Document | Document Title |
---|---|
US08676138B2 |
Method of handling system information reception and related communication device
A method of handling system information reception for a mobile device capable of receiving and transmitting on a plurality of component carriers in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving system information of a secondary component carrier of the plurality of component carriers via a first dedicated signaling, and maintaining the system information of the secondary component carrier valid until an update of the system information of the secondary component carrier is received via a second dedicated signaling. |
US08676134B2 |
Highly reliable receiver front-end
A receiver front-end for use in a transceiver station of a wireless communication network. The transceiver station is associated with an antenna assembly having a primary and at least a secondary antenna. The receiver front-end is adapted for insertion between the antenna assembly and signal processing sections of the transceiver station. The receiver front-end includes a primary and at least a secondary receiving branch, the primary receiving branch being adapted for coupling to the primary antenna and to the signal processing sections of the transceiver station, the secondary receiving branch being adapted for coupling to the secondary antenna and to the signal processing sections. The primary receiving branch has nonsuperconducting components, including at least a non superconducting filter while the secondary receiving branch has at least a superconducting component. |
US08676130B2 |
Method, system and mobile device for prioritizing a discovered device list
The described embodiments relate generally to methods, systems and computing devices, including at least a mobile device, for ordering a discovered device list according to a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of each device in the discovered device list. Thus, the discovered device list has at the top of the list the device that has the highest RSSI, with the remaining devices in the discovered device list presented in descending order of RSSI. |
US08676125B2 |
Systems and methods of reducing interference
A system and method of reducing interference on a communication channel between an access terminal and a serving cell or node are disclosed. A cooperation request may be sent to an interfering cell or node to reduce and/or mitigate interference on the communication channel caused by the interfering cell or node. The interfering cell or node may perform beamforming, may intermittently transmit its wireless signal, or may move at least one antenna to mitigate and/or reduce interference on the communication channel. |
US08676116B2 |
Electronic device with NFC antenna adjacent display and related methods
An electronic device may include a housing having a display opening therein, processing circuitry within the housing, and wireless transceiver circuitry within the housing and coupled to the processing circuitry. The electronic device may also include NFC transceiver circuitry within the housing and coupled to the processing circuitry, a display within the housing and coupled to the processing circuitry, the display having an external surface exposed through the display opening and having an internal surface within the housing, and an NFC antenna positioned within the housing behind and aligned with the internal surface of the display and coupled to the NFC transceiver circuitry. |
US08676110B2 |
Hinge apparatus for cover of image forming apparatus
A hinge apparatus for a cover of an image forming apparatus has a hinge body with supporting brackets, movably inserted into a coupling hole positioned in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a hinge cam connected to the cover and pivotably connected to the supporting brackets, and a pressure device disposed at the hinge body to press the hinge cam. Accordingly, the hinge apparatus can be implemented with a simple and easy assembly operation, since it is not a complicated structural connection among the component parts of the hinge apparatus. |
US08676106B2 |
Image heating member, and image heating apparatus having image heating station
An endless fixing belt includes a heat generation layer configured to generate heat by energization, a rubber layer provided on the heat generation layer, a fluorine resin layer provided on the rubber layer, a first electroconductive layer provided at one longitudinal end portion of the fixing belt, and a second electroconductive layer provided at the other longitudinal end portion and configured to form an energizing path cooperatively with the first electroconductive layer through the heat generation layer. The fluorine resin layer extends to cover a part of the first electroconductive layer and a part of the second electroconductive layer. |
US08676105B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus using the same
In an image forming apparatus for forming a lenticular lens structure when using a light-transmissive recording medium, including: photoreceptor drums; chargers; an exposure unit; developing devices; an intermediate transfer belt unit; and a fixing unit, further includes a resin layer forming device for forming a transparent resin layer on a pressing roller and a controller, and a multiple number of grooves are formed in parallel to each other on the surface of the pressing roller so as to create a lenticular lens structure on the pressing member and, the recording medium is pressed between the fixing roller and the pressing roller so as to form a lenticular lens structure on one surface of the recording medium while an unfixed toner image is fixed to the other surface of the recording medium. |
US08676104B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device, including a fixing member; a pressure member; a nip forming member; a reinforcing member; a heating member; and a flange member including a cylinder inserted in an inner circumference at an edge of the fixing member in an axial direction thereof and a flange fixed on a frame of the fixing device, wherein the cylinder of the flange member includes a notch storing the nip forming member at a part on the circumference, has an arc-shaped outer circumferential cross-section at an area corresponding to an area where the fixing member is heated by the heating member, having a predetermined radius equivalent to a radius of the fixing member, and the arc has a center located at an upstream side in a recording medium feeding direction relative to a center line of the nip forming member in the recording medium feeding direction. |
US08676102B2 |
Fixing device having temperature detection element
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a backup member; and a temperature detection element. The flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and radiates radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and receives the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup and nip members. The backup member confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The temperature detection element is disposed in a superposed region of the nip member superposed with the nip region in the confronting direction and detects a temperature of the region. |
US08676101B2 |
Fixing device having metal pipe with rough section and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a tubular, stationary metal pipe, a flexible fuser belt, a rotatable pressure member, a fuser pad, and a lubricant. The metal pipe is subjected to heating. The flexible fuser belt is looped for rotation around the metal pipe to transfer heat radially outward from the heated metal pipe. The rotatable pressure member extends opposite the metal pipe with the fuser belt interposed between the metal pipe and the pressure member. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt to press against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The lubricant is of a given particle size and deposited between the metal pipe and the fuser belt. The surface of the metal pipe has a rough section which exhibits a surface roughness equal to or greater than the particle size of the lubricant. |
US08676098B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developer carrier that holds a developer on a surface thereof, rotates around a rotation axis, and supplies the developer to an image carrier at a facing portion at which the developer carrier faces the image carrier; a transport member that transports the developer in a transport direction along the rotation axis while supplying the developer to the surface of the developer carrier; and a guide member that includes a guide portion that guides, toward downstream in the transport direction, the developer that has passed the facing portion without being supplied to the image carrier, the guide member making an amount of the developer that reaches the transport member on an upstream side of the guide portion in the transport direction be smaller than an amount of the developer that reaches the transport member in on a downstream side of the guide portion. |
US08676088B2 |
Unit provided above an image forming apparatus which is pivotably movable through a rotation fulcrum axis
A compound apparatus is provided that includes an image forming apparatus forming an image on a record medium, an operation panel and a unit provided on an upper part of the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a casing section, an image forming mechanism section provided in the casing section and a discharging mechanism section discharging the record medium having an image formed thereon in a front and rear direction of the image forming apparatus as viewed from a user facing the operation panel and wherein the unit is supported in a manner pivotally movable through a rotation fulcrum axis extending in the front and rear direction of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the user facing the operation panel. |
US08676085B1 |
Dismounting and mounting methods for coupling and electrophotogphaphic photosensitive drum unit
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit includes a cylinder having a photosensitive layer at an outer periphery thereof and a drum flange provided at one end of the cylinder. The drum flange includes at least two projections provided inside of the drum flange and projected radially inwardly of the drum flange, with a space diametrically between the two projections. Each of the two projections projects radially inwardly of the drum flange to a greater extent at a position farther from the cylinder than it does at a position closer to the cylinder. Each of the two projections is provided with a recess to facilitate deformation of the projection. |
US08676082B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a photoreceptor drum that is provided along a paper path of transfer paper; a discharging unit including a light emitting body that emits discharging light, the discharging unit eliminating electrical charge on a surface of the photoreceptor drum; a blast unit that is provided to blow air toward the discharging unit; and a air duct that is provided in the vicinity of the light emitting body, and is configured such that the air from the blast unit toward the discharging unit is configured to blow to a side of the paper path through the air duct. |
US08676080B2 |
Image forming apparatus which forms images on one side or both sides of a sheet
An image forming apparatus capable of selectively discharging a sheet having an image formed with toner on one surface thereof and a sheet having images formed with toner on both surfaces thereof includes a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image on a sheet, a sheet stacking portion configured to stack sheets each having the toner image fixed thereon, and a control portion configured to control a maximum sheet stacking amount of sheets stacked in the sheet stacking portion. The control portion controls the maximum sheet stacking amount set when sheets, at least one of which has the toner images formed on both surfaces thereof, are stacked to be smaller than the maximum sheet stacking amount set when sheets each having the toner image formed on one surface thereof are stacked. |
US08676068B2 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing unit control method thereof
An image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit which forms an image; a fixing unit which fixes the image transferred to a printing medium; a power supply which supplies operation power to the fixing unit; a contactless sensor sensing a temperature of the fixing unit and respectively outputting a sensor-sensing voltage and a sensor-compensating voltage; and a contactless-sensing protector which shuts off the power if the sensor-sensing voltage is higher than the sensor-compensating voltage. The fixing unit can be protected from overheating and control error through the contactless-sensing protector for sensing the fixing temperature and shutting off the power. |
US08676066B2 |
Image forming apparatus having control unit
An image forming apparatus includes a consumable supply detachably attached to an apparatus main body; a detection unit for detecting that the consumable supply is exchanged; a display unit for displaying the consumable supply detected with the detection unit; and an input unit for receiving an input operation for confirming whether the consumable supply detected with the detection unit is correctly exchanged. |
US08676061B2 |
Signal output device, and output apparatus of signal source of signals and of laser beam pulses
A frequency converter includes a first direct digital synthesizer that receives a signal having a predetermined frequency f_master as a clock signal and further an internal frequency setting signal, and outputs an internal signal having a frequency based on the internal frequency setting signal, and a second direct digital synthesizer that receives the internal signal as a clock signal, and further an output frequency setting signal, and outputs an output signal having a frequency f_slave (=f_master−Δ) based on the output frequency setting signal. A difference between the predetermined frequency f_master and the frequency of the internal signal is larger than a difference between the predetermined frequency f_master and the frequency f_slave of the output signal. |
US08676060B2 |
Quadrature amplitude modulation signal generating device
A quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal generator, which can obtain optical signals such as QAM signals without handling multilevel electrical signals, can be produced by using a plurality of parallel Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs), such as quadruplex parallel MZMs (QPMZM). The quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal generator includes a first waveguide, a first quadrature phase-shift-keying (QPSK) signal generator provided on the first waveguide, a second waveguide connected with the first waveguide at a wave-combining point, and a second quadrature phase-shift-keying (QPSK) signal generator provided on the second waveguide. |
US08676059B2 |
Optical signal processing apparatus and optical communication system
In an optical signal processing apparatus, carrier light propagates through a nonlinear optical medium. An optical combiner optically combines output control light for generating idler light of the carrier light with the carrier light. An optical splitter splits the idler light from the carrier light. A receiver acquires a signal multiplexed on the carrier light from the idler light split by the optical splitter. |
US08676057B2 |
Optical transmission device, operational wavelength number restricting method, and program
An optical transmission device that is connected to transmission paths of a network, that performs optical communication according to a wavelength division multiplex format and that transmits optical signals over the transmission paths according to path types that have been set to wavelengths of the optical signals, including an upper limit value storage section that stores an upper limit value of the number of operational wavelengths that is the number of wavelengths to which the path types are set; an acceptance section that accepts a changing request that requests that the number of operational wavelengths be changed; and a license determination section that decides the number of operational wavelengths, wherein if the number of wavelengths that has been changed according to the accepted changing request is equal to or smaller than the stored upper limit value, the license determination section newly sets the changed number of wavelengths for the number of operational wavelengths. |
US08676055B2 |
Data transmission system and method
A method of transmitting data using electromagnetic waves, comprising the steps of providing (101) a first electromagnetic signal (S1) having a first wavelength (λ1) and a second electromagnetic signal (S2) having a second wavelength (λ2) different from the first wavelength; dividing (102) each of the first (S1) and second (S2) electromagnetic signals into a first polarization component (S1x; S2x) having a first polarization direction and a second polarization component (S1y; S2y) having a second polarization direction orthogonal to the first polarization direction; modulating (103) the first polarization component (S1x) of the first electromagnetic signal (S1) to encode a first data stream (DS1); modulating (104) the second polarization component (S2y) of the second electromagnetic signal (S2) to encode a second data stream (DS2); and transmitting (105) a combined electromagnetic signal (Scomb) comprising the first and second polarization components of the first electromagnetic signal (S1) and the first and second polarization components of the second electromagnetic signal (S2). |
US08676053B2 |
Method for monitoring fiber line state, repeater, submarine cable system
The present invention relates to communications technologies, and discloses a method for monitoring the state of a fiber line, a repeater, and a submarine cable system. The repeater includes a first optical amplifier (OA), a second optical amplifier, a first gating unit, a second gating unit, a first coupler, a second coupler, a third coupler, and a fourth coupler. The first coupler, the fourth coupler, and the first gating unit form an in-to-in loopback path between the input end of the first OA and the input end of the second OA; and the second coupler, the third coupler, and the second gating unit form an out-to-out loopback path between the output end of the first OA and the output end of the second OA. |
US08676052B2 |
Image capturing device and activation method therefor
An image capturing device includes a first controller operable to control image capturing; an operation section including a switch; a detector operable to detect a change to an image capturing mode and to send a signal representing the change; a second controller operable to monitor and process the sent signal, the second controller having a power consumption less than that of the first controller; and a power supply operable to supply power to the first controller, the second controller, and a functional section of the device. When the second controller receives the signal sent from the detecting section in a power saving state in which power is supplied from the power supply to the second controller, the power saving state is changed to a power supplying state capable of image capturing by supplying power from the power supply to portions of the device including the first controller. |
US08676051B2 |
Focus detection device, focus detection method, and camera
A focus detection device includes a focus detector, an object detector, a selector, a divider, and a controller. The focus detector is configured to detect a plurality of focus adjusting states at focus detecting positions in an image plane of an optical system. The object detector is configured to detect image information corresponding to a specified object in an image of the optical system. The selector is configured to select focus adjusting states among the plurality of focus adjusting states based on the image information detected by the object detector. The divider is configured to find variation in the selected focus adjusting states and configured to divide the selected focus adjusting states into a plurality of groups based on the variation. The controller is configured to find a final focus adjusting state based on a pre-final focus adjusting state in a group selected from the plurality of groups. |
US08676046B2 |
Fingerprint scanning systems and methods
Embodiments relate to methods and systems for gathering, archiving, transmitting, and processing forensic and latent fingerprints. An integrated forensic fingerprint scanning system is provided that includes a number of features for use with forensic-quality fingerprinting. One set of features of embodiments of the portable forensic fingerprint scanning system provides real-time feedback for accurate fingerprinting and training, including visual and/or audio feedback. Another set of features provides cadence-based functionality for improving fingerprinting results. Another set of features provides cryptographic-based approaches to secure highly sensitive collected fingerprint information against loss, theft, or surreptitious modification or tampering. Yet another set of features provides latent fingerprint collections and processing. Still another set of features provides various databasing functions, including centralized storage, data sharing, secure networking, etc. And another set of features provides compatibility with a large variety of jurisdiction-specific inputs and/or outputs, including linguistic interactivity, alerts, print cards, etc. |
US08676040B2 |
Recording medium, reproduction apparatus, and recording method
A BD-ROM has recorded therein an AV Clip generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream. The graphics stream represents an interactive display to be overlayed with the video stream, and includes a sequence of three Button State groups. The interactive display includes a plurality of buttons, each of which changes from a normal state to a selected state, and from the selected state to an active state, according to a user operation. In the three Button State groups in the graphics stream, the first-order group (N-ODSs) is made of a plurality of pieces of graphics data, which represent normal states of the buttons, the second-order group (S-ODSs) is made of a plurality of pieces of graphics data, which represent selected states of the buttons, and the third-order group (A-ODSs) is made of a plurality of pieces of graphics data, which represent active states of the buttons. |
US08676037B2 |
Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of still pictures recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The recording medium includes a data structure with at least one playlist file stored in a playlist area of the recording medium. The playlist file includes at least one playitem, at least one sub-playitem and mark information. The playitem provides navigation information for reproducing at least one still picture from a first file. The sub-playitem is associated with the playitem and provides navigation information for reproducing audio data from a second file. The mark information includes at least one mark pointing to the still picture. |
US08676033B2 |
Method and apparatus for extracting key frames from a video
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for extracting key frames from a video. The method includes: dividing the video into multiple levels of video segments, wherein each video segment at a non-lowest level comprises one or more video segments at the next lower level, the multiple levels range from a first level to an N-th level, N is an integer greater than 1, the first level is the lowest level, and the N-th level is the highest level; extracting from video segments of the video at a non-highest level candidate frames at the non-highest level; for each level from a next higher level to the highest level, selecting zero, one or more candidate frames at the level from candidate frames at the next lower level in each video segment at the level; and outputting the candidate frames at the highest level as the key frames of the video. |
US08676032B2 |
Playback apparatus
A playback apparatus plays back, from a recording medium, a plurality of information files, and a modified file which is generated using a portion of the plurality of information files. If modified data specified in playback description data for specifying a playback procedure for the plurality of information files including the modified file is not recorded on the recording medium, the playback apparatus changes the playback operation for the information files. |
US08676028B2 |
Method for reproducing data recorded on an interactive recording medium in conjunction with associated auxiliary data
A method for reproducing data recorded on an interactive recording medium in conjunction with associated auxiliary data is disclosed. An interactive recording medium reproducing apparatus reproduces A/V data recorded on an interactive recording medium such as an interactive DVD in conjunction with contents data provided by a contents providing server using navigation information for the contents data also provided by the contents providing server, thereby allowing synchronized reproduction of data from different sources. |
US08676027B2 |
Method for event initiated video capturing and a video camera for capture event initiated video
A method and a video camera for recording an event initiated video sequence includes storing captured video frames in a video buffer, detecting a first event, and in response, initiating a video sequence recording session for recording of a video sequence in a non-volatile memory. Pre-event video frames and post-event video frames related to the first event are recorded, where the post-event time period starts at the detection of the first event. A first event delay time period is started in response to the expiration of the post-event time period. The video sequence recording session is closed if a delay period expires and no other event process is in progress. |
US08676026B2 |
Data recording apparatus
A data recording apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first type data and a second type data, and a recording unit configured to record the first type data or the second type data acquired by the acquisition unit in a recording medium. The recording unit refers to a first pointer which indicates a logical position regarding the first type data in the recording medium to determine a position to start recording the first type data based on the logical position indicated by the first pointer. The recording unit refers to a second pointer which indicates a logical position regarding the second type data in the recording medium to determine a position to start recording the second type data based on the logical position indicated by the second pointer. |
US08676025B2 |
Method of timebase management for MPEG decoding with personal video recording functionality
Systems and methods that provide time-based management for MPEG decoding are provided. In one example, a method for live decoding in a personal video recorder system includes the steps of receiving at least one data packet; determining at least one program clock reference (PCR) using the at least one data packet; and locking a timing mechanism to the at least one determined PCR. |
US08676024B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating data representing digests of pictures
Video data pieces are classified into groups according to prescribed rules. A cut number assigned to each of the groups is decided on the basis of the length or lengths of a video data piece or pieces in each of the groups and the number of the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. A cut or cuts are extracted from the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. Regarding each of the groups, the number of the extracted cut or cuts is equal to the decided cut number. Digest data is generated from the extracted cuts for all the groups. |
US08676023B2 |
Method of fabrication for an asymmetric Bragg coupler-based polymeric wavelength filter with single-grating waveguide
The present invention discloses a method for fabricating polymeric wavelength filter based on an asymmetric Bragg coupler with single-grating waveguide. The asymmetric waveguide coupler is formed firstly on a negative photo-resist mold. PDMS film is injected into the narrow waveguide of the coupler to act as a protection layer. The gratings pattern is exposed on the alternative waveguide and subsequently transferred to PDMS stamp mold. The PDMS stamp mold is used as a stamp to transfer the gratings pattern of the ABC wavelength filter onto UV cured polymer to form the final ABC filter. Whereby, the fabrication process is reliable and accurate, and can offer great potential for mass production of the ABC filter with single-grating waveguide. |
US08676018B2 |
Optical fiber stripper for a fiber optic connection termination system
An optical fiber stripper that may cooperate with an optical fiber handler for stripping one or more coating from an optical fiber is disclosed. The stripper is used as a part of a termination system for preparing the optical fiber for an optical connection, thereby providing the craft with a simple, reliable, and easy termination of the optical fiber. By way of example, the stripper cooperates with an optical fiber handler having an optical fiber secured therein for preparing the end of the optical fiber for a mechanical splice in a fiber optic connector. |
US08676017B2 |
Light control element and optical waveguide circuit
A light control element includes three or more silicon thin-film layers (522, 524, 526) placed on a first dielectric layer (521), second dielectric layers (523, 525) placed between the three or more silicon thin-film layers (522, 524, 526), and a third dielectric layer (529) placed to surround the silicon thin-film layers and the second dielectric layers. The three or more silicon thin-film layers are arranged to partially overlap with one anther. In the part where the silicon thin-film layers overlap, the second dielectric layers are placed between the silicon thin-film layers. In the three or more silicon thin-film layers, the silicon thin-film layers adjacent to each other have different conductivity types. |
US08676015B2 |
Non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber having a short cutoff wavelength
A non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber (NZDSF) includes a central core, an inner cladding, and an outer cladding. The central core has an outer radius r1 and a maximum refractive index difference Dn1 with respect to the outer cladding. The inner cladding includes a first intermediate cladding and a buried trench. The first intermediate cladding has an outer radius r2 and a refractive index difference Dn2 with respect to the outer cladding. The buried trench has an outer radius r3, a width w3, and a negative refractive index difference Dn3 with respect to the outer cladding. In some embodiments, the inner cladding includes a second intermediate cladding having an outer radius r4 and a refractive index difference Dn4 with respect to the outer cladding. For a radius of curvature of 30 millimeters at a wavelength of 1625 nanometers, the optical fiber typically exhibits bending losses of about 0.5 dB/100 turns or less. The optical fiber's 22-meter cable cutoff wavelength (22 m-λcc) and effective cutoff wavelength at two meters are typically less than 1150 nanometers. |
US08676013B2 |
Imaging system using and related techniques
A method and apparatus for imaging using a double-clad fiber is described. |
US08676009B2 |
Monolithic photonic integrated circuit
An optical device includes a waveguide slab, first and second input port couplers, and first and second output port couplers located over a planar optical substrate. The waveguide slab has a plane of symmetry. The first and second input port couplers extend from the waveguide slab and have an input coupler pair axis located about midway between the first and second input port couplers. The input coupler pair axis is offset at a nonzero first distance from the plane of symmetry. The first and second output port couplers extend from the waveguide slab and have an output coupler pair axis located about midway between the first and second output port couplers. The output coupler pair axis is offset at a different nonzero second distance from the plane of symmetry. |
US08676004B1 |
Optical circuit switch optimization using optical circulators
Systems and methods for optimizing port usage in an optical circuit switch are disclosed herein. A plurality of optical circulators can be coupled to the plurality of input and output ports of an optical circuit switch. An optical circulator coupled to an input port and an optical circulator coupled to an output port can form a bidirectional pair capable of communicating with any other bidirectional pair of the optical circuit switch. In this regard, the number of bidirectional ports of an optical circuit switch can be increased allowing additional bandwidth to flow through the optical circuit switch. Increasing the efficiency and capabilities of optical circuit switches within a large scale communications network can offer increased functionality and performance with little trade off. |
US08676003B2 |
Methods and systems for reducing polarization dependent loss
A photonics integrated circuit for processing radiation includes a first-dimensional grating coupler for coupling in radiation, a second two-dimensional grating coupler for coupling out radiation and a waveguide structure having two distinct waveguide arms for splitting radiation received from the first grating coupler and recombining radiation in the second grating coupler. A phase shifting means furthermore is provided for inducing an additional phase shift in at least one of the two distinct waveguide arms thereby inducing a relative phase shift of π between the two distinct waveguide arms so as to provide a TE/TM polarization switch for radiation between the first grating coupler and the second grating coupler. |
US08675999B1 |
Apparatus, system, and method for multi-patch based super-resolution from an image
Embodiments of the present invention include apparatuses, systems and methods for multi-patch based super-resolution from a single video frame. Such embodiments include a scale-invariant self-similarity (SiSS) based super-resolution method. Instead of searching HR examples in a database or in LR image, the present embodiments may select the patches according to the SiSS characteristics of the patch itself, so that the computational complexity of the method may be reduced because there is not any search involved. To solve the problem of lack of relevant examples in natural images, the present embodiments may employ multi-shaped and multi-sized patches in HR image reconstruction. Additionally, embodiments may include steps for a hybrid weighing method for suppressing artifacts. Advantageously, certain embodiments of the method may be 10˜1,000 times faster than the example based SR approaches using patch searching and can achieve comparable HR image quality. |
US08675998B2 |
Method and apparatus for high frequency component smoothing, and image display apparatus
A method and apparatus for processing images, and an image display apparatus are provided that can produce favorable images even when digitized image are partially magnified (enlarged) or reduced (shrunk). The apparatus for expanding or reducing input image data supplied thereto, for each area of the image data, comprises a high frequency (HF) component smoothing processor that generates smoothed-HF-component image data by smoothing HF components of the input image data; a partial magnification/reduction controller that generates partial magnification/reduction control information that designates positions of pixels in image data obtained after expanding or reducing the input image data for each image area; and a pixel data generator that generates pixel data of pixel positions designated by the partial magnification/reduction control information in the smoothed-HF-component image data, by using pixel data in a neighborhood of the designated pixel positions. |
US08675994B1 |
High performance warp correction in two-dimensional images
An apparatus generally having a first memory, a second memory and a circuit is disclosed. The first memory may be configured to store a warp table. The warp table is generally accessed through a single data port of the first memory. The second memory may be configured to buffer an input image. The input image may have a plurality of input pixels arranged in two dimensions. The circuit may be configured to generate an output image by a warp correction of an input image. The warp correction may be defined by the warp table. The output image may include a plurality of output pixels. At least one of the output pixels maybe generated during each clock cycle of the circuit. |
US08675993B2 |
Methods and apparatus for patch-based shape from shading
Methods and apparatus for patch-based construction of an object shape from the shading of an image are disclosed. An image is divided into a set of image subregions. For each image subregion, a set of subregion dictionary entries is identified. Each of the set of subregion dictionary entries includes a subregion entry appearance matching an appearance of the respective image subregion and a subregion entry geometry. A set of optimal subregion dictionary entries is identified. Identifying the set of optimal subregion dictionary entries includes minimizing an energy function of the sets of subregion dictionary entries for all image subregions. Each optimal subregion dictionary entry is, for a respective one of the image subregions, a subregion entry associated with a minimum of the energy function. The shape includes a shape construction parameter from a subregion geometry entry of each optimal subregion geometry entry of the set of optimal subregion geometry entries. |
US08675992B2 |
Digital microscope slide scanning system and methods
Provided herein are systems methods including a design of a microscope slide scanner for digital pathology applications which provides high quality images and automated batch-mode operation at low cost. The instrument architecture is advantageously based on a convergence of high performance, yet low cost, computing technologies, interfaces and software standards to enable high quality digital microscopy at very low cost. Also provided is a method based in part on a stitching method that allows for dividing an image into a number of overlapping tiles and reconstituting the image with a magnification without substantial loss of accuracy. A scanner is employed in capturing snapshot images. The method allows for overlapping images captured in consecutive snapshots. |
US08675991B2 |
Modification of post-viewing parameters for digital images using region or feature information
A method of modifying the viewing parameters of digital images using image feature detection for achieving desired parameters based on one or more sub-groups of pixels that correspond to one or more selected image features such as a face, body, pets, or a background region or a foreground region. Such methods may be used for animating still images, automating and streamlining application such as the creation of slide shows and screen savers of images containing selected image features. Two or more features such as a foreground region and a background region may be separated and independently processed. |
US08675990B2 |
Composite evaluation
A method of evaluating a composite structure in which a portion of the structure is imaged and subsequently transformed to provide a 2D output of the angular distribution of features, eg a 2D FFT. A weighting function is applied to the output to compensate for variation in the angular density of pixel population. The weighted output is then used to provide an angular distribution of feature intensity. The structure can be imaged in two or more intersecting planes to allow a 3D determination of feature direction to be obtained. |
US08675989B2 |
Optimized orthonormal system and method for reducing dimensionality of hyperspectral images
A method for reducing dimensionality of hyperspectral images includes receiving a hyperspectral image having a plurality of pixels. The method may further include establishing an orthonormal basis vector set comprising a plurality of mutually orthogonal normalized members. Each of the mutually orthogonal normalized members may be associated with one of the plurality of pixels of the hyperspectral image. The method may further include decomposing the hyperspectral image into a reduced dimensionality image, utilizing calculations performed while establishing said orthonormal basis vector set. A system configured to perform the method may also be provided. |
US08675985B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image
Provided are an apparatus and method for processing an image. The apparatus includes a detector configured to form one group with pieces of pixel information on an edge of a received image, detect line segments, and generate a plurality of curves using the detected line segments, an optimizer configured to apply a weight to a cost function based on the plurality of generated curves according to distance from the center of the image, define a curve having a shorter length than a threshold value as an outlier and a curve having a greater length than the threshold value as an inlier, remove the outlier, and estimate a distortion level parameter, and a corrector configured to correct a position of a pixel with a correction value using the distortion level parameter. Accordingly, it is possible to correct lens distortion of even an image that has not been directly photographed, and to correct images generated by devices equipped with any lens rather than a specific camera or photographing apparatus. |
US08675984B2 |
Merging multiple exposed images in transform domain
Techniques are provided to generate high or wide dynamic range image from two or more input images of different exposure settings by directly merging coefficients derived from the input images in a transform domain. Energy values may be determined from coefficients blocks derived from the input images. The energy values may be compared with thresholds to determine weight factors for the coefficient blocks. An output coefficient block in the transform domain, used in or used to generate the output image, may be determined as a weighted combination of the coefficient blocks in the transform domain derived from the input images. If input images are compressed in transform domain, an output image can be generated without performing decompression in transform domain. |
US08675981B2 |
Multi-modal gender recognition including depth data
Gender recognition is performed using two or more modalities. For example, depth image data and one or more types of data other than depth image data is received. The data pertains to a person. The different types of data are fused together to automatically determine gender of the person. A computing system can subsequently interact with the person based on the determination of gender. |
US08675976B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and method for handling intra-image predictive encoding with various color spaces and color signal resolutions
The present invention is directed to an image information encoding apparatus adapted for performing intra-image encoding based on resolution of color components and color space of an input image signal. An intra prediction unit serves to adaptively change block size in generating a prediction image based on a chroma format signal indicating whether resolution of color components is one of 4:2:0 format, 4:2:2 format, and 4:4:4 format, and a color space signal indicating whether color space is one of YCbCr, RGB, and XYZ. An inverse orthogonal transform unit and an inverse quantization unit serve to also change orthogonal transform technique and quantization technique in accordance with the chroma format signal and the color space signal. An encoding unit encodes the chroma format signal and the color space signal to generate a prediction image corresponding to the chroma format signal and the color space signal. |
US08675973B2 |
Signal classification apparatus
An acquisition unit acquires feature vectors (the number is N). A first selection unit selects first neighbor features (k (1≦k≦N)) of each feature vector in order of higher similarity from the feature vectors. A second selection unit generates a plurality of groups each including similar feature vectors from the feature vectors, and selects second neighbor features (u (1≦k+u≦N−2)) of each feature vector in order of higher similarity. Each of the second neighbor features is differently included in a group. A determination unit calculates a density of each feature vector by using a threshold, the first neighbor features and the second neighbor features, and determines feature vectors to be classified into the same class as each feature vector by using the density and a threshold. A classification unit classifies the feature vectors into a plurality of classes by using the selection result. A control unit controls each threshold. |
US08675972B2 |
Method and device for determining the pose of a three-dimensional object in an image and method and device for creating at least one key image for object tracking
The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the exposure of a three-dimensional object in an image, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: acquiring a three-dimensional generic model of the object, projecting the three-dimensional generic model according to at least one two-dimensional representation and associating to each two-dimensional representation an exposure information of the three-dimensional object, electing and positioning a two-dimensional representation onto the object in said image, and determining the three-dimensional exposure of the object in the image from at least the exposure information associated with the selected two-dimensional representation. |
US08675971B2 |
Method and apparatus for classifying image pixels
A method of classifying pixels in an image is described that includes calculating for each target pixel in the image, a functional value based on a median value of a block of pixels including the target pixel and storing the functional value for each pixel. Pixels in the image are then analyzed to determine if they correspond to edges in the image and if so, are classified as edge pixels. Next the stored functional values are analyzed to define a flat area delimiting function for the image. The stored functional values that do not correspond to edge pixels are then analyzed to define an image detail delimiting function and the non-flat area pixels are classified as being either flat area pixels or detail pixels based on the flat area delimiting function and the detail delimiting function. |
US08675967B2 |
Pose estimation
In a pose estimation for estimating the pose of an object of pose estimation with respect to a reference surface that serves as a reference for estimating a pose, a data processing device: extracts pose parameters from a binarized image; identifies a combination of pose parameters for which the number of cross surfaces of parameter surfaces that accord with surface parameter formulas, which are numerical formulas for expressing a reference surface, is a maximum; finds a slope weighting for each of cross pixels, which are pixels on each candidate surface and which are pixels within a prescribed range, that is identified based on the angles of the tangent plane at the cross pixel and based on planes formed by each of the axes of parameter space; and identifies the significant candidate surface for which a number, which is the sum of slope weightings, is a maximum, as the actual surface that is the reference surface that actually exists in the image. |
US08675964B2 |
Image fusion using intensity mapping functions
Techniques to improve image fusing operations using intensity mapping functions (IMFs) are described. In one approach, when a reference image's pixel values are within its' IMF's useful range, they may be used to generate predicted secondary image pixel values. When the reference image's pixel values are not within the IMF's useful range, actual values from a captured secondary image may be used directly or processed further to generate predicted secondary image pixel values. The predicted and actual pixel values may be used to construct predicted secondary images that may be fused. In another approach, the consistency between pixel pairs may be used to generate consistency-based weighting factors that may be used during image fusion operations. |
US08675963B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic brightness adjustment of image signal processor
An automatic brightness adjusting method and apparatus for image signal processor (ISP) is provided. The image processing apparatus may include a histogram generating unit, a cumulative distribution function calculator, and a histogram equalization (HE) unit. The histogram generating unit may generate a histogram of brightness values of pixels in an input image. The cumulative distribution function calculator may generate a cumulative distribution function and an inverse cumulative distribution function, based on the generated histogram. The HE unit may generate a conversion function based on the cumulative distribution function and the inverse cumulative distribution function, and may apply HE to the input image based on the conversion function so as to generate an output image. |
US08675962B2 |
Image correction processing circuit, semiconductor device, and image correction processing device
The image correction processing device (100) disclosed in the description is configured by integrating a first external terminal (CAMDI) [7:0] to which digital input image data is inputted from outside of the device, an image correction processing circuit (200) applying predetermined image correction processing on the digital input image to create digital output image data, a second external terminal (CAMDO) [7:0] outputting the digital output image data to the outside of the device, an encoder circuit (300) converting the digital output image data to analog composite video-type output image data, and a third external terminal (VOUT) outputting the analog composite video-type data to the outside of the device. |
US08675959B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium and image processing apparatus
A computer-readable recording medium has stored therein an image processing program for causing a computer to execute a process including identifying, on a taken image of a jig having a plurality of first color regions and a plurality of second color regions different in color from the first color regions, the first color regions, comparing each of the identified first color regions with a predetermined convex shape and retracting each of the first color regions until it is determined that each of the first color regions has a similarity in shape to the predetermined convex shape, and determining a feature point of the jig on the image on the basis of a positional relationship of a plurality of first retracted regions on the image, the first retracted regions being obtained from the first color regions as a result of retraction at the retracting. |
US08675958B2 |
Subject determination method, computer program product for determining subject, and camera
A photographic subject determination method includes: a binarization step of creating a plurality of binarized images of a subject image, based upon color information or luminance information in the subject image; an evaluation value calculation step of, for each of the plurality of binarized images, calculating an evaluation value that is used for specifying at least one of a position, a size, and a shape of a photographic subject within the subject image; and a photographic subject specification step of specifying at least one of the position, the size, and the shape of a photographic subject within the subject image, based upon the evaluation value. |
US08675955B2 |
Method and system for transparency adjustment and occlusion resolution for urban landscape visualization
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest occluded by an occluding portion of an image. The lens includes an extent of the lens, a focal region including a magnification and a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion, and a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region. The shoulder region also has decreasing transparency as depth decreases from the focal region to the portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens. |
US08675953B1 |
Calculating an object size using images
An electronic device that determines a geometric scale of an object using two or more images of the object is described. During operation, the electronic device calculates the size of the object along a direction using multiple images of the object that were taken from different perspectives (such as different locations and/or orientations in an environment) along with associated imaging-device characteristics. For example, the size of the object may be calculated using the images, the associated focal lengths of a digital camera that acquired the images, and the law of cosines. Using the scale of the object, an image of the object may be appropriately scaled so that it can be combined with another image. |
US08675952B2 |
Apparatus and method to extract three-dimensional (3D) facial expression
Provided is a method and apparatus of extracting a 3D facial expression of a user. When a facial image of the user is received, the 3D facial expression extracting method and apparatus may generate 3D expression information by tracking an expression of the user from the facial image using at least one of shape-based tracking and texture-based tracking, may generate a 3D expression model based on the 3D expression information, and reconstruct the 3D expression model to have a natural facial expression by adding muscle control points to the 3D expression model. |
US08675950B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: an image extracting section that extracts a template image from blade images which form a streaming video obtained by capturing blades periodically arrayed in a jet engine; an image comparing section that compares the blade images with the template image; an image selecting section that selects an image as a record image from the blade images based on a result of the image comparison of the image comparing section; and a display section that displays the surface shape of the blade calculated based on the record image. |
US08675947B2 |
X-ray image diagnostic system, image processing apparatus and image processing method
The present invention is an image processing apparatus that reconstructs one frame of image data using block-level image data, including a unit that receives the block-level image data to which position information has been added, a unit that determines whether or not there was an error in the transmission of the received position information, a first storage area used for storing the block-level image data corresponding to the position information for which a transmission error did not occur, a second storage area used for storing the block-level image data corresponding to the position information for which a transmission error occurred, a unit that infers correct position information for the block-level image data stored in the second storage area based on the first storage area and the second storage area, and a unit that reconstructs the one frame of image data using the inferred position information. |
US08675946B2 |
X-ray diagnosis apparatus and image processing apparatus
When a plurality of X-ray images in a time sequence is stored in an image data storing unit (25), a marker coordinate detecting unit (26a) detects coordinates of a stent marker in each X-ray image, and a motion vector calculating unit (26b) calculates, with coordinates of the stent marker detected in a first frame as reference coordinates, a motion vector of the coordinates of the stent marker detected in each X-ray image of a second and subsequent frames with respect to the reference coordinates. Then, a filter application range determining unit (26c) moves and determines an application range of a smoothing filter in each X-ray image based on the motion vector, and the filtered image generating unit (26d) generates a filtered image by performing a process by the smoothing filter between application ranges determined in a process target image and a reference image. |
US08675945B2 |
System and method for image registration
A system and method for providing processable data associated with anatomical images may provide a user interface including a pivot and stem tool via which to align multiple images, a flashlight bar for viewing portions of an overlaid image, and/or user-movable markers for establishing a location of one or more anatomical landmarks with regions of one or more images. |
US08675942B2 |
Prior enhanced compressed sensing (PRINCE-CS) reconstruction for dynamic 2D-radial cardiac MRI
A reconstructed image is rendered from a set of MRI data by first estimating an image with an area which does not contain artifacts or has an artifact with a relative small magnitude. Corresponding data elements in the estimated image and a trial image are processed, for instance by multiplication, to generate an intermediate data set. The intermediate data set is transformed and minimized iteratively to generate a reconstructed image that is free or substantially free of artifacts. In one embodiment a Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) is used. A sparsifying transformation may be applied to generate the reconstructed image. The sparsifying transformation may be also not be applied. |
US08675939B2 |
Registration of anatomical data sets
Methods and systems are disclosed for relating additional spatial information associated with one volume data set of an anatomical structure with another volume data set of the anatomical structure where the spatial information is not available. A unique spatial characteristic of the volume data set is identified, such as an image moment of inertia, and an arbitrary reference frame is assigned to the volume data set and correlated with the unique spatial characteristic. The additional spatial information is also correlated with the arbitrary reference frame. The additional spatial information is then correlated to a second volume data set of the anatomical structure by registering the first and second volume data sets based on the unique spatial characteristic. The methods and systems allow registration of different volume data sets of the same anatomical structure and transfer of the additional spatial information without establishing a local reference frame based on predefined landmarks. |
US08675936B2 |
Multimodal image reconstruction
Computer-implemented methods of reconstructing an image object for a measured object in object space from image data in data space include causing a computer to execute instructions for providing zonal information separating the object space into at least two zones, providing at least two zonal image objects, each zonal image object being associated with one of the at least two zones, reconstructing the image object using a data model derived from forward projecting the zonal image objects into data space, wherein the contribution of each zonal image object to the data model is weighted according to a zonal scaling factor, and outputting the image object. |
US08675935B2 |
Fast 3D-2D image registration method with application to continuously guided endoscopy
Fast and continuous registration between two imaging modalities makes it possible to completely determine the rigid transformation between multiple sources at real-time or near real-time frame-rates in order to localize video cameras and register the two sources. A set of reference images are computed or captured within a known environment, with corresponding depth maps and image gradients defining a reference source. Given one frame from a real-time or near-real time video feed, and starting from an initial guess of viewpoint, a real-time video frame is warped to the nearest viewing site of the reference source. An image difference is computed between the warped video frame and the reference image. Steps are repeated for each frame until the viewpoint converges or the next video frame becomes available. The final viewpoint gives an estimate of the relative rotation and translation between the camera at that particular video frame and the reference source. |
US08675930B2 |
Implantable orthopedic device component selection instrument and methods
The present invention provides tools and methods designed to aid in the placement of artificial facet joints at virtually all spinal levels. One aspect of the present invention is a measurement tool for installing an artificial cephalad facet joint including a fixation measurement element and a support arm element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of an artificial cephalad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Another aspect is a measurement tool for installing a caudad facet joint including a stem element and a trial caudad bearing surface element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of a caudad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Yet another aspect is a measurement tool holder including a measurement surface connected to a holder element. This tool holder assists in determining the measurements obtained with the caudad facet joint measurement tool. |
US08675918B2 |
Methods and apparatus for robust video stabilization
Methods and apparatus for robust video stabilization. A video stabilization technique applies a feature tracking technique to an input video sequence to generate feature trajectories. The technique applies a video partitioning technique to segment the input video sequence into factorization windows and transition windows. The technique smoothes the trajectories in each of the windows, in sequence. For factorization windows, a subspace-based optimization technique may be used. For transition windows, a direct track optimization technique that uses a similarity motion model may be used. The technique then determines and applies warping models to the frames in the video sequence. In at least some embodiments, the warping models may include a content-preserving warping model, a homography model, a similarity transform model, and a whole-frame translation model. The warped frames may then be cropped according to a cropping technique. |
US08675916B2 |
User interface apparatus and method using movement recognition
A movement recognition method and a user interface are provided. A skin color is detected from a reference face area of an image. A movement-accumulated area, in which movements are accumulated, is detected from sequentially accumulated image frames. Movement information corresponding to the skin color is detected from the detected movement-accumulated area. A user interface screen is created and displayed using the detected movement information. |
US08675911B2 |
System for optically detecting position and/or orientation of objects comprising at least two coplanar sensors
The electro-optical system for determining position and orientation of a mobile part comprises a fixed projector having a center of projection (O) and a mobile part. The projector is rigidly linked with a virtual image plane, and the mobile part is rigidly linked with two linear sensors defining a first and a second direction vector. The fixed part projects onto the image plane and onto the sensors patterns, not represented, forming at least two secant networks of at least three segments that are each parallel. The two electro-optical devices are coplanar and their directions secant, the orientation and the position of the mobile part are determined by calculating the positions of the projections on the image plane of a first triple of points comprising the projections of three points. |
US08675908B2 |
Low cost programmable sound recording and playback device and method for communicating with, and recharging of, the device
A low cost sound recording and playback device and a low cost method for wirelessly communicating with, and recharging of, the device. The device utilizes commonly available electronic components generally included in electronic sound producing devices thereby allowing for lowest cost of manufacture. The device includes a low cost low-power processor, general purpose low-cost loudspeaker, and a power source. The method incorporates inductive coupling between an external communication and recharging device, and the internal loudspeakers voice coil of the device. Substantial reductions in cost and space savings are realized by utilizing the internal loudspeaker's voice coil for multiple purposes. |
US08675906B2 |
Flat panel speaker mounting system with remote operation
An apparatus for mounting two speakers to a flat panel display device is disclosed which engages standardized mounting plates formed in such displays. The apparatus may be utilized with flat panel mounting devices, such as pedestal, wall or ceiling mounts. The apparatus provides adjustments of the position of each speaker mounted in regard to height, fore/aft and depth position, as well as rotation about an X, Y and Z axis. The apparatus enables changes relative to one or more of the aforementioned adjustments without altering other aspects of speaker position. A second alternate preferred embodiment of the disclosed mounting device provides remote actuation and locking of a pivot joint and a sliding joint. |
US08675905B2 |
Case for a handheld electronic device
An improved case for a handheld electronic device is provided. The case comprises: a housing for enclosing an audio transducer and a display, the housing having a front portion having an interior region formed therein, a window for the audio transducer and the display in the interior region, a housing surface surrounding the window and a transducer hole for part of the audio transducer; and a lens having an interior lens surface, the interior lens surface formed to mate with the housing surface and the lens having a first region having an indentation formed in the interior lens surface. For the case, a cavity is formed by the indentation with the transducer hole when the interior lens surface is mated with the housing surface to cover the transducer hole; and the case has an opening formed therein in fluid communication with the cavity and atmosphere around the handheld electronic device. |
US08675901B2 |
Howling suppression device, hearing aid, howling suppression method, and integrated circuit
A howling suppression device includes: a subtractor which generates an error signal; an adaptive filter which applies filtering to the error signal; and a coefficient update control unit which controls an update rate of a filter coefficient and includes: a convergence analysis unit which determines whether or not a condition that the degree of convergence of filter characteristics is higher than a criterion value is satisfied; a change amount analysis unit which determines whether or not a condition that the degree of convergence has turned out to be higher is satisfied; and an update rate control unit which sets the update rate to a first rate when both the conditions are satisfied and to a second rate when at least one of the conditions is not satisfied. The adaptive filter updates the filter coefficient at the update rate. |
US08675900B2 |
Hearing system and method as well as ear-level device and control device applied therein
An ear-level hearing device and a handheld computer with a graphical user interface determines a subject's own hearing threshold. Hardware includes the smartphone, viewing screen of the smartphone, smartphone software, ear level hearing device, transmitter on the smartphone and receiver on the ear level device (ELD) communicating with the graphical user interface on the smartphone to the ear level hearing device. The interface on the smartphone may include an automatic routine or buttons to vary frequency and amplitude of a frequency dependent sound presentation to the earpiece. Software installed on the hand-held smartphone system sends wireless signals to the ELD changing acoustic parameters in the listening device. The ELD stores frequency/amplitude parameters of the thresholds and wirelessly delivers them to the smartphone. The smartphone uses the threshold data to derive the appropriate amplified acoustical signal (relative to the thresholds) to the subject. |
US08675898B2 |
Ribbon microphone with automatic protection switch
To provide electromagnetic damping without a special output connector for protecting a diaphragm of metallic ribbon foil of a ribbon microphone against shocks. A ribbon microphone operable with a phantom power supply comprises: an acoustic-electric converter 1 including a pair of permanent magnets and a diaphragm of metallic ribbon foil; and a step-up transformer 110 coupled with the diaphragm on a primary winding 111 side and having, on a secondary winding 112 side, an output connector 120 removably connected to a phantom power supply, the step-up transformer 110 increasing a voltage generated by the diaphragm to a predetermined voltage, the voltage then being output to the phantom power supply side through the output connector 120, wherein a switch 141 is connected across the secondary winding 112, the switch 141 being normally closed and being opened by a power supplied from the phantom power supply. |
US08675893B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a speaker, a terminal, an amplifier, a power supply circuit, and a first controller. The terminal is configured to input an audio signal from an external apparatus. The amplifier is configured to amplify the audio signal which is input from the terminal, and to output sound from the speaker. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to the amplifier. The first controller is configured to control the power supply circuit in order to continue the supply of power to the amplifier, if the external apparatus is connected to the terminal when the electronic apparatus transitions from a operative state to a non-operative state. |
US08675889B2 |
Two wire autobias vehicular microphone system having user input functionality and method of forming same
An autobias vehicular microphone system (300) includes a microphone (301) which uses an amplifier (306) for amplifying an output of the microphone. A first feedback path (308) provides an amplifier output signal to the amplifier input for providing amplifier linearity, and a second feedback path (305) is used for providing bias to a voltage reference (303). The voltage reference (303) operates to provide an autobias to the amplifier (306) based upon amplifier load-ing. By holding the bias point to a constant voltage, a constant clip level can be maintained depending on varying load conditions of electronic devices (307, 309, 311) using the microphone (301). Additionally, one or more switches can be used to vary the bias point which can be interpreted to control functionality of the electronic devices (307, 309, 311). |
US08675884B2 |
Method and a system for processing signals
A system for processing sound, the system including: (a) a processor, configured to process a first input signal that is detected by a first microphone at a detection moment, a second input signal that is detected by a second microphone at the detection moment, and a third input signal that is detected by a bone-conduction microphone at the detection moment, to generate a corrected signal that is responsive to the first, second, and third input signals; and (b) a communication interface, configured to provide the corrected signal to an external system. |
US08675878B2 |
Interoperable keychest for use by service providers
There is provided a system and method for distributors to use an interoperable key chest. There is provided a method for use by a distributor to obtain content access authorizations from a key chest or central key repository (CKR), the method comprising receiving a user request from a user device for access to an encrypted content identified by a content identification, transmitting a key request to the CKR including the content identification, receiving an encrypted first key from the CKR, decrypting the encrypted first key using a second key to retrieve the first key, and providing a DRM license for the encrypted content to the user device using the first key for use by the user device to decrypt the encrypted content using the first key. By generating such DRM licenses, distributors can unlock protected content even sourced from distributors using different DRM schemas. |
US08675875B2 |
Optimizing use of hardware security modules
Use of cryptographic key-store hardware security modules is optimized in a system having a first scarce high-security key storage device and a second more plentiful low-security key storage device comprising securing a cryptographic key to the higher security level by initially storing the key in the first storage device, then responsive to an event, evaluating the stored key against one or more rules, and subsequent to the evaluation, reclassifying the stored key for relocation, encrypting the reclassified key using a key-encryption key; relocating the reclassified key into the second, lower-security storage device, and storing the key-encryption key in the first storage device. |
US08675869B2 |
Incorporating data into an ECDSA signature component
During generation of a signature on a message to create a signed message, a signer determines one of the signature components such that particular information can be extracted from the signature component. The particular information may be related to one or more of the signer and the message to be signed. After receiving a signed message purported to be signed by the signer, a verifier can extract the particular information from the signature component. |
US08675868B1 |
Encrypting an address-dependent value along with code to prevent execution or use of moved code
A memory is organized into blocks. In a write operation, data to be stored is combined with an address-dependent value (ADV) to form a block of information, and this block is encrypted. The block of encrypted information is written into a block of memory identified by the write address of the write operation. In a read operation, the block of encrypted information is read back from the memory and is decrypted to recover the data and the ADV. The address of the memory block from which the block of encrypted information was read is used to check the ADV to confirm that the ADV is related in the proper way to the address of the memory block that stored the encrypted information. If the check fails, the processor is prevented from executing the data, thereby preventing the processor from executing blocks of code that are in incorrect locations in memory. |
US08675865B2 |
Method and apparatus for a high bandwidth stream cipher
A method and apparatus for a high-bandwidth stream cipher. In one embodiment of the invention, the stream cipher has an output function that receives secret state bits from a block cipher and generates an encryption mask. In one embodiment of the invention, the encryption mask has a lesser or smaller number of bits than the secret state bits. The stream cipher uses the encryption mask to encrypt a video data stream to generate an encrypted video data stream. |
US08675856B2 |
Media terminal adapter (MTA) routing of telephone calls based on caller identification information
Systems and methods are disclosed for a media terminal adapter (MTA) that contains a routing table for routing incoming telephone calls based on caller identification information. The MTA is coupled to a router/hub, where all digital telephones are then connected to the router/hub. Any analog telephones are connected to the MTA. The routing table defines incoming calls using their caller identification information and associates each defined call with a corresponding telephone(s). In this manner, an incoming call that is intended for one predominant telephone user is routed to the desired telephone using the telephone's IP address or a physical connection interface. |
US08675851B1 |
System and method for call routing management in a telecommunication network
Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products and the like for managing calls in a telecommunication network. In one example, the systems and methods involve passing information into a standard signaling flow in order to obtain a unique routing for customers sharing a single interface. |
US08675846B2 |
System and method for providing voice messaging with dynamic content
A system and method for creating and distributing messages including dynamic content is provided. In one form, an entity provides a plurality of content segments for use in building a dynamic message. The entity also provides a listing of end users to receive a message and information associated with the user, such as demographic or prior purchasing information. In an alternate form, the service connects to the user in a communication session and collects information from the user directly. The service then uses this information, whether provided by the entity or the end user, as the basis for selection of various content segments which will make up a dynamic message for presentation to the user. |
US08675845B2 |
Entering contacts in a communication message on a mobile device
Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to enter and validate contact addresses when composing a message on a mobile device. The user may access at least one of a local contact address data store and a remote contact address data store when entering and validating contact addresses. |
US08675844B2 |
System and mobile terminal for displaying caller information and method thereof
Caller information display system includes a caller terminal, a service system and a receiver terminal. The caller terminal stores caller information and transmits data including the caller information during a call. The service system receives the data including the caller information from the caller terminal and transmits the data to a receiver terminal. The receiver terminal receives the data from the service system, stores the caller information to be linked with a telephone number of the caller terminal, and displays the caller information when a paging signal is received. |
US08675841B2 |
Call management protocol for insufficient credit
A method and system for operating a telephone service are disclosed, in which callers with insufficient credit or network airtime are able to contact a call recipient. The network monitors call attempts from callers to identify call attempts from callers with insufficient credit or airtime to make a call. When such a call attempt is detected, a call request is transmitted to the intended recipient of the call, to notify the recipient of the call attempt. The notification may take the form of an in-call notification if the call recipient is on-line, or an SMS or voicemail message if the recipient is off-line. The method and system permit individuals who otherwise would not be able to access the network to indicate to a call recipient that they have attempted to contact the call recipient. The call recipient can then contact the would be caller at his/her discretion. |
US08675839B1 |
Reporting unavailable trunk-related resources for a predictive dialer using a dynamic pacing algorithm
A predictive dialer in a call center may originate a number of outbound calls on behalf of agents for an outbound call campaign. Since many calls may fail to connect with the right party, the predictive dialer may originate several contemporaneous calls in order to provide a single call to an available agent. A pacing algorithm in the predictive dialer determines how many calls are to be made based on various factors, conditions, and rules. In some instances, the predictive dialer may attempt to originate more calls than there are available trunks. In such instances, the number of originated calls is limited by the number of available trunks causing a trunk-related deficiency condition, which can adversely impact the agents' performance. Various embodiments of the invention detect and provide notifications of such conditions to allow effective diagnosis of the cause of degradation of agent performance. |
US08675833B2 |
System and method for managing messages
A system and method for managing messages, such as, but not limited to, voicemails and text messages, is presented. For example, in one embodiment, the method includes identifying a caller associated with a message for a callee. The method determines whether at least one other new message for the callee is from the caller. In response to at least one other new message for the callee is from the caller, the method groups the message with the at least one other new message. |
US08675831B2 |
Storage of data messages for later retrieval by the recipient
Systems and methods are disclosed that allow for storing of data messages (e.g., text messages or multimedia messages) in a data message mailbox. If a data message is sent from a sender to a recipient, then the communication network receiving the data message attempts to deliver the data message to the recipient. If unsuccessful in delivering the data message, then the network stores the data message for the recipient. If the communication network later receives a request to retrieve the stored data message from the recipient, then the communication network delivers the stored data message to the recipient. |
US08675829B1 |
Notify caller if low quality voicemail is being recorded
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for notifying a caller that they are leaving a low quality voice mail. The user can be notified that they are leaving such a voicemail before they are done leaving the message. This allows the user to try and leave another voicemail having a better quality, thereby making the voicemail more comprehensible. |
US08675827B2 |
Real-time analytics payment information screening
A method including receiving a voice call; analyzing speech in real-time to determine whether payment information is included in the voice call; omitting to record the voice call when it is determined that the voice call includes the payment information; and recording the voice call when it is determined that the voice call does not include the payment information. |
US08675826B1 |
System and method for IVR signature detection and event management
An IVR signature detection and event management system facilitates real-time discovery and notification of abnormal behavior within an IVR system. The system collects metrics associated with usage of the IVR system, The system uses the collected metrics to define a baseline. Having defined a baseline, the system collects evaluation metrics for comparison to the baseline. Where the evaluation metrics deviate from the baseline beyond a threshold deviation, the system detects aberrance. The system triggers an event in response to the detected aberrance. The event may be a message, one or more corrective actions, or the like. |
US08675825B1 |
Systems and methods for secure recording in a customer center environment
Systems and methods for secure recording in a customer center environment are provided. The system receives data related to a communication at a media distribution device. A key is provided by a key server to the media distribution device to encrypt the received data. In addition, an identifier may be associated with the received data. The key and the identifier are stored in a database associated with the key server. The encrypted data is recorded the a recorder, where it is accessible to authorized users within the customer center. Upon request, the key is provided to the authorized user to decrypt the encrypted data for play back. The customer center environment may include a user interface for viewing customer contacts. The contact may be organized into folders and annotations associated with the customer contacts may be received. |
US08675822B2 |
Methods and systems to avoid unproductive dispatches
Methods and systems are disclosed to dispatch service resources in a communication network. An example method disclosed herein receives a notice of error for a user service, identifies equipment associated with the user service, analyzes the equipment to generate a dispatch instruction, and automatically executes the dispatch instruction in response to the equipment analysis. |
US08675821B2 |
Network audio testing system and network audio testing method thereof
A network audio testing system and a network audio testing method thereof for testing the performance of a network communication system during communication are disclosed. The system includes a processing system and a sound simulation device. The processing system is for generating a near-end simulation signal and a far-end simulation signal. The sound simulation device is for receiving and making a near-end simulation sound. The near-end simulation sound is received by a microphone of the network communication system to generate a first test signal. The processing system further simultaneously makes the sound simulation device sounding the near-end simulation sound and a speaker sounding a far-end simulation sound to obtain a second test signal. The processing system compares the first and the second test signal to obtain an attenuation degree of the near-end simulation signal and a residual energy of the far-end simulation signal. |
US08675818B2 |
Ceramic metallization in an x-ray tube
Ceramic metallization in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, a metalized ceramic plate for an x-ray tube includes a first side configured to reside inside an evacuated enclosure of an x-ray tube, a second side configured to reside outside the evacuated enclosure, a recess formed in the second side, feedthru openings that extend through the plate between the first side and the recess, and metallization formed around the perimeter of the recess and electrically connected to one of the feedthru openings. |
US08675817B2 |
Industrial X-ray generator
An X-ray generator includes a booster circuit formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of boosting steps extending from a low-voltage terminal to a high-voltage terminal of its own.The booster circuit is arranged in a lateral region of the X-ray tube so as to make the low-voltage terminal of its own correspond to the anode of the X-ray tube and the high-voltage terminal of its own correspond to the cathode of the X-ray tube. A lead wire extending from the cathode to the outside of the X-ray tube is connected to the high-voltage terminal of the booster circuit. A molded member containing insulating resin is formed to shield at least a cathode side end part of the X-ray tube, the lead wire outwardly extending from the cathode side end part and a high-voltage terminal side end part of the booster circuit. |
US08675815B2 |
Apparatus and methods for radiation treatment of tissue surfaces
A device, system and method for administering radiation therapy to a tissue surface of a patient utilizes an applicator capable of controlled movement and repositioning over a selected area of tissue, under the control of a computer or controller. A servo-controlled manipulator can effect a raster scan of the desired area, such as an area of the skin, and this can be in any desired pattern such as serpentine, spiral, parallel but unidirectional, or irregular patterns. Preferably a third direction of control is included, i.e. a depth direction, with an appropriate form of depth sensor, a signal from which can be used to adjust the radiation source so that radiation of the tissue surface is consistent over varied contoured. |
US08675813B2 |
Solid-state imager and X-ray CT apparatus including same
The solid-state imaging device comprises a photodetecting section having M×N pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix of M rows and N columns. A pixel portion Pm,n of the photodetecting section includes a photodiode PD generating charge of an amount according to an incident light intensity and a reading-out switch SW1 connected to the photodiode PD. The photodetecting section includes plural dummy photodiodes PD1 arranged around one pixel portion without not completely surrounding the one pixel portion, and each dummy photodiode PD1 is provided in a region surrounded by any two pixel portions adjacent to one another. |
US08675812B1 |
Serial-in parallel-out shift registers with enhanced functionality
A configuration of logic elements enables existing Serial-In-Parallel-Out (SIPO) shift registers to perform their own bit count, report the receipt of a valid transmission consisting of an expected number of bits and report the receipt of an invalid transmission consisting of greater than the expected number of bits. Logic elements additional to the foregoing enable SIPO shift registers to receive valid transmissions of varying expected numbers of bits. Special purpose integrated circuits (ICs) are disclosed which also contain the aforementioned configurations of logic elements. Newly designed SIPO shift registers which contain within them the foregoing configurations of logic elements are further disclosed. Potential messages of multiple acceptable message lengths are accommodated. Some embodiments are equipped with tri-state data outputs. |
US08675811B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device
A circuit which is constituted by a plurality of n-channel transistors includes, in at least one embodiment, a transistor (T1) which has a drain terminal to which an input signal is supplied and a source terminal from which a output signal is supplied; and a transistor (T2) which has a drain terminal to which a control signal is supplied and a source terminal connected to a gate terminal of the transistor (T1). A gate terminal of the transistor (T2) is connected to the source terminal of the transistor (T2). With the arrangement, it is possible to provide (i) a semiconductor device which is constituted by transistors having an identical conductivity type and which is capable of reducing an influence of noise, and (ii) a display device including the semiconductor device. |
US08675806B2 |
Dielectric coating for surfaces exposed to high temperature water
Example embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for reducing electrostatic deposition of charged particles on wetted surfaces that are exposed, periodically or substantially continuously, to high velocity fluid flow within a coolant flow path in a nuclear reactor. The method may include depositing a first or base dielectric layer and a second or outer dielectric layer on a conductive surface that forms a portion of a high velocity flow path to attain the apparatus. The first dielectric layer material is selected to provide improved adhesion and insulation to the conductive surface and the second dielectric layer material is selected to provide suitable adhesion to the first dielectric layer and improved corrosion and/or mechanical resistance in the anticipated operating environment. |
US08675805B2 |
Automated periodic surveillance testing method and apparatus in digital reactor protection system
Provided is an automated periodic surveillance testing method and apparatus in a digital reactor protection system, which unites a passive testing means such as a self-diagnosis or an on-line state comparison with an active testing means such as an automatic logic test and the like in the digital reactor protection system. Accordingly, a device self-diagnosis, an on-line state diagnosis, and an automatic logic test are used as the automated periodic surveillance testing method in the digital reactor protection system. Thus, the time consumed in a periodic surveillance test can be minimized, thereby saving reactor operating costs, and excessive manpower can be avoided, thereby decreasing potential human errors. Also, a channel detour time at which one of multiple channels is detoured can be minimized based on the automated periodic surveillance test in the digital reactor protection system, thereby enhancing stability. |
US08675803B2 |
Cover device for jet pumps installed in nuclear power plant vessels
The invention relates to a plug device for jet pumps installed in nuclear power plant vessels, which comprises two covers (1-2) that form two independent plug units, one fitted on the even pump, which incorporates two plugs (6), and the other on the odd pump of each jet pump assembly, which incorporates three plugs (6), both mounted on a common base (3) at the end of respective arms (4), articulated in the central area, which are actuated by mechanical or hydropneumatic means. The plugs may be blind, in which case they are used to seal the five outlets of the nozzle of the jet pump, or channeled, being used to close the decontamination circuit of the recirculation loops, preventing the cleaning solution from being dispersed in the reactor. |
US08675798B1 |
Systems, circuits, and methods for phase inversion
Systems, methods, and circuits provide phase inversion of a clock signal. A first clock signal is received. A phase inversion signal indicates the existence of a 180 degree phase difference between the first clock signal and a second clock signal. As a result of the phase inversion signal indicating the 180 degree phase difference, the system, methods and circuits adapt the first clock signal by extending the first clock signal by a phase such that the first clock signal's rising edges and falling edges align with the second clock signal's rising edges and falling edges. As a result, the 180 degree phase difference between the clock signals is eliminated. |
US08675797B2 |
Real time processing supported by programmable control unit
The real time processing supported by programmable control unit (RTP PCU) includes a method, a system and an apparatus for implementing programmable algorithms for analyzing a very wide range of low and high frequency wave-forms. The RTP PCU comprises sequential processing stages (SPS) for real time capturing and processing of in-coming wave-form and a programmable control unit (PCU) for controlling SPS operations and supporting adaptive signal analysis algorithms. The RTP PCU further comprises a circuit for Sequential Data Recovery from Multi Sampled Phase (SDR MSP). |
US08675792B2 |
Method of Doppler spread estimation
A method includes receiving a signal comprising a symbol-carrier matrix, the symbol-carrier matrix including a predetermined pattern of reference symbols, and determining at least one channel estimate Ĥi,k at at least one of the reference symbol positions of the reference symbols in the symbol-carrier matrix, wherein i=0,1,2, . . . is the carrier index and k=0,1,2, . . . is the symbol index of the symbol-carrier matrix. The method further includes determining a Doppler spread {circumflex over (ω)}D on the basis of the at least one channel estimate Ĥi,k. |
US08675791B2 |
Method and an apparatus for deconvoluting a noisy measured signal obtained from a sensor device
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for deconvolving a noisy measured signal obtained from a sensor device (100), said noisy measured signal (y(t)) being the sum of the convolution product (x(t)N(t)) of an input signal (x(t)) of the sensor device, representative of a feature of physical quantity, by a convolution kernel (N(t)) defined by the response function of the sensor device (100) and a noise which interfere with the measure. The method is characterized in that said method comprises an estimate computation step (400) in the course of which a minimal estimate (xmin(t)N(t)) of the convolution product of the input signal by the convolution kernel of the sensor device is computed in order that said minimal estimate stays below the noisy measured signal (y(t)) and has at least one point in common with the noisy measured signal (y(t)). |
US08675789B2 |
Receiver with variable gain elements and automatic gain control to maintain a positive signal to noise ratio margin
A receiver comprising: one or more variable gain elements; an automatic gain control (AGC) for controlling a gain of one or more of the one or more the variable gain elements; and a frame detector configured to detect the presence of a frame in a signal received by the receiver and to output a signal to the AGC on detection of a data frame, wherein the AGC is configured to estimate a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal on receiving an input signal from the frame detector, to calculate a SNR margin between the estimated SNR and a target SNR and to adjust the gain of one or more of the one or more variable gain elements to maintain a positive SNR margin such that in the event of interference with the received signal the one or more variable gain elements do not saturate. |
US08675782B2 |
Highly-spectrally-efficient receiver
A receiver may be operable to receive a QAM-based, inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal having pilot overhead of 5% at a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The receiver may be operable to process the QAM-based, ISC signal to output information at a particular rate with a symbol error rate lower than or equal to 1e−2. The first SNR may be at least 3 dB below a SNR required to achieve the same particular information rate and the same symbol error rate while processing a signal having zero inter-symbol interference. |
US08675781B2 |
Radio frequency receiver system for wideband signal processing
Wireless communication is ubiquitous today and deployments are growing rapidly leading to increased interference, increasing conflicts, etc. As a result monitoring the wireless environment is increasingly important for regulators, service providers, Government agencies, enterprises etc. Such monitoring should be flexible in terms of the networks being monitored within the wireless environment but should also provide real-time monitoring to detect unauthorized transmitters, provide dynamic network management, etc. Accordingly, based upon embodiments of the invention, a broadband, real-time signal analyzer (RTSA) circuit that allows for the deployment of RTSA devices in a distributed environment wherein determination of policy breaches, network performance, regulatory compliance, etc. are locally determined and exploited directly in network management or communicated to the central server and network administrators for subsequent action. Beneficially the RTSA exploits a broadband RF front end in conjunction with parallel direct down conversion and FFT techniques. |
US08675780B2 |
Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmitted signal vector estimation employing Monte Carlo sampling techniques
A method of determining a transmitted vector (x) in a MIMO receiver includes the steps of receiving a received vector (y) representative of the transmitted vector (x), generating a first random number and forming, in a first iteration, a first symbol of a first candidate vector, the candidate vector representing a potential solution vector. The step of forming is based on a first approach if the first random number is greater than a first predetermined value (q), but is based on a second approach if the random number is less than or equal to the first predetermined value (q). The first approach randomly selects the first symbol from a uniform distribution of symbols in the transmission alphabet. The second approach selects the first symbol based on Gibbs sampling. The method represents a randomized Markov Chain Monte Carlo (RMCMC) sampling technique. |
US08675779B2 |
Harmonic transmission of data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for communicating using harmonic tones. In one aspect, a method includes receiving harmonic tones that represent data being reported by a node that generated the harmonic tones; selecting data that are represented by each of the harmonic tones; and providing the data that are represented by the harmonic tones. |
US08675778B2 |
Carrier recovery circuit and demodulation circuit under quasi-coherent detection method
A carrier recovery circuit, adapted to a demodulation circuit according to a quasi-coherent detection method for generating baseband signals by way of quadrature detection on a received signal having an intermediate frequency, rotates phases of baseband signals; detects a phase error and an amplitude error; controls a bandwidth of a loop filter based on its difference, eliminates a high-frequency component from the phase error; and performs phase rotation based on the phase error eliminating its high-frequency component. It expands the bandwidth of the loop filter when a difference between the phase error and the amplitude error is greater than a predetermined threshold, whilst reducing bandwidth of the loop filter upon determining that the amplitude error decreases due to a reduction of the bandwidth of the loop filter. This optimizes the bandwidth of the loop filter to follow variations of the C/N ratio of the received signal, improving bit error rate. |
US08675773B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for providing enhancements to ATSC networks using synchronous vestigial sideband (VSB) frame slicing
Systems, methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for signaling to a receiver an availability of a service and a deterministic mapping of a service content corresponding to the service. A modulator receives a digital signal and generates a data frame from the digital signal, where the data frame is divided into segments, where at least one grouping of the segments contains the service content. The modulator modulates at least one grouping in accordance with the deterministic mapping. A receiving device receives a digital signal containing the availability of a service, the deterministic mapping corresponding to the service, and the service content, and performs an operation on the service content in accordance with the deterministic mapping. |
US08675772B2 |
Method for multiple antenna transmission using partial channel knowledge
This invention relates to a closed loop duplex communications system having at least two antennae at the forward link transmitter. A feedback channel from the forward link receiver to the forward link transmitter carries feedback information about the phase and magnitude relationships of the forward link channels from different transmitter antennae. The feedback information is used to compute beamforming weights for the forward link. The signals received on the at least two antennae of the reverse link are used to compute code correlation parameters for application on the forward link. |
US08675771B2 |
Log likelihood ratio arithmetic circuit, transmission apparatus, log likelihood ratio arithmetic method, and program
A log likelihood ratio arithmetic circuit for calculating a log likelihood ratio from information of a coordinate of a reception signal point to be applied to a communication system using a quadrature amplitude modulation method, wherein the circuit limits a scope within which a value of the log likelihood ratio varies corresponding to a position of the reception signal point to a range between adjacent signal points including a hard-decision threshold of a bit, and wherein the value of the log likelihood ratio does not vary outside of the range between the adjacent signal points. |
US08675769B1 |
Constellation map optimization for highly spectrally efficient communications
A method and system for optimizing symbol mapping in partial response based communications that are based on use of pulse-shaping that incorporates a predetermined amount of inter-symbol interference (ISI). Optimizing symbol mapping symbol mapping may comprise configuring optimized constellation mapping for use in mapping and/or de-mapping data communicated using the partial response pulse-shaping. In this regard, the optimized constellation mapping may be based on a reference constellation mapping that is utilized for reference modulation scheme, and the configuring comprises applying adjustments to one or more constellation points in the reference constellation mapping. The optimized constellation mapping may be configured to optimize an applicable minimum distance for one or more selected error patterns for a given spectral compression applied during partial response based communications. The configuring of the optimized constellation mapping may be based on feedback information provided during communication of data. |
US08675768B2 |
Unified design and centralized scheduling for dynamic SIMO, SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO operation for RL transmissions
Systems and methods facilitate pilot signal design, power control, data rate determination, and channel assignment in the reverse link of a wireless communication system for dynamic scheduling and joint operation in SIMO, SU-MIMO, and MU-MIMO. Pilot signal is based on periodic transmissions of multiple sounding reference sequences for channel estimation. Power control is based on a reference signal at a predetermined power spectral density (PSD) level, and on an offset PSD determined and signaled based on an antenna that transmits the reference signal, other cell interference, and power amplifier headroom. PSD levels for SIMO/MIMO data transmissions are determined based on channel estimates and the predetermined PSD and offset PSD. Such data PSD levels are employed to generate data rates, and to dynamically schedule data streams for communication. Communication resources are conveyed through a channel assignment with an overhead that depends on the maximum multiplexing order of the estimated channel. |
US08675767B2 |
Method of data transmission in multiple antenna system
A method of data transmission includes determining the number of layers, generating mapping symbols by mapping modulation symbols for a first codeword and modulation symbols for a second codeword to each layer, and transmitting the mapping symbols through a plurality of antennas. At least one of the first codeword and the second codeword is mapped to at least 3 layers and the number of layers is larger than 3. |
US08675760B2 |
Method and system for selecting a user group using hybrid-quantized channel direction information feedbacks from MIMO capable mobile devices
A mobile device receives beams orthogonal to a single user downlink MIMO channel associated with a selected first user in a user group. The mobile device estimates relative channel direction information with respect to the received beams for an associated single user downlink MIMO channel. The estimated relative channel direction information is hybrid-quantized to generate a semi-orthogonal matrix transmitted to the base station over a finite-rate feedback link. The mobile device receives downlink data transmission according to the hybrid-quantized relative channel direction information. The base station receives multiple semi-orthogonal matrices from remaining mobile devices to generate a semi-orthogonal group for the selected first user. A mobile device having the strongest quantized projected channel capacity is selected from the generated semi-orthogonal group as a second user. Mutual channel capacity information for the selected first and second users is determined to schedule corresponding downlink data transmissions, accordingly. |
US08675758B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measuring, communicating and/or using interference information
Wireless communications methods and apparatus are described. A communications apparatus, e.g., a base station, measures interference information, e.g., other sector interference information. The communications apparatus generates a preamble which includes a plurality of pilot symbols and at least one of the pilot symbols includes interference information. In some embodiments, the preamble is part of a superframe structure, e.g., a recurring superframe structure, including the preamble and a plurality of frames, at least some of the frames used to convey traffic data. The communications apparatus transmits the preamble, thus broadcasting the interference information to access terminals in the vicinity. An access terminal receives the preamble including a plurality of pilot signals, at least one of the pilot signals including interference information. The access terminal recovers the interference information from the received preamble and controls signal transmission based on the recovered interference information. |
US08675754B1 |
Hybrid modulation schemes used in data communication
Transmitting information between stations in a network includes: modulating first main information and auxiliary information onto a first portion of a signal according to a predetermined constellation having multiple regions and the same sub-constellation within each region having multiple points, with the first main information being modulated using a first selected region of the constellation, and the auxiliary information being modulated using a first selected point of the sub-constellation within the first selected region; modulating second main information and a copy of the auxiliary information onto a second portion of the signal according to the constellation, with the second main information being modulated using a second selected region of the constellation, and the copy of the auxiliary information being modulated using a second selected point of the sub-constellation within the second selected region, where the second selected point occurs at a different portion of the sub-constellation than the first selected point; and transmitting the signal from a first station in the network to a second station in the network. |
US08675751B2 |
Meta-carrier embedding technique with improved performance for BPSK, MSK, and O-QPSK modulation
A method of embedding information within a burst carrier signal, the method comprising modulating meta-data using a modulator such that a meta-carrier signal results, lowering a Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the meta-carrier signal by Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) chipping the meta-carrier signal using a linear Pseudo-Random Number (PRN) sequence, embedding one or more modulated symbols of the meta-carrier signal within an unused portion of one or more quadrants of a modulation constellation of a burst carrier signal such that a composite carrier signal results, and synchronously transmitting the composite carrier signal using a transmitter such that symbols of the meta-carrier signal are synchronized with symbols of the burst carrier signal. |
US08675743B2 |
Feedback scheduling to reduce feedback rates in MIMO systems
In a closed-loop wireless communication system, a codebook-based feedback control mechanism is provided where feedback from each of a plurality of receivers is scheduled to control the feedback so that the receiving devices do not needlessly feed back precoding information to the transmitting device. The feedback may be controlled by establishing and distributing a schedule to control when each receiver feeds back precoding information, or by establishing and distributing a metric-based feedback threshold that must be satisfied before feedback is permitted. |
US08675740B2 |
Hypothetical reference decoder
Disclosed is a system and method of controlling a video decoder, including a reviewing channel data representing coded video data generated by an encoder to identify parameters of a hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) used by the encoder during coding operations. A parameter representing an exit data rate requirement of a coded picture buffer (CPB) of the HRD is compared against exit rate performance of the video decoder. If the exit rate performance of the video coder matches the exit rate requirement of the HRD, the coded video data is decoded, otherwise, a certain decoding degradation scheme can be applied, including disabling decoder from decoding the coded video data. |
US08675734B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding and decoding using bit-precision
Discussed are a method and an apparatus of encoding/decoding by using a bit precision. In accordance to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to encoding and decoding an image or a video by using a bit precision. Accordingly, compression efficiency can be improved and the decoding complexity can be reduced by encoding/decoding video data by use of the bit precision. |
US08675730B2 |
Macroblock grouping in a destination video frame to improve video reconstruction performance
A method of video reconstruction includes providing a hardware accelerator to a video processing component of a video processing system, and a driver for the video processing component. In addition, the method includes segmenting macroblocks of a destination video frame in a raster order into groups based on reference parameters thereof using the driver, where the reference parameters define compensation needs of macroblocks of the destination frame. The method also includes constructing an indexed array of linked-lists using the driver, with each linked-list representing macroblocks of a group having the same reference parameters. The hardware accelerator may be programmed to accelerate motion compensation by reconstructing macroblocks of the destination frame group-wise in the indexed order of the array of linked-lists. |
US08675728B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and method, and receiving apparatus and method
Image data is encoded to generate encoded data. An encoding-time buffer period that is a minimum buffer period necessary to prevent synchronous reproduction in which the encoded data is decoded and reproduced in synchronization with a timestamp added to the encoded data from failing due to a delay caused by encoding of the image data is added to the encoded data as encoding header information. A transmission-time buffer period that is a minimum buffer period necessary to prevent the synchronous reproduction from failing due to a delay caused by encoding of the image data and transmission of the encoded data is added to the encoded data as transmission header information different from the encoding header information. The encoded data having the encoding-time buffer period and the transmission-time buffer period added thereto is transmitted to another apparatus that performs the synchronous reproduction via a network. |
US08675727B2 |
Method and apparatus for SVC video and AAC audio synchronization using NPT
A method of supporting synchronization of Scalable Video Coding (SVC) information and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) information using a Normal Play Time (NPT), the method including: receiving video information using a decoding apparatus; receiving audio information using the decoding apparatus; calculating the NPT of the video information using a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) time stamp included in the received video information; calculating the NPT of the audio information using the RTP time stamp included in the received audio information; comparing the NPT of the video information and the NPT of the audio information to calculate a difference value; determining whether the calculated difference value is included in a specific synchronization region; and outputting the audio information and the video information when the calculated difference value is determined to be included in the specific synchronization region. |
US08675721B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining and displaying the throughput rate of a modem
A method and apparatus for determining and displaying the throughput rate of a modem that includes a first housing, first circuitry disposed within the first housing for demodulating data received by the modem and modulating data transmitted by the modem, and a first port for outputting demodulated data from the modem and inputting data to the modem for modulating. A counting device is connected between the modem and connected equipment. The counting device includes second circuitry for monitoring traffic between second and third ports and generating the throughput rate in accordance with the monitoring. The counting device displays an indication of the throughput rate to a user of the connected equipment. |
US08675716B2 |
Transceiver device and related method thereof
A transceiver device includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, and a detection unit. The transmitting unit transmits a first packet; the receiving unit receives a second packet and at least one receiving parameter; the detection unit is coupled to the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, and detects the first and the second packets to adjust the receiving parameter. When the detection unit detects that the first and the second packets are substantially the same, the detection unit pauses adjusting the receiving parameter. |
US08675715B2 |
Apparatus of 60 GHZ band modem
A high-bandwidth communication modem such as an ultra wideband (UWB) communication modem or a high-giga wideband (HGWB) modem includes an interface configured to transceive data in connection with a host device, a baseband processor configured to process, in a parallel manner, a baseband signal being transceived between the interface and a parallel/serial converter, the parallel/serial converter configured to combine a parallel signal into a serial signal and output the serial signal, and separate a serial signal into a parallel signal and output the parallel signal, a radio frequency (RF) processor configured to reduce a frequency of a received UWB or HGWB signal and transmit the frequency-reduced signal to the parallel/serial converter, and increase a frequency of the serial signal received from the parallel/serial converter and transmit the frequency-increased signal to a directional antenna, and the directional antenna configured to transceive a wireless signal by forming a directional beam and control a direction of the directional beam. |
US08675713B2 |
Satellite-based positioning system reception device comprising a function for detecting false lock-ons
A satellite-based positioning system reception device comprises a function for detecting false lock-ons based on a linear combination of complex signals arising from correlation pathways between a signal received from a satellite and a prompt local code and a plurality of local codes shifted by determined delays with respect to the prompt local code. An advantage is that the function for detecting false lock-ons makes it possible to remedy the false lock-ons due to multi-path phenomena. |
US08675710B2 |
Chirp receiver
A method of synchronizing the frequency and timing of a receiver with a synchronization chirp signal from a transmitter, comprising: receiving the synchronization chirp signal, the synchronization chirp signal comprising a sequence of symbols, the sequence of symbols including at least a first symbol having a first gradient g1 and a second symbol having a second gradient g2, wherein the magnitudes of the first gradient and the second gradient are both greater than one, and the magnitude of the first gradient is different to the magnitude of the second gradient; correlating the sequence of received symbols with expected symbols to form a correlator output; determining timing and frequency offsets between the transmitter and the receiver from the correlator output; and adjusting the timing and frequency of the receiver by the determined timing and frequency offsets. |
US08675709B1 |
Externally frequency-converted CW hybrid MOPA
A hybrid CW MOPA includes an OPS-laser resonator delivering radiation in a plurality of longitudinal lasing-modes or wavelengths. The multiple longitudinal mode output is amplified in a fiber-amplifier. Amplified lasing-modes from the fiber-amplifier are frequency-converted by an optically nonlinear crystal in a ring-resonator having the same length as the laser resonator, such that the ring-resonator is resonant for all of the amplified lasing-modes. |
US08675707B2 |
Gas laser apparatus equipped with power calculation unit
Disclosed is a gas laser apparatus having: a first estimation unit which calculates an estimate of input power to the laser power supply device by using the output current value and output voltage value of the DC power supply unit and also using the efficiency of conversion from input power to output power by the DC power supply unit; a second estimation unit which calculates an estimate of input power to the driving device by using the output current value of the driving device; and a power calculation unit which calculates the power consumption value of the gas laser apparatus, based on the estimate of the input power to the laser power supply device and the estimate of the input power to the driving device. |
US08675705B2 |
Diode laser and laser resonator for a diode laser having improved lateral beam quality
A diode laser and a laser resonator for a diode laser are provided, which has high lateral beam quality at high power output, requires little adjustment effort and is inexpensive to produce. The laser resonator according to the invention comprises a gain section (GS), a first planar Bragg reflector (DBR1) and a second planar Bragg reflector (DBR2), wherein the gain section (GS) has a trapezoidal design and the first planar Bragg reflector (DBR1) is arranged on a first base side of the trapezoidal gain section (GS) and the second planar Bragg reflector (DBR2) is arranged on the opposing base side of the trapezoidal gain section (GS), wherein the width (D1) of the first planar Bragg reflector (DBR1) differs from the width (D2) of the second planar Bragg reflector (DBR2). |
US08675703B2 |
Two terminal light emitting and lasing devices and methods
A method for producing light emission from a semiconductor structure, including the following steps: providing a semiconductor structure that includes a first semiconductor junction between an emitter region of a first conductivity type and a base region of a second conductivity type opposite to that of the first conductivity type, and a second semiconductor junction between the base region and a drain region; providing, within the base region, a region exhibiting quantum size effects; providing an emitter electrode coupled with the emitter region; providing a base/drain electrode coupled with the base region and the drain region; and applying signals with respect to the emitter and base/drain electrodes to obtain light emission from the semiconductor structure. |
US08675700B2 |
Laser system and laser light generation method
A laser system in this disclosure may include: a master oscillator configured to output pulsed laser light, a coherence reduction optical system configured to reduce coherence of the pulsed laser light from the master oscillator, and a controller configured to control the coherence reduction optical system so that a speckle of the pulsed laser light varies. |
US08675698B2 |
Green laser system
A green laser is made by constructing a laser cavity that includes within it a laser diode, a non-linear crystal such as KTP, and a lens. The boundaries of the cavity are not defined by the ends of the diode itself, but are instead defined by the ends of an apparatus that includes the lens and the KTP or similar crystal. |
US08675697B2 |
Master oscillator system and laser apparatus
A master oscillator system may include a grating configured to function as one resonator mirror in an optical resonator, a spectral bandwidth tuning unit configured to tune the spectral bandwidth of a laser beam transmitted within the optical resonator, a storage unit configured to store a control value of the spectral bandwidth tuning unit corresponding to a desired spectral bandwidth and a controller configured to control the spectral bandwidth tuning unit based on the control value stored in the storage unit. |
US08675696B2 |
Chemical detection and laser wavelength stabilization employing spectroscopic absorption via laser compliance voltage sensing
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a direct indication of the presence and concentration of an analyte within the external cavity of a laser device that employ the compliance voltage across the laser device. The systems can provide stabilization of the laser wavelength. The systems and methods can obviate the need for an external optical detector, an external gas cell, or other sensing region and reduce the complexity and size of the sensing configuration. |
US08675694B2 |
Multi-media raman resonators and related system and method
A system includes a laser configured to generate a pump beam at a pump wavelength. The system also includes a multi-media Raman resonator configured to receive the pump beam and generate an output beam. The multi-media Raman resonator includes multiple mirrors and multiple Raman media optically located between the minors. Output power in the output beam is spectrally concentrated around a single dominant wavelength that is longer than a pump wavelength. The longer wavelength of the output beam is associated with a combination of at least one Stokes shift associated with each of the individual Raman media. A filter could be configured to absorb light at a wavelength that is absorbed by one of the Raman media or to redirect light at the wavelength absorbed by one of the Raman media away from that Raman medium. |
US08675692B2 |
Method for acquiring processing time of wireless signal
A base station resets a wireless signal processing time depending on the processing capability of a terminal, and determines the transmission position of a feedback signal for a data packet using the reset wireless signal processing time and transmits the same to the terminal. If the feedback signal indicates the success of reception of the data packet, the data packet can be processed using the reset wireless signal processing time, and the wireless signal processing time can be reset to a smaller value. |
US08675691B2 |
Added information insertion apparatus and method in broadcasting system
The embodiments provide an additional information insertion apparatus for a broadcasting system. The system includes a broadcasting signal transmitter configured to transmit a broadcasting signal along with a data extractor configured to extract a modulated signal by dividing the modulated signal from a modulator of the broadcasting signal transmitter. An additional data generator is configured to extract synchronization of the broadcasting signal from the extracted broadcasting signal, modulate the additional information based on the extracted synchronization, and generate a level of the modulated additional information to be a smaller level than a signal level of the modulated signal by as much as a predetermined value. A data synthesizer is provided to insert the additional data from the data generator into the modulated broadcasting signal. |
US08675689B2 |
Method of time synchronization of free running nodes in an avionics network
A method of synchronizing a local estimation of global network time of a receiving node on a network to a global network time reference is provided. The free running nodes receive precise time protocol synchronization messages and determine a ratio and an offset based on time data extracted from the messages. |
US08675688B2 |
Apparatus and method of transmitting and receiving wake-up signal
Provided are an apparatus and method of transmitting and receiving a wake-up signal. The method of receiving a wake-up signal includes the following: operating a radio frequency (RF) receiving unit that receives a wireless signal through an antenna during an SFD detecting time, wherein the SFD detecting time is shorter than a predetermined SFD detecting time period, according to the predetermined SFD detecting time period and detecting a start of frame delimiter (SFD) to indicate that the received wireless signal is a wake-up signal to wake-up a node in a sleep mode; and detecting the wake-up signal by continuously operating the RF receiving unit when the SFD is detected. Power consumption that is used to receive the wake-up signal can be reduced. |
US08675684B2 |
Frame generating apparatus and frame generating method
A frame generating apparatus accommodating a client signal in an optical data transfer unit frame with a higher bit rate than the client signal includes a deserializer, a plurality of generic mapping procedure circuits, and a serializer. The deserializer deserializes the client signal into parallel signals, the number of parallel signals corresponding to the number of tributary slots used in the optical data transfer unit frame. The plurality of generic mapping procedure circuits inserts data and stuff into a frame accommodating portion of the optical data transfer unit frame based on a difference in the bit rate between the client signal and the optical data transfer unit frame. The serializer serializes the parallel signals output from the plurality of generic mapping procedure circuits. |
US08675682B2 |
Wireless communication device for processing packet including at least one of video output format of video data and audio output format of audio data
A wireless node device receives data island packets from an HDMI device with a time cycle, and prohibits wireless transmission of a data island notification message when a video output format and an audio output format included in the data island packet are the same as a video output format and an audio output format included in the data island packet, respectively. |
US08675681B2 |
Communication within an integrated circuit including an array of interconnected programmable logic elements
An integrated circuit includes an array of interconnected programmable logic elements (2) each logic element performing data processing control by a configuration. The logic elements may be part of a field programmable gate array. Embedded within the array are a plurality of dedicated communication interface circuits (36) providing access to one or more shared communication channels (38) to provide intra-array communication. Communication transactions between functional unit (78, 80, 82, 84) are multiplexed (e.g. time-division-multiplexed) together to share a shared communication channel provided within the array. |
US08675677B2 |
System and method for utilizing spectral resources in wireless communications
A wireless communication system comprises a wavelet analyzer and a wavelet signal generator. The wavelet analyzer is operable to analyze wireless signals within a frequency and time map of a communications spectrum, whereby the wavelet analyzer is adapted to determine one or more available cells within the frequency and time map. The wavelet signal generator is operable to generate one or more wavelet signals for transmission within the determined one or more available cells of the frequency and time map based on the analyzed wireless signals within the frequency and time map. |
US08675676B2 |
Network system
The network system includes a controller (10) and a plurality of terminals (20). The controller (10) sends a first request signal (41) which indicates a first limited time period defining a range within which the controller (10) receives signals respectively from the terminals (20) of which the number is identical to the maximum number of the terminals (20). Upon receiving the first request signal (41), the terminal (20) sends a first response signal (51) within the first limited time period. The controller (10) determines a total number of the terminals (20) on the basis of the number of the first response signals (51) received within the first limited time period, thereby determining a second limited time period defining a range within which the controller (10) receives signals respectively from the terminals (20) of which the number is identical to the total number of the terminals (20). The controller (10) sends the second request signal (42) which indicates the second limited time period. Upon receiving the second request signal (42), the terminal (20) sends a second response signal (52) within the second limited time period. |
US08675675B2 |
System and method for processing multiple broadcast multimedia streams
A computer-implemented method is disclosed including: receiving a broadcast signal containing a set of multiplexed multimedia channels; storing said multiplexed multimedia channels in a temporary storage buffer on a mass storage device; determining a point in said temporary storage buffer to begin demultiplexing and decoding a first channel responsive to a user request to view a particular program on said first channel in its entirety, said point indicating the start of said program on said first channel; and demultiplexing and decoding said first channel of said set of multiplexed multimedia channels from said point within said temporary storage buffer. |
US08675672B1 |
Hierarchical cluster tree overlay network
A Hierarchical Cluster Tree (HCT) overlay network reflects underlying physical network topology including inter-node distances (e.g., hop count), and an HCT structure groups nodes based on distance measurements. Local area networks (LANs) are basic building blocks. The network includes first and second level-1 clusters of LANs, each LAN including computerized data processing and/or storage nodes. A distance between LANs in the level-1 clusters is less than or equal to a predefined level-1 maximum distance. The LANs of the first and second level-1 clusters form a level-2 cluster of LANs in which a distance between cluster medoid nodes of the level-1 clusters is less than or equal to a predefined level-2 maximum distance greater than the level-1 maximum distance. Clustering can be extended to higher levels having successively greater maximum distances. |
US08675665B2 |
Clock synchronization system, its method and program
The clock synchronization accuracy between a master node and a slave node is stably measured. The slave node synchronizes its own clock with the clock of the master node by means of the packets transmitted from the master node. It reproduces the clock of the slave node by means of the transmitted packets, accumulates information on the transmitted packets and the clock of the slave node and performs clock synchronization on the basis of the accumulated information. |
US08675664B1 |
Performing scalable L2 wholesale services in computer networks using customer VLAN-based forwarding and filtering
In general, techniques are described that facilitate scalable wholesale layer two (L2) connectivity between customers and service providers and a demarcation between the L2 wholesale network and one or more ISPs with which customers communicate L2 PDUs. In one example, a network device receives PDU having both a service identifier identifying a service virtual local area network (SVLAN) and a customer identifier identifying a customer VLAN (CVLAN). A virtual switch determines whether an entry of a L2 learning table is associated with both the service identifier and the customer identifier of the PDU. When no such entry exists, a VLAN learning module updates the L2 learning table to create a new entry that maps to a network device interface and is associated with both the service identifier of the PDU and a plurality of customer identifiers that includes the customer identifier of the PDU. |
US08675662B2 |
IPv6 VLAN tag packet transport optimization
A network device receives an Ethernet frame sent from an originating device toward a destination device, determines whether the frame includes an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) payload, and determines whether the frame is one of an ingress frame or an egress frame for a virtual local area network (VLAN). The network device determines a VLAN tag for the frame when the frame is an ingress frame and inserts the VLAN tag in a portion of a source internet protocol (IP) address field or a destination IP address field of the IPv6 payload, when the frame is an ingress frame. The network device extracts a VLAN tag from a portion of the source IP address field or a destination IP address field of the IPv6 payload, when the frame is an egress frame. The frame is then output to one of the VLAN or the destination device. |
US08675659B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for multiphase decoding
The various embodiments include methods, servers and systems for communicating signaling information in a telecommunications signaling network that involves decoding a first portion of the received first message, determining if the decoded first portion identifies a destination component, determining if the destination component can be derived from the decoded first portion when the decoded first portion does not identify a destination component, recursively decoding subsequent portions of the received first message when previously decoded portions do not identify the destination component and that the destination component cannot be derived using the previously decoded portions, performing context-based routing operations using information extracted from the previously decoded portions to identify the destination component, packaging the previously decoded portions along with a remainder of the first message into a second message encoding signaling information, and sending the second message encoding signaling information to the identified destination component over a second communications link. |
US08675655B2 |
Method for distributing load over multiple shared resources in a communication network and network applying such a method
The invention relates to a telecommunication network having IP packet-supporting capabilities, which includes a load distribution processing function, either centralized or distributed, by means of which a load distribution function may be applied to sets of paths between network nodes or sets of links of network trunks. The load distribution processing function handles different load distribution functions. Each of the different load distribution functions is associated to a different network input unit involved in the load distribution for a set of paths between network nodes or a set of trunk links. The invention also relates to a method of load distribution in a telecommunication network as summarized above. |
US08675643B2 |
IP telephone system and iP telephone terminal used therein
An IP telephone system includes a first IP telephone terminal and a second IP telephone terminal. IP telephone communications are established between the first and second IP telephone terminals via Internet when the second IP telephone terminal has acquired identification data identifying the first IP telephone terminal. The second IP telephone terminal further acquires terminal data identifying a function that the first IP telephone terminal can control via Internet. The first IP telephone terminal receives from the second IP telephone terminal data instructing to execute the function that the first IP telephone terminal can control. Then, the first IP telephone terminal controls execution of the function identified by the data received from the second IP telephone terminal. |
US08675640B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for connecting to called terminal
A method for connecting to a called terminal includes: acquiring mobile station international integrated service digital network number (MSISDN) information corresponding to a called terminal which is located at an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) domain, together with international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) information and location area identity (LAI) information that correspond to the MSISDN information when a primary mobile access gateway control function entity mAGCF has a failure; and performing a connecting to the called terminal through a selected mAGCF according to the MSISDN information, the IMSI information and the LAI information. |
US08675639B2 |
Interconnect system and method for ethernet networks
A system and method for connecting Ethernet networks is provided. The system includes a port, a port control module, and a connectivity module. The port control module supports a first link speed and can transfer data to ports that support a second or third link speed. The connectivity module can affect the transfer of data between the first port and at least one other port. The connectivity module supports a fixed data transfer rate. |
US08675637B2 |
Interworking between H.320/H.324 and SIP
Disclosed are a method, apparatus and system for interworking between H.320 or H.324 and SIP. The method comprises receiving a SIP message indicative of capabilities supported by a first endpoint device and deferring responding to the SIP message. The method further comprises receiving from a second endpoint device an H.320 or H.324 message indicative of the capabilities supported by the second endpoint device in response thereto responding to the SIP message thereby to establish a media communication channel between the first and second endpoint devices based on their respective capabilities. |
US08675634B2 |
Terminal measurement based synchronization for mesh satellite communications
Methods, systems, and devices are described for synchronization in mesh satellite communications. The arrival time of the gateway signal may be used to set a start of receive frame time for a terminal. A received control signal from the gateway may then be used to set a start of transmit frame time for the user terminal. The distance between the satellite and the gateway may change. Ephemeris data, various collections of terminal measurements, or terminal sync bursts may be used to modify start of transmit frame or start of receive frame settings for the terminal or gateway. |
US08675632B2 |
Signalling of reference signals for single user spatial multiplexing transmission schemes
The present disclosure relates to signalling of reference signals for Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) transmission schemes. A method embodiment for generating reference signals for use between a mobile terminal 10 and an access node 20 in a cellular communication network 100 comprises receiving, by the mobile terminal 10, a cyclic shift set indicator; selecting, from a group of cyclic shift sets, a cyclic shift set based on the received cyclic shift set indicator, each cyclic shift set comprising at least two parameters each indicating a cyclic shift; and generating, based on at least two parameters of the selected cyclic shift set, at least two orthogonal reference signals for at least two layers of a Single User Spatial Multiplexing transmission scheme to be simultaneously transmitted. A further method embodiment comprises selecting, from a plurality of groups of cyclic shift sets, a group of cyclic shift sets based on at least one of a transmission rank, being the number of layers to be simultaneously transmitted, and a number of configured antennas of the mobile terminal 10. |
US08675627B2 |
Adaptive precoding codebooks for wireless communications
Adaptive precoding codebooks are described. In one embodiment, the method of wireless communication includes reading at least a rank-2 baseline codebook having codewords representing precoding matrices. An adaptive codebook is generated by multiplying a first column of the codeword with a first transform matrix calculated from a channel correlation matrix, and multiplying a second column of the codeword with a second transform matrix calculated from the channel correlation matrix. The first and the second transform matrices are orthogonal. |
US08675626B2 |
Radio terminal, radio base station, channel signal forming method, and channel signal receiving method
Provided are a radio terminal, a radio base station, a channel signal forming method, and a channel signal receiving method, by which the number of blinds in the processing for receiving allocation control information is reduced without causing disadvantage regarding the reception of a broadcast channel signal. In a base station (100), an information size adjustment unit (103) uses, in a common search space in a downlink additional unit band, the larger of the information size of downlink allocation control information determined from the bandwidth of a downlink additional unit band and the information size of uplink allocation control information determined from the bandwidth of an uplink unit band associated with the downlink additional unit band by a broadcast channel signal transmitted in the downlink additional unit band, as a size adjustment reference, and uses, in a UE specific search space, the larger of the information size of the downlink allocation control information determined from the bandwidth of the downlink additional unit band and the information size of the uplink allocation control information determined from the bandwidth of the uplink unit band of a unit band group, as the size adjustment reference. |
US08675621B2 |
Using identification sequences in wireless communication systems
Techniques, apparatuses, and systems for using identification sequences in a wireless communication system can include receiving information indicative of a pilot code detected by a wireless device, the pilot code being shared by multiple Femto Access Points (FAPs) that each provide wireless service in at least a portion of the coverage area; receiving information indicative of an identification sequence detected by the wireless device that is associated with the pilot code, using the information indicative of the identification sequence to identify one of the FAPs that share the pilot code; and performing a hand-off of the call to the identified FAP to continue to provide wireless service for the call via the identified FAP. |
US08675619B2 |
Wireless ad hoc communication system
A communication terminal performs wireless ad hoc communication with another terminal via a first wireless interface dedicated to reception and a second wireless interface for both transmission and reception. The terminal executes defining a communication area to be divided into cells of first polygonal shapes and each of the cells to be divided into a plurality of sub-cells of second polygonal shapes different from the first polygonal shapes; allocating, so as to prevent adjacent cells from belonging to a set of two identical wireless channels, a first wireless channel and a second wireless channel as the set of wireless channels to the cells; and setting the first wireless channel and the second wireless channel so that the same transmission channel is set for sub-cells brought into contact between the adjacent cells while different transmission channels are set for adjacent sub-cells in an own cell where an own terminal is present. |
US08675617B2 |
Methods for improving wireless communications when interference or signal loss is directional in nature
A client station in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system includes a beam commutation algorithm and a smart antenna responsive to the beam commutation algorithm for selecting one of a plurality of directional antenna beams. The smart antenna is configured as a virtual omni-directional antenna by using a commutation of switched directional antenna beams. A switched directional antenna system that performs a commutation sequencing can be blind to environmental conditions and changes. |
US08675616B2 |
Feedback signalling for multicast data transmission
Data transmission in a multicast fashion in which retransmissions are requested by recipients sending feedback to the one sender. Receiving stations are informed about the feedback of another receiving station. This is done by mirroring the feedback of receiving stations to other receiving stations. Due to this, in case, for example, one of the mirrored feedbacks is a negative acknowledgement message, the other receiving stations are informed that it is no longer necessary to provide their feedback, since a retransmission will be initiated anyway. Advantageously, this may allow to reduce interference in the direction of the feedback. |
US08675614B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating subscriber control packets in a trunked radio system
Embodiments include a trunking site base station receiving a first base station control packet over a network and, in response, transmitting a first subscriber control packet over a subscriber control channel at a first transmission time that is determined based on a transmission schedule. The first subscriber control packet includes a frame sync, a network ID, and a payload. Responsive to determining that a second base station control packet has not been received before a first timeout (or based on another trigger), the base station transmits a second subscriber control packet at a second transmission time that is determined based on the transmission schedule. The second subscriber control packet includes the frame sync and the network ID. The second subscriber control packet also may include a payload indicating a delay period for a subscriber radio to wait before making an attempt to register with a different trunking site. |
US08675613B2 |
Apparatus and method of optimizing slot locations for wireless sensors
A wireless communication system includes a network controller configured to manage communication time periods in a wireless network, and a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the network controller through the wireless network. Each peripheral device is associated with a respective contiguous communication time period during which communications between the network controller and the peripheral device are allowed. The network controller is further configured to identify an open communication time period associated with one of the plurality of peripheral devices that has no communication between the network controller and the one of the plurality of peripheral devices and associate another of the plurality of peripheral devices that is associated with a different communication time period with the identified open communication time period. |
US08675612B2 |
Channel quality measurements for downlink resource allocation
A method for reporting channel quality from a user equipment (UE) to a base station is described. The UE derives a channel quality for each of a plurality of downlink resources. The UE transmits channel quality reports in a pattern of time intervals by rotating through the plurality of downlink resources in different time intervals of the pattern, wherein a channel quality report is not transmitted by the UE in each time interval of a frame. |
US08675610B2 |
Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system is disclosed including a MIMO wireless communication apparatus that can communicate through multiple antennas and a non-MIMO wireless communication apparatus that can communicate through a single antenna or multiple antennas. The MIMO wireless communication apparatus includes a communication unit configured to transmit and receive control information divided into a second control information containing information related to the demodulation and decoding of traffic channel and a first control information containing information related to the MIMO separation of the second control information. |
US08675608B2 |
Method and system for sector switching during packet transmission
A method and apparatus for handing off packet-transmission between sectors of a wireless communication system is disclosed herein. During transmission of a packet from an access network to an access terminal, the access terminal determines that the packet should theoretically be transmitted to the access terminal in fewer timeslots in another sector than the number of allowed timeslots remaining for the packet transmission in a current sector. In response, the access terminal abandons packet transmission in the current sector and hands off to the other sector, in an effort to increase throughput and save air interface resources. |
US08675607B2 |
PS to CS handover indicator
The present invention relates to a solution for handling handover of connections for a user equipment from a packet switch network to a circuit switched network. This is provided as a method implemented in a node and system. The method is provided in a telecommunications network (100) connecting user equipment, i.e. UE, (101) communicating wirelessly (111) with the network. The method comprising steps of detecting (301) that handover is required from a packet switched, i.e. PS, based network (102) to a circuit switched, i.e. CS, based network (103), initiating (302) in a source mobility management node (104) a single radio voice call continuity, i.e. SVRCC, initiating (303) a PS to PS handover for non-voice components with information about voice related parameters and a PS to CS handover indicator, executing (304) hand over, sending (305) an update to a serving gateway, i.e. SGW, (107) from a target mobility management node (105) with non-voice related parameters and the PS to CS handover indicator, forwarding (306) the update from the SGW to a packet data network gateway, i.e. PGW (108), receiving the update in the PGW, detecting the PS to CS handover indicator, and handling (307) in the PGW the PS to CS handover indicator. |
US08675603B2 |
Method of generating signal for supporting vehicle communication handover
When supporting the handover from first road side equipment of a plurality of sets of road side equipment and second road side equipment that is adjacent to the first road side equipment to a vehicle, the first road side equipment generates a first channel seizing signal that is longer than that of the second road side equipment in a control channel of an N-th sync interval. The second road side equipment generates a second channel seizing signal that is longer than that of the first road side equipment in a control channel of an (N+1)-th sync interval. |
US08675601B2 |
Guest access support for wired and wireless clients in distributed wireless controller system
Techniques are provided to enable a support for guest access of devices in a network. At a controller apparatus in a first mobility sub-domain of a network comprising a plurality of mobility sub-domains, a request message containing a request for guest network access for a device is received from a first access switch in the first mobility sub-domain. The controller apparatus forwards the request message to a guest controller. At a tunneling endpoint apparatus in the first mobility sub-domain, a tunnel is established to the guest controller to carry traffic between the device and the guest controller. Traffic for the device passes in a tunnel between the first access switch and the tunneling endpoint apparatus in the first mobility sub-domain, through the tunneling endpoint apparatus in the first mobility sub-domain and in the tunnel between the routing apparatus in the first mobility sub-domain and the guest controller. |
US08675600B2 |
Method for transmitting signals
A signal receiving method includes allocating a communication resource corresponding to a mobile station over a plurality of frames, transmitting allocation information on the communication resource to the mobile station, and receiving a transmitted signal through the communication resource. Therefore, the resource allocated on the frequency axis is minimized by allocating the resource to the mobile station over a plurality of frames, and the resource is allocated within the limited power of the mobile station, thereby improving radio performance. |
US08675596B2 |
Method and apparatus of reserving resource in wireless communication system
A method for resource reservation in a wireless communication system is provided. A plurality of physical resource units (PRUs) is provided and a reserved region is reserved. The reserved region is greater than or equal to a frequency band size of a subband which is a unit of contiguous PRUs in a frequency domain among the plurality of PRUs. |
US08675594B2 |
Method for sensing spectrum and arranging quiet period in cognitive radio system, customer premise equipment, base station and superframe structure using the same
Provided are methods of spectrum sensing and assigning quiet periods in a cognitive radio system in order to increase the reliability of detection regarding whether an incumbent user appears in his/her frequency channel, customer premises equipment (CPE), a base station, and the structure of a super frame for performing the methods. The spectrum sensing method includes communicating with a base station (BS) and performing spectrum sensing for frequency channels having quiet periods (QPs) during the QPs of the frequency channels used in the cognitive radio system, wherein the QPs of the frequency channels do not overlap each other |
US08675588B2 |
Base station, wireless communication system, wireless resource allocating method, and wireless communicating method
In a wireless communication system, when data communication is performed between a relay device and a terminal (in a second path), the same amount of data is required to be transferred between a base station and the relay device (in a third path). An amount of wireless communication resources required is obtained by adding an amount inversely proportional to a capacity of each of the second and third wireless transmission-paths. Therefore, the amount inversely proportional to the capacity of the third path is consumed in excess. Based on a channel quality of a first wireless channel between the base station and the terminal, a channel quality of a second wireless channel between the terminal and the relay station, and a channel quality of a third wireless channel between the base station and the relay station, it is determined whether data communication between the base station and the terminal is relayed. |
US08675587B2 |
Method and apparatus for planning radio frequency spectrum in a fixed wireless network
A method and apparatus for selecting a bandwidth option for a cell in a network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains, for the cell, network traffic data for a geographical area for mobility traffic and fixed wireless traffic, a physical characteristic of an antenna in the geographical area, and a type of connectivity at a customer premise, determines a busy time data traffic from the network traffic data for both the fixed wireless traffic and the mobility traffic, determines, for the cell, a cell range from the physical characteristic of the antenna and the type of connectivity at the customer premise, selects a bandwidth option from a plurality of bandwidth options, and determines an average throughput in accordance with the bandwidth option that is selected and the cell range, wherein the average throughput comprises a throughput for serving both the mobility traffic and the fixed wireless traffic. |
US08675585B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system supporting multiple carriers
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus for monitoring a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system which supports multiple carriers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a method in which a user equipment that supports carrier aggregation for performing communication through the use of a plurality of component carriers monitors a downlink control channel, wherein said method comprises the steps of: receiving, from a base station, setup information for a specific component carrier among the plurality of component carriers; starting a timer in accordance with the control signal received through the downlink control channel; and monitoring the downlink control channel through the specific component carrier and deactivating the rest of the plurality of component carriers when timer expires. |
US08675575B2 |
Scheduling mechanisms for media access control protection and channel sounding
Channel sounding for spatial division multiple access (SDMA) under the IEEE 802.11 protocol is described. |
US08675573B2 |
Uplink resource management in a wireless communication system
Management of uplink resources in a wireless communication is presented. In one embodiment, management of uplink resources comprises receiving a multi-bit acknowledge (multi-bit A/N) that is available for uplink transmission and receiving other information that is available for uplink transmission along with the multi-bit A/N. Next, it is determined whether a condition has been met. If the condition has been met, an uplink message is created comprising the multi-bit A/N but dropping the other information. If the condition has not been met, an uplink message is created which jointly codes the multi-bit A/N and the other information. The uplink message is then transmitted to a receiver. |
US08675570B2 |
Scalable OFDM and OFDMA bandwidth allocation in communication systems
Techniques for bandwidth allocation in communication systems such as OFDM, OFDMA, or SC-FDMA systems to improve spectral efficiency and increase flexibility and adaptability with scalable single or multiple-carrier bandwidth allocation characteristics. |
US08675567B2 |
Reactivation of dedicated bearers
The present invention relates to re-establishment of dedicated bearers and more particularly, the invention relates to the re-establishment of dedicated bearers when connection is lost temporarily. This is provided in a device, method and system, in a packet based telecommunications network, for receiving on the communication interface an indication that a dedicated bearer for a user equipment, UE, has been deactivated, starting at least one timer, checking if uplink traffic is present for a communication bearer and if uplink traffic is detected on the communication bearer for a deactivated dedicated bearer re-establishing the dedicated bearer and stopping the timer. |
US08675566B2 |
Uninterrupted transmission of internet protocol transmissions during endpoint changes
A method apparatus and computer readable medium for facilitating uninterrupted transmission of internet protocol (IP) transmissions containing real time transport protocol (RTP) data during endpoint changes. When an IP transmission is received at the caller RTP port or the callee RTP port, a call record having a caller RTP port identifier or a callee RTP port identifier matching a destination port identifier in the IP transmission is located and when the destination port identifier in the IP transmission matches the caller RTP port identifier of the record, a source IP address identifier and source port identifier from the IP transmission are set as the caller IP address identifier and caller port identifier respectively of the record when the caller IP address identifier and caller port identifier do not match the source IP address identifier and source port identifier respectively and a received SSRC identifier in the IP transmission matches the caller SSRC identifier. When the destination port identifier in the IP transmission matches the callee RTP port identifier of the record, the source IP address identifier and source port identifier from the IP transmission are set as the callee IP address identifier and callee port identifier respectively of the record when the callee IP address identifier and callee port identifier do not match the source IP address identifier and source port identifier respectively and the received SSRC identifier in the IP transmission matches the callee SSRC identifier. |
US08675555B2 |
Proxy mobile internet protocol version six multihoming support for flow mobility
An apparatus comprising: a local mobility anchor (LMA) configured to maintain a plurality of binding cache entries (BCEs) for two or more active interfaces between a mobile node (MN) and a plurality of mobile access gateways (MAGs) comprising a first MAG and a second MAG, wherein the BCEs comprise a first BCE that corresponds to a home interface between the MN and the first MAG and that comprises a first list of home network prefixes (HNPs), and wherein the BCEs further comprise a second BCE that is linked to the first BCE, that corresponds to a secondary interface between the MN and the second MAG, and that comprises a second list of HNPs. |
US08675554B2 |
Wireless communication device and method for performing neighbor cell analysis during continuous packet connectivity mode
A wireless communication device is operable to perform neighbor cell analysis functions while operating in a continuous packet connectivity (CPC) mode and without requiring dedicated time periods for performing the neighbor cell analysis functions as part of a discontinuous reception (DRX) phase of the CPC mode. The DRX phase includes discontinuous (e.g., periodic) time periods for monitoring a downlink control channel from a serving base station. A receiver of the wireless communication device receives a control signal over the downlink control channel during each time period of the discontinuous time periods. A processor of the wireless communication device performs a portion of a neighbor cell analysis function during each time period of a quantity of the discontinuous time periods to produce neighbor cell analysis data. The processor accumulates the neighbor cell analysis data over the quantity of time periods to complete the neighbor cell analysis function. |
US08675551B2 |
Multi-protocol label switching support for proxy mobile internet protocol version 6
A mobility access gateway (MAG) comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a multi-protocol label switched (MPLS) tunnel with a local mobility agent (LMA), and establishing communications with a plurality of mobile nodes (MNs) associated with a plurality of service providers, wherein a plurality of packets destined for the LMA comprise a label that distinguishes between the service providers. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a packet destined for a MN, adding an inner label to the packet, wherein the inner label is associated with the MN, and adding a tunnel label to the packet. |
US08675550B2 |
Method for backhaul interference management with access terminal router
An enhanced access terminal (AT) that can serve as a “proxy wireless over-the-air backhaul or relay” is provided, to connect a base station with no backhaul to its neighboring fully functional base station that is connected to the NMS. In a further embodiment, an architecture and protocol for storing and retrieving data at the base station lacking backhaul is provided, and, using that information, a mechanism by which the ATR can communicate the format information to the source to improve interference cancellation at the base station lacking backhaul, and neighboring base stations, due to backhaul transmission from the AT's routing and relaying capability. |
US08675547B2 |
Wireless link monitoring and active troubleshooting
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises transmitting a Layer 2 (L2) frame from a first wireless device. Upon receipt of a frame in response to the L2 frame, the first wireless device uses information conveyed in the frame to modify its functionality. |
US08675545B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating traffic resources in multi-beam satellite communication system
In a system where satellite communication using multi-beams is performed for each group including a plurality of beams, a required data transmission rate of each beam is detected for each group, more traffic resources are allocated to a beam having a higher required data transmission rate than other beams based on the detection result, and data traffic transmitted to each beam in the group is adaptively controlled. |
US08675544B1 |
Method and system for dual physical layer radio transmission
A wireless communication device may contain a plurality of physical layer radios that communicate using a set of communication protocols. In a first wireless communication device, the transmissions by a first physical layer radio using a first communication protocol may be divided into a series of time slots. Some of the time slots may be partially unoccupied allowing negotiation and use of a second communication protocol during the unoccupied portion of the time slot and succeeding time slots. |
US08675537B2 |
Method and apparatus for using MBSFN subframes to send unicast information
Techniques for sending information in a wireless network are described. The network may support (i) regular subframes used to send unicast information and (ii) multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes used to send broadcast information and having lower overhead than the regular subframes. In an aspect, MBSFN subframes may be used to mitigate interference. A first base station may cause high interference to stations (e.g., UEs) served by a second base station. The first base station may reserve a subframe for the second base station, send system information conveying the reserved subframe as an MBSFN subframe to its stations, and transmit in a first part of the reserved subframe in accordance with an MBSFN subframe format. The second base station may skip the first part and may send unicast information to its stations in the remaining part of the reserved subframe. In another aspect, MBSFN subframes may be used to support additional base station capabilities. |
US08675534B2 |
Method and system for realizing carrier control
The present disclosure provides a method and system for realizing a carrier control. The method includes: a BBU obtains and collects on-off state information of corresponding logic carriers of all configured cells and logic physical relationships of carrier frequencies according to on-off states of physical carriers reported by RRUs and reports them to a Base Station Controller (BSC); the BSC re-determines the on-off states of the logic carriers and returns them to the BBU; and the BBU converts the obtained on-off states of the logic carriers into on-off states of the physical carriers and transmits them to corresponding RRUs, and the RRUs perform carrier controls according to the obtained on-off states of the physical carriers. By the method of the present disclosure, the BSC ensures itself to be consistent with the on-off states of the carriers of the RRU by effectively controlling the on-off states of the RRU through the BBU, so that carriers are well controlled and the target of saving energy and reducing consumption is better achieved. |
US08675533B2 |
Method for determining wireless frame bearing multimedia broadcast multicast service notification information and transmitter thereof
The present invention discloses a method for determining a radio frame bearing a multimedia broadcast multicast service notification message, including: a sending end configuring a Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) Modification Period (MCCHMP), a period coefficient (PeriodCoeff) and a notification message offset (NotificationOffset), and when a system frame number (SFN) modulo a ratio of the MCCHMP to the PeriodCoeff is equal to the NotificationOffset, a radio frame corresponding to a value of said SFN is the radio frame of sending the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) notification message. The present invention obtains the radio frame of sending the MBMS notification message by less MCCH information, so that the receiving and analyzing processes of the terminal save power. |
US08675532B2 |
Low power digital media broadcast receiver with time division
Systems and methods for providing a low power receiver device using fine grained time division are provided. In one embodiment, the receiver device comprises a tuner, a demodulator configured to demodulate at least one sampled signal, a payload processor configured to process at least one demodulated signal into an output format, and a time division control logic configured to generate a control signal to switch at least one component within the receiver device between modes to conserve power. The at least one component may be switched between an active mode, a standby mode, a power off mode, and a low power mode. In further embodiments, the at least one component may be switched between staggered modes. |
US08675527B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating and processing a MAC-ehs protocol data unit
A method and apparatus for generating and processing a high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) medium access control (MAC-ehs) protocol data unit (PDU) are disclosed. MAC-ehs service data units (SDUs) are multiplexed based on a logical channel identity. Reordering PDUs are generated from the multiplexed MAC-ehs SDUs. A reordering PDU includes at least one MAC-ehs SDU and/or at least one MAC-ehs SDU segment. A MAC-ehs SDU is segmented on a priority class basis if a MAC-ehs SDU does not fit into a reordering PDU. A MAC-ehs PDU is generated including at least one reordering PDU. The MAC-ehs SDUs may be stored in priority queues before generating the reordering PDUs. Alternatively, the reordering PDUs may be generated from the multiplexed MAC-ehs SDUs. Alternatively, the received MAC-ehs SDUs may be buffered in a corresponding buffer for each logical channel before multiplexed based on a logical channel identity, or reordering PDUs are generated. |
US08675523B2 |
Optimized spanning tree construction based on parameter selection
Embodiments herein relate to optimized spanning tree construction based on parameter selection. A selected parameter of a bridged packet-switched network is correlated to an algorithm. A spanning tree is constructed based on the correlated algorithm. |
US08675521B2 |
Node related information collecting system, node device and frame processing method
In a system including a plurality of node devices that form an ad hoc network (5), a node device (N06) receives, from another node device (N08; N04), first frame data including identification information of a source node device and a destination node device. If node related information of only the node device can be additionally stored in the received first frame data, the node device generates second frame data including the identification information of the source node device (N01; N11) or the destination node device (N11; N01) as destination identification information, node related information within the first frame data, and the node related information of the node device, also generates third frame data that does not include the node related information within the first frame data, and transfers the generated second and third frame data to another node device (N02, N04; N08). |
US08675519B2 |
Evolution of ethernet networks
An Ethernet network comprises nodes which support a plurality of different forwarding modes. A range of VLAN Identifiers (VIDs) are allocated to each of the forwarding modes. Connections are configured between a source node and a destination node of the network using different forwarding modes. Packets carrying data traffic are sent to the destination node by selectively setting a VID in a packet to a first value, to transfer a packet via a first connection and a first forwarding mode, and a second value to transfer a packet via the second connection and the second forwarding mode. Packets received from both of the connections and sent on to an end user. VLAN Identifiers can be allocated to different releases of functionality at nodes (e.g. software releases) such that packets are forwarded via a set of nodes supporting a first release, or via a set of nodes supporting a second release. |
US08675516B2 |
Method and device for configuring and sending downlink CSI reference signal
A method for configuring and sending a downlink CSI reference signal is provided. The method comprises: an eNB configures the downlink CSI reference signal and sends configuration information of the downlink CSI reference signal to a UE, wherein the configuration information comprises a starting subframe number and/or a cycle of the downlink CSI reference signal; the eNB sends the downlink CSI reference signal to the UE according to the configuration information of the downlink CSI reference signal. |
US08675511B2 |
List elimination for distributed downlink coordinated multi-point (CoMP) framework
Providing for record filtering in distributed dynamic clustering algorithms for coordinated multipoint (CoMP) wireless communication is described herein. By way of example, strategy selection records distributed as part of a belief propagation network are pruned at recipient nodes, thereby reducing processing overhead for dynamic clustering. As a result, cooperative policies can be determined with greater efficiency, and with greater relevance to local clusters of cooperating base stations. In some aspects, record pruning can comprise identifying and discarding redundant or incompatible sets of policy decisions. In at least one aspect, a number of evaluated records can be capped based on relevance, while preserving deployment-wide applicability of the belief propagation network. Accordingly, dynamic distributed CoMP decisions are optimized on a deployment-wide scale that more efficiently converges to maximum utility solutions. |
US08675506B2 |
Network system, edge node, and access device
In order to specify a data discarding point in a network, provided is a network system for collecting, in the network including an access network and a transport network, pieces of statistical information including a traffic amount of the network, including: an access terminal coupled to the access network; and an edge node for interconnecting the access network and the transport network, in which: the access terminal is configured to: measure pieces of statistical information including a traffic amount in the access terminal; and notify the edge node of the measured pieces of statistical information; and the edge node collects the pieces of statistical information notified by the access terminal. |
US08675505B2 |
Methods and apparatus for efficient network information acquisition over a DVB network
Methods and apparatus for efficient network information acquisition over a DVB network. In an aspect, a method includes identifying an IP/MAC platform, acquiring network information table (NIT) information in a transport stream being transmitted on a forward link frequency, acquiring IP/MAC network table (INT) information associated with the IP/MAC platform based on the NIT information, creating a network list that identifies all networks referred to by all stream location descriptors associated with the selected IP/MAC platform based on the INT information, and acquiring network information for all the networks in the network list. In an aspect, an apparatus includes means for identifying an IP/MAC platform, means for acquiring NIT information, and means for acquiring INT information, means for creating a network list that identifies networks associated with the selected IP/MAC platform, and means for acquiring network information for all the networks in the network list. |
US08675504B2 |
Energy efficient ethernet (EEE) with 10GBASE-T structures
An ethernet transceiver integrated circuit chip is disclosed including a plurality of transceivers for coupling to a corresponding plurality of physical channels. A channel switcher is coupled to the plurality of transceivers. During a first mode of operation, the channel switcher activates all of the plurality of transceivers to transceive data in accordance with a first aggregate data transfer rate. During a second mode of operation, the channel switcher activates less than all of the plurality of transceivers to transceive data in accordance with a second aggregate data rate that is less than the first aggregate data transfer rate. |
US08675501B2 |
Transmission apparatus and reporting method for reporting fault
A transmission apparatus includes a processor that is operative to terminate a first line performing a communication using a digital wrapper, to terminate a signal on a second line performing a communication using Gigabit Ethernet, to apply a transparent transcoding process to a terminated signal and the signal received from the second line and to output these signals; and wherein when a fault occurs in a communication performed through the first line and when there is no response for a predetermined time period after an auto negotiation restart signal is reported to an opposite apparatus on a second line side, to report information indicating an occurrence of the fault to the opposite apparatus by using a signal of a MAC (Media Access Control) frame format. |
US08675496B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying a physical link interconnecting network devices
Methods and apparatuses for identifying a physical link interconnecting network devices and/or correlating a designation of an interface on a network device to a physical location of the interface on the network device are disclosed herein. A method for identifying a physical link interconnecting a network device and a peer network device, where the network device and the peer network device each have an interface and a corresponding indicating light, may include: sending a packet from the interface of the network device to the interface of the peer network device over the physical link; causing the indicating light corresponding to the interface of the peer network device to blink at a predetermined cadence for a predetermined period of time upon receipt of the packet to enable recognition of the peer network device. |
US08675494B2 |
Conflict identification in label switched services
Administrative logic is configured to discover routers in a network providing one or more label switched services and evaluate the configuration information of the label switched services to identify conflicts in the label switched services (e.g., configuration information errors). By identifying conflicts for one or more label switched services, the administrative logic generates a notification identifying the conflict and potentially the type of conflict. In particular, in one implementation, the administrative logic can use the configuration information of a first router to identify one or more peer routers of the first router and compare the configuration information in the various routers to identify apparent conflicts. The administrative logic can also communicate commands to the appropriate router to correct the misconfiguration and, in certain circumstances, establish proper communications or otherwise resolve service inconsistencies (e.g., VLL name mismatches). |
US08675489B2 |
Device for low priority handling
The embodiments herein relates to a method in a transceiver (110) for enabling traffic you prioritizing in a wireless communication system (100). The transceiver (110) is configured to transmit traffic to a first communication node (101, 120). The transceiver (110) transmits a message to the first communication node (101, 120). The message comprises an indicator indicating that the transmitted traffic tolerates a delay, enabling traffic prioritizing in the wireless communication system (100). |
US08675488B1 |
Subscriber-based network traffic management
In general, the invention is directed to techniques for offloading per-subscriber traffic management from an access gateway to one or more upstream service nodes within a service provider network. For example, as described herein, an upstream service node receives a new packet flow for a subscriber and sends packet flow information, such as a network address, to a session and resource controller (SRC). The SRC maintains a table of subscriber attachment sessions and maps the packet flow information to a subscriber attachment session in the table to obtain a subscriber identifier for a subscriber. The SRC then determines subscriber-specific services to be applied to subscriber data traffic, transforms the services to a set of one or more enforcement policies, and returns the enforcement policies to the service node. In turn, the service node applies the enforcement policies for the subscriber-specific services to the subscriber data traffic in the packet flow. |
US08675485B2 |
Reliable ISP access cloud state detection method and apparatus
A Multi-Homing System is equipped with an Adaptive ISP Access Cloud State Detection apparatus (ACSD) that improves the reliability of the availability of digital connections (links) between computer sites, such as a Computer Premises Network and the Internet, in which such connections are made by connecting through a multiplicity of ISP Access Clouds (links). Reliability is improved over prior art methods by using data elements of Internet Protocol data-grams, e.g. record fields or bits of fields, that are regularly and normally exchanged between the ISP Access Clouds and the CPN without creating additional data traffic. Data Elements from each ISP Access Cloud are used by processing functions of the by the ACSD to test for conditions that indicate that it may be in a DOWN status. when a DOWN status is suspected, other functions in the ACSD initiate transmission of a set of PROBE packets that can reliably determine if the suspect link is actually DOWN or merely giving a response that would be interpreted as DOWN by prior art methods. |
US08675481B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signal in multi-antenna system
A method for transmitting a reference signal in a multi-antenna system is provided. The method includes: selecting at least one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol in a subframe containing a plurality of OFDM symbols; allocating a channel quality indication reference signal (CQI RS) capable of measuring a channel state for each of a plurality of antennas to the selected at least one OFDM symbol; and transmitting the CQI RS, wherein the CQI RS is allocated to an OFDM symbol which does not overlap with an OFDM symbol to which a common reference signal to be transmitted to all user equipments in a cell or a dedicated reference signal to be transmitted to a specific user equipment in the cell is allocated. |
US08675472B2 |
Method and apparatus for network management system
A network management system has a bus and a system controller connected to the bus. The bus has a plurality of fixed ports, where each of the ports is capable of connecting a router card to the system controller. A method of sending a file from the system controller to a router card includes receiving a request packet from the router card where the request packet includes a file type and the port address, identifying the file from the file type and the port address, and sending the file to the router card. The system controller has a memory storing the location of files associated with each of the port addresses, a request receiver for receiving a request for a file of a file type from a router card, an identifier for identifying a file, and a sender for sending the identified file to the router card. The router card has a memory for storing an operating system image and a configuration, and a request sender for sending a request for an operating system image and a configuration to the system controller upon power-up of the router card. |
US08675469B2 |
Monitoring non-managed wire pairs to improve dynamic spectrum management performance
A digital subscriber line (DSL) network provides enhanced dynamic spectrum management (DSM) based on estimated foreign interference obtained from monitoring unmanaged wire pairs in a cable. A DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) or other line terminal provides vectored DSL signaling to a plurality of subscribers via a first set of wire pairs of the cable. The DSLAM monitors a second set of one or more wire pairs of the cable that are not connected to the vectored group associated with the first set of wire pairs to estimate foreign interference introduced to the first set of wire pairs. The DSLAM then modifies the vectored DSL transmitted signaling responsive to the estimated foreign interference so as to pre-cancel or otherwise compensate for the foreign interference introduced into the managed wire pairs. |
US08675468B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and training ethernet channels to support energy efficient ethernet networks
An Ethernet link may comprise a plurality of active and/or silent channels. Training of one or more link partners for one or more silent channels may be triggered based on monitoring training parameters for an active channel. The link partners may be trained for the silent channels and link partners corresponding to the silent channels may be configured according to the training. Training parameters for an active channel may be compared to a threshold or relative change value. The threshold or relative change value may be fixed, may be based on measurement results and/or may be programmable. The link partners may be configured for silent channels for an echo canceller, a far-end crosstalk canceller and/or a near-end crosstalk canceller. The silent channels may be trained based on transmitting a pulse or LDPC frame via the silent channels. |
US08675464B2 |
Dual sided optical storage media and method for making same
A dual sided optical storage medium which comprises a substrate disk having a first information layer readable from one side of the medium through the substrate disk and one or more information layers formed on the non-read side of the first information layer and configured to be read from the other side of the medium. |
US08675455B1 |
Systems and methods for controlling light phase difference in interferometric waveguides at near field transducers
Systems and methods for controlling light phase difference in interferometric waveguides at near field transducers by selectively heating the light source are provided. One such system for controlling light phase at the NFT of an interferometric waveguide includes a laser, a heater configured to heat the laser, a splitter configured to receive light from the laser and to split the light into a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm converging at a junction about opposite the splitter, and the NFT proximate the junction and configured to receive the light, where the first waveguide arm is longer than the second waveguide arm by a preselected distance, and where the heater is configured to generate and maintain a preselected phase difference in the light arriving at the NFT via the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm. |
US08675451B2 |
Acoustic and optical illumination technique for underwater characterization of objects/environment
The invention provides a method for acoustically and optically characterizing an immersed object of interest by generating a serial plurality of acoustic and optical illumination pulses through a liquid. In addition to the spectral analysis/imaging of objects/environment made possible by the white-light illumination, a target material can be ablated, generating an ionized plume to spectrally identify the target's constituent atoms. |
US08675445B2 |
Beamformer, diagnostic system, medical image system, and method for displaying diagnostic image
A beamformer for forming a reception beam using a multichannel signal reflected from a subject is provided. The beamformer includes a signal generator that may generate a plurality of signals to which different apodization functions are applied, with respect to the multichannel signal, an estimator that may estimate a signal predominant component and a noise predominant component from the plurality of signals, a weight calculator that may calculate a weight to be applied to the signal predominant component according to each of channels, using the estimated signal predominant component and the estimated noise predominant component, and a weight applier that may apply the calculated weight to the estimated signal predominant component. |
US08675444B2 |
Synchronized command throttling for multi-channel duty-cycle based memory power management
A technique for memory command throttling in a partitioned memory subsystem includes accepting, by a master memory controller included in multiple memory controllers, a synchronization command. The synchronization command includes command data that includes an associated synchronization indication (e.g., a synchronization bit or bits) for each of the multiple memory controllers and each of the multiple memory controllers controls a respective partition of the partitioned memory subsystem. In response to receiving the synchronization command, the master memory controller forwards the synchronization command to the multiple memory controllers. In response to receiving the forwarded synchronization command each of the multiple memory controllers de-asserts an associated status bit. In response to receiving the forwarded synchronization command, each of the multiple memory controllers determines whether the associated synchronization indication is asserted. Each of the multiple memory controllers with the asserted associated synchronization indication then transmits the forwarded synchronization command to associated power control logic. |
US08675443B2 |
Memory architecture for display device and control method thereof
A memory architecture for a display device and a control method thereof are provided. The memory architecture includes a display data memory and a memory controller. The display data memory includes N sub-memories and N×M arbiters, wherein N is a positive integer and M is a positive integer equal to or greater than 2. Each sub-memory includes M memory blocks divided by an address. Each M arbiters are coupled to the M memory blocks of each sub-memory. The memory controller, coupled to the N×M arbiters, generates N×M sets of request signals and output address signals according to a set of an input request signal and an input address signal, and transmits to the N×M arbiters to sequentially control the N×M arbiters. |
US08675438B2 |
Methods of operating DRAM devices having adjustable internal refresh cycles that vary in response to on-chip temperature changes
An integrated circuit memory device includes a refresh control circuit that generates an internal memory refresh command signal having a period that is changed relative to a period of an external memory refresh command signal received by the memory device. This change in the period of the internal memory refresh command may be in response to detecting a change in temperature of the memory device. In particular, the refresh control circuit is configured so that the period of the internal memory refresh command signal is increased in response to detecting a reduction in temperature of the memory device. |
US08675437B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of bank sets and an address controller. Each bank set includes a plurality of banks. Each bank includes a plurality of memory mats and sense amplifier arrays corresponding to row addresses. The plurality of bank sets is arranged in both sides of arrays of power electrode pads to be used for operations of the sense amplifier arrays. The plurality of bank sets commonly shares the arrays of power electrode pads. The address controller generates different row addresses that are supplied to different ones of the plurality of bank sets. The different row addresses designate different memory mats in the different ones of the plurality of bank sets, so as to designate different arrays of the power electrode pads for the different ones of the plurality of bank sets for refresh operation in accordance with an external refresh command. |
US08675436B2 |
Multi-channel semiconductor memory device and method of refreshing the same
A multi-channel semiconductor memory device and a method of refreshing the same. In the multi-channel semiconductor memory device and method, a common refresh controller is prepared to detect refresh operation states of a plurality of sub-memory circuits (e.g. ICs) and to adjust refresh operation times of multiple sub-memory ICs so that two or more sub-memory ICs do not simultaneously perform a refresh operation, thereby reducing the peak current. |
US08675432B2 |
Semiconductor device capable of being tested after packaging
Provided is a semiconductor device capable of effectively testing whether memory cells and a memory cell array are defective. The semiconductor device may include a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells and an external test pad connected to an internal test pad. A test voltage may be applied to the plurality of word lines connected to the plurality of memory cells via the external test pad and the internal test pad in a test mode, wherein the test voltage disables the plurality of word lines. |
US08675428B2 |
Delay-locked-loop circuit
A delay-locked-loop (DLL) circuit having a DLL that operates when an external clock signal has a low frequency and a DLL that operates when an external clock signal has a high frequency is disclosed. The DLL circuit includes a first DLL and second DLL. The first DLL adjusts a delay time of an external clock signal to generate a first internal clock signal synchronized with the external clock signal when the external clock signal has a low frequency. The second DLL adjusts the delay time of the external clock signal to generate a second internal clock signal synchronized with the external clock signal when the external clock signal has a high frequency. |
US08675426B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor system having the same, and command address setup/hold time control method therefor
A semiconductor system includes a controller configured to output a clock enable signal, first to third command/address signals, a chip select signal, first and second entry commands and an exit command, and receive an output signal; and a semiconductor device configured to latch the first and second command/address signals and transfer the output signal in response to the chip select signal and the first entry command, latch the first and third command/address signals and transfer the output signal in response to the chip select signal and the second entry command, and transfer data generated by the first to third command/address signals as the output signal in response to the clock enable signal and the exit command signal. |
US08675422B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit and an internal voltage generation circuit which generates an internal voltage stabilized with respect to a variation of the power supply voltage supplied from the outside and supplies the internal voltage to the internal circuit. The internal voltage generation circuit performs control so that when the power supply voltage rises to exceed a predetermined value, an operation of stabilizing the internal voltage is stopped to cause the internal voltage to increase with the rise of the power supply voltage. |
US08675421B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a first page buffer group including a plurality of page buffers coupled to memory cells of a first memory array through bit lines, a second page buffer group, a coupling circuit configured to couple an output terminal and an inverse output terminal of a selected page buffer of the first page buffer group to a first local I/O line and a first inverse local I/O line, respectively, or an output terminal and an inverse output terminal of a selected page buffer of the second page buffer group to a second local I/O line and a second inverse local I/O line, respectively, in response to a column select signal, and a sense amplifier configured to detect a voltage difference between the first local I/O line and the first inverse local I/O line or between the second local I/O line and the second inverse local I/O line. |
US08675417B2 |
Method and system for adaptive coding in flash memories
Bits are stored by attempting to set parameter value(s) of (a) cell(s) to represent some of the bits. In accordance with the attempt, an adaptive mapping of the bits to value ranges is provided and the value(s) is/are adjusted accordingly as needed. Or, to store (a) bit(s) in (a) cell(s), a default mapping of the bit(s) to a predetermined set of value ranges is provided and an attempt is made to set the cell value(s) accordingly. If, for one of the cells, the attempt sets the value such that the desired range is inaccessible, an adaptive mapping is provided such that the desired range is accessible. Or, to store (a) bit(s) in (a) cell(s), several mappings of the bit(s) to a predetermined set of ranges is provided. Responsive to an attempt to set the cell value(s) according to one of the mappings, the mapping to actually use is selected. |
US08675415B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device having selectable sensing modes, memory system having the same and programming method thereof
A non-volatile memory device which includes a sensing mode selector configured to select a sensing mode according to environment information. A page buffer senses a data state of a memory cell in one of a plurality of sensing methods, depending upon the selected sensing mode. |
US08675414B1 |
Group based read reference voltage management in flash memory
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with group based read reference voltage management in flash memory are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a program logic configured to program a cell in a flash memory device. The apparatus includes a read logic configured to read a cell in the flash memory device. A Vref memory is configured to store respective Vref values associated with respective groups of cells. The Vref values are used by the read logic for reading cells in the flash memory device. A cell is assigned to one of the groups of cells based, at least in part, on a time interval during which the cell is programmed by the program logic. The reader logic is configured to read a given cell using a Vref value associated with a group of cells to which the given cell is assigned. The Vref adaptation logic is configured to selectively adapt a Vref value for a given group of cells in the Vref memory when a read operation is performed on a cell in the given group of cells. |
US08675412B2 |
Non-volatile memory device, method of operating the same, and electronic device having the same
In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a noise level of a common source line, and adjusting a frequency of program-verify operations on a memory cell during a programming loop based on the detected noise level. |
US08675411B2 |
Background power consumption reduction of electronic devices
An electronic device including a set of functional block, and a biasing block for generating a set of bias voltages for the functional blocks. The electronic device further includes a holding block coupled between the biasing block and the functional blocks for providing each bias voltage to at least one corresponding functional block, for each bias voltage the holding block including a capacitive element for storing the bias voltage, and a switch element switchable between an accumulation condition wherein provides the bias voltage from the biasing block to the capacitive element and to the at least one corresponding functional block, and a release condition wherein isolates the capacitive element from the biasing block and provides the bias voltage from the capacitive element to the at least one corresponding functional block, and a control block for alternately switching the switching elements between the accumulation condition and the release condition. |
US08675410B2 |
Hierarchical common source line structure in NAND flash memory
Each memory cell string in a generic NAND flash cell block connects to a Common Source Line (CLS). A value for applying to the CSL is centrally generated and distributed to a local switch logic unit corresponding to each NAND flash cell block. For source-line page programming, the distribution line may be called a Global Common Source Line (GCSL). In an array of NAND flash cell blocks, only one NAND flash cell block is selected at a time for programming. To reduce power consumption, only the selected NAND flash cell block receives a value on the CSL that is indicative of the value on the GCSL. Additionally, the CSLs of non-selected NAND flash cell blocks may be disabled through an active connection to ground. |
US08675409B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices
A non-volatile memory device may include a semiconductor substrate including an active region at a surface thereof, a ground select line crossing the active region, and a string select line crossing the active region and spaced apart from the ground select line. A plurality of memory cell word lines may cross the active region between the ground select line and the string select line with about a same first spacing provided between adjacent ones of the plurality of word lines and between a last of the plurality of memory cell word lines and the string select line. A second spacing may be provided between the ground select line and a first of the plurality of memory cell word lines. |
US08675402B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cell, nonvolatile memory device and method for driving the same
A nonvolatile memory cell is able to reduce the size per the unit area by employing a dual gate structure where the chalcogenide compound is used for a channel. The nonvolatile memory cell includes a phase-change layer, a first and a second gate that are in contact with sides of the phase-change layer to face each other across the phase-in change layer and control a current flowing through the phase-change layer by each gate being arranged to induce the phase transition of the phase-change layer independently of the other. |
US08675400B2 |
Magnetic memory
According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory includes a magnetoresistive element includes a first reference layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, a recording layer, a second nonmagnetic layer, and a second reference layer which are sequentially stacked, the recording layer being connected to a terminal to which a high-level voltage is applied, a magnetization direction of the recording layer being variable, magnetization directions of the first and second reference layers being invariable and antiparallel, a first selection transistor connected between a first bit line and the first reference layer, and constituted of an N-channel MOSFET, a second selection transistor connected between a second bit line and the second reference layer, and constituted of an N-channel MOSFET, and a word line connected to gates of the first and second selection transistors. |
US08675399B2 |
Magnetic unit and magnetic storage device
A magnetic unit includes: a magnetic pinned layer, a first function body, and a second function body. The magnetic pinned layer is provided that a magnetization direction is pinned. The first function body is provided in contact with the magnetic pinned layer and performs a function with the magnetic pinned layer. The second function body is provided in contact with the magnetic pinned layer. The second function body is any of a nonmagnetic conductor, a nonmagnetic insulator, and a function body. The magnetic pinned layer includes: a plurality of magnetic substance layers, and a nonmagnetic conductive layer provided between the plurality of magnetic substance layers. The nonmagnetic conductive layer ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically couples magnetic substance layers on both sides. A total amount of magnetizations of the plurality of magnetic substance layers is approximately zero. Among the plurality of magnetic substance layers, a magnitude of an anisotropic magnetic field of a group of magnetic substance layers directed toward a first direction is different from that of a group of magnetic substance layers directed toward a second direction. |
US08675390B2 |
System and method for MRAM having controlled averagable and isolatable voltage reference
A memory has a plurality of non-volatile resistive (NVR) memory arrays, each with an associated reference voltage generating circuit coupled by a reference circuit coupling link to a reference line, the reference coupled to a sense amplifier for that NVR memory array. Reference line coupling links couple the reference lines of different NVR memory arrays. Optionally, different ones of the reference coupling links are removed or opened, obtaining respective different average and isolated reference voltages on the different reference lines. Optionally, different ones of the reference circuit coupling links are removed or opened, obtaining respective different averaged voltages on the reference lines, and uncoupling and isolating different reference circuits. |
US08675388B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including plural first lines, plural second lines, and plural memory cells each including a variable resistance element; a first decoder connected to at least one ends of the plurality of first lines and configured to select at least one of the first lines; at least one pair of second decoders connected to both ends of the plurality of second lines and configured such that one of the pair of second decoders is selected for selecting the second lines according to a distance between the one of the first lines selected by the first decoder and the both ends of the second lines; and a voltage application circuit configured to apply a certain voltage between the first line and the second line selected by the first decoder and the second decoder. |
US08675383B2 |
Semiconductor device
Memory cells adjacent to each other in a second direction are formed in a first p-type well region, a first n-type well region, and a second p-type well region arranged in a first direction. Each memory cell includes a first transfer transistor and a first driver transistor formed in the first p-type well region, a second transfer transistor and a second driver transistor formed in the second p-type well region, and first and second load transistors formed in the first n-type well region. In an SRAM, gate electrodes of the first and second transfer transistors of the memory cells adjacent to each other in the second direction are electrically connected to first and second word lines, respectively. The first and second word lines are electrically connected to the first and second p-type well regions, respectively. |
US08675380B2 |
Power supply unit with a housing and a switched power supply arranged in the housing
The invention relates to a mains plug component with a housing and a mains switch component arranged in the housing comprising a first stage for rectifying a mains AC voltage and a second stage for generating a DC voltage from the rectified mains AC voltage. The first stage comprises an electromechanical switch, by means of which a first or second voltage range may be selected. The housing has a section for a pin of an inserted plug piece such that, on insertion, the switch is activated by the inserted pin. The plug piece for insertion has no pin for the first voltage range and a pin for the second voltage range. |
US08675378B2 |
High-voltage X-ray generator
A power supply for a device which has a load, comprising a first resonant generator and a second resonant generator, coupled in parallel, each generator having a phase output. The power supply further comprises a control circuit coupled to the first and second generators controlling the first and second phase outputs, wherein the first phase output and the second phase output are summed to provide a variable power supply to the load. |
US08675373B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes: an opening portion; a housing provided with a first through hole and a second through hole that are situated near the opening portion, respectively; a display accommodated in the housing; an antenna provided near the opening portion; an antenna cover that covers the opening portion, the first through hole and the second through hole; and a joint portion which joins the housing and the antenna cover, and has a first portion in which a first front end portion protrudes from the first through hole to the housing inside, and a second portion in which a second front end portion is situated in the second through hole. |
US08675370B2 |
Heat source unit
According to one embodiment, a heat source unit apparatus includes an electric component box that is disposed in a housing, a power supply cable and a communication cable being inserted into the electric component box from an outside of the housing, a metallic electric cable cover member that is interposed between the electric component box and the housing, a power supply cable hole and a communication cable hole being made in one side surface of the housing, the power supply cable and the communication cable being covered with a cable cover member, and a partition plate that is provided in the cable cover member to partition the electric cable cover member into a region where the power supply cable is accommodated and a region where the communication cable is accommodated. |
US08675367B2 |
Module incorporating electronic component
A module incorporating electronic component includes a substrate, a wiring pattern located on at least one surface of the substrate, at least one electronic component electrically bonded to the wiring pattern, and bonded to the substrate, and a sealing resin arranged to cover the surface of the substrate including the bonded electronic component. The wiring pattern includes a plurality of land electrodes, and electrically bonded to the electronic component or a via conductor, and a wiring electrode arranged to connect the land electrodes, and an insulating resin is disposed on the wiring electrode except for a boundary between the land electrode and the wiring electrode, so as to cross at least one boundary between the substrate and the wiring electrode such that an adhesion strength between the insulating resin and the sealing resin is higher than an adhesion strength between the insulating resin and the wiring pattern. |
US08675364B2 |
Power module and power conversion device
A power module according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor element for converting DC current to AC current by switching operation; an electrical wiring board to which the semiconductor element is electrically connected, with the semiconductor element being disposed upon one of its principal surfaces; an insulating resin layer provided on the other principal surface of the electrical wiring board; a first insulation layer that is disposed opposite from the electrical wiring board, separated by the insulating resin layer, and that is joined to the insulating resin layer; a second insulation layer that is disposed opposite from the insulating resin layer, separated by the first insulation layer, and that ensures electrical insulation of the semiconductor element; and a metallic heat dissipation member that is disposed opposite from the first insulation layer, separated by the second insulation layer, and that radiates heat generated by the semiconductor element via the electrical wiring board, the insulating resin layer, the first insulation layer, and the second insulation layer. |
US08675361B1 |
Kitchen organizing system
A kitchen organizing system for tracking and rotating inventory, generating grocery lists, and suggesting and planning meals has a rotating base. The system has a generally hollow spherical housing located on a base top surface. With a bottom hemisphere front cover and a bottom hemisphere rear cover in place, the housing has a shape of a sphere. The housing has a microprocessor located inside. The housing has a power cord connected to the microprocessor. The housing has a display screen located at least partly in a housing top hemisphere on a housing front side connected to the microprocessor. The housing has a keyboard located on the housing bottom hemisphere front cover connected to the microprocessor. The housing has a printer located in the housing bottom hemisphere connected to the microprocessor. The housing has a scanner located in the housing top hemisphere in the rear side connected to the microprocessor. |
US08675356B2 |
System and, method for holding and powering three consumer electronic devices
A consumer electronic system for holding and providing power to as many as three consumer electronic devices has three cradles in a staggered configuration. One of the cradles is positioned behind and between the remaining two cradles. Thereby the cradle positioned behind the other two cradles is capable of supporting a larger consumer electronic device without blocking the front two cradles. The support walls of the front two cradles provide a surface that supports the larger consumer electronic device. |
US08675355B2 |
Release mechanism with pre-travel
An assembly can include a base with a hinge axis, a hinge end, an opposing end, a latch surface disposed intermediate the hinge end and the opposing end, a latch with a prong and an actuation surface, and a button seat disposed intermediate the latch surface and the opposing end where the button seat includes a button stop; a spring; and a button configured for translation in the button seat where the button includes a retainer and a latch contacting surface extending outwardly away from a back side where, for an un-depressed orientation, the spring biases the retainer against the button stop to maintain a gap between the latch contacting surface and the actuation surface of the latch. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
US08675351B2 |
Sliding module, a sliding apparatus and an electronic device using the same
The present invention provides a sliding module comprising a plurality of guiding rods; a plurality of elastic members; a first component having a first fastener and a plurality of guiding apertures; and a second component having a second fastener and a plurality of fastening holes that correspond to the plurality of guiding apertures of the first component; wherein the first component and the second component are configured to slide with respect to each other; each of the elastic members is configured to shield a respective guiding rod; each of the guiding rods is configured to be fastened in a respective fastening hole at the second component, and traverse through a respective guiding aperture at the first component; and a longitudinal axis across the respective centers of the first fastener and the second fastener is configured to be parallel to each of the guiding rods. |
US08675349B2 |
Stack capacitor having high volumetric efficiency
An improved capacitor and method of making an improved capacitor is set forth. The capacitor has planer anodes with each anode comprising a fusion end and a separated end and the anodes are in parallel arrangement with each anode in direct electrical contact with all adjacent anodes at the fusion end. A dielectric is on the said separated end of each anode wherein the dielectric covers at least an active area of the capacitor. Spacers separate adjacent dielectrics and the interstitial space between the adjacent dielectrics and spacers has a conductive material in therein. |
US08675347B2 |
Electrolytic solution for aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and aluminum electrolytic capacitor
Disclosed are an aluminum electrolytic capacitor having low impedance properties and a long service life, and an electrolytic solution which enables to give such capacitor. The electrolytic solution contains a solvent containing water, a phosphorus oxoacid ion-generating compound which can generate a phosphorus oxoacid ion in an aqueous solution, and a chelating agent which can coordinate with aluminum to form an aqueous aluminum chelate complex. The electrolytic solution further contains a compound selected from the group consisting of azelaic acid and an azelaic acid salt, and a compound selected from the group consisting of formic acid, a formic acid salt, adipic acid, an adipic acid salt, glutaric acid and a glutaric acid salt. The content of azelaic acid and/or the azelaic acid salt is at least 0.03 moles per kg of the solvent. When the electrolytic solution is used in an electrolytic capacitor which utilizes an anode having an aluminum oxide film containing phosphorus in an amount of 30 to 150 mg per unit CV product in terms of phosphoric acid, the service life of the capacitor is remarkably prolonged. |
US08675345B2 |
Film for film capacitor and film capacitor
There is provided a thin highly dielectric film for a film capacitor being excellent in mechanical strength, in which highly dielectric inorganic particles can be blended to a dielectric resin at high ratio, and rubber particles (B) and preferably highly dielectric inorganic particles (C) are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (A). |
US08675341B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component
In a multilayer ceramic electronic component, when a region of a ceramic body in layers where neither of a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode is provided as viewed in a direction in which a plurality of ceramic layers are stacked on one another is defined as a non-effective layer region, a dummy lead-through conductor is arranged in the non-effective layer region so as to lead to at least two locations on portions of superficies of the ceramic body and be electrically connected to a second external electrode. When a conductive medium is brought into contact with one of a plurality of exposed edges of the dummy lead-through conductor, a current is also applied to the other exposed edges. |
US08675339B2 |
Feedthrough capacitor
A feedthrough capacitor includes an inner electrode that extends coaxially within a grounded outer electrode. A non-conductive, epoxy-based potting material insulates and adhesively joins opposing roughened portions of the inner and outer electrodes. A capacitor assembly extends between the inner and outer electrode and serves to bypass relatively high frequency signals carried by the inner electrode to the grounded outer electrode. The capacitor assembly includes a plurality of monolithic multilayer ceramic capacitors, each capacitor having first and second terminals that are respectively surface mounted onto inner and outer concentric conductive rings. A plurality of deflectable tines project radially inward from the inner ring and resiliently circumferentially contact the exterior of the inner electrode. Similarly, a plurality of deflectable tines project radially outward from the outer ring and resiliently circumferentially contact the interior of the outer electrode. |
US08675332B1 |
Thermally protected light emitting diode module
A recessed light fixture includes a thermally protected light emitting diode (“LED”) module. The thermally protected LED module includes a thermal protector positioned in series between a source of electrical power and an LED driver and is configured to open a circuit to prevent power from being supplied by the power source to the LED driver for an LED package when a thermal rating or activation temperature of the thermal protector is exceeded. For example, the maximum operating temperature of the LED driver may be 90 degrees Celsius, and the thermal rating of the thermal protector may be 80 degrees Celsius, and when the temperature of the driver or a mounting bracket upon which the driver is mounted reaches 80 degrees Celsius, the thermal protector opens a circuit and removes current flow from the power source to the driver, thereby removing power to the LED package. |
US08675331B2 |
Electronic gaming machine interface system
An electronic gaming machine interface system including a first circuit board, a bracket coupled to the first circuit board, a fan coupled to the bracket and disposed over the first circuit board, a second circuit board coupled to the bracket, a first cable coupled between a connector of the first circuit board and a connector of the second circuit board; and a second cable coupled between a connector of the first circuit board and a connector of the second circuit board. |
US08675329B2 |
Protective device with metering and oscillography
A device, such as an intelligent electronic device (IED), provides a monitoring and protective function for a power system. The protective function uses stimulus acquired from the power system to detect power system conditions and to take one or more protective actions responsive thereto. The device may detect arc flash events in the power system based upon electro-optical and/or current stimulus measurements obtained therefrom. The stimulus measurements may be recorded to use in metering, validation, identifying detector misoperation, and/or event oscillography. |
US08675328B2 |
Battery charge protection system
A system comprises a battery including one or more cells, an energy source, a load, and a battery protection circuit coupled to the battery, the energy source and the load. The circuit determines if the charge of each cell is at/above a predetermined, band gap supplied threshold voltage, which results in disconnecting of the battery from the energy source. The circuit also may determine if the charge of any cell is at/below a second predetermined level, which may result in disconnecting of the battery from the load. The circuit may be radiation-hardened (e.g., via redundancy), through the use of two sets of field effect transistors, two logic gates, two groups of comparator circuits, and two relays. The circuit provides multiply redundant protection comprising: redundantly assessing the overvoltage determination; redundantly triggering battery isolation; and preventing inadvertent isolation and non-charging, occurring absent overvoltage, through redundant first and second relays. |
US08675326B2 |
Bidirectional switch and charge/discharge protection device using same
A bidirectional switch device, has: a bidirectional switch having a HEMT; and a control circuit which, during a first condition, applies a first voltage lower than a threshold voltage across a gate and one terminal among a source and a drain of the HEMT to turn off a first current path from the other terminal among the source and the drain to the one terminal, and during a second condition, applies a second voltage lower than the threshold voltage across the other terminal and the gate to turn off a second current path from the one terminal to the other terminal, and further during a third condition, applies a third voltage higher than the threshold voltage across the source and the gate and across the drain and the gate of the HEMT to turn on the first and second current paths. |
US08675325B2 |
Electronic circuit breaker with alternate mode of operation using auxiliary power source
An electronic circuit breaker includes controllable mechanical contacts adapted to connect a primary power source to at least one load; and control circuitry for monitoring the flow of power from the primary power source to the load, detecting fault conditions and automatically opening the contacts in response to the detection of a fault condition. A primary power source supplies power to the control circuitry when the contacts are closed, and an auxiliary power source supplies power to the control circuitry when the contacts are open, whether by a trip or by manual opening. |
US08675324B2 |
Short-circuit isolator
Provided is a short-circuit isolator capable of earlier detection of recovery from short circuit of a disconnected line and reconnecting the line. The short-circuit isolator includes: a switch for switching a connection state between a primary signal line and a secondary signal line; a short-circuit monitor circuit which is connected to a primary wiring of the switch through a resistor as a current limiting section and connected to a secondary wiring of the switch, for detecting short circuit when a voltage of the secondary signal line is lower than a short-circuit detection threshold and detecting recovery from the short circuit when the voltage of the secondary signal line is higher than a short-circuit recovery threshold which is a voltage value lower than the short-circuit detection threshold after the short circuit is detected; and a switch control section for turning off the switch when the short circuit is detected by the short-circuit monitor circuit and turning on the switch when the recovery from the short circuit is detected by the short-circuit monitor circuit. |
US08675323B2 |
Method of manufacturing a package
Provided is an ESD protection circuit for CDM capable of preventing a high current from flowing and preventing breakage when a battery is connected with reverse polarity. The ESD protection circuit employs a circuit configuration in which transistor elements are interposed in series to OFF transistors (11 and 13) included in the ESD protection circuit for CDM so that parasitic diodes of the transistor elements are connected to parasitic diodes of the OFF transistors in a reverse direction. |
US08675322B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection device
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device electronically connected to a pad is provided. The ESD protection device includes K PNP transistors and a protection circuit, wherein K is a positive integer. An emitter of the 1st PNP transistor is electronically connected to the pad, a base of the ith PNP transistor is electronically connected to an emitter of the (i+1)th PNP transistor, and collectors of the K PNP transistors are electronically connected to a ground, wherein i is an integer and 1≦i≦(K−1). The protection circuit is electronically connected between a base of the Kth PNP transistor and the ground and provides a discharge path. An electrostatic signal from the pad is conducted to the ground through the discharge path and the K PNP transistors. |
US08675309B2 |
Spin-torque oscillator (STO) with antiparallel-coupled free ferromagnetic layers and magnetic damping
A spin-torque oscillator with antiferromagnetically-coupled free layers has at least one of the free layers with increased magnetic damping. The Gilbert magnetic damping parameter (α) is at least 0.05. The damped free layer may contain as a dopant one or more damping elements selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd and the 15 lanthanide elements. The free layer damping may also be increased by a damping layer adjacent the free layer. One type of damping layer may be an antiferromagnetic material, like a Mn alloy. As a modification to the antiferromagnetic damping layer, a bilayer damping layer may be formed of the antiferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic metal electrically conductive separation layer between the free layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. Another type of damping layer may be one formed of one or more of the elements selected from Pt, Pd and the lanthanides. |
US08675308B2 |
Magnetic recording head with high frequency oscillator and disk drive with the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a disk-facing surface configured to face a recording layer of a recording medium, a main magnetic pole includes a distal end located on the disk-facing surface and configured to apply a recording magnetic field to the recording layer of the recording medium, a leading shield on a leading side of the main magnetic pole, opposed to the distal end of the main magnetic pole across a gap, a high-frequency oscillator between the leading shield and the distal end of the main magnetic pole, and a recording coil configured to excite the main magnetic pole with a magnetic field. |
US08675307B2 |
Shield with continuously and throat regions adjacent a main pole
A write element for magnetic recording includes a main pole and a shield. The main pole has first and second sides with respect to a down-track direction. The shield at least partially surrounds the main pole with a continuously concave inner sidewall. The angle between the inner sidewall of the shield and the direction of motion of the write element is greater than the angle between the sides of the main pole and the direction of motion. |
US08675306B2 |
Debris reducing disk clamp for disk drives
A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp. |
US08675305B2 |
Base unit, spindle motor, and disk drive apparatus
A base unit includes a base member and a connector. The base member includes a bottom plate portion, a window portion, and a first groove. The first groove is defined in an upper surface of the bottom plate portion around the window portion. The connector includes a board portion and an electrode terminal. The board portion is arranged on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion to cover the window portion and the first groove. The electrode terminal is arranged to overlap with the window portion in the axial direction. An adhesive is arranged between the upper surface of the bottom plate portion and the lower surface of the board portion. The adhesive is arranged to extend continuously in an annular or substantially annular shape around the window portion while being arranged in at least a portion of the first groove. |
US08675297B2 |
Media defect classification
The present inventions are related to apparatuses and methods for detecting and classifying media defects. For example, an apparatus for classifying a media defect is disclosed including a DFT circuit operable to yield real and imaginary components of a signal derived from data read from a storage medium, a calculation circuit operable to calculate an amplitude and a phase of the signal based on the real and imaginary components, and a classifier operable to detect the media defect based on the amplitude and to classify the media defect based on the phase. |
US08675295B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator, lens barrel, and camera
A piezoelectric actuator comprises a first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element, a first set of a first member that is mounted with the first piezoelectric element which is deformed in a first direction with an application of a first voltage, and a second set of a second member that is mounted with the second piezoelectric element which is deformed in the opposite direction of the first direction with the application of the first voltage. |
US08675294B2 |
Lens driving device
A lens driving device comprises a lens holder for holding a lens, a shaft for supporting the lens holder so as to make the lens holder movable in an optical axis direction of the lens and swingable about an axis of the shaft, an actuator for applying a driving force to the lens holder so as to move the lens holder in the optical axis direction; and an urging member for applying an urging force to the lens holder so as to rotate the lens holder toward the actuator. In the lens holder, a position where the urging force is applied by the urging member and a position where the driving force is applied by the actuator oppose each other, so that the urging force from the urging member is directed to the actuator. |
US08675292B2 |
Projection lens and projection apparatus
A projection lens for projecting an image beam is provided. The image beam is converted by a light valve from an illumination beam irradiating the light valve. The projection lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group is disposed on a transmission path of the image beam, and has a first optical axis. The second lens group is disposed on both a transmission path of the illumination beam and the transmission path of the image beam, and between the light valve and the first lens group. The second lens group has a second optical axis. The second optical axis is inclined with respect to the first optical axis. The third lens group is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam, and between the first lens group and the second lens group. A projection apparatus is also provided. |
US08675291B2 |
Monocular three-dimensional imaging
A three-dimensional imaging system uses a single primary optical lens along with various configurations of apertures, refocusing facilities, and the like to obtain three offset optical channels each of which can be separately captured with an optical sensor. |
US08675288B2 |
Lens module
There is provided a lens module, including: a first lens having positive refractive power, an object-sided surface thereof being convex; a second lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave; a third lens having positive refractive power; a fourth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being convex; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave, wherein the fourth lens satisfies Conditional Expression 1, [Conditional Expression 1] f 4 f < - 3.0 where f is an overall focal distance of an optical system and f4 is a focal distance of the fourth lens. |
US08675286B2 |
Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system comprising: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having positive optical power; and at least one subsequent lens unit, wherein the zoom lens system has an image blur compensating lens unit which moves in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, at least the first lens unit moves along the optical axis at the time of zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, the second lens unit or a third lens unit which is located closest to the object side in the at least one subsequent lens unit moves along the optical axis at the time of focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-object in-focus condition, and the condition: 0.10<|m|/(fT−fW)<0.40 (m: the maximum value among the amounts of movement of each subsequent lens unit at the time of zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, fT, fW: focal lengths of the entire system at a telephoto limit, at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied; an interchangeable lens apparatus; and a camera system are provided. |
US08675284B2 |
Truncated ball lens for an expanded beam connector
Disclosed is a truncated ball lens, and method of making same, in which a ball lens, having a focal point internal to (i.e., inside of) the ball lens, is constructed by removing a surface of the ball lens so as to expose the focal point. The exposed side of the truncated ball lens faces the endface of a fiber directing light towards the lens. In a preferred embodiment, an optical axis of the truncated ball lens coincides with an optical axis of the fiber. |
US08675283B2 |
Head-up display apparatus, screen member, manufacturing method thereof and image projecting method
A screen member diffuses a bundle of rays of light projected from a laser scanner such that the bundle of rays of light is guided to a viewing range. The screen member includes a plurality of optical elements. A surface of each optical element forms a curved surface that diffuses the bundle of rays of light, which enters the curved surface. The optical elements are arranged in a lattice pattern at each corresponding pitch that is set to adjust a peak-to-peak interval of diffracted rays, which are formed in the viewing range by diffraction of the bundles of rays diffused by the plurality of optical elements, to a value that is equal to or smaller than a diameter of a pupil of the viewer. |
US08675282B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing the same
A solid state imaging device includes a substrate having a plurality of pixels and a plurality of on-chip lenses arranged above the substrate, each on-chip lens having a lens surface formed by subjecting a transparent photosensitive film to exposure using a mask having a gradation pattern and development so that the lens surface serves to correct shading in accordance with the gradation pattern. |
US08675281B2 |
Lens unit, LED head, exposure device, image forming device, and scanning device
A lens unit includes first and second arrays of microlenses. The microlenses in the first array have mutually parallel optical axes and are aligned in a meridional direction orthogonal to their optical axes. The microlenses in the second array are aligned in the same direction as the lenses in the first array, and have optical axes that coincide with the optical axes of corresponding microlenses in the first array. The microlenses in the first array collimate light incident in a sagittal plane orthogonal to the meridional direction. The microlenses in the second array focus the collimated light in the sagittal plane. The lens unit is useful in the scanning heads of scanning devices, the LED heads of LED printers, and in the exposure devices of other electrophotographic image forming apparatus. |
US08675279B2 |
Grating structure for dividing light
A grating structure and a solar cell assembly. In one aspect, the grating structure suppresses the zero order transmission to near 0%. In another aspect, the solar cell assembly has improved absorption due to coupling with a grating structure. |
US08675277B2 |
Multi-layered lens sheet for three-dimensional look
A multi-layered micro lens sheet for a three-dimensional look includes a lens array layer in which first convex lenses and second convex lenses with different shapes are alternately arranged in longitudinal and transverse directions; a focal distance layer formed under the lens array layer; and a three-dimensional layer formed under the focal distance layer. |
US08675272B2 |
Optical modulator, methods of manufacturing and operating the same and optical apparatus including the optical modulator
An optical modulator, methods of manufacturing and operating the same, and an optical apparatus including the optical modulator are disclosed. The optical modulator includes an electro-optical converter and an optical-electric converter, stacked perpendicular to a substrate, and a gate transistor. The gate transistor gates a signal transmitted to the electro-optical converter from the optical-electric converter and allows charges generated in the optical-electric converter and charges remaining in the electro-optical converter to flow while bypassing the electro-optical converter when gating ON is performed. |
US08675255B2 |
Profile creation method for creating a profile defining an ink amount, profile creation program for creating a profile defining an ink amount, and printing apparatus for printing with reference to a profile defining an ink amount
A second chromaticity feature is corrected and approximated to a first chromaticity feature, a new limit value for an ink amount is determined based on the second chromaticity feature after the approximation, optimization is performed by designating an ink amount which is equal to or less than the newly determined limit value when an ink amount reproducing a hue value represented by a lattice point is determined by the optimization of the ink amount with the use of an object function for evaluating image quality when the designated amount of ink is made to adhere to a first print medium, the ink amount determined by the optimization is converted with a conversion relationship based on the first chromaticity feature and the second chromaticity feature, and a profile for a second print medium, for which the converted ink amount has been defined, is created. |
US08675250B2 |
Inkjet printing apparatus and calibration method
A waiting time Ts is decided on the basis of ink type information and ink feed amount information, referring to waiting time table A (Step 6). Along with this, a dried printing paper is carried to and stopped in a waiting area 9 (Step 7), a time period T is measured after stopping, and measurement processing in the next step is delayed until the time period T reaches the waiting time Ts. Then, when the time period T reaches the waiting time Ts, a measuring instrument 10 is used to measure a density of a patch printed on the printing paper (Steps 8 and 9). |
US08675247B2 |
Image file creation device, method and program storage medium, image processing device, method and program storage medium, and image processing system
There is provided an image file creation device including: an obtaining section that obtains image data forming a color image, conversion conditions for converting the image data into color data of a device-independent color space, and basic viewing conditions for viewing the color image; an input section that inputs target viewing conditions for viewing a formed image that is formed by using the image data; and a creation section that creates an image file containing a main data region for storing the image data, the conversion conditions and the basic viewing conditions, and a sub-data region for storing the target viewing conditions. |
US08675246B2 |
Image processing device and program
An image processing device for determining whether to carry out color printing or monochrome printing to achieve a printing operation on a print sheet based on an original document, the device including: a determination area obtaining unit configured to automatically obtain a partial area of the original document estimated to be printed on the print sheet; and a color/monochrome determination unit configured to carry out the determination with using image data of the obtained partial area. |
US08675245B2 |
Apparatus with capability of detecting two-dimensional code
Since, for detecting a two-dimension code added to a document, the detection processing is performed by checking the four corners of the read image, if the user specifies an A3 size as a reading size of an image in the copy of an A4-size document, the two-dimensional code is not detected. When the document size detected by the copying machine differs from the reading size of the image specified by the user, the processing for the two-dimensional code detection is performed checking the four corners of the region of the document size detected by the copying machine. |
US08675244B2 |
Rendering apparatus having a display list clip processing control method, rendering method, and storage medium
An apparatus includes, in a case of performing rendering based on print data in which a plurality of objects for which a clip is not set are defined, and rendering an object on a predetermined scan line, which is a scan line subsequent to the scan line whose edge information has undergone edge processing, an update unit configured to read edge information about a predetermined page clip edge on the predetermined scan line, and set a predetermined clip count corresponding to the predetermined page clip edge to valid, and set a clip count corresponding to the different page clip edge to valid, and a rendering unit configured to render an object corresponding to both page clip edges after the predetermined clip count and the different page clip edge are set to valid. |
US08675243B2 |
Bleed area adjustment technique for use in printing multiple articles of manufacture
Techniques for creating an individual image sized to a desired print area plus a desired amount of bleed area to thereby reduce an amount of ink applied outside a desired print area are presented. In an embodiment, each of the desired print area dimensions, a default ink bleed width, and an ink bleed adjustment setting are obtained. The individual image comprises an image container sized to a desired print area plus a desired amount of bleed area. Each of the respective dimensions of the image container of the individual image is set to the corresponding respective dimension of the desired print area plus the default ink bleed width. A base image providing image content for the image container is sized to the dimensions of the image container if dimensions of the base image do not already equal the dimensions of the image container. If an adjustment to the bleed area is required, an adjustment setting indicative of a desired width of the ink bleed is obtained, and a white frame is inserted around the inside perimeter of the individual image, the white frame having a width equal to the difference between the default ink bleed width and the desired width of the ink bleed. |
US08675236B2 |
Image processing method
A method comprising receiving digital image data from a plurality of digital image sources, which contains digital images and source identifiers. A plurality of processors are provided for simultaneously processing the digital images according to stored processing instructions which correspond to the source identifiers. |
US08675233B2 |
Electronic apparatus, method of controlling electronic apparatus, and storage medium storing electronic apparatus control method
An electronic apparatus includes a communication unit to communicate with other electronic apparatuses and a license management apparatus; a license file management unit to obtain license files from the license management apparatus; a license information management unit to manage license information to determine licensed software programs; an apparatus management unit to manage apparatus-related information including component parts information; and a license distribution management unit. The license distribution management unit confirms that licensed software programs are present. When transferring licenses for the confirmed software programs, the license distribution management unit requests and obtains the license information and the apparatus-related information from the other electronic apparatuses. The license distribution management unit conducts a searching process to identify the electronic apparatuses to which licenses are allowed to be transferred based on the obtained license information and the apparatus-related information from the other electronic apparatuses, and transfers the licenses to the identified electronic apparatuses. |
US08675231B2 |
Methods and systems for load leveling in a print shop
A method and system for managing print shop workflow determines whether variations in print shop workflow may be reduced by shifting one or more customers' scheduled orders to different time periods. By shifting an order from one time period to another, the system may reduce variability in demand levels over time, thus helping increase overall system efficiency. To do this, one or more customers are selected as candidates for print shop order rescheduling. The system identifies customer orders that, if moved to other time periods, will most reduce demand level variations. A user may accept the system's recommendations, or the system may present a user with several alternative load leveling options for selection. The system may then cause the orders to be printed based on the load leveling proposal and the user's selection. |
US08675230B2 |
Recognizing an image forming apparatus as a printer and an external storage device to reduce an initialization time of the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit which allows the print controlling terminal to recognize the image forming apparatus as a printer, a determination unit which determines whether a printer driver of the image forming apparatus is installed in the print controlling terminal, a controlling unit which controls the communication interface unit to receive print data generated by the printer driver, and an image forming unit which prints the received print data, and the communication interface unit, if a printer driver is not installed in the print controlling terminal, controls the print controlling terminal to additionally recognize the image forming apparatus as an external storage medium and provides the print controlling terminal with a printer driver installation program stored in the external storage medium, and a method of performing the same. |
US08675222B2 |
Information distribution system, information display apparatus, information management method, and computer readable medium
An information distribution system that includes an information reading apparatus reading out data distributed from an information medium and an information display apparatus having an information acquisition unit for acquiring the data distributed from said information reading apparatus, a display for displaying the data acquired by said information acquisition unit, and a display limitation unit for imposing display limitations on the data acquired by said information acquisition unit according to the state of connection between said information reading apparatus and the information display apparatus. |
US08675216B2 |
Selective duplicating system and information management server device
According to one embodiment, an information management server device determines whether to permit the duplicating of the original data selected in the duplication source selection information. The information management server device reads the management ID of the original data related to the management ID in the duplication request and the electronic data body related to the entity ID with reference to the first and second storage units when the determination result for the original data has shown that the duplicating is permitted and creates duplicated original data by giving a new management ID to duplicated data obtained by duplicating the electronic data body. |
US08675215B2 |
Using regions of interest to scale print data for print jobs
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that performs a print job. During operation, the system obtains one or more regions of interest associated with print data for the print job, wherein the print data is not formatted for a media size for the print job. Next, the system scales the print data based on a region of interest from the one or more regions of interest and the media size. Finally, the system sends the print job to a printer, wherein the print job is executed using the printer. |
US08675211B2 |
Fork light barrier, and device and method for determining position by means of a fork light barrier
A fork light barrier (1), provided with at least one first, one second, and one third light sensor (FT1 to FT3), which are arranged along an axis (X), wherein the second light sensor (FT2) lies between the first light sensor (FT1) and the third light sensor (FT3). The fork light barrier is advantageously incorporated into a position determining device and/or method. |
US08675208B2 |
Laser profiling attachment for a vision system camera
This invention provides a system and method for laser profiling that simplifies the task of setting up and using laser profiling systems and associated applications by providing a profiler assembly that includes a predetermined arrangement of lens and spaced-apart laser in which the geometry and calibration parameters are predetermined. The profiler assembly is adapted to mount directly into the camera mount (typically threaded) of a conventional vision system camera. All components needed to perform the profiling task can be integrated into the profiler assembly. The integration of components in a single interchangeable/exchangeable assembly makes it straightforward to optimize/adapt the assembly for a particular profiling application. |
US08675207B2 |
Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associate color of a structure is also provided. |
US08675204B2 |
Interferometric material sensing apparatus including adjustable reference arm and associated methods
A material sensing apparatus includes an excitation source configured to induce waves in a workpiece, and an optical waveguide interferometer configured to sense the induced waves in the workpiece. The optical waveguide interferometer includes a plurality of optical couplers and interconnecting optical fibers arranged to define a reference arm, a measurement arm, and a probe segment coupled to the reference arm and the measurement arm and having a probe segment end to be positioned adjacent the workpiece. An optical path length adjustor is coupled to the reference arm. A controller cooperates with the optical path length adjustor and the first optical detector. The controller is configured to adjust an optical path length of the reference arm to maintain a constant relationship with respect to an optical path length of the measurement arm, and to generate workpiece data based upon the first optical detector. |
US08675203B2 |
Interferometric biological sensing apparatus including adjustable reference arm and associated methods
A biological sensing apparatus includes an excitation source configured to induce waves in a biological target, and an optical waveguide interferometer configured to sense the induced waves in the biological target. The optical waveguide interferometer includes a plurality of optical couplers and interconnecting optical fibers arranged to define a reference arm, a measurement arm, and a probe segment coupled to the reference arm and the measurement arm and having a probe segment end to be positioned adjacent the biological target. An optical path length adjustor is coupled to the reference arm. A controller cooperates with the optical path length adjustor and a first optical detector. The controller is configured to adjust an optical path length of the reference arm to maintain a constant relationship with respect to an optical path length of the measurement arm, and to generate biological target data based upon the first optical detector. |
US08675199B2 |
Waveguide-based detection system with scanning light source
The invention provides methods and devices for generating optical pulses in one or more waveguides using a spatially scanning light source. A detection system, methods of use thereof and kits for detecting a biologically active analyte molecule are also provided. The system includes a scanning light source, a substrate comprising a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical sensing sites in optical communication with one or more waveguide of the substrate, a detector that is coupled to and in optical communication with the substrate, and means for spatially translating a light beam emitted from said scanning light source such that the light beam is coupled to and in optical communication with the waveguides of the substrate at some point along its scanning path. The use of a scanning light sources allows the coupling of light into the waveguides of the substrate in a simple and cost-effective manner. |
US08675197B2 |
Particle characterization
In one general aspect, a method of measuring characteristics of particles in a liquid sample is disclosed. The method includes suspending the liquid sample in a tube. The suspended liquid sample is illuminated along an illumination axis, and at least a portion of the light is detected along a first detection axis after it is scattered by the particles in the suspended liquid sample. The illumination axis and the detection axis are oriented at an angle with respect to each other. |
US08675196B2 |
Analyzer and particle imaging method
An analyzer comprises: a sample stream forming section for forming a sample stream including particles; a light source; an optical fiber bundle formed by a plurality of optical fibers, into which light from the light source enters, and which emits light onto the sample stream; and an imaging device for imaging a particle in the irradiated sample stream. |
US08675194B2 |
Apparatus for measuring the retroreflectance of materials
The present invention comprises various embodiments of a retroreflectometer capable of measuring the retroreflectance of a material. The retroreflectometer comprises an illumination path and a retroreflection path. The illumination path comprises focusing optics, a source aperture, a beamsplitter and a collimating lens. The retroreflection path comprises a focusing lens, a beamsplitter, a receiver aperture and a receiver. The source aperture shapes the transverse profile of the light to make it appropriate to the measurement. Focusing optics, such as a biconvex lens, may be placed between the light source and the source aperture. After the beam is reflected by the object under test, it enters the retroreflection path of the instrument. The focusing lens focuses the light through the beamsplitter and onto the receiver aperture. The receiver aperture may be the input slit for a spectrometer, or there may be optics, such as a lens or an optical fiber, that transfer the light from the aperture to the receiver. A photopically corrected detector, multiple detectors with filters or a spectrometer may be used in various embodiments of the present invention as the receiver. |
US08675191B2 |
Superior analyzer for raman spectra with high acceptance cone, resolution, transmission, quantum efficiency, and strong background reduction
A Raman analyzer for analyzing light emitted from a Raman cell is provided that has a beam splitter configured to split the light emitted from the Raman cell into a first beam and a second beam. An atomic vapor filter can be used to filter a Raman scattered line from the first beam and a chopper system can periodically interrupt the first and second beams that are directed towards a photo detector, which can convert light from the first and second beams into an electrical signal. The signal output from the photo detector can optionally be amplified, digitized, Fourier filtered, and/or subjected to Fourier analysis. |
US08675190B2 |
Large-collection-area raman probe with reduced background fluorescence
A compact Raman analysis system combines a near-infrared (NIR) laser source, a 2D array collecting anti-Stokes Raman spectra, and a probe configured to measure complex solid samples, including pharmaceutical tablets and other large-area targets with reduced background fluorescence at relatively low cost. The system collects spectra from an area of 1-mm or greater, preferably 3-12 mm or more, facilitating the collection of statistically useful data from inhomogeneous and laser-sensitive samples, among other applications. Potential pharmaceutical applications include tablet dosage level measurements, as well as online and at-line quality-control (QC) monitoring opportunities. Other applications include tablet identification as a forensic tool to identify counterfeit pharmaceutical products; granulation and blend uniformity for improved formulation via better process understanding. |
US08675189B2 |
System and method for estimating projector primary spectra using RGB measurement
A method for characterizing a primary radiant spectra of a projector includes projecting primary colors with a projector having a projector lamp and color filters. Measurements of each primary color are taken with a multi-band camera. Spectra of the color filters are estimated using the measurements from the multi-band camera. The primary radiant spectra of the projector are estimated using spectral data of the projector lamp and the estimated spectra of the color filters. |
US08675186B2 |
Systems and methods for targeting directed energy devices
Systems and methods for targeting a directed energy system are provided. A particular system includes a first laser and a second laser. The system also includes a scanning system coupled to the first laser and the second laser. The scanning system is adapted to movably direct the second laser in a pattern around a pointing location of the first laser. |
US08675183B1 |
Method and apparatus for target range determination
A system, method and computer program product provides for estimating the range of a target. An acquisition window of an imaging device is adjusted to fit a target at an unknown range in response to a user input. An angle subtended by the largest dimension of the target viewed from the acquisition window is determined. The range of the target is estimated from a largest dimension of the target and the angle subtended by the largest dimension of the target. The device may be a man-portable aircraft survivability equipment (ASE) system trainer (MAST), or any simulator simulating a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS). |
US08675181B2 |
Color LiDAR scanner
A color LiDAR scanner device includes color laser diodes (red, green, blue) and avalanche photodetector diodes (red, green, blue) that illuminate and detect the color light intensity returned from a target. In a preferred version these color laser/detectors are coupled with a single infrared laser/detector that detects the range and infrared light intensity from the same target. The combined range and color intensity information is combined to produce a single colored pixel in space. Multiple illuminations are used to create multiple pixels which can be combined to produce images. A rotating housing may be used for an entire surrounding image. |
US08675179B2 |
Control system, lithographic apparatus and a method to control a position quantity of a control location of a movable object
A control system configured to position a control location of a movable object in two or more degrees of freedom with respect to another object, including a set-point generator, a position quantity measurement system, a controller including a single input-single output controller for each degree of freedom to control a position quantity of the control location, each controller providing a control signal in logical coordinates on the basis of the error signal; and a gain scheduling device to provide center-of-gravity control signals in center-of gravity coordinates on the basis of the control signals, wherein the gain scheduling device includes a static and a dynamic relationship between logical coordinates and center-of-gravity coordinates of the movable object. |
US08675174B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
An exposure apparatus includes a nozzle member which has at least one of a supply port for supplying a liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid, and a nozzle adjusting mechanism which adjusts at least one of a position and a posture of the nozzle member depending on a position or a posture of a substrate. The exposure apparatus forms an immersion area of the liquid on the substrate, and performs exposure for the substrate through the liquid in the immersion area. Accordingly, the liquid is satisfactorily retained between the projection optical system and the substrate, thereby making it possible to realize the exposure highly accurately. |
US08675172B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and method of removing liquid
A method of removing liquid from a substrate supported on a substrate table and from a gap between the substrate and the substrate table includes: providing a liquid removal device with at least one outlet connected to an under pressure source, the outlet forming an elongated extractor of a predetermined geometry; relatively moving the substrate table and the liquid removal device such that the extractor is adapted to pass over all of the substrate and gap and such that substantially at any given time any local part of the extractor at the edge of a non-dried portion of the gap has, in a plane, its local tangent orientated at an angle of between about 35° and 90° to the local tangent of the gap. |
US08675170B2 |
Gas manifold, module for a lithographic apparatus, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A gas manifold to direct a gas flow between two parallel plates of an optical component of a lithographic apparatus, the gas manifold having an inlet to provide a gas flow to the gas manifold, a lattice comprising a plurality of through holes to homogenize the gas flow, a contractor downstream of the lattice to reduce the cross sectional area through which the gas flow flows, and an outlet downstream of the contractor to provide the gas flow to the two parallel plates. |
US08675169B2 |
Gas manifold, module for a lithographic apparatus, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A gas manifold to direct a gas flow between two plates of an optical component of a lithographic apparatus, the gas manifold having an inlet, a diffuser downstream of the inlet, a flow straightener downstream of the inlet, a contractor downstream of the flow straightener, and an outlet downstream of the contractor. |
US08675166B2 |
Display device having an improved sealant thickness homogencity
A height difference under a sealant is reduced in a case where lines are present under the sealant.There is provided a substrate having an active matrix display circuit and peripheral driving circuits, a counter substrate having a counter electrode provided on the substrate in a face-to-face relationship therewith, a sealant provided between the substrate and the counter substrate such that it surrounds the active matrix display circuit and peripheral driving circuits, a liquid crystal material provided inside the sealant, a plurality of external connection lines provided on the substrate under the sealant with a resin inter-layer film interposed therebetween for electrically connecting the active matrix display circuit and peripheral driving circuits to circuits present outside the sealant and an adjustment layer provided in the same layer as the plurality of external connection lines. |
US08675165B2 |
Liquid crystal display unit having particular sub-pixel units
A liquid crystal display unit including a pixel unit and a quasi-isotropic liquid crystal layer with Kerr effect is provided. The pixel unit includes sub-pixel units, each sub-pixel unit at least has a first transmissive region and a second transmissive region. Each sub-pixel unit includes a switch, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode. Each pixel electrode has first stripe patterns. The common electrode has second stripe patterns, wherein the first stripe patterns and the second stripe patterns are arranged alternately. In the first transmissive region, width of each first stripe pattern is L1, while a gap between each first stripe pattern and the corresponding second stripe pattern adjacent thereto is S1. In the second transmissive regions, width of each first stripe pattern is L2, while a gap between each first stripe pattern and the corresponding second stripe pattern adjacent thereto is S2, wherein L1≠L2 or S1≠S2 or L1/S1≠L2/S2. |
US08675163B2 |
Display device
A liquid crystal display device capable of preventing the occurrence of crack in a capacitor insulating film due to laser marking is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes pixels arranged in a matrix in a display region above a substrate, a thin film layer formed in a non-display region excluding the display region, and a transparent insulating film extending from the display region to the non-display region and formed on the thin film layer, in which the transparent insulating film includes at least an organic insulating film formed of an organic compound for planarizing a surface of the substrate, an inorganic insulating film which is a thin film formed on the organic insulating film and formed of an inorganic compound and formed with an opening extending to the organic insulating film in a region above the thin film layer, and a transparent electrode layer which is formed in the opening of the inorganic insulating film to cover the organic insulating film exposed from the opening of the inorganic insulating film. |
US08675159B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device, wherein u′on axis and v′on axis, u′max and v′max, and u′min and v′min satisfy following expressions (1), (2) and (3): u ave ′ = ( u max ′ - u min ′ 2 ) , v ave ′ = ( v max ′ - v min ′ 2 ) ( 1 ) Δ u ′ v ave - on axis ′ = ( u ave ′ - u on axis ′ ) 2 + ( v ave ′ - v on axis ′ ) 2 ≦ 0.04 ( 2 ) 0.35 ≦ v on axis ′ ≦ 0.55 ( 3 ) wherein u′on axis and v′on axis are hues in a black state observed in a front direction; u′max and v′max are maximum values of u′ and v′ in a black state among values observed in directions with an azimuth angle ranging from 0° to 360° and a polar angle of 60°; and u′min and v′min are minimum values of u′ and v′ in a black state among values observed in directions with an azimuth angle ranging from 0° to 360° and a polar angle of 60°. |
US08675156B2 |
Color filter substrate for liquid crystal display, and manufacturing method thereof
A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a transparent insulation substrate, a black matrix defining first and second pixel areas on the transparent insulation substrate, and a color filter in the first and second pixel areas for displaying first and second colors, respectively, wherein a surface of the black matrix having recesses at sides thereof adjacent to the first and second pixel areas, respectively, for preventing an overflow of the first color from the first pixel area into the second pixel area. |
US08675154B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a first polarizer between the liquid crystal display panel and a back light behind the liquid crystal display panel, the first polarizer including a first polarization film having a first transmission axis and a first phase-difference film having a first polarization axis, a second polarizer in front of the liquid crystal display panel, the second polarizer including a second polarization film having a second transmission axis intersecting the first transmission axis, a second phase-difference film having a second polarization axis intersecting the first polarization axis, and a third phase-difference film having a third polarization axis, and a substrate structure above the liquid crystal display panel and the second polarizer, the substrate structure includes a third polarizer in the substrate structure, the third polarizer including a fourth phase-difference film having a fourth polarization axis intersecting the third polarization axis. |
US08675153B2 |
Display device, method of controlling a light emitting diode array of the display device, and computer program product
A display device (10, 20, 30) is provided, the display device (10, 20, 30) comprising an LED array (33, 35, 12) working both as a backlight source for an LCD panel (31) and as an ambient light source providing ambient light with properties dependent on the image content presented by the LCD panel (31). A corresponding method and computer program product is also provided. |
US08675152B2 |
Method for manufacturing LCD device and light guide panel
Provided is a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, and a driving unit. The liquid crystal panel comprises a plurality of display areas defined therein. The backlight unit is disposed under the liquid crystal panel. The backlight unit comprises a plurality of light emitting areas corresponding to the respective display areas defined therein. The driving unit controls intensity of light emitted from the light emitting areas. Here, the backlight unit comprises light guide plates disposed in two or more light emitting areas. |
US08675151B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus is provided and includes a display panel, and a backlight unit supplying light from a rear of the display panel. The backlight unit includes a light source, a circuit board layer, a reflection layer, a pattern layer, and a vacant layer. The circuit board layer has the light source seated thereon. The reflection layer is formed on the circuit board layer to reflect light emitted from the light source. The pattern layer is positioned on a top surface of the light source. The vacant layer is formed between the reflection layer and the pattern layer. |
US08675145B2 |
Projector
A projector includes: a reflection-type polarizing plate which separates entering luminous flux by polarization into first linearly polarized light and second linearly polarized light whose polarization directions cross each other at right angles; a reflection-type light modulation device disposed inclined to the reflection-type polarizing plate to modulate the first linearly polarized light separated by polarization by the reflection-type polarizing plate according to image information and emit the modulated first linearly polarized light toward the reflection-type polarizing plate; a supporting body which supports the reflection-type polarizing plate and the reflection-type light modulation device; and a light shielding member disposed in an area to emit side of the second linearly polarized light which entering the reflection-type polarizing plate before modulation by the reflection-type light modulation device and separated by polarization, and connected with the supporting body. |
US08675139B2 |
Embedded memory design for low power video processor
There is provided an image/video processor comprises an embedded memory for image/video data that including a plurality of unit memory blocks including a plurality of memory cells; and a controller configured to store each bit of image/video data received through an input/output unit in each memory cell, read the image/video data stored in each memory cell of the embedded memory, and output the image/video data through the input/output unit, wherein at least two or more memory cells included in the plurality of memory cells have different sizes, the controller assign each bit of the image/video data depending on the importance of the image/video data and a size of the memory cell, and as the size of the memory cell is larger, a bit of image/video data of high importance is assigned. |
US08675138B2 |
Method and apparatus for fast source switching and/or automatic source switching
A method and system are provided in which a processor may perform fast source switching and/or automatic source switching by keeping active the signals from multiple sources. The processor may determine which received video signals are locked-in within a front-end portion of the processor. A video signal may be locked-in when a demodulator is locked to a carrier in the video signal or when a decoder is programmed to decode the video signal. During operation, the processor may switch from processing a current video signal to processing a video signal selected from those determined to be locked-in. The processor may maintain active a portion of a back-end portion of the processor to handle the switch from the current video signal to the selected video signal. The processor may switch to process between video signals when a predetermined content and/or metadata is detected within one of the video signals. |
US08675134B2 |
Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus, communication system, transmission method, reception method, and programs therefor
[Object] To provide a transmission apparatus, a reception apparatus, a communication system, a transmission method, a reception method, and programs therefor that are capable of efficiently transmitting at least a plurality of pieces of video data included in data of a plurality of contents at the same time.[Solving Means] A switch unit (32a) of a transmission apparatus selects one of a plurality of pieces of video data supplied from a storage apparatus (42) in accordance with video data designated by a transmission data control unit (32i) and supplies it to an IF unit (32b). The IF unit (32b) transmits video data decoded by a decode unit (113) from a terminal (335). The compressed video data supplied from the switch unit (32a) is transmitted via a terminal (336). The terminal (335) is included in a first channel unit. In a case where the IF unit (32b) is an HDMI, for example, the terminal (335) is a terminal for a TMDS channel. The terminal (336) is a terminal that is included in a second channel unit and connected to a reserved line, an HPD line, and the like. |
US08675133B2 |
Video source resolution detection
Embodiments for video content source resolution detection are provided. Embodiments enable systems and methods that measure video content source resolution and that provide image-by-image source scale factor measurements to picture quality (PQ) processing modules. With the source scale factor information, PQ processing modules can be adapted dynamically (on a picture-by-picture basis) according to the source scale factor information for better picture quality enhancement. In addition, embodiments provide source resolution detection that is minimally affected by video coding artifacts and superimposed content (e.g., graphics). |
US08675127B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes a welded part on a lens barrel side that is hardened after a contact portion of a lens barrel or a contact part on the lens barrel side is softened, where the contact portion of the lens barrel and the contact part on the lens barrel side are fixed, and a welded part on a light-receiving circuit side that is hardened after a contact portion of the light-receiving circuit or a contact part on a light-receiving circuit side is softened, where the contact portion of the light-receiving circuit and the contact part on the light-receiving circuit side are fixed. |
US08675125B2 |
Minimized-thickness angular scanner of electromagnetic radiation
A minimized-thickness angular scanner of electromagnetic radiation includes an optical sandwich having a two-dimensional (2D) image source, and a scanning assembly that includes a first optic and a second optic, wherein at least one of the first optic and the second optic are oscillatorily translating. Translation of the optics provides for generation of a three-dimensional (3D) image, while the optical sandwich design provides for compact implementation of 3D displays. |
US08675122B2 |
Determining exposure time in a digital camera
A digital camera described herein includes an analyzer component that analyzes a histogram of a first image, wherein the first image has a first resolution. The digital camera also includes a setter component that sets an exposure time for capturing a second image based at least in part upon the analysis of the histogram of the first image, wherein the second image has a second resolution, and wherein the first resolution of the first image is less than the second resolution of the second image. |
US08675117B2 |
Imaging unit for wide-angle and telephoto zooming and imaging apparatus incorporating the same
An imaging unit includes: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a solid-state imaging device that images an optical image formed by the first lens group to the third lens group sequentially arranged from an object side toward an image side, wherein, at zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group becomes larger and a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group becomes smaller, and a distance from the second lens group to the solid-state imaging device at the wide-angle end is the longest in all zoom positions. |
US08675113B2 |
User interface for a digital camera
The present disclosure provides a user interface for a digital camera such as a digital camera built into a smartphone or other multipurpose portable electronic device. The user interface simultaneously displays an electronic viewfinder image and at least one other image such as a previously captured image. The previously captured image is located within the electronic viewfinder image. Designated input causes the previously captured image to be enlarged from an initial size to an enlarged size. |
US08675111B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
An information processing apparatus includes a first obtaining unit, a second obtaining unit and a display control unit. The first obtaining unit obtains, from an electronic device connected to the information processing apparatus, image data stored in a memory medium connected to the electronic device. The second obtaining unit obtains in advance reduced image data corresponding to the image data before obtainment of the image data by the first obtaining unit. The display control unit updates reduced image data displayed on a display unit, obtained by the second obtaining unit, in accordance with a display condition designated by a user. When the display condition is changed while the first obtaining unit is executing obtainment of image data, the first obtaining unit changes an obtainment order of image data based on the changed display condition. |
US08675106B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method for the same
A direction in which pixels highly correlated with a signal value of a pixel of interest exist is determined by using both signal values of a plurality of pixels of different colors from the pixel of interest and of a plurality of pixels of the same color as the pixel of interest among a plurality of peripheral pixels of the pixel of interest, and obtains pixel correction values corresponding to the respective directions. Weighted addition of those pixel correction values is performed in accordance with the degree to which the pixel of interest is of an achromatic color, and the pixel correction value for the pixel of interest is thus obtained. |
US08675104B2 |
Noise filter for bayer pattern image data
A method of filtering an image filter is disclosed. The filter is provided for a digital camera including image sensors sensitive to light, a color filter placed over sensitive elements of the sensors and patterned according to a Bayer mosaic pattern layout and an interpolation algorithm joining together the digital information provided by differently colored adjacent pixels in said Bayer pattern. The filter is adaptive and includes a noise level computation block for operating directly on a said Bayer pattern data set of for each color channel thus removing noise while simultaneously preserving picture detail. |
US08675102B2 |
Real time denoising of video
A video enhancement processing system improves perceptual quality of video data with limited processing complexity. The system may perform spatial denoising using filter weights that may vary based on estimated noise of an input image. Specifically, estimated noise of the input image may alter a search neighborhood over which the denoising filter operates, may alter a profile of weights to be applied based on pixel distances and may alter a profile of weights to be applied based on similarity of pixels for denoising processes. As such, the system finds application in consumer devices that perform such enhancement techniques in real time using general purpose processors such as CPUs or GPUs. |
US08675101B1 |
Temperature-based fixed pattern noise and bad pixel calibration
A method of pixel correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of pixel values from a sensor in response to an optical signal, (B) generating a temperature signal representing a temperature of the sensor and (C) generating a plurality of corrected values by applying a per-pixel correction model to the pixel values, wherein the per-pixel correction model is responsive to the temperature. |
US08675100B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit having negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the third lens unit includes at least one lens element having positive optical power and at least one lens element having negative optical power, at least the first to third lens units are moved along an optical axis in zooming so that air spaces between the respective lens units vary, thereby performing magnification change, a lens unit positioned on the image side relative to an aperture diaphragm is moved along the optical axis in focusing, and the conditions: 8.1 |
US08675099B2 |
Efficient system and method for face tracking
A method of scanning a scene using an image sensor includes (a) dividing the scene into multiple first portions; and scanning a first portion for presence of objects in an object class. The method further includes continuing the scanning of the multiple first portions for presence of other objects in the scene. The method also selects a second portion of the scene, in response to detecting an object in the first portion; and then tracking the object in the selected second portion. The second portion of the scene is selected based on estimating motion of the object detected in the first portion, so that it may still be located in the second portion. |
US08675090B2 |
Image generating apparatus, image generating method, and recording medium
An image generating apparatus which generates a second image that is an image converted from a first image captured by an imaging apparatus placed to be oriented downward at an angle of depression with respect to a horizontal direction includes: a specifying unit which specifies a straight line included in the first image and passing through an intersection between an imaging plane and a vertical vector; and an image extension processing unit which generates the second image by sampling pixels of the first image along the specified straight line. |
US08675088B2 |
Image compensation apparatus
An image compensation apparatus for use with a video display and a video camera, the video camera being arranged to capture images of a scene in front of the video display. The image compensation apparatus includes an analyzer configured to analyze successive frames of data provided to the video display, the successive frames of data being for displaying respective successive display images, a processor configured to calculate the illumination effect of the successive display images on the scene in front of the video displays and a compensator configured to apply image compensation to the successive images captured by the video camera so as to compensate for the effect of illumination by the video display of the scene in front of the video display. |
US08675082B2 |
Imaging device and imaging device control method
An imaging device of the present invention comprises a photographing lens for forming a subject image, an imaging section for converting the subject image to image signals and outputting the image signals, a storage section for storing image data obtained based on the image signals output from the storage section, an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device, an image detection section for detecting a face image contained in the image signals, and a storage control section for determining storage start and storage end for the image data, based on detection results of the attitude detection section and detection results of the image detection section. |
US08675080B2 |
Motion estimation in imaging systems
Motion estimation systems and methods are disclosed. An apparatus may include a processing unit to acquire video images and to arrange the video images into a plurality of sequential video frames, and a motion estimation unit that receives the sequential video frames and determines a set of repetitive pattern neighbor candidate vectors for repetitive pattern content in a first frame. The set of repetitive pattern neighbor candidate vectors may be reduced by sorting the set to eliminate spurious repetitive pattern neighbor candidate vectors. The reduced set may be provided to a second adjacent frame. A method may include acquiring a plurality of sequential video frames having a repetitive pattern content, and determining a set of repetitive pattern neighbor candidate vectors for the repetitive pattern content in a first frame of the sequential video frames. The set of repetitive pattern neighbor candidate vectors may be sorted by determining at least one spurious repetitive pattern neighbor candidate vector. The sorted set may be provided to a second adjacent video frame. |
US08675079B2 |
Image capture device, image processing device and image processing program
An image capture device of the present invention includes: a plurality of image sensors (310a, 310b); an optical element (light entrance section) 315 which is configured to allow incoming light to sequentially impinge on the respective image sensors (310a, 310b) according to a time-coded pattern during the exposure time; a camera shake detection section 345 for detecting camera shake which occurs during the exposure time to generate camera shake information that represents a trajectory of the camera shake; and an image processing section 220 for processing the plurality of images obtained by the plurality of image sensors (310a, 310b). The image processing section 220 includes a PSF determination section for determining, based on the camera shake information and the time-coded pattern, point spread functions that define blurs which are caused by the camera shake in the respective images, an image restoration section for restoring respective images using the point spread functions, and an image synthesizing section for synthesizing the plurality of restored images. |
US08675075B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring video quality
A method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a video sequence, which includes a plurality of frames, among which one or more consecutive frames are lost, wherein during the displaying of the video sequence, the one or more lost frames are substituted by an immediate preceding frame in the video sequence during a period from the displaying of the immediate preceding frame to that of an immediate subsequent frame of the one or more lost frames, the method includes measuring the quality of the video sequence as a function of a first parameter (DF) relating to the stability of the immediate preceding frame during the period, a second parameter (DD) relating to the continuity between the immediate preceding frame and the immediate subsequent frame, and a third parameter (DP) relating to the coherent 20 motions of the video sequence. |
US08675073B2 |
Video system and methods for operating a video system
A multiple camera video system and methods for operating such a system. The system may include a plurality of cameras located around a stadium, athletic playing field or other location. The cameras are remotely controlled in a master-slave configuration. A camera operator at a master pan head selects one of the plurality of cameras as the current master camera and utilizes the master pan head to adjust the telemetry and zoom of the master camera to follow the target object. The telemetry and zoom parameters of the master camera are then used to calculate corresponding telemetry, zoom and/or other parameters for each of the plurality of slave cameras. Video captured by each of the cameras is stored for the production of replay video feeds or for archiving. The replays may be capable of “spinning” through the video feeds of adjacent cameras in order for the viewer to get the sensation of revolving around the target object. The multiple camera video system also includes methods for calibrating the system. |
US08675072B2 |
Multi-view video camera system for windsurfing
A multi-view video camera system (25) for filming a windsurfing sailor during sailing, comprising of two video cameras in waterproof compartments (7) with lenses (8) and screw caps (29) attached to a clamp (10) with tightening screw (9) and wing nut (23) for attachment to the mast (11) of a windsurfing sail rig (22). The compartments (7) are oriented to aim the contained video cameras (24) along each side of the windsurfing sail rig (22) at corresponding locations a windsurfing sailor would occupy while sailing the windsurfing sail rig. Video streams, resulting from the contained video cameras could then be combined into single composite video for analysis. |
US08675070B2 |
Driving support device, driving support method, and driving support program
In a driving support device and method, images of a vicinity of a vehicle are captured and recorded. Movement information relating to movement of the vehicle is acquired and a movement status of the vehicle based on the acquired movement information is determined. Based on (i) the determined movement status and (ii) a parameter associated with the determined movement status, the recorded image data is composited to create a composite image of an area including a position of the vehicle. The composite image is displayed on a display unit. The parameter is calibrated based on (a) a position of a reference marker included in the composite image created according to the movement status and (b) a predicted position of the reference marker superimposed and displayed on the composite image according to the movement status. |
US08675064B2 |
Display system
A display system is provided which determines an effective image area by automatically detecting a boundary between the effective image area and a non-image area created owing to the difference between the pixel numbers of the camera image sensor and television signal, to thereby display the images on a monitor by adjusting a display size and position suitable for the effective image area, whereby an inappropriate display size and position are avoided from being set while a lighting device for illuminating a camera's field of vision is off. The display system receives a signal notifying about activation of the lighting device from the lighting controller that provides on/off control of the device; the system then determines the effective image area if the device is on, and does not if it is off. |
US08675060B2 |
Machine vision based obstacle avoidance system
Machine vision based obstacle avoidance system is provided. The system utilizes a CCD camera to capture an image. A normalized image and dynamic masking is used in object detection. |
US08675059B2 |
System and method for using a video monitoring system to prevent and manage decubitus ulcers in patients
A video monitoring system captures image frames of a patient in various positions. The captured image frames are analyzed by the system for changes in a patient's position or movement, frames in which the system detects one or both of patient movement and repositioning are retained. The system analyzes an area of interest within each image frame that corresponds to an area in the camera's view field with the patient. Sequential image frames are compared for motion, only frames without motion, where the patient is still, are analyzed. Analysis techniques include selecting a plurality of vertical positions in the area of interest, each vertical position corresponding to a part of the patient body indicative of the patient's position, horizontally scanning values along the horizontal pixel row at each vertical position in the area of interest, finding an average value for each vertical position and identifying a patient interval of the horizontal pixel row having pixel values different from the average and a representative horizontal position of the patient interval for each vertical interval. Then, comparing those median horizontal positions from a current image frame to the representative horizontal positions from a previous image frame to determine a change in the patient's position. |
US08675054B2 |
Stereoscopic image display and method for driving the same
A stereoscopic image display and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The stereoscopic image display includes a display panel, that displays data of a 2D image in a 2D mode and display data of a 3D image in a 3D mode in a time division manner, and a data modulation unit that previously stores modified values satisfying a luminance of a predetermined gray level and modulates left eye image data or right eye image data input during a current frame period to a modified value selected based on the result of a comparison between right/left eye image data input during a previous frame period and the left/right eye image data of the current frame period using the previously stored modified values. |
US08675052B2 |
Pixel circuit, device and method for displaying stereoscopic image
A stereoscopic image display device is disclosed. According to one aspect, the stereoscopic image display device includes a display panel, a timing controller, a data driver, and a gate driver. The timing controller alternately outputs a left frame image signal and a right frame image signal, and outputs a plurality of first and second control signals. The data driver drives the data lines in response to the left frame image signal, the right frame image signal and the first control signals. The gate driver drives the gate lines and outputs a transfer signal in response to the second control signals. Each of a plurality of pixels includes a first transistor, a hold capacitor, a second transistor, a storage capacitor, and a liquid crystal capacitor. The first transistor is connected between a corresponding data line and a first node, and has a gate connected to a corresponding gate line. The hold capacitor is connected between the first node and a ground voltage. The second transistor is connected between the first node and a second node, and has a gate configured to receive the transfer signal. The storage capacitor is connected between the second node and the ground voltage. The liquid crystal capacitor is connected between the second node and the ground voltage. |
US08675051B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: a unit that detects a motion vector from a first video image and a second video image; a unit that detects a disparity vector between a frame of the first video image and a frame of the second video image; a unit that, when there exists a non-detection position at which no motion vector is detected in a frame of one video image, performs correction by detecting a corresponding position included in a frame of the other video image that corresponds to the non-detection position using the disparity vector, and setting a motion vector of the frame of the other video image at the corresponding position, to the non-detection position; and a unit that generates respective interpolation frames of the first video image and the second video image using the motion vector after correction. |
US08675048B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, recording method, and recording medium
Provided is an image processing apparatus that stereoscopically displays a two-dimensional image, comprising a generating section that generates a left-side image and a right-side image by shifting the two-dimensional image left and right in a display region; and an output section that outputs the left-side image to a left eye of the user and the right-side image to a right eye of the user. The generating section generates the left-side image and the right-side image by shifting the two-dimensional image to the left and right within the display region by a distance no greater than a distance between pupils of a user. |
US08675042B2 |
Image processing apparatus, multi-eye digital camera, and program
A distance to an object is measured for each of a series of left images, and the count of a distance range including the calculated distance increases. A distance range with the highest frequency of appearance is specified from the counter information of a distance table counter, and a left image in which the distance included in the specified distance range is measured is selected. The adjustment amount of the parallax amount adjusted for the selected left image and a corresponding right image is determined to be the adjustment amount of the parallax amount of a panorama image. A series of left images is combined to generate a panorama image and a series of right images is combined to generate a panorama image. A panorama image displayed in stereoscopic view is generated based on the determined adjustment amount of the parallax amount. |
US08675041B2 |
Vehicle periphery monitoring device
An object is to provide a vehicle periphery monitoring device wherein distortions in a captured image containing an edge of the vehicle body can be corrected so that parallel perception is the same as in actual space, and wherein images readily discernible to the driver can be displayed. The edge of the vehicle body is included in the image captured by a camera provided to the vehicle. A Y-axis along the edge of the vehicle body and an X-axis orthogonal to the Y-axis are set in the captured image. Distortions are corrected so that the X-axis is enlarged at a magnification ratio γ that increases in a nonlinear fashion that depends of the distance from the X-axis while the Y-axis is kept substantially fixed. The captured image thus corrected for distortion is displayed on an onboard monitor. |
US08675034B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the optical scanning apparatus includes a before-light-deflecting-unit optical system and a scanning optical system. The optical system includes a first optical device, a second optical device made of a resin material which has an anamorphic negative refracting power in a deflection scanning direction and a deflection scan perpendicular direction and has a larger refracting power in the deflection scan perpendicular direction than a refracting power in the deflection scanning direction, and a third optical device made of a glass material which has substantially no refracting power in the deflection scanning direction and a positive refracting power in the deflection scan perpendicular direction. An interval of the scanning lines formed on the scanned surface is adjusted by displacement of the second and third optical devices in an optical axis direction of the before-light-deflecting-unit optical system. |
US08675030B2 |
Method for displaying a video image on a digital display device
The present invention relates to a method for displaying a video image on a digital display device during a video frame comprising at least two distinct time segments for displaying a grey level. The cells of the device are able to take selectively an on state or an off state. The cells are able moreover to change state several times during a video frame. According to the invention, the cells change state at most once during each time segment of the video frame. The invention makes it possible to attenuate or suppress disturbances related to the temporal integration and to the sequential displaying of the R, G, B components of the video image. |
US08675027B2 |
Image display apparatus
There are provided a light source (1) having a plurality of light emitters, each of the light emitters, whose light-emission period is controlled separately, emitting one color of a plurality of colors; an image signal analyzer for analyzing an input image data, and determining a timing of light emission for each light emitter; a light source controller (5) for controlling the light-emission period for the light source based on the light-emission timing for each light emitter, such that the light-emission period is not shorter than a light-emission period of a predetermined minimum time length light-emission period; a light detector (6) for detecting the light emitted in the light-emission period of the minimum time length, and outputting the average light-emission peak values (Ir1, Ig1, Ib1); and a peak value corrector (7) for generating correction values (d_Ir, d_Ig, d_Ib) for controlling each of the average light-emission peak values (Ir1, Ig1, Ib1) to become equal to corresponding one in the reference peak values (tIr, tIg, tIb) stored in a memory (8). Even when the light-emission period is changed according to the input image, the color balance of the image is maintained constant. |
US08675026B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program storage medium
There is provided an image processing apparatus including: a storage which stores image data of one frame; an image receiving unit which receives image data on an area of all or a part of the one frame; an image writing unit which writes the image data received by the image receiving unit into the storage; an image reading unit which periodically reads the image data of the one frame from the storage in a predetermined order of address; an image output unit which outputs the image data read by the image reading unit; a copy instruction receiving unit which receives a copy instruction which specifies address information of a copy source area to be copied in the one frame in the first image storage, and which specifies address information of a copy destination area in which image data copied from the copy source area is to be placed; and a copy image writing unit which, when an address of the image data read by the image reading unit is included in the address information of the copy source area, writes the image data read by the image reading unit in the address included in the address information of the copy source area into the storage on the basis of the address information of the copy destination area. |
US08675024B2 |
Mobile terminal and displaying method thereof
A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit communicating with at least one electronic device, a display including a touch screen receiving touch input and displaying contents, and a controller executing an application related to the contents and reducing a first area of the touch screen on which the contents are displayed in response to a first input, thus reducing a size of the displayed contents. The controller further displays information about the at least one electronic device at a second area of the touch screen generated when the first area is reduced. |
US08675022B2 |
Joy-stick like graphical user interface to adjust 3D cross sectional plane in 3D volume
Methods for a joy-stick graphical control in 3D space are disclosed. 3D data are rendered with a certain orientation in a 3D rendering space within a region of a 2D screen. One or more cross sectional views of the 3D data are rendered in the 3D rendering space where the cross sectional views are derived based on corresponding one or more 3D planes cutting through the 3D data at a 3D location. On one 3D plane, a joy-stick control is rendered in the 3D space at a pose determined based on the joy stick. |
US08675017B2 |
Real world gaming framework
A virtual environment and real world environment are combined into a framework that facilitates large-scale social interaction in multi-player fantasy games played in both the real world and/or a virtual world. Such combination of real and virtual world features may blend geo-caching, orienteering, and other virtual gaming features to enable players to interact across the real and virtual environments. A real world player is also mapped into the virtual environment, thereby inserting the player's movements and actions into the virtual environment. Additionally, this feature enables interaction between players located in a real environment with characters found in a virtual environment. A player may use a mobile device that is configured to recognize the geo-location and orientation of the player and display a corresponding view of the virtual environment gaming landscape for the player. |
US08675016B2 |
Automated annotation of a view
In a view, e.g. of scenery, of a shopping or museum display, or of a meeting or conference, automated processing can be used to annotate objects which are visible from a viewer position. Annotation can be of objects selected by the viewer, and can be displayed visually, for example, with or without an image of the view. |
US08675009B2 |
Keying an image in three dimensions
Some embodiments provide a method for editing an image that includes several pixels having pixel values in a color space. The method identifies (i) a shape in a plane of two dimensions of the color space and (ii) a range in a third dimension of the color space over which the first shape is propagated to form a first volume in the color space. Pixels whose pixel values are in the first volume of the color space are fully selected. The method displays a deformable curve along the third dimension that represents the manner in which the shape is propagated over the range of the color space. |
US08675007B2 |
System and method for higher level filtering by combination of bilinear results
A method and system for higher level filtering uses a native bilinear filter, typically found in a texture mapper, and combines a plurality of bilinear filter results from the bilinear filter to produce a higher level filtered texel value. A native bilinear filter is operative to generate bilinear filtered texel values by performing a plurality of bilinearly filtered texture fetches using bilinear filter fetch coordinates. The method and system combines the plurality of bilinear filtered texel values with a plurality of weights to generate the higher level filtered texel value. |
US08675005B2 |
Waveform observing apparatus and system thereof
There are provided a waveform observing apparatus and the system thereof in which, when a removable storage medium is inserted into the waveform observing apparatus to capture a copy of measured data, a difference copy is made while including the latest measured data collected by the waveform observing apparatus at the time, sixteenth and seventeenth measured data temporarily stored in a buffer memory are filed and stored in the state of being housed in a fourth measured data file, into a body memory. Copies of a third measured data file including part of the difference copy and a new fourth measured data file are written into the USB memory. When the USB memory is inserted into a personal computer, a hard disk of the personal computer comes into a state where its third measured data file is overwritten and stored and the fourth measured data file is newly stored. |
US08675004B2 |
Buffer underrun handling
A graphics system may include a display pipe with a buffer configured to store pixels to be processed by a display controller for displaying on a display device, with a buffer control circuit coupled to the buffer to supply pixels to the display controller. When the buffer control circuit detects an underrun of the buffer responsive to the display controller attempting to read pixels from the buffer that have not yet been written to the buffer, the buffer control circuit may supply an underrun pixel to the display. The underrun pixel may be selected from a set of previously stored set of underrun pixels, which may include a most recent valid pixel read by the display controller. A read pointer representative of the location in the buffer from where the display controller is currently attempting to read may be advanced even when an underrun condition occurs. The underrun pixel may be supplied to the display controller until the underrun has been resolved, at which point the most recent valid pixel read from the buffer may be supplied to the display controller. |
US08675003B2 |
Efficient data access for unified pixel interpolation
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for accessing vertex data stored in a memory, and applications thereof. Such a method includes writing vertex data of primitives into contiguous banks of a memory such that the vertex data of consecutively written primitives spans more than one row of the memory. Vertex data of two consecutively written primitives are read from the memory in a single clock cycle. |
US08675001B2 |
Efficient memory management for path determination in memory space limited parallel processing systems
The present invention relates to a method for processing data entities by a data processing system, wherein: a first and a second set of data entities are stored in a main memory and associated with a respective first and second set of points of a domain; the first set of data entities is loaded into a local storage; one or more first calculations are performed using the first set of data entities to generate first calculated data; the second set of data entities is determined according to at least some of the first calculated data; the determined second set of data entities is loaded into the local storage; and one or more second calculations are performed using the second set of data entities resulting in second calculated data. |
US08675000B2 |
Command buffers for web-based graphics rendering
The described embodiments provide a system that renders graphics for a computer system. During operation, the system loads a software client and a software service in the computing system. Next, the system receives a set of rendering commands from the software client in a command buffer, wherein the rendering commands include at least one of a state change command, a resource allocation command, a direct memory access (DMA) command, buffer data, and a synchronization command. Finally, the system uses the software service to render an image corresponding to the rendering commands by reading the rendering commands from the command buffer and executing the rendering commands. |
US08674998B1 |
Snapshot keyframing
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for generating animation keyframes and a corresponding 3D animation sequence from a plurality of 2D images. |
US08674992B2 |
Spotlight graphs
In a computer-displayed graph, indications of multiple attributes or states of an object represented by a node of the graph are displayed using a spotlight, in which attributes of the spotlight correspond to attributes of the object represented by the node. The attributes of the spotlight each correspond to an attribute of the object and may include the color, brightness, and size of the spotlight. The spotlight may be positioned with the node, including overlaying the spotlight on the node and positioning the spotlight relative to the node. |
US08674988B2 |
System and method for artist friendly controls for hair shading
There is provided a system and method for artist friendly control of three-dimensional object shading, particularly hair. A methodology is disclosed for deriving a pseudo scattering function over a domain of Artist Friendly Controls (AFCs) from a physically based scattering function over a domain of Physically Based Controls (PBCs). The pseudo scattering function can provide intuitive decoupled adjustments of specific important visual characteristics while still providing a convincing and aesthetically pleasing result. An end user such as an artist may thus control the values, or AFCs, to implement specific aesthetic features for the shading of objects as seen on a display. The pseudo scattering function may be utilized for single scattering and multiple scattering models of hair shading. |
US08674987B2 |
Dynamic ray population control
Aspects can be for ray tracing of 3-D scenes, and include dynamically controlling a population of rays being stored in a memory, to keep the population within a target, a memory footprint or other resource usage specification. An example includes controlling the population by examining indicia associated with rays returning from intersection testing, to be shaded, the indicia correlated with behavior of shaders to be run for those rays, such that population control selects, or reorders rays for shading, to prioritize shading of rays whose shaders are expected to produce fewer rays. The indicia can include a respective weight for each ray. In an example, analyzer modules examine hints associated with shaders bound to intersected primitives. Population control aspects can influence ray diversity in memory, including encouraging a varying diversity pattern as rendering of a given scene or frame progresses, based on system resource indicia, rendering metrics and so on. |
US08674983B1 |
System and method for synchronizing and using a three dimensional view with a block diagram model
A method of synchronizing a textual view, a block diagram view and a three-dimensional view of the system being modeled is provided. Aspects of the model can be displayed via a textual viewer, a block diagram viewer and a 3D viewer in an embodiment. A user may make a change to the block diagram representing the model via the block diagram viewer interface and changes may be dynamically made to the textual representation of the model via the textual viewer and to the 3D representation of the model via the 3D viewer. Exemplary embodiments may maintain synchronization of model views to allow dynamic updating of model views as determined by an environment in which the model views are operating. |
US08674982B2 |
Information processing system, information processing method, information processing program, server program, server apparatus, and server system, capable of handling multiple-view image data
An exemplary embodiment provides an information processing system. A server apparatus stores multiple-view image data received from a first information processing apparatus, transmits, in response to a request for image transmission from the first information processing apparatus, the stored multiple-view image data to the first information processing apparatus from which the request was made, and transmits, in response to a request for image transmission from a second information processing apparatus, single-view image data generated from the stored multiple-view image data to the second information processing apparatus from which the request was made. The first information processing apparatus provides multiple-view display of an image by using the multiple-view image data from the server apparatus. The second information processing apparatus provides single-view display of an image by using the single-view image data from the server apparatus. |
US08674981B2 |
Method of processing a digitized workpiece, particularly a three-dimensional model of a dental prosthetic item to be produced therefrom, and apparatus therefor
In a method of processing a digitized workpiece (1), especially a three-dimensional model of a dental prosthetic item to be produced therefrom, by altering the surface data of the workpiece by means of a tool which acts on a local zone of action (3) on the surface (2), a change in height of said surface (2) is effected in said zone of action (3) of said tool when the tool is applied to said surface, the said zone of action of said tool covering a modified region (5) showing a substantially constant change in height (t) over the zone of action (3) and also a transition region (4), in which the surface of the modified region (5) merges into the surface surrounding said zone of action (3). |
US08674978B2 |
Electrophoretic display, electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display includes: a plurality of spatially divided cells; and plural types of color substances contained in each of the cells wherein a display color is controlled by controlling electrophoresis of the colored substances within the cells, wherein each of a first cell, a second cell and a third cell included in the plurality of cells includes a first color substance corresponding to a mutually differing one of three primary colors in additive color mixing or subtractive color mixing and a second color substance in a relationship of complementary colors with the first color substance, wherein the first cell is controlled to be in a display state by the first color substance, and the second and third cells are controlled to be in a display state by the second color substance, respectively. |
US08674976B2 |
Liquid crystal display capable of reducing power consumption and method for driving the same
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, and liquid crystal cells arranged at crossings of the data lines and the gate lines in a matrix form, a data driving circuit supplying a data voltage to the data lines, and a power consumption reduction circuit, that calculates the number of black pixels, white pixels, or both included in an input image, decides whether or not the input image is a problem pattern increasing power consumption of the data driving circuit based on the calculation result, selectively activates a charge sharing function, which shorts between adjacent output channels of the data driving circuit during a predetermined period, and differently controls a polarity inversion period of the data voltage based on the decision result. |
US08674975B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method with common voltage control for avoiding flicker and color-shift phenomena
A liquid crystal display includes a first switch for outputting a first electrode voltage according to a first data signal and a first gate signal, a second switch for outputting a second electrode voltage according to a second data signal and the first gate signal, a liquid crystal capacitor for controlling liquid-crystal transmittance according to the difference between the first and second electrode voltages, a first storage capacitor for storing the first electrode voltage, a third switch, a second storage capacitor for storing the second electrode voltage, and a fourth switch. The third switch controls the operation of furnishing a first common voltage to the first storage capacitor according to a second gate signal, for adjusting the first electrode voltage. The fourth switch controls the operation of furnishing a second common voltage to the second storage capacitor according to the second gate signal, for adjusting the second electrode voltage. |
US08674973B2 |
Liquid crystal display device employing dot inversion drive method with reduced power consumption
A liquid crystal display device employing a dot inversion drive method includes a pixel array, a data driver circuit, a short circuit, and a scanning circuit. The short circuit is disposed for respective outputs of the data driver circuit, and includes a switching element for connecting each of the outputs to a precharge voltage different from an output voltage. The short circuit includes the switching element disposed in one of a first switching group and a second switching group; the switching element of one of the first switching group and the second switching group is connected to respective pairs of pixel column units including an odd-numbered pixel column and an even-numbered pixel column which are adjacent to each other; and the pairs of pixel column units which are adjacent to each other are each connected to the switching element disposed in respective switching groups different from each other. |
US08674969B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, and timing controller and signal processing method used in same
A liquid crystal device is provided which is capable of being free from degradation of signal receiving sensitivity and/or malfunction without performing thinning-out and complementing on video signals of an electronic device having an embedded peripheral circuit to receive and transmit data. A stop period during which outputting of horizontal synchronizing signal made up of a video signal strobe signal STB and vertical drive clock signal VCK is stopped at least one time or more and for two horizontal periods or more during a display period in one vertical period is set by a control device (for example, timing controller). In this horizontal synchronizing stop period setting mode processing, a first signal (for example, status signal) indicating that the outputting of the horizontal synchronizing signal is in a stop state is transmitted to an electronic circuit (for example, peripheral circuit). |
US08674960B2 |
Detector circuit and detect method of a capacitive touch panel
A detector circuit and detect method of a capacitive touch panel conditionally abort sensing of useless traces of the capacitive touch panel when the capacitive touch panel senses the traces thereof. For a selected trace, the trace voltage thereof is sampled to be compared with a threshold voltage. If the sampled voltage is lower than the threshold voltage, the sensing of this trace is aborted and thus the operation of the detector circuit is reduced to improve the performance of the capacitive touch panel. |
US08674957B2 |
User input device for wireless back channel
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a method that includes, in an example, sending, by a source device, display data to a sink device for rendering on the sink device. The method also includes receiving, by the source device, an indication of user input at a first display location of a touch-sensitive screen associated with the source device, wherein the user input specifies a modification of at least a portion of the display data rendered at the sink device, wherein the portion of the display data is rendered at a second display location of the sink device. The method also includes, in response to receiving the indication, sending, by the source device, second configuration data to modify the portion of the display data rendered at the second display location based at least in part on a mapping of the first display location to the second display location. |
US08674955B2 |
Sensing method, computer program product and portable device
The invention provides a sensing method for a portable device with a touch panel. The touch panel is sequentially divided into a valid input region, a transition region and a peripheral region from a center to a periphery of the touch panel. The sensing method comprises sensing a contact signal generated from a contact motion of an input device on the touch panel. When the initial position of the contact motion is determined to be within one of the valid input region and the transition region according to the contact signal or the initial position of the contact motion is determined to be within the peripheral region and the contact motion moves into the valid input region according to the contact signal, an operation corresponding to the contact motion is executed according to the contact signal. |
US08674952B2 |
Touch display panel, pixel structure and multi-sensing structure
A touch display panel which includes a first substrate, a second substrate, at least a multi-sensing structure, a display medium and at least a display controlling device is provided. The multi-sensing structure is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the multi-sensing structure includes a sensing upper electrode and a plurality of first sensing lower electrodes. The sensing upper electrode is disposed on the second substrate. The first sensing lower electrodes are disposed on the first substrate and electrically connected to each other in series, wherein a plurality of first sensing gaps are designed between the first sensing lower electrodes and the sensing upper electrode, and the first sensing gaps have different distances. The display medium is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The display controlling device is disposed on the first substrate for controlling the display medium. |
US08674947B2 |
Lateral pressure sensors for touch screens
An interactive touch screen and method of manipulating an image on an interactive touch screen. The device includes a user interface screen, an interactive image in the user interface screen, at least one pressure sensor positioned adjacent a periphery of the user interface screen, and a pressure sensitive widget responsive to pressure in a direction of said at least one pressure sensor for manipulating the image in a direction of applied pressure. The method includes providing at least one pressure sensor adjacent a periphery of the interactive touch screen, providing a widget in the interactive touch screen without obscuring the image, applying directional pressure to the widget for activating at least one sensor and without sliding the widget in the interactive touch screen, and moving the image in a direction of applied pressure. |
US08674945B2 |
Touch screen apparatus and digital equipment having the same, and command-input method thereof
The present invention relates to a touch screen apparatus and a method of inputting a user command through the apparatus. A touch screen apparatus of the present invention comprises an input unit 10 having a sensing unit 12 for recognizing user's touches and converting the touches into electrical signals; a storage unit 30 for storing execution commands corresponding to relative positions of the successive touches; and a control unit 20 for receiving the signals from the sensing unit 12 and executing an execution command retrieved from the storage unit. According to the present invention constructed as such, a variety of execution commands can be inputted without using a pattern of touches rather than an input area narrowly partitioned in a screen space. |
US08674939B2 |
Voice remote control
A device may include a display and logic. The logic may be configured to receive, from a user, a selection of a first control action associated with an application stored in the device, provide, via the display, a number of choices associated with the first control action, and receive, from the user, a word or a phrase to use as a voice command corresponding to the first control action, wherein the word or phrase is selected from the choices. The logic may also associate the word or phrase with the first control action, receive voice input from the user, identify the voice input as corresponding to the word or phrase, and perform the first control action based on the identified voice input. |
US08674938B2 |
Scanning technology
Scanning technology, in which one or more electronic communications that designate a scan area of an object are received from an input apparatus. A preview scan area is displayed based on the received one or more electronic communications that designate the scan area of the object. |
US08674935B2 |
System delay mitigation in interactive systems
A method sends a signal to render visual information on a display, and receives a user response to the rendered visual information. The user response includes a first delay. The method also queries an electronic system for data indicating a second delay. The second delay is a portion of the first delay and attributable to the electronic system. The method further using the data indicating the second delay to compensate for electronic system delay during interactions with a user. |
US08674933B2 |
Integrated system with computing and imaging capabilities
An integrated system comprising both imaging and computing capabilities comprises a light valve and a CPU, as well as other functional members for performing computing and imaging. |
US08674926B2 |
Image display device and image display method using black display
An image display device includes: an optical modulation element having a plurality of pixels; light sources illuminating the optical modulation element, each of which is independently controlled; a light source control value setting section setting control values for each of the light sources according to the grayscale of each pixel of an input image; optical sensors provided on areas of “n” pixels, respectively, where the “n” is an integer equal to or greater than 1; an illumination detection section detecting the illumination of the areas by the optical sensors; and a grayscale control section processing to correct grayscale of each pixel based on the detected illumination and controlling the optical modulation element according to the corrected grayscales obtained by correction. |
US08674923B2 |
Display apparatus
There is a need for decreasing a variation in times for writing to TFT elements for pixels in a direction along the extension of a gate line in a liquid crystal display apparatus. A display apparatus includes a display panel having multiple gate lines and drain lines arranged in a matrix and a data driver for outputting a display data signal to each drain line. The data driver includes: an internal control signal generation circuit generating an internal control signal for setting a timing to output a data signal to a drain line of each block on a block basis by dividing the plurality of drain lines into multiple blocks; and a register circuit for recording a setting for division of the block, a setting for delay direction and width of a timing to output the data signal, and a setting for rising and falling of an internal control signal. |
US08674921B2 |
Liquid crystal display monitor capable of automatically switching display mode and the control method thereof
An LCD monitor capable of automatically switching display mode, the corresponding control method and the controller for controlling the LCD monitor are provided. The LCD monitor includes a digital signal receiver, a signal certification unit, an image processor, and an LCD panel. The digital signal receiver receives a digital image signal. The signal certification unit which is coupled to the digital signal receiver determines if the digital image signal conforms to a protocol and generates a control signal. The image processor which is coupled to the digital signal receiver and the signal certification unit determines the display mode of the LCD monitor according to the control signal and processes the digital image signal according to the display mode to generate an output image signal. The LCD panel which is coupled to the image processor displays the image contents of the output image signal. |
US08674918B1 |
Method of driving active matrix displays
A method of driving a pixel element in an active matrix display. The method comprises: (1) driving the semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor into a conducting state from a non-conducting state, and maintaining the semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor at the conducting state for a first time duration; (2) driving the at least one nonlinear element into a conducting state from a non-conducting state, and maintaining the at least one nonlinear element at the conducting state for a second time duration that is within the first time duration; (3) changing a voltage across the at least one capacitive element while the semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor maintains at the conducting state and the at least one nonlinear element maintains at the conducting state. |
US08674915B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes an auxiliary electrode between adjacent first and second scan signal lines, first and second thin film transistors with gate electrodes connected to the first and second scan signal lines, respectively, first and second pixel electrodes connected to one of a source electrode and a drain electrode of the first and second thin film transistors, respectively, a data signal line that is connected to the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode of the first and second thin film transistors, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrodes via a liquid crystal layer. The first and second pixel electrodes are adjacent along the data signal line. A potential difference between the auxiliary and common electrodes is greater than a potential difference between the first pixel electrode and the common electrode and a potential difference between the second pixel electrode and the common electrode. |
US08674911B2 |
Electroluminescent device aging compensation with multilevel drive
An electroluminescent (EL) device with aging compensation has a luminance and a chromaticity that both correspond to the density of the current and the age of the EL emitter. Different black, first and second current densities are selected based on the measured age, each corresponding to emitted light colorimetrically distinct from the light emitted at the other two current densities. Respective percentages of a selected emission time are calculated for each current density to produce a designated luminance and chromaticity. The current densities are provided to the EL emitter for the calculated respective percentages of the emission time so that the integrated light output of the EL emitter during the selected emission time is colorimetrically indistinct from the designated luminance and chromaticity, no matter the age of the EL emitter. |
US08674910B2 |
Display panel driving method, display apparatus, display panel driving apparatus and electronic apparatus
In the present invention, there is provided a display panel driving method of the type wherein the total light emitting period length within a one-field period is controlled to variably control the peak luminance level of a display panel, including the step of: variably controlling, where the one-field period has N light emitting periods, N being equal to or greater than 2, the end timing of the ith light emitting period and the start timing of the i+1th light emitting period so as to satisfy the total light emitting period length within the one-field period, i being an odd number which satisfies 1≦i≦N−1 while i+1 satisfies 2≦i+1≦N. |
US08674900B2 |
Portable device and method for controlling the same
A portable device including double-sided displays and a method for controlling the same are provided. The method includes detecting an unlock command for the portable device, which is a command to switch the first display unit to an active state and to switch the second display unit to a ready-to-activate state, switching the first display unit to an active state and switching the second display unit to a ready-to-activate state when the unlock command is the second command, detecting an unlock trigger for the second display unit, which serves to switch a display unit, which is in a ready-to-activate state, to an active state, and switching the second display unit from the ready-to-activate state an active state according to the detected unlock trigger. |
US08674894B2 |
Antenna design
An antenna core design. An antenna assembly is provided for use in tracking and locating equipment used to track and locate tools with underground drilling systems. The antenna assembly comprises an elongate core, a plurality of metal strips supported on an external surface of the core, an insulating material adapted to insulate each of the plurality of metal strips from the other metal strips and the core, and a wire disposed around the external surface of the strips. Alternatively the antenna assembly comprises an elongate core, an insulating material disposed around a perimeter of the core, and a wire disposed around the insulating material. The core has a plurality of slots cut from one end of the core so that the core defines a plurality of metal strips. A support ring is disposed on the internal surface of the core to support the metal strips. |
US08674887B2 |
Multi-band monopole antenna for a mobile communications device
A multi-band monopole antenna for a mobile communications device includes a common conductor coupled to both a first radiating arm and a second radiating arm. The common conductor includes a feeding port for coupling the antenna to communications circuitry in a mobile communications device. In one embodiment, the first radiating arm includes a space-filling curve. In another embodiment, the first radiating arm includes a meandering section extending from the common conductor in a first direction and a contiguous extended section extending from the meandering section in a second direction. |
US08674886B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including an antenna device including an antenna element and a first non-feeding element, a radio-frequency unit that receives a signal from the antenna element, first and second matching circuits connected to the antenna element, a first switch that selectively connects one of the first and second matching circuits to the radio-frequency unit, a second switch that selectively grounds the first non-feeding element, an attitude-detection unit that detects an attitude of the mobile terminal, and a control unit that controls the first and second switches based on an output of the attitude-detection unit. |
US08674881B2 |
Antenna apparatus
In an antenna apparatus, two pattern antennas are arranged side by side in an area close to a ground conductor layer on a surface of a dielectric substrate, in such a manner as to be formed substantially line-symmetrical with each other. Each of the pattern antennas includes a radiation element having a feed coupler, a mutual coupler, and a feed element fed by a high frequency circuit unit. An open end of the radiation element is located near the ground conductor layer. The feed element and the feed coupler are capacitively coupled with each other, whereby the radiation element is excited. At the excitation, the mutual couplers that extend substantially in parallel with and close to each other are capacitively coupled with each other, and hence, polarization planes of the electric fields radiated from the radiation elements can be made orthogonal to each other. |
US08674880B2 |
Method of determining the direction of arrival of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave
A method of measuring the direction of arrival θ of radio signals in the HF band received by a crossed loop antenna includes, in a preparatory calibration phase, acquiring and recording the measurements made by the antenna of a calibration signal which varies in its frequency and bearing angle; and in a measurement phase in which the bearing angle or angles of arrival of signals detected by the antenna is or are determined, acquiring the signals detected in at least one frequency channel, and then, for each frequency channel fi, correlating the acquired signals with the recordings having frequencies close to fi, resulting from the calibration, and determining the direction of arrival of the signals by finding the bearing angle θ for which the maximum correlation is reached. |
US08674879B2 |
Antenna arrangement for DOA estimation
An antenna arrangement including at least two antenna functions arranged to cover a certain angular sector, each antenna function comprising a corresponding antenna port. The antenna arrangement is configured to perform: a first direction of arrival (DOA) estimation for a transmitting device at a first frequency, and a second DOA estimation for the transmitting device at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency has a larger magnitude than the first frequency, and wherein at least one second frequency grating lobe is apparent in the angular sector at the second frequency. The antenna arrangement is configured to: distinguish the at least one second frequency grating lobe from a second frequency main lobe using results from the first DOA estimation, and identify a pointing direction of the second frequency main lobe as a resulting DOA estimation. Related methods are also described. |
US08674866B2 |
Interleaved return-to-zero, high performance digital-to-analog converter
In one method embodiment, receiving a data signal; and converting the data signal to an analog signal over plural clock cycles, the converting comprising: during a first clock cycle of the plural clock cycles, switching on one or more first current cells of a first bank while simultaneously a second bank comprising second current cells is switched off or almost off; and during a second clock cycle of the plural clock cycles, the second clock cycle immediately subsequent to the first clock cycle, switching on one or more of the second current cells of the second bank while simultaneously the first bank is switched off or almost off. |
US08674865B2 |
DA converter, AD converter, and semiconductor device
A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section. |
US08674863B2 |
Distributed bootstrap switch
An input circuit for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes at least one bootstrap circuit, including at least one first switch for connecting electrical power to a first terminal of at least one capacitor; at least one second switch for connecting a second terminal of the at least one capacitor to a signal to be sampled; at least one third switch for connecting the first terminal of the at least one capacitor to the control gate of at least one sampling network input switch; at least one fourth switch for connecting the at least one sampling network input switch to a substrate; and at least one fifth switch for connecting the second terminal of the at least one capacitor to the substrate. |
US08674860B2 |
Combined wu and chase decoding of cyclic codes
An apparatus having a first circuit and a second circuit is disclosed. The first circuit may be configured to generate (i) a plurality of symbols and (ii) a plurality of decision values both in response to detecting an encoded codeword. The second circuit may be configured to (i) generate a plurality of probabilities to flip one or more of the symbols based on the decision values, (ii) generate a modified probability by merging two or more of the probabilities of an unreliable position in the symbols and (iii) generate a decoded codeword by decoding the symbols using a list decode technique in response to the modified probability. |
US08674858B2 |
Method for compression and real-time decompression of executable code
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with compression and real-time decompression of executable code are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory that stores compressed blocks of data. The data is executable code for a processing element. The apparatus also includes a decompression logic. The decompression logic receives a request from the processing element for data and determines a compressed block that stores the data. The compressed block is decompressed to produce an uncompressed block. The decompression logic then provides the requested data to the processing element. In one embodiment an uncompressed block has a predetermined fixed block size. The predetermined fixed block size is selected based on at least one of an amount of uncompressed data, a desired compression ratio, and a desired access time. |
US08674857B2 |
Apparatus and method for decoding
A decoding apparatus and method store at least one table including at least one code, receive at least one instruction signal, and extract a symbol value and a symbol length from the at least one table based on the at least one instruction signal. The decoding apparatus calculates a target suffix length that minimizes the size of a generated table and minimizes the size of a non-prefix length of the at least one code. |
US08674856B2 |
Data compression utilizing longest common subsequence template
In response to receipt of an input string, an attempt is made to identify, in a template store, a closely matching template for use as a compression template. In response to identification of a closely matching template that can be used as a compression template, the input string is compressed into a compressed string by reference to a longest common subsequence compression template. Compressing the input string includes encoding, in a compressed string, an identifier of the compression template, encoding substrings of the input string not having commonality with the compression template of at least a predetermined length as literals, and encoding substrings of the input string having commonality with the compression template of at least the predetermined length as a jump distance without reference to a base location in the compression template. The compressed string is then output. |
US08674851B2 |
Method and device for displaying trim information on an airplane during a take-off
A method and device for displaying trim information on an airplane during a take-off, for determining and displaying a precise trim setpoint which enables the pilot, by following the displayed information, to carry out a manual take-off which is optimized from the performance point of view. |
US08674843B2 |
System and method for detecting and localizing abnormal conditions and electrical faults in an electrical grid
A system and a method for detecting and localizing abnormal conditions and electrical faults in an electrical grid are provided. A method includes receiving a notification message including a state of an electrical component on an electrical grid. The method further includes displaying, by a computing system, an alarm message indicating the state of the electrical component to a system operator responsible for the electrical component such that system operator is able to determine at least one action to take in response to the state of the electrical component. |
US08674839B2 |
Hospital bed computer system for control of patient room environment
A point-of-care computer system is provided, including a display positioned in a point-of-care location. The point-of-care computer includes hardware coupled to a frame of a hospital bed. |
US08674838B2 |
Walking assist device
A walking assist device which allays uneasiness felt by a user when a wearable device actively applies torque to a leg. A walking assist device comprises a controller, a headphone and a wearable device attached to left and right legs. The wearable device has a sensor that detects motion of the user's leg and a motor that applies torque to a joint of the user's leg. The controller controls the wearable device such that the joint angle of the user follows a target pattern which represents time-dependent changes of a target joint angle. The controller specifies a change timing at which a time-dependent change of the target joint angle in the target pattern meets a predetermined condition, and informs the user, before the specified change timing, that the change timing is arriving. The uneasiness felt by the user when an actuator actively applies torque to the leg joint is allayed by informing the user of the motion before the actuator performs that motion. |
US08674828B2 |
Real time location system and method for caching location information based on finger printing
Disclosed is a location tracking system and the method thereof for storing location information. The location tracking system includes at least one beacon apparatus arranged to transmit a beacon signal to a tag; a tag at any position respectively measuring a signal intensity of beacon signals received from surrounding at least one beacon apparatus, and transmitting a measured per-beacon signal intensity to a specific beacon apparatus; and a server arranged to determine if at least any one of signal intensities exceeds a set maximum value by analyzing a per-beacon signal intensity input from the specific beacon apparatus, and store a location-based signal intensity into a database by equally dividing a distance between corresponding beacon apparatuses and then distributing a measured signal intensity into a divided each position in multiple cases the signal intensity exceeds a set maximum value. |
US08674815B1 |
Configuration method for a remote
An online remote control configuration system for efficiently programming a remote control to recognize a plurality of external electronic devices. The online remote control configuration system includes a remote control having a housing, a keypad, and an electronic system for receiving configuration data from a control station is a global computer network (e.g. Internet). The user preferably “samples” one or more signals from a remote control into the electronic system and then uploads the samples to the control station. The control station analyzes the uploaded samples and transmits the appropriate configuration data to properly configure the electronic system. The user may also access a web site of the control station and manually select each of the external electronic devices that the remote control is to operate after which the control station sends the appropriate configuration data to the electronic system. |
US08674812B2 |
Method of controlling communication
In a communication system including a RFID tag, which has a function to record information and a function to carry out wireless communication with an external device and is capable of transmission with using both FM modulation and AM modulation, and a reader/writer for writing and reading information onto and from the RFID tag via wireless communication, a transmission to transmit information from the RFID tag to the reader/writer is carried out with using one of the FM modulation and the AM modulation at the RFID tag. If the reader/writer fails to decode a signal transmitted with using the one of the FM modulation and the AM modulation, transmission with respect to the information is carried out with using the other of the FM modulation and the AM modulation at the RFID tag. In this manner, reading error of data sent from the RFID tag is prevented. |
US08674811B2 |
Control method for RFID tag and RFID system thereof
A control method for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is provided. The control method includes steps of prompting a plurality of RFID tags to enter a ready state; enabling a first RFID tag from the RFID tags to enter an accessible stage, and providing a first identification code to the first RFID tag; and commanding the first RFID tag to enter a standby state from the accessible stage. |
US08674809B2 |
Selective RF device activation
Systems and methods for activating one or more devices are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the device listens for an activate code, the activate code having a length field and a mask field, the mask field including a mask value, the length field specifying a length of the mask field to a final bit of the mask value. Upon receiving the activate code, the length field is compared to a stored length value for determining whether the length field meets a predefined criterion. If the length field meets the predefined criterion, an address of the activate value is loaded (if an address field is present) and the appropriate bits (mask value) of the mask field are compared to a stored activate value. An activate signal is generated if the mask value matches the stored activate value. The activate signal can be used to activate additional circuitry including the entire device. |
US08674808B2 |
Interrogation of RFID communication units
A dual mode interrogation is carried out by sending narrow band radio frequency interrogation (RFID) signal for narrow band RFID communication units, the narrow band signal comprising substantially continuous periods, and by sending a high data rate RFID interrogation signal during the substantially continuous periods of the narrow band RFID signal so that two different types of RFID communication units are interrogated substantially simultaneously. |
US08674805B2 |
Access control system and method using radio-frequency identification and imaging
The invention provides an access control system and method for ski areas or similar facilities which uses a combination of RFID enabled tags and video-image derived biometric information to control access through an access gate. |
US08674804B2 |
Control of equipment using remote display
A wireless deadman system for controlling operation of equipment from a portable device includes a base station with an equipment control system, the base station wirelessly transmitting operational parameters for the equipment. A portable display unit has a housing, an electronic display, an electronic circuit, and a data receiver. A portable authorization device includes a liveness sensor and transmits an authorization signal when the sensor detects a liveness input. The display unit receives an authorization status for operation of the equipment from the portable authorization device and receives the operational parameters from the base station, the display displaying the authorization status and the operational parameters of the equipment on the electronic display. The equipment control system allows the equipment to operate when the authorization signal is provided and prevents the equipment from operating after the authorization signal is no longer provided. |
US08674802B2 |
Multi-turn inductors
A multi-winding inductor includes a first foil winding and a second foil winding. One end of the first foil winding extends from a first side of the core and wraps under the core to form a solder tab under the core. One end of the second foil winding extends from a second side of the core and wraps under the core to form another solder tab under the core. Respective portions of each solder tab are laterally adjacent under the magnetic core. A coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first and a second end magnetic element and a plurality of connecting magnetic elements disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. A respective first and second single turn foil winding is wound at least partially around each connecting magnetic element. Each foil winding has two ends forming respective solder tabs. |
US08674800B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof
A semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method for transmitting a signal are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the semiconductor device comprises a first semiconductor chip comprising a first coil, a second semiconductor chip comprising a second coil inductively coupled to the first coil, and an isolating intermediate layer between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. |
US08674795B2 |
Magnetic actuator with a non-magnetic insert
A magnetic actuator unit is provided for a circuit breaker, such as a medium voltage vacuum circuit breaker. The magnetic actuator unit includes a core, a coil, an actuating shaft, a first movable plate, a second movable plate, and a non-magnetic flat insert arranged between the core and the second movable plate. The magnetic actuator unit configured to switch the circuit breaker ON and OFF by moving the first movable plate between an ON position and an OFF position. The non-magnetic flat insert and the second movable plate are configured to adjust a holding force of the magnetic actuator unit provided by the second movable plate at the OFF position. The holding force is sufficient for holding the second movable plate at the OFF position against outer forces that are acting on the magnetic actuator unit. |
US08674794B1 |
High security switch device
A high security switch for use with an alarm includes a switch assembly for mounting to a fixed structural member. The switch assembly includes a pressure sensitive switch; a magnetic attractive movable body; a cavity having a first end and second end, the cavity confining, directing, limiting and defining the travel of the movable body; and a biasing element near the first end of the cavity to position the moveable body adjacent the first end of the cavity. The switch also includes an actuating element coupled to a movable structural member. In response to moving the actuating element away from the switch assembly the moveable body is magnetically acted upon by the biasing and moved from the second end to the first end of the cavity. The electrical state of the pressure sensitive switch is changed and an alarm activated. |
US08674793B2 |
Power contact device with electrodynamic compensation in the presence of high currents
A power contact device comprises two stationary and movable contact elements, the two elements being in the form of two juxtaposed coiled turns arranged facing one another in the open position. Each turn is made from a material that is both magnetic and current conducting to constitute a single part acting as power contact, as coil generating a magnetic induction field, and as magnetic circuit performing strengthening and channelling of said magnetic field. |
US08674791B2 |
Signal transmission device, filter, and inter-substrate communication device
A signal transmission device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; a first resonance section including a first resonator and a second resonator electromagnetically coupled to each other; a second resonance section disposed side-by-side relative to the first resonance section, and electromagnetically coupled to the first resonance section to perform a signal transmission between the first and second resonance sections; and a first shielding electrode disposed between the first resonator and the second substrate and partially covering the first resonator to allow at least an open end of the first resonator to be covered therewith, and a second shielding electrode disposed between the second resonator and the first substrate and partially covering the second resonator to allow at least an open end of the second resonator to be covered therewith. |
US08674790B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device, oscillator, module apparatus
A surface acoustic wave device includes: a sapphire substrate having a C-plane main surface; comb-like electrodes which excite surface acoustic waves formed on the main surface of the sapphire substrate; an aluminum nitride film which covers the comb-like electrodes and the main surface; and a silicon dioxide film which is formed on the surface of the aluminum nitride film. |
US08674786B2 |
Radio communication apparatus
A large scale integrated (LSI) circuit includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a transmitting circuit coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, and a receiving circuit coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The first and second terminals are coupled to an external portion of the large scale integrated circuit. The external portion includes a first branching circuit, a second branching circuit coupled to the first branching circuit, and first and second antennas coupled to the second branching circuit. |
US08674783B2 |
Methods for tuning an adaptive impedance matching network with a look-up table
Methods for generating a look-up table relating a plurality of complex reflection coefficients to a plurality of matched states for a tunable matching network. Typical steps include measuring a plurality of complex reflection coefficients resulting from a plurality of impedance loads while the tunable matching network is in a predetermined state, determining a plurality of matched states for the plurality of impedance loads, with a matched state determined for each of the plurality of impedance loads and providing the determined matched states as a look-up table. A further step is interpolating the measured complex reflection coefficients and the determined matching states into a set of complex reflection coefficients with predetermined step sizes. |
US08674778B2 |
Method and system for correcting oscillator frequency drift
A method and apparatus for correcting oscillator frequency drift due to crystal aging. Correction signals that reflect a difference between an oscillator timing signal and a reference timing signal over a reference timing signal interval are modeled so that auxiliary correction signals can be generated in the event of loss of the reference timing signal. A temperature curve is generated to model how temperature variation impacts oscillator frequency drift. A rate of frequency drift due to crystal aging is also determined. During loss of a reference timing signal, auxiliary correction signals can be generated to maintain the oscillator at a desired frequency until the reference timing signal becomes available again. |
US08674774B2 |
Aging diagnostic device, aging diagnostic method
There is provided an aging diagnostic device including: a reference ring oscillator (101) that constitutes a ring oscillator using an odd-numbered plurality of logic gates constituted using a CMOS circuit; a test ring oscillator (102) that constitutes a ring oscillator using an odd-numbered plurality of logic gates having the same configuration as that of the logic gate; a load unit (104) that inputs a load signal to the test ring oscillator (102); a control unit (105) that simultaneously inputs a control signal instructing a start of oscillation of the reference ring oscillator (101) and the test ring oscillator (102) to the reference ring oscillator (101) and the test ring oscillator (102); and a comparison unit (103) that compares differences in the amount of movement of pulses within the reference ring oscillator (101) and the test ring oscillator (102), respectively, in the same time. |
US08674771B2 |
Fixed bandwidth LO-GEN
A local oscillation generator (LO-GEN) maintains a fixed bandwidth using a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) calibration module and gain calibration module that together compensate for variations in the VCO gain based on the oscillation frequency. During an open loop calibration of the LO-GEN, the VCO calibration module programs the VCO gain to an initial coarse value based on the oscillation frequency and then the gain calibration module adjusts the charge pump current to compensate for VCO gain changes. |
US08674767B2 |
Body biasing device and operational amplifier thereof
A body biasing device for an amplifier which has a P-type differential pair and outputs an output signal at an output node according to a differential input signal pair is disclosed. The body biasing device includes a detection unit coupled to the operational amplifier for detecting a detected voltage related to the differential input signals and accordingly outputting a control signal; and a selection unit coupled to the detection unit and the operational amplifier for outputting a body bias to the P-type differential pair according to the control signal. |
US08674766B2 |
Differential amplifier stage with integrated offset cancellation circuit
A differential amplifier stage and method for offset cancellation include an amplifier having an input and an output. An internal offset cancellation circuit has an input for receiving a control signal to control offset cancellation in the amplifier. The offset cancellation circuit is integrated with the amplifier but isolated from the input and the output of the amplifier, and, in accordance with its isolation, an impedance of the stage is unaffected by the offset cancellation circuit. |
US08674765B2 |
Fully differential amplifier topology to drive dynamic speakers in class AB mode
Circuits and methods to achieve a new fully differential amplifier topology in class AB mode are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure the differential amplifier is diving dynamic speakers. An differential intermediate stage combines four different feedbacks, all sharing four high impedance nodes: main loop regulation feedback, common mode regulation feedback, and output stage quiescent current regulation for both differential output stage branches. |
US08674764B2 |
High-frequency power amplifying device
The present invention provides a high-frequency power amplifying device capable of transmitting output power at high efficiency. For example, a high-frequency power amplifying device has first and second differential amplifiers and a transformer for matching output impedances of the differential amplifiers. Between differential output nodes of the first differential amplifier, an inductor, a switch, and an inductor are coupled in series. When the second differential amplifier is in an operating state and the first differential amplifier is in a non-operating state, the switch is controlled to be on. In this case, due to “off capacitance” in transistors of a differential pair included in the first differential amplifier, impedance on the first differential amplifier side seen from both ends of primary coils becomes a high impedance state (parallel resonance state) and, equivalently, the primary coils do not exert influence on the operation of the second differential amplifier. |
US08674762B2 |
RF power amplifier with spectrally grouped nanosized switches
The invention describes a radio frequency (=RF) power amplifier (20), comprising—a coupling array (1) comprising a plurality of nano-sized coupling elements (2; 41; 51), wherein the coupling elements (2; 41; 51) are grouped into a number N of sub-arrays (SA-1 . . . SAN), with each sub-array (SA-1 . . . SAN) exhibiting•a specific resonance frequency (f1 . . . fN) and•a specific attenuation of a mechanical self-oscillation of its coupling elements (2; 41; 51), wherein for the coupling elements (2; 41; 51) of each sub array (SA-1 . . . SAN), there is a stimulating means for stimulating a mechanical self-oscillation, —and a signal processing unit (22) for controlling the stimulating means with stimulating pulses having a pulse form and timing calculated by the signal processing unit (22) based on an evaluation of the spectral components of an RF signal to be amplified, namely the amplitudes (C1. . . CN) and phases (Φ1. . . ΦN) at the frequencies (f1 . . . fN) corresponding to said specific resonance frequencies. The inventive RF power amplifier provides a high efficiency and a high linearity, in particular at high RF frequencies. |
US08674761B2 |
Digital charge amplifier and method for converting charge signals into digital signals
A circuit for a charge amplifier for converting piezoelectric measurement signals continuously sets the output signal of the amplifier to a value close to zero, such that a reset switch becomes unnecessary. The amplifier includes a pulse generator that provides the output signal of the amplifier in the form of pulses, which are easy to transmit with low interference. The pulse frequency is proportional to the rate of change of charge. The pulses, which are added in a counter, represent a value proportional to the change in the charge since the last counter reset, which is proportional to the present measured value at the measurement element. |
US08674760B2 |
Dynamic power control method and circuit thereof
The present invention discloses a dynamic power control method utilized in an amplifier. The dynamic power control method includes detecting an absolute difference between a positive supply voltage of the amplifier and an output voltage of the amplifier, to acquire a positive voltage difference; detecting an absolute difference between a negative supply voltage of the amplifier and the output voltage of the amplifier, to acquire a negative voltage difference; and adjusting the positive supply voltage and the negative supply voltage according to the positive voltage difference, the negative voltage difference and a threshold. |
US08674752B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor device includes an internal voltage generation unit configured to generate an internal voltage in response to an enable signal, an enable setting logic unit configured to define a starting time point for generating the internal voltage in response to the enable signal, a monitoring unit configured to monitor whether or not the internal voltage reaches a target level, and define an ending time point for generating the internal voltage in response to the monitoring result, and a measurement result signal generation unit configured to generate a measurement result signal corresponding to a developing time of the internal voltage in response to an output signal of the enable setting logic unit and an output signal of the monitoring unit. |
US08674748B2 |
Actuating transistor including multi-layer reentrant profile
A method of actuating a semiconductor device includes providing a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate. A first electrically conductive material layer is positioned on the substrate. A second electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the first electrically conductive material layer. A third electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the second electrically conductive material layer. The third electrically conductive material layer overhangs the second electrically conductive material layer. An electrically insulating material layer is conformally positioned over the third electrically conductive material layer, the second electrically conductive material layer, the first electrically conductive material layer, and at least a portion of the substrate. A semiconductor material layer conforms to and is in contact with the electrically insulating material layer. A fourth electrically conductive material layer is in contact with the semiconductor material layer. A fifth electrically conductive material layer is in contact with the semiconductor material layer. A voltage is applied between the fourth electrically conductive material layer and the fifth electrically conductive material layer. A voltage is applied to the first electrically conductive material layer to electrically connect the fourth electrically conductive material layer and the fifth electrically conductive material layer. |
US08674741B2 |
Delay chain circuit
A delay chain circuit including at least two delay elements, wherein each delay element is configured to: receive a first signal; output a second signal after a delay period; and be operable in at least two modes of operation wherein in a first mode of operation each delay element has a first delay period and in a second mode of operation each delay element has a second delay period. |
US08674740B2 |
Noise removing delay circuit
The present invention relates to a semiconductor circuit including: a delay unit for delaying an input signal by a predetermined time to output the delayed signal; a voltage adjusting unit for charging and discharging voltage according to a level of the input signal; and a combination unit for controlling the charging and discharging operations of the voltage adjusting unit according to signals generated using the level of the input signal and a level of the signal output from the delay unit, and it is possible to effectively remove low level noise and high level noise which are respectively mixed in a high level signal and a low level signal input to the semiconductor circuit. |
US08674739B2 |
Single-inversion pulse flop
A single inversion pulse flop includes a critical evaluation path with a single inverter and a storage feedback loop arranged in parallel with the critical evaluation path. The single inversion pulse flop incurs a single inversion delay and does not require an output buffer. |
US08674734B2 |
Synchronous semiconductor device having delay locked loop for latency control
A synchronous semiconductor device includes an internal command generation unit configured to generate an internal command corresponding to a source command, a delay locked loop configured to delay a source clock by a first delay time required for delay-locking to generate a delay locked clock, a delay time determination unit configured to determine a second delay time for delay-locking the internal command using the source clock, the second delay time being determined by reflecting a third delay time generated on a command path, and a latency control unit configured to shift the internal command by a shifting period, in which the second delay time is reflected, in response to the delay locked clock. |
US08674731B1 |
Fractional phase-locked loop with dynamic divide ratio adjustment
Systems and methods for Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) based frequency synthesizer comprising a dynamic fraction divider in a feedback loop. The dynamic fraction divider employs a dynamic divide ratio that dynamically changes with the jitters and noise spurs contained in an input signal to the PLL, and generates a feedback signal used to adjust the PLL output frequency. The dynamic divide ratio may be determined by comparing the phases of the PLL output signal and the input signal. |
US08674729B2 |
High voltage semiconductor device and driving circuit
A high voltage semiconductor device is provided and includes an n−-type region encompassed by a p− well region and is provided on a p−-type silicon substrate. A drain n+-region is connected to a drain electrode. A p base region is formed so as to be separate from and encompass the drain n+-region. A source n+-region is formed in the p base region. Further, a p−-region is provided that passes through the n−-type region to the silicon substrate. The n−-type region is divided, by the p−-region, into a drift n−-type region having the drain n+-region and a floating n−-type region having a floating electric potential. |
US08674726B2 |
Multi-level chip input circuit
Aspects of the instant disclosure are directed toward apparatuses that generate a power-related adjustment signal in response to the power signal. Digital-input-signal pads are included to communicate digital signals with a circuit external to the apparatus. Further, digital-input processing circuitry receives the digital signals from the digital-input-signal pad, and processes the received digital signals. Additionally, configuration circuitry applies the power-related adjustment signal to signals received at the digital-input-signal pad and, in response, detects the digital signals received. |
US08674720B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of adjusting an impedance of an output buffer
A semiconductor device has a ZQ circuit (40) which generates impedance control information and an output buffer having an impedance controlled in response to the impedance control information. A plurality of control bits constituting the impedance control information are serially transferred from the ZQ circuit. |
US08674717B2 |
Cantilevered probe having a bending contact
A probe of the present invention includes a beam portion cantilevered by a holding portion, and a contact extending perpendicularly to and downward from a free end of the beam portion. An inner cut portion is formed on a fixed end side of the beam portion in a side portion of the contact, and an outer cut portion is formed on a free end side of the beam portion in a side portion of the contact, so that the outer cut portion and the inner cut portion are formed to bend the contact when the contact contacts an electrode of an object to be inspected at a predetermined contact pressure. According to the present invention, in inspection of electrical characteristics of the object to be inspected, suitable contact between the probe and the object to be inspected may be maintained and the durability of the probe may be improved. |
US08674716B2 |
Probe and method of manufacturing probe
A probe is made to contact an electrode terminal in an electric circuit or an electronic part for an electric measurement of the electric circuit or the electronic part. The probe includes a terminal portion which is brought in contact with the electrode terminal at one end of the probe, a spring portion in which U-shaped unit portions are arrayed in a zigzag formation, and a housing portion which surrounds the spring portion. The probe is formed of a sheet of a metal sheet which is bent multiple times, the metal sheet having a predetermined configuration in which a portion corresponding to the terminal portion, a portion corresponding to the spring portion, and a portion corresponding to the housing portion are continuously linked together. |
US08674711B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a vehicle electrical system
An apparatus for measuring electrical parameters for an electrical system measures a first and second parameters of the electrical system between connections to the electrical system. A processor determines a third electrical parameter of the electrical system as a function of the first parameter and the second parameter. |
US08674709B2 |
Circuit and method for measuring capacitance value of touch screen
A circuit for measuring a capacitance value of a touch screen includes: a target capacitor unit having a target capacitor charged with a target charging voltage; a target voltage control unit to charge the target capacitor; a reference capacitor unit having a reference capacitor charged with a charging reference voltage; a reference voltage control unit to charge the reference capacitor; a comparator to compare the target charging voltage and the charging reference voltage and output a transition signal at a moment when the target charging voltage becomes higher than the charging reference voltage; and a controller to receive an output signal of the comparator and a clock signal and generate a digital output signal and a control signal, wherein a capacitance value of the target capacitor is measured using a time elapsed from a time when the target capacitor is initialized to a time when the transition signal is outputted. |
US08674707B2 |
Sensor assemblies used to detect the proximity of a material to a microwave element
Sensor assemblies used to detect the proximity of a material to a microwave element are disclosed. One example sensor assembly includes a signal generator configured to generate at least one microwave signal, a coupler connected to the signal generator, a microwave element coupled to the coupler, and a processing module connected to the coupler. The microwave element is configured to generate an electromagnetic field as a function of said at least one microwave signal. The microwave element is structured to reflect a loading signal to said coupler when a material interacts with the electromagnetic field. The processing module is configured to process the loading signal with a reference signal to generate a data signal representative of the proximity of the material to the microwave element. The data signal defines a sub-microwave frequency. |
US08674704B2 |
Method for detecting insulating state of floating power supply, and device therefor
When, in a state where an AC ground fault occurred on the secondary side of a three-phase inverter circuit, a flying capacitor reaches a continuous charging state while forming a charge circuit including a ground fault resistance due to an AC ground fault, the ground fault resistance due to an AC ground fault is obtained using the same method as that for a positive-side ground fault resistance or a negative-side ground fault resistance due to a DC ground fault. Even if, in the state where the flying capacitor reaches the continuous charging state, a switching duty ratio of respective semiconductor switches of the three-phase inverter circuit varies, a value of a ground fault resistance due to an AC ground fault can be accurately obtained without using the data of the switching duty ratio of respective semiconductor switches of the three-phase inverter circuit. |
US08674702B2 |
Apparatus for detecting a state of secondary battery
A lithium-ion secondary battery includes an aluminum case, an electrolytic solution, a positive plate, a negative plate, a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and voltage sensors. The positive terminal and the negative terminal project to the outside of the case while being insulated from the case. The voltage sensor is connected between the case and the positive terminal and detects the potential of the positive terminal with respect to a potential VR of the case. The voltage sensor is connected between the case and the negative terminal and detects the potential of the negative terminal with respect to the potential VR of the case. From the detected results, the states of the positive plate and the negative plate are separately detected. |
US08674699B2 |
Magnetic resonance tomography local coil
The present embodiments relate to a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system. The local coil extends in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The local coil has a plurality of coil elements. At least some coil elements of the plurality overlap at least partly in a third direction running between the first direction and the second direction. |
US08674697B2 |
Long distance explosive detection using nuclear quadrupole resonance and one or more monopoles
Rather than using balanced transmission lines the stimulated response due to nuclear quadrupole resonance can be detected using a single monopole, with multiple monopoles improving substance detection. |
US08674696B2 |
Receiver coil to measure X-nuclei signals and magnetic resonance apparatus with such a receiver coil
A reception coil, in particular local coil, to measure X-nuclei signals in magnetic resonance spectroscopy, has at least one filter connected in a first signal path to filter out radio-frequency pulses radiated by a transmission coil during a measurement, and a second signal path bypassing the filter. At least one switching arrangement is provided to switch between these signal paths. |
US08674695B2 |
Radio frequency coil arrangement for high field magnetic resonance imaging with optimized transmit and receive efficiency for a specified region of interest, and related system and method
For example, the present disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of a coil arrangement that can include, e.g., a plurality of elements which can be provided at an angle from one another. The angle can be selected to effectuate an imaging of a target region of interest at least one of a predetermined depth or range of depths, for example. In certain exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure, the angle can be selected to effectuate an exemplary predetermined transmit efficiency for at least one of the elements. Additionally, the exemplary angle can be selected to effectuate a predetermined receive sensitivity for at least one of the elements. Further, according to certain exemplary embodiments of a coil arrangement in according to the present disclosure, the angle can be adjusted manually and/or automatically. |
US08674691B2 |
Susceptibility weighted magnetic Resonance imaging of venous vasculature
Methods, systems, and devices are described for substantially simultaneous acquisition of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) data. Some embodiments provide susceptibility weighted magnetic resonance imaging of vasculature, including generating a multi-echo pulse sequence having a repetition time, and a first echo and a second echo during the repetition time; acquiring MRA data from at least the first echo; and acquiring MRV data from at least the second echo. The MRA data and/or the MRV data may also be post-processed (e.g., filtered, displayed, etc.). Various embodiments provide additional functionality, including techniques for processing data from an unsampled portion of one echo using sampled data from another echo. |
US08674687B2 |
Angle detection device and method of manufacturing the same
An angle detection device of the present invention includes: a stator which includes a plurality of salient pole portions which are formed on a flat sheet made of a magnetic material and are raised by bending, each salient pole portion constituting a winding magnetic core on which a winding member for excitation and a winding member for detection are mounted; and a rotor which is made of a magnetic material and is provided rotatably relative to the stator such that gap permeance between the rotor and each salient pole portion is changed due to the rotation of the rotor about a rotational axis of the rotor. According to the angle detection device of the present invention, it is possible to provide the angle detection device which can largely reduce the number of parts and can realize the reduction of cost and the enhancement of reliability. |
US08674684B2 |
Scanner system for garage equipment for motor vehicle garages
The present invention concerns a scanner system for scanning the surface of an object, especially a vehicle wheel, the system comprises a mobile scanner including at least one sensor adapted to sense at least one position on the surface of the object and a reference system to which the sensor is sensitively adapted to provide at least one sensor signal corresponding the at least one sensed position on the surface with respect to the reference system, wherein the reference system is designed to provide a magnetic field having at least one orientation and the sensor is a magnetic sensor to be positioned within said magnetic field in proximity of or on the surface to be scanned. |
US08674683B2 |
Power angle monitor
A system and method for monitoring the rotation of a generator rotor. The monitor uses a light beam directed toward the rotor to detect a marking thereon, and generates an electrical pulse when the marking is detected. The time between the pulse and a reference point (such as a zero crossing) of the signal waveform from the terminals of the generator may be used to calculate the power angle of the generator. The system is adaptive in that it can account for new markings on the rotor. The system may be connected to a network so that power angles from various generators on the electrical network may be compared. The system may further be connected to a common time source such that a time stamp may be applied to the power angles from various generators, allowing for more accurate comparison of the power angles. |
US08674681B2 |
Voltage detection and measurement circuit
A voltage detection and measurement circuit is provided. The circuit includes a first Zener diode operatively coupled to an AC power input line and a second Zener diode operatively coupled to a reference voltage line. The first and second Zener diodes are configured to pass portions of input AC voltage from the AC power input line to generate output waveforms. The circuit also includes an optocoupler coupled to the first and second Zener diodes to receive the output waveforms from the first and second Zener diodes to detect the input AC voltage and a processing circuit configured to receive the output waveforms from the optocoupler and to determine a magnitude of the input AC voltage based upon the output waveforms. |
US08674675B2 |
Electronic device for optimizing the output power of a solar cell and method for operating the electronic device
An electronic device for optimizing the output power of a solar cell, the electronic device having: a variable resistor coupled in series between the solar cell and a load, a control unit that is configured to control the variable resistor, a sensor for measuring an output voltage and a sensor for measuring the output current of the solar cell, wherein the control unit is configured to vary the resistance of the series resistor over time such that the first order derivative of the output voltage over time has a constant value, to monitor the second order derivative of the output current over time simultaneously, to detect whether the second order derivative of the output current over time exceeds a predetermined threshold value and to identify the corresponding values of the output voltage and current as a maximum power point (MPP) of the solar cell. |
US08674673B2 |
Switching power converter
A switching power converter including an upper-bridge switch, a lower-bridge switch, an impedance circuit, a first control circuit, a second control circuit and a logic circuit is provided. The impedance circuit generates an output voltage and a sensing current according to a conductive state of the upper-bridge switch and the lower-bridge switch. The first control circuit generates a first pulse signal according to the output voltage. The second control circuit has a first mode and a second mode for generating a second pulse signal and a third pulse signal individually. Furthermore, the second control circuit uses different threshold values in different modes to determine whether to switch the mode thereof, so as to form a hysteretic effect in mode switching. The logic circuit controls the upper-bridge switch by the first pulse signal, and controls the lower-bridge switch by the second pulse signal or the third pulse signal. |