| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08620076B2 |
Region extraction apparatus and region extraction method
A region extraction apparatus includes an image acquisition device that acquires an image, a temporary initial region specifying device that specifies a plurality of temporary initial regions in the acquired image, a separation calculation device that calculates a separation that is an indicator indicating how much pixel values of all pixels of an inside of a specified temporary initial region and pixel values of all pixels of an outside of the specified temporary region are different from each other, on each temporary initial region, an initial region specifying device that specifies a temporary initial region having a highest calculated separation as an initial region, and a region extraction device that performs a region extraction on a basis of the specified initial region. |
| US08620070B2 |
Corresponding image processing method for compensating colour
A corresponding image processing method is provided. The corresponding image processing method includes a first step for searching for a corresponding point of a corresponding image; a second step for performing radiometric calibration such that a camera response function of the corresponding image has a linear function; a third step for compensating for a color of the corresponding image by calculating a color conversion matrix; and a fourth step for measuring similarity of the corresponding image. |
| US08620068B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium storing program thereof
An image processing apparatus extracts an area for each color from an illustration area, specifies an area that is in contact with the boundary of the illustration area, extracts a color around the illustration area, determines whether or not the extracted color around the illustration area is the same as the color of the specified area, and processes vector data that represents an area that has been determined as having the same color. |
| US08620063B2 |
Polarization imaging
Methods of monitoring critical dimensions in a semiconductor fabrication process include capturing at least one image of a first structure that has an effect on the polarization state of light reflected therefrom. For at least some of the first structure images, a value is calculated indicative of intensity of light reflected from the first structure. A critical dimension of the first structure is obtained and correlated with the calculated value. At least one image of a subsequent structure is captured. A determination is made, based at least in part on the calculated value, of a critical dimension of the subsequent structure. |
| US08620061B2 |
Visual inspection method and apparatus and image analysis system
A visual inspection method and apparatus detecting a defect with the use of a detected signal obtained by illuminating one of a light and an electron beam onto a substrate to be inspected. The visual inspection method and apparatus includes calculation of an image feature based on an image of the detected defect, calculation of a coordinate feature based on position information of the detected defect, and outputting of real defect information by performing false alarm judgment by processing with respect to one of the image feature and the coordinate feature. |
| US08620057B1 |
Check image processing
Systems for processing digital check image files include an image classification module programmed to review a plurality of attributes associated with a digital check image file including at least one check image, and to categorize the digital check image file into at least one category of a plurality of categories, and a decision module programmed to decide how to process the digital check image file based on the category. |
| US08620053B2 |
Completion of truncated attenuation maps using maximum likelihood estimation of attenuation and activity (MLAA)
The present invention is a method of generating a best estimate of an image attenuation map derived from a truncated image attenuation map and PET emissions data for the object being imaged by a morphological imaging modality. The method involves a plurality of steps beginning with the recordation and processing of PET emissions data. Next, the morphological imaging modality records image data which is processed to determine an attenuation map. The attenuation map, for image modalities such as CT and MR scanning systems integrated with PET, is truncated, resulting in a truncated attenuation map image. Pixels for which attenuation data needs to be determined are identified and attenuation coefficients for these pixels are estimated and combined with the truncated attenuation map to generate a full initial attenuation map for the image, which is iteratively processed together with the PET emission data until the improvement change in the emission image reaches a defined threshold improvement level. |
| US08620051B2 |
Registration of optical images of turbid media
A co-registration system provides a means for spatially warping an optical image of an object with another images of a similar object. The optical image may be a scatter image, and the second image may be the same type of image modality, or may be different. The co-registration may use landmarks selected by a user, or may make use of contour information derived from the images. The system may also include processing of three-dimensional volume data in the form of sets of two-dimensional slices for co-registration. |
| US08620050B2 |
System and method for 2-D/3-D registration between 3-D volume and 2-D angiography
A method for registering a 2-D DSA image to a 3-D image volume includes calculating a coarse similarity measure between a 2-D DRR of an aorta and a cardiac DSA image, and a 2-D DRR of a coronary artery and the cardiac DSA image, for a plurality of poses over a range of 2-D translations. Several DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as refinement candidates. The similarity measure is calculated between the refinement candidate DRRs and the DSA, for a plurality of poses over a range of 3-D translations and in-plane rotations. One or more DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as final candidates. The similarity measure between the final candidate DRRs the DSA are calculated for a plurality of poses over a range of 3D translations and 3D rotations, and a DRR-pose combination with a largest similarity measure is selected as a final registration result. |
| US08620049B2 |
Interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask phase
An interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask face is proposed. At least two empty images and at least two fill images are recorded in a mask phase A with a matrix-type array of pixels and stored. The empty and fill images are processed such that the gray values of each pixel of the x-ray images from mask phase A are arranged in ascending order. A mask image is computed from the processed empty and fill images such that the smallest gray values are averaged and from which the mask image will be formed. At least one current x-ray image is recorded and subtracted from the mask image to create roadmap images. |
| US08620047B2 |
Viewing three dimensional digital slides
Systems and methods for retrieving, manipulating, and viewing 3D image objects from 3D virtual microscope slide images (“3D digital slides”) are provided. An image library module provides access to the imagery data in a 3D digital slide and constructs 3D image objects that are coextensive with the 3D digital slide or a 3D sub-portion thereof. From within the 3D image object, cross layer planar views spanning various depths of the 3D digital slide are constructed as well as 3D prisms and other shaped image areas. The image library module allows a 3D image object to be sliced into horizontal and vertical views, skewed cross layer views and regular and irregular shaped 3D image areas for viewing by a user. |
| US08620045B2 |
System , method and article for measuring and reporting craniomandibular biomechanical functions
The present invention provides a motion analysis system for measuring the relative function of one anatomical structure to another based on optical fiducial markers tracked in a series of images and in turn data, where the components of hard and soft tissue are used in analysis and where the image data can be compared in a time series such that probabilities of involvement with various tissues can be correlated to the image data.The system measures displacement at various positions and can relate the data to various muscle and other soft tissue variations within the constraints of the anatomy and physiology including motion in three dimensional space, including rotations and translations and functions including velocity and acceleration. |
| US08620043B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a gradient strength calculating unit that calculates a gradient strength of respective pixel values based on an intraluminal image; an extracting unit that extracts a closed region satisfying conditions that the pixel of which gradient strength is a predetermined value or more is not included in the region and a boundary of the region does not bend with a predetermined curvature or higher toward an inner side of the region; and a detecting unit that detects an abnormal portion inside the region. The extracting unit includes a setting unit that sets an initial shape of the region; an energy calculating unit that calculates values of types of energy including at least energies determined respectively by an outer shape of the region and the gradient strength; and an energy-weighted sum calculating unit that calculates a weighted sum of the types of energy. |
| US08620042B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates gradient strength of respective pixel values based on an intraluminal image, an extracting unit that extracts a closed region from the image, and a detecting unit that detects an abnormal portion of the closed region. The closed region satisfies conditions that the pixel of which gradient strength is a predetermined value or more is not included in the closed region and a boundary of the closed region does not bend with predetermined curvature or higher toward an inner side of the closed region. The extracting unit includes a setting unit that sets an initial closed region based on the gradient strength, an energy calculating unit that calculates values of types of energies based on an outer shape of the closed region and the gradient strength, and an energy weighted-sum calculating unit that calculates a weighted sum of the types of energy. |
| US08620041B2 |
Method apparatus and system for analyzing thermal images
A method of analyzing a thermal image of a body section is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a thermospatial representation of the body section, calculating a surface integral of the thermal data over the surface, and determining the likelihood that a thermally distinguishable region is present in the body section, based on a value of the surface integral. |
| US08620038B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for automatic and semi-automatic modification of digital images of faces
The present invention is directed at modifying digital images of faces automatically or semi-automatically. In one aspect, a method of detecting faces in digital images and matching and replacing features within the digital images is provided. Techniques for blending, recoloring, shifting and resizing or portions of digital images are disclosed. In other aspects, methods of virtual “face lifts” are methods of detecting faces within digital image are provided. Advantageously, the detection and localization of faces and facial features, such as the eyes, nose, lips and hair, can be achieved on an automated or semi-automated basis. User feedback and adjustment enables fine tuning of modified images. A variety of systems for matching and replacing features within digital images is also provided, including implementation as a website, through mobile phones, handheld computers, or a kiosk. Related computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US08620036B2 |
System and method for controlling image quality
An image quality control system and method is disclosed. At least one infrared camera takes a screen image of a room. When there are a plurality of cameras, images of the cameras are synchronized with respect to time, and a specific object of the image is tracked to estimate image quality of the object. When there are a plurality of cameras, a 3D screen model is reconfigured, and positions of the cameras and the infrared lighting tools are controlled. Infrared lighting and the cameras are controlled, and particularly, optical axis direction, optical magnification, exposure time, and the iris of the camera can be amended. Next, a high-quality object image list can be generated so as to process the images. |
| US08620034B2 |
System and method for biometric identification using ultraviolet (UV) image data
A system and method for biometric identification of a target individual based on a query containing UV image data of the target individual. In one embodiment, the system includes a first database, a query module, a detection module, a sequence module and a match module. The first database includes a plurality of identities with each identity having at least one binary sequence representative of a skin area of that identity. The query module receives the query and validates the UV image data. The detection module detects at least one skin area in the UV image data. The sequence module forms at least one target binary sequence corresponding to the at least one skin area. The match module searches the first database based on the at least one target binary sequence to identify at least one identity thereby facilitating biometric identification of the target individual. |
| US08620033B2 |
Surface measurement system and method
A surface measurement method includes inspecting a plurality of samples of a first irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspections of the samples, a total number of surface peaks on each of the plurality of samples, and deriving a control limit from a statistical variation of the total number of surface peaks on each of the samples. The control limit specifies an out-of-tolerance condition for the total number of surface peaks on a second irregular workpiece surface. The method further includes inspecting a portion of the second irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspection of the portion of the second irregular workpiece surface, a total number of surface peaks on the portion, and comparing the total number of surface peaks on the portion to the control limit to determine whether the second irregular workpiece surface is in the out-of-tolerance condition. |
| US08620031B2 |
Method of detecting particles by detecting a variation in scattered radiation
A smoke detecting method which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such as a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser tuned “on” can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser turned “on”, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light. |
| US08620030B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An apparatus stores a luminance signal and a color signal extracted from a tracking area in image data and determines a correlation with the stored luminance signal, thereby extracting an area where a specified object exists in another image data to update the tracking area using the position information of the extracted area. If a sufficient correlation cannot be obtained from the luminance signal, the apparatus makes a comparison with the stored color signal to determine whether the specified object is lost. The apparatus updates the luminance signal every time the tracking area is updated, but does not update the color signal even if the tracking area is updated or updates the color signal at a period longer than a period at which the luminance signal is updated. |
| US08620018B2 |
Electronic watermark embedding method, device, and program, and electronic watermark detecting method, device, and program
A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding embedding information into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N(N is an integer equal to or greater than 2). The apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on the embedding information, generates an N−1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates an N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N−1-dimensional pattern, and superimposes the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. A digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain an N−1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N−1 dimensional pattern, and detects the embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence. |
| US08620016B2 |
Magnetic speaker grill
A speaker assembly having a removable grill. The grill includes a perforated portion circumscribed by a flange. The flange has one or magnets disposed around an outer periphery of the flange. The speaker body has corresponding slugs disposed so as to align with the magnets of the grill upon assembly. The magnetic bond formed between the slugs and magnets keeps the grill attached to the speaker body during operation of the speaker assembly. |
| US08620011B2 |
Method, medium, and system synthesizing a stereo signal
A method, medium, and system generating a 3-dimensional (3D) stereo signal in a decoder by using a surround data stream. According to such a method, medium, and system, a head related transfer function (HRTF) is applied in a quadrature mirror filter (QMF) domain, thereby generating a 3D stereo signal by using a surround data stream. |
| US08620006B2 |
Center channel rendering
An audio system including a rendering processor for separately rendering a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The audio system may include circuitry for extracting one or both of the dialogue channel or the center music channel from program material that does not include both a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The dialogue channel and the center music channel may be radiated with different radiation patterns. |
| US08620003B2 |
Embedded audio system in distributed acoustic sources
The invention converts non audio systems into distributed audio sources for active noise control solutions. The system transforms non acoustic structures into soundboards using inertial type acoustic transducers. Acoustic parameters unique for each application due to the variation in properties of the sound board are compensated by equalizers. The invention also uses damping means to limit the reflection of bending waves from the edges. The inertial type acoustic transducer is driven by an amplifier. The acoustic signal to the amplifier is modified by a signal conditioner to compensate for the non optimal response of the acoustic system. An external controller communicates with the amplifier to control its operating parameters. A series of distributed audio sources in a variety of positions may each be addressable as a node on a network wherein noise detected at that source is analyzed and the system generates sound at that source to mask the noise. |
| US08620000B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling audio output, and mobile terminal system using the same
An audio output controlling apparatus and method, and a mobile terminal system using the same control settings of an audio out port according to whether an audio frame includes an audio signal. The audio output controlling method includes receiving an audio frame, determining whether an audio signal is included in the audio frame, and setting, depending on whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame, a power voltage provided to an audio out port. The mobile terminal includes a wireless transceiver; an audio unit, through an audio out port, an audio frame among the wireless data; and an audio output controlling unit to control a power voltage of the audio out port. The apparatus includes a section determining unit; and a power controlling unit to set a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame. |
| US08619997B2 |
Receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus includes: a local oscillator to output first- and second-local-oscillator signals whose phases are orthogonal to each other; a mixer to output first- and second-intermediate-frequency signals; a first filter to allow a component from a desired signal to pass therethrough, and eliminate a component from an image signal having a frequency symmetrical with that of the desired signal, in the first- and second-intermediate-frequency signals; a second filter to allow a component from the image signal to pass therethrough, and eliminate a component from the desired signal, in the first- and second-intermediate-frequency signals; a comparator to compare levels between output signals of the first and second filters; and a control unit to switch a frequency of the first- and second-local-oscillator signals to a difference frequency between a frequency of the desired signal and the intermediate frequency or a sum frequency thereof, according to a comparison result of the comparator. |
| US08619994B2 |
System and method for providing digital contents service
The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a digital content service that provides packaging content consisting of digital rights management (DRM) content and advertisement content, and is able to use the DRM content for free by watching or listening to the advertisement content, including: generating packaging content consisting of pilot content and target content, which has been encrypted using an encryption key of the pilot content, and providing the packaging content to a portable terminal; and obtaining a decryption key for the target content through playing the pilot content of the packaging content, and playing the target content by the decryption key, by the portable terminal. |
| US08619991B2 |
Encoding/decoding circuit
An encoding/decoding operation portion includes an encoding/decoding operation circuit and an avoiding path for detouring the encoding decoding operation circuit and can select between encoding or decoding input data in the encoding/decoding operation circuit and detouring the encoding/decoding operation circuit to output the input data without change. Only one wire has to be provided from a selector to a key storage portion and an initialization-vector storage portion. With this construction, it is possible to realize an encoding/decoding circuit which can suppress an increase in the number of wires used to transmit a content of key data to the key storage portion and the initialization-vector storage portion and does not cause complication of circuit layout. |
| US08619990B2 |
Secure key creation
A system for creating a secure key is provided that includes a computer processor and an application configured to execute on the computer processor, the application implementing a method that includes creating a token and populating a key control information section of the token with a value to indicate a minimum number of key parts used to form a key. Creating the secure key also includes populating a payload section of the token with a first key part, binding the key control information section to the payload section, adding a second key part to the first key part and iterating the value and binding the key control information section to the payload section after the second key part has been added. Creating the secure key further includes indicating the key is complete, wherein the key comprises a combination of the first and second key parts. |
| US08619985B2 |
Table splitting for cryptographic processes
For a defined cryptographic process including an original substitution table, split masked substitution tables are provided to resist cryptographic attacks. The split masked substitution tables are defined with reference to a set of random value data words and a mask value. An entry in the split masked substitution tables is defined by selecting bits from the corresponding entry in the original masked substitution table, as masked by the corresponding one of the set of random value data words and by selecting bits from the corresponding one of the set of random value data words as masked by the mask value. The split masked substitution tables are usable in a modified cryptographic process based on the defined cryptographic process to permit a masked output to be generated. The split masked substitution tables are refreshed by each entry in the tables being refreshed upon access during execution of the modified cryptographic process. |
| US08619984B2 |
Differential privacy preserving recommendation
User rating data may be received at a correlation engine through a network. The user rating data may include ratings generated by a plurality of users for a plurality of items. Correlation data may be generated from the received user rating data by the correlation engine. The correlation data may identify correlations between the items based on the user generated ratings. Noise may be generated by the correlation engine, and the generated noise may be added to the generated correlation data by the correlation engine to provide differential privacy protection to the user rating data. |
| US08619983B2 |
Digital TV conditional access system and method of using the same for transmitting and receiving digital data
A digital TV conditional access system having an authentication module, a conditional access front-end module, and a receiver module. The authentication module communicates bidirectionally with and authenticates the receiver module to generate a unique ID number and authentication information, the ID number and the authentication information being recorded to a data base. The conditional access front-end module communicates bidirectionally with the data base, collects information of the receiver module from the data base, encrypts entitlement management message of the receiver module, and transmits the encrypted entitlement management message to the receiver module by an addressing mode. The conditional access front-end module further includes an entitlement control message generator, and the receiver module receives a scrambled program with the help of the ID number and the authentication information. A method of using the digital TV conditional access system for transmitting and receiving encrypted digital data is also provided. |
| US08619981B2 |
Systems and methods for producing pseudo-random number distributions in devices having limited processing and storage capabilities
Arbitrary numerical distributions are presented for use in devices having limited processing and storage capabilities by having the device accept strings of arbitrarily distributed numbers from a source outside of the device. In one embodiment, a master controller creates a table of values which follow the desired minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation, etc. of the particular desired statistical distribution required. The created table is then communicated to the limited capacity device and can be used whenever a distribution of random values is required. The master controller could have one of several slave devices associated with it in the system. In another embodiment, where the storage capability of the device is large enough to store a table of values with sufficient different entries to create a distribution of satisfactory “randomness” for the particular application, a random number generator within the device is used to select the order of presentation of the table of values. |
| US08619980B2 |
Information generation apparatus, method, program, and recording medium for deriving a decryption key from another decryption key
Hierarchical cryptography expressed in a general semiordered structure other than a tree structure is implemented. In information generation, random numbers σv and (σvj)jεw(v)εZq are generated; main information kv=σvΣiε{1, . . . , N-1}\w(v)vibi*+bN* is calculated; and derivation information kvj=σvjΣiε{1, . . . , N-1}\w(v)vibi*+bj* is calculated for each jεw(v). In information derivation, random numbers σu and (σuj)jεw(u)εZq are generated; main information ku=σuΣiεw(v)\w(u)uikvi+kv is calculated; and derivation information kuj=σujΣiεw(v)\w(u)uikvi+kvj is calculated for each jεw(v). |
| US08619977B2 |
Representation change of a point on an elliptic curve
An elliptic curve cryptographic system where point coordinates are transformed from a first coordinate system to a second coordinate system. The transformed coordinates are processed by field operations, which have been modified for operating on the transformed point coordinates. In some implementations, the point coordinates are transformed from an affine coordinate system to a projective coordinate system using a non-random value for the projective coordinate. In some implementations, the transformed projective representation of the point can be changed from a first representation of the point in projective coordinates to a second representation of the point in projective coordinates, where the projective coordinate used in the representation change is a random value. |
| US08619973B2 |
System and device for data encryption and recovery
The present invention provides a flexible encryption device, comprising N encryption units connected in series for encrypting N-bit input data, each one of the N encryption units further comprising an exclusive-OR gate for receiving an input data; and a flip-flop connected coupled to the exclusive-OR gate. Furthermore, the present invention also provides the data transferring system that can be easily modified without the needs of manual intervention. |
| US08619969B2 |
Adaptive integrated hybrid with complex adaptation for digital subscriber line systems
An adaptive hybrid system is coupled to a loop for adjusting trans-hybrid loss. The system comprises a fixed portion comprising a first receiver transfer function block and a first hybrid transfer function block. The fixed portion is configured to receive a far-end signal and mitigate frequency dependent attenuation experienced by the far-end signal. The system also comprises a variable portion comprising a second receiver transfer function block and a second hybrid transfer function block configured to subtract a transmit echo from the received far-end signal. |
| US08619967B2 |
Networked contact center
This document discusses, among other things, a networked contact center that includes multiple platforms to host multiple tenants. Example embodiments include receiving a message associated with one of the tenants and identifying one or more of the platforms associated with the message. For some example embodiments, the networked contact center may allow the platform to access a data location that is both associated with the tenant and shared by two or more of the multiple tenants. |
| US08619965B1 |
On-hold processing for telephonic systems
Certain embodiments of the present invention employ targeted speech detection as part of end-of-hold detection in an end-of-hold notification system. The targeted speech detector is configured to be particularly sensitive to specific words or phrases so as to increase the likelihood of detecting a correct end-of-hold condition while reducing the likelihood of false end-of-hold detection. Targeted speech detection may be used along with other detection mechanisms such as DTMF detection and/or background noise detection. |
| US08619963B2 |
Conference call system, method, and computer program product
A conference call system comprises an input interface for receiving during a conference call at least two input streams of audio signal, each from another source. A selection unit is connected to the input interface, for selecting a number of dominant speaker streams out of the input streams, the number being less than or equal to a maximum number of dominant speakers value and each of the dominant speaker streams representing speech from a respective dominant speaker. A mixer is connected to the selection unit, for mixing the selected streams into an output stream. The conference call system comprises an output interface for outputting the output stream and a selection control unit connected to the selection unit and the input interface, for dynamically setting, during the conference call, the maximum number of dominant speakers value based on dynamics of the conference call. |
| US08619959B2 |
Method of providing message information, including call subject information, to a recipient of a telephone call
A methodology wherein a voice service client application on one or more phones and a voice service server perform a call set-up process through a mix of an external data channel and a normal voice channel that enables call subject information to be effectively provided by a calling party to a called party so that it can be displayed along with other caller ID information. |
| US08619958B2 |
Communication ranking and organization
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed herein for organizing communication information. Data received associated with a communication is recorded at the communication device. An identifier is associated with the communication. The identifier indicates a unique identity. A call score is calculated for the identifier at the communication device based on the communication. The particular identifier is ranked in a list in accordance with the calculated call score. |
| US08619944B2 |
Method and device for determining images from X-ray projections
A method and a device for determining attenuation coefficients for an object using a movable X-ray source and a detector, which is provided for recording projections, is provided. The method includes specifying a trajectory for the movable X-ray source, specifying positions on the trajectory for determining a derivative of projections recorded by the detector, specifying a plurality of scanning positions for each of the specified positions, following the trajectory with the X-ray source and recording a projection for each scanning position, numerically calculating a projection derivative in relation to the trajectory path for each of the positions using the projections recorded for the associated plurality of scanning positions, and determining attenuation coefficients for the object from the calculated projection derivatives using a theoretically exact or approximate rule for the reconstruction. |
| US08619940B2 |
Method for transmitting sounding reference signal in multiple antenna wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting a sounding reference signal from a user equipment in a MIMO antenna wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving sounding reference signal setup information from a base station, the sounding reference signal setup information including an initial cyclic shift value nSRScs and an initial transmissionComb parameter value kTC; setting an interval between cyclic shift values corresponding to each antenna port based on the initial cyclic shift value, to reach a maximum interval; setting a transmissionComb parameter value corresponding to a specific one of the antenna ports to a value different from the initial transmissionComb parameter value if the initial cyclic shift value is a previously set value and the number of antenna ports is 4; and transmitting the sounding reference signal to the base station through each antenna port by using the set cyclic shift value and transmissionComb parameter value. |
| US08619936B2 |
Clock switching algorithm based on preferred clock source
A radio system having multi-standard mixed mode radios is described. The mixed mode radios are used to support combining of digital baseband from a first and a second radio equipment controller. A primary clock associated with the first radio equipment controller and a secondary clock associated with the second radio equipment controller is provided. The quality of the primary clock is evaluated and the primary clock is referenced to the first radio equipment controller if the clock is determined to have appropriate quality factors. The quality of the secondary clock is then evaluated and the secondary clock is referenced to the second radio equipment controller if the secondary clock is determined to have appropriate quality factors. The second radio equipment controller is then referenced to the primary clock once the primary and secondary clocks are aligned. |
| US08619934B2 |
Clock data recovery system
A clock data recovery system is described. It includes a high pass filter for transmitting a filtered data signal in response to receiving an input data signal; an adder for summing the filtered data signal with a feedback signal, wherein the adder produces a summed input signal; a plurality of clocked data comparators for receiving the summed input signal, wherein the clocked data comparators determine an input data bit value; a plurality of clocked error comparators for receiving an error signal associated with clock recovery; an equalization and adaptation logic for selecting an error sample such that a phase associated with the error sample is locked at a second post cursor; and a phase mixer for transmitting a delay in response to receiving the phase and the delay is transmitted to the clocked-data comparators and the clocked-error comparators. |
| US08619930B2 |
Synchronization circuit and synchronization method
A synchronization circuit that synchronizes received data, includes: a determiner for determining whether or not data with a phase of a internal clock can be stably captured by the synchronization circuit, when the synchronization circuit accepts the data received from another device connected to the synchronization circuit with the phase of the internal clock of the synchronization circuit; a first flip-flop circuit accepting the data and the internal clock, capturing the data with the phase of the internal clock and synchronizing the data, when the determiner determines that the synchronization circuit can stably capture the data; a second flip-flop accepting the data and an inverted internal clock that has a phase obtained by inverting the phase of the internal clock, capturing the data with the phase of the inverted internal clock, and synchronizing the data, when the determiner determines that the synchronization circuit can not stably capture the data. |
| US08619925B2 |
Automatic gain control circuit and receiver circuit
An automatic gain control circuit configured so that a response time is reduced until a gain converges is disclosed. A variable gain amplifier is configured so that a gain is varied by a first control signal. A detector circuit detects an intensity of an output signal of the variable gain amplifier. A comparator compares an output signal of the detector circuit with a reference signal. An integrator integrates a signal corresponding to an output signal of the comparator, and outputs an integration result to the variable gain amplifier as the first control signal. A loop gain control unit, connected between the comparator and the integrator, is configured so that a loop gain is varied by a second control signal. A level detection unit detects an intensity of an output signal of the integrator and outputs a detection result to the loop gain control unit as the second control signal. |
| US08619922B1 |
Method and apparatus for acquisition and tracking of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbol timing, carrier frequency offset and phase noise
A method for updating channel estimates in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing receiver of a wireless local area network includes generating channel estimates for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing subcarrier as a function of subcarrier index values. The method includes generating a complex number by summing a product of frequency domain signals and the channel estimates for each of the subcarrier index values and dividing the sum by a sum of a squared absolute value of the channel estimate for each of the subcarrier index values. The method includes multiplying the complex number by the channel estimates to generate updated channel estimates. |
| US08619920B2 |
Two-dimensional code spreading for interleaved FDMA system
A transmitter comprises a first spreading unit configured to multiply each of multiple data symbols with a first spreading code sequence of a first spreading factor; a compression and repetition unit configured to compress output signals of the first spreading unit in time domain and repeat the compressed signal L times (where L is a natural number greater than or equal to 2); a phase modulation unit configured to multiply the compressed and repeated signal with a user dependent phase and output a data block consisting of L sub-blocks; a second spreading unit configured to replicate the data block according to a second spreading factor and multiply each set of the replicated sub-blocks with a second spreading code sequence of the second spreading factor to produce a two-dimensionally spread signal; and a wireless transmission unit configured to transmit the two-dimensionally spread signal using a single-carrier transmission scheme. |
| US08619919B2 |
Selective coherent and non-coherent demodulation methods and apparatuses
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a receiver of an electronic device to allow for a received signal to be demodulated using both coherent and non-coherent demodulation techniques and for selecting one of the demodulated data signals based, at least in part, on a drift rate measurement of a carrier frequency of the received signal. |
| US08619917B2 |
Decoding apparatus and method of terminal in wireless communication system
A decoding apparatus and method of a terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. A carrier to interference and noise ratio (CINR) estimator estimates a CINR value of a received signal, and a controller generates a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) level candidate set satisfying the estimated CINR value and a target packet error rate (PER) based on a look-up table. A decoder switch determines if an MCS level of a burst is included in the MCS level candidate set when the burst having no connection identifier (CID) information exists in a corresponding frame, and determines to decode the corresponding burst if the MCS level of the burst is included in the MCS level candidate set and to discard the burst otherwise. |
| US08619916B2 |
Apparatus for receiving signal and method of compensating phase mismatch thereof
An apparatus for receiving a signal includes a training signal generator generating a training signal for each frequency channel; an in-phase and quadrature-phase (IQ) signal generator generating a first in-phase signal and a first quadrature-phase signal using the training signal in a first operation mode and generating a second in-phase signal and a second quadrature-phase signal using a receiving signal in a second operation mode; an IQ mismatch compensator which makes the first in-phase signal and first quadrature-phase signal generated in response to each frequency channel converge for a reference time in the first operation mode to obtain a phase mismatch compensation coefficient for selected frequency channels and after generating a look-up table using the phase mismatch compensation coefficient, compensates the second in-phase signal and the second quadrature-phase signal using the phase mismatch compensation coefficient in the second operation mode; and a memory in which the look-up table is stored. |
| US08619915B2 |
Receiver
A receiver includes: a first amplifier for amplifying an input signal and outputting an output signal; a clock generator for generating a clock signal corresponding to a period of the output signal; a judger for outputting a first logical value or a second logical value in accordance with a phase lead or phase lag which has been occurred at a crossing point of the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal of the output signal upon rising or falling the clock signal; a detector for outputting a difference value between a time for which the judgment signal has the first logical value and a time for which the judgment signal has the second logical value; and an adjustor for adjusting reference voltages of a positive-phase signal and a negative-phase signal of the input signal in accordance with the difference value output from the detector. |
| US08619910B1 |
Decision feedback equalization for MIMO systems with hybrid ARQ
Systems and methods are provided for decision feedback equalization (DFE) in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). Using a pre-equalization approach, the receiver combines received vectors by vector concatenation before equalization using DFE. Using a post-equalization approach, the receiver equalizes received vectors using DFE before combining the vectors. Cholesky factorization and QR decomposition may be used for DFE. |
| US08619907B2 |
Method and apparatus for preamble training in a multiple antenna communication system
Methods and apparatus are provided for communicating data in a multiple antenna communication system having N transmit antennas. According to one aspect of the invention, a header format includes a legacy preamble having at least one legacy long training field and an extended portion having at least N additional long training fields on each of the N transmit antennas. The N additional long training fields may be tone interleaved across the N transmit antennas and are used for MIMO channel estimation. The extended portion may include a short training field for power estimation. The short training field may be tone interleaved across the N transmit antennas and have an extended duration to support beam steering. |
| US08619905B2 |
Predistorter and distortion compensation method
A predistorter includes a distortion compensating unit which gives, in advance, a reverse characteristic of a characteristic of input to output of a power amplifier to a transmission signal which is to be input to the power amplifier; a distortion compensation signal generating unit which generates a distortion compensation signal indicating the reverse characteristic based on transmission data that is sample data of the transmission signal and the delayed transmission data; and a delay amount control unit which controls a delay amount of the transmission data according to an output signal of the power amplifier. |
| US08619903B2 |
Crest factor reduction for a multicarrier-signal with spectrally shaped single-carrier cancelation pulses
A method for crest factor reduction of a multi-carrier signal is disclosed. The multi-carrier signal comprises a plurality of single-carrier signals, each single-carrier signal having signal-specific spectral properties. The method comprises identifying a peak in the multi-carrier signal and a time of occurrence of the peak and generating a plurality of cancellation pulses depending on the time of occurrence of the peak. A particular cancellation pulse of the plurality of cancellation pulses is associated with a particular single-carrier signal and cancellation pulse-specific spectral properties of the particular cancellation pulse substantially match the signal-specific spectral properties of the associated particular single-carrier signal. The method further comprises combining the plurality of cancellation pulses to form a combined cancellation pulse and applying the combined cancellation pulse to the multi-carrier signal to reduce the peak. A corresponding circuit and corresponding computer program products useable during manufacture and operation are also disclosed. |
| US08619900B2 |
Digital broadcast transmitting and receiving system having an improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcast transmitting and receiving system and a signal processing method thereof that improves the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter can include a randomizer to receive and randomize a data stream into a specified position of which stuff bytes are inserted, a stuff-byte exchange unit to generate known data having a predefined pattern and insert the known data into the specified position of the data stream into which the stuff bytes are inserted, an encoder to encode the data stream output from the stuff-byte exchange unit for an error correction, and a modulator and RF converter to modulate the encoded data stream, RF-convert the modulated data stream and transmit the RF-converted data. The digital broadcast receiving performance can be improved even in an inferior multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received transmission and using the known data for synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver. |
| US08619892B2 |
Wireless communication method and apparatus
The present invention provides a method of processing information prior to an emission from a multi-antenna device in a multi-user network having at least one user, said emission comprising transmission of a plurality of subcarriers comprising pilot symbols and data symbols, and said information being a data vector, the method comprising arranging said pilot symbols and said data symbols such that at least one of said plurality of subcarriers comprises at least one of said pilot symbols and at least one of said data symbols, wherein said data vector corresponds to said at least one of said plurality of subcarriers such that said data vector comprises data elements corresponding to said at least one of said pilot symbols and said at least one of said data symbols, precoding said data vector prior to transmission, and the precoding comprising applying a perturbation to said data vector in order to generate a perturbed data vector in which data elements corresponding to the pilot symbol remain unperturbed, and scaling said data vector by means of a precoding matrix. |
| US08619890B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for use in a 0.5K mode interleaver in a digital video broadcasting standard including DVB-Terrestrial2
A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit. |
| US08619888B2 |
Multiple path discrete digital receiver
A receiver includes a bandpass filter module, a sample and hold module, first and second discrete time filter modules, and first and second conversion modules. The bandpass filter module is operable to filter an inbound wireless signal. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold the filtered inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The first discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a first filtered sample pulse. The second discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a second filtered sample pulse. The first conversion module is operable to convert the first filtered sample pulse into a first inbound baseband signal. The second conversion module is operable to convert the second filtered sample pulse into a second inbound baseband signal. |
| US08619887B2 |
Adjustable operational state wireless MIMO
Wireless devices capable of one or more of extended multiple input multiple output (MIMO), dual bonded, and dual concurrent operation are disclosed. Methods for switching between the operational states for wireless devices capable of multiple operational states are also disclosed. |
| US08619885B2 |
Radio communication system
The second radio communication system selects one or more of the sub-carriers S21 to be used in accordance with a condition of the sub-carriers S11. The second radio communication system transmits a radio signal by using the sub-carriers S21 selected. In the selection of sub-carrier, the sub-carrier S21 located between the plurality of sub-carriers S11 radiated in the frequency band BW2. |
| US08619883B2 |
Low speed access to DRAM
Embodiments provide access to a memory over a high speed serial link at slower speeds than the high speed serial links regular operation. An embodiment may comprise a memory apparatus with a differential receiver coupled to a protocol recognition circuit, a low speed receiving circuit that has a first receiver coupled with a first input of the differential receiver and a second receiver coupled with a second input of the differential receiver, wherein the low speed receiving circuit is coupled with the protocol recognition circuit, allowing the first and second receivers to access the protocol recognition block at a different frequency than the differential receiver. |
| US08619882B2 |
Data modulation circuit
A data modulation circuit has an adder adding an input signal, and an output signal of a memory device; and an output circuit part discriminating and quantizing the output signal of the adder by a predetermined threshold value. The memory device receives and holds the output signal of the adder and a predetermined signal, and supplies the held signals to the adder as an output signal of the memory device. |
| US08619880B2 |
Universal blockiness correction
Techniques to remove inherited blockiness with a low million instructions per second (MIPs) are provided. In one configuration, a device comprises a processor operative to implement a set of instructions to universally correct blockiness. The processor commandeers the in-loop deblocking filtering engine and universally corrects blockiness, including inherited blockiness, using the in-loop deblocking filtering engine. |
| US08619876B2 |
Method for turbo transmission of digital broadcasting transport stream, a digital broadcasting transmission and reception system, and a signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcasting transmission/reception system, and a signal processing method thereof for turbo-processing digital broadcasting transport stream and transmitting the processed stream, includes a parity area generating unit preparing a first area for parity insertion with respect to a dual transport stream (TS) which includes a normal stream and a turbo stream as multiplexed, a first interleaver interleaving the dual TS which is transmitted from the parity area generating unit, a turbo processing unit detecting the turbo stream from the interleaved dual TS, exclusively encoding the detected turbo stream for turbo-processing, and stuffing the encoded turbo stream into the dual TS, a deinterleaver deinterleaving the dual TS which is processed by the turbo processing unit, and a transmitting unit transmitting the dual TS which is processed at the deinterleaver. |
| US08619871B2 |
Coding systems
In an implementation, a supplemental sequence parameter set (“SPS”) structure is provided that has its own network abstraction layer (“NAL”) unit type and allows transmission of layer-dependent parameters for non-base layers in an SVC environment. The supplemental SPS structure also may be used for view information in an MVC environment. In a general aspect, a structure is provided that includes (1) information (1410) from an SPS NAL unit, the information describing a parameter for use in decoding a first-layer encoding of a sequence of images, and (2) information (1420) from a supplemental SPS NAL unit having a different structure than the SPS NAL unit, and the information from the supplemental SPS NAL unit describing a parameter for use in decoding a second-layer encoding of the sequence of images. Associated methods and apparatuses are provided on the encoder and decoder sides, as well as for the signal. |
| US08619870B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmission/reception system utilizing SRS and TRS code to improve receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcasting transmission and/or reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TRS encoder for to TRS-encode an MPEG-2 transmission stream having null data for inserting an SRS data and a TRS parity at predetermined positions, randomizer to input and randomize data stream from the TRS encoder, a SRS exchanger to replace the null data for inserting the SRS data to the known data, and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the Known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization and further uses the TRS parity for correcting error of the received signal, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels. |
| US08619866B2 |
Reducing memory bandwidth for processing digital image data
A method for processing digital image data is provided that includes compressing a block of the digital image data to generate a compressed block, storing the compressed block in an external memory when a number of bits in the compressed block does not exceed a first compression threshold, and storing the block in the external memory when the number of bits in the compressed block exceeds the first compression threshold. |
| US08619863B2 |
Motion vector detection apparatus, motion vector processing method and program
Disclosed herein is a motion vector detection apparatus, including: a spatial luminance difference sum total calculation section; a temporal luminance difference sum total calculation section; a search range calculation section; and a block matching calculation section. |
| US08619860B2 |
System and method for scalable encoding and decoding of multimedia data using multiple layers
A method of processing multimedia data being associated with multiple layers is disclosed. The method may include determining a base layer residual and performing interlayer prediction to generate an enhancement layer residual if at least one of a number of non-zero coefficients of the base layer residual or a number of zero coefficients of the base layer residual meets a first selected condition. A method of decoding a multimedia bitstream may include receiving a multimedia bitstream having a base layer and an enhancement layer and decoding the base layer to determine whether the enhancement layer should be decoded using intralayer prediction or interlayer prediction. |
| US08619859B2 |
Motion estimation apparatus and method and image encoding apparatus and method employing the same
Provided are a motion estimation apparatus and method and an image encoding apparatus and method employing the same. The motion estimation apparatus includes an optimal motion estimation unit performing motion estimation in an initial block mode while skipping remaining block modes excluding the initial block mode from a plurality of block modes of the current block, or performing motion estimation in candidate block modes determined from the plurality of block modes. |
| US08619858B2 |
Determining intra prediction mode of image coding unit and image decoding unit
A method and apparatus for determining an intra prediction mode of a coding unit. Candidate intra prediction modes of a chrominance component coding unit, which includes an intra prediction mode of a luminance component coding unit, are determined, and costs of the chrominance component coding unit according to the determined candidate intra prediction modes are compared to determine a minimum cost intra prediction mode to be the intra prediction mode of the chrominance component coding unit. |
| US08619853B2 |
Separable directional transforms
This disclosure describes techniques for transforming residual blocks of video data. In particular, a plurality of different transforms selectively applied to the residual blocks based on the prediction mode of the video blocks. At least a portion of the plurality of transforms are separable directional transform specifically trained for a corresponding prediction mode to provide better energy compaction for the residual blocks of the given prediction mode. Using separable directional transforms offers the benefits of lower computation complexity and storage requirement than use of non-separable directional transforms. Additionally, a scan order used to scan the coefficients of the residual block may be adjusted when applying separable directional transforms. In particular, the scan order may be adjusted based on statistics associated with one or more previously coded blocks to better ensure that non-zero coefficients are grouped near the front of the one-dimensional coefficient vector to improve the effectiveness of entropy coding. |
| US08619840B2 |
Apparatus and methods for sampling rate conversion for wireless transceivers
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for sampling rate conversion in a wireless transceiver. The methods and apparatus achieve agile setting of sampling rates or resampling by adaptively setting a sampling rate of a signal based on at least one performance requirement of the transceiver. In particular, the methods and apparatus perform sampling of an input signal at a first sampling rate to gain one or more input signal samples. The input signal samples are then filtered using parallel or polyphase filtering operating at a second sampling rate lower than the first sampling rate. The filtered samples are then interpolated at the second sampling rate to achieve resampling of the input signal. Polyphase filtering affords an effectively high input sampling rate for good spectrum image rejection, while allowing the second sampling rate to be effectively much lower than the first rate, thereby reducing the complexity of multiplier operations for interpolation. |
| US08619839B2 |
Interface module for a unit of an antenna distribution system, and antenna distribution system
An interface module (4) for a unit (1, 2) which is designed to transmit and/or amplify essential communication signals inside an antenna distribution system (29) is specified, said module comprising a first analog interface (6) for forwarding and receiving essential communication signals from mobile terminals (32), a second interface (7) for forwarding and receiving essential communication signals from the antenna distribution system (29), at least one signal path (9, 10) for forwarding the received communication signals between the two interfaces (6, 7), and a controllable digital unit (11) which incorporates the signal path (9, 10) and has means for digitizing incoming communication signals and for subjecting outgoing communication signals to analog conversion. In this case, the digital unit (11) is designed to identify essential communication signals in the digitized communication signals, to mask the remaining signals and to forward the essential communication signals. An antenna distribution system (29) having at least one master unit (2) and a number of remote units (1) which are connected to the latter and are equipped with such an interface module (4) is also specified. The invention makes it possible to use the advantages of a modern radio network architecture to communicate on essential communication channels. |
| US08619834B2 |
Method and apparatus for frequency assignment in a frequency hopping mode of a wireless communication system
A frequency allocation method and apparatus using a mirroring-assisted frequency hopping pattern is provided for retransmission in a wireless communication system operating in a frequency hopping mode. A frequency mapping method for a wireless communication system operating in a frequency hopping mode includes determining whether or not mirroring is used in accordance with a number of packet transmissions; mapping a frequency resource for a packet transmission based on a result of the determination; and receiving a packet using the mapped frequency resource. |
| US08619830B2 |
Photonic crystal surface emission laser
A photonic crystal surface emission laser includes an active layer, and a photonic crystal layer made of a plate-shaped slab provided with modified refractive index area having a refractive index different from that of the slab, the modified refractive index areas being arranged on each of the lattice points of a first rhombic-like lattice and a second rhombic-like lattice in which both diagonals are mutually parallel and only one diagonal is of a different length, wherein ax1, ax2, ay, and n satisfy the following inequality: 1 a x 1 - 1 a x 2 ( 1 a x 1 + 1 a x 2 ) 2 + ( 2 a y ) 2 ≤ 1 n . |
| US08619828B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor laser diode
A group III nitride substrate has a semi-polar primary surface. A first cladding layer has a first conductivity type, and comprises aluminum-containing group III nitride. The first cladding layer is provided on the substrate. An active layer is provided on the first cladding layer. A second cladding layer has a second conductivity type, and comprises aluminum-containing group III nitride. The second cladding layer is provided on the active layer. An optical guiding layer is provided between the first cladding layer and the active layer and/or between the second cladding layer and the active layer. The optical guiding layer comprises a first layer comprising Inx1Ga1-x1N (0≦x1<1) and a second layer comprising Inx2Ga1-x2N (x1 |
| US08619827B2 |
Correction circuit, drive circuit, light emitting device, and method of correcting current pulse waveform
A correction circuit is provided, which may reduce dullness of a light output waveform due to wavelength detuning. The correction circuit includes an RC time constant circuit. The RC time constant circuit is used to correct a waveform of a current pulse outputted from a current source, the current source driving a surface-emitting semiconductor laser in a pulsed manner, so that a pulse waveform of light output of the semiconductor laser is approximately a rectangle. |
| US08619822B2 |
Method and system for generating uplink signals from a ground segment
A system and method of generating an output signal includes a receiving system generating a plurality of signals having a first format, an encoder 162 encoding the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer 210. The system also includes a local area network 130 routing the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer 210 to form a combined signal, a modulator 214 modulating the combined signal to form a modulated signal and a system 202 forming the output signal from the modulated signal. In one aspect, the output signals may be satellite uplink signals. |
| US08619820B2 |
System and method for enabling communications over a number of packet networks
A system and method for routing data packets may be used. The method may include determining network usage of a first packet network managed by a first communications carrier. The network usage may distinguish communications of data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content. Network usage of a second packet network may be determined. A network usage differential between the determined network usages of the first and second packet networks may be determined. The data packets may be routed utilizing a threshold for the network usage differential. |
| US08619819B2 |
Robust communication protocol for home networks
A method and apparatus for sending messages from a first network device to a second network device is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises constructing a data packet, the data packet comprising a House Code field for identifying a house code relating to the first and second network devices, the house code for identifying an address common to the first network device and the second network device. The data packet further comprises a Long/Short field for indicating whether the data packet is a long data packet or a short data packet and a Command field comprising a command, the command for instructing the second network device to perform an action. The data packet further comprises a Data field comprising information for use by the second network device to execute the action associated with the command, and an Error Check field comprising error checking information. The data packet is then modulated and transmitting over one or more communication channels. |
| US08619818B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. The data processing method includes receiving a broadcast signal in which main service data and mobile service data are multiplexed, demodulating the broadcast signal to acquire fast-information-channel signaling information including reference time information for a system clock, and outputting demodulation time information of a specific position of a frame of the broadcast signal, decoding the fast-information-channel signaling information, and establishing the reference time information as the system clock at a demodulation time according to on the outputted demodulation time information and decoding the mobile service data according to the system clock. |
| US08619817B1 |
Message address manipulation using source port codes
A communication gateway receives an Internet Protocol (IP) message sourced from a first IP address and directed to a second IP address. The gateway associates the first IP address with a code. The gateway processes the second IP address to identify a Radio Access Network (RAN) address. The gateway transfers the IP message directed to the RAN address and sourced from the second IP address. The IP message uses the code as the source port number. A base station receives the IP message, and in response to the RAN address, wirelessly transfers the IP message to a routing system. The routing system wirelessly receives the IP message and forwards the IP message based on the second IP address which is now in the source address field. |
| US08619815B2 |
Frame length compensation
A circuit simulation apparatus is disclosed by which, even if an STS-N frame of an abnormal length is detected by a reassembly buffer, the frame length can be compensated for while preventing an overflow of the reassembly buffer. When an STS-(N×M) frame formed by multiplexing M STS-N frames formed from different channels is cellularized into ATM cells or M different STS-N frames assembled from ATM cells are multiplexed into an STS-(N×M) frame, an ATM cell sync signal and ATM cell data from a buffer section are outputted as a frame pulse signal and frame data from a reassembly section to a circuit termination section, and frame length compensation of the frame pulse signal and the frame data is performed by the reassembly section. |
| US08619814B2 |
Method and apparatus of transmitting PPDU in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of transmitting a PPDU in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes selecting a subchannel among a plurality of subchannels, wherein a PLCP preamble and a PLCP header in each PPDU are independently generated in each of the plurality of subchannels, and transmitting a PPDU in the selected subchannel. |
| US08619810B2 |
System, device, method and computer program product for managing devices
A system for managing a communication device having a first function of using a first communication protocol and a second function of using a second communication protocol is provided. The communication device is connected to a network including a first device using the first communication protocol and a second device using the second communication protocol. The system is provided with an inputting system that accepts an input for changing an operation regarding the communication of the communication device from a user, and a judging system that judges whether a trouble would arise in communication, in which the communication device is involved, based on the input inputted by the user through use of the inputting system. |
| US08619809B2 |
Method, system, and program for managing a speed at which data is transmitted between network adaptors
Provided are a method, system, and program for managing data transmissions at a local network device communicating with a linked network device over a network, wherein each network device is capable of transmitting data at different speeds. An operation is initiated to change a current transmission speed at which data is transmitted between the local and linked network devices in response to a speed change event. A determination is made of a new transmission speed different from the current transmission speed. A register is set in the local network device to indicate the new transmission speed. A speed change request and the new transmission speed are transmitted to the linked network device to cause the local and linked network devices to communicate at the new transmission speed, wherein the transmission occurs without terminating a linked exchange occurring between the local and linked network devices. |
| US08619808B2 |
Mechanism to update a NAV timer
In a 60 Hz WGA wireless network, not all frames with the duration field are received by a STA in a WGA network because of directional antennas. Therefore, a NAV Timer cannot account for the reserved duration of the channel by only updating with the longest duration field received. A STA can receive two frames each with a source and destination addresses and update the NAV Timer by comparing the received addresses to overcome such problem. Further, a STA can receive one frame with a source and destination addresses and update the NAV Timer by comparing the received addresses with the NAVSRC and NAVDST values. |
| US08619807B2 |
High-capacity packet-switched ring network
A packet-switched WDMA ring network has an architecture utilizing packet stacking and unstacking for enabling nodes to access the entire link capacity by transmitting and receiving packets on available wavelengths. Packets are added and dropped from the ring by optical switches. A flexible credit-based MAC protocol along with an admission algorithm enhance the network throughput capacity. |
| US08619803B2 |
Sparse mode system
A listener system, or listener, may be used with an Ethernet Audio-Video Bridging (“AVB”) network. The listener may include various components, such as an upper layer application and a stream reservation protocol stack. The upper layer application and stream reservation protocol stack may be in communication with each other. The stream reservation protocol stack may receive stream advertisements on or across the Ethernet AVB network. The stream reservation protocol stack may operate in a sparse mode and may operate in a full mode. When operating in a sparse mode, the stream reservation protocol stack may transmit one subset of the received stream advertisements to the upper layer application, and may not transmit another subset of the received stream advertisements to the upper layer application. |
| US08619801B2 |
Sharing a transmission control protocol port by a plurality of applications
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for sharing a transmission control protocol (TCP) port by a plurality of applications are provided. Embodiments include receiving, by a transmission controller from a client, a first TCP packet that includes an indication of a new TCP connection for a TCP port; determining, by the transmission controller, an origination of the first TCP packet; identifying, by the transmission controller, a TCP sequence number range associated with the determined origination; selecting, by the transmission controller, an initial sequence number (ISN) within the identified TCP sequence number range; and sending, by the transmission controller to the client, a second TCP packet that includes the selected ISN. |
| US08619794B2 |
IMS call routing using tel-URIs
The present invention proposes a specific handling of tel URIs in an IMS terminating network so as to enable routing of calls using telephone numbers (and not SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers) as identifiers of the target users of those calls. Specifically, the present invention introduces a conversion module which is located within the IMS terminating network and is capable of converting SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers into equivalent tel URIs which are then used by a terminating I-CSCF and S-CSCF to query the SLF and/or HSS so that they can route the calls to the target users. |
| US08619789B2 |
Timing re-synchronization with reduced communication energy in frequency hopping communication networks
In one embodiment, a battery-operated communication device “quick-samples” a frequency hopping sequence at a periodic rate corresponding to a substantially low duty cycle, and is discovered by (e.g., attached to) a main-powered communication device. During a scheduled sample, the main-powered communication device transmits a control packet to be received by the battery-operated communication device, the control packet containing timing information and transmitted to account for worst-case clock drift error between the two devices. The battery-operated communication device responds to the control packet with a link-layer acknowledgment containing timing information from the battery-operated communication device. Accordingly, the two devices may re-synchronize their timing based on the timing information in the control packet and acknowledgment, respectively. |
| US08619787B2 |
Byte-accurate scheduling in a network processor
Described embodiments provide for scheduling packets for transmission by a network processor. A traffic manager generates a tree scheduling hierarchy having a root scheduler and N scheduler levels. The network processor generates tasks corresponding to received packets. The traffic manager enqueues the received task in the associated queue, the queue having a corresponding parent scheduler at each of one or more next levels of the scheduling hierarchy up to the root scheduler. Each scheduler determines one or more tasks to schedule from a given queue based on a default packet size of the packet corresponding to the task. The corresponding packet data is read from a shared memory, and, at each corresponding parent scheduler up to the root scheduler, an actual size of the packet data is updated. Scheduling weights of each corresponding parent scheduler are updated based on the actual size of the packet data. |
| US08619780B1 |
Processing packet routing information
A distributed system for collecting and processing packet routing information is provided. A service provider, such as a content delivery network service provider, can maintain multiple Points of Presence (“POPs”). Routing computing devices associated with each POP can forward information about the packet routing information to a packet routing management component. The packet routing component can process the information provided by the various POPs. The packet routing component can then update, or otherwise modify, packet routing information used by one or more of the POPs. Accordingly, the packet routing management component can then selectively distribute the updated or modified packet routing information, including the distribution to all POPs, the targeted distribution to specific POPs and the creation of centrally accessible routing information. |
| US08619779B2 |
Scalable architecture for enterprise extension in a cloud topology
Various embodiments relate to a Cloud Data Center, a system comprising the Cloud Data Center, and a related method. The Cloud Data Center may include a logical customer edge router to send packets between addresses in a private enterprise network and addresses in a logical network within a cloud network. The logical network may have resources, known as virtual machines, allocated to the private enterprise network and may share a common IP address space with the private enterprise network. A directory at the Cloud Data Center may correlate the enterprise IP addresses of virtual machines with a cloud IP address and a location IP address within the logical network. The Cloud Data Center may double encapsulate packets with two specified headers, a cloudIP and locIP header, when sending a packet to a destination in the logical network. |
| US08619773B2 |
Service request packet including an exterior network protocol attribute
Packets are encapsulated and sent from a service node to one or more application nodes for applying one or more Layer-4 to Layer-7 services to the packets. Before which for a packet, the service node performs a lookup operation based on a destination address of the packet in a routing data structure derived from a exterior network protocol, such as, but not limited to Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). This lookup operation results in the identification of a next hop packet switching device to which the packet would be sent from the service node. The service node includes this identification of the next hop address in the request packet sent to the application node(s). After the service(s) are applied to the packet, an application node will send the services-applied packet to this next hop address. In this manner, application nodes do not need to run an exterior network protocol. Although, they typically will run an Interior Gateway Protocol for identifying how to forward packets to the next hop address. |
| US08619760B2 |
Method of providing circuit switched (SC) service using high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) or high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA)
Disclosed is a radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and a terminal, and an operation method of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) entity in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and more particularly, to an operation method of transmitting, by a transmitting side (transmitter), data blocks by including a Connection Frame Number (CFN) therein such that a receiving side (receiver) processes each of received data blocks by a reference time, as a method of providing a Circuit Switched (CS) service using a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) or High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) technology. |
| US08619758B2 |
Network telephony system
The present invention includes a network telephone having a microphone coupled to provide voice data to a network, a speaker coupled to facilitate listening to voice data from the network, a dialing device coupled to facilitate routing of voice data upon the network, a first port configured to facilitate communication with a first network device, a second port configured to facilitate communication with a second network device and a prioritization circuit coupled to apply prioritization to voice data provided by the microphone. |
| US08619754B2 |
Robust channel allocation method for RF communication systems
A method of allocating channels in a PTMP (point-to-multi-point) system having a master and a plurality of nodes comprising the steps of: transmission by the master to the nodes of a synch beacon, the sync beacon having a first frequency and a substantially fixed time period between successive sync beacon transmissions; dividing the time period into a slotted time and an unslotted time; allocating a plurality of slots in the slotted time for RF activity of the nodes that have resolved the sync beacon; and identifying the unslotted time for unallocated RF activity of the nodes that have not resolved the sync beacon. |
| US08619751B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, computer program, and communication system
While directional communication using millimeter waves is realized, the number of communication stations through which simultaneous communication is possible is increased to increase the throughput of the entire system.A communication apparatus stores, as a stop setting person direction, a beam direction in which received electrical power when an RTS or a CTS destined for another station is received becomes a maximum and then sets a transmission stop period. Within the transmission stop period, only when the direction of a frame transmission destination is separate from the stop setting person direction, transmission of frames is performed by directing a transmission beam toward the frame transmission destination. Whereas a hidden terminal does not unnecessarily stop a frame transmission operation, the hidden terminal is not against the intention of requesting the setting of the transmission stop period. |
| US08619749B2 |
Apparatus having and method for implementing a distributed architecture for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency signals
A distributed architecture system for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals includes a receiving unit receiving a plurality of RF signals. The receiving unit includes means for combining the plurality of RF signals into a multiplexed signal. A head unit receives and separates the multiplexed signal into a plurality of information signals. The head unit prepares the information signals for presentation to a user. The head unit is disposed remotely from the receiving unit. A multiplexed link carries the multiplexed signal from the receiving unit to the head unit. |
| US08619748B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving different signal types in communication systems
A method and apparatus for multiplexing a reference signal from a User Equipment (UE), not having any other signal transmission in the respective Transmission Time Interval (TTI), with a reference signal from another UE also having data transmission in the respective TTI, or with the control signal and reference signal from another UE transmitted in the respective TTI. The multiplexed reference signal from the UE not having any other signal transmission in the respective TTI can serve as a sounding reference signal to enable the serving base station to apply link adaptation to a subsequent signal transmitted by the UE or it can serve as a reference signal conveying state information, such as resource request or service request. |
| US08619745B2 |
Method and apparatus of selecting operating frequency for user equipment in a wireless communications system
In order to prevent from being incapable of receiving Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, called MBMS hereinafter, service when a user equipment (UE) has a connection for signaling only, the present invention provides a method of selecting an MBMS operating frequency for the UE in a wireless communications system. The method includes determining a radio bearer state of the UE, and switching a current operating frequency of the UE to a preferred frequency corresponding to an MBMS service prioritized by upper layers when the radio bearer state of the UE is in signaling transmission state. |
| US08619744B2 |
Reception method and receiver
In a reception method and a receiver, a base station corrects a frequency offset contained in a reception signal from each user terminal and realizes excellent reception characteristics by using a simple receiver mechanism for performing frequency domain processing in a radio system using a frequency division multiplex (FDM) method. The base station includes: a DFT section that converts reception signals from a plurality of mobile stations communicating by radio communication using FDM all at once into the frequency domain; a demapping section that recognizes, from the frequency domain signals, user signals corresponding to respective mobile stations by using sub-carriers selected in association with respective mobile stations; a correction signal generation section generating a correction signal correcting a user signal frequency offset for each user signal; a frequency conversion section that corrects the frequency offset of the user signal by the correction signal; and a demodulation section that demodulates each of the corrected user signals. |
| US08619743B2 |
Radio communication terminal and radio communication method
A radio communication terminal that performs data communication by selecting either one of a first data communication protocol and a second data communication protocol that has a lower level of priority than that of the first data communication protocol, comprising: a communication protocol determining part (6c) that determines whether or not a base station that is performing a communication is compatible with the first data communication protocol; a session status determining part (6f) that determines whether or not the establishment of communication session layers that perform the exchanging of the parameters required for communication with the base station has been completed; and a communication control part (6a) that selects either one of the first data communication protocol and the second data communication protocol based on a determination of the communication protocol determining part, and performs data communication on a selected protocol, wherein when the communication control part (6a) begins data communication via a base station which it has been determined is compatible with the first data communication protocol, the communication control part (6a) makes a data communication request using the first data communication protocol if it is determined by the session status determining part that a communication session layer establishment has been completed, the communication control part (6a) defers the data communication request until the completion the communication session layer establishment if it is determined that the establishment has not been completed. |
| US08619742B2 |
System and method for coding WCDMA MIMO CQI reports
A block coding method and system for improving the reliability of Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) and antenna weight Indicators (AWI) reporting. A user terminal first generates 8-bit CQI and 2-bit AWI. A codeword generator produces a codeword responsive to these 10 CQI/AWI bits using a codebook or a generator matrix of a (20,10,6) code. The (20,10,6) code has a minimum Hamming distance of 6 The encoded codeword is transmitted to a receiver for decoding utilizing an identical (20,10,6) codebook. |
| US08619740B2 |
Call setup method for mobile virtual private network and access point apparatus thereof
A call setup method is provided for a MVPN which includes at least one access point apparatus, at least one database, and a plurality of users. The database records a private extension number, a user phone number, and a user identity module of each user and a link address of the corresponding access point apparatus. The access point apparatus corresponding to a MO user receives a call setup request message for setting up a call with a MT user from the MO user. The access point apparatus corresponding to the MO user determines whether the link address of the access point apparatus corresponding to the MT user is valid according to the database. If the link address of the access point apparatus corresponding to the MT user is valid, the MO user and the MT user set up the call through the access point apparatuses corresponding to the link addresses. |
| US08619739B1 |
Bluetooth coexistence timing synchronization
A wireless network device comprises a first wireless communication device that includes a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver that generates a synchronization pulse and that transmits and receives data according to a first period. A second wireless communication device receives a signal indicative of the synchronization pulse and includes a second RF transceiver that transmits and receives data according to a second period. The second period is not equal to the first period and the second wireless communication device adjusts the second period according to the first period and the synchronization pulse. |
| US08619733B2 |
Selection of wireless network in conjunction with selection of a wireless cell set
An access terminal may switch to a different mode of wireless network selection as a result of manual selection of a wireless cell set (e.g., a closed subscriber group) associated with one or more wireless cells. For example, if the user of an access terminal selects a closed subscriber group in a wireless network that is different than the current wireless network, the access terminal may enter a manual mode of wireless network selection, select the wireless network corresponding to the closed subscriber group, and register on a closed subscriber group cell in the selected wireless network. In addition, an access terminal may automatically switch to a different mode of wireless network selection (e.g., the prior mode) upon losing coverage of a wireless cell set. An access terminal may also automatically select a cell of a wireless cell set if the access terminal returns to a cell of the cell set within a defined period of time after losing coverage of the cell set. Furthermore, an access terminal may return to a prior wireless network upon losing coverage of a wireless cell set. |
| US08619729B2 |
Method for discovering neighbor networks in mobile station and network system for enabling the method
The present invention relates to a wireless network, and more particularly, a method (*“and system”?*) which a mobile station discovers a neighbor network in an Internet protocol based wireless network, a network management server for enabling the method, and a method of operating the network management server. A network management server of a wireless network system, the server including: a neighborhood (NH) database maintaining configuration information with respect to at least one neighbor network; a communication interface receiving a request message for capability/configuration information of the neighbor network from a mobile station which is connected via a predetermined access point or a base station; and a database management unit extracting the capability/configuration information of the neighbor network which is included in the request message by referring to the neighborhood database, and controlling a reply message including the capability/configuration information to be transmitted to the mobile station via the communication interface. |
| US08619727B1 |
Timing in a multicarrier wireless device
A wireless device receives a control command causing transmission of a random access preamble on a reference secondary cell in a secondary cell group. The reference secondary cell is employed as a timing reference to transmit first uplink signals in the secondary cell group. The wireless device receives a random access response comprising a timing advance command for the secondary cell group. The wireless device, autonomously and when a predefined condition is met, selects a new activated secondary cell in the secondary cell group as the timing reference. |
| US08619724B2 |
Relay transmission method and apparatus
A relay transmission method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: configuring a subframe of a Time Division Duplex (TDD) relay frame for a subframe of relay link (S201), where the configuring the subframe of the TDD relay frame for the subframe of relay link includes: configuring a downlink (DL) subframe of the TDD relay frame for a DL subframe of relay link, and/or configuring the DL subframe of the TDD relay frame for an uplink (UL) subframe of relay link, and/or configuring a UL subframe of the TDD relay frame for the UL subframe of relay link; and performing relay transmission according to the subframe of relay link (S202). When data is transmitted, a subframe that can be used for relay link transmission is configured, data transmission performed by using relay link complies with inherent constraints of a TDD frame structure in the prior art, and coverage of a system using a TDD relay frame is expanded, thus improving the throughput. |
| US08619723B2 |
Method of requesting and reporting link quality in an EGPRS2 system
The link quality reporting method includes measuring link quality for received radio blocks, and if there is a modulation scheme with a largest number of radio blocks, reporting link quality for the modulation scheme, and if there is a plurality of schemes with the same number of radio blocks, reporting link quality for a modulation scheme selected using a predetermined method. Performance deterioration can be minimized in a link adaptation process. |
| US08619712B2 |
Method and device for detaching user equipment
A method and device for detaching a user equipment (UE) are disclosed in the present invention. The UE is registered with a mobility management entity (MME) in a packet switched (PS) network and a mobile switching center (MSC) in a circuit switched (CS) network. When the UE needs to detach from the PS network, the MSC receives a Detach Request with a Detach Type indicating the detaching from the PS network only; after receiving the Detach Request, the MSC deletes the context of the PS core network entity and clears the connection between the MSC and the MME. An MME for performing UE detachment is also disclosed in the present invention. The present invention helps reduce the time delay during the subsequent handover and quickly provide users with communications services, so as to improve user's experience and meet the carriers' requirements. |
| US08619710B2 |
Technique for providing network access to different entities
A technique for providing network access to an external device is described. A modem device for realizing this technique comprises a first mobile platform module adapted to support network access via a first radio access technology (RAT) and comprising a first data interface towards the external device, as well as a second mobile platform module adapted to support network access via at least one second RAT and comprising a second data interface towards the external device. |
| US08619709B2 |
Access point scan method, storage medium storing scan program, and station
In an access point scan method by which a station disconnected from an access point scans for a next access point to which the station can be connected at a predetermined scan interval, the station sets a shorter scan interval when a possibility of connection to the next access point to which the station can be connected is presumed to be high or a need for connection is presumed to be great, and sets a longer scan interval when the possibility of connection is presumed to be low or the need for connection is presumed to be small, based on one of information on the access point to which the station being connected just before disconnection and information on the station. |
| US08619705B2 |
Communication method between at least one subscriber station and at least two base stations
In order to prevent breaks in a communication network comprising at least one subscriber station and at least two base stations synchronised and connected to each other by a communication link, a method is provided comprising a time resource allocation step for the transmission and/or reception of packets by the at least one subscriber station, the time resource being specific to each subscriber station and being able to be used with all the base stations. |
| US08619701B2 |
Method of facilitating handoff for CDMA networks using IP protocols
A method of configuring routers facilitates handoff of user equipment from a router to another router. The method includes configuring a virtual interface in a current router used by user equipment. The method also includes assigning a global address to the virtual interface. The global address is assigned to the virtual interface that is used to facilitate handoff of the user equipment from a current router to a new router. A system, router and user equipment are configured to implement the method. |
| US08619698B2 |
Enhanced beacon signaling method and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for using high power narrow signals, e.g., tones, for communicating transmitter information without putting the full transmission power available into the transmitted tone or tones are described. User data is transmitted in parallel with transmitter information in many embodiments with the user data being allocated more than 20% of the transmitter's maximum output power in many cases. Buy using an amount of power on the tones used to communicate transmitter information while simultaneously transmitting user data with more than 20% of the available transmission power, efficient bandwidth utilization is achieved while still ensuring a high probability that that the transmitter information signals will be received and detectable using simple energy detection techniques and without the need for timing synchronization with the transmitter to be achieved for success interpretation of the transmitter information. |
| US08619695B2 |
Ranging of terminal in legacy support mode
The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access system, and more particularly, a ranging technique of a terminal using a legacy support frame in a mobile communication system including a legacy system and an advanced system. According to one form of an embodiment of the present invention, the ranging method of the terminal for a base station in the mobile communication system having the legacy system and the advanced system comprises the steps of: receiving secondary super frame header (S-SFH) information from the base station; determining whether a frame composition used in the mobile communication system supports the legacy system; acquiring ranging channel information for initial ranging, handover ranging, and periodical ranging from the S-SFH; and performing one or more ranging processes of the initial ranging, the handover ranging, and the periodical ranging in the base station by using the ranging channel information. |
| US08619693B2 |
Method for transmitting reference signals in a downlink multiple input multiple output system
In a system having a plurality of cells participating in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) operation, a method for transmitting Reference Signals (RSs) to User Equipment (UE) includes generating, by Base Station (BS) included in each of the plurality of cells, a subframe including RSs for a UE located in the each of the plurality of cells, and transmitting the generated subframe to the UE by the BS. The RSs include RSs for channel measurement, and RSs for data demodulation, the plurality of cells are grouped according to frequency shift values applied to the RSs for channel measurement and RS allocation patterns are determined for two cells among the plurality of cells according to a predetermined rule. |
| US08619691B2 |
Resource allocation method for control message in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a resource allocation method of a base station. The method includes generating a packet data unit that includes a first field and a downlink control message, wherein the first field indicates whether unsolicited resource is to be allocated for an uplink control message, transmitting the generated packet data unit to the terminal, allocating resources for the uplink control message, and transmitting the allocated resources to the terminal. |
| US08619690B2 |
Cellular radio communication system, radio base station apparatus and radio terminal unit
In a cellular radio communication system including of multi-antenna base stations, to make effective use of the reduced interference in supposing the use of beam form and avoid the interference in an adjacent station even if a space multiplex and the beam form are mixed. Frequencies intended for the cell edge in an FFR are classified into frequencies for space multiplex and a frequency for beam form. Thereby, a frequency at which the interference is reduced by the beam form is fixed. A frequency intended for the cell center is in a frequency band and signals are transmitted from three base stations. |
| US08619687B2 |
Coordinating uplink resource allocation
A base station configured for coordinating uplink resource allocation is described. The base station includes a processor and instructions stored in memory. The base station generates uplink resource allocation information for one or more wireless communication devices. The uplink resource allocation information is sent to one or more base stations. The base station allocates uplink resources based on the uplink resource allocation information. The base station sends an assignment to one or more wireless communication devices based on the uplink resource allocation information. |
| US08619686B2 |
Method of managing baseband resources in mobile communications networks implementing interference cancellation techniques
A method of managing baseband resources in a mobile communications network, wherein at least one interference cancellation technique in uplink is available, the method comprising the steps of: when baseband resources are demanded by a mobile user, determining whether there are free baseband resources or not, and: if there are not free baseband resources, determining whether there is at least one interference cancellation process cancelling the interference caused by at least one mobile user or not, and: if there is at least one interference cancellation process cancelling the interference caused by at least one mobile user, one mobile user is removed from said interference cancellation process. |
| US08619677B2 |
Base station antenna in a mobile communication system
A Base Station (BS) antenna in a mobile communication system is provided, in which a reflective plate has a frontal surface onto which radiation elements are attached, and at least one protector is attached onto the reflective plate, surrounding at least part of the reflective plate. |
| US08619670B2 |
Method of controlling broadcasting in a wireless sensor network
The present invention relates to a method of controlling broadcasting in a wireless sensor network. The method includes performing broadcasting from an upper node to a lower node for a predetermined number of times, transmitting a time offset calculated according to the broadcasting from the lower node to the upper node, calculating an average of the time offsets received from at least one lower node, by the upper node and resetting the number of times of broadcasting according to the calculated average by the upper node. Accordingly, the number of times of broadcasting may be controlled according to the average of received time offsets in the wireless sensor network. In another aspect, an adjustment to the number of times of broadcasting may be received and the number of times of broadcasting may be adjusted based on an average of the received adjustments. |
| US08619668B2 |
Mobility management mode selection in multiple access wireless networks
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate indicating and determining mobility management modes in access identifiers for wireless communications networks. Wireless devices can indicate mobility management modes to be utilized by choosing a target system and communicating the chosen system and a home system to one or more network components. The network components can infer or otherwise determine a mobility management mode based at least in part on a relationship between the target and home systems. |
| US08619660B2 |
Mobile communication system, common channel transmission control device, and common channel transmission control method used in the system and device
A mobile communication system in which a number of common channels are added due to the offering of a new service includes: the assumption that a plurality of common channels can be arranged to transmit the same data, a monitor means that uses the reception path search results of either dedicated channels or random access channels of mobile stations to monitor the communication state of mobile stations within the cell and a control means that, when it is determined that distribution within the cell of mobile stations that receive the new service is unbalanced, effects control to divide and use the communication range permitted by a plurality of common channels. |
| US08619658B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmission management in a wireless communication system
In a wireless communication system comprising at least one access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STAs), a method for transmission management of the wireless medium comprises the AP configuring a Multiple Receiver Aggregate Multi-Poll/Power Save Aggregation Descriptor (MMP/PSAD) frame with scheduled Uplink Transmission Time (ULT) information for the plurality of STAs. The AP then transmits the MMP/PSAD frame to the plurality of STAs. Upon successfully receiving and decoding the MMP/PSAD frame, STAs transmit during their scheduled ULT. |
| US08619657B2 |
Cost optimization of wireless-enabled metering infrastructures
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for managing cost in a wireless enabled advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The system includes a remote server, a wide area network, and an access point device. The system further includes wireless enabled meters coupled to each other and to the access point through a neighborhood area network (NAN). The system includes datasinks. Each datasink is a wireless enabled meter capable of being a data coordinator and capable of receiving metering information from the sensors, processing metering information, and transmitting metering information to the access point. Moreover, each wireless enabled meter is capable of being a routing node and an endpoint node. Also, a first set of wireless enabled meters are configured to be routing nodes and a second set of wireless enabled meters are configured to be endpoint nodes based on a graph theoretic algorithm to reduce the cost of the AMI. |
| US08619653B2 |
System and method for preserving battery life for a mobile station
A mobile station capable of accessing a wireless communication network having a plurality of base stations is provided. The mobile station is configured to determine if a battery level of the mobile station is below a selected one of a plurality of power level thresholds. The mobile station is also configured to, upon a determination that the battery level is below the selected power level threshold, send a battery report to a first base station of the wireless communication network. The mobile station is further configured to enter a battery power preservation mode. The battery power preservation mode may include an enhanced idle mode, an enhanced sleep mode, or a persistent allocation mode. |
| US08619643B2 |
System and method for estimating the probability of movement of access points in a WLAN-based positioning system
Methods of and systems for estimating the probability of movement of access points in a WLAN-based positioning system are provided. Disclosed are methods to quantify the probability that a particular location estimate of a mobile device made by a Wi-Fi based positioning system is correct to within an arbitrary accuracy. Implementations use observed access point cluster size, age information for access point location determination, and/or the probability that one or more access points detected by the mobile device have relocated based on historic information about the movement of a collection of access points to make the probability determinations. |
| US08619641B2 |
Single-user beamforming method and apparatus suitable for frequency division duplex system
The present invention provides a single-user beamforming method suitable for a frequency division duplex system, comprising the following steps: obtaining a first transmission weight and a second transmission weight according to an uplink signal; using the first transmission weight to weight after adding a dedicated pilot of a layer 1 to a to-be-transmitted first data stream, and using the second transmission weight to weight after adding a dedicated pilot of a layer 2 to a to-be-transmitted second data stream; mapping the weighted first data stream to an antenna, mapping the weighted second data stream to the antenna, and sending them after superimposing them at the antenna port. The present invention also provides a single-user beamforming apparatus suitable for a frequency division duplex system. The present invention can send two data streams to one user at the same time, so it increases throughputs of user and system. |
| US08619638B2 |
Slow adaptation of modulation and coding for packet transmission
Systems and methods for performing MCS adaptation are provided. In some cases, the network performs MCS adaptation based on received NACKs. In other cases, the mobile station determines an MCS based on channel quality measurements, and feeds back the MCS adaptation decision to the network. In either case, NACK-only feedback may be implemented to reduce interference. |
| US08619636B1 |
Methods and systems for creating optimized transmission paths for VoIP conference calls
A system, method, and apparatus for providing bandwidth efficient voice over internet protocol conference calls is disclosed. The system uses softswitches, also known as media gateway controllers, that can track active calls by recording information regarding those calls in the memory of the softswitches. Upon receipt of an instruction, at a softswitch, to issue an invitation to another party to join an existing call, the softswitch examines its table of call information to determine if the invitation should be issued from that softswitch or forwarded to another softswitch involved in the existing call. In this manner, the invitation can be issued by a softswitch involved in the existing call that is nearer to the invited party than would be the case with prior art methods. This avoids the transmission of redundant data and conserves bandwidth. |
| US08619635B2 |
E-tree using two pseudowires between edge routers with enhanced forwarding methods and systems
An e-tree service that includes establishing two pseudowires (PW) between edge network elements with enhanced packet forwarding is described. In one embodiment, a root PW is used for carrying packets that are sent from a root node network element, and a leaf PW is used for carrying packets that are sent from a leaf node network element in the e-tree service network. When a network element receives a packet with a destination Media Access Control (MAC) address on the logical port associated with the leaf access circuit (AC), responsive to determining that the destination MAC address corresponds to a MAC address in a MAC address table stored in the network element, and that an attribute associated with that MAC address in the MAC address table indicates the MAC address was learned from the leaf PW, the network element drops the packet. |
| US08619633B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving uplink control information, terminal, base station
A method for transmitting and receiving Uplink Control Information (UCI), a terminal, and a base station are provided. The transmitting method includes: calculating the number (Q′) of modulation symbols occupied by the UCI to be transmitted; dividing the information bit sequence of the UCI to be transmitted into two parts; using Reed Muller (RM) (32, 0) codes to encode each part of information bit sequence of the UCI to be transmitted to obtain a 32-bit coded bit sequence respectively, and performing rate matching so that the rate of the first 32-bit coded bit sequence is ┌Q′/2┐×Qm bits and that the rate of the second 32-bit coded bit sequence is (Q′−┌Q′/2┐)×Qm bits; and mapping the two parts of coded bit sequences that have undergone rate matching onto a Public Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), and transmitting the coded bit sequences to a base station. |
| US08619627B2 |
Automatic determination of groupings of communications interfaces
A particular networked machine broadcasts packets from its interfaces resulting in patterns of returned copies of the sent broadcast packets received on its interfaces. Based on these patterns, a determination is made to identify groupings of one or more of the interfaces that are considered by remote devices as being grouped together, as a broadcast packet transmitted from an interface belonging to a grouping will be received on, and only on, a single interface in each of the other groupings, with a grouping being one or more interfaces. In one implementation, a grouping is defined as a single independent interface, or an aggregation of two or more interfaces combined into a single logical interface, such as, but not limited to that of a PortChannel. |
| US08619623B2 |
Ad-hoc simple configuration
A protocol governing the operation of an ad-hoc WLAN enables each device in the WLAN to be configured as a registrar and/or an enrollee. Accordingly, each device is configurable to support both the registrar as well as enrollee modes of operations. In response to a time-driven user action, the device may be configured to enter into a registrar mode or an enrollee mode. While in the registrar mode, the device enters into an aggressive beaconing phase by setting its beacon contention window to a relatively very small value. The aggressive beaconing increases the probability of the discovery of the registrar by the enrollees. Optionally the device may prompt the user to select between a registrar and an enrollee mode of operation by displaying the option on an LCD panel. |
| US08619620B2 |
Methods and systems for transmission mode selection in a multi channel communication system
Techniques to select a suitable transmission mode for a data transmission in a multi channel communication system with multiple spatial channels having varying SNRs are presented in this disclosure. For certain embodiments, a closed-loop technique may be applied, in which back-off factors used to calculate an effective SNR value fed back to a transmitter are adjusted. An open-loop rate control scheme is also presented in which a transmitter may select a data rate and number of streams based on whether transmitted packets are received in error at a receiver. |
| US08619614B2 |
Dynamic monitoring of network traffic
A device, connected to a monitoring appliance, may include a traffic analyzer to receive a data unit and identify a traffic flow associated with the data unit. The device may also include a traffic processor to receive the data unit and information regarding the identified traffic flow from the traffic analyzer, determine that the identified traffic flow is to be monitored by the monitoring appliance, change a port number, associated with the data unit, to a particular port number to create a modified data unit when the identified traffic flow is to be monitored by the monitoring appliance, and send the modified data unit to the monitoring appliance. |
| US08619609B2 |
Mesh infrastructure utilizing priority repeaters and multiple transceivers
A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for using stand-alone repeaters that are designated as having priority over other communication nodes with respect to their service as repeaters are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a control node or collector builds a wireless mesh network by first establishing communication paths with the designated priority communication nodes and then with communication nodes that are not designated priority communication nodes. |
| US08619607B2 |
Method and system for verifying logical connection
A method and system for maintaining a high reliability logical connection between hosts employs adaptive transparent pinging, clone blocking and bandwidth leveling to realize improvements in the areas of connection status verification, security and bandwidth management. In adaptive transparent pinging, a ping interval that defines a frequency at which ping messages are transmitted from an initiating host to a receiving host to check connection status is dynamically regulated based on data indicative of the reliability of a connection. In clone blocking, the receiving host verifies that a new connection that appears redundant is a re-established connection from the initiating host rather than a cloned connection. In bandwidth leveling, data bursts pending on initiating hosts that exceed a predetermined size are scheduled for transmission to receiving hosts. |
| US08619604B2 |
System and method for auto 10BASE-T/10BASE-Te selection based on cable characteristics
A system and method for auto 10BASE-T/10BASE-Te selection based on cable characteristics. IEEE 802.3az defines a new 10BASE-Te PHY type for energy efficiency that runs on Category 5 or better cabling. Configuration of a PHY that supports both 10BASE-T and 10BASE-Te operating modes is based on measurements that provide an indication of channel characteristics. |
| US08619601B2 |
Proximity of user equipment to a home local network
A system is provided that includes a user equipment configured to attempt a measurement of a signal quality from a home local network only when the user equipment is within range of the home local network. A method is also provided for determining when to measure signal quality of the home local network. The method includes measuring a signal quality from the home local network only when the method determines the user equipment is within range of the home local network. |
| US08619598B2 |
Pseudowire status maintenance for static pseudowires
In one embodiment, a method includes generating an aggregated pseudowire status message at a first network device in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, transmitting the aggregated pseudowire status message to a second network device on a Label Switched Path (LSP) extending between the first and second network devices in the MPLS network, and establishing at the first network device, an aggregated pseudowire status session with the second network device upon receiving a response to the aggregated pseudowire status message on the LSP. The aggregated pseudowire status message configured to verify a current status of pseudowires on the LSP. An apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08619595B2 |
Fault isolation in trill networks
In one embodiment, a method includes generating at an ingress routing bridge in a TRansparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) network, a trace message for a specified flow along a path from the ingress routing bridge to a destination reachable through the TRILL network, transmitting a single trace message from the ingress routing bridge to a next-hop routing bridge in the TRILL network, receiving a plurality of reply messages in response to the transmitted trace message, and identifying the routing bridges in the path and a location of any fault in the path. An apparatus for fault isolation in a TRILL network is also disclosed. |
| US08619592B2 |
Method and apparatus for increased internet protocol (IP) headers compression performance by reporting cause of missing packets
A decompressor, a compressor and methods in an Internet Protocol (IP) network for reporting cause of missing packets. A cause of unsuccessful reception or sending of a compressed packet addressed is reported to a compressor/decompressor node. The compressor/decompressor node decides or predicts if a decompression context associated with the decompressor is invalidated by analyzing the cause of the unsuccessful reception and, optionally, analyzing a re-initialization agreement between the compressor and the decompressor. In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the compressor/decompressor node use the decision or prediction to exchange information to reinitialize the decompression context associated with the decompressor. In a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the detection of the unsuccessful sending or reception is performed at a Medium Access (MAC) layer associated with the compressor/decompressor node. |
| US08619589B2 |
System and method for removing test packets
Embodiments of the invention include a system for preventing a packet of a test pattern from being communicated over a network. In one embodiment, a communications management system is disclosed that includes a network interface configured to enable the communications management system to communicate with a plurality of network nodes over a network. The communications management system further includes a processor configured to execute instructions to determine whether one or more portions of the network are congested, and generate and transmit a message to at least one of the network nodes to terminate communication of test packets in response to a determination that one or more portions of the network is congested. |
| US08619588B2 |
System and method for predicting video transmission quality through a network
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for approximating video transmission quality capability through a communications network. Initially, a processor is used to insert data into the network through a first endpoint that is delivered to a second endpoint. Then, at least one characteristic of the network between the first and second endpoints is determined based on how the second endpoint receives the data. After the at least one characteristic is determined, a representative video segment is selected based on the at least one characteristic. Finally, the representative video segment is output to demonstrate the video transmission quality capabilities of the network. |
| US08619587B2 |
System and method to support enhanced equal cost multi-path and link aggregation group
An apparatus comprising a small flow forwarding module configured to distribute and forward a plurality of packets that correspond to a plurality of small flows over a plurality of paths, a large flow forwarding module configured to distribute and forward a plurality of packets that correspond to a plurality of large flows over the paths, and a packet header checking module in communication with the small flow forwarding module and the large flow forwarding module, wherein the packet header checking module is configured to inspect a flow indication in an incoming packet and forward the packet to the small flow forwarding module if the flow indication corresponds to one of the small flows or to the large flow forwarding module if the flow indication corresponds to one of the large flows. |
| US08619583B2 |
Ingress node controlled path impairment protocol
An apparatus comprising a node configured to transmit operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) connectivity frames, wherein the node adds an impairment notification indication to some, but not all of OAM connectivity frames transmitted by the node, wherein the impairment notification indication indicates the node's desire to receive notification of an impairment condition along the path. A network component comprising a receiver unit configured to receive multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) Ping frames, a circuit logic configured to add a downstream link impairment indication to responses to the MPLS Ping frames, wherein the downstream link impairment indication comprises a type and a severity level for a path impairment condition, and a transmitter unit configured to transmit the responses to the transmitted MPLS Ping frames. |
| US08619577B2 |
Protocol data unit priority management
A single receiver can collect multiple protocol data units at one time originating from different sources. While it can be desirable for higher priority protocol data units to be processed, loss of data unit portions can cause confusion to the receiver. Therefore, even if a higher priority protocol data unit transfers to the receiver while a lower priority data unit is being processed, the lower priority unit can be completed before processing the higher priority unit; thus, there can be a lower likelihood of confusion among protocol data units. |
| US08619575B2 |
Multiband, multimode selection and simultaneous use
A method including receiving, by a multiband, multimode user device, a request pertaining to a data flow; determining a state of the multiband, multimode user device; selecting at least one of multiple channels or multiple frequency bands, and a single mode, or selecting at least one of multiple channels or multiple frequency bands, and multiple modes to satisfy the request based on the state of the multiband, multimode user device; and using the selected at least one of multiple channels or multiple frequency bands, and the single mode, or the selected at least one of multiple channels or multiple frequency bands, and the multiple modes to satisfy the request. |
| US08619574B2 |
Systems and methods for throttling a fabric login in a fibre channel adapter
A fabric login (FLOGI) in a Fibre Channel (FC) adapter is throttled by a system. The system includes a first tracking mechanism, a second tracking mechanism, a switch, and an FC adapter. The FC adapter comprises three or more FLOGIs and a controller. |
| US08619573B2 |
Delayed flow control action in transport network layer WCDMA communications
Congestion is detected in a radio access transport network that includes radio network controllers and base stations. Data packet flows associated with mobile radio communications are controlled in the radio access transport network by a corresponding flow control entity. Each flow is monitored for congestion in the transport network. A flow control action is determined in response to the detected congestion. Performance of the flow control action is delayed for a predetermined delay period before the flow control action may be performed. Delaying flow control action after congestion is detected allows other affected flows to detect or be notified of the congestion, thereby making congestion detection more fair. |
| US08619571B1 |
Chip-to-chip interface for 1000base-T gigabit physical layer device
A physical layer interface including an auto-negotiation circuit configured to negotiate a first data transmission rate with a network client; a transceiver configured to communicate with the network client at the first data transmission rate; and a serializer interface configured to communicate with a media access controller at a second data transmission rate that is different than the first data transmission rate. The serializer interface includes a transmitter configured to replicate data received from the network client in response to the first data transmission rate being lower than the second data transmission rate. |
| US08619570B1 |
Architecture for combining media processing with networking
Systems and methods for processing media streams for transport over a network based on network conditions. An integrated circuit comprises a media processing unit coupled to receive feedback from a network processing unit. The media processing unit converts a media stream from a compressed input stream to a compressed output stream such that the compressed output stream has characteristics that are best suited for the network conditions. Network conditions can include, for example, characteristics of the network (e.g., latency or bandwidth) or characteristics of the remote playback devices (e.g., playback resolution). Changes in the network conditions can result in a change in the conversion process. |
| US08619568B2 |
Reassignment of distributed packet flows
In one embodiment, packet flows are distributed among groups, such as, but not limited to, queues or links. For example in the context of a bundled interface in which multiple links appear as a single logical interface on each of the sender and receiver, packet flows are distributed among these multiple links by the sender. When one or more links become unavailable, packet flows of the affected links are reassigned to other active links, while packet flows assigned to the unaffected links remain associated with the same link in contrast to prior systems which do not attempt to preserve prior associations between packet flows and links. By maintaining these associations, the receiver of the packets does not need to adjust to the different arrival links of packet flows. |
| US08619566B2 |
Delay and jitter limited wireless mesh network scheduling
Schedule and channel assignment (SCA) in a wireless mesh network (WMN) is disclosed. A method includes: forming a representation of a sequence of permutation matrices from a n×n rate matrix. The entries of the rate matrix define the bandwidth of links between the n nodes of the WMN. Each of the permutation matrices represents active radio links between the n nodes. The sequence of permutation matrices defines a sequence of radio links to provide the desired bandwidth of links between said n nodes. Further, a representation of a sequence of partial permutation matrices corresponding to the sequence of permutation matrices is formed in such a way that each of the permutation matrices can be decomposed into a group of partial permutation matrices. Each of the partial permutation matrices in a group represents non-interfering radio links between the n nodes. In each timeslot, the n nodes are configured for radio transmission and reception in accordance with at least one of the partial permutation matrices in each group to transmit traffic between the n nodes. Example SCA can be used to provision longer-term guaranteed-rate backhaul traffic flows supporting multimedia services such as VOIP or IPTV between base-stations in a WMN, with near-minimal delay and jitter and near-perfect Quality-of-Service for every provisioned traffic flow. |
| US08619562B1 |
Method and apparatus for packet processing
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for processing packet with a reduced hardware cost. The method for processing packet can include selecting a group of parameter ranges based on information contained within a packet, determining a search key based on the packet and whether a parameter of the packet is within one or more of the parameter ranges, determining a rule based on the search key corresponding to the packet and the group of parameter ranges, and executing an action that is associated with the rule on the packet. In addition, the disclosure provides an apparatus for processing packet. Further, the disclosure provides a packet switching device that can apply policy on a packet based on parameters of the packet and ranges among a group of ranges, within which a parameter of the packet belongs. |
| US08619561B2 |
Method for receiving multimedia message in wireless terminal
Disclosed is a method for receiving a multimedia message in a wireless terminal, the method including setting reception reservation information (multimedia message reception reservation information) of the multimedia message; when basic information of the multimedia message is received, analyzing the basic information of the multimedia message; comparing the basic information of the multimedia message with the set multimedia message reception reservation information; and if the basic information of the multimedia message is in accordance with the set multimedia message reception reservation information, receiving the multimedia message. |
| US08619549B2 |
Location based load balancing of wireless access points and wireless switches
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing location based load balancing of wireless access points and wireless switches is presented. A wireless controller (WC) receives an associate message from an Access Point (AP)/wireless switch (WS) at the WC. The WC then determines whether a preferred WC for the AP/WS is available. When the preferred WC is not available, then the WC determines if an alternate WC for the AP is available. When the alternate WC is not available, an administrator configured policy may be used that maps the AP to a specific WC. When the policy does exist then the AP is coupled to the WC according to the policy and when the policy does not exist then the WC parses the AP/WS location information for the AP/WS to determine an available geographically closest WC for the AP/WS and sends a message to the AP/WS relating to the available WC. The WC will also assign an available geographically closest WS to AP. |
| US08619547B2 |
Communication system with failover communication services
A system may include, for example, an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) device having a processor adapted to receive a request from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device communicatively coupled to a first communication device to establish communications with a second communication device responsive to the first communication device initiating a call directed to the second communication device, and to identify a primary S-CSCF device to which the second communication device is registered. The processor can also be adapted to detect a communication fault when attempting to communicate with the primary S-CSCF device, and to identify a secondary S-CSCF device that provides backup communication services to the second communication device responsive to detecting the communication fault. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08619546B2 |
Method and apparatus for coping with link failures in central control plane architectures
A capability for coping with link failures in central control plane architectures is provided. The capability for coping with link failures enables targeted reporting of link failures within the network in a manner that prevents flooding of link failure messages (LFMs) within the network. A method for reporting a failure of a link associated with a node includes detecting a failure of a link associated with the node, identifying an interface of the node associated with the failed link, identifying, from a flow table of the node, an ingress interface of the node via which a flow intended for the failed link is received, generating an LFM for the identified ingress interface, and sending the LFM via the identified ingress interface. A method for use at a local node having a flow table includes receiving an LFM indicative of a link failure detected at a remote node where the LFM includes a flow definition of a flow received at the remote node from the local node, identifying an interface of the local node via which the LFM is received, identifying from the flow table of the local node an ingress interface of the local node via which a flow intended for the failed link is received, generating a new LFM for the identified ingress interface of the node, and sending the new LFM via the identified ingress interface of the local node. |
| US08619533B1 |
Holographic data storage medium and an associated method thereof
A method implemented using a data recording system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a micro-holographic data storage medium comprising a micro-hologram track having a first cross-sectional area. The method further includes recording a data in the micro-hologram track to form a data track in the micro-hologram track having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. |
| US08619532B1 |
Asynchronous asymmetry compensation
Asymmetry and offset compensation for a data signal may be performed by a compensation circuit as disclosed. A circuit can be configured to generate a compensated data signal from a data signal, and can include: an input node inputting the data signal, an offset coefficient feedback loop configured to calculate an offset coefficient based on the data signal, a scaling unit configured to scale the offset coefficient by a first predetermined value (the scaled offset coefficient representing an estimate of an asymmetry coefficient), an asymmetry coefficient feedback loop configured to calculate the asymmetry coefficient based on the data signal and an initial value, a signal selection unit that causes the circuit to calculate the compensated data signal using the asymmetry coefficient, and an output node that outputs the compensated data signal. |
| US08619530B2 |
Writing device, record carrier and method of writing information blocks, and reading device for reading information blocks
Reading a partly written writable record carrier having a track structure for positioning the write head above unwritten areas of the track pattern by means of a reading device which positions the read head on the basis of written marks, yields problems when an isolated information block after an unwritten area must be read. A system is disclosed for writing and reading information blocks on a record carrier of a writable type such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM. The writing device is provided with status means for generating status information which is indicative of the fact that at least one area of the record carrier has been written, while the status information comprises initial-area information which is indicative of an uninterrupted written initial area which extends from the start of a track pattern area intended for writing information blocks. The status information can be fixed on the record carrier. A reading device is also described, in which the positioning is dependent on the status information. Reading instructions with addresses outside the initial area can be rejected or translated via an address translation table into addresses in the initial area. |
| US08619529B1 |
Methods and devices for enhanced adaptive margining based on channel threshold measure
A disk drive configured to enable media defect margining during disk testing may comprise a disk comprising a plurality of tracks; a head actuated over the disk; and a processor operable to test media of the disk drive to detect a media defect; estimate a depth of the detected media defect; determine a margining amount based on at least the estimated depth of the detected media defect, and apply the determined margining amount to the detected media defect. |
| US08619528B2 |
Method and system for optical calibration
A system and method of calibrating optical measuring equipment includes optically measuring discrete objects of a first known predictable pattern from a calibration apparatus, wherein the first known predictable pattern is a bit pattern. A recording surface optical reader is calibrated based on the optically measuring. Using the first known predictable pattern, contamination is filtered from the results of the optically measuring. |
| US08619526B1 |
Offset loop for wobble
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a method for generating an offset correction signal with a reduced circuit footprint. The method can include converting samples of a wobble signal into digital values having a reduced number of bits, integrating the digital values having the reduced number of bits over a specified time interval to determine an error signal, and generating an offset correction signal based on the determined error signal. |
| US08619524B2 |
Recording reproducing apparatus and recording reproducing method
If a recording error has occurred during RAW, then subsequent recording reproducing processing is omitted in a predetermined range, and all blocks omitted in the processing are handled as defective blocks, DFL-registered, and recorded in a replacement area. As a result, it becomes possible to hold down the number of times of recording processing accompanied by seek processing in the RAW processing, and transfer rate lowering can be solved. |
| US08619520B2 |
Lens driving unit for optical pickup and optical disc drive including the lens driving unit
Provided is a lens driving unit for an optical pickup and an optical disc drive employing the lens driving unit. First and second driving coils are directly wound around a coil winding unit included in the lens frame, which is different from a conventional lens frame in which a driving coil is manufactured as a separate element and is separately attached to a lens frame. |
| US08619512B1 |
Stress buffer for near-field transducer in energy assisted magnetic recording and methods for fabricating the same
An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head having a stress buffer for reducing the stress on a near-field transducer during thermal expansion and methods for fabricating the EAMR head are provided. The EAMR head includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT) configured to receive optical energy from the waveguide, and a cladding of the waveguide has an opening. The NFT is positioned within the opening, and an air gap is formed between the NFT and a side wall of the opening. |
| US08619508B1 |
Disk drive adjusting fly height actuator to compensate for laser induced head protrusion in heat assisted magnetic recording
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser operable to heat the disk while writing data to the disk, and a fly height actuator (FHA) operable to adjust a fly height of the head over the disk. When a write command is received to write data to a target data track, the head is positioned over the target data track. When the head approaches a target data sector of the target data track, a power applied to the FHA is increased to decrease the fly height of the head. When the head reaches the target data sector, a power applied to the laser is increased to heat the disk, and the power applied to the FHA is decreased substantially monotonically while writing data to the target data sector. |
| US08619507B2 |
Stimulus indicating device employing polymer gels
The present invention relates to a stimulus-indicating device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for evidencing when a product has been exposed to a designated stimulus for a certain period of time. |
| US08619506B2 |
Timepiece
A timepiece includes a movement contained in a timepiece exterior assembly. A panel is fixed onto the movement. Upward engagement convex portions having pressing portions in upper portions thereof are formed in a plurality of locations of the ring member, and a ring member is fixed to the peripheral portion of the movement. A display plate has a plurality of reception portions in a peripheral portion thereof with which the pressing portion comes into contact from above. The reception portions are vertically interposed by an upper surface of the ring member and the pressing portions, the display plate is attached to the ring member, and the panel is covered with the display plate. |
| US08619505B2 |
User interface features for a watch
A watch provides a chronographic function while the watch is in a “sport” mode. If a user activates a button relating to the chronographic function, such as a “start/lap” button, then the light for the watch will automatically activate. The light may remain active for a significantly long time, such as a period of six seconds or more. Alternately or additionally, if a user activates a button while the watch is in a “performance” or “sport” mode, then the light will automatically activate regardless of the button being activated. Still further, the chronographic function of the watch may be configured to not measure a lap time that is lower than a preset threshold value, such as, for example, three seconds. |
| US08619497B1 |
Device and method for continuous data acquisition
Method for generating an excitation signal for a first vibratory seismic source so that the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time. The method includes a step of determining a first target spectrum for the first vibratory seismic source; a step of setting a first group of constraints for the first vibratory seismic source; and a step of generating a first excitation signal for the first vibratory seismic source based on the first group of constraints and the first target spectrum. The first seismic traces recorded with plural receivers can be identified when the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, based on the first excitation signal. |
| US08619496B2 |
Connecting device for wide tow survey
Marine seismic survey using an array (6) of streamers (8) towed behind a vessel (2) and carrying acoustic sources (4) and sensors (10), spreading means (12, 14, 22, 23, 24) for keeping the streamers (8) at a given distance by lateral tensioning, and bridles (16) for connecting the spreading means and towing ropes and cables. The bridles (16) are comprising at least one solid link or connection device (26) for releasable connection to lines under tension and extending in different directions. |
| US08619495B2 |
Storage and management system for seismic data acquisition units
A configuration for the deck of a marine vessel, wherein parallel and perpendicular travel paths, for movement of individual OBS unit storage baskets, are formed along a deck utilizing, in part, the storage baskets themselves. A portion of the deck is divided into a grid defined by a series of low-to-the-deck perpendicular and parallel rails and each square in the grid is configured to hold an OBS unit storage basket. Around the perimeter of the grid is an external containment wall which has a greater height than the rails. Storage baskets seated within the grid are configured to selectively form internal containment walls. Opposing internal and external containment walls define travel paths along which a storage basket can be moved utilizing a low, overhead gantry. A basket need only be lifted a minimal height above the deck in order to be moved along a path. The containment walls and the deck itself constraining uncontrolled swinging of baskets, even in onerous weather or sea conditions. The system is flexible to meet the needs of a desired operation since the internal walls of the grid can be reconfigured as desired in order to free up a particular storage basket or define a particular travel path. |
| US08619493B2 |
Flexible memory operations in NAND flash devices
A flash memory device having at least two bank, where the each bank has an independently configurable page size and core controller. The core controller is local to each bank, and governs memory access operations for the bank that include read, program and erase operations. Each core controller controls timing and activation of row circuits, column circuits, voltage generators, and local input/output path circuits for a corresponding memory access operation of the bank. Concurrent operations are executable in multiple banks to improve performance. Each bank has a page size that is configurable with page size configuration data such that only selected wordlines are activated in response to address data. The configuration data can be loaded into the memory device upon power up for a static page configuration of the bank, or the configuration data can be received with each command to allow for dynamic page configuration of the bank. |
| US08619490B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices
Semiconductor memory devices include a first storage layer and a second storage layer, each of which includes at least one array, and a control layer for controlling access to the first storage layer and the second storage layer so as to write data to or read data from the array included in the first storage layer or the second storage layer in correspondence to a control signal. A memory capacity of the array included in the first storage layer is different from a memory capacity of the array included in the second storage layer. |
| US08619481B2 |
Switched interface stacked-die memory architecture
Systems and methods disclosed herein include those that may receive a memory request including a requested memory address and may send the memory request directly to an address decoder associated with a stacked-die memory vault without knowing whether a repair address is required. If a subsequent analysis of the memory request shows that a repair address is required, an in-process decode of the requested memory address can be halted and decoding of the repair address initiated. |
| US08619480B2 |
Method and system for memory controller calibration
A method for calibration of a memory controller may include determining if an unused memory location exists in memory. The method may include writing a first pattern to the unused memory location in response to a determination that the unused memory location exists. The method may include determining if a second pattern exists in the memory in response to a determination that the unused memory location does not exist. The method may include iteratively modifying a first delay of a first delay control module among a plurality of delay values. The method may include reading from a memory location including the first pattern or the second pattern for each iteration of modification of the first delay. The method may include modifying one or more second delays, each second delay associated with one of one or more second delay control modules, based on the results of reading from the memory location. |
| US08619475B2 |
Methods to operate a memory cell
Memory devices and methods for operating a memory cell are disclosed, such as a method that uses two program verify levels (e.g., low program verify level and program verify level) to determine how a data line voltage should be increased. A threshold voltage of a memory cell that has been biased with a programming voltage is determined and its relationship with the two program verify levels is determined. If the threshold voltage is less than the low program verify level, the data line can be biased at a ground voltage (e.g., 0V) for a subsequent programming pulse. If the threshold voltage is greater than the program verify level, the data line can be biased at an inhibit voltage for a subsequent programming pulse. If the threshold voltage is between the two program verify levels, the data line voltage can be increased for each subsequent programming pulse in which the threshold voltage is between the two program verify levels. |
| US08619473B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory having multiple external power supplies
A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory. |
| US08619467B2 |
High GMR structure with low drive fields
Multi-period structures exhibiting giant magnetoresistance (GMR) are described in which the exchange coupling across the active interfaces of the structure is ferromagnetic. |
| US08619466B2 |
Nonvolatile latch circuit, nonvolatile flip-flop circuit, and nonvolatile signal processing device
A nonvolatile latch circuit according to the present invention wherein the outputs of an inverter circuit and other inverter circuit which are cross-coupled are connected to each other via a series circuit in which a transistor, a variable resistance element, and other transistor are connected in this order; a store operation and a restore operation for a latch state are controlled by application of a voltage to control terminals of the transistor and the other transistor; and both end potentials of the variable resistance element are summed, an amount of the sum is amplified and inverted, and the inverted amount is returned to an input of the inverter circuit or the other inverter circuit, thereby restoring a logic state in which a forming process of the variable resistance element can be performed. |
| US08619459B1 |
High operating speed resistive random access memory
Providing for resistive random access memory (RRAM) having high read speeds is described herein. By way of example, a RRAM memory can be powered at one terminal by a bitline, and connected at another terminal to a gate of a transistor having a low gate capacitance (relative to a capacitance of the bitline). With this arrangement, a signal applied at the bitline can quickly switch the transistor gate, in response to the RRAM memory being in a conductive state. A sensing circuit configured to measure the transistor can detect a change in current, voltage, etc., of the transistor and determine a state of the RRAM memory from the measurement. Moreover, this measurement can occur very quickly due to the low capacitance of the transistor gate, greatly improving the read speed of RRAM. |
| US08619458B2 |
Bidirectional resistive memory devices using selective read voltage polarity
A memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, each including a bidirectional variable resistance element and an input/output circuit configured to determine a polarity for a read voltage to be applied to a selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells and to apply the read voltage with the determined polarity to the selected memory cell. The input/output circuit may include a polarity determination circuit configured to determine the polarity responsive to a determination mode signal and a driver circuit configured to apply the read voltage with the determined polarity to the selected memory cell. |
| US08619455B2 |
Ferroelectric memory
One embodiment provides a ferroelectric memory including: memory cells each including a ferroelectric memory; first and second bitlines configured to read out cell signals from the memory cells; a first circuit configured to fix, when the cell signal is read from the memory cell to the first bitline, a voltage of the second bitline to a first power-supply voltage, and then set the second bitline to a second power-supply voltage different from the first power-supply voltage; a second circuit configured to set, after the first circuit sets the second bitline to the second power-supply voltage, the second bitline to a reference voltage; and a third circuit configured to amplify a voltage difference between the first bitline to which the cell signal is read and the second bitline to which the reference voltage is set. |
| US08619446B2 |
Cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter level shift PWM with rotation
Cascade H-Bridge inverters and carrier-based level shift pulse width modulation techniques are presented for generating inverter stage switching control signals, in which carrier waveform levels are selectively shifted to control THD and to mitigate power distribution imbalances within multilevel inverter elements. |
| US08619443B2 |
System and method to boost voltage
A system and method are provided for increasing and maintaining voltage. A transformer's secondary windings are connected between the hot input line and the hot output line, and are not switched. The secondary windings may be in series for 220/230 Vrms, and in parallel for 120/127 Vrms. Alternatively, the transformer may be a single voltage type specifically for 230 V, 120 V, or any other voltage range. A microprocessor measures incoming voltage and controls an electronic switch on the primary windings side of the transformer to short circuit the primary windings when the transformer is not needed. When voltage boost is needed, the switch may be controlled to connect the primary windings to neutral. When the primary windings are switched to neutral, the secondary voltage adds to the incoming AC line voltage. There may be multiple taps on the primary windings selected by the microprocessor for providing differing boost levels at differing input voltage levels. The boosted voltage may be maintained at predetermined levels based upon the turns ratio of the transformer. There are several embodiments of electronic switches, including, but not limited to, a diode bridge circuit in conjunction with an IGBT device. Transformers with different current ratings and/or turns ratios may be removably connected with the system. |
| US08619442B2 |
Boost-buck power factor correction
A power factor correction circuit responsive to an input power supply signal at an input supply voltage is described. The circuit includes rectifier circuitry for largely performing full-wave rectification on the input supply signal to produce a full-wave rectified supply signal at a full-wave rectified voltage and a full-wave rectified current susceptible of having at least one overtone of the fundamental supply frequency. The circuit also includes a regulator for regulating the full-wave rectified voltage to produce a regulated power supply voltage with reduced voltage ripple, the regulator operating in buck-boost mode, and control circuitry for measuring at least one such overtone in the full-wave rectified current. The control circuitry also provides the regulator with a primary control signal that causes at least one such overtone to be largely removed from the full-wave rectified current. |
| US08619437B2 |
Switching power supply device having a controller to calculate the duty rate and output current
A system simplification can be achieved by reducing the number of sensors required to detect currents and voltages when an output current is estimated. A switching power supply device 6 includes a current transformer 12, a switching circuit 13, a rectifying circuit 15, a smoothing circuit 16, an input voltage detecting circuit 18, a control part 19, an output voltage detecting circuit 22 and a PWM signal generating part 30. The control part 19 calculates a duty rate and an average value of voltage of the secondary side voltage of the current transformer 12 detected by the input voltage detecting circuit 18 based on a waveform of the detected voltage. The control part 19 calculates an output current lo based on the calculated duty rate, the calculated average value of voltage and an output voltage Vo detected by the output voltage detecting circuit 22. |
| US08619436B2 |
Electrical component and method for making the same
An electrical component (100) includes a housing (1), a number of terminals (2) molded within housing and at least one electrical element (3). The housing has at least a side wall (11) having a number of recesses (112) and an internal cavity (15). Each terminal has a first end (23) extending to a bottom of the side wall and formed with a platform portion (231) located onto the bottom of the side wall and aligned with the corresponding recess. The electrical element has a number of wires (321) wrapped thereon. One end of the wire extends outward the cavity through the recess and is soldered onto the corresponding platform portion.175 |
| US08619434B2 |
Arrangement system
An arrangement system composed of a plurality of electrical/electronic components particularly of a voltage converter device of a power supply system for use in oil/natural gas production composed of at least one support member that is provided on at least one side with a surrounded accommodating recess, a circuit carrier which is arranged in the accommodating recess and electrically connected to the components, and a holding member fixing the circuit carrier and/or the components in the accommodating recess. An insulating material is arranged at least in part between the circuit carrier and/or components and the support member. Such an arrangement system permits an adequate electrical insulation of the corresponding components and optionally also of the circuit carrier in relation to the support member together with an adequately high heat conduction. At the same time an arrangement system for components is provided that is mechanically stable and permits a good electrical insulation of the components with heat transfer to the outside with respect to the arrangement system. |
| US08619430B2 |
Switch/circuit board unit for installation in a handle of a hand-held tool
A switch/circuit board unit and a hand-held tool equipped with such a switch/circuit board unit are proposed. The switch/circuit board unit is adapted for installation in a handle of the tool and has a switch and a circuit board. The switch/circuit board unit also has a mechanical coupling element for producing a rigid mechanical coupling between the switch and circuit board. The rigid coupling that the coupling element produces between the switch and circuit board allows the arrangement of the switch and circuit board to be embodied as a unit, which can enable maneuvering before installation and permit a simplified installation, and in particular, it is possible to simplify a fastening of the switch and circuit board inside a housing of the tool, and in the accompanying installation of electrical connections, for example in the form of flexible cables, it is possible to avoid an incorrect placement or wedging of cables. |
| US08619429B2 |
Control unit for occupant protection means for a vehicle and a method for assembling a control unit of this type
A control unit and a method for assembling a control unit for occupant protection means for a vehicle are described. A p.c. board is enclosed between a plastic cover and a plastic base and assembled. A non-positive and/or positive connection is implemented for this assembly, and the control unit is pre-attached. The at least one connection is produced without tools. |
| US08619425B2 |
Multi-fluid, two-phase immersion-cooling of electronic component(s)
Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for immersion-cooling one or more electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a fluid-tight compartment about the electronic component(s), and a boiling fluid mixture of first and second dielectric fluids within the fluid-tight compartment, with the electronic component(s) immersed within the mixture. A condensing fluid is also provided within the fluid-tight compartment, and is immiscible with the boiling fluid mixture. The condensing fluid has a lower specific gravity and a higher thermal conductivity than the boiling fluid mixture, and facilitates condensing of vaporized boiling fluid mixture. A cooling structure is provided within the compartment, and includes a condensing region and a sub-cooling region, with the condensing region being in contact with the condensing fluid, and the sub-cooling region being in contact with the boiling fluid mixture. The cooling structure facilitates heat removal from the fluid-tight compartment. |
| US08619421B2 |
Portable computer hard drive structures
Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include hard drive mounting structures. The hard drive mounting structures may include elastomeric support members. Each elastomeric support member may have a relatively rigid inner portion. The inner portion may include a hole that receives a hard drive mounting pin. Each elastomeric support member may also have a relatively flexible outer portion. The relatively flexible outer portion may be mounted within an opening in a plastic support member. The rigid inner portion may have a square outline and may be mounted within a square opening in the flexible outer portion. |
| US08619418B2 |
Mouse structure
A mouse structure includes a housing and a sliding apparatus slidably engaged with the housing. The sliding apparatus includes a reacting portion having a cover and a bottom board, wherein the cover is provided with a first magnet group and at least two engaging portions, and the bottom board is provided with a second magnet group and at least two position portions. The first and second magnet groups are in polar opposition to and spaced from each other. When the sliding apparatus is in a closed state, the cover is propped against an upper wall of the housing by a repelling magnetic force, while the reacting portion moves out of the housing, the cover is being automatically pushed outwards by the repelling magnetic force and is retained by the engaging portions engaged with the position portions so as to position the cover in place. |
| US08619413B2 |
Partially compound-filled power supply unit and manufacturing method
A power supply unit is provided for supplying low voltage power. The supply unit includes at least one power plug contact connectable to a supply voltage; at least one output lead for outputting the low voltage; and a voltage transformer unit having at least one electronic component for transforming the supply voltage to the low voltage. The power supply unit includes a casing made of a casing base element and a lid element, such that the power plug contact is held in the casing base element or in the lid element in such a way that it can be plugged into a power socket. The voltage transformer unit is mounted on a circuit carrier which is arranged in the casing base element in such a way that a defined first region of the circuit carrier is received in a casting space filled with an electrically insulating casting compound. |
| US08619411B2 |
Switchgear bus assembly having reduced power loss, material and temperature
Electrical switchgear comprising electrical switching equipment for a multi-phase electrical power distribution system, a supporting structure for a bus assembly for supplying electrical current to the switching equipment, and a plurality of spaced buses mounted on the supporting structure each for connecting the switching equipment to respective phases of the multi-phase electrical power distribution system. Each bus comprises a plurality of substantially co-planar, spaced, elongated flat conductors arranged with at least one longitudinal edge surface of each conductor in that bus opposed to and spaced from a longitudinal edge surface of another conductor in that same bus, and a connector at each end of said conductors for connecting the plurality of flat conductors in each bus to each other. |
| US08619410B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor for use in high voltage applications
A solid electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body formed from an electrically conductive powder and a dielectric coating located over and/or within the anode body is provided. The present inventors have discovered a technique that is believed to substantially improve the uniformity and consistency of the manganese oxide layer. This is accomplished, in part, through the use of a dispersant in the precursor solution that helps minimize the likelihood that the manganese oxide precursor will form droplets upon contacting the surface of the dielectric. Instead, the precursor solution can be better dispersed so that the resulting manganese oxide has a “film-like” configuration and coats at least a portion of the anode in a substantially uniform manner. This improves the quality of the resulting oxide as well as its surface coverage, and thereby enhances the electrical performance of the capacitor. |
| US08619407B2 |
Multilayered ceramic capacitor
There is provided a multilayered ceramic capacitor capable of being implementing as a micro supercapacitor capable of minimizing a mounting area and increasing a mounting efficiency thereof. The multilayered ceramic capacitor includes a capacitor body in which a plurality of dielectric layers having a size of 1.6 mm in length and 0.8 mm in width are stacked; an internal electrode unit having a plurality of internal electrodes arranged on each of the plurality of dielectric layers; and an external electrode unit, having a plurality of external electrodes horizontally arranged in the capacitor body and electrically connected to the internal electrodes. |
| US08619401B2 |
Current source regulator
A current source regulator for controlling an output device (Mp) of current source, the output device (Mp) providing an output current (Isrc) to a load. The current source regulator comprises a first feedback loop (1) and second feedback loop (2). The first feedback loop (1) includes a first sensing path to provide a first sensing signal (Is1) for comparison with a first reference to generate a first control signal. The second feedback loop (2) comprises a second sensing path to provide a second sensing signal (Is3, Is3′) for comparison with a second reference (Ib5) to generate a charging current signal (Icharge). The charging current signal (Icharge) is applied to the control signal during a transient state of the current source regulator. |
| US08619396B2 |
Renewable one-time load break contactor
An electrical contactor with high DC and AC interrupt capability is disclosed. The invention is intended for applications where load break capability is only required under abnormal operating conditions. Under overload conditions, an alternate path is automatically provided through a sacrificial fuse to divert current from opening, or open and arcing, contacts such that the fuse interrupts the fault current and not the contacts. The current rating of the sacrificial fuse may be orders of magnitude less than the normal carry current of the contactor. The contactor provides a one-time load break function that is renewable by the replacement of a fuse. |
| US08619394B1 |
Magnetic tunnel junction with barrier cooling for magnetic read head
The present invention generally relates to a magnetic head having a thinner intermixing layer between a barrier layer and a magnetic layer. The method of making the magnetic head is also disclosed. The thinner intermixing layer in the magnetic head is formed by cooling the barrier layer in an atmosphere having a temperature of below 0 degrees Celsius prior to depositing the magnetic layer on the barrier layer. The thinner intermixing layer leads to a sharp interface between the barrier layer and the magnetic layer, which leads to an increased MR. |
| US08619391B2 |
Magnetic write heads with bi-layer wrap around shields having dissimilar shield layer widths
Magnetic write heads and corresponding fabrication methods for bi-layer wrap around shields resulting in dissimilar shield layer widths are disclosed. A gap structure is formed around a main write pole for a magnetic write head. A wrap around shield for the main write pole is fabricated to include a first magnetic layer proximate to the main write pole and a second magnetic layer on the first magnetic layer. A width of the first magnetic layer is less than the width of the second magnetic layer, and back edges of the first and second magnetic layers are coplanar. Further, a throat height of the wrap around shield is maintained between the first and the second magnetic layers because their back edges are coplanar. |
| US08619386B2 |
Minimizing flow induced vibration in a hard disk drive with a hybrid planar plate having a bypass channel
An airflow control device for a hard disk drive comprises an outer perimeter having a radius equal to or greater than an outer radius of a disk in the hard disk drive. The airflow control device has a thickness less than the spacing between adjacent disks in the hard disk drive. The airflow control device has a central opening with an inner perimeter greater than the outer circumference of a spacer ring of the hard disk drive. A notch in the outer perimeter is configured to accommodate the actuator assembly of the hard disk drive. A bypass slot transecting the perimeter has a bend with a radius nearly centered to the central opening. |
| US08619385B1 |
Disk drive biasing sync pattern of an extended sync mark
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of sectors each comprising a sector sync mark pattern and sector data preceding and following the sector sync mark pattern, and a head actuated over the disk for generating a read signal. A data sequence is detected from the read signal, and the data sequence is correlated with an extended sync mark comprising a target sync mark pattern and target data. The correlation of the target sync mark pattern with the data sequence is biased relative to the correlation of the target data with the data sequence. |
| US08619375B2 |
Image pickup lens
An image pickup lens includes, in sequence from an object side to an image side, an aperture stop; a first lens having two convex surfaces and having a positive refractive power; a second lens in a meniscus shape whose convex surface faces to the object side having a negative refractive power; a third lens in a meniscus shape with the convex surface facing to the image side having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens in a meniscus shape with the convex surface facing to the object side having a negative refractive power. Predefined conditions are satisfied. |
| US08619374B2 |
Lens control apparatus and interchangeable lens including lens control apparatus
A lens control apparatus, and an interchangeable lens including the lens control apparatus, are provided which can obtain, in zoom tracking operation, excellent optical images at subject distances in a wider range. A lens control apparatus controls drive of an optical system including a first and a second focus lens for adjusting a focus state and a zoom lens for adjusting an angle of view. The lens control apparatus includes: a first driver that drives the first focus lens; a second driver that drives the second focus lens; a controller that controls the first and second drivers; and a storage unit that stores first and second tracking data, the first and second tracking data each being information that associates a position of the first and second focus lenses respectively with a position of the zoom lens for focusing on a subject. |
| US08619372B2 |
Zoom lens system, optical device with the zoom lens system, and method of manufacturing the zoom lens system
A zoom lens system has a front lens group and a rear lens group along the optical axis and in order from the object side. The rear lens group has a first lens unit having a positive refracting power, a second lens unit having a negative refracting power, and a third lens unit having a positive refracting power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a space between the front lens group and the first lens unit varies, a space between the first lens unit and the second lens unit increases, and a space between the second lens unit and the third lens unit decreases. At least a part of the second lens unit is movable so as to have a component in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. |
| US08619370B2 |
Optical combiner for combining multiple laser beams in a flow cytometer
Disclosed is an optical combiner for combining multiple laser beams in a flow cytometer. A dichroic beam combiner is used to combine a second laser beam with a first laser beam so that the two beams are collinear. A beam size adjuster is utilized to adjust the size and convergence/divergence of the second laser beam so that both laser beams focus in a vertical direction at the same location on a stream in the flow cytometer. A cylindrical lens with a vertically oriented axis in the focusable beam shaping optics can also be adjusted to adjust the location of the focus point of the two beams in the horizontal direction. Alignment is maintained with the opto-mechanical adjustments made on one laser beam relative to the other laser beam path. Additional beams can also be added to the optical path. |
| US08619367B2 |
Display apparatus, display unit, electronic equipment, mobile electronic equipment, mobile telephone, and image pickup apparatus
In a display which includes a plurality of light exit point groups, and a plurality of lenses which project the plurality of light exit point groups, the light exit point group includes at least one light exit point, and each lens is disposed such that an image of the light exit point group is projected to be overlapped, and projected images of the plurality of lenses are formed on a pupil of an eye of an observer by making overlapping of light exit points in the light exit point group which have been overlapped upon being projected by the lenses, incident on a pupil of the eye of the observer. |
| US08619366B2 |
Integration of optical element in insulated glazing
Disclosed is a method for integrating at least one optical element inside an insulated glazing unit comprising at least two glass panes, where the optical element has a plurality of perforations and a non-perforated area, where the non-perforated area prevents penetration of light in a building where the insulated glazing unit is mounted, and where the perforations have a depth/width ratio that allows for passage of light with given angles of incidence, while light having other angles of incidence are unable to pass though the perforations, which provides a shading effect, and wherein the optical element is arranged between the two glass panes by means of an adhesive, and where the adhesive is substantially not present in the perforations of the optical element. |
| US08619361B2 |
Direct derivative feedforward vibration compensation system
Methods and apparatus for providing vibration compensation using position measurements are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of compensating for vibrations of an object includes obtaining a plurality of position measurements associated with the object. The method also includes processing the plurality of position measurements to determine a derivative acceleration, and determining a compensatory force to counteract the vibrations of the object. Determining the compensatory force includes using the derivative acceleration. Finally, the method includes applying the compensatory force to the object. |
| US08619359B2 |
Electronic microscope filter
The present invention discloses a unique and novel combination light source and active light filtering system for microscopes that eliminates the need for individual color filters, fluorescence filters, and many other filter types. The present invention provides variable light wavelength generating capabilities, and all of the benefits of most commercially available light sources in a compact package that can be mounted on a microscope or used at a distance from a microscope, but be coupled to it through a fiber optic cable or other light transmission means. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need for a filter wheel turret in a microscope's optical path, as well as eliminates the need for multiple fluorescent filter blocks in a fluorescent microscope optical path. The present invention can improve microscope filter systems to enable effective imaging of live cells without staining. |
| US08619358B2 |
Electrically pumped extrinsic semiconductor optical amplifier with slot waveguide
An optical amplifier on a silicon platform includes a first doped device layer and a second doped device layer. A gain medium is positioned between the first and second doped device layers. The gain medium comprises extrinsic gain materials so as to substantially confine in the gain medium a light signal and allow the optical amplifier to be electrically or optically pumped. |
| US08619357B2 |
Static phase mask for high-order spectral phase control in a hybrid chirped pulse amplifier system
A chirped pulse amplification (CPA) system comprises an optical pulse stretcher and an optical pulse compressor that are mismatched in that the optical pulse compressor includes a bulk optical grating while the optical pulse stretcher does not. High order dispersion compensation is provided by an optical phase mask disposed within the optical pulse compressor. |
| US08619355B2 |
Device for generating or receiving terahertz radiation
A device for generating or receiving electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range from 10 GHz to 100 THz is provided. The device includes a housing and a wave guide fiber leading into the housing. The wave guide fiber is adapted for guiding pulsed laser light with a first central wavelength. Within the housing, a terahertz converter is provided for generating or receiving the electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range. The device also includes a frequency converter for converting the light exiting from the wave guide fiber to a second central wavelength being arranged between the end of the wave guide fiber and the terahertz converter in such a way that the terahertz converter is impinged by the frequency converted light. |
| US08619354B2 |
High speed optical shutter, method of operating the same and apparatus including the same
A high speed optical shutter, a method of operating the high speed optical shutter, and an optical apparatus including the high speed optical shutter. The optical shutter includes a transparent electro-optical medium in an active solid state having a total internal reflection surface on which an angle of total internal reflection is changed by an external action. The transparent electro-optical medium may be a prism or a prism array whose angle of total internal reflection is changed by the external action. An incident light path changing unit may be further arranged in front of the transparent electro-optical medium. Also, a light path changing unit may be further arranged so as to allow light passing through the electro-optical medium to be perpendicularly incident on an incidence target object. |
| US08619353B2 |
Electronic paper display apparatus and method thereof
The present invention provides an electronic paper display apparatus, which comprises: plural pairs of rotating balls each pair having a first rotating ball and a second rotating ball of a size smaller than that of the first rotating ball; a partition wall member having a plurality of cavities each in which a respective rotating ball is positioned and configured to transversely separate the plurality of rotating balls from each other; an electrode structure formed on the partition wall member and configured to provide a drive voltage to each of the plurality of rotating balls; and a plurality of distance adjusting members disposed inside the plurality of cavities, with being faced the plurality of rotating balls. |
| US08619351B2 |
Optical phase shifter and demodulator
An optical phase shifter according to the invention includes the thermo-optical element of which a refractive index with respect to an input optical signal changes dependently on temperature; a temperature change section, having contact with one end of the thermo-optical element and of which a temperature changes so that a temperature of the thermo-optical element becomes a desired temperature; a heat dissipation section being disposed on an opposite side of the thermo-optical element with respect to the temperature change section and going into a state of thermal equilibrium at a temperature different from the temperature of the temperature change section; and a temperature buffer section, being disposed between the temperature change section and the heat dissipation section, having contact with the temperature change section and the heat dissipation section, and having a heat resistance greater than that of the heat dissipation section. |
| US08619348B2 |
Method and system for improved sensing with robustness to banding for rendering devices
For a selected class of functions, which describe most typical banding variations, the average response can be found by sampling at only 2Nth locations, where N is the number of different frequencies of significant banding. This approach makes use of the fact that in most applications the banding frequencies of a given printer system, are known in advance, even if the amplitudes of the banding are not known. Each sample point requires a very small test area or pattern, significantly reducing the overall size of the required test areas. |
| US08619346B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus including a main unit and an openable unit is provided. One of an upper-stream section and a lower-stream section in a sheet path with respect to a U-curved section is provided as an upper-level path, and the other of the upper-stream section and the lower-stream section is arranged in a lower-level path. The openable unit includes a movable piece arranged in a position along the lower-level path and is swingable to be close to and separated apart from the lower-level path. The movable piece is movable by its own weight from a closed position to an open position when the openable unit is moved to an open position. The movable piece serves as a part of a bottom surface of the lower-level path when in the closed position and exposes a part of the lower-level path when in the open position. |
| US08619345B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus having the same
An image reading device and an image forming apparatus having the same that can increase a scan quality by mounting positions of units to read information recorded on a document and a mounting structure of a light shielding member. The image reading device may include a first reading unit to read image information recorded on a first surface of a document, a second reading unit disposed at a predetermined distance from the first reading unit along a document feeding direction to read image information recorded on a second surface of the document, and at least one light shielding member mounted between the first reading unit and the second reading unit along the document feeding direction. The light shielding member, which may include a document guide portion, may extend in a direction different from the document feeding direction such that one end portion is located in a document feeding path. |
| US08619343B2 |
Illuminator and image reading device and image forming apparatus having the same
Disclosed are an illuminator and an image forming apparatus employing an illuminator. The illuminator includes a light guide to guide light generated from a light source to an object to be illuminated. The light guide includes at least one incidence face facing the light source and an emission face configured to emit the light to the target object. A diffusion pattern may be formed on the emission face to extend from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end of the emission face. The emission face may have a constant cross section or a varying cross section along a longitudinal direction thereof. The illuminator may be part of an image reading device to uniformly or near uniformly irradiate light to a document. The illuminator may also be incorporated in an image forming apparatus to irradiate light to a photosensitive body for elimination or reduction of electric potential from the photosensitive body. |
| US08619338B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting device, network path, transmittal option and/or receiving device protocol selection
Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to data communication. A method includes consulting a database for information relating to the performance history of one or more facsimile transmitting devices. The database includes a performance score for one or more facsimile transmitting devices, and the performance score reflects the success or failure of a transmission of a data communication for an individual one of one or more facsimile transmitting device. The method further includes using the performance score to select an individual facsimile transmitting device from the one or more facsimile transmitting devices and attempting to transmit the data communication using the selected individual facsimile transmitting device. |
| US08619337B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a print product and a transmission unit configured to transmit image data of the print product to an external apparatus. The apparatus further includes an inhibition unit configured to inhibit the transmission of the image data based on inhibition information included in the image data. If the image data includes trace information to be used to trace a printer user of the print product in addition to the inhibition information, a control unit acquires the trace information and causes a display unit to perform a display based on the trace information without causing the output unit to transmit the image data. |
| US08619334B2 |
Determining capability and affect of upstream and downstream image forming devices and restricting operation accordingly
An image forming apparatus includes a determination unit and a restriction unit. The determination unit determines an image forming capability of each of the image forming apparatus and a different image forming apparatus, an image being formed on a printing medium that is transported between the image forming apparatus and the different image forming apparatus. The restriction unit restricts an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus when the determination unit determines that the image forming capability of any one of the image forming apparatus and the different image forming apparatus is to be lower than an image forming capability of the other one of the image forming apparatus and the different image forming apparatus when independently performing an operation to form an image on the printing medium. |
| US08619330B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An apparatus includes a processing unit configured to perform halftone processing for input image data and output halftone image data, a determination unit configured to determine a mixing ratio based on a difference value between a low frequency component of the halftone image data and a low frequency component of the input image data, and a mixing unit configured to mix the input image data and the halftone image data based on the mixing ratio. |
| US08619327B2 |
Image data color conversion technique using threshold with reduced pixels function and image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus which converts first image data having grayscale value of a predetermined color space for each pixel into second image data having grayscale values of recording material colors of a printing section and having pixels of which the number is reduced to 1/n, includes grayscale value difference determination section that determines whether or not grayscale value difference between a predetermined target pixel and each of other pixels in a pixel block exceeds a threshold value for each of the pixel blocks for the first image data, and color conversion section that performs color conversion process by referring to color conversion table, and color conversion section performs a second process such that grayscale value of the recording material color obtained through color conversion process for an average value of grayscale values of the predetermined color space of the respective pixels is used as the second image data. |
| US08619325B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for discriminating whether document is color document or black and white document, image forming apparatus and facsimile machine including the image processing apparatus and computer readable recording medium storing image processing program
An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit, a pixel color determining unit, an isolated point determining unit, and a document discriminating unit. The image reading unit scans a document to detect pixel values of color components of each pixel. The pixel color determining unit determines whether a color of each pixel is a specific color based on the detected pixel values. The isolated point determining unit determines whether each pixel is an isolated point based on the detected pixel values. The document discriminating unit discriminates whether the document is a color document or a black-and-white document based on the detected pixel values while treating the pixels, of which the color has been determined to be the specific color by the pixel color determining unit and which have been determined to be isolated points by the isolated point determining unit, as black-and-white pixels. |
| US08619323B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for processing multivalued image data and recording an image in a pixel area on recording medium by a plurality of relative scans of recording head and recording medium
When the number (M) of passes is smaller than a threshold value, a first processing mode is selected. In the first processing mode, multivalued image data is divided into pieces of multivalued data corresponding to passes and a common multivalued data for a plurality of passes, the pieces of multivalued data are individually binarized to generate pieces of binary data corresponding to the passes, and the common multivalued data is binarized to generate common binary data for these passes. On the other hand, when the number (M) of passes is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a second processing mode is selected. In the second processing mode, multivalued image data is binarized and the binary data is divided into pieces of binary data corresponding to passes with a mask. |
| US08619316B2 |
Document processing apparatus and method for processing document using the same
A document processing apparatus, including a symbol-related information acquirement unit which identifies a text area in a scanned document, extracts symbols from the identified text area, and acquires symbol-related information regarding each extracted symbol, a symbol division unit which divides the extracted symbols into several groups based on a preset reference value regarding the symbol-related information, and a key index generation unit which generates a key index by arranging one group of symbols from among the divided groups. Accordingly, a user can look for a desired document more easily and conveniently. |
| US08619310B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A CPU perform the steps of: (a) causing a compression/decompression processor to decompress the compressed data of one of three bands in the data area except for the first block in the band, and storing decompressed bitmap data in the data area; (b) rasterizing each of the intermediate data blocks in the band and synthesizing the rasterized data and the decompressed bitmap data in the band; and (c) causing the compression/decompression processor to compress the synthesized bitmap data and storing the compressed data in the data area. The CPU performs the steps (a) to (c) in different respective tasks in parallel, and performs the steps (a) to (c) along the order of (a), (b), (c) for each of the intermediate code blocks in each of the bands while using the 1st to the 3rd bitmap data area in turn for each of the steps (a) to (c). |
| US08619305B2 |
Methods and systems for determining sustainability metrics in a print production environment
A method of determining a print shop sustainability metric over a period of time may include, for each of a plurality of print devices in a print shop, determining a low-activity state sustainability metric value associated with the print device operating in one or more low-activity states over a period of time, determining a print shop low-activity state sustainability metric value associated with the print shop, and determining a processing state sustainability metric value associated with the print device operating in a processing state over the period of time, determining a print shop processing state sustainability metric value associated with the print shop, determining a print shop sustainability metric value and displaying one or more of the low-activity state sustainability metric values, the processing state sustainability metric values, the print shop sustainability metric value, the print shop processing state sustainability metric value and the print shop sustainability metric value. |
| US08619300B2 |
Device, system, and method of fax relay
Device, system, and method of fax relay. For example, a fax relay apparatus includes a fax relay session controller which includes: a first converter to convert non-V.34 fax relay streams which are based on non-V.34 modulation and which are incoming from an Internet Protocol (IP) network into V.34 fax relay streams and to forward the converted V.34 fax relay streams to a V.34 fax relay gateway; and a second converter to convert output V.34 fax relay streams of said V.34 fax relay gateway into non-V.34 fax relay streams which are based on non-V.34 modulation and to forward the converted non-V.34 fax relay streams which are based on non-V.34 modulation to a remote device over the IP network. |
| US08619298B2 |
Method of notifying job status in image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a job registering unit, an address setting unit, a control unit, a detecting unit, and a transmitting unit. The job registering unit registers a job. The address setting unit sets an electronic mail address to be set as a transmission destination of a status concerning the job registered in the job registering unit. The control unit executes the job registered in the job registering unit. The detecting unit detects the status concerning the job executed by the control unit. The transmitting unit transmits an electronic mail including the status of the job detected by the detecting unit to the electronic mail address set by the address setting unit. |
| US08619296B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first circuit which creates image data on the basis of print job data, a second circuit which causes a printing unit to print an image on the basis of the image data created by the first circuit and is different from the first circuit, and a storage capable of being accessed by the first circuit and the second circuit, respectively. Additionally, when data is transferred in the first circuit and the second circuit, one circuit writes the data in the storage, and the other circuit reads out the data to transfer the data, thereby executing printing of an image. |
| US08619294B2 |
Server computer and image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data stored on server computer
When a user approaches an MFP, a print process based on print data corresponding to the user is executed immediately. MFP executes a program including the steps of: searching for an IC tag held by a user in a designated range (S3000); transmitting, when an IC tag is searched out, user information received from the IC tag to a server (S3040); when a user alarm request signal, which is transmitted if uploaded data corresponding to the user information satisfies user alarm conditions, is received from the server, executing a user alarm process (S3060); receiving RIP data obtained by converting the uploaded data corresponding to the user information from the server (S3070); displaying print data (S3090); and, when the print data is designated and printing is requested (YES at S3100), executing print process using the RIP data (S3110). |
| US08619293B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image formation supporting system, and image formation supporting method which communicates with a handheld device
When an initial communication program is started, a handheld device searches for image forming apparatuses within its communicable range. Then, upon receiving a response of that inquiry from an image forming apparatus, the handheld device requests the image forming apparatus for an image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices according to a predetermined determination condition. The image forming apparatus then responds to the inquiry from the handheld device and sends to the handheld device the image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices that has been stored in a memory device. Upon receiving the image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices, the handheld device stores it in a memory unit, terminates the execution of the initial communication program, and executes the image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices. |
| US08619292B2 |
Terminal device for printing data from the internet
A terminal device may comprise a memory configured to store a browser application including a first program and a second program, and a processor comprising a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit configured to acquire specific data from the internet and display a browser screen including the specific data on a displaying unit, and the second processing unit configured to execute a process. The second processing unit may display a predetermined inputting portion on the browser screen, and acquire new specific data in a case where the predetermined inputting portion is operated. The new specific data may be transformed from the specific data being displayed on the browser screen. The new specific data may have a specific format that a specific printer can interpret. The second processing unit may send the new specific data to the specific printer. |
| US08619291B2 |
System and method for control of document processing devices via a remote device interface
The subject application is directed to a system and method for controlling a document processing device via a remote device interface. Display data is generated corresponding to the control of the document processing device, following which instructions are received from a user corresponding to one or more document processing operations. An image is then generated on a display integrated in the document processing device based on the display data and the received instructions. The display data is then communicated, via an established data connection, to an associated data processing device having both a user data input and a user display. Control instructions for the document processing device are then received from the associated data processing device so as to allow for user control of a document processing operation and a document processing operation is commenced based on instructions received from the data processing device. |
| US08619290B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method
A printer includes a communicating unit that receives a print job being a unit of execution of a printing process of a first printing protocol and a second printing protocol. The first printing protocol contains a series of process instructions and print data that allow the printing process to be performed from an interrupted point when the printing process is resumed after being interrupted. The printer also includes a print processing unit that performs the printing process by executing the print job, and a priority processing unit that preferentially selects a print job of the first printing protocol related to the interrupted printing process when receiving a print job of the first printing protocol related to the interrupted printing process and a print job of the second printing protocol after the printing process of the print job of the first printing protocol is interrupted. |
| US08619289B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus, receiving and processing data transmitted from an image processing apparatus, includes a determination unit, first requesting unit, first analysis unit, second requesting unit, second analysis unit, and image forming unit. The determination unit determines whether or not the data are receivable. The first requesting unit requests the image processing apparatus to transmit first data where the determination unit determines that the data are not receivable. The first analysis unit analyzes the first data received from the image processing apparatus. The second requesting unit requests the image processing apparatus to transmit second data serving as image information corresponding to the first data based on an analysis result provided by the first analysis unit. The second analysis unit analyzes the second data received from the image processing apparatus. The image forming unit forms an image based on an analysis result provided by the second analysis unit. |
| US08619287B2 |
System and method for information gathering utilizing form identifiers
A system, apparatus and method for filling forms, including using a graphical capture device, are described herein. |
| US08619284B2 |
Method and apparatus for including converted drawing commands in a print data file
A printing system according to the invention includes an image processing apparatus having an editing unit for editing document data into description language data interpretable to a terminal apparatus, an extracting unit for extracting a portion of the description language data as extracted data based on the conversion table for converting a preset command, a converting unit for converting the extracted data to converted data based on the conversion table, and a producing unit for producing transmission data by adding the converted data in a command format to the description language data and includes an image forming apparatus for printing images based the converted transmission data upon removing the comment format. The printing system can reduce a load on the side of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08619283B2 |
Image processing apparatus, device control program, and power control method
An image processing apparatus is provided that includes plural devices, a device control unit associated with each of the devices for controlling a power status of each of the devices according to a relevant power mode, and power mode setting unit for setting the relevant power mode to the device control unit. |
| US08619280B2 |
Information processing apparatus capable of communicating with printing apparatus via network and printing accumulated print jobs, information processing system including information processing apparatus, and information processing method for information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus capable of reducing power consumption of a printing apparatus efficiently according to a processing situation. An accumulation unit accumulates print jobs that should be transmitted to the printing apparatus. An acquisition unit acquires an operation history and a power consumption history of the printing apparatus. A setting unit sets a threshold value for determining a timing of transmitting the print jobs accumulated in the accumulation unit in series to the printing apparatus based on the operation history and the power consumption history acquired. A determination unit determines the timing of transmitting the print jobs based on the threshold value. A transmission unit transmits the print jobs accumulated in the accumulation unit in series to the printing apparatus at the timing determined. |
| US08619277B2 |
Methods and systems for suspending and resuming print jobs based on priority
Disclosed is a method for processing print jobs, comprising: determining whether a second print job being processed by an RIP is needed to pause and whether a third print job being processed by a print device is needed to pause according to a priority of a first print job requesting to be printed; storing, where the second print job is needed to pause, a processing state of the second print job and processing the first print job by the RIP; storing, where the third print job is needed to pause, a processing state of the third print job, and printing the first print job by the print device; resuming the processing for the second print job according to the stored processing state of the second print job after the first print job is processed by the RIP; and resuming the processing for the third print job according to the stored processing state of the third print job after the first print job is printed by the print device. According to the present invention, it is possible to proceed with pauses continuously, save costs and simplify manual operations. |
| US08619276B2 |
Electronic document management device, electronic document management method, recording medium recording electronic document management program, and recording medium recording program for creating electronic document, the device having an electronic document storage unit that includes a plurality of boxes, wherein an access right having a different level is assigned to each of the plurality of boxes
An electronic document management device including: an electronic document storage unit that includes a plurality of boxes for storing electronic documents, each box being accessible to a user or a user group having an access right thereto, each of the plurality of boxes storing an electronic document that includes one or more constituent elements, each constituent element being attached with either disclosure-enabled information or disclosure-disabled information depending on a box storing the electronic document; and a modifying unit operable to modify, for each box, each constituent element that is attached with the disclosure-disabled information, so as not to be disclosed. |
| US08619273B2 |
Multifunction apparatus
A configuration for an image reading device, an image forming device or a multifunction apparatus may include systems and arrangements for routing electrical flexible flat cables to reduce potential damage and noise. The positioning and connection points between various other components including reading portions, hinge members, a control circuit board and the like may also be configured to reduce size, noise and potential for damage. |
| US08619269B2 |
Processing a group of jobs substantially independently while synchronizing and maintaining the original order of the jobs at appropriate points in a workflow
Methods and systems for improved workflow management for a related group of jobs. A group of related jobs are received from a job source and are processed independently and in accordance with an associated job type for each job. The jobs may be processed and reprocessed independent of all other jobs in the group and may be processed substantially concurrently or in parallel. A group workflow manager assures synchronization of the jobs to generate the expected order in the output. The synchronization is defined by synchronization actions processed as part of the workflow processing. The synchronization actions may be defined in the job type of each job, or in a group job type, or defined by user interaction. |
| US08619265B2 |
Automatic measurement of dimensional data with a laser tracker
Measuring with a system having retroreflector targets and a laser tracker includes storing a list of nominal coordinates for targets and one added point; capturing on a tracker photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by a light beam and reflected off the targets; obtaining spot positions on a tracker camera photosensitive array from light reflected off the targets; determining a correspondence between three spot positions on the tracker photosensitive array and the nominal coordinates of the targets; directing a beam of light from the tracker to the targets based on the nominal coordinates of the first target and the first spot position; measuring 3-D coordinates of the targets with the tracker; determining 3-D coordinates of the at least one added point based on the measured 3-D coordinates of the targets and the nominal coordinates of the one added point. |
| US08619263B2 |
Film thickness measuring apparatus using interference and film thickness measuring method using interference
With a film thickness measuring apparatus of the present invention, a substrate having a transparent film formed on its front surface is placed on a placement unit. A half mirror divides light from a light source such that divided light beams are emitted to the front surface of the substrate and to a reference plane, and overlays reflected light from the front surface of the substrate and reflected light from the reference plane on each other to form interfering light. The interfering light is imaged by an imager. Based on the imaging result, the film thickness of the transparent film is calculated by an arithmetic unit. An optical filter with which an intensity spectrum of transmitted light exhibits a plurality of peaks, the optical filter is disposed between the light source and the half mirror. |
| US08619261B2 |
Optical dynamic non-locality induction bit
A quantum dynamical non-locality device is provided for establishing a photon traveling along a path in a binary state. The device includes twin Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), a shutter and a detector. The twin MZI includes first and second right-isosceles triangle prisms, corresponding first and second trombone mirrors, and corresponding first and second spacers. The prisms join at a beam-splitter interface. The mirrors reflect the photon by an offset substantially perpendicular to photon's travel direction. The spacers are respectively disposed between their respective prisms and mirrors to produce corresponding spatial gaps. The path through the prisms includes traversing spacers and gaps. The detector detects a quantum state of the photon after passing the prisms and the mirrors. The shutter switches to one of disposed within and removed therefrom the first gap. The shutter shifts said quantum state of the photon. |
| US08619260B2 |
Multi-grating biosensor for label-independent optical readers
A multi-grating resonant waveguide (RWG) biosensor for an optical reader system having a spatial resolution limit is disclosed. The multi-grating RWG biosensor includes one or more signal-grating regions and one or more reference-grating regions. The multi-grating RWG biosensor can also include a non-resonance region that spatially separates the one or more signal-grating regions, that spatially separates the one or more reference-grating regions, and that spatially separates the one or more reference-grating regions from the one or more signal-grating regions. The non-resonance region can have a minimum width greater than the optical reader system spatial resolution limit. The RWG biosensor can have an asymmetric split-grating configuration. Methods of measuring a signal resonant wavelength of a multi-grating RWG biosensor using an optical reader having a spatial resolution limit are also disclosed. |
| US08619257B2 |
Recombinant bacteriophage for detection of nosocomial infection
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of bacterial HAI. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods include utilization of recombinant bacteriophage to deliver to pathogenic bacteria a translatable genetic sequence encoding an optically detectable marker or an enzyme capable of producing an optically detectable marker. Upon detection of the optical signal produced by the marker, medical personnel may be alerted to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at the site of inquiry. Any bacterial causative agent of HAI may be detected according to disclosed methods. |
| US08619253B2 |
Multi-parameter integrated cuvette pool
The invention provides a multi-parameter integrated cuvette pool having a plurality of cuvette pool cells. Adjacent cuvette pool cells are connected to each other through a connecting plate. A heat generation unit is arranged in each cuvette pool cell. |
| US08619242B2 |
Information processing apparatus and apparatus for evaluating whether information processing method is possible
An information processing apparatus using a design and evaluation method for a device or an apparatus concerning microscopic particles in conformity with dual mechanics is provided, and this apparatus may be utilized as an evaluation apparatus for evaluating whether or not quantum computers can be realized; wherein the dual mechanics is universal mechanics constructed by combining classical mechanics and novel wave mechanics and may be applicable to all particles ranging from microscopic to macroscopic particles. As a result, it is possible to prevent making useless efforts for realizing quantum computers that are judged to be impossible to realize and to pitch those efforts that might be wasted on the above realization into developing other effective technologies. |
| US08619241B2 |
Distance detection method and system
There is provided a system and method for detecting a distance to an object. The method comprises providing a lighting system having at least one pulse width modulated visible-light source for illumination of a field of view; emitting an illumination signal for illuminating the field of view for a duration of time y using the visible-light source at a time t; integrating a reflection energy for a first time period from a time t−x to a time t+x; determining a first integration value for the first time period; integrating the reflection energy for a second time period from a time t+y−x to a time t+y+x; determining a second integration value for the second time period; calculating a difference value between the first integration value and the second integration value; determining a propagation delay value proportional to the difference value; determining the distance to the object from the propagation delay value. |
| US08619239B2 |
Accuracy of a laser rangefinder receiver
A technique for providing range correction values in a laser rangefinder range processor uses return pulse width (rather than return pulse amplitude) for correcting amplitude (range walk) and speed of light problems. A plurality of range correction values may be generated in a test setup (by simulating return pulse delays) and stored in a lookup table based on return pulse width, nominal range (time of return), and other factors such as temperature and pressure. The technique is also capable of correcting other problems such as receiver delay. The technique allows for the use of a saturating preamplifier with the increased sensitivity that it offers, and is relatively simple to implement, as it may be embedded within a digital processor (DSP) or gate array that is normally present for a basic range counter implementation. |
| US08619232B2 |
Method for damping an object, an active damping system, and a lithographic apparatus
A method for damping an object in two or more degrees of freedom, including measuring a position quantity at each of the two or more measurement locations; extracting from the measured position quantities a measurement signal for each dynamic mode; feeding the measurement signal of a dynamic mode to a controller unit associated with the respective dynamic mode, the controller unit providing for each dynamic mode an output signal on the basis of the respective measurement signal; and providing a control signal to each of the two or more actuators, the control signal for each actuator being based on output signals of one or more controller units. |
| US08619230B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
An approach is provided for manufacturing a LCD apparatus. A first substrate is formed by forming a transparent conductive layer on a first transparent insulating substrate and forming a transparent conductive electrode on the transparent conductive layer. A second substrate is formed by forming a thin-film transistor (TFT) on a second transparent insulating substrate and forming a pixel electrode. The first substrate is coupled to the second substrate using a sealing member. |
| US08619228B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method
A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a counter substrate that face each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The array substrate includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an alignment sustaining layer. The first electrode has a comb-teeth shape. The second electrode has a comb-teeth shape, faces the first electrode, and includes a protruding portion protruding from the first electrode in a direction where comb teeth are arranged. The alignment sustaining layer is formed above a surface of the array substrate being in contact with the liquid crystal layer and gives liquid crystals a pre-tilt to a direction in which the second electrode protrudes from the first electrode, in a direction in which the comb teeth are arranged. |
| US08619226B2 |
Pixel structure of fringe field switching mode LCD
A pixel structure of a fringe field switching (FFS) mode LCD is provided, and the pixel structure includes: a scan line, a thin film transistor (TFT), a common electrode, a pixel electrode, and a patterned insulative layer. The pixel electrode is insulatively disposed on the common electrode. The pixel electrode generates a fringe field corresponding to the common electrode. The patterned insulative layer, which is disposed above the scan line and the TFT, is utilized to confine the fringe field so as to reduce disordered electrical field, thereby improving the shortcoming of light leakage. |
| US08619223B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and LCD panel
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate includes a substrate, data lines, scan lines and pixel electrodes. The data lines and the scan lines intersect each other on the substrate for defining pixel areas. The pixel electrodes are disposed in corresponding pixel areas. Each of the pixel electrodes defines at least two slits by which the pixel electrode is divided into at least two first areas and at least two second areas. The first areas and the second areas are insulated with respect to each other. The first areas are disposed diagonally and the second areas are disposed diagonally. |
| US08619221B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel including pixels each having an active device, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer arranged in a dot matrix array. The liquid crystal display panel has a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate has the active device, the pixel electrode, the common electrode and a first alignment film. The second substrate has a second alignment film. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are respectively a photo alignment film formed by irradiating a photo decomposition type insulating film with light. The second alignment film has a thickness of at least 10 nm and no greater 50 nm and is thinner than the first alignment film. |
| US08619215B2 |
Optical element, method for manufacturing the same, liquid crystal device, and electronic apparatus
An optical element includes: a substrate having a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions that are partitioned in plan view; a first grid one-dimensionally formed in the plurality of first regions on the substrate; a diffraction function portion including a plurality of grooves parallel to each other in the plurality of second regions on the substrate; and a second grid formed in a region excluding the plurality of grooves on the diffraction function portion. The optical element reflects a part of incident light and transmits a part of the incident light. |
| US08619214B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
An LCD device includes a transparent substrate. A first data electrode, a first CLC-MC layer, a first selection electrode, a second CLC-MC layer, a second data electrode, an insulating layer, a second selection electrode, a third CLC-MC layer, and a third data electrode are sequentially formed in this order on the transparent substrate. |
| US08619211B2 |
Lighting device, backlighting device, and display device
A lighting arrangement is disclosed with a light module (2) that has at least one first group (22, 22′) of light sources (221, 222, 223) and one second group (22, 22″) of light sources that are arranged spaced apart from each other on a flexible circuit board (21), and with a carrier (1) on which the light module is mounted, and a buffer zone (12) that laterally overlaps with the light module between the first and the second group of light sources. Furthermore, a backlighting device and a display device are disclosed. |
| US08619208B2 |
Display and method for manufacturing display
In the case of forming switching elements and light sensor elements over the same substrate, an increase in the film thickness of active layers in an attempt to enhance the sensitivity of the light sensor elements would adversely affect the characteristics of the switching elements (TFTs). In a configuration of a display in which a channel layer 25 for constituting thin film transistors to form the switching elements for pixels and a photoelectric conversion layer 35 for constituting the light sensor elements are provided over a gate insulating film 24 on a glass substrate 5 to be provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is formed to be thicker than the channel layer 25, and/or the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is formed of a material different from the material for the channel layer 25, whereby the light absorption coefficient of the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is made to be higher than that of the channel layer 25. |
| US08619205B2 |
Three-dimensional video recognition system, video display device and active shutter glasses
A three-dimensional video recognition system comprises a display device, a front plate, and AS glasses. Each of the AS glasses includes a first λ/4 plate, a first linear polarizing element, a liquid crystal cell, and a second linear polarizing element in this order from the outer surface side. The display device includes a third linear polarizing element on an observation surface side of the display device. The front plate has a second λ/4 plate. Specific angles formed between a transmission axis of polarizing elements and λ/4 plates are provided. |
| US08619200B2 |
Television start speed enhancement
A television receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a point in the boot process when the tuner input switch is operative, the process simultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel and the input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desired channel is often minimized. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08619193B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method, and computer readable recording medium
A communication apparatus includes a communication unit, a first determination unit, a second determination unit, and a control unit. The communication unit communicates with an external apparatus via communication lines that conform to HDMI standard. The first determination unit determines whether the first data indicating that the external apparatus displays video data transmitted from the communication unit to the external apparatus is detected by the communication unit has received via a CEC line. The second determination unit determines whether a second data indicating that the external apparatus displays video data transmitted from the communication unit to the external apparatus is detected by the communication via a TMDS line. The control unit determines whether to transmit video data to the external apparatus based on at least one of a determination result obtained by the first determination unit and a determination result obtained by the second determination unit. |
| US08619192B2 |
Closed captioning preferences
Techniques are described to provide closed captioning preferences. In an implementation, a user interface is output that is configured to accept preferences for a plurality of closed captions. A first one of the closed captions is output, based on the preferences, when available via a particular channel. A second one of the closed captions is output, based on the preferences, when the first closed caption is not available via the particular channel. |
| US08619190B2 |
Film mode detection
Film mode detection with bad edit detection used in de-interlacing video includes use of combing artifact detection in both 3-2 pull down detection and 2-2 pull down detection. Further, combing artifact detection uses only two field memories by accumulation of partial field statistics for comparisons. |
| US08619182B2 |
Fast auto focus techniques for digital cameras
Embodiments are directed towards using a color filtration system to generate multiple color images of a same single image that is displayed on a photo sensor plane to determine a lens adjustment position for a defined region of interest usable to automatically focus at least the defined region of interest using the single image. In one embodiment, the color filtration system employs a multiple color aperture filter and two single element lenses to generate multiple color images when an object within the single image is out of focus. In another embodiment, a metal dielectric interference filter is mounted directly in front of the photo sensor, to generate the multiple color images. |
| US08619179B2 |
Multi-modal image capture apparatus with a tunable spectral response
An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask to capture multi-spectral image data. Light-field optics are arranged to project light-field information of a scene onto the image sensor. |
| US08619177B2 |
Digital imaging system, plenoptic optical device and image data processing method
A digital imaging system being configured for synthesizing an image of a plenoptic optical device, comprises a photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensors arranged in a predetermined image plane, and a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses arranged for directing light from an object to the photosensor array, wherein the photosensor array and the microlens array are arranged with a predetermined distance, the microlenses have different focal lengths varying over the microlens array, and the image plane of the photosensor array is arranged such that the distance between the photosensor array and the microlens array does not equal the microlenses' focal lengths. Furthermore, a plenoptic optical device including the digital imaging system and a method for processing image data collected with the digital imaging system are described. |
| US08619176B2 |
Solid state imaging device having lens and material with refractive index greater than 1 between the lens and imaging chip
A solid-state image-taking apparatus which have a solid-state image-taking device includes a chip of the solid-state image-taking device, an imaging lens configured to focus incoming light into an image on the solid-state image-taking device, and a material of a refraction index larger than 1, which is arranged between the chip and the imaging lens. |
| US08619173B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor
Edge components in a predetermined direction of a captured image are extracted to generate a waveform image representing the levels of the extracted edge components and the extracted positions. The waveform image is displayed with the captured image. For example, the operability and visibility for focusing in manual focusing can be improved. |
| US08619172B2 |
Rotatable camera assembly
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a rotatable camera assembly and display panel. According to one embodiment, a panel housing is formed around the perimeter of the display panel having a horizontal axis of rotation. The panel housing includes vertically-arranged side portions that are adjacent to side portions of the display panel. The rotatable camera assembly includes a digital camera and is formed integral with at least one side portion of the panel housing. Furthermore, the axis of rotation of the camera assembly is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the display panel. |
| US08619169B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and camera having impurity diffusion region
A solid-state image sensor including a plurality of pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate, each pixel comprising a photoelectric conversion element including a charge accumulation region of a first conductivity type, a floating diffusion of the first conductivity type, and a transfer transistor which transfers charge in the charge accumulation region to the floating diffusion, comprises an element isolation region made of an insulator and arranged to isolate adjacent pixels from each other, and an impurity diffusion region of a second conductivity type arranged inside the semiconductor substrate to isolate adjacent pixels from each other, wherein a peak position of an impurity concentration of the impurity diffusion region of one pixel is disposed within a width of the floating diffusion, of the one pixel, along a straight line passing through the photoelectric conversion element, a gate electrode of the transfer transistor, and the floating diffusion which are of the one pixel. |
| US08619163B2 |
Solid state imaging using a correction parameter for correcting a cross talk between adjacent pixels
An image processing apparatus, for correcting a cross talk between adjacent pixels, includes: a memory unit for storing a correction parameter for reducing a cross talk signal leaked to an object pixel from an adjacent pixel, the correction parameter corresponding to a position of the object pixel; and a correcting unit for subtracting, based on the correction parameter stored in the memory unit, the cross talk signal from a pixel signal of the solid-state imaging apparatus correspondingly to a position of the pixel, wherein a number of the object pixel is at least two, and the at least two object pixels have different addresses in a horizontal direction, and different addresses in a vertical direction. |
| US08619161B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging device
The interchangeable lens unit (2) includes the fourth lens group unit (78), the sixth lens group unit (77), the focus lens unit (75), the zoom ring unit (83), the focus motor (64) and the lens microcomputer (40). The focus motor (64) is fixed to the sixth lens group unit (77) and is configured to electrically drive the focus lens unit (75) in the optical axis direction with respect to the sixth lens group unit (77). The lens microcomputer (40) is configured to control the focus motor (64) so that the focus lens unit (75) is driven in one direction with respect to the sixth lens group unit (77) when the sixth lens group unit (77) is driven in one direction with respect to the imaging sensor (11) by the zoom ring unit (83). |
| US08619158B2 |
Image reproduction apparatus and image reproduction method
An object of this invention is to simplify an operation of reproducing, on a single window, pieces of image information of different image capturing apparatuses or pieces of image information captured at different times. A display apparatus manages a camera apparatus (1) serving as the image capturing source of image information to be reproduced in each image region in association with a plurality of image regions on a single window. The display apparatus manages whether the image information to be reproduced in each image region is recorded image information or image information which is currently being captured. On the basis of the pieces of management information, the display apparatus acquires image information from a desired one of camera apparatuses and recording apparatuses and reproduces the pieces of acquired image information on the plurality of image regions. |
| US08619152B2 |
Mobile terminal and operating method thereof
A mobile terminal and an operating method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a camera module; a display module configured to display a preview image provided by the camera module; a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device; and a controller configured to obtain location information of the mobile terminal through wireless communication with the external device and obtain object information of a first object displayed in the preview image based on the location information, wherein, if there exists object information of a second object that is overlapped by the first object, the controller displays an notification indicator indicating the existence of the object information of the second object on the display module. Therefore, it is possible to provide information of a wider area than that displayed in a preview image. |
| US08619151B2 |
Photographing method and apparatus providing correction of object shadows, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the method
A photographing method and apparatus are provided. In the method, an image signal of an object region is detected from an input image signal, a shadow region is detected from the object region image signal, and an image signal obtained by superimposing the shadow region on the object region image signal is displayed. When removal of a shadow is requested after the input image signal is captured, the photographing method corrects a brightness level of the shadow region. The photographing apparatus includes an object region detecting unit configured to detect an image signal of an object region from an image signal; a shadow region detecting unit configured to detect a shadow region from the object region image signal, and an image signal superimposing unit configured to output an image signal detected by superimposing the shadow region detected by the shadow region detecting unit onto the object region image signal detected by the object region detecting unit. |
| US08619149B2 |
Camera with an image sensor that doubles as a motion sensor
A camera includes an image sensor that doubles as a motion sensor. An image sensor in a camera according to the present teachings generates a digital image by sampling light from an image scene and also generates a series of motion frames that enable a determination of a camera motion. |
| US08619141B2 |
Portal management
The different illustrative embodiments provide an apparatus, a system, and a method for managing a portal. The different illustrative embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a locking system, a detection system, and a portal access system. The locking system is for a portal having a first side and a second side. The portal is configured to swing about an axis through the first side between an opened position and a closed position. The detection system is configured to detect when a robotic vehicle is located within a selected distance of the portal. The portal access system unlocks the portal when the portal is in the closed position and the robotic vehicle is detected within a selected distance of the portal using the detection system. |
| US08619133B2 |
Desktop electronic magnifier
A desktop electronic magnifier in a first embodiment includes a monitor and a control panel mounted to the monitor so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a second embodiment, a monitor is positioned atop a flat platform that surmounts the camera so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a third embodiment, the control panel is mounted to the camera and the monitor is supported by a support surface independent of the magnifier. Access to the control panel is blocked only if the user positions the monitor in blocking relation to the control panel. |
| US08619132B2 |
Wide color gamut anaglyphs
Four primary colors may be used to render anaglyphs with wide color gamuts. The first image of a stereoscopic pair may be rendered in three primary colors while the second image of a stereoscopic pair may be rendered in a fourth primary color. Retinal rivalry may be avoided in an anaglyph by balancing the brightness contrasts of the first and second images for like subject matter. The retinal rivalry may be measured and controlled in anaglyphs by selecting values of a retinal rivalry color coordinate. |
| US08619130B2 |
Apparatus and method for altering images for three-dimensional display
Provided are a display device and method for altering images, the apparatus including: an input unit operable to receive a left image and a right image; and an image altering unit which is operable to alter the received left image and the received right image and to output an output image signal including the altered left image and the altered right image, wherein the left image is altered by changing a first portion, which is near a boundary area in the left image, and wherein the right image is altered by changing a second portion, which is near a boundary area in the right image. |
| US08619128B2 |
Systems and methods for an imaging system using multiple image sensors
Systems and methods may employ separate image sensors for collecting different types of data. In one embodiment, separate luma, chroma and 3-D image sensors may be used. The systems and methods may involve generating an alignment transform for the image sensors, and using the 3-D data from the 3-D image sensor to process disparity compensation. The systems and methods may involve image sensing, capture, processing, rendering and/or generating images. For example, one embodiment may provide an imaging system, including: a first image sensor configured to obtain luminance data of a scene; a second image sensor configured to obtain chrominance data of the scene; a third image sensor configured to obtain three-dimensional data of the scene; and an image processor configured to receive the luminance, chrominance and three-dimensional data and to generate a composite image corresponding to the scene from that data. |
| US08619121B2 |
Method and devices for generating, transferring and processing three-dimensional image data
Three-dimensional digital image data comes from a stereographic imaging arrangement (501, 502, 1201) that takes a first raw image (601) along a first optical axis and a second raw image (602) along a second optical axis. The imaging arrangement (501, 502, 1201) has a maximum imaging depth (506) and a minimum imaging depth (505). It transmits the first raw image (601) and the second raw image (602) to a receiving device (1102) along with an indication of a disparity range between a maximum disparity value and a minimum disparity value. The maximum disparity value is a measure of a difference between locations in the first (601) and second (602) raw images that represent the minimum imaging depth (505). The minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between locations in the first (601) and second (602) raw images that represent the maximum imaging depth (506). |
| US08619115B2 |
Video communication system and method for using same
The present invention provides a video communication system including a kiosk for recording video messages created by a user and a database for storing and providing access to the video messages. The kiosk includes a user interface for receiving user information such as name, address, email, and other identifying information. The kiosk further includes a message-recording device for recording a user video message. The video message and user message data are uploaded to a database. The database reconnects with the user through the user information to allow the user to access the video message. In an embodiment, the database sends an email web link to the user. The user may view the video message by opening the email web link and viewing the video message on an internet website. |
| US08619112B2 |
Device, computer program product and method for providing touch control of a video conference
A device, computer program product, and method control the operation of one or more cameras associated with a video conference endpoint in a video conference call. A camera control unit (remote control) includes a touch enabled end user component that presents to the user graphical objects representing video conference endpoints currently connected in a conference call, and/or one or more live video feeds currently captured by the video conference endpoint's cameras, and allows the user to manipulate a camera's pan, tilt and zoom using a touch screen display embedded in said camera control unit. |
| US08619111B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for using a mobile device to provide remote assistance
Systems and methods for providing remote assistance to a user are disclosed. A remote assistance system may communicate with a mobile device operated by the user and may manipulate devices configured on the mobile device, such as a camera, an illumination device, a projection device, or any other types of devices. Images may be captured with a camera of the mobile phone and transmitted by the mobile phone to the remote assistance system. A remote assistant may transmit images or other visual data to the mobile phone that are then overlaid upon images presented on the mobile phone. Various image manipulation and stabilization means and methods are disclosed, as well as various ways of obtaining and providing remote assistance. |
| US08619110B2 |
Image forming apparatus with calibrated exposure control
An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; an exposure device configured to form plural solid patch latent images on the photosensitive member; a potential detecting device configured to detect a surface potential of the photosensitive member; a density detecting device configured to detect density of plural solid patch toner images developed by a developing device; and a control device configured to calculate a relation between an exposure amount of a solid image area and a theoretical value of the exposure amount and a ratio of an exposure amount of a line image area to that of the solid image area, based on detection results of the potential detecting device and the density detecting device, calculate, based on the ratio, a relation of the exposure amount of the line image area to the theoretical value, and modulate light output from the exposure device according to the relation. |
| US08619107B2 |
Beam-spot position compensation method, optical scanning device, and multi-color image forming device
In a beam-spot position compensation method for use in an optical scanning device which scans a surface of a photosensitive medium by a light beam emitted by a light source, a plurality of sections are defined by dividing a scanning region on the scanned surface. An emission timing of the light beam for every section is adjusted so that a spacing between beam-spot positions corresponding to pixels of start and end of each section is changed by a predetermined amount. The sparseness or denseness of beam-spot position spacings of the plurality of sections in the whole scanning region is compensated. |
| US08619103B2 |
Electroluminescent device multilevel-drive chromaticity-shift compensation
Compensation for chromaticity shift of an electroluminescent (EL) emitter having a luminance and a chromaticity that both correspond to current density is performed. Different black, first and second current densities are selected based on a received designated luminance and a selected chromaticity, each current density corresponding to emitted light colorimetrically distinct from the light emitted at the other two current densities. Respective percentages of a selected emission time are calculated for each current density to produce the designated luminance and selected chromaticity. The current densities are provided to the EL emitter for the calculated respective percentages of the emission time so that the integrated light output of the EL emitter during the selected emission time is colorimetrically indistinct from the designated luminance and selected chromaticity. |
| US08619100B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for touch-based gestural input on an electronic canvas
Methods for touch-based gestural command input on a device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying an electronic canvas including an object at a first magnification level; simultaneously detecting a first and a second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein at least one of the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface is at a location that corresponds to a location on the display that is away from the object; detecting a gesture made with the first and second contacts; when a velocity of the gesture is less than a predefined gesture velocity threshold, scaling the electronic canvas in accordance with the gesture; and, when the velocity of the gesture is greater than the predefined gesture velocity threshold transitioning the electronic canvas from the first magnification level to a second, predefined magnification level in response to the gesture. |
| US08619093B2 |
Keying an image
Some embodiments provide a method that provides an image display area that displays an image having a set of pixels that have pixel values in a color space. The method provides a first GUI item that activates a first sampling tool for selecting a first section of the image. The first section includes a first set of pixels for defining a first portion of the color space enclosing the pixel values of the first set. An image pixel whose pixel values are in the first portion is fully selected. The method provides a second GUI item that activates a second sampling tool for selecting a second section of the image displayed in the image display area. The second section includes a second set of pixels for defining a second portion of the color space enclosing the first portion and excluding the pixel values of the first set of pixels. |
| US08619089B2 |
Data transfer circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit equipped with data transfer circuit
A data transfer circuit that transfers a first kind of data stored in an external memory circuit includes: an internal memory circuit that is capable of, by an external circuit, writing and/or rewriting a second kind of data including information for one region as a transfer source in the external memory circuit and another region as a transfer destination in the external memory circuit; a transfer circuit that transfer the first kind of data; and a control circuit that makes the transfer circuit transfer the first kind of data stored in the one region to the other region based on the second kind of data. |
| US08619082B1 |
Systems and methods for parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras that contain occlusions using subsets of images to perform depth estimation
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In several embodiments, detecting parallax involves using competing subsets of images to estimate the depth of a pixel location in an image from a reference viewpoint. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates. |
| US08619081B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A deformation information transformation OK/NG discrimination unit determines whether or not it is possible to achieve a transformation equivalent to three-dimensional deformation information by only two-dimensional affine transformation. If it is possible to achieve this transformation, a two-dimensional bitmap generation unit generates a processed two-dimensional graphics image by applying the two-dimensional affine transformation equivalent to the transformation indicated by the three-dimensional deformation information to a two-dimensional graphics image. |
| US08619078B2 |
Parallelized ray tracing
A method includes assigning a priority to a ray data structure of a plurality of ray data structures based on one or more priorities. The ray data structure includes properties of a ray to be traced from an illumination source in a three-dimensional image. The method includes identifying a portion of the three-dimensional image through which the ray passes. The method also includes identifying a slave processing element associated with the portion of the three-dimensional image. The method further includes sending the ray data structure to the slave processing element. |
| US08619076B2 |
Stereoscopic image display control apparatus, stereoscopic image display control method, and program
A stereoscopic image display control apparatus includes: an output unit which outputs a stereoscopic image to a display device; an input accepting unit which accepts, from a user, input of a change instruction to change a state of the stereoscopic image displayed by the display device; a change amount prediction unit which predicts amounts of change in projection and recession of the stereoscopic image in unit time to be caused when the state of the stereoscopic image is changed in accordance with the change instruction accepted by the input accepting unit; and a display control unit which decreases a change speed of the state of the stereoscopic image to be outputted from the output unit when one of the amounts of change in projection and recession in unit time predicted by the change amount prediction unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08619075B2 |
Volumetric data exploration using multi-point input controls
A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set. |
| US08619070B2 |
Gate drive circuit and display apparatus having the same
An n-th stage (wherein, n is an integer) of the stages of a gate driving circuit includes a pull-up part, a first variable mode part and a second variable mode part. At least one of the first and second variable mode parts includes a variable element. The variable element comprises a first thin-film transistor (TFT) turned on in response to a first level voltage of the first or second direction signal, a second TFT applying the first or second direction signal to a control part of the pull-up part in response to an output signal of a previous stage or an output signal of a next stage, and a third TFT connected to the second TFT through the first TFT. |
| US08619066B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a display unit displaying an image in response to a driving signal, a driving unit outputting the driving signal to the display unit in response to a plurality of control signal, and a controller outputting the plurality of control signals and image data. The controller includes a plurality of timing controllers providing the image data and the plurality of control signals and a storage device. The plurality of timing controllers share the storage device and may be either connected in series or parallel. |
| US08619062B2 |
Touch-pressure sensing in a display panel
A touch-pressure sensitive panel includes a locally and resiliently deformable waveguide having an exterior surface for receiving localized touch pressure from a user, and a wetting surface opposite the exterior surface. The panel also includes a de-wettable layer presenting a de-wettable surface arranged beneath the wetting surface, such that the localized touch pressure reversibly increases localized optical wetting of the de-wettable surface by the wetting surface. The panel also includes an imaging detector configured to receive light coupled into the de-wettable layer due to the localized optical wetting. |
| US08619058B2 |
Electrostatic capacity type touch sensor for detecting a large number of touch positions with a small number of detection electrodes
There is offered an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor capable of detecting a large number of touch positions with high accuracy. The electrostatic capacity type touch sensor is composed of a touch panel and a signal processing circuit. The touch panel is structured to include first through fourth detection electrodes, first and second common electric potential lines, a common electric potential wiring, a common electric potential terminal and first through fourth output terminals disposed on an insulating substrate. The signal processing circuit is structured to include a clock generator, a selection circuit, a charge amplifier, an A/D converter and an arithmetic unit. The charge amplifier detects a change in capacitance induced by that a finger of an operator touches the first through fourth detection electrodes. |
| US08619048B2 |
Method and device of stroke based user input
A method of inputting a character to a computing unit. The method comprises capturing a stroke drawn by a user in relation to a reference zone, identifying a combination of a shape and a relative position of the stroke in relation to the reference zone, automatically selecting one of a plurality of characters from according the combination, and providing the selected character as an input to the computing unit from the user. |
| US08619044B2 |
Electronic device including tactile touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same
A method of controlling an electronic device having a touch-sensitive display includes imparting, by an actuator, a force on the touch-sensitive display to provide tactile feedback, determining the force applied by the actuator on the touch-sensitive display, and adjusting a subsequent force imparted by the actuator based on the determined force. |
| US08619043B2 |
System and method of calibration of a touch screen display
A touch screen display of an electronic device is calibrated. The method includes receiving input comprising selections of features registered at the touch screen display, filtering the input based on characteristics determined during the receiving to determine if the input is to be used for calibrating, for each input used for calibrating, determining a difference between registered touch location and a respective target for the selection and subtracting an offset from the difference, thereby providing remainders of differences for the selections, and calibrating by adjusting a prior calibration based on the remainders if the input is determined to be used for calibrating. |
| US08619041B2 |
Portable electronic device and method of controlling same
A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface including an area defined by a boundary, detecting a touch event at a touch location within the area defined by the boundary on the touch screen display, determining if the touch location has moved to a new location outside of the area defined by the boundary; and performing an action in response to detecting the touch event at the touch location within the area defined by the boundary and determining that the touch location has moved from the area defined by the boundary to the new location outside of the area defined by the boundary. |
| US08619039B2 |
Translucent touch screen devices including low resistive mesh
The disclosed translucent or semi-transparent touch screen device includes a mesh composed of a low resistive material and method for forming a touch screen and applying components to the touch screen according to a heat based process. The low resistivity of the mesh beneficially allows pattern traces a small width, and therefore allows more touch zones per specified area than previously available. The disclosed semi-transparent touch screen device may incorporated into a mobile communication device such as a clam shell form factor device with a flip is configured so that an adjacent main display screen is visible through the touch screen device. Input received by the touch screen device is responsive to indicia displayed on the display screen. Since the disclosed touch screen may include many touch zones, beneficially the functionality of the device in the closed position is improved over previous semi-transparent touch screens. |
| US08619037B2 |
Tactile user interface
An apparatus configured as a virtual user interface and including: a display screen; a masking element for concealing at least part of said screen and revealing at least one preselected display area; at least one user-actuated control element; and a controller responsive to said user-actuated control element and configured to display information on said display area operatively associated with said user-actuated control element. |
| US08619036B2 |
Virtual keyboard based activation and dismissal
A virtual keyboard apparatus and method for forming the virtual keyboard apparatus are provided. The virtual keyboard apparatus may include a touch-sensitive display surface configured to detect a touch signal including at least a finger touch and a palm touch by a hand of a user, and a controller configured to generate a virtual keyboard having a layout determined based at least in part on a distance between the detected palm touch and the detected finger touch. The method for generating a virtual keyboard may include detecting with a touch-sensitive display surface a touch signal including at least a finger touch and a palm touch formed by a hand of a user, and generating a virtual keyboard having a layout based at least in part on a distance between the detected palm touch and the detected finger touch. |
| US08619033B2 |
Method and system for adjusting depth of view in optical sensor
Method and system are disclosed for adjusting the depth of view in an optical sensor of a pointing device (see FIG. 4). The method and system of the invention allow a user to select a depth of views from multiple depths of view. The user may select the depth of view using an appropriate graphical user interface. The depth of view may also be selected by the pointing device with no user input. In either case, the depth of view of the optical sensor may be adjusted to more accurately account for different levels of contrast in the micro-texture of the user's work surface. |
| US08619031B2 |
System and method for low power haptic feedback
Systems and methods for low power consumption haptic feedback are described. In one described system, a device comprises a manipulandum and a haptic effect generator in communication with the manipulandum. The actuator is operable to provide a first haptic profile associated with a first mechanical configuration and a second haptic profile associated with a second mechanical configuration. The device also comprises an actuator in communication with the haptic effect generator, which is operable to switch the haptic effect generator between the first haptic profile and the second haptic profile. |
| US08619030B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling an output device of a portable electronic device
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling an output device, such as a display, of a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a processor, first and second motion sensors, and the output device. The method includes receiving from the first motion sensor, first motion data representing movement of an external object relative to the portable electronic device. The method also includes receiving, from the second motion sensor, second motion data representing movement of the portable electronic device. Third motion is generated data based on the first and second motion data. The third motion data represents movement of the external object. The output device is then controlled based on the third motion data. |
| US08619027B2 |
Interactive input system and tool tray therefor
A tool tray for an interactive input system comprises a housing having an upper surface defining at least one receptacle sized to receive a tool for interacting with an interactive surface, a sensor configured to detect the presence of the tool within the receptacle and at least one display in communication with the sensor. The display is configured to present a pointer attribute selection screen upon removal of the tool from the receptacle. |
| US08619025B2 |
Storage medium having input processing program stored thereon and input processing device
An input processing device comprises a display screen and a pointing device for inputting corresponding 2-dimensional coordinates on the display screen. A 3-dimensional space is displayed on the display screen and the 2-dimensional coordinates inputted from the pointing device are detected. Next, shift amounts, per unit of time, of the detected 2-dimensional coordinates are calculated based on a predetermined calculation start condition. And the calculated shift amounts are converted to 3-dimensional coordinate shift amounts in the 3-dimensional space. |
| US08619023B2 |
Method and device for inputting force intensity and rotation intensity based on motion sensing
Provided is an input device for operating in a three-dimensional space and inputting user instructions. The input device includes a first operation unit that calculates a first rotation angle in a coordinate system independent of the attitude of the device based on the output value of a first sensor, a second operation unit that calculates a second rotation angle in the coordinate system based on the output value of a second sensor, an attitude angle measuring unit that calculates the attitude angle of the input device by combining the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle, and an intensity calculation unit that calculates force intensity in the coordinate system using acceleration of the input device and the attitude angle of the input device obtained in the attitude measuring unit. |
| US08619018B2 |
Method of modifying pixel data, control unit for performing the method and display apparatus having the control unit
In a method of compensating pixel data applied to a display panel which receives light from a backlight assembly including a light guide plate and a plurality of light-emitting blocks adjacent a side surface of the light guide plate, block representative values of image blocks are obtained. The block representative values of image blocks respectively correspond to the light-emitting blocks from pixel data of input image. Duty cycles of the light-emitting blocks are determined using the block representative values. Pixel brightness values are calculated using the duty cycles of the light-emitting blocks and brightness profile data in accordance with light-emitting regions of the light guide plate from which the light is emitted when a representative light-emitting block of the light-emitting blocks is driven. The pixel data may then be compensated based on the pixel brightness values. |
| US08619017B2 |
Display device and display control method
A display device to display an image corresponding to image signals in a display area is provided. The display device includes a backlight including individually placed light sources corresponding to areas in the display area; a panel that includes pixels corresponding to the display area and that changes transmittance of light from the light sources in units of pixels; a panel control unit to individually set emission brightness of each of the light sources in accordance with the image signals and set the transmittance of light in each of the pixels in accordance with the emission brightness; a storage unit to store a nonlinear conversion table to convert the emission brightness to a light source control value for the backlight; and a backlight control unit to convert the emission brightness to the light source control value in accordance with the nonlinear conversion table and supply the light source control value to the backlight. |
| US08619006B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device has a plurality of pixels, where each pixel includes a light emitting element, a capacitor, a driving transistor having a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal and supplying a driving current to the light emitting element to emit light, a first switching unit diode-connecting the driving transistor and supplying a data voltage to the capacitor in response to a scanning signal, and a second switching unit supplying a driving voltage to the driving transistor and connecting the capacitor to the driving transistor in response to the emission signal, wherein the capacitor is connected to the driving transistor through the first switching unit, stores a control voltage depending on the data voltage and the threshold voltage of the driving transistor, and is connected to the driving transistor through the second switching unit to supply the control voltage to the driving transistor. |
| US08618999B2 |
Microwave motion sensor with a reflector
A microwave motion sensor including a patch antenna having a plurality of microwave radiating elements for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal where each microwave radiating element is of the antenna in an array configuration. A reflector is disposed above the antenna for downward shaping the radiating signal, where the microwave radiating elements together with the reflector provide a radiation pattern where a main beam is transmitted in a direction orthogonal to a surface of said antenna and a sided lobe transmitted downward in amplitude below the microwave motion sensor. |
| US08618998B2 |
Compact circular polarized antenna with cavity for additional devices
According to one embodiment, an antenna comprises a plurality of elongated side radiating elements having longitudinal axes oriented at angles of between about 10° and about 80° from a line perpendicular to an imaginary base plane extending across ends of the side radiating elements, and a cavity positioned between the side radiating elements defined by at least one non-radio frequency-transparent sidewall. In another embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of elongated side radiating elements each lying along a unique side plane and having longitudinal axes oriented at angles of between about 10° and about 80° from a line perpendicular to an imaginary base plane extending across ends of the side radiating elements, and a cavity being positioned between the side radiating elements defined by at least one non-radio frequency-transparent sidewall, wherein the at least one sidewall has sides each lying along a plane about parallel to the unique side plane. |
| US08618996B2 |
Combination conductor-antenna
A combination conductor-antenna apparatus is provided comprising a surface that defines a passage for use as a receptor for a second conductor and for use as a waveguide. The surface is at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material, thus allowing the apparatus to serve as a medium by which an electrical signal can be transferred from a second conductor. Disposed within the passage is a pickup element for sensing and/or injecting electromagnetic energy in the passage, thus allowing the apparatus to serve as a medium for wireless communications. |
| US08618995B2 |
Metal pipe managed by wireless tag and wireless tag
A metal pipe includes a slot having a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the metal pipe and a wireless tag that is placed inside the metal pipe and includes a power feeding unit to feed electric power to the slot and an IC chip connected to the power feeding unit, thereby functioning as an antenna of the wireless tag. The metal pipe is thus managed by the wireless tag. |
| US08618994B1 |
Passive electromagnetic polarization shifter with dielectric slots
A method for making a dielectric-slot polarizer includes affixing plural dielectric sheets in a stack with those sheets having the greatest dielectric constant toward the center of the stack. The dielectric sheets may be fused or joined to each other by heat, pressure, or both. A dielectric support sheet is affixed by adhesive to a first side of the stack to form a partially supported stack. Slots are defined through the partially supported stack down to the adhesive. A second dielectric support sheet is adhesively affixed over the slots of the stack to define the polarizer. |
| US08618992B2 |
Antenna duplexer and communication device using the same
An antenna duplexer includes a transmission filter and a reception filter both coupled with an antenna terminal. The transmission filter has a lower pass band than the reception filter. The transmission filter includes a first series resonator coupled with a first terminal, a second series resonator connected to the first series resonator at a first node, a first parallel resonator connected to a first port of the first series resonator, a second parallel resonator connected to a first node and the first parallel resonator at a second node, a third parallel resonator connected to the first node, a fourth parallel resonator connected to the third parallel resonator at a third node, a first inductance element coupled with the second node and a ground, and a second inductance element coupled with the third node and the ground. The second inductance element has a lower inductance than the first inductance element. |
| US08618990B2 |
Wideband antenna and methods
A wideband antenna for use portable radio devices, and methods for operating the same. In one embodiment, a monopole antenna is used within a laptop computing device. The antenna comprises a monopole radiator coupled to an auxiliary ground plane element, and is placed substantially outside of the footprint of the computer display ground plane. In one implementation, the auxiliary ground element is configured not to have electrical connections to the ground plane of the laptop. In another implementation, a solid state switch selectively connects an antenna parasitic element to the main ground thus enabling selective control of the antenna lower frequency operating band. |
| US08618980B2 |
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). |
| US08618979B2 |
Pseudo-satellite transmitter and method of transmitting GPS signals using pseudo-satellite transmitter
A pseudo-satellite transmitter includes a GPS unit, a transmission power control unit, and a plurality of antennas. The GPS unit generates a GPS signal of a pseudo-satellite. The transmission power control unit generates a plurality of GPS signals having different power levels based on the GPS signal generated by the GPS unit and a distance from a shadow area to the pseudo-satellite transmitter. Each antenna is configured to wirelessly transmit the GPS signals with different power levels output from the transmission power control unit to a corresponding one of a plurality of shadow areas according to the distance from the shadow area to the corresponding antenna. |
| US08618977B2 |
Weather radar beam-sharpening and de-quantization
Systems and methods for improving display quality for at range weather data of smaller antenna size radar weather systems. A processor receives a column of quantized reflectivity data associated with an antenna from a radar system. The processor adjusts the column of quantized reflectivity data based on estimated quantized reflectivity data associated with a beam pattern for an antenna that is larger than the antenna associated with the received column of quantized reflectivity data. |
| US08618975B2 |
Multi-bit successive approximation ADC
Examples are provided for converting an analog signal to a digital signal by processing more than one bit per cycle in a number of successive approximation cycles. A system may include capacitive sub-DAC circuits and comparators. Switches may isolate the capacitive sub-DAC circuits during one or more first cycles, and merge the sub-DAC circuits during one or more last cycles. A successive approximation register (SAR) may generate digital output signals or DAC digital signals. In another example, a system may include a DAC circuit. An input capacitor may be pre-charged to at least one of an analog input signal and a DAC analog signal. A programmable gain amplifier may amplify an error signal. A multi-bit ADC may convert the amplified error signal to a multi-bit digital signal. An SAR may use the multi-bit digital signal to generate a DAC digital signal or a digital output signal. |
| US08618965B2 |
Calibration of a charge-to-digital timer
A calibration method disclosed herein calibrates at least one of a capacitive load and a charging current controlling a charge-to-digital timer (CDT). In general, the disclosed calibration method measures multiple calibration phases based on start and stop signals separated by a known time difference, and therefore having a known phase, and adjusts at least one of the capacitive load and the charging current of the CDT based on the measured calibration phases. In so doing, the disclosed calibration method reduces power dissipation and peak supply currents over the frequency range of the CDT. |
| US08618960B1 |
Selective recompression of a string compressed by a plurality of diverse lossless compression techniques
In response to receiving an input string to be compressed, a plurality of diverse lossless compression techniques are applied to the input string to obtain a plurality of compressed strings. The plurality of diverse lossless compression techniques include a template-based compression technique and a non-template-based compression technique. A most compressed string among the plurality of compressed strings is selected. A determination is made regarding whether or not the most compressed string was obtained by application of the template-based compression technique. In response to determining that the most compressed string was obtained by application of the template-based compression technique, the most compressed string is compressed utilizing the non-template-based compression technique to obtain an output string and outputting the output string. In response to determining that the most compressed string was not obtained by application of the template-based compression technique, the most compressed string is output as the output string. |
| US08618957B2 |
Power management system and method for vehicle locating unit
Improved power management for a vehicle locating unit is achieved by receiving a transmission from a communication source, each transmission including at least one message frame having a data field and at least one auxiliary field; entering a wake mode upon indexing the assigned message frame of the receiver in the transmission; matching the pattern of bits of at least one auxiliary field of the indexed frame with one or more stored patterns of bits expected for that auxiliary field; and returning to the sleep mode as soon as a mismatch is determined or processing the message if no mismatch occurs. |
| US08618956B2 |
Method and system for detecting a moving vehicle within a predetermined area
The system allows a reliable and automatic detection of moving vehicles and advantageously also identification of the moving vehicles. A WPAN node device (advantageously a ZigBee node device) is installed on a vehicle to be detected when the vehicle is moving. Three WPAN node devices (advantageously three ZigBee node devices) are installed on the ground. One of the three WPAN node devices has a wide radio coverage area and acts as an “exciter” of the vehicle WPAN node device. Another one of the three WPAN node devices has a wide radio coverage area and acts as the “parent” of the vehicle WPAN node device. A further one of the three WPAN node devices has a narrow radio coverage area and acts as a “detector” of the vehicle WPAN node device. The three radio coverage areas are sized and located so that a moving vehicle to be detected enters the area of the “exciter” before entering the area of the “parent” and before entering the area of the “detector”. After detection, the system provides for sending information to a fourth WPAN node device present in a user mobile telephone terminal. |
| US08618955B2 |
Park assist system and method
A system and method of parking assist includes a detection device located in a rear portion of a vehicle. The detection device acquires data representative of a viewable area behind the vehicle. The detection device is in communication with a park assist controller. A first viewable area that includes an area where a tow device is located when attached to the rear portion of the vehicle is monitored, where the first viewable area is associated with a first field of view (FOV). If the tow device is detected within the first viewable area, the park assist controller switches between the first FOV to a second field of view (FOV) associated with a second viewable area, where the second viewable area does not include the area where the tow device is located. Feedback is provided to a display indicating if an obstacle is located within the second FOV. |
| US08618951B2 |
Traffic control database and distribution system
A database for storing intersection data efficiently is disclosed. The database stores two or more points for each approach to the intersection along with the intersection control type. A third point can be used to help define the geometry of each approach. The database can be used with a warning system or any other vehicle system. The system may use approach point and intersection control type information to provide warnings to drivers of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is approaching the intersection at such a speed that the motor vehicle cannot safely stop. Methods for distributing the database information are also disclosed. The methods include pre-installed databases, dealer installed databases and on-demand distribution of intersection information. |
| US08618950B2 |
Electronic apparatus, and control method thereof
An electronic apparatus including: a first device that includes a first display portion, the first display portion displaying information concerning the operation of the first device; and a second device that includes a second display portion, the second display portion displaying the information which the first display portion has displayed, depending on at least one of the second device having been attached to the first device, the first device having supplied an electric power to the second device, and the first device and the second device having communicated mutually. |
| US08618949B2 |
Lifting device efficient load delivery, load monitoring, collision avoidance, and load hazard avoidance
A lifting device sensor unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. A first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. A load monitor is coupled with the housing and is configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. A wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the sensor unit position, to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit. |
| US08618944B2 |
Coaxial cable connector parameter monitoring system
A coaxial cable connector system is provided. The system includes a coaxial cable connector, the connector having an internal physical parameter sensing circuit configured to sense a physical parameter of the connector and a status output component. The system further includes a data reader located externally to the connector. The reader includes a receiver element, a memory unit, a transmitter element, and a decision logic unit. The receiver element receives information about the connector, via the status output component, from the physical parameter sensing circuit. The memory unit stores predefined threshold limits of the physical parameter of the connector. The transmitter element is adapted to send the information over a network. The decision logic unit is adapted to compare the received information with the threshold limits and, if the received information exceeds the threshold limit, transmits the information over the network. The output display device is in electronic communication with the reader, configured to receive a data packet over the network. The data packet includes information that the physical parameter threshold has been exceeded. |
| US08618939B2 |
Mobile electrical device
A mobile electronic device comprising an odor sensor and methods of operation are disclosed. An odor is detected using an odor sensor coupled to the mobile electronic device, and a predetermined process is performed if the odor is a predefined odor. |
| US08618938B2 |
Gas cylinder and RFID transponder assemblies and related methods having fixed transponder orientations
Gas cylinder and RFID (radio frequency identification) transponder assemblies and related methods are disclosed that utilize fixed orientations for RFID transponders to overcome problems existing with previous solutions. The disclosed embodiments provide an advantageous solution for utilizing metal plates, such as metal identification plates, to house RFID transponders and to fix the orientation of the RFID transponders to overcame the adverse effects of metal structures distorting the magnetic fields associated with gas cylinders. This fixed orientation combined with a transponder embodying a copper wire antenna wound around a longitudinal axis of a ferrite core and the use of PSK (phase shift keying) modulation allows for adequate reader performance despite the presence of interfering metal structures such as a metal plate used to house an RFID transponder. |
| US08618937B2 |
Method and system for controlling cavity height of a leaky wave antenna for RFID communications
Methods and systems for controlling cavity height of a leaky wave antenna for RFID communications are disclosed. In this regard, an RFID transponder may receive RF signals via a leaky wave antenna and modulate a frequency of a backscattered signal by controlling a height of a resonant cavity of the leaky wave antenna. The height of the resonant cavity may be controlled via a micro-electromechanical system. The RFID transponder may modulate an amplitude of the backscattered signal by controlling an input impedance of the RFID transponder. The input impedance may be controlled by switching a load in and out of a receive path of the RFID transponder. The input impedance of the RFID transponder may be controlled by switching between a plurality of feed points of the leaky wave antenna. Each of the plurality of feed points may be located in a different position in the resonant cavity of the leaky wave antenna. |
| US08618935B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing a user visit to a site premises
Exemplary systems and methods for enhancing a user visit to a site premises are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a mobile device tracking a geographic location of the mobile device, accessing site data associated with a site premises, and providing an interactive user interface configured to enhance a visit of a user of the mobile device to the site premises based on the site data associated with the site premises and the geographic location of the mobile device within the site premises. In certain embodiments, an output may be selected based on the geographic location of the mobile device within the site premises and provided via the interactive user interface for experiencing by the user of the mobile device. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08618933B2 |
Monitoring method and apparatus using asynchronous, one-way transmission from sensor to base station
A monitoring system is disclosed, which includes a base station and at least one sensor unit that is separate from the base station. The at least one sensor unit resides in a dormant state until it is awakened by the triggering of a vibration-sensitive switch. Once awakened, the sensor may take a measurement, and then transmit to the base station the measurement. Once data is transmitted from the sensor to the base station, the sensor may return to its dormant state. There may be various sensors for each base station and the various sensors may optionally measure different quantities, such as current, voltage, single-axis and/or three-axis magnetic fields. |
| US08618931B2 |
Position-monitoring device for persons in a tunnel system
A position-monitoring device for persons in tunnel systems having an evaluation device. Reliable determination of the position of persons in the tunnel system is achieved because a locally distributed arrangement of wireless transceiver units is installed in the tunnel system, at fixed anchoring points known to the evaluation device, in the spaces to be monitored. Persons are equipped with mobile sensors. Transceiver units have wireless data-transmission interfaces via which, on one hand, can be placed in a wireless data-transmitting connection to the mobile and, on the other hand, can be placed in a wire-bound or wireless data-transmitting connection to the evaluation device. Programs with which the position of the persons can be determined on the basis of detection data of the transceiver units are stored in the evaluation device. |
| US08618930B2 |
Mobile wireless customizable health and condition monitor
A method and system for monitoring. The monitoring system may include at least one wearable monitor, which may include an accelerometer, coupled to a user; at least one server communicatively coupled using a network to the at least one wearable monitor, the accelerometer facilitating detection of a fall by the user and transmitting notification of said fall to said at least one server, and the server allowing verification of the fall and adjustment of fall detection parameters either automatically or through a user interface. |
| US08618925B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring system using wireless network
A tire pressure monitoring using wireless network includes a remote command device and a valve-stem mountable tire pressure gauge. The tire pressure gauge includes a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of a fluid in a tire and providing an output signal indicative of the detected fluid pressure, and a first radio-frequency module for transmitting data indicative of the detected fluid pressure based on the output signal of the pressure sensor. The remote command device includes a second radio-frequency module for wirelessly receiving the data transmitted by the data transmitted by the first radio frequency module, a wireless communication module for communicating via a wireless network, information based at least one data received by the second radio frequency module, and a display for displaying at least the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor. |
| US08618923B2 |
Speed alarm system
A speed alarm system includes: a vehicle position detecting unit that detects a position of a vehicle; a map data storage unit that stores map data including information on a type of a road and a speed limit of the road; an entrance determining unit that determines whether the vehicle enters a different type of road from the type of the road; an integrated travel distance detecting unit that detects an integrated travel distance on a road which the vehicle has entered and a speed detecting unit that detects a speed of the vehicle on the road which the vehicle has entered, when the entrance determining unit determines that the vehicle enters the different type of road from the type of the road before the vehicle enters; and a notification unit that gives at least an auditory or visual alarm to an occupant of the vehicle when the integrated travel distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance and the speed of the vehicle is higher than the speed limit. |
| US08618918B2 |
Patient support, communication, and computing apparatus including movement of the support and connection to the hospital network
A patient support apparatus includes an electronic control system with client browser software running on a general purpose operating system that connects with a remote server via a high speed network connection. The browser and operating system allows the patient support apparatus to access and run programs not designed exclusively for patient support apparatus electronics systems. A general purpose microprocessor along with network converter circuitry allows the patient support to deliver messages in frames having intended recipient addresses. The microprocessor communicates with one or more graphical user interfaces and with a control system that controls actuators of the patient support. The control system may comprise networked nodes, such as CAN nodes for example. Isolation circuitry isolates the patient support from a network of a care facility with which it communicates. |
| US08618917B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for remote control learning
Device control systems and methods learn to control an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment has a base device and a learning remote control. The learning remote control receives a device command signal transmitted from a remote control that controls the controlled electronic device. The base device receives a first identifier associated with a first input interface of the learning remote control, a second identifier associated with a second input interface of the learning remote control, and device control information from the learning remote control, wherein the received device control information includes information corresponding to the device command signal. The base device determines device instruction code information enabling the learning remote control to generate and transmit an emulated device command signal that is substantially the same as the device command signal when the learning remote control receives signals generated by the first input interface and the second input interface. |
| US08618915B2 |
Apparatus and method for integrating a transmitting device and a battery pack
An apparatus is provided that includes a processor mounted on a battery pack and a communication pathway from the processor to an electronic device comprising power battery contacts. The apparatus also includes an antenna mounted on the battery pack and coupled to the processor and adapted to transmit and receive data. A method is provided that includes installing an integrated chip including a processor and an antenna on a battery pack. The method also includes coupling the integrated chip and an electronic device when the battery pack is installed in the electronic device using power battery contacts. A high frequency signal superimposed on a direct current carried through the power battery contacts operates to send data between the processor and the electronic device. |
| US08618914B2 |
MEMS sensor enabled RFID system and method for operating the same
An apparatus provides environmental monitoring of an item and includes an RFID tag, and a passive switch for sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected, and coupled to the RFID tag so that a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter can be stored, the RFID tag for providing remote readout of the sensed environmental parameter. A method provides environmental monitoring of an item and includes the steps of sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected with activation of a passive switch, storing a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter upon the event of activation of the passive switch, and providing remote readout of the measurement of the sensed environmental parameter with an RFID tag. |
| US08618912B2 |
System for monitoring detachable connections using RFID tags
The invention relates to communication technology. Use of the invention allows to monitor detachable connections using one antenna for a group of ports. This technical result is achieved by steps of: a patch cord plug is provided with the sensor of connection which contains an RFID tag; a port is provided with the modulator which changes uniquely the reply signal of the RFID tag; the reply signal of the RFID tag changes perceived by an RFID interrogator is changed in an unique manner when the plug is connected to the port; the port and the plug connected to the port is identified using the changed reply signal of the RFID tag. The tag can contain a dry reed switch which is a part of the RFID tag antenna. The modulator can be an electromagnet. |
| US08618911B2 |
Simplified biometric character sequence entry
A device having a biometric input device is configured to allow a user to enter a character sequence for use in validation using the biometric input device. A predetermined assignment of characters to enrolled biometric templates allows a user to determine a sequence of biometric inputs to provide to enter an appropriate character sequence. |
| US08618910B2 |
Finger biometric sensor including laterally adjacent piezoelectric transducer layer and associated methods
A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic. |
| US08618909B1 |
Apparatus to sequence and control passenger queues
This apparatus uses queue control gates with passenger information scanners, zone indicators, and a controller to organize and sequence passengers prior to entry into an aircraft to reduce row and seat interference with other passengers. It allows airlines to decrease the gate time of their aircraft. |
| US08618906B2 |
Remote control parking barrier
A remotely controlled parking space barrier for preventing access to a reserved parking space by unauthorized vehicles includes a barrier assembly. The assembly includes an anchoring member and a rotatable barrier member that is rotatable between a relatively flat position that can be driven over and a vertical or blocking position for preventing vehicular access to the space. The remotely controlled parking space also includes a plurality of studs for anchoring the anchoring member within the parking space. The mechanism also includes an electric motor for rotating the barrier member between a generally flat and a generally vertical position. A lighting system includes a plurality of lights, an alarm and a first sensor for sensing an unauthorized vehicle within a predetermined distance from the entrance to the parking space and actuates flashing lights and sounds an audible alarm when an unauthorized vehicle approaches the entrance to the parking space or parks in front of the parking space. Further a transceiver is also provided and disposed in an authorized vehicle or carried by an authorized individual to send a signal to the transceiver to rotate the barrier member to a generally horizontal position to give access to the authorized vehicle to enter the space. Further, the barrier assembly includes a mechanism and a sensor for detecting a vehicle within the parking space and prevents the moveable barrier from being raised while the authorized vehicle is there and automatically raises the barrier upon removal of the authorized vehicle from the parking space. |
| US08618905B2 |
Verifying the ownership of an owner's authority in terms of product and service
The present invention provides an apparatus for verifying the authority of an owner, in terms of an identifier of a product, the first verification information for verifying the authority held at a terminal for an owner with the authority involving the product, and the second verification information for verifying the authority concerning the identifier of the product stored in a product database. The apparatus comprises means for receiving the identifier and the first verification information, means for acquiring the second verification information from the product DB, and means for determining whether or not there is the authority from the first verification information and the second verification information. A hash value acquired from a one-way hash function is employed as a verification key of the verification information. |
| US08618903B2 |
Power supply improvements
A power supply apparatus which includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, whereby magnetic flux generated by a varying primary voltage applied to the primary winding induces a varying secondary voltage on the secondary winding, a torroidal transformer core over which said primary winding and secondary winding are applied, and at least one magnetic shunt arranged to provide a diversion path for magnetic flux generated by the primary winding which diverts magnetic flux from the secondary winding. |
| US08618899B2 |
Converter and power conversion device
A converter including a reactor as one of a component for the converter, the reactor comprising: a coil; a core having an inner core portion arranged inside the coil and an outer core portion covering the outside of the coil; and a case housing the coil and the core, wherein the case has a heat-radiation structure at an inner wall surface, the heat-radiation structure being provided for at least one of the coil and the inner core portion, wherein the heat-radiation structure is non-similar to an outer wall surface of the case, and is formed of the inner wall surface that is formed to correspond to an external shape of the at least one of the coil and the inner core portion. |
| US08618896B2 |
Apparatus for tripping an electrical switch
An apparatus for tripping an electrical switch is disclosed, which includes a selective tripping device and a power-storing mechanism. The electrical switch can be tripped by the selective tripping device by way of the power-storing mechanism. |
| US08618894B2 |
Multi-mode resonant filter
Various multi-mode resonant filters including a housing having a cavity, are provided. The multi-mode resonant filters include a Dielectric Resonant (DR) element received in the cavity of the housing, and a plurality of transmission lines for connecting a point on one of a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis with a point on another axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are orthogonal to each other with respect to a center of the DR element. |
| US08618893B2 |
Transmission medium with inductive current transmission on multiple conductors
A transmission medium includes inductive couplers, signal lines and conductors. Each of the signal lines is configured to receive a respective one of multiple input signals. Each of the signal lines extends through at least one of the inductive couplers and is configured to inductively transmit one of the input signals to the at least one of the inductive couplers. Each of the conductors is configured to extend through at least two of the inductive couplers. The conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor. The inductive couplers are configured to inductively transmit the input signals to the conductors to generate a first current and a second current. The first current flows in the first conductor and towards an output of the first conductor. The second current flows in the second conductor and towards an input of the second conductor. |
| US08618892B2 |
Communication device and communication system
There is provided a communication system including a transmitter and a receiver, each including a communication circuit unit that processes a high-frequency signal for transmitting data, a band-pass filter, and a high frequency coupler, a distributed constant line connecting the high frequency coupler and the band-pass filter of the transmitter, and a distributed constant line connecting the high frequency coupler and the band-pass filter of the receiver, wherein an electrical length of the distributed constant line of the transmitter is different from an electrical length of the distributed constant line of the receiver. |
| US08618885B2 |
Low frequency oscillator for burst-mode dimming control for CCFL driver system
Oscillator system and method thereof. The oscillator system includes a first voltage-to-current converter configured to receive a first voltage and generate a first current based on at least information associated with the first voltage, and a second voltage-to-current converter configured to receive a second voltage and generate a second current based on at least information associated with the second voltage. Additionally, the oscillator system further includes a current-mode N-bit digital-to-analog converter configured to receive at least the second current and a first clock signal and to generate a third current based on at least information associated with the second current and the first clock signal. N is a first integer. The first clock signal is associated with a first clock frequency corresponding to a first clock period. Moreover, the oscillator system further includes a current comparator coupled to the first voltage-to-current converter and the current-mode N-bit digital-to-analog converter. |
| US08618877B2 |
Pilot signal generation circuit
In various embodiments, a pilot signal generation circuit is provided having an operational amplifier buffer connected via a first resistor to receive a source reference voltage. A differential amplifier is connected at a first input to receive the source reference voltage and at a second input to an output of the operational amplifier buffer. A first shunt transistor is connected to shunt the source reference voltage at the operational amplifier buffer in response to pulse width modulated signal. A second shunt transistor is connected to the differential operational amplifier so as to shunt the source reference voltage in response to an output of the first shunt transistor. The output of the differential amplifier provides a pulse width modulated bipolar signal at precision voltage levels in response to the pulse width modulated signal. |
| US08618875B2 |
Using a new synchronization scheme for a multi-channel class-D amplifier
Various embodiments are described herein for a multi-channel class-D amplifier and an associated processing method. In general, the multi-channel class-D amplifier comprises a signal source that provides a plurality of input signals and generates synchronization information; and a plurality of class-D amplifier channel modules, each class-D amplifier channel module being configured to process a corresponding input signal from the plurality of input signals according to the synchronization information to produce an output signal. The switching frequencies employed by the plurality of class-D amplifier channel modules are substantially similar to one another and the processing of the plurality of input signals is offset in time across the plurality of class-D amplifier channel modules. |
| US08618874B2 |
Calibration of signal processing apparatus
A signal processing apparatus is provided that comprises a signal path including first and second signal processing stages for processing a signal. A switch, in a first state couples and in a second state de-couples an output of the first signal processing stage to an input of the second signal processing stage. An auxiliary stage coupled to the output of the first signal processing stage generates a control signal dependent to a DC level at the output of the first signal processing stage, on a DC level in the auxiliary stage, and indicates a DC offset at an output of the second signal processing stage. A calibration circuit, responsive to the control signal, adjusts a DC level in the signal path preceding the output of the first signal processing stage when the switch is in the second state. |
| US08618871B2 |
Noise reduction device and semiconductor device having the same
A semiconductor device includes a first terminal for receiving a first signal; a second terminal for receiving a second signal having more restriction than the first signal with respect to a delay upon transmitting to an internal circuit; a first noise reduction circuit; and a second noise reduction circuit. The first noise reduction circuit includes a first Schmitt circuit for receiving the first signal from the first terminal; and an output signal adjusting unit for adjusting an output signal of the first Schmitt circuit when the output signal is maintained for a specific period of time after the output signal is varied. The second noise reduction circuit includes a second Schmitt circuit for receiving the second signal from the second terminal; and an input signal adjusting unit for adjusting the second signal input to the second Schmitt circuit according to a fluctuation of a power source voltage. |
| US08618870B2 |
Voltage characteristic regulating method of latch circuit, voltage characteristic regulating method of semiconductor device, and voltage characteristic regulator of latch circuit
The voltage Vdd is set to be lower than in the normal operation (step S100), then voltage is applied to each of the power-supply voltage applied node Vdd, the ground voltage applied node Vss, the semiconductor substrate and the well so that relative high voltage between the gate of turn-on transistor and the semiconductor substrate or the gate of turn-on transistor and well (steps S110 and S120). This process accomplishes rising of the threshold voltage of the transistor that is turned on, the reduction of the variation in the threshold voltage between a plurality of the transistors of the memory cell including latch circuit, and the improvement of the voltage characteristic of the memory cell. |
| US08618867B2 |
Controlled charge pump arrangement and method for controlling a clocked charge pump
A controlled charge pump comprises a clock operated charge pump having an output terminal to provide an output voltage. A first sub-circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the clocked operated charge pump and adapted to provide a first control signal in response to a comparison of the output voltage with a first reference signal. A second sub-circuit is coupled to the clocked operated charge pump and provides a second control signal in response to a comparison of a switch current within the clocked operated charge pump with a second reference signal. A clock skip controller is adapted to control the mode of operation of the clocked operated charge pump in response to that first and second control signals. |
| US08618860B2 |
System and method of transistor switch biasing in a high power semiconductor switch
A circuit and method are provided for switching in a semiconductor based high power switch. Complementary p-type based transistors are utilized along insertion loss insensitive paths allowing biasing voltages to alternate between supply and ground, allowing for negative voltage supplies and blocking capacitors to be dispensed with, while improving performance. |
| US08618852B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
An SSCG generating a center-spread modulated clock centering on a frequency obtained by multiplying an input reference clock frequency by a predetermined number is configured to include a phase comparator, a VCO, and a modulation circuit formed by a frequency divider and a division ratio modulation circuit. The division ratio modulation circuit supplies the frequency divider with a division ratio modulated above and below the predetermined multiplication number, and outputs a magnitude relationship involved as a spread direction identification signal. The diagnostic circuit includes a counter that counts the modulated clock and, based on the spread direction identification signal, performs counting operations during an up-spread or down-spread period. Based on the values counted for a predetermined period, the operating status of the SSCG is diagnosed for the presence or absence of a failure, for example. |
| US08618851B2 |
Phase-locked loop apparatus and tuning voltage providing circuit thereof
A phase-locked loop apparatus (PLL apparatus) and a tuning voltage providing circuit thereof are provided. The PLL apparatus is for receiving an input signal and producing an output signal according to the received input signal. The PLL apparatus includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a loop filter and a tuning voltage providing circuit. The VCO receives a control voltage and produces the output signal according to the received control voltage. The loop filter has a resistor-capacitor network and the network receives the control voltage and is coupled to a reference voltage. The tuning voltage providing circuit receives the output signal and the input signal and provides a tuning voltage to the resistor-capacitor network according to the input signal and the output signal. |
| US08618842B2 |
Differential PVT/timing-skew-tolerant self-correcting circuits
Systems and methods for circuits that self-correct errors due to variations in fabrication processes, voltages, and temperature (PVT), as well as input timing errors. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for improving output signal quality in a complementary logic circuit is provided. An n-type transistor in the complementary logic circuit is digitally enabled or biased with a first variable power supply. A p-type transistor in the complementary logic circuit is digitally enabled or biased with a second variable power supply, providing a voltage different from that of the first variable power supply, to mitigate a difference in the switching times between the p-type transistor and the n-type transistor. |
| US08618839B2 |
Utilizing a sense amplifier to select a suitable circuit
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for utilizing a sense amplifier to select a suitable circuit, wherein a suitable circuit generates a voltage that is greater than or equal to a configurable reference voltage. An amplifier gain selector selects a voltage gain of a sense amplifier having input terminals, auxiliary inputs, an output, an array of resistive loads, and the amplifier gain selector. Auxiliary inputs are utilized to nullify direct current (DC) offset voltage of the sense amplifier. Combinatorial logic circuitry connects the input terminals of the sense amplifier to output terminals of a circuit that is within a group of circuits. A comparator circuit determines if the circuit generates a voltage greater than or equal to a configurable reference voltage, based on the output of the sense amplifier. |
| US08618835B2 |
Compact high-speed mixed-signal interface
An apparatus is disclosed for converting signals from one digital integrated circuit family to be compatible with another digital integrated circuit family. The apparatus includes a primary interface and a secondary interface to convert a differential output signal from one digital integrated circuit family for use as an input signal by another digital integrated circuit family. The primary and secondary interfaces include gain stages that are configurable to provide rail to rail voltage swings and are characterized as having single pole architectures. The secondary interface may be unterminated such that a substantially equal load is presented to both components of the differential output signal. |
| US08618834B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring an integrated circuit
A method and apparatus configures an integrated circuit by determining a multi-bit configuration value on a single node. The multi-bit configuration value is determined by using at least a voltage level at the single node and also by detecting a time to reach a voltage threshold level at the single node, based on a voltage ramp generation circuit. The method and apparatus also includes configuring an operation mode of a circuit in the integrated circuit based on the determined multi-bit configuration value from the single node. Multi-bit configuration values may be obtained on multiple single nodes in an integrated circuit. In one example, a voltage level is employed in addition to a time to reach a voltage threshold level whereas in another example a current level on a single node is utilized in combination with detection of a time to reach a voltage threshold level. |
| US08618827B2 |
Measurement of electrical and mechanical characteristics of low-K dielectric in a semiconductor device
Provided is a test structure for testing an unpackaged semiconductor wafer. The test structure includes a force-application component that is coupled to an interconnect structure of the semiconductor wafer. The force-application component is operable to exert a force to the semiconductor wafer. The test structure also includes first and second test portions that are coupled to the interconnect structure. The first and second test portions are operable to measure an electrical performance associated with a predetermined region of the interconnect structure. The first and second test portions are operable to measure the electrical performance while the force is exerted to the semiconductor wafer. |
| US08618820B2 |
Method and device for measuring the purity of ultrapure water
This is a method for analyzing the purity of water at the outlet from a purification device. It includes the following steps: a) sending the liquid at the outlet from the filter means to a resistivity measuring cell to determine its resistivity ρUPW; b) establishing a reference mode by exposing a portion of the liquid to said oxidation means (2) during a given number of significantly different time periods; c) determining by regression the resistivity at infinity ρ∞REF of said liquid in this reference mode; d) establishing an analysis mode by causing said liquid to be analyzed to pass through the resistivity measuring cell; e) determining the resistivity at infinity ρ∞ of said liquid in this analysis mode by successive iterations; and f) calculating the quantity of organic compounds contained in the purified liquid from this resistivity at infinity ρ∞ and at least the values ρUPW and ρ∞REF. |
| US08618818B2 |
Electrostatic capacity type touch sensor
This invention offers an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor that can be calibrated in a short period of time at a moment when a finger of operator or the like does not touch a touch pad. An absolute value of a difference (AD0−AD2) between a first output voltage AD0 and a third output voltage AD2 is compared with a first threshold value Vtr1 in step S10. When the difference (AD0−AD2) between the output voltages is smaller than the first threshold value Vtr1, it is judged that the finger of operator or the like does not touch the touch pad, and it is judged which of an offset in a second output voltage AD1 and an offset in the third output voltage AD2 is smaller than the other. When the offset in the second output voltage AD1 is smaller than the offset in the third output voltage AD2, the modification to the second calibration data X1 is permitted. |
| US08618814B2 |
High bandwidth passive switching current sensor
In an printed circuit board on which an integrated circuit die is mounted, an array of plated through holes (PTHs) are formed which include conductive power and ground PTH structures which are connected to provide power and ground reference voltages to the integrated circuit die, and isolated current sensing PTH structures which are formed within sensing proximity to the conductive power and ground PTH structures for sensing current switching activity in the conductive power and ground PTH structures by inductively converting dynamic current changes in the conductive power and ground PTH structures into a measurable voltage signal. |
| US08618809B2 |
Electrical isolation detection with enhanced dynamic range
A bus terminal is isolated from ground potential during normal operation of the vehicle. A first current is applied to the bus terminal. A current level detector is arranged to detect a first level of the first current, or a corresponding observed voltage level, that exists or flows from the bus terminal to ground. A compensator is configured to compensate for a range in the detected first level by applying a corresponding compensating voltage level to a first resistor coupled to the current level detector. An electronic data processor is capable of estimating a first isolation level between the bus terminal and ground based on the detected first level. |
| US08618808B2 |
Field device
Disclosed is a field device which determines whether or not an abnormality which was detected is the type of abnormality which may not allow the output of a burn-out H signal, and sets a signal output for the abnormality to a burn-out L signal when the type of abnormality was one which may not allow the output of a burn-out H signal. For example, an abnormality in the D/A converter or the power supply. Therefore, a burn-out L signal is always output for an abnormality judged likely not to be able to output a burn-out H signal, and the certainty of reporting an abnormality when burn-out H is set is enhanced. |
| US08618802B2 |
Power amplifier for a magnetic resonance device
A power amplifier unit for a magnetic resonance device includes at least two power amplifier modules. Symmetrical output signals from the at least two power amplifier modules are fed to a shared balun. The shared balun is provided on a printed circuit board (PCB) and is realized in a unit with the at least two power amplifier modules. The balun is configured to asymmetrize a sum signal. |
| US08618799B1 |
Magnetic resonance system and method employing a digital SQUID
A magnetic resonance system, comprising at least one SQUID, configured to receive a radio frequency electromagnetic signal, in a circuit configured to produce a pulsatile output having a minimum pulse frequency of at least 1 GHz which is analyzed in a processor with respect to a timebase, to generate a digital signal representing magnetic resonance information. The processor may comprise at least one rapid single flux quantum circuit. The magnetic resonance information may be image information. A plurality of SQUIDs may be provided, fed by a plurality of antennas in a spatial array, to provide parallel data acquisition. A broadband excitation may be provided to address a range of voxels per excitation cycle. The processor may digitally compensate for magnetic field inhomogeneities. |
| US08618796B2 |
Electrical current sensor
Closed-loop current sensor comprising a magnetic circuit, a magnetic field sensor, and a compensation circuit configured to generate a magnetic field opposing a magnetic field created by an electrical current to be measured flowing in one or more primary conductors (10) extending through a central opening (38) of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit comprises a magnetic core (4) made of at least two core parts (28a, 28b) assembled together to form a substantially closed magnetic circuit, wherein a second branch (32) of the magnetic circuit comprises inner (40a, 40b) and outer (42a, 42b) wall portions joined by one or more lateral wall portions (46a, 46b, 46a′, 46b′) at least partially surrounding a cavity portion (44) receiving the magnetic field sensor (8) therein, the lateral and outer wall portions extending from one or both lateral edges of the inner wall portion. |
| US08618794B2 |
Detecting inductive objects using inputs of integrated circuit device
A system for detecting inductive objects includes an inductive sensor circuit for detecting changes in an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) environment and an integrated circuit (“IC”) device. The inductive sensor circuit generates an oscillating analog waveform with an envelope that indicates changes in the EMF environment. The oscillating waveform is coupled to the digital input pin of the IC. A digital interface circuit in the IC is coupled to the digital input pin and is configured for detecting if the oscillating waveform exceeds high and low threshold voltage levels. The detecting results in a digital pulse which represents changes in the EMF environment. In another implementation, a timer input capture pin can be used to detect the waveform envelope decay by storing the time when the waveform crosses a threshold value during a time period. A reduced capture time after the time period expires indicates a change in the EMF environment. |
| US08618792B2 |
Rotation angle detection device, and rotation angle detection method
A rotation angle detection device includes: a detection portion that detects detection angle that univocally corresponds to rotation angle of a rotating body which is within a predetermined range, wherein the detection angle linearly increases from a minimum value to a maximum value as the rotation angle increases within a unit range, and the detection angle changes from the maximum value to the minimum value or from the minimum value to the maximum value at a boundary between unit ranges that are adjacent to each other; and a correction portion that corrects the detection angle so that the detection angle detected in the predetermined range has linear characteristics, if the boundary between the unit ranges is contained in the predetermined range. |
| US08618788B2 |
Dynamically adjusted multi-phase regulator
In some embodiments, a multi-phase converter with dynamic phase adjustment is provided. In some embodiments, a controller may include circuitry to control how many phase legs are active based on output current and also which phase legs are to be enabled. |
| US08618782B2 |
Means and associated methods for digitally controlling converter systems
The embodiments of the present invention illustrate a means for digitally controlling a converter system and associated method. Wherein the means for digitally controlling a converter system comprises a means for generating a digital error signal according to an output voltage of the converter system and a reference voltage, a means for generating a digital control signal according to a digital reference signal and the digital error signal, and a means for generating a PWM signal according to the digital control signal in order to control the converter system. The means for digitally controlling a converter system and associated method at least alleviate the problem of limit-cycle oscillation, and promote the performance of system transient response and accuracy. |
| US08618780B2 |
Multimode voltage regulator and method for providing a multimode voltage regulator output voltage and an output current to a load
A multimode voltage regulator comprises an output for providing a regulator output voltage Vdd and an output current to a load and a low power reference voltage source having a reference voltage output providing the regulator output voltage Vdd, when in a first low power mode the output current is not greater than a threshold value. It may comprise a buffer amplifier having an output providing the regulator output voltage Vdd, when the output current is greater than the threshold value and a first bias voltage input being connected in a second low power mode to the reference voltage output when the output current is greater than the threshold value for less than a predefined time. And it may comprise a mode controller for automatically determining the output current and automatically switching from first low power mode to second low power mode. |
| US08618779B2 |
Switch-mode regulator including hysteretic control
This document discusses, among other things, a regulator circuit. The regulator circuit can controllably connect a first voltage to an inductor using a first switch and can controllably connect a second voltage to the inductor using a second switch. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to a difference between the first voltage and a third voltage, divided by the first voltage. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to the third voltage divided by the first voltage. One of the first or third voltages can correspond to a desired output voltage. |
| US08618778B2 |
Circuit and method for coupling electrical energy to a resonated inductive load
A switching circuit (Q11, Q12, D11, D12, D13, L11, L12) is repetitively configured to charge an energy transfer capacitance (C11) from an electrical supply (V11) and then inject a discrete pulse of energy into a resonated load circuit by discharging the capacitance. The load circuit is formed by a resonating capacitance (C12) and an inductive load device (T11, R11), eg motor, or induction heating or power transfer device. Energy circulates in the load circuit at or near to its natural resonant frequency. There is no injection of energy into the load circuit while energy for charging the transfer capacitance is being delivered from the supply to the switching circuit. During injection, the two capacitances and the inductive load device may be connected together in parallel or in series, or the transfer capacitance may be connected in series with the inductive load device but not the resonating capacitor. |
| US08618771B2 |
Electric powered vehicle, vehicle charge device and vehicle charge system
A vehicle has a low voltage power generating unit mounted thereon, which passively generates low voltage power when the vehicle is electrically connected to commercial power supply through coupling of a connector unit. A winding transformer transforms the commercial power supply input to the primary side with a prescribed ratio of transformation, and the transformation is performed without requiring any control signal from the outside. The AC power with voltage lowered, output from the secondary side of winding transformer, is rectified by a diode unit, and a low voltage power is generated. The low voltage power generated by the diode unit is supplied through a supplementary low voltage DC line to a sub battery and to a controller. |
| US08618767B2 |
Charging control apparatus for vehicle and vehicle
A switch of a connecting circuit is connected between a signal line branched from an input terminal for a pilot signal in a charging inlet and a ground line connected to a vehicle earth, and is turned on/off in response to a control signal from a CPU. The CPU causes the switch to be turned on when a connector is not connected to the charging inlet, and detects a break in a control pilot line based on whether or not a change in the potential of the pilot signal occurs at that time. |
| US08618766B2 |
Robot power source charging station
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for recharging a mobile robot as a power source. In one embodiment the system comprises a power transmission link having a first end positioned at a selectively located charging station and a second end connected to the battery carried by the robot, the transmission link being configured to transmit power from its first end to its second end to charge the battery. The system further comprises a first wireless power transmitter coupled to receive power from a specified power source, and a first wireless power receiver, connected to the first end of the transmission link and located at a prespecified distance from the first wireless power transmitter. The first wireless power receiver is configured to receive power transmitted across the prespecified distance from the first wireless power transmitter, and to provide power to the first end of the transmission link, for transmission to charge the battery. |
| US08618763B2 |
Motor drive circuit
The invention provides a motor with a low speed start function and a soft start function. The motor includes a first pulse generation circuit generating a first pulse signal of which a first duty ratio of one of logic levels is increased as a drive voltage corresponding the target rotation speed of the motor is increased, a second pulse generation circuit generating a second pulse signal of which a second duty ratio of one of logic levels is different from the first duty ratio, and a drive control circuit supplying a drive current to a motor coil at the second duty ratio in order to start the rotation of the motor that is stopping and supplying a drive current to the motor coil at the first duty ratio after a predetermined time passes from the start of the rotation of the motor in response to a rotation signal corresponding to the rotation of the motor. |
| US08618762B2 |
System and method for tensioning a robotically actuated tendon
A tendon tensioning system includes a tendon having a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator, and a motor controller. The actuator may include a drive screw and a motor, and may be coupled with the proximal end of the tendon and configured to apply a tension through the tendon in response to an electrical current. The motor controller may be electrically coupled with the actuator, and configured to provide an electrical current having a first amplitude to the actuator until a stall tension is achieved through the tendon; provide a pulse current to the actuator following the achievement of the stall tension, where the amplitude of the pulse current is greater than the first amplitude, and return the motor to a steady state holding current following the conclusion of the pulse current. |
| US08618761B2 |
Method for controlling motor operation using information characterizing regions of motor operation
A method for collecting operational parameters of a motor may include controlling the energization of a phase winding of the motor to establish an operating point, monitoring operational parameters of the motor that characterize a relationship between the energization control applied to the motor's phase winding and the motor's response to this control, and collecting information of the operational parameters for the operating point that characterizes the relationship between the applied energization control and the motor's response. The collected information characterizing the relationship between the applied energization control and the motor's response may be employed by a neural network to estimate the regions of operation of the motor. And a system for controlling the operation of motor may employ this information, the neural network, or both to regulate the energization of a motor's phase winding during a phase cycle. |
| US08618758B2 |
Electric device comprising an alternating current electric motor and a control inverter and a method for measuring the electromotive force of this device
The invention relates to an electric device (1) comprising an alternating current electric motor (3) and a control inverter (5) for controlling the phase or phases of the motor (3). The motor (3) comprises, on at least one winding of at least one phase (PA, PB, PC), a point (Ma, Mb, Mc) for measuring a voltage relative to a predefined potential (M), the measurement point (Ma, Mb, Mc) being chosen so that it divides the winding into a first (Za1; Zb1; Zc1) and a second (Za2; Zb2; Zc2) portion such that the electromotive forces (ea1, ea2) induced in the two portions are phase-shifted relative to one another and means (11A; 11B; 11C) for measuring the voltage between the measurement point and the predefined potential. The invention also relates to an associated method for measuring electromotive forces. |
| US08618756B2 |
Systems and method for controlling electric motors
A method for controlling a permanent magnet synchronous motor is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a feedback current from a motor; generating a digital current signal based on the feedback current, the digital current signal indicative of a value of the feedback current; generating a power signal and a first imaginary power signal based on the digital current signal and a three-phase voltage signal; receiving a speed signal indicative of an expected speed of the motor; generating a phase signal based on the speed signal and the power signal; generating a voltage signal based on the speed signal, the power signal, and the first imaginary power signal; and adjusting the three-phase voltage signal for driving the motor based on the voltage signal and the phase signal. |
| US08618755B2 |
Control device for a motor and method for controlling said motor
A control device is for a motor, especially a brushless DC motor. The control device contains a bridge circuit for generating a rotating field for the motor and a sensor system for detecting a position of a rotor of the motor, a control signal for the bridge circuit being derivable from the signal representing the rotor position. The sensor system includes an absolute value transmitter which detects the absolute position of the rotor and which is configured to derive at least one incremental signal from the absolute position and to make it directly available to a control component for controlling the bridge circuit for commuting the motor. |
| US08618753B2 |
Inverter device
An inverter device includes a filter circuit, an inverter circuit, an electric current detecting circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, a control circuit for outputting a drive signal so as to switch switching devices, and an internal power supply. The control circuit includes a shutdown circuit for stopping outputting the drive signal to the switching devices when an electric current flowing through a motor is an overcurrent or a voltage across the inverter circuit is an overvoltage or the voltage outputted from the internal power supply is not stabilized. When electric power by residual charge in the capacitor is used after the inverter device is disconnected from a high-voltage battery, the control circuit generates the drive signal based on a reference waveform and three commands for keeping switching devices corresponding to one phase in either ON or OFF state and for switching ON and OFF the other remaining switching devices. |
| US08618749B2 |
Inductively coupled ballast circuit
A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range. |
| US08618747B2 |
Power factor correction circuit and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to a power factor correction circuit and a driving method thereof. The power factor correction circuit refers to an inductor receiving an input voltage and supplying output power, a power switch connected to the inductor and controlling an inductor current flowing in the inductor, and an auxiliary coil coupled with the inductor with a predetermined turn ratio. The power factor correction circuit controls the output power by controlling a switching operation of the power switch, and counts the number of times that the inductor current reaches a predetermined maximum current to turn off the power switch when the count result reaches a predetermined short circuit threshold count. |
| US08618746B1 |
LED ballast controller device
A device and method to interface with a Magnetic or Electronic Fluorescent Ballast; evaluate, process, and regulate the incoming power from the Ballast device and output a steady AC power that can be used by LED drivers, LED chips, or set of multiple LED chips in a Tube or Bulb application. This device and method will allow for a non-fluorescent replacement lighting device such as a LED Lighting Tube or Bulb to be used in a Fluorescent Light Luminaire (fixture) without any electrical wiring modification or removal of the Electronic or Magnetic Ballast. |
| US08618744B2 |
Control apparatus and lighting apparatus incorporating control apparatus
Control apparatus for controlling an aspect of an apparatus are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the control apparatus comprises a dimmer that includes a variable impedance. In certain embodiments of the invention, the dimmer may be a TRIAC dimmer having a voltage at a gate electrode of the TRIAC that is always below a trigger voltage for the TRIAC such that the TRIAC never turns on and the remaining components within the TRIAC dimmer can be used as discreet components in a larger circuit. In the control apparatus, the dimmer may be coupled to a signal generation circuit that may generate an output signal whose frequency (period) is dictated at least in part by an impedance of the variable impedance. The output signal may be used to control an aspect of an apparatus such as the intensity, color or color temperature for a lighting apparatus. |
| US08618739B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for operating discharge lamps
A circuit arrangement for operating discharge lamps is provided with an input, to which an AC system voltage from a power supply system can be connected, an output, to which at least one discharge lamp can be connected, a backup capacitance, which is arranged between the input and the output, and a switch, which is in a charging current path of the backup capacitance. The circuit arrangement may include a driver configured to clock the switch for a predetermined period of time when the circuit arrangement is switched on for periodically interrupting the charging current path of the backup capacitance. |
| US08618736B2 |
High frequency helical amplifier and oscillator
Disclosed herein is a class of mm and sub mm wavelength amplifiers and oscillators operating with miniature helical slow wave circuits manufactured using micro fabrication technology. The helices are supported by diamond dielectric support rods. Diamond is the best possible thermal conductor, and it can be bonded to the helix. The electron beam is transmitted, not through the center of the helix, but around the outside. In some configurations the RF power produced may be radiated directly from the slow wave circuit. The method of fabrication, which is applicable above 60 GHz, is compatible with mass production. |
| US08618727B2 |
Transparent organic light emitting diode
The invention relates to a transparent organic light emitting diode (OLED) (1), comprising: a substrate material (2) with a top face (2a) and a bottom face (2b), whereas at least on the top face (2a) is arranged at least one OLED-layer system with a first electrode layer (3), a second electrode layer (4) and an organic light emitting layer system (5), arranged in between said first electrode layer (3) and said second electrode layer (4), whereas said OLED (1) is performed to emit light via the top face (2a) and via the bottom face (2b) and whereas the top face (2a) and the bottom face (2b) of said OLED (1) feature at least one bright lucent area (6) and at least one dark lucent area (7). The invention discloses that at least one layer on the top face (2a) features a varying relation between transparency and reflectivity in the lateral extension of the OLED (1) in such a way, that the OLED (1) features at least one bright lucent area (6) and at least one dark lucent area (7) at the top face (2a) and at the bottom face (2b), whereas said bright lucent areas (6) are arranged opposite to said dark lucent areas (7). |
| US08618726B2 |
Field emission panel, liquid crystal display having the same, field emission display having the same and method for packaging field emission panel
A field emission panel includes: a first glass plate which comprises a phosphor layer, a second glass plate which is disposed in parallel to the first glass plate and comprises a plurality of electron emission elements; and a sealing member which is interposed between the first and the second glass plates to seal a space between the first and the second glass plates, wherein a part of the sealing member is hidden inside the first and the second glass plates and the other part of the sealing member is exposed to outsides of the first and the second glass plates. |
| US08618725B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes a ceramic insulator, a center electrode, a metallic shell, and a ground electrode. The center electrode has a shoulder portion at a forward end portion, which tapers forward with respect to the axial direction. A noble metal tip is joined to the forward end portion of the center electrode through a fusion zone. A spark discharge gap is formed between the noble metal tip and the ground electrode. The shortest distance between the fusion zone and a forward end surface of the noble metal tip is 0.8-1.2 mm. The outside diameter of the fusion zone as measured at a forward end of the fusion zone is smaller than that as measured at a rear end of the fusion zone. An acute angle θ1 formed by a straight line L1 and a straight line L2 satisfies the relational expression θ1≦72°. |
| US08618724B2 |
Reflective frame for light-emitting element, substrate for light-emitting element and light-emitting device
To provide a reflective frame for a light-emitting element, which can be preferably used for a light-emitting device having a metal member on which a light-emitting element is mounted, whereby the light extraction efficiency, the reliability and the productivity, etc. can be improved. A reflective frame for a light-emitting element, which is made of a sintered body comprising a glass material and a ceramic powder; and the sintered body is one fired at at most 900° C. and has a porosity of at most 15% and an average reflectance at a wave length of from 400 to 700 nm being at least 86% when the thickness is 1 mm. |
| US08618722B2 |
Piezoelectric resonator plate and manufacturing method for piezoelectric resonator plate
In a piezoelectric resonator plate, a substrate having a main face formed in a rectangular shape is provided with a vibration portion and a joining portion that are integrated with each other, the vibration portion including a vibration region configured by forming a pair of excitation electrodes, and the joining portion having formed therein a pair of terminal electrodes that is joined to an external portion. The terminal electrodes in the pair each have a conductive bump formed therein and are electrically connected respectively to the excitation electrodes in the pair. Also, the substrate includes a post portion formed convexly at a position where the pair of terminal electrodes is formed. |
| US08618720B2 |
Piezoelectric assembly
A piezoelectric assembly is described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a piezoelectric assembly comprising: an electrode assembly; a signal electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a reference electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and a spacer positioned about a perimeter of the electrode assembly and disposed between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector such that no electrical communication is provided between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector through the spacer; wherein a humidity barrier space is defined between the signal electrical connector, the reference electrical connector and the spacer, and wherein the electrode assembly is disposed in the humidity barrier space. |
| US08618719B2 |
Autonomous power generation unit for auxiliary system on an airborne platform
A power generation device that provides power to an auxiliary system on an airborne platform, includes a piezoelectric energy harvesting device and an energy storage unit, including a battery and a power conditioner. The device extracts energy generated by turbulent airflow around the platform and stores the energy to meet future power requirements. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device is located on a portion of an inner surface of an outward shell of the platform. The stand-alone power generation device is electrically connected to the auxiliary system. The stand-alone power generation device also includes a router that connects the power generation unit to the platform electrical distribution system. Excess power generated by the device may be delivered to the platform electrical distribution system for use by other platform systems. |
| US08618718B2 |
Transducer
According to embodiments of the present invention, a transducer is provided. The transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode such that the first electrode and the second electrode form respective capacitive electrodes of a capacitor, the second electrode comprising a core portion and a peripheral portion, a third electrode disposed relative to the second electrode such that the third electrode overlaps with the peripheral portion of the second electrode, and a piezoelectric element disposed between the peripheral portion of the second electrode and the third electrode, so as to tune a tensional force provided by the piezoelectric element onto the second electrode by varying a piezoelectric voltage applied between the second electrode and the third electrode. |
| US08618717B2 |
System and method for connection to a wireless network
The invention provides a method and system for connection and/or reconnection of a computing device to a wireless network. Embodiments of the system and method may, when appropriate, inhibit use of stored IP addresses, for example by deleting or effectively deleting stored IP addresses. By deleting or effectively deleting stored IP addresses, the computing device is influenced to request, via an associated wireless communication device, a new valid IP address from an access point which in turn requests a valid IP address from the wireless service provider server. |
| US08618713B2 |
Brush holder apparatus
A brush holder apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the brush holder apparatus includes: a first support member; a second support member affixed to the first support member; a brush retainment member affixed to the first support member and extending substantially parallel with the second support member; and a cam member operably connected to the second support member, the cam member configured to retain a brush against the brush retainment member. |
| US08618711B2 |
Three-phase DC motor
A three-phase DC motor includes a rotor 30 having poles 30a and a stator 28 having core units 32b arranged around the rotor 30. Three or more coils are wound around the core units 32b. An outer surface of the rotor 30 has alternating poles of N and S around the circumference of the rotor 30. The coils 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d are placed only within a range defined by second virtual planes P2 specified respectively by rotating a first virtual plane P1 according to a predetermined angle in a rotor rotating direction and a direction opposite thereto. The first virtual plane P1 passes through the axial center of the rotor 30. The inner surface of the adjacent 3N (N=1, 2, 3, . . . ) number of core units 32b are delimited within a width of one pole on the outer surface of the rotor 30. |
| US08618709B2 |
Rotary electric machine with improved energy efficiency
A rotary electric machine configured with a stator, rotor, and permanent magnets disposed in an inverted V-shape that becomes gradually narrower from a side of a center of rotation of the rotor. The rotor is provided with a plurality of support portions that extend radially about the center of rotation, and gap portions are respectively formed in correspondence with the plurality of support portions at positions spaced by a predetermined distance from an edge portion of the permanent magnets in a flowing direction of magnetic flux between the permanent magnets and the stator. The gap portions are formed to have such a length that causes magnetic saturation during generation of low torque in a low-current state and that causes no magnetic saturation during generation of maximum torque in a high-current state in which electricity at a high current is supplied to the stator coil. |
| US08618707B2 |
Magnetic bearing with high-temperature superconductor elements
A magnetic bearing with high-temperature superconductor elements which has a stator and a rotor, which is held such that it can rotate with respect to the stator and is mounted in an axially and radially self-regulating manner in the stator. A body of a Type-2 superconductor, in particular a high-temperature superconductor, is provided on the rotor. The stator has a coil of a superconducting material. |
| US08618706B2 |
Fluid pumping capillary seal for a fluid dynamic bearing
A motor includes a rotatable component rotatable relative to a stationary component, a fluid operable to flow between the rotatable and stationary component, and a capillary sealing component. The capillary sealing component provides a capillary seal and includes at least one tapered slot configured to pump the fluid between the rotatable and stationary components. |
| US08618705B2 |
Electromechanical arrangement for driving and/or braking a shaft
An electromechanical device for driving and/or braking a shaft (1) includes an electric motor having a rotor (2) that is rotationally fixed to the shaft (1), and a stator (4) supported in a housing (3) around the shaft (1) with a rotational degree of freedom in the peripheral direction in the direction of brake actuation. The stator (4) is operatively connected to the brake pad (7) by a device (5) that converts rotational movement of the stator (4) into axial movement of at least one brake pad (7) that is supported in an axially movable fashion such that, when the electric motor is operated as a generator, the stator (4) is rotated relative to the housing (3) by torque arising between the rotor (2) and the stator (4), such that the brake pad (7) is pressed by the device (5) against the brake disc (8). |
| US08618702B2 |
Vibration energy generator
A vibration energy generator includes a case, a coil, a permanent magnet, and a shield magnet. The case is elongated in one direction and is made from a nonmagnetic material. The coil surrounds around an outer surface of the case. The permanent magnet reciprocates inside the case along the one direction. The permanent magnet is magnetized with a polarity oriented in the one direction. The shield magnet is disposed in one end portion of the permanent magnet in the one direction. Each of a surface of the one end portion and a surface of the shield magnet facing the surface of the one end portion has the same magnetic polarity. The length of the shield magnet in the one direction is less than the length of the permanent magnet in the one direction. |
| US08618699B2 |
Information processing terminal and method for preventing an electric shock from the information processing terminal
According to one embodiment, an information processing terminal includes a power supply for supplying electric power, an inlet connected to a power cord for supplying electric power to the power supply, an electronic board on which an arithmetic unit is mounted, and a body cover which covers a body including at least the power supply and the electronic board. The information processing terminal further includes a covering member disposed in the body or the body cover, the covering member being displaced to expose one of the inlet and at least one locking member, which should be removed to take the body cover out of the body, while covering the other. |
| US08618696B2 |
Wireless energy transfer systems
A wireless power supply includes a source magnetic resonator, connected to a power source and configured to exchange power wirelessly via a wireless power transfer signal with at least one device magnetic resonator integrated into at least one peripheral component of a computer and a processor configured to adjust the operating point of the wireless power supply wherein power is transferred non-radiatively from the wireless power supply to the at least one device magnetic resonator and wherein the power supply forms a part of the computer. |
| US08618695B2 |
Appliance mounted power outlets
An electrical appliance comprising a connection to a power source and a principle electrical load, wherein the appliance additionally comprises at least one inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising: at least one driver, connectable to the power source, the driver for providing an oscillating voltage supply; and at least one primary inductive coil connected to the driver, the primary inductive coil for inductively coupling with an external secondary inductive coil wired to a second electrical load. |
| US08618687B2 |
Water inlet generator
A swimming pool water inlet generator operable to allow the generator to be attached to a swimming pool water inlet, a turbine assembly arranged and operable to generate electricity when water flows through the inlet and at least one electrically powered device operable to use the generated electricity in the operation thereof. |
| US08618681B2 |
Inverter generator control apparatus
In a control apparatus for an inverter generator having a generator unit driven by an engine, a converter connected to the generator unit to convert an alternating current from the generator unit to a direct current, and an inverter connected to the converter to invert the direct current from the converter to an alternating current and output it to an electric load, it is configured to detect an overload condition based on the alternating current from the inverter to the electric load; stop outputting from the inverter to the electric load with the engine being kept operating when the overload condition is detected; output a release command to release a stop condition where the outputting to the electric load is stopped upon manipulation by an operator; and restart the outputting to the electric load by releasing the stop condition when the release command is outputted. |
| US08618680B2 |
Spaced-apart cable modules in wellbore energy storage and retrieval
A system for storing and retrieving energy may include a cable and a weight connected to the cable. A plurality of cable modules may be attached at spaced-apart locations to the cable above the weight. Each cable module may prevent the cable above and below the cable module from coming in contact with a neighboring stationary wall. A hoist may controllably raise and lower the weight by sequentially grabbing each neighboring cable module. |
| US08618679B2 |
Pattern structures in semiconductor devices
A pattern structure in a semiconductor device includes an extending line and a pad connected with an end portion of the extending line. The pad may have a width that is larger than a width of the extending line. The pad includes a protruding portion extending from a lateral portion of the pad. The pattern structure may be formed by simplified processes and may be employed in various semiconductor devices requiring minute patterns and pads. |
| US08618677B2 |
Wirebonded semiconductor package
A semiconductor package including a substrate, a semiconductor device, a protection layer, a bonding wire, and a molding compound is provided. The substrate has a contact pad and a solder mask, and the contact pad is exposed from the solder mask. The semiconductor device is disposed on the substrate. The protection layer is disposed on the contact pad. The bonding wire connects the semiconductor device to the contact pad. An end of the bonding wire penetrates the protection layer and bonds with a portion of a surface of the contact pad to form a bonding region. The protection layer covers an entire surface of the contact pad except the bonding region. The molding compound covers the semiconductor device, the contact pad, and the bonding wire. |
| US08618675B2 |
Thin semiconductor die package
A semiconductor die is attached to a substrate by a glass frit layer. Gas that might be trapped between the die and the glass frit layer during firing of the glass frit can escape through passages that are formed against the bottom surface of the die by topographies that extend away from and which are substantially orthogonal to the bottom of the die. |
| US08618673B2 |
Package structures
A package structure includes a substrate, a first die and at least one second die. The substrate includes a first pair of parallel edges and a second pair of parallel edges. The first die is mounted over the substrate. The first die includes a third pair of parallel edges and a fourth pair of parallel edges, wherein the third pair of parallel edges and the fourth pair of parallel edges are not parallel to the first pair of parallel edges and the second pair of parallel edges, respectively. The at least one second die is mounted over the first die. |
| US08618672B2 |
Three dimensional stacked chip package structure
This disclosure related to a stacked chip package structure having a sloped dam structure located on the substrate and beside the chip stack. The dam structure can facilitate the dispensing process of the underfill. |
| US08618670B2 |
Corrosion control of stacked integrated circuits
A system and method prevent corrosive elements (or at least the oxidizing agent) from making contact with metal connections at the interface between two layers of a stacked IC device. When layers are positioned in proximity to each other, a cavity is formed at the boundary of the planar surfaces of the layers. This cavity is bounded by a peripheral seal between the layers. In one embodiment, a vacuum is created within the cavity thereby reducing the corrosive atmosphere within the cavity. In another embodiment, the cavity is filled with an inert gas, such as argon. Once the cavity has oxidizing elements reduced, the peripheral seal can be encapsulated to prevent seepage of contaminants into the cavity. |
| US08618666B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, electrodes separated from each other and extending from a first main surface in the direction of depth of the semiconductor substrate, and an interconnect portion coupling the electrodes to each other and extending from the first main surface in the direction of depth of the semiconductor substrate without passing through the semiconductor substrate. One of the electrodes is a through electrode passing through the semiconductor substrate to reach a second main surface. For semiconductor devices having through electrodes and vertically stacked on each other, the interconnect portion serves to enhance the degree of design freedom. |
| US08618665B2 |
Pattern layout in semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device having a pattern layout includes a first interconnect pattern and a contact pad. The first interconnect pattern includes lines and spaces which are alternately aligned in a first direction with a predetermined pitch. The contact pad is arranged between the lines in the first interconnect pattern and has a width that is triple the predetermined pitch. An interval between the line in the first interconnect pattern and the contact pad is the predetermined pitch, and the predetermined pitch is 100 nm or below. |
| US08618662B1 |
Devices containing carbon nanomaterial electrical interconnects overcoated with metal nitride films and methods for production thereof
Metal nitride coatings containing carbon can be either electrically conductive or substantially non-conductive depending on the degree to which they have been exposed to an oxidative environment. Substantially non-conductive metal nitride coatings can be used as protective layers in electrical devices. Particularly in an electrical device containing carbon nanomaterials, the metal nitride coatings can be used to mask the device's operational characteristics. Such devices can contain an electrical interconnect containing a carbon nanomaterial and a substantially non-conductive coating on the carbon nanomaterial. The substantially non-conductive coating can contain at least one substantially non-conductive metal nitride layer and at least some carbon. Methods for making such devices and metal nitride coatings are also described herein. |
| US08618658B1 |
Semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof are provided. An electrically conductive elastic member is formed on a semiconductor die, and a conductive bump is formed on the elastic member. Accordingly, since the conductive bump is formed on the elastic member, or to protrude from a top surface of the elastic member, the height and thus diameter of the conductive bump is reduced allowing a fine pitch to be realized. Further, the elastic member is elastic and thus mitigates external impacts from being transferred from the conductive bump to the semiconductor die. |
| US08618655B2 |
Carrier-free semiconductor package
A carrier-free semiconductor package includes a circuit structure having an insulating layer and a circuit layer embedded in the insulating layer and having a plurality of conductive traces and RF (radio frequency) traces, a chip disposed on a first surface of the insulating layer and electrically connected to the conductive traces, an encapsulant covering the chip and the circuit layer, a ground layer formed on a second surface of the insulating layer opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of solder balls disposed on the conductive traces or terminals on the conductive traces, wherein portions of the solder balls electrically connect the ground layer so as to allow the RF traces and the ground layer to form a microstrip line having an RF function, thus obtaining a single-layer carrier-free semiconductor package having low cost and simplified RF design. |
| US08618652B2 |
Forming functionalized carrier structures with coreless packages
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include attaching a die to a carrier material, wherein the carrier material comprises a top layer and a bottom layer separated by an etch stop layer; forming a dielectric material adjacent the die, forming a coreless substrate by building up layers on the dielectric material, and then removing the top layer carrier material and etch stop layer from the bottom layer carrier material. |
| US08618651B1 |
Buried TSVs used for decaps
An interposer having decaps formed in blind-vias, a packaged semiconductor structure having decaps formed in blind-vias, and methods for forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, an interposer is provided that includes an interconnect layer disposed on a substrate. A plurality of through-vias are formed through the substrate in an isolated region of the substrate. At least one of the plurality of conductive vias are electrically coupled to at least one of a plurality of top wires formed in the interconnect layer. A plurality of blind-vias are formed through the substrate in a dense region of the substrate during a common etching step with the through-vias. At least one blind-via includes (a) a dielectric material lining the blind-vias, and (b) a conductive material filling the lined blind-vias and forming a decoupling capacitor. |
| US08618650B2 |
Flange package for a semiconductor device
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a flange package comprises a flange and an interposer having two or more fingers disposed in an interposer trench. The flange has a mold lock formed about a periphery of the interposer trench. A dielectric ring comprising a dielectric material is formed in the interposer trench, and in and around the periphery of the mold lock. A semiconductor die is disposed within the dielectric ring having gate pads and source pads formed on a first side, and having drain pads disposed on a second side of the die. The gate pads are coupled to the interposer and the source pads are coupled to the flange. A gate lead is coupled to the interposer and a drain lead is coupled to the drain pads. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08618640B2 |
Method of shielding through silicon vias in a passive interposer
A passive interposer apparatus with a shielded through silicon via (TSV) configuration is disclosed. The apparatus includes a p-doped substrate, wherein at least an upper portion of the p-doped substrate is heavily p-doped. An interlayer dielectric layer (ILD) is disposed over the upper portion of the p-doped substrate. A plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs) are formed through the ILD and the p-doped substrate. A plurality of shielding lines disposed between the TSVs electrically couple respective second metal contact pads to the upper portion of the p-doped substrate. |
| US08618634B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a first capacitance film formed on the lower electrode; forming an intermediate electrode in a first region on the first capacitance film, wherein the first capacitance is interposed between the intermediate electrode and the lower electrode; forming a second capacitance film on the intermediate electrode to be interposed between the first capacitance film and the second capacitance film; and forming an upper electrode, wherein at least a portion of the second capacitance film is interposed between the upper electrode and the intermediate electrode; the upper electrode extending to a second region outside the first region, and having at least the first capacitance film interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode in the second region. |
| US08618631B2 |
On-chip ferrite bead inductor
A semiconductor structure having an in situ chip-level ferrite bead inductor and method for forming the same. Embodiments include a substrate, a first dielectric layer formed on the substrate, a lower ferrite layer formed on the first dielectric layer, and an upper ferrite layer spaced apart from the lower ferrite layer in the structure. A first metal layer may be formed above the lower ferrite layer and a second metal layer formed below the upper ferrite layer, wherein at least the first or second metal layer has a coil configuration including multiple turns. At least one second dielectric layer may be disposed between the first and second metal layers. The ferrite bead inductor has a small form factor and is amenable to formation using BEOL processes. |
| US08618629B2 |
Apparatus and method for through silicon via impedance matching
Methods and apparatuses for matching impedances in a flip-chip circuit assembly are presented. An apparatus for matching impedances in a flip-chip circuit assembly may include a first circuit associated with a first die and a through silicon via (TSV) coupling the first circuit to a second circuit. The apparatus may further include a first impedance matching inductor interposed between the TSV and the second circuit. A method for matching impedances in a flip-chip circuit assembly may include providing a die having a first circuit, and forming a TSV over the die. The method may further include providing a second circuit and forming a first impedance matching inductor interposed between the TSV and second circuit. |
| US08618623B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and method for manufacturing same, and image pickup apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup device of a type wherein a pixel is configured to include a sensor unit capable of photoelectric conversion, the image pickup device including: a semiconductor substrate; a charge storage region of a first conduction type, which is formed in the semiconductor substrate and constitutes a sensor unit; a charge storage sub-region made of an impurity region of the first conduction type, which is formed, in plural layers, in the semiconductor substrate below the charge storage region serving as a main charge storage region and wherein at least one or more of the plural layers are formed entirely across a pixel; and a device isolation region that is formed in the semiconductor substrate, isolates pixels from one another, and is made of an impurity region of a second conduction type. |
| US08618618B2 |
Semiconductor device
A seal ring structure is formed through a multilayer structure of a plurality of dielectric films in a peripheral part of a chip region to surround the chip region. A dual damascene interconnect in which an interconnect and a plug connected to the interconnect are integrated is formed in at least one of the dielectric films in the chip region. Part of the seal ring structure formed in the dielectric film in which the dual damascene interconnect is formed is continuous. A protection film formed on the multilayer structure has an opening on the seal ring. A cap layer connected to the seal ring is formed in the opening. |
| US08618616B2 |
FinFET structures and methods for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a FinFET structure includes fabricating a plurality of parallel fins overlying a semiconductor substrate, each of the plurality of parallel fins having sidewalls and forming an electrode over the semiconductor substrate and between the parallel fins. The electrode is configured to direct an electrical field into the fins, thereby affecting the threshold voltage of the FinFET structure. |
| US08618615B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
Disclosed herein is a fabrication method of a semiconductor device to order to increase an operation liability of the semiconductor device. A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a recess in a semiconductor substrate, forming a word line in a lower part of the recess, oxidizing a top portion of the word line, and depositing an insulating material in a remained part of the recess. |
| US08618607B1 |
Semiconductor devices formed on a continuous active region with an isolating conductive structure positioned between such semiconductor devices, and methods of making same
One illustrative device disclosed herein includes a continuous active region defined in a semiconducting substrate, first and second transistors formed in and above the continuous active region, each of the first and second transistors comprising a plurality of doped regions formed in the continuous active region, a conductive isolating electrode positioned above the continuous active region between the first and second transistors and a power rail conductively coupled to the conductive isolating electrode. |
| US08618603B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor member; a memory film provided on a surface of the semiconductor member and being capable of storing charge; and a plurality of control gate electrodes provided on the memory film, spaced from each other, and arranged along a direction parallel to the surface. Average dielectric constant of a material interposed between one of the control gate electrodes and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the control gate electrode adjacent to the one control gate electrode is lower than average dielectric constant of a material interposed between the one control gate electrode and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the one control gate electrode. |
| US08618602B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, a semiconductor substrate, a word line, and an isolation region. The semiconductor substrate has an active region and first and second grooves. Each of the first and second grooves extends across the active region. The first groove is wider in width than the second groove. The word line is disposed in the first groove. The isolation region is disposed in the second groove. The isolation region is narrower in width than the word line. |
| US08618598B2 |
Power MOSFET semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a source metallization, a source region of a first conductivity type in contact with the source metallization, a body region of a second conductivity type which is adjacent to the source region. The semiconductor device further includes a first field-effect structure including a first insulated gate electrode and a second field-effect structure including a second insulated gate electrode which is electrically connected to the source metallization. The capacitance per unit area between the second insulated gate electrode and the body region is larger than the capacitance per unit area between the first insulated gate electrode and the body region. |
| US08618596B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same
The present invention discloses a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device including forming sequentially a gate insulating layer and a first conductive pattern on a semiconductor substrate; forming a protective layer on surfaces of the first conductive pattern and the gate insulating layer; performing an etching process to form a trench, the etching process being performed such that the protective layer remains on side walls of the first conductive pattern to form a protective pattern; forming an isolation layer in the trench; etching the isolation layer; removing the protective pattern above a surface of the isolation layer; and forming sequentially a dielectric layer and a second conductive layer on surfaces of the isolation layer, the protective pattern and the first conductive pattern. |
| US08618592B2 |
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells and methods for fabricating the same
A semiconductor memory cell is provided that includes a trench capacitor and an access transistor. The access transistor comprises a source region, a drain region, a gate structure overlying the trench capacitor, and an active body region that couples the drain region to the source region. The active body region directly contacts the trench capacitor. |
| US08618590B2 |
Spin transistor, integrated circuit, and magnetic memory
A spin transistor includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a semiconductor layer between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, and a gate electrode on or above a surface of the semiconductor layer, the surface being between the first and second ferromagnetic layers. The first ferromagnetic layer comprises a ferromagnet which has a first minority spin band located at a high energy side and a second minority spin band located at a low energy side, and has a Fermi level in an area of the high energy side higher than a middle of a gap between the first and second minority spin bands. |
| US08618586B2 |
Memory device, semiconductor device, and electronic device
An object is to provide a memory device which does not need a complex manufacturing process and whose power consumption can be suppressed, and a semiconductor device including the memory device. A solution is to provide a capacitor which holds data and a switching element which controls storing and releasing charge in the capacitor in a memory element. In the memory element, a phase-inversion element such as an inverter or a clocked inverter includes the phase of an input signal is inverted and the signal is output. For the switching element, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region is used. In the case where application of a power supply voltage to the phase-inversion element is stopped, the data is stored in the capacitor, so that the data is held in the capacitor even when the application of the power supply voltage to the phase-inversion element is stopped. |
| US08618585B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus including cooling base with projections
A semiconductor apparatus according to embodiments of the invention can include a first semiconductor device made of silicon, the first semiconductor devices being arranged collectively, whereby to form a first device group, and a second semiconductor device made of silicon carbide, the second semiconductor devices being arranged collectively, whereby to form a second device group. The apparatus can also include a wiring conductor connecting the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device, a cooling fin base comprising a projection formed thereon, whereby to dissipate heat generated from the first and second semiconductor devices, and the projections arranged under the second device group being spaced apart from each other more widely than the projections arranged under the first device group. |
| US08618584B2 |
Semiconductor device
An ESD protection element is formed by a PN junction diode including an N+ type buried layer having a proper impurity concentration and a first P+ type buried layer and a parasitic PNP bipolar transistor which uses a second P+ type buried layer connected to a P+ type diffusion layer as the emitter, an N− type epitaxial layer as the base, and the first P+ type buried layer as the collector. The first P+ type buried layer is connected to an anode electrode, and the P+ type diffusion layer and an N+ type diffusion layer surrounding the P+ type diffusion layer are connected to a cathode electrode. When a large positive static electricity is applied to the cathode electrode, and the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor turns on to flow a large discharge current. |
| US08618583B2 |
Junction gate field effect transistor structure having n-channel
The disclosure relates generally to junction gate field effect transistor (JFET) structures and methods of forming the same. The JFET structure includes a p-type substrate having a p-region therein; an n-channel thereunder; and n-doped enhancement regions within the n-channel, each n-doped enhancement region separated from the p-region. |
| US08618581B2 |
Nanofludic field effect transistor based on surface charge modulated nanochannel
A field effect transistor device includes: a reservoir bifurcated by a membrane of three layers: two electrically insulating layers; and an electrically conductive gate between the two insulating layers. The gate has a surface charge polarity different from at least one of the insulating layers. A nanochannel runs through the membrane, connecting both parts of the reservoir. The device further includes: an ionic solution filling the reservoir and the nanochannel; a drain electrode; a source electrode; and voltages applied to the electrodes (a voltage between the source and drain electrodes and a voltage on the gate) for turning on an ionic current through the ionic channel wherein the voltage on the gate gates the transportation of ions through the ionic channel. |
| US08618575B2 |
Light emitting and lasing semiconductor methods and devices
The invention is applicable for use in conjunction with a light-emitting semiconductor structure that includes a semiconductor active region of a first conductivity type containing a quantum size region and having a first surface adjacent a semiconductor input region of a second conductivity type that is operative, upon application of electrical potentials with respect to the active and input regions, to produce light emission from the active region. A method is provided that includes the following steps: providing a semiconductor output region that includes a semiconductor auxiliary layer of the first conductivity type adjacent a second surface, which opposes the first surface of the active region, and providing the auxiliary layer as a semiconductor material having a diffusion length for minority carriers of the first conductivity type material that is substantially shorter than the diffusion length for minority carriers of the semiconductor material of the active region. |
| US08618572B2 |
Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A light-emitting device is disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises a substrate, an ion implanted layer on the substrate, a light-emitting stack layer disposed on the ion implanted layer, and an adhesive layer connecting the substrate with the light-emitting stack layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a thin silicon film disposed between the ion implanted layer and the light-emitting layer. This invention also discloses a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device comprising the steps of forming a light-emitting stack layer, forming a thin silicon film on the light-emitting stack layer, providing a substrate, forming an ion implanted layer on the substrate, and providing an electrode potential difference to form an oxide layer between the thin silicon film and the ion implanted layer. |
| US08618569B2 |
Packaged light emitting diodes including phosphor coating and phosphor coating systems
Light emitting structures are disclosed that can include a semiconductor light emitting diode (LED) that includes a p-n junction active layer. A first layer can include a binder material having a thickness that is less than about 1000 μm, wherein the first layer is directly on the LED. A second layer can include phosphor particles, where the second layer can have a thickness that is less than about 1000 μm and can be directly on the first layer so that the first layer is between the LED and the second layer. |
| US08618568B2 |
Method for manufacturing light-emitting device and film formation substrate
In a method for manufacturing a light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, one surface of a first substrate including a reflective layer including an opening, a light absorption layer formed over the reflective layer to cover the opening in the reflective layer, a protective layer formed over the light absorption layer and including a groove at a position overlapped with the opening in the reflective layer, and a material layer formed over the protective layer and a deposition surface of a second substrate are disposed to face each other and light irradiation is performed from the other surface side of the first substrate, so that an EL layer is formed in a region on the deposition surface of the second substrate, which is overlapped with the opening in the reflective layer. |
| US08618565B2 |
High efficiency light emitting diode
Provided is a high-efficiency light emitting diode (LED) that includes: a support substrate; a semiconductor stack positioned on the support substrate, the semiconductor stack including a p-type compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and an n-type compound semiconductor layer; a first electrode positioned between the support substrate and the semiconductor stack and in ohmic contact with the semiconductor stack; a first bonding pad positioned on a portion of the first electrode that is exposed outside of the semiconductor stack; and a second electrode positioned on the semiconductor stack. Protrusions are formed on exposed surfaces of the semiconductor stack. In addition, the second electrode may be positioned between the first electrode and the support substrate and contacted with the n-type compound semiconductor layer through openings of the semiconductor stack. |
| US08618564B2 |
High efficiency light emitting diodes
The present disclosure relates to high efficiency light emitting diode devices and methods for fabricating the same. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a light emitting diode device includes a substrate having one or more recessed features formed on a surface thereof and one or more omni-directional reflectors formed to overlie the one or more recessed features. A light emitting diode layer is formed on the surface of the substrate to overlie the omni-directional reflector. The one or more omni-directional reflectors are adapted to efficiently reflect light. |
| US08618562B2 |
Light emitting device and method for manufacturing same
A light emitting device includes: a multilayer body including a light emitting layer made of a semiconductor; a first bonding metal layer attached to the multilayer body; a substrate; and a second bonding metal layer attached to the substrate and bonded to the first bonding metal layer at a bonding interface, at least one of a planar size of the first bonding metal layer on the bonding interface side and a planar size of the second bonding metal layer on the bonding interface side being smaller than a planar size of the substrate. |
| US08618560B2 |
Polarized white light devices using non-polar or semipolar gallium containing materials and transparent phosphors
A light emitting device includes a substrate having a surface region and a light emitting diode overlying the surface region. The light emitting diode is fabricated on a semipolar or nonpolar GaN containing substrate and emits electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength. The diode includes a quantum well region characterized by an electron wave function and a hole wave function. The electron wave function and the hole wave function are substantially overlapped within a predetermined spatial region of the quantum well region. The device has a transparent phosphor overlying the light emitting diode. The phosphor is excited by the substantially polarized emission to emit electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength. |
| US08618558B2 |
Light emitting device package and light emitting apparatus
Disclosed are a light emitting device package and a light emitting apparatus. The light emitting device package comprises a package body comprising a light emitting surface inclined at an oblique angle with respect to a bottom surface, a plurality of lead electrodes in the package body, and at least one light emitting device electrically connected to the lead electrodes. |
| US08618553B2 |
Process for producing silicon carbide crystals having increased minority carrier lifetimes
A process is described for producing silicon carbide crystals having increased minority carrier lifetimes. The process includes the steps of heating and slowly cooling a silicon carbide crystal having a first concentration of minority carrier recombination centers such that the resultant concentration of minority carrier recombination centers is lower than the first concentration. |