| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08594143B2 |
Laser diode structure with integrated temperature-controlled beam shaping element and method for gas detection by means of a laser diode structure
The invention relates to a laser diode structure, specifically for use in gas detection, with a hermetically sealed housing with electrical connections having a bottom and a window. A laser diode chip and a temperature control system for the laser diode chip are provided in the housing. A thermo element in the form of a Peltier element forms the temperature control system, and is connected via a lower flat surface to the bottom of the housing and via an upper flat surface to the laser diode chip, with a temperature-controlled beam shaping element as collimator provided between the laser diode chip and the window of the housing that acts on a laser beam emerging from a laser aperture of the laser diode chip before it passes through the window. The beam shaping element is in contact with the laser diode chip and is preferably connected via a boundary surface to the laser aperture with surface-to-surface contact or adhesively, or is made in one piece together with the laser aperture. |
| US08594142B2 |
Wavelength-tunable light source
A wavelength-tunable light source includes a quantum cascade laser that emits light from a first end and a second end, an optical system that collimates the light emitted from the first end, a first reflecting section on which the light collimated by the optical system is made incident, and a second reflecting section that partially reflects the light emitted from the second end of the quantum cascade laser and transmits the remaining light. The first reflecting section includes a plurality of diffractive gratings whose diffractive properties are different from each other and whose lattice plane directions are variable, and the first reflecting section diffracts a light at a particular wavelength corresponding to the diffractive property and the lattice plane direction of the selected diffractive grating in the direction opposite to the incident direction. |
| US08594139B2 |
Dual transmission stream generating device and method
A dual transmission stream generating device includes an adaptor to receive a normal stream and to generate an adaptation field in an area of a packet of the normal stream; and a stuffer to generate a packet for a dual transmission stream by stuffing a turbo stream into the adaptation field. Accordingly, the turbo stream and the normal stream can be transmitted efficiently by the generation of the dual transmission stream in various constructions. |
| US08594128B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling dynamic protocol interworking resolution with diverse endpoints
A method and apparatus for enabling an edge component, e.g., a Border Element (BE), on a packet network to be endpoint aware is disclosed. Information contained in the BE regarding the endpoint enables it to consult stored protocol configurations that facilitate the dynamic resolution of interworking issues and adjust for service differences in endpoint support based on dynamic protocol interworking resolution. |
| US08594126B2 |
Receiving node in a packet communications system and method for managing a buffer in a receiving node in a packet communications system
A receiving node for receiving data packets in a packet communications system comprises a buffer for storing data packets received at the receiving node and for releasing the stored data packets to an application element of the receiving node. A buffer window defines a time period in which data packets are received at the buffer. A position of the buffer window is moved in time periodically, and a stored data packet is released when it is at an end of the buffer window. The receiving node further comprises a packet delay determining element for determining, for each received data packet, a delay of a received data packet by determining the difference between an estimated time of arrival of a data packet at the receiving node and an actual time of arrival of the data packet at the receiving node, a delay processing element for determining an average of the determined delays of a plurality of data packets and for determining when a change in the determined average is greater than a first threshold, and a buffer window adjusting element for adjusting at a first rate a position of the buffer window by a first amount dependent on the determined average of the determined delays and for switching to adjust a position of the buffer window at a second rate by a second amount dependent on the determined average when a change in the determined average is greater than the first threshold. The second rate is greater than the first rate. |
| US08594125B1 |
Inverse multiplexing using transcoding and frame alignment markers
A system and method are provided for framing messages in a data streams encoded with redundant information for transmission and recovering the messages at a receiver. The transmission method accepts an energy waveform representing N words at a first bit rate, encoded with redundant information, where each word includes P number of bits. The N words are transformed, creating N transcoded words, where each transcoded word includes Q number of bits, and where Q |
| US08594119B2 |
Wireless communication method and apparatus
A method and apparatus are provided for enabling a user to effectively use a wireless network using a contention free channel access service. The wireless communication method includes receiving a contention free channel access request frame from at least one device in a wireless network in a superframe, and broadcasting a traffic information message including contention free channel access information in the superframe after the contention free channel access request frame is received. |
| US08594118B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring logical channels in a network
Logical channels in a network are automatically be configured by using measured network parameters. The measured network parameters are determined in cooperation with the network elements without interruption of active communication services. The network parameters include upstream or downstream modulation error ratio (MER), upstream or downstream signal to noise ratio (SNR), upstream or downstream microreflections, upstream transmit level, downstream receive power level, cable modem type (DOCSIS 1.0,1.1,2.0), functional capabilities (e.g., VoIP, 256QAM, etc), network element location with in a cable plant (e.g., node location or amplifier cascade depth), network element manufacturer, or type of services provided by the network element (including telephony versus data). An interactive display is provided to an operator which enables analysis of communication parameters, including modulation profiles and channel performance. |
| US08594117B2 |
Base station and method in mobile communications system
A base station in a mobile communications system which uses a single-carrier technique for uplink includes a classifying unit which classifies, for each of multiple user apparatuses according to a path loss between the respective user apparatus and the base station, the multiple user apparatuses into two or more groups; and a scheduler which plans allocating of uplink resources to the user apparatuses. Uplink signals of each user apparatus that have multiple frequency components lined up in equal frequency intervals are multiplexed using a distributed frequency division multiplexing technique such that they are made mutually orthogonal on a frequency axis, the scheduler plans the resource allocating such that the user apparatuses belonging to different groups utilize different group bands or different time slots, and the group bands are specified by dividing a system band into groups. |
| US08594116B2 |
Methods and apparatus for efficient IP multicasting in a content delivery network
Methods and apparatus for assigning physical channels in a content-based network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network having a plurality of cable modems, and the physical channels are assigned to the cable modems based at least in part on any multicast transmissions that may exist on the system. When two cable modems are receiving the same multicast transmission, the invention causes tuning of one or more of the cable modems to the same physical channel in order to limit the total number multicast transmissions on the network. Multicast transmissions typically comprise video or audio information, but other types of information may also be multicast according to the invention. In another embodiment, a multicast transmission list (containing a list of multicast transmissions and the corresponding physical channels) is sent to the set of cable modems. This list is used by the modems (or associated CPE) to manage channel allocation and tuning. |
| US08594115B2 |
Distributing voice and data information over wireless and wireline networks
An example disclosed method comprises receiving a combined signal at a customer premises, the combined signal including a first signal associated with a first frequency range and a second signal associated with a second frequency range larger than the first frequency range, monitoring for power outages at the customer premises, and when no power outage at the customer premises is detected, switching the second signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireline distribution system integrated in the customer premises, and switching the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireless distribution system and without using the wireline distribution system. |
| US08594114B2 |
Shielding of datalines with physical placement based on time staggered access
A bus driver circuit divides an internal data bus for an integrated circuit memory into at least two groups, designated by speed. A faster group of data lines and a slower group of data lines are placed in an interleaved fashion in order to provide a two group shielding solution. At the earliest opportunity following the reception of a read command, the data from memory banks in the memory is sorted into these two groups. For a DDR3 memory, the sorting method is based on the A2 column address, known as C2. All of the data is brought out of the banks in parallel and sorted as it enters the main amplifiers. These main amplifiers are also divided into two groups, faster and slower. Each amplifier then connects to a data line (G-line) of the same group. The clock assigned to the fast group fires right away, thereby connecting the data associated with the fast amplifiers to the fast data group. This data group then proceeds to the output buffers through the entire data path as fast as possible. The second, slower data group is started with a delayed clock signal and proceeds through the data path to the output buffer maintaining a fixed delay. Since the first and second data groups are not switching at the same time they act as shields to one another. |
| US08594109B2 |
Wireless extender secure discovery and provisioning
According to embodiments of the invention, a first wireless access point discovers a second wireless access point, the first wireless access point tunes its radio and privacy settings, without user input, based upon parameters automatically exchanged in response to the discovery of the second wireless access point, and a secure direct wireless connection is established between the first and second wireless access points using the radio and privacy settings. Adding the first wireless to an existing mesh network includes a determination of the best available direct wireless connection. |
| US08594106B2 |
Network with several subnetworks
The invention relates to a network with several subnetworks, which are organized either decentrally or centrally and can be connected in each case each by bridge terminals, a proxy terminal for a bridge terminal being set up in at least one of the subnetworks, which proxy terminal during an absence (dictated by frequency, time, code, or other factors) of the bridge terminal accepts all data directed to the bridge terminal or to be forwarded thereby, temporarily stores the data, and forwards said data to the bridge terminal when this is present again. |
| US08594105B1 |
Base-station provided access to IMS services
Exemplary methods and systems for providing access to IMS services are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves a first radio access network (RAN) component: (a) sending a registration message to an IMS network in order to register the first RAN component with the IMS network, wherein the IMS registration message provides an IP address at which to register the first RAN component, (b) receiving a service request from a first access terminal, wherein the first RAN component is a serving RAN component for the first access terminal, and (c) in response to receiving the service request, the first RAN component engaging in an IMS service on behalf of the first access terminal, wherein engaging in the IMS service on behalf of the first access terminal comprises sending the IMS network a first initiation message for a session event, wherein the first initiation message comprises: (i) a field that identifies the first access terminal and (ii) a field that includes an IP address of a second RAN component that serves a target access terminal. |
| US08594103B2 |
Network access method, authentication method, communications systems and relevant devices
A network access method, an authentication method, a communications system, and relevant devices are provided to support implicit authentication based on subscriber line information in Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). The network access method includes: receiving a first request message sent from a User Equipment (UE) on an Access Node (AN), where the first request message carries a Link-Local Address (LLA); obtaining subscriber line information corresponding to the UE; and sending a second request message from the AN to a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG), where the second request message carries the LLA and the subscriber line information and instructs the BNG to perform access authentication. An authentication method, a communications system and relevant devices are also disclosed. |
| US08594101B2 |
Packet relay apparatus and packet relay method
A packet relay apparatus identifies port information for identifying a port, included in a partition corresponding to a reception port having received a packet, from a partition information storing unit which stores a correspondence between port information for identifying ports included in the partition and partition information for identifying the partition configured for the apparatus. The apparatus determines whether the identified port information is included in the port information stored by being corresponded to reception VLAN information which is VLAN information set for a received packet by a VLAN information storing unit which is a storing unit storing a correspondence between port information for identifying a port used for transmission and/or reception of a packet transmitted and VLAN information for identifying the virtual network. The apparatus transmits the packet from a port determined to include the port information in response to the determination that the port information is included. |
| US08594098B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for transmitting data
The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for transmitting data. A method for sending data includes: categorizing a received packet based on field information of a preset field in a packet header; encapsulating, for each category of packets, field information of a preset field in a packet header of a packet to an overhead field of a data unit, and encapsulating a packet payload of each packet and field information of another field except the preset field in a packet header of each packet to a payload field of the data unit; and sending the generated data unit to a destination node of the packet. The method, the apparatus, and the system are capable of improving bandwidth usage of a transmission link. |
| US08594097B2 |
Layer-2 to MPLS service mediation architecture
An architecture for providing service mediation in a network having a Layer-2 domain and an MPLS domain includes at least one Layer-2 provider edge device in communication with a first customer site; at least one Layer-2 edge device in communication with the Layer-2 provider edge device; at least one MPLS mediation edge device in communication with the Layer-2 edge device; and at least one MPLS provider edge device in communication with both the MPLS mediation edge device and a second customer site. An end-to-end connection is established using native Layer-2 signaling, if any, in the Layer-2 domain and PWE3 signaling protocols in the MPLS domain. The MPLS mediation edge device resolves associations between Layer-2 edge devices and MPLS provider edge devices. The service is “mediated” in the sense that native Layer-2 signaling is terminated at the MME, and a new domain, i.e., pseudowire, is established across the MPLS domain. |
| US08594090B2 |
Multicasting using a multitiered distributed virtual bridge hierarchy
Systems and methods to multicast data frames are provided. A particular apparatus includes a plurality of computing nodes and a distributed virtual bridge. The distributed virtual bridge includes a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of computing nodes. The plurality of bridge elements are configured to forward a copy of a multicast data frame to the plurality of computing nodes using group member information associated with addresses of the plurality of server computers. A controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of bridge elements is configured to communicate the group member information to the plurality of bridge elements. |
| US08594088B2 |
Multicasting in a provider backbone bridge network
A method and Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) for handling customer multicast frames that are received by a Customer Network Port or Provider Network Port on an I-component of the PBB. Customer multicast frames that are forwarded to a Virtual Instance Port (VIP) on the I-component are encapsulated with a Backbone Destination Address (B-DA) equal to the original Customer Destination Address (C-DA) of the received customer multicast frames instead of the Default B-DA. This capability may be controlled by an “EnableCustomerMulticast” parameter enabling the above behavior to be independently set for each VIP on the I-component. |
| US08594087B2 |
Encoding-based multicast packet duplication control suitable for VLAN systems
A packet duplication control system including an input port for receiving a packet and a plurality of output ports for outputting duplications of the packet is disclosed. The duplications can be suitable to support a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) system. The duplications can be controlled by descriptors arranged in a linked-list table. Also, the descriptors can have encoding formats, such as contiguous range encoding, non-contiguous range encoding, and discrete encoding. Further, the linked-list table can include at least one shared descriptor. |
| US08594085B2 |
L2/L3 multi-mode switch including policy processing
Methods and apparatus for processing data packets in a computer network are described. One general method includes receiving a data packet; examining the data packet to classify the data packet including classifying the data packet as a L2 or L3 packet and including determining at least one zone associated with the packet; processing the packet in accordance with one or more policies associated with the zone; determining forwarding information associated with the data packet; and if one or more policies permit, forwarding the data packet toward an intended destination using the forwarding information. |
| US08594084B2 |
Network router security method
A local network is secured using a router or hub that includes a security switch. During or immediately after initial network configuration, the router or hub records MAC addresses of connected network devices. After initial configuration is completed, the switch is activated. After the switch is activated, the router or hub will not allow connection of additional devices, as determined by the MAC addresses of connected devices. The security switch can be deactivated to permit connection of additional devices. |
| US08594075B2 |
Method and system for wireless VoIP communications
Methods, an apparatus, and a system for communications using multiplexed packets including payloads of the current and at least one preceding packet are disclosed. The invention is able to implement both robustness and a degree of compression while still being able to operate in environments of limited bandwidth having high rates of packet loss, such as in wireless VoIP networks. |
| US08594074B2 |
Call setup for access division multiplexing
A wireless terminal (30) is capable of communicating with a first network (22-1) and a second network (22-1, 22-3), the first network (22-1) being an LTE network. A wireless terminal method comprises (prior to making a request to participate in a circuit switched call with the second network) the wireless terminal (30) camping on a respective selected cell (of each of the first network and the second network and thereby having tuned to both the selected cell for the first network and the selected cell for the second network. In view of already camping on the selected cell of the second network, the wireless terminal (30) does not make a measurement with respect to a cell of the second network in a time period between the making of the request to participate in the circuit switch call and actual establishment of the circuit switched call with the second network. |
| US08594073B2 |
Method and apparatus for roaming between communications networks
There is provided a method of managing roaming of a Mobile Node in a Visited network. The Mobile Node is associated with a Home network. In the Visited network, a server selects a Gateway node for use by the Mobile Node based on selection criteria. The Gateway node is disposed between the Home network and the Visited network. The server then sends a message to an access node in the Visited network to which the Mobile Node is attached, the message identifying the selected Gateway node. This instructs the Mobile Node to communicate with its Home network via the selected Gateway Node. |
| US08594072B2 |
User equipment based method to improve synchronization shift command convergence in TD-SCDMA uplink synchronization
Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose techniques for improving synchronization shift command convergence in Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) uplink synchronization. |
| US08594071B2 |
Device and method for controlling the creation of a user channel connection in a communication system and associated communication system, digital storage medium, computer program product, and computer program
In order to be able to control the creation of a user channel connection in a communication system using wireless communication between at least one mobile part and one wired part in such a way that a user channel connection is established more quickly upon a connection request indicated by the mobile part or the wired part for the purpose of transmitting user data and, at the same time, due to market requirements, no synchronization pulses are sent by the wired part in the idle state, an initiating device of the communication system (for example, for an incoming call: base station; for an outgoing call: mobile part) sends, from an asynchronous idle state, synchronization pulses (SB) to all available physical resources. Due to the plurality of the sent, available synchronization pulses (SB), rapid synchronization is ensured because the probability is sufficiently increased thereby that a pulse will fall in the search window of a receiver. |
| US08594070B1 |
Acting on data packets in a mobile telecommunications network based on inner headers
Methods, system, and medium are provided for referencing the original source or destination information of data packets on a mobile telecommunications network, including information in inner headers of data packets. The present invention enables monitoring of data traffic, or directing and balancing data packets in a mobile network, based on inner-header information. |
| US08594067B2 |
Multiple access method and system of terminal in evolved packet system
The present invention discloses a multiple access method and a multiple access system of terminal in Evolved Packet System (EPS). The multiple access method of terminal in EPS comprises the following steps that: a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) sends a first multiple access capability indication to a terminal, wherein the first multiple access capability indication denotes that the P-GW supports a multiple access; the terminal performs the multiple access according to the multiple access capability indication of the P-GW. The present invention avoids the waste of network resource and improves the experience of users. |
| US08594061B2 |
Methods and apparatus to access network connectivity information using predicted locations
Example methods and apparatus to access network connectivity information based on predicted future locations of wireless terminals are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves predicting at least one future location of a wireless terminal. The example method also involves requesting at least first and second network connectivity information sets for connecting to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage at the at least one future location. The first network connectivity information is associated with a first geographic location, and the second network connectivity information is associated with a second geographic location. |
| US08594060B2 |
Grouping of cells for efficient neighbor cell information distribution
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is described a method and apparatus to group at least one cell of a network according to at least one characteristic of a physical layer cell identification of the at least one cell, and to signal a representation comprising the at least one characteristic of the grouped at least one cell to a mobile station. In addition, according to another exemplary aspect of the invention there is at least a method and apparatus to receive signaling comprising a representation of a grouped at least one cell of a network, where the representation is according to at least one characteristic of a physical layer cell identification of the at least one cell, and to determine, based on the signaling, whether the grouped at least one cell are to be considered for an operation including at least one of reselection and measurement reporting. |
| US08594058B2 |
Method of dynamically adjusting transmission capacity of a data transmission connection
A method of dynamically adjusting a transmission capacity of a data transmission connection is proposed. The method comprises different steps at a network end node. An incoming frame-structured time division multiplex signal carrying incoming timeslots is received from a client. Furthermore, a request data set comprising for at least one incoming timeslot a corresponding subset is received. The subset has an identifier for identifying an existing data transmission connection and a status indicator for indicating to the network end node a status requested by the client for the corresponding timeslot. If the status indicator indicates a request for adding the timeslot to the data transmission connection or removing the timeslot from the data transmission connection, the network end node adjusts the transmission capacity of the data transmission connection. If the status indicator indicates valid data in the incoming timeslot, the network end node transmits the data of the incoming timeslot via the existing data transmission connection to a far-end network end node. |
| US08594057B2 |
Semi-persistent scheduling method
A semi-persistent scheduling method is provided in the present disclosure, and the method comprises: when a semi-persistent scheduling periodicity comes, an evolved node B (eNB) and a terminal (UE) select a sub-frame in a sub-frame group as a sub-frame for current semi-persistent scheduling; the sub-frame group includes multiple sub-frames, and a sub-frame group periodicity equals to the semi-persistent scheduling periodicity. The problem that the sub-frames with the same relative position in different sub-frame groups are the sub-frames in which the collision between the initial transmission and the retransmission of the HARQ data packet most possibly occurs is considered by the technical solution of the present disclosure, so the purpose that prolonging the interval length of the collision between the initial transmission of the HARQ and the retransmission of the HARQ and reducing the collision between the initial transmission of the HARQ and the retransmission of the HARQ is achieved by reasonably configuring the number of sub-frames in a sub-frame group and alternately using different sub-frames in the sub-frame group. |
| US08594054B2 |
Technique for scheduling TD-SCDMA idle intervals
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for scheduling TD-SCDMA idle intervals, wherein a frame for inter-RAT measurement is selected based on a number of UEs allocated. |
| US08594053B2 |
Apparatus and method for adaptive beam-forming in wireless communication system
Apparatuses and methods for maintaining an optimal beam direction in a wireless communication system are provided. The method for operating a receiving node in a wireless communication system includes, determining a first transmission beam is determined as a preferred transmission beam using a plurality of reference signals transmitted by a transmitting node, generating preferred transmission beam information, transmitting the preferred transmission beam information to the transmitting node, receiving transmissions from the transmitting node via the first transmission beam, and determining whether a change of a transmission beam is necessary. When the change of the transmission beam is determined to be necessary, generating a beam change request and transmitting the beam change request to the transmitting node. |
| US08594052B2 |
Method and apparatus of connectivity recovery in a wireless network
A wireless communication device and a method of operating an antenna training process to discover first and second communication paths between at least two stations, to rank according to a quality criterion transmitting and receiving modes of an antenna, to report best transmitting mode and best receiving mode for transmitting and receiving signals over said first and second communication paths and to establish a communication link on a selected communication path based on the quality of the transmitting mode and said receiving mode. |
| US08594050B2 |
Techniques to control wireless personal area networks
Techniques to control wireless personal area networks are described. An apparatus may include a radio coordinator module operative to receive a transmit data flow having media information and control information, and switch the media information to a media flow path and the control information to a control flow path, a first transceiver to couple to the radio coordinator module, the first transceiver operative to transmit the media information from the media flow path to a receiver using a first frequency band allocated for a wireless personal area network, and a second transceiver to couple to the radio coordinator module, the second transceiver operative to transmit the control information from the control flow path to the receiver using a second frequency band allocated for a wireless local area network. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08594049B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station, mobile station, and method for determining transmission parameter
A wireless communication system comprises a base station, wherein the base station performs scheduling for determining a resource block allocated to a mobile station, and determines a downlink transmission parameter based on a reception quality reported from the mobile station. The base station determines a transmission parameter by a predetermined first method for determining a transmission parameter when an identical resource block as a resource block allocated to any mobile station is allocated in an area adjacent to an area to which the mobile station is connecting, and determines a transmission parameter by a second method for determining a transmission parameter which selects a transmission parameter having a transmitting efficiency equal to or more than that by the first method for determining a transmission parameter when an identical resource block as a resource block allocated to any mobile station is not allocated in an area adjacent to an area to which the mobile station is connecting. |
| US08594045B2 |
Communication terminal, communication system, handover process method, and program
A mobile telephone which can perform communication by establishing a plurality of sessions includes: a hand over HO judgment portion which judges whether to perform a handover (HO); and an HO process portion which performs an HO processing. The HO processing portion includes: a priority decision portion which decides priority of a session to be subjected to an HO when a plurality of sessions are performing communication if the HO judgment result shows that the HO process is to be executed; and an HO execution portion which executes an HO of the session according to the decided priority. The HO processing portion further includes an HO reservation portion which reserves a connection request or a disconnection request occurred during the HO process. |
| US08594043B2 |
Selective packet forwarding for LTE mobility
Methods and devices are disclosed for forwarding data packets during handover in a packet-switched wireless communications system, such as a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution/System Architecture Evolution system. In an exemplary method, a source base station node determines that handover of at least one radio bearer for a served user terminal to a target base station node is imminent. The source base station node classifies a plurality of data packets into two or more data flow classifications according to a transmission status for each data packet, a service requirement for each data packet, or both and selectively forwards one or more of the data packets to the target base station node based on the data flow classification for each data packet. For example, data packets associated with a reliable delivery service requirement may be forwarded while data packets associated with a maximum delay service requirement are not. |
| US08594042B2 |
Handoff method and apparatus for terminal based on efficient set management in communication system
A handoff method and apparatus for a terminal based on efficient set management. A pilot search rate for base stations of a neighbor set is increased, thereby preventing a failure to perform a necessary idle handoff or a failure to receive a paging message for a call connection. A terminal checks if it is in an idle state or in a traffic state, and measures the pilot energy of the BS of the active set and the pilot energy of a BS of the neighbor set with different pilot measurement patterns according to the checked state. The terminal measures the pilot of the BS of the active set and the pilots of at least one BS of the neighbor set while in the idle state. The terminal in the idle state operates in a sleep mode upon reception of information indicating that there is no paging channel, thereby minimizing its power consumption. |
| US08594041B2 |
Inhibiting system traffic from unregistered mobile stations
A method and system for reducing transmissions from unregistered mobile wireless devices including inhibiting administrative type transmissions from the mobile wireless device upon detection that the mobile wireless device is in a first transmission mode indicating that the mobile wireless device is deactivated or unregistered. Moreover, the administrative type transmission functionality is automatically restorable. Transmissions from the mobile wireless device are preferably comprised of traffic transmissions that contain data packets and other transmissions that contain information for administrative purposes, such as for communication link management operations between the mobile wireless device and the wireless packet switched network. Preferably, the administrative type transmissions include roam transmissions, activation transmissions, and born transmissions. |
| US08594039B2 |
Reference signal multiplexing and resource allocation
A reference signal of a user equipment to which a resource (LB#1) is allocated for a L1/L2 control signal, is allocated a resource (SB#1) that is closer on the time axis to the resource (LB#1), which the L1/L2 control signal is allocated, within the same frequency band as the L1/L2 control signal. A reference signal for CQI estimation, independent of a data signal and a L1/L2 control signal, is allocated a resource with which at least one of a reference signal for demodulation of a data signal and a reference signal for demodulation of a L1/L2 control signal is not transmitted at the same timing within the transmission band. The types of bandwidths of the reference signals multiplexed in a same short block within a same band are reduced, whereby restrictions as to the number of reference signal sequences that can be secured are diminished. |
| US08594038B2 |
Resource configuration method and device
A resource configuration method and device are provided. The method includes: obtaining a capability of a user equipment, and obtaining multiple resource configuration manners according to the capability of the user equipment; obtaining a resource configuration manner in which data bearing capacity meets a service requirement from the multiple resource configuration manners; and when it is required to save power of the user equipment, selecting a resource configuration manner in which the least radio frequency chains are used from the resource configuration manners in which the data bearing capacity meets the service requirement, and in the resource configuration manner in which the least radio frequency chains are used, configuring, for the user equipment, a component carrier and the radio frequency chain used by each component carrier. |
| US08594036B2 |
Method for transmitting data by applying precoding matrix in an open loop MIMO system
A method for transmitting data by applying a precoding matrix in an open-loop multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a precoding matrix and applying the selected precoding matrix to data during initial transmission; selecting a precoding matrix and applying the selected precoding matrix to data to be retransmitted; and retransmitting the data to which the precoding matrix is applied, wherein an index of the precoding matrix applied to the data is determined based on the times of current retransmission times of the data and index of the precoding matrix applied during initial transmission of the data. |
| US08594032B2 |
Method for mapping ranging channels and opportunities in a broadband wireless access system
A method for efficiently updating system information of a base station at a relay station of a broadband wireless access system and an apparatus for performing the method are disclosed. The method for updating system information of an advanced base station (ABS) at an advanced relay station (ARS) of a broadband wireless access system comprises receiving a first message, which includes changed information of the system information of the base station, from the base station; transmitting a second message for acknowledgment of the first message to the base station; and performing application for the changed information. |
| US08594031B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing quality of service for similar priority logical channels
Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate providing quality of service for similar priority logical channels at least in part by assigning dynamic priority levels to the logical channels to allow certain logical channels to be assigned resources before other logical channels. Dynamic priority levels can be assigned based at least in part on a total accumulated used bytes of a given logical channel scaled by a prioritized bit rate of the logical channel. Thus, logical channels with a lower number of total accumulated used bytes scaled by the prioritized bit rate can be assigned higher priority to ensure resources are assigned to the logical channels. Moreover, the dynamic priority levels can be normalized to align the dynamic priority levels within certain values so as not to interfere with other logical channels of different assigned priority. |
| US08594023B2 |
Quasi-dynamic spectrum access for internet of things (IOT) applications
Spectrum access for Internet of things (IOT) applications including receiving information about expected use by a primary user of a spectrum band in a radio frequency spectrum. The spectrum band is classified into at least two working modes based on the expected use. The spectrum band is sensed to determine a current access pattern of the primary user. Based on the classifying and the sensing, one of the working modes is selected as a current working mode of the primary user. Transmissions are scheduled on the spectrum band using a current schedule that is responsive to the current working mode of the primary user. If the current working mode of the primary user changes, the sensing, selecting, scheduling, and determining whether the current working mode has changed are re-performed. Otherwise, the transmission scheduling and determining if the current working mode has changed are re-performed. |
| US08594022B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding of HARQ-ACK transmission in TDD systems with downlink carrier aggregation
Methods and apparatus are provided for a User Equipment (UE) configured with multiple cells in a DownLink (DL) of a Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication system to determine the coding method for acknowledgement information bits as a function of their number, to apply bundling to the acknowledgement information bits when their number exceeds a first predetermined value, and to partition the acknowledgement information bits, possibly together with other control information bits, into two separate codewords when their total number exceeds a second predetermined value. |
| US08594021B2 |
Effective timing measurements by a multi-mode device
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for effective measurement in a second Radio Access Technology (e.g., TD-SCDMA) while receiving service in a first Radio Access Technology (e.g., GSM). |
| US08594019B2 |
Communication device, and computer-readable storage device and method for the same
A communication device is provided that includes a communication unit configured to perform communication of a voice signal with a party device via a communication line, a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication of a data signal with an external device, and a controller configured to perform first wireless communication and second wireless communication in parallel, using the wireless communication unit. The first wireless communication is adapted to enable wireless communication of the voice signal between a voice communication device and the communication unit via the wireless communication unit. The second wireless communication is adapted to enable wireless communication of the data signal between the external device and the wireless communication unit. |
| US08594017B2 |
Method for interference randomization of physical uplink control channel
A method for interference randomization of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), which is used in long term evolution (LTE) system, when multiple terminals multiplex PUCCH to transmit uplink control signalings, the difference of index of control channel resource used by any two terminals in the first timeslot of PUCCH is different from the difference of index of control channel resource used by the two terminals in the second timeslot of PUCCH. The invention can realize interference randomization between UEs that multiplex the same PUCCH. |
| US08594016B2 |
Method for optimizing a user equipment PDN (packet data network) connection
The invention concerns a method for optimizing a UE PDN (Packet Data Network) connection when said UE enters a VPLMN (Visited PLMN) characterized by automatically allocating a default bearer to said UE in said VPLMN during Tracking Area Update procedure. The method according to the invention is preferably but not exclusively used for allowing a local breakout of user plane or control plane traffic when the UE is roaming between several PLMNs. |
| US08594011B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing connection between eNB
A method and an apparatus for establishing a connection between evolved Node Bs (eNBs) are provided. The method includes after finding a new neighboring cell, sending, by a first network node, a first request message carrying information of a third network node, to which the neighboring cell belongs to a second network node, sending, by the second network node, a second request message carrying cell information of the first network node to the third network node, sending, by the third network node, a first response message carrying information of the first network node to the second network node, and sending, by the second network node, a second response message carrying cell information of the third network node to the first network node, for establishing, by the first network node, a communication connection between the first network node and the third network node with the cell information of the third network node. The present invention may establish the X2 interface connection between a Relay eNB or a Home eNB (HeNB) and other eNBs, and implement the X2 interface based application, such as the mobile handover. |
| US08593997B2 |
Full duplex/half duplex mismatch detecting method and full duplex/half duplex mismatch detecting apparatus applicable with the method
A full duplex/half duplex mismatch is detected by a full duplex/half duplex mismatch detecting apparatus connected through a network to a host. The loss rate of the transmission of a check messages is compared according to a sequential transmission pattern and the loss rate of the transmission of the check message according to divided transmission patterns by the full duplex/half duplex mismatch detecting apparatus, and if the loss rate of the transmission of the check messages according to the sequential transmission pattern is the larger, a full duplex/half duplex mismatch is determined to be present on the network path. |
| US08593995B1 |
Integrated home service network
The present invention provides a centralized home controller that is used to coordinate a plurality of associated packet communication clients. The home controller provides a centralized and unified control and messaging system for the various packet communication clients. The home controller also allows the packet communication clients to establish and control packet sessions among the associated packet communication clients, as well as between any one of the packet communication clients and remote clients. The packet communication clients are provided in consumer electronics devices, and the associated packet sessions support data, voice, audio, or video content. In one embodiment, the home controller acts as a proxy for the various communications between the packet communication clients. |
| US08593992B2 |
System and method for throughput enhancement
A method in a first node of a network comprises computing a packet duration when using a first unicast profile with a first type preamble and a packet duration when using a second unicast profile with a second type preamble; comparing the computed packet durations so as to determine one from the first and second unicast profiles which yields a shorter duration; and sending the packet to a second node by using the determined unicast profile. |
| US08593991B2 |
Method for synchronizing sleeping nodes in a wireless network
A system and method of operating a wireless network having a plurality of nodes. Each node determines whether to replace the beacon node. When a node determines that the beacon node is to be replaced, the node determines whether it should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node. The decision whether to nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node is a function of a random number generated by the node. If the node determines that it should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node, the node sends out one or more beacon signals. Beacon signals are received by potential replacement nodes and, if the potential replacement beacon node has received a beacon signal from a higher ranking potential replacement beacon node, the node removes itself as a candidate for the replacement beacon node. |
| US08593990B1 |
Measurement reporting
A network sends downlink a neighbor frequency list for redirection (with at least one neighbor frequency) for measurement, for example event-triggered measurement. For each frequency in the list which a user equipment UE finds to satisfy one or more criteria, for example event-triggering criteria, the idle-state or semi-idle-state UE then takes a measurement of the neighbor frequency and checks whether the measurement satisfies reporting criteria. The UE sends to its serving cell an indication of the neighbor frequency or frequencies whose measurement meets the reporting criteria, without reporting the measurement, such as in a RRC Connection Request message. The serving cell then redirects the UE to establish a connection on a target frequency selected from the indicated neighbor frequencies, and this redirect may be in a RRC Connection Reject message. |
| US08593989B2 |
Method and device for determining CQI value in coordinated multi-point transmission/reception
In the invention, a method for determining a channel quality indicator (CQI) value in coordinated multi-point transmission/reception (COMP) is provided, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a receiving side feeds back an independent CQI value or normalized useful signal power of each point of all or part of the points in a COMP measurement set or reporting set to a network side; the receiving side feeds back the correlation coefficient between the channel of each point and the channel of a master serving point to the network side; and the network side determines, according to the correlation coefficient and the independent CQI value of each point or normalized useful signal power, the CQI value used for coordinated multi-point transmission/reception. In the invention, a device is also provided for determining the CQI value in COMP. The feedback overhead is low in the present invention, and a more accurate final CQI value can be obtained through function operation. |
| US08593984B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring individual receiving power using identification signal
Provided is an apparatus and method for measuring an individual receiving power using an identification signal of a repeater or a transmitter. The apparatus and method includes a total receiving power measuring unit for measuring a total receiving power from transmitters; an identification signal analyzing unit for extracting a channel profile signal from the signal transmitted from the predetermined transmitter through a multi-path, wherein the predetermined transmitter transmits a signal having the identification signal; and an individual receiving power calculating unit for calculating an individual receiving power from the transmitter based on the measured total receiving power and the extracted channel profile signal. |
| US08593980B2 |
Feedback generation method and system for uplink transmit power control
A feedback generation method for uplink Transmit Power Control (TPC) in a mobile communication system is provided. A feedback generation system for uplink TPC includes an uplink information receiver to receive uplink information from a terminal, to measure a Signal-to-Interference Noise Ratio (SINR) value with respect to the received uplink information, and to measure a movement speed of the terminal, a transmission power adjustment value setting unit to set a transmission power adjustment value based on the movement speed of the terminal; an adjusted SINR calculator to calculate an adjusted SINR value, based on an expected SINR value and the measured SINR value; and a feedback information regenerator to regenerate feedback information based on the transmission power adjustment value and the adjusted SINR value, and to transmit the regenerated feedback information to the terminal. |
| US08593979B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling uplink power in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for controlling uplink transmit power in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The method includes determining an uplink transmit power for each of the plurality of transmission channels, and sequentially allocating the determined uplink transmit powers to the transmission channels in a descending order of predetermined priority levels of the transmission channels, within a maximum available transmit power of the user equipment. The priority levels of the transmission channels are predetermined so that control channels, a sounding channel, a data channel, and a bandwidth request channel have priority levels in a descending order. |
| US08593978B2 |
Peer-to-peer telephone system
There is provided a peer-to-peer telephone system comprising a plurality of end-users and a communication structure through which one or more end-users are couplable for communication purposes. The system is distinguished in that the communication structure is substantially de-centralized with regard to communication route switching therein for connecting the one or more end-users. One or more end-users are operable to establish their own communication routes through the structure based on exchange of one or more authorization certificates, namely User Identity Certificates (UIC), to acquire access to the structure. The structure comprises an administration arrangement for issuing said one or more certificates to said one or more end-users. |
| US08593974B2 |
Communication conditions determination method, communication conditions determination system, and determination apparatus
A communication conditions determination method, a communication conditions determination system, and a determination apparatus are provided in which the conditions of communication which is performed through a plurality of communication networks are determined without setting up a special apparatus on all the communication networks and without increasing the existing traffic. In a first communication network 100 and a second communication network 200 which are connected by a first connection apparatus 1 such as a router, a determination is made as to whether the source of a packet passed through the second communication network 200 is the first connection apparatus 1 or an apparatus other than the first connection apparatus 1. Packets whose respective sources are the first connection apparatus 1 and packets whose respective sources are an apparatus other than the first connection apparatus 1 are individually summarized. By comparing summarized results, the communication conditions are determined. |
| US08593967B2 |
Method and system of intelligently load balancing of Wi-Fi access point apparatus in a WLAN
A computer networking infrastructure for load balancing, which comprises a network, access points each with a first service set identifier, computing devices and a computing system. The computing system can receive requests from computing devices to access the network via a second service set identifier of an access point. In response to a request to access the network from a computing device, the computing system generates a list of access points which are able to support a connection with the computing device. The computing device may connect to the network via an access point on the list and via the first service set identifier. |
| US08593965B2 |
Mitigating the effects of congested interfaces on a fabric
Techniques are provided for mitigating the effects of slow or no drain devices on a fabric. One or more of the described embodiments can be used alone or in combination to address problems associated with inter-switch link blocking and to address the situation where flows which are not associated with slow/no drain devices suffer the negative impacts of slow or no drain devices on a fabric. |
| US08593963B2 |
Method and system for controlling mobility in a communication network, related network and computer program product therefor
A communication network includes at least one mobile terminal and a plurality of home agents to supply communication services to the mobile terminal. In the network, an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) platform is configured for reallocating the supply of the communication services to the mobile terminal from a first home agent to a second home agent of the plurality. |
| US08593960B2 |
Providing a bufferless transport method for multi-dimensional mesh topology
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining whether a packet received in an input/output (I/O) circuit of a node is destined for the node and if so, providing the packet to an egress queue of the I/O circuit and determining whether one or more packets are present in an ingress queue of the I/O circuit and if so, providing a selected packet to a first or second output register according to a global schedule that is independent of traffic flow. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08593955B2 |
Packet relay device and congestion control method
A packet relay device is equipped with a buffer memory including a plurality of queues for temporarily storing packets, and a storage unit for storing the first queue lengths indicating the respective queue length of each of the queues and a second queue length indicating a value according to a total of the plurality of first queue lengths. When the packet relay device receives packets, it discerns the queue to which the received packet belongs from among the plurality of queues, and temporarily stores the packet in relation to the discerned queue within the buffer memory. Then, the first queue length and the second queue length are updated, and a determination is made of whether or not to send a congestion notification to the packet sending source according to the first queue length corresponding to the discerned queue, and to the second queue length. |
| US08593953B2 |
System and method for controlling data transmission in a multihop wireless network
Systems and methods are provided for media access control and rate control to improve data throughput in multihop wireless networks. For controlling media access, an unlocking mechanism is provided that sets the unlocking times at which the scheduling patterns of a MAC protocol is unlocked by requiring all, or a subset of links, to stop transmitting. The unlocking times are set and updated according to quality of service requirements which may change over time. Parameters of the MAC protocol and packet arrivals rates to the links in the network are updated using the parameters of the unlocking mechanism, the queue-sizes, and the utility functions of the links in the network. |
| US08593952B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating a Wi-Fi hotspot for offloading wireless traffic
A method and apparatus for locating a Wi-Fi hotspot for offloading wireless traffic from a cellular network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains network traffic data for the second type of wireless access network for a geographical area, and obtains a list of sectors in the geographical area. The method selects at least one sector from the list of sectors to be relieved, and determines a geographical range for the at least one sector. The method then obtains at least one hotspot of the first type of wireless access network within the geographical range, wherein the at least one hotspot is a potential location for offloading the wireless traffic from the second type of wireless access network. |
| US08593951B2 |
Multiplexing and demultiplexing data
A method of demultiplexing data, the method comprising: during each of a series of time-units, receiving multiplexed data, wherein the multiplexed data comprises, for each of a plurality of channels, a corresponding quantity of channel data of a corresponding data size; and during each of the series of time-units, for each of the plurality of channels, storing the corresponding quantity of channel data received during that time-unit in a contiguous region of a memory associated with that channel; wherein each of the plurality of channels has a corresponding time-unit-number such that, for each of the plurality of channels, the channel data stored in the corresponding region of the memory for that channel is to be processed after a number of time units equal to the time-unit-number for that channel has passed since channel data for that channel was last processed; characterized in that the method comprises: determining the locations of the regions of the memory based on the data sizes and the time-unit-numbers corresponding to one or more channels from the plurality of channels such that the step of storing will not store channel data at a location in the memory that is currently storing channel data that has not yet been processed. |
| US08593946B2 |
Congestion control using application slowdown
A computer-implemented method is provided, including monitoring one or more parameters of a computer system that executes one or more service requester processes that issue service requests to one or more service provider processes. A congestion in the system is detected by analyzing the parameters. Upon identifying at least one of the service requester processes as contributing to the congestion, execution of the at least one of the service requester processes is slowed. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08593942B2 |
Load balancing communication device and load balance management device
In a load balancing communication device and a load balance management device configuring a load balancing system, a storage holds, when the device is a load balancing communication device of a working system, working communication information of the device itself and protection communication information corresponding to working communication information of another or other load balancing communication devices of the working system, or holds, when the device is a load balancing communication device of a redundant system, protection communication information corresponding to working communication information of another or other load balancing communication devices of the working system, and a processing share management portion instructs, when communication processing is no longer performed with the working communication information in the load balancing communication device of the working system, a frame processor to perform communication processing by making the protection communication information corresponding to the working communication information working communication information. |
| US08593935B2 |
Method of transmitting data in multi-cell cooperative wireless communication system
A method of transmitting data in a multi-cell cooperative wireless communication system is provided. The method includes splitting data to be transmitted into first data and second data, determining a first beamforming vector for the first data and a second beamforming vector for the second data, and transmitting the first data by using the first beamforming vector and the second data by using the second beamforming vector. The present invention provides a data transmission method which does not cause deterioration of overall system performance while minimizing inter-cell interference. |
| US08593931B2 |
Replica disk for data storage
Data storage replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves are provided. |
| US08593930B2 |
Optical recording medium, information recording method, and information reproducing method
According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the first light reflecting layer is smaller than the thickness of the second light reflecting layer. |
| US08593929B1 |
Moving coil type pick up cartridge assembly
A moving coil type pick up capsule having a body, cantilever having first and second ends, a stylus located at its first end and a coil located at its second end and, therebetween, a dampener having an opening therethrough. The cantilever passes through the dampener opening such that the stylus is on a first side of the dampener and the coil is on a second side of the dampener. First and second magnets or yokes are positioned within or proximate the capsule body and spaced from one another to create a gap, the dampener and coil being positioned within the gap such that the fulcrum is located between the stylus and coil and specifically at the dampener. A dampening fluid fills the gap to complete the assembly. |
| US08593926B2 |
Information storage device, information recording medium, and information storage method
An information storage device includes an information recording medium, at least a single light source that emits laser light, an illuminating unit that illuminates substantially the same position of the information recording medium with two light rays generated from the laser light, in different directions, a light detecting unit that detects reflection light of the two light rays reflected from the information recording medium and outputs a detection signal, an operation unit that calculates position error information of the information recording medium based on the detection signal; and, a driving device that changes the position of the information recording medium based on the position error information. |
| US08593924B2 |
System and method for initialization of media asset modules for improved execution sequence on a playback environment
There is provided a system and method for initialization of media asset modules for an improved execution sequence on a playback environment. The system includes a player application configured to segment media assets associated with a primary media content into a plurality of asset modules, assemble the plurality of asset modules into a media file, identify a first subset of asset modules from the plurality of asset modules for loading in a first loading process, determine a loading sequence for the first subset of asset modules, and load the first subset of asset modules according to the loading sequence before beginning playback of the primary media content. The player application may be further configured to identify, determine another loading sequence for, and load additional asset modules after playback of the primary media content has begun. |
| US08593923B2 |
Optical disc apparatus
An optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup that emits light to an optical disc and receives reflection light reflected by the optical disc, a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature of the optical pickup, a temperature control processing portion that performs a process corresponding to temperature information obtained by the temperature sensor, and a filter portion that performs filtering of a signal about the temperature information during a period until the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor is input to the temperature control processing portion. |
| US08593922B2 |
Optical disc apparatus, focus control method and control program
Focus control is performed for an optical disc having at least two data layers. One data layer is located closer than the other to a beam-incident surface of the disc. Maximum levels in positive and negative sides on a characteristic curve of a focus error signal obtained from the disc are obtained for both data layers. First and second focus balance values are obtained based on the maximum levels for the data layers, respectively. It is determined whether a difference between the first and second focus balance values satisfies at least either a first requirement or a second requirement. The first requirement requires that the difference exceed a predetermined threshold value. The second requirement requires that the second focus balance value be smaller than a predetermined threshold value. A focus balance value is selected depending on a result of the determination, for focus control. |
| US08593921B1 |
Optical media servo tracking
An optical media storage system includes an optical pickup that unit that reads data marks from a track of optical media, detects a relative position between the optical pickup unit and the data marks, and detects a relative position between the optical pickup unit and the track. The storage system further includes an actuator and a controller that commands the actuator to position the optical pickup unit based on both of the detected relative positions. |
| US08593920B1 |
Calibration based DC coupled analog front end for optical storage system
A signal conditioning unit processes a data signal from an optical pickup unit. The signal conditioning unit includes a single-ended channel and a dual-ended channel. One of the single-ended channel and the dual-ended channel is selected as an active channel, and a reference level of a signal in the active channel is calibrated. The signal in the active channel is adjusted within a dynamic range of a digital signal processing stage, and the data signal of the active channel is converted to a digital signal at the digital signal processing stage. |
| US08593919B2 |
Recording medium, reproduction and recording method, reproduction and recording device
Obtain an expanded address without altering the bit number of an address which is embedded in a wobble. Generate a virtual bit which is not recorded on a disc, and which is expressed by the disparity from the rules and the presence or absence of information embedded in part or all of the wobble address. |
| US08593913B2 |
Magnetic recording device, controller thereof, and magnetic recording method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device includes: a magnetic recording medium provided with data regions for data recording; a light output module which outputs an optical signal to be applied to a recording position where recording data is recorded of the data regions; a write head which records the recoding data at the recording position magnetically; a light quantity setting module which sets a light quantity value of the optical signal output from the light output module; a heat-assisted recording controller which performs a control so that the recording data is recorded by the write head at the recording position which is heat-assisted by applying an optical signal with the set light quantity value; and a controller which adjusts the light quantity value of the optical signal set by the light quantity setting module using the recording position being a part of the data regions. |
| US08593912B1 |
Multimedia alarm clock projector
A multimedia alarm clock projector having a housing assembly, a speaker system, and a projector assembly. The projector assembly has a projector having a focusing ring and lens. The projector further has electrical wiring, a mount assembly, and first base. The first base is mounted onto the housing assembly. The projector projects a visual projection at any angle between a horizontal plane to an vertical plane. The projector assembly further has a stationary ring fixed to the housing assembly. The stationary ring has a first lip. The projector assembly further has a rotational base plate with a second lip, a second base, and a channel. The rotational base plate is rotatably mounted onto the stationary ring, whereby the channel receives the first lip. The projector is mounted onto the rotational base plate. The rotational base plate comprises a cavity. The multimedia alarm clock further has a remote control. |
| US08593911B2 |
Fluid indicating wristwatch
A Wristwatch having a housing (1); a movement (8, 9, 10) lodged in the housing; a watch glass (6) above the housing; a fluid pump (5) driven by the movement for pumping a fluid. And, at least one channel (60) through the glass (6), arranged so that the fluid circulated by the pump (5) reaches the channel, in order to sequentially color various portions of the glass for displaying time indications. |
| US08593910B2 |
Permanent seismic source
The present invention relates to a system for emitting seismic waves in an underground formation traversed by a well comprising a casing (10). The system comprises a casing seal (1) allowing passage of a magnetic field, an active part generating seismic waves, made up of magnetic-field active elements (4) and arranged outside the casing seal, and a mobile magnetic field induction source (8) arranged inside the casing seal. The invention also relates to a method implementing the seismic wave emission system. |
| US08593909B2 |
Method and apparatus for passive determination of target parameters
A method and an apparatus for passive determination of target parameters by directionally selective reception of sound waves emitted or transmitted from a target, by an arrangement (24) of underwater sound sensors of a sonar receiving installation from estimated bearing angles determined from estimated positions of the target, and bearing angles measured at the measurement point by the arrangement (24). A bearing angle difference between measured and estimated bearing angles is iteratively minimized and, when the minimum is reached, the target parameters are used for an optimized solution for outputting target position, course, range and/or velocity and they are updated during each processing cycle in a series of successive processing cycles. To estimate the reliability of this optimized solution, during each processing cycle a multiplicity of different target tracks Z(i,j) are calculated from possible solutions for the target parameters to be determined, specifically an assumed target course Cest, an assumed target range Rest and/or an assumed target velocity Vest. Associated bearing angles Best are assumed for each of the possible solutions, and the assumed bearing angles Best are used to calculate a quality measure. |
| US08593908B2 |
Method for determining an echo distance in an acoustic pulse-echo ranging system
A method, which allows, in an acoustic pulse-echo ranging system, the direct use of a digitized raw echo signal for correlation-based echo distance estimation, where an acoustic pulse having a carrier frequency is transmitted, a digital expected echo shape is provided with a time resolution higher than the carrier frequency, an echo is received from the acoustic pulse, the received echo is sampled and digitized at a sampling frequency higher than the carrier frequency, correlation values are created from the digitized received echo and the digital expected echo shape, the correlation values are weighted by emphasizing stronger correlation values, and the echo distance is determined from the center of mass of the weighted values. |
| US08593901B2 |
Data write training method
Embodiments may be directed to a method of operating a semiconductor device, the method including receiving a first write training command, receiving a first write data responsive to the first write training command through a first data line, and transmitting the first write data through a second data line. Transmitting the first write data is performed without an additional training command. |
| US08593897B2 |
Memory controller, semiconductor storage device, and memory system including the memory controller and the semiconductor storage device for outputting temperature value in low power consumption mode
A memory system includes a clock generation circuit, a memory device, and a controller. The memory device includes output circuits and a temperature sensor, the output circuits configured to output data at an output timing obtained based on a clock signal supplied from the clock generation circuit. The controller includes input circuits that receive the data outputted from the memory device at an input timing obtained based on a clock signal supplied from the clock generation circuit and a correction value setting circuit that adjusts the input timing based on a temperature value from the temperature sensor. |
| US08593895B2 |
Semiconductor device and control method thereof
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device comprising an array having a hierarchical bit line structure, global bit lines adjacent to each other, local bit lines corresponding to the global bit lines, hierarchical switches, precharge circuits precharging the global bit lines, precharge circuits precharging the local bit lines, and a control circuit. When performing a test of the array, precharge voltages for the global bit lines are set to potentials different from each other, and the control circuit controls the potentials to be applied to the local bit lines through the global bit lines and the hierarchical switches. |
| US08593893B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and read wait time adjustment method thereof, memory system, and semiconductor device
A controller includes a set of first terminals to be coupled to a device that is under control of the controller, and a control circuit configured to generate and output onto the set of first terminals edge specifying information that takes a selected one of first and second states, the edge specifying information being supplied to the device to cause the device to activate a data strobe signal at a first timing when the selected one of the edge specifying information is the first state and at a second timing, that is different from the first timing, when the edge specifying information is the second state, the control circuit being further configured to generate and output onto the set of first terminals a read command, the read command being supplied to the device to cause the device to return to the controller a data signal. |
| US08593892B2 |
Semiconductor device and system
A system includes a data transmitting device and a data receiving device. The data transmitting device includes a data strobe signal generation unit configured to generate first and second data strobe signals in response to an output enable signal, and a data output unit configured to transmit data in synchronization with the first data strobe signal. The data receiving device is configured to receive the data in synchronization with the second data strobe signal. |
| US08593890B2 |
Implementing supply and source write assist for SRAM arrays
A method and circuit for implementing write assist for Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) arrays, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The circuit includes a write driver including a common bit line supply node, and a common bit line source node. The circuit includes voltage boost circuitry that temporarily boosts the common bit line supply node above supply voltage and temporarily boosts the common bit line source node below source voltage through isolation devices for applying the boosted source and supply voltages to a selected SRAM cell during a write operation. Splitting the boost differential between the common bit lines decreases an overall device voltage differential for providing substantially enhanced reliability of the SRAM array. |
| US08593884B2 |
Data storage system and a data retention method thereof
A data retention method that includes sampling a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices included in a data storage device to detect retention information for each of the nonvolatile memory devices in response to a request of a host and outputting, from the data storage device to the host, sampling data based on a result of the sampling, determining, at the host, whether to perform a retention operation on each of the nonvolatile memory devices based on the sampling data, and performing the retention operation on each of the nonvolatile memory devices based on a result of the determination. |
| US08593883B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and driving method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of wordlines and a driver configured to, when an wordline of the plurality of wordlines is activated by an active command, drive at least one non-activated wordline neighboring the activated wordline and remaining non-activated wordlines with different wordline driving voltage levels during a period of time that the activated wordline is driven to a high voltage level. |
| US08593878B2 |
Program method and flash memory using the same
A program method, applied in a flash memory, includes the following steps. Firstly, a first memory sector and a second memory sector are selected, wherein the first and the second memory sectors respectively correspond to a first word line and a second word line. Next, a first operation phase and a second operation phase are determined. Then, the first word line is biased with a first setup voltage, and the second word line is driven in one of a program operation and a program-verification operation, in the first operation phase. After that, the second word line is biased with a second setup voltage, and the first word line is driven in the other one of the program operation and the program-verification operation in the second operation phase. |
| US08593876B2 |
Sensing scheme in a memory device
Methods of operating memory devices, generating reference currents in memory devices, and sensing data states of memory cells in a memory device are disclosed. One such method includes generating reference currents utilized in sense amplifier circuitry to manage leakage currents while performing a sense operation within a memory device. Another such method activates one of two serially coupled transistors along with activating and deactivating the second transistor serially coupled with the first transistor thereby regulating a current through both serially coupled transistors and establishing a particular reference current. |
| US08593873B2 |
Apparatuses and methods of reprogramming memory cells
Apparatuses and methods for reprogramming memory cells are described. One or more methods for memory cell operation includes programming a number of memory cells such that each of the number of memory cells are at either a first program state or a second program state, the second program state having a first program verify voltage associated therewith; and reprogramming the number of memory cells such that at least one of the number of memory cells is reprogrammed to a third program state having a second program verify voltage associated therewith, wherein those of the number of memory cells having a threshold voltage less than the second program verify voltage represent a same data value. |
| US08593872B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device capable of speeding up data write
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. The memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells is connected to a plurality of word lines stacked on a semiconductor substrate, and the memory cells having a charge accumulation layer, and the charge accumulation layers are united between adjacent memory cells. When writing data to a memory cell group connected to the nth (n is a natural number) word line of the memory cell array, the control circuit controls to simultaneously apply the same program voltage to memory cell groups connected to the (n−1)th and (n+1)th word lines. |
| US08593869B2 |
Apparatuses and methods including memory array and data line architecture
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having memory cells located in different device levels of a device, at least a portion of a transistor located in a substrate of the device, and a data line coupled to the transistor and the memory cells. The data line can be located between the transistor and the memory cells. Other embodiments including additional apparatus and methods are described. |
| US08593868B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including memory block groups each coupled to bit lines, a page buffer group coupled to first bit lines of a first memory block group and configured to control voltages of the first bit lines of the first memory block group depending on data to be stored in memory cells in a program operation and configured to sense the voltage of the first bit lines in a read operation, at least one bit line coupling circuit configured to couple first bit lines of a nth memory block group to the page buffer group by selectively coupling first bit lines of the first to nth memory block groups in response to bit line coupling signals, and bit line control circuits configured to control second bit lines of the memory block groups in response to bit line control signals. |
| US08593859B2 |
Semiconductor device for preventing erroneous write to memory cell in switching operational mode between normal mode and standby mode
When an operational mode is shifted to a standby mode, a first transistor is brought into a conduction state by a control signal, and a word line is thereby clamped to a ground voltage. Further, a second transistor is brought into a non-conduction state, and supply of an internal power supply voltage to a word line driver is shut off. Subsequently, the supply of the internal power supply voltage is halted for saving electrical power. When the operational mode returns to a normal mode, the supply of the internal power supply voltage is started, and subsequently, the first transistor is brought into the non-conduction state by the control signal, and the second transistor is thereby brought into the conduction state. |
| US08593858B2 |
Driving method of semiconductor device
A driving method by which stored data can be retained even with no power supply and the number of writing operations is not limited is provided. The variation of a writing potential to a memory element is suppressed to improve the reliability according to a new driving method. According to the driving method of a semiconductor device, in writing data, the writing potential is increased step-by-step while verifying the reading current, and the result of the reading current is used for the writing current. That is, data writing is performed while verifying whether data writing is performed with an accurate potential. Accordingly, data writing can be performed with high reliability. |
| US08593857B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, driving method thereof, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A matrix is formed using a plurality of memory cells in each of which a drain of the writing transistor is connected to a gate of a reading transistor and one electrode of a capacitor. A gate of the writing transistor, a source of the writing transistor, a source of the reading transistor, and a drain of the reading transistor are connected to a writing word line, a writing bit line, a reading bit line, and a bias line, respectively. The other electrode of the capacitor is connected to a reading word line. In order to decrease the number of wirings, the writing bit line is substituted for the reading bit line. The reading bit line is formed so as to be embedded in a groove-like opening formed over a substrate. |
| US08593856B2 |
Signal processing circuit and method for driving the same
It is an object to provide a memory device for which a complex manufacturing process is not necessary and whose power consumption can be suppressed and a signal processing circuit including the memory device. In a memory element including a phase-inversion element by which the phase of an input signal is inverted and the signal is output such as an inverter or a clocked inverter, a capacitor which holds data and a switching element which controls storing and releasing of electric charge in the capacitor are provided. For the switching element, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region is used. The memory element is applied to a memory device such as a register or a cache memory included in a signal processing circuit. |
| US08593853B2 |
Nonvolatile storage device and method for writing into the same
The nonvolatile storage device includes a variable resistance element (106) and a write circuit (101) which writes data into the variable resistance element, wherein the variable resistance element has a property of changing from a first resistance state (LR state or HR state) to a second resistance state (HR state or LR state) when a pulse of a first voltage (Vh or Vl) is applied to the variable resistance element, and changing from the second resistance state to the first resistance state when a pulse of a second voltage (Vl or Vh) is applied to the variable resistance element, and the write circuit applies, to the variable resistance element, at least the pulse of the first voltage, a pulse of a third voltage (VlLow or VhLow), and the pulse of the first voltage in this order, when the variable resistance element is caused to change from the first resistance state to the second resistance state. |
| US08593850B2 |
Diode-less array for one-time programmable memory
A one-time programmable memory array includes a first row conductor extending in a first row direction and disposed at a first elevation, a second row conductor extending in a second row direction and disposed at a second elevation and a column conductor extending in a column direction and disposed adjacent to the first row conductor and adjacent to the second row conductor. The array also includes a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the column conductor, a fuse link coupled between the dielectric layer on the column conductor and the second row conductor. |
| US08593845B2 |
Converter controller
Provided is a converter controller capable of preventing destruction of an element such as an auxiliary switch by preventing operation interference between auxiliary circuits of respective phases in a multiphase soft switching converter. A duty threshold input unit receives, as an input, an obtained acceptable duty deviation value. A duty deviation computation unit judges whether or not the duty deviation between the phases does not exceed an acceptable duty deviation value. When the duty deviation between the phases exceeds the acceptable duty deviation value, the duty deviation computation unit corrects an adjusted U-phase duty ratio, adjusted V-phase duty ratio and adjusted W-phase duty ratio under the PID control rule, and outputs the resultant duty ratios to an FC converter control circuit. On the other hand, when the duty deviation between the phases does not exceed the acceptable duty deviation value, the duty deviation computation unit does not correct the adjusted U-phase duty ratio, adjusted V-phase duty ratio and adjusted W-phase duty ratio and outputs them to the FC converter control circuit. |
| US08593843B2 |
Electric power conversion device capable of suppressing electric oscillations
An electric power conversion device includes a power conversion circuit for receiving electric power from an overhead wire through an LC filter circuit composed of a reactor and a capacitor and converting the electric power to output and a control unit for controlling the power conversion circuit, wherein the control unit is provided with a delay unit for delaying the voltage across the capacitor so as to produce a first control signal, produces a second output voltage instruction from the first control signal and a first output voltage instruction specifying the magnitude of the output voltage of the converted power, and controls the power conversion circuit based on the second output voltage instruction. |
| US08593842B1 |
Method and apparatus for supplying and switching power
A dimming power supply includes a power source, a transformer, a full bridge rectifier and a control switch. |
| US08593838B2 |
Power supply device
A power supply device for intrinsically safe power supply of an intrinsically safe load circuit includes a voltage source, a power-limiting circuit including at least two controllable semiconductor devices, a current-limiting circuit including at least one resistor, and a load circuit connector connected to the load circuit. The power-limiting circuit and the current-limiting circuit are active between the voltage source and the load circuit connector. The resistor includes a resistance value that suffices to limit a short circuit current to a current without danger of a spark ignition. |
| US08593835B2 |
Duty balancing oscillator
The present invention relates to an oscillator that is capable of realizing duty balancing.The oscillator determines a switching frequency of a converter converting an input voltage according to a switching operation of switches to generate an output voltage.The oscillator determines a first half cycle of a duty signal determining the switching frequency by using a reference current according to a feedback signal corresponding to the output voltage. The oscillator senses a first half cycle period by using an output of the frequency setting unit, and determines the same period as the first half cycle as a second half cycle of the duty signal after the first half cycle. |
| US08593833B2 |
Method and apparatus for a flyback power converter providing output voltage and current regulation without input capacitor
A control circuit of a power converter according to the present invention comprises an output circuit, at least one input circuit and an input-voltage detection circuit. The output circuit generates a switching signal for regulating an output of the power converter in response to at least one feedback signal. The switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter. The input circuit samples at least one input signal for generating the feedback signal. The input signal is correlated to the output of the power converter. The input-voltage detection circuit generates an input-voltage signal in response to the level of the an input voltage of the power converter. The input circuit will not sample the input signal when the input-voltage signal is lower than a threshold. The control circuit can eliminate the need of the input capacitor for improving the reliability of the power converter. |
| US08593828B2 |
Communications equipment housings, assemblies, and related alignment features and methods
Communications system housings, assemblies, and related alignment features and methods are disclosed. In certain embodiments, communications cards and related assemblies and methods that include one or more alignment features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, at least one digital connector disposed in the communications card is configured to engage at least one complementary digital connector to align at least one RF connector also disposed in the communications card with at least one complementary RF connector. In other embodiments, printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies are disclosed that include a moveable standoff to provide an alignment feature. In other embodiments, distributed antenna systems and assemblies that include one or more alignment features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, an enclosure is provided that includes a midplane support configured to support a midplane interface card in a datum plane for establishing at least one connection to at least one distributed antenna system component. |
| US08593825B2 |
Apparatus and method for vertically-structured passive components
A manufacturing technique for constructing passive electronic components in vertical configurations is disclosed. Electrically passive components are constructed in a structure that is substantially perpendicular to target platform including a first plane to provide a larger electrode contact area and a smaller physical dimension. Passive components structured to be substantially perpendicular to a plane associated with a target platform can be directly connected to pad contacts of an integrated circuit or substrate or can be embedded in a package to reduce the area overhead of a passive component while improving the effectiveness of the passive components in their applications. |
| US08593818B2 |
Network on chip building bricks
The present invention relates to a Network on chip comprising a torus matrix of processing elements formed by a juxtaposition of bricks in rows and columns, each brick comprising a longitudinal extra-connection bus segment connecting two terminals situated on opposite transverse edges of the brick on a first axis; two longitudinal intra-connection bus segments connecting circuits of the brick to respective terminals situated on the opposite transverse edges on a second axis symmetrical to the first axis with respect to the center of the brick; a transverse extra-connection bus segment connecting two terminals situated on opposite longitudinal edges of the brick on a third axis; and two transverse intra-connection bus segments connecting circuits of the brick to respective terminals situated on the opposite longitudinal edges on a fourth axis symmetrical to the third axis with respect to the center of the brick. The bricks are oriented at 180° from one to the next in the direction of the columns and in the direction of the rows, and each brick comprises an even number of power supply conductor segments arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis of symmetry of the brick and connecting opposite edges of the brick. |
| US08593816B2 |
Compact connector assembly for implantable medical device
A connector assembly for an implantable medical device includes a plurality of feedthroughs mounted in a conductive array plate, each feedthrough in the plurality of feedthroughs including a feedthrough pin electrically isolated from the conductive array plate by an insulator and an electronic module assembly including a plurality of conductive strips set in a non-conductive block. The plurality of conductive strips is in physical and electrical contact with the feedthrough pins at an angle of less than 135 degrees. The connector assembly further includes at least one circuit, the circuit including a plurality of conductors corresponding to the plurality of feedthroughs. The plurality of conductors of the circuit is in physical and electrical contact with a corresponding one of the conductive strips of the plurality of conductive strips of the electronic module assembly at an angle of less than 135 degrees. |
| US08593815B2 |
Techniques for data center cooling
Techniques for cooling in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a computer equipment rack is provided comprising one or more air inlets; one or more exhaust outlets; and one or more of: an air inlet duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the air inlets, the air inlet duct having a lateral dimension that approximates a lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than a length of the computer equipment rack, and an air exhaust duct mounted to the computer equipment rack surrounding at least a portion of the exhaust outlets, the air exhaust duct having a lateral dimension that approximates the lateral dimension of the computer equipment rack and a length that is less than the length of the computer equipment rack. |
| US08593808B2 |
Integrated fan motor and controller housing
An electronics cooling system comprises a tubular fan duct and an electronics housing. The fan duct includes has a fan duct casing containing a fan with rotor blades and stator vanes. The electronics housing is mounted directly on the tubular fan duct, such that the electronics housing and the fan duct casing together enclose an interior space. A cooling airflow path extends from a high-pressure region of the tubular fan duct, through an inlet hole into the interior space, and out a bleed hole into a surrounding environment. The electronics cooling system further comprises three electronics mounts within the interior space. A first electronics mount is located immediately adjacent to the inlet hole, on the fan duct. A second electronics mount is located immediately radially outward of the stator vanes, on the fan duct. A third electronics mount is located immediately adjacent to the bleed hole, on the housing. |
| US08593805B2 |
Portable electronic device and thermal module thereof
A thermal module includes a centrifugal fan and a circuit board. The circuit board defines a through hole therein. The centrifugal fan includes a top plate located above the circuit board and aligned with the through hole, a first sidewall extending from a circumferential edge of the top plate toward the circuit board, a bottom plate located below the circuit board and aligned with the through hole, a second sidewall extending from a circumferential edge of the bottom plate toward the circuit board, and an impeller. The first sidewall abuts a top surface of the circuit board around the through hole. The second sidewall abuts a bottom surface of the circuit board around the through hole. The impeller is smaller than the through hole. The impeller extends through to be located in the through hole. |
| US08593801B2 |
Slide mechanism and portable communication terminal provided with same, and slide movement method
A slide mechanism of the present invention is provided between a first casing section and a second casing section arranged so that one surfaces thereof face each other, and is capable of, with respect to the first casing section, relatively moving the second casing section, on the one surface of the first casing section, from a basic position. The slide mechanism includes: a first slit which extends along a predetermined linear movement direction on the one surface of the first casing section; a second slit which extends in parallel with the first slit on the one surface of the first casing section; a third slit which extends on the one surface of the second casing section so as to correspond to the first slit; a fourth slit which extends on the one surface of the second casing section so as to correspond to the second slit; a first support shaft which is inserted in the first slit and the third slit, is rotatable about its axis with respect to at least either one of the first slit and the third slit, and is movable along the first slit and the third slit; and a second support shaft which is inserted in the second slit and the fourth slit, is rotatable about its axis with respect to at least either one of the second slit and the fourth slit, and is movable along the second slit and the fourth slit. |
| US08593799B2 |
Stand and display device including stand
A stand includes: a base including a front arm and a rear arm each in which a rod including thread parts at both ends is bent with the both ends facing each other; a hinge unit including two joint members each of which has at least two through-holes, and arranged such that the thread part at the one end of the front arm and the thread part at the one end of the rear arm screw into one of the through-holes of the two joint members, and the thread part at the other end of the front arm and the thread part at the other end of the rear arm screw into the other of the through-holes of the two joint members; and a bracket including an attachment fixed onto an object to be supported, and fixed onto the two joint members. |
| US08593797B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display portion, a cantilever, a rotating disc unit, a base, and two cables. The cantilever has an upper end connected with the display portion, allowing the display portion to rotate relative to the cantilever about a first axis. The rotating disc unit is connected with a bottom of the cantilever, allowing the cantilever to pivot relative to the rotating disc unit about a second axis, which is parallel with the first axis. The base is connected to the rotating disc unit in a manner allowing the same to rotate relative to the base about a third axis, which is vertical to the first and second axes. The cables extend downward from the display portion along the cantilever and are inserted into the rotating disc unit. The cables enter the base after being placed adjacent to one another within the rotating disc unit. |
| US08593785B2 |
Electronic component
A laminate includes insulating layers laminated to each other. Capacitor conductors are embedded in the laminate and have exposed portions exposed between the insulating layers at respective surfaces of the laminate. The capacitor conductors define a capacitor. External electrodes are provided by plating on the respective surfaces of the laminate so as to directly cover the respective exposed portions. When the laminate is viewed in plan in a y axis direction, the length of each of the exposed portions is approximately 35% to approximately 45% of the length of an outer periphery of the insulating layer. |
| US08593777B1 |
User-actuated button ESD protection circuit with spark gap
A consumer electronic device including an electronic circuit designed to protect a user-actuated physical button from becoming degraded due to electrostatic discharges (ESD) strikes is described herein. The device includes a housing and the user-actuated physical button is exposed through the external surface of the housing. The device further includes a mechanical switch that is coupled to the physical button and a first resistor that is electrically coupled with a pair of terminals of the switch. The first resistor may be coupled either in series or in parallel with the terminals of the switch. To protect the first resistor from ESD strikes, a first spark gap is coupled in parallel with the first resistor. The device may also include a buffer circuit that is coupled to the switch. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08593775B2 |
Surge arrester
A surge arrester includes an active part, two electrodes resting against the active part and a connecting element. The active part and the electrodes are arranged in the connecting element. The connecting element is produced in an injection molding method or die-casting method, in which the connecting element shrinks during its production. As a result, the electrodes are firmly pressed against the active part. |
| US08593774B2 |
Polarized lightning arrestors
Systems and methods for dynamically defending a site from lightning strikes are provided. The systems and methods involve dynamically altering electrostatic fields above the site and/or dynamically intervening in lightning discharges processes in the vicinity of the site. |
| US08593772B2 |
Surge protection circuit
A surge protection circuit is disclosed for an electrical Load which may be for instance an LED load which is directly connected to a supply such as mains supply, and comprises a plurality of switches which are distributed across a plurality of semiconductor die. A surge detector detects the start of a spike in the supply, which results from, for example the commencement or interruption of a nearby inductive load, and opens all the switches. By distributing the switches across multiple die the peak voltage across each is reduced relative to using a single die; thereby each die can stay within the absolute maximum voltage capacity. Each die may have its own surge detector; alternatively, a single surge detector may be used which communicates with the switches on each of the die. In an extension the bridge rectifier may be integrated into the circuit distributed across the die. In this embodiment additional inter-die clamping diodes are required to prevent unsafe floating of the edge connections of each die. |
| US08593770B2 |
Protection circuit
A first protection circuit includes a first diode and a first transistor. The anode of the first diode is connected to a terminal to be protected. The first transistor is configured as an N-channel MOSFET, and arranged such that the first terminal of the conduction channel thereof is connected to the cathode of the first diode, and the second terminal of the conduction channel thereof, and the gate and the back gate thereof are connected to a fixed voltage terminal. The first transistor is configured as a floating MOSFET formed within an N-type well formed in a P-type semiconductor substrate. The first diode is formed in the shared N-type well in which the first transistor is formed. The cathode of the first diode and the first terminal of the conduction channel of the first transistor are connected to the N-type well. |
| US08593765B2 |
Head gimbal assembly and disk drive with a piezoelectric element
A head gimbal assembly having a stage fixed to a head-slider. A piezoelectric element which comprises; an upper surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a lower surface, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a gap between the first and second electrodes on the lower surface, the piezoelectric element moving the stage by extension or contraction thereof according to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes. A transmission wiring part which has a connection pad for the piezoelectric element. A cross-connector for physically and electrically cross-connecting the first electrode and the connection pad. An adhesive fixing part which is formed from an insulating adhesive and adhesively fixes the lower surface of the piezoelectric element to the transmission wiring part, between an end of the second electrode at the gap and the cross-connector. |
| US08593764B1 |
Method for fine actuation of a head during operation of a disk drive
A disk drive includes a voice coil actuator, and a rotary fine actuator that is attached to the head mounting tongue of the flexure of a suspension assembly. The head is positioned during operation of the disk drive by a novel method. An electrical current is driven through a coil of the voice coil actuator to torque it towards a desired coarse position. First and second voltages are applied across first and second piezoelectric elements attached to the flexure, respectively. The first and second voltages cause longitudinal deformation of the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively, the longitudinal deformation consisting of expansion relative to a zero-voltage state. The first and second voltages do not switch polarity during normal operation of the first and second piezoelectric elements. |
| US08593761B1 |
Vertical coil (VC) design for short yoke length perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer
A magnetic write head is fabricated with its driving coil formed as a vertical coil, with a series of spiral turns continuously connected to form a multiple turn helix that fits within even a write head with a short yoke length of approximately 2 microns. The vertical coil shape allows the effects of coil resistance to be decoupled from the number of coil turns so that pole tip protrusion caused by Joule heating can be significantly reduced even if the writing current is increased. The vertical coil shape allows higher frequency writing as well as a reduction in wide area track erasures (WATE). |
| US08593760B2 |
Hard disk drives with electrical connectors comprising a flexible circuit extending through an opening in the base and related methods
An improved hard disk drive of the invention comprises a housing, which comprises a base and a cover. The hard disk drive further internally comprises at least one disk for storage of data within the housing and an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk. An electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit extends through an opening in the base and provides electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive. Methods for forming the improved hard disk drives are also disclosed. |
| US08593757B2 |
Disk drive spindle motor with bearing mechanism fixed to base recessed portion using adhesive and shorter press-fit region
A spindle motor includes a stationary portion, a bearing mechanism, and a rotating portion. The bearing mechanism is attached to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a base portion, a stator, and a wiring. The base portion is arranged to define a portion of a housing of the disk drive apparatus, the housing defining an airtight interior space. The base portion includes a recessed portion defined on a side thereof where the interior space is defined. The recessed portion includes an inner side surface including an adhesion region and a press-fit region. A lower portion of the bearing mechanism is fixed to the adhesion region through an adhesive, and press fitted to the press-fit region. An axial dimension of the adhesion region is arranged to be greater than that of the press-fit region. |
| US08593756B2 |
Spindle motor, and disk drive apparatus including the spindle motor
A spindle motor includes a shaft arranged to extend in an axial direction, and a base portion arranged to define a portion of a housing, and including a through hole in which the shaft is inserted. A fixing region is defined between an inner circumferential portion of the base portion and a lower portion of the shaft. The fixing region includes a press-fitting region and an adhesion region defined on a lower side of the press-fitting region and in which a seal gap is defined between the inner circumferential portion of the base portion and the lower portion of the shaft. The seal gap is arranged to gradually decrease in radial width with increasing height. The seal gap is arranged to include an adhesive arranged therein over an entire circumference thereof. |
| US08593738B2 |
Imaging lens and camera module
Provided is an imaging lens and a camera module, the device including in an orderly way from an object side, a first lens with positive (+) refractive power; a second lens with negative (−) refractive power; a third lens with negative (−) refractive power; a fourth lens with negative (−) refractive power; and a fifth lens with negative (−) refractive power, wherein the lens is concavely formed at an object side surface. |
| US08593737B2 |
Photographing optical lens assembly
An photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with negative refractive power including a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with positive refractive power, a third lens element with positive refractive power including a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, a fourth lens element with negative refractive power includes a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, and a fifth lens element with positive refractive power including an image-side surface, an object-side surface and at least one inflection point. At least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric. By adjusting the photographing optical lens assembly, the total length of the photographing optical lens assembly is reduced, the aberration is corrected, and the image quality is improved. |
| US08593735B2 |
Image forming optical system and electronic image pickup apparatus using the same
An image forming optical system comprising four or five lens groups in total, wherein during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group changes, the first lens group comprises three lenses including a negative meniscus lens, a positive meniscus lens, and a positive lens, the second lens group includes a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side and a concave surface directed toward the image side, the negative meniscus lens being located closest to the object side in the second lens group, the position of the second lens group at the telephoto end is closer to the object side than that at the wide angle end, the image forming optical system has an aperture stop that moves integrally with the third lens group, the third lens group includes a positive lens component and a negative lens component, and the fourth lens group comprises one lens. |
| US08593734B2 |
Beam expansion with three-dimensional diffractive elements
The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for using a three-dimensional (3D) diffractive element (e.g., a 3D diffractive grating) for expanding in one or two dimensions the exit pupil of an optical beam in electronic devices. Various embodiments of the present invention can be applied, but are not limited, to forming images in virtual reality displays, to illuminating of displays (e.g., backlight illumination in liquid crystal displays) or keyboards, etc. |
| US08593728B2 |
Multilayer photonic structures
A multilayer photonic structure may include a plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material of index of refraction nH and a plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric material of index of refraction nL alternately arranged with a first coating layer and a last coating layer of the multi-layer photonic structure comprise low index material. An index-thickness of each coating layer of the multilayer photonic structure is different than every other coating layer of the multilayer photonic structure. The multilayer photonic structure has a first high reflectivity bandwidth, a second high reflectivity bandwidth and a low reflectivity bandwidth wherein the low reflectivity bandwidth is positioned between the first high reflectivity bandwidth and the second high reflectivity bandwidth. |
| US08593724B1 |
Four level magnon laser at room temperatures
A four level magnon laser comprising: a Magnon Gain Medium, wherein the Magnon Gain Medium supports generation of nonequilibrium magnons, and a means for pumping nonequilibrium electrons into Magnon Gain Medium. Propagation of nonequilibrium electrons in Magnon Gain Medium causes generation of nonequilibrium magnons. Magnon Gain Medium comprises ferromagnetic materials at room temperatures including the half-metallic ferromagnets. |
| US08593723B2 |
Method of manufacturing variable wavelength interference filter and variable wavelength interference filter
A method of manufacturing a variable wavelength interference filter includes forming an electrostatic gap forming groove, a wiring forming groove extending from the electrostatic gap forming groove to an outer peripheral edge of the chip region, and an air communication groove through which the wiring groove forming groove communicates with the outside of the first substrate, in a chip region of a first substrate. |
| US08593717B2 |
Pixel based gobo record control format
A special record format used for commanding light pattern shapes and addressable light pattern shape generator. The command format includes a first part which commands a specified gobo and second parts which command the characteristics of that hobo. The gobo is formed by making a default gobo based on the type and modifying that default gobo to fit the characteristics. |
| US08593715B2 |
Electrochromic compound, electrochromic composition, and display element
Disclosed are electrochromic compounds represented by the formulas defined in the specification. |
| US08593712B2 |
Small size fast steering mirror having small size and excellent vibration characteristics
A fast steering mirror has n plate springs (40a to 40d) and m drive means (50a to 50d). The plate springs (40a to 40d) are arranged such that a cross-sectional plane passing through the center of the thickness of each of the plate springs is on the same plane as the reflection surface of a mirror (20), and are arranged rotationally symmetric to each other about the center (O20). The plate springs each have a section extending along the circumference of the mirror holder, the section being obtained by dividing the perimeter of the mirror holder substantially into n sections. The drive means (50a to 50d) are arranged such that a cross-sectional plane passing through the center of torque generated by each of the drive means is on the same plane as the reflection surface of the mirror (20) and are rotationally symmetric to each other about the center (O20). |
| US08593711B2 |
Beam scanning systems based on two-dimensional polygon scanner
Scanning beam systems based on a two-dimensional polygon scanner with different reflective polygon facets tilted at different tilt facet angles to use rotations of the polygon scanner to scan one or more optical beams both horizontally and vertically on a surface which can be a display screen or a printing surface. |
| US08593709B2 |
Color profile selection
Scanner, method or computer program product, arranged to sense media color information, store predetermined color values of preselected non-printed media and storing corresponding color profiles adapted for the respective preselected media, and process sensed color values, compare a sensed color value with the predetermined color values, and select one of said color profiles based on the comparison. |
| US08593708B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for jointly optimizing node locations and corresponding output values of a color look-up-table (LUT)
This disclosure provides methods, systems and apparatus for jointly optimizing node locations and corresponding output value of a color look-up-table (LUT) associated with an imaging device. According to one exemplary method, initially a set of LUT node locations are generated by solving a first optimization problem and subsequently, a set of LUT node values are generated by solving a second optimization problem. |
| US08593705B2 |
Dual sided image reading apparatus and method to print sides using different options
An image reading apparatus to prevent reading quality from deteriorating when two reading units respectively read a first side and a second side of a document with different capabilities, and a method of controlling the same includes an automatic document feeder to feed a document, a first reading unit to read a first side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder, and a second reading unit to read a second side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder. A control unit to control an operation of the image reading apparatus determines at least one of the first reading unit and the second reading unit as a reference reading unit in a both-side reading mode in which both sides of the document are read and controls a transport speed of the document such that the document is transported at a speed to allow the reference reading unit to read the document. |
| US08593702B2 |
Image reader
An image reader is provided, which includes a first image reading unit configured to read an image on a first side of a first document sheet being conveyed on a feeding path, and output an analog signal corresponding to the read image of the first side, a second image reading unit configured to read an image on a second side opposite to the first side of the first document sheet being conveyed on the feeding path, and output a digital signal corresponding to the read image of the second side in a differential transmission method, and a processor configured to process the analog signal output from the first reading unit and the digital signal output from the second image reading unit. |
| US08593698B2 |
Void pantographs and methods for generating the same using at least one test void pantograph
A void pantograph and a method for generating the same are disclosed herein. The void pantograph includes a foreground portion based on a region of an image that is defined using a predetermined filter, and a background portion based on another region of the image that is defined using the predetermined filter. |
| US08593697B2 |
Document processing
Proposed is the use of a document widget for representing a property of a document. The document widget comprises: a human-readable portion for interpretation by a user; and a machine-readable portion representing the document property. By comprising information about a property of a document, a document widget may be processed in accordance with an optical recognition process so as to identify the document widget and enable extraction of the document property. |
| US08593694B2 |
Image processing apparatus and its method
An unnatural color change which occurs when combining trapping and spatial filter processing is suppressed. When image data is input, it is determined whether to perform trapping at the position of the pixel of interest of the input image data, and trapping is performed for the input image data. In addition, spatial filter processing is performed for the pixel of interest of the input data, an output of the trapping and that of the filter processing are weighted, and image data to be output is calculated. |
| US08593691B2 |
Method for achieving higher bit depth in tagged image paths
A method adapts image data using more than eight bits per pixel to be compatible with devices using only 8-bit per pixel data. The method separates the higher bit depth data into an 8-bit image data stream, the balance of the bits are carried in a separate tag data stream. The 8-bit image data stream can be used in legacy devices that can handle only 8-bit data, and the tag data stream can be used in legacy devices that incorporate a tag data stream for their internal image processing. |
| US08593687B2 |
Printer for printing picture, has selecting module that selects frame on selected picture and recorder which records selected portion of selected picture surrounded by frame and printing module prints selected portion
A printer includes a display, a storing module, a picture decoder, a selecting module, a recorder, and a printing module. The storing module is configured to store a plurality of pictures. The picture decoder is configured to read a selected picture from the storing module, decode the selected picture and display the selected picture on the display. The selecting module is configured to draw a frame to surround a selected part of the selected picture. The recorder is configured to record the position and the size of the selected part. The printing module is configured to print the selected part. |
| US08593685B2 |
Image processing apparatus and color deviation adjustment control method
An image processing apparatus includes an image forming unit, an adjustment unit, an image control unit, a sensor, a deviation amount calculating unit, and a determination unit. The image forming unit forms an image. The adjustment unit forms one set of a plurality of predetermined images in color, and adjusts color deviation. The image control unit controls the image forming unit to form a lesser number of predetermined images than the number of predetermined images formed by the adjustment unit. The sensor detects the predetermined images formed on the basis of control of the image control unit by the image forming unit. The deviation amount calculating unit calculates a deviation amount on the basis of the predetermined images. The determination unit determines whether or not color deviation occurs on the basis of the deviation amount, and controls performance of the adjustment unit on the basis of the determination result. |
| US08593681B2 |
Image forming apparatus that determines whether or not a total toner amount and a density of a color toner satisfies a print condition and, in a case where the total toner amount has been determined not to satisfy the print condition, adjusts the total toner amount so as to satisfy the print condition, image forming method therefor, and storage medium including the same
An image forming apparatus that forms a color image using a transparent toner and color toners based on received printing information includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a transparency attribute is set for an object included in the printing information, and a generation unit configured to generate a transparent object using the transparent toner on the object when the determination unit determines that the transparency attribute is set for the object. |
| US08593672B2 |
Information equipment apparatus
An information equipment apparatus provided with: an operation section; a communication section which carries out communication with a terminal apparatus storing identification data of an operator related to an operation in the operation section, by using a human body of the operator as a communication path; and a control section which, in coordination with a detection of the operation in the operation section, executes an identification of the operator based on the identification data by carrying out communication with the terminal apparatus via the communication section, and according to a result of the identification, controls a control operation corresponding to the operation in the operation section. |
| US08593669B2 |
Image forming apparatus, e-mail server, e-mail facsimile transmission system having the same, and e-mail facsimile setting method of image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, an e-mail server, an e-mail facsimile transmission system having the same and an e-mail facsimile setting method of an image forming apparatus. The e-mail facsimile setting method of an image forming apparatus which transmits an e-mail for facsimile transmission to a facsimile server, includes displaying a parameter setting screen applied to a plurality of facsimile servers, inputting a parameter value depending on the displayed parameter setting screen; and transmitting an e-mail with an identification type to correspond to one kind of facsimile server of the plurality of facsimile servers to the facsimile server based on the input setting value. Thus, a setting screen commonly applied to a plurality of facsimile servers is provided to a user, thereby saving time and cost needed in an e-mail facsimile setting. |
| US08593668B2 |
Parallel printing system
A printing system comprised of a printer and a plurality of processing nodes wherein each processing node is disposed for processing a job file associated with a print job into a printer dependent format. The system further comprises a replicator component attached to the job file. The job file includes multiple instances of a raster image processing (RIP) wherein each RIP instance proposes to a collector component an RIP image for printing. The collector grants permission to image a page to a RIP proposal observed to the collector and then rejects the same proposals from other RIP components. |
| US08593666B2 |
Method and system for printing a web page
A method and system for printing a web page include converting the web page content to an image and segmenting the image into a plurality of regions. At least one of the regions is selected, and the selected region is printed. |
| US08593665B2 |
Image forming system and information processing apparatus
A system is capable of performing a processing flow based on a definition file which designates a plurality of tasks each of which can be performed by a function provided by an image forming apparatus and an order of performance of a plurality of tasks. The system includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a definition file of the processing flow specified by a user, a determination unit configured to select one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses to perform each task included in the processing flow based on candidate information included in the definition file of the processing flow, and a performing unit configured to perform each task included in the processing flow using the image forming apparatus selected by the determination unit. The candidate information includes information on a user device that is set corresponding to each user as information for determining the image forming apparatus that performs the task. |
| US08593661B2 |
Image output apparatus including transmission units, image output apparatus control method, program, electronic document management system
A document management server can maintain consistency between log image data of an input job and the job document ID of log information of an output job. For this purpose, an image output apparatus includes a registration unit configured to register image data generated based on the job in a storage unit, a first transmission unit configured to transmit the registered image data and input log information to a job log management server, a second transmission unit configured to transmit output log information to the job log management server, and a third transmission unit configured to transmit the image data to the job log management server. |
| US08593660B1 |
Print server and method for print forwarding for a wireless device
A print server and method for forwarding printing data in a network are provided. The print server receives an IP address of a printer and a uniform resource identifier of printing data from a mobile station. The print server determines which printer corresponds to the IP address and forwards the printing data to the printer for printing, thereby allowing a mobile station to print data in remote locations. The mobile station does not have to format the printing data or transmit the formatted printing data, thereby reducing the burden on the operating system and the storage space of the mobile station. |
| US08593658B2 |
Information processing device, network system and image forming device
An information processing device includes: a user information obtaining part that obtains user information of users who use an image forming device; and an ID information configuration part that configures an ID for the user information obtained by the user information obtaining part and that configures, for the ID, functional restrictions that are specific for the ID with respect to the image forming device. The ID information configuration part configures, for different user information, IDs that are respectively provided for various functional restrictions. |
| US08593657B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and recording medium for detecting printing-prohibited pattern
A specific color detecting section 1 includes: a comparing section 7 for comparing, with reference thresholds, color densities of color image data of plural colors in input image data, so as to judge whether or not the input image data include color image data of a specific color of an image pattern; and a threshold setting section 51 for setting calculated thresholds or theoretical thresholds as the reference thresholds, wherein the threshold setting section 51 a calculated threshold as a reference threshold if the calculated threshold is within an allowable range of the theoretical threshold, and the threshold setting section sets a theoretical threshold as a reference threshold if the calculated threshold is out of the allowable range of the theoretical threshold, the threshold setting section being configured to calculate out the calculated thresholds for the reference thresholds from reference image data obtained by reading out a reference chart having plural colors in predetermined color densities, and the threshold setting section being configured to work out the theoretical thresholds for the reference thresholds according to the predetermined color densities of the reference chart. |
| US08593656B2 |
Information processing system, information processor and signal transmitting device
The information processing system includes: an information processor operating in an active state and a power saving state consuming less power than the active state, and recovering to the active state by receiving a signal in the power saving state and processing information in the signal; a signal transmitting device transmitting a signal to the information processor; and a communication line establishing communication between the information processor and the signal transmitting device. The signal transmitting device transmits the signal after appending, to a predetermined region inside the signal, the identification information for identifying a processing content of the signal. The information processor specifies the processing content from the identification information when receiving, in the power saving state, the signal, recovers to the active state where power is supplied to a functional unit to execute the processing content, and starts processing on information stored in a data region of the signal. |
| US08593651B2 |
Image forming apparatus with shortened conveyance path of sheet roll
An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit disposed in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit disposed below the image reading unit to form an image on a sheet fed from a sheet roll, a pair of flange members attached to both lateral ends of the sheet roll in a width direction of the sheet roll, a sheet roll supporter disposed below the image reading unit in a rear portion of the image forming apparatus to support the sheet roll, an opening through which the sheet roll is set to the sheet roll supporter, and a guide assembly provided at upper and lower parts of the opening to position at least one of the pair of flange members attached to the sheet roll in the width direction to guide the sheet roll to the sheet roll supporter. |
| US08593650B2 |
Printer and method for detecting movement of object
A printer includes an optical sensor configured to image a surface of a medium, and a contact member configured to provide a unique concavo-convex shape by contacting the surface of the conveyed medium on an upstream side thereof. A calculation unit calculates the movement amount of the medium by pattern matching calculation using a correlation window between a plurality of image data acquired at different timings by an optical sensor with the conveyance of the medium. The calculation unit searches in image data first acquired for a unique pattern reflecting the unique concavo-convex shape, and set a region including the unique pattern as a correlation window. |
| US08593649B2 |
Defect detector for corrugated cardboard flutes
A defect detector for corrugated cardboard flutes comprises an optical projector for projecting to traveling flutes an inspection light having an effective line of which the length is about one pitch of flutes inclined slightly so that a tip of a normal flute is positioned on or slightly under the posterior end of the effective line and simultaneously a slope of an adjacent normal flute is positioned on the anterior end side of the effective line, an optical receiver equipped with a light-receiving element for receiving the inspection light reflected by a flute to output information according to the light-receiving position, and normal or abnormal determining means which determines that the flute height is normal if the light-receiving position detected is within an allowable range Wp. |
| US08593644B2 |
White light optical profilometer for measuring complex surfaces
A white light optical profilometer having a measurement head that is separated from the base unit by means of a fiber optic bundle. The measurement head contains a Michelson objective, whose reference path is folded so that the measurement head may be compact. The measurement head also contains a tilting mirror, which directs light from the surface of interest to the objective, and may be adjusted to allow the measurement head to scan complex surfaces. The base unit contains the other elements of the profilometer, such as an image detector and illuminator. |
| US08593643B2 |
Methods and apparatus for direct-global separation of light using angular filtering
In an exemplary implementation of this invention, light from a scattering scene passes through a spatial light attenuation pattern and strikes a sensor plane of a camera. Based on said camera's measurements of the received light, a processing unit calculates angular samples of the received light. Light that strikes the sensor plane at certain angles comprises both scattered and directly transmitted components; whereas light that strikes at other angles comprises solely scattered light. A processing unit calculates a polynomial model for the intensity of scattered-only light that falls at the latter angles, and further estimates the direct-only component of the light that falls at the former angles. Further, a processing unit may use the estimated direct component to calculate a reconstructed 3D shape, such as a 3D shape of a finger vein pattern, using an algebraic reconstruction technique. |
| US08593642B2 |
Method of measuring a shape of an optical surface based on computationally combined surface region measurements and interferometric measuring device
Measuring a shape of an optical surface (14) of a test object (12) includes: providing an interferometric measuring device (16) generating a measurement wave (18); arranging the measuring device (16) and the test object (12) consecutively at different measurement positions relative to each other, such that different regions (20) of the optical surface (14) are illuminated by the measurement wave (18); measuring positional coordinates of the measuring device (16) at the different measurement positions in relation to the test object (12); obtaining surface region measurements by interferometrically measuring the wavefront of the measurement wave (18) after interaction with the respective region (20) of the optical surface (14) using the measuring device (16) in each of the measurement positions; and determining the actual shape of the optical surface (14) by computationally combining the surface region measurements based on the measured positional coordinates of the measuring device (16) at each of the measurement positions. |
| US08593640B2 |
Optics for forming a linear beam in optical coherence tomography
This invention relates to an optical coherence tomography, in which a light source and an optical linear beam forming system are adopted to obtain two dimensional image of high quality resolution within short time without affection by any mechanical movements. For such purpose, the optical linear beam forming system (20) comprises semicy Under lens (21), convex lens (22) and slit (23) to implement the frequency domain optical coherence tomography. Parallel light beam from the light source is incident on the surface of the semicylinder lens (21), and focal line of the semicylinder lens (21) is located in front of the convex lens (22). The convex lens (22) has short focal point where the parallel light component converges and long focal point where the diverging light component converges. The slit (23) is located between the short focal point and the long focal point. |
| US08593638B2 |
Split frequency sensing methods and systems
Resonant sensors and molecule detection methods utilizing split frequency. Optical energy is introduced into a microcavity, such as a toroid-shaped or spherical microcavity. A portion of the optical energy is backscattered and interacts with the introduced optical energy to form first and second modes of optical energy at respective first and second frequencies, also referred to as split frequency or mode doublets. One or more molecules bind to an outer surface of the microcavity and interact with an evanescent field of optical energy resonating within the microcavity. Binding of one or more molecules to the outer surface is detected based at least in part upon a change of the split frequency relative to a baseline split frequency. |
| US08593632B1 |
Movable body apparatus, movable body drive method, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
A drive system drives a movable body, based on measurement results of a first measurement system which measures the position of the movable body in an XY plane by irradiating a measurement beam from an arm member on a grating placed on a surface parallel to the XY plane of the movable body and measurement results of a second measurement system which measures a variance of the arm member using a laser interferometer. In this case, the drive system corrects measurement errors caused due to a variance of the arm member included in the measurement results of the first measurement system, using the measurement results of the second measurement system. |
| US08593629B2 |
Apparatus for performing SERS
An apparatus for performing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy includes an optical waveguide, a plurality of flexible nano-structures, wherein the plurality of nano-structures have respective free ends positioned within an evanescent field to be generated by light propagated through the optical waveguide, wherein the plurality of nano-structures are movable from a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the free ends of the plurality of nano-structures are substantially spaced from each other and in the second position, the free ends of a plurality of the nano-structures are substantially in contact with each other. |
| US08593628B2 |
Spectral characteristics estimation device, image forming apparatus having the same, and spectral characteristics estimation method
Spectral characteristics of an object is estimated using an extended sensor response, which includes a product of at least two light intensity signals whose wavelength ranges are partially overlapped with each other. |
| US08593626B2 |
Method for inspecting the inside of a narrow hose or tube particularly for medical use
Method and system for inspecting the inside of a small channel, e.g. a flexible tube or hose, particularly for medical use, e.g. included in an endoscope, for the presence of inside contaminations on the wall of the tube, comprising providing the inside of the channel with a liquid having a refractive index which is higher than the refractive index of the channel wall, transmitting a signal into one end of the channel having a wavelength w, comparing the spectrum of the signal received at the other end of the channel with the wavelength w of the transmitted signal and determining, e.g. by a spectrum analyzer, whether the latter signal contains any wavelength w′ which is unequal to the wavelength w of the transmitted signal, and indicating that, when not any wavelength w′ is determined unequal to w, the channel is not contaminated or that, when any wavelength w′ is determined unequal to w, the channel is contaminated. The system may include means for cleaning the inside of the channel by means of said liquid having a refractive index which can be higher than the refractive index of the channel wall which thus is used both as cleaning liquid and as light conducting core. |
| US08593625B2 |
Examining apparatus and examining method
When examination at a scan speed equal to or higher than the line rate of the sensor such as a TDI sensor is carried out, the line rate of the TDI sensor is asynchronous with the scan speed, and the image is blurred. Therefore, a TDI sensor cannot be used at a scan speed equal to or higher than the line rate of the TDI sensor. This problem has not been considered. To solve the problem, high-speed examination irrespective of the line rate of the TDI sensor is enabled. To control the line rate of the TDI sensor and stage scan speed asynchronously and to solve the problem of the image addition variation due to the charge accumulation of the TDI sensor, the object to be examined is irradiated with thin-line illumination, and only a given pixel line of the TDI sensor is made to receive light scattered by the object to be examined. The aspect ratio of the detection pixel size can be controlled by the speed ratio between the line rate of the TDI sensor and the stage scan speed. |
| US08593622B1 |
Serially addressed sub-pupil screen for in situ electro-optical sensor wavefront measurement
A system and method for wavefront measurement of an EO sensor is performed in-situ using the sensor's EO detector in a manner that disambiguates the local wavefront measurements for different sub-pupils in time and maximizes the dynamic range for measuring the local wavefronts. A single sub-pupil sized optical beam is traced in a spatial pattern over the EO sensor's entrance pupil to serially illuminate a temporal sequence of sub-pupils to form a serially addressed sub-pupil screen. The EO detector and video card capture a video signal for one sub-pupil at a time as the optical beam traces the spatial pattern. The video signal is routed to a computer processor that generates a spatio-temporal mapping of the spatial positions of the sub-pupils in the sub-pupil screen to the temporal positions of frames in the video signal. The computer processor uses the mapping to process the video signal to compute a wavefront estimate spanning the entrance pupil. |
| US08593621B2 |
Testing an optical fiber connection
For testing whether an optical fiber is properly connected to a device, a beam of light is output to the optical fiber. An intensity is detected of light reflected by the device back through the optical fiber in response to the beam of light. In response to the detected intensity, a determination is made of whether the optical fiber is properly connected to the device. |
| US08593620B2 |
Device for measuring properties of scatterers , for color measuring for scattered light of gemstones, for measuring brightness of gemstones, and for measuring luminescence distribution
A device for measuring properties of scatterers which measures properties of a scatterer from a stereoscopic scattering distribution of the scatterer upon receiving an electromagnetic wave with a certain wavelength distribution is provided. In the device, a scatterer to be measured is placed on a specimen platform; the electromagnetic wave is irradiated onto the scatterer from at least either any one or more directions, or one or more continuous directions of a hypothetical spherical surface having the above-mentioned focal point as its center; scattering waves scattered by the scatterer and reflected off the paraboloidal mirror or projected onto the paraboloidal screen are imaged by the imaging means as planar imaging data; and from thus obtained imaging data, a stereoscopic distribution of the scattering waves generated by the scatterer is obtained so as to measure properties of the scatterer from the distribution result. |
| US08593618B2 |
Optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and microlithographic exposure method
The disclosure relates to an optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and to a microlithographic exposure method. An optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes an image rotator, which is arranged in the optical system such that light impinging on the image rotator is at least partially polarized. The image rotator rotates, for light impinging on the image rotator, both the intensity distribution and the polarization distribution of through a given angle of rotation. |
| US08593614B2 |
Method and system for fabricating liquid crystal cells
Techniques for successively fabricating liquid crystal cells at low cost, using two resinous substrates wound on their respective rolls. A color filter and an electrode pattern are formed by printing techniques. Furthermore, an orientation film is printed. These manufacturing steps are carried out successively by rotating various rolls. |
| US08593613B2 |
LCD exposure stage device and exposure system
An LCD exposure stage device is used for placing a substrate thereon, and comprises: a stage having an upper surface contacting with a bottom surface of the substrate; and a plurality of moving pins disposed flat on the upper surface of the stage with pin heads thereof corresponding to side surfaces of the substrate respectively so that the substrate can move horizontally by the moving pins. According to the present disclosure, only the substrate needs to be moved, so the operations are more convenient; and because the stage is always kept at a fixed position, the requirement on its strength can be appropriately lowered. Furthermore, because the substrate contacts with the stage all the time during the moving and exposure processes, and the time necessary for the exposure process is shortened, which make fabrication of the whole LCD panel more efficient. |
| US08593610B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device having an improved electrostatic discharge structure includes: a liquid crystal panel on which an image is formed; a light emitting diode (LED) unit for irradiating a backlight to the liquid crystal panel; a chassis in which the liquid crystal panel and the LED unit are installed; a LED circuit board including a LED chip that is installed to electrically contact the chassis and to control the LED unit; and a main circuit board connected to the liquid crystal panel and the LED circuit board. A grounding line is connected to the main circuit board and is formed on the LED circuit board. Accordingly, the static electricity that has flowed from the outside through the chassis 10 may be immediately discharged through the grounding line, and electronic components in the liquid crystal display device may be protected from the static electricity. |
| US08593609B2 |
Display panel
A display panel includes a first substrate, a conductive light-shielding pattern, color filter patterns, a second substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixel structures, third pads and fourth pads. The conductive light-shielding pattern disposed on the first substrate defines conductive matrix pattern, first pads, and second pads. Each first pad is electrically connected to one corresponding second pad through the conductive matrix pattern and insulated with other second pads. The color filter patterns are disposed on the first substrate and a portion of each color filter pattern overlaps the conductive light-shielding pattern. The third pads are one-to-one electrically to the first pads while the fourth pads are one-to-one electrically connected to the second pads. Each fourth pad is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines. |
| US08593603B2 |
Display device and electronic device
A display device includes an anti-reflection film having a plurality of projections over a display screen surface. An angle made by a base and a slope of each of the plurality of projections is equal to or greater than 84° and less than 90°. |
| US08593600B2 |
Liquid crystal panel fabrication method
A method for fabricating a liquid crystal panel includes providing first and second mother substrates having a plurality of panel regions, forming a plurality of array substrates in the plurality of panel regions of the first mother substrate, forming a plurality of color filter substrates in the panel regions of the second mother substrate, forming a first alignment film over the first mother substrate, rubbing the first alignment film covering the first mother substrate, attaching the first and second mother substrates, and cutting the attached mother substrates into a plurality of liquid crystal panels. |
| US08593596B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In the step of curing a resin for bonding a TFT substrate and a counter substrate each having an alignment film that has been optically aligned by using UV-light, damage to the alignment film due to the UV-light can be prevented without using a light shielding mask. A UV-light absorption layer is formed between each black matrix on the counter substrate. The TFT and the counter substrates are sealed at their periphery by a resin that is cured by UV-light radiated from the counter substrate side. Since the absorption layer has a high absorbability to UV-light at a wavelength of 300 nm or less that degrades the alignment film, damage to the alignment film due to the UV-light for curing the resin can be prevented. Thus, provision of a light shielding mask for shielding the UV-light for the display region can be saved. |
| US08593595B2 |
Color filter using surface plasmon and liquid crystal display device
Discussed are a color filter using a surface plasmon and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, the color filter capable of enhancing a transmittance ratio of an LC panel by having a 3D pattern structure of a transmissive pattern for selectively transmitting light of a specific wavelength, and capable of simplifying entire processes. According to the color filter using a surface plasmon and the LCD device, not only three colors of RGB but also multi-colors can be implemented, and color reproduction can be enhanced by optimizing arrangement of the transmissive pattern according to the number of colors to be implemented. |
| US08593594B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The technology presented herein has a feature of providing a liquid crystal display device of an excellent viewing angle characteristic and high brightness, including: liquid crystals containing polymerizable monomers between a first substrate with a pixel electrode having micro slits and a second substrate facing the first substrate; wherein the monomers are polymerizable with voltage applied to the liquid crystals; and an alignment orientation of the liquid crystals is controllable to a direction of extending the micro slit, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a direct coupling part electrically connected to a switching element; a capacitive coupling part electrically insulated from the switching element, and a space between the direct and capacitive coupling parts, wherein directions in which the micro slits are extended along the direct and capacitive coupling parts are orthogonal to each other. |
| US08593590B2 |
Lighting apparatus and display device including the same
A lighting apparatus and a display device including the same are disclosed. The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus, which can enhance resistance against gas or humidity and which can present a stable optical property and which can enhance light-emitting efficiency, and a display device including the lighting apparatus. |
| US08593586B2 |
Liquid crystal display having quantum dot remote phosphor
A liquid crystal display including a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The backlight unit includes an exciting light source and quantum dot remote phosphor. Spectrum of the backlight unit has relative maximum brightness peaks BL1, BL2 and BL3 between 445 nm to 455 nm, between 528 nm to 538 nm, and between 618 nm to 628 nm, respectively. The liquid crystal display panel is disposed above the backlight unit and has a red color filter, a green color filter, a blue color filter and a yellow color filter, wherein areas of the red color filter, the green color filter, the blue color filter and the yellow color filter are ARAGABAY, respectively. The areas ARAGABAY satisfy the following relationship: 0.75 |
| US08593585B2 |
Light bar fixing structure of backlight module
A light bar fixing structure of a backlight module includes a reverse U-shaped frame, a light bar structure, and a fixing plate. The reverse U-shaped frame, which has an opening and multiple slits therein, is disposed on a back cover of the backlight module. The light bar structure includes a substrate and a plurality of light emitting devices. The fixing plate is attached to the substrate by using an adhesive layer. In addition, a plurality of buckling portions is provided in a periphery of the fixing plate, and by engaging the buckling portions with the slits, the fixing plate is fixed on the reverse U-shaped frame, which makes the light bar structure protrude from the opening of the reverse U-shaped frame after inserting through the opening. Therefore, regardless of light emitting device thickness, the light bar structure can be, in this manner, fixed on the back cover. |
| US08593578B1 |
Electronic image display systems
Dual display screens are oriented back-to-back such that one display screen is visible from a first direction and one display screen is visible from a direction opposite the first direction. |
| US08593576B2 |
Gesture-based remote control
A method and system for operating a remote-controlled device using a gesture-enabled remote control (RC) includes activating a communication link between the RC and the remote-controlled device. The remote-controlled device may implement a remote control context accommodating gesture commands generated by the RC. The RC may enable a user to generate gesture commands by performing gesture motions with the RC. Command data corresponding to gesture commands, along with selection commands from selection control inputs on the RC, may be sent to the remote-controlled device. |
| US08593574B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing dimensional media content based on detected display capability
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive a single video stream comprising two-dimensional image content and a depth map of the two-dimensional image content, generate three-dimensional image content in real-time from the two-dimensional image content and the depth map where the three-dimensional image content is generated when a display device operably coupled with the set top box is determined to be capable of presenting the three-dimensional image content, and provide either the two-dimensional image content or the three-dimensional image content to the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08593571B2 |
Information processing apparatus and non-transitory recording medium
An information processing apparatus has: a first motion vector calculation unit which determines a first motion vector between one image frame and an image frame immediately before this one image frame in a second image frame group which frame rate is an n number of frames per predetermined time; a second motion vector calculation unit which determines a second motion vector between one image frame and an image frame which is n frames before the one image frame in the second image frame group; and a detection unit which detects that the second image frame group has been obtained from a first image frame group which frame rate is an m number of frames per the predetermined time by the frame conversion, when the ratio of the first motion vector and the second motion vector is in a predetermined range. |
| US08593567B2 |
Web camera with position adjustment function
A web camera with position adjustment function has a clamping apparatus, an extending arm and a camera module. The clamping apparatus includes a base and a supporting bracket. The supporting bracket is connected pivotally to a rear edge of the base and has a chamber and an open front. The extending arm is disposed inside the chamber of the supporting bracket of the clamping apparatus and is pivotally and slidably connected to the supporting bracket of the clamping apparatus. The camera module is connected pivotally to a front end of the extending arm. The extending arm can be operated to protrude out of the open front of the supporting bracket and then to rotate relative to the clamping apparatus. Therefore, a horizontal position of the camera module is changeable and various camera angles can be achieved. |
| US08593565B2 |
Simulated large aperture lens
A camera apparatus includes a photogrammetric range sensor, small aperture lens and a processor configured to carry out a method for simulating a large aperture lens. The method includes capturing a photographic image data of a scene using the camera with the lens set to a small aperture size. Simultaneously or near-simultaneously with capturing the image, the camera captures photogrammetric range data pertaining to depth of objects in a field of view of the camera, using the range sensor. The processor then processes the photographic image data using the photogrammetric range data to obtain second photographic data simulating an image captured using a lens set to an aperture size larger than the small aperture size. |
| US08593564B2 |
Digital camera including refocusable imaging mode adaptor
A digital camera system configurable to operate in a low-resolution refocusable mode and a high-resolution non-refocusable mode comprising: a camera body; an image sensor mounted in the camera body having a plurality of sensor pixels for capturing a digital image; an imaging lens for forming an image of a scene onto an image plane, the imaging lens having an aperture; and an adaptor that can be inserted between the imaging lens and the image sensor to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode and can be removed to provide the high-resolution non-refocusable mode, the adaptor including a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses; wherein when the adaptor is inserted to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode, the microlens array is positioned between the imaging lens and the image sensor. |
| US08593563B2 |
Imaging device and imaging apparatus including the same
The present disclosure provides an imaging device in which an additional member for switching an installation state of an IR cut filter does not have to be provided and which can flexibly use infrared light.An imaging device (1) receives light and performs photoelectric conversion. The imaging device (1) includes a first photoelectric conversion portion (10) configured to receive light including infrared light and allow the light to pass therethrough, second filters (26) configured to filter infrared light from the light which has passed through the first photoelectric conversion portion (10), and a second photoelectric conversion portion (20) configured to receive light transmitted through the second filters (26). |
| US08593562B2 |
Optical aliasing filter, pixel sensor arrangement and digital recording device
A refraction at a suitably structured surface for example with an arrangement of the same between image plane and mapping optics is used to realize on the one hand a desired aliasing filtering or spatial low-pass filtering on the image plane wherein on the other hand the manufacturing of such structured surfaces may be realized in a cost-effective way. In addition to that, the plate thickness except for the amplitude of the surface structure and aspects of the stability of the plate is of no importance for handling the same, so that the integration into optical systems is facilitated. |
| US08593561B2 |
Camera module and method for fabricating the same
A method and system for facilitating focusing of a camera module are disclosed. The camera module includes an image sensor, a lens cube, a barrel and an adjustable member. An adjustable member can be configured to fine-tune the focal length with respect to an image sensor, so that a lens cube with a shorter or longer focal length can be corrected and integrated into the camera module. |
| US08593560B2 |
Image-capturing module for simplifying optical component
An image-capturing module for simplifying optical component includes a first substrate unit, an image-capturing unit, an optical imaging unit, a second substrate unit, a light-emitting unit and a cover unit. The second substrate unit is disposed on the outer surface of the optical imaging unit and electrically connected to the first substrate unit. The light-emitting unit has a light-emitting element electrically disposed on the second substrate unit. The cover unit has a reflective layer formed on an inner surface thereof. Therefore, the light beams generated by the light-emitting element are reflected by the reflective layer to form first reflected light beams projected onto the object, then the first reflected light beams are reflected by the object to form second reflected light beams projected onto the optical imaging unit, and then the second reflected light beams pass through the optical imaging unit and project onto the image-capturing unit. |
| US08593559B2 |
Reproducing apparatus, image data reproducing method, program, and storage medium
A reproducing apparatus, an image data reproducing method, a program, and a storage medium each detects an attitude state of the reproducing apparatus, extracts a part of an area of image data obtained by an image pickup device, and reproduces the part of the area of the extracted image data. According to the detection result, the part of the area of the image data is changed to another part of the area and rotation processing of another part of the area is performed, thereby reproducing the another part of the area which was subjected to the rotation processing. |
| US08593557B2 |
Shooting assist method, program product, recording medium, shooting device, and shooting system
The method includes producing first identification data used as reference; performing subject recognition on acquired images of subjects to obtain recognition images, producing second identification data, and matching the first identification data with the second identification data; tallying the acquired images based on matching results for each subject and by shooting tendency factor; judging whether a number of the acquired images or a proportion of the number of the acquired images of the subjects in respect of each of the shooting tendency factors is within a given range from tally results of the acquired images; and providing shooting assist so that the number of the acquired images or the proportion of the number of the acquired images in respect of the shooting tendency factor judged to be outside the given range is placed within the given range. |
| US08593552B2 |
Image based systems for detecting information on moving objects
Systems and methods for generating images of an object having a known object velocity include imaging electromagnetic radiation from the object onto a sensor array of an imaging system, adjusting at least one of a shutter rate and a shutter direction of the imaging system in accordance with an image velocity of the image across the sensor array, and sampling output of the sensor array in accordance with the shutter rate and the shutter direction to generate the images. Systems and methods for generating images of an object moving through a scene include a first imaging system generating image data samples of the scene, a post processing system that analyzes the samples to determine when the object is present in the scene, and one or more second imaging systems triggered by the post processing system to generate one or more second image data samples of the object. |
| US08593551B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera system
A method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging device including the steps of providing a pixel array including pixel circuits arranged in a matrix; and a pixel drive unit configured to drive the pixel array to perform a reset of the pixel array, a signal storage, and an output operation. The pixel drive unit includes a pixel reset control portion to supply a signal for resetting a pixel to the pixel circuits of a plurality of rows. The pixel reset control portion performs a reset control so that a row in which the reset signal is cancelled and a row in which the reset signal is continued always exist in one reset row change operation, and a row in which the reset signal continues to be supplied exists during two or more reset row change operations. |
| US08593547B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus for processing image signals output from an image sensor having a plurality of unit cells each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for receiving light passing through different pupil regions and each of which can be read out separately, wherein: a detection unit detects a phase difference between a plurality of images each formed on the basis of image signals of photoelectric conversion elements located in a same position in each of the plurality of unit cells; a determination unit determines a defective photoelectric conversion element; and a correction unit corrects a defective image signal of a defective photoelectric conversion element using an image signal corresponding to the defective image signal and constituting another of the plurality of images that does not include the defective image signal, based on the phase difference detected by the detection unit. |
| US08593545B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and computer-readable recording medium with switched image capturing mode
An imaging apparatus includes a lens unit condensing light from a visual field region, an imaging unit including an imaging element which converts light condensed by the lens unit into an electric signal and continuously generating electronic image data based on the electric signal, a storage unit storing the image data generated by the imaging unit, a display unit displaying an image based on the image data generated by the imaging unit, an input unit receiving an input of a change instruction signal used to change a first capturing mode at a first vertical-to-horizontal ratio to a second capturing mode at a second vertical-to-horizontal ratio and an image trimming unit generating a captured image by trimming an image included in image data generated by the imaging unit at a vertical-to-horizontal ratio between the first and second vertical-to-horizontal ratios, when the change instruction signal is input during the first capturing mode. |
| US08593542B2 |
Foreground/background separation using reference images
A technique involves distinguishing between foreground and background regions of a digital image of a scene. First and second images are captured of nominally a same scene. The first image is a relatively high resolution image taken with the foreground more in focus than the background, while the second image is a relatively low resolution reference image taken with the background more in focus than the foreground. Regions of the captured images are assigned as foreground or background. In accordance with the assigning, one or more processed images are rendered based on the first image or the second image, or both. |
| US08593539B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for performance white balance processing
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus capable of effectively correcting color crosstalk in moving image capturing by a simple method, and a control method thereof. When the aperture value changes, the current white balance coefficient is corrected, calculating an estimated white balance coefficient corresponding to the changed aperture value. Re-obtainment of a white balance coefficient starts using a frame image captured at the changed aperture value. During a period required to obtain again a white balance coefficient, the estimated white balance coefficient is applied to a frame image to undergo white balance processing. |
| US08593535B2 |
Relative positioning of devices based on captured images of tags
This is directed to determining the relative position of several devices by capturing representations of the device environments in which a tag is located. The devices can compare the captured representations to determine a perspective of the tag corresponding to each device. In some cases, a device can determine an absolute position relative to a coordinate system integrated in a tag. Using the positioning information, several devices can receive directions to come together at a particular meeting point. In some cases, several devices can operate an application that requires the interaction of several users of the devices (e.g., multi-player games). The application can control the time or manner in which inputs are provided based on the relative positions of the devices. In some cases, the devices can display virtual content that is shared across several devices, where the different devices can each interact with the virtual content. |
| US08593531B2 |
Imaging device, image processing method, and computer program
An imaging device includes: a first imaging unit which does not include a phase difference detecting pixel on an imaging element; a second imaging unit which includes a phase difference detecting pixel on an imaging element; a pixel comparing unit which compares first obtained image obtained by the first imaging unit with a second obtained image obtained by the second imaging unit; a correcting unit which corrects phase difference information obtained by the second imaging unit based on a comparison result by the image comparing unit; a phase difference applying unit which applies the phase difference information corrected by the correcting unit to the first obtained image; and a recording unit which records image information. |
| US08593528B2 |
Method and system for mitigating seesawing effect during autofocus
A mobile multimedia device may be operable to crop a series of image samples received during an autofocus operation. Each of the cropped image samples may be scaled by the mobile multimedia device to fit a display unit in the mobile multimedia device. Each of the scaled image samples may then be displayed on the display unit for viewing during the autofocus operation. The received image samples may be cropped based on an operating mode in which the mobile multimedia device is currently operating. The autofocus operation may be initiated utilizing a shutter button in the mobile multimedia device. The autofocus operation may be terminated when a desired focus is achieved. After the autofocus operation is terminated, the mobile multimedia device may be operable to display one or more image samples received after the termination of the autofocus operation for continuous viewing, with or without further cropping and scaling. |
| US08593527B2 |
System and method for remotely monitoring a camera using a telephony device
A system and method for remotely controlling a camera may include a telephony device communicatively coupled to a data network. The telephony device comprises at least one module adapted to generate a control signal in response to receiving a user command associated with dialing of an emergency telephone number. A camera may be adapted to start capturing images in response of receiving the control signal. |
| US08593519B2 |
Field watch apparatus
A field watch apparatus for use in a subject vehicle acquires a road image from a roadside capture unit located around the subject vehicle on a road and, based on the acquired image, generates an overhead view of a field around the subject vehicle in an intuitively recognizable manner by including a distant surrounding vehicle in the view, thereby providing a precisely understandable view of the field around the subject vehicle for the ease of satisfactorily identifying the distant surrounding vehicle without being compromised by the position of the roadside capture unit. |
| US08593514B2 |
Ophthalmic photographing apparatus
A method for judging whether obtainment of information on a three-dimensional image of a given portion of an examinee's eye that is obtained by OCT (Optical Coherent Tomography) is successful or not, the method involves processing the three-dimensional image information on the given portion that is obtained using an OCT optical system, where the OCT optical system is arranged to obtain a tomographic image of the examinee's eye, and obtaining an OCT front image of the given portion; and detecting a positional deviation of the OCT front image by image processing to judge whether the obtainment of the three-dimensional image information is successful or not based on a result of the detection. |
| US08593508B2 |
Method for composing three dimensional image with long focal length and three dimensional imaging system
A method for composing a three dimensional image with a long focal length and a three dimensional imaging system are provided. First, a zoom lens is adjusted to a first focal length to capture a first image and a fixed focal lens is used to capture a second image. Next, the zoom lens is adjusted to a second focal length to capture a third image. Then, a region occupied by the third image in the first image is positioned, a first disparity map between the first and second image in the region is calculated and magnified to obtain a second disparity map. Finally, a fourth image simulating the image captured by the fixed focal lens with the second focal length is composed by using the third image and the second disparity map, and the third and fourth image are output as a three dimensional image. |
| US08593507B2 |
Rolling camera system
A 3D imaging system comprising: first and second rolling shutter photosurfaces having pixels; a first shutter operable to gate on and off the first photosurface; a light source controllable to transmit a train of light pulses to illuminate a scene; a controller that controls the first shutter to gate the first photosurface on and off responsive to transmission times of the light pulses and opens and closes bands of pixels in the photosurfaces to register light reflected from the light pulses by the scene that reach the 3D imaging system during periods when the first photosurface is gated on; and a processor that determines distances to the scene responsive to amounts of light registered by pixels in the photosurfaces. |
| US08593504B2 |
Changing bandwidth usage based on user events
Once an active video conference is set up and a user is viewing the active video conference at a video terminal, the video terminal looks for different events that indicate a change in focus of the user to or from the active video conference. For example, the user brings up another application and starts using the application or the user has minimized a window that is displaying the active video conference. The video terminal sends a change of focus message based on the event to a video conference bridge or another video terminal that is streaming the active video conference to the user. The video conference bridge/video terminal processes the message and changes video portion of the stream of the active video conference based on the message. The result is that there is improved use of bandwidth between the video terminal and the video conference bridge/video terminal. |
| US08593502B2 |
Controlling videoconference with touch screen interface
A videoconferencing system includes a touch screen display device and a videoconferencing unit. The display device displays video data for the videoconference and generates touch data based on user selections relative to the touch screen. The videoconferencing unit is operatively coupled to the touch screen device by a video connection and a data interface connection, for example. The unit establishes and conducts a videoconference with one or more endpoints via a network. The unit sends video data to the display device and receives touch data from the device. The received touch data is used to control operation of the videoconferencing system. The received touch data can be used to initiate a videoconference call, change an operating parameter, change orientation of a camera, initiate a picture-in-picture display, access a menu, access memory, change a source of video data, initiate a whiteboard display, and access a screen of a connected device. |
| US08593501B1 |
Voice-controlled labeling of communication session participants
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing identification, such as a name, to participants of a communication session. In one example, a method includes establishing, by a communication device, a communication session between a plurality of devices, wherein a first device of the plurality of devices is identified during the communication session by an identifier associated with a network connection of the first device to the communication session. The method also includes detecting a spoken name associated with the first device that is connected to the communication session and transforming the detected spoken name into at least one character string. The method further includes sending, by the communication device, a representation of the at least one character string to at least a second device of the plurality of devices for display by the second device. |
| US08593497B2 |
Flow guide for optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device that optically scans a surface to be scanned in a main-scanning direction includes a light source; an optical deflector that has a reflective surface rotating on an axis of rotation of the reflective surface and deflects a light beam emitted from the light source; a scanning optical system that guides the light beam deflected by the optical deflector to the surface to be scanned; and a flow guide member that is provided near the optical deflector and turns back a flow of air generated by rotation of the reflective surface toward the reflective surface. |
| US08593496B2 |
Light emitting panel, optical print head, and image forming apparatus
In general, according to the embodiment, a light emitting panel includes a glass substrate, a light emitting element, metal wiring, and a mark. The glass substrate allows light to pass through. The light emitting element is present in any one of a first plane and a second plane which is a rear surface of the first plane, of the glass substrate. The metal wiring is present on one surface, and applies voltage to the light emitting element. The mark is present on one surface, and is formed of the same material as the metal wiring. |
| US08593495B2 |
Image forming apparatus that forms image by scanning photosensitive member with multiple beams
An image forming apparatus that generates a synchronization signal without breaking laser diodes (LDs). The LDs output beams, which in turn are deflected to scan a photosensitive member. The synchronization signal is generated upon detecting the deflected beams. The LDs output the beams so as to generate the synchronization signal, based on which the output timing of the beams from the LDs is controlled. It is possible to select a first mode in which at least two of the LDs output the beams so as to generate the synchronization signal, and a second mode in which one of the LDs output the beams so as to generate the synchronization signal. The value of drive current supplied to at least two of the LDs when the first mode is selected is smaller than the value of drive current supplied to one of the LDs when the second mode is selected. |
| US08593493B2 |
Display device and control method of display device
A display device includes a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of regions, where each of the regions includes a plurality of liquid crystal pixels; a plurality of data driving units; and a plurality of timing controllers, where the data driving units is in a one-to-one correspondence with the regions, where each of the data driving units controls transmittance of light of the liquid crystal pixels in a corresponding region thereof, where the timing controllers is in a one-to-one correspondence with the data driving units, where each of the timing controllers acquires data of a partial image to be displayed at the corresponding region of the corresponding data driving unit thereof, generates control data for controlling transmittance of light of the liquid crystal pixels of the corresponding region of the corresponding data driving unit thereof, and outputs the control data to the corresponding data driving unit thereof. |
| US08593491B2 |
Application of voltage to data lines during Vcom toggling
With respect to liquid crystal display inversion schemes, a large change in voltage on a data line can affect the voltages on adjacent floating data lines due to capacitive coupling between data lines. The change in voltage on these floating data lines can be increased when the application of voltage to the data line occurs after a toggling operation of the Vcom, i.e., when a voltage applied to the Vcom changes the voltage on the Vcom from one polarity to an opposite polarity. Various embodiments of the present disclosure serve to eliminate or reduce the effects of Vcom voltage toggling on data line voltages by applying a voltage (e.g., a fixed voltage) to the data lines while the voltage on Vcom toggles. |
| US08593489B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
Provided are a display apparatus and a control method thereof which supports image data at differing frame rates, such as 60 Hz and 120 Hz, input from an image supply source. The display apparatus includes a first scaler which processes input image data; a second scaler which processes input image data; a display unit which displays thereon the image data processed by the first and second scalers; and a controller which selectively controls based on a frame rate of the image data to process the image data by the first scaler only, or to divide and process the image data by both the first and second scalers. |
| US08593487B2 |
Drawing support device, drawing support program, and drawing support method
The present invention provides a device capable of supporting drawing work while improving the continuity of the drawing work. According to a drawing support device, components corresponding to successive position trajectories of the tip of a pen are displayed on a panel, and this enables drawing work with the feeling of hand drawing. Further, among the components displayed on the panel, the shape or the like of a “first component” to be a changing target is changed based on the shape or the like of a “reference component” selected from “second components” excluded from the selection of the changing target, so that the workload of adjustment of the shape or the like of the first component can be reduced. |
| US08593485B1 |
Automatic video and dense image-based geographic information matching and browsing
Methods and systems permit automatic matching of videos with images from dense image-based geographic information systems. In some embodiments, video data including image frames is accessed. The video data may be segmented to determine a representative image frame of a segment of the video data. Data representing information from the representative image frame may be automatically compared with data representing information from a plurality of image frames of an image-based geographic information data system. Such a comparison may, for example, involve a search for a best match between geometric features, histograms, color data, texture data, etc. of the compared images. Based on the automatic comparing, an association between the video and one or more images of the image-based geographic information data system may be generated. The association may represent a geographic correlation between selected images of the system and the video data. |
| US08593484B2 |
Display control apparatus and method, program, and recording media for display of a list of program information using three axes
A display control apparatus configured to execute control such that a list of a plurality of programs is displayed, includes a data capturer, a two-dimensional arranger, a setter, and a superimposed-display controller. |
| US08593483B2 |
Temporal filtering techniques for image signal processing
Temporally filtering raw image data may include a temporal filter that determines a spatial location of a current pixel and identifies at least one collocated reference pixel from a previous frame. A motion delta value is determined based upon the current pixel and its collocated reference pixel. An index is determined based upon the motion delta value and a motion history value corresponding to the current pixel from the previous frame. Using the index, a first filtering coefficient may be selected from a motion table. Then an attenuation factor may be selected from a luma table based upon the value of the current pixel, and a second filtering coefficient may be determined based upon the selected attenuation factor and the first filtering coefficient. The temporally filtered output value corresponding to the current pixel may then be based upon the second filtering coefficient, the current pixel, and the collocated reference pixel. |
| US08593482B2 |
Projector and method that performs a brightness adjustment and a color adjustment
A projector including: an adjustment image generation section which generates an adjustment image which allows adjustments of brightness and color difference; an input section to which operation information is input; an adjustment information generation section which generates brightness adjustment information indicating an adjustment value of the brightness and color difference adjustment information indicating an adjustment value of the color difference based on the operation information; and an adjustment section which adjusts the brightness and color of an image based on the brightness adjustment information and the color difference adjustment information. |
| US08593481B2 |
Method and arrangement for setting a color locus, and luminous system
A method for setting a color locus of at least one luminous source is provided. The method may include determining a temperature, and setting the color locus of the at least one luminous source depending on the temperature determined. |
| US08593479B2 |
Method of correcting preferred color and display device using the same
A method of correcting a preferred color is disclosed. The method includes converting an input image including multi-primary color data of three or more primary colors into an XYZ color space, converting the XYZ color space into data of an LCH color space, expanding a color gamut of the data in the LCH color space to detect a preferred color region of the color gamut expansion data, correcting data of the preferred color region using parameters independent of the input image, inversely converting the corrected data of the preferred color region of the color gamut expansion data into an XYZ color space, dividing the XYZ color space into multi-primary color data of four or more primary colors, and displaying the multi-primary color data on a display device. |
| US08593478B2 |
Extraction of a color palette model from an image of a document
A system and method are provided for determining a color palette model from an image of a document. Pixel values of the image of the document are clustered to provide image clusters. Color layers of the image are determined, each color layer corresponding to an image cluster. Aspects of the color palette model can be determined using the color layers. Aspects of the color palette model include a foreground-background color pair for a content block in the document and a background-area color of the document. |
| US08593475B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic procedural texture generation management
Methods and apparatuses for scheduling and storing media creation are described. Methods and apparatuses for rendering a plurality of vector graphic objects on a display are also described. |
| US08593466B2 |
Tile rendering for image processing
The time needed for back-end work can be estimated without actually doing the back-end work. Front-end counters record information for a cost model and heuristics may be used for when to split a tile and ordering work dispatch for cores. A special rasterizer discards triangles and fragments outside a sub-tile. |
| US08593462B2 |
Method and system of correlating a measured log to a predicted log
Correlating a measured and predicted log. At least some illustrative embodiments are methods including: plotting values of the measured log with respect to an ordinate axis and an abscissa axis, and the plotting in a first pane; plotting values of the predicted log with respect to the ordinate axis and the abscissa axis; selecting an inflection point of the predicted log; shifting horizontal position of the inflection point relative to the measured log responsive to the pointing device; changing dip of at least one modeled surface in a structural model based the relative location of the inflection point; recalculating the predicted log based on the change in dip, the recalculating creates a modified predicted log; and then plotting the modified predicted log. In some cases, the method may also include adding a fixed X, Y, Z point in the at least one modeled surface based on location of the inflection point. |
| US08593461B2 |
Method for the graphical display of a plurality of series of numerical data
A method for the graphical display of a plurality of series of numerical data is provided which includes: determining a smallest and a largest numerical value within each series of numerical data; calculating a relative change between said smallest and said largest numerical value within each series of numerical data; determining a largest relative change out of said relative changes; generating a plurality of graphical representations to be displayed on a display means, wherein each graphical representation is representing one series of numerical data out of the plurality of series of numerical data, the numerical data being represented by indicators in the graphical representation; wherein an interval between a minimum position and a maximum position in a first direction of each graphical representation corresponds to an individual range of numerical values between a minimum value and a maximum value; wherein the value of a numerical data is graphically represented by the position of the corresponding indicator in said interval in the first direction, the method further comprising the step of choosing the minimum value and the maximum value individually for each graphical representation on the basis of said largest relative change and at least one of said smallest and said largest value within the corresponding series. |
| US08593459B2 |
Tree insertion depth adjustment based on view frustum and distance culling
A computer-implemented method includes initializing a driver associated with an input/output adapter in response to receiving an initialize driver request from a client application. The computer-implemented method includes initializing the input/output adapter to enable adapter capabilities of the input/output adapter to be determined. The computer-implemented method also includes determining the adapter capabilities of the input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method further includes determining slot capabilities of a slot associated with the input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method also includes setting configurable capabilities of the input/output adapter based on the adapter capabilities and the slot capabilities. |
| US08593450B2 |
Relay driving of conductive segments in displays
Multiple Vcom segments of display screens can be driven in a relay fashion, such that the driving of different Vcom segments overlaps. For example, a Vcom signal can be applied to a first segment of Vcom, and lines of display pixels in the first segment can be scanned. When scanning nears the end of the first segment, a Vcom signal can be applied to the next segment of Vcom before scanning in the first segment ends. For example, when the second-to-the-last line of display pixels in a segment of Vcom is scanned, the next Vcom segment can be driven with a Vcom signal. Likewise, when scanning in the next segment of Vcom begins, the Vcom signal can continue to be applied to the first segment of Vcom until a few lines of display pixels in the next segment have been scanned. |
| US08593449B2 |
Reference voltage generation circuit, power source device, liquid crystal display device
A reference voltage generation circuit of the disclosure includes a first amplifier circuit and a second amplifier circuit. The first amplifier circuit includes a first input stage including two npn transistors or two NMOS transistors having base terminals or gate terminals to which a variable voltage and a predetermined lower limit voltage are inputted. A first output stage includes a pnp transistor or a PMOS transistor having an emitter terminal or a source terminal connected to an output terminal of a reference voltage. A first amplifier stage controls the first output stage for equalizing the higher one of the variable voltage and the lower limit voltage with the reference voltage. The second amplifier circuit includes a second input stage including two npn transistors or two NMOS transistors having base terminals or gate terminals to which the reference voltage and a predetermined higher limit voltage are inputted, a second output stage includes a pnp transistor or a PMOS transistor having an emitter terminal or a source terminal connected to an output terminal for the reference voltage, and a second amplifier stage to control the second output stage for equalizing the reference voltage with the higher limit voltage. |
| US08593446B2 |
Method and arrangement for adjusting a color location, and illumination system
A method for setting a color location is provided. The method may include providing n luminous sources of which n-3 luminous sources have been, or are preset; determining a color location difference of the n luminous sources from a desired color location; and setting the 3 luminous sources not preset are set such that the desired color location is achieved. |
| US08593444B2 |
Method of driving display panel and display apparatus for performing the same
A method of driving a display panel includes generating a gate on voltage, generating first and second gate off voltages based on an external voltage in a first operating mode, and first and second gate off voltages based on the gate on voltage in a second operating mode, generating a clock signal based on the gate on voltage and the second gate off voltage and outputting a gate voltage generated based on the clock signal and the first and second gate off voltages to a gate line of the display panel. |
| US08593443B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a photosensor (81) in a pixel region (1) of an active matrix substrate (100). The photosensor (81) includes a photodetection element, reset signal wiring that supplies a reset signal RS to the photosensor (81), readout signal wiring that supplies a readout signal RW to the photosensor (81), and a sensor switching element for reading out the potential of the storage node to output wiring as sensor circuit output, the potential of the storage node having changed in accordance with the amount of light received by the photodetection element in a sensing period, the sensing period being from when the reset signal is supplied until when the readout signal is supplied. The potential of wiring having a parasitic capacitance with the storage node is fixed to a predetermined potential V0 at least either one of immediately before the readout signal RW and immediately before the reset signal RS. |
| US08593441B2 |
Display apparatus and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including: a plurality of subpixels disposed adjacent each other and forming one pixel which forms a unit for formation of a color image; the plurality of subpixels including a first subpixel which emits light of the shortest wavelength and a second subpixel disposed adjacent the first subpixel; the second subpixel having a light blocking member disposed between the second subpixel and the first subpixel and having a width greater than a channel length or a channel width of a transistor which forms the second subpixel. |
| US08593440B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal layer between an upper substrate and a lower substrate, m×n liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix format according to a crossing structure of m/2 data lines and 2n gate lines, and thin film transistors respectively connected to the m×n liquid crystal cells; a data drive circuit supplying a data voltage to the data lines in response to a polarity control signal; a gate drive circuit sequentially supplying a gate pulse to the gate lines; and a POL logic circuit controlling the polarity control signal so that a phase of the polarity control signal varies every frame period. |
| US08593438B2 |
Electrophoretic display and electronic device
An electrophoretic display includes a first substrate, a second substrate, an electrophoretic element interposed therebetween, a plurality of scanning lines on an electrophoretic element side surface of the first substrate, a plurality of data lines extending in the crosswise directions of the plurality of scanning lines on the electrophoretic element side surface of the first substrate, a selection transistor connected to one of the scanning lines and one of the data lines, a pixel electrode connected to the selection transistor, and a capacitor with two electrodes, one of the electrode thereof being connected to the selection transistor and the pixel electrode, and the other electrode thereof being connected to one of the scanning lines, wherein a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged so that a dot density thereof is more than or equal to 200 dpi. |
| US08593437B2 |
Stylus having retracted and extended positions
A stylus includes a stylus member including a first housing defining a first receptacle; a stylus body assembly slidably and non-rotatably accommodated in the first receptacle. The stylus body assembly including a first threaded hole, and a pen member including a second housing defining a second receptacle, a pen assembly slidably and non-rotatably accommodated in the second receptacle. The pen assembly defining a second threaded hole therethrough; and a shaft including a first threaded portion engaging with the first threaded hole and a second threaded portion engaging with the second threaded hole so rotation of the shaft relative to the first housing and the second housing causes the stylus body assembly to extend into or retract from the first housing and the second housing respectively. |
| US08593434B2 |
Touchscreen display with plural cameras
A display system (AP1) has plural cameras (11L an d11R) having fields of view (31L and 31R) that extend more orthogonal to than parallel to a display screen (21) for viewing distal objects. Reflectors (33L and 33R) redirect touchscreen light (36) from a direction along the display screen to a direction toward the cameras. A video processor (19) locates a 2D position relative to the display screen of an object proximate to the display screen as a function of images generated by the cameras in response to the touchscreen light. |
| US08593431B1 |
Edge positioning accuracy in a mutual capacitive sense array
A mutual capacitive sense array configured to improve edge performance in tracking user inputs is described. A mutual capacitive sense array comprises a first and second plurality of sense elements and a visual display configured below the sense array. The display is configured to contact the first plurality of sense elements, where each of the first and second plurality of sense elements has a first area and second area, respectively, and wherein the second area is less than the first area. A method is described to scan a mutual capacitive sense array for a user input, the array comprising a first, second, and third plurality of sense elements, wherein the third plurality of sense elements are arranged in parallel along the exterior edge of the mutual capacitive sense array. The third plurality of sense elements effectively reduces the tracking error occurring at the edges of the mutual capacitive sense array. |
| US08593424B2 |
Two-dimensional position sensor
A capacitive position sensor comprises a substrate having an arrangement of electrodes mounted on a single surface thereof, the electrodes arranged so as to define an array of sensing cells arranged in columns and rows to form a sensing area. Each sensing cell includes a column sensing electrode and a row sensing electrode. The column sensing electrodes of sensing cells in the same column are electrically coupled together, and the row sensing electrodes of sensing cells in the same row are electrically coupled together. Row sensing electrodes of sensing cells at opposing ends of at least one of the rows are connected together by an electrical connection made outside of the sensing area so that there is no requirement for electrical connections to cross within the sensing area, providing a capacitive position sensor having a sensing area with electrodes on only one side of a substrate. |
| US08593423B2 |
Single chip multi-stimulus sensor controller
A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator. |
| US08593422B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating soft keyboards
A method includes, at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: concurrently displaying a first text entry area and an unsplit keyboard on the display; detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, replacing the unsplit keyboard with an integrated input area. The integrated input area includes a left portion with a left side of a split keyboard, a right portion with a right side of the split keyboard, and a center portion in between the left portion and the right portion. |
| US08593421B2 |
Local coordinate frame user interface for multitouch-enabled devices
Methods and apparatus for providing a local coordinate frame user interface for multitouch-enabled devices. A user interface may be provided on multitouch display devices, displayed according to a local coordinate frame constructed around the human hand. A user may place the tips of all five digits on a multitouch user interface with a natural gesture to provide five input points; the method detects which input points correspond to which digits, and constructs a local coordinate frame for the hand based on the input points. User interface elements (e.g., controls) may then be assigned to each digit and displayed on the multitouch display. The user may then selectively manipulate one or more of the displayed controls as desired via one or more gestures associated with the particular control. |
| US08593420B1 |
Providing tactile output and interaction
Some implementations provide tactile output for enabling a device to interact physically with a user. For instance, the device may include a first portion having a display and a touch surface. The first portion may connect to a second portion by one or more connection elements that permit relative movement between the first portion and the second portion. One or more tactile output components in the second portion may impart relative movement in the first portion in one or more directions. For example, the one or more tactile output components may oscillate the touch surface in one or more directions within a plane of the touch surface to provide the tactile output, while the connection elements restrict movement of the touch surface in a direction normal to the touch surface. |
| US08593418B2 |
Method and system for adjusting display content
Methods and systems are provided for detecting a grip event on a touchscreen display and adjusting the displayed content based on the location of the grip event. The content that is covered by a grip event is identified and moved out from under the grip event by adjusting the displayed content layout. The area of the grip event may be determined to allow for adjusting the layout of the displayed. Alerts may be implemented to alert a user when there is a change in a content that is covered by a grip event. The grip event outline may be estimated and menu icons or icons may be positioned and displayed in close contour profile to estimated outline of the grip event. A grip event location may be suggested based on a user's touch habits or display content layout. |
| US08593412B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a lid with a window defined in a base wall thereof, a touch panel attached to the base wall in alignment with the window, and a plurality of positioning members. The are slidably attached to the base wall around the window for adjustably bracketing the touch panel therebetween. |
| US08593411B2 |
Flexible-use display and control element panel for controlling cabin functions
A display- and control element panel for controlling cabin functions in an aircraft, comprising a bi-stable display element and a control elements wherein the bi-stable display element and the control element are arranged so as to be essentially congruent, wherein the bi-stable display element is adapted to reproduce information at least in one sub-region, and wherein an event is triggerable by activating the control element. |
| US08593408B2 |
Electronic document reproduction apparatus and reproducing method thereof
The present invention relates to an electronic document reproduction apparatus supporting a preview function upon outputting an electronic book, and a reproducing method thereof. The electronic document reproduction apparatus includes: an input/output unit for outputting contents of an electronic document and receiving a user's instruction from a user; a storage unit for storing data of the electronic document; and a controller for searching for an output position of a corresponding electronic document according to the users instruction input through the input/output unit, and displaying the corresponding electronic document, wherein the controller receives a preview execution instruction through the input/output unit and provides a preview function for a corresponding position to the electronic document, and the controller receives a page selection instruction and sets a corresponding page as an output position. |
| US08593405B2 |
Electronic device and method for executing commands in the same
The present invention provides a method for executing commands in an electronic device, which has a touch sensing element, a keyboard unit and a display. First, the touch sensing element is configured for detecting a touch on one of the keys on the keyboard unit and generating a responsive signal corresponding to the touched key. Afterward, a plurality of items corresponding to the touched key is shown on the display according to the responsive signal. Subsequently, the touch on the key is moved onto another key on the keyboard unit so as to mark one of the items. Finally, a command associated with the marked item is executed when the touch on the key is terminated. |
| US08593390B2 |
Illumination device
An illumination device comprises at least one light module (1) wherein the light module (1) comprises a circuit board (2) to which a plurality of groups (30) of light sources (3a, 3b, 3c) are applied and a carrier (6) on which the light module (1) is fixed. A display apparatus comprising such an illumination device is also disclosed. |
| US08593381B2 |
Method of driving light-emitting device
Degradations in light emitting elements occur with the passage of time. The invention provides a method of driving a light-emitting device provided with a plurality of pixels, which includes a light-emitting means with a first and a second electrodes, a drive means for supplying the light-emitting means with a current in response to an analog video signal, and a setting means for setting a sustaining period and an off time period within a frame period. The method of driving a light-emitting device is characterized by including the steps of: supplying the light-emitting means with the current in response to the analog video signal during the sustaining period; and turning the drive means off thereby to make the light-emitting means nonluminous or making the first and the second electrodes identical in potential thereby to make the light-emitting means nonluminous during the off time period. |
| US08593369B2 |
Antenna assembly
An antenna assembly is provided that may include an antenna element having first and second opposed sides. The antenna element may be configured to transmit or receive signals of a desired wavelength. The antenna assembly may also include a first conductive surface disposed proximate the first side of the antenna element and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the antenna element, and a second conductive surface disposed proximate the second side of the antenna element and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first antenna element. The second conductive surface may be substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, the plane in which the first conductive surface lies. Collectively the first and second conductive surfaces may be configured to excite wave propagation modes of a higher order than a fundamental propagation mode for reception or transmission of signals of the desired wavelength by the antenna element. |
| US08593368B2 |
Multi-band antenna and electronic apparatus having the same
A multi-band antenna includes an antenna substrate, an antenna ground, an antenna unit, and a matching conductor. The antenna ground has a signal ground terminal and at least one bend. The antenna unit is adjacent to the antenna ground. The matching conductor is electrically coupled to the antenna ground, and an angle exists between the matching conductor and the antenna ground. A length of the first matching conductor is about a quarter of the wavelength corresponding to a frequency of the first operating band. The antenna unit includes a coupling conductor, a feeding conductor, a radiating conductor, and a shorting conductor. The feeding conductor has a signal feeding terminal One end of the radiating conductor is facing to the antenna ground, and a distance exists between the feeding conductor the antenna ground. Two ends of the shorting conductor are respectively electrically coupled to the antenna ground and the coupling conductor. |
| US08593366B2 |
Multi-antenna apparatus and mobile device
This multi-antenna apparatus includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element, and an ungrounded passive antenna element arranged between the first antenna element and the second antenna element, wherein the passive antenna element has a first opposing portion opposed to the first antenna element, a second opposing portion opposed to the second antenna element and a coupling portion coupling the first opposing portion and the second opposing portion with each other. |
| US08593363B2 |
End-fed sleeve dipole antenna comprising a ¾-wave transformer
An end-fed sleeve dipole is provided herein with improved impedance match and increased bandwidth by incorporating a ¾-wavelength transformer in the antenna design. The ¾-wavelength transformer is compatible with a number of different choking schemes, including but not limited to, a single ¼-wave choke sleeve, a single ¼-wave choke sleeve with additional ferrite beads, and two or more ¼-wave choke sleeves with or without ferrite beads. In some embodiments, one or more shunt resonators may be used to provide additional impedance compensation. |
| US08593353B2 |
Antenna device for a portable terminal
An antenna device for a portable terminal includes: a ground pattern provided on one surface of a circuit board; a first antenna pattern configured to resonate at a first frequency band and provided on an opposite surface of the circuit board; and a second antenna pattern configured to resonate at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band and arranged along a periphery of the ground pattern. The second antenna pattern is a zeroth order mode resonator including a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of inductors. The antenna device easily secures the operation characteristics of different operation frequency bands and contributes to miniaturization of the portable terminal. Thus, a user can conveniently carry and use the portable terminal. |
| US08593350B2 |
Wireless communication terminal
A wireless communication terminal comprises: a first circuit board 22 to which a reference potential pattern 32 is provided and an electric component is arranged; a case body 24 attached to the first circuit board 22 and including a conducting portion 38 which is electrically conducted to the reference potential pattern and covers the electronic component in a state where the case body is attached and a non-conducting portion 40 including no electric conductivity; and a housing 8 which houses therein the first circuit board 22 and the case body 24. An antenna 50 is formed on the non-conducting portion 40 and the antenna 50 is insulated from the conducting portion 38 and electric power is supplied to the antenna 50 from the first circuit board 22. |
| US08593349B2 |
Miniature antenna having a volumetric structure
A miniature antenna includes a radiating arm that defines a grid dimension curve. In one embodiment, the radiating arm includes a planar portion and at least one extruded portion. The planar portion of the radiating arm defines the grid dimension curve. The extruded portion of the radiating arm extends from the planar portion of the radiating arm to define a three-dimensional structure. In one embodiment, the miniature antenna includes a first radiating arm that defines a first grid dimension curve within a first plane and a second radiating arm that defines a second grid dimension curve within a second plane. In one embodiment, the miniature antenna includes a radiating arm that forms a non-planar structure. |
| US08593346B2 |
Positioning apparatus
A positioning apparatus calculates an offset frequency of a local oscillator based on position information which is positioned, satellite position information acquired from a satellite signal of a GPS satellite, and a velocity vector of a GPS satellite. A GLONASS function is operated based on the offset frequency; then, positioning is carried out by the GPS function and the GLONASS function. |
| US08593344B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for requesting/providing code phase related information associated with various satellite positioning systems in wireless communication networks
Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be used by one or more devices within in wireless communication network to request and/or provide code phase related information signals associated with various Satellite Positioning Systems (SPSs). |
| US08593341B2 |
Position calculation method and position calculation apparatus
A position calculation method and apparatus are described. The position calculation apparatus may include an inertial measurement unit and be configured to be coupled with at least one sensor unit for detecting a physical event for use in position calculation. The presence of and type sensor unit may identified, and the position processing to be undertaken may depend on this identification. |
| US08593340B2 |
Inter-mobile body carrier phase positioning device and method
The inter-mobile body carrier phase positioning device according to the invention includes: a first observation data acquisition means that acquires observation data concerning a phase accumulation value observed in a first mobile body; a second observation data acquisition means that acquires observation data concerning a phase accumulation value observed in a second mobile body; a satellite pair determination means that determines pairs of satellites used for carrier phase positioning; and a carrier phase positioning means that takes, between each of the pairs of the satellites determined by the satellite pair determination means, a single or double difference between the observation data acquired by the first observation data acquisition means and the observation data acquired by the second observation data acquisition means, and determines relative positional relation between the first mobile body and the second mobile body by carrier phase positioning using the single or double difference of the observation data. |
| US08593336B2 |
Control apparatus, radar detection system, and radar detection method
In a control apparatus, an acquisition unit acquires the coordinates of a detection starting position and detection ending position detected by a radar, for each of a plurality of moving vehicles moving along a road. A calculation unit calculates an average value of the coordinates of the detection starting positions and an average value of the coordinates of the detection ending positions, and stores information of radar detection including the calculated average values in a radar detection storage unit. A comparison unit compares the average values of the coordinates of the detection starting positions and detection ending positions with respective determined reference values. An abnormality determination unit determines based on the comparison results whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the radar, and outputs, if determining that an abnormality has occurred, information indicative of the occurrence of the abnormality. |
| US08593335B2 |
Method and device for processing echo signal, radar device and echo signal processing program
A method includes inputting an echo signal from an antenna for discharging an electromagnetic wave to a predetermined area and receiving an echo signal reflected on a target object, outputting a level of the echo signal from every location so as to associate the level with a distance from the antenna in an azimuth direction where the electromagnetic wave is discharged, calculating a degree of change in the level of the echo signal from mutually adjacent locations among all the locations concerned, performing edge emphasis processing for the level of the echo signal in the azimuth direction based on the degree of change and outputting an edge-emphasized echo signal, and performing scan-to-scan correlation processing to calculate a correlation value of the echo signals of two or more scans using the edge-emphasized echo signals, where the echo signals from the entire predetermined area is used as one scan. |
| US08593334B2 |
Split aperture monopulse antenna system
A method and apparatus for processing electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted in a selected direction toward a target object from a first array of antenna elements. Scattered electromagnetic waves generated from the electromagnetic waves are received at a first portion of a second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a first direction with respect to the selected direction and at a second portion of the second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a second direction with respect to the selected direction. First information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the first portion is subtracted from second information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the second portion to form difference data. An elevation angle is identified between a direction of the target object and the selected direction using the difference data. |
| US08593331B2 |
RF ranging-assisted local motion sensing
Example methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized to facilitate or otherwise support RF ranging-assisted local motion sensing based, at least in part, on measuring one or more characteristics of a range between communicating devices in one or more established RF links. |
| US08593330B2 |
Multichannel, multimode, multifunction L-band radio transceiver
Systems and methods for providing an improved multiradio system. An exemplary system includes first and second antennas and a first receiver that receives a signal from the first antenna, filters the received signal based on bandwidths associated with a traffic collision-avoidance system (TCAS), a transponder, and a universal access transceiver (UAT). The system digitizes the filtered signal and digitally downconverts the digitized signal. A second receiver receives a signal from the second antenna, filters the signal received from the second antenna based on the TCAS, the transponder, the UAT, and distance-measuring equipment (DME), separates the filtered signal into a first signal having a bandwidth associated with the TCAS, the transponder, the UAT and the lower half of the DME RF band, and into a second signal having a bandwidth associated with the upper half of the DME RF band, digitizes the first and second signal, and digitally downconverts the digitized first and second signals. |
| US08593329B2 |
Hand-held see-through-the-wall imaging and unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection system
The housing of a portable radar unit includes features for providing positioning of auxiliary handles between a first position and a second position, in which: the first position places the auxiliary handles in a position to act as handgrips in conjunction with integral handles and the second position places the auxiliary handles at an angle to the integral handles, so that the radar unit can be held with one hand and supported by a forearm of the same hand. Rotation of each auxiliary handle about a pivot moves the auxiliary handle between the first position and the second position; and a friction mechanism resists the rotation so that the auxiliary handle tends to stay in position until purposefully moved. The housing also includes internal space for housing a radar antenna, a reflector, and a mechanism for adjusting distance between the reflector and the antenna for tuning performance of the antenna. The housing provides external access without intrusion into the housing for operating the adjusting mechanism. |
| US08593326B2 |
Dual-mode comparator and analog to digital converter having the same
A dual-mode comparator may include an object voltage input unit that generates a first current flowing through a first path and a second current flowing through a second path based on a first object voltage and a second object voltage, a current mirror unit that performs a current-mirror operation for the first path and the second path to output a comparison voltage at an output terminal, a bias unit that generates a bias current corresponding to a sum of the first current and the second current, and a mode switching unit that controls the current mirror unit to have a first structure in an auto-zero mode and that controls the current mirror unit to have a second structure in a comparison mode. |
| US08593317B2 |
Apparatus and system to suppress analog front end noise introduced by charge-pump
An apparatus, comprising: a charge-pump; a sampler that samples an optical signal, including: a black sampler; a video sampler; and an analog to digital converter. The first aspect further provides a single clock that is coupled to and provides clocking signals to: a) the charge-pump logic that is coupled to the charge-pump; and b) the sampler logic that is coupled to the sampler that samples the optical signal. |
| US08593311B2 |
Method and device for encoding and/or decoding a sequence of discrete source values and data carrier provided with an encoded sequence of source values
In a method and device for encoding and/or decoding a sequence of discrete source values (Si) sub-groups (Gi) of a number of successive source values are taken from the sequence of source values. The sub-groups of source values are encoded into packets, comprising in each case an initial value (S1) corresponding to a first source value in a sub-group, a standardization factor (R) and difference values (ΔSi), standardized in accordance with the standardization factor, between values corresponding with other source values (Si) in the sub-group and in each case a value corresponding with a preceding source value (Si-1) in the sub-group. A standardization factor (R) is determined per packet subject to a greatest difference value (Δmax) within the sub-group between a source value and a preceding source value. The invention also relates to an information carrier provided with a thus encoded sequence of source values. |
| US08593308B1 |
Method of accelerating dynamic Huffman decompaction within the inflate algorithm
A system and method of accelerating dynamic Huffman decompaction within the inflate algorithm. To improve the performance of a decompression engine during the inflate/decompression process, Huffman trees decompacted a priori are used thus eliminating the requirement of decompacting the DHT for each input stream. The Huffman tree in the input stream is matched prior to decompaction. If a match is found, the stored decompacted Huffman tree is used which reduces the required decompression time. |
| US08593305B1 |
Efficient processing and detection of balanced codes
Circuits that are matched to balanced codes may recover transmitted information in a noise resilient and power efficient manner. Circuit components for processing a balanced code may include one or more of: matched amplification of the signals representing the balanced code, matched equalization and/or filtering on the signals representing the balanced code, matched non-linear filtering on the signaling representing the balanced code to detect the presence of particular symbols and matched latching of the signals representing the balanced code. Such matched circuits and circuit components may be achieved at least in part by incorporating suitable common circuit nodes and/or a single energy source into circuit topologies. |
| US08593302B2 |
Vehicle treatment installation and method for its operation
The invention relates to a vehicle treatment installation with a drive-in area for a vehicle to be treated, a treatment gantry that can move along a drive-in direction, and at least one camera for creating an image of the drive-in area and vehicle. Such known vehicle treatment installations often fail and/or are maintenance-intensive. The task of providing an installation and also a method for its operation that simplifies, with simple means, the drive-in process into the correct treatment position for the driver of a vehicle to be treated is achieved by a display device that is visible to the driver of the vehicle during the drive-in process, and at least one mark. The subject matter of the invention is also a method for the operation of the vehicle treatment installation. |
| US08593298B2 |
Surface mount circuit board indicator
The present invention is directed to a surface mount circuit board indicator. In one embodiment the surface mount circuit board indicator includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one light emitting diode (LED) die, one or more traces and at least one lens, a housing comprising at least one opening on a side along a perimeter of the housing, wherein the PCB is coupled to the housing such that a light output surface of the at least one LED die faces a same direction as the at least one opening and at least one alignment pin coupled to the housing. |
| US08593295B2 |
Process for detecting an alarm in an operating machine by determining an electric interaction between the operator and the machine
A process for detecting an alarm in an operating machine (1), so that an operator (7) is able to interact with such a machine (1) determining a connection between the machine and the ground, comprising the steps of: determining a current value of a main parameter representative of an electric interaction between said operator (7) and said operating machine (1) under a condition of normal operation of said machine (1); comparing said determined current value with a main reference value; activating an alarm procedure as a function of said comparison. The process further comprises a starting setting step wherein said main reference value is determined, said starting setting step comprising the steps of: detecting a first reference value of said main parameter under a condition of electric insulation between said operator (7) and operating machine (1); detecting a second reference value of said main parameter under a condition of electric conduction between said operator (7) and operating machine (1); said main reference value being determined in such a manner that it is an intermediate value between said first reference value and second reference value. The invention also describes a safety system (100) for carrying out the described process and an operating machine comprising such a safety system (100). |
| US08593294B2 |
Data transfer apparatus
According to embodiments, a storage device, which has a wireless communication processing part providing a wireless communication function and a memory, includes an acceleration sensor, a buzzer, and a control part which detects a user's operation based on acceleration information output from the acceleration sensor and determines whether or not a file management operation including access to the memory is started and whether or not the buzzer is rung. |
| US08593287B2 |
Analyte monitoring system and methods
Methods and systems for providing data communication in medical systems are disclosed. |
| US08593284B2 |
System and method for reporting status of a bed
A method and system of reporting the status of a bed (12) whose occupant is at risk of an undesired event, includes indicating that the occupant is at risk of the undesired event and operating a lamp module (42) to signify a satisfactory status or an unsatisfactory status of the bed. |
| US08593283B2 |
Array antenna system and algorithm applicable to RFID readers
Embodiments of the invention pertain to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) method and system using an antenna array, an array controller, and control algorithms. Embodiments of the invention can induce strong radio-frequency (RF) excitation, for a given level of radiated RF power, at any point within an arbitrary inhomogeneous medium. For RFID applications, one typical inhomogeneous medium is an ensemble of cases on a pallet. Another typical medium is a warehouse environment having stored goods together with shelving and other material present. An embodiment of the invention is applicable to the process of reading battery-less, or “passive” RFID tags, which rely on incident RF electromagnetic fields established by RFID readers to power the electronic circuitry within the tags. |
| US08593279B2 |
System for detecting persons in a defined space
System (10) for detecting the position of a mobile or immobile entity (20) in a defined space (30), characterized in that it includes: means (40) of detecting the presence of said entity in at least two partially overlapping observation areas (Z1, Z2) of said space, said means being adapted for collecting at least one piece of immobile presence information (Ip) and one piece of movement information (Im) of said entity in each of said observation areas, processing means (50) which are adapted for carrying out logic operations on at least a portion of said information collected for each of said observation areas, decision means (60), which are connected to the processing means and adapted for controlling an action on the basis of a logic signal generated by the processing means. |
| US08593276B2 |
Method and apparatus for asset geofencing
An asset tracking unit associated with an asset determines that the asset is located at a site and establishes a geofence. The asset tracking unit transmits a notification to a central dispatch that the asset is at the site. In the event that the asset moves beyond the geofence boundary, a notification is sent to the central dispatch indicating that the asset has moved. The asset tracking unit established the geofence based on pre-established boundary criteria that are stored at the asset tracking unit. |
| US08593273B2 |
Systems and methods for localization of tire pressure monitoring system wheel modules
Embodiments relate to unidirectional TPMS utilizing information from a corresponding vehicle system in order to correlate with vehicle speed information to be used in a tire localization methodology. In an embodiment, the vehicle system is an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and the vehicle speed can be used in a localization scheme that reconstructs a +/−1 g ripple with waveform, amplitude, frequency and phase parameters. Because the waveform is known to be sinusoidal (due to the wheel rotation), the amplitude is known to be 2 g peak-to-peak (due to the gravitational +/−1 g), the frequency depends on vehicle speed (which can be estimated from centrifugal force measurements), and an algorithm is discussed herein for determining the phase by correlation, the +/−1 g ripple can be reconstructed and the wheels localized therefrom. |
| US08593272B2 |
Behavior-based learning of visual characteristics from real-world traffic scenes for driver assistance systems
A computer-implemented method for setting-up and operating a driver assistance system, the method comprising the steps of: visually sensing the environment of a vehicle, sensing at least one rate of change of a parameter representing a status of the car, which parameter can be influenced by a driver manipulating a man/machine interface of the vehicle, structuring information gathered by the visual sensing by classifying the at least one sensed rate of change in different categories, in order to find visual features associated to a certain category of sensed rate of change and thus associated with a certain behavior of the driver. |
| US08593269B2 |
System and method for controlling haptic devices having multiple operational modes
A haptic device having a plurality of operational modes, including a first operational mode and a second operational mode is provided. The first operational mode is associated with a frequency range. The second operational mode is associated with a frequency range that is different from the frequency range of the first operational mode. A controller is coupled to the haptic device, and is configured to send the haptic device a plurality of control schemes. Each control scheme is uniquely associated with an operational mode from the plurality of operational modes.Another embodiment provides a method that includes providing power to a haptic device configured to cause the haptic device to provide a haptic sensation above a pre-determined sensation threshold. A voltage pulse that is configured to change the haptic sensation output by the haptic device by a pre-determined amount within a pre-determined time period is also applied to the haptic device. |
| US08593267B2 |
Input/output end point control for integrated telecommunications network systems VoIP
Disclosed are systems and methods that enable expanded functionality for call control monitoring and control of external electrical/electromechanical devices using a telecommunication system. |
| US08593266B2 |
Power line communication system
This invention relates to a power line communication (PLC) system wherein the power supply line supplies power and also acts as a communications supply line. A receiver is able to detect small changes in the modulated transmitted information and thereby shut down the circuit. The invention is particularly suitable for use where the IEL is remote from the power supply such as, for example, in down hole oil production situations where very long power cables are used. |
| US08593264B2 |
Remote lighting control system
A remote lighting control system is for remote lighting control of a plurality of discharge lamps. This system has the installed electronic ballasts of each discharge lamp. Each electronic ballast has a transceiver and a controller, the transceiver exchanges control information with the controller. The control command contains the identifiable information to specify one of a plurality of electronic ballasts. When the transmitter is received the control command, the transceiver transfers the received control command to other electronic ballasts further. Moreover, if the control command is the one that the identifiable information specifies own ballasts, the control information based on the received control command is send to own controller, and the controller control the discharge lamp. According to this system, when a lot of lamps was arranged the factory etc. comparatively widely, the user's remote control is not limited to the narrow scope. |
| US08593263B2 |
Control/monitor signal transmission system
A control/monitor signal transmission system in which simple communication control can be performed without a control unit, and a wiring allowable distance is larger than a conventional system. A plurality of slave stations which are installed corresponding to the plurality of actuating apparatuses and are connected through a common data signal line, and a mediation station which is connected to the data signal line are equipped, and the data signal line includes a plurality of independent groups which are consolidated to the mediation station. The plurality of actuating apparatuses are divided into one or plural sets including at least two, and the actuating apparatuses which belong to the same set and are different in group of the connected data signal line have a correspondence relationship. The mediation station extracts monitor data from a monitor signal transmitted from the sensor unit through the slave station, and transmits the monitor data as control data to a different actuating apparatus which has a correspondence relationship with the actuating apparatus including the sensor unit which transmits the monitor data. |
| US08593262B2 |
Motion-activated remote control backlight
An apparatus for performing remote control operations is provided. A remote control detects a particular movement, and performs operations based on the detected movement. |
| US08593261B2 |
Tool management method of die bonder and die bonder
RFID tags are attached to tools of a preform head, a bonding head, and a push-up unit, and information related to each tool such as a dimension of a processing-target die is stored into the RFID tags. When a tool is mounted, an operator inputs manufacturing conditions related to the tool. When information related to the tool read from the RFID tag by an RFID reader/writer and the manufacturing conditions related to the tool do not match each other, a message about wrong mounting of the tool is displayed on a monitor. Further, an operation history of the tool is written into the RFID tag by the RFID reader/writer when the production is completed. The operation history is read when the next production is started, and if the values of the operation history exceed predetermined numbers of times, a message is displayed on the monitor. |
| US08593253B2 |
Systems and methods for efficient authentication
A communication system is configured to operate in an ad hoc wireless network. The communication system includes a transmission device configured to send and receive a message, a signing module configured to generate a hierarchical signature using the message, and a verifying module configured to hierarchically verify a predetermined portion of a hierarchically signed message. |
| US08593250B2 |
Access control device
The invention relates to an access control device (1) having at least one access barrier element, to which at least one read unit and/or sensor unit for acquiring legitimation and/or security features is assigned, the access barrier elements and the read and sensor units each having a data connection to a computer unit (5), which compares the acquired or read features to stored data and opens or keeps closed the access barrier according to a preset. Proceeding from the problem that in the case of access control devices (1) of this type, it is only possible to react to changed requirements or a changed security condition by cumbersome re-parameterization of the facility, an additional operating element (8), which is assigned to the computer unit (5), is proposed in the context of the invention, using which it is possible to select between various security steps by simply adjusting the operating element (8). |
| US08593249B2 |
Method for unlocking a lock by a lock device enabled for short-range wireless data communication in compliance with a communication standard and associated device
A method is presented for unlocking a lock by a lock device enabled for short-range wireless data communication in compliance with a communication standard. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) detecting a key device within operative range of the lock device; b) determining a wireless communication address of the key device; c) evaluating the determined key device address by reference to a data storage with a number of wireless communication addresses stored therein; d) generating an evaluation result from said evaluating step c), wherein a match between the determined key device address and any of the wireless communication addresses stored in the data storage is a requisite for a positive evaluation result; and e) unlocking said lock if a positive evaluation result is generated in step d). |
| US08593248B2 |
Inductor
An inductor includes a first core, a conducting wire, a second core and a first lead frame. There is an accommodating space formed on a first side of the first core and there is a recess portion formed on a second side of the first core, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side. The first core has a first height. The conducting wire is disposed in the accommodating space. The second core is disposed on the first side of the first core and covers the accommodating space. The first lead frame has an embedded portion embedded in the recess portion. The embedded portion has a second height. After embedding the embedded portion in the recess portion of the first core, a total height of the embedded portion and the first core is smaller than the sum of the first height and the second height. |
| US08593244B2 |
Control of leakage inductance
According to an embodiment, a transformer is provided that includes a first conductive coil wound about a first coil axis and a second conductive coil wound about a second coil axis. The second conductive coil is disposed proximate to the first conductive coil and the second coil axis is substantially parallel to the first coil axis. A closed-loop conductive winding is disposed proximate to the first conductive coil and the second conductive coil. The closed-loop conductive winding is wound about a loop axis at least one time where the loop axis is substantially parallel to the first coil axis and the second coil axis. |
| US08593242B2 |
Field emission system and method
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
| US08593241B2 |
Enclosed proximity switch assembly
An enclosed proximity switch assembly includes a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure that are coupled to form an interior volume. A shaft protrusion upwardly extends from a top surface of the top enclosure, and an interior bore portion having an enclosed volume is defined within the shaft protrusion to form a portion of the interior volume. A first end of a vertical shaft is rotatably disposed within the interior bore portion such that the shaft rotates relative to the top and bottom enclosures. A samarium cobalt target magnet is coupled to the shaft, and the target magnet interacts with a samarium cobalt driver magnet within a proximity switch when the target magnet is rotated within a predetermined distance of a top portion of the proximity switch. The interaction causes a switch to move from a first state to a second state, or vice versa. |
| US08593237B1 |
Localized temperature stability of low temperature cofired ceramics
The present invention is directed to low temperature cofired ceramic modules having localized temperature stability by incorporating temperature coefficient of resonant frequency compensating materials locally into a multilayer LTCC module. Chemical interactions can be minimized and physical compatibility between the compensating materials and the host LTCC dielectrics can be achieved. The invention enables embedded resonators with nearly temperature-independent resonance frequency. |
| US08593234B2 |
Bragg mirror and BAW resonator with a high quality factor on the bragg mirror
A method for manufacturing a bulk acoustic wave resonator, each resonator including: above a substrate, a piezoelectric resonator, and next to the piezoelectric resonator, a contact pad connected to an electrode of the piezoelectric resonator; and, between the piezoelectric resonator and the substrate, a Bragg mirror including at least one conductive layer extending between the pad and the substrate and at least one upper silicon oxide layer extending between the pad and the substrate, the method including the steps of: depositing the upper silicon oxide layer; and decreasing the thickness unevenness of the upper silicon oxide layer due to the deposition method, so that this layer has a same thickness to within better than 2%, and preferably to within better than 1%, at the level of each pad. |
| US08593225B2 |
Hybrid class amplifier
A power amplifier is configured to generate impedances at harmonic frequencies such that the power amplifier operates in a class C mode in a low output amplitude range and in a class F or inverse F mode in a high output amplitude range. Related methods of operation are also discussed. |
| US08593223B2 |
Automatic gain control circuit
In an automatic gain control circuit, a peak detection circuit detects and outputs the peak voltage of an output signal from a variable gain circuit. An average value detection/output amplitude setting circuit detects the average value voltage of an output signal from the variable gain circuit, and outputs a calculated voltage. An amplification circuit controls the gain of the variable gain circuit by amplifying the difference between the output voltages of the peak detection circuit and average value detection/output amplitude setting circuit. The number of base-emitter junctions of transistors on a path in the peak detection circuit from input ports which receive output signals from the variable gain circuit to an output port which outputs a voltage to the amplification circuit is equal to the number of base-emitter junctions of transistors on a path in the average value detection/output amplitude setting circuit. |
| US08593221B1 |
Methods and circuits for common mode stability and bandwidth broadening in transistor amplifiers
Examples of circuits and methods are provided for common mode stability and bandwidth broadening. A current generator circuit may include a first and a second transistor. Each of the first and second transistors includes a first, second, and third terminal. The first and second transistors provide a first and a second output current at their corresponding third terminals. A first branch including a first resistor and a first capacitor coupled in series is coupled between the third terminal of the first transistor and the first terminal of the second transistor. A second branch including a second resistor and a second capacitor coupled in series is coupled between the third terminal of the second transistor and the first terminal of the first transistor. The first and the second branches are configured to enable the current generator circuit to provide the first and second currents with improved common mode stability. |
| US08593219B1 |
Method and apparatus for amplifying a radio frequency signal
A radio frequency (RF) amplifier structure provides highly efficient RF signal amplification across a wide bandwidth, when implemented in both inverting and non-inverting Doherty designs, by employing matching impedance transform circuits that comprise a low pass multiple section inductance-capacitance circuit and that provides impedance matching between the output of an amplifier device and a power combiner, wherein the output matching impedance transform circuit has approximately an odd multiple of 90 electrical degrees over the RF amplifier structure's frequency range of operation, and adjustable phase delay circuits that route an amplified RF signal to the power combiner and that are controllably adjusted based on a frequency of an RF input signal over an operating frequency range of the RF amplifier structure. |
| US08593218B2 |
Fast settling low power low noise amplifier
Aspects of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods to provide slew rate enhancement during an initial stage of operation of an amplifier and processing of an input signal with low noise introduction during a subsequent amplification stage of operation. During the initial stage, a high bandwidth component of the amplifier can be engaged to provide slew rate enhancement of the overall amplifier. The adaptive slew rate enhancement can be based on a detected imbalance of an output of a low bandwidth component of the amplifier. Once a desired operating state of the amplifier is achieved, the high bandwidth component can be disengaged. The low bandwidth component can then solely operate on a received input signal during the amplification stage. The low bandwidth component can be low power and can introduce low levels of noise, thereby ensuring minimal noise introduction and corruption of the amplified output signal of the amplifier. |
| US08593214B2 |
Field device for process instrumentation
A field device for process instrumentation having an interface for connecting a two-wire cable and for outputting measurement values, wherein the interface comprises a series circuit having a transistor circuit by which the loop current is adjustable as a function of a control signal, a power supply, and a device by which the loop current can be captured as an actual value that is fed by a first feedback coupling to a regulator having integrated behavior. The regulator compares the actual value to a target value, and generates a control signal for the transistor circuit. The actual value is fed by a second feedback coupling to a summation point as a compensation signal for generating an input signal for the transistor circuit as a function of the control signal and the compensation signal to suppress interference coupled into the two-conductor line. |
| US08593209B2 |
Resonant tank drive circuits for current-controlled semiconductor devices
A resonant tank circuit has an output port configured to be coupled to a load comprising a current-controlled semiconductor device, such as a diode, thyristor, transistor or the like. A voltage generator circuit is configured to intermittently apply voltages to an input port of the resonant tank circuit in successive intervals having a duration equal to or greater than a resonant period of the resonant tank circuit. Such an arrangement may be used, for example, to drive a static switch. |
| US08593205B2 |
Output buffer circuit and input/output buffer circuit
An output buffer circuit includes first and second output circuits, and those output terminals are coupled to each other. The first output circuit outputs a first signal having a voltage level of a first high potential power supply or a low potential power supply and includes a first output transistor at a high potential side. The second output circuit outputs a second signal having a voltage level of a second high potential power supply, which is lower than the first high potential power supply, or the low potential power supply and includes a second output transistor at a high potential side. A control circuit sets the gate and back gate of at least one of the first and second output transistor to the voltage level of the second high potential power supply when the first high potential power supply is deactivated and the second high potential power supply is activated. |
| US08593203B2 |
High signal level compliant input/output circuits
An interface input has an input circuit adapted to receive input signal levels higher than a maximum signal level that a host circuitry's electronic components can reliably handle. The input circuit shifts the level of the input signal to a desired signal level. A keeper circuit is coupled to the input circuit and maintains trigger levels of the shifted signals consistent with the input signal level. |
| US08593201B2 |
Signal output circuit
In a signal output circuit, an input buffer externally receives a single-phase switching instruction signal to switch a state of the output circuit a shutdown disable state or a shutdown enable state, and converts and outputs the single-phase switching instruction signal into a differential switching instruction signal. A generation control circuit outputs a generation control signal for controlling generation of a control voltage in the control voltage generation circuit based on the differential switching instruction signal. A control voltage generation circuit outputs the control voltage upon changing a value of the control voltage in accordance with a logic of the single-phase switching instruction signal. An output circuit externally receives a differential input signal, outputs a differential output signal upon impedance-converting the differential input signal, and switches between the shutdown disable state and the shutdown enable state of the differential input signal. |
| US08593196B2 |
Test circuit and methods for speed characterization
A system and method for efficiently performing timing characterization of regions of an integrated circuit. An integrated circuit has monitors distributed in different physical regions across its die. Each monitor includes timing characterization and self-test circuitry. This circuitry includes one or more tunable delay lines used during timing measurements. The circuitry verifies the tunable delay lines are defect free prior to the timing measurements. If defects are detected, but tunable delay lines may still be used, a scaling factor may be generated for a failing tunable delay line. The scaling factor may be used during subsequent timing measurements to maintain a high accuracy for the measurements. The timing measurements may determine a particular physical region of the die provides fast or slow timing values. The resulting statistics of the timing measurements may be used to change an operational mode of the IC in at least the particular region. |
| US08593194B2 |
Race free semi-dynamic D-type flip-flop
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a D-type flip-flop, comprising a first latch configured to generate a sample enable signal, based on logical states of an input signal, and generate a sampled signal, based on logical states of the input signal and the sample enable signal; and a second latch configured to generate an output signal responsively to the sampled signal. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08593193B1 |
Complementary semi-dynamic D-type flip-flop
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a D type flip-flop, comprising a first sampling module configured to sample an input signal while the input signal is at a low logical value; a second sampling module configured to sample the input signal while the input signal is at a high logical value; and a latch configured to logically generate an output signal responsively to the sampling of the input signal by the first sampling module and by the second sampling module. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08593192B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for controlling flip-flop
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first retention flip-flop configured in a first type in which a retention flip-flop is able to retain data based on one of a low-level clock signal and a high-level clock signal, and unable to retain data based on another one of the low-level clock signal and high-level clock signal, and a second retention flip-flop configured in a second type in which a retention flip-flop is able to retain data based on the low-level clock signal and also able to retain data based on the high-level clock signal. |
| US08593191B1 |
Aligning multiple chip input signals using digital phase lock loops
This disclosure describes methods and techniques using Digital Phase Lock Loops (DPLLs) within a source chip to automatically phase align a plurality of clock signals at a plurality of clock pins on a plurality of target chips of varying distances and corresponding delays from the source chip by using each transmitted clock signal's reflected signal as a tuning reference. |
| US08593189B1 |
Phase locked loop (PLL) with multi-phase time-to-digital converter (TDC)
One or more techniques or systems for locking a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided herein. In some embodiments, a multi-phase time-to-digital converter (TDC) includes a first phase finder, a phase predictor, a second phase finder, and a phase switch. For example, the first phase finder is configured to generate a first fractional phase signal based on a multi-phase variable clock (CKV) signal. For example, the phase predictor is configured to generate a phase select (QSEL) signal or a multi-phase CKV select (CKVSEL) signal based on a frequency command word (FCW) signal or the multi-phase CKV signal. For example, the second phase finder is configured to generate a second fractional phase signal based on the CKVSEL signal or the QSEL signal. For example, the phase switch is configured to select the first or second fractional phase signal based on a phase error (PHE) signal. |
| US08593188B2 |
Apparatus to remove the loop filter resistor noise in charge-pump PLL
An improved charge pump based phase locked loop where the loop filter resistor noise is reduced by about an order is presented. The voltage controlled oscillator generates a clock signal, and this is input to the phase detector, which, compares the oscillator clock with the reference clock and using the Charge pump it generates a current output proportional to the phase difference. The loop filter converts this proportional current to a voltage and connects it to the oscillator input. The loop filter consists of a capacitor, resistor and the apparatus that bypasses most of the resistor noise. |
| US08593187B2 |
Delay line off-state control with power reduction
A method and apparatus is provided for controlling a delay line for achieving power reduction. The device comprises a delay lock loop to provide an output signal based upon a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal, said delay lock loop comprising at least one delay circuit comprising a plurality of logic gates configured to provide for substantially uniform degradation of a plurality of NAND gates in a static state. |
| US08593185B2 |
Clock divider circuit and system LSI having same
A clock divider circuit has a plurality of dividers for which dividing ratios are settable, a preset register group that stores the dividing ratios set for the plurality of dividers, and a selector that selects a single preset register within the preset register group, and imparts the dividing ratios stored in the selected preset register to the plurality of dividers. |
| US08593178B2 |
CMOS logic circuit
A CMOS logic circuit includes a resistive element that is connected to a first voltage line at a first end thereof. The CMOS logic circuit includes a first inverter circuit having a first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor. The CMOS logic circuit includes a second inverter circuit having a third MOS transistor and a fourth MOS transistor. The CMOS logic circuit includes a fifth MOS transistor that is connected in parallel with the resistive element between the first voltage line and the first end of the first MOS transistor and the gate of which is connected to the second end of the third MOS transistor. The CMOS logic circuit includes a sixth MOS transistor that is connected between the first voltage line and the first output terminal. |
| US08593174B1 |
Omnibus logic element for packing or fracturing
Disclosed is a logic element (LE) that can provide a number of advantageous features. For example, the LE can be configured to implement register packing and/or a fracturable look up table. |
| US08593169B2 |
Frequency specific closed loop feedback control of integrated circuits
Systems and methods for frequency specific closed loop feedback control of integrated circuits. In one embodiment, a plurality of controllable inputs to an integrated circuit is adjusted to achieve a frequency specific predetermined value of a dynamic operating indicator of the integrated circuit at the desired specific operating frequency. The predetermined value is stored in a data structure within a computer usable media. The data structure comprises a plurality of frequency specific predetermined values for a variety of operating frequencies. An operating condition of an integrated circuit is controlled via closed loop feedback based on dynamic operating indicators of the measured behavior of the integrated circuit. |
| US08593164B2 |
Cell for broadband dielectric spectroscopy
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a block defining a temperature control channel therethrough and a defining a sample chamber. The apparatus can also include an electrode disposed inside of the block such that the sample chamber is fluidically isolated from the temperature control channel by the electrode. The electrode can be configured to receive a signal from an impedance analyzer during a dielectric spectroscopy experiment related to a sample included in the sample chamber. |
| US08593161B2 |
Contact detection apparatus and pinch prevention apparatus
A contact detection apparatus that allows faster detection and a pinch prevention apparatus equipped with such a detection apparatus are provided.The contact detection apparatus includes a first electrode (430) made of a flexible conductive material and extending throughout a contact detection range, a second electrode (440) apart from the first electrode and extending on the back side of the first electrode, and detection means for detecting contact of an object with the first electrode based on the capacitance of the first electrode. The first electrode is made of a conductive resin containing an embedded conductor. |
| US08593160B2 |
Apparatus and method for finger activity on a fingerprint sensor
An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including transmitting a probing signal, comprising a series of probing pulses, to a fingerprint sensing area. A response signal, comprising a series of response pulses, is received from the fingerprint sensing area in response to the probing signal. An upper reference signal is generated and finger activity is detected on the fingerprint sensing area by monitoring whether the peaks of the response pulses exceed the reference signal. |
| US08593158B1 |
Calibrated two port passive intermodulation (PIM) distance to fault analyzer
A PIM measurement circuit enables making forward and reverse PIM measurements on any 1 port (reflection) or 2 port (transmission) device with the ability to determine in distance where individual PIM impairments are located as well as their magnitude. The PIM measurement circuit includes two frequency sources that are provided through a combiner for a CW characterization of the PIM circuit. To enable distance determination, an FM measurement is created by using a saw tooth offset sweep generator attached to one of the two frequency sources. With downconversion and processing of signals from the PIM impairments, the FM signal provides a frequency variation that is converted using a Fourier transform or spectrum analysis for separation of frequencies, enabling determination of the distance of the PIM sources as well as their magnitudes. |
| US08593152B2 |
Earth ground tester with remote control
A testing device which may be used to conduct ground resistance and soil resistivity measurements. The testing device comprises both a main unit and a remote unit adapted to communicate with one another via a communication link. After setting the testing device up according to the desired measurement technique, the procedure may be carried out, and the resulting measurement values are subsequently displayed on the remote unit. This allows a single operator to perform measurements while standing directly adjacent to an electrode, which is, for example, placed at a large distance from the main unit and/or other electrodes. This relieves the operator from constantly having to walk back and forth placing electrodes in different positions, and also obviates the need to return to the main unit of the testing device to consult a display and/or change parameters or settings. |
| US08593146B2 |
Cryogenically cooled superconductor gradient coil module for magnetic resonance imaging
Methods and/or apparatuses for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic resonance spectroscopy comprising a superconducting gradient coil module configured for cryogenic cooling. Such a superconducting gradient coil module may comprise a vacuum thermal isolation housing comprising a double wall hermetically sealed jacket that (i) encloses a hermetically sealed interior space having a first vacuum pressure, and (ii) substantially encloses a vacuum space having a second vacuum pressure; at least one superconductor gradient coil disposed in the vacuum space; a thermal sink member disposed in the vacuum space and in thermal contact with the at least one superconductor gradient coil; and a port configured for cryogenically cooling at least the thermal sink member. |
| US08593138B2 |
Bearing residual life prediction method, bearing residual life diagnostic apparatus and bearing diagnostic system
A bearing residual life prediction method, a bearing residual life diagnostic apparatus and a bearing diagnostic system can be provided. The bearing diagnostic system 20 includes: an eddy current tester 11 that measures the impedance X of a certain portion of a bearing 24 before and after the use of the bearing; a bearing information transmitter 30 that transmits bearing information s1 containing the impedance X; and a bearing information receiver 31 that receives the information; a diagnostic section 12 that obtains the residual life information s2 of the bearing 24 based on the received impedance X; and a life information transmitter 36 that transmits the residual life information s2; and a life information receiver 40 that receives the information. Hence, the bearing used by the user can be inspected nondestructively, and the residual life of the bearing can be predicted. |
| US08593133B2 |
Current measuring systems and methods of assembling the same
A current measuring system for measuring a current through a conductor is described. The system includes a first sensor configured to measure a first magnetic flux and to generate a first signal proportional to the first magnetic flux. The system also includes a second sensor configured to measure a second magnetic flux and to provide a second signal proportional to the second magnetic flux, the second sensor having a higher sensitivity to stray magnetic fields than the first sensor. The system also includes a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal. The processor is further configured to determine a presence of a stray magnetic field by comparing the first signal and the second signal. |
| US08593127B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce line current harmonics from a power supply
A power converter includes a power switch, an energy storage element, a driver, a first calculator, and a second calculator. The first calculator coupled to determine an end of an on time of a power switch of the power converter by integrating an input current to output an on time signal representative of the end of the on time of the power switch. The second calculator coupled to determine an end of an off time of the power switch by integrating a difference between an input voltage and an output voltage to output an off time signal representative of the end of the off time of the power switch. The driver controls the power switch such that an input current of the power converter is substantially proportional to an input voltage of the power converter in response to the on time signal and the off time signal. |
| US08593119B2 |
5 volt tolerant voltage regulator
A voltage regulator circuit comprises an error amplifier for generating, an error signal responsive to a reference voltage in a feedback signal. A feedback circuit provides the feedback voltage signal to the error amplifier and a driver circuit provides regulated output voltage responsive to the input voltage in the error signal. Short circuit protection circuitry selectively protects transistors within the error amplifier, the feedback amplifier and the driver circuit responsive to a short circuit protection enablement signal. |
| US08593118B2 |
Power supply apparatus with fast initiating speed and power supply system with multiple power supply apparatuses with fast initiating speed
A power supply apparatus includes a first output power circuit, a first output protection circuit, a first output capacitor, a first pre-charging circuit and a first power supply control circuit. The first output power circuit is used for generating a first internal output voltage. The first output protection circuit is connected to a power output terminal of the first output power circuit for limiting the current direction. The first pre-charging circuit is interconnected between a power input terminal and a power output terminal of the first output protection circuit for providing a first pre-charging path. When the first power-on signal is switched from a disabled status to an enabled status, a first pulse width modulation signal having a higher or the maximum duty cycle is transmitted from the first power supply control circuit to the control terminal of the first switching circuit, thereby enabling the first output power circuit. |
| US08593116B2 |
Switched-mode power supply including switch protection circuit
A switched-mode converter includes a first magnetic circuit including a first inductive element, coupled to at least one second inductive element and electrically coupled in series with the second element and with a first diode between a first one of two input terminals and a first one of two output terminals; a first switch coupled in series with a third inductive element between a second terminal of the first inductive element and a second input terminal, a common node between the first switch and the third inductive element being connected to one of the output terminals by a second diode; and a circuit capable of canceling the voltage across the first switch before its turning-on. |
| US08593115B2 |
Bidirectional power converters
Circuits and methods for bidirectional power conversion are provided that allow mobile and other devices to generate power suitable to support multiple modes of operation. The bidirectional power converters of the present invention may operate in both step up and step down configurations rather than having a single dedicated conversion function and use many of the same components thereby reducing converter size and complexity. |
| US08593113B2 |
Supercapacitor backup power supply with bi-directional power flow
A system for providing backup power supply to a device is provided. The system includes a supercapacitor and a single circuit for charging and discharging of a supercapacitor. The single circuit operates with an inductor to provide for charging and discharging of the supercapacitor. |
| US08593112B2 |
Battery pack
Battery pack circuits are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a battery pack including a rechargeable battery including a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal coupled to a common terminal, a discharge control switch coupled between the first battery terminal and a first discharging terminal, a charge control switch coupled between the first discharging terminal and a first charging terminal, wherein the battery pack is configured to provide a current to a load coupled between the first discharging terminal and the common terminal, and a processing circuitry configured to charge and discharge the battery by controlling the discharge control switch and the charge control switch. |
| US08593108B2 |
Portable charging system
A portable charging system includes a bag configured to receive an electronic device, a battery, a docking station, a charging apparatus and a cord. Another portable system includes a bag, a charging system, and a cord for charging an electronic device. A battery includes a battery cell for storing energy, an external case surrounding the battery cell, and an electrical contact for transmitting electricity therethrough. |
| US08593107B2 |
Methods and systems for recharging an implanted device by delivering a section of a charging device adjacent the implanted device within a body
Methods, systems, and apparatus for recharging medical devices implanted within the body are disclosed. An illustrative method of recharging an implanted medical device includes delivering a charging device to a location adjacent to the implanted medical device, activating a charging element coupled to the charging device and transmitting charging energy to a receiver of the implanted medical device, and charging the implanted medical device using the transmitted charging energy from the charging device. |
| US08593103B2 |
Network topology for monitoring and controlling a solar panel array
Embodiments of a network topology for monitoring and controlling an array of solar panels include an intelligent node adapted to send and receive data and commands by at least two redundant means of communication. An intelligent node includes a solar panel, a node controller, a photovoltaic module, a bypass relay, a bypass bus, PLC and wireless communication interfaces for redundant means of communication, and sensor and actuator interfaces for monitoring and controlling the intelligent node. A PV module in the intelligent node may selectively be bypassed without interrupting network communications. Some embodiments include a plurality of intelligent nodes electrically connected serially into a chain of nodes and further connected to a gateway. Other embodiments include a plurality of chains of nodes connected to an inverter and a transformer, thereby defining an area. Additional embodiments further include a central server in communication with a plurality of areas. |
| US08593100B2 |
Motor drive circuit
A motor drive circuit is configured to drive a motor coil based on duty ratio of a PWM signal, and includes a first pulse signal generating circuit configured to generate a first pulse signal for each time period, the time period being equal to 1/n of a time period during which the PWM signal is at one logic level, a counter configured to change a count value based on the first pulse signal, a drive signal output circuit configured to output a drive signal of one logic level when the count value is not a predetermined value and output the drive signal of the other logic level when the count value reaches the predetermined value, a drive circuit configured to perform PWM driving for the motor coil based on the duty ratio of the drive signal, and a setting circuit. |
| US08593098B2 |
Operation of BLDC motors
The present invention there is provides a method of determining the rotor position in an electric motor comprising the steps of: superimposing one or more alternating signals on to the driving waveform so as to generate one or more oscillating currents in the stator coils; monitoring the variation in magnitude of the oscillating currents and thereby determining the rotor position. Typically, two alternating signals are applied in opposition so as to have no net effect on the torque applied by the driving waveform. Using this technique rotor position estimation can be obtained at start-up from stand-still and at low to medium speeds. The method can be used in applications where a fast motor start is needed under unknown load conditions and can be used to detect when the rotor has passed a certain position that coincides with the commutation instance. |
| US08593095B2 |
Wound field synchronous machine rotor tracking using a carrier injection sensorless signal and exciter current
An example method of initiating operation of a wound field synchronous machine in a motoring mode includes estimating an initial position of a rotor of a wound field synchronous machine using a carrier injection sensorless stimulation signal. The method tracks an operating position of the rotor based on current harmonics of the wound field synchronous machine. The method also calibrates the tracking using the initial position. |
| US08593094B2 |
Power conversion apparatus of electric vehicle
A power conversion apparatus of an electric vehicle includes: a power converter for driving an induction machine based on arbitrary d- and q-axis voltage commands Vd* and Vq*, and a control unit for controlling the power converter based on a power running command P and a brake command B from outside. The control unit includes: a dq/three-phase conversion unit for converting phase current information iu, iv, and iw detected from the induction machine into d- and q-axis current detection values id and iq on orthogonal rotating coordinates; a speed determination unit for computing d- and q-axis voltage commands Vd* and Vq* for the power converter and determines that speed of the induction machine is zero based on the power running command P, the brake command B, and the d- and q-axis current detection values id and iq; and a resistance computing unit for computing a resistance value of the induction machine based on the power running command P, the d-axis current detection value id, and the d-axis voltage command Vd* when the brake command B is changed to the power running command P and the speed determination unit determines that the speed of the induction machine is zero. |
| US08593086B2 |
System and method including feed-forward control of a brushless synchronous motor
A drive system, such as for a fluid jet cutting system, includes a brushless synchronous motor configured to drive movement through a loosely coupled transmission, a sensor configured to sense movement, and a control system configured to drive the brushless synchronous motor responsive to previously measured drive coupling. |
| US08593078B1 |
Universal dimming ballast platform
A universal dimming topology is provided for an electronic ballast having an inverter providing an output current across first and second output branches for driving a light source in accordance with a dimming control input signal. A filament voltage control block modulates first and second filament heating switches to provide filament heating voltage across first and second connection terminals associated with the output branches. During a preheat operating mode a control block disables the inverter and provides pulse width modulated control signals to the filament voltage control block to modulate the filament heating switches at a predetermined frequency. During a normal operating mode the control block enables the inverter and provides pulse width modulated control signals to the filament voltage control block to modulate the filament heating switches in accordance with a duty ratio based on a detected output current. |
| US08593077B2 |
High-voltage discharge lamp lighting device and lighting fixture
A device includes a direct current power circuit configured to convert an alternating current voltage from an alternating current power source into a direct current voltage, an output unit configured to convert a direct current from the direct current power circuit into a square wave alternating current whose polarity is inverted at a prescribed frequency and to supply the square wave alternating current to a high-pressure discharge lamp, a controller, and an anomaly detector configured to detect an instantaneous voltage drop of the alternating current power source. When the anomaly detector detects the instantaneous voltage drop, the controller switches from a normal lighting mode of controlling the output unit to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp with a square wave alternating current to a lighting maintained mode of controlling the output unit to supply the high-pressure discharge lamp with a square wave alternating current having a lower frequency than the square wave alternating current in the normal lighting mode. In this way, it is possible to maintain lighting of the high-pressure discharge lamp even upon occurrence of an instantaneous power failure, an instantaneous voltage drop, and the like. |
| US08593068B2 |
Two-wire AC switch
A two-wire AC switch suppressing heat from a bidirectional switch element inside the switch is provided. The two-wire AC switch 100a connected between an AC power supply 101 and a load 102 includes: a bidirectional switch element 103 which flows passing current bi-directionally, selects whether to flow or block the current, is connected in series with the AC power supply 101 and the load 102 to form a closed-loop circuit, and is made of a group-III nitride semiconductor; a full-wave rectifier 104 performing full-wave rectification on power supplied from the AC power supply 101; a power supply circuit 105 smoothing a voltage after the full-wave rectification to generate DC power; a first gate drive circuit 107 and a second gate drive circuit 108 each outputting a control signal to the bidirectional switch element 103; and a control circuit 106 controlling the first and second gate drive circuits 107 and 108. |
| US08593067B2 |
Led lighting device and illumination apparatus
According to one embodiment, an LED lighting device includes a DC source, a non-insulated step-down chopper and a light emitting diode. The non-insulated step-down chopper includes: a first circuit in which a switching element, a current detecting impedance element and an inductor are connected in series to each other; a second circuit in which the inductor and a freewheel diode are connected in series to each other; and a control portion for controlling the switching element. A power portion including the switching element and the control portion are constituted by a single package IC, and the current detecting impedance element and inductor are attached to the outside of the IC. |
| US08593065B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for improving the visibility and identification of satellites using light emitting diodes
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for improving the visibility and identification of satellites using light emitting diodes. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for improving the visibility of satellites. The method can include attaching one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to a satellite, supplying one or more signals to the one or more LEDs, and producing light emission having a unique identifier from the one or more LEDs based at least in part on the one or more signals. |
| US08593061B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes a display panel obtained by forming an electro-optical layer, in which a plurality of pixels is formed, on a glass substrate having a thickness of 50 μm or less; and a support frame supporting the display panel, wherein the display panel has at least a display region in which the plurality of pixels is formed and frame regions formed outside the display region, and wherein at least one side of each of the frame regions is bent from the vicinity of a circumference of the display region to the support frame side and is fixed to the support frame. |
| US08593060B2 |
Multi-display apparatus and methods thereof
A multi-display apparatus includes a thin film encapsulating structure to prevent moisture penetration through sides of the encapsulating structure. Each of a plurality of unit panels of the multi-display apparatus includes a substrate, a display device formed on the substrate, an organic material layer formed on the substrate to bury the display device, an inorganic material layer stacked on the organic material layer, and a moisture barrier wall that is formed outside the display device on the substrate and has a height greater than a thickness of the organic material layer. The multi-display apparatus having a thin film encapsulating structure can realize a stable, smooth, and large image screen since the thin film encapsulating structure can reduce a width of seams between the unit panels and can prevent moisture penetration. |
| US08593056B2 |
Electroluminescent device
An electroluminescent device includes, for example, first to third optical output parts respectively corresponding to red, green, and blue colors and each having a light-emitting layer. A visibility spectrum curve has an inclination value corresponding to the first optical output part, an inclination value corresponding to the second optical output part, and an inclination value corresponding to the third optical output part. Each inclination value corresponds to an emission peak wavelength at which an emission spectrum of a light ray emitted from the light-emitting layer of the corresponding optical output part reaches a maximum intensity value. The inclination values have the following relationship: first optical output part>second optical output part>third optical output part. The emission spectra of the optical output parts have widths in the following relationship: first optical output part>second optical output part>third optical output part. |
| US08593054B2 |
Image display element and manufacturing method thereof
An image display element includes: a front panel; a back panel opposite thereto; a plurality of pixels arranged between both the panels; and plural electrodes for controlling the pixels. The panels are bonded with the pixels and the electrodes interposed therebetween, and the electrodes are connected to a driving circuit via metal film wires. The back panel is divided so as to expose electrode terminals, and a groove part V-shaped in cross section is formed at the divided portion. The metal film wires are formed on the top surface of the back panel, and the electrode terminals and the metal film wires are connected by a conductive paste coated along the tilt surfaces forming the groove part. Partitions are disposed between the adjacent electrode terminals at the bottom of the groove part. |
| US08593051B2 |
Apparatus for producing a charged particle beam
Apparatus for the production of a charged particle beam, comprising: an ion source plasma chamber (104), having a door (106), and an accelerator (102) mounted on the face of the door remote from the ion source plasma chamber. |
| US08593050B2 |
Lamp socket
A lamp socket has the form factor of a standard Edison lamp socket but works with energy efficient light bulbs with a compatible screw base and not with light bulbs with the standard Edison screw base. This allows the lamp socket to be used in the manufacture of conventional light fixtures but qualify as high energy efficient light fixtures under California's Title 24 or similar lighting regulations from other governing bodies. |
| US08593037B1 |
Resonator with a fluid cavity therein
A quartz resonator flow cell has a piezoelectric quartz wafer with an electrode, pads, and interconnects disposed on a first side thereof. The piezoelectric quartz wafer has a second electrode disposed on a second side thereof, the second electrode opposing the first electrode. A substrate is provided having fluid ports therein and the piezoelectric quartz wafer is mounted to the substrate such that the second side thereof faces the substrate with a cavity being formed between the substrate and the wafer. The fluid ports in the substrate are aligned with the electrode on the second side of the piezoelectric quartz wafer which is in contact with the cavity. |
| US08593035B2 |
Phased array buckling actuator
A harmonic buckling actuator includes buckling units engaged to a rotational track/gear. Each buckling unit includes two input actuators. One end of each input actuator is constrained to rotate about a rotational joint that is rigidly attached to a common ground. The other end of each input actuator is constrained to move with the other actuator of the same buckling unit along a single output axis via another rotational joint that is the output of the buckling unit. The inactivated, unforced configuration of each buckling unit is such that the input actuators are nearly collinear with the line segment connecting the unit's grounded rotational joints. The buckling units are arrayed around the track/gear such that their outputs are spatially phased within the groves of the track/gear. Harmonic activation of the buckling units generates torque on the track/gear about its output axis. |
| US08593034B2 |
Carbon nanotube based electrostrictive composite and electrostrictive element using the same
An electrostrictive composite includes two electrostrictive layers spaced with each other. The electrostrictive layers extend from a first side to a second side. The first side is spaced with and correspond to the second side. The electrostrictive layers are electrically connected with each other at the first side. The electrostrictive layers are insulated from each other at the second side. |
| US08593030B2 |
Rotating electric machine for generating a constant frequency AC Power Supply from a variable speed primemover
Disclosed is a rotating electric machine for generating a constant frequency AC power supply from a variable speed primemover including: a stator wound with two sets of isolated polyphase windings having the same number of poles, with the polyphase windings located at about 90 degree displacement in space between them, and a rotor wound with two sets of isolated polyphase windings having the same number of poles and placed at about 90 degree displacement in space between them. The rotor has two winding terminals interconnected either internally or externally to the machine with mutually reverse phase sequence. When one set of stator winding is energized by an AC power supply of a given frequency and voltage, and the rotor shaft is rotated by an external means in the same direction as that of the rotating field of the stator. |
| US08593028B2 |
Magnet for a generator
A magnet for a generator is provided. The magnet includes a base magnet with a main surface having a length and a width and a skewed magnet module arranged at the main surface. A rotor of a generator including the magnet is provided as well as a generator with a stator and rotor including the magnet. |
| US08593027B2 |
Permanent magnet rotor
A permanent magnet rotor for a brushless electric motor of the kind with an internal stator, has a carrier structure of molded plastic that includes a disc portion fixed to a shaft. The disc portion has a periphery joined to a substantially cylindrical cage portion coaxial with the shaft. The cage portion accommodates a magnetic flux conducting structure forming an wall which is coaxial with the shaft, and a plurality of permanent magnets shaped as ring segments, disposed at angular intervals within and adjacent to the flux conducting structure. Each magnet has its circumferentially terminal faces parallel with each other or converging in the outward direction. The cage portion is overmolded onto the flux conducting structure and has a plurality of angularly spaced struts which are essentially parallel to the axis of the rotor and which protrude radially inwards. Each of the struts having on its flanks respective containment surfaces which are essentially parallel to, or converge in the outward direction with, corresponding facing surfaces of the adjacent struts, such that between the magnetic flux conducting structure and each pair of adjacent struts there is defined a respective seat adapted to snugly receive a respective permanent magnet. |
| US08593018B2 |
Vibration generator
A vibration generator making a closed loop of a magnetic circuit of a permanent magnet to obtain a high vibrating force while kept small in size, including a reciprocating vibrator having a ring-shaped permanent magnet in a center hole of a ring-shaped weight, a first and second plate springs supporting this reciprocating vibrator at a recessed case and end plate to be able to elastically displace in a thickness direction spanning a first and a second end faces, a tubular toroidal coil passing through a center hole of the permanent magnet and generating a reciprocating vibrating magnetic field for reciprocatingly driving the permanent magnet in the thickness direction, and a columnar core passing through this toroidal coil, the ring-shaped permanent magnet being magnetized in the thickness direction, and the toroidal coil having a lower toroidal coil and an adjoining reversely wound series connected upper toroidal coil coaxial with the same. |
| US08593017B2 |
Miniaturized generator with oscillating magnets for the production of electric energy from vibrations
An electric energy generator from a vibrational field includes a body of non-ferromagnetic material, at least one pair of permanent magnets pivotally hung from the body in such a way that they are arranged therebetween. The magnets have faces of equal magnetic polarity turned to each other from opposite sides of the body, whereby a repulsive force is established between the magnets tending to keep them spread apart in an equilibrium position. A plurality of electric coils is arranged on the surface of the body so as to intercept the magnetic field generated by the magnets. The body is configured to be connectable to a vibration source, the vibration contrasting the repulsive force and causing an oscillation of the magnets about the equilibrium position, thereby generating a magnetic flux variation and thus an electric power production as an output from the electric coils. |
| US08593016B2 |
Levitated micro-manipulator system
A system has a circuit substrate having conductive traces in a first layer of the substrate, the traces arranged in independent zones, a diamagnetic layer residing on a surface of the circuit substrate, at least two manipulators residing adjacent the magnetic layer, the manipulators being moveable within the zones, the manipulators being magnetic and controllable through magnetic fields, and a controller electrically coupled to the traces arranged to produce signals to generate magnetic fields. |
| US08593013B2 |
Switching control method capable of continuously providing power and related apparatus and power supply system
A switching control method capable of continuously providing power is utilized for a power supply system having a first power supply unit and a second power supply unit. The switching control method includes generating a first input signal and a second input signal; performing a logical operation process on the first input signal and the second input signal to generate a first control signal; delaying the second input signal for a delay time to generate a second control signal; controlling a coupling relationship between the first power supply unit and a load according to the first control signal; and controlling a coupling relationship between the second power supply unit and the load according to the second control signal. |
| US08593012B2 |
Utility scale electric energy storage system
A potential energy storage system incorporating multiple track mounted shuttle units having motor/generator drive bogies and structure with an integral transfer mechanism for removably carrying energy storage masses from a first lower elevation storage yard to a second higher elevation storage yard employing excess energy from the electrical grid driving the motors, removing the masses in the second storage yard for energy storage, retrieving the masses and returning the masses from the second storage yard to the first storage yard recovering electrical energy through the generators. |
| US08593010B2 |
Wind turbine
The present invention relates to a wind turbine including a tower, a nacelle arranged on top of the tower and a slip ring assembly having at least one slip ring, wherein a first cable is extending from the nacelle to the tower via an interior bore of the slip ring assembly, and at least one second cable is extending from the nacelle to the tower via the at least one slip ring, whereby a shielding distance is formed between an outer periphery of said first cable and an inner circumference of the at least one slip ring. The present invention further relates to use of a slip ring assembly comprising at least one slip ring for shielding cables in a wind turbine. |
| US08593009B1 |
Power generator system
A pair of axles is rotatable about parallel axes. Each axle has a plurality of radially extending blades. A space between the axles defines a central passageway. A housing encompasses the blades. The housing has a concave front surface with a front opening and a convex rear surface with a rear opening. The central passageway extends between the front and rear openings. The housing has upper and lower surfaces. The upper and lower surfaces have apertures for rotatably receiving the axles. The front surface has lateral openings. Each opening forms a supplemental passageway. A support for each axle is provided. A lower extent of each axle extends beneath the lower surface of the housing. A generator is coupled to each axle. In this manner wind is moved through the housing. Also in this manner the axles rotate the generators. Further in this manner electrical energy is created. |
| US08593007B2 |
Rotational kinetic energy conversion system
An energy conversion system for converting between one form of input energy selected from a mechanical energy and electrical energy, and an output energy selected from a mechanical energy and electrical energy using a linearly displaced magnetic component interacting with an orbitally displaced magnetic component. |
| US08593006B2 |
Wind turbine braking device and method of use damping drivetrain oscillation
A method for the oscillation damping of a drive train in a wind turbine is proposed. The drive train connects a rotor to a generator. Parameter values representing an oscillation of the drive train are calculated and, on the basis of the calculated parameter values, damping forces which counteract the oscillation of the drive train are exerted in a controlled manner on the drive train by a braking device. |
| US08593000B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes an alignment mark formed over a semiconductor substrate and an inhibition pattern arranged over the alignment mark with a pattern edge of the inhibition pattern located in a mark functional region of the alignment mark in order to inhibit the alignment mark being recognized as such by an image detector of an exposure device. |
| US08592996B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device wherein a semiconductor element made of Si or Si group material mounted on a substrate, the semiconductor element is mounted on the substrate and the semiconductor element is bonded to a silver bonding material via a oxide film formed on the semiconductor element. The bonding material comprising silver oxide particles having an average particle size of 1 nm to 50 nm and an organic reducing agent is used for bonding in air, which gives a high bonding strength to the oxide on the semiconductor element. |
| US08592994B2 |
Semiconductor package, core layer material, buildup layer material, and sealing resin composition
A flip-chip semiconductor package includes a circuit board having a core layer and at least one buildup layer, a semiconductor device connected to the circuit board through a metal bump, and a cured member that is made of a sealing resin composition and enclosed between the semiconductor device and the circuit board. The coefficient of linear expansion at 25 to 75° C. of the cured member is 15 to 35 ppm/° C., the glass transition temperature of at least one buildup layer is 170° C. or more, and the coefficient of linear expansion of at 25 to 75° C. of the at least one buildup layer in the planar direction is 25 ppm or less. A highly reliable flip-chip semiconductor package, buildup layer material, core layer material, and sealing resin composition can be provided by preventing cracks and inhibiting delamination. |
| US08592993B2 |
Method and structure of integrated micro electro-mechanical systems and electronic devices using edge bond pads
A monolithic integrated electronic device includes a substrate having a surface region and one or more integrated micro electro-mechanical systems and electronic devices provided on a first region overlying the surface region. Each of the integrated micro electro-mechanical systems and electronic devices has one or more contact regions. The first region has a first surface region. One or more trench structures are disposed within one or more portions of the first region. A passivation material overlies the first region and the one or more trench structures. A conduction material overlies the passivation material, the one or more trench structures, and one or more of the contact regions. The device also has one or more edge bond pad structures within a vicinity of the one or more bond pad structures, which are formed by a singulation process within a vicinity of the one or more bond pad structures. |
| US08592991B2 |
Semiconductor device, fabricating method thereof and semiconductor package including the semiconductor device
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second surface defines a redistribution trench. The substrate has a via hole extending therethrough. The semiconductor device also includes a through via disposed in the via hole. The through via may include a via hole insulating layer, a barrier layer, sequentially formed on an inner wall of the via hole. The through via may further include a conductive connector adjacent the barrier layer. The semiconductor device additionally includes an insulation layer pattern formed on the second surface of the substrate. The insulation layer pattern defines an opening that exposes a region of a top surface of the through via. The semiconductor devices includes a redistribution layer disposed in the trench and electrically connected to the through via. The insulation layer pattern overlaps a region of the conductive connector. |
| US08592989B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with bump over via
An integrated circuit package system includes a substrate, forming a resist layer having an elongated recess over the substrate, forming a via in the substrate below the elongated recess, and forming an elongated bump in the elongated recess over the via. |
| US08592985B2 |
Methods of forming conductive structures and methods of forming DRAM cells
Some embodiments include methods of forming conductive structures. An electrically conductive material may be deposited with a first deposition method. The first deposition method has a first deposition rate and forms a first portion of a conductive structure. A second portion of the conductive structure may be formed by depositing the electrically conductive material with a second deposition method having a second deposition rate. The second deposition rate may be different from the first deposition rate by at least about a factor of 3. In some embodiments, a region of the conductive structure is utilized as a transistor gate of a DRAM cell. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions. |
| US08592981B2 |
Via structure and method thereof
The invention relates to a layered micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic structure, comprising at least three alternating electrically conductive layers with insulating layers between the conductive layers. There is also provided a via in a first outer layer, said via comprising an insulated conductive connection made of wafer native material through the layer, an electrically conductive plug extending through the other layers and into said via in the first outer layer in order to provide conductivity through the layers, and an insulating enclosure surrounding said conductive plug in at least one selected layer of said other layers for insulating said plug from the material in said selected layer. It also relates to micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic device comprising a movable member provided above a cavity such that it is movable in at least one direction. The device has a layered structure according to the invention. Methods of making such a layered MEMS structure is also provided. |
| US08592979B2 |
Semiconductor device conductive pattern structures and methods of manufacturing the same
A conductive pattern structure includes a first insulating interlayer on a substrate, metal wiring on the first insulating interlayer, a second insulating interlayer on the metal wiring, and first and second metal contacts extending through the second insulating interlayer. The first metal contacts contact the metal wiring in a cell region and the second metal contact contacts the metal wiring in a peripheral region. A third insulating interlayer is disposed on the second insulating interlayer. Conductive segments extend through the third insulating interlayer in the cell region and contact the first metal contacts. Another conductive segment extends through the third insulating interlayer in the peripheral region and contacts the second metal contact. The structure facilitates the forming of uniformly thick wiring in the cell region using an electroplating process. |
| US08592976B2 |
Ball-limiting-metallurgy layers in solder ball structures
A structure. The structure includes: a first dielectric layer which includes a top dielectric surface; an electrically conductive line on the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and the electrically conductive line; a ball-limiting-metallurgy (BLM) region on the second dielectric layer and the electrically conductive line such that the BLM region is electrically connected to the electrically conductive line; and a solder ball on the BLM region. The BLM region has a characteristic that a length of the longest straight line segment which is parallel to the top dielectric surface and is entirely in the BLM region does not exceed a pre-specified maximum value, wherein the pre-specified maximum value is at most one-half of a maximum horizontal dimension of the BLM region measured in a horizontal direction parallel to the top dielectric surface. |
| US08592969B2 |
Semiconductor device with protective screen
A multi-layer substrate has a front face with external pads. An integrated-circuit chip is positioned inside of the multi-layer substrate. An electronic and/or electric component is also positioned inside of the substrate above the integrated-circuit chip. An electrical connection network is formed in the multi-layer substrate to selectively connect the integrated-circuit chip and component together and to the external pads. A first screen is positioned within the multi-layer substrate between the integrated-circuit chip and the electrical connection network, this first screen being connected by vias to the external pads. A second screen is position on a top (external) surface of the multi-layer substrate above the component and electrical connection network, this second screen being connected by vias to the external pads. The integrated-circuit chip is position to be inside the first and second screens. |
| US08592961B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
A non-leaded semiconductor device comprises a sealing body for sealing a semiconductor chip, a tab in the interior of the sealing body, suspension leads for supporting the tab, leads having respective surfaces exposed to outer edge portions of a back surface of the sealing body, and wires connecting pads formed on the semiconductor chip and the leads. End portions of the suspension leads positioned in an outer periphery portion of the sealing body are unexposed to the back surface of the sealing body, but are covered with the sealing body. Stand-off portions of the suspending leads are not formed in resin molding. When cutting the suspending leads, corner portions of the back surface of the sealing body are supported by a flat portion of a holder portion in a cutting die having an area wider than a cutting allowance of the suspending leads, whereby chipping of the resin is prevented. |
| US08592960B2 |
Leadframe package with integrated partial waveguide interface
A MMIC package is disclosed comprising: a leadframe based overmolded package, a die positioned within the overmolded package; and a partial waveguide interface, wherein the partial waveguide interface is integral with the overmolded package facilitating low cost and reliable assembly. Also disclosed is an overmolded package where the die sits on a metal portion exposed on the bottom of the package and the package is configured for attachment to a chassis of a transceiver such that heat from the die is easily dissipated to the chassis with a direct thermal path. The disclosure facilitates parallel assembly of MMIC packages and use of pick and place/surface mounting technology for attaching the MMIC packages to the chassis of transceivers. This facilitates reliable and low cost transceivers. |
| US08592954B2 |
Semiconductor element and method of manufacturing the semiconductor element
A semiconductor element includes a semiconductor layer, an electrode, an adhesion layer, and an insulating layer. The electrode is disposed over the semiconductor layer and has a first upper surface and a second upper surface disposed further away from the semiconductor layer than the first upper surface. The adhesion layer is disposed on the first upper surface of the electrode so that the second upper surface of the electrode is disposed further away from the semiconductor layer than an upper surface of the adhesion layer. The insulating layer covers from the upper surface of the adhesion layer to the semiconductor layer. |
| US08592953B2 |
Structures including passivated germanium
A passivated germanium surface that is a germanium carbide material formed on and in contact with the germanium material. A semiconductor device structure having the passivated germanium having germanium carbide material on the substrate surface is also disclosed. |
| US08592947B2 |
Thermally controlled refractory metal resistor
A structure and method of fabricating the structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface defining a horizontal direction and a plurality of interconnect levels stacked from a lowermost level proximate the top surface of the semiconductor substrate to an uppermost level furthest from the top surface. Each of the interconnect levels include vertical metal conductors physically connected to one another in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The vertical conductors in the lowermost level being physically connected to the top surface of the substrate, and the vertical conductors forming a heat sink connected to the semiconductor substrate. A resistor is included in a layer immediately above the uppermost level. The vertical conductors being aligned under a downward vertical resistor footprint of the resistor, and each interconnect level further include horizontal metal conductors positioned in the horizontal direction and being connected to the vertical conductors. |
| US08592946B2 |
Lithography for printing constant line width features
An anisotropic wet etch of a semiconductor layer generates facets joined by a ridge running along the center of a pattern in a dielectric hardmask layer on the semiconductor layer. The dielectric hardmask layer is removed and a conformal masking material layer is deposited. Angled ion implantation of Ge, B, Ga, In, As, P, Sb, or inert atoms is performed parallel to each of the two facets joined by the ridge causing damage to implanted portions of the masking material layer, which are removed selective to undamaged portions of the masking material layer along the ridge and having a constant width. The semiconductor layer and a dielectric oxide layer underneath are etched selective to the remaining portions of the dielectric nitride. Employing remaining portions of the dielectric oxide layer as an etch mask, the gate conductor layer is patterned to form gate conductor lines having a constant width. |
| US08592944B2 |
Semiconductor electronic device with an integrated device with an integrated galvanic isolator element and related assembly process
An electronic device is provided with: a first electronic circuit, integrated in a first die; a second electronic circuit, integrated in a second die; and a galvanic isolator element, designed to insulate galvanically, and to enable transfer of signals between, the first electronic circuit and the second electronic circuit. The galvanic isolator element has: a transformer substrate, distinct from the first die and from the second die; and a galvanic-insulation transformer formed by a first inductive element, integrated in the first die, and by a second inductive element, integrated in the transformer substrate and so arranged as to be magnetically coupled to the first inductive element. |
| US08592938B2 |
GaN-based Schottky barrier diode with field plate
A method for fabricating a III-nitride semiconductor device includes providing a III-nitride substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, forming a III-nitride epitaxial layer coupled to the first surface of the III-nitride substrate, and removing at least a portion of the III-nitride epitaxial layer to form a first exposed surface. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer coupled to the first exposed surface, removing at least a portion of the dielectric layer, and forming a metallic layer coupled to a remaining portion of the dielectric layer such that the remaining portion of the dielectric layer is disposed between the III-nitride epitaxial layer and the metallic layer. |
| US08592936B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and electronic device, and method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device includes: a first substrate of which end portions are cut off so as to slope or with a groove shape; a photodiode and an amplifier circuit over the first substrate; a first electrode electrically connected to the photodiode and provided over one end portion of the first substrate; a second electrode electrically connected to the amplifier circuit and provided over an another end portion of the first substrate; and a second substrate having third and fourth electrodes thereon. The first and second electrodes are attached to the third and fourth electrodes, respectively, with a conductive material provided not only at the surfaces of the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes facing each other but also at the side surfaces of the first and second electrodes to increase the adhesiveness between a photoelectric conversion device and a member on which the photoelectric conversion device is mounted. |
| US08592935B2 |
MgS solar-blind UV radiation detector
A UV detector is designed to provide a photoresponse with a cutoff wavelength below a predetermined wavelength. The detector uses a sensor element having an active layer comprising a MgS component grown directly on a substrate. A thin layer metal layer is deposited over the active layer and forms a transparent Schottky metal layer. |
| US08592933B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, fabrication method for the same, and solid state imaging device
A photoelectric conversion device has a high S/N ratio and can increase the detection efficiency even under a low luminance. The photoelectric conversion device generates an increased electric charge by impact ionization in a photoelectric conversion unit formed from a chalcopyrite type semiconductor, so as to improve dark current characteristic. The photoelectric conversion device includes: a lower electrode layer; a compound semiconductor thin film of chalcopyrite structure disposed on the lower electrode layer and having a high resistivity layer on a surface; and a transparent electrode layer disposed on the compound semiconductor thin film , wherein the lower electrode layer, the compound semiconductor thin film, and the transparent electrode layer are laminated one after another, and a reverse bias voltage is applied between the transparent electrode layer and the lower electrode layer, and the multiplication by the impact ionization of the electric charge generated by photoelectric conversion is generated within the compound semiconductor thin film. It is also possible to provide a fabrication method for such photoelectric conversion device, and a solid state imaging device using the photoelectric conversion device. |
| US08592930B2 |
Magnetic memory element, magnetic memory and initializing method
A magnetic memory element includes: a first magnetization free layer; a non-magnetic layer; a reference layer; a first magnetization fixed layer group; and a first blocking layer. The first magnetization free layer is composed of ferromagnetic material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and includes a first magnetization fixed region, a second magnetization fixed region and a magnetization free region. The non-magnetic layer is provided near the first magnetization free layer. The reference layer is composed of ferromagnetic material and provided on the non-magnetic layer. The first magnetization fixed layer group is provided near the first magnetization fixed region. The first blocking layer is provided being sandwiched between the first magnetization fixed layer group and the first magnetization fixed region or in the first magnetization fixed layer group. |
| US08592926B2 |
Substrate bonding with metal germanium silicon material
In one embodiment, a semiconductor structure including a first substrate, a semiconductor device on the first substrate, a second substrate, and a conductive bond between the first substrate and the second substrate that surrounds the semiconductor device to seal the semiconductor device between the first substrate and the second substrate. The conductive bond comprises metal, silicon, and germanium. A percentage by atomic weight of silicon in the conductive bond is greater than 5%. |
| US08592924B2 |
Semiconductor device including gate electrode having a laminate structure and a plug electrically connected thereto
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source region, a drain region, an element separation insulating film layer and a wiring. The gate electrode include a laminated structure having a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a metal or a metallic compound formed on the gate insulating film and a polycrystalline silicon layer formed on the metal or metallic compound. The source region and drain region are formed on a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate and sandwich the gate electrode therebetween. The element separation insulating film layer surrounds the semiconductor layer. The wiring is in contact with the metal or metallic compound of the gate electrode. |
| US08592923B2 |
Coupling well structure for improving HVMOS performance
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first well region of a first conductivity type overlying the substrate, a second well region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type overlying the substrate, a cushion region between and adjoining the first and the second well regions, an insulation region in a portion of the first well region and extending from a top surface of the first well region into the first well region, a gate dielectric extending from over the first well region to over the second well region, wherein the gate dielectric has a portion over the insulation region, and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric. |
| US08592922B2 |
Transistor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A transistor device is provided that includes a substrate, a first channel region formed in a first portion of the substrate and being doped with a dopant of a first type of conductivity, a second channel region formed in a second portion of the substrate and being doped with a dopant of a second type of conductivity, a gate insulating layer formed on the first channel region and on the second channel region, a dielectric capping layer formed on the gate insulating layer, a first gate region formed on the dielectric capping layer over the first channel region, and a second gate region formed on the dielectric capping layer over the second channel region, wherein the first gate region and the second gate region are made of the same material, and wherein one of the first gate region and the second gate region comprises an ion implantation. |
| US08592918B2 |
Forming inter-device STI regions and intra-device STI regions using different dielectric materials
An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate having a first portion in a first device region and a second portion in a second device region; and two insulation regions in the first device region and over the substrate. The two insulation regions include a first dielectric material having a first k value. A semiconductor strip is between and adjoining the two insulation regions, with a top portion of the semiconductor strip forming a semiconductor fin over top surfaces of the two insulation regions. An additional insulation region is in the second device region and over the substrate. The additional insulation region includes a second dielectric material having a second k value greater than the first k value. |
| US08592914B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
The electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device are enhanced. In the package of the semiconductor device, there are encapsulated first and second semiconductor chips with a power MOS-FET formed therein and a third semiconductor chip with a control circuit for controlling their operation formed therein. The bonding pads for source electrode of the first semiconductor chip on the high side are electrically connected to a die pad through a metal plate. The bonding pad for source electrode of the second semiconductor chip on the low side is electrically connected to lead wiring through a metal plate. The metal plate includes a first portion in contact with the bonding pad of the second semiconductor chip, a second portion extended from a short side of the first portion to the lead wiring, and a third portion extended from a long side of the first portion to the lead wiring. |
| US08592913B2 |
Semiconductor device for preventing plasma induced damage and layout thereof
A semiconductor device includes a diode having a first terminal connected to a first-conductivity-type well, and a second-conductivity-type MOS transistor having a first junction and a gate connected to a second terminal of the diode, and a second junction connected to a first power supply voltage terminal. |
| US08592912B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes: a plurality of conductive patterns stacked on a substrate and spaced apart from each other and a pad pattern including a flat portion extending in a first direction parallel to the substrate from one end of any one of the plurality of conductive patterns, and a landing sidewall portion extending upward from a top surface of the flat portion, wherein a width of a portion of the landing sidewall portion in a second direction parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction is less than a width of the flat portion. |
| US08592911B2 |
Asymmetric semiconductor device having a high-k/metal gate and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device has a metal sidewall spacer on the sidewall of a gate electrode on the drain region side. The metal sidewall spacer is made of such metals as Ta, which has an oxygen scavenging effect and can effectively reduce EOT on the drain region side, and thus the ability to control the short channel is effectively increased. In addition, since EOT on the source region side is larger, the carrier mobility of the device will not be degraded. Moreover, such asymmetric device may have a better driving performance. |
| US08592907B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
It is an object to achieve high performance of a semiconductor integrated circuit depending on not only a microfabrication technique but also another way and to achieve low power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A semiconductor device is provided in which a crystal orientation or a crystal axis of a single-crystalline semiconductor layer for a MISFET having a first conductivity type is different from that of a single-crystalline semiconductor layer for a MISFET having a second conductivity type. A crystal orientation or a crystal axis is such that mobility of carriers traveling in a channel length direction is increased in each MISFET. With such a structure, mobility of carriers flowing in a channel of a MISFET is increased, and a semiconductor integrated circuit can be operated at higher speed. Further, low voltage driving becomes possible, and low power consumption can be achieved. |
| US08592905B2 |
High-voltage semiconductor device
A high-voltage semiconductor device is disclosed. The HV semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a well of first conductive type disposed in the substrate; a first doping region of second conductive type disposed in the p-well; a first isolation structure disposed in the well of first conductive type and surrounding the first doping region of second conductive type; and a first drift ring of second conductive type disposed between the first doping region of second conductive type and the first isolation structure. |
| US08592900B2 |
Drain extended CMOS with counter-doped drain extension
An integrated circuit containing a diode with a drift region containing a first dopant type plus scattering centers. An integrated circuit containing a DEMOS transistor with a drift region containing a first dopant type plus scattering centers. A method for designing an integrated circuit containing a DEMOS transistor with a counter doped drift region. |
| US08592895B2 |
Field effect transistor with source, heavy body region and shielded gate
A field effect transistor includes a plurality of trenches extending into a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type. The plurality of trenches includes a plurality of gated trenches and a plurality of non-gated trenches. A body region of a second conductivity extends in the semiconductor region between adjacent trenches. A dielectric material fills a bottom portion of each of the gated and non-gated trenches. A gate electrode is disposed in each gated trench. A conductive material of the second conductivity type is disposed in each non-gated trench such that the conductive material and contacts corresponding body regions along sidewalls of the non-gated trench. |
| US08592892B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory element, the memory element including: a semiconductor substrate; a first insulating film formed on a region in the semiconductor substrate located between a source region and a drain region, and having a stack structure formed with a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, and a third insulating layer in this order, the first insulating layer including an electron trapping site, the second insulating layer not including the electron trapping site, and the third insulating layer including the electron trapping site, and the electron trapping site being located in a position lower than conduction band minimum of the first through third insulating layers while being located in a position higher than conduction band minimum of a material forming the semiconductor substrate; a charge storage film formed on the first insulating film; a second insulating film formed on the charge storage film; and a control gate electrode formed on the second insulating film. |
| US08592886B2 |
Erasable programmable single-ploy nonvolatile memory
An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a floating gate transistor having a floating gate, a gate oxide layer under the floating gate, and a channel region; and an erase gate region, wherein the floating gate is extended to and is adjacent to the erase gate region. The gate oxide layer comprises a first portion above the channel region of the floating gate transistor and a second portion above the erase gate region, and a thickness of the first portion of the gate oxide layer is different from a thickness of the second portion of the gate oxide layer. |
| US08592884B2 |
Semiconductor device including capacitor
A substrate is provided with a first wiring layer 111, an interlayer insulating film 132 on the first wiring layer 111, a hole 112A formed in the interlayer insulating film, a first metal layer 112 covering the hole 112A, a second metal layer 113 formed in the hole 112A, a dielectric insulating film 135 on the first metal layer 112, and second wiring layers 114-116 on the dielectric insulating film 135, wherein the first metal layer 112 constitutes at least part of the lower electrode, an area, facing the lower electrode, of the second wiring layers 114-116 constitutes the upper electrode, and a capacitor 160 is constructed of the lower electrode, the dielectric insulating film 135 and the upper electrode P1. |
| US08592879B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
Described is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A mask is formed over an insulating film and the mask is reduced in size. An insulating film having a projection is formed using the mask reduced in size, and a transistor whose channel length is reduced is formed using the insulating film having a projection. Further, in manufacturing the transistor, a planarization process is performed on a surface of a gate insulating film which overlaps with a top surface of a fine projection. Thus, the transistor can operate at high speed and the reliability can be improved. In addition, the insulating film is processed into a shape having a projection, whereby a source electrode and a drain electrode can be formed in a self-aligned manner. |
| US08592875B2 |
Semiconductor gas sensor
A semiconductor gas sensor is provided that includes a semiconductor body with a passivation layer formed on a surface of thereof. A gas-sensitive control electrode is separated from a channel region by a gap or a control electrode is arranged as a first plate of a capacitor with a gap and a second plate of the capacitor is connected to a gate of the field effect transistor implemented as a Capacitively Controlled Field Effect Transistor. The control electrode has is connected to a reference voltage. A support area is provided with a first support structure and a second support structure. A contact area is provided on the surface of the semiconductor body. A first contact region has a frictional connection and an electrical connection with the control electrode and the second contact region has at least a frictional connection with the control electrode. |
| US08592871B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device and method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor device
A nitride semiconductor device in which contact resistance between an ohmic electrode and an ohmic recess portion is reduced and a method of manufacturing the nitride semiconductor device are provided. The nitride semiconductor device includes: a first nitride semiconductor layer formed on a substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a bandgap wider than a bandgap of the first nitride semiconductor layer; an ohmic recess portion formed in at least the second nitride semiconductor layer; and an ohmic electrode provided in contact with the ohmic recess portion. The ohmic recess portion includes a corrugated structure in at least a part of a plane in contact with the ohmic electrode. |
| US08592868B2 |
Normally-off semiconductor devices
Normally-off semiconductor devices are provided. A Group III-nitride buffer layer is provided. A Group III-nitride barrier layer is provided on the Group III-nitride buffer layer. A non-conducting spacer layer is provided on the Group III-nitride barrier layer. The Group III-nitride barrier layer and the spacer layer are etched to form a trench. The trench extends through the barrier layer and exposes a portion of the buffer layer. A dielectric layer is formed on the spacer layer and in the trench and a gate electrode is formed on the dielectric layer. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also provided herein. |
| US08592858B2 |
Light-emitting diode and method for fabrication thereof
A light-emitting diode (10) includes a transparent substrate and a compound semiconductor layer that contains a light-emitting part (12) containing a light-emitting layer (133) formed of (AlXGa1-X)YIn1-YP (0≦X≦1 and 0 |
| US08592855B2 |
Light emitting device package including a substrate having at least two recessed surfaces
Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a substrate comprising a recess, a light emitting chip on the substrate and a first conductive layer electrically connected to the light emitting chip. And the first conductive layer includes at least one metal layer electrically connected to the light emitting chip on an outer circumference of the substrate. |
| US08592851B2 |
Optical semiconductor device and circuit
A surface mount optical semiconductor device and circuit can efficiently transfer and dissipate heat even when being mounted together with electronic circuit components. The optical semiconductor device can include a lead frame having a concave portion for mounting a light-emitting element therein and a pair of electrode terminals connected to a board. A sealing resin portion can be provided for sealing a surrounding region of the concave portion. A bottom surface of the concave portion is located at a predetermined distance from a connecting surface on which the pair of electrode terminals is connected to the board. The bottom surface of the concave portion can also be exposed from a bottom surface of the sealing resin portion. Thus, the bottom surface of the concave portion and the device in general can be air-cooled efficiently. |
| US08592850B2 |
Light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element to emit a first light, a mounting member, first and second wavelength conversion layers and a transparent layer. The first wavelength conversion layer is provided between the element and the mounting member in contact with the mounting member. The first wavelength conversion layer absorbs the first light and emits a second light having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of the first light. The semiconductor light emitting element is disposed between the second wavelength conversion layer and the first wavelength conversion layer. The second wavelength conversion layer absorbs the first light and emits a third light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the first light. The transparent layer is provided between the element and the second wavelength conversion layer. The transparent layer is transparent to the first, second, and third lights. |
| US08592847B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a first electrode; a light-emitting stacked layer on the first electrode; a first contact layer on the light-emitting stacked layer, wherein the first contact layer includes a first contact link and a plurality of first contact lines connected to the first contact link; a first conductive post in the light-emitting stacked layer and electrically connecting the first electrode and the first contact layer; and a passivation layer between the first conductive post and the light-emitting stacked layer. |
| US08592844B2 |
Light-emitting diode device
A light-emitting diode device includes a light-emitting diode, a power circuit portion for supplying electric power to the light-emitting diode, and a heat dissipating member for dissipating the heat generated from the light-emitting diode. The heat dissipating member is made of a thermal conductive sheet which contains a plate-like boron nitride particle. The thermal conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the thermal conductive sheet is 4 W/m·K or more. |
| US08592842B2 |
Vertical light emitting diodes
A light emitting device (LED) employs one or more conductive multilayer reflector (CMR) structures. Each CMR is located between the light emitting region and a metal electrical contact region, thereby acting as low-loss, high-reflectivity region that masks the lossy metal contact regions away from the trapped waveguide modes. Improved optical light extraction via an upper surface is thereby achieved and a vertical conduction path is provided for current spreading in the device. In an example vertical, flip-chip type device, a CMR is employed between the metal bottom contact and the p-GaN flip chip layer. A complete light emitting module comprises the LED and encapsulant layers with a phosphor. Also provided is a method of manufacture of the LED and the module. |
| US08592841B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device
A nitride semiconductor device used chiefly as an LD and an LED element. In order to improve the output and to decrease Vf, the device is given either a three-layer structure in which a nitride semiconductor layer doped with n-type impurities serving as an n-type contact layer where an n-electrode is formed is sandwiched between undoped nitride semiconductor layers; or a superlattice structure of nitride. The n-type contact layer has a carrier concentration exceeding 3×1010 cm3, and the resistivity can be lowered below 8×10−3 Ωcm. |
| US08592839B2 |
Vertical light-emitting devices having patterned emitting unit and methods of manufacturing the same
Example embodiments are directed to a light-emitting device including a patterned emitting unit and a method of manufacturing the light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes a first electrode on a top of a semiconductor layer, and a second electrode on a bottom of the semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layer is a pattern array formed of a plurality of stacks. A space between the plurality of stacks is filled with an insulating layer, and the first electrode is on the insulating layer. |
| US08592838B1 |
Low voltage display or indicator system employing combinations of up converters and semiconductor light sources
Methods and systems for a combination of up converters and semiconductor light sources in low voltage display or indicator system that can be battery powered. The display or indicator system includes one or more spatial light modulators and one or more up converters in combination with one or more semiconductor light sources. The spatial light modulator can be a liquid crystal display or a micro electro mechanical system or other spatial light modulator and can use direct modulation of the semiconductor light sources to modulate the visible emission from the up converters. The spatial light modulator can be placed between the up converting light source and the viewer or behind the up converting light source depending on the type of spatial light modulator, or modulation may be applied directly to one or more semiconductor light sources or arrays of semiconductor light sources that excite the up converters. |
| US08592833B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display including a microlens array
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including a microlens array is disclosed. In one embodiment, the OLED includes a substrate and an organic light emitting diode including a first electrode formed on the substrate, an organic emission layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic emission layer. The OLED also includes an encapsulation layer covering the organic light emitting diode, wherein part of the encapsulation layer contacts the substrate, and a microlens array neighboring the encapsulation layer. In one embodiment, the distance between the organic emission layer and the microlens array is about 0.5 μm to about 300 μm. |
| US08592829B2 |
Phosphor blend for an LED light source and LED light source incorporating same
A phosphor blend for an LED light source is provided wherein the phosphor blend comprises from about 7 to about 12 weight percent of a cerium-activated yttrium aluminum garnet phosphor, from about 3 to about 6 weight percent of a europium-activated strontium calcium silicon nitride phosphor, from about 15 to about 20 weight percent of a europium-activated calcium silicon nitride phosphor, and from about 55 to about 80 weight percent of a europium-activated calcium magnesium chlorosilicate phosphor. An LED light source in accordance with this invention has a B:G:R ratio for a 3200K tungsten balanced color film of X:Y:Z when directly exposed through a nominal photographic lens, wherein X, Y and Z each have a value from 0.90 to 1.10. |
| US08592827B2 |
Light-emitting device and the manufacturing method thereof
A light-emitting device includes: a carrier; a light-emitting structure formed on the carrier, wherein the light-emitting structure has a first surface facing the carrier, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and an active layer between the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of first trenches extended from the first surface and passing through the active layer so a plurality of light-emitting units is defined; and a plurality of second trenches extended from the second surface and passing through the active layer of each of the plurality of light-emitting units. |
| US08592823B2 |
Compound semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a GaN compound semiconductor multilayer structure disposed over the substrate; and a stress relief layer which is AlN-based and which is disposed between the substrate and the GaN compound semiconductor multilayer structure, wherein a surface of the stress relief layer that is in contact with the GaN compound semiconductor multilayer structure includes recesses that have a depth of 5 nm or more and that are formed at a number density of 2×1010 cm−2 or more. |
| US08592822B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting apparatus
Provided are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting apparatus. The light emitting device includes: an n-type semiconductor layer including a first area and a second area in a plane; an n-type contact layer disposed on the n-type semiconductor layer and has a first thickness in the first area and a second thickness in the second area; an undoped semiconductor layer disposed on the n-type contact layer having the first thickness in the first area; an active layer disposed on the undoped semiconductor layer in the first area; a p-type semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer in the first area; a first electrode disposed on the n-type contact layer having the second thickness in the second area; and a second electrode disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer. |
| US08592810B2 |
Thin film, method of forming the same, and semiconductor light-emitting element comprising the thin film
It is an object of the present invention to stably form an N-doped ZnO-based compound thin film. In the present invention, a gas containing oxygen and nitrogen and a nitrogen gas together with an organometallic material gas are supplied into a low-electron-temperature high-density plasma which is excited by microwave, thereby forming the N-doped ZnO-based compound thin film on a substrate as a film forming object. |
| US08592809B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate, a plurality of thin-film transistors on the substrate, each thin-film transistor including an active layer, a planarization layer on the thin-film transistors, a first electrode on the planarization layer and electrically connected to a thin-film transistor, and an ion blocking layer on the planarization layer, the ion blocking layer overlapping the active layer. |
| US08592804B2 |
Method for fabricating organic optoelectronic devices
An organic optoelectronic device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a stack of layers. The stack includes a buffer layer and a first organic semiconductor layer adjacent to the buffer layer at a first side of the buffer layer. The buffer layer includes at least one transition metal oxide doped with a metal. |
| US08592801B2 |
Up-conversion device with broad band absorber
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an IR photodetector that broadly absorbs electromagnetic radiation including at least a portion of the near infrared (NIR) spectrum. The IR photodetector comprises polydispersed QDs of PbS and/or PbSe. The IR photodetector can be included as a layer in an up-conversion device when coupled to a light emitting diode (LED) according to an embodiment of the invention. |
| US08592800B2 |
Optical devices featuring nonpolar textured semiconductor layers
A semiconductor emitter, or a precursor therefor, has a substrate and one or more textured semiconductor layers deposited onto the substrate in a nonpolar orientation. The textured layers enhance light extraction, and the use of nonpolar orientation greatly enhances internal quantum efficiency compared to conventional devices. Both the internal and external quantum efficiencies of emitters of the invention can be 70-80% or higher. The invention provides highly efficient light emitting diodes suitable for solid state lighting. |
| US08592789B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, there is provided a technique which promotes microfabrication by reducing a thickness of the device as suppressing an OFF current of a polysilicon diode which is a selective element. A polysilicon layer to which an impurity is doped at low concentration and which becomes an electric-field relaxation layer of the polysilicon diode which is a selective element of a resistance variable memory is formed so as to be divided into two or more layers such as polysilicon layers. In this manner, it is suppressed to form the crystal grain boundaries thoroughly penetrating between an n-type polysilicon layer and a p-type polysilicon layer in the electric-field relaxation layer, and therefore, it is prevented to generate a leakage current flowing through the crystal grain boundaries in application of a reverse-bias voltage without increasing a height of the polysilicon diode. |
| US08592787B2 |
Mirror for extreme ultra violet, manufacturing method for mirror for extreme ultra violet, and far ultraviolet light source device
An EUV light source is configured for generating an EUV light for an exposure device. The EUV light source includes a chamber, a target supply device configured for supplying a target into the chamber, an optical system for introducing laser light from a driver laser into the chamber and irradiating the target with the laser light to turn the target into plasma from which EUV light is emitted, and an EUV collector mirror in the chamber. The EUV collector mirror may include a multilayered reflecting surface with grooves and collect the EUV light from the plasma to a focal spot. The grooves can be arranged in a concentric fashion, and be configured for diffracting at least light at a wavelength which is the same as that of the laser light from the driver laser. |
| US08592786B2 |
Platen clamping surface monitoring
An ion implanter includes a platen having a clamping surface configured to support a wafer for treatment with ions, the platen also having at least one pair of electrodes under the clamping surface, a clamping power supply configured to provide an AC signal to the at least one pair of electrodes and a sensed signal representative of the AC signal, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensed signal from the clamping power supply when no wafer is clamped to the clamping surface. The controller is further configured to monitor the sensed signal and determine if the sensed signal is representative of deposits on the clamping surface exceeding a predetermined deposit threshold. |
| US08592785B2 |
Multi-ion beam implantation apparatus and method
An multi-ion beam implantation apparatus and method are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes an ion beam source that emits at least two ion beams; an ion beam analyzer; and a multi-ion beam angle incidence control system. The ion beam analyzer and the multi-ion beam angle incidence control system are configured to direct the emitted at least two ion beams to a wafer. |
| US08592784B2 |
Method for modifying a material layer using gas cluster ion beam processing
A method of modifying a material layer on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming the material layer on the substrate. Thereafter, the method comprises establishing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) having an energy per atom ratio ranging from about 0.25 eV per atom to about 100 eV per atom, and modifying the material layer by exposing the material layer to the GCIB. |
| US08592782B2 |
Data storage mechanism and communication mechanism for portable dosimeter
Described is a device comprising a dosimeter reader including an RFID tag reader for retrieving and/or updating all or a portion of the data stored in the non-volatile memory of an RFID tag on a dosimeter sled that is part of a radiation dosimeter. Also described is a method retrieving and/or updating the data stored in the non-volatile memory of the RFID tag. |
| US08592778B2 |
Particle beam irradiation apparatus and particle beam therapy system
The objective is to eliminate the effect of the hysteresis of a scanning electromagnet so that, in the raster scanning or the hybrid scanning, there is obtained a particle beam irradiation apparatus that realizes high-accuracy beam irradiation. There are provided a scanning power source that outputs the excitation current for a scanning electromagnet and an irradiation control apparatus that controls the scanning power source; the irradiation control apparatus is provided with a scanning electromagnet command value learning generator that evaluates the result of a run-through, which is a series of irradiation operations through a command value for the excitation current outputted from the scanning power source, that updates the command value for the excitation current, when the result of the evaluation does not satisfy a predetermined condition, so as to perform the run-through, and that outputs to the scanning power source the command value for the excitation current such that its evaluation result has satisfied the predetermined condition. |
| US08592773B2 |
Processing electronics and method for determining a count result, and detector for an X-ray imaging device
The present invention relates to processing electronics (18) for a detector (12) of an X-ray imaging device (14), the processing electronics (18) with a pulse counter section (22) having at least one count output (30) and with an integrator section (24) having an intensity output (32), wherein the processing electronics (18) is adapted to be connected to a sensor (16) in such a manner that X-ray photons (58) arriving at the sensor (16) can be processed by the pulse counter section (22), by the integrator section (24), or both, and wherein the processing electronics (18) comprises a processor (34) adapted to be connected to the count output (30) and to the intensity output (32) and adapted to output a count result (K) that takes into account both count information (N) obtained at the count output (30) and intensity information (I) obtained at the intensity output (32), so that the count result (K) contains information (N) obtained from the pulse counter section (22) and information (M) obtained from the integrator section (24). The present invention further relates to a corresponding detector element (10) for a detector (12), an X-ray imaging device (14), a method for determining a count result (K) from a detector element (10), a computer program, a data carrier and a detector (12) for an X-ray imaging device (14). |
| US08592771B2 |
Procedures to minimize the orientation dependency of automatic drift compensation of a scintillation counter
A method of minimizing the orientation dependence of an automatic drift compensation of a scintillation counter having a rod-shaped scintillator is provided. The cosmic radiation energy spectrum is analyzed above a predefined energy threshold value for the automatic drift compensation. A counting rate of particles having an energy deposition in the scintillator greater than an energy threshold value is controlled to a constant desired counting rate value. The method determines a first integral energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation while the scintillator is upright, and a second integral energy spectrum while the scintillator is in a horizontal position. An intersection point of the first and second integral energy spectrums is detected, and the energy threshold value of the drift compensation is set to the energy threshold value pertaining to the intersection point and the desired counting rate value is set to the counting rate pertaining to the intersection point. |
| US08592767B2 |
Tunable ferroelectric supported catalysts and method and uses thereof
Disclosed are tunable catalysts and methods of controlling the activity of a catalyst. For example, disclosed are methods of controlling the activity of a catalyst, comprising providing a catalyst, comprising a ferroelectric substrate of finite thickness comprising two opposing surfaces, the ferroelectric substrate being characterized as having a polarization; an electrode surmounting one of the surfaces of the ferroelectric substrate; and a catalytically active material surmounting the surface of the ferroelectric substrate opposing the electrode; and subjecting the ferroelectric substrate to a controllable electric field to give rise to a modulation of the polarization of the ferroelectric substrate, whereby the modulation of the polarization controllably alters the activity of one or more chemical species on the catalytically active material. |
| US08592766B2 |
Display device and light sensing system
A display device is applied to a light sensing system. The display device includes a display module and a pattern layer. The pattern layer is made of optical material capable of either fully or partially reflecting or absorbing invisible light of specific wavelength emitted from the display module, and is formatted on the display module, thus defining gaps through which invisible light can pass. A light sensor is utilized to sense the pre-determined pattern defined by the invisible light passing through the pattern layer. Based on the light sensing result, the light sensor can recognize the corresponding pattern. The optical material of the pattern layer may be arranged to incorporate locational varying invisible light transmittance to define the pre-determined pattern at a finer degree, thus further increasing sensing accuracy. |
| US08592765B2 |
Thermopile infrared sensor by monolithic silicon micromachining
A thermal infrared sensor is provided in a housing with optics and a chip with thermoelements on a membrane. The membrane spans a frame-shaped support body that is a good heat conductor, and the support body has vertical or approximately vertical walls. The thermopile sensor structure consists of a few long thermoelements per sensor cell. The thermoelements being arranged on connecting webs that connect together hot contacts on an absorber layer to cold contacts of the thermoelements. The membrane is suspended by one or more connecting webs and has, on both sides of the long thermoelements, narrow slits that separate the connecting webs from both the central region and also the support body. At least the central region is covered by the absorber layer. |
| US08592762B2 |
Method of using a direct electron detector for a TEM
A method of using a direct electron detector in a TEM, in which an image with a high intensity peak, such as a diffractogram or an EELS spectrum, is imaged on said detector. As known the high intensity peak may damage the detector. To avoid this damage, the center of the image is moved, as a result of which not one position of the detector is exposed to the high intensity, but the high intensity is smeared over the detector, displacing the high intensity peak before damage results. |
| US08592761B2 |
Monochromator for charged particle beam apparatus
The monochromator for reducing energy spread of a primary charged particle beam in charged particle apparatus comprises a beam adjustment element, two Wien-filter type dispersion units and an energy-limit aperture. In the monochromator, a dual proportional-symmetry in deflection dispersion and fundamental trajectory along a straight optical axis is formed, which not only fundamentally avoids incurring off-axis aberrations that actually can not be compensated but also ensures the exit beam have a virtual crossover which is stigmatic, dispersion-free and inside the monochromator. The present invention also provides two ways to build a monochromator into a SEM, in which one is to locate a monochromator between the electron source and the condenser, and another is to locate a monochromator between the beam-limit aperture and the objective. The former provides an additional energy-angle depending filtering, and obtains a smaller effective energy spread. |
| US08592757B2 |
Mass spectrometer and method for isotope analysis
A mass spectrometer for analyzing isotopic signatures, with at least one magnetic analyzer and optionally with an electric analyzer as well, with a first arrangement of ion detectors and/or ion passages and, arranged downstream thereof in the direction of the ion beam, a second arrangement of ion detectors, with at least one deflector in the region of the two arrangements of ion detectors or between these arrangements. Additionally, a multi-collector arrangement, special uses and a method for analyzing isotopes in a sample. The mass spectrometer according to the invention has a control for the at least one deflector such that ion beams of different isotopes can be routed to at least one ion detector in the second arrangement. |
| US08592756B2 |
Systems and methods for transfer of ions for analysis
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for transferring ions for analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample including an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure, an ion analysis device, and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, in which the gas flow generating device produces a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device. |
| US08592755B2 |
Method of switching ports of a switching valve of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry apparatus
A method of operating a switching valve of a GC-MS apparatus is provided with installing a sample injector; connecting a first capillary column downstream of the sample injector; installing a heart-cutting unit downstream of the first capillary column; installing a first interconnecting column and a second capillary column to the heart-cutting unit respectively; connecting a switching valve to the heart-cutting unit via a first interconnecting column and a second capillary column respectively wherein the switching valve includes a plurality of ports; connecting the switching valve to an MS via a second interconnecting column; and switching ports to create different sample loops for passing compounds from the heart-cutting unit to the MS or passing compounds from the heart-cutting unit to the discharge column to be purged. |
| US08592749B2 |
Auto calibration technique for radiation detectors
An apparatus and a method for calibrating a source detection device. The apparatus comprises a detector having a known amplification gain, a count rate meter, a means of measuring peak energy of a detected particle, a means of counting the number of particles detected at a given energy range and a means of comparing the number of particles counted over an energy range with an expected value. The apparatus adjusts the gain to cause the measured spectrum to correspond with an expected spectrum. |
| US08592744B2 |
Indoor/outdoor detection
A light sensor is used to detect ambient light conditions. According to an example embodiment, a light sensor (112) detects color temperature and, in some instances, intensity characteristics of ambient light (120, 130, 140) in an environment and uses these detected characteristics (116) to determine the location of the sensor relative to natural and artificial light sources. This location determination is used to selectively operate circuits in a device such as a hand-held telephone, computer device or personal data assistant (PDA). |
| US08592742B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling current supplied to an optical sensor
A system and method for adjusting the LED current of an optical sensor that does not decrease the effectiveness of the optical sensor or the length of its operating life, or significantly increase the cost due to hardware requirements. The LED current of an optical sensor is adjusted using a high frequency pulse-width modulated signal generated from a microcontroller. Based on feedback provided by the photo-detector, the duty cycle of the signal can be adjusted by the microcontroller. The signal passes through a low pass filter which averages the modulated signal into a DC voltage, which is then used to control a current amplifier circuit that provides current to the LED of the optical sensor. This adjustability enables the system to compensate for variations in sensor LED's and the LED brightness reduction to due aging and/or build-up of contaminants on the photo-detector and/or LED. |
| US08592739B2 |
Detection of configuration changes of an optical element in an illumination system
Technology for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system is described. A light source generates an illumination signal, and an element of the system directs a portion of the light of the signal back to a light detector. In one example, the portion of light is reflected back to the light detector. By monitoring an output signal of the light detector based on the directed light, control circuitry can detect that a position of an element of the system has changed. In one example, an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser diode package including a monitor photodiode can be used with a reflective element. In one example, the reflective element is a tilted optical element. Changes can be detected in the configuration of one or more optical elements of the illumination system which are outside the laser diode package. |
| US08592738B1 |
Alignment device for use with a solar tracking photovoltaic array
An alignment device for aligning solar cell modules of a solar tracking photovoltaic array relative to the sun. The alignment device may be mounted on at least one planar solar cell module so that an axis of the device is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface of the module. The device may include a convex lens at one end for focusing incoming rays of the sun into a focused beam, and a planar photodetector at a second end positioned so that the focused beam aligns on a predetermined point of the photodetector when the modules are correctly aligned. The instrument may also include a plurality of leads attached to the photodetector to provide a signal indicative of an angular misalignment of the at least one module. |
| US08592737B2 |
Device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile
A simultaneous deployment device for the control surfaces of a projectile for which each control surface is intended to be pivoted by a motor after its deployment to ensure the piloting, each control surface being held within the projectile and deployed towards the exterior of the projectile by the expansion of elastic means, each control surface being deployed by a rotation with respect to a control surface support and following a deployment axis that is crosswise to that of the projectile, wherein the elastic means are common means to ensure the deployment of all the control surfaces, the expansion of the elastic means generating a push stress directed along the axis of the projectile and being exerted on a push plate which transmits the push stress to as many slides as there are control surfaces to be deployed, each slide cooperating without slipping with a matching profile integral with a base of the control surface to make this pivot with respect to its support and first releasable locking means that maintain the elastic means in the compressed position. |
| US08592736B2 |
Microwave cooking system
A microwave cooking system is described for use in cooking pasta and alike in a microwave oven. The microwave cooking system includes a base receptacle, a colander, and a ventilation cover. The colander is sized to be suspended and nested within a central cavity of the base receptacle. The ventilation cover is sized to mount on top of the colander. An optional storage lid may be included for use in sealably engaging onto the base receptacle in which the colander and the ventilation cover can be nested within the base receptacle sealed with the storage lid. The method includes the steps of affixing, cooking, filling, heating, obtaining, placing, removing, and repositioning. |
| US08592734B2 |
Heater holder and electric hob including the same
Provided are a heater holder and an electric hob including the heater holder. Both end portions of a tube heater are supported by the heater holder having predetermined elasticity. Therefore, food can be cooked more rapidly, and the tube heater can be easily installed. Furthermore, damages caused by heat generated from the tube heater can be minimized. |
| US08592731B2 |
Flexible heated hose and method of manufacture
A heated hose includes an inner hose (109 covered by a braided support web (20) that fixes heating conductors (30) against the inner hose (10); and further including a protective jacket (40) covering. |
| US08592716B2 |
Methods and apparatus for initiating scoring
Methods and apparatus are provided for forming an initiation flaw (111) in the surface (114) of a glass sheet or glass ribbon (13). The initiation flaw (111) is used in connection with a laser light beam (121) and a cooling area produced by a cooling nozzle (119) to from a score line (115) in the surface (114) of the sheet or ribbon (13). The initiation flaw (111) is formed by a mechanical scoring head (20) which is carried by moving carriage (14) and which undergoes retrograde motion (19) relative to the carriage (14) so as to increase the time available for forming the initiation flaw (111). |
| US08592715B2 |
Hybrid welding method and hybrid welding apparatus
A first laser beam is radiated to a first radiation position of a welding object while intersecting a wire, and a second laser beam is radiated to a second radiation position that is spaced a predetermined distance from a target position of the wire. Arc welding is performed between the wire and the welding object while radiating the first laser beam and the second laser beam such that the first radiation position, the second radiation position, and the target position are disposed on a welding line of the welding object. In this way, it is possible to prevent the generation of spatter and perform welding at a high rate, without increasing the size of a molten pool. |
| US08592713B2 |
Irradiating apparatus, semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and display device manufacturing method
An irradiating apparatus for irradiating an irradiation object with beam light emitted from a semiconductor laser, wherein letting w be a radius of a beam for irradiating the irradiation object, Δ be a rate of individual difference in angle of divergence of the semiconductor laser, and λ be beam wavelength of the semiconductor laser, a focal position of an irradiating optical system interposed between the semiconductor laser and the irradiation object is defocused such that a distance z between the focal position and the irradiation object is z = π · w 2 λ · 1 - Δ 2 ( 1 - Δ 2 ) 2 + 1 . [ Equation 1 ] |
| US08592712B2 |
Mounting table structure and plasma film forming apparatus
A mounting table structure for mounting thereon an object to be processed to form a metal-containing thin film on the object includes a ceramic mounting table in which a chuck electrode and a heater are embedded, and a metal flange connected to a bottom surface of a peripheral portion of the mounting table. The mounting table structure further includes a metal base which is joined to the flange by screws and has a coolant path for flowing a coolant therein, and a metal seal member interposed between the flange and the base. |
| US08592710B2 |
System and method for weld removal, cutting, and gouging with vacuum removal of byproducts
An adjustable vacuum and support system for evacuating particulate matter, smoke, excess gasses, and molten metal from a work area during TIG welding and for providing adjustable support to a welding head. The vacuum system has a vacuum head and a vacuum nozzle. An adjustable mounting bracket arrangement has a first portion fixed to the vacuum head and a second portion securable to the welding head. The bracket arrangement establishes pivotal and slidable couplings between the welding head and the vacuum head. The vacuum nozzle has a support surface for being rested on a surface of a workpiece to support the vacuum head and the welding head. The support surface of the vacuum nozzle can be a base bevel surface at the tip of the nozzle. An opposed suction bevel surface can have a nozzle aperture interposed therealong. |
| US08592709B2 |
Current path arrangement for a circuit breaker
An apparatus includes an enclosure, a plurality of circuit breaker sub poles, each enclosed within a chamber of the enclosure, and a plurality of arc chutes, each installed on one of the chambers enclosing the circuit breaker sub poles. |
| US08592708B2 |
Gas-insulated vacuum circuit breaker
Sealed chamber for monitoring pressure 23 is provided on sealed tank 37. Sealed tank 37 is filled with insulating gas. And, a connection using insulated pipe 19 is provided between medium-pressure space 18 that makes a medium pressure and sealed chamber for monitoring pressure 23. In sealed chamber for monitoring pressure 23, a pressure monitoring and controlling means is provided for monitoring the internal pressure thereof to activate the pressure-release control in response to the situation where the monitored internal pressure has reached the predetermined setting value. The pressure monitoring and controlling means includes solenoid valve 28 that is capable of opening sealed chamber for monitoring pressure 23 to the atmosphere, pressure detector 26 that detects the internal pressure, and pressure monitor 27, which activates solenoid valve 28 for pressure-release when pressure detector 26 detects that the internal pressure has reached the predetermined abnormal pressure value. |
| US08592707B2 |
Electrical switch with a contact element mounted such that it can rotate
An electrical switch for electrical coupling of an electrical conductor to a busbar may include a contact element and an adjusting device, with the adjusting device moving the contact element during closing and opening of the switch, with the adjusting device rotating or pivoting the contact element, at least when the contact element is being lifted off the busbar. |
| US08592703B2 |
Tamper-resistant, energy-harvesting switch assemblies
Tamper-resistant, longer-lasting energy-harvesting switch assemblies that can accommodate longer antennas required for operation in the 315 MHz radio frequency band are provided. In order to accommodate longer antenna that will not fit within the energy-harvesting module, the front major face of the back plate is equipped with a perimetric channel or trough into which a wire antenna can be installed. The problem of rocker wear in prior-art devices caused by abrasive action of the bows is rectified by a redesign of the rocker and the manufacture of a wear-resistant insert that snaps into place at the rear of the rocker. The potential theft problem associated with prior-art devices has been resolved by redesigning the back plate and the retainer clip that engages latches on the redesigned back plate. Non-destructive removal of the retainer clip can be effected only with a special tool. |
| US08592700B2 |
Force switch
A switch of a device having a longitudinal axis, and comprising a switching element parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, a hollow body defining an interior cavity in which the switching element is movably disposed to define a switch-making position at a first longitudinal position and a switch-breaking position at a second longitudinal position, a biasing element imparting a variable longitudinal bias to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element exceeds the longitudinal bias causing the switching element to move to the other of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position, and an electrically-conductive contact coupled to the switching element and defining a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position. |
| US08592699B2 |
Single support lever keyboard mechanism
A keyboard mechanism for a low-travel keyboard and methods of fabrication are described. The low-travel keyboard is suitable for a thin-profile computing device, such as a laptop computer, netbook computer, desktop computer, etc. The keyboard includes a key cap that can be formed of a variety of materials in the form of a flat slab. The key cap is attached to one end of a support lever that supports it from underneath. In one embodiment, the support lever is formed of a rigid material and is pivotally coupled with a substrate on the other end. In another embodiment, the support lever is formed of a flexible material and is fixedly attached to the substrate on the other end. The portion of the support lever that is attached to the key cap is positioned over a metal dome that can be deformed to activate the switch circuitry of the membrane on printed circuit board underneath the dome. |
| US08592697B2 |
Single-chip multi-stimulus sensor controller
A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator. |
| US08592694B2 |
Replaceable knockout part in a metal panel and systems and methods thereof
In one general embodiment, a product includes a metal panel having a main portion and a knockout portion formed therein and detachably coupled thereto, wherein the knockout portion includes at least one member insertable in one or more apertures in the main portion for allowing re-coupling the knockout portion to the main portion after detachment therefrom. In another general embodiment, a product includes a metal panel having a main portion and a knockout portion formed therein and detachably coupled thereto, wherein the main portion includes at least one member insertable in one or more apertures in the knockout portion for allowing re-coupling the knockout portion to the main portion after detachment therefrom. |
| US08592692B2 |
Substrate having a plural diameter via
A substrate is provided that includes a plurality of substrate layers and a plural diameter via having a first via portion and a second via portion. The first via portion is formed in a first substrate layer, has a first diameter, and extends along a first axis. The second via portion is formed in a second substrate layer, has a second diameter that is different than the first diameter of the first via portion, and extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis of the first via portion. Optionally, the first via portion and the second via portion may have a common edge that is spaced the same distance from an edge of another via extending through the substrate. |
| US08592689B2 |
Voltage conversion module
On a multilayer wiring board which has a plurality of wiring pattern stacked in sequence separately from one another, insulating members each positioned between the plurality of wiring patterns, and interlayer connection bodies electrically connecting the plurality of wiring patterns and in which a voltage conversion IC is built in, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and an inductor are mounted, the other of electrode portions in the first capacitor or one of electrode portions in the second capacitor is positioned between an input section of the first capacitor and the inductor, and the other of the electrode portions or the one of the electrode portions is electrically set to ground. |
| US08592688B2 |
Multilayer printed wiring board
A package substrate free of malfunction or error even with an IC chip in a high frequency range, particularly an IC chip with a frequency exceeding 3 GHz, is provided. A conductor layer 34P on a core substrate 30 is formed to have a thickness of 30 μm and a conductor circuit 58 on an interlayer resin insulating layer 50 is formed to have a thickness of 15 μm. By making the conductor layer 34P thick, it is possible to increase a volume of the conductor itself and decrease resistance. Further, by employing the conductor layer 34 as a power supply layer, it is possible to improve a capability of supplying power to the IC chip. |