| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08718389B2 |
Image encoding and decoding methods and related devices
Image encoding and decoding methods and related devices are provided. An image encoding and decoding method includes: for a sub-image block obtained by partitioning an image block, determining at least two position parameters, in which the at least two position parameters include a first position parameter and a second position parameter, the first position parameter identifies whether the sub-image block is a rectangle or not a rectangle, and the second position parameter identifies endpoint information of the sub-image block; determining an encoding sequence of the first position parameter and the second position parameter according to a partition manner of the image block; and encoding the at least two position parameters according to the determined encoding sequence. |
| US08718388B2 |
Video processing with tiered interdependencies of pictures
Systems and methods that receive a video stream comprising a sequence of plural compressed pictures, wherein the plural compressed pictures comprises a plurality of sets of compressed pictures, wherein each set in the plurality of sets has a respective picture interdependency characteristic, wherein the compressed pictures in the first set depend for decoding only on pictures from the first set. |
| US08718387B1 |
Method and apparatus for enhanced stereo vision
A method and apparatus for segmenting an image are provided. The method may include the steps of clustering pixels from one of a plurality of images into one or more segments, determining one or more unstable segments changing by more than a predetermined threshold from a prior of the plurality of images, determining one or more segments transitioning from an unstable to a stable segment, determining depth for one or more of the one or more segments that have changed by more than the predetermined threshold, determining depth for one or more of the one or more transitioning segments, and combining the determined depth for the one or more unstable segments and the one or more transitioning segments with a predetermined depth of all segments changing less than the predetermined threshold from the prior of the plurality of images. |
| US08718383B2 |
Image and website filter using image comparison
Registration and classification of non-textual information, such as digital images and video is described. Image searching and comparison of the images is also described. The digital images are indexed (i.e., each image is assigned a unique numerical parameter and/or a plurality of numerical parameters). The resulting index files are stored in a database that can be quickly searched because the index files are universal numerical files that are significantly smaller in size than their source images. Image search queries are also indexed to generate an index file, which is then compared with the stored index files. A similarity score is also calculated to rank the similar images based on the index file-to-index file comparison. |
| US08718382B2 |
Scalable pattern matching between a pattern clip and a pattern library
A two-level matching technique is described. A system can generate a set of index patterns based on a set of library patterns in a pattern library. The pattern library can include patterns that are expected to have problems during manufacturing. Next, the system can use a fast matching process to check if a first-level pattern clip potentially matches one or more index patterns from the set of index patterns. If so, the system can use a detailed matching process to match a second-level pattern clip with library patterns that correspond to the one or more index patterns. Otherwise, the system can report that the first-level pattern clip does not match any library pattern in the pattern library. |
| US08718381B2 |
Method for selecting an image for insertion into a document
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for selecting an image for insertion into a document. A color harmony is received. A document color data of the document is accessed. An image color data of each of a plurality of images is accessed. A harmony measure is determined between the document color data and each of the image color data according to the color harmony. |
| US08718378B2 |
Image topological coding for visual search
A method and an apparatus for processing an image generate a first vector of a first number dimension for the image from a first number of points of the image based on topological information of the first number of points, and the first vector for the image is invariant to rotation and scaling in creating the image. The first number of points may be locations of a set of rotation and scaling invariant feature points for the image, and the generated first vector may be a graph spectrum of a pair-wise distance matrix generated from the first number of points of the image. |
| US08718377B2 |
Image analysis apparatus, image analysis method, image analysis program and recording medium
A cancer determination apparatus (1) includes a Betti number calculation section (42) for calculating, in a captured image (i) in which a tissue is captured and (ii) which has been binarized by use of a prescribed reference value as a threshold, (I) the number of connected components and (II) the number of spaces, each of the connected components being an aggregate of at least one component which is defined by connecting an outer edge(s) of the at least one component which is a graphic having a closed outer edge, each of the spaces being surrounded by an outer edge(s) of the at least one component, a comparison value calculation section (43) for calculating a comparison value indicating a difference between the number of connected components and the number of spaces, and a determination section (44) for determining, by comparing the comparison value thus calculated with a predetermined reference value, whether or not an image of a cancer tissue is included in the captured image. |
| US08718366B2 |
Moving text detection in video
Methods and apparatus for detecting moving text in video comprising receiving consecutive frames from a video stream, extracting a sequence of pixels from the consecutive frames, categorizing the pixels, thinning the pixels, correlating corresponding thinned pixels in the frames, identifying the peaks that are equal to or exceed a threshold, and performing further processing on the peaks to determine if the peaks contain moving text. |
| US08718364B2 |
Apparatus and method for digitizing documents with extracted region data
An apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a region extraction unit configured to extract region data for each object from document image data including tables; a table structure analysis unit configured to analyze the region data relating to table objects out of the extracted region data and extract table structure information on each of the table objects; a sheet generation unit configured to generate a display sheet for reproducing a layout of the object in the document image data and an edit sheet for each table for editing the table, by using the region data and the table structure information on each object; and an electronic-document generation unit configured to generate an electronic document which associated the display sheet with the edit sheet. |
| US08718363B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing image data using adaptive neighborhooding
The invention relates to methods and systems for extracting information about a scene from a set of image data by interdependently smoothing the data, segmenting the imaged scene into coherent elements by determining edges, and estimating attributes present within the scene. These methods and systems include attribute estimation, adaptive neighborhood adjustment and preferential use of different images or imaging modalities for information extraction. |
| US08718361B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer-readable medium removing noise of color image
Provided is an apparatus, method and computer-readable medium removing noise of an image. The apparatus may include a channel image correction unit to correct remaining channel images excluding a currently processed channel image, from among a plurality of channel images, using the currently processed channel image, a noise removal unit to remove noise of the currently processed channel image, using the corrected remaining channel images and the currently processed channel image, and a color image reconstruction unit to reconstruct a color image in which noise is removed, by combining the plurality of channel images in which noise is removed when the noise of the plurality of channel images is removed. |
| US08718360B2 |
Colour image enhancement
A color image enhancement method, for enhancing the color of a color image comprising a plurality of pixels. The method comprises: mapping a color saturation value of each pixel to a normalized saturation value, wherein the range of values of normalized saturation is the same independent of the luminance value of the pixel; estimating a probability distribution of the normalized saturation values; defining a transfer function for modifying the normalized saturation values, based on the estimated probability distribution; and applying the transfer function to the normalized saturation values to generate modified values. |
| US08718357B2 |
Recovering 3D structure using blur and parallax
A system and method for generating a focused image of an object is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of images of an object, estimating an initial depth profile of the object, estimating a parallax parameter and a blur parameter for each pixel in the plurality of images and generating a focused image and a corrected depth profile of the object using a posterior energy function. The posterior energy function is based on the estimated parallax parameter and the blur parameter of each pixel in the plurality of images. |
| US08718355B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program, capable of drawing, in 3D image display, an image for the left eye and an image for a right eye of graphics, in a matched state.In the event that there is a call-up for an API (Application Programming Interface) ensuring the drawing integrity of drawing graphics images as to a graphics plane, which is a storage region in which storage regions for two images of an L region that is a storage region for one image to store an image for the left eye, and a R region that is a storage region for one image to store an image for the right eye, are collaterally arranged, images drawn on the graphics plane are output for display. The present invention may be applied to a BD player for playing BDs, and the like. |
| US08718353B2 |
Reticle defect inspection with systematic defect filter
A stream of defect data is received from a reticle inspection system. The defect data identifies defects that were detected for a plurality of different portions of a reticle. Before reviewing the defect data to determine whether the reticle passes inspection and as the stream of defect data continues to be received, some of the defects are automatically grouped with other most recently one or more received defects so as to form groups of substantially matching defects. Before reviewing the defect data to determine whether the reticle passes inspection and after all of the defect data for the reticle is received, one or more of the groups of defects that have a number above a predetermined threshold are automatically filtered from the defect data so as to form filtered defect data. The filtered defect data may then be provided to a review station for determining whether the reticle passes. |
| US08718350B2 |
Computerized methods for tissue analysis
A computerized method for immunohistochemistry analysis of tissue utilizes digital images of multiple adjacent tissue sections aligned within a computerized software and processed with an algorithm to quantify a two-dimensional IHC signature score for each respective slide image. In various embodiments, the IHC score is performed over several adjacent sections and further processed to produce a three-dimensional IHC quantification referred to as an IHC signature map. |
| US08718347B2 |
Image display apparatus and X-ray diagnosis apparatus
An X-ray perfusion-image creating unit creates an X-ray perfusion image indicating blood flow dynamics in a certain organ from an X-ray projection image of a subject given with a contrast agent. An image correction unit extracts thickness information indicating the thickness of a myocardium from a three-dimensional image taken by an X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) apparatus. Moreover, the image correction unit creates a corrected perfusion image in which the thickness of the myocardium in the X-ray perfusion image is corrected, based on the thickness information. A display unit then displays the corrected perfusion image. |
| US08718336B2 |
Image correction apparatus, image correction method, skin diagnosis method, and computer program product
An image correction technology for causing a person image to look more beautiful is provided. Provided is an image correction apparatus a partial region specifying section that specifies a partial region of a skin that satisfies a predetermined condition, within a first image captured under a first image capturing condition; a corresponding region specifying section that specifies a corresponding region that corresponds to the partial region within a second image captured under a second image capturing condition that is different from the first image capturing condition; and an image correction section that corrects the second image by performing predetermined image processing to the corresponding region of the second image. |
| US08718332B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing the performance level of overprinting
An image inspection apparatus includes a pre-printed element reduction section that reduces influence of a pre-printed element on inspection and generates an inspection object image, and a comparative inspection section that compares the inspection object image with the additionally-recorded data, to inspect a performance level of a result of overprinting. Captured image data of the pre-printed paper image and the overprinted image is given to the pre-printed element reduction section. By using the captured image data of the pre-printed paper image, the pre-printed element reduction section reduces the pre-printed element included in the captured image data of the overprinted image and newly prepares the inspection object image. |
| US08718330B2 |
Distance acquisition device, lens correcting system and method applying the distance acquisition device
A distance acquisition device is for acquiring a first rounded distance from a reference point to a basis point, and for subsequently acquiring a second rounded distance from an adjacent point to the basis point. The reference, adjacent, and basis points are disposed on a plane. The adjacent point is adjacent to the reference point. The distance acquisition device includes: a reference distance acquisition unit for acquiring a precise distance from the reference point to the basis point, and for subsequently performing rounding upon the precise distance so as to obtain the first rounded distance; a reference error acquisition unit for obtaining a first reference error corresponding to a difference between the precise distance and the first rounded distance; and a distance estimating unit for setting the second rounded distance based on the first rounded distance and the first reference error. |
| US08718327B2 |
Gesture recognition using depth images
Methods, apparatuses, and articles associated with gesture recognition using depth images are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, an apparatus may include a face detection engine configured to determine whether a face is present in one or more gray images of respective image frames generated by a depth camera, and a hand tracking engine configured to track a hand in one or more depth images generated by the depth camera. The apparatus may further include a feature extraction and gesture inference engine configured to extract features based on results of the tracking by the hand tracking engine, and infer a hand gesture based at least in part on the extracted features. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed. |
| US08718323B2 |
Batch detection association for enhanced target descrimination in dense detection environments
The embodiments described herein relate to systems and techniques for processing batch detection information received from one or more sensors configured to observe objects of interest. In particular the systems and techniques are configured to enhance track performance particularly in dense target environments. A substantially large number of batch detections can be processed in a number of phases of varying complexity. An initial phase performs relatively low complexity processing on substantially all detections obtained over an extended batch period, approximating object motion with a simplified model (e.g., linear). The batch detections are divided and redistributed into swaths according to the resulting approximations. A subsequent phase performs greater complexity (e.g., quadratic) processing on the divided sets of detections. The subdivision and redistribution of detections lends itself to parallelization. Beneficially, detections over extended batch periods can be processed very efficiently to provide improved target tracking and discrimination in dense target environments. |
| US08718318B2 |
Fingerprint development in image based spam blocking
A fingerprint of an image identified within a received message is generated following analysis of the message. A spam detection engine identifies an image within a message and converts the image into a grey scale image. The spam detection engine analyzes the grey scale image and assigns a score. A fingerprint of the grey scale image is generated based on the score. The fingerprint may also be based on other factors such as the message sender's status (e.g. blacklisted or whitelisted) and other scores and reports generated by the spam detection engine. The fingerprint is then used to filter future incoming messages. |
| US08718313B2 |
Electroactive polymer systems
Electroactive polymer devices are provided. A device includes a membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element. The element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with a voltage application. The element is covered by the membrane. |
| US08718311B2 |
Microphone stand mounting brackets
A mounting bracket system for mounting a loudspeaker monitor onto a microphone stand pole without requiring disassembly of either the loudspeaker monitor or the microphone stand. First and second mounting brackets may be mounted to a loudspeaker monitor or other product to be mounted. An indent on each mounting bracket is configured to engage a microphone stand or another elongated, pole-like structure, supporting the weight of the loudspeaker monitor through frictional forces. |
| US08718310B2 |
Multiple aperture speaker assembly
Methods and apparatus are provided for waveguide structures and speaker assemblies. In one embodiment, a waveguide may include an input aperture configured to receive a sound signal from a sound source, and a plurality of isolated sound paths having substantially equal path lengths. Each isolated sound path may be formed within a housing of the waveguide and formed with a curved path to reduce the depth of the waveguide. The waveguide may include a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures of the waveguide. Each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals. |
| US08718309B2 |
Speaker apparatus combining earpiece and hands free functions
In the invention a speaker apparatus acoustically combines the earpiece and hands free functions. Thus a speaker has acoustically separated functions for acting as the earpiece and as the hands free. The speaker apparatus has a back cavity having an outlet so that the damped sound of the outlet operates as the earpiece. The front of the speaker apparatus operates as the louder hands free. |
| US08718308B2 |
Reproducing apparatus and method for automatically converting output mode based on movements of casing
A reproducing apparatus for automatically converting an output mode based on movements of a casing, and methods thereof. A reproducing apparatus having a first and a second casings includes an internal output unit outputting at least one of reproduced audio and video; an external output unit outputting at least one of the reproduced audio and video to an external device casing; a detector detecting movements of the second casing; and a control unit controlling such that at least one reproduced audio and video is outputted to at least one of the internal output unit and the external output unit. Accordingly, there is no need for a user to change the output mode, thereby reducing inconvenience for the user. |
| US08718302B2 |
Mixing of in-the-ear microphone and outside-the-ear microphone signals to enhance spatial perception
This document provides a hearing assistance device for playing processed sound inside a wearer's ear canal, the hearing assistance device comprising a first housing, signal processing electronics disposed at least partially within the first housing, a first microphone connected to the first housing, the first microphone adapted for reception of sound, a second microphone configured to receive sound from inside the wearer's ear canal when the hearing assistance device is worn and in use and microphone mixing electronics in communication with the signal processing electronics and in communication with the first microphone and the second microphone, the microphone mixing electronics adapted to combine low frequency information from the first microphone and high frequency information from the second microphone to produce a composite audio signal. |
| US08718301B1 |
Telescopic spatial radio system
A telescopic spatial radio system is provided for sending a signal representative of a sound at a speaker location to a listener location, the signal providing positioning information of the speaker location relative to the listener location and processing the signal using the positioning information to provide a telescopic zoomable binaural sound at the listener location having a simulated spatial relationship based on the position information of the speaker location relative to the listener location. |
| US08718299B2 |
Audio control device and audio output device
An audio output device includes two digital microphone units that, upon receiving sound, convert the sound to PDM digital audio signals in which a state is represented by 1 or 0 in each predetermined period. The audio output device generates half-period digital audio signals, which are signals of a half period of the predetermined period, by using first digital audio signals and second digital audio signals that are the digital audio signals converted by the two digital microphones, where the states of the first digital audio signals are each reflected in one of two half periods corresponding to the predetermined period and states of the second audio signals are each reflected in the other half period. The audio output device then converts the half-period digital audio signals, which are generated by the generator, to analog audio signals and outputs the analog audio signals. |
| US08718296B2 |
Portable electronic device having universal earphone jack
A portable electronic device includes an earphone jack capable of receiving different types of earphone plugs, a switch, a detecting terminal, and a controlling terminal. The switch is connected to the earphone jack, and capable of switching between a first state and a second state. The detecting terminal is connected to the earphone jack by the switch, and capable of detecting the type of the earphone plug received in the earphone jack. The detecting terminal is connected to the earphone jack by the switch, and capable of detecting the type of the earphone plug received in the earphone jack. The controlling terminal is connected to the switch, and switches the switch to either the first state or the second state according to the type of the earphone plug. |
| US08718292B2 |
Noise reduction device and noise reduction system
It includes a microphone for detecting noise emitted from a noise source, a noise controller for generating control sound signal to reduce noise detected by the microphone based on information from the microphone, and a speaker for outputting control sound based on control sound signal from the noise controller, wherein a plurality of microphones and speakers are arranged for each seat, and a plurality of microphones are arranged in higher density for each seat in a specific direction. |
| US08718290B2 |
Adaptive noise reduction using level cues
An audio device having two pairs of microphones for noise suppression. Primary and secondary microphones of the three microphones may be positioned closely spaced to each other to provide acoustic signals used to achieve noise cancellation/suppression. A tertiary microphone may be spaced with respect to either the primary microphone or the secondary microphone in a spread-microphone configuration for deriving level cues from audio signals provided by the tertiary and the primary or secondary microphone. Signals from two microphones may be used rather than three microphones. The level cues are expressed via an inter-microphone level difference (ILD) used to determine one or more cluster tracking control signal(s). The ILD based cluster tracking signals are used to control adaptation of null-processing noise suppression modules. A noise cancelled primary acoustic signal and ILD based cluster tracking control signals are used during post filtering to adaptively generate a mask to be applied against a speech estimate signal. |
| US08718289B2 |
System for active noise control with parallel adaptive filter configuration
An active noise control system includes a plurality of adaptive filters. The plurality of adaptive filters each receives an input signal representative of an undesired sound. The adaptive filters may each generate an output signal based on the input signal. The output signals are used to generate an anti-noise signal configured to drive a speaker to produce sound waves to destructively interfere with the undesired sound. |
| US08718286B2 |
Audio connection testing system
A testing system tests an audio connection between an audio source and a loudspeaker. The system includes a loudspeaker that converts a reference signal into a sound. An adaptive filter processes the reference signal to minimize an error signal. A decision circuit analyzes the error signal and the received signal to determine signal correlation. When the signals are not correlated, a defect is detected. |
| US08718284B2 |
Method, medium, and system encoding/decoding multi-channel signal
A multi-channel signal decoding method is provided. A down-mixed signal representative of a multi-channel signal is decoded, and parameters representing characteristic relations between channels of the multi-channel signal are decoded. An additional parameter is estimated by using the decoded parameters, and the decoded down-mixed signal is up-mixed by using the decoded parameters and the estimated parameter so as to decode the multi-channel signal. |
| US08718281B2 |
Rekey scheme on high speed links
In one embodiment, apparatus and methods for a rekey process are disclosed. In certain rekey embodiments, when a key-generation protocol exchange is executed, instead of generating a single new security relationship, such as a Security Association or SA, a multiple set (e.g., 10) of new security relationships (e.g., SAs) are generated. An authorized device can then individually use these security relationships (e.g., SAs) as needed to securely communicate with each other. For example, a set of SAs can be efficiently programmed into an 802.1ae protocol ASIC for handling transmitted and received data packets. In the description herein, embodiments of the invention are described with respect to SA's, and this “SA” term is generally defined as any type of security relation that can be formed to allow a particular node to securely transmit packets or frames to another receiving node. |
| US08718280B2 |
Securing keys of a cipher using properties of the cipher process
In the field of computer enabled cryptography, such as a block cipher, the cipher is hardened against an attack by protecting the cipher key, by applying to it a predetermined linear permutation before using one key to encrypt or decrypt a message. This is especially advantageous in a “White Box” environment where an attacker has full access to the cipher algorithm, including the algorithm's internal state during its execution. This method and the associated computing apparatus are useful where the key is derived through a process and so is unknown when the software code embodying the cipher is compiled. This is typically the case where there are many users of the cipher and each has his own key, or where each user session has its own key. |
| US08718272B2 |
Contact center routing
A method may include receiving a call from a caller and determining whether the caller has previously called a call center. The method may also include identifying, in response to determining that the caller has previously called the call center, an agent that handled the previous call from the caller, and forwarding the call to the agent that handled the previous call. |
| US08718270B2 |
Method and system for managing interactive communications campaign with reduced customer-to-agent connection latency
A web-based hosted solution through which business entities create and manage communications campaigns is described. To reduce latency of customer-to-agent connections, the system implements an agent stay-on-line function by which a persistent telephony connection is established and maintained between the system infrastructure and an available agent. In this manner, the agent may handle multiple customers while avoiding an ACD hold queue. In addition, preferably a service-side hold queue also is established and maintained on the service-side of the infrastructure. This hold queue maintains calls that are waiting to be connected to available agents. It ensures that any customer abandons do not impair the connections being established and maintained to the agents. |
| US08718269B2 |
Risks for waiting for well-matched
A contact center which provides the ability to, among other things, support deferring work assignment decisions while simultaneously assessing the risks associated with such a deferred decision. The intelligent deferment of work assignment decisions helps to achieve better matching without losing the opportunity to timely assign work to an agent. |
| US08718261B2 |
Efficient and cost-effective distributed call admission control
A distributed call control system is provided that can allot bandwidth amongst several call controllers. The distributed call control system includes one or more access elements that interface with a cloud that execute two or more instances of call processing servers that administer call control. The cloud members negotiate and determine bandwidth allocation amongst the members and the access elements. If an access element requires more bandwidth, the access element assesses its own needs and requests more bandwidth from the cloud. The negotiation and requests for bandwidth are accomplished with a set of dynamic and static bandwidth data that regiment the control of the bandwidth. |
| US08718256B2 |
Method and system for providing ring back tone played at a point selected by user
Disclosed herein is a method and system for providing a ringback tone (RBT). The system for providing an RBT to a user comprises: a sound file storage for storing a sound file; a user database receiving sound selection information from a user terminal, recording a sound identifier of the sound file corresponding to the sound selection information, receiving output position information of the selected sound file from the user terminal, and recording the sound position information; and an RBT providing unit reproducing a region which corresponds to the output position information from the sound file corresponding to the sound identifier with reference to the sound file storage and the user database so as to be provided as an RBT. |
| US08718248B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus, which is connected to a phone line, and to which an external telephone is connectable to. The communication apparatus includes: a line-voltage detecting unit which detects a line voltage; a communication-signal detecting unit which performs detection on a communication signal, which is input to the communication apparatus from the phone line or from the external telephone upon the external telephone is hooked up; and a control device which performs a hook-up determining process of determining that the external telephone is in a hook-up state when the line voltage detected by the line-voltage detecting unit is equal to or less than a first threshold value and the communication signal is detected by the communication-signal detecting unit. |
| US08718247B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus that covers standards of a dial tone for a plurality of countries with a relatively small number of pattern tables and reduces the number of times that a sound is misdetected as a dial tone, a method for controlling the same and a program are provided. To accomplish this, the image processing apparatus measures a length of a tone signal received from outside; determines whether an intermittent dial tone including the measured tone signal and a previously received tone signal has a specific pattern or not; and determines whether a duty cycle of the intermittent dial tone is a duty cycle within a given range or not, thereby determining whether the dial tone is valid or not. |
| US08718246B2 |
Providing a roster and other information before joining a participant into an existing call
A communication manager establishes a call between two or more participants on two or more communication devices. The call can be an audio or video call. A call request is sent from one of the communication devices to conference an additional communication device to the call. For example, a participant in the call decides to conference an additional person to further discuss an idea.An information manager gets a roster of the participants. In addition to the call request, the roster of the participants is sent to the additional communication device. The additional communication device receives the call request and the roster. The roster is displayed to the user of the additional communication device. The user can then indicate to answer the call request. If answered, the additional communication device sends an indication that the call was answered and the additional communication device is conferenced into the call. |
| US08718244B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
The present invention is directed to a method for rendering one or more conversations on a first communication device. The method includes receiving over a network and storing at the first communication device media associated with the one or more conversations. The method further includes selecting on the first communication device one of the one or more conversations as current and rendering the media associated with the selected current conversation. The rendering of the media of the currently selected conversation may be performed in either a near real-time mode where the media is progressively rendered as it is received or in a time shifted mode where the media is rendered at a time after it was received. The method also includes creating media on the first communication device associated with the selected current conversation and transmitting the created media over the network to one or more remote communication devices associated with the selected current conversation. The selected current conversation may be optionally shifted among the one or more conversations. |
| US08718241B2 |
Methods and apparatus for interfacing with a phone system in an on-demand service environment
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for interfacing with a phone system in an on-demand service environment. In one embodiment, a client machine is in communication with a data provider and the phone system. The phone system is operated by a phone provider separate from the data provider. A message is received at the client machine from the phone system. The message includes information regarding a phone event in relation to a phone call. The phone event information is provided in a first part of a user interface in a web browser on the client machine. A second part of the user interface is capable of displaying information received at the client machine from the data provider. The first part of the user interface and the second part of the user interface are adapted to communicate with one another. For example, the first part of the user interface is adapted to send a message including the phone event information to the second part of the user interface. |
| US08718239B1 |
Performing actions for users based on spoken information
Techniques are described for performing actions for users based at least in part on spoken information, such as spoken voice-based information received from the users during telephone calls. The described techniques include categorizing spoken information obtained from a user in one or more ways, and performing actions on behalf of the user related to the categorized information. For example, in some situations, spoken information obtained from a user is analyzed to identify one or more spoken information items (e.g., words, phrases, sentences, etc.) supplied by the user, and to generate corresponding textual representations (e.g., via automated speech-to-text techniques). One or more actions may then be taken regarding the identified information items, including to categorize the items by adding textual representations of the spoken information items to one or more of multiple predefined lists or other collections of information that are specific to or otherwise available to the user. |
| US08718238B2 |
Method and a system for implementing a multimedia ring back tone service
The present invention discloses a method and a system for implementing an MRBT service, comprising: Step S102, a calling terminal initiates a call to a called terminal which has registered a multimedia MRBT service, and triggers an MRBT service module of the MRBT Application Server according to service template information subscribed in a Home Subscriber Server by the called terminal; Step S104, the MRBT service module calls the called terminal through an IMS network, and performs query on an MRBT platform according to the call related information to obtain the MRBT information to be played for the calling terminal; and Step S106, the calling terminal performs negotiation with the MRBT platform and performs negotiation with the called terminal, and the MRBT platform plays the MRBT information inquired by the MRBT service module according to the call related information to the calling terminal on condition that the negotiations are successful. In this way, the problem in the relative art that the MRBT service can not be implemented in the IMS network is solved. |
| US08718233B2 |
Linkage mechanism, a collimator, and an X-ray machine
A linkage mechanism of a scattered ray inhibition apparatus and a radiation field control apparatus is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a first timing belt, a second timing belt, and a transmission mechanism between the first timing belt and the second timing belt, wherein the scattered ray inhibition apparatus is mounted on the first timing belt, the radiation field control apparatus is mounted on the second timing belt, the transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism is equal to the ratio of the moving speed of the scattered ray inhibition apparatus to the moving speed of the radiation field control apparatus. |
| US08718232B2 |
Reconstruction of an emission tomography image
A method and an system are disclosed for reconstructing an emission tomography image in a combined MR (magnetic resonance) and emission tomography imaging system. In at least one embodiment, the method includes obtaining an MR image of a subject, the subject being clipped in the MR image; obtaining raw emission tomography scan data of the subject; determining a missing part of the subject clipped in the MR image; using information of the MR image and the determined missing part to obtain a final attenuation model of the subject; and reconstructing the emission tomography image using the raw data and the final attenuation model. |
| US08718228B2 |
Phase grating used for X-ray phase imaging, imaging apparatus for X-ray phase contrast image using phase grating, and X-ray computed tomography system
A phase grating used for X-ray phase imaging is provided, in which a pitch can be narrowed by using a diffraction grating with a low aspect ratio. A phase grating used for X-ray phase imaging, characterized in that the phase grating includes a first diffraction grating in which a first projection part whose thickness is formed so that an in-coming X-ray transmits with a phase π-shifted, and a first aperture part with the same aperture width as a width of the first projection part are cyclically arranged, and a second diffraction grating in which a second projection part with the same width as a width of the first projection part, and a second aperture part with the same aperture width as the aperture width of the first aperture part are cyclically arranged, and the second diffraction grating is formed as displaced on the first diffraction grating. |
| US08718224B2 |
Pulse signal output circuit and shift register
To provide a pulse signal output circuit capable of operating stably and a shift register including the pulse signal output circuit. A pulse signal output circuit includes a plurality of transistors each including an oxide semiconductor. In accordance with operations of the pulse signal output circuit, the threshold voltage of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor is changed. A shift register including the pulse signal output circuit is formed. A pulse signal output circuit capable of operating stably and a shift register including the pulse signal output circuit can be provided. |
| US08718221B2 |
Method of transferring high level radioactive materials, and system for the same
An apparatus and method for inter-unit transfer of spent nuclear fuel. In one aspect, the invention is a method of transferring high level radioactive waste comprising: a) loading high level radioactive waste into a water-filled cavity of a canister body having an open top end at a first location; b) coupling a lid to the canister body to enclose the open top end; c) removing a volume of water from the cavity so that a water level of the water within the cavity is above a top end of the high level radioactive waste and a space exists between the water level and a bottom surface of the lid; d) hermetically sealing the cavity; and e) transferring the canister to a second location, the water level remaining above the top end of the high level radioactive waste during the transfer. |
| US08718210B2 |
Channel impulse response estimation for wireless receiver
Estimating a channel impulse response (CIR) for a wireless transmission, for example a multimedia broadcast multicast services single frequency network (MBSFN) transmission, may be performed by a receiver of an wireless subframe, without requiring operational memory in excess of what is needed for CIR estimation of unicast signaling, while providing enhanced delay spread coverage. The wireless subframe may be a MBSFN subframe. The receiver may form an aggregate vector of pilot tones extracted from an OFDM reference symbol of an wireless subframe. The receiver may subsample the aggregate vector to obtain a plurality of sub-vectors each comprising a distinct subsampling phase. The receiver may process the plurality of sub-vectors using an inverse fast Fourier transform to obtain time domain representations of each of the sub-vectors. The receiver may combine the time domain representations in various ways to obtain a CIR estimate for the wireless subframe. |
| US08718208B2 |
Recovery of data from a multi carrier signal
In an embodiment, a multi-carrier signal (e.g., an OFDM signal) is received over a channel. First indicators of interference and channel response at a carrier frequency of the signal are determined and compared. If the first indicator of the interference has a relationship to the first indicator of the channel response, then a data value transmitted at the carrier frequency is recovered from a data value received at the carrier frequency according to a first algorithm. If, however, the first indicator of the interference does not have a first relationship to the first indicator of the channel response, then second indicators of interference and the channel response at the carrier frequency are determined and compared. If the second indicator of the interference has a second relationship to the second indicator of the channel response, then the data value transmitted at the carrier frequency is recovered from the data value received at the carrier frequency according to a second algorithm. Because first and second data-recovery algorithms may be faster than a conventional data-recovery algorithm, recovering one or more data values with the first or second algorithms may increase the speed at which data is recovered from a multicarrier signal as compared to using a conventional data-recovery algorithm exclusively. |
| US08718204B1 |
Multi-stream maximum-likelihood demodulation based on bitwise constellation partitioning
One of a plurality of candidate data symbols is selected. All possible values of the selected one candidate data symbol are grouped into two or more bit groups. A bit group is selected from the two or more bit groups. A local optimum candidate value from values in the selected bit group is determined for the selected one candidate data symbol for a given set of values corresponding to all of the plurality of candidate data symbols but the selected one candidate data symbol, the local optimum candidate value minimizing a distance value corresponding to a distance between the received data symbol vector and a channel matrix multiplied with the candidate vector, without calculating the distance value. A likelihood value is calculated for a bit in the selected one candidate data symbol based at least in part on the determined local optimum candidate value. |
| US08718203B2 |
Single carrier communication in dynamic fading channels
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, in response to receiving a single carrier signal that is not phase locked, channel equalization may be applied to the signal via a channel equalizer. The equalized signal may be phase averaged to provide a signal that is at least partially phase stabilized. The channel equalizer may then be trained by feeding back the at least partially phase stabilized phase reference to the channel equalizer. The resulting signal may then be decoded via coherent or quasi-coherent detection. |
| US08718202B2 |
Reduced complexity viterbi decoding
A system includes a Viterbi decoder. The Viterbi decoder includes add compare select logic. The add compare select logic determines path metrics for an encoded signal. The add compare select logic also is shared to determine a best state by which trace-back procedure gets started, resulting in hardware saving. |
| US08718201B2 |
Control channel demodulating and decoding method and communication apparatus using the same
Techniques are provided for a demodulation and decoding method and apparatus for a given user equipment device to receive a one or more Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) symbols over a control channel, where the OFDM symbols comprise a plurality of resource element groups distributed in time and frequency that are combined to form control channel elements. Those resource element groups that form specific control channel elements for the user equipment device and those resource element groups that form common control channel elements for one or more user equipment devices including the given user equipment device are identified. The resource element groups that form the specific control channel elements and the resource element groups that form the common control channel elements are demodulated to generate encoded control messages comprising one or more control channel elements. |
| US08718198B2 |
Multipurpose television module
A method of processing a boot sequence for a processor forming a part of a module apparatus involves interrogating a host television device to determine if the host television device requires use of an application execution engine residing on the module apparatus; receiving a reply to the interrogation; and responsive to the reply, establishing a mode of operation wherein the application execution engine is used to execute application code for the host television device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08718190B2 |
Receiver/transmitter capable of simultaneously receiving/transmitting discontinuous frequency signals and method thereof
A receiver/transmitter and related receiving/method capable of simultaneously receiving/transmitting discontinuous frequency band signal components of an input/output signal are provided. Phase swapping on in-phase/quadrature-phase local oscillation differential signals is applied to frequency down-conversion of the input signal or frequency up-conversion of a baseband signal to be outputted to radio domain, and thereby achieve simultaneously receiving discontinuous frequency bands of the input signal and simultaneously sending different baseband signal components on discontinuous frequency bands of the output signal. |
| US08718189B2 |
Digital broadcasting systems using parallel concatenated coding of bit-complementary bitstreams
A digital television (DTV) system uses parallel concatenated coding (PCC), together with QAM constellations for modulating OFDM carriers. A first encoder responds to ONEs' complemented bits of randomized data to generate a first component of PCC. A second encoder responds to delayed bits of the randomized data to generate a second component of PCC. A constellation mapper generates QAM symbols responsive to successive time-slices of the first component of the PCC interleaved with successive time-slices of the second component of the PCC. An OFDM modulator generates a COFDM modulating signal responsive to the QAM symbols. In a receiver for the DTV system, the second component of the PCC and delayed first component of the PCC are iteratively decoded. Soft bits from the second component and delayed first component of the parallel concatenated coding are code-combined to supply soft randomized data used in that iterative decoding. |
| US08718185B2 |
Estimating frequency-offsets and multi-antenna channels in MIMO OFDM systems
Techniques are described for carrier frequency offset (CFO) and channel estimation of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmissions over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) frequency-selective fading channels. A wireless transmitter forms blocks of symbols by inserting training symbols within two or more blocks of information-bearing symbols. The transmitter applies a hopping code to each of the blocks of symbols to insert a null subcarrier at a different position within each of the blocks of symbols, and a modulator outputs a wireless signal in accordance with the blocks of symbols. A receiver receives the wireless signal and estimates the CFO, and outputs a stream of estimated symbols based on the estimated CFO. |
| US08718183B2 |
Transmitter to generate an analytic signal for reduced inter-symbol interference (ISI)
A system and method for receiving a plurality of pilot tones, generating an analytic signal in a frequency domain, the analytic signal including frequency components that when converted to a time domain include a preamble having a first half containing only non-zero data and a second half containing only zero data, converting the analytic signal from the frequency domain to the time domain, resulting in the preamble having the first half containing only non-zero data and the second half containing only zero data, generating a cyclic prefix based on the second half of the preamble, and attaching the cyclic prefix to the preamble to form a pilot signal, the cyclic prefix including only zero data. |
| US08718178B1 |
Selection of non-linear interference cancelation (NLIC) input
Self-jamming interference associated with a transmitted signal of an aggressor transmitter may affect a received signal of a victim receiver in a communication device. An aggressor transmitter may provide two or more non-linear interference cancelation (NLIC) signals, including a first NLIC signal and a second NLIC signal. A NLIC unit may reconstruct an interference signal based on a selected one of the first NLIC signal or second NLIC signal. Power of the transmitted signal at the aggressor transmitter may be used to select either the first interference cancelation signal or the second interference cancelation signal. The first and second NLIC signals may differ by the use of digital pre-distortion (DPD) at the aggressor transmitter. |
| US08718174B2 |
Multi-user multiple input multiple output wireless communications
A method implemented in a user equipment used in a multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) wireless communications system is disclosed. The method includes receiving from a base station an indication of a first modulation type for the user equipment, receiving a first data signal for the user equipment, receiving a second data signal for a co-scheduled user equipment, where a second modulation type for the co-scheduled user equipment is unknown to the user equipment, and deciding the second modulation type. Other methods, systems, and apparatuses also are disclosed. |
| US08718173B2 |
Method for transmitting control information and apparatus for the same
A method and apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting common control information including a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) indicator indicating single user-MIMO (SU-MIMO) or multi user-MIMO (MU-MIMO) to a receiver, generating first precoded dedicated control information by performing precoding on dedicated control information including information for the MU-MIMO by the use of a first precoding matrix, generating second precoded dedicated control information by performing precoding on the first precoded dedicated control information by the use of a second precoding matrix and transmitting the second precoded dedicated control information to the receiver. |
| US08718169B2 |
Using a field format on a communication device
A communication device for transmitting a Very High Throughput Signal Field B (VHT-SIG-B) is described. The communication device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The communication device allocates at least twenty signal bits and six tail bits for the VHT-SIG-B. The communication device also uses a number of subcarriers for the VHT-SIG-B that is the same as a number of subcarriers for a Very High Throughput Long Training Field (VHT-LTF) and a DATA field. The communication device additionally applies a pilot mapping for the VHT-SIG-B that is the same as a pilot mapping for the DATA field. The communication device further transmits the VHT-SIG-B. |
| US08718167B2 |
Method for channel estimation and feedback in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method for channel estimation and feedback in a wireless communication system that estimates a channel for each transmission antenna using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) impulse signal. A method for channel estimation in a wireless communication system includes causing a base station to generate a training signal with a specific waveform for each transmission antenna and to transmit the generated training signal to terminals; causing the terminals to acquire a downlink channel impulse response for each transmission antenna of the base station using the training signal transmitted from the base station; causing the terminals to acquire a downlink channel characteristic for each transmission antenna of the base station using the acquired channel impulse response; causing the terminal to feed back the acquired downlink channel characteristic information to the base station; and causing the base station to perform fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the downlink channel information transmitted from the terminals to indirectly acquire full channel status information (CSI). |
| US08718166B2 |
Maximal ratio combining of equalized symbols for MIMO systems with HARQ and/or repetition coding
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors based on the same transmitted vector. The receiver linearizes each received signal vector using one or more zero-forcing, MMSE, or other suitable linear equalizers. The components of the equalized signal vectors may be combined using maximum-ratio combining to form the components of a combined equalized signal vector. The components of the combined equalized signal vector may then be decoded individually using a linear decoder. |
| US08718163B2 |
Method for seamlessly changing power modes in an ADSL system
A DMT system and method with the capability to adapt the system bit rate on-line in a seamless manner. The DMT system provides a robust and fast protocol for completing this seamless rate adaptation. The DMT system also provides a framing and encoding method with reduced overhead compared to conventional DMT systems. The DMT system and method provide seamless rate adaptation with the provision of different power levels. This framing and encoding method enables a system with seamless rate adaptation capability. The system and method of the invention can be implemented in hardware, or alternatively in a combination of hardware and software. |
| US08718159B2 |
Receiver with cyclic prefix determination
A user equipment (UE) performs a transform domain (DFT) based method to detect the cyclic prefix (CP) length that is being used by a base station for cellular communications. The detected CP length is then used to reduce the amount of time required to complete the synchronization and cell search procedures. In particular, the UE uses the detected CP length information to obtain Cell Identification parameters (NID1, NID2) along with information including a Maximum energy Tap location and a reference signal receive power (RSRP) while completing the synchronization and cell search procedures. |
| US08718158B2 |
System and method for scrambling the phase of the carriers in a multicarrier communications system
A system and method that scrambles the phase characteristic of a carrier signal are described. The scrambling of the phase characteristic of each carrier signal includes associating a value with each carrier signal and computing a phase shift for each carrier signal based on the value associated with that carrier signal. The value is determined independently of any input bit value carried by that carrier signal. The phase shift computed for each carrier signal is combined with the phase characteristic of that carrier signal so as to substantially scramble the phase characteristic of the carrier signals. Bits of an input signal are modulated onto the carrier signals having the substantially scrambled phase characteristic to produce a transmission signal with a reduced PAR. |
| US08718156B2 |
Indexing methods and systems
Methods and systems for indexing signal option selections are disclosed. The signal options can be any of a variety of options that permit the establishment of a communication link, including modulation format, coding rate, precoding index and assigned subbands. The selected options can be represented as a vector and the index can be determined by employing a worth function for a particular selected vector element that is dependent on a selection occurrence count of the element and on an element position count of the element. In particular, the index can be the summation of worth function values for each selected element. |
| US08718153B2 |
Signal transmitting apparatus, method thereof, and inverse fast fourier transform apparatus for signal transmitting apparatus
The present invention relates to a signal transmitting apparatus, a method thereof, and an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) apparatus for a signal transmitting apparatus. A signal transmitting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention receives data, and performs inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) on the data on the basis of a twiddle factor for shifting output data by the size of a cyclic prefix. In addition, the signal transmitting apparatus sequentially stores data corresponding to the size of the cyclic prefix starting with initial data among the transformed data, and generates an OFDM symbol on the basis of the stored data and the transformed data. According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently reduce a time delay and a memory use amount when a cyclic prefix is added at a transmitting end, without changing the size of hardware and power consumption. |
| US08718152B2 |
Two-wire transmitter
There is provided a two-wire transmitter which is connected to an external circuit by two transmission lines and which outputs a certain current signal to the external circuit using the external circuit as a power source. The two-wire transmitter includes: a sensor configured to convert a physical quantity into a first electrical signal and output the first electrical signal; a signal processing circuit configured to perform certain processing on the first electrical signal and output a second electrical signal; a constant current circuit configured to determine the certain current signal to be output to the external circuit, based on the second electrical signal; a reference voltage output unit configured to output a reference voltage based on the second electrical signal; and a shunt regulator circuit configured to determine a circuit voltage of the two-wire transmitter based on the reference voltage. |
| US08718150B2 |
RACH-ramp-up acknowledgement
A disclosed code-division-multiple-access (CDMA) system has a base station (BS) and remote stations (RSs). A BS-spread-spectrum transmitter broadcasts a common-synchronization channel having a chip-sequence signal common to the remote stations served by the BS, and a frame-timing signal. A RS-spread-spectrum receiver receives the broadcast common-synchronization channel, and determines frame timing from the frame-timing signal. A first RS-spread-spectrum transmitter transmits an access-burst signal, which has a plurality of segments. Each access burst signal segment has a plurality of power levels. A BS-spread-spectrum receiver receives the access-burst signal at a detected-power level. In response to receiving the access-burst signal, a BS-spread-spectrum transmitter transmits an acknowledgment signal to the RS-spread-spectrum receiver. The RS-spread-spectrum receiver receives the acknowledgment signal, and in, the RS-spread-spectrum transmitter transmits a spread-spectrum signal having data to the BS-spread-spectrum receiver. |
| US08718147B2 |
Video compression algorithm
A video compression routine encodes pixels using frame location relationships by using packets with variable length opcode. |
| US08718145B1 |
Relative quality score for video transcoding
A relative quality score is provided that takes into account properties of an encoded version of a source video. For example, one such quality score calculates a difference of higher and lower quality transcoded versions of the source video, and computes quality metrics for each to evaluate how similar the transcoded versions are to the source video. A relative quality score quantifying the quality improvement of the high-quality version over the low-quality version is computed. The relative quality score is adjusted based on a measurement of the quality of the source video. If the relative quality score for the video indicates a sufficient quality improvement of the high-quality version over the low-quality version, various actions are taken, such as retaining the high-quality version, and making the high-quality version available to users, e.g. via a video viewing user interface. |
| US08718141B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method for performing inter picture prediction coding and inter picture prediction decoding using previously processed pictures as reference pictures
A coding control unit (110) and a mode selection unit (109) are included. The coding control unit (110) determines the coding order for a plurality of consecutive B-pictures located between I-pictures and P-pictures so that the B-picture whose temporal distance from two previously coded pictures is farthest in display order is coded by priority, so as to reorder the B-pictures in coding order. When a current block is coded in direct mode, the mode selection unit 109 scales a forward motion vector of a block which is included in a backward reference picture of a current picture and co-located with the current block, so as to generate motion vectors of the current block, if the forward motion vector has been used for coding the co-located block. |
| US08718139B2 |
Image decoding device and image decoding method
An image decoding device method for obtaining image signals by decoding compressed data of digital moving image signals in a 4:4:4 format is disclosed. An identification signal is decoded, the identification signal indicating whether three color component signals have been encoded in a common encoding mode or in independent encoding modes. The common encoding mode corresponds to a process of encoding the three color component signals of one frame by a common macroblock type information and the independent encoding mode corresponds to a process of encoding the three color component signals of one frame by an individual independent macroblock type information. The three color component signals are decoded in a common encoding mode or in independent encoding modes according to the identification signal. |
| US08718138B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and image encoding method that determine an encoding method, to be used for a block to be encoded, on the basis of an intra-frame-prediction evaluation value calculated using prediction errors between selected reference pixels and an input image
In an image encoding apparatus including an intra-frame prediction unit that executes intra-frame prediction regarding an input image, when locally decoded pixels are not available, pseudo reference pixels are set to calculate an intra-frame-prediction evaluation value, and a method of encoding to be used for a block to be encoded is determined on the basis of the intra-frame-prediction evaluation value. |
| US08718136B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal with inter-view reference picture list construction
A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes obtaining identification information indicating whether a coded picture of a current NAL unit is an inter-view picture group, obtaining interview reference information of the inter-view picture group, and constructing a reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the inter-view reference information according to the identification information, wherein the inter-view reference information includes view identification information of an inter-view reference picture. |
| US08718127B2 |
Apparatus and method for digitally-controlled adaptive equalizer
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a receiver device. One such apparatus includes an equalizer configured to process an input signal transmitted over a channel. The equalizer includes a first node configured to receive the input signal; a second node; and a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) having an adjustable gain. The PGA has an input electrically coupled to the first node, and an output electrically coupled to a third node. The equalizer also includes a high pass filter (HPF) having an input electrically coupled to the third node, and an output electrically coupled to the second node; and a control block configured to adjust one or more of the PGA or the HPF at least partly in response to a PGA output signal from the PGA or an HPF output signal from the HPF. |
| US08718125B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining and representing a synchronization status
A device and method for determining and displaying on a display element the status of at least one synchronization implemented in an electronic measuring instrument or a telecommunications device is provided. The device includes several functional units provided within the electronic measuring instrument or the telecommunications device, and each functional unit determines at least one parameter, the value of which corresponds to the status of the synchronization implemented in the respective functional unit. |
| US08718123B2 |
Test apparatus and test method
A test apparatus that tests a device under test exchanging a data signal and a clock signal, the test apparatus comprising a test signal supplying section that supplies the device under test with a data signal and a clock signal, as a test signal; a data acquiring section that acquires the data signal output by the device under test, at a timing corresponding to the clock signal output by the device under test; a judging section that judges pass/fail of the device under test based on a comparison result of a comparison between the data signal acquired by the data acquiring section and an expected value; and an adjusting section that, when performing an adjustment, adjusts a delay amount of the clock signal used to generate the timing at which the data signal is acquired. |
| US08718122B2 |
Testing performance of a wireless device
Improved performance testing of a wireless device is disclosed. The system is particularly suited to testing devices having multiple antennas. The device under test (DUT) is placed in a reverberation chamber with antennas for transmission of a test signal to the DUT. The number of antennas deployed in the reverberation chamber and placement of those antennas is selected such that no line-of-sight transmission component exists from test system antenna to DUT antenna, and the number of antennas deployed in the reverberation chamber is greater than the spatial rank of the signal. The antennas are driven by a programmable channel emulator capable of generating fading, correlation, delay, Doppler and other channel condition phenomena. Furthermore, the antennas are driven individually by a plurality of independent fading processes. The combination of the programmable channel emulator and reverberation chamber creates a multipath environment which simulates signals arriving from different locations, with different delays, as well as the simulation of device motion. The system also includes instruments to produce test signals and to measure the performance of the DUT. |
| US08718116B2 |
Scheduled gain control in collocated wireless receivers using forward timed signal strength predictions
An apparatus is disclosed comprising collocated primary receiver (PR) and a time synchronized receiver (TSR), with a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) configured by a LNA gain control signal to create a shared amplified signal sent to the PR and the TSR for them to concurrently receive packets. The TSR is configured to generate a timed signal strength prediction signal based on the shared amplified signal and the LNA gain control signal. The primary receiver is configured to generate the LNA gain control signal based, at least in part, on the timed signal strength prediction signal. The PR may include a spread spectrum receiver, and the TSR may include a frequency hopping receiver. |
| US08718110B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser and epitaxial substrate
A nitride semiconductor laser includes an electrically conductive support substrate with a primary surface of a gallium nitride based semiconductor, an active layer provided above the primary surface, and a p-type cladding region provided above the primary surface. The primary surface is inclined relative to a reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis extending in a direction of the c-axis of the gallium nitride based semiconductor. The p-type cladding region includes first and second p-type Group III nitride semiconductor layers. The first p-type semiconductor layer comprises an InAlGaN layer including built-in anisotropic strain. The second p-type semiconductor layer comprises semiconductor different from material of the InAlGaN layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer is provided between the second p-type semiconductor layer and the active layer. The second p-type semiconductor layer has a resistivity lower than that of the first p-type semiconductor layer. |
| US08718105B2 |
Laser source that generates a rapidly changing output beam
A laser source (10) for emitting an output beam (12) includes a first gain medium (16B) that generates a first beam (16A), a second gain medium (18B) that generates a second beam (18A), a common feedback assembly (28) positioned in the path of the first beam (16A) and the second beam (18), and a control system (32). The common feedback assembly (28) redirects at least a portion of the first beam (16A) back to the first gain medium (16B), and at least a portion of the second beam (18A) back to the second gain medium (18B). The control system (32) selectively and individually directs power to the first gain medium (16B) and the second gain medium (18). Additionally, the common feedback assembly (28) can include a feedback mover (46) that continuously adjusts the angle of incidence of the first beam (16A) and the second beam (18A) on the feedback assembly (28). Moreover, the control system (32) can selectively direct pulses of power to the gain mediums (16B) (18B) based on the position of the feedback assembly (28). |
| US08718104B2 |
Supercontinuum pulse source
An optical pulse source for generating optical supercontinuum pulses comprises an optical pump laser operable to generate optical pump pulses at a pump pulse repetition rate Rf; a nonlinear optical element comprising an optical fiber for generating optical supercontinuum pulses; an optical modulator operable to selectively control the launch of pump pulses into the optical fiber at a reduced, lower repetition rate Rr=Rf/N in order to generate optical supercontinuum pulses at a selectable and lower repetition rate; an optical fiber amplifier located between the optical modulator and the optical pump laser; wherein the optical supercontinuum pulses generated by the optical fiber have a supercontinuum spanning from below 450 nm to greater than 2000 nm; wherein the optical pulse source is provided with a microprocessor configured to determine when supercontinuum pulses are delivered; and wherein the optical pulse source is configured to provide an output trigger signal. |
| US08718103B2 |
Apparatus for adjusting polarization characteristics, and ultra-short ultra-high intensity pulse laser generator comprising same
The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an ultra-short ultra-high intensity pulse laser, comprising: a pulse laser providing unit which generates an ultra-short ultra-high intensity pulse laser, stretches pulse width, then selects and provides only a pulse laser having a predetermined polarizing angle; a polarization characteristic adjusting unit which divides the pulse laser provided by the pulse laser providing unit into S-polarizing component light and P-polarizing component light, varies the phase difference and amplitude difference between the S-polarizing component light and the P-polarizing component light, and combines the two types of light to generate a pulse laser with varied polarization characteristics; and a pulse compression unit which compresses the pulse width of the pulse laser, the polarization characteristics of which are varied by the polarization characteristic adjusting unit, and outputs the pulse laser. |
| US08718102B2 |
Minimalistic LTE maintenance timing advance method
A method that implements a timing advance for an uplink communication from a user equipment (UE) comprises: selecting at least one subframe; reducing a duration of at least one selected symbol of each of the at least one subframe to generate at least one reduced duration subframe; replacing a remaining portion of payload data of each of the at least one selected symbol with a pre-selected replacement value; by-passing each of the at least one selected symbol during pre-transmission processing of the at least one reduced duration subframe; processing any remaining symbols of the at least one reduced duration subframe, such that a processing time of the remaining symbols of the at least one reduced duration subframe is reduced by at least the value of the timing advance; and transmitting the at least one reduced duration subframe via the uplink communication to the base station. |
| US08718099B2 |
Transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus, and reception method
A transmission apparatus for converting a transmission data series into frequency-domain, converting the frequency-domain converted signal into time-domain signal, and transmitting the time-domain converted signal, the apparatus including: a preamble pattern generation unit which outputs at least two preamble patterns among second and third preamble patterns, including bit series in which each of bits of a first preamble pattern is continued for n bits (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and for k bits (where k is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and k≠n), and the first preamble pattern; and a transmission unit which transmits the transmission signal including at least two of the preamble patterns output from the preamble pattern generation unit. |
| US08718092B2 |
Communication network system, network switch and bandwidth control, for site-to-site communications
A communication network system is disclosed in which local-branch-site-line network switches accommodating local-branch-site lines, and at least one data-center-site-line network switch accommodating at least one data-center-site line, are interconnected via a carrier network. This system include: a first bandwidth controller, disposed at each local-branch-site-line network switch, configured to limit a bandwidth of each of inbound packets and/or outbound packets to a pre-selected bandwidth α, wherein the inbound packets flow from the instant local-branch-site-line network switch or other local-branch-site-line network switches, and the outbound packets flow to the instant local-branch-site-line network switch or other local-branch-site-line network switches; and a second bandwidth controller, disposed at each local-branch-site-line network switch, configured to limit a bandwidth of each of inbound packets and/or outbound packets to a pre-selected bandwidth β broader than the bandwidth α, wherein the inbound packets flow from the data-center-site-line network switch, and the outbound packets flow to the data-center-site-line network switch. |
| US08718091B2 |
Cable modem system with sample and packet synchronization
A method and system of processing sampled voice packets from a voice packet sender for transmission over a bit-rate sampled data transmission system, such as by a cable modem over a cable modem termination system, to a voice packet recipient. Unsolicited grant arrivals in response to a request from the voice packet sender coupled to the cable modem are determined. The storing of sampled voice packets is synchronized with the unsolicited grant arrivals. Upon receipt of an unsolicited grant arrival, currently stored sampled voice packets are transmitted to the cable modem for further transmission to the voice packet recipient over the cable modem termination system. |
| US08718089B2 |
Aggregation and fragmentation of multiplexed downlink packets
A system and method for aggregating and fragmenting packets is described. Data packets containing voice data and other data that suffer significantly in quality when delayed may be aggregated together and fragmented. The aggregation and fragmentation permits networks to push these time-sensitive packets more easily through a network based on priority given to fragmented data. |
| US08718086B2 |
Method for communication in a HVDC power transmission system, controller unit and computer program product
A method in a converter station for communication within a DC power transmission system including two or more interconnected converter stations includes receiving, in the converter station, a synchronization signal for synchronizing the two or more converter stations; obtaining, in the converter station, an allocation of a communication time slot; changing, in the converter station, a set-point DC voltage level during the communication time slot; and measuring, in the converter station, a change of DC current in timeslots other than the communication time slot. A communication method utilizing the DC power transmission system itself is thus provided. |
| US08718084B2 |
System and method for dynamic power control for energy efficient physical layer communication devices
A system and method for dynamic power control for energy efficient physical layer communication devices. Energy-efficiency features are continually being developed to conserve energy in links between such energy-efficient devices. These energy-efficient devices interoperate with many legacy devices that have already been deployed. In these links, energy savings can be produced by having a local receiver enter an energy saving state based upon the receipt of standard IDLE signals. |
| US08718083B2 |
Mechanism for controlling data transmission in fragmentation transmission mode
There is provided a mechanism for controlling a transmission of data in a fragmentation transmission mode. When fragments are transmitted in a fragmentation transmission mode, it is determined whether the fragment frame is received successfully or whether an acknowledgment message for confirming a successful transmission of the fragment frame is received. In case the acknowledgment for the successful transmission of the one fragment frame is not received, or the fragment is frame is not successfully received, the fragmentation transmission mode is maintained and a retransmission of the fragment frame is initiated. |
| US08718081B2 |
Subcarrier group based power control for OFDMA systems
A system and method of wireless communication power control is provided which allows for adjusting power levels without requiring high bandwidth for control. Embodiments allocate subcarriers into unequal power groups, each group having a consistent subcarrier power level. Using interference parameter information from a user, a subcarrier is assigned from a group having adequate power to maintain the user's required power level. In general, users with higher power requirements, such as those near cell boundaries, will be assigned subcarriers from a group having a higher power level. A cell may use a different allocation than a neighbor, so that subcarriers with the highest power level in one cell may not also have the highest power level in a neighboring cell. Such diversity may reduce inter-cell interference of the subcarriers near a cell boundary, since no two subcarriers are transmitted with highest power simultaneously by neighboring base stations. |
| US08718080B2 |
Techniques for quick access channel information loading in wireless networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of quick access channel information loading in wireless networks, comprising mapping at least one quick access channel to one distributed resource unit of control tiles, said control tiles being spread across consecutive sub-carriers and consecutive OFDMA symbols, wherein each control tile and a predetermined number of sub carriers are used to send a bandwidth indicator and a predetermined number of sub carriers are used to send a bandwidth request message, and wherein there exist unique orthogonal sequences for the bandwidth indicator and each of the sequences are capable of being selected as a preamble sequence. |
| US08718079B1 |
Physical layer devices for network switches
A first integrated circuit (IC) includes a first set of M serializer/deserializer (SERDES) modules configured to communicate with a first set of M SERDES modules of a switch IC of a switch, respectively, where M is an integer greater than 1. The first IC includes a first set of N SERDES modules configured to communicate with a first set of N ports of the switch, respectively, where N=(M−1). The first IC includes a first set of N multiplexer modules configured to communicate with (i) the N SERDES modules in the first set of N SERDES modules, respectively, and (ii) the M SERDES modules in the first set of M SERDES modules of the first IC. Each of the N multiplexer modules is configured to communicate with a pair of SERDES modules in the first set of M SERDES modules of the first IC. |
| US08718074B2 |
Internet protocol analyzing
Included are methods for facilitating routing of control data associated with a communication to a plurality of recorders. One such method, among others, includes receiving control data related to a communication and routing the received control data to at least one recorder via a layer 3 protocol. |
| US08718072B2 |
Optical network terminal management and control interface over Ethernet
An apparatus comprising a data framer configured to frame an external protocol extension message for transmission, the external protocol extension message comprising a header that indicates an external protocol extension and at least one type-length-value (TLV) comprising a type field, a length field, and a value field, wherein a format of the TLV is specified by a specific organization, and wherein the value field comprises information related to protocol functions external to the network. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising compiling an external protocol extension message comprising a plurality of TLVs and a header that indicates an external protocol extension, and transmitting the external protocol message. |
| US08718070B2 |
Distributed network virtualization apparatus and method
Some embodiments provide a distributed control system for controlling managed switching elements of a network. The distributed control system comprises a first network virtualizer for converting a first set of input logical forwarding plane data to a first set of output physical control plane data. It also includes a second network virtualizer for converting a second set of input logical forwarding plane data to a second set of output physical control plane data. In some embodiments, the physical control plane data is translated into physical forwarding behaviors that direct the forwarding of data by the managed switching elements. |
| US08718064B2 |
Forwarding element for flexible and extensible flow processing software-defined networks
A network device acting as a forwarding element within a software-defined network receives a representation of configurable flow table definitions and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device creates a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions and installs the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device receives data to populate configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables and populates the flow tables using that data. The network device then selects from forwarding decisions for packets according to the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables, the flow tables, and each packet's values in relevant header fields required by the configurable logic. |
| US08718062B2 |
Method, device and system for establishing pseudo wire
A method for establishment a pseudo wire (PW) is disclosed, including: receiving a first label mapping (LM) message, where the first LM message carries a PW ID, PW parameters, and label switching path (LSP) tunnel information that are selected by the sender of the first LM message; matching a local PW according to the PW ID; performing parameter negotiation of the local PW according to the PW parameters; matching a local tunnel according to the LSP tunnel information; binding the local tunnel and the local PW when the matching between the PW ID and the LSP tunnel information is successful; and establishing a PW when the parameter negotiation is successful. A device and system for establishing a PW are also disclosed. With the present invention, a PW service is associated with an LSP tunnel to improve the reliability of the information transmission process. |
| US08718061B2 |
Data center network system and packet forwarding method thereof
A data center network system and a packet forwarding method are provided. The data center network includes a management server and a plurality of machines containing physical machines and virtual machines. The management server configures a logical media access control (MAC) address for each of the machines, wherein most significant bytes of each of the logical MAC addresses are set as 0. When a data packet is about to be sent from a physical machine, the physical machine executes an encapsulation procedure on the data packet for forwarding the data packet to an intermediate node between a transmitter and a receiver of the data packet, and the intermediate node executes a decapsulation procedure on the data packet for forwarding the data packet to the true receiver. Accordingly, the number of virtual machines exposed to the forwarding table of Ethernet switches can be effectively reduced. |
| US08718059B2 |
Processing method, system and user equipment of multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) service
A method and system are provided for processing a multimedia broadcast and multicast service and a user equipment. The method includes: a user equipment (UE) receiving a multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) service issued by the network side (101), and the UE actively or passively reporting receiving state information about the MBMS service to the network side (102). The method and system can enable the network side to learn the receiving condition of the MBMS service by the user equipment and can manage the user equipment according to the receiving state information about the MBMS service reported by the UE. |
| US08718057B1 |
Ethernet LAN service enhancements
Numerous enhancements to metro Ethernet network (MEN) ELAN services and IETF Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) include an enhancement of the overall Quality of Service (QoS) architecture, an enhancement to classification at the provider edge, the use of Ethernet QoS classes, enhancements to policing and marking at ingress provider edge equipment, the provision of traffic management functions at egress provider edge equipment, the use of multiple Ethernet virtual connections (EVCs) and Aggregate EVCs, an enhancement to QoS across an external network-network interface and an enhancement to treatment of Ethernet service frames in a core network. |
| US08718056B2 |
Trunking in a matrix
A multistage switch includes a matrix of coupled switch devices. A logical link comprising a plurality of physical links couples a destination through the plurality of physical links to a plurality of ports in the multistage switch. Each switch device performs trunk aware forwarding to reduce the forwarding of received frames through the matrix of coupled switch devices to the destination in order to reduce unnecessary traffic in the multistage switch. |
| US08718052B2 |
Method for connecting signal paths, and function group designed therefor
A method and system for connecting signal paths in a circuit arrangement with multiband capability for processing and/or influencing signals in radio communication, on the basis of which at least the transmission paths of a corresponding circuit arrangement are activated or deactivated on the basis of the presence of a transmitted signal from a terminal which is operated with the circuit arrangement. The transmission paths, which are deactivated in a basic state of the circuit arrangement, are periodically checked in succession for the presence of a transmitted signal from the terminal with a multiplexer that forms a functional component of a detection unit and that is switched through by a controller for sequential scanning of the transmission paths for the presence of such a transmitted signal. If a signal is present, only a transmission path for the correct frequency band of the transmitted signal is activated and continuously checked for the presence of a transmitted signal. |
| US08718046B2 |
System and method for monitoring a connection of an end-user device to a network
A method of monitoring the connection of a first end-user device to a network includes determining the amount of bandwidth present, tracking the amount of bandwidth in use by different classes of traffic, and tracking performance of the connection to detect when a threshold crossing has been reached. The method also includes transmitting a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached. The method further includes changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network in accordance with the received communication action. |
| US08718045B2 |
System and method for switching between public switched telephone networks and voice over internet protocol networks
A location customer premise equipment (CPE), the location CPE in electronic communication with a location telephone, a remote CPE and a remote telephone. The location CPE includes a first processor. The first processor receives a switch signal from the location telephone, and sends a corresponding first request signal to the remote CPE, and then the first processor receives a corresponding first response signal and a phone number of an unused network of the remote telephone from the remote CPE, and dials the phone number of an unused network to establish an unused network communication link with the remote CPE and cuts off a used network communication link. |
| US08718044B2 |
Method and apparatus for assessing VoIP packet production and packet transmission and indication at the end points involved in the VoIP communication
The present invention relates to a method and a device for assessing and indicating the quality of VoIP calls, comprising the steps of end-point reception of the VoIP packets over an IP network link, end-point determination of the VoIP quality (QRX) of the received VoIP packet sequence, the VoIP quality (QTX) of the transmitted VoIP packet sequence, exchange of the quality information (QRX and QTX) between the end points, calulation of the difference (QRX-QTX) between the received VoIP quality and the VoIP quality transmitted by the other side; supply of the determined VoIP quality information to a quality indication; and end-point indication of the quality information in optical and/or acoustic form. |
| US08718042B2 |
Extensible and secure transmission of multiple conversation contexts
The entry and transmission of notes to recipients along the conversation chain. Notes can be created based on an incoming caller. The notes can be transmitted to the conversation recipient for viewing before, during, and after the recipient accepts the conversation. This is facilitated by a communications client that operates to allow entry of the notes, and forwarding of the call recipient via a SIP framework. Moreover, notes previously taken and/or information provided manually and/or automatically by the communications system can be provided to an agent (e.g., ACD, receptionist) receiving the conversation, at any point in the conversation chain for quick identification not only of the conversation source but of previous information already collected. |
| US08718041B2 |
Line termination arrangement with combined broadband and narrowband services
A combined line termination arrangement (1) for an access system supporting broadband transmission mode and narrowband transmission mode, the combined line termination arrangement (1) comprising a common interface device (4) having a common port (6) for receiving or transmitting a signal in said transmission modes and being connected to a first line termination (LT1) and a second line termination (LT2). The common interface device further comprises switching means (11, 14, 15, 18) for selectively connecting, by switching combinations, the first line termination (LT1), the second line termination (LT2) and auxiliary sources of broadband or narrowband transmission modes. |
| US08718040B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive bandwidth utilization in a digital network
An integrated circuit device for use in a line card of a network node of a digital networking system is provided. The integrated circuit device is capable of intercepting one or more control messages from at least one CPE device. The one or more control messages correspond to at least an operational status of at least one TE device associated with the at least one CPE device. The integrated circuit device is also capable of transmitting one or more rate control messages to a network processor of the network node to adapt bandwidth utilization and provide adapted data traffic flow to at least one CPE device in relation to the operational status of the at least one TE device. |
| US08718033B2 |
Method and device for transferring multi-standard radio service data
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a device for transferring radio service data. The method includes: designing a radio service frame timing mechanism and/or a rule of filling IQ data for a plurality of standards; configuring frame timing mechanisms corresponding to various services according to the designed radio service frame timing mechanism and/or the rule of filling IQ data for a plurality of standards; and transmitting multi-standard radio service data according to the configured frame timing information and/or methods of mapping IQ containers. The device includes a determination unit, a configuring unit and a transfer unit. Thus, uniform transmission of radio IQ data and frame synchronization for different standards may be enabled via a common radio interface between a Radio Equipment Controller (REC) and a Radio Equipment (RE). |
| US08718031B2 |
Multi-network access control method, communication system, and relevant devices
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a multi-network access control method, a communication system, and relevant devices to prevent interruption of normal network communication when the multi-access function is used. The method includes the following steps: A User Equipment (UE) receives multi-access indication information sent by a network device; the UE judges, according to the multi-access indication information, whether the UE uses a multi-access function; and the UE initiates an access connectivity establishment from multi-networks if the multi-access function is used. The embodiments of the present invention further provide a communication system and relevant devices. The embodiments of the present invention may prevent interruption of normal network communication when the multi-access function is used. |
| US08718029B1 |
Method and apparatus for wireless arbiter power saving
A circuit processes requests to access an antenna, the requests from a plurality of wireless communication protocols components including (i) a first wireless communication protocol component and (ii) a second wireless communication protocol component. The circuit causes a switch to provide the second wireless communication component with access to the antenna while the circuit is in a power saving mode of operation, and, upon the circuit exiting the power saving mode of operation, determines whether the second wireless communication component is utilizing the antenna. The circuit, upon the circuit exiting the power saving mode of operation, applies a first set of arbitration rules when it is determined that the second wireless communication component is utilizing the antenna, and, upon the circuit exiting the power saving mode of operation, applies a second set of arbitration rules when it is determined that the second wireless communication component is not utilizing the antenna. |
| US08718028B1 |
Customizing a browsing experience on a mobile communications device
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for customizing a user agent profile for a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device communicates a request for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) compatible data. The request includes information about capabilities of the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device receives an options page that includes selectable options associated with the capabilities of the mobile communications device. Selectable options of the options page are selected to identify one or more preferences of a user of the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device communicates the selected options to be used for generating the customized user agent profile. The mobile device receives a target HTTP-compatible page that is a variation of the requested HTTP-compatible page, converted based on the customized user agent profile. |
| US08718027B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless access point, communication control method and computer-readable medium
In a first control mode employed when a wired communication line is used as the backhaul, a wireless access point operates as follows. (1) The access point processes its own control packets for management by itself. (2) The access point communicates packets in which an information item for processing in a controller or a control server is added to user traffic from a client connected to the access point. (3) The access point conducts proxy processing for a control packet for management of a second wireless access point connected to the wireless communication side of the access point. (4) The access point compresses a control packet for management sent from a system controller to the second wireless access point to thereby achieve a frame conversion and then sends the packet to the wireless communication side. This resultantly reduces the traffic on the backhaul wireless communication line. |
| US08718026B2 |
Method for associating time slots with a transmission path in a wireless interconnected network
A method of associating time slots with a transmission path in a wireless interconnected network made of a plurality of network nodes such that the transmission path extends between a source node and a destination node and comprises a plurality of sequential links between adjacent network nodes, data being transmitted in the network on a time slot basis by the association of the time slots to be used with the links of the transmission path, wherein a quality value is determinable for each link within an association sequence of time slots describing an end-to-end data transmission from the source node to the destination node along the transmission path, where the value represents the reliability of the data transfer. An overall quality value for the association sequence can further be determined as a function of the quality values of each of the links. |
| US08718025B2 |
Method and device for transmitting downlink information in multi-carrier aggregation system
The present invention discloses a method and device for transmitting downlink information in a multi-carrier aggregation system. The Method includes: a base station side sends a downlink subframe to a terminal side, wherein, the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the downlink subframe is used for bearing more than one piece of downlink control indicating information and the carrier scheduling indicating information corresponding to each downlink control indicating information. It solves the problem in the prior art of indefinite identification at the terminal side because the length of DCI may be same due to the difference of the bandwidths of carriers in the carrier aggregation system. |
| US08718024B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a variable bandwidth of a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08718023B2 |
System and method for fast dynamic link adaptation
Upon the UE transmission power requirement exceeding the maximum or allowable transmission power the MAC may be informed for subsequent TFC selection of all TFCs that currently exceed this limit. The UE may then chose the TFC with the next lower transmission power requirement and the sequence will continue until an acceptable TFC is determined. The system also enables the replacement of the TFCs in the TFCS and advanced determination of non-supported TFCs. The TFCs that require transmission power greater then the maximum or allowed UE transmission power shall be determined continuously in every TTI, not just in TTIs where the maximum power has been exceeded. |
| US08718021B2 |
Uplink control signal design for wireless system
Transmission of uplink control message for a wireless system. The uplink control message may be encoded according to one of multiple possible schemes. The choice of encoding scheme may be made based on the control message size and/or based on the available transmission resources and/or based on the detection scheme used on the receiving end. A modulation scheme may also be selected based on such factors. CDM may be used for certain control messages. Block code encoding, such as Reed-Muller encoding may be used for certain control messages. Different transmission resources may be allocated for different control message uses. The encoding specifics may be selected to obtain a certain hamming distance and/or size of the encoded message or based on other factors. |
| US08718019B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for managing call handoff
A method, system and apparatus for managing call handoff are provided. A mobile device engaged in a first media session over a first transport determines a second transport is available. A reflected media session is established via an echo server over the second transport. Quality of the reflected media session is evaluated by determining a call metric based on call transport data received at the mobile device from the mobile device (itself) in the reflected media session. Call handover is requested from the first media session to a second media session over the second transport when the call metric indicates that the quality of the reflected media session meets a threshold. |
| US08718018B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting inter-frequency measurement using RACH message in a mobile communication system
A user equipment (UE) is provided which reduces uplink signaling overhead in the process of reporting inter-frequency measurement results over a RACH. For measurement reporting, the UE receives an SIB including a cell information list for non-used frequency cells and a threshold from an RNC, compares signal strengths of signals received from the non-used frequency cells with the threshold, and acquires at least one inter-frequency cell ID indicating at least one non-used frequency cell having signal strength exceeding the threshold from the cell information list. The at least one inter-frequency cell ID is included in a RACH message as measurement result information for the at least one non-used frequency cell, and transmitted to the RNC. The RNC determines that the cell corresponding to the inter-frequency cell ID has signal strength exceeding the threshold. |
| US08718015B2 |
Method and terminal for synchronizing subordinate carrier cell
Disclosed are a method and a terminal for synchronizing a subordinate carrier cell, which method comprises the following steps of: after a terminal receives an activation uplink subordinate carrier order from a service node B, the terminal, with the current time as a reference, carrying out synchronization in a cell in an activation set of the enhanced dedicated channel of the subordinate carrier under a non-service node B at a first time point after having carried out delay according to an acquired subordinate carrier activation processing offset time period. The present technical solution reduces the time delay required by synchronization and inter-cell interference and enables the cell capacity and coverage to be unaffected. |
| US08718014B2 |
System and method for performing handoff between different types of networks by using a short message service
A system and method for handing off from a first network to a second network. A determination may be made as to whether an accessible base station of the second network is located in the vicinity of a user equipment based on information on a current location of the user equipment in the first network. An activation message may be generated with a first telephone number as a caller number when an accessible base station of the second network is located in the vicinity of the user equipment based on the determination result. The activation message indicates an initiation of a search for an accessible base station of the second network, and an accessible base station of the second network may be searched for when the activation message with the first telephone number is received. A handoff from the first network to the second network may then be executed when the accessible base station of the second network is located. |
| US08718012B2 |
Mobile communication system, method of handover between different types of access networks, mobile terminal, and server
Because attachment processing is executed as a trigger of handover between different types of access networks by the Proxy MIP, not only link set-up but also various processing including authentication processing and IP acquisition processing are required to make a handover time longer.A mobile communication system that accommodates different types of access networks, which includes an IWK device 60 having a unit which manages information of correspondence between a base station ID for identifying a base station of an access network of a handover destination and a virtual base station ID for identifying the base station in an access network of a handover source whose ID space is different and a unit which executes protocol conversion based on the correspondence information, and a mobile terminal 50 having a unit which solves a virtual base station ID from a base station ID and a unit which executes handover between different types of access networks by using the virtual base station ID. |
| US08718010B2 |
Method for transmitting frame in wireless communication system including relay station
A method of transmitting a frame of a relay station (RS) in a wireless communication system employing the RS is provided. The method includes: receiving frame configuration information on an RS frame from a base station (BS); configuring a frame including a downlink (DL) access zone for transmitting a signal to a relay user equipment (UE), a DL receive zone for receiving a signal from the BS, an uplink (UL) access zone for receiving a signal from the relay UE connected to the RS, a UL transmit zone for transmitting a signal to the BS, and a transition gap; and transmitting a signal in at least one of the UL access zone and the UL transmit zone, wherein the transition gap is a switching time between a transmission operation and a reception operation of the RS and is included in at least one of the DL access zone and the UL transmit zone. |
| US08718005B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving control information to randomize inter-cell interference in a mobile communication system
Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting control information in an SC-FDMA system. A UE generates a random cyclic shift value based on an SC-FDMA symbol index and a slot index. The UE cyclically shifts a sequence by the random cyclic shift value. The UE multiplies a control channel signal, including the control information, by the cyclically shifted sequence on an SC-FDMA symbol basis. The UE transmits the multiplied control channel signal in an SC-FDMA symbol to a Node B. |
| US08718001B2 |
System and method for allocating sounding reference signal resource
A system and a method for allocating Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources are provided in the present invention, the method includes: an e-Node-B (eNB) allocating a SRS bandwidth with 4n Resource Blocks (RBs) to a terminal, and equally dividing a time domain sequence of a SRS into t portions in the SRS bandwidth; the eNB configuring a time domain RePetition Factor (RPF) used by the UE, and the eNB configuring the UE to use one or more cyclic shifts in L cyclic shifts for each UE; then the eNB notifying the UE of a value of the time domain RPF, a location of a used frequency comb and a used cyclic shift by signaling, wherein n is a positive integer; the RPF satisfies a following condition: 48 × n RPF can be exactly divided by 12; t is an integer by which 48 × n RPF can be exactly divided; and L≦t. |
| US08718000B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station apparatus and mobile station apparatus
To prevent a collision from occurring at the time of random access in cases such as handover, response to paging and the like where a mobile station apparatus performs random access in response to directions from a base station apparatus. In a mobile communication system in which a mobile station apparatus 200 uses a signature of a beforehand determined signature group at the time of random access with a base station apparatus 100, the signature group is comprised of a signature group managed by the base station apparatus 100 and another signature group managed by the mobile station apparatus 200. The signature group managed by the base station apparatus 100 includes signatures associated with particular random access reasons to be selected by the base station apparatus 100. |
| US08717997B2 |
Multi-resolution precoding codebook
Systems and methods are for generating a codebook by: generating a multi-resolution codebook by selecting a common precoder index from a low resolution codebook for a group of adjacent resource blocks (RB)s and for each RB within the group, selecting a high-resolution codebook to fine-tune each RB precoder; and generating feedback for the multi-resolution codebook by quantizing channel state variations. |
| US08717991B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating multi-channel based on wireless access in vehicular environments
In a vehicle communication system, a multi channel operation apparatus for communication of a vehicle or a road side base station operates a multi channel in one physical layer and differentially transmits a frame through a corresponding channel according to a user priority order value of a frame to transmit. |
| US08717986B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining MIMO/DSM operating mode
Provided is a data transmission system that may determine a multiple input multiple output dynamic spectrum management (MIMO-DSM) operation mode of a base station based on information associated with a data transmission route and a computational capability of each base station. A terminal may generate feedback information based on a cooperation level between base stations and may transmit the generated feedback information to a serving base station. The serving base station may select terminals that may receive data from among a plurality of terminals through a MIMO-DSM algorithm and a user scheduling based on the feedback information. |
| US08717983B2 |
Mechanism of dynamic resource transaction for wireless OFDMA systems
A method of dynamic resource transaction in wireless OFDMA systems is proposed. In macro-femto overlay network architecture, network and traffic condition varies dynamically. Dynamic resource transaction is a powerful mechanism to achieve effective interference mitigation and flexible radio resource management to enhance resource utilization as well as to improve link performance. Dynamic resource transaction can be performed by signaling or message exchange through backhaul network or air-interface connections. The signal or message through backhaul network can be directly exchanged among multiple base stations or be routed through a centralized self-organizing network (SON) server. In one embodiment, dynamic resource transaction is used to achieve adaptive reservation region configuration, a solution to avoid interference and frequent handover for high-speed mobile stations. |
| US08717981B1 |
Priority allocation of contention resources
A first set of uplink contention slots is allocated for use by a first set of devices. A second set of uplink contention slots is allocated for use by a second set of devices. The first set of uplink contention slots and the second set of uplink contention slots may or may not share contention slots. The first set of uplink contention slots is communicated to the first set of devices. The second set of uplink contention slots is communicated to the second set of devices. |
| US08717980B2 |
Method for the early establishment of uplink TBFs
A mobile station operating in EGPRS mode needs to the early establishment of an uplink TBF although has not data to send, at the only precautionary purpose of preventing an intolerable latency negatively affecting the subsequent delay-sensitive transmissions. To this aim, the mobile sends a Packet Channel Request message in one phase access mode including a new establishment cause called “Early TBF establishment”. The network establishes an uplink TBF indicating the requester and assigns a radio resource on one PDCH channel or more. Then the network schedules the transmission from the mobile station also when it does not have data to transmit other than dummy packets. This is performed through the USF flags in the usual manner. As soon as actual data become available for transmission, the mobile send them instead of dummy packets. In an alternative embodiment the mobile sends the Packet Channel Request message in two phase access mode. As soon as the Packet Uplink Assignment message is received by the mobile station, it sends a Packet resource Request message including an extended Uplink TBF information. The network behaves as in the previous case. |
| US08717979B2 |
Multiplexing multiple unsolicited grant service (UGS) users onto a same radio resource
The technology in this application multiplexes transmission associated with multiple users onto the same unsolicited grant service (UGS) radio resource(s) in a packet-based, radio communications system. Normally, the radio resources in a packet-based communications system are dynamically scheduled in response to radio resource requests associated with specific user devices, and the scheduled communications are designed not to use the same radio resource at the same time. However, an unsolicited grant of radio resources for communication between multiple user devices and the packet-based communications system is also established. The communications between those multiple user devices and the packet-based communications system use at least some of the same radio resources associated with the unsolicited grant at the same time. Because of this at least partial radio resource overlap/collision, each of the multiple user's data to be transmitted via the UGS is associated with a user-specific radio resource pattern. A user's radio resource pattern permits a radio receiver to extract that user's data from the received UGS signal that include multiple user transmissions. |
| US08717977B2 |
Method and system for transmitting multi-carrier enhanced dedicated channel data
A method for transmitting multi-carrier enhanced dedicated channel data, comprising a first sending step and a first receiving step, wherein the first sending step comprises: when a node B only has an enhanced dedicated channel cell of a single carrier frequency layer in the multi-carrier, setting “uplink multiplexing information” in an enhanced dedicated channel uplink data frame as “null” and sending it to a serving radio network controller; the first receiving step comprises: the serving radio network controller receiving the enhanced dedicated channel uplink data frame sent by the node B of sender which only has the enhanced dedicated channel cell of a single carrier frequency layer in the multi-carrier, and distinguishing which carrier in the multi-carrier is the carrier for receiving data carried in the enhanced dedicated channel uplink data frame based on carrier identifier information corresponding to carrier frequency of the enhanced dedicated channel cell recorded. |
| US08717975B2 |
Method for configuring a preamble and a method for searching a cell
The present invention provides a method for configuring a preamble and a method for searching a cell, wherein the method for configuring a preamble comprises: configuring a preamble as comprising a first reference preamble and a second reference preamble, wherein the first reference preamble and the second reference permeable are located in different OFDM symbols. By means of the technical solution of the present invention, accessing solution between the fourth-generation communication system with the third-generation communication system based on the OFDM technology can be realized and the accessing time is shortened. |
| US08717972B2 |
Method for range extension in wireless communication systems
The present invention provides a method for range extension is wireless communication systems. One embodiment of the method includes determining whether a mobile unit is within a first range corresponding to a range of timing advances supported by a timing advance command. This embodiment also includes transmitting a plurality of timing advance commands to the mobile unit when the mobile unit is outside the first range so that the mobile unit can synchronize with the base station by combining information in the plurality of timing advance commands. |
| US08717969B2 |
Method for uplink power control in OFDMA TDD system
The present invention relates to a method for uplink power control in an OFDMA TDD system. The method for uplink power control according to the present invention comprises: calculating an RSSI average by using RSSI measured from a downlink signal; and carrying out an uplink power control based on the RSSI average, with the RSSI average being calculated by using a weight that is determined depending on a channel variation rate and link symmetry. |
| US08717968B2 |
Method of controlling reverse transmission in a mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for controlling a reverse data rate in a mobile station. The method includes determining whether the mobile station has sufficient power to transmit at an increased data rate compared to a current data rate, and transmitting a determination result to a base station. |
| US08717962B2 |
Simulcasting or multicasting of multimedia call sessions in a LAN/WLAN/PAN via a broadband access gateway
A method and system for simulcasting multimedia information via a broadband access gateway and a wireless wide area network, is disclosed. An access device such as, for example, a mobile multimedia handset engaged in a call served by a wireless wide area network may migrate to within the coverage area of an associated broadband access gateway with a wireless interface. The wireless wide area network may simulcast call content to the broadband access gateway via a broadband network. A user in the proximity of the broadband access gateway may be notified of the simulcasting of the call, and may elect to continue the call via a WLAN/PAN-enabled wireless handset or other access device that is compatible with the wired and/or wireless interfaces of the broadband access gateway. |
| US08717958B2 |
Power saving operation of always-connected wireless roaming
Methods and apparatuses enable maintaining wireless connectivity while the wireless client device is in a power save mode. The system includes a host operating system (OS) that handles wireless connections while the device is executing in normal operation, and an embedded agent that handles the wireless connections when the device switches to power saving operation and the host OS switches to a sleep or standby state. The system detects a change in the power save mode and triggers an exchange of session context information between the host OS and the embedded agent (from the host OS to the embedded agent when the system enters the power save mode, and from the embedded agent to the host OS when the system returns to normal operation from the power save mode). The system also triggers the switching of management consistent with the passing of session context information. |
| US08717954B2 |
Base station and signal processing method
A base station receives from a mobile station, a reference signal that includes two or more sequences of a fixed length and calculates, as information for uplink signal synchronization at the mobile station, delay with respect to a reference time of the reference signal. The base station includes a first correlator that calculates the delay and a first correlation value calculated by correlating known sequences and the reference signal received during a first interval set based on the reference time and including a period equivalent to the fixed length; a second correlator that calculates a second correlation value by correlating the known sequences and the reference signal received during a second interval different from the first interval and including a period equivalent to the fixed length; and a corrector that based on a comparison result of the first and the second correlation values, determines whether to correct the calculated delay. |
| US08717953B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending and responding to non-3GPP2 system information in an HRPD system
The present invention discloses a method for sending non-3GPP2 system information in a high rate packet data system, which comprises: setting a non-3GPP2 SystemInfo Transfer message in an HRPD system; generating the non-3GPP2 SystemInfo Transfer message and sending it to a multimode mobile terminal supporting both the HRPD system and the non-3GPP2 system when a network side of the HRPD system determines that the multimode mobile terminal is located in an area covered by the HRPD system together with the non-3GPP2 system. The present invention also discloses a method for responding to the non-3GPP2 system information. The present invention further discloses apparatuses for realizing the above-mentioned methods. The present invention is simple and practical. |
| US08717946B2 |
Method and device for holding calls between networks
A method and a device for holding calls between networks are disclosed herein. The method includes: receiving a call hold request sent by a UE in a CS network, where the call hold request carries an indication that the UE in the CS network will continue sending media streams; and instructing a peer device to keep receiving the media streams from the UE in the CS network and stop sending the media streams. In the technical solution under the present invention, the UE in the CS network partially releases the radio resources after initiating the call hold operation, and therefore, the UE in the CS network can play local media files to the peer device after the call is held, thus saving network resources and improving the user experience. |
| US08717943B2 |
Peer-to-peer communications in AMI with source-tree routing
Methodologies are provided for establishing peer-to-peer communications between nodes in a tree structured network having plural nodes including a root node. A source node seeking to send a message to a destination node will first request a most advantageous available path from the source to the destination node, and then the root node (or possibly another node within the network that has additional storage resources) will provide a routing path to one or both of the source and destination nodes. Messages may then be sent between the source and destination nodes that may or may not include addressing information in the packet headers without having to request routing information again for additional messages between the same nodes. |
| US08717941B2 |
Communication method, mobile agent device, and home agent device
In a communication system including a MN, a MFA connected to the MN, and a HA connected to a home network of the MN, the HA holds a layer 3 address of the HA and a source layer 3 address of a registration request by associating them with each other. The MFA transmits a layer 2 frame from the MN to the HA by encapsulating it. The HA decapsulates the frame to transmit it to the home network. When the HA receives a layer 2 frame from the home network, the HA checks that the destination layer 3 address is registered, and encapsulates the layer 2 frame to transmit it to a source layer 3 address of the registration request that is registered being associated with the destination layer 3 address. The MFA decapsulate the encapsulated layer 2 frame to transmit the layer 2 frame to the MN. |
| US08717939B2 |
Method and device for fragmenting, transmitting and receiving network topology information
The invention discloses a method for fragmenting, transmitting and receiving network topology information. In the transmitting method, a BS transmits fragmentations of a neighborhood broadcast message carrying network topology information, wherein at least one of the fragmentations carries indication information which can indicate changed fragmentations. The solution can decrease the time delay of the information acquisition and subsequent operation. |
| US08717937B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquiring network configuration information
A method and an apparatus for acquiring network configuration information are disclosed. The method includes: when a terminal device dials up and needs to carry out network data services, delivering, by a NDIS driver layer of the terminal device, a Query Network Configuration Information message to a wireless modem; and acquiring, by the NDIS driver layer, the network configuration information returned from the wireless modem, and providing an application layer of the terminal device with the acquired network configuration information. In this way, when the terminal device does not provide the function of a DHCP client, the terminal device can effectively acquire needed network configuration information to implement dial-up successfully, and can carry out network data services online, so as to ensure that normal services can be carried out on the terminal device. |
| US08717935B2 |
OSPF non-stop routing with reliable flooding
A network element is configured for open shortest path first (OSPF) non-stop routing (NSR) with reliable flooding. An active OSPF instance determines to flood a link-state advertisement (LSA). The LSA is synchronized with a backup OSPF instance including storing the LSA with a status that indicates that flooding is pending. The active OSPF instance attempts to reliably flood the LSA to a set of adjacent network elements of the flooding scope of the LSA. If flooding of the LSA completes, the active OSPF instance causes the backup OSPF instance to alter the status of the LSA to indicate that flooding is complete. If the backup OSPF instance becomes the currently active OSPF instance prior to the flooding of the LSA completing, then the new active OSPF instance attempts to reliably flood the LSA. |
| US08717934B2 |
Multicast source move detection for layer-2 interconnect solutions
Methods and systems may be provided for detecting the moves of a multicast source. Sites that were previously designated as an active source may be immediately expired instead of waiting for route expiry. All multicast receiver sites may deterministically learn the new multicast source without additional LSP churn in ISIS for resolving the multicast source move conflict between the old and new source sites. |
| US08717933B2 |
Method and apparatus for interactive routing
A method to provision routes in a network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links connecting various nodes. The method includes determining a route between a designated source node and a designated destination node based on a preselected routing algorithm and one of (i) a designated node of interest and (ii) a designated link of interest, and outputting information indicating the determined route. |
| US08717932B2 |
Method and system for determining and securing proximity information over a network
Aspects of a method and system for determining and securing proximity information over a network are provided. In this regard, data transmitted over a network may be time-stamped upon entering and/or exiting a network node. By taking the total time to travel between two network nodes and subtracting out any latency internal to one or more intermediate nodes, the time to traverse the physical links (the propagation time) between the two network nodes may be determined. Accordingly, if the speed at which data propagates over each link of the network is known, then a distance from the source node to the destination node may be determined. Additionally, aspects of the invention may enable one or more of authentication, validation, and encryption of timing and/or proximity information transmitted over a network. |
| US08717927B2 |
Combining channel quality measurements based on sounding reference signals and demodulation reference signals
A first communication node communicates by multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications with a second communication node of a wireless communication system. The method includes receiving a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) over a plurality of subcarriers transmitted by the second communication node for MIMO communications. Channel quality is measured responsive to the sounding reference signal to output a first channel quality value. A demodulation reference signal is received over a plurality of subcarriers transmitted by the second communication node for MIMO communications. Channel quality is measured responsive to the demodulation reference signal to output a second channel quality value. Reliability of the measurements of the first channel quality value and the second channel quality value is determined. The first and second channel quality values are combined while compensating for the determined reliability difference between the measurements to generate a combined channel quality value. Related communication nodes are disclosed. |
| US08717926B2 |
Method and device for switching from dual stream to single stream in uplink MIMO mode
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for switching from a dual stream to a single stream in an uplink MIMO mode. The method includes: sending a scheduling command with a value of absolute grant being zero_grant to a secondary data stream; and after a preset time since the scheduling command takes effect, sending a switching command that instructs a terminal to switch from an uplink MIMO dual stream to an uplink MIMO single stream. Hence, the embodiments of the present disclosure help to reduce data loss, and meanwhile, to simplify the HARQ design for switching from an uplink MIMO dual stream to an uplink MIMO single stream. |
| US08717923B2 |
System and method for soft access point power reduction
A system and method for reducing power consumption of a wireless device operating as a soft access point. In one embodiment, a wireless device includes a soft access point controller that configures the wireless device to operate as a group owner in a peer-to-peer wireless local area network. The soft access point controller includes a beacon controller. The beacon controller is configured to transmit beacon frames at a first periodic interval. The beacon controller is also configured to extend a discovery interval of a wireless station by transmitting acknowledgement packets at a second periodic interval. The second periodic interval is shorter than the first periodic interval and shorter than a minimum discovery scan timeout of the wireless station. |
| US08717921B2 |
Receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus (10) provided with: a management unit (13) configured to manage a target error rate Pt in a target number of retransmission Nt; a measurement unit (14) configured to measure the initial transmission rate TPUTinit of the data at a transmitting apparatus (10); and a calculation unit (15) configured to calculate, with respect to an error rate P(n) in a number of retransmission n, the reception rate TPU of data at a receiving apparatus (10) by a Equation (2A). TPUT = TPUT init Nt + Pt + 1 . [ Equation 2 A ] |
| US08717920B2 |
Signalling mechanism for multi-tiered intra-band carrier aggregation
Methods of performing intra-band carrier aggregation in a multi-tiered wireless network include determining a capability of a user equipment unit located within an overlapping coverage area of first and second radio network nodes to simultaneously receive data on a first component carrier and on a second component carrier from the first and second network nodes, and simultaneously transmitting data to the user equipment unit using the first and second component carriers from different radio network nodes in response to determining that the user equipment unit is capable of simultaneously receiving data on the first component carrier and on the second component carrier from different radio network nodes. |
| US08717913B2 |
Method and system for user based network analysis and planning
A system and method are provided for converting individual technical metrics into a single relevant metric understood and accepted by both technical and non-technical components of a business venture. An example system and/or method includes measuring current technical utilizations and capacities, translating those into a supportable users metric, forecasting future utilization levels, translating those into future network component and/or hardware requirements, and expanding/scaling technical capacity based on those values and the predetermined capacity levels of additional components and/or hardware. |
| US08717909B1 |
Methods and apparatus for route installation acknowledgement and acknowledgement aggregation in BGP
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a route reflector implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. The route reflector is configured to be included within a switch fabric system. The route reflector is configured to receive, from a network management module, an instruction to install a route associated with a multi-stage switch, and send the instruction to install to a route target network control entity associated with the multi-stage switch. The route reflector is also configured to receive, from the route target network control entity, a first acknowledgement signal indicating that the route was successfully installed at the route target network control entity. The route reflector is configured to send a second acknowledgement signal to the network management module in response to receiving the first acknowledgement signal. |
| US08717907B2 |
Adjustment of radio detection level for request signals based observed false detection
The present invention relates to receiving access signals from a plurality of terminals over a radio channel and in particular to determining a detection threshold level on the radio channel. A detection threshold level should balance the risk of missed detections to the risk of false detections. A problem in finding an equilibrium threshold is the radio environment, with noise and interference, change and then also the radio false detections or missed detections change. According to the present invention some access signals can be identified as being not assigned and therefore not being in use, and any detection of a non-used signal is identified as a false detection. By monitoring the ratio of false detections vs. correct detections the threshold level for detection is tuned into an equilibrium level, and that is adapted to the changing radio environments. In addition the detection threshold level for access signals detection threshold for data and/or control signalling may be adjusted in relation to the access signal threshold level. |
| US08717903B2 |
Testing method and apparatus applied to IP phone system
A testing method and an apparatus applied to an IP phone system for testing an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a true table and signal ports. The electronic device is connected to a power generating jig and an IP phone simulator via a cable. A power generated by the power generating jig is provided. A first value power command issued by the IP phone simulator is provided. Whether the electronic device is able to correctly control the signal ports in response to the first value power command and the true table is determined. A second value power command issued by the IP phone simulator is provided. Whether the electronic device is able to correctly control the signal ports in response to the second value power command and the true table is determined. If so, it is concluded that the electronic device passes the test. |
| US08717897B2 |
Method and system for packet discard precedence for video transport
Discard precedence priority of packets carrying an encoded video stream in a packet network is determined based on priority information included in the encoded video stream. A video streamer segments an encoded video stream and encapsulates the segment in an Internet Protocol (IP) packet. Priority information associated with the IP packet is determined based on at least one priority indicator associated with the segment that was included in the encoded video stream. Alternately, priority information associated with an Ethernet frame is determined based on at least one priority indicator associated with the segment that was included in the encoded video stream. |
| US08717890B2 |
Application, usage and radio link aware transport network scheduler
A packet scheduling method and apparatus with the knowledge of application behavior, anticipated usage/behavior based on the type of content, and underlying transport conditions during the time of delivery, is disclosed. This type of scheduling is applicable to a content server or a transit network device in wireless (e.g., 3G, WIMAX, LTE, WIFI) or wire-line networks. Methods for identifying or estimating rendering times of multi-media objects, segmenting a large media content, and automatically pausing or delaying delivery are disclosed. The scheduling reduces transit network bandwidth wastage, and facilitates optimal sharing of network resources such as in a wireless network. |
| US08717887B2 |
Scrambling code planning device and method for using same in wireless communication network
A scrambling code planning device and method are described herein for allocating primary scrambling codes to sites (e.g., Node B's sites) within a wireless communication network. In addition, a wireless communication network is described herein that includes the scrambling code planning device which allocates the primary scrambling codes to the sites (e.g., Node B's sites). |
| US08717886B2 |
Communication device and method of managing communication resources
In response to a resource acquisition request received from a terminal device, whether or not there is an available communication resource among a plurality of communication resources used for receiving or transmitting broadcast signals is checked. When those communication resources are being used and there is not an available communication resource, that resource acquisition request is held temporarily, and release of a communication resource being used is waited for. When a communication resource that has ceased to be used is released, the released communication resource is allocated to the resource acquisition request that has been held. |
| US08717882B2 |
Repurposing data lane as clock lane by migrating to reduced speed link operation
Methods and apparatus relating to repurposing a data lane as a clock lane by migrating to reduced speed link operation are described. In one embodiment, speed of a link is reduced upon detection of failure on a clock lane of the link and one of a plurality of data lanes of a link is repurposed as a replacement clock lane. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08717881B1 |
Reassigning signals to cable channels
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated assigning signals to cable channels are described. One example device includes a networking device that includes a transceiver to connect to a cable and communicate signal over the cable to a remote terminal. The cable can include two or more cable channels to carry signals. If a cable channel fails to operate, a switching logic reassigns signals initially carried on the failed cable channel to another cable channel. |
| US08717878B2 |
Providing feedback information when network streaming over multiple physical interfaces
The present disclosure is directed to providing feedback information for a data stream being sent from a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint. Both of the endpoints each have multiple physical interfaces connecting each endpoint to multiple networks, respectively. Information as feedback information is gathered regarding a data capacity throughput for each of the multiple physical interfaces connected to the endpoints. The feedback information is split and sent on one or more of the multiple physical interfaces from the receiving endpoint to the sending endpoint. A detection is made, based on the feedback information, whether one or more of the physical interfaces used to send the feedback information have degraded or failed. The feedback information is then reapportioned and sent from the receiving endpoint to the sending endpoint on one or more of the multiple physical interfaces which have not been detected as degraded or failed. |
| US08717875B2 |
Condensed core-energy-efficient architecture for WAN IP backbones
An energy-efficient architecture for wide area network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) backbones in which a condensed core apparatus routes packets between access routers of different points of presence (PoPs), where the PoPs do not need to include core routers. |
| US08717874B2 |
Updating a switch software image in a distributed fabric protocol (DFP) switching network
A switching network has a plurality of switches including at least a switch and a managing master switch. At the managing master switch, a first capability vector (CV) is received from the switch. The managing master switch determines whether the first CV is compatible with at least a second CV in a network membership data structure that records CVs of multiple switches in the switching network. In response to detecting an incompatibility, the managing master switch initiates an image update to an image of the switch. In response to a failure of the image update at the switch, the switch boots utilizing a mini-DC module that reestablishes communication between the switch with the managing master switch and retries the image update. |
| US08717873B2 |
Modem adaptation control for facsimile over internet protocol
Described embodiments provide an IP-aware modem, such as for use in an IP-aware facsimile machine, operable with an IP packet network. The IP-aware modem has voice-band data engine that receives packets from the packet network, converts data in the packets to PCM samples, stores the samples as PCM sample frames in a buffer for further processing by the modem, and determines for each PCM sample frame whether or not during the conversion one or more packets were missing. An equalizer or timing recovery element in the modem adapts using the PCM sample frames and suspends the adaptation for the time period of each PCM sample frame converted without the one or more missing packets. Similarly, searches of the PCM sample frames for certain modem synchronization signals are skipped when, during the search, the searched PCM sample frame was converted without the one or more missing packets. |
| US08717872B2 |
Fail to wire removable module for network communication link
A fail-to-wire (FTW) module that preserves a primary data path connection from an upstream computer to a downstream computer if there is any kind of failure in a breakout data path to a breakout system. The FTW module provides switches between the incoming data network data and the breakout system such that when the breakout system encounters a failure, the switches are de-activated to bypass the breakout system. The switches in the FTW module are activated by a system health signal from the breakout system. The breakout system can be serviced without interrupting the data network connections since the FTW module can be extracted from the failed breakout system with data network connections intact. The FTW module is preferably a compact modular element that fits within the breakout chassis and is easily inserted and removed from the breakout system during servicing operations. |
| US08717870B2 |
Digital load-sharing to enhance the redundancy and flexibility of channel distribution in a multiple-channel multiple-port CATV upconverter/modulator
A method of channel-to-port assignment is described where the distribution of channels is performed in the digital domain of the CATV/QAM upconverter/modulator. This channel distribution allows for the possibility of simple failover, power combining of multiple outputs, and a fine granularity of channel to port mapping, QAM or analog channel, in a multi-port device. |
| US08717866B2 |
Carrier grouping in multicarrier communications
A wireless device receives a message assigning each second carrier to one of a first carrier group and second carrier group(s). The message comprises parameters for each second carrier. If the parameters comprise a carrier group index for a second carrier, the second carrier is assigned to one of the second carrier group(s) identified by the carrier group index. Otherwise, the second carrier is assigned to the first carrier group. The wireless device receives a time alignment command comprising the carrier group index and a time adjustment value. |
| US08717860B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08717858B2 |
Write-once type information storage medium (disk structure of recording type information storage medium having structure in which recording layer formed on transparent susbstrate is defined as inside), and information reproducing method or information recording method as well as storage medium manufacturing
An embodiment of the invention, to provide a recording method and a storage medium for BCA data with high reliability for a storage medium and a method for reproducing BCA data from the storage medium, and an information recording apparatus and an information reproducing apparatus. In a conventional optical disk, low reliability data is recorded in a data area of BCA. Thus, the thickness of a film material for use in a recording layer oriented to BCA data or close to the inner periphery of the storage medium in the vicinity thereof is formed in uniform thickness by using a substrate of the storage medium, the substrate being formed by being suctioned by means of adsorbing mechanisms formed in an arc shape so as to integrated two of the adsorbing mechanisms to be adjacent to each other. |
| US08717855B2 |
Dial plate structure and watch
A dial plate structure includes first and second dial plates and a rotary indicator. The first dial plate has a first opening or a first cutout. The second dial plate is arranged under the first dial plate and has a plurality of function display portions exposed through the opening or the cutout. The rotary indicator is arranged between the first and second dial plates and has a function indicator to selectively indicate one of the function display portions by rotation. The rotary indicator is partially exposed through the opening or the cutout. The rotary indicator has, on the surface thereof, a plurality of index markers respectively corresponding to the function display portions. The first dial plate has a second opening or a second cutout to expose one of the index markers when the function indicator indicates one of the function display portions corresponding to the indicated function display portion. |
| US08717849B1 |
Slotted cylinder acoustic transducer
A slotted cylinder acoustic transducer assembly is provided that has a cylindrical housing shell and an electromechanical driver disposed within the shell. The driver is formed with a plurality of single crystal piezoelectric elements joined to the inner surface of the housing shell and arranged to form an electromechanical stack. Each piezoelectric element has a pair of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall provides an electrode having a predetermined polarity. Each single piezoelectric element has a tapering width between the sidewalls. The transducer assembly includes a plurality of electrically conductive members. Each conductive member is disposed between each pair of adjacent piezoelectric elements such that each electrically conductive member electrically contacts the electrodes of adjacent piezoelectric elements. |
| US08717847B2 |
Sonar apparatus
Sonar apparatus for the location and display of features on the underwater floor in front of a boat includes port and starboard transducer units each containing transducer arrays. A transducer interface and a visual processor process signals from the transducer arrays to generate image data for a display. The transducer arrays emit sound waves into non-overlapping segments of water, reflected by the underwater floor back to the transducer arrays, which convert them to electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed to calculate a three-dimensional position of each point on the underwater floor. The sonar apparatus performs interpolation using the three-dimensional positions of the reflecting points within the segments to calculate three-dimensional positions of points on the underwater floor between these segments. The three-dimensional positions of the points are then used to generate image data showing the underwater floor in front of the boat. |
| US08717840B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of controlling the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including blocks, each block being capable of executing a write, read, or erase operation independently of other blocks. A control portion is configured to execute the operation of a first block among the blocks in a first cycle, set a selection inhibited region within a range of a predetermined distance from the first block, until a temperature relaxation time for relaxing a temperature of the first block has elapsed, set a region except the selection inhibited region among the blocks as a second block, and execute the operation of the second block in a second cycle. |
| US08717839B2 |
Semiconductor device having plural penetration electrodes penetrating through semiconductor substrate and testing method thereof
Disclosed herein is a device that includes first and second current paths, first and second latch circuits electrically connected to the first and second current paths, respectively, a driver circuit supplying first data to the first latch circuit, and supplying second data representing a logical value opposite to a logical value of the first data to the second latch circuit, a control circuit controlling the driver circuit to be alternately and repeatedly in a first period in which the driver circuit supplies the first data to the first latch circuit and does not supply the second data to the second latch circuit, and in a second period in which the driver circuit supplies the second data to the second latch circuit and does not supply the first data to the first latch circuit, and a monitor circuit. |
| US08717836B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) includes word lines WL, bit lines BL, address decoders that select one of the word lines WL in response to an address signal AD, a sense amplifier that is activated in response to a sense amplifier enable signal SAE, and a sense amplifier control circuit that generates the sense amplifier enable signal SAE. In this device, the more distant the word line WL is from the sense amplifier, the longer the sense amplifier control circuit sets the delay time of the sense amplifier enable signal SAE so that the more distant the word line WL is from the sense amplifier, the later the sense amplifier is activated. |
| US08717835B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for compensating for power supply sensitivities of a circuit in a clock path
Apparatuses and methods for compensating for differing power supply sensitivities of a circuit in a clock path. One such method includes altering signal timing of at least one of reference and feedback clock signals differently according to variations in power supply voltage to compensate for differences in delay power supply sensitivities of delays of a forward clock path and of a feedback clock path. Another example method includes providing an output clock signal in phase with an input clock signal and compensating for delay error between delays used in providing at least some of the delay of the output clock signal relative to the input clock signal by providing delays having power supply sensitivities resulting in a combined power supply sensitivity that is inverse to the delay error. |
| US08717834B2 |
Programming circuit using antifuse
A programming circuit using an antifuse includes a fuse signal generation unit including an antifuse which connects a node with a low voltage in response to a test address when the node is driven to a level of a high voltage, and configured to output a signal of the node as a fuse signal in response to a test mode signal; and a programming signal generation unit configured to buffer the fuse signal in response to a power-up signal and generate a programming signal. |
| US08717833B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having non-volatile memory circuits in single chip
Based on a continuous erase start signal outputted, in response to an inputted continuous erase command, from a continuous erase control circuit, a shift circuit outputs a control signal for giving instructions to execute respective data erase operation to a plurality of non-volatile memory circuits sequentially, and when the data erase operation in all of the non-volatile memory circuits has been completed, the shift circuit outputs a continuous erase completion signal. Thereby, the data erase operation in all of the non-volatile memory circuits built in one chip can be continuously executed by one continuous erase command as is also the case where a single non-volatile memory circuit is built in. |
| US08717830B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor device and method for testing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor device and a method for testing the same are provided. The nonvolatile semiconductor device includes a current generating unit configured to generate a set write current depending on a step pulse that is generated based on a reference current and output the set write current to a memory cell, and a current measuring unit configured to measure a step duration of the step pulse and output a measured result outside of a chip during an activation period of a test enable signal. |
| US08717826B1 |
Estimation of memory cell wear level based on saturation current
A method includes measuring a saturation current flowing through one or more analog memory cells. A wear level of the memory cells is deduced from the measured saturation current. Storage of data in the memory cells is configured based on the deduced wear level. |
| US08717824B2 |
Threshold voltage digitizer for array of programmable threshold transistors
A calibration module generates a plurality of calibration codes respectively for a first plurality of transistors located along (i) a plurality of bit lines and (ii) a first word line of a memory array. Each of the calibration codes is based on a distance of a corresponding one of the plurality of bit lines from an input of the first word line. A voltage generator outputs a first voltage generated based on a first plurality of codewords to an input of a second word line. A control module determines values of threshold voltages of a second plurality of transistors located along (i) the plurality of bit lines and (ii) the second word line based on (a) the first plurality of codewords and (b) currents sensed through the second plurality of transistors, and adjusts the values of the threshold voltages based on the calibration codes. |
| US08717819B2 |
NAND flash memory programming
A programming method and memory structure for preventing punch-through in a short channel source-side select gate structure includes adjusting voltages on the selected and unselected bitlines, and the program, pass, and select gate voltages. |
| US08717816B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A flash memory 100 capable of reducing electric fields applied to the word lines on a memory array and reducing a chip area, includes a memory array 110, a word line decoder 120 disposed at an end of the memory array on the row direction, selecting a predetermined memory block in the memory array according to an address signal, and outputting a selecting signal to the selected memory block, and a word line drive circuit 130 comprising a switch circuit arranged between the memory arrays 110A and 110B and switching the application of the work voltage to a memory cell according to the selecting signal, and a pump circuit raising the voltage level of the selecting signal. The word line decoder 120 has lines WR(i) to transmit the selecting signals. The lines WR(i) are connected to the switch circuit of the word line drive circuit 130. |
| US08717815B2 |
Compensation of back pattern effect in a memory device
In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, a read operation is compensated for back pattern effect. A bit line current is generated by a read operation that biases the word lines. As part of a back pattern effect measurement phase, at predetermined time intervals an indication of the discharge status of the bit line is stored in a latch of a set of N latches coupled to each bit line. At the end of the measurement phase, the set of latches contains a multiple bit word that is an indication of the back pattern effect experienced by that particular series string of memory cells. This back pattern effect indication is used in subsequent read operations to adjust the timing of the operation. |
| US08717813B2 |
Method and apparatus for leakage suppression in flash memory in response to external commands
Techniques are described herein for detecting and recovering over-erased memory cells in a flash memory device. In one embodiment, a flash memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of blocks of memory cells. The device also includes a command interface to receive a command from a source external to the memory device. The device also includes a controller including logic to perform a leakage-suppression process in response to the command. The leakage-suppression process includes performing a soft program operation to increase a threshold voltage of one or more over-erased memory cells in a given block of memory cells and establish an erased state. |
| US08717799B2 |
Variable resistance memory device with an interfacial adhesion heating layer, systems using the same and methods of forming the same
A variable resistance memory element and method of forming the same. The memory element includes a first electrode, a resistivity interfacial layer having a first surface coupled to said first electrode; a resistance changing material, e.g. a phase change material, having a first surface coupled to a second surface of said resistivity interfacial layer, and a second electrode coupled to a second surface of said resistance changing material. |
| US08717796B2 |
Memory dies, stacked memories, memory devices and methods
Memory die, stacks of memory dies, memory devices and methods, such as those to construct and operate such die, stacks and/or memory devices are provided. One such memory die includes an identification configured to be selectively coupled to an external select connection node depending on how the die is arranged in a stack. The identification circuit can determine an identification of its respective memory die responsive to how, if coupled, the identification circuit is coupled to the external select connection node. |
| US08717795B2 |
Semiconductor device having plural circuit blocks operating at the same timing
Disclosed herein is a device that includes first and second ports arranged in a first direction and first and second circuits arranged between the first and second ports. The first and second ports are coupled to the first and second circuits, respectively. The first and second circuits include first and second sub circuits that control an operation timing thereof based on a timing signal, respectively. The control signal is transmitted through a control line extending in a second direction. Distances between the control line and the first and second sub circuits in the first direction are the same as each other. A coordinate of the control line in the first direction is different from an intermediate coordinate between coordinates of the first and second ports in the first direction. |
| US08717790B2 |
Electrical supply apparatus
The present invention is directed to an electrical supply apparatus having an input for connecting the electrical supply apparatus to a mains supply which provides an alternating voltage as input voltage, having an output for connecting the electrical supply apparatus to a load, wherein the output provides a DC voltage as output voltage, having a rectifier which rectifies the input voltage to form a rectified input voltage, having a PFC module which comprises a smoothing device for smoothing the rectified input voltage and an active power factor correction device, wherein the power factor correction device is designed to form a time-dependent supply current for the smoothing device depending on a time-dependent current form signal in such a way that a time-dependent input current in the PFC module is matched to the current form signal, wherein the current form signal is produced by an analogue circuit. |
| US08717789B2 |
Three-phase buck-boost power factor correction circuit and controlling method thereof
The configurations of a three-phase buck-boost power factor correction (PFC) circuit and a controlling method thereof are provided in the present invention. The proposed circuit includes a first single-phase buck-boost PFC circuit receiving a first phase voltage and having a first and a second output terminals and a neutral-point for outputting a first and a second output voltages, a second single-phase buck-boost PFC circuit receiving a second phase voltage and coupled to the first and the second output terminals and the neutral-point, a third single-phase buck-boost PFC circuit receiving a third phase voltage and coupled to the first and the second output terminals and the neutral-point, a first and a second output capacitors coupled to the first and the second output terminals respectively, and to the neutral-point also and a neutral line coupled to the neutral-point. |
| US08717788B2 |
Method and system for controlling a power converter system connected to a DC-bus capacitor
A method and system for controlling a power converter system with a direct current (DC)-bus capacitor connected to at least a first converter and a second converter. The first converter is with associated first current and the second converter is with associated second current. Switching states of the first and second converters are determined. The switching states of the second converter are sequenced relative to the first converter to reduce a difference of sums of the associated first and second currents between adjacent time intervals. |
| US08717786B2 |
Plant for transmitting electric power utilizing asymmetric operation of voltage source converters
A plant for transmitting electric power through HVDC includes two converter stations interconnected by a bipolar direct voltage network and each connected to an alternating voltage network. Each converter station has a Voltage Source Converter with switching cells each including at least one energy storing capacitor. The Voltage Source Converters are configured to utilize a direct voltage having a higher magnitude for a first of the poles than for a second thereof with respect to ground. |
| US08717784B2 |
Control circuit of LLC resonant converter and LLC resonant converter using the same
The present invention provides a control circuit of an LLC resonant converter including a minimum switching frequency variable circuit of varying a minimum switching frequency corresponding to an AC input voltage of the LLC resonant converter; and a first pulse signal generating unit and a second pulse signal generating unit to generate a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal based on a switching frequency limited by the minimum switching frequency variable circuit. |
| US08717776B2 |
Connection assembly for at least one item of electronic equipment in an aircraft
An assembly for connection of an electronic equipment item to wiring of an aircraft, in which the item of electronic equipment is disposed in a support means and includes connection means configured to be connected to the wiring, a connection interface disposed between the wiring and the connection means to provide connection of the item of electronic equipment to the wiring, the connection assembly configured to change over from a connected state in which the connection means are connected to the connection interface to a disconnected state in which the connection means are free. The connection interface is fastened to the structure of the aircraft; whether the connection assembly is in the connected or disconnected state. The support means is movable and includes an at least partially open face turned toward the connection interface and onto which the connection means emerge. The connection of the connection assembly to the connection interface is made by moving the support means between a first position where the connection assembly is in a disconnected state and a second position where it is in a connected state. |
| US08717775B1 |
Fingerprint sensor package and method
A fingerprint sensor package includes a flat surface having a dielectric protective coating protecting a sensing element of a fingerprint sensor and an electrically conductive bezel that discharges electrostatic discharge (ESD). Both the protective coating and the bezel can be colored to have desired colors. Accordingly, the flat surface can be colored as desired enhancing the attractiveness for consumer applications. Further, light emitting diodes are integrated into the fingerprint sensor package providing a visual feedback to the user that the user's fingerprint has been successfully sensed. Further, the fingerprint sensor package is formed using a high volume low cost assembly technique. |
| US08717772B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes a core substrate having an opening portion, an electronic component provided in the opening portion of the core substrate and including a dielectric body, a first electrode formed over the dielectric body, and a second electrode formed over the dielectric body such that the dielectric body is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a resin filling a gap between the core substrate and the electronic component in the opening portion of the core substrate. The resin filling the gap includes a filler. |
| US08717769B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing including a transparent portion, a printed circuit board contained in the housing, a light source provided on the printed circuit board, a first member, a second member, and a reinforcing plate. The first member includes a first opening portion configured to allow light emitted from the light source to the transparent portion to pass therethrough, and a duct-shaped first main body defining the periphery of the first opening portion. The second member includes a second opening portion configured to allow light emitted from the light source to the transparent portion to pass therethrough, and a duct-shaped second main body defining the periphery of the second opening portion, and brought into contact with the first member so that the first opening portion communicates with the second opening portion. |
| US08717765B2 |
Integrated-inverter electric compressor and inverter unit thereof
An integrated-inverter electric compressor and an inverter unit thereof are provided, with which sufficient anti-vibration properties can be ensured and weight reduction can be achieved. In an integrated-inverter electric compressor, an inverter unit includes an inverter module in which a power-system metallic board having mounted thereon semiconductor switching elements and so forth is integrated with a plastic case, and a CPU board having mounted thereon a control and communication circuit that operates at a low voltage, such as a CPU, is provided on a top face of the inverter module, and inside the plastic case, a thermosetting resin layer for insulation and anti-humidity purposes is provided so as to cover a top face of the power-system metallic board, and a vibration-absorbing elastomeric adhesive layer that maintains a rubber state in an operating temperature range of the integrated-inverter electric compressor is provided between a bottom face of the CPU board and the thermosetting resin layer. |
| US08717764B2 |
Electronic device and fan module
A fan module is detachably mounted in a chassis. The chassis includes a sidewall defining a locking slot. The fan module includes a bracket including a base plate defining a first through slot, a fan fixed to the base plate, a fan duct fixed to the base plate beside the fan, and a locking member. The fan duct includes a side plate defining a second through slot. The locking member is fixed to the fan duct. The locking member includes a locking portion extending through the second through slot of the fan duct and the first through slot of the bracket to lock into the locking slot of the chassis. |
| US08717758B2 |
Locking assembly for electronic tablet and other devices
A method for securing a portable electronic device having a housing to a substantially immovable object utilizing a locking assembly having a security rod or spike formed with an anchoring end separated axially by a protruding end, a locking device with an internal locking mechanism and a cable permanently attached to the locking device at one end, includes the steps of securedly fixing the anchoring end of the security rod or spike to the portable electronic device upon or through the housing, attaching an other end of the cable to the substantially immovable object and inserting the protruding end of the security rod into an opening in the locking device to actuate the internal locking mechanism and lock the locking device to the captive security rod. Locking the security rod to the locking device concurrently locks the portable electronic device to which it is anchored to the substantially immovable object. |
| US08717757B2 |
Portable electronic device with a space for accommodating a stylus and a connector
A portable electronic device includes a casing whereinside an accommodating space is formed, a signal terminal disposed on a lateral wall of the accommodating space, a stylus accommodated inside the accommodating space of the casing in a movable manner, a push-pop mechanism disposed inside the accommodating space of the casing for fixing the stylus at a corresponding position according to depth of the accommodating space whereinto the stylus enters, and a connector for inserting into the accommodating space of the casing so as to electrically connect with the signal terminal to transmit a corresponding signal. |
| US08717755B2 |
Docking device mounting systems and methods
A docking device mounting system (400) is provided. The system can include a display device (100) having a plurality of mounting features (110) disposed thereupon; a docking device (200) including a plurality of universal serial bus (“USB”) interfaces (210, 220), at least one power interface (230), and at least one video interface (240); and at least one mounting member (300) having at least one mounting feature (320) and at least one extension member (330) disposed thereupon. Each of the at least one mounting member mounting features correspond to each of the plurality of display device mounting features and the at least one extension member permits detachable attachment of the docking device to the display device. |
| US08717752B2 |
Drive enclosures for tool-less removable mounting of solid state drives onto printed circuit board devices
Methods and systems for removably mounting a Solid State Drive (SSD) to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) device without use of a tool. An exemplary system comprises a top portion and at least two flexible legs. Each leg comprises a vertical member attached to the top portion, and a tab for insertion into the PCB, the tab restricting the motion of the drive enclosure with respect to the PCB when inserted into the PCB, thereby allowing for removable attachment of the enclosure to the PCB without use of a tool. The drive enclosure itself is adapted to receive the SSD and adapted to align the SSD for physical coupling with a connector for the PCB. |
| US08717750B2 |
Computing system feet
A computing system comprises a bottom, a channel in the bottom, and a continuous elastomeric member in the channel. The continuous elastomeric member extends includes a foot portion projecting out of the channel. |
| US08717748B2 |
Audio jack for portable computing device
The present application describes various embodiments regarding an apparatus and method for providing an audio jack for a portable computing device. More specifically a method and apparatus are disclosed for mounting the audio jack to machined audio jack mounts extending from an interior sidewall of the portable computing device housing. The machined mounts allow the audio jack to be suspended above an inner surface of the portable computing device so that the audio jack does not interfere with audio output or aesthetics of a speaker grill drilled into the portable computing device housing. |
| US08717743B2 |
Basepan assembly for an electrical enclosure
A base pan assembly for connecting to conductors and an electrical device. The base pan assembly includes a base pan element having walls for isolating each conductor. The base pan assembly also includes a stab element associated with each conductor wherein the stab element includes first and second portions formed in a substantially L shaped configuration. The first portion is adapted to be connected to the electrical device and the second portion is fastened to the base pan element. An end of the second portion is positioned between a pair of ribs. A fastening element is associated with each stab element, wherein the fastening element includes a post extending from the base pan element which is received by an aperture in the second portion. Further, the base pan assembly includes a lug associated with each conductor, wherein the lug receives the second portion and the associated conductor. |
| US08717734B1 |
Dissipation of electrostatic charge from substrates
The present disclosure is related to articles, such as aircraft windows and canopies, including a non-conductive substrate and a conductor pattern including one or more trace lines deposited onto the outside of the substrate such that the entire outside surface of the substrate is not coated with the conductor pattern. The present disclosure also provides methods of dissipating electrostatic charge from non-conductive substrates. |
| US08717732B2 |
High voltage surge arrester
A high voltage surge arrester, including a varistor element arranged so as to be connected to a high voltage source and to carry a high voltage when being positioned in its operative position, and an electric insulator that encloses and is in contact with the varistor element and forms an outer surface of the apparatus, wherein the electric insulator includes a silicone-based rubber. The silicone based rubber includes particles chosen from the group consisting of Al2O3, BN and ZnO, to such an extent that the thermal conductivity of the silicone-based rubber is equal to or above 0.8 W/mK. |
| US08717730B2 |
ESD protection device and method for producing the same
An ESD protection device includes an insulating ceramic substrate excluding a glass ceramic substrate, first and second discharge electrodes provided on the insulating ceramic substrate and including respective edges that face each other with a gap therebetween, and a discharge supporting electrode provided on the insulating ceramic substrate so as to electrically connect the first and second discharge electrodes to each other, the discharge supporting electrode including a ceramic material and metal particles whose surfaces are coated with insulating inorganic material powder. A thermosetting resin-cured layer including a cavity is provided on the insulating ceramic substrate so that the portions of the first and second discharge electrodes that face each other with a gap therebetween are present in the cavity. |
| US08717729B2 |
Computing devices having fail-safe mechanical shut-off switch
In one embodiment, a computing device includes a circuit board having a heat-generating component and a mechanical shut-off switch configured to cut power to the heat-generating component when a temperature within the computing device rises above a threshold temperature. |
| US08717719B2 |
Inverter, power generation system and method of operating a power generation system
The invention relates an inverter that may be set up as part of a power generation system for the connection of a number of substrings, which, using DC switches, can be connected to each other in series into a string and with the inverter. The inverter includes a bridge circuit to transform the power generated by the string comprising series-connected substrings into a grid-compatible AC voltage and to feed the power into a grid. The inverter also includes a ground fault detector arranged on the AC side of the bridge circuit for ground fault monitoring of the string. A controller connected to the ground fault detector controls the DC switches so that in case of a ground fault, a complete decoupling of the connection of the string from the bridge circuit and a separation of the string into potential-free substrings is performed. A method of operating such a power generation system is also described. |
| US08717718B2 |
Electrical load control with fault protection
Electrical load controls are provided which include an electrical switch assembly and a fault protection device within a common housing. The switch assembly includes an actuator, and is responsive to actuation of the actuator to switch ON or OFF electricity to the load. The protection device automatically responds to a fault condition by overriding the switch assembly by automatically blocking electrical connection between phase input and output terminals and neutral input and output terminals of the load control. The actuator includes a single external interface element. In one embodiment, actuation of the actuator switches ON or OFF electricity via control of the fault protection device, and in another embodiment, movement of the interface away from the housing exposes within the housing an internal user interface for the fault protection device. |
| US08717715B1 |
Spin accumulation magnetic read sensor
A spin accumulation magnetic sensor having improved signal strength and efficiency. The spin accumulation magnetic sensor has a detector structure and a spin injection structure and has a non-magnetic, electrically conductive layer extending between the spin injection structure and the detector structure. The detector structure has first and second free layers arranged such that the non-magnetic, electrically conductive layer extends between them and so that they are magnetically anti-parallel coupled with one another. The spin injection structure can also include first and second magnetic layers with the electrically conductive layer extending between them and with the first magnetic layer being pinned and the second magnetic layer being anti-parallel coupled with the first magnetic layer. |
| US08717713B1 |
Differentially driven piezoelectric transducers for dual stage actuated disk drive head suspension
An improved dual stage actuated disk drive head suspension in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a mounting/base plate having first and second portions connected by a linkage, one or more PZT motors and a flexure having one or more pairs of differential drive signal traces. Each PZT motor has a pair of electrodes. Non-conductive adhesive secures each PZT motor to the first and second portions of the mounting/base plate with the electrodes of each motor being electrically isolated from the mounting/base plate. Each pair of drive signal traces is electrically connected to one of the pair of PZT motor electrodes to couple differential electrical drive signals to the PZT motor. Each PZT motor drives the first and second portions of the mounting/base plate with respect to one another in response to the drive signals. |
| US08717711B2 |
Low clearance magnetic head having a contact detection sensor
According to one embodiment, a magnetic data system includes a magnetic disk medium, a magnetic head having a writer element and/or a reader element, an exothermic resistor element for thermal fly-height control (TFC), a contact detection sensor having a resistor element and at least one contact detection electrode, and an insulating film on a medium facing side of the magnetic head to protect the contact detection sensor, the insulating film having a thickness greater than the contact detection electrode, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head, wherein the controller adjusts magnetic spacing between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk medium via thermal distortion of the exothermic resistor element. The contact detection sensor may be used as a second TFC resistor element. |
| US08717707B2 |
Magnetic recording head with notched shield
A magnetic recording head includes a magnetic recording write element including a main pole having a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge and a first side surface and a second side surface separating the leading edge from the trailing edge. A first side shield gap separates a first side shield from the first side of the main pole and a second side shield gap separates the second side shield from the second side of the main pole. A front magnetic shield is separated from the main pole trailing edge by a front shield gap. A recess extends into the front shield adjacent to the trailing edge, and parallel to the trailing edge. The recess extends laterally away from the main pole and into the front shield a distance greater than the first side shield gap or second side shield gap. |
| US08717704B1 |
Disk drive defining non-circular data tracks relative to a rotation axis of the disk
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors, and a head actuated over the disk. The disk drive further comprises control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to position the head over the disk. A disturbance is induced in the servo control system, and while positioning the head over the disk, a data track is accessed. The disturbance induced in the servo control system causes the data track to be non-circular relative to a rotation axis of the disk such that the non-circular data track crosses multiple of the servo tracks over a revolution of the disk. |
| US08717703B2 |
Magnetic disk drive having dual-stage actuator and head position estimation method for the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a storage unit, a head position detector and a head position estimator. The head position detector detects a position of a first head if the first head is switched to a second head. The head position estimator estimates a position of the second head based on the position of the first head, first and second voltages, polarities of first and second microactuators, gains of the first and second microactuators, and a first inter-head offset. The first and second voltages are applied to the first and second microactuators, respectively. The first inter-head offset is stored in the storage unit. |
| US08717701B2 |
Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming
A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment. |
| US08717698B2 |
Hierarchical control of tiered error recovery for storage devices
In one embodiment, a tape drive system includes a read channel configured for performing a portion of a data transfer operation, logic adapted for monitoring the data transfer operation for detecting one or more temps within a sliding window spanning a last group of datasets processed, logic adapted for measuring interference between first tier and second tier recovery methods based on the monitoring, logic adapted for setting a backhitch delay based on conditions relating to the interference of first tier and second tier recovery methods as it relates to a determined error burst, and logic adapted for performing a backhitch and altering at least one condition of the data transfer operation after the backhitch delay. |
| US08717694B1 |
Identifying defective slots in a disk drive tester
A disk drive tester is disclosed operable to test a plurality of disk drives, each disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk. The disk drive tester comprises a plurality of test slots, where each test slot is operable to receive one of the disk drives. The disk drive tester further comprises an interface for receiving vibration data from the disk drives, wherein the vibration data at least partially represents a vibration applied to each disk drive by the respective test slot. The disk drive tester further comprises control circuitry operable to detect when one of the test slots is defective in response to the vibration data. |
| US08717690B2 |
Photographing optical lens assembly
This invention provides a photographing optical lens assembly, from an object side to an image side in order, comprising a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power, a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, both the two surfaces of the fourth lens thereof being aspheric. And an aperture stop is positioned between the first element and the second lens element. There are four lens elements with refractive power in the lens assembly. |
| US08717689B2 |
Miniature image pickup lens
A miniature image pickup lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, an aperture, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens in sequence along an optical axis from an object side to an image side. The first lens is a meniscus lens with negative refractive power and has a convex side facing the object side. The first lens has at least an aspheric side. The second lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The third lens is a biconcave lens with negative refractive power. The fourth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power and has at least an aspheric side. The fifth lens has a negative refractive power. |
| US08717688B2 |
Image capturing lens system
This disclosure provides an image capturing lens system comprising: a positive first lens element having a convex object-side surface; a negative second lens element having a concave object-side surface; a positive third lens element having a convex object-side surface; a negative fourth lens element having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a fifth lens element with refractive power having a concave image-side surface, the shape of the image-side surface changing from concave at the paraxial region thereof to convex while away from the paraxial region thereof, both of the object-side and image-side surfaces being aspheric. |
| US08717687B2 |
Image lens assembly
An image lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, the second lens element with negative refractive power, the third lens element with refractive power, the fourth lens element with positive refractive power made of plastic material, the fifth lens element with negative refractive power made of plastic material. At least one surface of the third lens element, the fourth lens element and the fifth lens element are aspheric. |
| US08717686B2 |
Optical system, optical apparatus and optical system manufacturing method
An optical system WL has, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power and a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group G1 is fixed and the second lens group G2 moves upon focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a finite distance, and the second lens group G2 is formed of a front group G2a located closer to the object than an aperture stop S disposed in the second lens group G2, and a rear group G2b located closer to an image than the aperture stop S. |
| US08717682B2 |
Single focal length lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A single focal length lens system comprising: at least a front lens unit having positive or negative power, and being fixed in focusing; a focusing lens unit having positive power, and moving along an optical axis in focusing; and a rear lens unit having negative power, and being fixed in focusing, wherein the focusing lens unit includes: a cemented lens of a negative lens and a positive lens; and a positive single lens located on the image side relative to the cemented lens and having an aspheric surface, the rear lens unit is composed of one single lens, and the condition: −0.5 |
| US08717681B2 |
Fluidic lens
A fluidic lens includes a cavity 16 containing an optically transparent liquid and bounded by optically transparent walls 10, 32 arranged such that light may pass into the fluid via one wall and exit from the fluid via another wall, at least one said wall including at least one optically transparent piezoelectric element which is deformable so as to change the shape of the cavity. |
| US08717676B2 |
Light outcoupling structure for a lighting device
A diffractive light outcoupling unit for forming a part of a directive light outcoupling system of a lighting device including a plurality of diffractive outcoupling units. The diffractive light outcoupling units each include a carrier element for accommodating a diffractive surface relief pattern, and a diffractive surface relief pattern including a plurality of consecutive diffractive surface relief forms defined on a surface area of the carrier element arranged to couple light incident on the diffractive surface relief pattern outside the carrier element via interaction involving at least two surface relief forms of the plurality of surface relief forms of the diffractive surface relief pattern so as to enhance the directivity of the coupled light. A diffractive light outcoupling system includes a plurality of diffractive light outcoupling units. A lightguide includes the outcoupling system. |
| US08717674B2 |
Custom filtration slide and filtration apparatus and method
An filter, apparatus and method for preparing microscope slides is presented. After filtration of the specimen is performed, the filter containing the filtrand is configured to be microscopically examined. The filter may either be affixed to a microscope slide or, in an embodiment, the filter may be incorporated into a microscope slide. |
| US08717673B2 |
Simple ultra-stable stage with built-in fiduciary markers for fluorescence nanoscopy
An improved microscope stage mount with built-in fiduciary markers is used for fluorescence microscopy, and comprises: (a) an optically-transparent glass plate adapted for specimen mounting and microscope viewing and comprising a specimen mounting area; and (b) a defined and ordered, two-dimensional microscopic array of fiduciary markers, wherein the markers are polymeric pillars affixed to the plate about the specimen mounting area, wherein the markers provide a three-dimensional spatial reference for the specimen. |
| US08717671B2 |
Projection optical system and image projection device
A projection optical system for projecting an image on a surface is provided. The image is an enlarged image of an image which is formed on an image forming element. The projection optical system includes a coaxial optical system having an optical axis; and a non-coaxial optical system including a rotationally asymmetric curved-surface mirror. The non-coaxial optical system does not share the optical axis with the coaxial optical system. The coaxial optical system includes a first lens having a positive refractive power and being an aspheric plastic lens; and a second lens having a negative refractive power and being an aspheric plastic lens. The first lens has a first refractive index distribution, and the second lens has a second refractive index distribution. |
| US08717663B2 |
Colored fluids for electrowetting, electrofluidic, and electrophoretic technologies
Colored fluids for electrowetting, electro fluidic, or electrophoretic devices, and the devices themselves, are disclosed. The colored fluid can include a nonaqueous polar solvent having (a) a dynamic viscosity of 0.1 cP to 50 cP at 250 C, (b) a surface tension of 25 dynes/cm to 55 dynes/cm at 250 C, and (c) an electrowetting relative response of 40% to 80%. Such colored fluids further include a colorant selected from a pigment and/or a dye. In another embodiment, the colored fluid can include a non-polar solvent and an organic colorant selected from a pigment and/or a dye. Such colored fluids can be black in color and have a conductivity from 0 pS/cm to 5 pS/cm and a dielectric constant less than 3. The use of the colored fluids offers improvements in reliability, higher levels of chroma in the dispersed state, and the ability to achieve higher contrast ratios in display technologies. |
| US08717658B2 |
Electrochromic multi-layer devices with spatially coordinated switching
A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate and a first electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, the first electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position. |
| US08717653B2 |
Light scanner and image forming apparatus
A light scanner includes a light reflection part having light reflectivity, a movable part having the light reflection part and being rotatable around a first rotation center axis and a second rotation center axis, a pair of movable beams extending from the movable part, a displacement part connected to the movable beams and rotating the movable part around the first rotation center axis, a first drive part that drives the displacement part, a pair of drive beams extending from the displacement part in parallel to the light reflection surface and orthogonal to an extension direction of the movable beams, a support frame that supports the drive beams, and a second drive part that rotates the movable part around the second rotation center axis, and the movable beam has a bending part that bendingly deforms due to displacement of the displacement part. |
| US08717652B2 |
Micro scanner device and method for controlling micro scanner device
A mirror axis (MA) is displaced by deformation of a holder (HD) and with resonance of an optical scanner (LS) itself according to the frequency of a voltage applied to a piezoelectric element (PE). The frequency of the applied voltage for causing a resonance deforms the holder (HD) so as to generate at least one node intersecting with respect to the length of the holder (HD) itself. |
| US08717650B2 |
Method and system for producing multiple images in a single image plane using diffraction
Methods create images viewable under different selected angles on optical storage devices and other photosensitive surfaces and optical storage devices with super-imposed images. Generally, a photosensitive surface is exposed with multiple diffraction patterns creating super-imposed images. These diffraction patterns create super-imposed images on the photosensitive surfaces, which can be read by either a human or a computer. |
| US08717643B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a drive source, a speed change mechanism provided in a transmission unit that transmits a driving force from the drive source to a scanning drive unit. The speed change mechanism is configured to change a transmission ratio of the transmission unit by selectively bringing one of first and second couplings into a connected state. The image reading apparatus further includes a selector configured to selectively bring one of the first and second couplings into the connected state, a detector configured to detect the connected state of the second coupling, and a controller configured to control a scanning position of the reading unit based on the transmission ratio changed via the second coupling after the detector detects the connected state of the second coupling after the selector changes selection from the first coupling to the second coupling. |
| US08717639B2 |
Image processing for position deviation correction
In an image forming apparatus for making a position deviation correction, a position deviation amount can be accurately calculated by stabilizing the detection result at position deviation detecting and considering an ideal correction amount and an actual correction amount to make the position deviation correction accurately. A forming unit forms a pattern for position deviation detection without making the position correction for less than one pixel by an image position correcting unit, to a pattern formed in the vicinity of a detection region of a detecting unit, and the position deviation amount is calculated by using a value of a position correction which is not made to the pattern for position deviation detection to be formed. |
| US08717633B2 |
Printed image erasing system
A printed image erasing system in an embodiment is configured to erase image information obtained by printing both characteristic identification information and document information or only the document information with an erasable color material on a printing medium, comprising: a printer unit configured to print the image information on the printing medium; an erasing unit configured to erase an image printed on the printing medium with the erasable color material; a reading unit configured to read the characteristic identification information on the printing medium to be erased by the erasing unit; and a document management unit configured to manage an erasability condition of the document information on the basis of the characteristic identification information and instruct the printer unit to output new document information according to the erasability condition of the document information that is contained in the characteristic identification information read by the reading unit. |
| US08717629B2 |
Image-processing device
An image-processing method includes: acquiring multi-level tone print data expressed in multi-level tones; determining whether the acquired multi-level tone print data includes line data indicative of a line having a tone; replacing, if the print data includes the line data, the line data with specific line data based on the tone of the line data, the specific line data indicating a specific line having a prescribed tone value and a prescribed structure; and converting the multi-level tone print data to binary data after replacing the line data with the specific line data. |
| US08717625B2 |
Emissive image substrate marking, articles marked with an emissive image, and authentication methods involving the same
A system for printing and emissive image on a substrate that includes red, green, and blue additive-color emissive inks configured to be printed to a substrate using an ink printer device intended for use with subtractive-color ink. An image to be printed can be converted to color negative form prior to printing using the subtractive-color ink printer. The system may include a subtractive-color ink printer intended for use with subtractive-color ink cartridges. The system may also include a computer device programmed to convert an image to a color negative form. |
| US08717624B2 |
Color value acquiring method used in printing system, involves acquiring color value which corresponds to color patch selected as representing color that is close to designated color to be reproduced, from within printed color chart
The shape of a target mark extracted from within a print sample and to be reproduced on a print is entered. A color chart is printed comprising multiple color patches in which the shape of the target mark is simulated. |
| US08717618B2 |
Decoloring device, method of determining decoloring success or failure and computer-readable recording medium recording decoloring success or failure determining program
There is provided a decoloring device including a decoloring unit, a first sheet conveying unit, a pre-decoloring reading unit, a type determining unit, a second sheet conveying unit, a post-decoloring reading unit, a decoloring success or failure determining unit, and a determination criterion setting unit. The type determining unit determines the type of image on the sheet conveyed to the decoloring unit based on the reading result in the pre-decoloring reading unit. The post-decoloring reading unit reads an image on the sheet after the decoloring, which is conveyed by the second sheet conveying unit. The decoloring success or failure determining unit determines whether or not the decoloring in the decoloring unit is successful based on the reading result in the post-decoloring reading unit. The determination criterion setting unit sets a determination criterion in the decoloring success or failure determining unit, based on the type of image, which is determined by the type determining unit. |
| US08717612B2 |
Control for user management information in image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the image forming apparatus is in a system operating state of being constructed in such a manner as to supply the paper, on which the first image data is printed, via the output unit to the other image forming apparatus, a unit configured to, in a case where it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in the system operating state by the determining unit, obtain user management information of the other image forming apparatus from the apparatus, a unit configured to combine the obtained user management information of the other image forming apparatus with the user management information stored in the storage unit to generate combination user management information used at the system operating state, and a unit configured to store the generated combination user management information in the storage unit. |
| US08717609B2 |
Printing system, printing apparatus, printing method, and computer readable medium
A printing system includes a print data generating apparatus, a printing apparatus, a print instruction apparatus, and a print data processing apparatus. The print data generating apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a print instruction, a print data generating unit that generates print data, a storing unit that stores the print data, a notifying unit that transmits notification information, and a transmitting unit that transmits the print data. The printing apparatus includes a requesting unit that requests the print data generating apparatus to transmit the print data. The print instruction apparatus transmits the print instruction to the print data generating apparatus. The print data processing apparatus includes a requesting unit that requests the print data generating apparatus to transmit the print data, a receiving unit that receives the print data, a unit that processes the print data, and a transmitting unit that transmits the processed print data. |
| US08717608B2 |
Terminal device and method generating print data based on one set of web-page information
In a terminal device, a first requesting unit performs a first request requesting a web server for transmission of first web page data based on web-page information specifying data, the first web page data being specified by the web-page information specifying data and that corresponding to a first web-page-displaying software type. A second requesting unit performs a second request requesting transmission of web-page information based on the web-page information specifying data, the web-page information being either one of the first web page data and second web page data that is specified by the web-page information specifying data and that corresponds to a second web-page-displaying software type different from the first web-page-displaying software type. A print controlling unit generates print data based on one set of web-page information that is either the first web page data or the web-page information that is acquired as a result of the second request. |
| US08717606B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, and computer readable medium
A communication apparatus includes a communication start request receiving unit and a response notification output unit. The communication start request receiving unit receives, via a first communication path, a communication start request that is output from a source communication apparatus and is transmitted via a relay apparatus. The response notification output unit outputs a first response notification or a second response notification to the relay apparatus via the first communication path when the communication start request receiving unit receives, via the first communication path, a communication start request for starting communication using a second communication standard in a case where the number of apparatuses with which the communication apparatus is communicating using the second communication standard has reached a predetermined number. The first response notification indicates that communication is being performed. The second response notification has a lower priority than the first response notification in an arbitration process. |
| US08717605B2 |
Image forming apparatus and circuit board of image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that includes a power supply unit to convert AC power input to the image forming apparatus into DC power, a high-voltage power unit to convert the converted DC power to high voltage, an image forming unit to form an image using the converted high voltage, and a controller to control operation of the image forming unit, where the power supply unit, the high-voltage power unit, and the controller are disposed on a single circuit board. |
| US08717601B2 |
Server apparatus, and terminal apparatus
For a web application which takes time to execute processing, Internet connection between a web browser and the web application needs to be maintained until the completion of processing. In a web application server which provides conversion processing from document data into print data, the conversion processing itself is provided as a software process asynchronous with the web application. The web application only accepts a conversion processing execution request. The progress is confirmed using Comet communication, and the web server delays a response to an HTTP request. |
| US08717599B2 |
Peripheral device and image reading device
The present invention is applicable to a peripheral device which performs processing based on information from an information processing device. The peripheral device of present invention is characterized by a storage unit, which stores in it a program of controlling of designated processing, and stores in it data for controlling the peripheral device, and by a communication unit which sends the program stored in the storage unit to the information processing device, and by a control unit which controls operation of the peripheral device based on an instruction information written into the storage unit upon execution of the program on the information processing device. |
| US08717596B2 |
Systems and methods for providing variable data printing (VDP) using dynamic font downgrading
Apparatus and methods for providing downgraded fonts for VDP printing application are described. A server system may be configured to generate and/or select a set of downgraded rasterized fonts for delivery to a client system in order to provide limited client-side WYSIWIG display functionality using the downgraded fonts. A client side application may use the downgraded fonts to provide a display-only or draft print only rendering of a VDP print job. |
| US08717592B2 |
Method for processing documents on an image-processing apparatus
A method for processing print jobs by an image-processing apparatus includes an output module for receiving output of the print jobs and a control unit configured to maintain a queue of print jobs to be processed. The method includes, for each print job, the steps of printing the print job by the image-processing apparatus, and stacking output of the print job in the output module. The control unit is configured to maintain an output check list and the method further includes the step of, when a recoverable error occurs during processing of the print job, that does not lead to an automatic stop of the processing but is likely to cause faulted pages in the printed output, automatically creating an entry in the output check list, so as to advise an operator to check the possibly faulted pages in the output stack. |
| US08717591B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, information processing apparatus, program, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive print data including image to be formed, identification information identifying a print-requesting person, personal identity verification information for verifying identity of person, and execution condition information designating priority between readability and productivity when implementing an information-leak proofed printing; an operation-input receiving unit to receive an input by an administrator; a setting unit to set whether the information-leak proofed printing is mandatory; a personal identity verification unit to verify identity of person when the information-leak proofed printing is mandatory and readability-priority is designated; a watermark embedding unit to generate a watermark-embedded image depending upon a result of the personal identity verification; a text synthesizing unit to generate a composite image by synthesizing text data to image data when the information-leak proofed printing is mandatory, and productivity priority is designated; and a print unit to print the watermark-embedded image or the composite image. |
| US08717588B2 |
Image formation apparatus and image formation system using the same
An image formation apparatus configured to execute print processing, includes an information storage configured to store print-limit information and notification-destination information set for each user. The print-limit information includes at least one of a print condition and a limit on a printable amount. A user-information acquisition unit is configured to acquire print-instructing-user information, which is information on a print-instructing user instructing a print-executing user to execute printing. An information-acquisition unit is configured to acquire, from the information storage, the print-limit information and the notification-destination information corresponding to the print-instructing-user information acquired by the user-information acquisition unit, and a notification unit is configured to notify the print-instructing user of a result of print control by the print controller, based on the notification-destination information acquired by the information-acquisition unit. |
| US08717587B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program
An image processing apparatus includes an execution portion configured to execute a job, a providing portion configured to provide a Web page in response to a request, a determination portion configured to determine a time-out period, which is a period during which a response from the providing portion to the request is acceptable, depending on conditions of a job that is being executed by the execution portion and conditions of a job that waits to be executed by the execution portion, and a management portion configured to manage execution of a process by the execution portion and a process by the providing portion in such a manner that the former is executed before the latter. |
| US08717584B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
An image processing apparatus acquires information included in application data created by an application but not in image data generated by interpreting the application data, adds the acquired information to the generated image data generated based on the application data as attribute information (meta data) of the generated image data, and outputs the generated image data and the attribute information which has been added to the generated image data to an external device. |
| US08717582B2 |
Sensor apparatus for detecting an overhang on the load of a carrier device
A sensor apparatus for detecting an overhang on a load of a carrier device, having a sensor arrangement with at least one transmitter and a receiver and also an electronic unit for control purposes. According to the invention, the sensor arrangement senses two regions of the carrier device with a load during a movement of the carrier device such that evaluation of the geometrical position of the regions in relation to one another is made possible, wherein the first region relates to the carrier device and the second region relates to the load. Furthermore, the electronic unit is designed for generating a signal for each region and linking the signals such that it is possible to ascertain an overhang from this. |
| US08717581B2 |
Method for determining the position of a structure within an image and position measuring device for carrying out the method
A method is provided for determining the position of a structure within an image relative to a reference point, in which the structure has a center of symmetry, the method comprising: providing an image which comprises the structure and which has a reference point, carrying out at least one symmetry operation of the image with respect to the reference point, by means of which at least one mirror image is obtained which has a mirrored structure congruent relative to the structure, determining at least one displacement vector between a structure and a mirrored structure or two mirrored structures, and calculating the position of the structure as a position of the center of symmetry of the structure relative to the reference point from the at least one displacement vector. Furthermore, a position measuring device is provided for determining the position of a structure within an image relative to a reference point. |
| US08717580B2 |
Multi-beam optical displacement sensor
An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest using values of a beam property from two or more electromagnetic beams that both converge in an optical displacement device. The apparatus may include a Fabry-Perot interferometer, a light source, and a detection array. The electromagnetic beams may be converged one or more of: the interferometer and a convergence device. At least one reflective surface of the interferometer may be operably coupled to an element receiving an external stimulus, such as pressure, force, and/or acceleration. The method includes using the apparatus. |
| US08717578B2 |
Profilometer, measuring apparatus, and observing apparatus
An observing apparatus includes a lighting device for irradiating a surface of a measuring target with light having a first light source distribution, and an imaging section for imaging the surface of the measuring target. Considering a first plane passing through a measurement point, the first light source distribution is set such that: (1) a radiance L11(θ) changes in a continuous or stepwise manner according to an angle θ, and (2) the radiance L11(θ) is not zero in a local region of a predetermined range of ±σ having a point located at a predetermined angle θc as a center on the first plane when viewed from the measurement point, and the following equation substantially holds for arbitrary a satisfying 0 |
| US08717574B2 |
Turbidity suppression by optical phase conjugation using a spatial light modulator
A detector of light transmitted through a turbid medium, comprising: one or more Digital Optical Phase Conjugation (DOPC) devices, wherein the DOPC devices include (1) a sensor for detecting input light that has been transmitted through the turbid medium and inputted on the sensor; and (2) a spatial light modulator (SLM) for outputting, in response to the input light detected by the sensor, output light that is an optical phase conjugate of the input light. |
| US08717573B1 |
Tunable interferometric scanning spectrometer
A tunable interferometric scanning spectrometer is provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, the interferometric scanning spectrometer splits incoming light beams among different optical paths in the spectrometer, recombines the light beams from the different optical paths to produce combined light beams, detects intensities of the combined light beams across a focal plane (e.g., with a sensor array), and calculates a spectra based on the detected intensities and a filter function that is a function of optical path difference (OPD) between the optical paths. In one aspect, the filter function varies across the focal plane. In another aspect, the spectrometer comprises a rotatable dispersive element (e.g., glass plate) in one the optical paths and/or a moveable mirror in the other optical path. In this aspect, the spectrometer may be adjusted away from zero OPD by rotation of the dispersive element and/or displacement of the mirror. |
| US08717569B2 |
Apparatus and method for improved optical detection of particles in fluid
A number of fluidic-photonic devices for allowing optical detection, systems employing such devices, and related methods of operation and fabrication of such devices are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the devices can serve as flow cytometry devices and/or employ microfluidic channels. Also, in at least some embodiments, the devices are fluidic-photonic integrated circuit (FPIC) devices that employ both fluidic channels and one or more waveguides capable of receiving and/or delivering light, and that can be fabricated using polymeric materials. The fluidic-photonic devices in at least some embodiments are capable of functionality such as on-chip excitation, time-of-flight measurement, and can experience enhanced fluorescence detection sensitivity. In at least some embodiments, the devices employ detection waveguides that are joined by way of a waveguide demultiplexer. In additional embodiments, a variety of techniques can be used to process information received via the waveguides, including an iterative cross-correlation process. |
| US08717563B2 |
Light scattering type particle detector using scattered light of surface plasmon resonance photons
A particle detector includes a light source, and a metal layer having an incident/reflective surface and a photoelectric surface opposing the incident/reflective surface. Incident light from the light source reaches the incident/reflective surface to excite near-field surface plasmon resonance photons at the photoelectric surface. A particle deposited on the photoelectric surface of the metal layer changes the near-field surface plasmon resonance photons to far-field scattered light. The particle detector further includes a scattered light detecting unit, provided above the photoelectric surface of the metal layer, for detecting the far-field scattered light. |
| US08717558B2 |
Liquid core photonic crystal fiber biosensors using surface enhanced Raman scattering and methods for their use
The invention is drawn to a photonic crystal fiber that can be used with nanoparticles to detect and quantify components in a test sample. The invention further relates to methods of using the photonic crystal fiber for detecting chemical and biological analytes, and in use in optical communications. |
| US08717557B2 |
Spectrophotometer and method for determining performance thereof
A spectrophotometer includes a xenon flash lamp, a spectroscope, and a light detector, wherein the spectrophotometer is configured to arrange a low-pressure mercury lamp on a bundle of light rays between the xenon flash lamp and the spectroscope on an as needed basis upon a performance determination of the spectrophotometer, and has a shutter mechanism that switches between shielding the bundle of light rays emitted from the low-pressure mercury lamp and allowing the bundle of light rays to pass through. A processing unit determines the performance of the spectrophotometer by detecting each of the light intensities with the light detector at the time when shielding the bundle of light rays and at the time when allowing the bundle of light rays by operating the shutter mechanism. |
| US08717556B2 |
Microfluidic systems with chemical pumps
A microfluidic system may include an image sensor integrated circuit containing image sensor pixels. A channel containing a fluid with particles such as cells may be formed on top of the image sensor. Flow control components may be mounted to the image sensor integrated circuit for controlling the flow of fluids through the channel. The flow control components may include a chemically powered pump. The chemical pump may include one or more chambers and a valve between the chambers. The valve may be operable to allow chemical reactants stored in the chambers to be mixed to produce gasses for generating pressure in the channel. The pressure in the channel may be used to control the flow of the fluid. As the fluid and particles flow through the channel, the image sensor pixels may be used to capture images of the particles. |
| US08717547B2 |
Production process for an interface unit and a group of such interface units
A process for producing an interface unit and also a group of such interface units are specified. The interface unit exhibits a first reference surface for beaming in radiation, a second reference surface for emitting the radiation, and an axis extending in the direction from the first to the second reference surface. The production process comprises the steps of setting an optical path length of the interface unit between the first and second reference surfaces along the axis and the fixing of the set optical path length of the interface unit. The optical path length of the interface unit is set in such a way that radiation of a defined numerical aperture beamed in at the first reference surface exhibits a focus location that is predetermined with respect to the second reference surface in the direction of the axis. A precise and uniform focus location with respect to the second reference surface is obtained. |
| US08717546B2 |
Energy-saving 3-D sensor
A 3-D sensor for controlling a control process comprising a light source that includes at least one illumination source, a reception matrix for receiving a complete image of light reflected from areas from a spatial section, an evaluation device for determining the distance between the areas and the reception matrix, and a supervisory device for recognizing an object, in which the light source illuminates a partial region of the spatial section which has at least one interspace. |
| US08717544B2 |
Alignment method, alignment apparatus, and exposure apparatus
In the present invention, a number of times the brightness changes detected at the same position while a substrate conveys are added up in the conveying direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of edge count data, and then, a plurality of positions of long sides of patterns parallel to the conveying direction is identified based on the plurality of edge count data exceeding a predetermined threshold value, middle point positions of a plurality of proximity pairs are calculated, and a middle point position close to the target position preset in the imaging device is selected from the plurality of middle point positions of the proximity pairs, an amount of position displacement between the selected middle point position and the target position of imaging device is calculated, and the photomask in the direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction so that the amount of position displacement is a predetermined value. |
| US08717539B2 |
Calibration of optical line shortening measurements
A system and method of calibrating optical line shortening measurements, and lithography mask for same. The lithography mask comprises a plurality of gratings, with a calibration marker disposed within each grating. The mask is used to pattern resist on a semiconductor wafer for purposes of measuring and calibrating line shortening. The pattern on the wafer is measured and compared to measurements made of the pattern on the mask. The difference gives the amount of line shortening due to flare, and may be used to calibrate line shortening measurements made using optical measurement tools. |
| US08717538B2 |
Catoptric imaging optical system with an arc-shaped object field
In certain aspects, imaging optical systems with a plurality of mirrors image an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. In the light path between non-obscured mirrors, imaging rays pass through at least one multiple pass-through region between spaced-apart planes which are arranged parallel to the object plane and/or parallel to the image plane. The imaging optical systems have at least one pupil plane. The pupil plane is arranged outside the multiple pass-through region between the non-obscured mirrors. This can provide an imaging optical system which provides for an easier correction of image errors. |
| US08717537B2 |
Exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
Exposure apparatus and methods expose a substrate with an energy beam via a projection optical system and has first and second tables on each of which a substrate is mountable. A mark detection system is arranged in a second area different from a first area in which the projection optical system is arranged. A substrate mounted on one of the first and second tables is moved in the first area while the one table is held by a first movable member. A substrate mounted on another of the first and second tables is moved in the second area while the another table is held by a second movable member. The tables held by the first and second movable members are driven so that the another table is moved from the second to the first movable member to be held in place of the one table. |
| US08717533B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
A lithographic projection projects a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate through a liquid confined to a space adjacent the substrate. The space is smaller in plan than the substrate. The apparatus includes a plate substantially parallel to the substrate to divide the space into two parts, the plate having an aperture to allow transmission of the pattern onto the substrate. |
| US08717528B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is disclosed which comprises a first substrate and a second substrate, which are supported by primary spacers. At least a secondary spacer is provided on the first substrate, and the secondary spacer is covered by a conductive electrode. An X-direction detecting wire and a Y-direction detecting wire perpendicular to each other are provided on the second substrate, the X-direction detecting wire and the Y-direction detecting wire are respectively provided with a first connection electrode and a second connection electrode; and positions of the first and second connection electrodes on the second substrate correspond to a position of the secondary spacer on the first substrate; under a press condition, at least one of the first and second connection electrodes contacts with the secondary spacer and is connected with the conductive electrode on the secondary spacer. |
| US08717525B2 |
Connecting structure of electronic apparatus and display device using the same
A connecting structure of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate on which the first substrate is laminated, and a sheet like connection body having one end connected to one principal surface of the first substrate and another end connected to one principal surface of the second substrate, wherein a lengthwise direction of the sheet like connection body is parallel to a perimeter part of the first substrate, and the sheet like connection body has a slit part extending from one of end portions thereof to a part thereof along the lengthwise direction, and has a first end and a second end divided by the slit part at one of end portions, the first end is connected to a principal surface of the first substrate in vicinity of a peripheral part of the first substrate, and the second end is connected to a principal surface of the second substrate in vicinity of a peripheral part of the first substrate. |
| US08717521B2 |
Adjustable reflective device with multi-functional display
A reflective device wherein the device reflectivity is adjustable via automatic or manual means. The variable reflectance element includes a metallic mirror reflector on one side of a substrate and additional substrate layers consisting of a polarizer and a LCD whose material characteristics have been optimized for dimming. The mirror assembly provides alternate trigger mechanisms for initiating the dimming function, the dimming function being automatically referenced to ambient light levels (day or night) or manually adjusted or selected. In the automatic mode the dimming mirror assembly provides the user immediate eye protection from reflected high intensity glare by effecting near instantaneous adjustment in mirror reflectivity, such that the intensity of the reflected light impinging on the eyes is automatically adjusted so as to be at comfortable levels. The mirror assembly construction is in one piece, and allows the viewing of a display or TFT monitor located adjacent to the mirror. |
| US08717520B2 |
Thin film semiconductor device and method for manufacturing thin film semiconductor device
In a display device that provides a first observation region with a first picture and provides a second observation region with a second picture, a double image made of the first picture and the second picture is suppressed. First columns of pixels that display the first picture and second columns of pixels that display the second picture are disposed alternately with a black matrix interposed between each neighboring pair of them. A light-shielding plate having light-shielding portions and openings is disposed above the panel. When a distance between the first observation region and the second observation region is denoted by V, a distance between the first observation region or the second observation region and the light-shielding plate is denoted by D, a distance between the light-shielding plate and the display panel is denoted by G, an interval of the first columns of pixels or the second columns of pixels is denoted by P, and the width of the black matrix is denoted by Q, an equation K≦Q×D/(D+G) is satisfied. The openings are disposed on lines connecting between a position directly above a center of the display panel and the black matrix. |
| US08717513B2 |
Display apparatus
Disclosed is a display device which can maintain a space between a lower substrate and a portion of an upper substrate with a transmitting hole formed therein, in an atmospheric pressure state. The display device includes a display unit and a guide frame. The display unit includes a panel which is sealed, with liquid crystal being charged between an upper substrate and a lower substrate. The guide frame supports the display unit. The guide frame includes a guide side wall guiding a side surface of the panel, and a panel supporting part supporting the panel. |
| US08717511B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes an image display panel that includes an image display screen to display an image on a front side; a light emitting/receiving unit that is disposed at an end of a first side of the image display panel and emits and receives light to detect a position of an object proximal to or on a front surface of the image display panel; a cover that exposes the image display screen and that includes a plate covering at least the first side of the front surface of the image display panel with a gap; and a reinforcement component that contacts the plate between the image display panel and the plate. |
| US08717510B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device intended for increasing the ON-current of a TFT in the pixel while suppressing variation of the ON-current, in which a semiconductor layer and a first n+-a-Si layer in the TFT are formed continuously by plasma CVD. The semiconductor layer and the first n+-a-Si layer are patterned simultaneously. Then, a second n+-a-Si layer is formed so as to cover the upper surface of the first n+-a-Si layer and the side portion of the semiconductor layer. The ON-current can be increased and variation of the ON-current of the TFT can be decreased by forming the first n+-a-Si layer continuously over the semiconductor layer. |
| US08717507B2 |
Method of manufacturing a display apparatus by bonding together a pair of substrates with a first sealing member, on the outer periphery of which is arranged an alkylsiloxane compound irradiated with ultraviolet radiation
A highly moisture-resistant liquid crystal display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof suppresses display deterioration due to the occurrence of image retention without gap controllability and alignment-stability maintenance. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a first sealing member arranged at an outer periphery of a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates; and a second sealing member arranged at an outer periphery of the first sealing member in contact with the pair of substrates. The second sealing member 16 is formed from an alkylsiloxane compound as a main ingredient which is formed into an inorganic film by irradiation with an ultraviolet radiation. The alkylsiloxane compound is a di-alkylsiloxane compound or di-methyl-siloxane compound. |
| US08717504B2 |
Picture processing apparatus, processing method for use therewith, and program
A picture conversion information supply section 130 calculates per frame an affine transformation parameter for picture conversion based on motion information about a moving picture. With reference to a reference picture, a picture conversion section 140 affine-transforms pictures making up the moving picture per frame using the calculated affine transformation parameters. Based on information indicating the center position, angle or scaling factor about the transformed pictures coming from the picture conversion section 140, a sound conversion information calculation section 190 calculates sound conversion information for converting the sound corresponding to the pictures. Based on the sound conversion information, a sound conversion processing section 200 controls the volume of each of the channels making up the sound, adds up the controlled sound of each channel, and outputs the result as output sound to speakers 220. |
| US08717503B2 |
Audio output device connectable with plurality of devices and method of controlling the same
In a television device (audio output device), audio output performance information of the television device is pre-stored in an EDID-ROM. When an AV amplifier is connected to the television device, a control unit rewrites “2ch” audio output performance information of the television device stored in the EDID-ROM of an HDMI port which is different from the HDMI port to which the AV amplifier is connected, to “5.1ch” audio output performance information of the AV amplifier. |
| US08717495B2 |
Digital camera
Provided is a digital camera including: a camera body (1) that includes a body mount to which a lens unit, which forms an optical image of a subject, can be attached; an image sensor (8) that is disposed in a body chassis (3) of the camera body (1) to convert the optical image of the subject into image data; a main circuit board (11) to which an image sensor (8) is electrically connected; and an electronic viewfinder (6) that includes a monitor on which a through image captured by the image sensor (8) is displayed, wherein a conductive shielding member (33) is disposed in the body chassis (3) in order to electromagnetically shield a region between a space in which the image sensor (8) and the main circuit board (11) are disposed from a space in which the electronic viewfinder (6) is disposed. |
| US08717493B2 |
Shutter device
A shutter device is disclosed, the device including a base formed with a lens hole through which reflective light from an object passes, a first blade and a second blade rotating about a hinge provided at the base to open or close the lens hole, and an actuator provided with a linearly-shifting slider at an area eccentrically positioned from the hinge to allow the first and second blades to be activated with rotation moment. |
| US08717490B2 |
Imaging apparatus, focusing method, and computer-readable recording medium recording program
An imaging apparatus, comprises: an imaging section; a detecting section to detect an image area of a subject from an image imaged by the imaging section; an area setting section to set one or a plurality of evaluation areas to calculate focusing evaluation values in the image area of the subject detected by the detecting section; a calculating section to calculate the focusing evaluation values with regard to the one or the plurality of evaluation areas set by the area setting section; and a focusing section to be in focus based on a calculated result by the calculating section. |
| US08717487B2 |
Camera module with compact sponge absorbing design
An interior housing of a compact camera module is insulated from external shocks in a direction along the optical path to an external housing that is spaced from the interior housing by a compression distance of one or more shock absorbing sponges that are disposed between the outer housing and the interior housing and that are configured to compress to absorb external physical shocks in two or three spatial dimensions. |
| US08717486B2 |
Imaging unit and imaging device
A technique of enabling both of higher functionality and higher accuracy in a compact optical system is provided. To achieve this object, an imaging unit has a laminated structure formed by laminating a plurality of layers including: an image capturing element layer including an image capturing element part; a lens layer capable of changing a distance from the image capturing element layer; and an actuator layer including a movable part for moving the lens layer; and a signal transmitter disposed so as to connect the actuator layer and the image capturing element layer, and transmitting a drive signal for driving the movable part from the image capturing element layer side to the actuator layer, and the movable part is deformed according to the drive signal transmitted through the signal transmitter, and the actuator layer is provided between the image capturing element layer and the lens layer. |
| US08717482B2 |
Lens assembly with an image sensor backoff mechanism
A lens assembly includes a base frame, an image sensor, a lens barrel, a lens and a backoff mechanism. By means of the backoff mechanism, the image sensor is mounted at the base frame and movable between an operative position and a non-operative backoff position. When the image sensor is in the operative position, the lens barrel is in a first position far frame the base frame, and the optical axis of the lens intersects the image sensor. When the lens barrel is moved to a second position close to the base frame, the image sensor is moved to the non-operative backoff position, and the optical axis of the lens is not intersected with the image sensor. |
| US08717481B2 |
Head-mounted display
A head-mounted display (HMD) that enables a wearer to favorably view and recognize images even in a very bright environment, has a HMD in which image display light emitted from a display element is guided to an eye of an observer via a visor, whereby a virtual image of an observed subject is formed in front of the observer. In the HMD, light source devices are a first light source, outputting light of a high intensity, and a second light source, outputting light of a. low intensity. The light source devices have a switch to switch between the first and second light sources. The display element, the visor and the second light source are attached to a mount, worn on the head of the observer. The first light source is installed in a moveable body with the observer, and is connected to the mount via light transmission paths. |
| US08717468B2 |
Solid-state imaging devices and electronic devices with short wavelength absorption film over higher wavelength photoelectric conversion portion
A solid-state imaging device is disclosed. The solid-state image device has pixels in which an absorption film that absorbs short wavelength-side light is formed on a photoelectric conversion portion for desired color light through an insulation film. |
| US08717467B2 |
Imaging systems with array cameras for depth sensing
Electronic devices may include camera modules. A camera module may be formed from an array of lenses and corresponding image sensors. The array of image sensors may include three color image sensors for color imaging and a fourth image sensor positioned to improve image depth mapping. Providing a camera module with a fourth image sensor may increase the baseline distance between the two most distant image sensors, allowing parallax and depth information to be determined for objects a greater distance from the camera than in a conventional electronic device. The fourth image sensor may be a second green image sensor positioned at a maximal distance from the green color image sensor used for color imaging. The fourth image sensor may also be a clear image sensor, allowing capture of improved image depth information and enhanced image resolution and low-light performance. |
| US08717465B2 |
Blemish detection sytem and method
An image blemish detecting system includes an image capturing module, a brightness adjusting module, and a blemish detecting module. The image capturing module captures an image. The brightness adjusting module adjusts the brightness of the image to obtain a second image having substantially uniform brightness. The blemish detecting module calculates a brightness ratio of each pixel in the second image, marks the pixels of which the brightness ratios are not smaller than a predetermined reference value as “1”, and marks the other pixels as “0”. The blemish detecting module calculates the quantity of the pixels in a continuous area in which all pixels are marked as “1”, and determines that the continuous area is a blemish if the quantity of the pixels in the continuous area is greater than or equal to the predetermined pixel quantity. |
| US08717463B2 |
Adaptively filtering compressive imaging measurements to attenuate noise
A compressive imaging (CI) device for attenuating noise. The CI device may acquire samples during steady state portions of pattern modulation periods, avoiding the disturbing effect of transients that occur at pattern transitions. A CI device may acquire and then average multiple samples per spatial pattern to reduce (deterministic and/or random) zero-mean noise. A CI device may apply a filter to the photodetector signal in the analog domain and/or in the digital domain to attenuate noise components, e.g., noise due to electromagnetic interference. |
| US08717462B1 |
Camera with color correction after luminance and chrominance separation
An apparatus having a circuit is disclosed. The circuit may be configured to (i) receive a digital image from an electro-optical sensor, (ii) convert the digital image from a red-green-blue representation to a luminance-and-chrominance representation, (iii) generate a reduced noise representation of the digital image by reducing noise in the luminance-and-chrominance representation and (iv) generate a color corrected representation of the digital image by color correcting the reduced noise representation. |
| US08717453B2 |
Video processing apparatus, and control method and program therefor
An image processing apparatus for cropping and outputting a plurality of partial images from an image, includes: an acquisition unit adapted to acquire object areas for a plurality of objects included in an image to be processed; an analysis unit adapted to analyze a distribution of the acquired object areas; a determination unit adapted to determine a cropping scheme for cropping partial images from the image to be processed, based on the distribution of the object areas; and a cropping unit adapted to crop the partial images from the image to be processed, using the determined cropping scheme. |
| US08717452B2 |
Solid state image pickup apparatus
An apparatus includes a plurality of pixels each including a charge storage part, a photoelectric conversion part, a first transfer part and a second transfer part, when a signal charge generated during one period is transferred to an amplifier, a control unit supplies pulses such that a turning-on pulse is supplied to the second transfer part while supplying a turning-off pulse to the first transfer part thereby transferring the stored signal charge to the amplifier, a turning-on pulse is then supplied to a reset part to reset the signal charge transferred to the amplifier, and subsequently a turning-on pulse is supplied to the first transfer part and the second transfer part to transfer the signal charge held in the photoelectric conversion part to the amplifier. |
| US08717451B2 |
Camera system, camera body and interchangeable lens
The camera body includes a synchronizing signal generator that generates a synchronizing signal, a body controller that controls the camera body and generates a command to control the interchangeable lens. The body controller performs control to send the interchangeable lens a command to set the interchangeable lens to a synchronous mode in which operation of the interchangeable lens is controlled in synchronization with the synchronizing signal and a command to set the interchangeable lens to an asynchronous mode which is a mode other than the synchronous mode. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller that controls the operation of the interchangeable lens. The lens controller controls the operation of the interchangeable lens in the synchronous mode or the asynchronous mode according to the command received from the camera body. |
| US08717438B2 |
Parking assist apparatus
A parking assist apparatus includes a display portion mounted at a vehicle and displaying a parking assist image in which an estimated course line generated in association with an operation of a steering wheel is superimposed on a captured image of a surrounding of the vehicle, and an auxiliary image controlling portion displaying an auxiliary image in place of the parking assist image in a state where the parking assist image is displayed on the display portion, the auxiliary image including a virtual vehicle representing the vehicle and a virtual estimated course line corresponding to the estimated course line for the virtual vehicle. |
| US08717422B2 |
Multi-sensor video frame synchronization apparatus and methods
Times of receipt of start-of-frame indications associated with frames received from multiple image sensors at a video controller are monitored. Time differences between the times of receipt of the frames are calculated. One or more frame period determining parameter values associated with the image sensors are altered if the time differences equal or exceed frame synchronization hysteresis threshold values. Parameter values are adjusted positively and/or negatively to decrease the time differences. The parameter values may be reset at each image sensor when the time differences become less than the frame synchronization hysteresis threshold value as additional frames are received at the video controller. |
| US08717420B2 |
Head mounted image-sensing display device and composite image generating apparatus
The invention provides a head mounted image-sensing display device including a pair of image-sensing units (18R, 18L) that stereoscopically capture a physical space and output a pair of stereoscopic images, and display units (13R, 13L) for displaying images for the right eye and images for the left eye. Image sensing parameters that are previously measured for the image-sensing units are stored in image sensing parameter storage units (26R, 26L). As a result, a difference in parallax between captured images of a physical space and images of a virtual object is reduced. |
| US08717419B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus executes a distortion correction on coordinates of a target pixel in a virtual viewpoint image based on distortion characteristics of a virtual camera and calculates coordinates in the virtual viewpoint image after the distortion correction. The image process apparatus calculates ideal coordinates in a captured image from the coordinates in the virtual viewpoint image after the distortion correction and calculates real coordinates in the captured image from the ideal coordinates in the captured image based on distortion characteristics of an imaging unit. The image process apparatus calculates a pixel value corresponding to the real coordinates from image data of the virtual viewpoint image and corrects the pixel value corresponding to the real coordinates based on ambient light amount decrease characteristics of the imaging unit and ambient light amount decrease characteristics of the virtual camera. |
| US08717415B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
A graphics plane for storing a graphics image is a storage region where two storage regions, which are an L (Left) region that is an image storage region to store an image for the left eye, and an R (Right) region that is an image storage region to store an image for the right eye, are arrayed, with a 3D image of the cursor of a pointing device being configured of the image for the left eye, and the image for the right eye, and with a position on either the L region or the R region of the 3D image of the cursor being used as the position of the cursor when issuing an event with the position of the cursor as an argument. |
| US08717414B2 |
Method and apparatus for matching color image and depth image
A method and apparatus for matching images are provided. The image matching method includes: obtaining a depth image and an intensity image of an object using a depth camera installed at a first position and a color image of the object using a color camera installed at a second position other than the first position; transforming the obtained depth image and intensity image into a depth image and an intensity image, respectively, that could be obtained if the object were photographed by a camera at the second position; and matching the transformed depth image and intensity image and the obtained color image. In this way, a depth image and intensity image obtained separately from a 2-dimensional (2D) color image can be accurately matched to the 2D color image, thereby allowing a reliable 3D image to be obtained. |
| US08717406B2 |
Multi-participant audio/video communication with participant role indicator
An audio/video communication method displays the status of participants in a video chat session. The method employs multiple video chat capable (VCC) information handling systems (IHSs) that display video images of the participants. In this manner, each user may see the user's own video image as well as the video images of other users in the video chat session. When a user speaks, that user's VCC IHS detects audio, thus designating a speaker participant. This user's VCC IHS includes a gaze direction detector that determines at which particular user video image the user gazes, thus determining a target participant. The VCC IHS sends speaker participant ID information and target participant ID information to other VCC IHSs in the video chat session. In response, the other VCC IHSs display an indicator that designates one user video image as the speaker participant and another user video image as the target participant. |
| US08717405B2 |
Method and device for generating 3D panoramic video streams, and videoconference method and device
A method and a device for generating 3-dimensional (3D) panoramic video streams, a videoconference method, and a videoconference device are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining depth information of at least two video images; obtaining image data in multiple depth positions from a corresponding video image according to the depth information of each video image; stitching data of the video images according to the obtained image data in multiple depth positions, and generating 3D panoramic video streams. The technical solution of the present invention provides users with high-resolution 3D panoramic seamless telepresence conference video images based on different display modes of different display devices. |
| US08717399B2 |
Processing video communication data
The present invention provides a method of processing video data in a video communication system, and a corresponding program and apparatus. The method comprises: receiving first video data at a first terminal from a second terminal; generating second video data at the first terminal for transmission to the second terminal; selecting the size of a first video area for displaying the first data within a display area; and scaling the first video data to the selected size of the first area and displaying it therein. The method further comprises: determining a second video area for displaying the second data within the display area, the determination of the second area comprising at least determining a location of the second area relative to the first area in dependence on the size of the first area; and scaling the second video data to the second video area and displaying it therein. |
| US08717395B2 |
Large-particle inkjet receiver-charging intermediate member
Apparatus for producing a print on a recording medium includes a printhead providing drops of hydrophilic liquid. A hydrophobic drop-retention layer of an intermediate member receives the drops in cells including ion donors, forming a liquid pattern corresponding to image data. The ion donor in liquid-containing cells dissolves into ions. A transport member brings the recording medium into contact with the liquid pattern on the intermediate member. A voltage source applies a bias across the recording medium in contact with the liquid pattern to move ions to form a charge pattern corresponding to the liquid pattern on the recording medium. A development station applies charged dry ink to the recording medium bearing the charge pattern, so that a dry ink image corresponding to the image data is formed on the recording medium. |
| US08717393B2 |
System and method for controlling a display of a mobile device
A method and system are provided for controlling the display of an mobile device by: capturing an image using a camera device of the mobile device, the camera device being directed in a same direction as a display of the mobile device, the image comprising one or more subjects (e.g. users or other humans seen in the image); determining a point of regard in the image for at least one of the one or more subjects, the point of regard being indicative of an area on the display at which a gaze of the corresponding subject is directed; determining, based on the point of regard, an instruction for controlling the display; and controlling the display according to the instruction, wherein controlling the display includes reducing visibility of at least one portion of what is displayed on the display. |
| US08717392B2 |
Apparatus for enabling users to view images, methods and computer readable storage mediums
An apparatus including a first expander configured to provide a first image and including a first portion configured to provide a first calibration image; a second expander configured to provide a second image and including a second portion configured to provide a second calibration image; and a controller configured to control alignment of the first image and the second image, a combination of the first calibration image and the second calibration image being useable to control alignment of the first image and the second image. |
| US08717387B1 |
Correction of misaligned map data from different sources
Misaligned map data received from different sources is corrected to generate a map that includes aligned features. Each data source is associated with a reliability value that identifies the likelihood that the map data received from the corresponding source is aligned with a particular map location. A corrected version of the map data is generated based on the reliability values of the data sources. Generally, map data from unreliable sources is adjusted toward map data from more reliable sources until the map data from the different sources is aligned. |
| US08717385B2 |
Image display control apparatus
An image display control apparatus is disclosed. The image display control apparatus stores first layers for original image data in first planes, combines the first layers into the original image data, records the original image data in an addition plane, and stores second layers for replacement image data in second planes. The second layers in the second planes and the original image data in the addition plane are respectively, synchronously and cyclically inputted to a compositing circuit so that the compositing circuit combines the second set of layers into the replacement image data. In the synchronous and cyclical input, the display of the display device is switched from the original image data to the replacement image data while a manner of combining the original image data and the replacement image data is being gradually changed between consecutive frames. |
| US08717381B2 |
Gesture mapping for image filter input parameters
This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines. |
| US08717378B2 |
Method and apparatus for reduced gate count gamma correction
A cubic, or other polynomial, approximation to a panel's gamma function. Embodiments contemplate a display system configured to apply a panel gamma function that is a third-order polynomial function, as well as its substantial inverse. This third order function is often easier to implement, and yields lower gate count than current power law gamma functions. |
| US08717377B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having stored therein image processing program and image processing apparatus
A shell texture image shared for use among multilayer shell polygons and including a plurality of areas having transparency different from one another, is distorted to varying degrees depending on a position of each layer of the shell polygons, so as to texture-map each layer of the shell polygons therewith and so as to position the multilayer shell polygons in a virtual three-dimensional space. Thus, it is possible to realistically represent hair, grass, and the like with little effort in three-dimensional image processing. |
| US08717375B1 |
Graphics display coordination
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes computer-implemented graphics frame buffer process that establishes on a computing device a graphics frame buffer accessible to be written by an application process and to be read by a graphics server process. The method further comprises generating a plurality of control bits whose value or values control access to the frame buffer by the application process and the graphics server process and reading frames from the frame buffer using the value or values in the plurality of control bits. |
| US08717372B1 |
Transitioning between operational modes in a hybrid graphics system
A method for transitioning from a first operational mode, where operations are executed on a first processor while a second processor is powered off, to a second operational mode, where operations are executed on the second processor while the first processor is powered off. A driver causes detects a first system event that indicates a transition from the first to the second operational mode is likely. The driver powers on the second processor in response to the first system event and detects a second system event. The driver determines whether each of the client applications can be transferred from the first processor to the second processor without resulting in any data loss, and depending on whether each of the client applications can be transferred, either transfers the client applications from the first to the second processor or continues to cause the operations to be executed in the first operational mode. |
| US08717367B2 |
Automatically generating audiovisual works
In one embodiment, a method comprises inferentially selecting one or more design animation modules based upon analysis of information obtained from digital visual media items and digital audio media items; and automatically creating an audiovisual work using the selected design animation modules. Audiovisual works can be automatically created based upon inferred and implicit metadata including music genre, image captions, song structure, image focal points, as well as user-supplied data such as text tags, emphasis flags, groupings, and preferred video style. |
| US08717356B2 |
Display processing method and apparatus
A disclosed method for displaying a shape of an object including a trimmed surface generated based on a base surface includes: dividing the base surface into plural triangles; generating a loop polygon for loops including an outer loop for defining an outer shape of the trimmed surface and an inner loop provided, in the outer loop, depending on the shape of the object; identifying plural sight-line single-valued areas, each of which satisfies a condition that mapping onto a projection surface is bijection, includes plural triangles, and is an area on the base surface, based on a positional relationship between a viewpoint and the base surface; generating, for each of the plural sight-line single-valued areas, mask data for each pixel from the sight-line single-valued area and the loop polygon; generating image data on the projection surface for each of the triangles; and perform drawing using the mask data and image data. |
| US08717355B2 |
Image processor for overlaying a graphics object
An image processor processes an assembly of data that defines an elementary image and a graphics object. The assembly of data includes composition data that defines a given appearance of the graphics object in an output image, where the graphics object overlays a portion of the elementary image. The image processor includes an occlusion analyzer for establishing an occlusion indication based on the composition data. The occlusion indication specifies an area in the elementary image that the graphics object will occlude in the output image, but which may be de-occluded in a stereoscopic rendering of the output image. An occlusion data generator composes an occlusion image based on the occlusion indication and the elementary image. The occlusion image represents a portion of the elementary image that corresponds with the area specified by the occlusion indication. |
| US08717354B2 |
Three-dimensional annotations for street view data
The present invention relates to annotating images. In an embodiment, the present invention enables users to create annotations corresponding to three-dimensional objects while viewing two-dimensional images. In one embodiment, this is achieved by projecting a selecting object onto a three-dimensional model created from a plurality of two-dimensional images. The selecting object is input by a user while viewing a first image corresponding to a portion of the three-dimensional model. A location corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model is determined, and content entered by the user while viewing the first image is associated with the location. The content is stored together with the location information to form an annotation. The annotation can be retrieved and displayed together with other images corresponding to the location. |
| US08717349B2 |
Source driver
A source driver adapted to drive a display panel is provided herein. The source driver includes a first output buffer, a detection module and a conversion module. The first output buffer enhances a first pixel signal and thereby outputs a first enhanced pixel signal. The detection module detects a rise time of the first enhanced pixel signal. The conversion module adjusts a driving capability of the first output buffer in response to the rise time for adjusting a slew rate of the first output buffer. Therefore, the first output buffer in the source driver can dynamically and automatically adjusts the slew rate of the first output buffer through a feedback mechanism composed of the detection module and the conversion module. |
| US08717348B2 |
System and method for synchronizing a viewing device
System and method for synchronizing shutter glasses with a display system. An embodiment comprises displaying a first image from a first image stream on a display plane, displaying a second image from a second image stream on the display plane, and displaying a synchronization signal on the display plane, during a first, a second, and a third display period, respectively. The first image and the second image are displayed at least partially on the same area of the display plane and the first and the second display periods do not overlap. The display of the synchronization signal on the display plane enables the elimination of a dedicated synchronization signal broadcast unit, thereby reducing the cost while increasing the reliability of a display system. |
| US08717346B2 |
Apparatus and methods for communicating with a low duty cycle wireless device
A low duty cycle wireless device is disclosed. The low duty cycle wireless device includes a high data rate transceiver, a low data rate receiver, and a microprocessor. The low data rate receiver receives a command to receive a large amount of information. The display information far exceeds the capacity for reception through the low data rate receiver. In response to the received command, the microprocessor wakes up from a sleep mode and activates the high data rate transceiver to receive the display information. The microprocessor deactivates the high data rate transceiver once the display information has been received. |
| US08717345B2 |
Pre-charging of sub-pixels
Pre-charging display screen sub-pixels, such as aggressor sub-pixels, prior to the application of a target data voltage to the aggressor sub-pixels is provided. In some examples, a target voltage of a sub-pixel in a previous row in the scanning order of the display can be used to pre-charge sub-pixels. The row of sub-pixels to be pre-charged can be switched on during the updating of another row of sub-pixels. In this way, for example, target voltages applied to data lines while an update row is connected to the data lines, e.g., to update the update row, can be applied to the row to be pre-charged as well. |
| US08717342B2 |
Sinusoidal laser scanner with optical filter
A scanning projector includes an optical filter. The optical filter exhibits a variable attenuation as a function of position. The scanning projector may scan sinusoidally in at least one dimension. The variable attenuation of the optical filter compensates for brightness variations due to sinusoidal scanning. |
| US08717341B2 |
Display apparatus which adjusts the responsivity of the display brightness to ambient lighting based on the time of day
An image display apparatus is for correcting an input image signal and displaying an image on a display unit based on the corrected image signal, and includes: an illuminance detector for sequentially detecting illuminance values around the apparatus; an illuminance analyzer for sequentially outputting image settings for correction of the image signal depending on the detected illuminance values; a setting selector for outputting an image setting which has been output from the analyzer a number of times greater than a number of times any other image setting has been output, or an image setting determined by the statistic of the image settings output from the analyzer; and a setting application unit for changing the image setting used to correct the image signal to be equal to the image setting output from the selector, when a predetermined change occurs in the input image signal or when a predetermined time has come. |
| US08717339B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus includes: a display unit having a main display area for displaying an image of a main channel and a sub display area for displaying images of channels which can be interchanged with the image of the main channel in the main display area; a replacement unit for replacing the images of the channels displayed in the sub display area with images of other channels not displayed in the sub display area; and a control unit which, after an operation to interchange images of channels in the main and sub display areas is performed with the image of the channel displayed in the main display area as an interchange source, controls to prevent the image of the interchange source channel previously displayed in the main display area which after the interchange is displayed in the sub display area from being a replacing target of the replacement unit. |
| US08717336B2 |
Light sensing panel and display apparatus having the same
A light sensing panel includes sensors arranged in rows and columns, where the sensors receive a first bias voltage and a second bias voltage and output light sensing signals based on light incident thereto; first and second bias lines which transfers the first and second bias voltages, respectively, to the sensors, where each of the first and second bias lines includes a main line and sub lines diverged from the main line and arranged in a second direction corresponding to the columns;, where the sub lines of the first and second bias lines are alternately arranged, and where when two adjacent sub lines are shorted, the shorted sub line of the first bias line is separated from the main line of the first bias line. |
| US08717332B2 |
Planar element, and touch switch
The present invention provides a touch switch having two ITO-free electrode layers that are bonded together, the touch switch having good visibility, and a planar body that forms such a touch switch. The planar body includes a mesh-like electrode formed in a mesh shape by multiple conductor lines L on one side of a substrate, in which the mesh-like electrode is separated into multiple conductive areas disposed at intervals, and non-conductive areas each disposed between each of the conductive areas; each non-conductive area has multiple cutting portions that cut the conductor lines L, and each non-conductive area insulates between the adjacent conductive areas by the cutting portions. |
| US08717324B2 |
Method of interfacing with multi-point display device
Methods (1000), apparatuses (100), and computer readable storage mediums for interfacing with a multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) are disclosed. A visual object is displayed (1010) on a multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304). The position of a first input contacting the multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) is detected (1020). At least the displayed visual object is selected (1030) based on the position of the first input. The position of a second input contacting the multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) is detected (1040) contemporaneously with the first input. A separation line across the visual object is determined (1050) so as to define a first portion and a second portion of the visual object. A change in the position of the second input is identified (1060). A change in a display characteristic of the first portion relative to the second portion is controlled (1070) in accordance with the identified change in the position of the second input. |
| US08717319B2 |
Input device for tablet computer
An input device for a tablet computer is provided. The input device includes a base and a touch switch member. The touch switch member includes a touch element and a power switch. The touch element is pivotally coupled with the base and exposed to a top surface of the base. When the tablet computer is placed on the base, the touch element is moved from an initial position to a triggered position through the tablet computer. Consequently, the power switch is pressed down and turned on. |
| US08717310B2 |
Stylus
A stylus comprises a first shell, a second shell, a first slide enabling member. The first shell has a first hole defined therethough. The second shell is slidably accommodated in the first hole of the first shell. The first slide enabling member couples the second shell to the first shell such that the second shell slides relative to the first shell from a retracted configuration to an extending configuration. The first slide enabling member includes a first pin and a first track that engages the first pin, the second shell slides relative to the first shell along the first pin. |
| US08717309B2 |
Portable electronic device including a touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same
A method includes detecting a touch on a first touch-sensitive display, applying force by an actuator on a touch-sensitive display to simulate depression of a switch, and storing a first indicator of depression simulation for the first touch. |
| US08717304B2 |
Apparatus, method, and medium for multi-touch decision
A multi-touch decision apparatus, method, and medium are provided. The apparatus includes a sensor to sense an object contacting a specific position corresponding to one among a plurality of sensing channels arranged in a predetermined array, a detector to detect at least one of information about signal strength of the sensing channel in which the object is sensed and information about the number of sensing channels having a signal strength exceeding a first threshold, and a controller to determine whether a single touch or a multi touch has been sensed based on the detected information. |
| US08717298B2 |
Scrolling behavior-influenced algorithm selection to facilitate adaptive scrolling
Methods, apparatuses, and articles for receiving one or more input factors associated with scrolling behavior of a user are described herein. Based on the received one or more input factors, at least one of (1) a tunable scrolling algorithm and (2) one or more non-linear scrolling algorithms of a plurality of non-linear scrolling algorithms may be selected for use in evaluating the scrolling behavior of the user. |
| US08717294B2 |
Calibration of portable devices in a shared virtual space
Methods, systems, and computer programs for generating an interactive space, viewable through at least a first and a second handheld devices, are presented. The method includes an operation for taking an image with a camera in the first device. In addition, the method includes an operation for determining a relative position of the second device with reference to the first device, based on image analysis of the taken image to identify a geometry of the second device. Furthermore, the method includes operations for identifying a reference point in a three-dimensional (3D) space based on the relative position, and for generating views of an interactive scene in corresponding displays of the first device and the second device. The interactive scene is tied to the reference point and includes virtual objects, and each view shows all or part of the interactive scene as observed from a current location of the corresponding device. |
| US08717292B2 |
Moving object detecting apparatus, moving object detecting method, pointing device, and storage medium
Even when a user is gazing at one point intentionally but the eyeball of the user is actually moving slightly, the slight movement is not reproduced as it is as the position of a cursor but a determination is made that the user is gazing at one point intentionally, that is, the eyeball is stopping. Thus, when a determination is made that the eyeball is stopping, the cursor is displayed still even when the gazing point is moving slightly depending on the slight movement. Furthermore, when a determination is made that the cursor is stopped, selection of an object such as other icon displayed at a position where the cursor is displayed is identified. |
| US08717290B2 |
Method and module for modifying an angular pointer signal generated using three dimensional pointing, and three dimensional pointing device
In a method and module for modifying a pointer signal generated by a 3D point in device and corresponding to motion of the pointing device, an angular velocity generating unit generates an angular velocity of the 3D pointing device based on the pointer signal. A control unit generates a control signal based on the angular velocity generated by the angular velocity generating unit and predetermined angular velocity threshold information. An adjustable low-pass filter is operable within a gain range, and determines a target gain thereof based on the control signal from the control unit. The low-pass filter filters the pointer signal with the target gain determined thereby to generate a modified output corresponding to the pointer signal. |
| US08717287B2 |
Force sensations for haptic feedback computer interfaces
A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation. |
| US08717285B1 |
Orientation lock
Disclosed are methods, computer-readable media and systems for locking an orientation of content on a display to prevent automatic and inadvertent orientation changes. An orientation lock module receives input from a user and presents a lock control for a pre-determined time. When locked, orientation of content on the display remains unchanged regardless of motion. When unlocked, orientation of content on the display may automatically change in response to detecting a motion. |
| US08717284B2 |
User interface device
A device comprises a manipulandum moveable in at least two degrees of freedom including a first link rotatably moveable about a pivot axis and a second link rotatably moveable about a pivot axis. The first link and the second link are coupled to a ground member. A first actuator is configured to engage the first link and provide an output about a drive axis of the first actuator. A second actuator is configured to engage the second link and provide an output about a drive axis of the second actuator. The drive axis of the first actuator is substantially parallel to the drive axis of the second actuator. The first actuator and the second actuator are each configured to receive a signal associated with a force feedback. The force feedback being associated with the manipulandum. |
| US08717281B2 |
Electrofluidic device and operation method thereof
An electrofluidic device includes first structural layer and second structural layer. First structural layer includes first substrate; and first electrode and second electrode on the first substrate. The second electrode has an indent region surrounding and without contacting first electrode. First hydrophobic layer is at least over the second electrode. Second structural layer at one side of the first structural layer with a gap includes second substrate and groove structure layer. The groove structure layer includes an indent groove, corresponding to the indent region of the second electrode. Second hydrophobic layer is over the groove structure layer. Polar fluid is disposed in the indent groove and remains in contact with the first electrode. Non-polar fluid is disposed in the gap between the first and second structural layers. |
| US08717276B2 |
Displaying method and portable electronic device using the same
A displaying method used in a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a display panel having a backlight module. The displaying method includes the following steps: turning off the backlight module when a rotation event occurs; waiting for a time period; turning on the backlight module. |
| US08717275B2 |
Electro-optical device driver circuit, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus with a shortened off sequence
A circuit includes a first logic circuit section that outputs a signal that could be in an active voltage level depending on a transfer-signal input from a shift register throughout a display period and outputs a signal whose voltage is constant at the active voltage level throughout an off sequence period; an enable signal output section that outputs an enable signal that is pulsed during the display period; and a second logic circuit section that outputs a signal corresponding to a logical product of the output signal of the first logic circuit section and the enable signal. The enable signal output section keeps the voltage of the enable signal constant at the active voltage level throughout the off sequence period. |
| US08717273B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and drive method for liquid crystal display device
A memory-type liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel including memory circuits, and conducts a refresh operation more than once during a display holding period after rewriting of a screen. The memory-type liquid crystal display device increases at least one of (i) a frequency at which the screen is rewritten and (ii) a frequency at which the refresh operation is conducted during the display holding period as an intensity of light received by the liquid crystal panel increases. This allows the memory-type liquid crystal display device to reduce power consumption while keeping its display quality. |
| US08717266B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, and electronic device comprising same
A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal panel including sub-pixels and a back light for irradiating light to the back surface of liquid crystal panel. A transmission sub-pixel can be switched into an image display state which can allow irradiated light to exit, and a black display state which does not allow irradiated light to exit. A mirror sub-pixel can be switched between a mirror state which can allow reflected light to exit and a non-mirror state which does not allow reflected light to exit, independently of the transmission sub-pixel. A control unit places each transmission sub-pixel into the image display state or black display state, and places each mirror sub-pixel into the mirror state or non-mirror state. |
| US08717262B2 |
Display device and method for fabricating the same
An inexpensive display device, as well as an electrical apparatus employing the same, can be provided. In the display device in which a pixel section and a driver circuit are included on one and the same insulating surface, the driver circuit includes a decoder 100 and a buffer section 101. The decoder 100 includes a plurality of NAND circuits each including p-channel TFTs 104 to 106 connected to each other in parallel and other p-channel TFTs 107 to 109 connected to each other in series. The buffer section 101 includes a plurality of buffers each including three p-channel TFTs 114 to 116. |
| US08717259B2 |
Organic light emitting display device, driving method thereof, and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display with improved long range uniformity is disclosed. The OLED display includes an OLED, a first transistor for transmitting a data signal of a voltage level in response to a current scan signal, a second transistor for generating a driving current of the OLED according to the data signal of the voltage level transmitted by the first transistor, a first capacitor for storing the data signal of the voltage level transmitted to the second transistor, and a second capacitor for shielding parasitic capacitor between a gate electrode of the second transistor and a cathode of the OLED. |
| US08717245B1 |
Planar multilayer high-gain ultra-wideband antenna
A dipole antenna for wide-band communications. Some embodiments relate to a multilayer planar high-gain antenna for ultra-wideband communications having a broadband dipole structure, a tuning plate and a feed arranged roughly parallel to one another and separated from one another with dielectric materials. In one embodiment, the antenna includes four conductive layers, a reflector, which is preferably rectangular, a broadband bowtie preferably of bowtie shape, a feed structure and a parasitic element or tuning patch. |
| US08717244B2 |
RFID tag with a modified dipole antenna
In general, the disclosure describes an RFID tag designed such that the tag is both covert and not easily blocked from the interrogation signal by the hand or other body part of a person. In particular, the RFID tag is designed to have a long, narrow aspect that allows placement of the tag in locations on or in a book that are inconspicuous to the casual observer while extending beyond a hand of a person holding the book by the spine on or near a geometry centerline. The RFID tag includes a dipole segment and a loop segment coupled to the dipole segment. The loop segment of the modified dipole antenna provides the antenna with larger signal strength than conventional dipole antennas. Moreover, the conductive loop segment also provides improved impedance matching capabilities to allow the modified dipole antenna to match the impedance of an integrated circuit (IC) chip of the RFID tag. |
| US08717243B2 |
Low profile cavity backed long slot array antenna with integrated circulators
The present invention relates to active electronically scanned array antennas. A thin, low cost design is provided by coupling electromagnetic energy into periodically driven long slots (205) using circulators with integrated probes (107). The long slots (205) are formed as grooves (114) in a conductive base plate (103), each groove (114) bracketed on both sides by conductive strips (108). The circulators with integrated probes (107) are installed between the conductive strips (108) and the base plate (103), to reduce fabrication costs of the machined parts and to facilitate the making of connections between the circulators and the antenna electronics. The probes (128) protrude partway into the slots (205) and provide coupling to waves propagating in free space. |
| US08717241B2 |
Antenna with active elements
A multi-frequency antenna comprising an IMD element, one or more active tuning elements and one or more parasitic elements. The IMD element is used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements for enabling a variable frequency at which the antenna operates, wherein, when excited, the parasitic elements may couple with the IMD element to change an operating characteristic of the IMD element. |
| US08717237B2 |
GNSS signal processing methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from observations of GNSS signals of multiple transmitters over multiple epochs, the GNSS signals having a first signal and a second signal in a first band which can be tracked as a single wide-band signal and each of which can be tracked separately, comprising: obtaining carrier-phase observations of the first signal, obtaining carrier-phase observations of the second signal, obtaining code observations of the wide-band signal, and estimating from a set of observables comprising the carrier-phase observations of the first signal, the carrier-phase observations of the second signal and the code observations of the wide-band signal values for a set of parameters comprising: position of a receiver of the GNSS signals, clock error of a receiver of the GNSS signals, and an array of ambiguities comprising an ambiguity for each transmitter from which carrier-phase observations of the first signal are obtained and an ambiguity for each transmitter from which carrier-phase observations of the second signal are obtained. |
| US08717236B2 |
Position signal sampling method and apparatus
A method of processing data signals suitable for providing positioning information comprises sequentially recording blocks of data samples of a satellite broadcast from the beginning of a period of time of interest, and storing them in memory. When the memory is full, previously stored blocks of data samples are overwritten, such that the average quantity of sample data decreases, and wherein the memory content includes blocks of data samples covering substantially the full period of time of interest. This method enables blocks of data samples to be kept in memory for a full period of interest (for example a journey) but allows a limited memory capacity. The use of the memory is intelligent and dynamic. |
| US08717235B2 |
Method and apparatus for navigation systems
The invention relates to a network element comprising a controlling element for forming assistance data relating to two or more signals transmitted by a reference station of at least one navigation system; and a transmitter for transmitting the assistance data via a communications network to a device. The device comprises a positioning receiver for performing positioning on the basis of two or more signals transmitted by a reference station of the at least one satellite navigation system; a receiver for receiving the assistance data from the network element; and an examining element configured to examine the received assistance data to find out information relating to the status of the two or more signals. The information comprises indication on the reference station the signal relates to, and the status indicates the usability of the signal. |
| US08717233B2 |
Satellite signal multipath mitigation in GNSS devices
A method for mitigating the effects of multipath errors in GNSS devices is provided. Signals from GNSS satellites are received. Image data from an image sensor is received. Orientation data from an orientation sensor is received. The orientation data describes the orientation of the image sensor. Obstruction data is determined based on the image data. The obstruction data includes an obstruction region that indicates the sky in that region is obstructed by a structure. Based on the orientation data, obstruction data, and GNSS satellite location data, the position of GNSS satellites with respect to the obstruction region is determined. The location of the GNSS device is determined based on signals from some of the GNSS satellites and the position of GNSS satellites with respect to the obstruction region. |
| US08717232B2 |
Handheld global positioning system device
A handheld GNSS device includes a housing, handgrips integral to the housing for enabling a user to hold the device, and a display screen integral with the housing. The device has a GNSS antenna and a communication antenna, both integral with the housing. The GNSS antenna receives position data from GNSS satellites. The communication antenna receives positioning assistance data from a base station. The GNSS antenna has a first antenna pattern, and the communication antenna has a second antenna pattern. The first and second antenna patterns are substantially separated. Coupled to the GNSS antenna, within the housing, is at least one receiver. Further, the device includes, within the housing, orientation circuitry for generating orientation data, imaging circuitry for obtaining image data, and positioning circuitry for determining a position for the point of interest based on the position data, the positioning assistance data, the orientation data, and the image data. |
| US08717231B1 |
Position privacy in an electronic device
A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. The privacy enhancement device may include a jammer which may produces false information, e.g. false information indicative of pseudo ranges. In addition, the navigation information used on the position detecting device may be locally stored versions of dynamically changing information. The navigation operation may be carried out using a Web service. |
| US08717229B2 |
Antennas
An active antenna array is arranged to activate subsets of switchable elements causing the antenna to form a first beam having a first beam pattern, and later to form a second beam having a second beam pattern of substantially identical far field radiation pattern to the first beam pattern but with different origins. A receiver receives radiation reflected from a target back to the antenna when the antenna is configured with the first beam pattern and then when configured with the second beam pattern, and compares the phase of the radiation received at the receiver when the antenna is configured with the first beam pattern with the phase of the radiation received at the receiver when the antenna is configured with the second beam pattern to provide a phase difference signal. A target locating means determines the angular location of the target from the phase difference signal. |
| US08717225B2 |
Object detection device for vehicle and object detection method for vehicle
An object detection device for a vehicle includes a transmission and reception unit that transmits an electromagnetic wave and receives a reflected wave, a reflecting point computation unit that computes a position of a reflecting point of the electromagnetic wave on the object, a distance computation unit that computes a distance from the subject vehicle to the object, an end point detection unit that detects at least one of an end point on the right side of the object and an end point on the left side thereof, a shielding determination unit that determines whether the end point of the object is shielded by another object when viewed from the subject vehicle, and an end point movement speed computation unit that computes a lateral movement speed of the end point of the object determined as not being shielded. |
| US08717220B2 |
Methods of quantizing signals using variable reference signals
Methods for reading a data location coupled to an electrical conductor. A counter receives a signal from an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the electrical conductor. The counter produces two or more counts, and in some embodiments, the counts are based in part on a variable reference voltage. An interfuser may be coupled to an output of the counter. The interfuser receives the two or more counts from the counter and reads data conveyed by the data location based on the two or more counts. |
| US08717219B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and image sensor
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit is configured to convert a difference between a first analog voltage and a second analog voltage into a digital signal. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes m (m is an integer greater than or equal to 2) first capacitors and second capacitors. Each of the m capacitors has a first electrode and a second electrode, and the first electrodes are connected to each other. Each of the m second capacitors has a third electrode and a fourth electrode, and the third electrodes are connected to each other. The semiconductor integrated circuits further includes: a comparator configured to compare a voltage of the first electrode and a voltage of the third electrode; and a logic circuit configured to generate the digital signal based on a comparison result of the comparator. |
| US08717218B2 |
Regular expression pattern matching circuit based on a pipeline architecture
A regular expression pattern matching circuit based on a pipeline architecture is proposed, which is designed for integration to a data processing system, such as a computer platform, a firewall, or a network intrusion detention system (NIDS), for checking whether an input code sequence (such as a network data packet) is matched to specific patterns predefined by regular expressions. The proposed circuit architecture includes an incremental improvement on an old combination of a comparator circuit module and an NDFA (non-deterministic finite-state automata) circuit module, where the incremental improvement comprises a data signal delay circuit module installed to the comparator circuit module and an enable signal delay circuit module installed to the NDFA circuit module to thereby constitute a multi-sage pipeline architecture that allows a faster processing speed than the prior art. |
| US08717217B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter and analog-to-digital conversion method using the same
An analog-to-digital converter includes a comparison unit that outputs a result obtained by comparing a voltage of an input node with a comparison voltage; 1st to Nth capacitors having one ends connected to the input node, respectively; and 1st to N−1th voltage selection units corresponds to the 2nd to Nth capacitors, respectively and applies one of a voltages of a 1st node, a 2nd node, and the comparison voltage to the other ends of the corresponding capacitors. An input signal is sampled to the input node, the 1st to N−1th voltage selection units select one of the voltages of the 2 nodes and convert a part of the input signal into a 1st digital signal, and the 1st to N−1th voltage selection units select one of the voltages of the 2 nodes and convert the remaining part of the input signal into a 2nd digital signal. |
| US08717216B1 |
Circular resistor string digital-to-analog converter
A differential digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a DAC includes a number of resistor networks coupled in series to form a ring, and a digital decoder configured to receive a digital code. Based on the most significant bits of the digital code, the digital decoder is configured to close selected ones of first and second groups of switches to couple first and second reference voltage nodes to corresponding tap points on the ring. Within the number of networks are first and second output circuits, each of which is arranged as a one-hot multiplexer. Based on the least significant bits of the digital code, the decoder is configured to couple respective tap points in the ring to first and second output voltage nodes in order to provide a differential output voltage based on the digital code. |
| US08717214B1 |
Precision sub-RADIX2 DAC with linearity calibration
An N bit sub-binary radix digital-to analog converter (DAC) includes a radix conversion module that converts an m bit digital input signal to an N bit sub-radix DAC code. A ladder module having NL bits has a plurality of first circuit elements corresponding to first respective bits of the N bit sub-radix DAC code. A segment module having NS bits has at least one second circuit element corresponding to second respective bits of the N bit sub-radix DAC code. N>m, and N is the sum of NL and NS. |
| US08717213B1 |
Hybrid resistive digital-to-analog devices
A differential resistor-based digital-to-analog converter (RDAC) can include a positive digital-to-analog converter (PDAC) stage and a negative digital-to-analog converter (NDAC) stage. A first network of resistors of the PDAC stage can be electrically coupled to a second network of resistors of the NDAC stage utilizing an intermediary network of resistors. Further, a differential receiver can include a first input and a second input. The first input can be electrically coupled to a first resistor of the intermediary network of resistors, and the second input can be electrically coupled to a second resistor of the intermediary network of resistors. Furthermore, a portion of the first network of resistors can be electrically coupled to a positive output of the RDAC, and another portion of the second network of resistors can be electrically coupled to a negative output of the RDAC. |
| US08717212B2 |
Bandpass-sampling delta-sigma demodulator
An improved quadrature bandpass-sampling delta-sigma analog-to-digital demodulator is provided, which includes a loop filter, an A/D responsive to the loop filter, and a first feedback D/A responsive to the A/D up-converted in frequency by a first multiplier and a clock. A first summing circuit is responsive to the first D/A and an RF input for providing an input to the loop filter. A plurality of feedback D/As is responsive to the A/D up-converted in different frequencies by a plurality of multipliers and a plurality of clocks for providing feedback inputs to the loop filter. The loop filter comprises a plurality of resonators arranged in cascade configuration, a plurality of analog mixers to provide frequency shifting of the error signals propagating through the resonators, and a plurality of summing circuits responsive to the feedback D/As. |
| US08717211B2 |
Adaptive gain adjustment system
Techniques for adaptive gain adjustment in a signal processing path to achieve greater dynamic range. In an exemplary embodiment, a digital gain is applied to a digital input signal based on a detected level of the digital input signal. A corresponding analog gain is applied to the output of a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital input signal to an analog signal, the product of the digital gain and the analog gain being kept constant. In an exemplary embodiment, a zero cross detector is employed to update the digital and analog gains only in the vicinity of zero crossings detected in the signal. In a further exemplary embodiment, a peak detector is employed to instantaneously adjust the digital and analog gains to avoid clipping in the signal path. |
| US08717209B2 |
Successive equalizer for analog-to-digital converter (ADC) error correction
Various pipeline ADCs are disclosed that substantially compensate for interference or distortion that results from imperfections with various ADC modules of the pipeline ADCs. The pipeline ADCs include various ADC stages and various compensation stages that are coupled to the various ADC stages. The various ADC stages convert their corresponding analog inputs from an analog signal domain to a digital signal domain to provide various digital output signals and various analog residual signals to subsequent ADC stages. The various compensation stages compensate for interference or distortion that is impressed onto the various analog residual signals which results from imperfections within previous ADC stages. |
| US08717207B2 |
System and method for processing signal
A system for processing signals includes an original wave outputting module, a signal sampling module and a signal processing module. The signal processing module includes an SCM, an FGPA chip and an amplifier electrically connected to the SCM. The original wave outputting module outputs an originating wave. The signal sampling module samples the wave, and outputs a plurality of signals. The signal processing module receives the plurality of signals, and outputs an amplified wave. The SCM has a predetermined wave frequency value and a predetermined wave amplitude value. The FGPA chip generates digital signals according to the predetermined wave frequency value. The amplifier amplifies the digital signals according to the predetermined wave amplitude value. |
| US08717205B2 |
Parallel differential encoding circuits
A first differential encoding circuit is configured to perform a differential encoding on n-lines parallel input data to generate n-lines parallel output data. A second differential encoding circuit is configured to perform a differential encoding on n-lines parallel input data to generate n-lines parallel output data. A multiplexing circuit is configured to alternately multiplex the generated parallel output data from the first differential encoding circuit and the second differential encoding circuit, and configured to output the multiplexed data. |
| US08717201B2 |
Electronic device
The application provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a main body and a cover. The main body has a sheet and the sheet includes a first key set and a second key set. The cover, slidably disposed on the main body between a first configuration and a second configuration, includes a first portion and a second portion connected thereto. The first key set is visible through the first portion and the second portion covers the second key set when the cover is in the first configuration, and the second key set is visible through the first portion and the second portion covers the first key set when the cover is in the second configuration. |
| US08717194B2 |
LED traffic signal compensation and protection methods
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and adjusting light output of one or more light sources thereof to correct for one or more degradation factors are provided. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and generating an indication if end of life is detected with the traffic lamp, where end of life is determined based on the one or more operating parameters. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and entering the traffic lamp into a self-protected mode if a fault is detected with the one or more operating parameters. |
| US08717184B2 |
Calibration of an electro-optical signal path of a sensor device by online signal level monitoring
A sensor device detects an object, in particular for optically detecting smoke particles. The sensor device contains a transmitting device for emitting transmit radiation, a receiving device for receiving receive radiation having scattering radiation that is generated by an at least partial scattering of the transmit radiation by the object, and for outputting a measurement signal indicative of the receive radiation, a signal modification device for modifying the measurement signal and for outputting a modified measurement signal, a level of the modified measurement signal increasing after the transmitting device has been switched on, and a calibration device for monitoring the modified measurement signal. The calibration device is embodied such that a reaching of a predefined signal level for the modified measurement signal can be detected and that a time interval between the switching on of the transmitting device and the reaching of the predefined signal level can be determined. |
| US08717183B2 |
Leak detector
A leak detector for detecting and locating leaks in a water supply pipe of plastics, the leak detector comprising a first sensor at a first position arranged to detect a leak signal travelling along a pipe, a second sensor arranged to detect a leak signal travelling along the pipe at a second position spaced from the first position, and a processing device adapted to receive the signals from the first sensor and the second sensor. The processing device may be adapted to determine the velocity of the signals from characteristics of the leak signals. The processing device is adapted to use the velocity and distance between the first sensor and the second sensor to determine the location of a leak. The characteristics may be the relationship between the phase and frequency of the leak signals. |
| US08717182B1 |
Mechanism and method to implement a reader mechanism for a container-based monitor of a consumable product
Disclosed is an improved method, system, and mechanism for a reader mechanism for a container-based approach for monitoring the history and/or quality of a consumable product. According to one approach, a monitoring mechanism is affixed to a wine container (e.g., a wine bottle) to monitor the handling/storage history and/or the drinkability of the wine inside the container. One or more environmental sensors are associated with the monitoring mechanism which tracks environmental conditions that may affect the wine. The tracked environmental conditions are analyzed to determine and/or indicate the drinkability of the wine. A reader mechanism is used to access and/or control the monitoring mechanism. |
| US08717178B2 |
Information processing apparatus and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes an entrance and exit detection module, an organization information obtaining module, a user number calculation module, a seat determination module and a presentation module. The entrance and exit detection module detects a user's entrance and exit to and from a room. The organization information obtaining module obtains user information representative of a user belonging to an organization using the room by using organization user information storing organization information representative of the organization and the user information representative of the user belonging to the organization. The user number calculation module calculates the number of users of the organization using the room. The seat determination module associates with each other the organization information representative of the organization and seat information representative of seats in the room, and determines a seat for the user whose entrance is detected. The presentation module presents the determined seat. |
| US08717177B2 |
Hygiene compliance monitoring system
An electronic hand hygiene compliance system and award indicator that provides realtime reporting of the percent number of hand hygiene events against a programmed target number of hand hygiene events for a given functional area over a given period of time, yielding hand hygiene compliance. The system keeps up to date compliance for an established group interval until the data is written over by compliance data for the same group interval the following day. In addition, a random hand hygiene event can be identified for a given functional area during a given period of time to trigger an alarm for encouraging hand hygiene activity for a given dispenser or group of dispensers. |
| US08717176B2 |
Reusable 3D glasses embedded with RFID and RF-EAS tags for use at 3D movie theatres
Reusable 3D glasses are provided, comprising temples embedded with RFID chips, a detachable lens portion, and a curved bridge portion. The RFID chips are to be used with a tracking system that performs a plurality of functions of: monitoring available inventory levels; counting the number of 3D glasses used by patrons; preventing unauthorized use of 3D glasses; preventing theft of 3D glasses; and counting the number of re-uses per pair of glasses. The tracking system further comprises a plurality of boxes for storing reusable 3D glasses; each box may comprise one or more RFID chips affixed along a cutting line on the box and one or more RFID chips inside the boxes. The curved bridge portion is configured for a user to comfortably wear 3D glasses over prescription glasses. The detachable lens frame is configured for salvaging a usable part in case of partial damage of the reusable 3D glasses. |
| US08717175B2 |
RFID tag with reduced detuning characteristics
An RFID tag and an RFID access card configured to reduce detuning effects from a typical RFID environment. The present invention provides an RFID tag that is specifically configured to reduce the detuning effects caused by initiating communication between an RFID tag and an RFID tag reader in the presence of materials such as metal, liquid, and the human body. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an RFID tag comprising an electronic circuit portion attached to a main antenna body portion, the main antenna body portion having two opposite side portions, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to one another, wherein each side portion extends outwardly to form a generally side-oriented v-shape. |
| US08717171B2 |
Device for detecting entry and/or exit, monitoring device, and method for detecting entry and/or exit including a possible existing region
A reliability extracting section extracts the reliability of positioning at a person's position calculator on the basis of an image captured from an imaging section. A section that creates a possibly-existing area determines a possibly-existing area on the basis of the result of positioning obtained by the person's position calculator and reliability (precision of positioning) obtained by the reliability extracting section. An entry determining section determines entering and/or leaving to/from a targeted monitored area on the basis of the overlapping of the possibly-existing area with the monitored area. |
| US08717169B2 |
Air traffic controller alerting system
A monitoring and alerting system for installation in an air traffic control facility. The alerting system monitors the outgoing transmissions from the control facility to secondary locations, the responsiveness of the control facility personnel to aircraft communications or both. The monitoring and alerting system utilizes multiple stages of alerts for the air traffic controllers. In a first stage, a light source is displayed within the control facility. In a second stage, an audible noise is sounded within the control facility. In a third stage, an audible noise of increased volume is sounded in or near the control facility, a notice is sent to command and control and/or an indication is sent to a Central Control Facility. The three stages of alerts are progressively activated if the personnel in the control facility fail to adequately utilize connected equipment monitored by the alerting system within predetermined time periods. |
| US08717167B2 |
Event detection control method and system
The event message is transmitted from an operative event detection device to the application, the transmission history is held by a device different from the operative event detection device, an event identifier of an event message and a time stamp in the generation history held by a standby event detection device is compared with an event identifier of an event message and a time stamp in the transmission history when the standby event detection device detects an abnormal condition of the operative event detection device, thereby transmitting an event message that has not been transmitted by the operative event detection device through the standby event detection device, and allowing the standby event detection device to transfer from the standby event detection device to an operative system. |
| US08717165B2 |
Apparatus and method for locating, tracking, controlling and recognizing tagged objects using RFID technology
The present invention is directed to a miniaturized apparatus to locate, track, recognize and control objects using miniature RF circuits that are programmed as an active tag or as one of several embodiments of a controller, including one small enough to be incorporated into a personal object, like a ring. In its simplest embodiment, a portable or wearable controller communicates wirelessly with a tag secured to a surface, analogously to a car remote—push button, receive a signal from tag or back at the controller, to locate tagged object. In more complex forms, the tag can be integrated into objects or connected to a network. One controller can manage a plurality of tags. The basic platform of tag and controller can be built up to create a sophisticated area control with environmental sensors, inventory functions, tracking individuals and allowing or denying access, operating objects like doors and lights, and creating supporting ambient security with checks and balances between tags and controllers on people and their possessions, such as baggage at an airport. Arrays of tag or controllers extend the wireless range to accommodate large structures and areas. This novel system is self-contained, with a low power protocol to give long battery life time and does not require internet or GPS to perform its functions. |
| US08717164B2 |
Integrated security system for warning of dangerous substances that are dispersed by winds
An integrated security system for oil-field and gas-field sites is disclosed. The system utilizes state-of-the-art technologies including “logical QR emblems” and powerful, advanced RFID tags. The system is particularly valuable for emergency responders, since it facilitates immediate, secure display of critical site data-according to predetermined classifications, e.g., emergency triage for an accident or terrorist event. |
| US08717162B2 |
Method, system and device for signaling, guiding and alerting
A method for controlling guiding, signal or alert lights, particularly signal lights for an emergency escape route in a fire situation, in which method there are controlled sequentially arranged light sources, such as LED light sources. In the method, in the first step the sequentially arranged light sources (40), which are most advantageously arranged as a light source string (4) or at least as part thereof, are activated, on the basis of a signal received from a fire detector (3), to be switched to a first mode, in which first mode the sequentially arranged light sources are used for indicating the direction of an escape route, and/or to a second mode, where the light sources (40) are switched to emit continuous light. The invention also relates to a system and a device. |
| US08717161B1 |
Lockout for hydrogen sulfide monitoring system
An H2S (hydrogen sulfide) system includes a lockout configuration that temporarily disables wireless communication while leaving one or more H2S sensors and audible alarms still functioning in case an H2S hazardous event occurs during the lockout period. Example H2S systems and methods include various means for initiating or ensuring the lockout configuration is in effect. |
| US08717160B2 |
Method and apparatus for electric powered vehicle recharging safety
An apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to receive a signal from a component in a recharging inlet of an electric powered vehicle (EPV) recharging inlet, determine whether the signal indicates that a housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and alert a driver if the signal indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, wherein the signal comprises an electric voltage level, and wherein an “UNMATED” voltage level indicates that the housing cap is not properly mounted on the recharging inlet, and wherein a “MATED” voltage level indicates that the housing cap is properly mounted on the recharging inlet. |
| US08717159B2 |
Vehicle brake monitoring system and method
A vehicle brake monitoring system comprises a sensor assembly configured to detect, during vehicle braking, relative position of a longitudinal member contacting a brake pad carrier, and processing structure communicating with the sensor assembly. The processing structure processes output of the sensor assembly to determine brake status. |
| US08717157B2 |
Display device for vehicle
To provide a display device for vehicle in which, when particular vehicle information, for example vehicle information with great urgency and high priority is displayed, a passenger can easily recognize the information and his attention can be attracted to the information.A display device for vehicle 1 includes an image display device 10 and control means 20 for displaying vehicle information as an image in the image display device 10, wherein, in transition from a first display form in which each of a first display image GR1 and a second display image GR2 is displayed to a second display form in which each of the first display image GR1, the second display image GR2, and a third display image GR3 is displayed, the control means 20 displays the third display image GR3 between the first and second display images after the first and second display images GR1 and GR2 are moved in a direction in which they are separated from each other or while they are moved in that direction. |
| US08717156B2 |
Advanced driver assistance system having a sensor arrangement for detecting the distance of the own vehicle from a foreign object
An advanced driver assistance system for a vehicle is provided. The advanced driver assistance system includes a sensor arrangement for measuring the distance of a foreign object from the vehicle, and an electronic control unit for activating vehicle-internal actuators as a function of information obtained from a signal of the sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement includes at least one sensor that is arranged on a longitudinal side of the vehicle and measures the distance of the foreign object from the longitudinal vehicle side. The control unit has a program module which emits a warning message to the driver during a forward drive by a connection to at least one of the actuators when the measured distance of the foreign object from the longitudinal vehicle side is smaller than a predefined safety distance. |
| US08717155B2 |
Brake warning device and method
A brake warning device and method includes acquiring acceleration data of a bicycle, and calculating a specific parameter according to the acceleration data acquired within a preset interval using a preset calculation method. The bicycle is determined to be decelerating if the specific parameter is less than a preset threshold value. A brake light of the brake warning device is turned on to warn that the bicycle is braking. |
| US08717146B2 |
Methods and systems for integrated interrogation of RFID sensors
An integrated interrogator for a RFID sensor is provided. The integrated interrogator comprises a digital reader in communication with the RFID sensor, an impedance reader in communication with the RFID sensor, and one or more controllers that coordinate actions of the digital reader and the impedance reader. |
| US08717145B2 |
RFID portal system with RFID tags having various read ranges
A system and method selectively reads radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags within an RFID interrogation zone. A portion of the RFID tags have a first operating range and a portion of the RFID tags have a second operating range that is different from the first operating range. Each RFID tag is programmed with an identifier associated with the operating range of the RFID tag. A first interrogation signal is transmitted which has sufficient power to activate RFID tags that are located within the RFID interrogation zone and have the first operating range. A response signal is received from each RFID tag capable of receiving the first interrogation signal. Each response signal indicates the identifier of the associated RFID tag. Each RFID tag that has an identifier associated with the first operating range is selected. |
| US08717143B2 |
Searchable binder
A binder management system having a cabinet with shelves for removable storage of searchable binders. Each binder has a body with front and rear covers and a spine. Inside the body is a binder mechanism for removably retaining sheet media. Each binder has externally extending upper and tower ohmic contact members which ohmically engage conductive members mounted on the shelf surfaces near the front. Each binder has a binder identification circuit coupled to an LED mounted on the binder spine in a location visible when the binder rests on a shelf. When a binder identification signal from a host computer is presented to the shelf conductive members it is transferred by the binder contact members to the binder identification circuit. If the signal matches, the LED is activated to aid the user in finding the binder. An LED and an optional audible indicator are mounted on the shelves to further aid the user in finding the sought binder. |
| US08717142B2 |
Door lock control apparatus for vehicle
A door lock control apparatus includes a lock switch on an exterior of a vehicle, a controller, and a check device. The controller performs a first key check in response to a lock command inputted through the lock switch. The first key check determines whether an electronic key specific to the vehicle is located outside around the vehicle based on a response from the key. The check device has previously performed a second key check, after the key has been put into a situation in which the key might have been moved from inside to outside the vehicle. The second key check determines whether the key is located inside the vehicle based on the response from the key. The check device stores a result of the second key check as a stored check record, which is then immediately available for checking when the controller responds to an inputted lock command. |
| US08717139B2 |
Transformer incorporated in electronic circuits
A vibration-suppressed transformer is fixed to a base plate and includes a magnetic lower core, two or more magnetic upper cores, primary and secondary coils. The lower core is on the base plate. The upper cores are arranged face to face over the lower core. The coils are arranged between the lower and upper cores. Each upper core contacts the lower core, on an outer side of the coils, with a first gap being provided between the upper and lower cores, on an inner side of the coils. The upper cores are extended towards each other from the outer to the inner side of the coils, with a second gap being provided therebetween. The second gap is provided therein with a non-magnetic pressing member to press the lower core against the base plate, on an inner side of the coils. |
| US08717135B2 |
Electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
An electronic component has a drum-shaped core member constituted by an assembly of soft magnetic alloy grains containing iron (Fe), silicate (Si) and chromium (Cr), a coil conductive wire wound around the core member, a pair of terminal electrodes connected to ends of the coil conductive wire, and an outer sheath resin part covering the wound coil conductive wire and constituted by a magnetic powder-containing resin; wherein there is an area where only the resin material in the magnetic powder-containing resin is permeated from the surface of the core member to a specified depth. |
| US08717134B2 |
System with directional pressure venting
A system comprises a tank, a radiator connected to the tank, and a component situated within the tank and susceptible to creating increasing pressure within system when under a fault condition. The radiator is configured to directionally vent pressure under excessive pressure conditions. |
| US08717132B2 |
Unibody magnet
A method for plating magnets with metal is disclosed. In one embodiment, the metal is aluminum and the aluminum plating provides a number of aesthetic and structural advantages, over brittle magnetic materials, which are only plated with a thin, anti-corrosive metallic layer. More specifically, methods for creating multi-pole bar magnets and structural elements primarily with aluminum coated magnetic material are disclosed. |
| US08717131B2 |
Panel system for covering a glass or plastic surface
An improved panel system for covering a glass or plastic surface is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
| US08717128B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay includes multiple contact sets each including a fixed contact and a movable contact displaceable in a first direction to approach the fixed contact and in a second direction to move away from the fixed contact; multiple permanent magnets each provided on the peripheral side of a corresponding one of the contact sets and having a polarity direction perpendicular to the first and second directions; and multiple ferromagnetic bodies parallel to the polarity directions of the permanent magnets and the first and second directions, wherein in a DC electric current flowing through each of the contact sets, the direction of a force exerted based on the permanent magnet is equal to the direction of a force exerted based on the ferromagnetic body. |
| US08717125B2 |
Transmission line with left-hand characteristics including an interdigital capacitor with partially overlapping fingers
There is herein disclosed an interdigital capacitor, an inductor, and an LH transmission line and a coupler using the interdigital capacitor and the inductor. The interdigital capacitor comprises two finger sets which are substantially disposed in parallel with each other. Fingers of each finger set are overlapped at outer edges thereof with each other to thereby generate capacitance. The inductor is formed substantially spirally inside the transmission line, so that it can have a large inductance in a compact shape and can be used in a broad frequency band. The LH transmission line has a broad frequency band in a compact shape, which includes interdigital capacitors connected in series with each other and inductors connected in parallel with each other. In addition, the coupler employing the LH transmission line has an excellent couplability. |
| US08717122B2 |
Cavity filter
A cavity filter includes a housing, a plurality of resonators received in the housing, a cover covering the opening, a sliding plate, and a plurality of tuning posts. The housing defines an opening and comprises at least one pair of positioning portions. The plurality of tuning posts are fixed in the cover corresponding to the plurality of resonators. The sliding plate is disposed between the cover and the plurality of resonators, and is slidably positioned at the at least one pair of positioning portions. The sliding plate comprises a plurality of tuning cells and at least one elastic arm. The plurality of tuning cells is coated with a metallic layer and corresponds to the plurality of resonators. The at least one elastic arm extends from the sliding plate and elastically resists the cover. |
| US08717121B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave resonator
A bulk acoustic wave resonator includes a substrate, a resonator section in which a piezoelectric film is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes, and a vibration region where the electrodes overlap when viewed in a film thickness direction is defined, an elastically deformable support section that connects the substrate and the resonator section, a membrane arranged between the resonator section and the substrate to face the vibration region of the resonator section and be fixed on the substrate with a space in between, and driver sections that are defined in the resonator section and the substrate adjacent to the vibration region and the membrane, and that move the resonator section toward and away from the substrate. The vibration region of the resonator section contacts the membrane when the driver sections move the resonator section close to the substrate. |
| US08717117B2 |
Wideband active quasi-circulator
Aspects describe a wideband active quasi-circulator that has the advantages of small size, lightweight, and compatibility with monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. An active quasi-circulator is provided that comprises both a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier. The active quasi-circulator can operate over a wide frequency range with isolation or substantial isolation between a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier that is tunable with isolation or substantial isolation at any frequency within the wide frequency range. The provided quasi-circulator is suitable for use in mobile units in multi-band radio frequency communication systems, as well as in other configurations. |
| US08717115B2 |
Resonator circuit and method of generating a resonating output signal
A resonator circuit enabling temperature compensation includes an inductor coupled between a first node and a second node of the resonator circuit; a capacitor circuit coupled between the first node and the second node; and a temperature compensation circuit coupled between the first node and the second node. The temperature compensation circuit comprises a varactor coupled to receive a temperature control signal that sets the capacitance of the varactor. A method of generating a resonating output is also disclosed. |
| US08717111B2 |
Oscillator device
An oscillator device comprises a resonator mass which is connected by a spring arrangement to a substrate and a feedback element for controlling oscillation of the resonator mass, which comprises a piezoresistive element connected between the resonator mass and the substrate. The invention provides an oscillator device in which the two parts (resonator and circuit to close the oscillation loop) are combined inside one single oscillator device, which can be a MEMS device. |
| US08717104B1 |
Vector voltage samplers for RF interface control of power amplifier
A system for compensating impedance mismatch at an output terminal of a RF power amplifier is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of samplers to measure a first set of parameters associated with an amplified signal being generated by the power amplifier. The first set of parameters is transmitted to a processing unit. The processing unit varies an impedance of an impedance element based on the first set of parameters. The impedance element is connected to the output terminal of the power amplifier. |
| US08717096B2 |
Switching amplifier system and method for suppressing signal distortion thereof
The invention further provides a switching amplifier system. In one embodiment, the switching amplifier system comprises a noise shaper, a corrector, and a pulse width logic. The noise shaper receives a first signal, performs a noise shaping process to process the first signal according to a feedback signal to generate a second signal sliced into a plurality of frames. The corrector adds a plurality of correction pulses respectively to the frames of the second signal to obtain a third signal in such a way that the correction pulse added to the second signal in a target frame selected from the frames has a polarity inverse to that of an original waveform of the second signal in the target frame. The pulse width logic then converts the third signal to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. |
| US08717095B2 |
Chopper circuitry operable in a high temperature environment of a turbine engine
Chopper circuitry may be adapted to operate in a high-temperature environment of a turbine. A first semiconductor switch (122) may have a first terminal coupled to receive a first output signal from a first leg (148) of a differential amplifier (150). A second switch (128) may have a first terminal coupled thru a first resistive element (R1) to a second terminal of the first semiconductor switch. The first terminal of the second semiconductor switch may be coupled to receive thru a second resistive element (R2) a second output signal from a second leg (152) of the amplifier. Switches (122,128) may be responsive to a switching control signal to respective gate terminals of the switches to supply an output signal, which alternates in correspondence with a frequency of the switching control signal from a first amplitude level to a second amplitude level, which effectively provides a doubling amplification factor. |
| US08717089B1 |
Adaptive voltage scaling using a delay line
In one embodiment, a method includes determining, for an integrated circuit chip, a delay measurement corresponding to a first number of stages in a delay line. A power supply voltage measurement is also determined. The method determines a second number of stages correlated to the power supply voltage measurement. The second number of stages correspond to a desired timing delay. It is determined if a power supply voltage should be adjusted using a comparison based on the first number of stages and the second number of stages. A control signal is output for adjusting the power supply voltage when it is determined the power supply voltage should be adjusted. |
| US08717086B2 |
Adaptive cascode circuit using MOS transistors
The present invention relates to a cascode circuit using MOS transistors. In one embodiment, an adaptive cascode circuit can include: (i) a main MOS transistor; (ii) n adaptive MOS transistors coupled in series to the drain of the main MOS transistor, where n can be an integer greater than one; (iii) a shutdown clamping circuit connected to the gates of the n adaptive MOS transistors, where the shutdown clamping circuit may have (n+1) shutdown clamping voltages no larger than rated gate-drain voltages of the main MOS transistor and n adaptive MOS transistors; and (iv) n conduction clamping circuits coupled correspondingly to the gates of the adaptive MOS transistors, where the n conduction clamping circuits may have n conduction clamping voltages no larger than the conduction threshold voltages of the adaptive MOS transistors. |
| US08717084B1 |
Post fabrication tuning of an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit 2 includes a transistor 26 which has a normal switching speed arising during normal operations of that transistor that apply electrical signals within normal ranges. If it is desired to change the speed of operation of the transistor, then speed tuning circuitry 12 applies a tuning electrical signal with a tuning characteristic outside of the normal range of characteristics to the transistor concerned. The tuning electrical signal induces a change in at least one of the physical properties of that transistor such that when it resumes its modified normal operations the switching speed of that transistor will have changed. The tuning electrical signal may be a voltage (or current) outside of the normal range of voltages applied to the gate of a transistor so as to induce a permanent increase in the threshold of that transistor and so slow its speed of switching. Temperature of a transistor may also be controlled to induce a permanent change in performance/speed. |
| US08717083B2 |
Limiting amplifier and method thereof
A method including receiving an input signal; amplifying the input signal to generate an output signal using a cascade of a plurality of amplifier stages including a first amplifier stage and a last amplifier stage; generating a voltage signal by sensing the output signal in a noninvasive manner so that the sensing results in substantially no change to the output signal; generating a current signal from the voltage signal using a transconductance amplifier; and injecting the current signal into an output node of the first amplifier stage in a noninvasive manner so that the injecting results in substantially no change to an amplification function of the first amplifier stage. |
| US08717082B2 |
Pulse width anticipator
An electrical circuit and a procedure for tracking at least one input pulse width applied to the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit includes a threshold component (e.g., a comparator) arranged to provide an output pulse width based on whether an input to the threshold component exceeds a threshold. The circuit also includes a controller arranged to control the threshold of the threshold component, based on the at least one input pulse width applied to the electrical circuit, such that the output pulse width of the threshold component tracks the at least one input pulse width applied to the electrical circuit. The controller includes at least a switch, and the output pulse width tracks the at least one input pulse width by following or anticipating the pulse width. In one example embodiment the tracking is performed for a series of pulses of varied widths. |
| US08717081B2 |
Non-overlapping clock generator
A non-overlapping clock generator including an enabling module and N pulse-generating modules connected as a ring is provided. When the ith input node has a high voltage level, the enabling module enables the ith pulse-generating module so as to trigger the ith pulse-generating module to discharge the ith input node. After the ith input node has been discharged to a low voltage level, the ith pulse-generating module charges the ith output node to the high voltage level. |
| US08717080B2 |
Digital delay line driver
Improved digital delay line driver is described. A delay line driver circuit includes elements to drive the delay line in one or multiple locations to provide a dynamic, adjustable slew rate on the output signal. The delay line driver circuit may also include active elements coupled to the transistors of the delay line to deactivate the delay line transistors substantially simultaneously, rather than cascading in series. Shutting off the delay line transistors substantially simultaneously reduces or eliminates crowbar or shoot through current on an edge transition of the output signal. |
| US08717076B1 |
Edge rate control gate drive circuit and system for low side devices with capacitor
An apparatus, comprising: a PMOS current mirror have a first PFET and a second PFET coupled at their respective gates; a first current source coupled to drain of the first PFET; a second current source configured to have a current that is greater than the first current source, coupled to the drain of the second PFET; a capacitor coupled to the gates of the PFET current mirror; a third PFET gate-coupled to the current mirror; a driver NFET having a gate coupled to the drain of the third PFET, wherein a drain of the driver NFET is coupled to the capacitor. |
| US08717073B2 |
Digital PLL circuit and clock generator
A circuit according to the present invention includes: an oscillator; an divider; a time-to-digital converter comparing the phase and frequency of a reference clock signal REF from the divider with an internal clock signal and outputting digital data D1 based on the comparison results; a digital loop filter receiving the D1 and outputting digital data W1; a data holder holding the W1 from the filter in time series manner; a switch selecting either digital data W2 from the holder or the W1 and outputting the selected data as digital data W3; a digitally controlled oscillator with oscillation frequency controlled based on the W3; and a data controller switching input data of the switch, and starting/halting the operation of the oscillator, the divider, the converter and the filter. Current consumption by the digital PLL circuit can be reduced. |
| US08717071B2 |
High voltage linear amplifier driving heavy capacitive loads with reduced power dissipation
A capacitive load drive circuit may comprise a high current drive amplifier configured to be coupled to a capacitive load during a high current ramp up of the voltage across the capacitive load to a cut off voltage; a low current drive amplifier configured to be connected to the capacitive load during a low current ramp up of the voltage across the capacitive load, from the cut off voltage to a maximum voltage across the capacitive load; and the high current drive amplifier configured to be connected to the capacitive load during a high current ramp down of the voltage across the capacitive load. The low current drive amplifier may be connected to the capacitive load during a period of steady state of the voltage across the capacitive load, intermediate the low current ramp up and the high current ramp down. |
| US08717068B2 |
Drive unit for driving voltage-driven element
A controller of a drive unit is configured so as to control a voltage supplied to a gate resistor of a voltage-driven element by using of a voltage of a feedback connector when an electrical connection between the feedback connector and the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element is ensured. Further, the controller of the drive unit is configured so as to control the voltage supplied to the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element by using of a voltage of an output connector when the electrical connection between the feedback connector and the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element is not ensured. |
| US08717066B2 |
Clock diagnosis circuit
A clock diagnosis circuit includes: a delay circuit to delay the clock by a prescribed time which is not more than the clock pulse width; an integral multiplication delay circuit to delay a delayed clock outputted from the delay circuit by a prescribed number of cycles; a first exclusive OR circuit to encode the clock using the delayed clock; a second exclusive OR circuit to decode an output of the first exclusive OR circuit using an output of the integral multiplication delay circuit; and a comparison circuit to compare the clock with an output of the second exclusive OR circuit to thereby detect a malfunction of the clock. |
| US08717055B2 |
Probe devices formed from multiple planar layers of structural material with tip regions formed from one or more intermediate planar layers
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to compliant probe structures for making temporary or permanent contact with electronic circuits and the like. In particular, embodiments are directed to various designs of cantilever-like probe structures. Some embodiments are directed to methods for fabricating such cantilever structures. In some embodiments, methods are used to form probe structures from a plurality of planar multi-material layers wherein the probe structures include a contact tip and a compliant body with the compliant body formed from at least one material that is different from the tip material and wherein compliant body provides for elastic compression of the probe in a plane of primary motion during use and wherein during formation a stacking direction of the plurality of layers is perpendicular to the plane of primary motion. |
| US08717051B2 |
Method and apparatus for accurately measuring currents using on chip sense resistors
Systems and methods for managing process and temperature variations for on-chip sense resistors are disclosed. The system includes a circuit that can leverage a linear gm circuit in order to provide linear gains (positive gains and/or negative gains). The linearity of the circuit enables compensation for temperature and process variations across an entire range of current (positive to negative). A control signal is generated by using a linear gm amplifier and a replica resistor, which is substantially similar to the on chip resistor. The control signal is used to control the gain of a disparate linear gm amplifier within a compensation circuit, which provides an offset voltage to compensate for the variation in resistance of the on chip resistor. |
| US08717048B2 |
System for post-processing of electronic components
A method of post-processing a plurality of electronic components in a post-processing machine after fabrication of the electronic components including providing a carrier with align fixtures, which align fixtures have a clamping mechanism, actuating the clamping mechanism to enlarge a size of receptacles, each of the receptacles is assigned to one of the align fixtures and the enlarged receptacles are larger than the electronic components to be received, positioning the electronic components in the receptacles of the align fixtures, actuating the clamping mechanism to reduce a size of the receptacles so that the electronic components are aligned within the receptacles of the carrier, placing the carrier in the post processing machine, and subjecting the electronic components to operations of the post-processing machine while the electronic components maintain in aligned positions in the receptacles of the carrier. |
| US08717040B2 |
Method for instantaneously determining rates of distortion of signals on an AC electrical network, and associated device
A method for instantaneously determining rates of distortion on variable frequency signals, and an associated device, in which a harmonic distortion rate is calculated across the shortest possible temporal window, corresponding to the duration of a period of a given signal's fundamental. Hence, the aim being to precisely determine the signal frequency value, whose HDR is to be calculated, an iteration of certain measurements, achieved at the time of a given calculation, is embodied in order to calculate the HDR on subsequent signals. |
| US08717039B2 |
Electromagnetic generating device for testing electromagnetic compatibility
An electromagnetic generating device is used for testing an electromagnetic interference of electronic elements of an electronic device. The electromagnetic generating device includes a power source and a detector. The power source includes a power output. The detector includes a first magnetic guiding portion, a second guiding portion, and an electronic coil. The first magnetic guiding portion is connected to the second magnetic guiding portion. The electronic coil surrounds the second magnetic guiding portion. The electronic coil includes an input coupled to the power output of the power source, and an output being grounded. |
| US08717037B2 |
Electronic control device
A main microcomputer abnormality determination section checks whether or not a voltage value of Vcc based on digital data output from a main microcomputer analog-to-digital converter is equal to or higher than a threshold value to thereby perform abnormality determination for the main microcomputer analog-to-digital converter and Vref. A sub microcomputer abnormality determination section checks whether or not the voltage value of Vcc is equal to or higher than a threshold value based on digital data output from a sub microcomputer analog-to-digital converter to thereby perform abnormality determination for the sub microcomputer analog-to-digital converter and Vref. An abnormality identifying section identifies an abnormality occurring site by using both results of the abnormality determination performed by the main microcomputer abnormality determination section and the sub microcomputer abnormality determination section. |
| US08717025B2 |
Method and system for echo planar imaging with slice selection also occurring concurrently with phase encoding, during readout
In a method and system for echo planar imaging, after having applied a radiofrequency pulse and a slice selection gradient, continuous readout gradients alternating between positive and negative are applied and a phase encoding gradient is applied before starting each readout gradient. A slice selection gradient is applied at the same time as applying the phase encoding gradient. Scanning signals are collected during the duration of the readout gradients. Image reconstruction is implemented based on the scanning signals to obtain a scanned image. |
| US08717024B2 |
System and method for generating a magnetic resonance image using compressed sensing and parallel imaging
A method for generating a magnetic resonance image includes acquiring a first k-space data set from each of a plurality of RF coils. The first k-space data set includes calibration data and randomly undersampled data. For each RF coil, a fully randomly sampled k-space data set is generated by removing a portion of the calibration data. A compressed sensing reconstruction technique is applied to the fully randomly sampled k-space data set to generate an aliased image, which is used to generate a uniformly undersampled k-space data set. A second k-space data set is generated by inserting the portion of the calibration data and a parallel imaging reconstruction technique is applied to the second k-space data set to synthesize unacquired data. The second k-space data set and the synthesized data are combined to generate a complete k-space data set for the RF coil. |
| US08717023B2 |
Relaxometry quantification self-justification fitting
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with self-justification fitting for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation parameter quantification are described. One example nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes a self-justification fitting logic configured to selectively include and exclude data points from a set of data points associated with NMR signals based, at least in part, on their impact on a fit attribute (e.g., standard deviation). In one embodiment, the self-justification is configured to select a subset of data points from the set of data points as a function of values for a fit attribute computed from fitting at least two different subsets of data points from the set of data points to a known NMR signal evolution. |
| US08717021B2 |
SAR dosimeter for RF power deposition in MRI and methods and systems related thereto
Featured is a dosimeter device that measures SAR deposited by RF power deposition during MRI of a specimen. Such a dosimeter device includes a transducer that is configured to present a load to the MRI scanner in which the transducer is located and to provide an output representative of signals induced in the transducer. The transducer also is configured so that the presented load is substantially equivalent to another load which would be presented by the specimen during MRI of the specimen. Such a transducer also is configured so as to generate an MRI signal that is sufficient to allow the MRI scanner to adjust the RF power to a value substantially equal to that of the specimen. Also featured are methods for measuring SAR deposited by RF power deposition and apparatuses or system embodying such a dosimeter device. |
| US08717015B2 |
Linear-with-magnetic field magnetoresistance device
A magnetic field measuring system is disclosed. The magnetic field measuring system includes a substrate, a conductive well formed in the substrate, the well having a first side with a first length, a first contact electrically coupled to the conductive well at a first location of the first side, a second contact electrically coupled to the conductive well at a second location of the first side, wherein the distance between the first location and the second location is less than the first length, a stimulus circuit coupled to the first contact and the second contact, and a sensor for identifying a property indicative of the length of a current path from the first location to the second location through the conductive well. |
| US08717012B2 |
Eddy current probe for surface and sub-surface inspection
An eddy current probe includes an excitation coil for coupling to a low-frequency alternating current (AC) source. A magnetoresistive sensor is centrally disposed within and at one end of the excitation coil to thereby define a sensing end of the probe. A tubular flux-focusing lens is disposed between the excitation coil and the magnetoresistive sensor. An excitation wire is spaced apart from the magnetoresistive sensor in a plane that is perpendicular to the sensor's axis of sensitivity and such that, when the sensing end of the eddy current probe is positioned adjacent to the surface of a structure, the excitation wire is disposed between the magnetoresistive sensor and the surface of the structure. The excitation wire is coupled to a high-frequency AC source. The excitation coil and flux-focusing lens can be omitted when only surface inspection is required. |
| US08717005B2 |
Inherently accurate adjustable switched capacitor voltage reference with wide voltage range
A switched capacitor voltage reference including a single bias current source, three capacitors, diode devices, an amplifier and switching circuits for developing a temperature independent reference voltage. A single current source avoids having to match multiple current sources. A first capacitor and at least one diode device set a voltage having a negative temperature coefficient. A second capacitor and each of the diode devices set a voltage having a positive temperature coefficient. A third capacitor allows adjustable gain to enable a wide voltage range including a low voltage such as less than one volt. The switching circuits switch between multiple modes for developing and then combining the different temperature coefficient voltages. The topology allows a simple amplifier to be used. The topology is inherently accurate and does not require device trimming. An averaging method may be used to compensate for any mismatch between the diode devices. |
| US08717003B2 |
Voltage regulator circuit including pulse generators
A voltage regulator circuit includes: a first pulse generator configured to output a pulse whose level remains unchanged when an input signal of a first circuit is in a first period, and whose level changes from a second level to a first level when an edge of the input signal of the first circuit is detected after the first period; a second pulse generator configured to output a pulse from a time that the pulse output by the first pulse generator becomes the first level until a second period elapses; a first field-effect transistor having a source connected to a power supply potential node, and a drain connected to a power supply potential terminal of the first circuit; and a first switch configured to cause a potential at a gate of the first field-effect transistor to be a first potential. |
| US08716994B2 |
Analog circuit configured for fast, accurate startup
Techniques and circuits are described by which analog circuits may be quickly driven to desired states at startup in a fast and accurate manner. |
| US08716993B2 |
Low dropout voltage regulator including a bias control circuit
A low dropout (LDO) regulator includes a voltage regulation loop for providing an output voltage to an output terminal, where the output voltage is proportional to a reference voltage. The voltage regulation loop includes a current bias input for receiving a bias current. The LDO regulator also includes a bias current control circuit for providing the bias current at a first value when the reference voltage is greater than a feedback voltage and at a second value higher than the first value when the reference voltage is less than the feedback voltage. |
| US08716990B2 |
Synchronous rectifying DC-to-DC converter device with compensated low-side switch offset voltage
According to one embodiment, a DC-to-DC converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, a high-side controller, and a low-side controller. The low-side switch is connected to the high-side switch in series. The high-side controller is configured to control the high-side switch. The low-side controller includes a first detector and an offset canceller. The first detector is configured to detect a current of the low-side switch. The offset canceller is configured to hold an output of the first detector as an offset voltage when the low-side switch is off and compensate an output of the first detector by the offset voltage when the low-side switch is on. The low-side controller is configured to compare a compensated output of the first detector with a reference voltage and turn off the low-side switch. |
| US08716989B2 |
Controllable DC to DC converter
A DC to DC converter comprising an inductor, first and second electrically controllable switches and a controller, wherein the first electrically controllable switch is interposed between an input node and a first terminal of the inductor and the second electrically controllable switch extends between a second terminal of the inductor and a common node or a ground, and where a first rectifier extends between the common node or ground and the terminal of the inductor and a second rectifier connects the second terminal of the inductor to an output node, wherein the controller controls the operation of the first and second switches to perform voltage step down or step up, as appropriate, to achieve a desired output voltage and wherein a decision about when to switch the first electrically controlled switch is made as a first function of a voltage error between the output voltage and a target output voltage, and an estimate of the current flowing in the inductor. |
| US08716985B2 |
Power factor correction device and correcting method thereof
A power factor correction device comprises a power stage circuit converting input alternating current voltage into input current according to a pulse width modulation signal and outputs the input current to a load generating output voltage on the load, and sampling the input current outputting a correcting current; a current compensating circuit receiving and comparing the correcting current with a reference current signal generating a compensating current signal; a voltage compensating circuit receiving and comparing the output voltage with a reference voltage generating a compensating voltage signal; a multiplication amplifier receiving the compensating current signal and the compensating voltage signal generating an updated reference current signal by multiplying the compensating current signal with the compensating voltage signal; and a pulse width modulation converter receiving the compensating current signal and the compensating voltage signal generating the pulse width modulation signal to synchronize phase of alternating current voltage and input current. |
| US08716974B2 |
Resonance type non-contact charging apparatus that matches the input impedance of the resonance system with the output impedance of the AC power source
A resonance type non-contact charging system is disclosed that includes a resonance system. The resonance system has a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a reflected power detecting section, a power converting section having a DC/DC converter, and a battery. The charging system has a controlling section that controls the DC/DC converter. The controlling section controls the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter based on detection result of the reflected power detecting section such that the input impedance of the resonance system at the resonant frequency and the output impedance of a high-frequency power source match each other. |
| US08716970B2 |
Method and circuit for controlling motors
A method for controlling a motor comprises steps of: first, determining whether a switch of a motor control circuit in an electronic system is in a first state; then, operating the motor at a fanless operation mode when a temperature inside an enclosure of the electronic system is higher than zero and lower than a first threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is zero rpm; operating the motor at a silent operation mode when the temperature is higher than the first threshold temperature and lower than a second threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is a constant rotation speed; and operating the motor at a cooling operation mode when the temperature is higher than the second threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is a function of the temperature and varies between the constant rotation speed and a maximum rotation speed. |
| US08716968B2 |
Low cost blender control permitting low actuation force switches
A control circuit for a blender provides low-cost power conditioning through the use of a high resistance which provides temporary power for operation of low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches for a time sufficient to switch the motor on, and a lower resistance which provides sufficient power for maintaining the motor on state indefinitely as instructed by the low-voltage logic circuitry. Low average power dissipation is provided by powering the low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches using the high resistance in a standby mode and switching in the lower resistance only when the motor is activated. |
| US08716967B2 |
Motor control device
A motor control device for controlling a three-phase brushless motor that has a rotor and field coils includes: a load range determining unit that determines a rotor rotation angle range, in which the three-phase brushless motor becomes a load, as a load range when a short-circuit fault occurs in one of a plurality of switching elements. The load range determining unit determines a rotor rotation angle range, in which load current is presumed to flow through a closed circuit formed of the short-circuit switching element and any one of regenerative diodes connected in parallel with the respective normal switching elements when the rotor is rotated in a state where all the switching elements other than the short-circuit switching element are turned off, as the load range. |
| US08716964B2 |
Motor drive device, and compressor and refrigerator using same
Phase correction unit (25) for outputting a commutation signal for switching a winding that allows a current to flow to brushless DC motor (4) and drive unit (16) for outputting a drive signal indicating supplying timing of electric power supplied to brushless DC motor (4) by inverter (3) based on the commutation signal output from phase correction unit (25) are provided so as to maintain a predetermined relation between a phase of a current flowing to a predetermined winding of brushless DC motor (4) and a phase of a voltage. Since brushless DC motor (4) is driven by a signal for holding the predetermined relation between the phase of the current and the phase of the voltage, the stability of drive under high-speed and high-load conditions is enhanced and a drive range is extended. |
| US08716961B2 |
Switched reluctance and PM brushless DC motor drive control for electric vehicle application
A method of operating an electrical machine having first and second phase windings. The method includes: (1) applying positive first current to the first phase winding while the first phase winding's back electromotive force (emf) is positive; (2) applying negative second current to the first phase winding while the first phase winding's back emf is negative; and (3) applying positive third current to the second phase winding while the second phase winding's back emf is positive. The first current is conducted through a circuit composed of a battery, the first phase winding, and a first switch. The second current is conducted through a circuit composed of a first capacitive storage element, the battery, the first phase winding, and a second switch, and the third current is conducted through a circuit composed of the battery, the second phase winding, and a third switch. |
| US08716957B2 |
Powering high-efficiency lighting devices from a triac-based dimmer
A circuit for powering high-efficiency lighting devices from a thyristor-controlled dimmer predicts a zero-crossing time of the AC power line supplying the dimmer and causes a glue impedance to be imposed at the output of the dimmer starting at the time of the zero-crossing, so that the timer in the dimmer will operate properly to generate the turn-on event at the correct time. At turn-on, a lower level of impedance is presented to absorb the energy associated with the turn-on event. A higher level of impedance may be presented after the energy is absorbed until all of the energy needed for the cycle is transferred. Then, a high impedance state is maintained until the next zero-crossing time. The impedance control may be provided by non-uniform operation of a power converter that supplies the lighting devices, or by a combination of non-uniform power converter operation and dissipative loading. |
| US08716954B2 |
LED drive circuit
An LED drive circuit for driving an LED includes a reactor L1, a switch element, a current detection resistor R1 to detect a current of the switch element, a constant current circuit 2 that generates a first control signal to control a current of the switch element to be constant, a disconnection detection circuit 4a that generates a second control signal to keep the switch element OFF if determining that a current equal to or over a predetermined value passes through the switch element when a predetermined time elapses after the timing at which the switch element changes its state from ON to OFF, and a driver of the switch element that drives the switch element and keeps the switch element OFF in case of a disconnection according to the second control signal in priority to the first control signal. |
| US08716947B2 |
LED current source digital to analog convertor
Various embodiments relate to a method of producing a high precision current using N current mirrors, a feedback control amplifier, and a reference current regulator to drive a light emitting diode, including: selecting one of the N current mirrors as a first current mirror; driving the first current mirror using a reference current produced by the reference current regulator; measuring a first sense voltage at the first current mirror; measuring a second sense voltage at a second current mirror that is one of the remaining N−1 current mirrors; integrating a difference of the first sense voltage and the second sense voltage to produce a feedback signal; and driving the remaining N−1 current mirrors using the feedback signal. |
| US08716945B2 |
Light tube and power supply circuit
A light tube for illumination by a power supply circuit includes a bulb portion and at least one end cap disposed on the bulb portion. A plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed inside the bulb portion for illuminating in response to electrical current to be received from the power supply circuit. The light emitting diodes are arranged in spaced-apart groupings. |
| US08716942B2 |
Managing light system energy use
A first lighting assembly receives a lighting profile that instructs the first lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile over a first period of time. The received lighting profile is implemented, including causing a light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a first intensity. An input acquired in proximity to the first lighting assembly and indicating activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly is received. The received lighting profile is then deviated from, in response to the received input, by increasing the intensity of the light to illuminate at a second intensity for a predetermined period of time. A message is transmitted for receipt by the control center, the message including an indication of the increased light intensity and an identifier associated with the first lighting assembly. |
| US08716941B2 |
Terminal and brightness control method thereof
A terminal and a brightness control method thereof are provided. The terminal includes an illumination sensor for measuring peripheral illumination of the terminal, a proximity sensor for detecting an object within a preset distance, a memory for storing a brightness table including data for controlling brightness of a display unit corresponding to the measured illumination, the display unit for displaying and for changing a brightness of the display unit under control of a controller, and the controller for controlling the display unit to change the brightness according to the measured illumination and the brightness table when the object is not detected. The terminal and brightness control method thereof provide a more suitable screen to a user. |
| US08716936B2 |
Emergency lighting device for operating a light source, in particular an LED
An emergency lighting device (1) for operating a light source, in particular an LED, incorporates an energy storage unit (4), a charging circuit (3) to be supplied with mains supply voltage (Uin) for charging the energy storage unit (4) during a charging operation, wherein the charging circuit (3) has potential isolation, and a driver circuit (5) supplied by the energy storage unit (4) during operation of the emergency light, for operating the light source. A control unit (2) is further provided that is designed to monitor the state of the mains supply voltage (Uin) during the charging operation, and to activate emergency operation upon detecting an emergency state, wherein the control unit (2) determines the state of the mains supply voltage (Uin) from operating parameters of the emergency lighting device (1) measured on the output side of the charging circuit (3). |
| US08716933B2 |
Semiconductor device including light emitting element
A light-emitting device having the quality of an image high in homogeneity is provided. A printed wiring board (second substrate) (107) is provided facing a substrate (first substrate) (101) that has a luminous element (102) formed thereon. A PWB side wiring (second group of wirings) (110) on the printed wiring board (107) is electrically connected to element side wirings (first group of wirings) (103, 104) by anisotropic conductive films (105a, 105b). At this point, because a low resistant copper foil is used to form the PWB side wiring (110), a voltage-drop of the element side wirings (103, 104) and a delay of a signal can be reduced. Accordingly, the homogeneity of the quality of an image is improved, and the operating speed of a driver circuit portion is enhanced. |
| US08716931B2 |
Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate main body; an organic light emitting element on the substrate main body; an encapsulation substrate covering the organic light emitting element and coupled to the substrate main body; a translucent insulating layer filter formed on the encapsulation substrate; and a microcavity between the translucent insulating layer filter and the encapsulation substrate. |
| US08716930B2 |
Flat panel display device and method thereof
A flat panel display device including a display area where an image is displayed and a non-display area located at an outside of the display area includes bank portions arranged in a pattern in the display area and partitioning a plurality of openings, emission elements located in the openings, dummy bank portions formed in the non-display area and integrated therewith, and a sealing passivation layer having a multi-layered structure of organic films and inorganic films alternately arranged, one organic film being located at an interface directly contacting the emission element and one inorganic film located firstly on an outermost portion of the dummy bank portions when the sealing passivation layer extends from the display area to the non-display area. |
| US08716913B2 |
Devices and methods for magnetic pole and back iron retention in electromagnetic machines
In some embodiments, an electromagnetic machine includes a rotor element configured for movement relative to a stator. The rotor element includes a support member, a backing member, and a magnetic pole assembly. The support member includes a first coupling portion. The backing member is formed, at least in part, from a ferromagnetic material and the magnetic pole assembly is configured to be coupled to the backing member. The magnetic pole assembly and/or the backing member include a second coupling portion configured to removably couple the backing member and the magnetic pole assembly collectively to the first coupling portion of the support member. |
| US08716912B2 |
Direct drive rotor with metal coupler
A rotor for an outer rotor-type motor is provided. The rotor includes a metallic coupler and a polymeric frame molded over at least part of the metallic coupler. |
| US08716908B2 |
Power tool
A power tool in the form of an electric disc grinder has a driving motor for driving a grinding wheel that performs a grinding or polishing operation on a workpiece, a motor housing that houses the driving motor, a rear cover that is mounted to a rear end region of the motor housing and forms together with the motor housing a grip to be held by a user, and a power switch including an operating lever that extends longitudinally on both of the motor housing and the rear cover and is operated by gripping with a user's hand, and a switch part that is disposed within the rear cover and actuated by operation of the operating lever to control energization of the driving motor and connected to the operating lever through an opening. |
| US08716906B2 |
Electronic circuit device including a noise blocker
An electric circuit device operable under a first power supply includes: a first circuit; a switch connecting the first circuit with the first power supply; a second circuit for producing a signal output; a control signal output unit for outputting a control signal in accordance with the signal output of the second circuit, wherein while the first circuit is supplied with a first power supply voltage via the switch by supplying of a driving voltage to the switch, the supply of the driving voltage is temporality cut off in response to the control signal. |
| US08716904B2 |
Variable-spectrum high-power electrical pulse generator, and facility and equipment operating such a generator
The present disclosure relates to a high-voltage pulse generator including a “frozen-wave” generation system for generating high-voltage pulses and a trigger system for triggering the pulses, the generation system including a first and a second photoconductor element, wherein the triggering system includes means for generating a laser light beam and means for splitting the laser beam into two laser beam fractions, each laser beam fraction being directed onto a photoconductor element of the generation system, the splitting means being capable of controlling the distribution of the respective powers of the two laser beam fractions as a function of the orientation of the polarization of the laser beam. The present disclosure also relates to a facility comprising multiple high-voltage pulse generators and electrooptic pump-probe equipment operating such a high-voltage pulse generator. |
| US08716903B2 |
Low AC resistance conductor designs
Described herein are improved configurations for providing a stranded printed circuit board trace comprising, a plurality of conductor layers, a plurality of individual conductor traces on each of the said conductor layers, and a plurality of vias for connecting individual conductor traces on different said conductor layers, the vias located on the outside edges of the stranded trace. The individual conductor traces of each layer may be routed from vias on one side of the stranded printed circuit board trace to vias on the other side in a substantially diagonal direction with respect to the axis of the stranded printed circuit board trace. In embodiments, the stranded printed circuit board trace configuration may be applied to a wireless power transfer system. |
| US08716901B2 |
Circuit for generating a direct current voltage and method thereof
A circuit for generating a direct current voltage includes a three-axis antenna set, a first capacitor, a limiting direct current voltage generator, a second capacitor, and a low dropout regulator. The three-axis antenna set receives a signal transmitted by a reader. The first capacitor generates a first direct current voltage according to an X-axis component, a Y-axis component, and a Z-axis component of the signal. The limiting direct current voltage generator limits and converts the X-axis component, the Y-axis component, and the Z-axis component to generate an X-axis direct current voltage, a Y-axis direct current voltage, and a Z-axis direct current voltage. The second capacitor generates a second direct current voltage according to the X-axis direct current voltage, the Y-axis direct current voltage, and the Z-axis direct current voltage. The low dropout regulator generates a direct current output voltage according to the second direct current voltage. |
| US08716892B2 |
Energy storage system and method of controlling the same
An energy storage system and a method of controlling the energy storage system, the energy storage system including a power converting unit for converting a voltage output from the power generating system into a direct current (DC) link voltage, a bidirectional converter enabled to perform mutual conversion between an output voltage of the battery and the DC link voltage, a DC link unit for constantly maintaining a level of the DC link voltage, a bidirectional inverter for converting the DC link voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage appropriate for the grid, and for converting an AC voltage of the grid into the DC link voltage, and an integrated controller for controlling the power converting unit, the bidirectional converter, and the bidirectional inverter, and for controlling operation modes of the energy storage system. In particular, the integrated controller may control operation modes in accordance with the DC link voltage. |
| US08716889B2 |
Solar powered electrical generation device and related methods
Embodiments relate to a solar electrical power generation device, including one or more prefabricated solar photovoltaic power source units each unit including an adapter to electrically connect to other units, a moveable and adjustable frame supporting at least one of the one or more prefabricated solar photovoltaic power source units and an electrical storage device being capable of storing electrical power generated from the one or more power source units. The frame is moveable from between sites and within a site and adjustable to increase or decrease a unit angle in relation to the sun and wherein the device being capable of connecting to a utility grid or serving as a stand-alone electrical power system. |
| US08716885B2 |
Disconnect switch for distributed energy system
A switching assembly includes a first terminal and a second terminal, a first switch connected to the first terminal, and a second switch connected to the second terminal. The switching assembly further includes a rectifier bridge connected between the first switch and the second switch, and a third switch connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. The switching assembly also includes a control unit that selectively opens and closes the first switch, the second switch and the third switch, and selectively turns on and off the rectifier bridge. |
| US08716878B2 |
Downwind type wind turbine having transformer therein and operating method thereof
A downwind type wind turbine having a transformer stored in a support post or in a nacelle includes the nacelle which supports a rotor and stores therein a generator, a support post which supports the nacelle and a main transformer disposed between the generator and an electric power system and the main transformer is stored in the nacelle or in the support post. |
| US08716876B1 |
Systems and methods for stacking a memory chip above an integrated circuit chip
Systems and methods for stacking a memory chip with respect to an integrated circuit (IC) chip are described. In the systems and methods, a plurality of like memory chips are stacked above one or more IC chip members of a family. The use of a plurality of like memory chips for the family may save costs and complications involved in designing, fabricating, and assembling memory chips of different sizes. The use of a plurality of the memory chips on a single IC chip can enable higher data transfer rates due to parallel data transmission. |
| US08716873B2 |
Semiconductor packages and methods of packaging semiconductor devices
A device is disclosed. The device includes a carrier substrate having first and second major surfaces. The first surface includes a die region and contact pads and the second surface includes package contacts. The carrier substrate includes a patterned lead frame which defines a line level with conductive traces and a via level with via contacts. The patterned lead frame provides interconnections between the contact pads and package contacts. The carrier substrate further includes a dielectric layer isolating the conductive traces and via contacts. The device includes a die mounted on the die region of the first surface. |
| US08716869B2 |
Cell array and density features with decoupling capacitors
A method includes defining an array including a plurality of unit cells, receiving unit cell density parameters in a computing apparatus, and defining a plurality of sub-arrays of unit cells using the computing apparatus. The computing apparatus defines density features disposed between adjacent sub-arrays. The computing apparatus generates density feature density parameters based on the unit cell density parameters and at least one density limit. |
| US08716867B2 |
Forming interconnect structures using pre-ink-printed sheets
A method of forming a device includes printing conductive patterns on a dielectric sheet to form a pre-ink-printed sheet, and bonding the pre-ink-printed sheet onto a side of a substrate. The conductive feature includes a through-substrate via extending from a first major side of the substrate to a second major side of the substrate opposite the first major side. A conductive paste is then applied to electrically couple conductive patterns to a conductive feature in the substrate. |
| US08716866B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to solve the problem that the number of pads increases due to high packaging density and the size of semiconductor devices increases due to increase of the pad density. A semiconductor device according to the present invention uses a conductor trace on an interconnection substrate to interconnect two nonadjacent pads. |