| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08666123B2 |
Creating social network groups
Embodiments generally relate to creating groups in a social network system. In one embodiment, a method includes recognizing at least one person in the at least one photo associated with a target user in a social network system, where the recognizing is based at least in part on social relevance. The method also includes creating a group in the social network system, where the group includes the at least one person recognized in the at least one photo. The method also includes associating the group with the target user. |
| US08666120B2 |
Method and apparatus for conservative motion estimation from multi-image sequences with optimized motion compensation
Apparatus and methods are presented for estimating the velocity field based on a multi-image frame sequence having an integer number M frames, M is greater than two, in which a set of M−1 displaced frame difference (DFD) equations is solved including a motion compensated prediction (MCP) equation, M−2 motion compensated interpolation (MCI) equations for solving a velocity field at a first time using a set of iteration equations to determine a velocity field, and 2×(M−2) conservative velocity constraint (CVC) equations for solving a velocity field at times t2, . . . , tM−1. |
| US08666117B2 |
Video-based system and method for detecting exclusion zone infractions
A method for determining a parking violation includes receiving video data as a sequence of frames provided by a camera. The method includes defining a location of an exclusion zone in the video data. The method includes detecting a vehicle located in the defined exclusion zone. The detecting includes determining a background in an initial frame of the video data and determining a background in a select frame by applying a predetermined updating process. The detecting includes subtracting the background of the select frame from the initial frame to obtain an image difference. The detecting includes classifying the pixels in the image difference as foreground or background pixels and classifying the pixels in the foreground image as vehicle or non-vehicle pixels. The method includes determining a duration that the detected vehicle is in the exclusion zone based on a number of the sequence of frames including the detected vehicle. |
| US08666114B2 |
System and method for geospatial partitioning of a geographical region
An apparatus includes at least one memory unit and at least one processing unit. The memory unit is configured to receive and store information associated with a particular geographical region. The processing unit configured to execute a computer program for discretizing an image of the geographical region into a plurality of sub-regions. Using these sub-regions, the processing unit may generate a graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges in which the nodes comprise the sub-regions. The processing unit may also geospatially partition an image of the geographical region according to the information that is associated with each of the sub-regions. |
| US08666113B2 |
Spectral unmixing for visualization of samples
Disclosed methods include: acquiring a first sequence of multiple images of a sample, with each image in the first sequence corresponding to a different spectral weighting function; unmixing the first sequence of images into data corresponding to a first set of unmixed images, where each unmixed image in the first set corresponds to a spatial distribution in the sample of a different one of multiple components at a first time; acquiring one or more additional images of the sample and combining the additional images with one or more of the images in the first sequence to form a second sequence of images; unmixing the second sequence of images into data corresponding to a second set of unmixed images; and displaying information about the sample as a function of time based on the data corresponding to the first and second sets of unmixed images. |
| US08666111B2 |
System and method for detecting the watermark using decision fusion
The present application provides a robust system and method for detecting the watermark in an electronic media, wherein the electronic media had gone through various kinds of attacks and their combinations thereof which may not be known while detecting the watermarks. The watermark detection system and method can be trained to detect or reject a particular pattern. The watermark detection system and method are based on correlation and are useful in any kind of digital watermarking applications. The watermark detection system and method perform well even when the amount of distortion is not precisely known, wherein the disclosure provides a set of templates or correlation filters, being designed for detection of watermark to cover any kind and combination of attacks. For synchronous attacks, the correlation filter designing is carried out dynamically. Particularly, the template i.e. correlation filter is an attack adaptive frequency domain pattern for watermark detection. |
| US08666106B2 |
Sound reproducing device
A sound reproducing device includes parametric speakers disposed to a display, a loudspeaker, drivers, a human-body sensor, and a controller. The loudspeaker has a wider directivity than the parametric speakers. The drivers change directions of the parametric speakers, respectively. The parametric speakers and the drivers constitute at least two parametric speaker units each composed of respective one of the parametric speakers and respective one of the drivers. The controller reproduces sound information based the number of persons in front of the display detected from an output from the human-body senor. The sound reproducing device reduces the possibility for a number of persons to hear the sound noisily, and allows drawing more attention to the content, e.g. an advertisement. |
| US08666105B2 |
Subwoofer mounting bracket
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a speaker mounting assembly. In one such embodiment, the speaker mounting assembly comprises a speaker housing having a housing support surface, a speaker mounting bracket having a base surface, a projection extending from one of the speaker housing and the speaker mounting bracket and a mounting structure formed on the other of the speaker housing and the speaker mounting bracket. The mounting structure is configured to receive the projection such that the housing support surface contacts the base surface when the projection is received in the mounting structure. The mounting structure has an anti-rotation structure configured to prevent rotation of the speaker housing with respect to the speaker mounting bracket. |
| US08666104B2 |
Lighting and audio communication system
A lighting and communication system with a horn enclosure for recessed ceiling panel or wall mounting, including a speaker with a horn expansion area to direct sound waves from the speaker to a horn enclosure front, at least one light enclosure located within the horn enclosure, the light enclosure defining a light cavity which is separated from said horn expansion area, with a light source inside the light cavity. The light source can be an LED array, which is capable of displaying text, colors or patterns in response to a control system signal. |
| US08666103B2 |
Waterproof pillow with audio unit
A waterproof pillow with audio unit is described. The waterproof pillow with audio unit includes a waterproof pillow, a sound unit and a remote control unit. Either the sound unit scans a plurality of audio devices for identifying the audio devices or the audio devices respectively scan the sound unit for identifying the sound unit to establish the communication links between the sound unit and audio devices. The sound unit then utilizes a switch unit to switch for selecting one of the audio devices. An audio output device is used to output the audio output of the selected audio device. The remote control unit controls the sound unit for selecting the musical sound of the audio devices served as the audio output. The remote control unit further adjusts the volume of the audio output. |
| US08666097B2 |
Electrostatic speaker
An electrostatic speaker is constituted of upper/lower electrodes, upper/lower cushion materials, and a diaphragm. Cutouts are formed in the upper/lower electrodes, upper/lower cushion materials, and diaphragm, wherein they are shifted in position such that a part of the diaphragm and a part of the lower electrode are exposed and seen through those cutouts to horizontally adjoin in the cutout of the upper electrode. The electrostatic speaker is driven via a clip having electrodes in response to audio signals, wherein drive voltages are applied to each of the upper/lower electrodes and the diaphragm. |
| US08666095B2 |
Fast precision charge pump
The present invention relates to a condenser microphone assembly comprising a capacitive electro-acoustic transducer element comprising a diaphragm and a back-plate operatively connected to a DC bias voltage, a fast charge pump adapted to generate the DC bias voltage, and a controllable or programmable current source operatively connected to the DC bias voltage to draw a predetermined DC current there from. The controllable or programmable current source is responsive to a difference between a representative of a detected DC bias voltage and a DC reference voltage. |
| US08666093B2 |
Processing an audio input signal to produce a processed audio output signal
An audio input signal is processed to produce a processed audio output signal. An audio input signal is received as an original signal. The audio input signal is dynamically filtered to produce a first stage signal consisting of a selected frequency band of the input signal. Gain applied to the first stage signal is dynamically controlled in response to a control signal to produce a second stage signal. The control signal is derived from the first stage signal. Processing the original signal in combination with the second stage signal to produce a processed audio output signal. Processing the original signal in combination with the second stage signal and the first stage signal to produce a processed audio output signal. |
| US08666082B2 |
Utilizing information from a number of sensors to suppress acoustic noise through an audio processing system
A method includes associating a spatially separate audio sensor and/or a vibration sensor with an audio processing system having one or more audio sensor(s) associated therewith. The spatially separate audio sensor is on a remote location distinct from that of the one or more audio sensor(s). The method also includes capturing information uniquely associated with an external environment of the audio processing system through the spatially separate audio sensor and/or the vibration sensor and the one or more audio sensor(s), and adapting an audio output of the audio processing system based on the captured information uniquely associated with the external environment thereof. |
| US08666080B2 |
Method for processing a multi-channel audio signal for a binaural hearing apparatus and a corresponding hearing apparatus
Wearers of hearing apparatuses and in particular of hearing device systems having two speakers are to be able to enjoy the experience of spatial multi-channel reproduction. Provision is accordingly made to generate a dual-channel audio signal for a binaural hearing apparatus comprising a multi-channel audio signal having at least three individual channels. Accordingly at least one spatial impression-influencing signal level in at least one of the individual channels is changed, and a signal of at least one of the individual channels is connected with signals of the remaining individual channels to the dual-channel audio signal. A corresponding hearing apparatus and in particular a corresponding hearing device have a transformation system that takes over this preprocessing from the multi-channel audio signal to the dual-channel audio signal. |
| US08666079B2 |
Decoding and encoding data
A method includes receiving data which has been encoded according to a first higher complexity protection scheme and compressed. The method also includes decompressing the data. The method also includes decoding the data according to the first higher complexity protection scheme using a first higher complexity key. The method also includes encoding at least the first portion of the data according to a second higher complexity protection scheme using a second higher complexity key. The method also includes encoding at least a second portion of the data according to a lower complexity protection scheme using a lower complexity key. |
| US08666078B2 |
Method and system for generating cipher key during switching
A method and a system for generating a key in a handover process, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: according to an evolved Node-B (eNB) (102) of a User Equipment (UE) (101), i.e. a source eNB, a mobility management entity (MME) (103) learning all adjacent eNBs of the source eNB (S130), and generating keys for the source eNB and each of the adjacent eNBs respectively (S140), encrypting the keys with a corresponding eNB public key respectively to obtain cipher texts (S150), and sending all cipher texts, keys and eNB identifiers to the UE (S160); in a handover process of the UE, a target eNB obtaining a cipher text corresponding to the target eNB from the UE and decrypting the cipher text with its own private key to obtain the key (S260). |
| US08666074B2 |
Optical fiber secure communication apparatus and data encryption method therefor
An optical fiber secure communication apparatus and a data encryption method therefor are provided. The apparatus comprises a transmitter and a receiver being connected with each other via an optical fiber. The transmitter comprises a PPC processor unit, a field programmable gate array test board, a light-emitting module, an optical fiber coupler and a connection optical fiber. The receiver comprises a wavelength division multiplexer, a connection optical fiber, a photodetector, a field programmable gate array test board, a PPC processor unit and a signal output interface. At the transmitter end, two or more paths of input data are forwarded by the PPC, encrypted by the FPGA and then transmitted to the light-emitting module of two or more wavelengths for conversion from electrical signals into optical signals. At the receiver end, signals of two or more wavelengths enter the photodetector for conversion into electrical signals, which are decrypted by the FPGA and then forwarded by the PPC for output. With the present invention, the security of transmission data is improved and the difficulty in cracking data is increased. |
| US08666073B2 |
Safe handover method and system
The present invention provides a safe handover method and system which are applied in a handover process of a terminal in the next generation network, wherein the next generation network comprises a handover management module, an authentication server and a terminal. The safe handover method comprises: presetting initial safety parameters in the authentication server and the terminal, and generating safety parameters from the initial safety parameters; the handover management module obtaining the safety parameters; and the handover management module and the terminal interacting with each other by using the generated safety parameters to ensure a communication safety between the two communication parties. The present invention can ensure the communication safety between the terminal and the handover management module. |
| US08666072B2 |
Method and a system for receiving a multimedia signal, a cryptograophic entity for said reception method and system, and a method and a black box for producing said cryptographic entity
This method of receiving a multimedia signal scrambled by means of a control word uses a first cryptographic entity that can be connected to any one of P second cryptographic entities to form part of a device for receiving the scrambled multimedia signal. Only second cryptographic entities of a group of N second cryptographic entities selected from a wider set of P second cryptographic entities use a session key obtained by diversifying a root key identical to the root key used to obtain the session key of the first cryptographic entity. |
| US08666071B2 |
System and method for delivering satellite services at multiple security levels
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for delivering satellite services at multiple security levels. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising determining a level of security supported by a first set top box, encoding a first IP packet containing a satellite service using the level of security supported by the first set top box, transmitting the first IP encoded packet to the first set top box, determining a level of security supported by a second set top box, wherein the level of security supported by the second set top box is different from the level of security of the first set top box, encoding a second IP packet containing a satellite service using the level of security supported by the second set top box; and transmitting the second encoded IP packet to the second set top box. |
| US08666067B2 |
Cryptographic countermeasure method by deriving a secret data
A method of protecting a circuit from attacks aiming to discover secret data used during the execution of a cryptographic calculation by the circuit, by, executing a transformation calculation implementing a bijective transformation function, receiving as input a secret data, and supplying a transformed data, executing a cryptographic calculation receiving as input a data to process and the transformed data, and executing an inverse transformation calculation receiving as input the result of the cryptographic calculation, and supplying a result that the cryptographic calculation would have supplied if it had been applied to the data to process and directly to the secret data, the data to process belong to a stream of a multiplicity of data, the transformed data being supplied as input to the cryptographic calculation for all the data of the stream. |
| US08666066B2 |
Encoding points of an elliptic curve
The method comprises, in an electronic component, carrying out a cryptographic calculation that includes the step of obtaining points P on an elliptic curve following the equation Y2+a1XY+a3Y=X3+a2X2+a4+X+a6 (1) where a1, a2, a3, a4 et a6 are elements of a set A of elements; where A is a ring of modular integers Z/qZ where q is a positive integer resulting from a number I of different prime numbers strictly higher than 3, I being an integer higher than or equal to 2, where A is a finite body Fq with q the power of a prime integer; where X and Y are the coordinates of the points P and are elements of A. The method comprises determining a diameter (11), and obtaining the coordinates X and Y of a point P (13) by applying a function (12) to said parameter. The Euler function φ of A corresponds to the equation φ(A) mod 3=1. The function is a reversible and deterministic function expressed by a rational fraction in a1, a2, a3, a4 and a6 and in said parameter in A, and reaches at least a number q/41 of points P, with I being equal to 1 for a finite body Pq. The method further comprises using the point P in a cryptographic application for ciphering or hashing or signature or authentication or identification. |
| US08666063B2 |
Method and apparatus for minimizing differential power attacks on processors
A method of masking a cryptographic operation using a secret value, comprising the steps of dividing the secret value into a plurality of parts; combining with each part a random value to derive a new part such that the new parts when combined are equivalent to the original secret value; and utilizing each of the individual parts in the operation. |
| US08666060B2 |
Call signal generating device
A call signal generating device, whose pair of output terminals is connected to a telephone set, includes a rectifier rectifying an inputted high frequency signal and maintaining an output polarity in one of two polarities; and a polarity reverser generating a call signal by periodically reversing the output polarity of the rectifier and supplying it to the telephone set via the pair of output terminals. |
| US08666058B2 |
Time domain adaptive filter bank for network echo reduction or cancellation
In one or more embodiments, an echo reduction system can include multiple adaptive filters operable to provide estimated echo replicas based on received signal information coupled to respective multiple adders that can combine a send signal and outputs of the respective adaptive filters and can provide respective output combinations to a filter selector. The filter selector can select from the outputs of the adders and provide a selected output as output for the echo reduction system. In one or more embodiments, the filter selector can control signal processing of the filters by providing control signal to the adaptive filters, where the control signals can indicate to ones of the adaptive filters to pause or continue signal processing. In one or more embodiments, the echo reduction system can include at least one delay unit that can delay receive signal information to at least one of the adaptive filters. |
| US08666043B2 |
Telephone for providing information associated with a remote geographic location of a called party to a caller
A system and method for providing information local to a called party located in a different geographic location may include storing information and telephone number identifiers as associated with remote geographic locations. In response to a telephone number being dialed, a determination may be made as to whether a portion of the dialed telephone number matches a stored telephone number identifier. If a portion of the dialed telephone number matches a stored telephone number identifier, at least a portion of the information associated with the matched telephone number identifier may be presented to a user. Otherwise, information associated with a portion of the dialed telephone number that identifies a geographic location from a communications network may be requested and presented to the user. |
| US08666040B2 |
Analyzing Speech Application Performance
A method of analyzing speech application performance can include determining a call path for each of a plurality of calls from a log of an interactive voice response system having a speech application. Each call path can be defined by an ordered set of dialog nodes of the speech application. A number of occurrences of at least one selected type of event for the dialog nodes of the plurality of calls can be counted. At least one call path from the plurality of call paths can be indicated according, at least in part, to the number of occurrences of the selected type of event within the at least one indicated call path. |
| US08666036B2 |
Alert provisioning system and method
An alert method and system permits an alert to be provided to a subscriber. Such alerts may comprise icons or graphical advertising units that may be navigated by the subscriber to trigger and initiate corresponding and dynamically updatable communications and communication links. |
| US08666035B2 |
Technique for assisting a user with information services at an information/call center
A method for providing a communication assistance service by a communication assistance service provider includes receiving a communication at the communication assistance service provider from a first person seeking a contact information to communicate with a second person and receiving from the first person identifying information associated with the second person. A profile of the second person is retrieved including at least one contact information and at least one contact preference associated with the contact information. Communication is provided between the first person and the second person in accordance with the contact preferences. |
| US08666033B2 |
Provision of private information to voice telephone call parties
A system and method for providing private information content to a voice telephone call parties prior to, during or following a call. In one aspect, the system and method may be implemented in a voice telephone communication apparatus that is adapted to hold information content in an information store on behalf of the call party, gather information that is private to the call party and add it to the information store as part of the information content, and retrieve the information content from the information store and present it to the call party in response to an information presentation initiation action. In another aspect, the system cooperates with a premises or equipment monitoring system, such as a security system, to provide monitoring information to a telephone call party. |
| US08666030B2 |
Voice and video over a shared telephone line
A system for alternately transmitting an audio signal and a video signal over a single voice grade telephone line is disclosed. The system includes an apparatus located at a subscriber location which establishes a first communication connection between a user at the subscriber location and a dispatcher at a dispatch station, over which first communication connection transmission of voice signals are enabled to be simultaneously transmitted between the subscriber's premise and the dispatcher, and which disestablishes the first communication connection and establishes a second communication connection over which a continuous video signal is transmitted from the subscriber location to the dispatcher. |
| US08666027B2 |
All digital DSL system migration
The described implementations relate to migrating from a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system implementing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) equipment that handles analog communication signals to a DSL system that implements All Digital (AD) enabled equipment capable of handling DSL data and Internet Protocol (IP) telephony traffic. |
| US08666025B2 |
Back focused anti-scatter grid
An anti-scatter grid for an x-ray imaging system. The grid has substrate having a first face and a second face. The substrate has a plurality of grooves opening onto the first face of the substrate and not opening onto the second face. The substrate has high X-ray absorption properties. Each groove has an orientation such that the planes of all the grooves are convergent and intersect along a line situated on the side of the second face where the grooves do not open. |
| US08666022B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods including implants for managing cumulative x-ray radiation dosage
Systems, devices, and methods are described including implantable radiation sensing devices having exposure determination devices that determines cumulative exposure information based on the at least one in vivo measurand. |
| US08666016B2 |
Fuel exchange apparatus
A fuel exchange apparatus, comprising: a traveling carriage moving horizontally in one direction; a traversing carriage moving horizontally on the traveling carriage in a direction orthogonal to the one direction in which the traveling carriage moves; and a fuel holding unit attached to the traversing carriage, and including an telescopic tube enabling to extend and contract, a holding tool for holding a fuel assembly and releasing the held fuel assembly, and a lifter for raising and lowering the holding tool by winding and running out linear members for suspending and supporting the holding tool from the traversing carriage, wherein the holding tool is selectively placed in a constrained state in which the holding tool is subject to a constraint by the telescopic tube and in a freely suspended state in which the holding tool is released from the constraint by the telescopic tube and freely suspended by the linear members. |
| US08666009B2 |
Base station and clock synchronization method thereof
An enhanced base station and clock synchronization method are provided. The method includes scanning to discover a satellite transmitting a satellite signal and a master base station providing clock synchronization signal, entering, when a satellite having a signal that fulfills predetermined conditions is found, a master mode for receiving the satellite signal to acquire clock synchronization and transmitting a clock synchronization signal to at least one slave base station, and entering, when no satellite having a signal that fulfills the predetermined conditions is found, a slave mode for receiving the clock synchronization signal from the master base station to acquire clock synchronization. The method allows the base station to switch between the master and slave modes dynamically according to variation of the communication environment, resulting in efficient clock synchronization. |
| US08666006B1 |
Systems and methods for high speed data recovery with free running sampling clock
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving digital feed-forward data recovery of high speed data from a received data stream in a data transceiver or receiver where the receiver clock is asynchronous to the transmitter clock used to transmit the received data stream. In one example, the received data stream is oversampled using N evenly-spaced multi-phase clocks. The oversampled data are packed into a data block. Data transition edges of the oversampled data in the data blocks with respect to multi-phase clocks are tracked. The tracked data transition edges are used to determine the length of a decision window and to further divide the oversampled data into groups of bits that are hypothesized to be samples of the same received data symbol. Bit mapping is performed on the decision window to recover the received data symbol. By tracking the movement of data transition edges, the technique enhances data recovery capability. |
| US08666003B2 |
Reception device, reception method, and reception program
A propagation channel estimation unit estimates a propagation channel estimated value. A symbol replica generation unit generates a symbol replica which is a modulated symbol from demodulated information. A signal extraction unit extracts each subcarrier component from a received signal from which interference has been removed, based on the propagation channel estimated value and the symbol replica. A demodulation unit demodulates the signals of the subcarrier components extracted by the signal extraction unit. |
| US08666002B2 |
Receiver for compensating I/Q mismatch, compensation device, compensation module and compensation parameter calculating module
A receiver for compensating I/Q mismatch includes an analog down-conversion unit for receiving a radio frequency signal and down-converting the RF signal into a set of digital low intermediate frequency (IF) signals, a digital down-conversion unit receiving the set of digital low IF signals and down-converting the set of digital low IF signals into first and second baseband signals, and a compensation unit. The compensation unit receives the first and second baseband signals, calculates a compensation parameter based thereon, and compensates I/Q mismatch effect according to the first and second baseband signals and the compensation parameter so as to output a target signal. |
| US08665999B2 |
Treating carrier-specific interference
A receiver for receiving data carried by multiple carriers, the receiver having: estimation means for forming an estimate of the reliability with which data from one or more of the carriers is received as distinct from the reliability with which data from one or more other of the carriers is received; and a decoder arranged for forming an estimate of the symbols represented by the data received from the carriers in dependence on the estimate of reliability. |
| US08665998B2 |
Maximum likelihood detection method using a sequence estimation receiver
The invention relates to a detection method using a receiver of a digital communication system for the detection of a symbol from a received signal, which signal is transmitted by a transmitter of the digital communication system, wherein the symbol is a selected symbol out of a predetermined set of symbols and wherein each symbol of the predetermined set comprises a sequence of chips wherein each of the chips is PSK-modulated according to a selected modulation code. |
| US08665997B1 |
AIS demodulator for unknown carrier phase and baud alignment
A method of demodulating an AIS signal by receiving the signal, sampling the signal, estimating the carrier frequency, estimating the complex conjugate of the carrier frequency contribution to each sample, multiplying each sample by the complex conjugate and calling the results a base-banded sampled signal (BBSS), correlating the BBSS with known preambles, identifying a maximum magnitude of the BBSS/preamble correlation and its location and the associated preamble, computing a complex inner product of the preamble with a segment of the BBSS, estimating the carrier phase as an argument function of the eighth step result, estimating a complex conjugate of the carrier phase contribution to the BBSS, multiplying each fifth step result starting at the location of the maximum magnitude of the BBSS/preamble correlation by the tenth step result, and demodulating the results starting at that location. |
| US08665996B2 |
Efficient parallel sub-packet decoding using multiple decoders
A configurable decoder within a receiver (for example, within a wireless communication device) includes numerous decoders. In one mode, the multiple decoders are used to decode different sub-packets of a packet. When one decoder completes decoding the last sub-packet assigned to it of the packet, then that decoder generates a packet done indication. A control circuit receives the packet done indications, and when all the decoders have generated packet done indications then the control circuit initiates an action. In one example, the action is the interrupting of a processor. The processor responds by reading status information from the control circuit, thereby resetting the interrupt. End-of-packet markers are usable to generate packet done indications and to generate EOP interrupts. Similarly, end-of-group markers are usable to generate group done indications and to generate EOG interrupts. The decoder block is configurable to process sub-packets of a packet using either one or multiple decoders. |
| US08665992B1 |
Pilot symbol generation for highly-spectrally-efficient communications
A transmitter may be operable to generate a sequence of symbols which may comprise information symbols and one or more pilot symbols. The transmitter may transmit the information symbols at a first power and transmit the one or more pilot symbols at a second power. In instances when a particular performance indicator is below a determined threshold, the first power may be set to a first value and the second power may be set to zero value. In instances when the particular performance indicator is above the determined threshold, the first power may be set to a second value and the second power may be set to a non-zero value. A value of the first power and a value of the second power may be based on an applicable average power limit determined by a communications standard with which the transmitter is to comply. |
| US08665988B2 |
Device and method for realizing prefix code construction
The present invention provides a device and method for realizing prefix code construction. The device includes a sort indexer, a generator and a sequence regulator. The sort indexer is used to sort a group of received code lengths to obtain a group of sorted code lengths, and record the position correspondence relationship. The generator receives the sorted code lengths and orderly generates the prefix codes. Except that the first prefix code is preconfigured, the generator generates a current prefix code by adding one to the adjacently previous prefix code and then shifting left by a certain number of bits. The sequence regulator is used to receive the prefix codes corresponding to the sorted code lengths, and regulates the sequence of the prefix codes corresponding to the sorted code lengths according to the position correspondence relationship recorded by the sort indexer to obtain the prefix codes corresponding to the code lengths. |
| US08665985B1 |
Secondary communication signal method and apparatus
A low level secondary communication signal is summed with an existing primary communication signal in a manner that prevents interference to the existing primary communication signal while providing secondary communication signal benefits such as increased data rate, range, or interference immunity. Examples are presented in which a M-QAM secondary signal is summed with either an ATC Mode S PPM reply or DPSK interrogation primary signal. Legacy Mode S transponders, TCAS, and ADS-B equipment continue to demodulate and decode the primary signal information in accordance with preexisting formats while new enhanced equipment obtains the benefits of the secondary signal. |
| US08665980B2 |
Antenna diversity apparatus and antenna diversity method
The present invention provides an antenna diversity apparatus and an antenna diversity method. The antenna diversity apparatus comprises: a plurality groups of antennas, a switching unit, a demodulating unit, an antenna switch selecting unit, and a control unit, wherein each group of the plurality groups of antennas comprises at least an antenna, and the control unit can comprises: a receiving signal quality detecting unit, a packet detecting unit, and an antenna decision unit. The antenna decision unit can be realized by hardware, firmware, or software, and the antenna switch selecting unit can be realized by hardware. The antenna diversity apparatus and the antenna diversity method provided by the present invention can switch antennas fast to avoid the defect of occurring burst error to reduce transmitting data rate, and switch to proper antennas fast when variation of the data transmission channels occurs. |
| US08665979B2 |
Quantized channel state information prediction in multiple antenna systems
A CSI vector quantizer (VQ) system is provided for time-correlated channels. The VQ system operates a receiver forwarding quantized channel state information in the form of indices and a transmitter predicting channel state change. The VQ system is aimed at feedback channels, in which bit errors, erasures and delays can occur. The VQ system uses transmitter-side channel prediction algorithms that work with the quantized CSI information and allow the system to recover from feedback channel transmission errors, erasures and delays. Moreover, the techniques can be used to lower the required feedback rate, while keeping the system's throughput at the required level. |
| US08665977B2 |
Multilevel cluster-based MIMO detection method and MIMO detector thereof
A MIMO detection method for a receiver in a MIMO system using N-QAM for modulation, the MIMO detection method including generating a plurality of symbol vector sets and a plurality of search radiuses, selecting a candidate symbol vector set corresponding to a highest level of a multilevel structure of N-QAM constellation, generating a search space corresponding to a lower level of the multilevel structure of N-QAM constellation according to the selected candidate symbol vector set, confirming which level the search space corresponds to, and generating a detection signal according to the search space when the level of the search space is the lowest level of the multilevel structure of the N-QAM constellation. |
| US08665976B2 |
Blind symbol synchronization scheme for OFDM system
An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) receiver system for improved pilotless detection of symbol boundary of a received OFDM symbols using M-ary Phase Shift Keying (M-PSK) modulated carriers as a cost function. The OFDM receiver includes a symbol boundary detection block that detects a symbol boundary of the received OFDM symbols. The symbol boundary detection block detects the symbol boundary by computing a cost function of a second order moment of the M-PSK modulated carriers. The receiver system detects the symbol boundary for unknown information on the received OFDM symbols. |
| US08665974B2 |
Multi-clock PHY preamble design and detection
In a method for detecting a clock rate of a data unit, the data unit is received via a communication channel. The data unit includes i) a first preamble portion and ii) an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) portion following the first preamble portion. The OFDM portion includes a second preamble portion including one or more long training fields. Based on the first preamble portion, whether a clock rate of the OFDM portion is a first clock rate or a second clock rate lower than the first clock rate is determined based on the first preamble portion. |
| US08665973B2 |
Removal of a band-limited distributed pilot from an OFDM signal
A technique for removing a band-limited distributed pilot signal from an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signal involves converting a received OFDM signal, which includes a distributed pilot signal and an OFDM data signal, into a frequency domain signal having populated frequency bins containing respective subcarrier signals, each including a constituent data signal of the OFDM data signal and component pilot signal of the distributed pilot signal. An average magnitude of the populated frequency bins is determined based on the absolute values of the complex components of the populated frequency bins of the frequency domain signal, and the average magnitude of the populated frequency bins is used to estimate a pilot signal magnitude. The distributed pilot signal is removed from the frequency domain signal using a stored replica of the pilot signal scaled in conjunction with the pilot signal magnitude to yield the OFDM data signal. |
| US08665968B2 |
Method and system for 3D video coding using SVC spatial scalability
Disclosed are various embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) video coding using scalable video coding (SVC) spatial scalability. In one embodiment, 3D video is encoded to generate a SVC base layer that includes a left first-resolution view and a right first-resolution view packed in a first frame. 3D video is encoded to generate a SVC enhancement layer that includes a left second-resolution view and a right second-resolution view packed in a second frame. The left second-resolution view and the right second-resolution view may have a higher spatial resolution than the left first-resolution view and the right first-resolution view. |
| US08665963B2 |
Communication terminal, content reproduction method, content reproduction program, and content reproduction system for distributing and reproducing video contents with reduced stress
A communication terminal, includes: a communicator, configured to transmit and receive data to and from a server storing video contents; an accumulator, configured to accumulate a plurality of partial streams extracted from different time positions within the video contents received through the communicator as asynchronous streams; a decoder, configured to decode at least one of the asynchronous streams and synchronous streams that are not extracted as the asynchronous streams from the video contents, the synchronous streams being streaming-distributed from the server; and a controller, configured to acquire streams having time position information before and after a reproduction time position of the at least one of the asynchronous streams and the synchronous streams decoded by the decoder while the at least one of the asynchronous streams and the synchronous streams are reproduced on the display, and control the display to display the acquired streams after the reproduction. |
| US08665954B2 |
Method and system for processing B pictures with missing or invalid forward reference pictures
Methods and systems for processing B pictures with missing or invalid forward reference pictures are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include decoding of a contiguous sequence of B pictures that immediately follow a first I picture after a sequence header. The decoding of the B pictures may handle video edit codes in the AVS1-P2 format and/or random access points. Some embodiments of the invention may discard B pictures that refer to invalid or missing forward reference pictures, while other embodiments of the invention may interpolate B pictures. For an invalid forward reference picture, the interpolation algorithm for generating pictures may use the invalid forward reference picture and the backward reference picture. For a missing decoded forward reference picture, as in a random access, the interpolation algorithm for generating pictures may use the backward reference picture. |
| US08665952B1 |
Apparatus and method for decoding video encoded using a temporal filter
Embodiments of an apparatus and method for decoding an encoded bitstream to generate a video signal are taught. A decoder receives the bitstream and decodes a portion thereof to obtain at least a portion of a predictive reference frame. The reference frame is generated by, for example, selecting a filter set including a target frame with a block having a plurality of pixels and at least one adjacent frame, determining a coding mode associated with the block, determining a block-specific factor derived from the coding mode, determining weighted averages of pixels in the filter set and using the weighted averages to generate the predictive reference frame. The decoder also generates a residual from another portion of the encoded bitstream that represents a portion of a frame of the plurality of frames and reconstructs the portion of the frame by adding the residual to the predictive reference frame. |
| US08665950B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video, and method and apparatus for decoding video
Disclosed are a method and a apparatus for encoding a video, and a method and apparatus for decoding a video, in which neighboring pixels used to perform intra prediction on a current block to be encoded are filtered and intra prediction is performed by using the filtered neighboring pixels. |
| US08665948B2 |
Adaptive rate control to cover multiple encoding standards
Rate control algorithms are adapted to cover multiple encoding standards. A rate controller includes an input adaptation interface, a core rate controller, and an output adaptation interface. The input adaptation interface converts rate control input parameters of a target encoding standard to corresponding native control input parameters of the rate controller. The core rate controller is coupled to the output of the input adaptation interface generating output parameters conforming to its native encoding standard. The output adaptation interface is coupled to the output of the core rate controller converting the generated output parameters to equivalent rate control output parameters conforming to the target encoding standard. |
| US08665945B2 |
Encoding method, decoding method, encoding device, decoding device, program, and recording medium
To improve the encoding compressibility of prediction residuals. An encoder performs prediction analysis of input time-series signals to generate prediction residuals expressed by integers, and sets an integer separation parameter that depends on the amplitude of the prediction residuals for each certain time segment. The encoder selects a side information code table corresponding to an index representing the prediction effectiveness of the time-series signals from a set of side information code tables including a side information code table used for variable length coding of side information corresponding to the separation parameter. A decoder selects a side information code table corresponding to the index representing the prediction effectiveness of the time-series signals from a set of side information code tables including a side information code table used for decoding of a code corresponding to the side information corresponding to the integer separation parameter corresponding to the magnitude of the prediction residuals. |
| US08665944B2 |
Image signal processor and method thereof
An image signal processor and a method thereof are provided. The image signal processor sets the subfields to the intermediate illuminating statuses and moves the subfields according to the motion vectors, to display an image on a plasma display panel (PDP). Accordingly, problems such as pseudo contour, motion blur or rounding error can be prevented, and an image enhancement of a PDP is provided. |
| US08665942B2 |
Methods and systems for inter-layer image prediction signaling
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for predicting high dynamic range image blocks, wherein the systems and methods comprise a first image block and a second image block, where a received first prediction data of the first image block and a received prediction difference data of the second image block may be combined to determine a second prediction data for the second image block. |
| US08665938B2 |
Wireless transmission apparatus and self-checking method of wireless transmission apparatus
A wireless transmission apparatus includes a service processing unit, a duplexer, a radio frequency receiving unit, a frequency synthesizer, and a controller. The controller controls, according to a reduced TR interval, the frequency synthesizer to adjust a frequency of a local oscillation signal which is output by the frequency synthesizer to the radio frequency receiving unit. The service processing unit continues to send a service signal as a self-checking signal, and a part of the self-checking signal leaks into the radio frequency receiving unit through the duplexer. After the radio frequency receiving unit mixes a received signal with the local oscillation signal, a frequency of the self-checking signal included in an output signal falls within a pass-band range of an intermediate frequency receiving unit, which ensures that the self-checking signal can be looped back to the service processing unit, thereby determines whether a fault occurs in its own transmission channel. |
| US08665934B2 |
Multimode multicarrier modem system and method of communication over the same
An alternative approach to coping with the ever increasing demand for faster communications hardware is to design modems that are capable of operating its speeds at a higher data rate than a speed required for a single port of the standard communication rate for that modem. Basically, by utilizing a resource manager, that directs the data in and out of the various portions of the modem in an orderly manner, keeping track of which of the ports is being operated at any given point in time, a standard single port modem can be reconfigured, for example, at an over clocked rate, to manipulate the data input and output of a modem. |
| US08665927B2 |
Acquisition method with improved multi-frequency correlation
The invention relates to a method for acquisition of a signal (2) emitted by a satellite, by a receiver in a satellite Positioning System using a multi-code correlation and a multi-frequency correlation, also comprising the step in which if the error induced at the output from a first frequency-augmented correlator (14) at each instant in an integration period is greater than the code space between code correlators (12), the summated results of the first frequency-augmented correlator (14) are transferred to the summated results of a second frequency-augmented correlator (14), the second frequency-augmented correlator (14) using the same frequency-shift as the first frequency-augmented correlator (14) and being associated with a second code correlator (12) that is shifted by the code space from the first code correlator (12) with which said first frequency-augmented correlator (14) is associated. |
| US08665920B2 |
Method and apparatus for laser diode compensation
The luminance of a laser diode is a function of laser diode drive current. The luminance is also a function of other factors, such as age and temperature. A laser projection device includes laser diodes to generate light in response to a commanded luminance, and also includes photodiodes to provide a measured luminance. The commanded luminance and measured luminance are compared, and drive currents for the laser diodes are adjusted to compensate for changes in laser diode characteristics. |
| US08665917B2 |
Method for calibrating a tunable laser
Method for calibrating a tunable semiconductor laser having a phase section and a first Bragg reflector section, through which sections a phase current and a first reflector current, respectively, is applied, includes: a) selecting a phase current; b) identifying a range of reflector currents that achieves emission of light from the laser within a desired frequency band; c) scanning the reflector current(s) over the range of reflector currents, for each of at least two different phase currents, and reading the relative output power of the laser for each point scanned; d) identifying one stable operating point; e) identifying and storing one stable, continuous tuning line as constructed by interpolating; f) calibrating the laser frequency and observing a fed back signal from a target for the light emitted from the laser; g) measuring the temperature of the laser; and h) storing temperature and one operating point along the tuning line. |
| US08665915B2 |
Mid-IR fiber laser apparatus
A laser apparatus uses a dysprosium doped chalcogenide glass fiber. The glass fiber has a laser pump operatively connected to it. The chalcogenide glass fiber is located in a laser cavity including one or more reflective elements such as a Bragg grating, a Bragg minor, a grating, and a non-doped fiber end face. The apparatus provides laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 μm to about 5.0 μm at a useful power level using laser light input at a wavelength of from about 1.7 μm to about 1.8 μm. Also disclosed is a method for providing laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 μm to about 5.0 μm using the apparatus of the invention. |
| US08665914B2 |
Signal analysis/control system and method, signal control apparatus and method, and program
A signal analysis/control system includes: a signal analysis unit which analyzes an input signal of a transmission unit and generates analysis information; and a signal control unit which controls the input signal of a reception unit by using the analysis information. Thus, the signal analysis is performed in the transmission unit. This reduces the calculation amount concerning the signal analysis in the reception unit. Furthermore, the reception unit can control each of the constituent elements of the input signal according to the signal analysis information obtained in the transmission unit. |
| US08665913B2 |
Communication device to obtain time information
A communication device that is to be connected to a providing server for providing time information via a network is provided. The communication device includes a congestion-degree obtainer to obtain a congestion degree indicating a condition of traffic in the network, a time information obtainer to obtain the time information provided by the providing server, and an obtainment restrictor to compare the obtained congestion degree with a predetermined reference degree of congestion, and restricts the time information obtainer from obtaining the time information if the comparison indicates that the traffic in the network is busier than the reference degree of congestion. |
| US08665912B2 |
Method and system for transmitting a clock rate on an Ethernet network link and applications thereof
The invention relates to a method for transmitting a clock rate on a network link, seat of a speed timing signal (DR), consisting of at least synchronizing (A), at an input point (I) of this network, this speed timing signal with a reference external clock rate (ESR) for generating a synchronized speed timing signal (SDR) propagating on the network, and of extracting, at an output point (O) of the network, the reference external clock rate (ESR) from the synchronized speed timing signal (SDR) for utilization. The invention is for providing networks that are seats of a speed timing signal such as FastEthernet and Gigabit Ethernet networks or of higher speed Ethernet networks. |
| US08665911B2 |
Signature checking using deterministic finite state machines
The occurrence of false positives and the post-processing of digital streams subjected to examination by a deterministic finite state machine for character strings are reduced by combining location-based pattern matching, e.g. on packet headers, and content-based pattern matching, e.g. on payloads of packets. One scheme allows automatic transition from a header match state into an initial state of a content matching machine. Another scheme is based on a rules graph defining strings of match states and the examination of a list of match states (rather than characters) which have been previously determined, for example by means of header matching and content matching. The latter is also capable of comparing offset and depth values associated with the match states with offset and depth criteria. |
| US08665902B2 |
Method and system for reducing transceiver power via a variable symbol rate
Aspects of a method and system for reducing transceiver power via a variable symbol rate are provided. In this regard, an Ethernet transmitter may be enabled to transmit data at a variable symbol rate, wherein the symbol rate is determined based on a state of a link coupled to said Ethernet transmitter and/or resources available to said Ethernet transmitter. In this regard, link state may comprise one or more of, for example, available bandwidth, bit error rate, packet error rate, and link utilization; and resources may comprise one or more of, for example, power, buffer space, and processor time. Accordingly one or more threshold for link state and/or resources may be determined and the symbol rate may be adjusted when those thresholds are exceeded. Aspects of the invention may enable defining and/or transmitting unique symbols to identify possible symbol rates and/or a change in symbol rate. |
| US08665897B2 |
Systems and methods for high-speed digital subscriber line software download
System and methods for High-speed Digital Subscriber Line Software Download are provided. In one embodiment, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceiver Unit is provided. The transceiver unit comprises at least one DSL transceiver, wherein the at least one DSL transceiver implements an Embedded Operations Channel (EOC) and a data path over at least one DSL pair; a first memory for storing a software file for transfer over the DSL pair, wherein the software file comprises a header and at least one file record; and a second memory for storing a provisioning table, wherein the provisioning table establishes timeslot allocations for a plurality of channels communicated over the data path, including provisions for a software download channel for transmitting the software file from the first memory to a target unit over the data path. |
| US08665894B2 |
Scatter and gather scheme for aggregating multiple high speed point-to-point interfaces
A mechanism for combining plurality of point-to-point data channels to provide a high-bandwidth data channel having an aggregated bandwidth equivalent to the sum of the bandwidths of the data channels used is provided. A mechanism for scattering segments of incoming data packets, called data chunks, among available point-to-point data channel interfaces is further provided. A decision as to the data channel interface over which to send a data chunk to can be made by examining a fullness status of a FIFO coupled to each interface. An identifier of a data channel on which to expect a subsequent data chunk can be provided in a control word associated with a present chunk of data. Using such information in control words, a receive-end interface can reassemble packets by looking to the control word in a currently processing data chunk to find a subsequent data chunk. |
| US08665893B2 |
Switching of a receive queue associated with a virtual machine
Methods and systems for managing multiple receive queues of a networking device of a host machine in a virtual machine system. The networking device includes multiple receive queues that are used to receive packets intended for a guest of the virtual machine system and pass the packets to the intended virtual machine. A hypervisor of the virtual machine system manages the switching from one or more receive queues (i.e., old receive queues) to one or more other receive queues (i.e., new receive queues) by managing the provisioning of packets from the receive queues to one or more virtual machines in the virtual machine system. |
| US08665888B2 |
Optical line terminal, method and system for packet transmission in optical communication system
In the field of communications, a method and a system for packet transmission in an optical communication system, and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) are provided. The method includes: receiving, from a port, a first uplink packet from an Optical Network Unit (ONU), where the first uplink packet includes a Logical Link Identifier (ID); determining a first ID corresponding to the first uplink packet, where the first ID includes an ONU ID or a Port ID; acquiring a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) tunnel label according to the Logical Link ID and the first ID; and transmitting a second uplink packet on an MPLS tunnel corresponding to the MPLS tunnel label, where the second uplink packet includes data in the first uplink packet and the MPLS tunnel label. The system includes an ONU and an OLT. By establishing a corresponding relation of a logical link, created between the OLT and the ONU, and the MPLS tunnel, mapping between the logical link and the MPLS tunnel is realized, so that the service configuration has an unlimited capacity and becomes more flexible. |
| US08665885B2 |
Indication of service availability for a user terminal
Disclosed herein is a method for providing a user with an indication of availability of a service at a user terminal, the user terminal being connected to a gateway via a first communications link, and the gateway being connected to a service provider via a second communications link. The method includes determining a service bandwidth demand, a bandwidth availability, and a service priority; determining a service availability based on the service bandwidth demand, the bandwidth availability, and the service priority; and providing the user with an indication of the service availability. |
| US08665883B2 |
Generalized multi-homing for virtual private LAN services
A generalized multi-homing capability is depicted and described herein. The generalized multi-homing capability supports use of a generalized multi-homed site object and associated generalized multi-homed site identifier for Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS). For example, a generalized multi-homed site object may be generated using a multi-homed site object by associating an Ethernet endpoint object and a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object. For example, a generalized multi-homed site object may be generated using a multi-homed site object by associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object and associating one or more Ethernet-related objects with the Ethernet endpoint object. The generalized multi-homed site object is configured to support multiple types of endpoints, thereby enabling multi-homing to be supported for various types of devices in various types of networks (e.g., between devices of customer and service provider networks, between devices within a service provider network, between devices of different service provider networks, and the like) and for various types of services. |
| US08665875B2 |
Pipelined packet switching and queuing architecture
A pipelined linecard architecture for receiving, modifying, switching, buffering, queuing and dequeuing packets for transmission in a communications network is disclosed. The linecard has two paths: a receive path and a transmit path. In the receive path, received packets are processed and switched in an asynchronous, multi-stage pipeline. The pipelined switch operates on several packets in parallel while determining each packet's routing destination. Once that determination is made, each packet is modified to contain new routing information. Each packet is buffered and enqueued for transmission over the switching fabric to a destination linecard. The transmit path includes a buffer/queuing circuit similar to that used in the receive path. Both enqueuing and dequeuing of packets is accomplished using a CoS-based decision making apparatus. |
| US08665872B2 |
Transmission apparatus and transmission method
When a packet received from a ring network is addressed to a device on a local network established under a transmission apparatus, then that transmission apparatus detects whether a memory device installed therein is in the memory full state. If the memory device is determined to be in the memory full state, then the transmission apparatus sends the packet, which was received from the ring network, back to the ring network. Subsequently, when the memory device recovers from the memory full state, the transmission apparatus sends the packet to the specified device in the local network. |
| US08665868B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhancing forwarding and classification of network traffic with prioritized matching and categorization
An apparatus is described that performs prioritized matching through processing of network traffic in accordance with provisioned rules and policies. The apparatus includes a plurality of microcode controlled state machines, and a distribution circuit that routes input data to the plurality of microcode controlled state machines, such that the plurality of microcode controlled state machines apply rules to the input data to determine matches and produce priority indicators, wherein each match has an associated priority indicator. At least one of the matches is selected based on the priority indicators. Advantageously, the apparatus provides an architectural framework well suited to a low cost, high speed, robust implementation of flexible, advanced network security and monitoring features and network traffic analysis. |
| US08665866B2 |
Relative time division for network coding
A base station serves multiple user terminals via a relay node in a cell of a wireless network. The base station includes a time division scheme selection unit that selects a time division scheme from multiple time division schemes that optimizes a parameter associated with network coding of data transmitted between the multiple user terminals and the base station via the relay node. The base station further includes a transmission allocation unit that allocates uplink and/or downlink transmission intervals and interval lengths, based on the selected time division scheme, to each of the multiple user terminals and to the relay node. The base station also includes a notification message unit that notifies the multiple user terminals and the relay node of their respective transmission interval and interval length allocation. |
| US08665865B2 |
Systems and methods for providing customer support
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing sales or customer support using a telephone having a camera to capture at least a partial image of a product or service; wherein the at least partial image is used to select a database updated by one or more knowledgeable persons on the product or service. |
| US08665859B2 |
Apparatus and method for clock synchronization in a multi-point OFDM/DMT digital communications system
A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system includes a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are generated using at least one timing signal. At least one of the predetermined number of bins includes a pilot tone sub-symbol having a frequency corresponding to a clock signal. The communications system may also include a receiver for receiving the OFDM/DMT symbols via the transmission medium. The receiver demodulates the received symbols using at least one timing signal. |
| US08665854B2 |
Method and arrangement for noise floor estimation
A method of enabling improved soft noise power floor estimation in a code division multiple access wireless communication system, measuring (SO) samples of a received total wideband power, estimating (S1) a probability distribution for a first power quantity from the measured received total wideband power, estimating (S2) a mean power level for the first power quantity and adapting (S3) the width of the probability density function based on the estimated mean power level to enable computation of a probability density function of a noise floor measure that is a discretization on a grid. |
| US08665852B2 |
Method of receiving system information for a wireless communications system and related apparatus
A method of receiving system information for a user equipment, hereinafter called UE, of a wireless communications system is provided to prevent a connection loss between the UE and a network terminal. The UE uses a dedicated HS-DSCH radio network transaction identifier, abbreviated to H-RNTI, for a high speed downlink operation in a CELL_PCH state. The method includes receiving a radio resource control message used for providing modification indication of the system information via a broadcast control channel. |
| US08665851B2 |
Wireless access point array
A system of at least one wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device. The wireless access device has a network interface to a data network, and an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface. The array controller is configured to modify channel assignments so as to minimize channel interference dynamically. |
| US08665849B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing inter-network roam, querying and attaching network
Methods and systems are disclosed for implementing inter-network roam and for querying and network attachment, applied in a network of access identifier and location identifier separation, wherein the method for implementing inter-network roam comprises: after attaching to an ASN of a roaming area network, a roaming terminal sending a first data packet whose destination address is the AID of a destination device to the destination device; after receiving the first data packet, the ASN querying locally AID-RID mapping information, and requesting a roaming gateway to query the RID of the destination device if the RID is not found and the destination device does not belong to the roaming network; the roaming gateway querying the RID from a home network of the destination device and returning to the ASN; according to the RID, the ASN sending subsequent data packets of the roaming terminal to the destination device. |
| US08665848B2 |
Systems and methods of combined Bluetooth and WLAN signaling
Disclosed herein are systems and methods of combined Bluetooth and WLAN signaling. Such systems and methods may use a Bluetooth connection to signal WLAN capabilities and to exchange WLAN security keys. Once the file transfer has started, the actual data may be transmitted over the WLAN connection rather than over the Bluetooth connection. The WLAN connection may have a much higher throughput than the Bluetooth connection, and WLAN capability has increasingly become present inside Bluetooth enabled devices. The Bluetooth connection may be used as a control channel, while the WLAN connection may be used for data transfer. |
| US08665842B2 |
Methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities for connecting to an access network
Example methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities for connecting to an access network are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves sending a request to a first access network of a first network type. The request is addressed to a database and requests network connectivity information for connecting to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type. The example method also involves receiving a response from the first access network. The response includes the network connectivity information for connecting to the second access network. |
| US08665836B2 |
Communicating control information in mobile communication system
The present invention relates to communicating control information in a mobile communication system, wherein the control information of a mobile terminal for scheduling an uplink channel may be notified to a network quickly with less power. The present invention comprises transmitting a data block on a first physical channel, wherein the data block comprises control information, and transmitting an indicator having a specific value on a second physical channel for indicating the transmission of the control information on the first physical channel. |
| US08665829B2 |
Method for controlling devices based on NFC and device control system using the same
A method for controlling a service device through a smart terminal based on near field communication (NFC) includes the steps of: activating NFC between the smart terminal and the service device; handing over the communication between the smart terminal and the service device to a secondary network through the NFC; executing, by the start terminal, a web contents execution program; providing, by the service device, control codes to the smart terminal; preparing, by the smart terminal, to utilize the control codes; displaying, by the smart terminal, a control/service screen of the service device on the web contents execution program by utilizing the control codes; detecting, by the web contents execution program, a user manipulation on the control/service screen; and transmitting, by the web contents execution program, a request defined in the control codes to the service device in response to the user manipulation. |
| US08665824B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus
A reproduction speed of an application being executed is controlled with changing an upper limit of accumulation of a jitter buffer based on a radio state during communication by a first wireless communication network. If it is determined to start handover preparation from the first wireless communication network to a second wireless communication network, a preparation time before handover and an absolute delay time of each of the first wireless communication network and the second wireless communication network are obtained from the handover control unit. Based on such information obtained and a data amount in a jitter buffer at a time when it is determined to start the handover preparation, the reproduction speed of the application being executed is controlled to be slowed down. Thereby, it is possible to perform handover to a different wireless communication network without deteriorating reproduction quality and real-time property. |
| US08665815B2 |
Method for QoS guarantees in a multilayer structure
A method in which a user equipment processes data in a wireless mobile communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a first data block from an upper layer, transferring a second data block including the first data block to a lower layer at a particular protocol layer, discarding the first and second data blocks present in the particular protocol layer if a certain period of time has passed, and transferring information associated with the discard of the second data block to the lower layer. |
| US08665814B2 |
Method, device and system for assigning ACK channels to users
A method for assigning acknowledgement (ACK) channels to a user is used to feed back ACKs of a plurality of downlink sub-frames in one uplink sub-frame. According to the method, reserved ACK channels are divided into blocks according to the number of downlink sub-frames; each downlink sub-frame corresponds to one block; each block is divided into several sub-blocks; control channel element (CCE) sets within the same sub-frame are respectively mapped to different sub-blocks; and the ACK channels are assigned to the downlink sub-frames according to a sequence of increasing a mapping label d first and then increasing a sub-block label m. Thus, more unused ACK channels can be released to form resource blocks (RBs) for transmission on other channels, for example, for PUSCH transmission. Other methods for assigning ACK channels to a user, a device for assigning ACK channels to a user, and a communication system are further provided. |
| US08665813B2 |
Channel quality reporting in a mobile communication system
The invention relates methods for triggering channel quality feedback for at least one of plural component carriers of a communication system available for downlink transmission. The invention suggests a mechanism for triggering channel quality feedback from a terminal where the downlink control signaling overhead for the selection of component carrier(s) to be reported on is minimized. One aspect of the invention is a new interpretation of a predetermined format for dedicated control information comprising a CQI request flag, which is depending on the status of the CQI request flag. In case the CQI request flag is set at least one further bit of the dedicated control information is interpreted as information indicative of the one or more component carriers available for downlink transmission to the terminal and the terminal is providing channel quality feedback on the channel quality experienced on the indicated component carrier or component carriers. |
| US08665810B2 |
Method of performing uplink transmission and related communication device
A method of performing uplink transmission for a mobile device configured with a primary component carrier and at least one secondary component carrier in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises steps of receiving a first uplink grant for transmission in a subframe; receiving a second uplink grant in a Random Access Response message for transmission on the primary component carrier in the subframe; and performing transmission in the subframe according to which of the primary component carrier and the at least one secondary component carrier the first uplink grant is received for. |
| US08665809B2 |
Systems and methods for sending power control information
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate sending a power control command in a wireless communication environment. A base station can send a power control command to a UE through resource elements reserved for at least one Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). Thus, the power control command can be punctured into a control channel element (CCE) reserved for the at least one PDCCH. Further, the base station can convey an indicator that specifies the resource elements reserved for the at least one PDCCH used for sending the power control command to the UE. Moreover, the base station can use a structure similar to a conventional (e.g., Release 8, . . . ) PHICH structure for sending the power control command using the resource elements reserved for the at least one PDCCH. For example, the power control command can be spread using one or more Walsh codes assigned to the UE. |
| US08665805B2 |
Near companion mode
Two User Equipment (UE) operate in a Near Companion Mode (NCM), in which a monitoring UE (MUE) monitors an uplink transmission opportunity granted to its companion UE (CUE) on a shared uplink channel. If the CUE does not begin transmitting within a predetermined portion of its transmission opportunity, the MUE may utilize the transmission opportunity to transmit an uplink data packet. In one embodiment, where the CUE does not have data to transmit, it may transmit a predetermined pattern at the beginning of its transmission opportunity, to indicate to the MUE that the transmission opportunity is available. The MUE may transmit an NCM radio block using the entire symbol space associated with the last three of four bursts allocated to the CUE, or using a newly defined NCM format comprising four abbreviated bursts, using only a portion of the symbol space associated with the four bursts corresponding to the transmission opportunity allocated to the CUE. |
| US08665801B2 |
Allocating forward link resources for transmitting data over a shared forward link data channel without allocating reverse link resources for reverse link data transmission
In one embodiment the method includes allocating, for a mobile, forward link resources for transmitting data over a shared forward link data channel without allocating reverse link resources for reverse link data transmission in association with the allocated forward link resources. At least a portion of the received data is repeatedly sent to the mobile on the shared forward link data channel over a time division multiple access air interface using the allocated forward link resources until an acknowledgement is received from the mobile or a number of transmissions have taken place. |
| US08665797B2 |
Information feedback method and user equipment
The present invention discloses an information feedback method. The method comprises steps of a serving cell and/or a user equipment determining a cooperating cell set participating multi-antenna-multi-cell cooperation, the cooperating cell set including the serving cell and non-serving cells, the user equipment and/or the serving cell selecting transmit-ports of the serving cell and non-serving cells according to the determined cooperating cell set, the user equipment obtaining channel state information of the selected transmit-ports, and the user equipment feeding back identification information and the channel state information of the selected transmit-ports. The present invention provides also a serving cell, a cooperative cell and a user equipment for feeding back the identification information and channel state information of the selected transmit-ports. The present invention has advantages of simple implementation and less signaling overhead. |
| US08665792B2 |
Method and apparatus for inter-user device transfer (IUT) in a network based mobility domain
A method and apparatus for performing Inter-User Equipment Transfer (IUT) across any internet protocol (IP) based network. This framework allows for preparation, execution and completion of data transfer at a target device through registration with a Local Mobility Anchor (LMA) and receipt of an IUT request. The target device receives and stores an IP address or a source device. The IP address is used to transmit session information. |
| US08665787B2 |
Radio apparatus which communicates with other radio apparatuses and communication system
A data processing unit selects either one of a base station mode and a terminal mode so as to perform communications using packet signals. The base station mode is a mode in which a packet signal, containing data indicating that an initial source and a final destination are not its own radio apparatus, is to be communicated; the terminal mode is a mode in which a packet signal, containing data indicating that the initial source or the final destination is its own radio apparatus, is to be communicated. A control unit starts the radio apparatus by setting the data processing unit in the terminal mode. When a packet signal, which has been transmitted from another radio apparatus and which contains broadcast information, has not been received before a certain period of time elapses after the start, the control unit switches the mode of the data processing unit to the base station mode. |
| US08665781B2 |
Adaptive modulation and coding
A user equipment, for use in a wireless communication system, includes a unit operable to measure a received signal quality in a receiver, a unit operable to report the measuring received signal quality to the transmitter, or a unit operable to report a selected modulation and coding scheme to the transmitter. |
| US08665776B2 |
Method and system for data transmission
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for data transmission. The method for data transmission includes: sending, according to a mapping relationship between a first H-RNTI of a user equipment and a second H-RNTI of a relay node accessed by the user equipment, data to the user equipment corresponding to the first H-RNTI by using the relay node corresponding to the second H-RNTI. By using the technical solutions of the embodiments, the coverage capability of a cell edge is enhanced, and the efficiency in transmitting data to a UE at the cell edge is further improved. |
| US08665773B2 |
Channel quality measurement in relay systems
An SAE/LTE or 4G cellular telecommunications network is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eNodeBs and a network core. A plurality of mobile telecommunications devices are registered with the network and communicate with the network core via the eNodeBs. A relay is provided between the eNodeB 5 and the mobile telecommunications device to extend the radio coverage provided by the eNodeB. Channel quality measurement data are transmitted to at least one of the telecommunications devices in a link with the relay to enable the telecommunications devices to calculate the channel quality between the mobile device and the relay and/or the node. |
| US08665772B2 |
Method, device and system for transmitting a push message
In the field of wireless communications technologies, a method, a device and a system for transmitting a push message are provided, which solve the technical problem that a push message may not be transmitted in an appropriate Point To Multipoint (PTM) bearer mode in the prior art. The method includes: determining at least one mode in PTM bearer modes for a received push message; adapting respectively, for the push message, a transmission bearer type corresponding to the at least one mode; and transmitting the adapted push message to a terminal through a PTM bearer network corresponding to the transmission bearer type. |
| US08665766B2 |
Method of obtaining a multimedia broadcast multicast service supporting ability of a cell
A method for obtaining the MBMS supporting ability of a cell is disclosed. The method concludes: step 1 in which RNC transmits an audit request message to Node B; step 2, the Node B returns an audit response message containing the MBMS supporting ability information of the cell to the RNC. With the present invention, the RNC can obtain the MBMS supporting ability information of the cell, and obtain the MBMS supporting ability changing information of the cell in real time and correctly. |
| US08665762B2 |
Apparatus and method of configuring a device in a network
The invention provides a method, apparatus and computer program product for ensuring that a device (26) operable in a network (1) is configured to operate according to documented functional requirements for the network. Positional information comprising the coordinates of each device (26, 9, 50) in the network (1) is received via a gateway (9, 50) at a data processing apparatus (10) storing the documented functional requirements. The coordinates of each device (26, 9) in the network (1) are used to deduce the required functionality of the device based on the stored functional requirements, instructions for implementing the functionality are generated and the instructions are sent via the gateway (9, 50) to the network. The invention has particular relevance in the commissioning stage of a lighting control network. |
| US08665760B2 |
Method and arrangement for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network
A method and arrangement for connecting an ad-hoc communication network (101) to a permanent communication network (102), e.g. to a cellular mobile communication network. The ad-hoc communication network is established between communication devices (103-106) and a gateway device (107) using a routing protocol that is run in the gateway device and in the communication devices. A protocol address that is associated in a communication device with a protocol data unit is determined on the basis of a control action given by a user of the communication device. In a gateway device, the protocol data unit is relayed to the permanent communication network if the protocol data unit is provided with a pre-determined protocol address. The user of the communication device can determine with the aid of the control action whether he is communicating only inside the ad-hoc communication network or via the permanent communication network. |
| US08665758B1 |
Method, system, and computer readable medium for translating and redirecting calls
A system, method, and instruction set for translational routing and redirecting of media calls for use in teleconferencing applications. In operation, when a user places a conference call, it is routed through a carrier switch 14 to a media gateway 16 where routing translation on the call occurs and then a VoIP call is sent to an element management system 18 by way of an internet protocol network 22. The EMS 18 then accesses a central database 20 with an account number and retrieves a dialed number identification service 21 needed to redirect the call. The EMS then sends a REFER command indicating the new DNIS information to the MGW 16 by way the IP network 22. Finally, the MGW 16 performs the appropriate routing translation on the new DNIS and redirects the call through a time division multiplexing network 24 to the appropriate conferencing bridge 26,28. |
| US08665748B2 |
Method for energy efficient configuration of ports of a logical communication channel
A method for energy efficient configuration of a physical port of a plurality of physical ports of a network device is described herein. One or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports may be aggregated to a logical port in a logical communication channel between the network device and another device. A configuration of the one or more physical ports is determined. The configuration includes one or more parameters which are monitored. The physical port of the plurality of physical ports is selected and a configuration state of the selected physical port is modified upon detection of an event based on the one or more parameters. The modified configuration state is one of an active port state, an active port state with a limited bandwidth utilization rate, and a standby port state. The selected port is reconfigured according to the modified configuration state. |
| US08665741B2 |
Radio frequency communications based on multiple receivers
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for: selecting a reception path to receive information from a first receiver path through a first receiver portion in a transceiver portion of the apparatus or from a second receiver path in a receiver portion separate from the transceiver portion of the apparatus, wherein both of the first and second receiver paths receive the information using a same frequency band of a same radio access technology; and receiving the information using the selected reception path. Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for: transmitting first information using a transmission frequency band of a radio access technology over a transmission path in a transceiver; and, for the radio access technology and a reception frequency band, receiving second information over a receiver path in a secondary receiver, where the transceiver does not have a receiver path configured to receive the reception frequency band. |
| US08665737B2 |
Conversational interactivity measurement and estimation for real-time media
An apparatus (300) and method (400) provides an adaptive end-to-end (E2E) delay threshold (DT) for one-way transmission of information blocks in an information stream of a conversation. Information streams of the conversation are monitored (410), and the E2E DT duration is determined based on detected occurrences of one or more interactive properties 5 associated with the information streams of the conversation (412). Using the adaptive E2E DT duration value, a determination is made as to whether to perform at least one Quality of Service (QoS) function (416). |
| US08665735B2 |
Method and system for quality of service management in a multi-standard mesh of networks
Aspects of a method and system for quality of service management in a multi-standard mesh of networks are provided. In a wireless mobile communication device (WMCD) enabled to communicate utilizing a variety of communication networks, QoS information, such as latency, available bandwidth, and/or throughput, communicated to the WMCD may enable the coordination of data transfers to and/or from the WMCD. In this regard, the WMCD and each of the networks may comprise a QoS management entity. A QoS management entity may be enabled to poll other QoS management entities to discover QoS information. Similarly, a QoS management entity may be enabled to receive QoS information broadcast by other QoS management entities. A QoS management entity may enable selecting a network and/or communication protocol for the transmission and/or reception of data based on exchanged QoS information. |
| US08665734B2 |
Methods and apparatus for uplink macro-diversity in packet-switched cellular networks
A method and apparatus for providing uplink macro-diversity in packet-switched networks that allows packets and/or portions of packets, e.g., frames, to be selectively sent from an end node, e.g., wireless communication device or mobile terminal, over a set of multiple communication connections, e.g., physical-layer or link-layer connections, to one or more access nodes, e.g., base stations. Uplink macro-diversity is achieved in part through intelligent selective forwarding over multiple communication connections, where the forwarding decision is controlled by the end node based on a variety of factors, e.g., physical-layer channel conditions and/or higher layer policy. The forwarding decision is executed on a rapid timescale, e.g., on a per packet basis, to adapt to the dynamically varying conditions of the set of communication connections. |
| US08665733B2 |
Method and apparatus for round trip delay KPI monitoring in live network using user plane probe session
A method and apparatus for Round Trip Delay KPI Monitoring in a live network using a user plane probe session is disclosed for measuring round trip delays in a manner that allows latency to be apportioned to network elements. The method and apparatus for Round Trip Delay KPI Monitoring in a live network using a user plane probe session includes transmitting a loopback packet containing a probe session indicator and capturing timestamps of arrival and departure times at each network element traversed by the loopback packet, and then transmitting the timestamps to a Network Management System. |
| US08665732B2 |
VoIP diagnosis
A VoIP-aware device generates data structures that include diagnostics data. The diagnostics data of each data structure identifies at least one of sender and network problems that degrade VoIP voice quality. |
| US08665730B2 |
Test device and test method for mobile communication terminal
To reduce the load of a communication process performed between pseudo base stations of different communication standards. An LTE pseudo base station unit 3 includes: an LTE message processing unit 3b that transmits broadcast information including base station information about a C2K pseudo base station unit 4 to a mobile communication terminal 10, which is a test target, extracts location registration request message information from data when receiving the data including the location registration request message information as response message information to the transmitted broadcast information, and outputs the location registration request message information; and a specific C2K message processing unit 3c that outputs the location registration request message information as response message information when receiving the location registration request message information from the LTE message processing unit 3b. |
| US08665729B2 |
Method for performing radio link control with round trip time awareness, and associated apparatus
A method for performing radio link control (RLC) with round trip time (RTT) awareness is provided, where the method is applied to an electronic device. The method includes: dynamically estimating an index according to one or more factors; and based upon the index, dynamically adjusting a status prohibit timer value of a status prohibit timer for performing RLC. For example, the index can be an RTT of transmission/retransmission, and the step of dynamically estimating the index may further include: dynamically estimating the RTT of transmission/retransmission by detecting a time period between a first time point and a second time point, wherein the first time point represents time of sending a negative acknowledgement (NACK) status report. In another example, the index can be an RTT awareness index, where the method may include estimating the RTT awareness index according to at least one predetermined estimation function. An associated apparatus is also provided. |
| US08665726B2 |
Dynamically configuring attributes of a parent circuit on a network element
Methods and apparatus for dynamically configuring a parent circuit through a subscriber record on an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server responsive to an authorization event for the subscriber session on the network element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the AAA server accesses the subscriber record for a subscriber session on the network element. Based on this subscriber record, a set of one or more attributes for a subscriber circuit and a set of one or more attributes for a parent circuit of the subscriber circuit are determined. The network element applies the set of subscriber circuit attributes to the subscriber circuit and the set of parent circuit attributes to the parent circuit. |
| US08665724B2 |
Systems and methods for prioritizing and scheduling packets in a communication network
Systems and methods provide a parameterized scheduling system that incorporates end-user application awareness and can be used with scheduling groups that contain data streams from heterogeneous applications. Individual data queues within a scheduling group can be created based on application class, specific application, individual data streams or some combination thereof. Application information and Application Factors (AF) are used to modify scheduler parameters such as weights and credits to differentiate between data streams assigned to a scheduling group. Dynamic AF settings may adjust relative importance of user applications to maximize user Quality of Experience (QoE) in response to recurring network patterns, one-time events, application characteristics, protocol characteristics, device characteristics, service level agreements, or combinations thereof. Scheduling parameters may be dynamic and incorporate the notions of “duration neglect” and “recency effect” in an end-user's perception of video quality in order to optimally manage video traffic during periods of congestion. |
| US08665722B2 |
Method to achieve bounded buffer sizes and quality of service guarantees in the internet network
Methods to achieve bounded router buffer sizes and Quality of Service guarantees for traffic flows in a packet-switched network are described. The network can be an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a Differentiated Services network, an MPLS network, wireless mesh network or an optical network. The routers can use input queueing, possibly in combination with crosspoint queueing and/or output queueing. Routers may schedule QoS-enabled traffic flows to ensure a bounded normalized service lead/lag. Each QoS-enabled traffic flow will buffer O(K) packets per router, where K is an integer bound on the normalized service lead/lag. Three flow-scheduling methods are analysed. Non-work-conserving flow-scheduling methods can guarantee a bound on the normalized service lead/lag, while work-conserving flow-scheduling methods typically cannot guarantee the same small bound. The amount of buffering required in a router can be reduced significantly, the network links can operate near peak capacity, and strict QoS guarantees can be achieved. |
| US08665721B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for maintaining packet data protocol (PDP) context while performing data offload
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for maintaining packet data protocol (PDP) context while performing data offload are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for maintaining PDP context while performing data offload includes detecting a data offload condition wherein a UE for which a first network node is maintaining a PDP context is sending or receiving data using a data path that does not include the first network node. While the data offload condition exists, packets are sent from a source other than the UE to the first network node so as to cause the first network node to maintain the PDP context for the UE. In one embodiment, a node interposed between the UE and the first network node periodically sends dummy packets or heart beat packets to the first network node on behalf of the UE, which may include packets that appear to come from the UE. |
| US08665715B2 |
Method and system for providing end-to-end QoS in converged networks using probabilistic preferential admission control
Network management for providing and managing Quality of Service (QoS) in converged networks, and particularly management of bursty, short-lived data loads, in an opaque network where knowledge of or control over network elements is not required. Preferential treatment is provided to some subset of the network users that require better QoS assurances from the underlying network by applying probabilistic admission control decisions in conjunction with estimated network state provides improved performance for high priority data with bursty data loads. |
| US08665714B2 |
Call admission control of shared-access resources through a call-handling server
A method and an apparatus are disclosed that enable call admission control for telecommunications terminals that use shared-access resources, without relying on an implementation at every access point to provide those resources. In particular, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a first wireless terminal calls a second terminal by transmitting a traffic stream description that specifies the nature of the call to an intermediary call-handling server, such as a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server. The SIP proxy determines from the Internet Protocol address of the calling terminal that the terminal uses a shared-access resource—in this case, a wireless shared-communications channel—and makes a request to a channel utilization manager to admit the call. Subsequently, the SIP proxy receives a message from the channel utilization manager that indicates whether the call has been admitted. |
| US08665708B2 |
Method and apparatus for a ring network node to acquire protocol messages
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for acquiring protocol messages by a ring-network node, including: using dual fields to identify different protocol messages; if a node supporting G.8032v1 receives a Force Switch (FS) or Manual Switch (MS) protocol message, determining that message is a Signal Fail (SF) protocol message according to an identifier; a node supporting G.8032v2 determining that the received protocol message is an SF or MS or FS protocol message according to the identifier. The method of the present invention enables the nodes in a ring network to accurately control the state of their own ports, thereby avoiding the case that multiple blocking points appear in the ring network and improving the network performance. |
| US08665703B2 |
Communication control apparatus and communication control method
A communication control apparatus includes a storage unit and a processor. The storage unit stores, in association with a port number, first address information regarding apparatuses connected to a port identified by the port number. The processor receives a first affected address list containing second address information regarding apparatuses which may be affected by a trouble, extracts the first address information stored in the storage unit in association with a port number of a port via which the first affected address list has been received, selects third address information which is included in both the first and second address information, updates the first affected address list by replacing the second address information with the third address information to acquire a second affected address list, and transmits the second affected address list via each port other than the port via which the first affected address list has been received. |
| US08665702B2 |
Method and system for refreshing the single ring address in an ethernet ring
The present invention discloses a method for refreshing a single ring address of an Ethernet ring, which method comprises: achieving address refresh on an on-ring port at one side of a same node by the control of a refresh timer. The present invention further discloses a system for refreshing a single ring address of an Ethernet ring, which system comprises: an address refresh achieving unit configured to achieve address refresh on an on-ring port at one side of a same node by the control of a refresh timer. The method and system of the present invention reduces the number of refreshes of the address forwarding table and improves the efficiency and stability of Ethernet ring protection, thus greatly promoting the performance of the Ethernet ring. |
| US08665701B2 |
Double ring network system and communication control method thereof, and transmission station, and program for transmission stations
A double ring network system configured with two or more transmission stations each including a pair of bi-directionally communicative communication ports, including any adjacent two transmission stations as terminal stations, and any transmission station as a base, as mutually connected in a ring form by communication ports through a transmission line, for intercommunications between transmission stations, in which the transmission stations are each adapted to determine whether or not frame signals are received from adjacent transmission stations, transmit route identifying frame signals for identification of routes to adjacent transmission stations, when having failed in reception, and set own station as a terminal station substituting for a current terminal station, when having received no responses to the route identifying frames from adjacent transmission stations, so they are kept from arriving at ring-like connected subsequent transmission stations. |
| US08665699B2 |
Link failure detection and traffic redirection in an OpenFlow network
Failure detection and traffic redirection are implemented in an OpenFlow switch. Link failure detection packets, such as Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) packets, are periodically sent out on links to peer OpenFlow switches, such as via the Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Transport Profile (MPLS-TP). Link failure detection packets are received from the peer OpenFlow switches on the links, and monitored. A link failure is detected if no incoming link failure detection packets are received on a link for a predetermined interval. In the event of a link failure, traffic is redirected from the failed link to a backup link by altering entries on a flow table of the OpenFlow switch. |
| US08665697B1 |
Subchannel formation in OFDMA systems
Sub-channels in cells of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network are formed based on random permutations of a set of subcarrier indices. The random permutations are performed for each cell of the network using a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) and a shuffle technique. Different initial states of the PRNG are used to generate the random permutation of the subcarrier indices for each cell. In an embodiment, sub-carriers represented by a contiguous group of indices in the random permutation obtained for a cell are assigned to form a sub-channel. Interference diversity for the OFDMA network is thereby improved. |
| US08665696B2 |
Frequency division multiplexing system with selectable rate
An OFDM system uses a normal mode which has a symbol length T, a guard time TG and a set of N sub-carriers, which are orthogonal over the time T, and one or more fallback modes which have symbol lengths KT and guard times KTG where K is an integer greater than unity. The same set of N sub-carriers is used for the fallback modes as for the normal mode. Since the same set of sub-carriers is used, the overall bandwidth is substantially constant, so alias filtering does not need to be adaptive. The Fourier transform operations are the same as for the normal mode. Thus fallback modes are provided with little hardware cost. In the fallback modes the increased guard time provides better delay spread tolerance and the increased symbol length provides improved signal to noise performance, and thus increased range, at the cost of reduced data rate. |
| US08665694B2 |
Pilot design for universal frequency reuse in cellular orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing systems
Systems and methods are provided for transmitting information between an intended source and a receiver to minimize co-channel interference from at least one interfering source. Pilot subcarriers and data subcarriers may be broadcast from an intended source arid at least one interfering source. The pilot subcarriers may be shared across base stations or distributed among base stations in frequency, in time, or both. In addition, the frequency reuse factor of the pilot subcarriers may be different than the frequency reuse factor of the data subcarriers. A receiver receives a composite signal that corresponds with an intended signal from an intended source and an interfering signal from at least one interfering source. The portion of the received signal that corresponds to the intended signal may be recovered by the receiver based on the broadcast of the pilot subcarriers. |
| US08665693B1 |
Uplink single carrier frequency division multiple access multiple-input multiple-output soft interference cancellation receiver
A system and method are provided for Soft Interference Cancellation (SIC) in receiving Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) Multiple-Input Multiple Output (MIMO) signals. A receiver with Mr antennas accepts multicarrier signals transmitted simultaneously, with N overlapping carrier frequencies. The receiver removes a cyclic prefix (CP), and fast Fourier transforms (FFT) the multicarrier signal from each antenna, supplying Mr number of N-tone signals y. Using either parallel SIC (P-SIC) or successive SIC (S-SIC), interference is canceled in each of the Mr signals, and soft symbols are supplied for each of U layers. Interference is canceled using the P-SIC process by parallel processing the U layers in an i-th iteration, in response to feedback from an (i−1)th iteration. Alternatively, interference is canceled using the S-SIC process by sequentially processing the U layers in an i-th iteration, in the order of u0,u1, . . . , uU−1, using feedback generated from previously processed layers. |
| US08665690B1 |
System for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording head having a leading face-mounted laser
A system for providing energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) heads using a substrate is described. The substrate has front and back sides and apertures therein. The apertures are through-holes between the front and back sides of the substrate. The system includes providing a transmission medium in the apertures and fabricating EAMR transducers on the front side of the substrate. The EAMR transducers correspond to the apertures and the EAMR heads. The system also includes electrically insulating the back side of the substrate. The back side of the substrate is also prepared for mounting of the lasers. The lasers then are coupled the back side of the substrate. The lasers correspond to the EAMR heads and are configured to provide light through the apertures to the EAMR transducers. The system also includes separating the substrate into the EAMR heads. |
| US08665688B2 |
Optical device, method of manufacturing the same, replica substrate for producing optical device, and method of producing the same
An optical device, a method of manufacturing the optical device, a replica substrate for manufacturing the optical device, and a method of producing the replica substrate are disclosed. The optical device includes a base, and a plurality of structures arranged at a fine pitch equal to or shorter than a wavelength of visible light on a surface of the base. Each of the structures is composed of protuberance. The structures have a depth distribution. |
| US08665687B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08665683B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08665677B1 |
Disk drive magnetic read head with affixed and recessed laser device
A disk drive read head includes a slider. The slider has an air bearing surface, a trailing face, and a mounting face opposite the air bearing surface. The mounting face includes a mounting face recession. An interior surface of the mounting face recession includes an electrically conductive terminal. The read head also includes a magnetic transducer disposed on the trailing face of the slider. The read head also includes a laser device affixed to the electrically conductive terminal by a solder material. The laser device is at least partially recessed into the mounting face recession. |
| US08665667B2 |
Vertical seismic profiling velocity estimation method
A computer-implemented method includes providing a first velocity model obtained from a vertical seismic profile survey representative of an upper region of a subterranean formation. Wavefields from the first velocity model are datumed using wave equations to a datum line between the upper region and a target area beneath the upper region to obtain datumed wavefields. The method further includes obtaining interferometric common shot data and interferometric common midpoint data from the datumed wavefield using wave equations at the datum line. The first velocity model, the datumed wavefield, wavefield equations, and the interferometric common midpoint data are then used to generate a second velocity model representative of velocities in the target area. |
| US08665666B2 |
Acoustic apparatus and acoustic sensor apparatus including a fastener
An acoustic sensor apparatus includes a housing, a fastener structured to fasten together the housing and an electrical power conductor, an acoustic sensor structured to detect acoustic noise from the electrical power conductor and output a signal, and a circuit structured to detect an electrical conductivity fault from the signal. |
| US08665662B2 |
Early read after write operation memory device, system and method
A memory device, system and method for allowing an early read operation after one or more write operations is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The memory device comprises an interface for providing a first write address, a first write data, and a read address. A memory core is coupled to the interface and includes a first memory section having a first data path and a first address path and a second memory section having a second data path and a second address path. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first data and first address path is independent of the second data and second address path. The first write data is provided on the first data path responsive to the first write address being provided on the first address path while a read data is provided on the second data path responsive to the read address being provided on the second address path. |
| US08665661B2 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of realizing a chip with high operation reliability and high yield
A semiconductor memory device capable of preventing a defect caused by lowering the etching precision in an end area of the memory cell array is provided. A first block is constructed by first memory cell units each having of memory cells, a second block is constructed by second memory cell units each having memory cells, and the memory cell array is constructed by arranging the first blocks on both end portions thereof and arranging the second blocks on other portions thereof. The structure of the first memory cell unit on the end side of the memory cell array is different from the second memory cell unit. Wirings for connecting the selection gate lines of the memory cell array to corresponding transistors in a row decoder are formed of wiring layers formed above wirings for connecting control gate lines of the memory cell array to the transistors in the row decoder. |
| US08665656B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and method for controlling the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a skew monitoring unit configured to receive a reference voltage and monitor a voltage characteristic of a corresponding MOS transistor; a voltage sensing unit configured to provide a sensing voltage corresponding to the monitoring result of the voltage characteristic; a coding unit configured to multiplex an output signal of the voltage sensing unit and provide a skew control signal; and an internal voltage regulation unit configured to provide an internal voltage by regulating an internal bias voltage in response to the skew control signal. |
| US08665653B2 |
Memory system and control method therefor
A memory system includes a plurality of memory devices having data terminals that are commonly connected to a memory controller. Each of the memory devices includes a data output circuit that outputs read data that is read from a memory cell array in response to a read command to the data terminal, and an output-timing adjustment circuit that adjusts an output timing of read data that is output from the data output circuit. The memory controller sets an adjustment amount of adjustment performed by an output-timing adjustment circuit such that delay times from when the read command is issued until when the read data is received match in the memory devices, by issuing a setting command to each of the memory devices. |
| US08665649B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and ISPP programming method
A method programming a non-volatile memory device using an incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) scheme is disclosed. The method includes operating in a first program mode during which a program pulse width is constant and a program voltage is successively increased per ISPP cycle, and during which a program operation and a verify operation are alternately repeated, and operating in a second program mode during which the program pulse width is successively increased per ISPP cycle and the program voltage is constant, and during which the program operation and the verify operation are alternately repeated, wherein operation in the second program mode follows operation in the first program mode only when the program voltage equals a maximum value, or when a verification result count value satisfies a predetermined condition. |
| US08665648B2 |
Flash memory device having seed selector circuit
A flash memory device includes a memory cell array, a seed selector circuit, and a randomizing and de-randomizing circuit. The memory cell array includes memory cells forming multiple pages. The seed selector circuit stores seeds corresponding to the multiple pages, respectively. The randomizing and de-randomizing circuit randomizes data to be stored in a selected page. Each page has a corresponding seed and includes multiple sectors having corresponding sector offset values and seed values generated from the seed corresponding to the page. The seed selector circuit selects a seed value from the seed values of the selected page based on a sector offset value indicating a sector of the selected page to which a column offset value, input with an access request, belongs. The randomizing and de-randomizing circuit randomizes data to be stored in the selected page based on the seed value selected by the seed selector circuit. |
| US08665647B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, memory system, and read method thereof
A non-volatile memory device performs a read operation for compensating for coupling due to an adjacent memory cell. With the read operation of the non-volatile memory device, the coupling effect included in a read result of the selected memory cell is compensated on the basis of a program state of an adjacent memory cell adjacent to the selected memory cell. Toward this end, a read operation for the adjacent memory cell is selectively performed before the selected memory cell is read. Upon sensing of data from the selected memory cell, one or more read operations for the selected memory cell are performed according to the program state of the adjacent memory cell with a read voltage being changed in level depending on the program state of the adjacent memory cell. |
| US08665642B2 |
Pattern-sensitive coding of data for storage in multi-level memory cells
A method of operating a memory device includes receiving first and second sets of bits to be stored in multi-level cells in the device. A multi-level encoding is selected from among a plurality of multi-level encodings for storing the first and second sets of bits in the multi-level cells. Each multi-level encoding includes at least four encoding levels for a respective multi-level cell. Respective multi-level encodings have respective costs associated with programming the first and second sets of bits into the multi-level cells in accordance with the respective multi-level encodings. The multi-level encoding is selected based on the respective costs of the respective encodings. The first and second sets of bits are encoded in accordance with the selected multi-level encoding to produce encoded data for storage in the device such that a respective multi-level cell stores respective bits from both the first and second sets of bits. |
| US08665631B2 |
Resistive random memory cell and memory
The present disclosure provides a resistive random memory cell and a resistive random memory. The resistive random memory cell comprises an upper electrode, a resistive layer, an intermediate electrode, an asymmetric tunneling barrier layer, and a lower electrode. The upper electrode, the resistive layer, and the intermediate electrode constitute a resistive storage portion. The intermediate electrode, the asymmetric tunneling barrier layer, and the lower electrode constitute a selection portion. The resistive storage portion and the selection portion share the intermediate electrode. The selection portion may be disposed above or under the resistive storage portion. The asymmetric tunneling barrier layer comprises at least two materials having different barrier heights, and is configured for rectifying forward tunneling current and reverse tunneling current flowing through the resistive random memory cell. The present disclosure uses the asymmetric tunneling barrier layer for rectifying, so as to enable selection of the resistive random memory cell. The method for manufacturing the asymmetric tunneling barrier layer does not involve doping or high-temperature annealing processes, and the thickness of the asymmetric tunneling barrier layer is relatively small, which helps 3D high-density integration of the resistive random memory. |
| US08665626B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and control method
A semiconductor integrated circuit for selecting one from a plurality of external storage devices and loading an execution program that includes a fuse part having a plurality of internal fuse circuits, and a processing unit that loads the execution program from the external storage device selected according to a value indicated by the internal fuse circuit. |
| US08665621B2 |
Power supply with open-loop protection and short-circuit protection
The power supply according to the present invention comprises a transformer, a power switch, a signal generating circuit, an on-time detection circuit, and a delay circuit. The transformer receives an input voltage and generates an output voltage. The power switch switches the transformer for regulating the output voltage. The signal generating circuit generates a switching signal for controlling switching of the power switch. The on-time detection circuit detects an on-time of the power switch and generates a short-circuit signal. The delay circuit counts to a first delay time or to a second delay time in response to a feedback signal of the power supply and the short-circuit signal to generate a turn off signal for controlling the signal generating circuit to latch the switching signal. |
| US08665620B2 |
Variable frequency timing circuit for a power supply control circuit
A timing circuit of a controller generates a clock signal having a switching period for use by a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit to control a switch of a power supply. The switching period of the clock signal is based on a charging time plus a discharging time of a capacitor included in the timing circuit. A first current source charges the capacitor while the timing circuit is in a normal charging mode. A second current source charges the capacitor while the timing circuit is in an alternative charging mode that is when the on time of the switch exceeds a threshold time. The current provided by the second current source is less than the current provided by the first current source such that the switching period of the clock signal is increased in response to the timing circuit entering the alternative charging mode. |
| US08665617B2 |
Plant for transmitting electric power
A plant for transmitting electric power includes a direct voltage network (100) and at least one three-phase alternating voltage network (101) connected thereto through a station (102). This station includes a Voltage Source Converter (103). A unit (104) is configured to control the converter according to a PWM pattern for generating an alternating voltage having a third harmonic voltage part added to a fundamental voltage part. No transformer is arranged between phase outputs (106) of the converter and the alternating voltage network (101). An arrangement (107) is configured to block the third harmonic voltage part and prevent it from reaching the alternating voltage network. |
| US08665612B2 |
Constant current controller
A constant current controller for a constant current power module, including: a demagnetization sensing unit, used for detecting the voltage variation of a detection signal to generate a discharging time signal having an active period corresponding to a secondary side discharging time, wherein the detection signal is derived from an auxiliary coil; a secondary side current sensing unit, used for detecting a peak value of a current sensing signal, and providing an output current according to the peak value of the current sensing signal under the control of the discharging time signal, wherein the current sensing signal is corresponding to a primary side current; and an error current generator, used for generating an error current according to the difference between the output current and a reference current, wherein the error current is converted to a threshold voltage by a first capacitor. |
| US08665610B2 |
Modified zero voltage transition (ZVT) full bridge converter and photovoltaic (PV) array using the same
The present invention, a modified zero voltage transition (ZVT) full bridge converter, is an isolated dc/dc converter which can operate with high efficiency and high reliability in applications requiring a low input voltage and high output voltage. |
| US08665607B2 |
Anti-eavesdropping device
An anti-eavesdropping device is described. The device comprises a receiving compartment for receiving an electronic device, a noise generator, and an EMI filter. The receiving compartment is sealable to minimize signal emissions from the interior to the exterior and from the exterior to the interior, and the noise generator is coupled with the receiving compartment and the EMI filter. The EMI filter is operatively coupled with the noise generator. |
| US08665606B2 |
Electronic device having circuit board with co-layout design of multiple connector placement sites and related circuit board thereof
An electronic device includes an integrated circuit, a connector, and a circuit board. The integrated circuit includes a first signal processing circuit, a second signal processing circuit, and an interface multiplexer having a first input port electrically connected to the first signal processing circuit, a second input port electrically connected to the second signal processing circuit, and an output port arranged to be electrically connected to the first input port or the second input port. The circuit board carries the integrated circuit and has a plurality of connector placement sites, including at least a first connector placement site each dedicated to the first signal processing circuit and at least a second connector placement site each dedicated to the second signal processing circuit. The connector placement sites and the output port of the interface multiplexer are electrically connected in series. The connector is installed on one of the connector placement sites. |
| US08665599B2 |
Portable external power-supplying device
A portable external power-supplying device is disclosed. The portable external power-supplying device implements a unique mechanism to detachably assemble battery units whose number can be adjusted according to user needs, which means the overall aggregate capacity of the portable external power-supplying device is adjustable. The portable external power-supplying device is adaptive to connect and charge a portable electronic device. |
| US08665594B2 |
Portable electronic device slidable in a plurality of directions for aligning the surfaces of the keypad and display portions
According to one aspect, a portable electronic device including a first portion having a first surface, a second portion having a second surface, and a slide portion slidably coupled to the first and second portions. The first portion, second portion and slide portion are adapted so that the first portion can slide along a first direction between a closed position wherein the first portion at least partially covers the second surface, and an extended position wherein the second surface is at least partially exposed, and when the first portion is in the extended position, the first portion and slide portion can slide relative to the second portion along a second direction into an open position in which the first surface and the second surface are aligned. |
| US08665593B2 |
Support tray including a platform and a body providing a cavity
In one embodiment, a support tray that may be used in a notebook computer charging system includes a body adapted to support a power adapter, and a platform extending out from the body, the platform being adapted to support a notebook computer. |
| US08665592B2 |
Heat management using power management information
A multi-core microprocessor provides an indication of the power management state of each of the cores on output terminals. Cooling of the cores is adjusted responsive to the indication of the power management state of the respective cores with additional cooling being provided to those cores in a more active state and less cooling provided to those cores in a less active state. |
| US08665590B2 |
Server rack
A server rack includes a rack body and fan modules. The rack body has front and back surfaces. Server units are disposed in the rack body. The fan modules are arranged on the back side along a vertical direction. Each fan module corresponds to several server units and includes a fan case and fan units. The fan case assembled to the back side is independently electrically connected to the rack body and suitable for being independently detached from the rack body. The fan units are detachably assembled to the fan case and arranged on the fan case along a horizontal direction. Each fan unit is independently electrically connected to the fan case and suitable for being independently detached from the fan case along a first direction perpendicular to the back surface or independently assembled to the fan case along a second direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US08665589B2 |
Peripheral input device
A peripheral input device capable of carrying a tabular electronic device is disclosed. The peripheral input device includes a base, an inputting module, a supporting mechanism, and a retaining structure. The inputting module, the supporting mechanism, and the retaining structure are disposed on the base. The retaining structure is disposed between the inputting module and the supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism can provide a plurality of supporting angles for supporting the tabular electronic device stably with the retaining structure. Therefore, the peripheral input device according to the invention can provide functions of supporting and inputting simultaneously, provide a plurality of supporting angles for satisfying view demand of a user to the tabular electronic device during operation, and further can be regarded as a protection cover for the tabular electronic device. |
| US08665580B2 |
Embedded capacitor and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are an embedded capacitor and a method of fabricating the same. The capacitor includes a metallic substrate, a metallic oxide layer on the metallic substrate, a first electrode layer on a first surface of the metallic oxide layer, and a second electrode layer on a second surface of the metallic oxide layer. |
| US08665573B2 |
Device for protecting an electrical consumer against voltage spikes in a motor vehicle
An overvoltage protector for an electrical consumer in a motor vehicle, includes an input for connection to the electrical system of a motor vehicle, an output for connection to the electrical consumer to be protected, and a ground terminal which is connected via a line to a branch point between the input and the output, wherein at least one component that blocks below a threshold voltage and conducts above the threshold voltage, and a switch connected in series with the component are located in the line, wherein the switch is controlled by a control circuit that closes the switch when a voltage spike occurs and subsequently reopens it. |
| US08665570B2 |
Diode having a pocket implant blocked and circuits and methods employing same
Diodes, including gated diodes and shallow trench isolation (STI) diodes, manufacturing methods, and related circuits are provided without at least one halo or pocket implant thereby reducing capacitance of the diode. In this manner, the diode may be used in circuits and other devices having performance sensitive to load capacitance while still obtaining the performance characteristics of the diode. Such characteristics for a gated diode include fast turn-on times and high conductance, making the gated diodes well-suited for electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuits as one example. Diodes include a semiconductor substrate having a well region and insulating layer thereupon. A gate electrode is formed over the insulating layer. Anode and cathode regions are provided in the well region. A P-N junction is formed. At least one pocket implant is blocked in the diode to reduce capacitance. |
| US08665569B2 |
Arc extinguishing switch and switching method thereof
The present invention discloses an arc extinguishing switch, including a mechanical switch and a first electric branch connected in parallel with a first contact branch of the mechanical switch, the first electric branch includes a first controllable unidirectional turn-on subbranch and a second controllable unidirectional turn-on subbranch, the first controllable unidirectional turn-on subbranch and the second controllable unidirectional turn-on subbranch are respectively controlled by two thyristors to be turned on in AC positive and negative periods correspondingly and share a first capacitor connected in series with the two thyristors. The invention further discloses a switching method using the arc extinguishing switch. In the invention, the high power requirement for the thyristor in the arc extinguishing switch and the product cost are lowered, and it is avoided that the mechanical switch is bypassed when the short-circuit failure occurs on the thyristor. |
| US08665565B2 |
Trace jumpers for disc drive suspensions
Jumper constructions for an integrated lead flexure for a disk drive head suspension include a conductive base layer, an insulating layer over the base layer, a plurality of traces arranged on the insulating layer, and an isolated conductor layer arranged under the insulating layer. The plurality of traces include a first trace and a second trace and the isolated conductor layer is electrically isolated from the conductive base layer and electrically connects the first and second traces. |
| US08665564B2 |
Suspension with furcated write wire, head gimbal assembly and disk drive unit with the same
A suspension comprises a flexure and a plurality of electrical traces. The flexure has a leading portion and a tailing portion, and has a laminated structure comprising a substrate layer, a dielectric layer, and a grounding layer sandwiched therebetween. The electrical traces comprise at least one pair of write traces, each write trace has a bonding pad positioned on the leading portion, a terminal pad positioned on the tailing portion, and a write wire connecting the bonding pad and the terminal pad, the write wire has at least one portion being furcated into at least two sub wires. The present invention can lower the impedance and decrease the signal transmission loss, and widen the frequency bandwidth simultaneously. The invention also discloses a HGA and a disk drive unit. |
| US08665563B2 |
Magnetic tape partitioning format for use in linear recording of fixed partitions
A partitioning format for magnetic tape media that includes at least a first portion (e.g., a file directory) having a plurality of dynamically updateable (e.g., non-shingled) partitions and a second portion (e.g., a data portion) having a plurality of linearly or sequentially written shingled partitions. Use of both shingled and non-shingled partitions on the same length of magnetic tape allows for an increase in capacity over those applications that perform linear recording of non-shingled partitions while allowing for the dynamic updating of a local file directory free of disturbing the linearly written data of the shingled partitions. |
| US08665562B2 |
Method of reliable usage of dynamic fly-height control at environmental extremes
A method of dynamic fly-height control in a disk drive, comprising measuring current environmental parameters, determining an operation heater power based on the current environmental parameters, and applying the operation heater power to adjust the fly-height of a head. Using the current environmental parameters to interpolate an estimated current touch down heater power from the predetermined set of environmental parameters and plurality of corresponding touch down heater powers. A system of dynamic fly-height control includes a touch down power module to generate a plurality of environmental parameters and corresponding touch down heater powers, an environment module to receive the plurality of environmental parameters and corresponding touch down heater powers and generate an estimated touch down heater power based on measured current environmental parameters, and a heater module to receive the estimated touch down heater power and generate an operation heater power to control a fly-height of a head. |
| US08665559B2 |
Magnetic head
A magnetic storage and retrieval system and a manufacturing technique thereof are disclosed herein. A chemical reaction is triggered upon a surface of each metallic layer of a plurality of metallic layers disposed on a substrate. It is also determined whether a metallic material of the surface has transformed to a new metallic material that is more chemically resistant than the metallic material. |
| US08665556B2 |
Disk drive device provided with fluid dynamic bearing
A sleeve supports a shaft. A housing member is arranged so as to surround the sleeve and make the end of the sleeve protrude. A base member holds the housing member and fixes a stator core so as to surround the housing member. A hub drives a recording disk by being rotated integrally with the shaft, with a magnet being fixed to an annular portion concentric with the shaft so as to face the stator core fixed to the base member. A thrust member is rotated integrally with the hub, and a descender portion and a ring portion. |
| US08665553B2 |
Magazine-based data cartridge library
The present invention provides a magazine-based data cartridge library that, in one embodiment, comprises a plurality of shelves that are capable of holding a plurality of data cartridge magazines, one or more drives, a magazine transport for moving magazines within the cabinet, and a cartridge transport for moving data cartridges between a magazine and a drive. |
| US08665551B1 |
Disk drive adjusting gain and offset of BEMF velocity sensor during self writing of spiral tracks
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to actuate the head over the disk, wherein the VCM generates a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage. At least one reference track is written on the disk, and the head is positioned near a first diameter of the disk. While moving the head from the first diameter toward a second diameter of the disk, the reference track is read and a first estimated state error is measured. While moving the head from the second diameter of the disk toward the first diameter of the disk, the reference track is read and a second estimated state error is measured. A gain and an offset of a velocity sensor are adjusted in response to the first and second estimated state errors. |
| US08665550B1 |
Method and system for reducing a disturbance associated with repeatable runout of a removable disc loaded into a storage system
A method for reducing a disturbance associated with repeatable runout associated with a removable disc loaded into a storage system. The method includes, at the storage system: logically partitioning the removable disc into sectors; for each of the sectors, obtaining a corresponding profile of repeatable runout contained in the sector; and applying a runout control algorithm to each of the sectors to generate a repeatable runout control (RROC) waveform that is usable to suppress the repeatable runout in the sector as indicated by the profile corresponding to the sector. The method also includes, at the storage system: assembling each RROC waveform to generate a single RROC waveform that is useable to suppress repeatable runout as contained in an entire revolution of the removable disc; and storing, in a memory, the single RROC waveform. |
| US08665549B2 |
Method for creating burst magnitude servo patterns with unipolar bits on a magnetic media of a magnetic data recording system
A magnetic data storage system having a magnetic disk having burst patterns for providing a position error signal (PES) wherein each magnetic burst pattern is offset from an adjacent burst pattern by ¼ track pitch. All of the magnetic bits of the burst patterns can be unipolar magnetized, and the bits of each burst pattern can be aligned with one another in radial and circumferential direction. The magnetic media can be a bit patterned media wherein the magnetic bits of the burst patterns are magnetically isolated portions separated by non-magnetic spaces or non-magnetic material. |
| US08665548B2 |
Magnetic recording device and magnetic recording method
A magnetic disk device includes: a recording medium provided with a plurality of write tracks; a magnetic write head including a magnetic pole, side shields, and a leading shield, a distance from the magnetic pole to each of the side shields being maintained to be uniform with a gap layer therebetween, and a distance from the magnetic pole to the leading shield being maintained to be uniform with a gap layer therebetween; and a control section rotating the recording medium, and allowing magnetic information to be recorded on the recording medium while allowing the magnetic write head to travel in a direction from an inner write track toward an outer write track or in a direction from the outer write track toward the inner write track, across write tracks in the recording medium. With such a configuration, format efficiency may be improved, and a width of an erase band on a magnetic disk may be minimized. Therefore, surface recording density of a recording medium may be improved without reducing an effective write track width. |
| US08665547B1 |
Disk drive multiplexing read signal and fly height signal to a transmission line
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors, and a head actuated over the disk, wherein the head comprises a read element operable to generate a read signal. The disk drive further comprises a fly height sensor operable to generate a fly height signal for the head, and control circuitry comprising a multiplexer operable to multiplex the read signal and the fly height signal to a transmission line. The multiplexer is configured to select the read signal when reading the servo sectors of a servo track, and configured to select the fly height signal when reading a segment of the servo track between consecutive servo sectors. |
| US08665544B2 |
Systems and methods for servo data detection
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a codeword detector circuit operable to apply a codeword based data detection algorithm to a data input corresponding to an encoded servo data region to yield a detected output, and a servo address mark processing circuit operable to identify a pre-defined pattern in the detected output. |
| US08665542B2 |
Tape buffer used to reduce tape backhitches during writing operations
According to one embodiment, a method includes writing, to a regular recording region of a tape medium after having written a first data accumulated in a buffer to a temporary recording region of the tape medium without an accompanying backhitch, a first data group that includes the first data that has any gaps between data eliminated, predicting a second volume of a second data, to be written in response to a command that is sent after the first data has been written to the regular recording region, judging whether the first volume exceeds a first threshold and whether or the second volume exceeds a second threshold, and writing the second data to the regular recording region without an accompanying backhitch when it has been judged that the first volume exceeds the first threshold and the second volume exceeds the second threshold. |
| US08665539B2 |
Driving control device and operation device
A driving control device according to the present invention includes: a fixed member; an operation member arranged to be manually rotatable with respect to the fixed member; a transducer arranged in one of the fixed member and the operation member and arranged to come into contact with an opposed surface of the other of the fixed member and the operation member; a position detecting section for detecting a position of the operation member with respect to the fixed member; and an operation force amount control section for controlling driving of the transducer to change contact friction force generated when the transducer contacts with the fixed member or the operation member. The operation force amount control section controls the transducer such that the contact friction force applied to the operation member when the operation member is manually rotated with respect to the fixed member changes to a sense of click. |
| US08665536B2 |
External beam delivery system for laser dark-field illumination in a catadioptric optical system
A catadioptric objective configured to inspect a specimen is provided. The catadioptric objective includes a Mangin element having one surface at a first axial location and an extension element positioned together with the Mangin element. The extension element provides a second surface at a second axial location. Certain light energy reflected from the specimen passes to the second surface of the extension element, the Mangin element, and through a plurality of lenses. An aspheric surface may be provided, and light energy may be provided to the specimen using diverting elements such as prisms or reflective surfaces. |
| US08665532B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a positive first lens unit, a negative second lens unit, a positive third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit, wherein the first lens unit is composed of a cemented lens element of one object side negative lens element and one image side positive lens element, the fourth lens unit is composed of one lens element, in zooming, the first to fourth lens units are individually moved along an optical axis so that air spaces between the respective lens units vary for magnification change, and the conditions: vdL12<43.50 and fT/fW≧6.0 (vdL12: an Abbe number of the positive lens element in the first lens unit, fT and fW: focal lengths of the entire system at a telephoto limit and a wide-angle limit) are satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera. |
| US08665531B2 |
Zoom lens
A zoom lens includes, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a subsequent lens unit. The first lens unit includes an optical element composed of an anomalous dispersion optical material, a positive lens, and a negative lens. The shape of the negative lens and the ratio of the Abbe number of the positive lens and the Abbe number of the negative lens satisfy predetermined conditions. |
| US08665529B2 |
Zoom lens
An embodiment of this invention provides a zoom lens, which comprises, in order from an object side to an image-forming side, a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a third lens group having positive refractive power. Further, the zoom lens satisfies the following conditions: (1) DG1/fw>0.72; (2) DG2/fw<0.72; and (3) TTL/fw<7.0, wherein fw is the focal length of the optical zoom lens at a wide-angle end, DG1 is the thickness of the first lens group, DG2 is the thickness of the second lens group, and TTL is the total thickness of the zoom lens, i.e., the distance between the object side of the first lens group and an image-forming plane of the zoom lens. |
| US08665527B2 |
Fluidic lens with manually-adjustable focus
A fluidic lens may have a reservoir at least partially bounded by a first optical surface and a second optical surface. A fluid fills a volume of the reservoir. A piston is configured to contact a portion of the first or second optical surface from outside the reservoir. One or more of the first optical surface or second optical surface is configured to deform as a result of a change in a pressure applied to the fluid or a change in contact between the piston and the first or second optical surface. A rim may be disposed outside the reservoir and configured to contact and provide additional deformation to one or more of the first or second optical surface. |
| US08665526B2 |
Arcuate liquid meniscus lens
The present invention relates generally to an arcuate liquid meniscus lens, some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a front curve arcuate lens and a back curve arcuate lens. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens. |
| US08665525B2 |
Shaped gradient lens
One embodiment provides for a gradient lens having a first substantially hemispherical member comprising a first convex surface and a base and a second substantially hemispherical member projecting away from the base of the first hemispherical member and comprising a second convex surface. The gradient lens also includes a plurality of gradient layers disposed within the first hemispherical member, each gradient layer concentrically aligned to the first hemispherical member and comprising an index of refraction different than that of adjacent gradient layers. |
| US08665524B2 |
Long-length lens
A lens includes a lens portion having two opposite oblong surfaces at least one of which is a curved lens surface having a reflective power. A cross-sectional area of the lens portion varies from a center toward each end in a longitudinal direction of the lens portion. A rib portion is disposed at each of two opposite sides of the lens portion adjacent to longer sides of the oblong surfaces of the lens portion, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the lens portion. A cross-sectional area of the rib portion varies along the longitudinal direction in a manner that renders variations of a cross-sectional area of a portion including the lens portion and the rib portion along the longitudinal direction of the lens portion smaller. |
| US08665523B2 |
Multilayer 3D floating images in a single substrate
A multilayer sheeting with a 3D floating image. The sheeting includes a layer of microlenses and a multilayer material disposed adjacent the microlenses. The multilayer material includes multiple adjacent layers having X-Y planar positions and a Z-direction orthogonal to the X-Y planar positions. Individual images, which contrast with the material, are formed in the multilayer material and include connected elements at interfaces between the multiple layers and conjunction elements between connected elements. The connected elements are registered in the Z-direction at the X-Y planar positions in the interfaces between the layers. The individual images collectively form a composite 3D image that appears to the unaided eye to be three-dimensional and floating above or below the sheeting, or both. |
| US08665520B2 |
Neutral density optical filter and image pickup apparatus
A spectral reflectance in the entire visible wavelength range may be decreased to decrease inconveniences in an image such as flare or ghost. A non-reflective periodic layer including a large number of fine uneven periodic structure bodies is formed on a substrate, and a neutral density (“ND”) film is formed on the other surface of the substrate by vacuum deposition, to improve an anti-reflection function. Regarding a beam entering the ND filter, the MgF2 film of the formed ND film suppresses the spectral reflectance at the boundary of the atmosphere and the ND film and at the boundary of the ND film and the substrate. The non-reflective periodic layer decreases the reflectance at the boundary of the substrate and the atmosphere. |
| US08665519B2 |
Method and system for aligning color filter array
A method and system of aligning color filter array are disclosed. Other embodiments are disclosed herein. |
| US08665517B2 |
Microscope connecting unit and microscope system
Three or more devices can be connected to a microscope and can be used simultaneously. Provided is a microscope connecting unit including a microscope connection port that is connected to a microscope used to observe a sample; three or more unit connection ports to which a stimulating unit that irradiates the sample with light or a confocal observation unit or an image capturing unit that detects light generated at the sample is connectable; and two or more light-path combining units that are disposed between the microscope connecting port and the unit connection ports and that combine light paths optically connecting the microscope with the confocal observation unit, the stimulating unit, and the image capturing unit. |
| US08665506B2 |
Micro-mirror with electrode spacer
A micro-mirror includes stiffer end sections for limiting curvature, and thin middle sections forming ground electrodes and a hinge. Spacers arc provided beneath the thin middle sections of the micro-mirror for supporting hot electrodes, which attract the ground electrodes for rotating the micro-mirror about a tilt axis. The spacers enable the gap between the hot electrode and the micro-mirror to be designed separately from the thickness of the micro-mirror, and the gap between the ends of the micro-mirror and the substrate. |
| US08665505B2 |
Pulsed-laser systems and methods for producing holographic stereograms with pre-sensitization of holographic recording materials
Pre-sensitization techniques can be used in conjunction with holographic recording materials to allow high quality holographic stereograms to be recorded in those holographic recording materials using pulsed lasers. Various hologram production system hardware and software designs for use with pulsed lasers can be used with the pre-sensitization techniques. |
| US08665499B2 |
Isolated hole detection and growth
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing isolated holes in an image to be printed or displayed. The method includes detecting whether pixels corresponding to an isolated hole in the image are in an off state, determining a sum of pixels that are in an on state in a first pixel ring surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated hole when the one or more pixels in the isolated hole are detected to be in the off state, comparing the sum of pixels in the pixel ring that are in the on state with a threshold sum, turning off a number of pixels in at least another pixel ring either comprising of or surrounding the pixels when the first sum of pixels in the on state is greater than the threshold sum, and outputting the isolated hole including the turned off first number of pixels. |
| US08665498B2 |
Method and system for automatically detecting and processing halftone regions in scanned documents
A system for halftone processing is provided. The system includes a programmable halftone segmentation system having one or more programmable parameters to accommodate different input image parameters, such as different printer or scanner parameters, and configured to generate output control data as a function of image input data. A programmable output processor receives the output control data and the image input data and generates image output data that compensates for halftone regions in the image input data. |
| US08665493B2 |
Web substrates having wide color gamut indicia printed thereon
A paper product having at least one ply, a basis weight of greater than 18 g/m2, and indicia having L*a*b* color values disposed thereon is disclosed. The web substrate is defined by the difference in CIELab coordinate values disposed inside the boundary described by a first system of equations and outside the boundary described by a second system of equations. |
| US08665492B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method therefor
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which performs density tone correction with high accuracy while reducing the burden on the user. The image processing apparatus prints an evaluation image in which a plurality of color patches and a plurality of reference patches are placed on the same main scanning line, measures density of the printed evaluation image, performs density irregularity correction in a main scanning direction using densities of the measured reference patches, and performs density tone correction using densities of the measured color patches. Results of the density irregularity correction are reflected in the density tone correction. |
| US08665486B2 |
Look-up table for transfer function
Transfer functions are often used for image processing. Look-up tables can be used to implement transfer functions in a processor-efficient manner. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus that includes a look-up table (LUT) storing sample outputs from an output range of a transfer function, the sample outputs corresponding to sample inputs from an input range of the transfer function, the sample inputs being distributed so that more sample inputs are associated with a first region of the transfer function than a second region of the transfer function; and an address module to calculate an index into the LUT based on image data. In one embodiment, the apparatus uses the LUT to process the image data. |
| US08665484B2 |
Processing tile images including overlap regions
There is disclosed an image processing apparatus and a control method thereof in which input image data and generates a plurality of tile images, each including a substance region and overlap regions each of which overlaps with a part of each adjacent tile image, by dividing the input image data. The apparatus executes image processing separately on each of the plurality of the generated tile images, and when generating each tile image, converts a resolution of image data in the overlap regions such that the resolution of the image data in the overlap regions is smaller than a resolution of image data in the substance region. |
| US08665483B2 |
Restricting printing
In one embodiment, an option to restrict printing to a first print media source is presented to a user of a printer that is configured to access a plurality of print media sources. An instruction to restrict printing to the first print media source is received from the user. The printer is restricted from printing to the first print media source. |
| US08665481B2 |
Image processing system, information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and computer program
An information processing apparatus acquires communication setting information for communicating with an image processing apparatus by a second communication unit via a first communication unit. In accordance with the acquired communication setting information, communication by the second communication unit is established to execute, via the second communication unit, an image processing service provided by the image processing apparatus. When establishment of communication is detected, an operation window display request for executing the image processing service is transmitted via the second communication unit. The image processing apparatus receives the operation window display request from the information processing apparatus via the second communication unit. In accordance with the received operation window display request, an operation window for executing the image processing service is displayed. Image processing for input image data is executed on the basis of the settings set via the displayed operation window. |
| US08665480B2 |
Server device, system, and order accepting method
A server device includes a print history database; an information adding unit for adding, as invisible information, first information for specifying image data and second information about a server address; a first print data transmitting unit for transmitting, to a print server, the image data to which the invisible information is added; an image storage unit for storing image data which corresponds to the first information; a list generating unit for generating a list of the print product based on a print history of the image data specified by the first information read from the invisible information by a terminal device; a selected information receiving unit for receiving product specifying information that specifies the print product selected from the list of the terminal device; and a second print data transmitting unit for transmitting the print data on the print product specified by the product specifying information. |
| US08665478B2 |
Printing system, control method of the same, print server, control method of the print server, and storage medium
A print server includes a registration unit configured to register a virtual printer according to a printer registration request received from a information processing apparatus, a storage unit configured to store printer information about the virtual printer registered by the registration unit, and a notification unit configured to notify the printing apparatus of a printer registration notification indicating that the virtual printer is registered by the registration unit, wherein the printer information is acquired by the printing apparatus which receives the printer registration notification. |
| US08665477B2 |
Print system, printing apparatus, and computer program product
In a print system, print data and print setting information are transmitted from a terminal to a printing apparatus via an email, and the printing apparatus performs a printing process of the print data based on the print setting information. The printing apparatus includes: a first receiving unit that receives a print request email from the terminal; a transmission unit that transmits, to the terminal, a reply email that includes allowable print setting information representing information on designable print settings; and a second receiving unit that receives a second reply email having been transmitted from the terminal and including print setting information designated from among the allowable print setting information. |
| US08665476B2 |
Integration of pre-printed insert page images with print previews
Systems and methods are provided for including sheet images of pre-printed inserts in a print preview for a print job. The system is operable to receive a print job, to receive a request for a print preview of the print job, and to rasterize logical pages of the print job to generate sheet images. The system is further operable to identify inserts to be integrated with printed versions of the sheet images of the logical pages, and to include sheet images of the inserts with the sheet images of the logical pages for the print preview. |
| US08665474B2 |
Method, system, apparatus and medium for minimizing unnecessary processing associated with connection/disconnection of a same host
An image forming apparatus which can avert wasteful processing of disconnection from and reconnection to the same host when a currently-connected host and a host that should be connected next are the same. When a print request is received from one of a plurality of hosts, host information indicative of the host is registered so that an order of print requests can be identified. Connection and disconnection to and from the hosts are carried out according to the host information. Printing is carried out based on print data received from the hosts. When a host as a source of a print request received next after a print request from a currently-connected host is the same as the currently-connected host, print data is received from the currently-connected host, and then print data corresponding to the next print request is received from the currently-connected host without disconnecting from the currently-connected host. |
| US08665472B2 |
Producing an image and optical file from a visible first digital image and from a visible second digital image of a machine-readable optical code which encodes information associated with or derived from the first digital image
A method of making a digital image file from a visible first digital image and from a visible second digital image of a machine-readable optical code, wherein the machine-readable optical code encodes information associated with or derived from the first digital image includes using a scanner to scan the visible first digital image and using the scanner to scan the visible second digital image and using a processor to make the digital image file by storing in a memory the scanned first digital image in an image portion and storing the scanned second digital image in retrievable association with the first digital image in an information portion. |
| US08665464B2 |
Information processing system, image forming apparatus, management apparatus, management method, and computer program for searching an address information of management in a case when an error notification is received
If a change is made in configuration information, an image forming apparatus transmits a configuration data generation request, including the configuration information which has been changed, to a setting value management service. If the image forming apparatus receives an error notification indicating the failure of the configuration data generation request from the setting value management service, the image forming apparatus multicasts a search packet on a network and searches an image forming apparatus storing address information of the setting value management service. Based on a response from the searched image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus transmits a configuration data generation request to the setting value management service that manages the image forming apparatus. |
| US08665462B2 |
Print instruction apparatus and print instruction program
Disclosed is a printer driver which acquires a file in which a printing condition has been stored, creates a print job based on the file, and instructs printing. The driver includes a first function which reads out the printing condition stored in the file, a second function which determines whether the file has been acquired from an external apparatus, and a third function which, (1) when it has been determined that the file has been acquired from an external apparatus, (1-1) checks with a user whether to change the printing condition, (1-2) displays a screen for setting the printing condition, or (1-3) sets a default printing condition in the print job, and (2) when it has been determined that the file has not been acquired from an external apparatus, sets in the print job, the printing condition stored in the file as the printing condition for the file. |
| US08665461B2 |
Method and apparatus to bind print tickets to print jobs for cloud and follow me printing workflowcross
A system for managing job tickets includes a first device that is in communication with a server. The first device is adapted to receive as input job parameters for managing a print job. The image forming device is further adapted to encode the job parameters into a job ticket. The first device is further adapted to send the job ticket to the server. The server is adapted to store the job ticket in a folder and obtain the job ticket from the folder when a request for a print job is received at the server. The server is further adapted to apply the job ticket to the print job and transmit a print file including the print job and the job ticket to an image forming device when a print job request is received. |
| US08665460B2 |
Print system, printing apparatus, printing method and printing program
A printing system includes a plurality of printing apparatuses connected with each other via a network including a transfer source printing apparatus having a first printing apparatus that receives print data and a transfer destination printing apparatus having a second printing apparatus. The transfer source printing apparatus is equipped with a process instruction unit for transmitting to the transfer destination printing apparatus in an idle status a processing program and process data for executing a process of generating image data from the print data, and requesting the process to be executed, when the transfer source printing apparatus is not in an idle status when it receives the print data. The transfer destination printing apparatus is equipped with a transmitting unit for transmitting to the transfer source printing apparatus the output data generated from the process data by the process in the process. |
| US08665454B2 |
Laser rangefinder sensor
The specification discloses a pulsed time-of-flight laser range finding system used to obtain vehicle classification information. The sensor determines a distance range to portions of a vehicle traveling within a sensing zone of the sensor. A scanning mechanism made of a four facet cube, having reflective surfaces, is used to collimate and direct the laser toward traveling vehicles. A processing system processes the respective distance range data and angle range data for determining the three-dimensional shape of the vehicle. |
| US08665453B2 |
Workpiece engagement checking apparatus
An apparatus and method for measuring the engagement state of two mating work pieces, such as two parts of an electrical connector, includes a 2D scanning profile laser sensor. The laser sensor is located in a measurement position relative to the work pieces being scanned. The laser generates a two axis surface profile of the joined work pieces. The measured surface profile is compared by a controller with a reference surface profile to determine complete or non-complete engagement of the work pieces. |
| US08665447B2 |
Enhanced sensitivity interferometric sensors
A sensor (10) and corresponding method for sensing variations in a parameter employ an optical device (12) defining two optical paths (14, 16) differentially affected by a variation in the parameter so as to change the differential phase between the two paths. This differential phase is monitored by a spectral interrogation arrangement (18) including a radiation input device (20) for delivering to the optical device (12) incident radiation at a plurality of wavelengths, and a reading arrangement (22) for measuring the interference-modulated optical output. The optical device (12) is configured so that the two optical paths have differing dispersion properties such that a difference between the phase accumulated by light propagating along the optical paths as a function of wavelength exhibits a maximum or minimum at some wavelength designated λcritical. The plurality of wavelengths employed by the spectral interrogation arrangement span a range of wavelengths including, or adjacent to, λcritical. |
| US08665443B2 |
Atomic sensor physics package with integrated transmissive and reflective portions along light paths
In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section. |
| US08665441B2 |
Densitometer for measuring an optical characteristic of a fluid
A device and method for measuring an optical characteristic of a fluid. The device, typically a densitometer includes a set of optical elements that include a light source, a collimating lens, a focusing lens, and a receiver, wherein a gap exists between the collimating lens and the focusing lens so as to allow the fluid to pass in between the lenses, and wherein at least one of the optical elements is tilted with respect to an optical axis. |
| US08665439B2 |
Method and apparatus for limiting effects of refraction in cytometry
A method and apparatus for performing cell cytometry mitigate or eliminate the effects of refraction that result from interfaces between materials having different refractive indices. Solid materials, such as the walls of a flow path, which materials are disposed between a nominal focal point and an objective lens, are formed of a material having a refractive index between 1.30 and 1.40 inclusive. The refractive index of a liquid material, such as an immersion fluid or a fluid carrying, suspending, or bathing an analyte, may be adjusted to have a refractive index closer to that of surrounding solid materials and, in particular, within 0.02 of the refractive index of the surrounding solid materials. |
| US08665435B2 |
Wavelength detector and contact probe using it
A contact probe includes a stylus and an optical detector configured to detect a posture of the stylus optically. An illumination subject portion is formed on the stylus and has three or more reflection surfaces. The optical detector includes three or more fibers, a light source, a condenser lens group, and a wavelength detector. The wavelength detector calculates posture information of the stylus on the basis of wavelength variations of reflection light beams that are caused by variations of intervals between the condenser lens group and the three or more reflection surfaces, respectively. The contact probe acquires coordinates of a position of the contact to the object to be measured on the basis of posture information obtained by the optical detector. |
| US08665431B2 |
Cuvette and method for authenticating a cuvette
A cuvette (10) for storing a biological sample to be analyzed by means of a predefined detection technique is disclosed. The cuvette (10) is formed from a moldable material that contains particles (15a, 15b) at a concentration within a predefined range. The particles (15a, 15b) are randomly distributed, in order to form a unique pattern. Moreover, the particles (15a, 15b) have measurable physical properties, so that the unique pattern is detectable using the detection technique that is used to analyze the biological sample. The unique properties obtained by the randomly distributed particles (15a, 15b) render copying nearly impossible, since it is more complicated to distribute the particles in a predetermined pattern than to let them distribute randomly. |
| US08665428B2 |
Method and device for examining a laser system
A method for analyzing a laser system, which has a focused laser beam and a controllable deflection assembly for controlling the transverse and/or longitudinal position of the beam focus, said method comprising the steps of directing the laser beam or a partial beam branched therefrom downstream of the deflection assembly toward an optically nonlinear medium for the purpose of generating frequency multiplied radiation, the wavelength of which corresponds to an uneven higher harmonic of the wavelength of the laser beam, activating the deflection assembly, and measuring a power of the frequency multiplied radiation while the deflection assembly is activated. The conversion efficiency of the nonlinear process by which the frequency multiplied radiation is produced is dependent upon the focusability of the laser beam. By evaluating the measured power of the frequency multiplied radiation, dynamic impairments of focusability can be detected, which can be caused by inertia-induced deformations of optical scan components of the laser system. |
| US08665423B2 |
Method and apparatus for investigating a non-planar sample
Method and apparatus for investigating a sample particularly a pharmaceutical tablet. An emitter and/or the sample are initially positioned so that the emitter is at a predetermined distance and normal angle to a first point on a surface of the sample. The emitter then irradiates the sample with radiation having a plurality of frequencies in the range from 25 GHz to 100 THz at a plurality of points on the surface of the sample. Relative motion is possible between the emitter and the sample so that the surface of the sample can be tracked to maintain the predetermined distance and normal angle at each of the plurality of points, and allow radiation transmitted and/or reflected from the sample at the plurality of points to be detected. This has particular application to imaging the structure or composition of a coating on a pharmaceutical tablet. |
| US08665415B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus which projects exposure light from a pattern of an illuminated original onto a substrate, comprises a projection system including an optical element and configured to project the exposure light onto the substrate, an enclosure configured to enclose the projection system, and a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the optical element by irradiating the optical element with ultraviolet light under an environment in which oxygen is present within the enclosure, the cleaning mechanism including a light source configured to generate ultraviolet light, a tubular member including an exit window and configured to partially enclose an optical path between the light source and the optical element, and a regulating device configured to regulate an environment of a space inside the tubular member so that a partial pressure of oxygen becomes lower in the space inside the tubular member than in a space which is outside the tubular member. |
| US08665413B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel, liquid crystal display, and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a thin film transistor display panel, a liquid crystal display, and a manufacturing method therefor, that can prevent errors or omissions in rubbing due to a step between a pixel electrode and a data line, and the resulting light leakage, as well as increase the effective area ratio of a spacer and prevent shorts from occurring during at least some repair processes. The thin film transistor array panel includes: a first substrate; a gate line and a data line formed on the first substrate; a step preventing member formed on the data line to at least partially fill a volume positioned between the data line and a pixel electrode; and a spacer formed on the first substrate, wherein the spacer and the step preventing member comprise the same material. |
| US08665410B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and its manufacturing method
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display panel which comprises a color filter substrate and an array substrate, and further comprises a conductive sealant for bonding the color filter substrate and the array substrate. The conductive sealant includes a sealing adhesive and conductive particles, the conductive particle includes an organic resin core and a conductive coating of carbon nanotubes or graphene, the conductive coating is coated on the organic resin core, and the conductive particles are evenly distributed in the sealing adhesive. The present invention further discloses a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display panel. |
| US08665408B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (10) including pixel electrodes (11), gate lines (G) and switching elements (12), a second substrate (20) including a plurality of signal electrodes (21) which are electrically independent of each other, and a liquid crystal layer (30) interposed between the first and second substrates. The first substrate further includes a gate driver (15) which generates gate signals to be supplied to the gate lines. The second substrate further includes an external connecting terminal section (24). A signal that has been input through the external connecting terminal section is supplied to the gate driver. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device with a counter source structure which contributes to narrowing its frame area. |
| US08665405B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel
A thin film transistor array panel includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate in rows and columns, a plurality of thin film transistors connected with the plurality of pixel electrodes, respectively, and a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines connected with the plurality of thin film transistors. When one data line and one pixel electrode which are connected with a single thin film transistor are referred to as a connected data line and a connected pixel electrode, respectively, the plurality of thin film transistors are positioned on a same side of the connected data line in two adjacent rows, and on alternating sides of the connected data line in every other two adjacent rows. Two boundary lines of the connected pixel electrode are overlapped with the connected data line. |
| US08665404B2 |
Liquid crystal cell substrate, liquid crystal cell, liquid crystal panel, and liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a liquid crystal cell substrate, a liquid crystal panel, and a liquid crystal display whose thicknesses and weights can be reduced and optical characteristics at the time of producing them are easily controlled. The liquid crystal cell substrate 10 of the present invention is a liquid crystal cell substrate including a resin substrate 11 and an optical compensation layer 12, and the optical compensation layer 12 is laminated on the resin substrate 11. The optical compensation layer 12 has a refractive index distribution satisfying nx≧ny>nz, and the optical compensation layer 12 is formed by applying a material for forming an optical compensation layer to the resin substrate 11 or a base substrate that is different from the resin substrate 11. |
| US08665402B2 |
Liquid crystal panel
A Liquid Crystal (LC) panel includes a substrate and a plurality of metal layers. The substrate has a reflective area, and the metal layers are formed on the substrate. A first reflective metal layer is formed on a surface of the metal layers within a reflective area, and is processed by a mask procedure to form a plurality of first reflective bumps. A second reflective metal layer is formed on the first reflective bumps, and is processed by a mask procedure to form a plurality of second reflective bumps located between the first reflective bumps. The second reflective bumps are higher than the first reflective bumps, so as to form a reflective metal layer having an uneven surface with vertical mismatch. |
| US08665401B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel having hydrophobic planarization with hydrophilic regions and fabricating method and apparatus thereof
The disclosed invention is with regard to a liquid crystal display panel including a substrate having a plurality of layers formed thereon, and having a first surface region and a second surface region on a surface of an uppermost layer of the plurality of layers, wherein the first and second surface regions having different surface characteristics in reaction to a particular liquid, and a spacer formed on the second surface region. |
| US08665400B2 |
Display device
A pair of polarizers having different polarization efficiencies is employed for a display device. With such a pair of polarizers, the brightness may increase without deteriorating the contrast. |
| US08665399B2 |
Light output device and control method
The present invention relates to a light output device (10) comprising a plurality of light source units (18) arranged in a laminated glass structure. The light output device is characterized by a plurality of switchable liquid crystal-based (24) devices arranged to alter the beam shapes of light emitted by the light source units when in a beam shape altering mode. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a light output device. |
| US08665396B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display device
The present invention discloses a backlight module which includes a waveguide and a spot light source. Wherein the waveguide includes an incident face and a refractive surface adjacent to the waveguide, the light beam emitted from the spot light source will be directed toward the refractive surface, and then the light beam enters the waveguide after the light beam is refracted by the refractive surface. The present invention also discloses a liquid crystal display device incorporated with the backlight module disclosed. The backlight module can readily improve the corner vignette and enhanced with more evenly distributed brightness across the waveguide. The liquid crystal display device incorporated with the module also enjoy the evenly distributed brightness. |
| US08665395B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same, the device including a liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel including substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer therebetween; a backlight unit below the liquid crystal display panel, the backlight unit being for emitting light toward the liquid crystal display panel; a filling that fills defect holes on surfaces of the substrates, which surfaces are relatively remote from the liquid crystal layer, the filling having horizontally even surfaces with respect to the surfaces of the substrates, and a cover member disposed over the defect holes filled with the filling. |
| US08665392B2 |
LCD module and LCD device
The invention relates to the field of LCDs, and more particularly to an LCD module and an LCD device. The LCD module includes a front frame, and a backplane. The front frame includes a vertical wall, and the backplane includes a horizontal wall, and a vertical wall. The vertical wall of the front frame is vertically aligned with the vertical wall of the backplane. Because the frame of the conventional LCD module is already made very narrow, the space for further narrowing the frame width is limited; the single edge of the frame of the LCD module is narrowed by a wall thickness of the front frame or the backplane because the vertical wall of the front frame of the LCD module of the invention is conventionally aligned with the vertical wall of the backplane, and then an LCD module with a narrower frame is obtained. |
| US08665379B2 |
Electronic apparatus and display control method
An electronic apparatus includes terminals, each being based on a specific standard and being used for communicating with an external device. The electronic apparatus includes a transmission module, an acquisition module and a display control module. The transmission module simultaneously transmits a power-on signal to external devices connected to the terminals, upon turn on of the electronic apparatus. The acquisition module acquires a physical address from one or more first external devices of the plurality of external devices by switching video input among one or more first terminals of the terminals. The one or more first external devices are turned on and the one or more first terminals being connected to the one or more first external devices. The display control module displays device information of the one or more first external devices and terminal numbers of the one or more first terminals. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08665374B2 |
Interactive video insertions, and applications thereof
Embodiments of this invention relate to controlling insertion of visual elements integrated into video. In an embodiment, a method enables control of insertions in a video. In the embodiment, control data is received from a user input device. Movement of at least one point of interest in a video is analyzed to determine video metadata. Finally, a visual element is inserted into a video according to the control data, and the visual element changes or moves with the video as specified by the video metadata to appear integrated with the video. |
| US08665368B2 |
Signal acquisition apparatus and method and signal transmission apparatus and method
A receiver comprises a first signal acquisition unit for acquiring a first type of signal block formatted according to a first format, where the first signal acquisition unit includes one or more parameter estimation units for estimating from the received signals one or more signal parameters related to acquisition of the first type of signal block. The first type of signal block is interleaved with a second type of signal block formatted according to a second format, and one or more parameter estimation units are arranged to conduct signal parameter estimation based upon one or more respective properties of the received second type of signal block prior to continuation of the estimation based upon one or more respective properties of the received first type of signal block. |
| US08665367B2 |
Video resolution enhancement technique
A method for increasing the resolution of a frame of a video includes receiving at least three frames of the video and compensating for the motion of a portion of at least two of the frames with respect to another one of the frames. After the motion compensation, spatially processing each of the frames of the video to increase the resolution of each of the at least three frames of the video. After the spatial processing, temporally processing at least three frames to determine the increased resolution of the frame of the video, wherein the frame is one of the at least three frames of the video. |
| US08665365B2 |
Image-pickup apparatus
An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element, a first wiring substrate where the image-pickup element is mounted, a second wiring substrate which is electrically connected with the first wiring substrate and a structure which has electrical conductivity. The first wiring substrate has a first wiring portion where a differential signal line is formed and a second wiring portion where a power-supply line is formed, a ground portion is formed on at least one surface of the first and second wiring portion which faces each other, the first wiring substrate is bended so that at least parts of the first and second wiring portion are overlapped with each other and the ground portion is located between the differential signal line and the power-supply line, and the bended first wiring substrate is arranged in the structure so that the second wiring portion is located between the first wiring portion and the structure. |
| US08665362B2 |
Positionable mechanism with an optical image stabilizing unit
A positionable mechanism includes a frame unit, an OIS unit, and a positioning unit that are mounted on a base unit. The frame unit is retractable with respect to the base unit between a storage position and a working position. The positioning unit is movable with respect to the OIS unit between an abutting position and a releasing position, and is subjected to a restoring force. When the frame unit is at the storage position, a pressing part of the frame unit presses the positioning unit to the abutting position where the positioning unit abuts against a movable carrier of the OIS unit. When the frame unit is at the working position, the positioning unit is restored to the releasing position and releases the movable carrier. |
| US08665360B2 |
Imaging device selecting focal point detection method based on result of mounting detector
A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body to which the interchangeable lens can be mounted, either directly or via an adapter. A lens microcomputer of the interchangeable lens is configured to hold lens information including information related to a focal point detection method. A body microcomputer of the camera body is configured to select a focal point detection method on the basis of lens information. The body microcomputer is configured to select a contrast detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is compatible with a contrast detection method. The body microcomputer is configured to select a phase difference detection method as the focal point detection method if the interchangeable lens is not compatible with a contrast detection method, and the adapter is compatible with a phase difference detection method. |
| US08665357B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes light-transmitting substrate; a plurality of lenses which faces a first surface of the substrate; a light shielding layer which is formed on the second surface of the substrate and has an opening section through which optical axes of each lens pass; and a plurality of light sensing elements which is placed so that the optical axes of the lenses pass through a light sensing surface facing the second surface at an interval. An efficient diameter of the lens, a diameter of the opening section, a distance between the light sensing surfaces and the light shielding layer, a diameter of the light sensing surface, and a distance between the light sensing surface and center of the lens satisfy a<(h·D+h·d−s·d)/s and tan−1{(p−a/2−d/2)/h}>sin−1(1/n). |
| US08665354B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device
In a solid-state image pickup device, each pixel at a selected row outputs to a corresponding column signal line a first analog signal in accordance with an amount of electric charges at an electric charge accumulation section in an initial state and a second analog signal in accordance with an amount of photoelectric charges transferred to the electric charge accumulation section. An A/D converter provided at each column performs A/D conversion on the first and second analog signals to output first and second digital signals, respectively. Of first to third latch circuits provided at each column, the first latch circuit takes in and holds the first digital signal outputted from the A/D converter. The second latch circuit takes in and holds the first digital signal held at the first latch circuit. The third latch circuit takes in and holds the second digital signal outputted from the A/D converter. |
| US08665352B2 |
Method of acquiring physical information and physical information acquiring device
Disclosed is a method of acquiring physical information that acquires physical information by using a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes unit elements, each of which has a detecting unit and a unit signal generating unit. The method includes the steps of: providing an operation current supply unit supplying an operation current such that the unit signal generating unit outputs a unit signal, and a signal processing unit receiving the unit signal output from each of the unit elements forming the semiconductor device and outputting an output unit signal; and when a selective read mode is designated for reading the unit signal from a portion of the respective unit elements, an operation current of the output signal line of the unit signal generating unit not to be read is reduced so as to be smaller than an operation current of the output signal line of the unit signal generating unit to be read. |
| US08665351B2 |
Image processing device, electronic camera, and storage medium storing image processing program
An obtaining unit obtains image data. An image processing unit performs, on the image data, image processing including gradation conversion processing according to an input/output characteristic defined by a gradation curve formed only of an exponential component represented by y=k·xn, where x is an input, y is an output, and k, n are coefficients. A calculating unit performs calculation for correction to improve lightness of dark area gradation of the image data. A correcting unit performs correction to improve lightness of the dark area gradation of the image data on which the image processing is performed by the image processing unit based on a calculation result of the calculating unit. Accordingly, image processing capable of generating a preferred image can be performed when various types of image processing are performed before and after compression of the dark area gradation. |
| US08665350B2 |
Method for fixed pattern noise (FPN) correction
A method for correcting column Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN) in an image sensor offers a compromise between speed and precision for calculating column FPN offsets. The present correction technique is digital, and is applied after the pixel signal voltages have been digitized by an ADC. A first Optical Black (OB) pixel is sampled and compared to a target level. An offset is stored, and an appropriate push-size is determined. Additional OB pixels are sampled and the offset is applied. The push-size is increased or decreased depending upon whether the pixel signal with the applied offset is above or below a target value. This new offset value is written to memory, and the push-size is reduced, and the process is repeated until the last OB pixel has been processed. The resulting offset is applied to the signal pixels in a column. The primary advantage of this approach is that within a single frame, a good estimate of the column offset is made which is not as affected by outlier pixels (such as “hot” or “flashing” pixels). |
| US08665339B2 |
Optical image stabilizer for camera lens module
An optical image stabilizer for a camera lens module, including a housing fixed to a case of the camera lens module, at least one piezoelectric actuator fixed to the housing, and an image sensor assembly housed in the housing. A driving tip of the piezoelectric actuator is curved in shape and makes a point contact with the image sensor assembly. If the piezoelectric actuator is driven, the image sensor assembly freely moves on a plane perpendicular to a photographing direction as the driving tip rubs against the image sensor assembly. This optical image stabilizer is simple in structure and easy to control, so it can be mounted in devices in which installation spaces are limited, like small digital cameras and mobile terminals. |
| US08665335B2 |
Digital camera dock having a movable attachment surface
Use of a custom insert is obviated when a digital camera is attached to a base (dock). Two movable pins are provided, in such a way that a connector is sandwiched between the movable pins, on a digital camera attachment surface of a base (dock) which provides a digital camera with a recharging function and a printing function. The movable pins fit to holes in a bottom of the digital camera to thus act as guides during the course of attachment of the digital camera. Alternatively, the attachment surface itself may be configured so as to be vertically movable, and the attachment surface may descend during attachment of the digital camera and the attachment surface may be latched in a lower position after attachment of the same. |
| US08665333B1 |
Method and system for optimizing the observation and annotation of complex human behavior from video sources
The present invention is a method and system for optimizing the observation and annotation of complex human behavior from video sources by automatically detecting predefined events based on the behavior of people in a first video stream from a first means for capturing images in a physical space, accessing a synchronized second video stream from a second means for capturing images that are positioned to observe the people more closely using the timestamps associated with the detected events from the first video stream, and enabling an annotator to annotate each of the events with more labels using a tool. The present invention captures a plurality of input images of the persons by a plurality of means for capturing images and processes the plurality of input images in order to detect the predefined events based on the behavior in an exemplary embodiment. The processes are based on a novel usage of a plurality of computer vision technologies to analyze the human behavior from the plurality of input images. The physical space may be a retail space, and the people may be customers in the retail space. |
| US08665331B2 |
In-vehicle image display apparatus
An in-vehicle image display apparatus includes an image capture device and a display. An image generator is configured to combine the plurality of images captured by the image capture device and to generate a bird's eye view image in which a point of view has been changed. An operatio n device is capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant. An operation device includes a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the bird's eye view image in the display. The second switches are provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display. The positions correspond to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above. |
| US08665330B2 |
Event-triggered security surveillance and control system, event-triggered security surveillance and control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
The present invention discloses a security surveillance system and a method thereof, a computer readable storage media and a computer program product. The security surveillance system comprises a surveillance host and an electrical apparatus. The surveillance host could send a monitoring data of a period of a first event occurs to the electrical apparatus through the network when the first event occurs. While the electrical apparatus is playing the monitoring data and a second event occurs, the electrical apparatus switches directly to play the real-time monitoring data corresponding to the second event sent from the surveillance host, so as to achieve the purpose of grasping the site situation immediately. |
| US08665329B2 |
Apparatus for automatically ignoring cast self shadows to increase the effectiveness of video analytics based surveillance systems
One of the challenges in video surveillance system is the detection of unwanted intruders in secure zones. These zones may be in large facilities such as airports, train stations, port facilities or warehouses. Because many of these locations are outdoors, the presence of shadows is detected on images. In order to effectively eliminate these shadows which will therefore result in a usable figure, these shadows must be eliminated. This is accomplished by forming a contour box around the image and then reducing the shadows based on preset parameters in the software. |
| US08665327B2 |
Endoscope system with color correction information
Provided is an endoscope system including an endoscope which includes an illumination optical system having a fluorescent substance and an imaging optical system having an imaging element; and a control device which is connected to the endoscope. The control device includes a light source unit having a semiconductor light emitting element generating excitation light used to excite the fluorescent substance, a storage section storing predetermined color correction information, and an image processing section creating captured image data by performing a calculation process on an image signal output from the imaging element on the basis of the color correction information. At least one of optical characteristics of the fluorescent substance and the semiconductor light emitting element is detected, and the color correction information stored in the storage section is corrected on the basis of the detected optical characteristic. |
| US08665325B2 |
Systems and methods for location based image telegraphy
Systems and methods for associating images with location and/or other information. In some cases, the systems include an image sensor, a location sensor, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is communicably coupled to a computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the microprocessor to: receive a location from the location sensor; receive an image from the image sensor; and associate the location with the image. Some of the methods provide for capturing an object image of an object using an image sensor; capturing a location of the image sensor; and associating the location with the object image. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08665321B2 |
Image display apparatus and method for operating the same
An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating an image display apparatus includes receiving a 3-dimensional (3D) image, detecting the depth of the 3D image, performing 3D processing on an audio signal received in synchronization with the 3D image in correspondence with the detected depth, and outputting the audio signal subjected to 3D processing. Thus, it is possible to output the audio signal in correspondence with the depth of the 3D image during 3D image display. |
| US08665319B2 |
Parallax image generating apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a parallax image generating apparatus is for generating, using a first image, a parallax images with a parallax therebetween. The apparatus includes following units. The first estimation unit estimates distribution information items indicating distributions of first depths in the first image by using first methods. The distribution information items falls within a depth range to be reproduced. The first combination unit combines the distribution information items to generate first depth information. The second calculation unit calculates second depth information indicating relative unevenness of an object in the first image. The third combination unit combines the first depth information and the second depth information by using a method different from the first methods, to generate third depth information. The generation unit generates the parallax images based on the third depth information and the first image. |
| US08665317B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging method and recording medium
A digital camera captures at least photographic subjects intended to be positioned on left and right ends of a group photograph (temporary imaging), and prompts a user to designate the photographic subjects (may move) intended to be positioned on the left and right ends. Next, the digital camera, which has been placed on a suitable surface (such as on a desk), moves the optical zoom further to the wide-angle side than during the temporary imaging, and performs actual imaging when the self-timer reaches time up. Then, the digital camera identifies the photographic subjects designated by the temporary imaging within the actually captured image, and after determining the left, right, upper, and lower ends of a clipping area such that the identified photographic subjects are included, clips an image of the determined clipping area as a final image. |
| US08665310B2 |
Techniques and system for active lighting control in video conferencing
Techniques to provide active lighting control for video teleconferencing systems are described. In an embodiment, a video teleconferencing (TVC) device receives lighting data from cameras in a room where a VTC is taking place. The VTC device may access lighting profiles for the lights in the room from a lighting control system. The VTC device may compare the current lighting conditions to a target model. The VTC device may use the lighting profiles to select lights to turn on or off via the lighting control system to improve the lighting. The VTC device may monitor the lighting conditions during the conference and may re-adjust the lights if a large change occurs. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08665308B2 |
Premium communication sessions
Communication systems and methods for providing premium multiparty communication sessions between a plurality of callers. The plurality of callers may comprise an initiating caller who initiates the premium multiparty communication session but who does not have a status in the communication system which is recognized by an operator of the communication system for allowing the premium multiparty communication session to proceed; and a premium multiparty caller who has a status in the communication system which is recognized by the operator of the communication system such that the operator allows the premium multiparty communication session to proceed, wherein the premium multiparty caller is a different caller to the initiating caller. The premium multiparty caller funding the premium multiparty communication session may be transferred and assigned during communication sessions. |
| US08665305B2 |
Microphone array apparatus having hidden microphone placement and acoustic signal processing apparatus including the same
A microphone array apparatus is provided. The microphone array apparatus includes a plurality of first type microphones which are disposed to be hidden in a direction of a target source and surrounded by a cover that passes acoustic signals therethrough, and a plurality of second type microphones which are disposed at both sides of the plurality of first type microphones. |
| US08665301B2 |
Tape drive and method of operation of a tape drive
A method of operation of the tape drive, including obtaining the circumferences a supply spool, and a take-up spool, each spool being mounted upon a respective rotatable spool support which is mounted in a housing, the method including rotating the take-up spool support and the supply spool support simultaneously, so as to feed tape from the supply spool into a tape path extending between the spools, and to wind tape on to the take-up spool from the tape path, determining a length of tape fed into the tape path during a measurement period using a sensor assembly, monitoring the angle through which each of the spool supports has rotated during the measurement period, regulating the length of the tape in the tape path, such that the length of the tape in the tape path at the start of the measurement period and the length of the tape in the tape path at the end of the measurement period are substantially the same, and using knowledge of the length of tape fed into the tape path during the measurement period and the angle through which each of the spool supports rotated during the measurement period to obtain the circumferences of the supply spool and the take-up spool. |
| US08665298B2 |
Method for analyzing light profile of light source and device and method for driving local dimming of liquid crystal display device by using the same
Disclosed is a method for analyzing a light profile of a light source includes driving a light source of one of a plurality of blocks which divide a backlight unit, setting a light analyzing region matched to one light emission region of the light source, dividing the light analyzing region into at least two symmetric regions considering a form of the light emission region and symmetry of the light emission region, and analyzing and storing a light profile of one of the at least two symmetric regions. |
| US08665296B2 |
Color generation change using multiple illuminant types
A system for generating a colored light comprises a set of illuminant types and a processor. The set of illuminant types is associated with a chromaticity gamut, and the set of illuminant types comprises at least five illuminant types that are each associated with an illuminant type hue angle. The processor is configured to determine, based at least in part on a mapping, a sequence of one or more output level sets that are associated with changing a first generated colored light associated with a first color coordinate to a second generated colored light associated with a second color coordinate. The mapping comprises associating each color coordinate with an output level set that uses a set of hue-adjacent illuminant types. Hue-adjacent illuminant types comprise a group of illuminant types that are determined to be adjacent in a circular ordered list of illuminant types which is circularly ordered according to the illuminant type hue angle. |
| US08665292B2 |
Color gamut boundary information generating device, color gamut boundary information generating method, and computer readable medium
A color gamut boundary information generating device includes a mapping unit, a triangulating unit, and a generating unit. The mapping unit maps boundary points existing at plural coordinates in a color space that is independent of an output device to corresponding points in a two-dimensional region while maintaining respective phases of the boundary points. The triangulating unit performs triangulation on the inside of a convex hull including plural points in the two-dimensional region obtained by the mapping unit, thereby generating triangulation information, which is a result of the triangulation. The generating unit generates color gamut boundary information on the basis of the triangulation information generated by the triangulating unit. The color gamut boundary information is information that specifies a three-dimensional shape in the color space, the three-dimensional shape having a boundary including the boundary points. |
| US08665291B2 |
System and method of displaying multiple video feeds
Respective video feeds are provided to at least two viewers using a common display. The display is controlled to simultaneously display an image from a first video feed and an image from a second video feed. The image from the first video feed is displayed within a first wavelength band and the image from the second video feed is displayed within a second wavelength band, and the first and second wavelength bands are distinct. A first filter is selective for transmitting the first wavelength band and not transmitting the second wavelength band. A second filter is selective for transmitting the second wavelength band and not transmitting the first wavelength band. Only the first video feed image is provided to a first viewer using the first filter, and only the second video feed image is provided to a second viewer using the second filter. |
| US08665287B2 |
Color information interpolation method
A color information interpolation method is disclosed. The color information interpolation method comprises steps of receiving a luminance information corresponding to a pixel matrix, wherein the luminance information is arranged in a Bayer pattern and records a specific color information of each pixel of the pixel matrix, and the specific color information is one of a red color information, a green color information and a blue color information, calculating a horizontal variance and a vertical variance of a pixel according to the luminance information, and interpolating the pixel of the luminance information with one of a horizontal color estimate, a vertical color estimate and a directionless color estimate according to the horizontal variance and the vertical variance, to derive color information of the pixel other than the specific color information. |
| US08665284B2 |
Fragmenting image files systems and methods
Embodiments herein receive and fragment image data into image data fragments. Each single image data fragment comprises a complete, but lower resolution/quality image. The image data fragments are stored in different hardware devices, and a fragment table that comprises pointers from one image data fragment to locations of additional data image fragments is maintained. The first image data fragment is combined with one or more additional data fragments to produce a higher resolution/quality image. |
| US08665282B2 |
Image generating apparatus and image generating method and reading of image by using plural buffers to generate computer readable medium
There is provided with an image generating apparatus, including a storage having first and second buffers, a write buffer selecting unit selecting a buffer for each of areas to be written, a writing unit, a read buffer selecting unit selecting a buffer for each area of one frame to be readout, a reading unit read outing at regular intervals an image from each area. The write buffer selecting unit selects an other buffer than a buffer read out in a frame reading period for each area to be written in the period. The read buffer selecting unit selects in the period a buffer to which the writing was performed in an immediately preceding reading period for an area for which writing was performed in the preceding period, and a same buffer as a buffer readout in the preceding period for an area for which the writing was not performed. |
| US08665275B1 |
Graphical user interface timeline graph for navigating events of a backup job
Graphical user interface timeline graph for navigating events of a backup job. In one example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a program that causes a processor to generate and present a graphical user interface (GUI) timeline graph for navigating events of a backup job. The GUI timeline graph includes a first axis representing time periods over which events of a backup job took place, a second axis representing a data size associated with each of the events of the backup job, and objects positioned along the first axis and the second axis. Each of the objects corresponds to one of the events of the backup job. A width along the first axis of each of the objects represents the time period over which the corresponding event took place. A length along the second axis of each of the objects represents the data size associated with the corresponding event. |
| US08665273B2 |
Method of mapping image information from one face onto another continuous face of different geometry
An information processing method transfers information from a start face to an end face with a minimum local distortion by maintaining one-to-one correspondence between the original information on the start face and the transferred information on the end face. The method includes an operation of mapping information taken from a three-dimensional surface onto a rectangular plane, or vice versa, by dividing the start face into a plurality of divisional start faces and preparing divisional end faces that just fill the end face, then deforming each divisional start face to just fit a corresponding one of the divisional end faces, so as to maintain lines and points defining each divisional end face as lines and points also on the end face and to ensure that a first area ratio between each divisional start face relative to the entire start face and a second area ratio between each divisional end face relative to the entire end face is substantially equal. |
| US08665272B2 |
Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene
A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system provides a zoom tool that allows a user to designate a target point in a scene and zoom relative to that target point. |
| US08665268B2 |
Image data and annotation processing system
A system automatically detects objects in an image and automatically displays a chosen object if the object is not currently visible in real time. An image data processing system automatically displays potentially hidden features in 3D (three dimensional) medical image data. A repository includes a 3D (three dimensional) image dataset representing an anatomical volume of interest. An image data processor processes the dataset retrieved from the repository by, (a) automatically detecting if a first object is obscured by a second object in the 3D image dataset, (b) automatically determining if the first object is visible by rotating the anatomical volume of interest and (c) rotating the anatomical volume of interest until the first object is visible in response to a command. A display processor initiates display of the rotated anatomical volume of interest. |
| US08665264B2 |
LCD panel and LCD device
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and an LCD panel are disclosed. The LCD panel comprises charging scanning lines, discharging scanning lines, first data lines, second data lines and pixel units. The charging scanning lines and the discharging scanning lines are arranged alternately and parallel with each other in a first direction. The first data lines and the second data lines are arranged parallel with each other in a second direction and insulatedly intersect the charging scanning lines and the discharging scanning lines. Each pixel unit comprises a charging TFT, a discharging TFT and a pixel electrode. When two adjacent charging scanning lines are being scanned in the LCD panel, two adjacent discharging scanning lines located in other rows different from those of the two adjacent charging scanning lines being scanned are scanned within a same scanning time frame. The LCD panel can extend the charging time of gates. |
| US08665263B2 |
Aerial image generating apparatus, aerial image generating method, and storage medium having aerial image generating program stored therein
An apparatus and method generating a road image including no features such as trees and tunnels hiding or covering a road surface. A mobile measuring apparatus installed in a vehicle may acquire a distance and orientation point cloud, a camera image, GPS observation information, a gyro measurement value, and an odometer measurement value, while moving in a target area. The position and attitude localizing apparatus may localize the position and attitude of the vehicle based on the GPS observation information, the gyro measurement value and the odometer measurement value. The point cloud generating apparatus may generate a point cloud based on the camera image, the distance and orientation point cloud, and a position and attitude localized value. The point cloud orthoimage generating apparatus may extract points close to a road surface exclusively from the point cloud by removing points higher than the road surface, orthographically project each extracted point onto a horizontal plane, and generate a point cloud orthoimage. The point cloud orthoimage may show the road surface including no features covering or hiding the road surface. |
| US08665256B2 |
Display apparatus and driving controlling method with temporary lowering of power supply potential during mobility correction
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including, a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels disposed in rows and columns, and a number of power supply lines and scanning lines equal to the number of the rows of the pixels, each of the power supply lines being wired commonly to those of the pixels which are juxtaposed in a direction of a row. |
| US08665248B2 |
Drive circuit
A drive circuit is disclosed. The drive circuit includes a first p-typed thin film transistor (PTFT), a second PTFT, a first n-typed thin film transistor (NTFT), a second NTFT and a capacitor. The drain of the first PTFT is coupled to a first electrical line, and the gate thereof is coupled to a first clock line. The drain of the second PTFT is coupled to a second clock line, and the source thereof is coupled to an output. The source of the first NTFT is coupled to a second electrical line, and the gate thereof is couple to an output of a preceding drive circuit. The source of the second NTFT is couple to a third electrical line, the gate thereof is coupled to a third clock line, and the drain thereof is coupled to the output. The capacitor has one end coupled to the second electrical line, while the other end is coupled to the source of the first PTFT, the drain of the first NTFT and the gate of the second PTFT. |
| US08665247B2 |
Flexible display
A flat panel display includes a flexible substrate; a passive matrix display having an array of pixels formed on a side of the flexible substrate, and row and column electrodes formed on the same side of the flexible substrate and connected to the pixels for providing data and selection signals to the pixel elements; a plurality of electrical contacts formed on the same side of the substrate and electrically connected to the row and column electrodes; and discrete data and selection drivers located on the same side of the flexible substrate around the periphery of the passive matrix display and electrically connected to the electrical contacts for driving the pixels of the passive matrix display. |
| US08665244B2 |
Optical touch detection
Optical touch detection is provided by an interactive display device including an elastomer layer, a reflector configured to transmit light having a first characteristic and to reflect light having a second characteristic, and a display positioned to output modulated light having the first characteristic through the elastomer layer and the reflector as a display image. The interactive display device further comprises a test light source positioned to output light having the second characteristic through the elastomer layer for reflection off of the reflector, and a sensor configured to receive light having the second characteristic reflected from the reflector. |
| US08665241B2 |
System and method for providing haptic feedback from haptic textile
A system includes a haptic textile comprising a plurality of haptic threads configured to provide haptic feedback, and an ancillary electronic device configured to transfer data to or from the haptic textile. |
| US08665240B2 |
Degree of freedom extraction from multiple contacts
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device. |
| US08665239B2 |
Method and apparatus continuing action of user gestures performed upon a touch sensitive interactive display in simulation of inertia
A method and apparatus for identifying user gestures to control an interactive display identifies gestures based on a bounding box enclosing points at which a user contacts a touch sensor corresponding with the display surface and permits use of inexpensive and highly reliable grid-based touch sensors that provide a bounding box to describe contact information. In identifying gestures, position, motion, shape, and deformation of the bounding box may be considered. Center, width, height, aspect ratio, length and orientation of the bounding box diagonal may be determined. A stretch factor, defined as the maximum of the ratio of the height of the bounding box to the width of the bounding box and the ratio of the width of the bounding box to the height of the bounding box, may also be computed. Gestures may be identified based on the changes in time of these characteristics and quantities. |
| US08665233B2 |
Input device and control method thereof
A control method includes: receiving a user's input through a touch area of the input device; and recognizing the user's touch input to the touch area through a recognition area of the input device corresponding to the touch area and changing and assigning a range of the recognition area corresponding to the touch area according to a predetermined standard. |
| US08665232B2 |
Device and method for acquiring tactile information with sequential scanning
A device configured to acquire tactile information including a transparent tactile matrix sensor having rows and columns of conductive stripes; and a scanning control unit, wherein the scanning control unit is configured to sequentially read out tactile information from the rows and the columns of the conductive stripes of the transparent tactile matrix sensor. |
| US08665229B2 |
Settlement terminal and controlling method of the same
According to one embodiment, when a touch position on a touch panel-type display section corresponds to an image pattern for an operation, the display of the image pattern is changed to the display of the image pattern in a different display form. When the touch is released in this state, the information of the image pattern that is touched is used as an input and processing based on the input information is executed. |
| US08665224B2 |
Capacitance touch sensor
A capacitance touch sensor includes a square wave generator for generating a square wave clock, a sensor panel for receiving the square wave clock and then generating a panel signal, a peak detector for receiving the panel signal and then generating an analog peak signal, an analog-to-digital converter for receiving the analog peak signal and then generating a digital peak signal, and a control unit for receiving the digital peak signal and generating a detection signal according to a level of the digital peak signal to indicate whether the sensor panel is touched or not. |
| US08665214B2 |
Extending battery life of a portable electronic device
A particular method includes determining a battery charge value of a battery at a particular time and comparing the battery charge value at the particular time to a threshold battery charge value of a battery usage profile associated with the particular time, where the threshold battery charge value varies over time (e.g., a dynamic threshold). When the battery charge value does not satisfy the threshold battery charge value, the method includes prompting a user to select a power save mode. For example, the power save mode may include activating a different backlight element of a plurality of backlight elements of a display device in response to a motion sensor of a portable electronic device detecting movement of the portable electronic device from a first orientation to a second orientation. |
| US08665211B2 |
Position detecting device and position input device
A position detecting device is provided, which is configured to minimize leakage of magnetic flux in an electromagnetic induction system. The position detecting device includes: a sensor unit including a plurality of first loop coils arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second loop coils arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; a yoke sheet provided on a side of the sensor unit that is opposite to a side that faces a position indicator; an auxiliary loop coil provided at a corner part of the sensor unit; a signal transmitter configured to transmit a signal to one of the coils in order to generate a magnetic field to induce an induced current in a coil of the position indicator; and a controller configured to select one of the coils, and to control whether to transmit a signal from the signal transmitter to the selected one of the coils or to make the selected one of the coils receive a signal from the position indicator. |
| US08665206B2 |
Driving method to neutralize grey level shift for electrophoretic displays
The present invention provides driving methods for a display having a binary color system of a first color and a second color, which methods can effectively neutralize the grey level shifts due to degradation of a display medium. |
| US08665205B2 |
Method of driving the backlight of a light-emitting region of an LCD device to reduce the influence of light leaked from neighboring light-emitting regions
There is provided a method of driving a backlight of a liquid crystal display device capable of eliminating leakage of light from adjacently-placed light emitting blocks. A gray level and maximum gray level of an input video signal are inputted for every light-emitting block. An output average gray level is calculated and a lighting control signal corresponding to converted luminance is outputted. The drivers responding to the lighting control signal makes LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) emit light. An average gray level from an output from sensors is calculated. An average gray level, based on an average gray level and a light leakage rate, by taking light leakage into consideration. A gray level correcting signal is outputted in the light-emitting block based on the above output average gray level. An output average gray level is corrected in response to a gray level correcting signal. |
| US08665204B2 |
Backlight split control apparatus and backlight split control method using the same
A backlight split control apparatus and a backlight split control method using the same are provided. The backlight split control apparatus, which is a split control apparatus of the backlight divided into a plurality of sections, includes an image signal processor for calculating a section luminance control value which is a representative luminance value of the section, from an image signal; a control signal generator for calculating a backlight control value which is a control signal of the backlight, by correcting a section luminance calculation value using a difference between the section luminance control value and the section luminance calculation value acquired from a section luminance distribution value of a light source of the backlight; and an image signal regulator for adjusting the image signal using the backlight control value. |
| US08665203B2 |
Electronic device having display and method for controlling display brightness
An electronic device having a display unit, an indicator, an illuminance sensor and a controller is provided. The indicator is configured to be turned on for emitting light and to be turned off. The illuminance sensor is configured to sense ambient illuminance. The controller is connected to the display unit, the indicator and the illuminance sensor. The controller is configured to turn on and off the indicator. The controller is configured to set brightness of the display unit depending on a value of the ambient illuminance sensed by the illuminance sensor while the indicator continues to be off. |
| US08665201B2 |
Display device and method for driving display device
A display device includes: a source driver; a plurality of gate drivers which share a plurality of scan signal lines to which they are connected; a gate output judging section for judging whether or not each of the plurality of gate drivers has a failure, on the basis of timing at which a gate signal Gout is outputted from a corresponding one of the plurality of gate drivers; and a control section for, in a case where the gate output judging section judges that the gate driver has a failure, switching over to the gate driver. This makes it possible to extend a lifetime of the display device with not a complicated arrangement but a simple arrangement. |
| US08665198B2 |
Display driving apparatus for charging a target voltage within a sampling period and a method therefor
A source driver includes a ladder circuit for outputting multilevel gradation voltages by resistance voltage division, a first decoder for selecting one gradation voltage corresponding to the inputted image data to output the selected gradation voltage, an external power supply for supplying multilevel pre-charging voltages, a second decoder for selecting one pre-charging voltage corresponding to the image data, an operational amplifier for outputting the driving voltage corresponding to the inputted gradation voltage to the source electrode, a pre-charging switch interconnected between the operational amplifier and second decoder, and a controller for controlling the pre-charging switch. The connection between the first decoder and operational amplifier is always kept during the whole sampling period including a pre-charging period, and the controller controls the pre-charging switch to be turned on during the pre-charging period and turned off after the pre-charging period has expired. |
| US08665197B2 |
Pulse output circuit, shift register and display device
A pulse is input to first and second TFTs to turn ON the first and second TFTs so that the potential of a node a rises. When the potential of the node a reaches (VDD−VthN), the node α enters a floating state. Accordingly, a third TFT then turns ON, and potential of an output node rises as a clock signal reaches the level H. On the other hand, potential of a gate electrode of the third TFT further rises due to an operation of capacitance as the potential of the output node rises, so that the potential of the output node would be higher than (VDD+VthN). Thus, the potential of the output node rises to VDD without voltage drop caused by a threshold of the third TFT. |
| US08665196B2 |
Display apparatus and display method
A display apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged two-dimensionally by being each provided at an intersection of a scan line and a signal line as a circuit including a switching device, a display element and a storage capacitor; and a correction circuit for correcting a storage-capacitor voltage supplied to the storage capacitors, wherein the correction circuit employs a comparator for detecting the difference between electric potentials received from a portion of the pixel section as a pixel electric potential having a positive polarity and a pixel electric potential having a negative polarity and for comparing the difference in electric potential with a reference voltage, and an output-voltage control circuit for converting a comparison result output by the comparator into a correction signal used for correcting the storage-capacitor voltage to be asserted on a storage-capacitor line used for supplying the storage-capacitor voltage. |
| US08665195B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes an active matrix substrate including a plurality of pixel electrodes provided in a matrix of a plurality of rows by a plurality columns; a counter substrate including a counter electrode; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer; and axis-symmetrical liquid crystal domain formation portions each for forming a liquid crystal domain in which liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are aligned in axis symmetry, the axis-symmetrical liquid crystal domain formation portions each being located at the center of the respective liquid crystal domain. The plurality of pixel electrodes each define a pixel area. The axis-symmetrical liquid crystal domain formation portions ; are each provided in correspondence with an area between two pixel areas defined by two pixel electrodes adjacent to each other. |
| US08665188B2 |
Laser diode / LED drive circuit
The invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the output of an LD or LED. The apparatus includes a substantially static bias source and a variable source. The substantially static bias source provides a bias current to the LD/LED. The variable source is capacitively coupled to the LD/LED. The bias current may be provided such that it is higher than a threshold current at which, when provided to an LD, lasing occurs. |
| US08665185B2 |
Pixel unit of organic light emitting diode and display panel for achieving stable brightness using the same
A pixel unit for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is disclosed. The pixel unit includes a driving transistor, a compensating capacitor, a selecting switch module, a power switch and a configuration switch. One terminal of the compensating capacitor is coupled to a gate of the driving transistor. The selecting switch module provides the ground voltage or the compensating voltage to the other terminal of the compensating capacitor according to a first control signal. The power switch is coupled between a power voltage and a drain of the driving transistor and is controlled by a second control signal. The configuration switch receives the first control signal for controlling a connecting configuration of the driving transistor. The pixel unit is driven according to the first and the second control signals for compensating threshold voltage shifting of the OLED and the driving transistor. |
| US08665184B2 |
Driving circuit used for current-driven device and light emitting device
A driving circuit is adapted to drive a current-driven device. The driving circuit includes a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit. The first power supply circuit is for supplying a first positive voltage to a first terminal of the current-driven device. The second power supply circuit is for enabling a current flowing along a first current flow direction in a first time period and thereby a second terminal of the current-driven device is given a second positive voltage. The second power supply circuit further is for enabling a current from the current-driven device flowing out of the second power supply circuit along a second current flow direction. The first current flow direction and the second current flow direction are different directions in the second power supply circuit. Moreover, a light emitting device using the above-mentioned driving circuit also is provided. |
| US08665183B2 |
Pixel driving method of active matrix organic light emitting diode display
An exemplary pixel circuit includes an OLED, a storage capacitor, a driving transistor and first through fourth switching transistors. The driving transistor is for driving the OLED at a predetermined brightness. The first source/drain electrode of the driving transistor is coupled to a terminal of the storage capacitor, the second source/drain electrode is coupled to the OLED, and the gate electrode is coupled to receive a data voltage through the first switching transistor. Gate-on voltages of the first and second switching transistors are in opposite phases to each other, and the first and second switching transistors are controlled by the same control signal. Likewise, gate-on voltages of the third and fourth switching transistors are in opposite phases to each other, and the third and fourth switching transistors are controlled by the same control signal. A pixel driving method is also disclosed. |
| US08665180B2 |
Image display device
An image display device which includes a plurality of connected image display elements is provided not to cause an image due to the reflection of light beams emitted from one display surface in the other display surface. In an image display device provided with image display elements, each display surface of which is directed toward an observer to display an image, two or more display elements of them display images on the display surfaces, respectively, and one or more display elements of them have a louver film set on the display surfaces, wherein the louver film has a directionality to shield light beams from going to the direction of a display surface that is different from the display surface on which the louver film is set. Thus, the louver film suppresses an image on one display surface so that the image is not reflected in the other display surface. |
| US08665174B2 |
Triangular phased array antenna subarray
Antenna subassemblies suitable for use in phased array antennas are disclosed, as are phased array antenna assemblies and aircraft comprising phased array antenna assemblies. In one embodiment, an antenna subarray assembly comprises a thermally conductive foam substrate, a plurality of radiating elements bonded to the foam substrate, and a radome disposed adjacent the radiating elements. The subarray assembly presents a triangular shape when viewed in plan view, and the plurality of radiating elements are arranged in a triangular array on the foam substrate. In some embodiments, a plurality of subarray assemblies may be assembled to form an antenna assembly. In further embodiments an aircraft may be fitted with one or more antenna assemblies. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US08665168B2 |
Mutually inductive resonant antenna
A mutually inductive resonant antenna receiving radio waves of dual frequency bands improves a conventional antenna series-connected to a uniaxial wire. The mutually inductive resonant antenna receives FM or TMC radio waves and comprises a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna has a first conductive core wire and a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer encloses the first conductive core wire. The second antenna has a second mesh-like conductive layer and a second insulating layer. The second mesh-like conductive layer encloses a section of the first antenna such that another section of the first antenna is exposed. The second insulating layer encloses the second mesh-like conductive layer. A section of the second mesh-like conductive layer is extended from the first antenna and electrically connected to a signal transmission line. The second mesh-like conductive layer is not in contact with the first conductive core wire. |
| US08665167B2 |
Antenna circuit, method for reducing resistance of antenna circuit, and transponder
A method for reducing a resistance of an antenna circuit capable of obtaining a desired property by reducing wiring resistance to a suitable value while ensuring inductance is provided. An antenna circuit is disposed to a transponder having a carrier frequency band of 13.56 MHz. The antenna circuit is formed of a prescribed base material and two antenna conductors each of which is formed of the same conductor pattern forming an antenna coil, formed on respective front and back surfaces of the base material by electrically parallel connection. Each of the two antenna conductors has a thickness of greater than equal to 5% and less than 50% of an overall thickness formed of the two antenna conductors and the base material. |
| US08665164B2 |
Multiband handheld electronic device slot antenna
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device may have an antenna and associated wireless communications circuitry. The antenna may be a slot antenna having a dielectric slot opening. The slot opening may have a shape such as a U shape or an L shape in which elongated regions of the slot run parallel to the edges of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may have a housing with conductive sidewalls. The conductive sidewalls may help define the shape of the slot. Antenna feed arrangements may be used to feed the slot antenna in a way that excites harmonic frequencies and that supports multiband operation while being shielded from proximity effects. |
| US08665163B2 |
Wide band embedded armor antenna
An extremely thin embedded antenna for an armor-carrying vehicle utilizes a dipole driven element to the inside of the armor plate and a parasitically-driven dipole element on top of the armor plate, with the parasitic element providing appropriate forward gain and antenna matching characteristics such that there need be no aperturing of the armor plate in order to feed the antenna. In one embodiment, the bowtie antenna elements are elongated, extended or expanded by outboard antenna sections which are spaced from the distal ends of the corresponding bowties, with a meanderline choke bridging the gap between a bowtie element and its extended portion. |
| US08665159B2 |
Handheld device and disposition method of planar antenna
A handheld device and a disposition method of a planar antenna are provided. The handheld device includes an appearance, a system ground plane, and the planar antenna. The appearance includes a via. The system ground plane is disposed inside the appearance. The planar antenna is disposed on the appearance and extended to an inner surface of the appearance through the via so as to be coupled to the system ground plane. Thereby, the performance of the planar antenna is improved. |
| US08665158B2 |
Printed filtering antenna
A printed filtering antenna is provided. This filtering antenna comprises an antenna part and a coupled line resonator. The antenna part is directly connected to a coupled line resonator and occupies an antenna area. The coupled line resonator provides a filtering mechanism together with the antenna part. The coupled line resonator comprises a short-circuited stub and an open-circuited stub. The short-circuited stub comprises an open-circuited end and a short-circuited end connected to ground. The open-circuited stub is parallel to the short-circuited stub. The open-circuited stub comprises a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the feed point and is corresponding to the open-circuited end of the short-circuited stub such that the open-circuited stub is coupled to the short-circuited stub. |
| US08665157B2 |
Antenna structure
An antenna structure includes a microwave substrate, a main-antenna unit, an extension grounding unit. The main antenna unit is arranged on the surface of the microwave substrate. The main antenna unit includes a main-radiation portion, a main-feeding portion, a main-grounding portion. The extension grounding unit is arranged on the surface of the microwave substrate. The extension grounding unit includes a first extension grounding portion and a second extension grounding portion. The antenna structure can adjust the radiation pattern and improve the antenna directivity. The main-antenna unit and the sub-antenna unit share the extension grounding unit in common. So, the antenna structure can reduce the antenna occupied volume and save the mass production cost. |
| US08665152B1 |
Enhancing reception of signals in global positioning system (GPS) receiver module
An antenna assembly for receiving the GPS signals in a global positioning system (GPS) receiver module automatically orients the antenna to better receive the GPS signals. The antenna is oriented by a positioner (e.g., a counterweight) that automatically rotates a frame on which the antenna is mounted. The GPS receiver module may also include multiple antennas oriented in different directions to maintain good reception of the GPS signals in any position. The multiple antennas are oriented in a manner so that the poor reception range an antenna is covered by other antennas. Signals from multiple antennas may be combined or chosen for processing by a GPS processor. Also, multiple GPS receiver modules may be deployed in close proximity so that wireless communication between the GPS receiver modules may be established. |
| US08665146B2 |
Calculation method of the amount of zenith troposphere delay, and a correcting method of troposphere delay of satellite positioning signal
This invention relates to the troposphere delay produced when the electromagnetic waves from a satellite or astronomical body pass through the troposphere, in particular, it is related to a calculation method of an estimated value of the amount of zenith troposphere delay in real time, and troposphere delay of the satellite positioning signal in the case of positioning using the estimated value of this calculated amount of zenith troposphere delay is related with a correcting method. |
| US08665143B2 |
System and apparatus for cascading and redistributing HDTV signals
Redistribution of multimedia signals or the like within a service area is performed by identifying one or more pieces of white space in the VHF/UHF spectrum, selecting a carrier frequency for each piece of white space spectrum, parsing the signal into a like number of components and modulating each component over a carrier frequency. The receiving device performs the reverse operation for reconstructing the signal. |
| US08665142B2 |
Antenna device and radar device
According to one embodiment, an antenna device is provided with a dielectric substrate whose both surfaces are covered by first and second metal films, a via-hole row in which via-holes are arranged in two rows on the dielectric substrate, and a waveguide line is formed by the first and the second metal films, and a slot pair provided in the first metal film. The slot pair has a first slot and a second slot provided so that a slot length direction is oblique to a line direction of the waveguide line. A center of the first slot and a center of the second slot are spaced apart from each other by not less than a half of the shorter one of the slot length of the first slot and the slot length of the second slot along the slot length direction. |
| US08665137B2 |
Radar system with improved angle formation
A radar system for recording the environment of a motor vehicle includes at least two transmitter antennas for emitting transmission signals, one or more receiver antennas for receiving transmission signals that have been reflected by objects, and signal processing equipment for processing the received signals. The antennas are arranged so that a phase center of at least one receiver antenna, with regard to a spatial direction R, does not lie outside of phase centers of two transmitter antennas that are offset in this spatial direction. The signals received by this receiver antenna are separated according to the two signal portions respectively originating from these two transmitter antennas. |
| US08665134B2 |
Rotational parabolic antenna with various feed configurations
A rotational antenna includes a stationary feed which is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation. A parabolic dish is rotationally mounted about the stationary feed in a state of being tipped with respect to the stationary, substantially vertically oriented feed. The rotational parabolic antenna may alternatively be provided with a rotating radio frequency (RF) and acoustic feed. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08665131B2 |
Target detection in a SAR-imaged sea area
Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a target in a sea area based on a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image thereof. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image is made up of pixels, each having a respective magnitude. The method comprises computing a first reference quantity which characterizes a Poisson distribution assumed for the magnitudes that the pixels in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image would have if the sea area were free of targets. The method further comprises selecting pixels in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, computing a real quantity which characterizes a real statistical distribution of the magnitudes of the selected pixels, and detecting a target in the sea area based on the computed first reference and real quantities. The selected pixels are in a one and the same sub-image of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, and detecting comprises detecting a target in a sea subarea of the sea area, the sea subarea being represented by the sub-image. |
| US08665130B2 |
ADC, a temperature sensor, a non-contact transponder, and a method of converting analog signals to digital signals
An ADC is disclosed which has, as a first stage, a successive approximation converter, or other compensated, direct comparison converter, followed by a sigma delta modulation converter as a second stage. The sigma delta converter may beneficially be a first order modulator. The resulting ADC combines accuracy with low power consumption per conversion, and thus is particularly suited for use in temperature sensors for applications such as RFID transponders. Such a temperature sensor and an RFID transponder are also disclosed. There is also disclosed a method of analog-to-digital conversion, comprising a first successive approximation register or other compensated, direct comparison conversion stage followed by a sigma delta modulation stage, which, further, may be combined with providing a proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) signal, for low-power, accurate temperature sensing. |
| US08665123B2 |
Encoder having durability against vibration or shock
A reliable encoder capable of reducing vibration of a printed board when the encoder is subjected to vibration or shock, by means of a simple structure. The encoder has a housing, a rotating code plate arranged in the housing and configured to rotate in synchronization with an object to be measured, a printed board attached to the housing and positioned above the rotating code plate, wherein the encoder has a reinforcing member configured to contact a portion of the printed board where the displacement of the printed board is large while the printed board is resonated due to vibration or shock applied to the encoder. |
| US08665121B2 |
Systems and methods for aircraft flight tracking and display
Systems and methods are provided for automated collection and analysis of aircraft flight data. In accordance with one aspect, a system for collecting flight data associated with an aircraft is provided to transmit collected flight data to a remote system for storage and processing. In accordance with another aspect, a remote system utilizes received aircraft location data to determine whether an aircraft flight incident has occurred, and to alert appropriate emergency services. In accordance with another aspect, a remote system analyzes received aircraft flight data and quantitatively evaluates performance of a pilot. In yet another aspect, a system is provided for graphical and textual display of collected aircraft flight data and pilot performance evaluation data. |
| US08665115B2 |
Accessible pedestrian signal system
Methods and systems are provided for conflict monitoring and error detection in accessible pedestrian signal systems. A primary conflict monitor and error detector is configured to control output of audible and vibrotactile pedestrian signal indications. The primary conflict monitor and error detector monitors the current traffic state, and verifies audio and vibrotactile control signals against the current traffic state and user settings to determine whether to enable output of audible and vibrotactile pedestrian signal indications. The primary conflict monitor and error detector may transmit information about the audio and vibrotactile control signals to a secondary conflict monitor and error detector, which verifies the information received against the current traffic state and user settings, and inhibits output of audible and vibrotactile pedestrian signal indications in the event of a detected conflict or error. |
| US08665111B2 |
Systems and methods for modifying power usage
Systems and methods for providing energy management utilize wireless wide-area network broadcast signals and a decentralized receiver architecture to allow customers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption and load shedding for particular appliances. A receiver assembly embedded within an appliance receives a broadcast signal, e.g., an FM subcarrier signal, including tariff data and other electrical grid data. A processor coupled with the receiver controls the appliance in accordance with the received data and in accordance with user-defined preferences. In some embodiments, a transceiver assembly is embedded in one or more appliances in a household. Each transceiver is configured to receive broadcast signals regarding grid data, and to communicate with other appliances and/or a usage meter over a wireless personal area network. Meter data from one of more households may be aggregated and uplinked back to the energy provider or other entities. |
| US08665108B2 |
Apparatus and method for quality assessment of downhole data
In one aspect, a method for assessing quality of a downhole data is provided. The method, according to one embodiment, may include defining a quality criterion based on one or more parameters of interest, determining a quality assessment value for a first data, determining a quality assessment value for each run of a plurality of runs using the quality criterion, determining a quality factor from the computed quality assessment values of the plurality of runs, and determining a quality level of the first data using the quality assessment value of the first data and the quality factor of the computed quality assessment values. |
| US08665103B2 |
Seat having occupant detecting function and occupant detection device
A seat has an occupant detecting function and is installed in a vehicle. The seat includes a seating portion, a capacitance sensor, a controller, and a supporting member. The seating portion is adapted to support buttocks and thighs of an occupant of the vehicle. The seating portion includes a seat cushion therein. The capacitance sensor is attached to the seating portion. The controller is installed to the seating portion and configured to apply a voltage to the sensor and to detect a value of an electric current, which passes through the sensor because of the voltage. The supporting member supports the controller from a lower side thereof in a vertical direction, such that the controller is rotatable about the supporting member when the seating portion is pressed by the occupant. |
| US08665100B2 |
Preconditioned air (PCA) temperature monitor
The performance of a PCA unit associated with an airport gate is monitored by a temperature sensor in the stream of output air leaving the PCA unit, to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air that may be compared to an acceptable range of values, or to the temperature of air input to the PCA unit (as measured by a second temperature sensor). An alert is generated to a human operator if the temperature measured does not compare favorably with the desired range. |
| US08665096B2 |
Alarm control method, physiological monitoring apparatus, and computer program product for a physiological monitoring apparatus
A method for controlling alarms in a physiological monitoring apparatus, a physiological monitoring apparatus, and a computer program product for a physiological monitoring apparatus are disclosed. In order to decrease the number of nuisance alarms, the level of a physiological signal obtained from a subject is observed and signal morphology is determined for the physiological signal in response to detecting a change of the level of the physiological signal to a predetermined value range representing low signal values, thereby to obtain reference morphology for the physiological signal. Signal morphology is monitored if the physiological signal remains in the predetermined value range and alarms are suppressed as long as the signal morphology fulfills predefined criteria with respect to the reference morphology and the level of the physiological signal remains in the predetermined value range. |
| US08665089B2 |
Personal safety mobile notification system
Described embodiments provide a system for alerting emergency responders to the existence of an emergency situation. The system includes multiple mobile devices in communication with a mobile communications network. Each mobile device includes an encapsulator for capturing encapsulation data from one or more data sensors of the mobile device. Each mobile device can be placed into an alert mode by a user of the mobile device. An emergency database in communication with the mobile communications network and one or more emergency response dispatchers receives, from one or more mobile devices in the alert mode, the encapsulation data, in substantially real-time. The emergency database sends an emergency alert notification to one or more alert groups associated with the users of each mobile devices in alert mode. Each mobile device sends an emergency alert notification to one or more additional mobile devices in a predetermined physical proximity to the mobile device. |
| US08665086B2 |
Physiological data acquisition and management system for use with an implanted wireless sensor
Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a system for obtaining, processing and managing data from an implanted sensor. In some embodiments, a patient or other persons can use a flexible antenna to obtain data from the implanted sensor. The flexible antenna includes at least one transmit loop and at least one receive loop. The transmit loop is adapted to propagate energizing signals to the implanted sensor. The receive loop is adapted to detect a response signal from the implanted sensor. The transmit loop includes a capacitor formed by a discontinuous area. The capacitor is adapted to allow the loop to be tuned. The flexible antenna can communicate with a patient device that collects the data from the implanted sensor, creates a data file and transmits the data file to a remote server over a network. A physician or other authorized person may access the remote server using an access device. |
| US08665083B2 |
System and method for providing communications for container security
A system for providing communications for container security is provided. The system includes a sensing system for monitoring the contents of the container; a signal receiving element for receiving sensor data from the sensing system; a control element for analyzing received sensor data; a first transceiver element for receiving signals containing sensor data from within the container and for transmitting those signals outside of the container; and a satellite transceiver element for receiving signals from the first transceiver element and for forwarding the received signals via satellite uplink to a remote location. |
| US08665082B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring conditions
An apparatus and method for efficiently collecting data at a remote device with a device that is able to use both analog and digital signals, especially those that are compliant with serial data interface twelve (SDI-12) protocol. The collected data is compressed into a packet and sent to a base station where it is made available. Additionally, the present invention is able to produce alarms in response to the detection of an alarm condition. This data is able to be viewed from virtually anywhere. |
| US08665081B2 |
Vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus
A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits forward and reverse advancement notification sounds outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the forward and reverse movement notifications. The notification sound control device includes forward and reverse advancement notification sound emission timing sections. A start timing of the forward advancement notification sound is set in response to both a forward movement shift operation having been performed and an additional start movement preparation operation of the vehicle having been performed. A start timing of the reverse movement notification sound is set to be emitted immediately in response to the reverse movement shift operation having been performed. |
| US08665080B2 |
Driving assistance apparatus
Disclosed is a driving assistance apparatus for assisting a driving operation by outputting a reverse sound at the time of a reversing maneuver of a vehicle. The apparatus includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring driving assistance information including a vehicle condition and a vehicle surrounding condition, a reverse sound management unit for managing reverse sounds belonging in a musical scale including the reverse sound as the tonic note thereof as musical scale reverse sounds, an output reverse sound determination unit for determining a sequence of musical scale in the form of temporal sequence corresponding to the driving assistance information, and a reverse sound output control unit configured to select from the reverse sounds managed by the reverse sound management unit and output to a speaker reverse sounds suitable for the sequence of the musical scale determined by the reverse sound determination unit. |
| US08665078B2 |
Width calibration of lane departure warning system
A lane departure warning system has a trailer detector for detecting that a trailer is attached to a vehicle, a lane boundary detector for detecting a position of a lane boundary on a roadway over which the vehicle is travelling, and an information processor including a calibrator for generating calibration parameters used in determining an unintended lane departure event with respect to the lane boundary. The information processor initiates a process for allowing a vehicle operator to provide trailer width information when the trailer detector indicates that the vehicle has the trailer attached thereto. The trailer width information is used by the information processor for generating the calibration parameters as a function of a width of the trailer. |
| US08665076B2 |
Tactile feedback method and system, computer program and storage medium that stores the computer program
A tactile feedback system includes: a removing section for removing a contact-device-specific oscillating waveform, included in both a first contact-generated waveform representing a frictional vibration produced when a contact device contacts with one object and a second contact-generated waveform representing a frictional vibration produced when the contact device contacts with another object, from the first contact-generated waveform; a superposing section for superposing a finger-pulp-specific oscillating waveform, included in both the first finger-pulp-generated waveform representing a frictional vibration produced when a person's finger pulp contacts with the one object and the second finger-pulp-generated waveform representing a frictional vibration produced when the finger pulp contacts with that another object, on the first contact-generated waveform from which the contact-device-specific oscillating waveform has been removed; and a simulating section for displaying a vibration stimulation based on the first contact-generated waveform on which the finger-pulp-specific oscillating waveform has been superposed. |
| US08665069B2 |
RFID tag especially for use near conductive objects
An RFID tag comprising an antenna assembly, including a shielding layer comprising an electromagnetic shielding material, a radio frequency loop antenna, and a spacer comprising a spacer material having a permittivity less than about 2 interposed between the antenna and the shielding layer is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such an RFID tag. Also disclosed is the use of such an RFID tag for use in identifying a vehicle, for example in the context of fuel-purchase authorization. |
| US08665068B2 |
Systems and/or methods of data acquisition from a transceiver
Systems and/or Methods are disclosed for acquiring data from a transceiver responsive to one or more signals that are received at the transceiver from one or more devices. In one embodiment, a transceiver is configured to transmit a signal responsive to having received a first signal from a first device, wherein the signal that is transmitted by the transceiver is configured to trigger a second device to transmit a second signal. The transceiver is further configured to transmit data responsive to having received the second signal that is transmitted by the second device. In other embodiments, a transceiver is configured to receive a signal from a first device over frequencies of a predetermined frequency band that the first device is authorized to use, to receive a signal from a second device over frequencies of the predetermined frequency band and to transmit data responsive to having received both the signal from the first device and the signal from the second device. The transceiver is further configured to require that both the signal from the first device and the signal from the second device be received at the transceiver before the data is transmitted. Analogous methods are also disclosed. |
| US08665067B2 |
Systems and methods for object localization and path identification based on RFID sensing
A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device. |
| US08665065B2 |
Barrier operator with power management features
A barrier operator system is provided including a controller, a motor, a barrier, a power source, and a remote transmitter. The controller scans for a reduced range of radio frequencies while operating in a standby mode to conserve energy. In response to receiving a signal from the remote transmitter, the barrier operator will exit the standby mode and scan for a broader range of frequencies. In response to receiving a command signal from the remote transmitter, the controller will operate the barrier. The controller also scans for signals from an accessory device after exiting the standby mode. The accessory device may also operate in multiple modes with respect to scanning for transmissions and sending signals to the controller. |
| US08665063B2 |
Neighbor discovery techniques
A system including a number of wireless communication nodes spaced apart from one another. The nodes are structured to transmit and receive unique signatures. A neighborhood of nodes may be discovered based on the unique signatures. |
| US08665060B2 |
Method of controlling storage device and storage device thereof
A storage device is capable of switching its wireless sharing mode while sensing occurrence of a flip-over on itself. With the aid of the storage device, a user may easily and intuitively activate an operation of sharing information with other external storage devices or determine a degree of sharing the information. |
| US08665058B2 |
Variable speed toggle trigger
A variable speed toggle switch that allows a user to reverse a rotational direction of a motor and supply variable amounts of power to a motor, such as in a power tool, for example, a power drill. A trigger can include a gear segment that meshingly engages a gear on a potentiometer to electrically communicate the actuation direction and actuation amount of the trigger to a microprocessor. The microprocessor can then signal to an H-bridge, or to a series of transistors, the actuation direction and actuation amount of the trigger. A motor or other device can be powered by a power source in an amount corresponding to the actuation amount, and in a direction corresponding to the actuation direction of the trigger. |
| US08665054B2 |
Semiconductor component with coreless transformer
A semiconductor component has integrated a coreless transformer with a first connection contact, a second connection contact, an electrically conductive spiral first coil, an electrically conductive first ring, and an electrically conductive second ring. The electrically conductive spiral first coil is electrically connected between the first connection contact and the second connection contact. The electrically conductive first ring surrounds the first coil and one or both of the first connection contact and the second connection contact. The electrically conductive second ring is arranged between the first coil and the first ring, electrically connected to the first coil, and surrounds the first coil and one or both of the first connection contact and the second connection contact. |
| US08665048B2 |
Inductor for high frequency applications
The invention provides an inductor assembly suitable for use in high frequency switched mode power converters, where the rate of change of voltage can exceed 109 Volts per second. The inductor is formed from a ribbon (30) of conductor wound around a magnetic core (140), and further includes electrostatic screens positioned between successive windings of the conductor to provide capacitive screening, substantially reducing high frequency voltage signals propagating from one end of the inductor to the other. |
| US08665047B1 |
Air-cooled high-efficiency transformer system
A transformer system includes a cabinet and at least one toroidal transformer with each toroidal transformer being supported in a cradle. Each cradle is mounted in the cabinet and supports its toroidal transformer in a vertical or horizontal orientation such that a central air-filled region thereof is arranged in a substantially horizontal or vertical orientation, respectively. The cradle supports active and passive cooling arrangements for the toroidal transformer, while also providing modular attributes for the transformer system. |
| US08665038B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave resonator filter being digitally reconfigurable, with process
A filtering circuit with BAW type acoustic resonators having at least a first quadripole and a second quadripole connected in cascade, each quadripole having a branch series with a first acoustic resonator of type BAW and a branch parallel with each branch having an acoustic resonator of type BAW, the first acoustic resonator having a frequency of resonance series approximately equal to the frequency of parallel resonance of the second acoustic resonator, the branch parallel of the first quadripole having a first capacitance connected in series with the second resonator and, in parallel with the capacitance, a first switching transistor to short circuit the capacitance. |
| US08665036B1 |
Compact tracking coupler
A compact tracking coupler includes a plurality of ridged waveguides arranged circumferentially around a circular waveguide wherein long sides of the ridged waveguides extend circumferentially and short sides of the ridged waveguides extend radially relative to the circular waveguide. The compact tracking coupler can be especially useful in a multi-band antenna feed. |
| US08665035B2 |
Systems and methods for generating pulsed output signals using a gated RF oscillator circuit
Systems and methods for generating pulsed output signals that employ a gated RF oscillator circuit having an output that is switchably grounded through the emitter of a transistor and including feedback from the output of the circuit to the base of the transistor to create oscillations and to allow a digital input pulse of a desired length to control the start and stop of oscillations created by the transistor. |
| US08665033B2 |
Varactorless tunable oscillator
A tunable oscillator circuit is disclosed. The tunable oscillator circuit includes an inductor/capacitor (LC) tank circuit comprising a primary inductor coupled in parallel with a first capacitor bank. The LC tank resonates to produce an oscillating voltage at a frequency. The tunable oscillator circuit also includes a 90 degree phase shift buffer coupled to the LC tank and a transconductor. The transconductor is coupled to the 90 degree phase shift buffer and a secondary inductor. The tunable oscillator circuit also includes a secondary inductor that is inductively coupled to the primary inductor and receives a gain-scaled oscillating current from the transconductor. By changing the transconductance, the gain-scaled oscillating current in the secondary inductor will change, thus the effective primary inductance and the oscillation frequency can be tuned. |
| US08665030B2 |
Voltage-controlled oscillator
A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resonator circuit, a second resonator circuit, a first current path and a second current path. A drain of the first transistor is coupled to a gate of the second transistor and to a first end of the first resonator circuit. A source of the first transistor is coupled to the first current path and to a first end of the second resonator circuit. A drain of the second transistor is coupled to a gate of the first transistor and to a second end of the first resonator circuit. A source of the second transistor is coupled to the second current path and a second end of the second resonator circuit. |
| US08665024B2 |
Control of minimum current in output transistors of an amplifier output stage
An amplifier including: an output stage having two first power supply terminals capable of receiving a first voltage defined by first positive and negative variable potentials with respect to a reference potential; and a circuit for controlling the current in transistors of the output stage with a reference value, wherein the output stage includes a first and a second MOS transistors in series between the first two terminals, the junction point of this series association defining an output terminal of the amplifier; the control circuit includes two measurement MOS transistors having their respective sources and gates coupled to the respective sources and gates of the first and second transistors of the output stage; at least one control branch, comprising transistors in series between two terminals of application of a second voltage, defines nodes connected to the gates of the output transistors, said second voltage being greater than the first one. |
| US08665023B2 |
Class-AB/B amplifier with quiescent control circuit
Disclosed is a Class-AB/B amplifier comprising a first output stage including a first plurality of amplification devices and a second output stage including a second plurality of amplification devices. According to one embodiment, the first output stage operates when the Class-AB/B amplifier is in a quiescent state and the second output stage operates when the Class-AB/B amplifier is in an active state. The Class-AB/B amplifier also comprises a level shifting circuit that adjusts a control voltage of the second output stage, where the level shifting circuit is adapted to activate the second output stage when the Class-AB/B amplifier enters the active state. Embodiments of the Class-AB/B amplifier may include a level shifting circuit that implements either a fixed or signal-dependent level shift, and a quiescent control circuit that substantially eliminates any systematic offset arising from the active feedback circuit inside the replica bias circuit. |
| US08665020B2 |
Differential amplifier circuit that can change current flowing through a constant-current source according to load variation, and series regulator including the same
A differential amplifier circuit including: a differential input stage including a pair of differential MOS transistors, a pair of load elements, and a first constant-current source; an output stage including an output MOS transistor and a second constant-current source; a constant-current MOS transistor provided in parallel to one of the first and second constant-current sources; and a boost current controlling MOS transistor in which a potential of a connection node of the output MOS transistor and the second constant-current source is applied to a gate terminal thereof; wherein the boost current controlling MOS transistor is turned on when a voltage inputted to a gate terminal of one of the pair of differential MOS transistors changes, and a current of the constant-current MOS transistor is added to one of the first and second constant-current sources and is allowed to flow. |
| US08665016B2 |
Supply tracking
A power amplifier includes generation, tracking and usage of an envelope of an input RF signal. To improve upon the efficiency of the power amplifier, various configurations include using the tracked envelope, for example, an OFDM signal, to improve the average efficiency. Suitable hardware/software in the form of circuitry, logic gates, and/or code functions to generate and track an envelope of an input RF signal and modulate one or more of the input supply voltage, cascode gate bias or parallel PA branches using the tracked envelope. |
| US08665007B2 |
Dynamic power clamp for RFID power control
A clamp circuit for an RFID tag includes a power supply node, a dynamic clamp coupled between the power supply node and ground, and an active clamp coupled between the power supply and ground, having a shunt combined effect for providing a clamped power supply node VDDR voltage. The dynamic clamp includes a capacitor divider circuit, a resistor coupled to the capacitor divider circuit, and an N-channel transistor coupled to the capacitor divider circuit. The active clamp includes a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to a resistor divider, a second input for receiving a reference voltage, and an output coupled to a P-channel transistor for the clamped VDDR voltage. |
| US08665006B2 |
Electronic trimming circuit
The trimming circuit includes a plurality of trimmable resistances that may be coupled among them, each resistance being connected in parallel to a respective fuse. The trimming circuit allows burning any number of fuses according to a fixed trimming sequence using only one or two dedicated pins because it includes an input diode-connected transistor and a plurality of trimming transistors of different sectional area, each connected to force current throughout a respective one of the shunt fuses and coupled to the input diode-connected transistor such to mirror the current flowing therethrough. The fuses of the trimming circuit may be burnt by applying a trimming voltage to the diode-connected input transistor with a voltage generator connected between a dedicated pin of the circuit and a terminal at a reference potential, such to force a current therethrough as long as the mirrored currents flowing throughout the fuses burn them. |
| US08665003B2 |
Dead-time generating circuit and motor control apparatus
A dead-time generating circuit includes a constant current circuit; a current generating circuit generating a capacitor-charge current; and a control circuit receiving a dead time control signal and a comparator signal. The control circuit generates a dead time generating signal based on the dead time control signal and the comparator signal, and a charge/discharge signal based on the dead time generating signal. Charging or discharging of a capacitor is controlled by the capacitor-charge current in accordance with the charge/discharge signal. A voltage of the capacitor is compared with a threshold voltage in order to generate a comparator signal when the voltage of the capacitor exceeds the threshold voltage. The control circuit generates the charge/discharge signal for a duration starting from a time when the delay time has elapsed from the rise or fall timing of the dead time control signal until the control circuit receives the comparator signal. |
| US08665002B2 |
Multiple switches and a delay circuit
In a general aspect, an apparatus can include a first switch configured to be coupled to a power source and configured to switch in response to an edge of a control signal. The apparatus can include delay circuit can be configured to produce a delay signal that has an edge corresponding to the edge of the control signal, the edge of the delay signal being offset from the edge of the control signal. The apparatus can also include a second switch can be configured to be coupled to the power source in parallel with the first switch and configured to switch in response to the edge of the delay signal, the second switch having a size smaller than a size of the first switch. |
| US08664986B2 |
System, method and emulation circuitry useful for adjusting a characteristic of a periodic signal
Systems, methods and circuitry useful for adjusting a periodic signal such as with a voltage controlled oscillator or a delay line. In one series of embodiments, circuits and methods are provided for controlling current flow through first and second parallel paths where an impedance device in one path emulates the impedance characteristics of a different device in the other path. A phase or frequency characteristic of the periodic signal may be adjusted by alternate switching of current through the two paths. |
| US08664985B2 |
Phase frequency detector and charge pump for phase lock loop fast-locking
The present invention provides for a solution to reduce locking time with satisfactory performance without the need for significant footprint area for the phase lock loop (PLL) circuits by boosting phase frequency detector (PFD) and charge pump (CP) gains through various circuitry configurations that employ one or more flip-flops, delay elements and advanced circuitry techniques. |
| US08664984B2 |
Pulse synchronizer circuit
A pulse synchronizer circuit converts an input data signal generated under a source-clock domain into an output data signal under a destination-clock domain, where the destination clock is independent of the source clock. The pulse synchronizer circuit successfully converts each data pulse in the input data signal into a corresponding data pulse in the output data signal when the source clock is faster than the destination clock, when the source clock is slower than the destination clock, when an input data pulse has a duration of one source-clock cycle, and when an input data pulse has a duration of multiple source-clock cycles. The pulse synchronizer circuit has source-domain circuitry and destination-domain circuitry. The source-domain circuitry detects input data pulses and determines whether they are single- or multi-cycle data pulses. The destination-domain circuitry generates output data pulses based on the processing of the source-domain circuitry. |
| US08664982B2 |
Buck-boost power converter with feed-forward technique for achieving fast line response
A buck-boost power converter includes a power stage to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, an error amplifier to generate an error signal according to a reference voltage and a feedback signal proportional to the output voltage, a ramp generator to provide two ramp signals, and two comparators to generate two control signals according to the error signal and the two ramp signals to drive the power stage. By using feed-forward technique, one of the two ramp signals has a peak varying with the input voltage and the other ramp signal has a valley varying with the input voltage, so that the power converter has fast line response. |
| US08664981B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic device including semiconductor device
It is an object to suppress deterioration in characteristics of a transistor in a driver circuit. A driver circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor including a gate and one of a source and a drain to which a second signal is inputted, a third transistor whose gate is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor and which controls whether a voltage state of an output signal is set or not by being turned on/off, and a fourth transistor whose gate is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor and which controls whether a voltage state of an output signal is set or not by being turned on/off. |
| US08664972B2 |
Memory control circuit, memory control method, and integrated circuit
Each of a plurality of memories includes a terminating resistor for preventing signal reflection, and a memory control circuit includes an ODT control circuit for driving the terminating resistor of each memory, and a selector for selecting, from memories except for a memory to be accessed, at least one memory for which driving of the terminating resistor is to be suppressed, in accordance with the memory to be accessed. |
| US08664970B2 |
Method for accelerated lifetesting of large area OLED lighting panels
A method for accelerated life testing of organic devices is provided. The lifetime of each of one or more individual organic emissive devices is measured at a non-heating current density. Based upon the measured lifetimes of the one or more devices, the device lifetime is determined for a selected luminance. An organic emissive panel is also obtained having a second organic stack that consists essentially of the one or more organic layers of the first organic stack. The junction temperature of the organic emissive panel is then determined at a heating current density. Based upon the junction temperature and the device lifetime of the one or more individual organic emissive devices, the expected lifetime of the organic emissive panel is then determined at the heating current density. |
| US08664968B2 |
On-die parametric test modules for in-line monitoring of context dependent effects
An integrated circuit (IC) die has an on-die parametric test module. A semiconductor substrate has die area, and a functional IC formed on an IC portion of the die area including a plurality of circuit elements configured for performing a circuit function. The on-die parametric test module is formed on the semiconductor substrate in a portion of the die area different from the IC portion. The on-die parametric test module includes a reference layout that provides at least one active reference MOS transistor, wherein the active reference MOS transistor has a reference spacing value for each of a plurality of context dependent effect parameters. A plurality of different variant layouts are included on the on-die parametric test module. Each variant layout provides at least one active variant MOS transistor that provides a variation with respect to the reference spacing value for at least one of the context dependent effect parameters. |
| US08664964B2 |
Display device and system for inspecting bonding resistance and inspecting method thereof
A system for inspecting bonding resistance of a display device includes a display panel, at least one circuit board, at least one driving chip and a testing board. The display panel includes at least one testing conductive line and connecting conductive lines. The circuit board is connected with the testing conductive line and the connecting conductive lines. The driving chip includes at least one testing pad and connecting pads, respectively electrically connected to the testing conductive line and the connecting conductive lines; at least one comparator connected to the testing pad; and at least one logic circuit connected to the comparator. The testing board is connected to the circuit board and provides a test signal to the testing pad through the circuit board and the testing conductive line. The test signal is compared with a reference signal in the comparator, and the logic circuit determines a comparing result. |
| US08664963B2 |
Test device for measuring permeability of a barrier material
A test device for measuring permeability of a barrier material. An exemplary device comprises a test card having a thin-film conductor-pattern formed thereon and an edge seal which seals the test card to the barrier material. Another exemplary embodiment is an electrical calcium test device comprising: a test card an impermeable spacer, an edge seal which seals the test card to the spacer and an edge seal which seals the spacer to the barrier material. |
| US08664955B1 |
High-isolation transmit/receive surface coils and method for EPRI
The present invention provides an apparatus and a corresponding method useful for electron paramagnetic resonance imaging, in situ and in vivo, using high-isolation transmit/receive (TX/RX) coils, which, in some embodiments, provide microenvironmental images that are representative of particular internal structures in the human body and spatially resolved images of tissue/cell protein signals responding to conditions (such as hypoxia) that show the temporal sequence of certain biological processes, and, in some embodiments, that distinguish malignant tissue from healthy tissue. In some embodiments, the TX/RX coils are in a surface, volume or surface-volume configuration. In some embodiments, the transmit coils are oriented to generate an RF magnetic field in directions substantially orthogonal to a static gradient field, and the receive coils are oriented to sense RF EPR signal in directions substantially orthogonal to the transmitted field and to the static field, to minimize coupling of the transmitted signal to the receive coils. |
| US08664954B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging with improved imaging contrast
A method of magnetic resonance imaging of an object comprises the steps of arranging the object in a stationary magnetic field, subjecting the object to an excitation and encoding sequence of magnetic field gradients resulting in k-space sampling in two segments along the phase encoding direction, wherein the encoding sequence of the magnetic field gradients is selected such that the two segments in k-space are sampled along trajectories beginning with a central k-space line through the k-space center and continuing to opposite k-space borders of the two segments, collecting magnetic resonance signals created in the object, and reconstructing an image of the object based on the magnetic resonance signals, wherein one central k-space line is sampled in both of the two k-space segments, and intersegment phase and/or intensity deviations are corrected in both k-space segments using the magnetic resonance signals collected along the central k-space line. Furthermore, an imaging device for magnetic resonance imaging of an object is described. |
| US08664952B2 |
Simultaneous diffusion imaging of multiple cross sections
A diffusion imaging method is provided. The diffusion imaging method includes performing a plurality of data collection sequences. Each data collection sequence includes applying an excitation radio frequency signal and a selection gradient. The excitation radio frequency signal includes a first set of frequency bands selected to simultaneously excite a first nuclei type in a plurality of cross sections of a subject. Each data collection sequence further includes applying a diffusion gradient during formation of a magnetic resonance signal, applying a spatial encoding gradient during formation of the magnetic resonance signal, and while acquiring the magnetic resonance signal, applying a separation gradient to change a frequency separation between portions of the magnetic resonance signal. The diffusion imaging method further includes computationally determining a diffusion image of each of the plurality of cross sections. |
| US08664951B2 |
MEMS gyroscope magnetic sensitivity reduction
A tuning fork gyroscope that is insensitive to magnetic field gradients is provided. The tuning fork gyroscope includes a first electrically conducting proof mass and a second electrically conducting proof mass connected through electrically conducting suspensions to anchors attached to one or more insulating substrates, and an electrical-resistance mid-point electrically connected to opposing ends of the first electrically conducting proof mass and to opposing ends of the second electrically conducting proof mass. The tuning fork gyroscope provides an input to a sense charge amplifier. The sense charge amplifier generates an output signal indicative of a rotation of the tuning fork gyroscope. The output signal is independent of a magnetic field gradient. |
| US08664947B2 |
Actuator and sensor assembly
An actuator and sensor assembly comprising respective sensor and actuator housings defining an interior chamber. Clips on the sensor housing engage the actuator housing for coupling the sensor and actuator housings together. The sensor housing includes a wall defining a pocket. A connector with a sensor couples to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends into the sensor housing pocket. A movable piston is located in the interior chamber and a tube thereon defines a receptacle for a magnet located adjacent the pocket. The piston is seated on a flexible diaphragm. An actuator shaft includes one end coupled to the piston and an opposite end coupled to a movable object. A plurality of pins in the actuator housing mount the assembly to a support bracket. The sensor senses changes in the magnetic field in response to changes in the position of the magnet relative to the sensor. |
| US08664938B2 |
Replaceable probe head
A probe head is disclosed that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics. The probe head including a housing enclosing a sensor and at least part of an electrical connector electrically coupled to the sensor. The housing has a coupling member positioned to detachably connect the housing to the probe body, and when the probe head and probe body are coupled, the electrical connector electrically couples the sensor to the electronics in the probe body. |
| US08664936B2 |
Electronic motor vehicle control system with current measuring circuit
The invention relates to an electronic motor vehicle control system having at least one valve actuating circuit which controls a load current by means of pulse width modulation. The actuating circuit has at least one electronic current measuring circuit which has at least one measurement path with at least one analog/digital converter. The analog/digital converts an analog measurement signal of the load current into a digital measurement signal of the load current and is actuated or designed in such a way as to carry out a plurality of current measurements per PWM period. The at least one measurement path of the current measurement circuit has a signal conservation circuit which provides the analog measurement signal of the load current substantially unchanged, and independent of the actual load current, for at least a defined hold time (toff->on, ton->off). |
| US08664927B2 |
Voltage regulator
A voltage regulator includes: a normally-on first transistor coupled to an input voltage; an inductor provided between the first transistor and an output terminal; a return circuit provided between a reference voltage and a connection node of the first transistor and the inductor; a drive circuit that supplies a drive signal to a gate of the first transistor; and a negative voltage generation circuit that is coupled to the reference voltage, generates a negative voltage on the basis of a pulse signal generated at the connection node by switching operation of the first transistor, and supplies the negative voltage to the drive circuit. |
| US08664923B2 |
Buck converter with hysteresis correction
A buck converter comprising a controller arranged to monitor an output voltage of the converter, the controller comprising: a comparator arranged to compare an output voltage at an output of the buck converter with a reference voltage, and a modification circuit within the comparator or connected to a modification signal input of the comparator and arranged to produce a correction signal to modify the operation of the comparator. |
| US08664919B2 |
Remaining battery power calculation circuit
A remaining battery power calculation circuit includes: a detection unit configured to detect an output voltage of a battery; a data storage unit configured to store data in an associated manner with each of a plurality of current values for charge or discharge of the battery, the data indicating a relationship between the output voltage and a ratio of remaining power of the battery to a capacity of the battery in a case where the battery is charged or discharged with each of the plurality of current values; and a first calculation unit configured to calculate a charging/discharging current of the battery based on the data and the output voltage. |
| US08664915B2 |
Plug-in vehicle
A system includes a control module, a network interface module, and a charging module. The control module stores a first set of charging parameters for charging a battery in a vehicle. The network interface module transmits the first set of charging parameters to a utility company and receives a reply from the utility company. The control module generates a charge control signal based on the reply and the first set of charging parameters. The charging module charges the battery of the vehicle based on the charge control signal. |
| US08664914B2 |
Battery charger cradle
In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. |
| US08664913B2 |
Battery powered apparatus with the circuit of integrated power management and charger unit
The present invention discloses a battery powered apparatus with the circuit of integrated power management and charger unit. It mainly comprises a power management and charger unit, a battery powered device, a battery and an adaptor. By integrating the charger unit, the power switch and the programmable current source to the micro-processor, the micro-processor can properly control the power supplied from the adaptor to the battery under the charging mode operation, which further derives a smoother curve of charging current. |
| US08664909B2 |
Inverter unit, integrated circuit chip, and vehicle drive apparatus
A miniaturizable, low-cost highly reliable inverter unit. A control circuit section for controlling operating timing of high breakdown voltage semiconductor elements included in an inverter circuit section and first and second drive and abnormality detection circuit sections for outputting drive signals for driving the high breakdown voltage semiconductor elements according to the operating timing and for feeding back an abnormality of the inverter circuit section to the control circuit section are formed on an SOI substrate as one integrated circuit chip. On the integrated circuit chip, circuit formation areas which differ in reference potential are separated from one another by dielectrics. A plurality of level shifters for transmitting signals exchanged between circuit formation areas separated by the dielectrics are formed. |
| US08664908B2 |
Method and device for an induction motor start
An object of the present invention is providing permissible values of start currents with sufficiently high start torque ensuring the possibility of the start of a loaded motor, the smoothness of the motor's start, without spikes and fluctuations of the currents, voltages and torques. The other objects of the proposed device are simplicity, reliability and economic efficiency. The proposed method of an induction motor start includes an acquisition of two components of the voltage, feeding the motor. The both components have the different controlled frequencies and root mean square values. The proposed device for an induction motor start comprises two channels forming signals, which create two corresponding components of the motor's feeding voltage. |
| US08664900B2 |
System for controlling motor of hybrid vehicle
A system for controlling a motor of a hybrid vehicle that secures robustness and stability of control by selecting an optimal approximation model according to a driving condition of the motor and determines current order for controlling the motor by using the selected optimal approximation model is disclosed. In particular, a current order generator utilizes a reference current determination module to determine reference currents of the first and second axes, a compensation value determination module to determine compensation values of the reference currents of the first and second axes, and a current determination module to determine the currents of the first and second axes from the reference currents of the first and second axes and the compensation values of the reference currents of the first and second axes in order to control the motor more efficiently. |
| US08664893B2 |
Feedback control circuit and LED driving circuit
The present invention provides a feedback control circuit and an LED driving circuit for using the same, wherein the feedback control circuit receives a dimming signal. The dimming signal is changed between a first state and a second state. When being in the first state, the feedback control circuit controls a converter circuit to drive the LED module for lighting stably. When being in the second state, the feedback control circuit controls the converter circuit to maintain the power conversion of the converter circuit to have an output voltage outputted by the converter circuit maintained at a level close to a lighting threshold voltage of the LED module. |
| US08664891B2 |
LED white-light devices for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing lighting devices
A white light LED-based lighting device configured for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing incandescent and fluorescent devices is provided. The white light LED-based lighting device comprises a group of solid state light emitting diodes, electronics to activate the light emitting diodes, and an encapsulating housing configured for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing devices. |
| US08664888B2 |
Power converter for a configurable light-emitting diode driver
A converter for an LED driver for an LED light source. The converter has a flyback transformer. The primary receives a rectified AC voltage. A switching transistor is coupled in series with the primary. A controller controls the switching transistor on and off to generate a bus voltage across the secondary and a center tap voltage at a center tap of the secondary. The controller is powered by a first low-voltage DC voltage. A first power supply receives the center tap voltage and generates a second low-voltage DC voltage when the center tap voltage is above a cutover voltage. A second power supply has an output coupled to the first power supply output. The second power supply receives the bus voltage and generates the second DC voltage when the center tap voltage is below the cutover voltage. |
| US08664883B2 |
LED lighting device with chopper circuit and dimming control method
A lighting device is provided for lighting control of an LED module based on an externally provided dimming control signal. A chopper circuit includes a switch coupled across a DC input and an inductor which receives and stores energy when the switch is turned on, and discharges energy to the LED module when the switch is turned off. A control circuit determines a current value to the switch, and compares the current value to a predetermined value. During normal operation, the switch is turned off when the detected current value reaches the predetermined value and turned back on when inductor discharge has completed. During a dimming operation, the normal operation is intermittently disabled in accordance with the dimming control signal. The dimming control signal may be a low-frequency PWM signal, with the lighting output being dimmed as a result of a duty ratio of the PWM signal. |
| US08664882B2 |
Collimated illumination system using an extended apparent source size to provide a high quality and efficient fixture
A downlighting illumination system (100) is provided having a high light output ratio with an extended apparent source size producing a near uniform illuminance, correlated colour temperature and colour rendering index distribution across an illuminated area. The system (100) includes a power source (61), an electronic driving system (60), a light emitting source (65), a reflector (67) arranged to receive light from the light emitting source (65) and to reflect light through an output aperture in a manner that virtually extends the apparent size of the light emitting source (65) to illuminate the output aperture. |
| US08664879B2 |
Circuit for driving fluorescent lamp and light-emitting diode
Proposed is a circuit for driving a fluorescent lamp and a light-emitting diode. The circuit may include an inverter; a fluorescent lamp driving branch for driving a fluorescent lamp; a light-emitting diode driving branch for driving a light-emitting diode; a starting branch; and an alternate control branch. By using a simple circuit structure, various embodiments may realize a circuit capable of conveniently and alternately driving a fluorescent lamp and a light-emitting diode. |
| US08664873B2 |
Operating circuit for light-emitting diodes
A method is provided for operating at least one LED by a switched-mode regulator circuit to which a DC or a rectified AC voltage is supplied and which provides a supply voltage for at least one LED by a coil and a switch clocked by a control/regulation unit. When the switch is activated, power is temporarily stored in the coil and is discharged through a diode and through at least one LED when the switch is deactivated and the current flows through the LED through a first power storage element which is coupled to a second power storage element. The first power storage element just reaches its maximum capability of storing power due to the current flowing through the LED. A rising current is supplied to the second power storage element such that the time can be detected when the first power storage element recovers its capability of storing power. |
| US08664850B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device including covered lower electrode
An emitting device in an organic electroluminescent device is disclosed, in which a lower electrode pattern is formed on a substrate, an emitting layer pattern is formed on the lower electrode pattern, and a transparent electrode is formed on the emitting layer pattern and an emitting body having a structure in which an organic thin film emits light when an application current is applied to it. The pattern of the transparent electrode completely covers and is larger than that of the lower electrode. The pattern of the transparent electrode is formed over the entire area of the pattern of the lower electrode. |
| US08664849B2 |
Light-emitting element, lighting device, light-emitting device, and electronic device
A light-emitting element whose degree of deterioration with driving time is improved and of which emission colors are easily controlled. A light-emitting emitting element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a layer containing an organic compound located between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the layer containing the organic compound at least has, from the second electrode side, a light-emitting layer in which a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer are stacked, and a hole-transporting layer provided in contact with the third layer; the first layer contains a first organic compound and a second organic compound; the second layer contains a third organic compound and a fourth organic compound; and the third layer contains the first organic compound and a fifth organic compound. |
| US08664845B2 |
Discharge tube and stroboscopic device
A discharge tube includes a reflective film formed on an outer periphery of a cylindrical glass bulb by metal deposition. The reflective film is deposited in a range of 240° or more in the circumferential direction, and the range being larger in a center part than at each end in the axial direction. A stroboscopic device is equipped with this discharge tube. |
| US08664844B2 |
Spark plug having a substantially columnar electrode tip welded to a component thereof
An object of the invention is to restrain separation of an electrode tip from a ground electrode or from a center electrode. A spark plug satisfies a condition 0.8≦A1/A2≦1.9, where, as viewed on a section which contains a center axis (O) of an electrode tip, A1 [Hv] is hardness of the electrode tip as measured outside a circle having a radius of 0.2 mm, with a boundary point (PA) on a surface of the spark plug between a fusion zone and the electrode tip serving as the center of the circle, and A2 [Hv] is hardness of the electrode tip as measured within the circle having a radius of 0.2 mm. |
| US08664842B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug including a center electrode and a ground electrode having a gap between the center electrode and the ground electrode, the ground electrode has an outer layer which is formed from an Ni-based alloy and a core portion which is covered by the outer layer and formed from a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the outer layer. Further, the melting point of the Ni-based alloy forming the outer layer is 1150° C. or more and 1350° C. or less. |
| US08664841B2 |
Illuminative clipper structure
An illuminative clipper structure contains a body including a first and a second support arms axially connected together, the first support arm including a recessed area arranged on an outer wall thereof, a first and a second recesses communicating with the recessed area; a first sleeve fitted on the first support arm and including a chamber formed on an inner wall thereof, and an aperture to communicate with the chamber; an illuminating assembly including a holder placed in the chamber to receive cells and supply power toward a bulb to emit lights, a wire coupled with the holder and the bulb, the wire being inserted into the aperture from the first recess so that the bulb is located at a second recess of the body; a protective cover covered onto the recessed area to fix the bulb so that the bulb emits lights to a movable opening of a clipper. |
| US08664839B2 |
Electrode cover assembly
A cold cathode lighting system comprising a cold cathode lamp with electrodes on either end of the lamp, oriented such that it includes an electrode extension in order to return the electrode to the same parallel position as the main body of the lamp. The lamp's electrodes are inserted into a casing that is comprised of a casing covers on either ends of the casing which may slid be opened. The casing covers interact with a electrode cover assembly underneath the casing covers, that allows the lamp to be inserted when the casing covers are opened. The closing of the casing covers will safely engage an interconnection with the lamp's electrodes through the electrode cover assembly. |
| US08664834B2 |
Electromechanical energy converter for generating electric energy from Mechanical Movements
An electromechanical energy converter for generating electric energy from mechanical vibrations has a bending bar clamped to a holder that can be set in vibration and elastically deflected at an end area along a path curve from a neutral position transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bending bar. A deflectable point on the bending bar is connected to the mount via a deflectable bridge part extending along the bending bar for applying to the bending bar a mechanical prestress oriented substantially in the direction of longitudinal extension of the bending bar. The bending bar has a drive connection to at least one electromechanical converter element for converting mechanical vibration energy into electric energy. The bridge part is arranged outside of the bending bar such that when the bending bar is deflected out of the neutral position, the bending bar and the bridge part extend along lines having different courses. |
| US08664833B2 |
Power supplier using flexible PCB based on self-powering and sensor node using the same
Disclosed are a slim self-powering power supplier using a flexible PCB for a wireless sensor network and a sensor node using the same, and a fabrication method thereof. An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a self-powering power supplier including: a flexible PCB; a lower electrode positioned on the flexible PCB; a piezoelectric body having a cantilever structure deposited on the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric body. |
| US08664832B2 |
Mechanical temperature compensation methods and devices
The disclosure pertains to a device and a method for compensating for heat expansion effects in solid materials, as well as a method for manufacturing the device. |
| US08664828B2 |
Testing apparatus for piezoelectric/electrostrictive device
There is provided a method for testing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator, wherein the displacement of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator is estimated on the basis of the relations between one or more frequency characteristic values selected from the group consisting of the heights and areas of the peaks of the resonance waveforms and the difference of the maximum and minimum of the first order or first to higher orders of the resonance frequency characteristic values of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator and the k-th order (k=1 to 4) of the first or first to higher orders of resonance frequencies. According to this piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator testing method, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator can be tested with high precision without actually driving the same as a product and without being accompanied by any disassembly/breakage. |
| US08664826B2 |
Permanent magnet excited electric motor with reduced cogging torque
An electric motor (1) has a stator (2) and a radially symmetric, permanent magnet excited rotor (4) coaxial with the stator (2). The rotor (4) rotates relative to the stator (2) about a common motor axis (X). The stator (2) has a radially symmetric iron core (6) with a defined number (N) of stator teeth (10) which are each adjacent to one another via stator slots (8) and slot openings (8a) in the circumferential direction. The rotor (4) has pole magnets (14) adjacent to one another. A circumferential gap (18) is formed radially between the pole magnets (14) and the stator teeth (10). Each stator tooth (10) has on its surface (20) facing the gap (18) and adjacent to the slot openings (8a) on both sides in the circumferential direction a relief-like topographic region (22) radially enlarging the gap (18) with least one concave recess (24) and a smooth profile. |
| US08664824B1 |
Apparatus for generating an electric current in a varying magnetic field
A Halbach array is radially disposed in an environment optimized for efficiency and controlled for efficient generation and use of power in order to generate, establish, and maintain a desired level of rotational energy with enhanced efficiency and in order to make the most efficient use of electromotive forces and magnetic fields which are either intentionally created for the operation of the apparatus or which result from the operation of the apparatus. |
| US08664816B1 |
Magnetic reaction apparatus, assembly and associated methods for optimization of a cyclic drive input
A permanent magnet is rotated about an axis extending between opposing north and south poles. The magnetic field of the rotated permanent magnet interacts with magnetic fields of permanent magnets carried by a shuttle for repelling and attracting the fixed permanent magnets, and providing a linear reciprocating movement of the shuttle responsive to the favorable rotary motion of the rotated permanent magnet where the force of the linear motion is captured by an energy storage device. |
| US08664814B2 |
Switched reluctance motor
Disclosed herein is a switched reluctance motor including: a rotor part including a rotor core having a shaft fixedly coupled to the center thereof and a plurality of rotor salient poles formed to be protruded from an outer peripheral surface of the rotor core; a stator part including a stator yoke having the rotor part rotatably received in an inner portion thereof and a plurality of stator salient poles formed to be protruded from the stator yoke in a direction toward the rotor salient poles so as to correspond to the rotor salient poles and having coils wound therearound; and a printed circuit board fixedly coupled to an upper portion of the stator part and including a plurality of ground parts having the coils penetrating therethrough, the coil being wound around the plurality of stator salient poles. |
| US08664811B2 |
Device having a brush-holder plate for supplying electrical current to an electric fan set of a motor vehicle and a support for an electronic circuit for supplying said motor and a means for joining the support to the brush-holder plate
The invention relates to a device for supplying electrical current to an electric fan set of a motor vehicle, said device comprising a brush-holder plate (5), for supplying current to the motor of the set, a support (1) for an electronic circuit (3) for supplying said motor, said plate (5) and said support (1) being attached to one another.According to the invention, said device also comprises means (13, 15, 17) for joining the support (1) to the brush-holder plate (5), arranged to ensure a prepositioning relative to one another at the time of assembly. |
| US08664810B2 |
Stator and assembly method
An exemplary stator disk of an electric motor stator includes a set of recesses. Each recess being configured to receive a cooling pipe. The stator disk includes one or more positioning elements for aligning the stator disk with another stator disk. The one or more positioning elements being positioned to the stator disk such that when the stator disk is set to a rotated position with respect to the other stator disk in order to align the recesses of the disks for receiving of cooling pipes, the positioning elements of the two disks become only partly aligned with each other. |
| US08664809B2 |
Apparatus to support superconducting windings in a rotor of an electromotive machine
An apparatus (structure) is provided to support a superconductor winding (61) of an electromotive machine. An elongated loop (74) provides radial support to the winding. A base assembly (84) may include a base module (89) arranged to anchor the loop at a proximate end (76) of the elongated loop by way of a tubular coupling (86). The tubular coupling may further provide a mechanical connection relative to an axially-adjacent base module. A bracket assembly (100) may define an interior recess to receive a portion of the winding and to support the elongated loop at a distal end (78) of the elongated loop, such as by way of a support (80). A lateral-extending loop (106) may have a first end connected to the bracket assembly (100) and a second end connected to the base module (89) to transfer to the rotor core lateral loads, which may be experienced by the winding. |
| US08664807B2 |
Planar tri-mode cavity
A system and method for distributing the power of an electromagnetic signal is presented. In one embodiment, a power distribution cavity includes, a planar cavity, input ports and output ports. The planar cavity is formed with a metallic sheet in the shape of a star pattern with a plurality of elongated star arms extending from a round center portion of the metallic sheet. The input ports are attached to the round center portion of the metallic sheet for receiving an input signal. The signals entering the cavity from the input ports creating independent resonant modes within the cavity that combine producing a tapered aperture distribution of signals at the output ports. The output ports are attached near to the outward ends of the elongated star arms. The planar cavity is thus configured to propagate electromagnetic fields at the output ports that were excited within the cavity by the input ports. |
| US08664804B2 |
Systems and devices for reducing phantom load
Systems and devices are described herein for reducing a phantom load. The system may include a device for connection to a power source and a transformer or machine, wherein the device is configured to disconnect the transformer or machine from the power source under a predetermined load condition. The device may include a contactor, a current detector, a timer, and a controller. Portions of the current detector, timer, or controller may be implemented in a microcontroller. |
| US08664802B2 |
Wireless energy transfer device
A wireless energy transfer device (1) includes: a power transmission unit (2) that generates an oscillating magnetic field or oscillating electric field; a power reception unit (3), which is provided with a receiving antenna (31), and which converts the oscillating magnetic field or the oscillating electric field of the power transmission unit (2) to electric power by the receiving antenna (31); and an electric power theft suppression unit that suppresses the theft of energy with the oscillating magnetic field or the oscillating electric field of the power transmission unit (2). |
| US08664799B2 |
Apparatus including power supply circuit
An apparatus which has a load that consumes a predetermined amount of electric power per unit time includes a power source circuit configured to generate a voltage for driving the load, a capacitor which is connected to a supply line for supplying electric power to the load from the power source circuit and configured to stabilize a potential of the load, a first supply circuit which can supply electric power smaller than the predetermined amount to the capacitor and can discharge a charge from the capacitor, a second supply circuit which can supply electric power larger than the predetermined amount to the capacitor, a switch circuit configured to operate each of the first supply circuit and the second supply circuit, and a holding circuit configured to hold information based on the operation of the first supply circuit. |
| US08664794B2 |
Coaxial wind turbine
Disclosed is a gearbox with two driver gears that are phase shifted 180 degrees with respect to a driven gear so that counter-rotation of the driver gears combine to rotate the driven gear together. The gearbox can be used to couple a counter-rotating, coaxial wind turbine rotors by coupling the driver gears to the counter-rotating rotors and the driven gear to a generator so that the counter-rotating rotors on the wind turbine rotate the driven gear in the same direction. The driven gear can be coupled to a generator to produce electricity. |
| US08664793B2 |
On-demand generation of electricity from stored wind energy
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that generates electricity. During operation, the system uses a set of rotating blades to convert rotational energy from a wind turbine into heat in a low-heat-capacity fluid. Next, the system selectively transfers the heat from the low-heat-capacity fluid to a working fluid. Finally, the system uses the transferred heat in the working fluid to generate electricity. |
| US08664791B2 |
Flexible shaft wind turbine
A horizontal-axis wind turbine of a rotor-support design is provided in which the structural load of the wind turbine rotor is carried by the wind turbine tower itself. The turbine uses a composite shaft to transfer torque from the wind turbine rotor to the generator, the shaft having high torsional strength but being flexible in bending. This prevents the transmission of bending moments from the rotor hub to the generator system. Accordingly, the components of the turbine can be rigidly mounted to the turbine main frame, removing the need for vibration damping elements. The result is a wind turbine of reduced weight, which can be modeled and designed for improved efficiency and performance. Furthermore, as the turbine components do not have to be load-balanced, the turbine can be of a modular construction for relatively easy servicing and/or upgrading. |
| US08664790B2 |
Underwater power generator with dual blade sets
A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows is described. The power generation apparatus includes: a generator; a first blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation in a selected direction in response to flowing water from a selected direction; a second blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation and operatively connected to the first blade set, the second blade set being disposed coaxially with, and downstream of or in a wake zone of, the first blade set; wherein the generator is adapted to be driven by at least one of the blade sets, the generator being disposed generally coaxially between the first and second blade sets. |
| US08664784B2 |
Louvered turbine for generating electric power from a water current
A subsurface power generating system in one embodiment includes a frame, an electric generator supported by the frame and operably connected to a first vertical rotor, another electric generator supported by the frame and operably connected to a second vertical rotor, a first louver operably connected to the first vertical rotor and including a front side, and a back side, and pivotable between a first position whereat the back side is in contact with a first pivot limiting structure, and a second position whereat the back side is not in contact with the first pivot limiting structure, and a second louver operably connected to the second vertical rotor and including a front side, and a back side, and pivotable between a third position whereat the back side is in contact with a second pivot limiting structure, and a fourth position whereat the back side is not in contact with the second pivot limiting structure. |
| US08664781B2 |
Tunnel power turbine system to generate potential energy from waste kinetic energy
A system for generating energy from waste includes a generator device and an ejector device integrated in a pipe line unit. The generator device includes nozzle venture inlets. The ejector device is coupled with the generator device and includes a slit venture outlet to restore any velocity pressure loss in the pipe line unit and eliminate any back pressure buildup in the generator device. |
| US08664777B2 |
Routing layer for mitigating stress in a semiconductor die
A routing layer for a semiconductor die is disclosed. The routing layer includes traces interconnecting integrated circuit bond-pads to UBMs. The routing layer is formed on a layer of dielectric material. The routing layer includes conductive traces arranged underneath the UBMs as to absorb stress from solder bumps attached to the UMBs. Traces beneath the UBMs protect parts of the underlying dielectric material proximate the solder bumps, from the stress. |
| US08664776B2 |
Interconnection tape providing a serial electrode pad connection in a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor chip and a first interconnection tape. The semiconductor chip has a plurality of first electrode pads arranged on a first surface. The first interconnection tape is in contact with each of the plurality of first electrode pads such that the plurality of first electrode pads are electrically connected with each other. |
| US08664773B2 |
Mounting structure of semiconductor package component and manufacturing method therefor
A manufacturing method for a mounting structure of a semiconductor package component, including: applying a first adhesive with viscosity η1 and a thixotropy index T1 at a position on the substrate, which is on an outer side of the mounted semiconductor package component; applying, on the first adhesive, a second adhesive with viscosity η2 and a thixotropy index T2 so that the second adhesive gets in contact with an outer periphery part of the semiconductor package component; and forming, through a subsequent reflow process, a first adhesive part of the hardened first adhesive and a second adhesive part of the hardened second adhesive, wherein the first and second adhesives satisfy 30≦η2≦η1≦300 (Pa·s) and 3≦T2≦T1≦7, and sectional area S1 of the first adhesive part and sectional area S2 of the second adhesive part with respect to a direction perpendicular to a mounting surface of the substrate satisfy a relation S1≦S2. |
| US08664767B2 |
Conductive routings in integrated circuits using under bump metallization
An integrated circuit structure includes a first conductive layer and an under bump metallization layer over the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer has a first conductive region and a second conductive region electrically isolated from the first conductive region. The under bump metallization layer has a first conductive area and a second conductive area electrically isolated from the first conductive area, the first conductive area substantially located over the first conductive region and the second conductive area substantially located over the second conductive region. At least one of the first conductive area or the first conductive region includes a first protrusion extending toward the second conductive area or second conductive region, respectively. Conductive vias connect the first conductive region to the second conductive area and connect the second conductive region to the first conductive area, and the vias include at least one via connected to the first protrusion. |
| US08664766B2 |
Interconnect structure containing non-damaged dielectric and a via gouging feature
An interconnect structure including a gouging feature at the bottom of one of the via openings. The structure includes an upper interconnect level including a second dielectric material having at least one conductively filled via and an overlying conductively filled line disposed therein. The conductively filled via is in contact with an exposed surface of the at least one conductive feature of a first interconnect level by an anchoring area. The conductively filled via is separated from the second dielectric material by a first diffusion barrier layer, and the conductively filled line is separated from the second dielectric material by a second continuous diffusion barrier layer thereby the second dielectric material includes no damaged regions in areas adjacent to the conductively filled line. |
| US08664754B2 |
High power semiconductor package with multiple conductive clips
One exemplary disclosed embodiment comprises a high power semiconductor package configured as a buck converter having a control transistor and a sync transistor disposed on a common leadframe pad, a driver integrated circuit (IC) for driving the control and sync transistors, and conductive clips electrically coupling the top surfaces of the transistors to substrate pads such as leadframe pads. In this manner, the leadframe and the conductive clips provide efficient grounding or current conduction by direct mechanical connection and large surface area conduction, thereby enabling a package with significantly reduced electrical resistance, form factor, complexity, and cost when compared to conventional packaging methods using wirebonds for transistor interconnections. |
| US08664752B2 |
Semiconductor die package and method for making the same
Semiconductor die packages are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor die package includes a premolded substrate. The premolded substrate can have a semiconductor die attached to it, and an encapsulating material may be disposed over the semiconductor die. |
| US08664748B2 |
Package-level integrated circuit connection without top metal pads or bonding wire
An integrated circuit apparatus is provided with package-level connectivity, between internal electronic circuitry thereof and contact points on a package substrate thereof, without requiring top metal pads or bonding wires. |
| US08664747B2 |
Trenched substrate for crystal growth and wafer bonding
A substrate for a light emitting diode (LED) can have one or more trenches formed therein so as to mitigate stress build up within the substrate due to mismatched thermal coefficients of expansion between the substrate and layers of material, e.g., semiconductor material, formed thereon. In this manner, the likelihood of damage to the substrate, such as cracking thereof, is substantially mitigated. |
| US08664745B2 |
Integrated inductor
The invention provides advances in the arts with useful and novel integrated packaging having inductor elements and adjacent magnetic material enhancing the inductance characteristics of the packaged inductor. Preferably the integrated packages also contain one or more ICs operable coupled to the inductor(s). |
| US08664744B2 |
Anti-fuse element without defective opens
An anti-fuse element that includes an insulation layer; a pair of electrode layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the insulation layer; and an extraction electrode formed so as to make contact with a section of the electrode layers that form electrostatic capacitance with the insulation layer. The anti-fuse element is configured to create a structural change section including short circuit sections that are short-circuited such that the pair of electrode layers are fused mutually to engulf the insulation layer, and a dissipation section with the electrode layers and insulation layer dissipated by engulfing the insulation layer, when a voltage not less than the breakdown voltage of the insulation layer is applied. Furthermore, the extraction electrode has at least two or more sections in contact with the electrode layer. |
| US08664743B1 |
Air-gap formation in interconnect structures
A structure includes a substrate, and a first metal line and a second metal line over the substrate, with a space therebetween. A first air gap is on a sidewall of the first metal line and in the space. A second air gap is on a sidewall of the second metal line and in the space. A dielectric material is disposed in the space and between the first and the second air gaps. A third air gap is underlying the lower portion of the dielectric material, wherein the first air gap, the second air gap, and the third air gap are interconnected to form a continuous air gap. |
| US08664742B2 |
Semiconductor substrates with undercut structures
An intermediate semiconductor structure that comprises a substrate and at least one undercut structure formed in the substrate is disclosed. The undercut feature may include a vertical opening having a lateral cavity therein, the vertical opening extending below the lateral cavity. The lateral cavity may include faceted sidewalls. |
| US08664734B2 |
Hole-based ultra-deep photodiode in a CMOS image sensor and a process thereof
A hole-based ultra-deep photodiode in a CMOS image sensor and an associated process are disclosed. A p-type substrate is grounded or connected to a negative power supply. An n-type epitaxial layer is grown on the p-type substrate, and is connected to a positive power supply. An ultra-deep p-type photodiode implant region is formed in the n-type epitaxial layer. Thermal steps are added to insure a smooth and deep doping profile. |
| US08664733B2 |
MEMS microphone and method for manufacture
An improved method for manufacturing an MEMS microphone with a double fixed electrode is specified which results in a microphone which likewise has improved properties. |
| US08664732B2 |
Magnetic pressure sensor
A magnetic pressure sensor is provided that includes a semiconductor body with a top side and a back side, a Hall sensor formed on the top side of the semiconductor body, a spacer connected to the semiconductor body, whereby the spacer has a recess in the center, and a membrane covering the recess, whereby the membrane has a first material and has a ferromagnetic substance. The ferromagnetic substance concentrates a magnetic flux density of a source formed outside the ferromagnetic material, and the spacer is formed as a circumferential wall and has a second material and the second material is different from the first material in at least one element. |
| US08664731B2 |
Strengthened micro-electromechanical system devices and methods of making thereof
In an embodiment, a micro-electromechanical device can include a substrate, a beam, and an isolation joint. The beam can be suspended relative to a surface of the substrate. The isolation joint can be between a first portion and a second portion of the beam, and can have a non-linear shape. In another embodiment, a micro-electromechanical device can include a substrate, a beam, and an isolation joint. The beam can be suspended relative to a surface of the substrate. The isolation joint can be between a first portion and a second portion of the beam. The isolation joint can have a first portion, a second portion, and a bridge portion between the first portion and the second portion. The first and second portions of the isolation joint can each have a seam and a void, while the bridge portion can be solid. |
| US08664723B1 |
Integrated circuit structures having base resistance tuning regions and methods for forming the same
A structure includes an isolation ring at a top surface of a substrate. A well region of a first conductivity type is in a surface portion of the substrate. The well region includes a first portion having a top portion encircled by the isolation ring, and a second portion having a top portion encircling the isolation ring. A base resistance tuning ring includes a portion overlapped by the isolation ring, wherein the base resistance tuning ring is between the first portion and the second portion of the well region. The base resistance tuning ring is selected from the group consisting essentially of a ring of the first conductivity type, a substantially neutral ring, and a ring of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. |
| US08664712B2 |
Flash memory cell on SeOI having a second control gate buried under the insulating layer
The invention relates to a flash memory cell having a FET transistor with a floating gate on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate composed of a thin film of semiconductor material separated from a base substrate by an insulating buried oxide (BOX) layer, The transistor has in the thin film, a channel, with two control gates, a front control gate located above the floating gate and separated from it by an inter-gate dielectric, and a back control gate located within the base substrate directly under the insulating (BOX) layer and separated from the channel by only the insulating (BOX) layer. The two control gates are designed to be used in combination to perform a cell programming operation. The invention also relates to a memory array made up of a plurality of memory cells according to the first aspect of the invention, which can be in an array of rows and columns, and a method of fabricating such memory cells and memory arrays. |
| US08664710B2 |
Non-volatile memory and manufacturing method thereof
A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The non-volatile memory includes a gate dielectric layer, a floating gate, a control gate, an inter-gate dielectric structure and two doped regions. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on a substrate. The floating gate is disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The control gate is disposed on the floating gate. The inter-gate dielectric structure is disposed between the control gate and the floating gate. The inter-gate dielectric structure includes a first oxide layer, a second oxide layer and a charged nitride layer. The first oxide layer is disposed on the floating gate. The second oxide layer is disposed on the first oxide layer. The charged nitride layer is disposed between the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer. The doped regions are disposed in the substrate at two sides of the floating gate, respectively. |
| US08664708B2 |
EEPROM cell
A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a cell area and forming first and second gates of first and second transistors in the cell area. The first gate includes a second sub-gate surrounding a first sub-gate. The first and second sub-gates of the first gate are separated by a first intergate dielectric layer. The second gate includes a second sub-gate surrounding a first sub-gate. The first and second sub-gates of the second gate are separated by a second intergate dielectric layer. The method also includes forming first and second junctions of the first and second transistors. A first gate terminal is formed and coupled to the second sub-gate of the first transistor. A second gate terminal is formed and coupled to at least the first sub-gate of the second transistor. |
| US08664707B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device that can include a lower interconnection on a substrate and at least one upper interconnection disposed on the lower interconnection. At least one gate structure can be disposed between the upper interconnection and the lower interconnection, where the gate structure can include a plurality of gate lines that are vertically stacked so that each of the gate lines has a wiring portion that is substantially parallel to an upper surface of the substrate and a contact portion that extends from the wiring portion along a direction penetrating an upper surface of the substrate. At least one semiconductor pattern can connect the upper and lower interconnections. |
| US08664700B2 |
Bio material receiving device and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
A bio material receiving device includes a thin film transistor (“TFT”) including a drain electrode, and a nano well accommodating a bio material. The drain electrode includes the nano well. The TFT may be a bottom gate TFT or a top gate TFT. A nano well array may include a plurality of bio material receiving devices. In a method of operating the bio material receiving device, each of the bio material receiving devices may be individually selected in the nano well array. When the bio material is accommodated in the selected bio material receiving device, a voltage is applied so that another bio material is not accommodated. |
| US08664697B2 |
Transistor device
To provide a transistor device, which is composed of a compound semiconductor, having a multilayer structure in which a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) and a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) are overlapped on the same substrate and epitaxial-grown thereon, wherein a band gap energy of an indium gallium phosphide layer (InGaP) included in an epitaxial layer, is set to 1.91 eV or more. |
| US08664695B2 |
Wide bandgap transistors with multiple field plates
A transistor comprising a plurality of active semiconductor layers on a substrate, with source and drain electrodes in contact with the semiconductor layers. A gate is formed between the source and drain electrodes and on the plurality of semiconductor layers. A plurality of field plates are arranged over the semiconductor layers, each of which extends from the edge of the gate toward the drain electrode, and each of which is isolated from said semiconductor layers and from the others of the field plates. The topmost of the field plates is electrically connected to the source electrode and the others of the field plates are electrically connected to the gate or the source electrode. |
| US08664692B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a first conductivity type cathode layer, a first conductivity type base layer, a second conductivity type anode layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an buried body, and a second electrode. The first conductivity type semiconductor layer is contiguous to the second conductivity type semiconductor layer in a first direction, and extends on a surface of the anode layer in a second direction that intersects perpendicularly to the first direction. The buried body includes a bottom portion and a sidewall portion. The bottom portion is in contact with the base layer. The sidewall portion is in contact with the base layer, the anode layer, the second conductivity type semiconductor layer and the first conductivity type semiconductor layer. The buried body extends in the first direction. |
| US08664684B2 |
Solid state lighting devices with improved contacts and associated methods of manufacturing
Solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with improved contacts and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an SSL device includes an SSL structure having a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material spaced apart from the first semiconductor material, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The SSL device also includes a first contact on the first semiconductor material and a second contact on the second semiconductor material, where the first and second contacts define the current flow path through the SSL structure. The first or second contact is configured to provide a current density profile in the SSL structure based on a target current density profile. |
| US08664683B2 |
Carrier and optical semiconductor device based on such a carrier
A method for providing, on a carrier (40), an insulative spacer layer (26) which is patterned such that a cavity (27) is formed which enables connection of an optical semiconductor element (41) to the intended conductor structure (22) when placed inside the cavity (27). The cavity (27) is formed such that it, through its shape, extension and/or depth, accurately defines a location of an optical element (45; 61) in relation to the optical semiconductor element (41). Through the provision of such a patterned insulative spacer layer, compact and cost-efficient optical semiconductor devices can be mass-produced based on such a carrier without the need for prolonged development or acquisition of new and expensive manufacturing equipment. |
| US08664682B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes: a light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer; and a first electrode on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, wherein the light emitting structure includes an outer groove formed at an outer area of the light emitting structure, wherein a thickness of an outmost area of the light emitting structure is smaller than a thickness of an center area of the light emitting structure, and wherein the first conductive type semiconductor layer includes AlGaN layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer includes AlGaN layer. |
| US08664675B2 |
Multichip light-emitting diode having multiple lenses
A multichip light-emitting diode (LED) includes a reflective cup, a plurality of light-emitting chips and a package. The light-emitting chips are disposed in the reflective cup and emit light when driven. The package is disposed in the reflective cup and covers the light-emitting chips. The package further has a plurality of lenses corresponding to the light-emitting chips one by one. The lenses refract light emitted by the corresponding light-emitting chips, respectively. An extrinsic light efficiency of the multichip is increased through the design of the multichip LED. |
| US08664666B2 |
Semiconductor device and process for fabricating the same
A thin stacked semiconductor device has a plurality of circuits that are laminated and formed sequentially in a specified pattern to form a multilayer wiring part. At the stage for forming the multilayer wiring part, a filling electrode is formed on the semiconductor substrate such that the surface is covered with an insulating film, a post electrode is formed on specified wiring at the multilayer wiring part, a first insulating layer is formed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate, the surface of the first insulating layer is removed by a specified thickness to expose the post electrode, and the other surface of the semiconductor substrate is ground to expose the filling electrode and to form a through-type electrode. A second insulating layer if formed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate while exposing the forward end of the through-type electrode, and bump electrodes are formed on both electrodes. |
| US08664664B2 |
Silicon carbide dimpled substrate
A dimpled substrate and method of making including a substrate of high thermal conductivity having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface. Active epitaxial layers are formed on the first main surface of the substrate. Dimples are formed as extending from the second main surface into the substrate toward the first main surface. An electrical contact of low resistance material is disposed on the second main surface and within the dimples. A back contact of low resistance and low loss is thus provided while maintaining the substrate as an effective heat sink. |
| US08664659B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the OLED display apparatus. Pixel-defining layers (PDLs) are formed of inorganic and organic insulating layers to minimize non-uniformities of the thicknesses of organic emission layers (OEMLs) and planarize lower thin film transistors (TFTs). Therefore, a lifespan of the OLED display apparatus is improved. |
| US08664658B2 |
Semiconductor device
An n-channel transistor or a p-channel transistor provided with a second gate electrode for controlling a threshold voltage in addition to a normal gate electrode is used for a complementary logic circuit. In addition, an insulated gate field-effect transistor with an extremely low off-state current is used as a switching element to control the potential of the second gate electrode. A channel formation region of the transistor which functions as a switching element includes a semiconductor material whose band gap is wider than that of a silicon semiconductor and whose intrinsic carrier density is lower than that of silicon. |
| US08664656B1 |
Devices and methods for embedding semiconductors in printed circuit boards
Methods and devices for embedding semiconductors in printed circuit boards (PCBs) are provided. In one example, a method of manufacturing a PCB having a die assembly embedded therein includes removing a release film from an adhesive layer of the die assembly. The method also includes disposing the die assembly on a first layer of the PCB such that the adhesive layer contacts the first layer of the PCB. The method includes disposing a second layer of the PCB over the first layer such that the die assembly is within an intermediate portion between the first layer and the second layer. The method also includes filling the intermediate portion with resin and subjecting the PCB to a press cycle to cure the resin. |
| US08664650B2 |
Arrangement comprising optically transparent and/or functional components
The invention relates to an arrangement including optically transparent and/or functional components. It is desirable for many applications to achieve a high functionality and variability in the utilization of electronic components over a very small area or with a small space requirement for such a design. In an arrangement in accordance with the invention, an organic electronic component and at least one further organic or inorganic electronic component are arranged layer-wise, stacked over one another, on a substrate. In this respect, planar electrically conductive electrodes at the surfaces of the components are formed such that the components are electrically connected in series and the components are each individually electrically controllable via the electrodes in accordance with their polarities. |
| US08664649B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, an organic light emitting diode on the substrate, an organic film configured to cover the organic light emitting diode on the substrate in an organic film deposition area having a first diameter, and an inorganic film configured to cover the organic film on the substrate in an inorganic film deposition area having a second diameter, wherein L1 is the first diameter of the organic film deposition area in μm, wherein L2 is the second diameter of the inorganic film deposition area in μm, wherein D is a thickness of the organic film in μm, and wherein L2−L1≧2 (171D+150 μm). |
| US08664648B2 |
N-type organic thin film transistor, ambipolar field-effect transistor, and method of fabricating the same
An N-type organic thin film transistor, an ambipolar field-effect transistor, and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. The N-type organic thin film transistor of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a gate electrode locating on the substrate; a gate-insulating layer covering the gate electrode, and the gate-insulating layer is made of silk protein; a buffering layer locating on the gate-insulating layer, and the buffering layer is made of pentacene; an N-type organic semiconductor layer locating on the buffering layer; and a source and a drain electrode, wherein the N-type organic semiconductor layer, the buffering layer, the source and the drain electrode are disposed over the gate dielectric layer. |
| US08664645B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element and display medium
An organic electroluminescence element includes: a pair of electrodes composed of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, one of which is transparent or semitransparent; and one or more organic compound layers that are sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, in which at least one layer of the organic compound layers contains one or more of charge-transporting polyesters represented by formula (I). |
| US08664643B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode including electron transport layer and method of manufacturing the same
An OLED including an electron transport layer having multi-layered structure and a method of manufacturing the same, the method including simultaneously reciprocating first and second deposition sources that include different deposition materials, across a substrate. |
| US08664639B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a first substrate including a plurality of pixels, a first electrode arranged on the first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a second electrode arranged on the second substrate and spaced apart from the first electrode, the second electrode to form an electric field in cooperation with the first electrode. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a transparent conductive nanomaterial having a transmittance of no less than 73% to no more than 100% and a sheet resistance of 0 ohms to 100 ohms. |
| US08664636B2 |
Nanostructured device
A nanostructured device according to the invention comprises a first group of nanowires protruding from a substrate where each nanowire of the first group of nanowires comprises at least one pn- or p-i-n-junction. A first contact, at least partially encloses and is electrically connected to a first side of the pn- or p-i-n-junction of each nanowire in the first group of nanowires. A second contacting means comprises a second group of nanowires that protrudes from the substrate, and is arranged to provide an electrical connection to a second side of the pn- or p-i-n-junction. |
| US08664632B2 |
Memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a variable resistance film. The variable resistance film is connected between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a metal contained in a matrix made of a conductive material. A cohesive energy of the metal is lower than a cohesive energy of the conductive material. A concentration of the metal at a central portion of the first electrode in a width direction thereof is higher than concentrations of the metal in two end portions of the first electrode in the width direction. |
| US08664630B1 |
Thermal neutron shield and method of manufacture
A thermal neutron shield comprising boron shielding panels with a high percentage of the element Boron. The panel is least 46% Boron by weight which maximizes the effectiveness of the shielding against thermal neutrons. The accompanying method discloses the manufacture of boron shielding panels which includes enriching the pre-cursor mixture with varying grit sizes of Boron Carbide. |
| US08664628B2 |
Radiation barrier panel
A panel for functioning as a barrier to radiation includes at least one layer for restricting the passage of radiation, and the layer for restricting the passage of radiation may be a layer of silicone impregnated with metal, such as tungsten and/or iron. The impregnated silicone layer may be mounted to and supported by at least one other structure of the panel. For example, the impregnated silicone layer may be positioned between, and laminated to, other layers of the panel. In one embodiment, the impregnated silicone layer is positioned between foam layers of the panel to form a core, and the core is positioned between exterior layers of the panel. One or more exterior layers of the panel may be in the form of sheet metal or any other suitable structure. |
| US08664627B1 |
Method for supplying gas with flow rate gradient over substrate
A method for supplying gas over a substrate in a reaction chamber wherein a substrate is placed on a pedestal, includes: supplying a first gas from a first side of the reaction chamber to a second side of the reaction chamber opposite to the first side; and adding a second gas to the first gas from sides of the reaction chamber other than the first side of the reaction chamber so that the second gas travels from sides of the substrate other than the first side in a downstream direction. |
| US08664626B2 |
Particle beam therapy systems and the methods for time-sharing irradiation
There are provided with a respiration induction apparatus that induces respiration, based on a desired respiration waveform; a switching device that switches the orbit of a particle beam; and an irradiation apparatus that controls irradiation, in synchronization with the desired respiration waveform. A controller, which performs synchronization control of the switching device and the respiration induction apparatuses in a plurality of treatment rooms, adjusts the periods and the phases of the desired respiration waveforms of the respiration induction apparatuses in the treatment rooms so that the irradiation times synchronized with the desired respiration waveforms in the treatment rooms do not overlap with one another, and controls the switching device so as to switch the orbits of the particle beam, in accordance with the respective irradiation times of the treatment rooms. |
| US08664622B2 |
System and method of ion beam source for semiconductor ion implantation
An apparatus comprises an ionization chamber for providing ions during a process of ion implantation, and an electron beam source device inside the ionization chamber. The electron beam source device comprises a field emission array having a plurality of emitters for generating electrons in vacuum under an electric field. |
| US08664620B2 |
Particle beam rotational irradiation apparatus
The particle beam rotational irradiation apparatus is provided with an irradiation nozzle that irradiates a charged particle beam, a beam transport unit that transports the charged particle beam to the irradiation nozzle, and a rotating unit that can rotate around the isocenter; the particle beam rotational irradiation apparatus is characterized in that the beam transport unit has three or more bending electromagnets and in that the bending electromagnets are arranged in such a way that in the case where as a pair of bending planes, any two of the bending planes of the bending electromagnets are selected, the two bending planes of at least one pair of bending planes are not on the same plane, not parallel with each other, and not perpendicular to each other. |
| US08664617B2 |
Multi-stream spectrophotometer module
A multi-stream optical interrogation flow cell (60) for a radiopharmaceutical includes a multiple flow cell body (10a-f) defining a first elongate fluid flowpath (A1-6;B1-6) therethrough for individually conducting a radiopharmaceutical therethrough in fluid isolation from other of the flow cell bodies. Each flow cell body further defines a first and second aligned UV transparent optical guides (36,38) and a first interrogation passageway (26a-f) extending between the first and second optical guides such that a portion of the elongate first fluid flowpath intersects the interrogation passageway such that the radiopharmaceutical flows in between the first and second optical guides. The first and second interrogation passageways of all of the flow cell bodies are optically aligned so that a single interrogation beam is able to extend through each of the interrogation passageways. |
| US08664616B2 |
Count correction in a photon counting imaging system
In a method of count correction for pixels of a pixilated photon counting detector, the average count value output by each of a plurality of pixels during a period of time is determined. A product is determined of the actual average count value and a multiplying correction factor. A corrected count value is then determined for the pixel equal to a sum of the product and an additive correction factor. The multiplying correction factor equals a square root of a quotient of a desired average count value to be output by each of the plurality of pixels during the period of time divided by the actual average count value. The additive correction factor equals a product of the multiplying correction factor and the actual average count value subtracted from the desired average count value. |
| US08664612B2 |
Layered semiconductor scintillator
A scintillator detector of high-energy radiation comprising a semiconductor slab that is composed of alternating layers of barrier and well material. The barrier and well material layers are direct bandgap semiconductors. Bandgap of the well material is smaller than the bandgap of the barrier material. The combined thickness of the well layers is substantially less than the total thickness of said slab. The thickness of the barrier layers is substantially larger than the diffusion length of minority carriers. The thickness of the well layers is sufficiently large to absorb most of the incident scintillating radiation generated in the barrier layers in response to an ionization event from interaction with an incident high-energy particle. |
| US08664609B2 |
System and method for three-dimensional imaging using scattering from annihilation coincidence photons
Systems and methods are described herein for performing three-dimensional imaging using backscattered photons generated from a positron-electron annihilation. The systems and methods are implemented using the pair of photons created from a positron-electron annihilation. The trajectory and emission time of one of the photons is detected near the annihilation event. Using this collected data, the trajectory of the second photon can be determined. The second photon is used as a probe photon and is directed towards a target for imaging. The interaction of the second probe photon with the target produces back scattered photons that can be detected and used to create a three-dimensional image of the target. The systems and methods described herein are particularly advantageous because they permit imaging with a system from a single side of the target, as opposed to requiring imaging equipment on both sides of the target. |
| US08664608B2 |
Shifting scintillator neutron detector
Provided are sensors and methods for detecting thermal neutrons. Provided is an apparatus having a scintillator for absorbing a neutron, the scintillator having a back side for discharging a scintillation light of a first wavelength in response to the absorbed neutron, an array of wavelength-shifting fibers proximate to the back side of the scintillator for shifting the scintillation light of the first wavelength to light of a second wavelength, the wavelength-shifting fibers being disposed in a two-dimensional pattern and defining a plurality of scattering plane pixels where the wavelength-shifting fibers overlap, a plurality of photomultiplier tubes, in coded optical communication with the wavelength-shifting fibers, for converting the light of the second wavelength to an electronic signal, and a processor for processing the electronic signal to identify one of the plurality of scattering plane pixels as indicative of a position within the scintillator where the neutron was absorbed. |
| US08664605B2 |
Covert label structure
A covert label structure comprising a three dimensional diffracting optical element layer (100) having a depth profile for producing a predetermined pattern, wherein different portions of a top surface of the diffracting optical element layer (100) have at least two different depths relative to a bottom surface of the diffracting optical element layer (100), wherein the depth profile spans across two dimensions of the top surface of the diffracting optical element layer (100), and wherein the top surface reflects light according to the predefined pattern and an overcoat layer (108) over the top surface of the diffracting optical element layer (100) wherein the overcoat layer (108) is opaque to at least one wavelength of light. |
| US08664599B2 |
Electron microscope
An electron microscope is offered which facilitates aberration correction even during high-magnification imaging. The microscope has a spherical aberration corrector, a transfer lens system mounted between the corrector and an objective lens, an aperture stop mounted in a stage preceding the corrector so as to be movable relative to the optical axis, and an angular aperture stop mounted at or near the principal plane of the transfer lens system movably relative to the optical axis to adjust the angular aperture of the electron beam. |
| US08664596B2 |
Method for characterizing identified defects during charged particle beam inspection and application thereof
A method for characterizing identified defects during charged particle beam inspection of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a voltage contrast image of the sample by using a charged particle beam imaging apparatus at an inspection temperature; identifying, from the voltage contrast image, the presence of at least one defect on the sample; providing reference data of the sample, wherein the reference data represents at least one reference defect on the sample; comparing the location or geographical distribution of the identified defects and the reference defects on the sample to correlate the identified defects with the inspection temperature thereby characterizing the identified defects. |
| US08664595B2 |
Cluster analysis of unknowns in SEM-EDS dataset
The present invention discloses a method for determining the mineral content represented by the entire SEM-EDS dataset, including initially unknown data points. SEM-EDS data points are taken and compared to a set of known data points. Any data point that is not sufficiently similar to the known data point is classified as unknown and clustered with like unknown data points. After all data points are analyzed, any clusters of unknown data points with a sufficient number of data points are further analyzed to determine their characteristics. All clusters of unknown data points with an insufficient number of data points to allow further analysis are considered outliers and discarded. |
| US08664589B2 |
Spectroscopy data display systems and methods
Spectroscopy data are correlated to physical locations on a sample. A laser beam is scanned along a beam trajectory relative to the sample located in a sample chamber. The laser beam disassociates material from the sample along the beam trajectory to produce an aerosol of the disassociated material within the sample chamber. A fluid is passed through the sample chamber to transport the disassociated material to a spectrometer for determining spectroscopy data values of a selected element along the beam trajectory. The spectroscopy data values are correlated with respective locations of the sample along the beam trajectory, and an image is displayed of at least a portion of the sample including the respective locations along the beam trajectory where the material was disassociated by the laser beam. The image includes indicia of the spectroscopy data values at their correlated locations. |
| US08664588B2 |
Mass spectrometer
In the spectrometer, heavy loads are arranged centrally inside a case having a height smaller than a width, and having a depth smaller than the height. The heavy loads include a vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump which evacuates the vacuum chamber, a sample introduction unit which introduces a sample to be measured and evaporates the sample, an ionization unit which ionizes the evaporated sample and provides it to the vacuum chamber, and an ion detection unit which is connected to the vacuum chamber. Circuit board storage units which store a plurality of circuit boards with a predetermined space therebetween are formed on both sides along a width direction of the case. |
| US08664586B2 |
Super-resolution formation fluid imaging
Cross-well electromagnetic (EM) imaging is performed using high-power pulsed magnetic field sources, time-domain signal acquisition, low-noise magnetic field sensors, spatial oversampling and super-resolution image enhancement and injected magnetic nanofluids. Inter-well images are generated mapping electromagnetic (EM) signal speed (group velocity) rather than conductivity maps. EM velocity maps with improved resolution for both native and injected fluids are provided. |
| US08664585B2 |
Sensor apparatus for detecting and monitoring a crack propagating through a structure
A sensor apparatus is provided for detecting and monitoring a crack propagating through a structure. The sensor apparatus comprises: light source apparatus; detector structure; and a plurality of optical fibers having proximal and distal ends. The fibers may be spaced apart from one another and associated with the structure such that as a crack propagates through the structure, one or more of the optical fibers is broken by the crack. The optical fibers may receive light at the fiber proximal ends and the optical fibers may have a coating on the fiber distal ends capable of causing light to be returned toward the fiber proximal ends. |
| US08664582B2 |
Display with an optical sensor
A display system can include a transparent layer. The transparent layer can include a front and a back. A bevel region can extend from the transparent layer. A panel can be on the back of the transparent layer. A three dimensional optical sensor can be on the back of the bevel region. |
| US08664574B2 |
Resonator unit, expansion process and apparatus for heating containers
A resonator unit includes a resonator chamber with a first opening for receiving container in a predefined position and for heating the container with microwaves coupled into the resonator chamber. The chamber has a second opening via which the microwaves are coupled into the resonator chamber, wherein the geometry of the resonator chamber relative to the predefined position of the container in the first opening is adapted by a device for adapting the geometry so that an electric field produced in the resonator chamber in a working mode is symmetrical in relation to the container or the impedance of the resonator unit equipped with container is approximately constant for containers of different configurations. |
| US08664566B2 |
Arc welding apparatus and method
An arc welding apparatus includes a main power supply circuit for outputting an arc current, a control circuit for controlling the main power supply circuit, and a high-frequency voltage generating circuit for generating a high-frequency voltage. When an operation switch is turned on for a first time since the apparatus is powered on, the control circuit activates the main power supply circuit to output a high voltage, and the high-frequency voltage generating circuit to generate a high-frequency voltage. With the high voltage superimposed on the high-frequency voltage, the control circuit passes a welding arc current through a torch and a base material. The switch is then turned off, and the control circuit passes a pilot arc current through the torch and the base material. The switch is turned on again, and the control circuit activates the main power supply circuit to output a high voltage, thereby allowing smooth arc transition. |
| US08664564B2 |
Controlled harmonics power supply for welding-type system
A system and method for operating an inverted-based power source includes a power input configured to receive alternating current (AC) power and a rectifier configured to convert the AC power to direct current (DC) power. The inverter-based power source also includes an inverter configured to receive the DC power from the rectifier and convert the DC power to AC power and a controller configured to generate switching signals according to a pattern of offsets from a regular half period and communicate the switching signals to the inverter or rectifier control operation of the inverter or rectifier. |
| US08664563B2 |
Purging and debris removal from holes
A method for purging of, and debris removal from, a hole created with laser energy in which a swirling purge gas stream is provided in a hole containing debris to be removed, imparting a swirl to the debris and lifting the debris from a bottom of the hole. In accordance with one embodiment, the purge gas is swirled in a purge gas nozzle providing purge gas into the hole. In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, the purge gas is swirled directly in the hole. |
| US08664562B2 |
Systems and methods for forming apertures in microfeature workpieces
Systems and methods for forming apertures in microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes directing a laser beam toward a microfeature workpiece to form an aperture and sensing the laser beam pass through the microfeature workpiece in real time. The method can further include determining a number of pulses of the laser beam and/or an elapsed time to form the aperture and controlling the laser beam based on the determined number of pulses and/or the determined elapsed time to form a second aperture in the microfeature workpiece. |
| US08664559B2 |
Electrical discharge machine
An electrical discharge machine feeds an electrode wire received within a guide tube to a process region of a machined article. The electrical discharge machine includes a cylindrical hollow driving shaft arranged in a vertical direction, which has a space for receiving the guide tube with the electrode wire along a vertical central axis. A head assembly includes a first holding member for holding the guide tube, and a second holding member for holding the electrode wire extending from a bottom opening of the guide tube. The head assembly is detachably coupled with a bottom portion of the driving shaft. Therefore, the electrode wire can be replaced by replacing the head assembly. |
| US08664556B2 |
Switch device operating mechanism
Included are: a closing spring which provides a closing drive force for closing a contact of a switch device by rotating a camshaft by release of energy; a first semi-circular latch which retains stored energy of the closing spring via a closing lever; an output lever which pivots by being pressed by a cam provided on the camshaft when retention by the first semi-circular latch is released and the energy of the closing spring is released, and transmits the closing drive force to the switch device via a linking mechanism; and a second semi-circular latch which prevents the output lever from pivoting in a tripping direction via a tripping lever and retains stored energy of an interrupting spring provided on the linking mechanism, the pivoting of the output lever being caused by transmission of the stored energy of the interrupting spring. |
| US08664552B2 |
Lockable turning handle
An interlockable lock-out handle system for an electrical switching device includes a lock-out rim and a lock-out handle. The lock-out rim is configured to be disposed over an operating shaft of the switching device and fastened to at least one of switch housing and a front plate. The lock-out handle is configured to be fastened by a clamping device in rotational engagement on the operating shaft. The lock-out handle includes a rotary handle having a grippable lateral surface and a lock-out collar. The lock-out collar is vertically displaceable relative to the rotary handle in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the operating shaft into a CLOSED position and an OPEN position. The lock-out collar is engaged with the lock-out rim so as to prevent twisting movement of the lock-out collar relative to the lock-out rim when the lock-out collar is in the CLOSED position. |
| US08664551B2 |
Operating device
An operating device provides for mutually independent rotation for two rotation operating knobs. First and second rotation operating knobs rotating centered on a rotation axis are provided as well as a holding member including a rotation operating knob holder holding the rotation operating knobs so as to be capable of independent rotation. The rotation operating knob holder includes a first and second support surfaces having substantially circular tubular shapes centered on the rotation axis. The first rotation operating knob includes first switch operators causing a first switch element to output a signal and a first sliding surface having a substantially circular tubular shape capable of sliding over the first support surface. The second rotation operating knob includes second switch operators causing a second switch element to output a signal and a second sliding surface having a substantially circular tubular shape capable of sliding over the second support surface. |
| US08664550B2 |
Multi-pole circuit breaker with auxiliary supporting pieces
The present invention discloses a multi-pole circuit breaker with auxiliary supports, which comprises a base, a plurality of single-pole circuit breaking units, an operating mechanism and a rotation axis assembly, wherein the rotation axis assembly consists of a plurality of supporting assemblies and a plurality of support shaft parts in series; each of the support shaft parts is provided with a movable contact bridge; each of the supporting assembly consists of a rotation axis, an auxiliary support, an auxiliary support bearing and at least one supporting rod; the rotation axis maintains synchronous revolution with the support shaft parts; the outside of the bearing is tightly assembled with a bearing hole of the auxiliary support, while the inside is tightly assembled with the rotation axis; the supporting rod is tightly assembled with a supporting rod installing hole on the auxiliary support; the operating mechanism is fixedly connected with the supporting rod; and the supporting rod is fixedly installed on a housing of the single-pole circuit breaking unit and provides stable supporting force for the rotation axis through the auxiliary supports. The multi-pole circuit breaker has balanced contact pressure at each contact point, flexible operation, fast breaking, good breaking synchronism of contacts at all poles and long service life. |
| US08664545B2 |
Scale transport device having lateral support elements with belt drives
Transport device for a scale, in particular a dynamic scale that preferably operates with electromagnetic force compensation, with a weighing belt that forms a preload for a weighing cell. The weighing belt is constructed to transport materials to be weighed along the X-direction while weighing. The weighing belt receives the materials from a supply device arranged in an upstream inlet area, including a supply belt or supply rollers for supporting the materials and not forming a preload for the weighing cell. Two weighing-guide elements extending in the X-direction and forming a preload provide lateral support of the materials in the Y-direction to weigh the materials during the transport on the weighing belt in the leaning position. The minimum Y-distance between the weighing-guide elements is greater than the maximum extent of the materials in the Y-direction. |
| US08664539B2 |
Integrated circuit nanowires
Implementations of encapsulated nanowires are disclosed. |
| US08664529B2 |
Ultra high performance connectors for power transmission applications
Disclosed are several examples of an apparatus for connecting the free ends of two electrical power transmission lines having conductor strands disposed around a central, reinforcing core. The examples include an inner sleeve having a body defining an inner bore passing through an axially-extending, central axis, an outer rim surface disposed radially outward from the central bore, and one or more axially-extending grooves penetrating the body at the outer rim surface. Also included is an outer splice having a tubular shaped body with a bore passing coaxially through the central axis, the bore defining an inner rim surface for accepting the inner sleeve. The inner bore of the inner sleeve accepts the reinforcement cores of the two conductors, and the grooves accept the conductor strands in an overlapping configuration so that a majority of the electrical current flows between the overlapped conductor strands when the conductors are transmitting electrical current. |
| US08664528B2 |
Wire harness and method for making the same
The present invention is to provide a wire harness capable of improving productivity and reducing cost as well as enhancing waterproof performance to secure reliability, and a method for manufacturing the wire harness, The wire harness includes an electronic wire having a core wire and a covering part covering the core wire, a male terminal attached to the core wire exposed out of the covering part of the electric wire, a housing attached to the covering part and formed to lay the male terminal therein, and a ring-shaped waterproof member disposed between the housing and the covering part, filling a gap therebetween, and made of soft resin. |