequency during the second mode. A method to detect a foreign object which is in proximity of an inductively coupled environment of a primary device is also disclosed. |
| US08575941B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying a faulted phase in a shunt capacitor bank
An apparatus and method is provided for identifying a faulted phase in at least one shunt capacitor bank. The apparatus generally includes a sampling circuit for sampling current or voltage signals associated with the shunt capacitor bank. A microcontroller is coupled to the sampling circuit and programmed to measure a compensated neutral point phase angle from the sampled signal, and compare the compensated neutral point phase angle with a fixed reference phase angle to identify the faulted phase of the shunt capacitor bank. The method generally includes the steps of sampling a current or voltage signal associated with the shunt capacitor bank, determining a compensated neutral point phase angle from the sampled signal, and comparing the compensated neutral point phase angle with a fixed reference phase angle to identify the faulted phase of the shunt capacitor bank. The invention also relates to an apparatus and method for identifying the location of the fault (e.g., the section of the bank) in a double ungrounded shunt capacitor bank or double WYE shunt capacitor bank. |
| US08575940B2 |
Power supply device and method for detecting non-contact state of load connected to power supply device
A power supply device includes a battery, positive and negative-side contactors and a controller. The battery supplies power to a load. The positive-side contactor is serially connected to the positive side of the battery, and the negative-side contactor is serially connected to the negative side of the battery. The controller determines whether the load connected to the output sides of the positive-side contactor and the negative-side contactor is in a connected or non-contact state. The controller includes a voltage detecting circuit that detects the capacitor voltage of a capacitor connected to the output sides of the positive-side contactor and the negative-side contactor, and a determination circuit that compares the detected voltage with a predetermined voltage and determines the connected state of the load. |
| US08575931B2 |
Length measurement apparatus
A length measurement apparatus (10) has a bistable magnetic element (102), an elongated physical scale (200) with a plurality of measurement graduation elements (202) spaced apart from one another and a reading head (100) movable relative to the physical scale (200) in its longitudinal extent and which includes a first and second reading head magnet (114a b) arranged transverse to the longitudinal extent and with opposite polarity to one another. The measurement graduation elements (202) each have a magnetic short-circuit element (202) to suppress the magnetic field (116a) of the first reading head magnet (114a) in a first relative position of the reading head (100) and the magnetic field (116b) of the second reading head magnet (114b) in a second relative position of the reading head (100). |
| US08575930B2 |
Magnetic detection device
An aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a magnetic detection device including a magnetic detection unit including a magnetic sensor unit and a comparison unit, the magnetic sensor unit detecting a magnetic flux density, amplifying the detection signal and outputting an output signal to the comparison unit as a mode selected from one of a first mode and a second mode of which power consumption is lower than that of the first mode, the comparison unit comparing the output signal and a reference voltage as a threshold level which determines magnetic field being formed or not, and outputting a comparison result, a conversion gain control unit outputting a mode signal based on the comparison result to the magnetic sensor unit as the second mode when the mode signal is larger than the threshold level or as the first mode when the mode signal is smaller than the threshold level so as to control the magnetic sensor unit. |
| US08575929B1 |
Magnetic anomaly surveillance system using spherical trilateration
A magnetic anomaly surveillance system includes triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors arranged at known locations in an array. A processor coupled to the TM sensors generates a scalar magnitude of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of the TM sensors. The scalar magnitude is indicative of a spherical radius centered at the known location associated with a corresponding one of the TM sensors. The processor also generates a comparison between each scalar magnitude and a threshold value. The processor then determines at least one magnetic anomaly location in the coordinate system via a spherical trilateration process that uses each spherical radius and each scalar magnitude associated with selected ones of the TM sensors for which the threshold value is exceeded. One or more output devices coupled to the processor output data indicative of the one or more magnetic anomaly locations. |
| US08575928B2 |
Optical sensor
A sensor that includes an actuator having a plurality of actuator magnets. A detector proximate to and mechanically isolated from the actuator defines a bore. A detector magnet inside the bore may move in the bore from a first position to a second position. An optical signal passes through the detector so that the detector magnet blocks the optical signal when the detector magnet is in the first position. |
| US08575927B2 |
Ultrasensitive magnetic sensor with magneto-optically active material with high verdet constant
A high-resolution sensor of magnetic field sensor system and materials for use in such a system are described. The sensor systems measure a magnetic field using inorganic and/or organic magneto-optically active materials, e.g. polymer material and have an interferometer based on Faraday rotation. The polymer material is preferably in the form of a film. The polymer material has an optical property that is sensitive to the magnetic field, e.g. the Faraday rotation effect. The present invention also provides a sensor head structure comprising the above polymer material. The sensor head may be designed for use with an optical fiber or with mirrors. In particular the present invention provides a fiber Sagnac interferometer to measure the rotation of polarized plane of light. The present invention provides a fiber or mirror based Sagnac interferometer with passive phase bias applied to magnetic field sensing. This invention has the following three major aspects each being an embodiment of the present invention: 1. Sensing material: a conjugate polymer such as polythiophene and/or a polymer containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles that exhibits a giant Faraday rotation. 2. Magnetic field probe that incorporates the above polymer or polymer/nanoparticle composite, e.g. in the form of a film. 3. Sensor: The sensor combines an optical fiber-based Sagnac interferometer and the above magnetic field probe. |
| US08575924B2 |
Magnetic field sensor element
A sensor unit with at least one magnetic field sensor element, at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and at least one magnet are arranged in a capsule housing on at least one leadframe. The capsule housing is surrounded by a sensor encapsulation and is intended to have smaller dimensions so as to allow it to be positioned in the encapsulating mold with less effort and at the same time in the exact position. For this purpose, it is provided that the capsule housing has a number of fixing aids adapted in their outer dimensions to an injection mold assigned to the sensor encapsulation. |
| US08575920B2 |
Magneto-resistive magnetic field sensor
A system includes a magnet, a first magneto-resistive sensing element, and a second magneto-resistive sensing element. The magnet is configured to provide a magnetic field having a substantially non-diverging magnetic field line and diverging magnetic field lines. The first magneto-resistive sensing element is situated in the magnetic field. The second magneto-resistive sensing element is situated in the magnetic field. The first magneto-resistive sensing element is intersected at a centerline of the first magneto-resistive sensing element by the substantially non-diverging magnetic field line. The second magneto-resistive sensing element is intersected by only the diverging magnetic field lines of the magnetic field. |
| US08575917B2 |
Multirange load detection circuitry
Load detection circuitry is provided that may be used to monitor an output line. The load detection circuitry may include one or more current sensing resistors. A monitor circuit can measure voltages across the current sensing resistors to determine whether current is flowing through a load connected to the output line. In configurations with multiple different current sensing resistors, the monitor circuit can determine the amount of current that is flowing through the load based on the measured voltages. A switch may be interposed between the current sensing resistor and the output line. A current-limited voltage regulator may supply a voltage to the output line. The monitor circuit may periodically open the switch and monitor resulting voltage changes on the output line to determine whether an electronic device or other load is attached. Opening of the switch may be inhibited whenever current is sensed through a current sensing resistor. |
| US08575916B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for detecting an arc event using breaker status
A power equipment protection system includes a first circuit monitoring device configured to monitor a first circuit, a second circuit monitoring device configured to monitor a second circuit that is electrically coupled to the first circuit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first circuit monitoring device and the second circuit monitoring device. The processor is configured to receive a signal indicative of a fault from at least one of the first circuit monitoring device and the second circuit monitoring device, determine whether the fault occurred in the first circuit or in the second circuit, and if the fault occurred in the second circuit, determine whether the fault is an arc event. |
| US08575913B2 |
Pulse analyzer
There is described a pulse analyzer (1) for sampling a pulse or a repetitive stream of pulses. The pulse analyzer multiplies a pulse by a set of basis functions (c1, c2) to generate a plurality of multiplied pulse functions, and a synthesizer (9a, 9b, 13) combines the multiplied pulse functions to generate a pulse sample. In particular, the synthesizer performs at least one integrating operation over an integration interval substantially corresponding to the duration of the pulse and at least one adding operation. The basis functions are such that the output of the synthesizer corresponds to a pulse sample for a sample time interval shorter than the integration interval. |
| US08575912B1 |
Circuit for generating a dual-mode PTAT current
The present invention discloses a circuit for generating a dual-mode proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current. The circuit includes a voltage stabilizing circuit to provide a voltage reference, and a load current control circuit comprising a first transistor to provide a first load current based on the voltage reference, a second transistor to provide a second load current based on the voltage reference, a first switch to control whether to allow the first load current to flow therethrough in response to different predetermined temperatures, and a second switch to control whether to allow the second load current to flow therethrough in response to the different predetermined temperatures. A resultant current resulting from at least one of the first load current or the second load current has different current magnitudes at the different predetermined temperatures. |
| US08575910B2 |
Single-cycle charge regulator for digital control
A single-cycle charge regulator (SCCR) may be used in operating a power converter at a constant frequency without requiring compensation. The SCCR may include a first control loop to generate an error value based on the output voltage of the power converter and a reference voltage, and to generate a first control value based on the error value to control steady-state behavior of the output of the power converter. A second control loop may generate a second control value based on the error value, to regulate response of the power converter to a transient deviation on the output voltage. A third control loop may operate to adjust a current (affected by the output voltage of the the power converter) subsequent to the transient deviation, according to a third control value derived from previous values of the first control value, the second control value, and the third control value, to keep the adjusted current commensurate with the current that was present prior to the transient deviation, while keeping the output voltage of the power converter at its desired steady-state value. |
| US08575905B2 |
Dual loop voltage regulator with bias voltage capacitor
A voltage regulator includes a regulator input connected to a reference voltage; a regulator output that outputs a regulated voltage to an electrical load; a first loop, the first loop configured to receive the reference voltage, the first loop outputting a bias voltage; a second loop, the second loop configured to receive the bias voltage as an input; and a bias voltage capacitor connected to a node between the first loop and the second loop. |
| US08575902B1 |
Deactivating parallel MOSFETs to improve light load efficiency
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that reduce the power required to drive transistors in switching power supply regulators under various load conditions. One example provides a power supply regulator having multiple parallel transistors in order to reduce series on resistance. When the regulator is lightly loaded, a reduced number of devices are driven by the regulator. That is, one or more devices are not driven, rather their gates are held at a voltage such that the devices remain in the off or non-conductive state. When the regulator is more heavily loaded, more or all of the devices are driven. |
| US08575891B2 |
Battery housing system and method
A battery system including a housing that defines an internal volume and a venting system that fluidly couples the internal volume with an atmosphere surrounding the housing and a support structure within the internal volume, the support structure being configured to support a number of battery cell modules in the internal volume. |
| US08575889B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the transfer of electric power to an electronic device supplied by a battery
A DC-DC voltage down-converter for an electronic device supplied by a battery and having a bus interface for the interconnection with another electronic device capable of supplying electric power is provided. The DC-DC voltage down-converter includes a terminal coupled to a voltage supply line of the bus interface and operable to receive a input current from the another electronic device. The DC-DC voltage down-converter further includes an electric energy storage element coupled between the battery and the terminal, the electric energy storage element being operable to storage/release electric energy and a drive circuit arranged to control the storage/release of the electric energy storage element, so as to cause an electric power generated by the input current supplied by the another electronic device through the voltage supply line to re-charge the battery. The DC-DC voltage down-converter still further includes a input current feedback control circuit coupled to the terminal and arranged to monitor a value of the input current and generate a corresponding input current indication; the drive circuit configured to control the storage/release of the electric energy storage element according to the input current indication. |
| US08575885B2 |
Motor drive system, control method of motor drive system, and traveling device
To make it possible to avoid an unstable state with a simple configuration even one of the phases of the motor fails. A motor drive system in accordance with the present invention includes a motor to which a plurality of phase coils of five phases or more are connected in a star connection, an inverter connected to one end of each of the phase coils, the inverter being configured to convert a DC power into an AC power and supply the AC power to each phase of the motor, a power relay disposed at another end of each of the phase coils, the power relay being configured so as to be able to cut off a supply power to at least one phase coil among the plurality of phase coils of the motor by using a plurality of contact points interposed between the star-connected coils, and a control unit that generates a control signal for the inverter and thereby controls driving of the motor. When one or more phase of the motor fails, the control unit opens a contact point of the power relay corresponding to the failed phase and drives three or more phases that are disposed at roughly equal phase-intervals among a plurality of remaining phases. |
| US08575883B2 |
Power unit for electric vehicle
A power unit for an electric vehicle includes: a first power source connected between a first node and a second node; a first switch connected between the second node and a third node; a second power source connected between the third node and a fourth node; a second switch connected between the first node and the third node; and a DC-DC converter connected to the second node, wherein the DC-DC converter changes an electric potential of the second node by making the second node connectable to the fourth node or the third node, and an output electric power obtained from between the first node and the fourth node is supplied to an electric motor. |
| US08575875B2 |
Control device for voltage converter, vehicle equipped with the same, and control method for voltage converter
In a converter of a motor drive control device, one of a first switching element and a second switching element is selected in accordance with a current command value of a current flowing through a reactor. The converter is then controlled so that a drive command for the selected switching element is generated. In this way, the efficiency of the converter is improved while a voltage step-up or step-down operation is performed by the converter. |
| US08575874B2 |
Electronically commutated motor with correction of sensed rotation-direction signal
An electronically commutated motor (ECM) often employs a Hall sensor for reliable operation. Even when a Hall sensor is omitted from a motor having a plurality of stator winding phases (24, 26) and a permanent-magnet rotor (22), one can reliably detect direction of rotation of the rotor by the steps of: (a) differentiating a voltage profile obtained by sampling either (1) induced voltage in a presently currentless phase winding or (2) voltage drop at a transistor, through which current is flowing to a presently energized phase winding, and (b) using such a differentiated signal (du—24″/dt, du—26″/dt) to control current flow in an associated phase winding. In this manner, one obtains reliable commutation, even if the motor is spatially separated from its commutation electronics. |
| US08575871B1 |
Modular component electric machine
The invention comprises a modular electric machine comprising a modular stator having a plurality of stator teeth and windings and a modular rotor comprising a plurality of modular magnetic elements for electromagnetic interaction with stator teeth. The invention further comprises a method of control of a modular electric machine. |
| US08575864B2 |
Circuits and methods for driving light sources
A controller for controlling power to a light source includes a first sensing pin, a second sensing pin, a third sensing pin, and a driving pin. The first sensing pin receives a first signal indicating an instant current flowing through an energy storage element. The second sensing pin receives a second signal indicating an average current flowing through the energy storage element. The third sensing pin receives a third signal indicating whether the instant current decreases to a predetermined current level. The driving pin provides a driving signal to a switch to control an average current flowing through the light source to a target current level. The driving signal is generated based on one or more signals selected from the first signal, the second signal and the third signal. |
| US08575862B2 |
Power supply for airfield lighting
Disclosed herein is a power supply suitable for use with an airfield lighting device. In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, a rectifier that converts a signal from an alternating current (AC) current source to a direct current (DC) voltage. The circuit comprises a current sensor, a controller, and a half active bridge rectifier. The controller receives a signal from the current sensor and controls the operation of the half active bridge rectifier to produce a light emitting diode (LED) current based on the current sensed by the current sensor. |
| US08575859B2 |
Illuminating device
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. |
| US08575857B2 |
LED lighting device
The LED lighting device includes a lighting circuit unit, a current detecting unit, a voltage detecting unit, and a control unit. The lighting circuit unit is adapted in use to be connected to a lamp socket to be connected to a LED lamp, and is configured to provide an output voltage in the form of a DC voltage to the lamp socket in a manner to turn on the LED lamp. The current detecting unit is configured to detect an output current which is caused by the output voltage and is supplied from said lighting circuit unit to said lamp socket. The voltage detecting unit is configured to detect the output voltage of said lighting circuit unit. The control unit configured to control the lighting circuit unit. The control unit is configured to perform constant-current control of control the lighting circuit unit in a manner to regulate the output voltage such that the output current is identical to a target value while keeping the output voltage not higher than a maximum-load voltage, when the output current detected by the current detecting unit is not less than a predetermined threshold value, and is configured to perform no-load control of controlling the lighting circuit unit in a manner to regulate the output voltage such that the output voltage is kept identical to a no-load voltage higher than the maximum-load voltage, when the output current detected by the current detecting unit is less than the predetermined threshold value. |
| US08575855B2 |
Hollow cathode lamp elapsed time recording system
A hollow cathode lamp is described with an end cap, an anode, and a cathode. A data storage device is part of the end cap and communicates data to and from a computing device. The data communicated with the computing device may include identification information and usage information corresponding to the hollow cathode lamp. Additionally, a method is described that includes activating a power supply to a hollow cathode lamp and communicating data with a memory device located in the hollow cathode lamp. The data communicated with the memory device includes usage information about an amount of time the hollow cathode lamp has been in use. |
| US08575854B2 |
Power conversion apparatus, discharge lamp ballast and headlight ballast
Power conversion apparatus includes a converter circuit, a control circuit, a simulation circuit and a sense circuit. The converter circuit includes a magnetic device for power conversion and a switching device, and is configured to convert power from a power supply into direct current power. The control circuit is configured to supply the converter circuit with a high frequency signal for turning the switching device on and off. The simulation circuit is configured to produce a simulation signal that simulates state or change of magnetic flux of the magnetic device. The sense circuit is configured to produce a signal which corresponds to at least one of the input and output of the converter circuit and is superposed on the simulation signal to form a superposed signal. The control circuit defines an on-period of the high frequency signal based on the superposed signal. |
| US08575853B2 |
System and method for supplying constant power to luminuous loads
An apparatus is disclosed that is capable of delivering substantially constant power to a luminous load in response to variation in the input voltage and variation in the environment temperature. The apparatus may be further adapted to vary the power supplied to the luminous load in response to changes in the input voltage produced by a dimmer circuit. In other words, during non-dimming applications, the apparatus is able to maintain substantially constant power supplied to the load even though the input voltage and environment temperatures are varying during typical daily operations. Additionally, if the input voltage is changed due to a user controlling a dimmer device to control the brightness of the luminous load, the apparatus is able to control the power delivered to the load in response to the dimmer device. |
| US08575849B2 |
Resonate driver for solid state light sources
A driver circuit, solid state light (SSL) source assembly including same, and a method of driving an SSL source are provided. The driver circuit includes a rectifier, an inverter, a transformer, a PFC circuit, and a frequency control. The rectifier receives an AC voltage and provides an unregulated DC voltage. The inverter includes two switches, and receives respective control signals to operate these, to generate a resonate AC signal from the unregulated DC voltage. The transformer includes a primary winding coupled to the inverter, a secondary winding to be coupled to an SSL source through an output stage, and a feedback winding. The PFC circuit controls the inverter in response to signals representative of the unregulated DC voltage and the inverter's current. The frequency control generates the control signals to control the inverter's switching frequency in response to signals representative of the output stage's current and the feedback winding's current. |
| US08575845B2 |
Method and apparatus to measure light intensity
A method for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) is provided. Initially, the LED, which had been active, is deactivated, and a voltage for a current that corresponds to the persistence of the LED is generated. The voltage is then integrated so as to generate an integrated voltage, and the integrated voltage is compared to a threshold. When the integrated voltage is less than the threshold, the LED is then activated. |
| US08575842B2 |
Field emission device
A field emission device is configured as a heat engine. |
| US08575839B2 |
Headlamp LED lighting apparatus and vehicle headlamp lighting system
A headlamp LED lighting apparatus, which lights an LED block 2 having a plurality of LEDs connected in series, samples the output voltage of the headlamp LED lighting apparatus, calculates the average voltage during every prescribed interval, and has a storage unit for storing the average voltage during every prescribed interval calculated. A control circuit 8 compares the voltage variation in the average voltage during every prescribed interval read out of the storage unit with a prescribed threshold, and decides an LED failure of the LED block 2 from a result of the comparison. |
| US08575837B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp
A high pressure discharge lamp of the present invention is provided with a light-emitting bulb comprising a light-emitting part and sealing sections; metal foils embedded within the sealing sections; and a pair of electrodes having one end protruding into the light-emitting part and having the other end embedded in the corresponding sealing section and joined to the corresponding metal foil. An embedded length L (mm) of the electrodes that is defined by the length between a light-emitting part side end of the metal foil and the border section between the protruding section and the embedded section of the electrode, and the temperature T (° C.) at the joint region of the electrode and the metal foil are set to satisfy 1.8≦L≦2.8 and T≦970. |
| US08575830B2 |
Electrode material for a spark plug
An electrode material that may be used in spark plugs and other ignition devices including industrial plugs, aviation igniters, glow plugs, or any other device that is used to ignite an air/fuel mixture in an engine. The electrode material is a metal composite and includes a particulate component embedded or dispersed within a matrix component such that the metal composite has a multi-phase microstructure. In one embodiment, the metal composite includes a matrix component that includes a precious metal and makes up about 2-80% wt of the overall composite and a particulate component that includes a ruthenium-based material and makes up about 20-98% wt of the overall composite. |
| US08575827B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus has an organic EL element which emits red color, an organic EL element which emits green color, and an organic EL element which emits blue color, in which a structure for improving light emission efficiency is provided only at the light emission side of the organic EL element which emits blue color. |
| US08575823B2 |
Laminated piezoelectric material, ultrasound probe, and ultrasound diagnostic apparatus
A laminated piezoelectric material has a four-layered piezoelectric material and electrode layers for applying a voltage to each layer of the four-layered piezoelectric material. Each piezoelectric material has an inorganic piezoelectric material with a remanent polarization in a thickness direction. The layers are laminated so that a direction of an electric field is counter to a direction of the remanent polarization in one of the layers and the direction of the electric field coincides with the direction of the remanent polarization in the other three layers, or the direction of the electric field coincides with the direction of the remanent polarization in one of the layers and the direction of the electric field is counter to the direction of remanent polarization in the other three layers, when a voltage is applied to each piezoelectric material of the four-layered piezoelectric material via electrode layers. |
| US08575819B1 |
Microelectromechanical resonators with passive frequency tuning using built-in piezoelectric-based varactors
Microelectromechanical resonators include a resonator body with a built-in piezoelectric-based varactor diode. This built-in varactor diode supports passive frequency tuning by enabling low-power manipulation of the stiffness of a piezoelectric layer, in response to controlling charge build-up therein at resonance. A resonator may include a composite stack of a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer on the bottom electrode and at least one top electrode on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes a built-in varactor diode, which is defined by at least two regions having different concentrations of electrically active dopants therein. |
| US08575818B2 |
Surface acoustic wave element
A surface acoustic wave element has a small energy loss and when it is used in a filter device, suppresses a spurious component occurring near the resonant frequency of a principal response and improves the frequency characteristic near the pass band of the filter device. The surface acoustic wave element includes a piezoelectric substrate, a comb-shaped electrode, and an insulating film. The comb-shaped electrode is disposed on the piezoelectric substrate. The insulating film is disposed so as to cover the piezoelectric substrate and the comb-shaped electrode. Where λ is the wavelength of an elastic wave that propagates in the piezoelectric substrate and h is the difference between the maximum and minimum values of a thickness dimension from the top surface of the piezoelectric substrate to the top surface of the insulating film, 0.01≦h/λ≦0.03 is satisfied. |
| US08575813B2 |
Induction rotor having improved conductor bar profiles and method for forming the same
A rotor core for an induction motor. The rotor core includes a body that at least (i) extends axially from an outer surface of the body inward toward a central axis, (ii) extends from a first axial end to a second axial end, and (iii) defines a plurality of internal grooves. Further, each groove at least (iv) includes an opening at the outer surface of the body, (v) is defined by two opposing walls, (vi) extends from the first axial end to the second axial end, (vii) extends axially between the opening at the exterior surface and an inward end, and (viii) includes a body section. And wherein (ix) at least one wall of the opposing walls of the groove includes, in the body section of the groove, an extended segment forming a portion of increased breadth for the groove. |
| US08575812B2 |
Electric motor
A winding for an n-phase electric motor is disclosed. The inventive winding comprises a number of consecutive winding groups of n individual windings, wherein at any point in time an individual winding of a first group exhibits one direction of current flow and wherein at the same point in time a corresponding individual winding of an adjacent group exhibits the opposite direction of current flow. There is also disclosed a method for preparing such winding. It is further disclosed a magnetic unit adapted for such winding, comprising permanent magnets being essentially triangular in cross-section. Further, there is disclosed electric motors using the inventive winding concept, as well as geodetic instruments taking advantage thereof. An electric motor according to the disclosed inventive concept is particularly well suited for direct drive. |
| US08575809B2 |
Stator for an energy converting apparatus and energy converting apparatus using the same
It is described a stator for an energy converting apparatus, the stator comprising the stator including a support structure having an annular shape around an axial direction; a first protrusion coupled to the support structure and extending radially from the support structure; a second protrusion coupled to the support structure and extending radially from the support structure, the second protrusion being spaced apart from the first protrusion in a circumferential direction; and a first wire arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion in a plurality of first radial layers located at different radial positions and configured such that a circumferential extent of a cross-sectional area of the first wire increases radially outwards. Further is described an energy converting apparatus including the stator, and a wind turbine including the energy converging apparatus. |
| US08575803B2 |
Magnetic coupling device having first and second rotating members arranged with opposing interaction surfaces
A reduced-size magnetic coupling device includes a first magnet group having a plurality of first magnets arranged on an interaction surface at equal intervals in the direction of the circumference about the rotation axis; a second magnet group having a plurality of second magnets arranged on an interaction surface at equal intervals in the direction of the circumference about the rotation axis and in positions in the vicinity of the rotation axis; and a third magnet group having a plurality of third magnets that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis and in positions outward with respect to the second magnets. The third magnets have an area approximately equal to that of the second magnets. Each third magnet has a magnetic pole different from that of the second magnet that is positioned between the third magnet and the rotation axis. |
| US08575801B2 |
Starter with armature shaft bearing between armature and speed reducer
The invention describes a starter wherein the second front bearing is inserted axially between the armature windings and the speed reducer. This configuration helps solve the problem that the operating forces of known starter armature shafts are too great for the armature shaft guide ring to withstand long term intensive stresses. The structure includes a supporting section of the armature shaft received in the front bearing, the supporting section being of an outside diameter greater than or equal to the other sections of the armature shaft; the front bearing forms a sealed baffle between the armature windings and the planetary gear speed reducer; the electric motor is housed in a cylindrical frame, coaxial with the armature shaft, the front bearing being centered directly with respect to the frame by radial support against the internal cylindrical face of the front peripheral edge of the frame. |
| US08575800B1 |
Electric motor
An electric motor includes an upper housing, a lower housing including a flange for mounting the upper housing thereon and a cone-shaped portion extending away from the flange and the upper housing. The electric motor further includes a stator assembly formed of a first core having a first height and fitted into the upper housing, a rotor assembly rigidly joined to a shaft to rotate therewith within the stator assembly and formed of a second core having a second height, and a hub connected to a lower end of the shaft to rotate therewith in relation to the cone-shaped portion. The hub is configured to secure an operable implement to the electric motor. The second height is greater than the first height. |
| US08575798B2 |
Bus bar cooling unit for stator structure
A stator structure comprises an edgewise coil molded with resin with long ends being exposed, a bus bar connected to both ends of the coil ends, and a pump and injection holes for directly cooling the bus bar. |
| US08575796B1 |
Heavy duty stator core and coil assembly
A heavy-duty stator core and coil assembly that can accommodate severe input voltage spiking and harmonics may include a coat of varnish applied to the stator core and coil assembly by steps of dipping the stator core and coil assembly end-first along a longitudinal axis into a first tank of liquid epoxy resin having a relatively low viscosity, baking the coating, inverting the stator core and coil assembly and applying a second coat of varnish in the same manner, then dipping the core and coil assembly into a second tank having a liquid epoxy resin of a relatively high viscosity, then baking the second coat. |
| US08575792B2 |
Motorized stage
A stage comprising a first translation platform having a first axis of motion, and a second translation platform having a second axis of motion, a first linear drive motor for driving the first translation platform in the first axis of motion, and a second linear drive motor for driving the second translation platform in the second axis of motion, wherein each linear drive motor further comprises a coil assembly enclosing a rod stator, and wherein the coil assembly is fixed and the rod stator is movable within the coil assembly. |
| US08575789B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier, a power unit, a switch, and a controller. The carrier is configured to carry a recording medium. The power unit is configured to provide drive power to the carrier. The switch is configured to switch an operation state of the carrier between an ON state and an OFF state of a transmission of the drive power from the power unit to the carrier. The controller is configured to provide a control power to control the switch such that the control power is reduced after switching from the OFF state to the ON state. |
| US08575788B2 |
Method of operating a thermoelectric generator
A method for operating a thermoelectric generator supplying a variable-load component includes commanding the variable-load component to operate at a first output and determining a first load current and a first load voltage to the variable-load component while operating at the commanded first output. The method also includes commanding the variable-load component to operate at a second output and determining a second load current and a second load voltage to the variable-load component while operating at the commanded second output. The method includes calculating a maximum power output of the thermoelectric generator from the determined first load current and voltage and the determined second load current and voltage, and commanding the variable-load component to operate at a third output. The commanded third output is configured to draw the calculated maximum power output from the thermoelectric generator. |
| US08575783B2 |
Solar panel as infrared signal receiver and processor
This invention is to control and monitor a solar module by optical communication using solar cells in the solar module as a receiver of the incoming optical signal. The optical communication is by way of solar cells in a solar module as sensors and/or receivers, and busbars of the solar module as conduits to transfer the incoming signal to a control circuitry. Such control includes, but is not limited to, on/off control of power output from a solar module, and such monitoring includes, but is not limited to, reading, data keeping and displaying current operating performance status of the solar module. With this invention, solar modules can be turned off and on without physically disconnecting and reconnecting wires. Such control and monitoring enables more efficient and accurate operation and maintenance of a solar power system of any size. |
| US08575781B2 |
Photovoltaic inverter with option for switching between a power supply system with a fixed frequency and a load variable frequency
A photovoltaic inverter having an inverter bridge section, a first output, a second output, and a power switch. The inverter bridge section is operable for converting DC electrical energy into AC electrical energy. The inverter bridge section has an output for outputting the AC electrical energy. The power switch is connected to the output of the inverter bridge section, the first output, and the second output. The power switch is selectively switchable between a first state in which the output of the inverter bridge section is connected to the first output via the power switch and a second state in which the output of the inverter bridge section is connected to the second output via the power switch. |
| US08575776B2 |
Wind turbine with a generator
A wind turbine with a generator includes a rotor with permanent magnets and a stator with stator coils mounted on a stator support structure. The stator support structure includes a base structure on which circular connection structures are mounted with their inner perimeter, whereby a stator base structure is connected to the outer perimeter of the circular connection structures. |
| US08575775B1 |
Electrical power generation system for harvesting underwater currents
An electrical power generation system for harvesting underwater river currents which generally includes one or more flotation members, a platform connected to the flotation members such that the platform is supported at least partially above a water surface of a river, at least one turbine extending below the platform, wherein the at least one turbine is positioned within an underwater current stream and generally comprised of an inverted wind turbine structure, at least one electrical generator positioned upon the platform and mechanically connected to the turbine to receive the rotational torque to be converted to electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is transferred to an electrical grid distribution system, and an anchoring system having a rigid stabilization rod pivotally connected on each end for securing the platform to the embankment such as to permit the platform to rise and fall with the water surface of the river. |
| US08575765B2 |
Semiconductor package having underfill agent dispersion
A semiconductor package includes: a semiconductor element mounted on a one-sided plane of a wiring board; an underfill agent dropped so as to be filled between the semiconductor element and the wiring board; and a pad group constituted by a plurality of pads which are formed in the vicinity of a circumference of the wiring board and along the circumference, the pad group being formed on a bottom plane of a groove portion formed in a solder resist which covers the one-sided plane of the wiring board, wherein a corner edge of the groove portion located in the vicinity of a dropping starting portion to which dropping of the underfill agent is started is formed at an obtuse angle or in an arc shape in order to avoid the dropped underfill agent from entering into an inner portion of the groove portion. |
| US08575762B2 |
Very extremely thin semiconductor package
A package and method of making thereof. The package includes a first plated area, a second plated area, a die, a bond, and a molding. The die is attached to the first plated area, and the bond couples the die to the first and/or the second plated areas. The molding encapsulates the die, the bonding wire, and the top surfaces of the first and second plated areas, such that the bottom surfaces of the first and second plated areas are exposed exterior to the package. |
| US08575761B2 |
Segmented supply rail configuration for a digital integrated circuit
An array of functional cells includes a subset of cells powered by at least one supply rail. That supply rail is formed of first segments located on a first metallization level and second segments located on a second metallization level with at least one conductor element extending between the first and second segments to electrically connect successive segments of the supply rail. |
| US08575760B2 |
Semiconductor devices having electrodes
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface. An electrode extends within the substrate towards the first surface and has a protruding portion extending from the first surface. A supporting portion extends from the first surface of the substrate to a sidewall of the protruding portion and supports the protruding portion. |
| US08575759B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus including the same
A semiconductor device according to the present invention is a semiconductor device that includes: a semiconductor substrate having metal wiring formed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of wiring layers formed above the semiconductor substrate. The wiring layers include a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer that is formed above the first wiring layer. The semiconductor device further includes: a first through electrode which electrically connects the first wiring layer and the metal wiring; a second through electrode which electrically connects the second wiring layer and the metal wiring; and at least one layer difference adjustment film formed between the semiconductor substrate and the wiring layers. The at least one layer difference adjustment film includes a layer difference adjustment film formed on a region excluding a region corresponding to the second through electrode. |
| US08575757B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Even when a stiffener is omitted, the semiconductor device which can prevent the generation of twist and distortion of a wiring substrate is obtained. As for a semiconductor device which has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip by which the flip chip bond was made to the wiring substrate, and a heat spreader adhered to the back surface of the semiconductor chip, and which omitted the stiffener for reinforcing a wiring substrate and maintaining the surface smoothness of a heat spreader, a wiring substrate has a plurality of insulating substrates in which a through hole whose diameter differs, respectively was formed, and each insulating substrate contains a glass cloth. |
| US08575756B2 |
Power package module with low and high power chips and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed herein are a power package module and a method for fabricating the same, including: a base substrate; a plurality of high power chips and a plurality of low power chips electrically connected to the base substrate; and a plurality of metal lead plates electrically connecting the plurality of high power chips and the plurality of low power chips to the base substrate. |
| US08575751B2 |
Conductive bump, method for producing the same, and electronic component mounted structure
A conductive bump formed on an electrode surface of an electronic component. This conductive bump is composed of a plurality of photosensitive resin layers having different conductive filler contents. Consequently, this conductive bump is able to realize conflicting functions, namely, improvement in adhesion strength with the electrode and reduction of contact resistance. |
| US08575743B2 |
Printed board and semiconductor integrated circuit
An IC which includes a first circuit and a plurality of first paired terminals each including a first power supply terminal and a first GND terminal which are connected to the first circuit, and a second circuit and a plurality of second paired terminals each including a second power supply terminal and a second GND terminal which are connected to the second circuit. The first and second paired terminals are isolated inside. A printed board with the IC mounted has an inductor which is provided in a route that guides a wiring line from the first GND terminal to the second GND terminal and the GND of the printed board. The printed board has a portion where each of the first GND terminals is arranged inside the terminal array of the IC. The inductor suppresses a high-frequency potential variation generated by the operation of the first circuit. |
| US08575737B2 |
Direct contact semiconductor package with power transistor
Some exemplary embodiments of an advanced direct contact leadless package and related structure and method, especially suitable for packaging high current semiconductor devices, have been disclosed. One exemplary structure comprises a mold compound enclosing a first contact lead frame portion, a paddle portion, and an extended contact lead frame portion held together by a mold compound. A first semiconductor device is attached on top of the lead frame portions as a flip chip, while a second semiconductor device is attached to a bottom side of said paddle portion and is in electrical contact with said the first semiconductor device. The extended contact lead frame portion is in direct electrical contact with the second semiconductor device without using a bond wire. Alternative exemplary embodiments may include additional extended lead frame portions, paddle portions, and semiconductor devices in various configurations. |
| US08575733B2 |
Semiconductor device
The present invention provides a non-insulated type DC-DC converter having a circuit in which a power MOS•FET for a high side switch and a power MOS•FET for a low side switch are connected in series. In the non-insulated type DC-DC converter, the power transistor for the high side switch, the power transistor for the low side switch, and driver circuits that drive these are respectively constituted by different semiconductor chips. The three semiconductor chips are accommodated in one package, and the semiconductor chip including the power transistor for the high side switch, and the semiconductor chip including the driver circuits are disposed so as to approach each other. |
| US08575727B2 |
Gate structures
A semiconductor device is provided. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second projections extending upwardly from the substrate, the projections having respective first and second channel regions therein, and a first gate structure engaging the first projection adjacent the first channel region. The first gate structure includes a first dielectric material over the first channel region, a first opening over the first dielectric material and the first channel region, and a pure first metal with an n-type work function value conformally deposited in the first opening. The device also includes a second gate structure engaging the second projection adjacent the second channel region. The second gate structure includes a second dielectric material over the second channel region, a second opening over the second dielectric material and the second channel region, and a pure second metal with a p-type work function value conformally deposited in the second opening. |
| US08575722B2 |
Semiconductor substrate having multilayer film and method to reuse the substrate by delaminating a porous layer
A method for producing a semiconductor wafer having a multilayer film, in production of a semiconductor device by the steps of forming a porous layer on a surface of a semiconductor wafer by changing a surface portion into the porous layer, forming a semiconductor film on a surface of the porous layer to produce a semiconductor wafer having a multilayer film, fabricating a device on the semiconductor film, and producing the semiconductor device by delaminating the semiconductor film along the porous layer, the semiconductor film having the device formed thereon, including flattening the semiconductor wafer after delaminating and reusing the flattened semiconductor wafer, the method further including a thickness adjusting step of adjusting a whole thickness of the semiconductor wafer having a multilayer film to be produced by reusing the semiconductor wafer so as to satisfy a predetermined standard. |
| US08575718B2 |
Programmable electrical fuse
The present invention relates to e-fuse devices, and more particularly to a device and method of forming an e-fuse device, the method comprising providing a first conductive layer connected to a second conductive layer, the first and second conductive layers separated by a barrier layer having a first diffusivity different than a second diffusivity of the first conductive layer. A void is created in the first conductive layer by driving an electrical current through the e-fuse device. |
| US08575717B2 |
Integrated circuit device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a integrated circuit device and a method for fabricating the same. The integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate and a passive element disposed over the dielectric layer. The integrated circuit further includes an isolation matrix structure, underlying the passive element, wherein the isolation matrix structure includes a plurality of trench regions each being formed through the dielectric layer and extending into the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of trench regions further including an insulating material and a void area. |
| US08575714B2 |
Backside illuminated semiconductor light-receiving device, optical receiver module, and optical transceiver
Provided is a backside illuminated semiconductor light-receiving device enhancing a frequency characteristic without deteriorating assembling operability. The light-receiving device includes a rectangular substrate; a light receiving mesa portion formed on a center portion of one side on a front surface of the substrate and includes a PN junction portion; a P-type electrode formed on the light receiving mesa portion and conductive with one side of the PN junction portion; an N-type electrode mesa portion formed on one corner portion of the one side; an N-type electrode pulled out to the N-type electrode mesa portion and conductive with the other side of the PN junction portion; a P-type electrode mesa portion and a dummy electrode mesa portion formed in a region including three other corner portions; and a dummy electrode formed on the dummy electrode mesa portion. |
| US08575712B2 |
Manufacturing of a camera module
A camera module includes a sensor die, a glass plate, peripheral spacer, an optical element, an outer surface having a shoulder extending in a direction substantially parallel to the sensor die, and a metal layer at least partially covering the outer surface. A method of manufacturing a camera module includes providing an assembly including a sensor dice wafer, a spacer wafer in front of the sensor dice wafer, and an optical element wafer in front of the spacer wafer. The method includes sawing a top cut, using a first saw blade of a first thickness, proceeding in a direction from the optical element wafer toward the sensor dice wafer, stopping before the sensor dice wafer is reached, and sawing a bottom cut, using a second saw blade of a second thickness, proceeding in a direction from the sensor dice wafer toward the optical element wafer. |
| US08575709B2 |
High-k dielectric gate structures resistant to oxide growth at the dielectric/silicon substrate interface and methods of manufacture thereof
Methods for fabricating gate electrode/high-k dielectric gate structures having an improved resistance to the growth of silicon dioxide (oxide) at the dielectric/silicon-based substrate interface. In an embodiment, a method of forming a transistor gate structure comprises: incorporating nitrogen into a silicon-based substrate proximate a surface of the substrate; depositing a high-k gate dielectric across the silicon-based substrate; and depositing a gate electrode across the high-k dielectric to form the gate structure. In one embodiment, the gate electrode comprises titanium nitride rich in titanium for inhibiting diffusion of oxygen. |
| US08575708B2 |
Structure of field effect transistor with fin structure
A method for fabricating a field effect transistor with fin structure includes the following steps. A substrate having an ion well with a first conductivity type is provided, wherein the ion well has a first doping concentration. At least a fin structure disposed on the substrate is formed. At least a first ion implantation is performed to form an anti-punch doped region with first conductivity type between the substrate and the channel layer, wherein the anti-punch doped region has a third doping concentration higher than the first doping concentration. At least a channel layer disposed along at least one surface of the fin structure is formed after the first ion implantation is performed. A gate covering part of the fin structure is formed. A source and a drain disposed in the fin structure beside the gate are formed, wherein the source and the drain have a second conductivity type. |
| US08575707B2 |
Semiconductor power device having a super-junction structure
In a semiconductor power device such as a power MOSFET having a super-junction structure in each of an active cell region and a chip peripheral region, an outer end of a surface region of a second conductivity type coupled to a main junction of the second conductivity type in a surface of a drift region of a first conductivity type and having a concentration lower than that of the main junction is located in a middle region between an outer end of the main junction and an outer end of the super-junction structure in the chip peripheral region. |
| US08575706B2 |
Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors having gate electrodes formed within gate level feature layout channels with at least two different gate level features inner extensions beyond gate electrode
First and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions are formed in a semiconductor device. Each diffusion region is electrically connected to a common node. Gate electrodes are formed from conductive features that are each defined within any one gate level channel that is uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. The first and second p-type diffusion regions are formed in a spaced apart manner relative to the first parallel direction, such that no single line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction intersects both the first and second p-type diffusion regions. At least a portion of the first n-type diffusion region and at least a portion of the second n-type diffusion region are formed over a common line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction. |
| US08575704B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a device region including first and second parts, first and second gate electrodes formed in the first and the second parts, first and second source regions, first and second drain regions, first, second, third, and fourth embedded isolation film regions formed under the first source, the first drain, the second source, and the second drain regions, respectively. Further, the first drain region and the second source region form a single diffusion region, the second and the third embedded isolation film regions form a single embedded isolation film region, an opening is formed in a part of the single diffusion region so as to extend to the second and the third embedded isolation film regions, and the opening is filled with an isolation film. |
| US08575701B1 |
Semiconductor device where logic region and DRAM are formed on same substrate
A semiconductor device having a DRAM region and a logic region embedded therein, includes: a substrate having the DRAM region and the logic region respectively formed thereon; a first transistor formed in the DRAM region, and having a first gate insulating film, and a second transistor formed in the logic region, and having a second gate insulating film, wherein equivalent oxide thickness T1 of the first gate insulating film of the first transistor is not larger than equivalent oxide thickness T2 of the second gate insulating film of the second transistor, the second transistor formed in the logic region has a pocket region which contains an impurity ion having a conductivity type different from that of an impurity ion composing the source/drain regions, while the first transistor formed in the DRAM region has no pocket region. |
| US08575699B2 |
Thin box metal backgate extremely thin SOI device
SOI structures with silicon layers less than 20 nm thick are used to form ETSOI semiconductor devices. ETSOI devices are manufactured using a thin tungsten backgate encapsulated by thin nitride layers to prevent metal oxidation, the tungsten backgate being characterized by its low resistivity. The structure includes at least one FET having a gate stack formed by a high-K metal gate and a tungsten region superimposed thereon, the footprint of the gate stack utilizing the thin SOI layer as a channel. The SOI structure thus formed controls the Vt variation from the thin SOI thickness and dopants therein. The ETSOI high-K metal backgate fully depleted device in conjunction with the thin BOX provides an excellent short channel control and lowers the drain induced bias and sub-threshold swings. The structure supports the evidence of the stability of the wafer having a tungsten film during thermal processing, during STI and contact formation. |
| US08575693B1 |
Double diffused metal oxide semiconductor device
The present invention discloses a double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS) device. The DMOS device is formed in a substrate, and includes a high voltage well, a first field oxide region, a first gate, a first source, a drain, a body region, a body electrode, a second field oxide region, a second gate, and a second source. The second field oxide region and the first field oxide region are separated by the high voltage well and the body region. A part of the second gate is on the second field oxide region, and another part of the second gate is on the body region. The second gate is electrically connected to the first gate, and the second source is electrically connected to the first source, such that when the DMOS device is ON, a surface channel and a buried channel are formed. |
| US08575687B2 |
Semiconductor switch device
Provided is a semiconductor device in which on-resistance is largely reduced. The semiconductor device includes an n type epitaxial layer in which each region between neighboring trenches becomes a channel, and a plurality of embedded electrodes each of which is formed on an inner surface of each trench via a silicon oxide film. The plurality of embedded electrodes include two types of embedded electrodes to which voltages are applied separately. By blocking each region between neighboring trenches with a depletion layer formed around every trench, current flowing through each region between the neighboring trenches is interrupted. By deleting the depletion layer formed around the trench filled with the embedded electrode, current can flow through each region between neighboring trenches. |
| US08575686B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory transistor, nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and method for manufacturing nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory transistor included in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes an island-shaped semiconductor having a source region, a channel region, and a drain region formed in this order from the substrate side, a hollow pillar-shaped floating gate arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the channel region in such a manner that a tunnel insulating film is interposed between the floating gate and the channel region, and a hollow pillar-shaped control gate arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the floating gate in such a manner that an inter-polysilicon insulating film is interposed between the control gate and the floating gate. The inter-polysilicon insulating film is arranged so as to be interposed between the floating gate and the upper, lower, and inner side surfaces of the control gate. |
| US08575683B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes the following steps. At first, a semiconductor substrate is provided. A gate stack layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the gate stack layer further includes a cap layer disposed thereon. Furthermore, two first spacers surrounding sidewalls of the gate stack layer is further formed. Subsequently, the cap layer is removed, and two second spacers are formed on a part of the gate stack layer. Afterwards, a part of the first spacers and the gate stack layer not overlapped with the two second spacers are removed to form two gate stack structures. |
| US08575682B2 |
Three dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of forming the same
Provided are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of forming the same. The device includes a substrate, conductive patterns stacked on the substrate, and an active pattern penetrating the conductive patterns to be connected to the substrate. The active pattern may include a first doped region provided in an upper portion of the active pattern, and a diffusion-resistant doped region overlapped with at least a portion of the first doped region. The diffusion-resistant doped region may be a region doped with carbon. |
| US08575680B2 |
Semiconductor device having air gap and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes tunneling insulating layers on active regions of a substrate, floating gate electrodes on the tunneling insulating layers, an isolation trench within the substrate and the isolation trench defines the active region, spaces the tunneling insulating layers, and isolates the floating gate electrodes. A bottom of the isolation trench is directly in contact with the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a lower insulating layer on the floating gate electrodes, and a middle insulating layer, an upper insulating layer, and a control gate electrode stacked on the lower insulating layer. The lower insulating layer is configured to hermetically seal a top portion of the isolation trench to define and directly abut an air gap within the isolation trench. |
| US08575675B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device includes a first channel comprising a pair of first pillars vertically extending from a substrate and a first coupling portion positioned under the pair of first pillars and coupling the pair of first pillars, a second channel adjacent to the first channel comprising a pair of second pillars vertically extending from the substrate and a second coupling portion positioned under the pair of second pillars and coupling the pair of second pillars, a plurality of gate electrode layers and interlayer dielectric layers alternately stacked along the first and second pillar portions, and first and second trenches isolating the plurality of gate electrode layers between the pair of first pillar portions and between the pair of second pillar portions, respectively. |
| US08575673B2 |
Electrically erasable programmable memory and its manufacturing method
The electrically erasable programmable memory and its manufacturing method of the present invention forms above the floating gate the polysilicon spacer regions that are extended from the central part of the source region; the insulating part between the polysilicon spacer region and the floating gate has a smaller thickness to increase the capacitance between the floating gate and the polysilicon spacer region and further increasing the voltage coupled to the floating gate. Therefore, the present invention can effectively increase the coupling capacitance at the drain terminal, and has an advantage of low cost and easy production. |
| US08575668B2 |
Charge breakdown avoidance for MIM elements in SOI base technology and method
A semiconductor device including at least one capacitor formed in wiring levels on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming an SOI substrate, forming a BOX layer over the SOI substrate, and forming at least one capacitor in wiring levels on the BOX layer, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate. |
| US08575667B2 |
Magnetic memory devices with thin conductive bridges
A magnetic memory device includes a free layer and a guide layer on a substrate. An insulating layer is interposed between the free layer and the guide layer. At least one conductive bridge passes through the insulating layer and electrically connects the free layer and the guide layer. A diffusion barrier may be interposed between the guide layer and the insulating layer. The device may further include a reference layer having a fixed magnetization direction on a side of the free layer opposite the insulating layer and a tunnel barrier between the reference layer and the free layer. Related fabrication methods are also described. |
| US08575664B2 |
Chemically-sensitive sensor array calibration circuitry
Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis. |
| US08575662B2 |
Solid state imaging device having high pixel density
Each pixel of a solid state imaging device comprises a first semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, having a first-conductive type; a second semiconductor layer formed thereon, having a second-conductivity type; a third semiconductor layer formed in the upper side of the second semiconductor layer, having the first-conductivity type; a fourth semiconductor layer formed in the outer side of the third semiconductor layer, having the second-conductivity type; a gate conductor layer formed on the lower side of the second semiconductor layer via an insulating film; and a fifth semiconductor layer formed on the top surfaces of the second semiconductor layer and third semiconductor layer, having the second-conductivity type, wherein the fifth semiconductor layer and fourth semiconductor layer are connected to each other, and at least the third semiconductor layer, upper region of the second semiconductor layer, fourth semiconductor layer, and fifth semiconductor layer are formed in an island. |
| US08575650B2 |
Avalanche photodiode
An electron injected APD with an embedded n electrode structure in which edge breakdown can be suppressed without controlling the doping profile of an n-type region of the embedded n electrode structure with high precision. The APD comprising a buffer layer with a low ionization rate is inserted between an n electrode connecting layer and an avalanche multiplication layer. Specifically, the APD is an electron injected APD in which an n electrode layer, the n electrode connecting layer, the buffer layer, the avalanche multiplication layer, an electric field control layer, a band gap gradient layer, a low-concentration light absorbing layer, a p-type light absorbing layer, and a p electrode layer are sequentially stacked, and a light absorbing portion that includes at least the low-concentration light absorbing layer and the p-type light absorbing layer forms a mesa shape. |
| US08575649B2 |
Donor substrate and method of fabricating organic light emitting diode using the same
A donor substrate for laser induced thermal imaging and a method of fabricating an organic light emitting diode (OLED) using the donor substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the donor substrate includes a base film, a light-to-heat conversion layer formed on the base film, a buffer layer formed on the light-to-heat conversion layer, and a transfer layer formed on the buffer layer. The buffer layer is formed of magnesium (Mg), an Mg alloy, or magnesium oxide. In the donor substrate for laser induced thermal imaging, the buffer layer is formed between the interlayer and the transfer layer or between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer, so that surface characteristics between the donor substrate and the transfer layer can be improved. |
| US08575644B2 |
Light emitting device having an electro-static discharge protection part
Provided are a light emitting device and a light emitting device package. According to the light emitting device, a light emitting part and an electro-static discharge (ESD) protection part are disposed on a conductive support member. A connection layer electrically connects a first conducitve type semiconductor layer of the light emitting part to a second conductive type semiconductor layer of the ESD protection part. A ptrtection member is disposed on the connection layer and the ESD protection layer. |
| US08575639B2 |
Light emitting devices for light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Light emitting devices for light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disclosed. In one embodiment a light emitting device can include a submount and a light emission area disposed over the submount. The light emission area can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), a fillet at least partially disposed about the one or more the LEDs, and filling material. The filling material can be disposed over a portion of the one or more LEDs and a portion of the fillet. |
| US08575637B2 |
Ultraviolet light emitting diode package
An ultraviolet light emitting diode package for emitting ultraviolet light is disclosed. The ultraviolet light emitting diode package comprises an LED chip emitting light with a peak wavelength of 350 nm or less, and a protective member provided so that surroundings of the LED chip is covered to protect the LED chip, the protective member having a non-yellowing property to energy from the LED chip. |
| US08575634B2 |
Chip package and method for fabricating the same
The present invention provides a chip package, including: a chip having a semiconductor device thereon; a cap layer over the semiconductor device; a spacer layer between the chip and the cap layer, wherein the spacer layer surrounds the semiconductor device and forms a cavity between the chip and the cap layer; and an anti-reflective layer between the cap layer and the chip, wherein the anti-reflective layer has a overlapping region with the spacer layer and extends into the cavity. Furthermore, a method for fabricating a chip package is also provided. |
| US08575630B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device unit, and method for fabricating light emitting device
In a light emitting device, a light emitting device unit, and a method for fabricating a light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a light emitting device (100) includes a substrate (131), a semiconductor light emitting element (121) disposed on the substrate (131), and a resistor (122) coupled to the semiconductor light emitting element (121). The resistor (122) is coupled in parallel to the semiconductor light emitting element (121). The resistor (122) has a resistance set at such a value that when a light emitting operation voltage for causing light emission of the semiconductor light emitting element (121) is applied to the semiconductor light emitting element (121), a current flowing through the resistor (122) is equal to or less than one-fiftieth of a current flowing through the semiconductor light emitting element (121). |
| US08575629B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device using the light-emitting element, and transparent substrate used in light-emitting elements
In order to improve the light extraction efficiency of a light-emitting element, the light-emitting element includes: a light-emitting layer provided between an electrode and a transparent substrate; a particle layer provided between the light-emitting layer and the transparent substrate; and an adhesive layer provided between the light-emitting layer and the particle layer, the particle layer includes particles having a refraction index that is higher than a refraction index of the transparent substrate, the adhesive layer has a refraction index that is higher than the refraction index of the transparent substrate, and the particle layer has an average thickness that is less than an average particle size of the particles. |
| US08575627B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element having barriers which prevent forward current in a semiconductor film thereof
A semiconductor light emitting element of the present invention includes a support substrate, a semiconductor film including a light emitting layer, a surface electrode provided on the surface on a light-extraction-surface side of the semiconductor film, and a light reflecting layer. The surface electrode includes first electrode pieces that form ohmic contact with the semiconductor film and a second electrode piece electrically connected to the first electrode pieces. The light reflecting layer includes a reflecting electrode, and the reflecting electrode includes third electrode pieces that form ohmic contact with the semiconductor film and a fourth electrode piece electrically connected to the third electrode pieces and placed opposite to the second electrode piece. Both the second electrode piece and the fourth electrode piece form Schottky contact with the semiconductor film so as to form barriers to prevent forward current in the semiconductor film. |
| US08575626B2 |
Bi-section semiconductor laser device, method for manufacturing the same, and method for driving the same
A method for manufacturing a bi-section semiconductor laser device includes the steps of (A) forming a stacked structure obtained by stacking, on a substrate in sequence, a first compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a compound semiconductor layer that constitutes a light-emitting region and a saturable absorption region, and a second compound semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; (B) forming a belt-shaped second electrode on the second compound semiconductor layer; (C) forming a ridge structure by etching at least part of the second compound semiconductor layer using the second electrode as an etching mask; and (D) forming a resist layer for forming a separating groove in the second electrode and then forming the separating groove in the second electrode by wet etching so that the separating groove separates the second electrode into a first portion and a second portion. |
| US08575624B2 |
Semiconductor device
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode provided on the semiconductor substrate via an insulating layer, and a gate insulator provided on a side surface of the gate electrode. The device includes a stacked layer including a lower main terminal layer of a first conductivity type, an intermediate layer, and an upper main terminal layer of a second conductivity type which are successively stacked on the semiconductor substrate, the stacked layer being provided on the side surface of the gate electrode via the gate insulator. The upper or lower main terminal layer is provided on the side surface of the gate electrode via the gate insulator and the semiconductor layer. |
| US08575622B2 |
Silicon carbide trench MOSFET having reduced on-resistance, increased dielectric withstand voltage, and reduced threshold voltage
A semiconductor device (A1) includes a first n-type semiconductor layer (11), a second n-type semiconductor layer (12), a p-type semiconductor layer (13), a trench (3), an insulating layer (5), a gate electrode (41), and an n-type semiconductor region (14). The p-type semiconductor layer (13) includes a channel region that is along the trench (3) and in contact with the second n-type semiconductor layer (12) and the n-type semiconductor region (14). The size of the channel region in the depth direction x is 0.1 to 0.5 μm. The channel region includes a high-concentration region where the peak impurity concentration is approximately 1×1018 cm−3. The semiconductor device A1 thus configured allows achieving desirable values of on-resistance, dielectric withstand voltage and threshold voltage. |
| US08575621B1 |
Low interconnect resistance integrated switches
Circuits and systems comprising one or more switches are provided. A circuit includes a first switch formed on a substrate; and a second switch formed on the substrate, the second switch including a first terminal coupled to a third terminal of the first switch. A system includes a supply; a first switch formed on a substrate, the first switch coupled to the supply; a second switch formed on the substrate, the second switch coupled to the first switch; a third switch formed on the substrate, the third switch coupled to the supply; a fourth switch formed on the substrate, the fourth switch coupled to the third switch; and a driver coupled to respective second terminals of the first, second, third, and fourth switches. |
| US08575615B2 |
Semiconductor device
A diode 201 includes a gate electrode 2, a gate insulating layer 5 provided on the gate electrode 2, at least one semiconductor layer 6, 7 provided on the gate insulating layer 5 and which includes a first region 6a and a second region 7b, a first electrode 10 which is provided on the first region 6a and which is electrically coupled to the first region 6a and the gate electrode 2, and a second electrode 12 which is provided on the second region 7b and which is electrically coupled to the second region 7b. The at least one semiconductor layer 6, 7 includes a channel region 6c which extends above the gate electrode 2 with the intervention of the gate insulating layer 5 therebetween, and a resistor region 7d which does not extend above the gate electrode 2. When the diode 201 is in an ON state, an electric current path is formed between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode 12, the electric current path including the channel region 6c and the resistor region 7d. |
| US08575614B2 |
Display device
A semiconductor device 100 includes a thin-film transistor 123 and a thin-film diode 124. The thin-film transistor 123 includes a semiconductor layer S1 with a channel region 114, a source region and a drain region 112, a gate electrode 109 that controls the conductivity of the channel region 114, and a gate insulating film 108 arranged between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode 109. The thin-film diode 124 includes a semiconductor layer S2 with at least an n-type region 113 and a p-type region 117. The respective semiconductor layers S1 and S2 of the thin-film transistor 123 and the thin-film diode 124 are portions of a single crystalline semiconductor layer, obtained by crystallizing the same crystalline semiconductor film, but have been crystallized to mutually different degrees. |
| US08575611B2 |
Light-emitting display device and manufacturing method for light-emitting display device
In the light-emitting display device according to the present invention, a side-contact structure is adopted in order to secure a TFT characteristic in a linear region (on-current). In a TFT configuring a switching transistor, a thickness of a semiconductor layer (channel layer) in a region corresponding to the source/drain electrodes is increased. In contrast, in a TFT configuring a driving transistor, in order to maintain an on current, a thickness of a semiconductor layer (channel layer) in a region corresponding to the source/drain electrodes is reduced. This configuration is manufactured using a half-tone mask. With this, it is possible to suppress the off-current in the switching transistor, while securing the on-current in the driving transistor. |
| US08575605B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate having a transistor region and a thin-film transistor having a gate electrode, a source/drain electrode and an active layer sequentially formed on the transistor region, wherein a portion of the source/drain electrode is between the active layer and substrate. |
| US08575603B2 |
Pixel structure of an electroluminescent display panel
A pixel structure of an electroluminescent display panel includes a first sub-pixel region, a second sub-pixel region, a third sub-pixel region and a fourth sub-pixel region having different cavity lengths. The first sub-pixel region and the second sub-pixel region share a first organic light-emitting layer, which can generate a first primary color light in the first sub-pixel region, and a second primary color light in the second sub-pixel region. The third sub-pixel region and the fourth sub-pixel region share a second organic light-emitting layer, which can generate a third primary color light in the third sub-pixel region, and a fourth primary color light in the fourth sub-pixel region. The first primary color light, the second primary color light, the third primary color light and the fourth primary color light have different spectra of wavelength. |
| US08575600B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An OLED display includes a substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, an organic emission layer on the first electrode, a second electrode on the organic emission layer, an insulating layer substantially covering the second electrode and having an opening that exposes a center portion of the second electrode, and a power supply electrically coupled with the second electrode through the opening of the insulating layer and configured to supply power to the second electrode. |
| US08575596B2 |
Non-planar germanium quantum well devices
Techniques are disclosed for forming a non-planar germanium quantum well structure. In particular, the quantum well structure can be implemented with group IV or III-V semiconductor materials and includes a germanium fin structure. In one example case, a non-planar quantum well device is provided, which includes a quantum well structure having a substrate (e.g. SiGe or GaAs buffer on silicon), a IV or III-V material barrier layer (e.g., SiGe or GaAs or AlGaAs), a doping layer (e.g., delta/modulation doped), and an undoped germanium quantum well layer. An undoped germanium fin structure is formed in the quantum well structure, and a top barrier layer deposited over the fin structure. A gate metal can be deposited across the fin structure. Drain/source regions can be formed at respective ends of the fin structure. |
| US08575594B2 |
Light emitting diode having a barrier layer with a superlattice structure
A light emitting diode (LED) for minimizing crystal defects in an active region and enhancing recombination efficiency of electrons and holes in the active region includes non-polar GaN-based semiconductor layers grown on a non-polar substrate. The semiconductor layers include a non-polar N-type semiconductor layer, a non-polar P-type semiconductor layer, and non-polar active region layers positioned between the N-type semiconductor layer and the P-type semiconductor layer. The non-polar active region layers include a well layer and a barrier layer with a superlattice structure. |
| US08575590B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a first interconnection layer, memory cell modules each of which is formed by laminating a non-ohmic element layer with an MIM structure having an insulating film sandwiched between metal films and a variable resistance element layer, and a second interconnection layer formed on the memory cell modules, the insulating film of the non-ohmic element layer includes plural layers whose electron barriers and dielectric constants are different, or contains impurity atoms that form defect levels in the insulating film or contains semiconductor or metal dots. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device using non-ohmic elements and variable resistance elements in which memory cells can be miniaturized and formed at low temperatures is realized by utilizing the above structures. |
| US08575589B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of first lines; a plurality of second lines crossing the plurality of first lines; a plurality of memory cells each connected at an intersection of the first and second lines between both lines and including a variable resistor operative to store information in accordance with a variation in resistance; and a protection film covering the side of the variable resistor to suppress migration of cations at the side of the variable resistor. |
| US08575568B2 |
Electrooptic measurement device and method intended for classifying and counting microscopic elements
The invention relaters to a device (100) for biological analysis by measurement of photoluminescence in a fluid in a measurement tank (111). This device (100) comprises at least two light sources (121, 131) adapted to emit in different spectral areas respectively appropriate for measurement of absorption and fluorescence, and a sensor device (140) comprising a sensor (141), an optical system (142), and filter means (144), which three elements are mutualized in accordance with the invention to enable absorption and/or fluorescence to be measured. In accordance with the invention the internal gain of the sensor (141) is configurable to enable the fluorescence and absorption measurements to be executed sequentially. |
| US08575567B2 |
Hard-surface disinfection system
UV hard-surface disinfection system that is able to disinfect the hard surfaces in a room, while minimizing missed areas due to shadows by providing multiple UV light towers that can be placed in several areas of a room such that shadowed areas are eliminated and that can be transported by a cart that is low to the ground such that the towers may be loaded and unloaded easily by a single operator. The system is able to be controlled remotely, such that during activation of the system, no operator is present, and to automatically cut power to all towers in the event that a person enters the room. |
| US08575564B2 |
Particle beam irradiation apparatus and particle beam therapy system
When the IMRT technology for a radiation therapy system utilizing an X-ray or the like is applied as it is to a particle beam therapy system having a conventional wobbler system, there is posed the problem that it is required to utilize two or more boluses. The objective of the present invention is to solve the problem of excess irradiation in IMRT by a particle beam therapy system. More specifically, the problem of excess irradiation in IMRT by a particle beam therapy system is solved by raising the irradiation flexibility in the depth direction, without utilizing a bolus.There is provided a particle beam irradiation apparatus (58) having a scanning irradiation system (34) that performs scanning with a charged particle beam (1) accelerated by an accelerator and being mounted in a rotating gantry for rotating the irradiation direction of the charged particle beam (1); the particle beam irradiation apparatus (58) comprises a columnar-irradiation-field generation apparatus (4) that generates a columnar irradiation field by enlarging the Bragg peak of the charged particle beam (1). |
| US08575558B2 |
Detector array with a through-via interposer
A method for forming a sensor stack is presented. The method includes providing a substrate having a first side and a second side. Furthermore, the method includes disposing an integrated circuit having a first side and a second side on the first side of the substrate, where the integrated circuit comprises a first plurality of contact pads disposed on the first side of the integrated circuit. The method also includes providing a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements, wherein each of the sensor elements has a first side and a second side, and wherein the sensor array comprises a second plurality of contact pads disposed on the second side of the sensor array. Furthermore, the method includes disposing an interposer having one or more interposer elements and one or more through vias disposed therethrough between the one or more sensor elements of the sensor array and the integrated circuit to raise the sensor array away from the first side of the integrated circuit such that a plane of the one or more sensor elements is locally normal to a sensor stack normal, wherein the interposer is configured to operationally couple the second side of the sensor elements in the sensor array to the first side of the integrated circuit. In addition, the method includes operationally coupling the first plurality of contact pads on the first side of the integrated circuit to a second plurality of contact pads on the second side of the sensor array to form a tileable sensor stack. |
| US08575556B2 |
Method to improve three-dimensional spatial resolution of gamma scintillation events in plate scintillators by means involving fiberoptic light guides
A first embodiment can comprise increasing three-dimensional spatial resolution of gamma scintillation events in scintillator plates wherein the increase is by inserting a fiberoptic plate light guide between one or more photodetectors and the scintillator and optically coupling the fiberoptic plate light guides to the photodetectors. |
| US08575554B2 |
Methods and systems for scatter estimation in positron emission tomography
Methods and systems for multiple scatter estimation in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are provided. One method includes determining attenuation sinograms and determining a varying convolution kernel as a function of the attenuation sinograms, wherein the kernel varies in amplitude and width over a radial length of a PET imaging system. The method also includes using the varying convolution kernel to estimate multiple PET scatter. |
| US08575550B2 |
Apparatus having a screened structure for detecting thermal radiation
An apparatus for detecting radiation has a substrate, a protective housing fitting on the substrate, which has an electrically conductive material and a top facing away from the substrate, and that has an aperture therein. A stack is fitted on the substrate inside the protective housing and includes at least one detector substrate having at least one thermal detector element thereon that converts incoming thermal radiation into an electrical signal, at least one circuit carrier having at least one read circuit for reading out the electrical signal, and at least one cover that covers the detector element. The detector substrate is located between the circuit substrate and the cover. The detector substrate and the cover are arranged on each other such that the detector element of the detector substrate and the cover have at least one first stack cavity of the stack therebetween, the stack cavity being defined by the detector support and the cover. The circuit substrate and the detector substrate are arranged on each other such that the detector substrate and the circuit substrate have at least one second stack cavity therebetween, the second stack cavity being defined by the circuit substrate and the detector substrate. At least one of the first stack cavity and the second stack cavity is evacuated. The stack top that faces the substrate is accessible from outside of the protective housing. |
| US08575548B2 |
Analyzing the transport of plasmonic particles through mineral formations
A transport of plasmonic particles through a mineral formation is analyzed by flowing a plasmonic particles solution through an immobile phase (e.g., a mineral formation), determining an absorbance of the plasmonic particles solution subsequent to flowing the plasmonic particles solution through the immobile phase, comparing the determined absorbance of the plasmonic particles solution with an absorbance of the plasmonic particles solution determined previous to flowing the plasmonic particles solution through the immobile phase, and determining an absorbance of the plasmonic particles to the immobile phase as a function of the comparison. The plasmonic particles solution may be produced by dissolving or suspending plasmonic particles in a mobile phase. Flowing the plasmonic particles solution through the immobile phase may include injecting the plasmonic particles solution into the immobile phase, and then flushing the plasmonic particles solution through the immobile phase. |
| US08575543B2 |
Method for analyzing structure of substance
A method for analyzing a structure of a substance of interest uses triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (TQ-MS), and allows for acquisition of MSn information from data resulting from the TQ-MS measurement. The method includes (a) performing a measurement of triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with respect to the substance of interest while varying a value of CID energy; (b) at given values of CID energy, calculating percentages of precursor ion contents to a total ion content, and percentages of product ion contents to the total ion content; (c) extracting values of the percentages of product ion contents to the total ion content, wherein said values are values of the percentages of product ion contents at the respective values of CID energy; and (d) calculating sums of all combinations of the values of the percentages of product ion contents to the total ion content extracted in step (c). |
| US08575538B2 |
Safety system for safeguarding a moving, guided motion element that blocks the movement of the guided motion element from triggering the saftey mode
A safety system for safeguarding a moving, guided motion element against unwanted collisions with an object located on a motion path in the direction of motion of the motion element, including an object-detection device that includes a plurality of parts for detecting an object in an area of the motion element, wherein the object-detection device can be blocked with respect to object detection by a motion of the motion element, and an electronic unit that controls the motion of the motion element and is configured to assign a blocked state to the object-detection device when the motion element approaches, wherein in the blocked state an object and motion element does not trigger a safety mode, and wherein shut-off means are provided which, when a shut-off signal coming from the motion element is detected, transfer one or more parts of the object-detection device into the blocked state. |
| US08575537B2 |
Compact multi-direction proximity sensor device and method
A proximity sensor device is provided in compact unit that has the ability to sense or monitor in different directions, such as sensing or monitoring in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Methods are also provided. In an illustrative embodiment, the proximity sensor device includes a first transmitting/receiving pair and a second transmitting/receiving pair on a printed circuit board along with an IC to control the transmitters and receivers, as well as, in some embodiments, to provide signal filtering, amplification or other desired features. |
| US08575533B2 |
High dynamic range imager circuit and method for reading high dynamic range image
The present invention discloses a high dynamic range imager circuit and a method for reading high dynamic range image with an adaptive conversion gain. The high dynamic range image circuit includes a variable capacitor. The capacitance of the variable capacitor is adjusted according to sensed light intensity or by internal feedback control, to adaptively adjust the conversion gain of the high dynamic range image circuit as it reads a signal which relates to a pixel image sensed by an image sensor device. In each cycle, the signal can be read twice or more with different dynamic ranges, to enhance the accuracy of the signal. |
| US08575529B2 |
Photoelectric converter providing a waveguide along the surface of the mount substrate
To provide a photoelectric converter capable of reducing the height of the device. The photoelectric converter includes: a light emitting element or a light receiving element; an IC circuit for transmitting/receiving an electric signal to/from the light emitting element or the light receiving element; a mount substrate adapted to be mounted on one surface from the side on which the light emitting element emits light, or the side on which the light receiving element receives light; an electric connector adapted to be provided on the one surface or the other surface of the mount substrate, and to be attached and detached to and from an external connector; and a waveguide adapted to be provided on the mount substrate along the one surface or the other surface of the mount substrate, and to be optically coupled to the light emitting element or the light receiving element. |
| US08575524B2 |
Heating plate for workpieces
The heating plate (2) for workpieces comprises a heatable body (20) which on a first side has a contact surface (15) for the respective workpiece, at least one heating channel (25) filled with a heating fluid for heating the heatable body (20), which heating channel (25) is formed in and/or on the heatable body (20) opposite the contact surface (15) and heating means (35) for heating the heating fluid. A channel wall (25.1) of the respective heating channel (25) may be inductively heated and the heating means (35) comprise at least one heating device (35.1) for inductively heating the respective channel wall (25.1), the heating device (35.1) being arranged outside the respective heating channel (25) and the heating fluid in the respective heating channel (25) being able to be heated by a transfer of heat which may be generated by means of the heating device (35.1) in the channel wall (25.1). |
| US08575521B2 |
Monitoring witness structures for temperature control in RTP systems
Temperature control in an RTP system can be improved by consideration of one or more witness structures different from the wafer (or other semiconductor object) being processed. For example, power coupling between the RTP heating system and witness structure can be used to adjust one or more control parameters, such as model definitions, that are used by the RTP system to control wafer heating. As another example, a stored trajectory of a desired witness structure temperature or other property can be used as a basis for control during a processing cycle. Thus, the witness structure may be controlled “closed-loop” while the wafer is heated “open-loop.” As a further example, a heat flux between the RTP heating system and witness structure can be used to determine radiant energy from the heating system that is incident on the witness structure. One or more control actions can be taken based on this incident energy. |
| US08575520B2 |
Heating systems for heating items in heating compartments
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to heating systems. In various embodiments, a tray may be supported adjacent a housing having a plurality of heating compartments configured to provide heat to food items within each of the heating compartments. In other embodiments, a vessel may be configured to be disposed in a housing having a plurality of heating compartments configured to provide heat within each of the heating compartments. In further embodiments, a housing may have a plurality of heating compartments configured to provide heat within each of the heating compartments, and the heating compartment may have open ends arranged around a circumference of the housing. |
| US08575518B2 |
Convective heater
A heating device comprises a heater having a first surface and a second surface, with the second surface being generally opposite of the first surface. The heater is configured to receive an electrical current and convert it to heat. The heating device additionally includes at least one heat transfer assembly positioned along the first and/or second surface of the heater. In one embodiment, the heat transfer assembly includes a plurality of fins that generally define a plurality of fin spaces through which fluids may pass. In some arrangements, the heating device comprises an outer housing that at least partially surrounds the heater and one or more of the heat transfer assemblies. Heat generated by the heater is transferred to the fins of the heat transfer assembly. In addition, fluids passing through the fin spaces are selectively heated when electrical current is provided to the heater. |
| US08575517B2 |
Welding wire feed system and method
In one embodiment, a system is provided with a welding wire feeder that a first wheel having a first rotational direction, and a second wheel having a rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction. The first and wheels are disposed compressively about a wire feed region, and the first and wheels are drivingly coupled together to output substantially equal tangential in the wire feed region. In addition, the first wheel, or the second wheel, or first and second wheels comprise a drive wheel directly coupled to a gear separately coupling both the drive wheel and the gear to a shaft. |
| US08575514B2 |
Light irradiation device and light irradiation method irradiating converged light with an object
A light irradiation device and method for irradiating converged light with an object include a light source configured to output a light, a phase-modulating spatial light modulator, a controller, and a converging optical system. The phase-modulating spatial light modulator is configured to input the light outputted from the light source and to display a hologram modulating a phase of the light at each of a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, and outputs the phase-modulated light. The controller is configured to cause the spatial light modulator to display a hologram such that the light outputted from the spatial light modulator is converged at a plurality of converging positions. The controller causes the spatial light modulator to display a first hologram and performs a feedback of the first hologram so as to modify the first hologram. The modifying of the first hologram is performed by measuring intensity of the light converged. |
| US08575512B2 |
Laser lap welding method for galvanized steel sheet
Provided is a laser lap welding method including the steps of: preparing two steel sheets, at least one of which is a galvanized steel sheet, in such a manner that the steel sheets are directly lapped one over the other with a galvanized layer of the galvanized steel sheet located as an interface of the steel sheets; and irradiating an outer surface of any one steel sheet in the lap region of the two steel sheets with a laser beam under predetermined power and speed conditions, so that an elongated hole is formed in a molten pool extending backward from a laser irradiation position at least in the steel sheet on the outer surface side. Welding of the two steel sheets is performed while venting metal vapor produced by the laser irradiation through the elongated hole backwards in a laser travelling direction and towards a laser irradiation source. |
| US08575508B2 |
Current switch
The present invention provides a current switch including a blade-type movable contact configured to extend in a radial direction from a pivoting center and reciprocatingly move such that a free end of the movable contact draws a pivoting track, a fixed contact including energizing members separated from the movable contact and arranged to be opposed to and substantially in parallel to each other on both sides across a pivoting surface of the movable contact and an outer frame configured to cover at least the periphery of the energizing members, a movable arc contact provided in the movable contact, fixed arc contacts provided in the fixed contact, and permanent magnets arranged on the inside of the fixed contact or the movable contact to generate a magnetic field that crosses an arc generated between the movable arc contact and the fixed arc contacts. |
| US08575506B2 |
Push switch
A push switch is provided with a button (10), a switch board (20), a switch (30) provided on the switch board (20), and a switch cover (40) disposed in the button (10) and covering the switch (30). A corner portion (44) between a side wall (43) and a upper wall (42) of the switch cover (40) is formed in a curved shape. A protruding pressing portion (13) of the button (10) is inserted into a through hole (41) provided on an upper wall (42) of the switch cover (40). A lower surface of the pressing portion (13) faces an operating portion (31) of the switch (30). |
| US08575503B2 |
Operating device for manually actuating lifting devices
An operating device is provided for manually actuating lifting devices. The device includes at least one switching element arranged in a switch housing, wherein the switching element includes a tappet, which protrudes from the switch housing. The tappet is guided in a sleeve and is covered by a covering element having a threaded ring. The sleeve protrudes outside through an opening in the switch housing, and is held in the switch housing through a threaded joint. The covering element is screwed to the sleeve in a detachable manner through the threaded ring of the covering element. Optionally, a tool is provided for installing the covering element. |
| US08575500B1 |
Hand-held electronic luggage scale device
A luggage scale device featuring a handle with scale housings attached to both ends. Hook component are disposed on the ends of each housing for attaching a piece of luggage. In each housing is a high tension spring attached to a weight sensor and a hook component. The weight sensors calculate a weight of an object hanging from the hook components. A microprocessor calculates a total weight by combining the values calculated by the weight sensors. A display disposed on the handle displays the total weight. |
| US08575499B2 |
Seal structure
To provide a seal structure having seal members which can be easily inserted into insertion holes of a housing, and achieve an excellent sealing performance of the seal members, the seal structure is comprised of a housing provided with insertion holes to which a flexible wiring substrate is inserted, and seal members which are integrally formed on the flexible wiring substrate are made of a rubber elastic material in a bush-shape, and hermetically seal gaps between the insertion holes and the flexible wiring substrate, wherein projected portions are provided on parts of the flexible wiring substrate at positions where the seal members are integrally formed. |
| US08575497B2 |
Control cabinet arrangement
The invention concerns a control cabinet arrangement (1) with a control cabinet (2), a mounting plate (6) having a front face (14), a rear face (13) and an opening (8), in which the control cabinet (2) is arranged, a frame and a retainer device. The invention is based on the task of providing a simple assembly of a control cabinet arrangement. For this purpose, the retainer device comprises several bolts (16) abutting the rear face (13) of the mounting plate (6), at least one bolt (16) being displaced into a spacing on the rear face (13) of the mounting plate (6) by the interaction of the control cabinet (2) and the frame (7). |
| US08575496B2 |
Multilayer printed wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
A multilayer printed wiring board including a layered capacitor section provided on a first interlayer resin insulation layer and a high dielectric layer and first and second layered electrodes that sandwich the high dielectric layer. A second interlayer resin insulation layer is provided on the first insulation layer and the capacitor section, and a metal thin-film layer is provided over the capacitor section and on the second insulation layer. An outermost interlayer resin insulation layer is provided on the second insulation layer and the metal thin-film layer. A mounting section is provided on the outermost insulation layer and has first and second external terminals to mount a semiconductor element. Multiple via conductors penetrate each insulation layer. The via conductors include first via conductors that electrically connect the first layered electrode to the first external terminals. Second via conductors electrically connect the second layered electrode to the second external terminals. |
| US08575488B2 |
Differential signal transmission cable
A differential signal transmission cable has a pair of conductors arranged to be distant from each other and parallel to each other, an insulator covering the pair of conductors, and a shield conductor wound around the insulator. The insulator has an outer periphery shape of a transversal cross section in that a plurality of curved lines with different curvature radiuses are combined. The shield conductor has an inner periphery shape of a transversal cross section in that the plurality of curved lines are combined in accordance with the outer periphery shape of the insulator. |
| US08575486B2 |
Guide conduit
The invention relates to a guide conduit for a cable receptacle with a support device for the upper strand, and is designed so that the support device has an essentially flat running surface on the top side of a body which is movable solely by gravity and/or by the elastic force thereof from one position, in which the support device does not protrude significantly over the inner lateral surface of the guide conduit, to a position in which the body opposite the lateral wall protrudes into the interior of the guide conduit, and to the final position, in which the support device extends through an opening in the respective lateral wall of the guide conduit. |
| US08575483B2 |
Electrical box for installation in insulated concrete form construction
Various embodiments of an electrical box are provided for installation in insulated concrete forms (“ICFs”) In at least one embodiment, the electrical box includes a container configured to receive an electrical device, and at least one anchoring member operably connected to the container In these embodiments, the anchoring member is movable between a storage position and an inserted position and the anchoring member is operable by a user without a tool Further, in these embodiments, the inserted position includes at least part of the anchoring member positioned outside the container such that the anchoring member is insertable into, for instance, a foam-based ICF Thus simple and efficient installation of electrical boxes in ICFs is provided. |
| US08575477B1 |
Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymers containing a diene group for semiconductors
A polymer having a structure represented by: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group; Ar1 and Ar2 are independently an aromatic or heteroaromatic group comprising about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, and can be optionally substituted; Ar3 and Ar4 are independently an aromatic or heteroaromatic group comprising about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms, and can be optionally substituted; “a” and “b” are independently an integer from about 1 to about 4; “c” and “d” are independently an integer from about 0 to about 2; R3, R4, R5, and R6, are independently selected from a hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a cyano, and a halogen; and “n” represents a number from about 2 to about 5,000. |
| US08575476B2 |
CIS solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
An alloy substrate formed on an alloy of Ni and Mo is formed by electroforming. The alloy substrate has graded composition in which alloy composition varies in a thickness direction thereof. A lower surface side is mainly composed of Ni, and a upper surface side is mainly composed of Mo. An upper surface of the alloy substrate is formed with a large number of minute and pyramidal unevenness having high light scattering property. A CIS light absorbing layer is formed on the upper surface of the alloy substrate, and an upper electrode is provided thereabove. |
| US08575474B2 |
Solar cell contacts containing aluminum and at least one of boron, titanium, nickel, tin, silver, gallium, zinc, indium and copper
Formulations and methods of making solar cell contacts and cells therewith are disclosed. In general, the invention provides a solar cell comprising a contact made from a mixture wherein, prior to firing, the mixture comprises at least one aluminum source, at least one source of a metal including one or more of boron, titanium, nickel, tin, gallium zinc, indium, and copper, and about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of a glass component. Within the mixture, the overall content of aluminum is about 50 wt % to about 85 wt % of the mixture, and the overall combined content of boron, nickel, tin, silver, gallium, zinc, indium, copper, is about 0.05 to about 40 wt % of the mixture. |
| US08575473B2 |
Lattice matchable alloy for solar cells
An alloy composition for a subcell of a solar cell is provided that has a bandgap of at least 0.9 eV, namely, Ga1-xInxNyAs1-y-zSbz with a low antimony (Sb) content and with enhanced indium (In) content, and enhanced nitrogen (N) content, achieving substantial lattice matching to GaAs and Ge substrates and providing both high short circuit currents and high open circuit voltages in GaInNAsSb subcells for multijunction solar cells. The composition ranges for Ga1-xInxNyAs1-y-zSbz are 0.07≦x≦0.18, 0.025≦y≦0.04 and 0.001≦z≦0.03. |
| US08575468B2 |
Solar AMTEC power system
A solar AMTEC power system including a support structure, an electric generator segment connected to the support structure, the electric generator segment including a receiver and at least two wings extending at a non-zero angle relative to the receiver, wherein each wing defines an enclosed volume divided into a hot chamber and a cold chamber and includes at least one AMTEC cell extending between the hot chamber and the cold chamber, and wherein the receiver is at least partially transparent to solar energy and defines a heated chamber and a fluid return chamber, the fluid return chamber being in fluid communication with the heated chamber and the cold chambers of the wings, and the heated chamber being in fluid communication with the hot chambers of the wings, and an optical element positioned relative to the electric generator segment to direct solar energy to the receiver. |
| US08575466B2 |
Ball plunger-style connector assembly for electrical connections
A ball plunger-style lateral connector assembly for electrical connections, comprising an electrically conductive connector body with an electrically conductive pin positioned in an aperture in a closed end of the body. A first end portion of the pin member extends at least partially into the interior area of the connector body. An electrically conductive connector plate is adjacent to the closed end of the connector body and engages the first end portion of the pin member and provides an electrical connection therebetween. An insulator sleeve may be disposed in the interior area of the connector body and adjacent to the sidewall of the connector body. An electrically conductive biasing member is disposed in the interior area of the connector body. The biasing member has a first end portion in engagement with the connector plate, and wherein the insulator sleeve is disposed between the biasing member and the connector body. An electrically conductive ball track is positioned within the interior area of the connector body and is in engagement with a second end portion of the biasing member. An electrically conductive ball is disposed in the open end portion of the connector body and is seated in the concave seating portion of the ball track. The ball is configured to roll within ball track during use of the lateral connector. |
| US08575465B2 |
System and method for scoring a singing voice
A system for scoring a singing voice comprises receiving a singing reference audio signal and/or a user audio signal and/or a pitch contour representation (PCR) of the reference and/or user singing audio signals; a processor means connected to the receiving means and comprising a pitch contour representation (PCR) module (10) for determining a PCR of the singing reference and/or user audio signal, a time synchronization module for time synchronizing the PCRs of the reference and user audio signals respectively. A selection module is provided for selecting a segment of the PCRs based on pre-defined criteria. A cross-correlation module is provided for performing time-warped cross-correlation on the selected segments of the PCRs and outputting a cross-correlation score. The system comprises a key matching module and rhythm matching module for key matching and rhythm matching the remaining unselected segments of the PCRs, and outputting a respective key matching score and rhythm matching score, a scoring module (16) for determining a singing score based on a combination of a pre-determined weightage of the cross-correlation, key matching and rhythm matching scores. A user interface means connects the processor for changing at least one module parameter within at least one module; stores and displays the PCR and singing score. |
| US08575461B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV104435
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV104435. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV104435, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV104435 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 CV104435 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 CV104435. |
| US08575459B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV969053
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV969053. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV969053, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV969053 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 CV969053 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 CV969053. |
| US08575458B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X00B152
A novel maize variety designated X00B152 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 X00B152 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X00B152 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X00B152, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X00B152. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X00B152. |
| US08575457B1 |
Maize variety inbred PHW2P
A novel maize variety designated PHW2P and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHW2P with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHW2P 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 PHW2P or a locus conversion of PHW2P with another maize variety. |
| US08575455B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X03B499
A novel maize variety designated X03B499 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 X03B499 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03B499 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03B499, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03B499. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03B499. |
| US08575451B2 |
Tomato plants having higher levels of resistance to Botrytis
The present invention relates to a method for detecting a quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato, including the steps of crossing a Botrytis-resistant donor tomato plant with a non-resistant, or Botrytis-susceptible, recipient tomato plant, contacting one or more offspring plants with an infective amount of Botrytis, quantitatively determining the disease incidence and/or the rate of lesion growth in the one or more offspring plants, establishing a genetic linkage map that links the observed disease incidence and/or rate of lesion growth to the presence of chromosomal markers of the donor tomato plant in the one or more offspring plants, and assigning to a QTL the contiguous markers on the map that are linked to a reduced disease incidence and/or a reduced lesion growth rate. |
| US08575450B2 |
Methods and compositions for acylsugars in tomato
The present invention relates to tomato plants with increased concentrations of acylsugars, in particular increased concentrations of acylglucoses and/or acylsucroses. The present invention also provides methods for controlling thrips on tomato plants through the use of increased concentrations of acylsugars. |
| US08575442B1 |
Soybean variety XBP27005
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP27005 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP27005, cells from soybean variety XBP27005, plants of soybean XBP27005, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP27005. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP27005 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP27005, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP27005, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP27005. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP27005 are further provided. |
| US08575437B2 |
Cucumber hybrid PS 14764212 poll and parents thereof
The invention provides seed and plants of cucumber hybrid PS 14764212 POLL and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid PS 14764212 POLL and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US08575434B2 |
Maize event DP-004114-3 and methods for detection thereof
The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DP-004114-3 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided. |