| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08724821B2 |
Sound field controller
A sound field controller includes: a sound field generation section which generates an effect sound signal for giving a sound field effect sound to an audio signal; an acquisition section which acquires a measurement signal indicating sound pressure levels of a direct sound and a reflected sound which are collected when a test sound is emitted in a reproduction environment; an identification section which identifies a maximum reflected sound whose sound pressure level is the maximum in a given time period after a collecting timing of the direct sound from the measurement signal; an adjustment section which adjusts the effect sound signal based on a ratio of the sound pressure level of the direct sound to the sound pressure level of the maximum reflected sound; and an output section which outputs the audio signal input to the input section and the effect sound signal adjusted by the adjustment section. |
| US08724820B2 |
Method of reproducing audio signals and playback apparatus therefor
A method of reproducing audio signals includes the steps of supplying a predetermined audio signal to a speaker array to synthesize surface wavefronts and forming a virtual sound source by the wavefront synthesis; and controlling the audio signal in order to change the position of the virtual sound source in the vicinity of the virtual sound source. |
| US08724819B2 |
Credential provisioning
Disclosed is a method in a provisioning apparatus. The method comprises obtaining a family key, a family key defining a family; submitting the family key to a security element in a secure manner (2-2); using the family key for securing credential data; submitting said secured credential data to the security element (2-4); using the family key for binding an application to the family; and submitting said binding to the security element (2-5). Also a method in a related security element and related apparatuses, systems and computer programs are disclosed. |
| US08724817B2 |
Secure management of keys in a key repository
A method for managing keys in a computer memory including receiving a request to store a first key to a first key repository, storing the first key to a second key repository in response to the request, and storing the first key from the second key repository to the first key repository within said computer memory based on a predetermined periodicity. |
| US08724815B1 |
Key management in a distributed system
Secure information is managed for each host or machine in an electronic environment using cryptographic keys. In some embodiments, a globally distributed system manage and rotate keys across various nodes within the system based on a predetermined schedule of each key's lifecycle. The predetermined schedule decides when keys are created, distributed, and used with respect to each key's pre-assigned time (e.g., an expiration time, a creation time). The schedule of the key's lifecycle may be predetermined and adjusted based on various system requirements. The keys may be automatically rotated throughout the various nodes in the system in a way such that the keys are not unnecessarily exposed for too long but are accessible to the ciphertext producers and the ciphertext consumers when needed. Further, the keys are created and rotated in a way to ensure robustness of the system in the event of a global WAN outage or network partition. |
| US08724812B2 |
Methods for establishing a secure point-to-point call on a trunked network
Methods for establishing secure point-to-point communications in a trunked radio system include receiving, at a trunking controller, a request from a source endpoint for a traffic channel for confidential communications between the source endpoint and a destination endpoint using a shared unique first symmetric key. The trunking controller provides keying material related to the symmetric key over the secured control channel to at least one of the source or destination endpoints and assigns a traffic channel. Moreover, in response to the request, the controller assigns a traffic channel. The keying material enables the unique first symmetric key to be securely established between the source and destination endpoints. |
| US08724807B2 |
Method for etching and secure distribution of digital data, access device and writer
The invention relates to a method of receiving and securely recording digital data comprising a step for recording said digital data on a secured disk by a recorder/receiver belonging to a determined secured domain comprising several equipment items and defined by an identifier, a step for recording on the secured disk the identifier of the domain of the recorder/receiver to define this domain as the only domain in which the reproduction/copying of the multimedia content is authorized, wherein it comprises a prior step for recovering a disk key from the secured disk, and in that the domain identifier is encrypted by said disk key and the digital data is scrambled by title keys, said title keys being encrypted by said disk key. The invention also relates to a method of securely distributing digital data, an access device and a recorder/receiver. |
| US08724803B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing authenticated challenges for broadcast-multicast communications in a communication system
A method and apparatus for secure generation of a short-term key SK for viewing information content in a Multicast-broadcast-multimedia system are described. A short-term key is generated by a memory module residing in user equipment (UE) only when the source of the information used to generate the short-term key can be validated. A short-term key can be generated by a Broadcast Access Key (BAK) or a derivative of BAK and a changing value with a Message Authentication Code (MAC) appended to the changing value. A short-term key (SK) can also be generated by using a private key and a short-term key (SK) manager with a corresponding public key distributed to the memory module residing in the user equipment (UE), using a digital signature. |
| US08724801B2 |
Mount for a mobile media device
Headgear for mounting a camera or other mobile media device is disclosed. The head gear includes a band for circling the head and means for enlarging or decreasing the diameter of the band to make it adjustable for various head sizes. A head mount is secured to the band for holding the device. The mount includes an enclosure with a flap for closing a pocket. The flap is secured to the mount proximate the head and folds over the front of the mount and is secured thereto to maintain the device in the pocket. The front of the pocket contains openings which are aligned with the lens of the held device to focus and record events in front of the user. The pocket has hinged side panels to allow expansion and contraction, caused by a bladder within, so that the camera may be pointed at a desired angle by the mount, thereby achieving the desired angle of view of the camera. |
| US08724799B2 |
Operating points for spectrum management in digital subscriber lines
A method of determining a number of operating points for spectrum management of a plurality of digital subscriber lines in a communications network, the method comprising the steps of: determining optimization criteria (Oi) for the digital subscriber lines; determining crosstalk gains (Gi) for the digital subscriber lines; determining an initial population (Pi) of operating points (x1, . . . , xZ) where each of the operating points comprises importance ratings for each digital subscriber line of the plurality of digital subscriber lines; calculating new values of crosstalk and power spectrum densities (S) for the digital subscriber lines, by executing spectrum balancing for each operating point until the optimization criteria are fulfilled; calculating a new population of operating points, by executing an evolutionary algorithm; and iteratively performing the steps of calculating until a predefined stopping criterion is fulfilled. |
| US08724797B2 |
Estimating agent performance in a call routing center system
Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating and assigning agent performance characteristics in a call routing center. Performance characteristics (e.g., sales rate, customer satisfaction, duration of call, etc.) may be assigned to an agent when the agent has made few calls relative to other agents or otherwise has a large error in their measure of one or more performance characteristics used for matching callers to agents (e.g., via a performance based or pattern matching routing method). A method includes identifying agents of a plurality of agents having a number of calls fewer than a predetermined number of calls (or an error in the performance characteristic exceeding a threshold), assigning a performance characteristic to the identified agents (that is different than the agent's actual performance characteristic), and routing a caller to one of the plurality of agents based on the performance characteristics of the plurality of agents. |
| US08724796B2 |
Estimation of expected value for remaining work time for contact center agents
The present invention provides a more accurate estimate as to time for completion of a call by using estimated time durations of separate phases of the call and by determining what phase a call is currently on. An important feature of the present invention is the use of automated speech processing techniques to estimate where the customer and agent are in their conversation and to gauge the rate of progress of the call. |
| US08724795B1 |
Problem centric knowledge management tool for call center
A call center problem resolution system is provided. The system comprises, a computer system comprising at least one processor and a memory, a data store coupled to the computer, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application receives call information comprising a calling number, and it retrieves communication equipment information based on the calling number, communication service plan information based on the calling number, and communication network operations information based on the communication service plan information. When executed, the application further receives words describing a problem experienced by communication equipment associated with the calling number. Based on the plurality of words describing the problem, the communication network operations information, the communication service plan information, and the communication equipment information, the application identifies a plurality of information items, and presents the plurality of information items in a prioritized order to a call agent. |
| US08724792B2 |
Auditing and optimizing communication path routes
Example embodiments of the present invention may include a method and apparatus configured determine an optimal routing path to route a call through a network. One example method may include retrieving and parsing a routing table and storing the parsed routing information in a routing database. The method may also include determining a plurality of routes that could be used to route the call through the network by applying at least one cost metric to the plurality of determined routes. The method may also include determining an order of the plurality of routes used to route the call, and create a route used to route the call based on the determined order of the plurality of routes. |
| US08724791B2 |
Controlling a call setup process
A call setup process (28) in a telecommunication device (10) is controlled, wherein the telecommunication device (10) receives a user command (22) to set up a call, initiates the call setup process (28), determines that the call is likely to reach a voicemail system (14), and, in response to the determination that the call is likely to reach the voicemail system (14), automatically terminates the call setup process (28). A telecommunication device (10) comprises related features. A telecommunication network (12) is adapted to support or implement a determination whether or not an incoming call is forwarded to the voicemail system (14). The invention improves the user experience if a called party does not personally answer a telephone call. |
| US08724789B2 |
Systems and methods to connect people for real time communications via directory assistance
Methods and apparatuses to connect people for real time communications via optional advertisements presented via directory assistance. One embodiment includes: receiving a directory assistance request from a user over a telephonic connection with the user; providing directory assistance information responsive to the directory assistance request; presenting an option related to an advertisement to the user; if the user declines the option, charging the user a fee for providing the directory assistance information; and if the user accepts the option, reducing the fee for providing the directory assistance information. |
| US08724777B2 |
Method, device and system for implementing emergency call override service
The present disclosure provides a method, device and system for implementing emergency call override service; wherein the implementation method comprise: a first application server (AS) on a called side receives an initial request message, carrying a service identifier indicating an emergency call override service, from a second AS on a calling side; and the first AS implements the emergency call override service according to the service identifier. In the IMS network architecture, by adding a service identifier, indicating emergency call override service, in an initial request message based on SIP, an AS network element on a called side can implement emergency call override service according to the service identifier, thereby solving the problem that the emergency call override service cannot be implemented in the current IMS network architecture. |
| US08724774B2 |
Method and system for extracting spectroscopic information from images and waveforms
The application discloses systems and methods for determining an atomic number of a material being scanned by generating a predetermined number of transmission data samples, determining a variance of the transmission data samples, and determining the atomic number of the material being scanned by comparing the variance or a derivative of the variance of the transmission data samples to one or more predetermined variances. The application also discloses systems and methods for determining an atomic number of a material being scanned by deriving transmission signal samples of the material being scanned, determining a variance of the signal samples, and determining an atomic number of the material being scanned by comparing the variance of the signal samples, or a derivative of the variance, to one or more predetermined variances. |
| US08724773B2 |
Method and X-ray system for processing an X-ray image
To improve the quality of x-ray images, IN a method to process an x-ray image, a mathematical correction of the x-ray image is implemented, wherein the correction at least partially removes from the x-ray image the locally dependent blurring caused by a projection direction-dependent, effective optical focus size of an x-ray tube used to acquire the x-ray image. |
| US08724770B2 |
Bidirectional shift register
Disclosed herein is a bidirectional shift register which is capable of preventing multi-outputs from both end stages. The shift register includes a plurality of stages for outputting scan pulses forward or reversely based on a start pulse and a plurality of clock pulses with a phase difference. A last one of the stages includes a forward scan controller for making a set node active and a reset node inactive based on any one of the clock pulses and a scan pulse from an upstream stage, a reverse scan controller for making the set node active and the reset node inactive based on any one of the clock pulses and the start pulse, and an output unit for outputting any one of a corresponding scan pulse and a deactivation voltage based on a voltage at the set node, a voltage at the reset node and any one of the clock pulses. |
| US08724767B2 |
Method of removing retainer of jet pump and jet pump
A retainer provided at lower portion of a pump beam of a jet pump for circulating cooling water to a reactor core or a bolt for fastening the retainer is cut through an underwater-remote control to remove the bolt and the retainer is removed through the underwater-remote control. |
| US08724762B2 |
Clock regeneration method, reference-less receiver, and crystal-less system
A clock regeneration method, for generating a clock signal for being utilized by a receiver/transceiver/receiver system/transceiver system, includes: performing data/pattern detection on at least one input signal to generate recovered data; detecting at least one synchronization pattern in the input signal according to a synchronization pattern rule, and generating a synchronization signal corresponding to the synchronization pattern; and performing frequency-locking on the synchronization signal to generate the clock signal. More particularly, the step of detecting the at least one synchronization pattern in the input signal according to the synchronization pattern rule further comprises: detecting the at least one synchronization pattern by performing synchronization pattern detection on the recovered data. An associated reference-less receiver and an associated crystal-less system are also provided. |
| US08724757B2 |
Symbol timing synchronization methods and apparatus
Embodiments include methods and apparatus for performing symbol timing synchronization for a symbol-bearing signal. The symbol-bearing signal is sampled to produce a plurality of symbol samples. First-direction interpolation processes are performed on the plurality of symbol samples in a first temporal direction, where the first temporal direction is a direction from a first sampling time towards a second sampling time. In addition, second-direction interpolation processes are performed on the symbol samples in a second temporal direction, where the second temporal direction is a direction from the second sampling time towards the first sampling time, resulting in a set of interpolated symbol samples. |
| US08724756B2 |
Method and apparatus for an adaptive filter architecture
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for identifying a spectral region in a radio frequency spectrum for initiating a communication session having a transmission link and a reception link, determining a correlation factor from signals measured in the spectral region, detecting according to the correlation factor a foreign communication signal in the spectral region, generating coefficient data to prevent interference with the foreign communication signal while transmitting in the transmission link, filtering a first signal for transmission in the transmission link according to the coefficient data to generate a filtered signal, and causing a transmission of the filtered signal which prevents interference with the foreign communication signal while transmitting in the transmission link. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08724754B2 |
Noise power thresholding and balancing for long term evolution (LTE) symbol detection
A noise thresholder of a baseband modem integrated circuit (BMIC) compares measured noise variances on corresponding receiver paths to a pre-established threshold minimum value. The noise thresholder assigns as a noise variance value for a corresponding receiver path either (a) a measured noise variance value for each receiver path having a measured noise variance that is larger than the pre-established threshold minimum, and (b) the pre-established threshold minimum value for each receiver path having a measured noise variance that is less than or equal to the pre-established threshold minimum value. A noise balancer performs noise balancing to provide a same signal to noise ratio (SNR) across all receiver paths, based on the assigned noise variances provided at the noise thresholder. A detection engine utilizes a lowest assigned noise variance value and outputs yielded by the noise balancer to simplify equalization computations while providing a high performance symbol detection capability. |
| US08724752B2 |
Amplitude/orthogonality error compensator
An amplitude/orthogonality error compensator includes: an amplitude corrector configured to perform an amplitude correction on an in-phase component and a quadrature component of an input complex signal based on amplitude error information, and to output a complex signal obtained through the amplitude correction; an orthogonality corrector configured to perform an orthogonality correction on the complex signal, obtained through the amplitude correction, based on orthogonality error information, and to output a complex signal obtained through the orthogonality correction; a filter section configured to allow a predetermined frequency component included in the complex signal obtained through the orthogonality correction to pass through the filter section; an amplitude error detector configured to obtain the amplitude error information based on the complex signal that has passed through the filter section; and an orthogonality error detector configured to obtain the orthogonality error information of the complex signal. |
| US08724751B2 |
Method for a single radio aggregated spectrum receiver, computer program, receiver, and terminal
A method for a single radio aggregated spectrum receiver of a terminal arranged to operate in a radio network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving information from a network node of the radio network about frequency properties of an aggregated spectrum to be received; determining information about the aggregated spectrum comprising at least one of presence of blocking interferer(s) interspersed with, and pass bands within the aggregated spectrum; and providing filter(s) based on the determined information about the aggregated spectrum such that desired signals are passed and any blocking interferer(s) are attenuated. Corresponding computer program, receiver and terminal are also disclosed. |
| US08724746B2 |
System and method for signaling and detecting in wireless communications systems
A system and method for signaling and detecting in wireless communications systems are provided. A method for processing information includes operating in a first phase, operating in a second phase, and processing the detected information. The first phase includes iteratively inverting a first filtering operation on received signals, and the second phase includes iteratively inverting a second filtering operation on received signals with consideration given to a first estimation error of symbols of the first user and a second estimation error of symbols of the second user. |
| US08724740B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing uplink resources to provide channel performance feedback for adjustment of downlink MIMO channel data rates
Systems and methods for improving the performance of a MIMO wireless communication system by reducing the amount of uplink resources that are needed to provide channel performance feedback for the adjustment of data rates on the downlink MIMO channels. In one embodiment, a method comprises encoding each of a set of data streams according to corresponding data rates, permuting the data streams on a set of MIMO channels according to a full permutation of combinations, transmitting the permuted data streams, receiving the permuted data streams, decoding and determining an SNR for each of the data streams, computing a condensed SNR metric for the set of data streams, providing the condensed metric as feedback, determining a set of individual SNR metrics for the data streams based on the condensed SNR metric, and adjusting the data rates at which the data streams are encoded based on the individual SNR metrics. |
| US08724738B2 |
Multidimensional constellations for coded transmission
Techniques for rotating and transmitting multidimensional constellations are disclosed. A method for rotating a multidimensional constellation may include constructing a first rotation matrix, constructing a second rotation matrix, applying orthogonality constraints to the first and second rotation matrices; selecting an optimizing rotation matrix from the first and second rotation matrices; and rotating the multidimensional constellation using the optimizing rotation matrix. Constructing the first rotation matrix and second rotation matrices may include constructing a first column that includes first matrix dements based on the number of axes in the multidimensional constellation, and additional columns that include permutations of the first matrix elements. |
| US08724737B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping of absolute power grant values in wireless communications
A method and apparatus for adjusting power grants in wireless communications. Multiple power grant tables are stored and one or more tables are designated during communication. |
| US08724733B2 |
All-digital multi-standard transmitters architecture using delta-sigma modulators
The present disclosure is concerned with a digital transmitter using Delta-Sigma modulators (DMSs) that uses an up-sampler and modulator block that follows the DSMs to generate the RF equivalent of the baseband signal to be transmitted. The up-sampler and modulator block is simple to implement and contains only one or a few multiplexers implemented in high speed logic technology. |
| US08724726B2 |
Automatic gain control apparatus and method for compressed mode in MIMO system
An automatic gain control apparatus and method for a compressed mode in a MIMO system are provided. The method includes determining power at a first frequency band using a first receiver, simultaneously determining power at a second frequency band using a second receiver in a compressed mode, if the second receiver changes a power determination frequency band into the first frequency band, correcting the power determination value of the first receiver, and applying the corrected power determination value of the first receiver to the second receiver. |
| US08724725B2 |
Channel estimation for wireless systems without matrix inversion
In various embodiments, techniques are provided to determine channel characteristics of various communication systems such as OFDM systems or systems using a plurality of transmit antennas by using various sets of training symbols that produce zero cross-correlation energy. Channel communication can accordingly be simplified as the zero cross-correlation property allows for channel estimation without a matrix inversion. |
| US08724722B2 |
Method for reducing latency on LTE DL implementation
An apparatus including a processor and a radio frequency (RF) interface. The processor may be configured to process downlink information such that a latency of the apparatus is determined by an amount of time involved in processing the downlink information to obtain a single orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbol for presentation to the RF interface. |
| US08724712B1 |
Apparatus and method for encoding at non-uniform intervals
A system, apparatus, and method for encoding a plurality of frames in a video stream with temporal scalability. The method includes identifying a non-uniform sequence of time values within a period, determining a frame corresponding to each time value in the non-uniform sequence, within at least one period, and assigning each of the determined frames to one of a plurality of temporal encoding layers. |
| US08724711B2 |
Luma-based chroma intra prediction
Systems, devices and methods for performing luma-based chroma ultra prediction are described. Down-sample filters may be applied to luma values of luma pixel positions to generate reconstructed luma values for chroma pixel positions in a prediction unit of an intra frame. The down-sampled reconstructed luma values may then be used to predict chroma values for the chroma pixel positions. In some implementations, a reconstructed luma value of a chroma position may be used to predict that position's chroma value. In other implementations, reconstructed luma values of neighboring chroma pixel positions may be analyzed to adaptively predict a chroma value for a chroma pixel position. |
| US08724709B2 |
Method for a hybrid Golomb-Elias gamma coding
The invention relates to a method for encoding of a bit amount of a data section and to a corresponding decoding method. Furthermore, the invention relates to encoding, decoding, transmission and/or storage of audio and/or video data wherein said method for encoding of a bit amount of a data section and/or said corresponding decoding method are used in processing of the audio and/or video data. Said method for encoding of a bit amount of a data section comprises the steps of encoding said bit amount indicating integer as a first number of equally valued bits followed by a stop bit of different value wherein said first number equals said bit amount increased by a threshold value. Using said method, quotients of values larger than a threshold can be encoded using unary as well as binary code wherein quotients of values smaller than the threshold can be encoded in unary code. |
| US08724704B2 |
Apparatus and method for motion estimation and image processing apparatus
A motion estimation apparatus and method for quickly performing video encoding based on a user input through a user input device are provided. The motion estimation apparatus includes an input receiver for receiving a user input, an input pattern analysis unit for analyzing the received user input and determining a user input pattern according to the analyzed user input, a storage for storing history information of a motion vector according to the user input pattern, and a motion estimator for initially estimating a motion vector of a motion estimation block of a current frame with reference to history information of a motion vector corresponding to the user input pattern stored in the storage, deciding a search location of a block matching the motion estimation block from a reference frame, and performing motion estimation on the motion estimation block using the decided search location. |
| US08724702B1 |
Methods and systems for motion estimation used in video coding
A framework for efficient sum of absolute difference (SAD) computations for variable block size, sub-pixel motion estimation is presented. Simultaneous, or parallelized, SAD computations can be performed by storing and re-using previous SAD computational information, which can speed up the performance of a motion estimation module by reducing the number of cycles necessary to perform a particular motion estimation algorithm. |
| US08724701B1 |
Using object decomposition to improve the selection of example-based predictors
An image processing system is provided for encoding videos based on example-based compression. To select the dictionary predictor entries to encode a video, the image processing system reduces the complexity of the video by decomposing the video into smaller pieces. By breaking the video into the simpler pieces, it is easier to locate dictionary predictor entries that are similar to the pieces of the video. The image processing system may decompose the video into one more space-time tubes. For each space-time tube, the image processing system selects dictionary predictor entries to encode the tube. |
| US08724700B2 |
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. |
| US08724696B2 |
System and method for transmitting video and user interface elements
A method for offloading decoding of encoded video data from a computer system executing a video player application playing the encoded video data to a remote display terminal still enables the video player application to overlay transparent or semi-transparent graphical elements, such elements, such as user interface controls, onto the video, despite not having access to decoded video data. A video decoding function call from the video player application is intercepted and replacement video data is provided to the video player application rather than a decoded version of the encoded video data. The video player application is thereby able to overlay graphical elements onto the replacement video data to create composite video from which the graphical elements are then able to be subsequently extracted and transmitted with the encoded video data to remote display terminal, which decodes the video data and overlays the graphical elements for display. |
| US08724689B2 |
Narrowband ingress estimation and characterization using equalizer taps
Narrowband ingress estimation and characterization using equalizer taps. A equalizer including a feed forward equalizer (FFE) and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is implemented to process an input signal thereby generating an output signal. Analysis of the frequency response of the equalizer including the FFE and the DFE of the equalizer allows for the determination of whether or not narrowband ingress exists within the signal received by the equalizer. For example, analysis of the signal output from the equalizer provides for determination of the overall frequency response of the equalizer. In addition, analysis of the respective equalizer coefficients within one or both of the FFE and the DFE of the equalizer may be used to determine the overall frequency response of the equalizer. Narrowband ingress may be identified when the combination of the FFE (having a notch therein) and the DFE provides for an overall flat frequency response. |
| US08724687B2 |
Data processing method, equalizer and receiver
A data processing method, an equalizer, and a receiver in a wireless communication system including a relay station are provided. The data processing method includes: receiving a base station signal from a base station; receiving a relay station signal from a relay station; determining a propagation delay between the base station signal and the relay station signal; generating an equalizing signal in which interference generated between the base station signal and the relay station signal is alleviated in consideration of the propagation delay; and recovering information bits transmitted by the base station from the equalizing signal. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to alleviate performance deterioration due to an interference problem generated in a relay system. |
| US08724684B2 |
CQI feedback structure
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a reporting allocation unit, an indicator interpretation unit and methods of operating a reporting allocation unit and an indicator interpretation unit. In one embodiment, the reporting allocation unit includes an indicator configuration module configured to provide reporting interval and offset values of corresponding rank and channel quality indicators for user equipment. The reporting allocation unit also includes a sending module configured to transmit the reporting interval and offset values to the user equipment. |
| US08724671B2 |
Multiple wavelength laser system
A system for generating multiple simultaneous laser wavelengths, said system comprising: a pulsed slave laser comprising a non-linear electro-optic crystal optically coupled to a lasing crystal in a ring cavity configuration, said non-linear electro-optic crystal configured to adjust an optical path length of said ring cavity in response to an applied voltage potential; an energy pump configured to initiate a pulse cycle in said pulsed slave laser in response to a trigger; a cavity control circuit configured to apply said voltage potential to said non-linear electro-optic crystal to generate a cavity resonance condition associated with said adjusted optical path length, said cavity control circuit further configured to provide said trigger to said energy pump in response to a detection of said cavity resonance condition; and one or more seed lasers configured to inject a single frequency laser beam into said pulsed slave laser. |
| US08724667B2 |
System and method for multiple laser sources using high semiconductor optical amplifier extinction
A system and method for passive combination of two or more laser sources (e.g., sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) lasers) into a single sweep that encompasses the combined range of the wavelengths of each laser source. |
| US08724665B2 |
Pseudo-synchronous time division multiplexing
Methods and apparatuses to multiplex logic data pseudo synchronously are described. A representation of a multiplexer logic is generated to transmit data items asynchronously relative to a design clock. The data items may be transmitted under control of a transmission clock from a first integrated circuit to a second integrated circuit. A representation of a counter logic may be generated to couple with the multiplexer logic for transmitting the data asynchronously. Additionally, a representation of reset logic may be generated for a configuration to repeatedly reset the counter logic. Synchronization signals may be generated for a design clock cycle of a design clock driving the data items. The synchronization signals may be transmitted via the transmission clock asynchronous with the design clock. The data items may be transmitted via a number of transmission slots determined based on the clock cycles of the transmission clock and the design clock The total time for the transmission slots for transmitting the logic data may be less than the clock cycle of the design clock. One or more transmission slots within the clock cycle of the design clock may be used to transmit the synchronization data to indicate a new cycle to transmit the data items according to the design clock. |
| US08724662B2 |
Wireless communication protocol for low power receivers
A wireless protocol for a communication system is set forth herein which may be utilized for communication between a transmitter and a receiver over any type of communication channel. The wireless communication protocol provides for the reduction of receiver active or on time which in turn lowers power consumption. The wireless communication protocol enables the complexity and receiver size to be reduced. The methodology employed in the protocol utilizes a unique message frame in conjunction with repeated transmission and periodic receiver searching. |
| US08724659B2 |
Synchronization of VoDSL of DSLAM connected only to ethernet
A packet forwarding unit such as a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) receives Ethernet packets carrying real-time information and forwards the information therein on output lines such as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSLs). The DSLAM includes a clock device having an extraction unit and an adaptive clock. The extraction unit analyzes received packets to select streams of received packets from one destination to one user, and the adaptive clock generates a reference clock signal according to the arrival times of packets in the selected streams. The clock signal is sent to time reference units in DSL modems for the output lines. |
| US08724657B2 |
System and method for offloading packet protocol encapsulation from software
A method and system of packet assembly is provided. The method includes providing a first packet descriptor. The first packet descriptor is a pointer-to-pointer (P2P) descriptor that includes pointer information. The method further includes retrieving a first pointer referenced by the pointer information of the first packet descriptor; providing the first pointer to a DMA engine; and using the DMA engine to retrieve packet data referenced by the first pointer. |
| US08724653B2 |
Downlink transmission method and eNodeB in multiple input multiple output system
The disclosure provides a downlink transmission method and an eNodeB in a multiple input multiple output system. The method includes: obtaining channel quality indication of a User Equipment (UE) to generate a channel condition indication value; obtaining channel rank indication of the UE to generate a channel correlation indication value; obtaining uplink channel impulse response estimation data of the UE to generate a channel variation state indication value; selecting a downlink transmission mode according to the channel condition indication value, the channel correlation indication value and the channel variation state indication value; transmitting data to the UE in the selected downlink transmission mode. Because of extracting information from a current channel as a basis of a subsequent selection of the downlink mode, the disclosure can greatly improve a resource utilization ratio of a system and realize a better wireless transmission effect. |
| US08724651B2 |
Radio network system, radio communication method, and radio communication device
A wireless network system including a first terminal for sending a request-to-send signal including information on a medium use period to a second terminal before sending data, receiving a clear-to-send signal from the second terminal, and sending data to the second terminal during the medium use period; the second terminal for receiving the request-to-send signal and sending the clear-to-send signal; a third terminal for receiving the request-to-send signal and transmitting data to a fourth terminal during the medium use period; and the fourth terminal. Thus, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a problem that when it is judged that the wireless channel is being used, transmission of the station is suppressed. |
| US08724650B2 |
Management of access to a medium
The present invention relates to, in a wireless network in which wireless stations transmit frames, a method of managing the access of the medium to a wireless station once a frame or a sequence of frames has been transmitted by the wireless station, the method comprising: (a) generating a time value resulting from a function of the duration of the frame or the sequence of frames to be transmitted, —(b) transmitting the frame or the sequence of frames; and (c) after step (b), the wireless station refraining from access to the medium by counting down a refraining time, the value of the refraining time being determined by taking account of the said time value. |
| US08724648B2 |
Enhanced control signaling for backhaul link
A method includes composing downlink control information having a format configured to support a presence of a plurality of transport blocks in a single subframe, where the downlink control information comprises, for the plurality of transport blocks, a common resource allocation and modulation/coding scheme field and a single cyclic redundancy check field. The method further includes transmitting the composed downlink control information to a relay node over a wireless link that comprises a backhaul link from the relay node. |
| US08724645B2 |
Performing computations in a distributed infrastructure
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for performing computations in a distributed infrastructure. Embodiments of the invention include a general purpose distributed computation infrastructure that can be used to perform efficient (in-memory), scalable, failure-resilient, atomic, flow-controlled, long-running state-less and state-full distributed computations. Guarantees provided by a distributed computation infrastructure can build upon existent guarantees of an underlying distributed fabric in order to hide the complexities of fault-tolerance, enable large scale highly available processing, allow for efficient resource utilization, and facilitate generic development of stateful and stateless computations. A distributed computation infrastructure can also provide a substrate on which existent distributed computation models can be enhanced to become failure-resilient. |
| US08724641B2 |
Communication system and control method for communication system
When connecting a plurality of packet processing parts each having a packet processing function as an added function of a virtual network for each user, there was a problem that the number of packet processing units that were connectable, a function of analyzing a communication packet, etc. were dependent on a transport technology of a core network of a virtual network. A communication system including the packet processing unit for performing an information processing of the communication packet on the virtual network has a virtual network system for the packet processing unit in addition to a wide area core network in a wide area network service. |
| US08724632B2 |
Programmable packet processor with flow resolution logic
A programmable packet switching controller has a packet buffer, a pattern match module, a programmable packet classification engine and an application engine. The packet classification engine has a decision tree-based classification logic for classifying a packet. The application engine has a number of programmable sub-engines arrayed in a pipelined architecture. The sub-engines include a source lookup engine, a destination lookup engine and a disposition engine, which are used to make a disposition decision for the inbound packets in a processing pipeline. |
| US08724631B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for transmitting data
The present invention discloses a method, a system and an apparatus for transmitting data, which are applied in an identification identifier locater separation network, the method includes: a source terminal sending a first data packet to a source Access Support Node (ASN), and taking an Access Identity (AID) of the source terminal and the AID of a destination terminal as a source address and a destination address of the first data packet respectively; the source ASN, after receiving the first data packet, if a Routing Identifier (RID) corresponding to the AID of the destination terminal is not queried out locally, encapsulating the first data packet which is as a payload data packet to a second data packet by using Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) format, and adding a GRE packet header and a delivery protocol packet header; and the source ASN sending the second data packet to a mapping forwarding plane, which queries the RID corresponding to the AID of the destination terminal and sends the first data packet to the destination ASN according to the queried RID. The present invention realizes a high data forwarding performance, and a network processor may be used to process, the encapsulation format is easy to extend, and the edition is convenient to upgrade. |
| US08724629B1 |
E-tree service having extended shared VLAN learning across VPLS network
Techniques are described for supporting metro Ethernet “E-TREE” service over a packet-switched MPLS network, including a VPLS core, in a manner that allows a service provide to easily integrate with different types of technologies deployed by its various customers. Moreover, the techniques described herein provide increased flexibility with respect to the topology of the roots and leafs of the E-TREE service and, in particular, allow roots and leaf nodes to be coupled to a common router that provides access to the VPLS core. An NNI port of a PE router may process network traffic to provide E-TREE service to a bridged network having both leaf nodes and root nodes process and direct traffic between logical interfaces as changed next hops. |
| US08724628B1 |
Methods and apparatus for destination based hybrid load balancing within a switch fabric
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a switch module configured to receive an order identifier of a first data packet from a first stage of a multi-stage switch. The switch module is configured to receive an indicator of an available capacity of the first module of a second stage of the multi-stage switch fabric, and an indicator of an available capacity of a second module of the second stage of the multi-stage switch fabric. The switch module is configured, when the order identifier is assigned, to direct the first data packet to the first module of a second stage of the multi-stage switch fabric when the available capacity of the second module is lower than the available capacity of the first module. The switch module configured, when the order identifier is unassigned, to direct the first data packet to the second module when the available capacity of the second module is higher than the available capacity of the first module. |
| US08724627B2 |
Single-homing and active-active multi-homing in a virtual private LAN service
In one embodiment, single-homing and active-active multi-homing is provided in a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). A customer edge node actively communicates frames of a same Virtual Private Network (VPN) instance with two or more VPLS nodes of a VPLS network. The VPLS nodes are configured to appropriately forward frames throughout the VPLS network: without looping of a frame sent by the same external node back to the same external node, without flooding multiple copies of a frame to the same external node, and while performing learning of addresses in forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes such that said forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes converge despite frames of the same LAN service being received by said at least two of said VPLS nodes from the same external node. |
| US08724622B2 |
System and method for instant VoIP messaging
Methods, systems and programs for instant voice messaging over a packet-switched network are provided. A method for instant voice messaging may comprise receiving an instant voice message having one or more recipients, delivering the instant voice message to the one or more recipients over a packet-switched network, temporarily storing the instant voice message if a recipient is unavailable; and delivering the stored instant voice message to the recipient once the recipient becomes available. |
| US08724620B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing calls
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, one or more components for receiving a call request at a first server from a first end user device, transmitting the call request from a first server to an intermediate server for establishing a voice or video call over an IP multimedia subsystem between the first end user device and a second end user device via a second server, and routing the voice or video call request from the first server to the second server using a second IP address when an undesired condition is determined to be associated with the IP multimedia subsystem. The second IP address can be obtained from a group of IP addresses stored in a memory of the first server and the group of IP addresses can be associated with other servers. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08724619B2 |
Transparently routing a telephone call between mobile and VOIP services
Systems and methods are provided for routing a telephone call intended for a communications device between a mobile network and a VOIP service, where the mobile network and VOIP service may be connected through the PSTN. The VOIP service may receive telephone calls and may direct the telephone calls to the communications device through the Internet when a stable Internet connection is present, and may route telephone calls to the mobile network through the PSTN otherwise. When a call is routed to the mobile network, the mobile network may make the call the communications device to establish a telephone connection through a cellular link. While a telephone call is in progress, the VOIP service and communications device may be configured to seamlessly switch the telephone call to a different service depending on the status of the communications device's Internet connection. |
| US08724618B2 |
System for connecting information processing devices associated with IP telephones
An information processing apparatus for call control and management stores a first telephone identification and a first IP address of a first IP telephone, a first device identification and a second IP address of a first information processing device associated with the first IP telephone by a first association identification, a second telephone identification and a third IP address of the second IP telephone, and a second device identification and a fourth IP address of a second information processing device associated with the second IP telephone. In response to a message requesting for establishing a session received from the first IP telephone or the first information processing device, the information processing apparatus sends a message requesting for establishing a session between the first IP telephone and the second IP telephone, by using the first IP address of the first IP telephone and the third IP address of the second IP telephone in accordance with the registration information, to thereby establish a session between the first IP telephone and the second IP telephone, and also notifies the IP address of one of the first and second information processing devices to the other information processing device, in accordance with the registration information, to thereby establish a session between the first information processing device and the second information processing device. |
| US08724611B2 |
Authorizing transmission of resource utilization messages
An authorization scheme limits the number of nodes that send out resource utilization messages. Here, a first node may determine whether a second node is allowed to transmit a resource utilization message, and send a message to the second node indicative of this determination. The second node may then determine whether to send out a resource utilization message based on the message from the first node and the quality of service associated with receive traffic at the second node. In some aspects, a node that is allowed to transmit a RUM may be identified based on whether the node is expected to be scheduled to use a given resource. |
| US08724608B2 |
Radio system with configurable links
A system includes radio devices where radio links between the devices are configured by bringing the radio devices in close proximity with hosts for a few seconds. A proximity detector in the device detects the proximity and an automatic registration process begins to configure a link between the device and nearby host. One-to-one or one-to-many links may be established. Links may be cancelled by repeating the process. The devices may include an indicator to indicate establishment of the link. |
| US08724603B2 |
Network access and a mobile station configured for the same
A method for network access and a mobile station configured for the same is described. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for network access on a mobile station comprising: scanning for Wi-Fi networks; receiving responses from available wireless access points (APs) of the Wi-Fi networks; selecting a Wi-Fi network in accordance with past connectivity data associated with the Wi-Fi networks of the available APs; and attempting to connect to the selected Wi-Fi network. |
| US08724602B2 |
Information terminal and computer program
An information terminal includes: a wireless communication section configured to communicate with an outside; a main functional section configured to perform an information processing operation that includes data communication with the outside, performed using the wireless communication section; a monitoring section configured to detect a state of power supply for the main functional section; and a communication control section configured to cause the wireless communication section to transmit data, preliminarily stored in a memory, to the outside when the state detected by the monitoring section corresponds to a state in which the main functional section is not capable of performing data communication using the wireless communication section. |
| US08724596B2 |
Mobile communication method, radio base station, and mobile station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step of notifying, by a radio base station eNB, a mobile station UE of: a condition under which a measurement report is triggered; a measurement-report target CC having a measurement result that should be reported at the same time when the measurement report is performed; and the maximum number of cells, on the measurement-report target CC, having a measurement result that should be reported, and a step of transmitting, by the mobile station UE, a measurement result of a cell of which the number is equal to or less than the notified maximum number, for each notified measurement-report target CC. |
| US08724595B2 |
Terminal-assisted improvement of timing-based positioning accuracy
There are provided measures for enabling a terminal-assisted improvement of timing-based positioning accuracy. Such measures may exemplarily include measuring a cell-related timing value for timing-based positioning calculation on the basis of a cell-originated positioning-related signal and measuring a terminal-related timing value for timing-based positioning calculation at an apparatus to be positioned, and utilizing the measured cell-related timing value and the measured terminal-related timing value for timing-based positioning calculation relating to the apparatus to be positioned at a network side. |
| US08724590B2 |
System and method for primary point handovers
A method for operating a multiple point (MP) controller includes receiving, from a source primary point, a handover required message for a user equipment coupled to the source primary point, the handover required message including target primary point information and MP radio bearer information. The method also includes determining an MP configuration according to the handover required message, and sending, to a target primary point, a handover request message including the MP configuration and the MP radio bearer information. The method further includes sending, to the source primary point, a handover message including the MP configuration, the MP radio bearer information, and reconfiguration information for the user equipment, the handover message initiating a handover of a subset of the MP radio bearer from the source primary point to the target primary point, and receiving, from the target primary point, a handover complete message. |
| US08724586B2 |
Mobility solution indicator for voice over evolved packet system (EPS)
Embodiments of the present invention described herein include a Mobile Management Entity and a method that receive a handoff request for an active voice session of a terminal which is leaving an E-UTRAN to a GERAN/UTRAN and then determine if the handoff request is applicable to a SRVCC procedure or a CSoLTEvGAN procedure. |
| US08724583B2 |
Neighbor discovery message handling to support roaming of wireless mobile client devices
Techniques are provided herein to support roaming of wireless mobile client devices from one wireless local area network access point device to another wireless local area network access point device. Neighbor discovery messages are received from wireless mobile client devices. A neighbor discovery message specifies a target address for a neighbor discovery function. A response to a neighbor discovery message is sent to a wireless mobile client device such that the response message appears to have been sent by a wireless mobile client device that has an address that corresponds to the target address of the neighbor discovery message. |
| US08724576B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending physical uplink control channel
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sending a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), which includes: performing a joint coding and modulation processing on Acknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) information which is required to be sent simultaneously with Channel Status Information (CSI) information, and sending the modulated information to a base station by using the second pilot symbol of each slot of a plurality of orthogonal PUCCH resources. The present invention acquires a coding gain by the joint coding of the ACK/NACK information and makes the minimum Hamming distance extend, thereby enhancing the feedback quality of ACK/NACK. |
| US08724574B2 |
Method for transmitting control information and apparatus for same
A method according to an embodiment includes receiving, from a base station, first component information for transmitting first channel information for a first frequency band; receiving, from the base station, second component information for transmitting second channel information for a second frequency band added to the first frequency band; transmitting the first channel information to the base station in accordance with the first component information; and transmitting the second channel information to the base station in accordance with the second component information. When the point of time of the transmission of the first channel information and the point of time of the transmission of the second channel information coincide with each other, either the first channel information or the second channel information is transmitted in accordance with a predetermined drop rule. |
| US08724572B2 |
Channel state information feedback
In an embodiment, state of a wireless channel on which information is received is measured; the measured state is used to select from a codebook a plurality of N codewords which optimize a predefined measure, and first and second codewords of the plurality are reported which best optimizes and next-best optimizes the predefined measure. If by example the above is done by a user equipment UE, in another embodiment the network receives first and second indications, searches a codebook using the first and second indications to find the first and second codewords; and utilizes them to improve the channel state information, such as by interpolating between them to find an estimate of the channel. In examples the channel is a MIMO channel that is estimated at two or more antenna ports, there are interpolation weights sent with the codeword indications, and the interpolating uses a geodesic algorithm. |
| US08724568B2 |
Method of handling an uplink synchronization timer during a handover in wireless communication system
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method of handling an uplink synchronization timer during a handover procedure in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. |
| US08724567B2 |
Method and apparatus using frame structure for wireless mesh networks
Provided is a frame structure designed for distributed access control and OFDMA transmission in a wireless mesh network. Also, a communication method and a network node based on the frame structure are provided. Mesh nodes included in the wireless mesh network may use the frame structure and thus, may have a high prospect of transmitting a network configuration information message and scheduling information for obtaining a resource. Also, a scheduling process of the mesh nodes may be completed within a short period based on the frame structure. |
| US08724562B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving control channel
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving control channels through a wireless backhaul in an OFDM-based communication system including relay nodes is provided. A method for transmitting a control channel includes arranging control resources for at least one receiver; sorting the control resources and null resources in a control channel region; rearranging the control resources to be distributed and the null resources to be adjacent to the distributed control resources; and mapping the control resources and null resources to the control channel region. |
| US08724561B2 |
Apparatus and method for resource allocation information transmission in mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for resource allocation information transmission is provided. The method includes determining a search space for use in a second frequency band using resource allocation information of a first process detected in a first frequency band, detecting resource allocation information using the search space in the second frequency band, and when failing to decode received data according to the resource allocation information detected in the second frequency band, re-detecting resource allocation information of the first process in the second frequency band in a first time interval using the search space without detecting the resource allocation information of the first process in the first frequency band. |
| US08724558B2 |
Cellular telephones with configurable multiplexer circuitry and local bus power for field testing
A field testing system is provided that uses a personal computer tethered to an interface board. A cellular telephone plugs into the interface board during wireless field testing. The cellular telephone may include configurable multiplexer circuitry and power supply circuitry. During normal operation, the cellular telephone is configured so that its application processor is linked to its application processor and to an external bus. During field testing, the cellular telephone is configured to link the baseband unit to the external bus and the interface board. The baseband unit may support advanced communications busses (e.g., USB). To avoid consuming too many pins in the external bus between the interface board and the cellular telephone, power for the USB bus during field testing may be derived from a power management unit in the cellular telephone. |
| US08724557B2 |
Sensor network medium access control (MAC) system for multihop communication
A medium access control (MAC) technique of a multihop sensor network. In the multihop sensor network, the MAC technique may contribute to significantly reducing transmission delay, and allow real-time services to be provided to all nodes by extending a guaranteed time slot (GTS) restricted to one hop in a personal area network (PAN) coordinator (PNC) to all nodes. Furthermore, the MAC technique may allow the number of available GTSs to be significantly increased, by using all 16 frequency band channels instead of using only a single frequency band and setting a multi-superframe. |
| US08724553B2 |
Route optimization with location privacy support
The invention relates to a method for route optimisation of packet switched data transmissions between a first mobile node and a second mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of access networks. The method comprises the step of transmitting return routability protocol packets and data packets. The return routability protocol packets and data packets are analysed, and at least part of an address comprised in headers of the return routability protocol packets and data packets is removed. |
| US08724550B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for handling secondary cell (SCell) reactivation
A method for handling Secondary Cell (SCell) reactivation by a mobile communication device supporting a Carrier Aggregation (CA) technique is provided. The method includes the following steps: receiving at least one Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) indicating activation of an already activated SCell with configured uplink from a service network, comparing an accumulated number of the at least one MAC CE with a predetermined number, and ignoring the MAC CE for the already activated SCell with configured uplink in response to the accumulated number of the at least one MAC CE being greater than or equal to the predetermined number. |
| US08724543B2 |
Method and arrangement in a wireless communications system
A method for assisting the adaptation of a signal from a first node (100) to a second node (120) is provided. The first node communicates with the second node in a wireless communication system (110) over a radio link (130). The second node is configured to comprise a codebook, which codebook comprises a set of possible information alternatives used for assisting the adaptation of a signal from the first node to the second node. The second node may select an information alternative from a codebook and send it to the first node to assist the first node how to adapt the signal. The first node is arranged to know a number of subsets, each subset comprising a part of possible information alternatives. The method comprises the steps of sending a configuration request to the second node to restrict the selection of information alternatives to one of the subsets; receiving an information alternative from the second node, which is selected among the at least one subsets configured according to the configuration request. |
| US08724542B2 |
Transmission using nested OFDMA
A transmission of information within a wireless cellular network may include a first and second group of samples. A first group of samples is created comprising at least a first and a last subgroup, wherein the last subgroup is same as the first subgroup. A second group of samples created. A transformed set of samples produced by jointly transforming the created first and second group with a discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The transformed set of samples is expanded to produce an expanded set, and the expanded set is transformed with an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) to produce an OFDM symbol with a fractional payload. The first group of samples is a reference signal (RS), which is known to the receiver before the transmission occurs, while the second group of samples is information data. |
| US08724540B2 |
Reference signal transmission method and apparatus in wireless communication system including relay station
The present invention provides a reference signal transmission method and apparatus by a base station in a wireless communication system including a relay station. The base station generates a plurality of relay-physical downlink control channel (R-PDCCH) reference signals for the demodulation of an R-PDCCH which is a control channel for the relay station relative to each of a plurality of layers, maps the plurality of R-PDCCH reference signals with R-PDCCH regions included in a relay zone within at least one resource block according to a predetermined reference signal pattern, and transmits at least one resource block through a plurality of antenna ports. |
| US08724539B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication device and wireless communication method, and computer program
A wireless communication system, wherein packet transmission operations are carried out in an infrastructure mode, includes: a first terminal station serving as a data transmission source; a second terminal station serving as a data receiving destination; and a control station configured to contain each terminal station and relay a packet transmitted between the two terminal stations; wherein the first terminal station transmits a packet addressed to the second terminal station via the control station, and detects that the second terminal station is within range capable of a direct link, based on the first terminal station receiving a confirmation response packet replied from the second terminal station, the confirmation response packet being replied from the second terminal station upon a predetermined period of time having passed from the time of the control station transferring the packet to the second terminal station address. |
| US08724537B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing control channel transmission
Methods and apparatuses are provided that include enhancing decoding of multicast broadcast control communications, which can be of a relatively large size. A configuration message related to a broadcast channel structure can be received in multiple instances and/or segmented data units. A receiver can combine multiple instances and/or accumulate segmented data units to obtain and/or decode a control channel over which the configuration message is communicated. Communicating segmented data units of the configuration message can allow a broadcast station to utilize a lower data rate, more reliable modulation and coding scheme to encode the configuration message. |
| US08724534B2 |
Information service apparatus and method in wireless communication system
An information service apparatus and method in a wireless communication system are provided. A method of operating a Radio Access Station (RAS) includes receiving information regarding business offices located in a cell coverage area of the RAS from a network entity of a core service network, classifying the received business office information according to a plurality of items and storing the classified information in a Data Base (DB), allocating a Multicast Connection IDentifier (MCID) for each item, determining a transmission period for each item, obtaining a business office list of a corresponding item from the DB when a Transmit (Tx) time elapses according to the Tx period, generating an advertisement multicast burst including the obtained business office list, and multicasting the generated burst to pre-registered Mobile Stations (MSs). |
| US08724530B2 |
Wireless mesh networks with improved radio segregation
A wireless mesh network comprises a first branch of access nodes and a second branch of access nodes. The first and second branches sharing a common access node and each access node is for facilitating wireless interconnection between a device and the network. The minimum separation distance (d1) between an access node in the first branch and an access node in the second branch is greater than K1/αd0, wherein d0 is the separation distance between a transmitting node and a receiving node in the first branch, K is the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) and α is the path loss exponential. |
| US08724529B2 |
Method and system for transmitting non-3GPP2 message in HRPD system
The present invention discloses a method for transmitting a non-Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) message in a High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) system, comprising: a transmitting end encapsulates the non-3GPP2 message in a non-3GPP2 Info Transfer message according to a preset format of the non-3GPP2 Info Transfer message and transmits the non-3GPP2 Info Transfer message to a receiving end through an HRPD air interface (301); and the receiving end decapsulates the non-3GPP2 Info Transfer message obtained from the HRPD air interface, according to the preset format of the non-3GPP2 Info Transfer message, to obtain the non-3GPP2 message (302). The present invention further discloses a system for transmitting the non-3GPP2 message in the HRPD system. The present invention realizes the transmission of the non-3GPP2 message in the HRPD system. |
| US08724525B2 |
Frame synchronization using bidirectional transit and receive zones
Methods and apparatus for synchronizing frames in wireless networks are disclosed. An example method includes delaying, at a wireless relay station, a start time of a frame. In the example method, the start time of the frame is delayed, such that the relay station receives one or more data symbols from a superordinate wireless station and one or more data symbols from a subordinate wireless station at substantially the same time during the frame. |
| US08724513B2 |
Methods and apparatus for distribution of IP layer routing information in peer-to-peer overlay networks
Methods and apparatus for distribution of IP layer routing information in peer-to-peer overlay networks. A method includes transmitting an advertisement to a first subnet advertising the accessibility of subnets and including unique subnet identifiers to disambiguate overlapping addresses, receiving a request from a network that includes the first subnet to communicate with a network that includes the second subnet, establishing a first tunnel with the second subnet and a second tunnel with the first subnet, and directing transmissions between the tunnels based on policy. An apparatus includes means for transmitting the advertisement, means for receiving a request, means for establishing the first tunnel with the second subnet and the second tunnel with the first subnet, and means for directing transmissions between the first and second tunnels based on policy information. |
| US08724500B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system of duplicate address detection proxy
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, apparatus, and system of DAD proxy. The method includes: obtaining a DAD-NS message; comparing the obtained DAD-NS message with locally stored DAD information, and adding the DAD-NS information to the locally stored DAD information when it is determined, according to a comparison result, that the IP address to be detected is not duplicate; when it cannot be determined whether the IP address to be detected is duplicate or not, initiating, according to the address information included in the locally stored DAD information after comparison, an unreachability detection to the IP address to be detected to determine whether the IP address to be detected is duplicate. The apparatus includes: an obtaining module, a storing module, and a processing module. The system includes: an apparatus of DAD proxy and an access device. |
| US08724499B2 |
Communication system
According to one embodiment, a communication device includes a first wireless device configured to transmit a signal and a second wireless device configured to transmit a positive acknowledge when reception of the signal is successful. In the first wireless device, a first controller controls a first transmission module to change a first frequency channel based on a change order stored in a first storage when the positive acknowledge is not received even after the time measured by a first timer exceeds a first period. In the second wireless device, a second controller controls a second reception module to change the first frequency channel based on the change order stored in a second storage when the positive acknowledge is not transmitted even after the time measured by a second timer exceeds the first period. |
| US08724498B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing long term evolution (LTE) channel delineation
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing long term evolution (LTE) channel delineation are disclosed. According to one method, the method includes storing a plurality of channel delineation maps in memory. The method further includes receiving downlink data from an LTE radio link. The method also includes identifying one of the channel delineation maps using the received data. The method further includes performing channel delineation on the data using a preconfigured channel delineation map. |
| US08724494B2 |
Network multi-path discovery
Potential paths between a source and destination of a network are identified based on trace-route information, then filtered to eliminate paths or links that are not supported by ancillary information associated with the network so as to identify feasible/actual paths between the source and destination. The ancillary information includes, for example, routing tables and ARP tables. If a feasible path cannot be identified based on the ancillary information, supplemental information regarding nodes further along the potential path is assessed to provide a basis for inferring the nodes that may provide a feasible path. The determined feasible paths are displayed for review, and provided to serve as filters for subsequent path-analysis tools. |
| US08724493B2 |
Method for link quality estimation in a wireless network
A method for link quality estimation in a wireless network, is characterized in that nodes of the wireless network perform the steps of sending packets to other nodes, monitoring all packets received from other nodes being located within their communication range, and calculating sent-received ratios with respect to other nodes and deriving thereof a link quality towards the respective nodes. |
| US08724492B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-radio coexistence on adjacent frequency bands
A method and apparatus for a co-scheduler can mitigate UE-to-UE adjacent carrier frequency band interference by allocating three sets to a first user equipment uplink. Each set has at least one sub-carrier in a first frequency band, at least one uplink time period, and at least one transmission power parameter. The co-scheduler initially allocates the first set. The co-scheduler allocates the second set in response to detecting a second user equipment operating proximal to the first user equipment, and the second set differs from the first set in either at least one sub-carrier or at least one transmission power parameter. The co-scheduler allocates the third set in response to detecting that the second user equipment is no longer operating proximal to the first user equipment, and the third set differs from the second set in either at least one sub-carrier or at least one transmission power parameter. |
| US08724487B1 |
System and method for synchronized reporting in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a plurality of packets and generating a data record that is based on information associated with the packets. The data record includes a synchronized time window field that defines a time boundary at which data aggregation associated with the data record is stopped, where the synchronized time window field remains constant as the data aggregation associated with the data record occurs. In other embodiments, the method includes creating a new cache entry for new packets arriving at a network element, where the new cache entry is created in response to a value of the synchronized time window field changing. The synchronized time window field can include a window size attribute that defines how long the synchronized time window remains unchanged. |
| US08724486B2 |
System and method for heartbeat signal generation
A system and method for heartbeat signal generation are provided. The method includes determining a communication condition and generating heartbeat signals based on the determined communication condition. The system includes a plurality of communication cells and at least one communication device configured to generate heartbeat signals. A rate of generating the heartbeat signals is based on one of (i) a service priority or user group and (ii) communication requirements for a network type for each of the plurality of communication cells. |
| US08724485B2 |
Home network system and method
A home network, in one embodiment including a home wiring system; a demarcation point unit in electrical communication with the home wiring system; and a home network module in electrical communication with the home wiring system. The home network module is adapted for connection to a home electronic device. The demarcation point unit passes data to and receives data from the home electronic device through the home network module. |
| US08724482B2 |
POTS extender for voice fallback in a subscriber line
A full services access multiplexer is described. A master DSL modem is coupled to a conductor pair. A POTS extender is coupled to the conductor pair and may sense the operation of a fallback or other signal on the conductor pair. A suppression signal may be transmitted to the master DSL modem upon occurrence of the fallback. The suppression signal may travel over a control circuit. Traffic over a backplane or other network segment may be uninterrupted to an Integrated Access Device by handling signals inbound and outbound to the backplane via packet assembler and disassembler (PAD). The PAD may transmit a data stream to vocoder and received a data stream from vocoder for injection onto the backplane. |
| US08724481B2 |
Field device controlling system
One or more field devices, and a controller are connected so as to be able to communicate with a field device through a first communication route, and a device monitoring unit that is connected so as to be able to communicate with the field device through a second communication route are provided, wherein the device monitoring unit is provided with a checking tool for checking a status of the field device and the status of communication through the first and/or the second communication routes, based on a response received through the second communication route from the field device in response to a signal sent through either the first communication route or the second communication route. |
| US08724479B1 |
Methods and apparatus for detecting errors within a distributed switch fabric system
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a validation engine configured to receive multiple validation packets from an edge device via multiple data paths from a set of data paths between the validation engine and the edge device. The validation engine is configured to compare a number of validation packets from the multiple validation packets received from the edge device to a number of data paths from the set of data paths to determine an error at a data path from the set of data paths. The validation engine is configured to send an indication of the error at the data path from the set of data paths to the edge device. |
| US08724478B2 |
Network device and network system
In a ring network including an old master node 100, a new master node 110 is used as a replacement for the old master node 110. During replacement operation, when detecting that two ring ports of the new master node 110 are set in link-up state, the new master node 110 gives a transit node 200 an instruction to forward a health check frame H102 sent from a ring port 102 of the old master node 100 by a forwarding route going through the new master node 110. The new master node 110 can monitor the status of the ring network by receiving the health check frame H102. This configuration enables continuous monitoring for a failure occurring in the ring network during replacement of the master node. |
| US08724475B2 |
Method and apparatus to estimate the sender's congestion window throughout the life of a TCP flow (socket connection)
Network monitoring method and apparatus estimates the congestion window throughout the life of a TCP flow (socket connection), providing information useful for network performance analysis and troubleshooting. |
| US08724471B2 |
Methods and systems for sliding bubble congestion control
A transmission method for multiple TCP sessions with the same host including methods for congestion control and retransmission of lost segments. |
| US08724466B2 |
Packet filtering
Ingress and egress port packets for a connection between a first node and second node are mirrored to a mirroring port on a network switch. A count of ingress and egress port packets associated with a handshake process is determined. Duplicate mirrored packets associated with the connection are filtered based at least in part on the count. |
| US08724444B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming signals in wireless communication systems
Provided is method of forming a signal in a wireless communication system in which a plurality of terminals commonly use a resource in the time domain and the frequency domain. The method includes multiplying a signal to be transmitted by a frequency domain orthogonal code symbol corresponding to a first cyclic shift index in a first slot to be transmitted to a base station, wherein the multiplying is performed by a first terminal and a second terminal; and multiplying information to be transmitted by a frequency domain orthogonal code symbol corresponding to a second cyclic index that is different from the first cyclic index of the first slot to be transmitted to the base station, in a second slot, wherein the multiplying is performed by the first terminal and the second terminal. |
| US08724443B2 |
Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration and generation in a multi-carrier communication system
Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration and generation in a multi-cell multi-carrier system. A frame for radio transmission in the system consists of multiple subframes, and each subframe consists of multiple Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. Training symbols, frequency-domain data scrambling, size of Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), or length of cyclic prefix can be configured differently for each subframe to facilitate different applications, such as unicasting or broadcasting. |
| US08724437B2 |
Manufacturing method for optical disc, optical disc, playback method for optical disc, playback apparatus for optical disc, recording apparatus for optical disc
Address information that has been error correction encoded is recorded on a second version of a recording medium after being transformed such that such that the address decoding cannot be performed by a playback device that is not compatible with the second version of the recording medium. The address decoding for the second version of the recording medium cannot be performed by the incompatible playback device (for example, a playback device that was manufactured to be compatible only with a first version of the recording medium). In other words, in the playback device that is not compatible with the second version of the recording medium, a state is created in which address errors cannot be corrected, so access is impossible (recording and playback are impossible). |
| US08724436B2 |
Audiovisual distribution system for playing an audiovisual piece among a plurality of audiovisual devices connected to a central server through a network
An audiovisual distribution system includes a central server and a plurality of audiovisual units. Each unit includes structure for interactively communicating with the user for selecting a piece or a menu, a payment device, a computer network card, and a permanent semiconductor memory containing a multitask operating system comprising at least a hard disc access management task. The order for performing a selected piece is processed as a hard disc sequential access task. The hard disc is declared as a peripheral corresponding to the network card of the unit, enabling a request to be sent through the network to the server for processing. |
| US08724434B2 |
Magnetic recording system and magnetic recording device
A magnetic recording system including follows: a recording head, a recording medium that includes a first recording medium layer, a second recording medium layer, and a substrate. The magnetic recording system includes an electric field applying device applying an electric field and a magnetic field applying device applying a magnetic field to the recording medium, a movement mechanism that moves them to an arbitrary position. The magnetic recording system has a function of controlling an applying direction of at least one of the electric field applying device and the magnetic field applying device, and the recording head is arranged at a position facing the recording medium. |
| US08724432B2 |
Timepiece with a modular analogue display
The invention relates to a timepiece with an analogue display, including a timepiece movement (1) provided with a mechanical output, located on an arbour (2) of said movement, and a display assembly (30) provided with at least one time display device (31, 32, 111, 112) driven by said mechanical output, wherein the display assembly is separate from the timepiece movement (1) and linked to a fixed part (10) of said movement (1) by support means which enables said display device to take several different positions around the output arbour (2) of the movement. According to the invention, the support means of the display assembly includes an intermediate support (34, 70, 72, 70′) secured to the fixed part (10) of the timepiece movement (1) and provided with support members (36, 87, 89, 87′, 89′) allowing said at least one display device (31, 32, 111, 112) to be assembled in several positions on the intermediate support (34, 70, 72, 70′).The invention concerns the field of timepiece display members. |
| US08724428B1 |
Process for separating data recorded during a continuous data acquisition seismic survey
Method for separating signals recorded by a seismic receiver and generated with at least two vibratory seismic sources driven with no listening time. The method includes receiving seismic data that includes data d recorded by the seismic receiver and data related to the first and second vibratory seismic sources; computing a source separation matrix based on the data related to the first and second vibratory seismic sources; calculating first and second earth impulse responses HA and HB corresponding to the two vibratory seismic sources, respectively, based on the data d recorded by the seismic receiver, the data related to the two vibratory seismic sources and the source separation matrix; and separating the signals recorded by the seismic receiver based on the first and second earth impulse responses HA and HB such that signals the two vibratory seismic sources are disentangled. |
| US08724427B2 |
Method for correcting input seismic traces from dissipative effects
A method and apparatus for correcting an input seismic trace. The method includes receiving the input seismic trace and creating a t by Q gather using the input seismic trace, where t represents traveltime, Q represents absorption parameter, and the t by Q gather has traveltime as the vertical axis and a ratio of t and Q as the horizontal axis. The ratio of t and Q is referred to as R. The method further includes applying an interpolation algorithm to the t by Q gather to derive a corrected input seismic trace. |
| US08724426B2 |
Marine seismic streamer system configurations, systems, and methods for non-linear seismic survey navigation
Methods for determining by acoustic ranging relative positions of marine seismic streamers in a network of streamers are described, as well as streamer configurations and systems which overcome weak or non-existent acoustic positioning signals. The acoustic network includes a plurality of acoustic transceiver pairs, and the methods include implementing a network solution-based reconfiguration of the acoustic transceiver pairs. When the network of streamers changes more than a critical amount, the network is reconfigured, the critical amount being when the network solution-based reconfiguration is no longer adequate to provide enough acoustic signals to give reasonable relative positions of the acoustic transceiver pairs in the network due to their spatial relation. |
| US08724425B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and memory system
A semiconductor storage device includes an external terminal to which a first signal is supplied, a core circuit, and an access operation control circuit that generates a signal indicating an access operation mode to the core circuit for subsequent cycles based on a pulse width of the first signal. |
| US08724424B2 |
Semiconductor memory device using only single-channel transistor to apply voltage to selected word line
A semiconductor memory device has a memory cell array, a first transistor of a first conductivity type, a second transistor of a second conductivity type and a third transistor of the first conductivity type. A source or drain of the first transistor is connected to each of word lines. A drain of the second transistor is connected to a gate of the first transistor. A source of the third transistor is connected to the gate of the first transistor. The gates of the second transistor and the third transistor are not connected, a source of the second transistor is not connected to a drain of the third transistor, and the gate of the second transistor and the drain of the third transistor have different voltage levels corresponding to opposite logic levels each other. |
| US08724421B2 |
Dual rail power supply scheme for memories
A dual rail memory operable at a first voltage and a second voltage includes an input circuit, an output circuit and a clock generator circuit coupled with the input circuit. The input circuit is operable to receive at least a first input signal referenced to the first voltage and to generate a second input signal referenced to the second voltage. The output circuit is operable to receive at least a first output signal referenced to the second voltage and to generate a second output signal referenced to the first voltage. The clock generator circuit is operable to receive a first clock signal referenced to the first voltage and to generate a second clock signal referenced to the second voltage, a logic state of the second clock signal being a function of a logic state of the first clock signal. |
| US08724414B2 |
System and method to select a reference cell
A system and method to select a reference cell is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving an address corresponding to a bit cell within a first bank of a memory. The method also includes accessing a second reference cell of a second bank of the memory in response to a first reference cell in the first bank being indicated as bypassed. |
| US08724411B2 |
Memory devices and memory systems including discharge lines
A non-volatile memory device can include a word line that is operatively coupled to a non-volatile memory cell. A local bit line can be operatively coupled to the non-volatile memory cell. A discharge line that is associated with the local bit line can be configured to discharge the local bit line and a discharge diode can be electrically coupled between the local bit line and the discharge line. |
| US08724406B2 |
Bidirectional shift register and the driving method thereof
A bidirectional shift register includes a first register circuit and a second register circuit. The first register circuit includes a first register stage and a first output buffer stage with n numbers of scanning signal output ends. The first register stage is electrically coupled to a third voltage source. The first output buffer stage is electrically coupled to a second voltage source and a first voltage source. The second register circuit has a similar circuit structure to the first register circuit; wherein the first register circuit and the second register circuit each use n+1 numbers clock signal lines, and the n is a positive integer. |
| US08724403B2 |
Cache system and information-processing device
According to one embodiment, a cache system includes a tag memory includes a volatile memory device, the tag memory includes ways and storing a tag for each line, a data memory includes a nonvolatile memory device including sense amplifiers for reading data, the data memory includes ways and storing data for each line, a comparison circuit configured to compare a tag included in an address supplied from an external with a tag read from the tag memory, and a controller configured to turn off a power of a sense amplifier for a way which is not accessed based on a comparison result of the comparison circuit. |
| US08724402B2 |
Graphene-based non-volatile memory
Embodiments relate to a method for representing data in a graphene-based memory device. The method includes applying a first voltage to a back gate of a graphene-based memory device and a second voltage to a first graphene layer of the graphene-based memory device. The graphene-based memory device includes the first graphene layer and a second graphene layer and a first insulation layer located between the first and second graphene layers. The first insulation layer has an opening between the first and second graphene layers. The back gate is located on an opposite side of the second graphene layer from the first insulation layer. The first graphene layer is configured to bend into the opening of the first insulation layer to contact the second graphene layer based on a first electrostatic force generated by the applying the first voltage to the back gate. |
| US08724399B2 |
Methods and systems for erase biasing of split-gate non-volatile memory cells
Methods and systems are disclosed for erasing split-gate non-volatile memory (NVM) cells using select-gate erase voltages that are adjusted to reduce select-gate to control-gate break-down failures. The adjusted select-gate erase voltages provide bias voltages on the select-gates that are configured to have the same polarity as the control-gate erase voltages applied during erase operations and that are different from select-gate read voltages applied during read operations. Certain additional embodiments use discrete charge storage layers for the split-gate NVM cells and include split-gate NVM cells having gap dielectric layer thicknesses that are dependent upon control gate dielectric layer widths. |
| US08724397B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and method of reading data thereof
A memory string includes a semiconductor layer, a charge accumulation layer, and a conductive layer. The semiconductor layer extends in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate and functions as a body of a memory cell. The charge accumulation layer may accumulate charges. The conductive layer sandwiches the charge accumulation layer with the semiconductor layer, and functions as a gate of the memory cell. The control circuit performs, before a read operation, a refresh operation of rendering the selected memory cell and a non-selected memory cell conductive to conduct a current from a first end to a second end of the memory string. |
| US08724388B2 |
Adaptively programming or erasing flash memory blocks
Embodiments described herein generally relate to programming and erasing a FLASH memory. In an embodiment, a method of programming or erasing the contents of a block of a FLASH memory includes determining a voltage of a pulse based on an age of the block and outputting the pulse to at least a portion of the block. The pulse is used to program or erase the block. |
| US08724381B2 |
Methods and apparatus for storing data in a multi-level cell flash memory device with cross-page sectors, multi-page coding and per-page coding
Methods and apparatus are provided for storing data in a multi-level cell flash memory device with cross-page sectors, multi-page coding and per-page coding. A single sector can be stored across a plurality of pages in the flash memory device. Per-page control is provided of the number of sectors in each page, as well the code and/or code rate used for encoding and decoding a given page, and the decoder or decoding algorithm used for decoding a given page. Multi-page and wordline level access schemes are also provided. |
| US08724377B2 |
Memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes: a first signal line; a second signal line; a transistor; a first memory region; and a second memory region. The transistor controls a conduction of each of a current flowing between the first and the second signal lines and an opposite current. The first memory region has a first magnetic tunnel junction element. A magnetization direction thereof becomes parallel when a current flows in one direction, and the magnetization direction becomes antiparallel when a current in another direction. The second memory region has a second magnetic tunnel junction element. A magnetization direction thereof becomes parallel when a current flows in one direction, and becomes antiparallel when a current flows in another first direction. |
| US08724376B2 |
Antiferromagnetic storage device
An antiferromagnetic nanostructure according to one embodiment includes an array of at least two antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic atoms having at least two magnetic states that are stable for at least one picosecond even in the absence of interaction with an external structure, the array having a net magnetic moment of zero or about zero, wherein the array has 100 atoms or less along a longest dimension thereof. An atomic-scale structure according to one embodiment has a net magnetic moment of zero or about zero; two or more stable magnetic states; and having an array of atoms that has magnetic moments that alternate between adjacent magnetic atoms along one or more directions. Such structures may be used to store data at ultra-high densities. |
| US08724375B2 |
SRAM cell having an N-well bias
A method for writing a low data bit value, writing a high data bit value, and reading a data bit value of an addressed SRAM cell. The method may include adjusting a bias level of the n-wells that contain the bit driver, bit-bar driver, bit passgate, and optional bit-bar passgate. |
| US08724372B2 |
Capacitor-less memory cell, device, system and method of making same
A capacitor-less memory cell, memory device, system and process of forming the capacitor-less memory cell includes forming the capacitor-less memory cell in an active area of a substantially physically isolated portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate. A pass transistor is formed on the active area for coupling with a word line. The capacitor-less memory cell further includes a read/write enable transistor vertically configured along at least one vertical side of the active area and operable during a reading of a logic state with the logic state being stored as charge in a floating body area of the active area, causing different determinable threshold voltages for the pass transistor. |
| US08724369B2 |
Composition of memory cell with resistance-switching layers
A memory cell including a first electrode, a second electrode and a first resistance-switching layer located between the first and second electrodes. The first resistance-switching layer comprises hafnium silicon oxynitride. |
| US08724366B2 |
Quantum dot optical devices with enhanced gain and sensitivity and methods of making same
Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described. |
| US08724364B2 |
Electronic device including a nonvolatile memory structure having an antifuse component and a process of using the same
An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell, wherein the nonvolatile memory cell can include an antifuse component, a switch, and a read transistor having a control electrode. Within the nonvolatile memory cell, the switch can be coupled to the antifuse component, and the control electrode of the read transistor can be coupled to the antifuse component. The nonvolatile memory cell can be programmed by flowing current through the antifuse component and the switch and bypassing the current away the read transistor. Thus, programming can be performed without flowing current through the read transistor decreasing the likelihood of the read transistor sustaining damage during programming. Further, the antifuse component may not be connected in series with the current electrodes of the read transistor, and thus, during read operations, read current differences between programmed and unprogrammed nonvolatile memory cells can be more readily determined. |
| US08724363B2 |
Anti-fuse memory ultilizing a coupling channel and operating method thereof
An anti-fuse memory with coupling channel is provided. The anti-fuse memory includes a substrate of a first conductive type, a doped region of a second conductive type, a coupling gate, a gate dielectric layer, an anti-fuse gate, and an anti-fuse layer. The substrate has an isolation structure. The doped region is disposed in the substrate. A channel region is defined between the doped region and the isolation structure. The coupling gate is disposed on the substrate between the doped region and the isolation structure. The coupling gate is adjacent to the doped region. The gate dielectric layer is disposed between the coupling gate and the substrate. The anti-fuse gate is disposed on the substrate between the coupling gate and the isolation structure. The anti-fuse gate and the coupling gate have a space therebetween. The anti-fuse layer is disposed between the anti-fuse gate and the substrate. |
| US08724361B2 |
DMA architecture for NAND-type flash memory
A device includes a nonvolatile memory array, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) array including a plurality of bit lines, including first and second bit lines paired with each other, and a pad. A first circuit is coupled between the nonvolatile memory array and the first and second bit lines, and interfaces with the SRAM array. A second circuit is coupled between the pad and the first and second bit lines, and interfaces with the SRAM array. A control circuit performs a first operation to access the nonvolatile memory array via the SRAM array and the first and second circuits and performs a second operation by producing an electrical path connecting from the pad to the nonvolatile memory array through at least one of the first and second bit lines of the SRAM array without intervening at least one of the first and second circuits. |
| US08724359B2 |
Methods and circuits for limiting bit line leakage current in a content addressable memory (CAM) device
A content addressable memory (CAM) device can include a number of bit lines. One or more of the bit lines can be connected to storage circuits of CAM cells in a corresponding column. Each CAM cell can include compare circuits that compare a stored value one or more compare data values. An isolation circuit car have a controllable impedance path connected between the bit line and a precharge voltage node and can be controlled by application of a potential at a control node. A control circuit can be coupled to the control node and can switch the isolation circuit from a high impedance state to a low impedance state prior to, and for a duration of at least of a portion of, an access operation. |
| US08724358B2 |
Stacked structure of power conversion apparatus
A stacked structure of a power converter is disclosed. The stacked structure has a power conversion circuit that provides an output or input of alternating current in three phases and is composed of odd-numbered parallel-connected power semiconductor element modules for each phase, and a heat sink for cooling the power semiconductor element modules. An odd number of the parallel-connected power semiconductor element modules are arranged in a first phase and a third phase, and an even number of the parallel-connected power semiconductor element modules are arranged in a second phase respectively in two rows on the heat sink relative to a ventilation direction of air for cooling the heat sink. |
| US08724352B2 |
Power supply apparatus driving circuit, power supply apparatus driving integrated circuit, and power supply apparatus
In a power supply apparatus driving circuit, at startup, an input voltage of a switching power supply is used as a driving power supply, and loss generated in a starting circuit is reduced. The starting circuit and the driving circuit are configured as a single driver. A control IC generates a switching control signal to control a first switching element and a second switching element. A driving circuit in a high breakdown voltage driver IC generates gate drive voltage signals for the first switching element and the second switching element based on the switching control signal inputted from the control IC. A starting circuit supplies the partial voltage of a voltage inputted to a starting power supply terminal, to each of the driving circuit in the high breakdown voltage driver IC and the control IC that is externally provided, and shuts off a switching element after startup. |
| US08724349B2 |
Apparatus and method for output voltage calibration of a primary feedback flyback power module
An apparatus and method for output voltage calibration of a primary feedback flyback power module extract the difference between the output voltage of the power module and a target value, and according thereto, calibrate a reference voltage which is used in regulation of the output voltage, to thereby calibrate the output voltage to be the target value. |
| US08724348B2 |
Power-supply unit, hard-disk drive, and switching method of the power-supply unit
A power-supply unit including a transformer, a full bridge circuit having four arm switches on a primary side of the transformer, a rectifier and smoothing circuit including two synchronous rectifier switches on a secondary side of the transformer, a choke coil, and a capacitor, an output terminal in the rectifier and smoothing circuit, a control circuit controlling ON/OFF of the four arm switches of the full bridge circuit and the two synchronous rectifier switches of the rectifier and smoothing circuit, a resonant inductor including a leakage inductor component and a parasitic inductor component on the primary side of the transformer, and a resonant capacitor, and in which the control circuit includes a timing variable unit which varies switching timings of the two synchronous rectifier switches of the rectifier and smoothing circuit based on an output current flowing in the output terminal provided in the rectifier and smoothing circuit. |
| US08724347B2 |
Switching control circuit and switching power supply apparatus including an IC-based switching control circuit
In a switching control circuit, a length of a soft start period is set by a time constant of an external circuit that is connected to a soft start terminal of a switching control IC. After a voltage of the soft start terminal has reached a predetermined voltage at the termination of the soft start period, the on-pulse period of a first switching device is limited by a maximum value. When a Zener diode is connected between the soft start terminal and ground, the upper limit voltage of the soft start terminal is a Zener voltage and, hence, the maximum on-pulse period is limited by this voltage. As a result, the switching control circuit and a switching power supply apparatus, which have a soft start function and a power limiting function, are reduced in size and cost by limiting the number of terminals. |
| US08724345B2 |
Self power source apparatus
A switching power source apparatus has a pulse generator of a first pulse. A first resonant series circuit receives the first pulse signal and passes a current having a 90-degree phase delay with respect to the first pulse signal. The current of the first resonant series circuit turns on/off a switching element Q21. A second resonant series circuit receives the second pulse signal and passes a current having a 90-degree phase delay with respect to the second pulse signal. The current of the second resonant series circuit turns on/off a switching element Q22. The pulse generator has a third transformer T3 that has secondary windings to output the first and second pulse signals according to a voltage that is applied to the third transformer and is synchronized with drive signals for the switching elements Q11 and Q12. |
| US08724343B2 |
Hi-definition multimedia interface shield with fingers
An electromagnetic shield comprises a sheet of metal having slots along an edge of the sheet to form a plurality of resilient fingers. The single sheet is bent around first and second bends axes inwardly and approximately ninety degrees to form a top planar surface and first and second side walls. The single sheet of metal is sized and dimensioned to receive a connector in between the first and second side walls and top planar surface. The fingers are bent outward with a bend radius of approximately 0.020 inches with respect to a flat surface of the sidewalls and top planar surface. The fingers apply a biasing force against a surface of a faceplate. Each of the side walls includes an elongated leg, which is interconnected with a circuit board and each of the elongated legs extends beyond a bottom edge of each of the side walls. |
| US08724341B2 |
Backplane and backlight module
The present invention discloses a backplane and a backlight module. The backplane comprises a frame formed by a plurality of brackets, and bridges which are arranged on the brackets and used for fixing PCBs; the bridges can rotate relative to the fixed points of the bridges to the brackets; the bridges are provided with chutes or through holes used for installing hillocks. In the present invention, because the backplane is formed into a frame structure through a plurality of brackets, the manufacturing cost is lower and a large number of materials are saved. Simultaneously, the bridges can rotate relative to the fixed points of the bridges to the brackets, so that the positions of hillocks on the bridges can be adjusted to satisfy the needs of the PCBs of different dimensions and enhance the universality of the backplane. Further, the bridges are provided with chutes used for installing hillocks which can be installed in corresponding positions in the chutes as required; and then, the hillocks can obtain horizontal and vertical adjustment; therefore, the setting points of the hillocks are increased; the hillocks can adapt to PCBs of more dimensions and have preferable universality. |
| US08724337B2 |
Compact server power supply having high power density
The present invention discloses a compact server power supply having high power density has a casing, a main printed circuit board, a sub-printed circuit board, a power supplying circuit, a power output terminal set and a fan. The power supplying circuit has a primary side circuit unit, a transformer and a secondary side circuit unit. Electric elements of the primary and secondary side circuit units and the transformer are soldered on the main printed circuit board except parts of the electric elements of the secondary side circuit unit are soldered on the sub-printed circuit board. The sub-printed circuit board is vertically mounted and soldered on the main printed circuit board, so the length of the main printed circuit board is shortened to implement the server power supply having a compact size and high power density. |
| US08724336B2 |
Card guide system and method
A cardguide to be disposed in a computer chassis during use. The cardguide includes a track to accept an edge of a printed circuit board of a modular computer device to be disposed in the computer chassis during use. The cardguide further comprises an integral clip configured to retain at least a portion of a temperature sensing device during use. The clip provides for positioning the temperature sensing device within the computer chassis during use. |
| US08724331B2 |
Intelligent wall-mounted switch module
An intelligent wall-mounted switch module is provided so that plural electric appliances can be turned on or off mechanically with a single switching element through touch-based selection. The switch module includes a switching element mounted on a wall. The switching element has a control unit electrically connected to the electric appliances and a display for displaying, under control of the control unit, plural identification images whereby the electric appliances or the space or spaces where they are located can be identified. A touch panel is provided on a surface of the display. A user may slide a finger along the touch panel, thus instructing the control unit to switch the identification images displayed by the display. Then, the switching element can be switched so as for the control unit to turn on or off the electric appliance corresponding to the identification image displayed. The switch module features enhanced durability. |
| US08724330B1 |
Variable latch to position a sub-chassis within a chassis
An apparatus comprises a chassis securing a midplane at a known distance from the first end of the chassis, wherein a first electronic device is securable within the first end of the chassis in connection with a midplane connector on a first surface of the midplane. A sub-chassis is receivable within the second end of the chassis with a proximal end of the sub-chassis engaging a second surface of the midplane. A distal end of the sub-chassis has a sub-chassis latch that secures the sub-chassis in the second end of the chassis with the proximal end engaged against the second surface of the midplane. A second electronic device is securable within the sub-chassis with a second device connector coupled to a midplane connector on the second surface of the midplane and a second device latch secured to a sub-chassis slot adjacent the distal end of the sub-chassis. |
| US08724328B2 |
Electronic device and solid state disk module thereof
An exemplary electronic device includes a shell, a printed circuit board and a solid state disk module provided in the shell. The printed circuit board has a cable. The solid state disk module includes a solid state disk and a fixing structure encapsulating the solid state disk. The solid state disk has ports connected with the cable. The fixing structure includes a bottom panel, a top panel extending from one end of the bottom panel and two lateral panels extending from two lateral sides of the bottom panel. The bottom panel supports the solid state disk. The top panel is bent from the bottom panel and covers the end and a top of the solid state disk. The lateral panels are bent from the bottom panel and cover the solid state disk and connect to the top panel. A handle portion extends beyond the top of the solid state disk. |
| US08724324B2 |
Rotating rectifier
A rectifier comprising an electrically conductive support 32, a first plurality of rectifier components 24 carried by the support 32 and having their anodes connected to a first bus bar 26, a second plurality of rectifier components 28 carried by the support 32 and having their cathodes connected to a second bus bar 30, the cathode of each of the first rectifier components 24 being connected to the anode of an associated one of the second rectifier components 28, and first and second resistance paths 40, 42 between the first and second bus bars 26, 30 and the support 32. |
| US08724321B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display having a display panel, a housing, and a plurality of heat pipes. The housing has a sealing part and has aeration paths. The sealing part seals the display panel to box the display panel therein, while making a display screen of the display panel viewable from outside. The aeration paths are arranged outside the sealing part and communicate with the outside of the housing. The heat pipes extend from a rear surface of the display panel to the aeration paths. |
| US08724317B2 |
Apparatus pertaining to a deployable keyboard and corresponding bottom surface
A housing has a front surface and a back surface. A keyboard and a corresponding bottom surface move between a non-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration. A tray slides in and out of the housing along one or more slots that are formed internal to the housing. This tray can include an internal surface having a first side that contacts the keyboard and an opposing second side that contacts the aforementioned bottom surface when the latter components are non-deployed. When moving to the deployed configuration the keyboard and bottom surface first move substantially parallel to the housing and then move substantially perpendicular to the housing. Projections on these components can interact with corresponding tracks formed in the housing to direct at the least this perpendicular movement. |
| US08724316B2 |
Handheld electronic device
A handheld electronic device includes a first body, a pivot member, a second body and a third body. The pivot member is pivoted to the first body. The second body is slidably disposed on the pivot member. The third body is pivoted to the first body and stacked between the first body and the second body, such that the handheld electronic device is in a stacked state. When the second body slides along the pivot member to expose the third body, the pivot member is pivotally rotated relative to the first body automatically to drive the second body to tilt, the third body is pivotally rotated relative to the first body automatically to tilt, and a top surface of the second body and a top surface of the third body together form a continuous surface, such that the handheld electronic device is in an expanded state. |
| US08724312B2 |
Mobile computer stand with integrated keyboard
A device for use with a portable computer includes a base, a stand having an upper portion and an adjustable linkage, and a connection mechanism. The base is adapted to rest upon a surface and includes a keyboard that is physically integrated with the base. The stand is attached to the base. The upper portion is adapted to provide a surface upon which a portable computer rests. The upper portion includes an attachment mechanism adapted to attach to a portable computer resting upon the upper portion to secure the portable computer physically to the upper portion. The adjustable linkage is connected to the base and is connected to the upper portion of the stand on another end. The adjustable linkage is adapted to position the upper portion of the stand. The connection mechanism provides data communication from the integrated keyboard to a portable computer resting upon the upper portion. |
| US08724308B2 |
Electronic device with data storage assembly
An electronic device includes a chassis and a data storage assembly slidably received in the chassis. The data storage assembly includes a bracket and a plurality of hard disk drives uprightly inserted in the bracket, which can arrange more hard disk drives in the bracket effectively. |
| US08724306B2 |
Hinge assembly
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to a hinge assembly. An example of the hinge assembly includes a pair of active hinges and a pair of passive hinges. The hinge assembly may be utilized in portable computing devices such as notebook computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). |
| US08724305B2 |
Electronic device with quick-release supporting apparatus
An electronic device includes a main body, a base, a connecting member, a securing pole, a locking member, a sliding block. The main body includes a securing groove having a securing region, and a securing hole is defined on the bottom of the securing region. The connecting member is mounted between the main body and the base, and the connecting member comprising a channel. The securing pole is slidably received in the channel of the connecting member. The locking member is slidably received between the connecting member and the base, and forces the securing pole to disengage from the securing hole when the locking member is pushed. The locking member includes a second bevel abutting to a first bevel of the sliding block. When the locking member is pushed, the sliding block is actuated to pull the securing pole away from the main body. |
| US08724298B2 |
Panel display suspension system and a panel display provided with a panel display suspension system
A panel display suspension system comprising a first mounting part and a second mounting part. In order to be able to easily adjust the horizontal position of a suspended panel display (7) the first mounting part is provided with a supporting rail-shaped body (1) and the second mounting part is provided with supporting movers (3) for cooperation with the rail-shaped body. One of the mounting parts is configured for securing to the panel display and the other mounting part is configured for securing to a wall. |
| US08724294B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and method of manufacturing solid electrolytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor having an anode element, a dielectric film covering a surface of the anode element, a conductive polymer layer provided on the dielectric film, and a water-repellent portion provided on the dielectric film not in contact with the conductive polymer layer and containing silicone oil is provided. |
| US08724292B2 |
Lithium-ion capacitor
A lithium-ion capacitor excellent in durability, which has high energy density and high capacity retention ratio when the capacitor is charged and discharged at a high load, is disclosed. The lithium-ion capacitor includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an aprotic organic solvent of a lithium salt as an electrolyte solution. In the lithium-ion capacitor, a positive electrode active material allows lithium ions and/or anions to be doped thereinto and de-doped therefrom, and a negative electrode active material allows lithium ions to be doped thereinto and de-doped therefrom. At least one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode is pre-doped with lithium ions so that after the positive electrode and the negative electrode are shortcircuited, a potential of the positive electrode is 2 V (relative to Li/Li+) or lower. A thickness of a positive electrode layer of the positive electrode is within a range from 18 to 108 μm. |
| US08724289B2 |
Substrate temperature adjusting-fixing device
A disclosed substrate temperature adjusting-fixing device includes an electro static chuck attracting and holding an attractable object onto a base body having a built-in electrode by applying a voltage to the electrode, a base plate fixing the electro static chuck via an adhesive layer, a power supplying portion electrically connected to the electrode, and a retaining portion holding the power supplying portion, wherein the retaining portion includes a main body and a sealing portion, the main body is fixed to the base plate and has recesses opened on an opposite side of the adhesive layer and a through hole penetrating through the main body, the power supplying portion includes an electrode pin and an electric wire, the electric wire is wired inside the adhesive layer, the through hole and the recesses to electrically connect the electrode with the electrode pin, and the sealing portion fills the recesses. |
| US08724288B2 |
Electrostatic chuck and vacuum processing apparatus
An electrostatic chuck is provided which is arranged that, at the time of performing processing treatments of irradiating light to a to-be-processed substrate while holding the translucent to-be-processed substrate, the to-be-processed substrate can surely be held even in case the attraction force lowers due to photoelectric effect. An electrostatic chuck has a chuck plate made of a dielectric material, and a first electrode and a second electrode, both electrodes being disposed in the chuck plate. A voltage is applied between the first and the second electrodes to thereby attract the to-be-processed substrate S to the surface of the chuck plate. The electrostatic chuck has, on part of the surface of the chuck plate, a substrate holding section 64 which is made of an adhesive sheet and the like having an adhesive force with respect to the to-be-processed substrate. |
| US08724286B2 |
Ionizer having cleaning system
An object of the present invention is to provide an ionizer having a cleaning system for cleaning an electrode needle of the ionizer automatically or remotely, while also being compact in size. The cleaning system (6) has a rotating member (61) configured to coaxially rotate with the fan (3), a plurality of rods (62a to 62d) attached to the rotating member (61) such that each rod extends radially from the rotating member, and brushes (63a to 63d) each attached to the end of each rod. The rotating member (61) is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid (64) via a coupling means (66). |
| US08724284B2 |
Electrostatic protection component
An electrostatic protection component includes: a body in which a plurality of ceramic substrates is laminated; and a pair of discharge electrodes which are formed within the body and which are spaced to face each other. The discharge electrodes include main body portions extending along a longitudinal direction, and the main body portions include tips in the longitudinal direction and side edges extending along the longitudinal direction. The pair of discharge electrodes are arranged such that both the main body portions are adjacent to each other in a short direction. The discharge electrodes face each other in the short direction between the side edges, and discharge occurs only between the side edges, between the discharge electrodes. |
| US08724281B2 |
Techniques for detecting removal of a connector
A system that detects electrical disconnection of one connector from another connector includes a detection circuitry and a protection circuitry. The detection circuitry detects that a plug connector has been electrically disconnected from a corresponding receptacle connector. In response to the detection, the detection circuitry sends a signal to the protection circuitry. In response to the signal, the protection circuitry lowers or terminates power being supplied to a host device via one of the contacts of the plug connector. This helps to prevent shocks/shorts that may be caused by accidental disconnection of the plug connector. |
| US08724280B2 |
Surge protection
An electronic fuse (506, 507) suitable for use in a direct current, DC, applications which is exposed to surges. The electronic fuse (506,507) comprises a current sensor (500) for measuring a current flowing in a current path of the DC system, the electronic fuse comprising a first transistor switch (501) which is arranged in the current path, the first transistor switch comprising at least one parasitic diode (511) having a forward direction which is opposite to an operational DC direction of the current path. The electronic fuse further comprising a controller (502) operatively connected to the current sensor (500) and adapted to control the first transistor switch (501) based on the measured current, and a current restrictor (503,520) which is capable of blocking a current from flowing in the current path in a direction opposite to the operational DC direction. |
| US08724275B2 |
Three-phase detection module
A method includes receiving N power signals, each having a different one of N phases, over N power supply lines, where N is an integer greater than two. The method further includes selectively activating a first switch to allow a first current to flow from a first one of the N power supply lines to a second one of the N power supply lines. The method includes generating a signal based on the first current, and selectively generating a phase failure signal when the signal is less than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08724270B2 |
Circuit for detecting static electricity
In the circuit for detecting static electricity, a switch for cancelling charges on an electrode body, which detects static electricity, is not necessarily provided. The circuit (30) for detecting static electricity comprises: a P-channel FET and an N-channel FET having respective gates thereof electrically connected to each other; a direct-current power supply for driving the P-channel FET and the N-channel FET; an electrostatically charging section (39) to be electrostatically charged, the electrostatically charging section being a portion where the gates of respective P-channel FET and the N-channel FET are electrically connected to each other; and automatically resetting means (C1, C2) which makes the electrostatically charging section (39) automatically discharge the static electricity, which has charged on the electrostatically charging section, and makes it possible to have the electrostatically charging section (39) electrostatically charged again. |
| US08724269B2 |
ESD protection circuit
ESD protection circuit is provided, which includes a detection circuit, a trigger circuit and a clamp circuit. The detection circuit includes two stacked capacitors reflecting occurrence of ESD events. The trigger circuit includes three stacked transistors controlling triggering of the clamp circuit according to operation of the detection circuit. The clamp circuit includes two stacked transistors conducting ESD path when triggered. |
| US08724265B2 |
Trapezoidal back bias and trilayer reader geometry with predetermined magnetization shape
A magnetoresistive sensor is generally disclosed. Various embodiments of a sensor can have at least a trilayer sensor stack biased with a back biasing magnet adjacent a back of the trilayer sensor. The back biasing magnet, the trilayer sensor stack, or both have substantially trapezoidal shapes to enhance the biasing field and to minimize noise. |
| US08724264B2 |
Thin film magnetic head, magnetic head slider, head gimbal assembly, head arm assembly, magnetic disk device and method of manufacturing thin film magnetic head
A thin film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive element (MR) having higher reading performance. In manufacturing the thin film magnetic head, after forming an MR element, a pair of magnetic domain controlling layers are formed by stacking a buffer layer, a magnetic bias layer and a first cap layer in this order on both sides, in a track-width direction, of the MR element via an insulating layer, respectively. Then, a second cap layer is formed to cover the upper surface of the MR element and connect the pair of cap-layers. Then, a gap adjustment layer and a top shielding layer are formed to cover the pair of first cap layers and the second cap layer, completing a read head section. |
| US08724263B2 |
Method for active control of spacing between a head and a storage medium
A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control. |
| US08724257B2 |
Hydrodynamic bearing apparatus and spindle motor and disk drive apparatus including the same
A bearing apparatus includes an upper annular portion that has a circular or substantially circular ring shape, and is arranged to project radially outward from a stationary shaft. One of an upper surface of a sleeve and a lower surface of the upper annular portion includes a first pumping groove array arranged to send a lubricating oil radially inward. The sleeve includes a second inner circumferential surface arranged radially outside of the upper annular portion. One of a lower surface of a cap, an upper surface of the upper annular portion, the second inner circumferential surface, and an outer circumferential surface of the upper annular portion includes a second pumping groove array arranged to send the lubricating oil radially outward or axially downward. |
| US08724256B2 |
Bearing apparatus, spindle motor, and disk drive apparatus
A bearing apparatus includes a stationary shaft, an upper annular portion, a lower annular portion, and a sleeve. An outer circumferential surface of the upper annular portion includes a cylindrical surface and an inclined surface arranged above the cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface has an axial length smaller than that of the inclined surface of the upper annular portion. One of an upper surface of the sleeve and a lower surface of the upper annular portion includes a pumping groove array defined therein. An upper surface of a lubricating oil is defined in an upper capillary seal portion, while a lower surface of the lubricating oil is defined in a lower capillary seal portion. The upper capillary seal portion has an opening angle larger than that of the lower capillary seal portion. |
| US08724255B1 |
Transitioning between modes of control for motor of recording device
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to control of storage device, such as disk drives. A described technique includes controlling a motor to actuate a head within a storage device, the motor being associated with first and second states of electric current, where a duration of the first state is longer than a duration of the second state. Controlling the motor can include using both a first mode and a second mode to control current to the motor. The technique further includes detecting an instance of the first state, and initiating, when the instance of the first state is detected, a switch from the first mode to the second mode to control the motor. The switch can be based on a condition of operation with respect to the storage device. A start-up time of the second mode is shorter than the duration of the first state. |
| US08724254B1 |
Evaluating dual stage actuator response in a disk drive by adding sinusoid to control signal
A method of evaluating a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop in a disk drive is disclosed. The disk drive comprises a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop operable to actuate a head over a disk surface. A first sinusoidal signal A1 is added to a VCM control signal B1 generated by a VCM servo loop. A response of the VCM control signal B1 to the first sinusoidal signal A1 is measured, and a closed loop response of the VCM servo loop is computed in response to A1 and B1. A second sinusoidal signal A2 is added to a microactuator control signal B2 generated by a microactuator servo loop. A response of the microactuator control signal B2 to the second sinusoidal signal A2 is measured, and a closed loop response of the microactuator servo loop is computed in response to A2 and B2. |
| US08724253B1 |
Disk drive adjusting demodulation window for spiral track using timing feed-forward compensation
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of spiral tracks, each spiral track comprising a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a sync mark. The head is used to read the spiral tracks to generate a read signal representing spiral track crossings. A position error signal (PES) is generated in response to the spiral track crossings, and the head is servoed over the disk in response to the PES. Timing feed-forward compensation values are generated in response to the PES, and the timing feed-forward compensation values are used to open a demodulation window at each spiral track crossing, wherein the timing feed-forward compensation values compensate for a repeatable runout (RRO) of the spiral tracks. |
| US08724248B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating vibration by adjusting track pitch
A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing data track pitch adjustment for data written on a recordable surface of a storage device under operational vibration conditions. An operational vibration disturbance spectrum is detected during a write operation and the data track pitch is selectively adjusted based on the detected operational vibration disturbance spectrum. The adjusted track pitch information is saved and used during a read operation. |
| US08724245B1 |
Disk drive employing overlapping servo zones to facilitate servo zone crossing
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, the disk comprising a plurality of servo sectors defining a plurality of servo tracks, wherein the servo tracks form a plurality of servo zones. A servo data rate of servo sectors in a first servo zone is different than a servo data rate of servo sectors in a second servo zone. A boundary of a first servo zone overlaps with a boundary of a second servo zone over a transition zone. The servo sectors of the first servo zone are interleaved with the servo sectors of the second servo zone within the transition zone. At least one servo parameter is adjusted when the head is over the transition zone in order to transition between the first servo zone and the second servo zone. |
| US08724243B1 |
Systems and methods for run length limited encoding
Systems and methods relating generally to processing information, and more particularly without limitation to systems and methods for encoding data sets. |
| US08724242B2 |
Compensation for cross-track deviation
Cross-track deviation of a writer from a predetermined track on a recording medium is detected. A write current is adjusted based on the cross-track deviation of the writer from the predetermined track. The adjusted write current is applied to the writer to compensate for the cross-track deviation of the writer from the predetermined track. |
| US08724240B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator
A piezoelectric actuator for driving a lens unit along an optical axis is disclosed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed member, a movable member movably received in the fixed member, a magnetic plate fixed on the fixed member, a magnet fixed on the movable member, a piezoelectric member and a circuit board. The movable member includes a contacting portion. The magnet is aligned with the magnetic plate along a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The piezoelectric member is fixed on the fixed member and contacts on the contacting portion of the movable member for driving the movable member to move along the optical axis. The circuit board provides voltages to the piezoelectric member. |
| US08724239B2 |
Optical lens system for image taking
An optical lens system for image taking includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a second lens element with positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface, and a third lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface of the third lens element near an optical axis and a convex image-side surface of the third lens element away from the optical axis. Both the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the third lens element are aspheric. The third lens element is made of plastic. |
| US08724237B2 |
Optical photographing lens system
An optical photographing lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has negative refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein the image-side surface changes from concave at a paraxial region thereof to convex at a peripheral region thereof, and the surfaces thereof are aspheric. |
| US08724234B2 |
Fisheye zoom lens barrel having marks on zoom operation ring
A zoom lens barrel includes a fixed barrel in which a first mark is indicated, and a zoom operation ring in which a second mark is indicated, the zoom operation ring being supported on the fixed barrel. The zoom lens barrel has a focal length region where at least angles of view of a circular fisheye and a full-frame fisheye can be formed, and one of the angles of view of the circular fisheye and the full-frame fisheye is formed for a predetermined image-pickup element size in a focal length where the first mark and the second mark are matched to each other. |
| US08724233B2 |
Lens position control apparatus, imaging apparatus, and control method
It is provided an imaging apparatus including a plurality of motors configured to be driven to move lenses in synchronous with a drive pulse, a position detection unit configured to detect one of positions of the lenses moved by the driving of the plurality of motors, an operation unit configured to perform an output corresponding to an operation in response to the operation by a user, and a controller configured to receive the output from the position detection unit and control the plurality of motors. The controller supplies the number of drive pulses calculated based on a target position for moving the lens calculated based on the output from the operation unit and a lens position detected by the position detection unit. |
| US08724232B2 |
Zoom lens and photographing apparatus including the same
A zoom lens and a photographing apparatus including the same are provided, where the zoom lens includes, in an order from an object side to an image side: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power wherein zooming is performed by varying a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group, and the first lens group is configured to move in a given direction to perform focusing and correcting a variation in an image plane caused by the zooming, during the zooming. |
| US08724229B2 |
Decentered optical system, and image display apparatus and imaging apparatus using the decentered optical system
A decentered optical system includes a decentered prism which is located in opposition to the image display device, in which there are at least three optical surfaces mutually decentered with at least two thereof being in rotationally asymmetric shape, and which is filled inside with a medium having a refractive index of greater than 1, and a decentered lens which is interposed between the viewer's eyeball and the decentered prism, and is made up of mutually decentered two surfaces and filled inside with a medium having a refractive index of greater than 1, and in which on the image display device side with respect to an on-axis chief ray incident from the center of the image display device on the center of an exit pupil, there is a lens portion having positive power, and on an opposite side thereof, there is a lens portion having negative power. |
| US08724226B2 |
Head-up display system
Independent optical unit for head-up display system for motor vehicle, intended for the display in the field of view of the driver of a virtual image obtained from an object image coming from a projector, including a first optical component reflecting the incident light rays emanating from the projector towards a second optical component placed in the field of view of the driver for the positioning of a final virtual image, means being provided for the adjustment of their relative position. |
| US08724225B2 |
Optical system for use in a vehicle head-up display
An optical system is provided for use in a vehicle head-up display including a display panel for displaying drive information image, a backlight unit for irradiating light toward the display panel and an optical system for adjusting the size and focal distance of the drive information image projected from the display panel toward a windshield of a motor vehicle. The optical system includes a pre-lens reflection mirror array for reflecting the drive information image projected from the display panel to travel along a first roundabout path, a lens array for adjusting the size and focal distance of the drive information image reflected by the pre-lens reflection mirror array, and a post-lens reflection mirror array for reflecting the drive information image coming from the display panel toward the windshield to travel along a second roundabout path. |
| US08724224B2 |
Display device using a dihedral corner reflector array optical element
A display device includes a dihedral corner reflector array optical element composed of a substrate and a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors arranged regularly on one main surface of the substrate, the dihedral corner reflectors including orthogonal mirror planes perpendicular to each other and being perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate; and an object existing by the one surface of the substrate, the optical element forming a real image of the object by the other main surface of the substrate. The optical element includes a plurality of protrudent bodies integrally formed of a transparent material of the substrate, each of the protrudent bodies including two sides of orthogonal mirror planes perpendicular to each other as the dihedral corner reflector perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate. The optical element is disposed so that the protrudent bodies face toward a space in which the object exists. |
| US08724222B2 |
Compact interdependent optical element wavelength beam combining laser system and method
A Compact Interdependent Optical Laser System and Method is designed for use with wavelength beam combining (WBC) systems that utilize both slow-axis and fast-axis WBC. Multiple optical elements having individual and interdependent functionality allow for the system to compact reducing the overall footprint of the system. Additional, configurations incorporating the compact system described herein allow for high-power and brightness scaling. |
| US08724219B1 |
Apparatus and method for producing an annular composite far-field patterned beam(s)
Method and apparatus to generate a composite far field beam having a central null and discrete cylindrical symmetry. A phased array of Gaussian beams was used to form an annular far-field pattern as opposed to the normal peaked pattern in most phased arrays. This annular pattern arises from the radial symmetry of the polarization in each beam. Beams opposite one another in the annulus are polarized in the same direction but are 180° out of phase. This causes the center portion of the beam to be a null rather than a peak. |
| US08724218B2 |
Speckle reduction using screen vibration techniques and apparatus
Disclosed herein are systems and related methods for reducing speckle on display screen. More specifically, screen vibration is used to reduce speckle, and in accordance with the disclosed principles, the vibration may be achieved by using wave-based actuation (e.g., acoustic or electromagnetic waves) to vibrate the screen. In an exemplary embodiment, a speckle reducing system may comprise at least one actuating element located proximate to, but not in physical contact with, a display screen. In addition, the at least one actuating element may be configured to generate waves directed towards the display screen. When the waves impact the display screen, the waves impart vibration to the display screen. |
| US08724217B2 |
Reflected dark field method and apparatus
A reflected dark field structure includes a bottom plate, a support tube, a light unit, a diffuser structure, and a reflector unit that provides reflected dark field illumination, such that a gem held by the support tube and surrounded by the diffuser structure is illuminated and viewable through an aperture in the reflector unit. A method for imaging and analyzing a gem includes placing the gem onto a support tube where it is illuminated with dark field and reflected dark field illumination, and viewing the gem via an aperture located on a top reflector unit, which provides a top cover for the gem. Furthermore, a method and apparatus for obtaining images of a gem includes a dark field stage, a reflector unit, and an image-acquiring device, such that a gem placed in the dark field stage is illuminated, and such that the reflector unit covers the dark field stage and provides reflected dark field illumination, and such that the image-acquiring device is directed towards an aperture in the reflector unit. |
| US08724214B2 |
Broadband optical upconversion by energy transfer from dye antenna to upconverting crystal
An optical upconverting nanomaterial includes a nanocrystal, a ligand layer directly bonded to the nanocrystal, and an optical antenna directly or indirectly bonded to the nanocrystal. The nanocrystal includes a transition metal-doped material exhibiting upconversion to optical wavelengths. The transition metal-doped material includes energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants and (not necessarily distinct) emitter transition metal dopants, where an absorption spectrum of the energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants overlaps with an emission spectrum of the optical antenna. The optical upconverting nanomaterial has at least one linear dimension (e.g., width or thickness) that is less than 150 nm in extent. |
| US08724212B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display device includes a circuit substrate and an opposed substrate arranged to face each other, a dispersion liquid interposed between the circuit substrate and the opposed substrate, a plurality of platforms arranged to be spaced apart from each other with a slit therebetween in a display region on the circuit substrate, a plurality of reflectors respectively formed on top faces of the plurality of platforms, a slit electrode located in each slit, an opposed electrode formed on the opposed substrate, and an electrophoretic layer filled with a dispersion liquid which contains black particles having a different color from that of the reflectors and being dispersed in a dispersion medium. |
| US08724211B2 |
Driving methods of display unit
An embodiment of the invention provides a driving method for a display unit, wherein the display unit includes a first electrode, and a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode, wherein the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a distance, and a first particle with a polarity is distributed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The driving method includes the steps of: casting a first voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode to make the first particle move toward the second electrode; stopping casting of the first voltage difference; and casting a second voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode to apply an opposite force to the first particle, wherein the polarity of the second voltage difference is different from that of the first voltage difference. |
| US08724209B2 |
Acousto-optic device with electrode having different transverse edge positions
An acousto-optic (AO) device includes an AO interaction crystal for receiving and propagating a light ray along an optical propagation direction (OPD). A piezoelectric transducer is on at least one surface of the AO interaction crystal for receiving an electrical signal and emitting an acoustic wave into the AO interaction crystal. An electrode is on the piezoelectric transducer for coupling the electrical signal to the piezoelectric transducer. The electrode is a patterned electrode that includes a plurality of different transverse edge positions. The plurality of different transverse edge positions span a position range of at least five percent of an average height (Havg) of the electrode. |
| US08724204B2 |
System and method for generating an optical comb
A system and method for generating an optical comb are provided. The system comprises at least one modulator for modulating a continuous wave sequentially by using at least one signal, respectively so as to generate a comb wave having a first plurality of subcarriers; and a nonlinear medium for causing the respective subcarriers of the comb wave to perform four-wave mixing to thereby generate a comb wave having a second plurality of subcarriers as the optical comb. With the present system and method, an ultra-wide spectrum optical comb with stable frequencies may be generated. |
| US08724203B2 |
Variable pulse stretching length by variable beamsplitter reflectivity
A laser pulse stretching unit is described herein which is configured to change the reflectivity of one or more beam splitters located therein to change a temporal profile of an output beam without needing to adjust a length of any delay lines. In addition, a method is described herein for using the laser pulse stretching unit to change the reflectivity of one or more beam splitters located therein to change a temporal profile of an output beam without needing to adjust a length of any delay lines. |
| US08724200B1 |
MEMS hierarchically-dimensioned optical mirrors and methods for manufacture thereof
MEMS hierarchically-dimensioned optical mirrors, each comprising a substrate, a plurality of spacers disposed on the substrate, a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive cantilever microactuators disposed on the plurality of spacers, and a monolithic deformable mirror or a segmented mirror array disposed on the plurality of the cantilever assemblies, having significantly improved overall device performances owing to the use of the cantilever microactuators based on relaxor ferroelectric single crystal materials and/or other piezoelectric/electrostrictive materials, are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such devices. |
| US08724194B2 |
Image processing apparatus executing color correction on image data
An image processing apparatus includes a pixel extracting unit, a correction quantity calculating unit, a selection image storage unit, a selection receiving unit, and a color correction executing unit. The pixel extracting unit extracts a pixel from predetermined image data. The correction quantity calculating unit calculates a color correction quantity based on a color difference between a color of the pixel extracted by the pixel extracting unit and a target color. The selection image storage unit stores data of a selection image representing an external appearance of each image data obtained by executing color correction on the pixel according to the color correction quantity. The selection receiving unit receives selection of a color correction type. The color correction executing unit executes color correction on the extracted pixel in image data of a correction object according to a color correction quantity corresponding to the color correction type. |
| US08724189B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of copying two-sided card thereof
An image forming apparatus to copy a two-sided card is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a user interface unit to adjust a layout for copying both sides of the two-sided card, an image reading unit to read the both sides of the two-sided card and generates scanned images, a controlling unit to generate image data where the scanned images are laid out on at least one page according to the adjusted layout, and an output unit to output the image data generated by the controlling unit. Accordingly, the both sides of the two-sided card may be laid out and output in various types. |
| US08724186B2 |
Image reading device for reading document image and image forming apparatus including same
An image reading device includes a case, a reading section, an engaging section, a guide section, a first deformation characteristic section, and a second deformation characteristic section. The case includes a bottom plate. The reading section moves in a sub-scanning direction. The guide section guides movement of the reading section. When the bottom plate is divided into a first region and a second region with the guide section as a boundary, the first deformation characteristic section is arranged in the first region, and has a deformation characteristic such that the first deformation characteristic section deforms with respect to heat in a first direction that is perpendicular to the bottom plate. The second deformation characteristic section is arranged in the second region, and has a deformation characteristic such that the second deformation characteristic section deforms with respect to heat in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. |
| US08724182B2 |
Method for detecting blank pages, and corresponding multifunctional machine
The invention relates to a method for detecting blank pages among sheets of a document scanned on a multifunctional machine comprising a scanner, wherein said scanner: scans (S0) two pages of at least one sheet of a document to be scanned; carries out a basic detection (S6) of a blank page on each scanned sheet; selects (S7) each sheet not comprising at least one page detected to be blank during the detection (S6); compares (S9) the two pages of said selected sheet; and classifies (S9) a page as blank when it is similar to the other page of said sheet. The invention also relates to a multifunctional machine, the machine comprising a scanner for implementing a method according to the invention. |
| US08724178B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a color toner image using a color toner and a transparent layer using a transparent toner on a sheet of recording media, a sheet conveyance unit to transport the sheet, a 3D display lens forming unit disposed downstream from the image forming unit in a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller. The 3D display lens forming unit includes a shaping member including an uneven portion having predetermined surface unevenness, and a pressure member to press the shaping member against the sheet, forming a shaping nip between the shaping member and the pressure member. The 3D display lens forming unit shapes the transparent layer that is an outermost layer on the sheet into a stereoscopic display lens by transferring the surface unevenness of the uneven portion of the shaping member to the transparent layer formed on the sheet. |
| US08724176B2 |
Fusing of unassociated images
As set forth herein, methods and systems facilitate the fusing of unassociated images into an original document image. An unassociated image is received into a set of unassociated images in computer memory by an associated scanning device, and the size for each unassociated image is determined. The size of each unassociated image is then compared to at least one other known image size, and a matching related unassociated image is retrieved from the set of unassociated images corresponding to each unassociated image based at least in part on an output of the comparison. The matches of related images are then aligned and fused to form an original document image. |
| US08724171B2 |
Method of compressing color reproduction range and profile creation device using same
To provide a gamut mapping method, the description of a correspondence relationship of which is more directly than that of a conventional method, the gamut mapping method being capable of performing fine control. A method of compressing a color reproduction range includes a step of allocating a vector representing a direction in which a color value on a grid point should shift in a uniform color space, to each grid point on the uniform color space and a step of finding a direction of shift for an input color value on the uniform color space based on the vector and mapping the input color value to a color reproduction range of an output device. |
| US08724166B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus with blank page adjustment
An image reading apparatus includes: an image reader configured to read both sides of sheets of an original document to generate page images thereof; an attribute information supplier configured to attach, to the page image of each page, attribute information including a page number of the corresponding page in the original document and a distinction whether the corresponding page is a front side or a back side of the sheet of the original document, when the page image is not a blank page; and an electronic file generator configured to generate an electronic file by integrating non-blank page images, which are the page images with no blank pages. |
| US08724162B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing user-customizable operability for imaging operations in image forming devices using selectable platen sheet rulers
A system and method for implementing selectable platen sheet rulers as one of technology-based dynamically adaptable platen sheet rulers or physically-replaceable platen sheet rulers or a plurality of physically-replaceable platens having associated with each a permanently-affixed set of platen sheet rulers for device emulation, are provided. The user is provided with a mechanism by which to select a different origin for imaging operations in an image forming device. To enable emulation on the image forming devices, selectable rulers are employed. Dynamically-adaptable rulers include liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, light emitting diode (LED) arrays or similar tools to configure platen sheet ruler displays to frame a platen of the image forming device to enable real-time changing of the platen sheet rulers. Separately, physically-replaceable rulers such as, for example, one of “snap-in” rulers that are changeable with respect to a set platens in the image forming device are provided. |
| US08724152B2 |
Image forming device and image forming method for transferring and fusing transparent image and color image
An image forming device includes a first development unit configured to form a first image on a recording medium with a first developer, a second development unit configured to form a second image on the recording medium with at least one of a plurality of second developers that are different from the first developer, and a print control unit configured to select the at least one of the plurality of second developers for forming the second image. The second developers are transparent developers, and the second image is a transparent image. |
| US08724151B2 |
Enterprise cloud printing
A method for monitoring usage of a home printer in a home-office system, the home-office system including the home printer and a computer of a user, both of which are communicatively coupled to an enterprise server over a network. The method includes generating a print job to be printed on the home printer; determining print job metrics related to the print job, the print job metrics including file information related to at least one file to be printed as part of the print job; and transmitting the print job metrics to the enterprise server over the network. A print management server analyzes the print job metrics to determine whether the print job was work-related or non-work-related. |
| US08724150B2 |
Storage medium storing printer driver and information processing apparatus
A storage medium stores a printer driver that controls an information processing apparatus. The printer driver, when executed, causes the information processing apparatus to provide an application with setting values corresponding to options for an item for specifying a print setting and a driver setting option value corresponding to a driver setting option that indicates that the item is allowed to be specified in a driver-side input interface, and receive a result of the selected option in an application-side setting process. When the result received is the driver setting option, display a setting value as the setting value for the item and allowing the value for the item to be changed through the driver-side input interface. When the result received is the option other than the driver setting option, display a setting value that corresponds to the option selected in the application-side setting process as the value for the item. |
| US08724149B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method transferring data corresponding to line of document with set time period
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads image data corresponding to one line of an original document with a line period, a first transfer unit that transfers the image data, the image data being read by the image reading unit and being input to the first transfer unit, a transfer control unit that controls the first transfer unit to transfer the image data, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium on the basis of the image data transferred by the first transfer unit. The transfer control unit controls the first transfer unit to transfer the image data corresponding to one line of the original document every time when a predetermined time period passes which is shorter than a time length of the line period. |
| US08724147B2 |
Image processing program
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions to control a computer, which is configured to display a webpage including a webpage image based on webpage data, to perform a method of image forming control, the method including: receiving an instruction to select an area on the display screen as a selection area; storing selection area webpage data; storing first image data having a first format generated based on the selection area webpage data; storing image data having the first format representing the webpage image in the selection area, as a second image data; detecting an image absence area, wherein a content of the first image data display is absent from that of the second image data; generating correspondence image data corresponding to the image absence area; compositing the correspondence image data into the image absence area to produce composite image data; and outputting the composite image data. |
| US08724141B2 |
Method for receiving a change-mode command while printing on a plurality of media sheets
Disclosed is a method for performing printing on a plurality of media sheets in an imaging device. The method includes receiving a change-mode command while printing on a media sheet of the plurality of media sheets. Specifically, the printing is being performed by utilizing a first print mode. Also, the change-mode command comprises a request for changing the first print mode to a second print mode. The method further includes performing printing on subsequent media sheets of the plurality of media sheets by utilizing the second print mode. The imaging device for performing printing on the plurality of media sheets is also described. |
| US08724139B2 |
Electric apparatus having separate receiving capability for operational instructions and operational parameters, respectively, and system including the same
An electric apparatus and an electric system comprise: a control panel to accept instructions for operations; and a part to detect and control situations of the operations. The operations, carried out by the electric apparatus and the electric system, are in accordance with the instructions. Furthermore, the electric apparatus and the electric system comprise a remote control to accept instructions about situations and setups of the part. It is configured to accept instructions about the situations and setups of the part, only through the remote control. |
| US08724133B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method of the image forming apparatus, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus may include a reading unit, a display unit, and a printing unit. The reading unit reads a document and generate image data. The display unit displays a screen for setting a layout in printing the image data. The printing unit prints the image data using the layout and a read size of the document. In response to a screen for setting a layout in printing the image data being displayed by using a certain method, a user of the displaying unit is allowed to skip setting of the read size of the document to print the image data. In response to a screen for setting a layout in printing the image data being displayed without using the certain method, the user is requested to set the read size of the document to print the image data. |
| US08724125B2 |
Method and system for printing according to transmission conditions
A method and system for printing full images using a device are provided. The method includes determining print target information in response to a request from a device according to transmission conditions existing between the device and the image forming device. The method also includes transmitting the determined print target information to an image forming device. The method also includes printing selected contents from among data using the transmitted print target information. |
| US08724124B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and computer-readable recording medium having program
An image forming apparatus that sets an output unit configured by a plurality of pages of which the order is determined as one copy and outputs the a plurality of copies of output units as a JOB includes an image forming unit that sequentially forms images corresponding to the plurality of pages on a plurality of sheets, a control unit that performs a calculation process of image eigenvalues based on the images for each of output units, a first storage unit storing a result of the calculation process performed for a reference copy of the output unit that is a specific one copy out of the plurality of copies of the output units, and a second storage unit storing a result of the calculation process performed for a copy of the output unit other than the reference copy out of the plurality of copies of the output units. |
| US08724116B2 |
Scanning mirrors in near field optical microscope having super resolution
Provided is a scanning optical measurement apparatus having super resolution. The scanning optical measurement apparatus includes: a light source; a first lens, which focuses light irradiated from the light source; a first pin hole, which is disposed next to the first lens; a second lens, which diverges light that passed through the first pin hole; a scanning unit, which scans light that passed through the second lens; a first beam splitter, which is disposed between the second lens and the scanning unit; an object lens, which focuses light that passed through the scanning unit on the subject; a slide, where the subject is placed; an optical probe, which reflects the light that passed through the subject after being irradiated from the light source; a second beam splitter, which is disposed between the scanning unit and the object lens; a first optical detector, which detects the light that passed through the first beam splitter after being reflected from the subject and the optical probe; a second pin hole, which is disposed between the first beam splitter and the first optical detector; and a second optical detector, which detects light that passed through the second beam splitter after being reflected from the subject and the optical probe. |
| US08724115B2 |
Linear stage and metrology architecture for reflective electron beam lithography
A stage metrology suitable for REBL includes an interferometer stage metrology system configured to measure the position and rotation of a short-stroke wafer scanning stage, wherein the interferometer metrology system includes two or more interferometers for each axis of measurement, wherein a first interferometer mirror is disposed on a first surface of the short-stroke wafer scanning stage and a second interferometer mirror is disposed on a second surface of the short-stroke wafer scanning stage, and a control system configured to determine a shape error for the first interferometer mirror using two or more interferometer measurements from the two or more interferometers associated with the first interferometer mirror and a shape error for the second interferometer mirror using two or more interferometer measurements from the two or more interferometers associated with the second interferometer mirror. |
| US08724113B2 |
Method for forming a nanostructure penetrating a layer
A method for forming a nanostructure penetrating a layer and the device made thereof is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a substrate, a layer present thereon, and a nanostructure penetrating the layer. The nanostructure defines a nanoscale passageway through which a molecule to be analyzed can pass through. The nanostructure has, in cross-sectional view, a substantially triangular shape. This shape is particularly achieved by growth of an epitaxial layer having crystal facets defining tilted sidewalls of the nanostructure. It is highly suitably for use for optical characterization of molecular structure, particularly with surface plasmon enhanced transmission spectroscopy. |
| US08724110B2 |
Process for predicting tint strength of coating compositions by wet color measurement
The present invention is directed to a process for predicting the tint strength of a pigmented coating composition, such as automotive OEM or refinish paint, on a real time basis while it is being made. The tint strength of a coating resulting from a layer, obtained by adding a reference binder to the coating composition, is measured. The process is repeated by subjecting the coating compositions to successive grinding intervals. The tint strength vs. reflectance is plotted on a graph and then by using a curve fitting equation, a tint strength prediction curve is obtained. By measuring the reflectance of a wet layer of a target coating composition, the tint strength of that target coating composition can then be predicted by using the tint strength prediction curve. The process is most useful during the manufacture of coating compositions, such as automotive OEM and refinishes paints. |
| US08724108B2 |
Photoelectric autocollimation method and apparatus based on beam drift compensation
Photoelectric autocollimation methods and apparatuses based on beam drift compensation are provided. The methods and apparatuses can be used to achieve a high autocollimation angle measurement accuracy. The apparatuses includes an autocollimator, a measurement mirror (12a), a beam drift monitoring and separating unit, a beam steering device (8), and a data processing controller (7). The beam drift monitoring and separating unit generate a reference beam with the same drift as the measurement beam. The measurement beam carries both angular deflection information of the measurement mirror and the angular beam drift information, while the reference beam carries only the angular beam drift information. The data processing controller gives out a signal to the beam steering device in real-time according to the magnitude of drift of the reference beam, to compensate the drift of the measurement beam. |
| US08724107B2 |
Annular optical device
One embodiment provides an annular optical device (100), comprising: an annular meso-optic (1) including an annulus (11) centered about an axis of revolution (A); and a secondary optical structure (2) substantially coaxial within the annulus (11) of the annular meso-optic (1), wherein the secondary optical structure (2) and the annular meso-optic (1) are separated by a media (12) comprising a media refractive index that is lower than a secondary optical structure refractive index, with the secondary optical structure (2) being configured to hold a specimen to be radiated by impinging electromagnetic radiation directed into the secondary optical structure (2) substantially along the axis of revolution (A), wherein re-directed radiation from the specimen is allowed into the annular meso-optic (1) by the secondary optical structure (2) if an angle of incidence of the re-directed radiation exceeds the angle of Total Internal Reflectance. Other embodiments are descried and claimed. |
| US08724104B2 |
Coarse and fine projective optical metrology system
Described herein is a projective optical metrology system including: a light target formed by a first number of light sources having a pre-set spatial arrangement; and an optical unit including an optoelectronic image sensor, which receives a light signal coming from the light target and defines two different optical paths for the light signal towards the optoelectronic image sensor. The two optical paths are such that the light signal forms on the optoelectronic image sensor at most an image of the light target that can be processed for determining at least one quantity indicating the mutual arrangement between the light target and the optical unit. |
| US08724100B1 |
Wafer level testing of optical devices
A wafer includes multiple optical devices that each includes one or more optical components. The optical components include light-generating components that each generates a light signal in response to application of electrical energy to the light-generating component from electronics that are external to the wafer. The optical components also include receiver components that each outputs an electrical signal in response to receipt of light. The wafer also includes testing waveguides that each extends from within a boundary of one of the optical devices across the boundary of the optical device and also provides optical communication between a first portion of the optical components and a second portion of the optical components. The first portion of the optical components includes one or more of the light-generating components and the second portion of the optical components include one or more of the receiver components. |
| US08724092B2 |
Optical signal transmission structure of laser distance measuring device
An optical signal transmission structure of a laser distance measuring device, comprising: a laser pipe, suspended right above a center of a rotation disk, to emit laser beam downward; a light projector module, provided with at least two reflection plates, to reflect laser beam of said laser pipe onto a target; a lens, disposed on said rotation disk, to receive laser beam reflected from said target; and a circuit board, disposed on a lower side of said rotation disk, so laser beam received by said lens is transmitted onto a light sensor element on said circuit board, to produce at least a photoelectric signal, so that circuits on said circuit board determine distance to said target based on said photoelectric signal. |
| US08724083B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
In a lithographic apparatus, a localized area of the substrate surface under a projection system is immersed in liquid. The height of a liquid supply system above the surface of the substrate can be varied using actuators. A control system uses feedforward or feedback control with input of the surface height of the substrate to maintain the liquid supply system at a predetermined height above the surface of the substrate. |
| US08724075B2 |
Optical element, exposure apparatus based on the use of the same, exposure method, and method for producing microdevice
An optical element includes a base material, a liquid-repellent member provided on at least a part of a surface of the base material, and a light-reducing member provided between the base material and the liquid-repellent member to protect the liquid-repellent member from radiation of light by reducing the light. The optical element is usable for a liquid immersion exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate through a liquid. It is possible to avoid any inflow of the liquid in a liquid immersion area into an unexpected place via the optical element. |
| US08724074B2 |
Apparatus and method for repairing liquid crystal display device
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for repairing a liquid crystal display panel, which is capable of improving a yield thereof by darkening a bright point to minimize a defect ratio thereof. An apparatus for repairing a liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention includes: a liquid crystal display panel including a repair film formed on any one of a first substrate and a second substrate, which are facing to each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween; and a laser irradiating device to irradiate a laser to the repair film to darken a specific area of the repair film, which is corresponded to an area where a bright point appears in the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US08724073B2 |
Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device comprising applying adhesive solution on column spacers and sidewall
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes preparing first and second substrates, at least one of the first and second substrates being a transparent substrate; forming a plurality of the column spacers on the first substrate for maintaining a cell gap between the first and second substrates and a sidewall on the first substrate for sealing the periphery of the substrates; applying an adhesive solution including an adhesive diluted with an organic solvent onto the first substrate having the column spacers and the sidewall thereon; positioning the second substrate on the first substrate so that the first and second substrates face each other; adhering the column spacers to the second substrate by drying the organic solvent from the adhesive solution; and providing a liquid crystal material between the first and second substrates. |
| US08724068B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a gate line extending in a first direction, a source line including an oblique line portion extending in a third direction which crosses at an acute angle a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a pixel electrode including an oblique electrode portion extending in the third direction, and a first alignment film covering the pixel electrode, a second substrate including a counter-electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrode, and a second alignment film covering the counter-electrode, and a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate. A first rubbing direction of the first alignment film is a direction which crosses the third direction at an acute angle, and an angle formed between the first rubbing direction and the third direction is 3.6° or more. |
| US08724067B2 |
Active device array substrate
An active device array substrate includes a substrate, first scan lines, second scan lines, data lines, and pixels. The first and the second scan lines are alternately arranged along a first direction. The data lines are arranged in parallel along a second direction. The pixels are arranged to form first pixel rows and second pixel rows alternately arranged in the first direction. The first pixel row includes first and second pixels electrically connected to the first scan lines, the second scan lines, and the data line, respectively. The second pixel row includes third and fourth pixels electrically connected to the first scan lines, the second scan lines, and the data line, respectively. The pixels between two adjacent data lines are arranged in two columns. Among the pixels in the same column, the pixels in odd rows and in even rows are electrically connected to different data lines, respectively. |
| US08724063B2 |
Liquid crystal optical apparatus, drive device, and image display device
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical apparatus includes first and second substrate units, a liquid crystal layer, and a drive unit. The first substrate unit includes a first substrate having a first major surface, a plurality of first and second electrodes. The first electrodes are provided on the first major surface to extend in a first direction. The second electrodes are provided on the first major surface to extend in the first direction. The second substrate unit includes a second substrate having a second major surface opposing the first major surface and an opposing electrode. The opposing electrode is provided on the second major surface. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the first and second substrate units. The drive unit is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and the opposing electrode and forms a refractive index distribution in the liquid crystal layer. |
| US08724059B2 |
Vertically aligned nematic mode liquid crystal display having large tilt angles and high contrast
A reflective liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display comprises a transparent substrate, a reflective substrate, and liquid crystal fluid between the substrates. The LCOS display further comprises a matrix of pixels, arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, wherein an intersection of a row and a column defines a position of a pixel in the matrix. The LCOS display has tilt angles sufficient to overcome disclinations due to fringe fields, and, at the same time, achieves high contrast. The surface azimuthal direction of the molecules of the liquid crystal fluid is either substantially parallel or perpendicular to the direction of polarization of incoming incident linearly polarized light. Light leakage is minimal because the effective birefringence as seen by the incoming incident linearly polarized light is substantially zero and does not depend on the pretilt of the molecules of the liquid crystal fluid. Between the transparent substrate and the reflective substrate, the twist of the molecules of the liquid crystal fluid may vary from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees when in the “OFF” state. |
| US08724058B2 |
Color filter substrate with black matrix on undercut groove and fabricating method thereof
A color filter substrate including a substrate, a black matrix layer and a color filter substrate layer is provided. The substrate has a plurality of grooves. The black matrix layer is disposed on the substrate between each two adjacent grooves, wherein the black matrix layer extends to the region above the groove from the edge of the groove and an undercut profile forms between the bottom of black matrix and the substrate. The color filter layer including a plurality of filter films separated is filled in the plurality of grooves and the plurality of filter films is separated from each other by the black matrix layer. In addition, a method of fabricating a color filter substrate is also provided. The above-mentioned color filter substrate and the fabricating method thereof can improve the quality and color uniformity of the color filter substrate. |
| US08724053B2 |
Liquid crystal display having particular optical film on the display panel
A liquid crystal display including a display panel, an optical film and a backlight module is disclosed. The optical film is disposed on the display panel and has a plurality of micro structures facing the display panel arranged on the optical film. The period of the arranged micro structures is between 90 μm˜3 μm. The backlight module and the optical film are disposed on opposite sides of the display panel respectively. The backlight module is used for emitting a light, which penetrates the display panel and reaches the optical film. The light is deflected by the micro structures of the optical film and then is emitted to the outside at an angle of 20˜70 degrees relative to a normal line of the light outputting plane of the optical film. |
| US08724048B2 |
Display device including conductive element for discharge of static charges generated in a display panel
A display device includes a display cell including a display region and a frame region surrounding the display region. A driver circuit is connected to the display cell to drive the display cell and is controlled by a circuit board arranged along in a longitudinal direction of the display cell. An insulating protection sheet covers the driver circuit and the circuit board, and one end of the insulating protection sheet is fixed to the frame region of the display cell. A conductive tape is formed on the insulating protection sheet between the display region and the driver circuit along one side of the display cell, such that static charges generated in the display region are discharged to ground through the conductive tape. |
| US08724046B2 |
Thin liquid crystal display device having particular circuit boards mounting structure
The present invention provides a thin liquid crystal display device including a body, a mounting seat mounted to the body, a mounting frame arranged inside the mounting seat, a plurality of circuit boards mounted to the mounting frame and electrically connected to the body, and a cover plate covering the mounting seat. The thin liquid crystal display device of the present invention provides a mounting seat that is mounted to a front shell and located at one side of the body of the liquid crystal display device. The mounting seat receives and retains therein the mounting frame for mounting a plurality of PCBs so that the amount of space required for mounting the PCBs is reduced and overall thinning of the liquid crystal display device is facilitated. |
| US08724044B2 |
Liquid crystal display based on insulation backplane
The invention discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) based on an insulation backplane. The LCD comprises a backplane, a display driving circuit board, and a metal front frame, wherein the backplane comprises a sidewall at the side surface of the LCD and a base plate at the bottom surface of the LCD; the metal front frame is fixedly connected with the sidewall of the backplane; and the display driving circuit board is fixed on the base plate. The LCD also comprises a metal insert, and the display driving circuit board is electrically connected with the metal front frame through the metal insert. In the invention, the display driving circuit board is connected with the metal front frame through the metal insert, compared with a conductive aluminum foil, the metal insert has higher strength and reliability, and the problems of falling, damage, tearing, etc. are not easy to occur. In addition, the metal insert can be assembled and disassembled as a whole conveniently, and thus, no additional trouble can be caused in the rework process. |
| US08724043B2 |
Locking structure for flat panel display device fixing apparatus
A locking structure for flat panel display device fixing apparatus includes a main frame. The main frame has an open cavity, a first and a second stopping rib that are formed above the two opposite sides thereof respectively and that extend inwards. The first stopping rib is longer than the second stopping rib. Below the first stopping rib, the main frame further includes an opening in which a pressure apparatus is mounted for locking a flat panel display device. The pressure apparatus includes a first and a second pressure block which are movable relatively. The first pressure block includes moveable rollers respectively mounted on both sides thereof. The second pressure block includes pushers for pushing the rollers outwards. The opening includes inclined planes on both sides thereof corresponding to the rollers. |
| US08724041B2 |
Drive scheme for stereoscopic display polarization modulator and apparatus for same
An improved drive scheme for a segmented polarizing modulator (or Polarization Control Panel) for use in an electronic stereoscopic display. The segmented polarization modulator segments are arranged contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan. The liquid crystal material used in each segment is driven in a manner to reduce the visibility of segment boundaries, by applying a positive or negative transition voltage (+T or −T volts) for a short period of time prior to applying +H and −H drive voltages. Optionally, the transition voltage may also be applied in transitioning from +H and −H drive voltages. |
| US08724035B2 |
Receiver apparatus for receiving a program and searching a channel simultaneously
Receiver apparatus comprises: first and second receiving systems; a demodulation/diversity combining means for combining demodulated signals of first and second receiving systems; a selection means for selecting and outputting an output of either one of first and second receiving systems; and a control means for controlling the operations of the whole receiver apparatus. Control means causes to execute a first composite operation, either one of the receiving systems is caused to continue reception operation while the other receiving system is caused to perform channel search to search a channel satisfying a predetermined condition, further the selection means is caused to select output of the resulting receiving system for performing continuous reception operation. If no channel to be received is found, the control means controls to interchange the receiving system for performing continuous reception operation and the receiving system for performing channel search, and to perform a second composite operation. |
| US08724033B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
The invention provides an image display method of displaying an image on a projection plane in response to an input video signal. The method includes steps of: emitting each of multiple color lights having mutually different hues; modulating the each of the multiple color lights; controlling light emission amounts of the multiple color lights individually, based on an analyzed result of the video signal; and correcting tone values of the video signal to generate a driving signal, for providing the modulation. The tone values are corrected such that a plurality of luminance profiles of the multiple color lights approximate each other, the plurality of luminance profiles being varied independently by individually controlling the amounts of light emission, each of the plurality of luminance profiles representing a relation between the tone value and relative luminance value for each of the modulated multiple color light. |
| US08724032B2 |
Electronic device with video in/out switching function
An electronic device with video in/out switching function using one port when connected with an external electronic apparatus includes a video switch circuit; an LCD; a processing unit, to decode and output video signals to the LCD; and an interface unit. In a video in mode, the video switch circuit connects the processing unit to the external electronic apparatus via the interface unit, thereby video signals from the external electronic apparatus are decoded and then output to the LCD. In a video out mode, the video switch circuit connects a video source to the external electronic via the interface unit, thereby video signals from the video source are output to the external electronic apparatus. |
| US08724030B1 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
An image processing apparatus for sharpening edge boundaries of an image is provided. The image processing apparatus includes a transient improvement (TI) circuit and a color protection circuit. The TI circuit receives multiple original pixel data and performs a TI process on an original target pixel data from the original pixel data to output first and second TI chroma signals corresponding to the original pixel data. The color protection circuit respectively compares the first and second TI chroma signals with first and second original chroma signals of the original pixel data to correspondingly generate a weighting value, and outputs first and second adjusted chroma signals according to the weighting value, the first and second original chroma signals, and the first and second TI chroma signals. |
| US08724029B2 |
Accelerating video from an arbitrary graphical layer
Video content from a layer of multiple multimedia content layers may be moved to a lowest content layer. The region of the multimedia content layer that previously contained the video content may be replaced with a transparent region. Additional layers that exist between the layer from which the video content was removed and the lowest layer may likewise have corresponding regions replaced with transparent regions. The content layers may be composited together at a display time. Accordingly, the video content of the lowest content layer may be viewed through the transparent regions, which may allow the video to be seen as originally authored. The lowest content layer may be rendered independently of other layers. In some embodiments, the content layer containing video may be performed with dedicated hardware (e.g., a GPU). |
| US08724026B2 |
Apparatus, method and article for a dual-program display
A system for enabling two different users to independently view and listen to two completely different programs on the same display at the same time is provided. A user wears eyeglasses with filters to filter out light from the program which the user does not want to view, while allowing the light from the program the user does want to view to be seen by the user. Successive frames of a first program are displayed using light polarized in one direction in an alternating manner with frames of a second program using light polarized in another direction. A first user wears glasses with lenses configured to filter out the light from the second program while a second user wears glasses to filter out the light from the first program. Thus, while wearing the glasses, the first user can see the first program while watching the display, but not the second program. Simultaneously, while wearing the other glasses, the second user will see the second program, but not the first program. |
| US08724025B2 |
Video signal selecting method and video processing apparatus
A video processing apparatus and a method capable of selecting various video signals are provided. The video processing apparatus includes an input unit which receives a video signal select key value by which a video signal select command to select one of the plurality of video signals is recognized; a storage unit which stores a plurality of video signal names corresponding to the plurality of video signals; and a control unit which sets a first display mode or a second display mode according to the duration of the video signal select key value, the first and second display modes indicating opposite orders in which the video signal names corresponding to the plurality of video signal units are displayed, and displays the video signal names sequentially in the set display mode. Thus, a user can conveniently select the video signal. |
| US08724021B2 |
Portable electronic device
According to an aspect, a portable electronic device includes an imaging unit, a moving unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit images a subject in an imaging region. The moving unit changes orientation and/or a position of the portable electronic device. The control unit causes the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic device so as to move the imaging region of the imaging unit. |
| US08724016B2 |
Driver circuit for a camera voice coil motor
A driver circuit for a camera voice coil motor (VCM) is described. A first power switch selectively conducts current from a VCM node to a power supply node, and a second power switch selectively conducts current from the VCM node to a power return node. A pulse width modulation circuit controls the first and second power switches. In another embodiment, a switch mode current control circuit sources VCM current alternately from the power supply node and the power return node, into the VCM node. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08724011B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and control method therefor
The image pickup apparatus includes a first detector detecting a first in-focus position by a phase difference detection method using paired image signals, a controller controlling position of a focus lens a basis of the first in-focus position to perform focusing, a second detector detecting a second in-focus position by a contrast detection method, a calculating part calculating a correction value for correcting the first in-focus position in image capturing on a basis of difference between the first and second in-focus positions, and a determining part determining a level of reliability of the first in-focus position. The controller calculates the correction value when the level of reliability is a first level, and to restrict the calculation of the correction value when the level of reliability is a second level lower than the first level. |
| US08724010B2 |
Image pickup apparatus with thinning-out section
An image pickup apparatus includes: an optical imaging system; an image pickup device; a defocus quantity calculation circuit for calculating a defocus quantity based on a phase difference between a plurality of signals for focus detection obtained from a plurality of pixels for focus detection that respectively receive a light flux that has passed through a different pupil region of the optical imaging system; a focusing section for driving the optical imaging system so as to achieve an in-focus state in accordance with the calculated defocus quantity; and a thinning-out circuit for thinning out a plurality of signals for focus detection that are not used for calculating the defocus quantity, based on an analysis result of a signal component of an object image. |
| US08724009B2 |
Auto-focus image system
An auto focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The focus signal generator may generate a focus signal that is a function of the edge width and/or statistics of edge widths. A processor receives the focus signal and/or the statistics of edge widths and adjust a focus position of a focus lens. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths may be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image. Edge corruption/partial corruption may be detected. Partially corrupted edge may have edge width calculated by relying more on the side that is not corrupted and less on the side that is corrupted. Edge or edge side corruption may be detected by detecting a presence of an adjacent edge of the opposite sign. |
| US08724004B2 |
Mobile terminal and tag editing method thereof
A mobile terminal and its tag editing method are provided. The tag editing method of a mobile terminal includes operating a camera, displaying a preview image inputted via the camera on a preview screen, entering a tag editing mode from the preview screen, editing tag information in the tag editing mode, capturing an image by the camera after editing the tag information, tagging the edited tag information to the captured image to form a tagged image; and displaying the tagged image. |
| US08723998B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device
A solid-state image pickup device includes plural pixels, a voltage generator that generates a reference voltage, plural comparators that are aligned in one direction, and compare respective voltages output from the pixels with the reference voltage, a counter that counts in tandem with a change in the reference voltage generated by the voltage generator, plural buffer circuits that are connected in series with the counter, and each sequentially receives an output of the counter; plural latch circuits that take in a value input to an input terminal thereof according to respective trigger signals output from the comparators, a common signal line that is commonly connected to respective inputs of the latch circuits, and plural signal lines that are connected to respective outputs of the buffer circuits, and allow the output of the counter to propagate therethrough. |
| US08723990B2 |
Image pixel employing floating base readout concept, and image sensor and image sensor array including the image pixel
A pixel of an image sensor includes only two signal lines per pixel, a pinned photodiode for sensing light, a floating base bipolar transistor, and no reset and address transistors. The floating base bipolar transistor provides the pixel with a gain, which can increase pixel sensitivity and reduce noise. The pixel also incorporates a vertical blooming control structure for an efficient blooming suppression. The output terminals of the pixel are coupled to a common column output line terminated by a special current sensing correlated double sampling circuit, which is used for subtraction of emitter leakage current. Based on this structure, the pixel has high sensitivity, high response uniformity, low noise, reduced size, and efficient layout. |
| US08723989B2 |
Image distortion processing apparatus, and method of operating an image distortion processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes: a relative coordinate acquisition part acquiring a corresponding position on an input image with respect to a predetermined pixel on an output image; a first storage part storing position information of the corresponding position; a reading control part causing pixel values of input pixels on the input image to be sequentially read; an organization part organizing a set of grid points formed of input pixels among input pixels read by the reading control part; a judgment part judging, based on the position information, whether or not pixel values of pixels in the vicinity of the corresponding position used in calculating a pixel value of the predetermined pixel have been read; a local memory storing, in a case where judgment is made that pixels in the vicinity of the corresponding position have been read, pixel values of pixels forming the set of grid points as pixel values of surrounding pixels regarding the predetermined pixel; and a pixel value calculation part calculating a pixel value of the predetermined pixel by interpolation using the pixel values of the surrounding pixels. |
| US08723988B2 |
Using a touch sensitive display to control magnification and capture of digital images by an electronic device
An electronic device includes a touch sensitive display device, a camera device, and a processor that executes computer readable program code embodied in a computer readable storage medium. Some of the computer readable program code is configured to control magnification of a digital image from the camera device to generate a magnified digital image that is displayed on the display device in response to distance between at least two touch points detected relative to a surface of the display device. Some other computer readable program code is configured to initiate capture of the magnified digital image in response to cessation of detection of at least one of the two touch points. |
| US08723987B2 |
Uncertainty estimation of planar features
In one embodiment, a method comprises generating three-dimensional (3D) imaging data for an environment using an imaging sensor, extracting an extracted plane from the 3D imaging data, and estimating an uncertainty of an attribute associated with the extracted plan. The method further comprises generating a navigation solution using the attribute associated with the extracted plane and the estimate of the uncertainty of the attribute associated with the extracted plane. |
| US08723986B1 |
Methods and apparatus for initiating image capture on a hand-held device
A computer implemented method for initiating capture of an image on a computer system, performed by the computer system that is programmed to perform the method includes determining by a physical sensor of the computer system, a change in physical state of the computer system, wherein the change in physical state is associated with a magnitude of change in physical state, determining by the computer system, whether the magnitude of change in physical state by the physical sensor exceeds a threshold level, determining by the computer system, a plurality of parameters for a camera associated with the computer system, and initiating by the computer system, capture of one or more images using the camera after the magnitude of change in physical state by the physical sensor exceeds the threshold level. |
| US08723984B2 |
Selective sound source listening in conjunction with computer interactive processing
A method and apparatus for capturing image and sound during interactivity with a computer program is provided. The apparatus includes an image capture unit that is configured to capture one or more image frames. Also provided is a sound capture unit. The sound capture unit is configured to identify one or more sound sources. The sound capture unit generates data capable of being analyzed to determine a zone of focus at which to process sound to the substantial exclusion of sounds outside of the zone of focus. In this manner, sound that is captured and processed for the zone of focus is used for interactivity with the computer program. |
| US08723983B2 |
Image correction circuit, image capture device, image correction method, and image correction program
An image capture device for capturing an image of an object includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to output a signal corresponding to the image based on an amount of exposure between a first shutter operation for starting exposure and a second shutter operation for ending exposure, a controller configured to control the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation, and an image generation section configured to correct the signal, and to generate an output image corresponding to the signal after being corrected. The image generation section is configured to correct the signal based on variance in exposure duration among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements between the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation. |
| US08723974B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, image pickup method and recording device recording image processing program
A digital camera has an image pickup unit which can obtain a set of plural input images with different exposure amounts by photographing the same subject; an image synthesizing unit which creates a synthesized image from the set of plural input images; a live-view image output unit which outputs a live-view image on the basis of the synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a set of n pieces of (n is an integer not less than 2) input images with different exposure amounts obtained from the photographing unit during a view display operation; and a recorded image creating unit which creates an image for recording on the basis of the synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a set of m pieces of (m is an integer not less than 2) input images with different exposure amounts obtained from the image pickup unit during main photographing in the image synthesizing unit. |
| US08723972B2 |
Surveillance system
A surveillance system with cameras, monitors and a connection medium. Provided in this connection are a response code memory for the storage of response codes by which image data can be retrieved by cameras and response code generation media which are allocated to the monitors and generate response codes which indicate which cameras should retrieve image data, whereby the connection medium is designed for the purpose of through-connecting image data to the monitors in response to the response codes generated by the response code generation media allocated to the monitors. |
| US08723970B2 |
Synchronization method
A synchronization method of a plurality of digital image signal processors when the digital image signal processors are to be operated simultaneously. The synchronization method includes: forming a plurality of digital image signal processors, which are to perform synchronization, into a synchronization group; synchronizing each of the digital image signal processors with the time of an artificial satellite respectively in the plurality of digital image signal processors; transmitting a synchronization message, comprising information of a specific synchronization time for performing synchronization, from an arbitrary digital image signal processor included in the synchronization group to another digital image signal processor included in the synchronization group; and performing synchronization in each of the digital image signal processors at the specific synchronization time based on the synchronization message. |
| US08723969B2 |
Compensating for undesirable camera shakes during video capture
An image processor in an image capture device compensates for the effects of undesirable camera shakes occurring during video capture The image processor receives a pair of source frames representing images of a scene, generates a pair of subsampled frames from the source frames, and computes a coarse displacement of the captured image due to camera shakes by comparing the two subsampled frames. The image processor may then refine the determined coarse displacement by comparing the two source frames and a bound determined by an extent of subsampling, and compensate for the displacement accordingly. Display aberrations such as blank spaces caused due to shifting are also avoided by displaying only a portion of the captured image and shifting the displayed portion to compensate for camera shake. The image processor also recognizes displacements due to intentional camera movement, and does not correct for such displacements. |
| US08723966B2 |
Video stabilization
Method, device and computer program product for transmitting a video signal from a user device includes capturing a plurality of frames of the video signal using a camera at the user device, determining a functional state of the device and selectively stabilizing the video signal prior to transmission based on the functional state. |
| US08723962B2 |
Camera based information exchange mechanism
Mechanisms, in a portable computing device comprising a camera, for exchanging information between a user and a provider are provided. With these mechanisms, an image is captured using the camera of the portable computing device and an identifier of a physical object associated with the captured image is determined. The portable computing device transmits the identifier of the physical object, and user information describing a user of the portable computing device, to a separate computing device associated with a provider of the physical object. The portable computing device receives information associated with the physical object from the separate computing device associated with the provider of the physical object. A storage device of the portable computing device stores the physical object information in association with at least one of the captured image or the identifier of the physical object. |
| US08723961B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming and displaying high dynamic range (HDR) images
Apparatus and method of forming and displaying high dynamic range (HDR) images for various purposes including the testing of image capture devices, such as cameras. A display device has a display panel carrying a plurality of rendered images formed from image data of a scene. At least one light source is used to illuminate the rendered images on the display panel. When the rendered images are aligned with one another and illuminated by the light source, the rendered images are capable of forming a display image having a dynamic range higher than those of the rendered images. |
| US08723950B2 |
Apparatus for evaluating fit of a modular assembly into a body opening and method of using same
An apparatus for evaluating the fit of a modular window assembly into a simulated vehicle body opening includes a base member, a vehicle body opening/sheet metal simulator mounted to the base member, one or more light sources disposed in the vehicle body opening/sheet metal simulator and one or more devices for securing the vehicle window to the vehicle body opening/sheet metal simulator. A method of utilizing the apparatus is also a part of the invention. |
| US08723948B2 |
System for generating a light beam in the area in front of a motor vehicle
A system for producing a light beam in the front area of a vehicle includes a headlamp with an LED array, a device for detecting objects in the area, a device for determining the position of a detected object relative to the vehicle. The light beam produced by the array has a horizontal illuminance distribution wherein the horizontal angles of the contributions of at least two LEDs to the illuminance distribution overlap at least partially, each illuminance being selectively varied for different positions in front of the vehicle and different horizontal angles relative to a reference direction. Depending on the detected object's position to the vehicle and an object width, a glare-critical horizontal angle range is determined, and the individual LEDs arc controlled, under consideration of how much the horizontal angle ranges of their contributions to the illuminance distribution overlap, such that an illuminance limit value is not exceeded. |
| US08723944B1 |
System for detecting conductive coatings on non-conductive medium surfaces
Methods and apparatuses for detecting the presence and/or location of any conductive coating on a non-conductive medium surface are described. |
| US08723941B1 |
Handicap-accessible ATM
A handicap-accessible ATM is provided. An ATM including a display screen and at least one lifting mechanism. In certain embodiments of the invention, the lifting mechanism operates to change the vertical height of the display screen relative to the user eyes. |
| US08723940B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source device radiating at least one or more illumination lights having a predetermined wavelength band to a subject, and an image pickup device picking up an image of a return light from the subject. A band decomposition processing section of a video processor performs processing for decomposition into multiple spatial frequency bands, for a first image signal having a peak wavelength of spectral characteristic, between a wavelength band including a maximum value and a wavelength band at a minimum value with regard to an absorption characteristic of living tissue after image pickup by the image pickup device. An emphasis processing section of the video processor performs emphasis processing on the basis of a band image signal with a lowest spatial frequency among multiple band image signals obtained by the decomposition processing to generate an emphasis-corrected image signal. |
| US08723939B2 |
Capsule endoscope system
A capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope which attaches irradiation time of illuminating light required to pick up an image of an object to an item of image data, a magnetic field generating apparatus which generates a guidance magnetic field, an operation section which allows at least one of position and orientation of the capsule endoscope to be changed by manipulating the guidance magnetic field, a control section which attaches posture of a subject, an operating history of the operation section, and an output history of the guidance magnetic field to the item of the image data, a storage unit which stores the item of the image data, and an image play control section which determines, based on at least one piece of the information attached to each item of the image data, whether or not it is necessary to play and display the item of the image data. |
| US08723938B2 |
Immunoassay apparatus and method of determining brightness value of target area on optical image using the same
Provided are a method of determining a brightness value of a target area on an optical image, and a computer-readable recording medium including a program for executing the method on a computer. Target brightness values of a plurality of target areas in an optical image are accurately compared with each other by plotting a graph with brightness values depending on positions within a subject. |
| US08723935B2 |
Image processing device, computer readable storage medium storing image processing program and image processing method
An image processing device includes a change-between-images calculating unit that calculates an amount of change between images in time-series images sequentially obtained, the amount of change between images indicating an amount of change between each of the time-series images and a close image temporally close to the each of the time-series images; a primary-digest-image-group extracting unit that extracts a group of primary digest images from the time-series images on the basis of the amount of change between images; a change-in-section calculating unit that calculates an amount of change between time-series sections of the time-series images, each of the time-series sections being defined by each image of the group of primary digest images; and a digest-image-group extracting unit that extracts a group of digest images from the time-series images on the basis of both the amount of change between images and the amount of change between time-series images. |
| US08723934B2 |
Projected user interface onto the surface of an appliance
A projected display, onto the surface of an appliance, of a user interface that can be utilized to make selections regarding the operation of the appliance is described. Where the surface is part of a door of the appliance, the user interface can be configured for display on the top surface, bottom surface, or both, of the door. Such door can be constructed from a transparent material that can be transformed to provide a reflection of the projected display that is visible to the user. |
| US08723927B2 |
Subtitling stereographic imagery
There is disclosed a method and apparatus for subtitling stereoscopic imagery. The stereoscopic imagery may include a plurality of paired stereo images having a perspective and providing a stereoscopic scene, wherein each image of a given pair represents a perspective of the imagery as viewed by a single eye of the stereoscopic scene. A subtitle may be presented solely upon one image of the stereo pair of images of at least some of the stereoscopic imagery. |
| US08723926B2 |
Parallax detecting apparatus, distance measuring apparatus, and parallax detecting method
The present invention aims to provide a parallax detecting apparatus (3) and the like which is capable of suppressing the degree of parallax detection error even in the case of using cameras each having a lens whose resolution is low for the pitch of the pixels of the imaging devices. The parallax detecting apparatus (3) which calculates a parallax that occurs between optical systems includes: a PSF approximating unit (5) configured to modify at least one of images obtained from the respective optical systems such that point spread functions of the optical systems are made to sufficiently approximate a point spread function of a predetermined optical system; and a parallax calculating unit (9) configured to calculate the parallax that occurs between the optical systems, using the image modified by the PSF approximating unit (5). |
| US08723923B2 |
Structured light system
A structured light system based on a fast, linear array light modulator and an anamorphic optical system captures three-dimensional shape information at high rates and has strong resistance to interference from ambient light. A structured light system having a modulated light source offers improved signal to noise ratios. A wand permits single point detection of patterns in structured light systems. |
| US08723922B2 |
Single camera device and method for 3D video imaging using a refracting lens
An example embodiment of the present invention may include an apparatus that captures 3D images having a lens barrel, including a lens disposed at a first end of the lens barrel, an image capture element at the second end of the lens barrel, and a refracting lens positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel. The image capture device may have an adjustable active region, the adjustable active region being a region capable of capturing an image that is smaller than the total image capture area of the image capture element. The image capture element may capture images continuously at a predetermined frame rate. The image capture element may change the adjustable active region and the set of positioning elements may be adapted to continuous change the position of the refracting lens among a series of predetermined positions at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate. |
| US08723919B2 |
Three-dimensional image processing apparatus and three-dimensional image processing method
Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, the image processing apparatus including: a parallax estimation unit which estimates parallax with respect to a left eye image and a right eye image of a three-dimensional (3D) image; a horizontal movement value determination unit which determines a horizontal movement value using the estimated parallax; a horizontal movement unit which horizontally moves the left eye image and the right eye image based on the horizontal movement value; and a controller which calculates a chronological change rate of the estimated parallax for a predetermined time, determines whether the chronological change rate is greater than a predetermined threshold, and if the chronological change rate is greater, limits the horizontal movement value to a predetermined range and controls the horizontal movement unit to horizontally move the left eye image and the right eye image based on the limited horizontal movement value. |
| US08723916B2 |
Virtual communal television viewing
A social networking system enables cable television viewers to watch television programs as a virtual group, each watching within his/her own home, while simultaneously communicating with one another, for example, via voice and/or video chat. The system enables a viewer to find friends, or other like-minded viewers not acquainted with the viewer, for virtual communal viewing parties. The system can enable participants in a viewing party to synchronize viewing sessions enabling each participant to share in a common viewing experience. The system can also enable a system operator to recognize communal viewing groups and enable more effective advertisement targeting. |
| US08723915B2 |
Multi-participant audio/video communication system with participant role indicator
An audio/video communication system displays the status of participants in a video chat session. The system includes 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. |
| US08723914B2 |
System and method for providing enhanced video processing in a network environment
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a video input from a camera element; using change detection statistics to identify background image data; using the background image data as a temporal reference to determine foreground image data of a particular video frame within the video input; using a selected foreground image for a background registration of a subsequent video frame; and providing at least a portion of the subsequent video frame to a next destination. |
| US08723909B2 |
Laser rewriting apparatus
A laser rewriting apparatus positioned on one side or the other side of a conveyance path through which a to-be-conveyed object on which a thermoreversible recording medium is affixed is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction. The laser rewriting apparatus emits laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium and rewrites an image. The laser writing apparatus includes an image erasing apparatus that emits laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium and erases the image from the thermoreversible recording medium; and an image recording apparatus positioned on the predetermined conveyance direction downstream side of the image erasing apparatus and records a new image by emitting laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium. The image erasing apparatus and the image recording apparatus have the respective laser light emitting parts from which the laser light is emitted at ends on the same side with respect to the predetermined conveyance direction. |
| US08723908B2 |
Optical scanning device including plural lenses and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, an optical scanning device includes plural light sources, a polygon mirror, a first lens, a first reflection mirror, and a second lens. The polygon mirror deflects lights emitted from the plural light sources in a predetermined direction. The first lens allows the lights emitted from the plural light sources and deflected by the polygon mirror to pass. The first reflection mirror reflects the lights passed through the first lens in a direction different from the deflecting direction of the polygon mirror. The second lens receives incidence of the lights reflected by the first reflection mirror from a direction different from an incident direction of the first lens and allows, with one lens, the lights emitted from the plural light sources to pass. |
| US08723905B2 |
Light source control circuit, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling the light source control circuit
An optical writing device forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive element by a connected light source controlled by a light source control circuit that includes: a pixel data output unit; a pixel data correcting unit that corrects a skew between main scanning line of electrostatic latent image and photosensitive element and a local deviation of the electrostatic latent image on the main scanning line, and outputs pixel data; a pattern generating unit that outputs pixel data for forming a predetermined pattern in an electrostatic latent image; a first light source control unit for causing a first light source, that needs correction of the local deviation, to emit light; a second light source control unit for causing a second light source, that does not need correction of the local deviation, to emit light; and a switch that switches between a first transmission status and a second transmission status. |
| US08723904B2 |
Mobile printer with optional battery accessory
A mobile printer comprising a printer body and a printer door is provided. The printer body has a recessed area that is sized to receive a media roll. The media roll has a void interior portion that is sized to receive one or more batteries that provide power to the mobile printer. Further, the printer door is operatively coupled to the printer body. When in an open position, the printer door allows for placement of a media roll from a side of the mobile printer into the recessed area. When closed, however, the media roll is retained in place relative to the printer body and the media from the media roll is captured for printing. |
| US08723903B2 |
Drive device, LED array, LED head, and image forming apparatus provided therewith
A drive device for outputting a drive signal for driving a plurality of light emitting elements time-divisionally, the drive device includes a plurality of input terminals receiving input of a drive control signal for the light emitting elements, and a plurality of output terminals connected to the light emitting elements, for outputting the drive signal based on the drive control signal input into the input terminals, in which the input terminals and the output terminals are arranged substantially in a line. |
| US08723898B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image display apparatus, and image display method
A brightness detection unit detects brightness. An interpolation image signal generation unit generates interpolation image signal which are to be interpolated between each two adjacent frames of an input image signal. A temporal emphasis unit emphasizes high temporal frequency components of the input image signal and interpolation image signal. A time-series conversion memory converts the frame frequency of the image signal with the high temporal frequency components emphasized. A temporal emphasis unit adjusts amplitudes of a pair of inputted image signals according to the image brightness and determines a gain coefficient based on the pair of image signals with the amplitudes adjusted, the gain coefficient indicating the degree to which the high temporal frequency components are to be emphasized. |
| US08723897B2 |
Display panel with improving display quality
An exemplary display panel includes a plurality of monochrome pixels, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of control lines. Each monochrome pixel provides a specific color on the display panel. The data lines are electrically coupled to the monochrome pixels for providing the display data. The data lines includes a first data line electrically coupled to a part of the monochrome pixels, and the specific colors provided by the part of the monochrome pixels are of the same color. Besides, each of the control lines is electrically coupled to a part of the monochrome pixels for controlling the part of the monochrome pixels electrically coupled thereto whether to receive the display data from the data lines. |
| US08723892B2 |
Map display control apparatus, map display control method and computer readable medium
A map display control apparatus includes: an accepting section configured to accept a search character; a search section configured to search for a landmark on a map, wherein a name of the landmark at least partly matches the search character; a position adjusting section configured to adjust a display position of the map such that the searched landmark search results appear in the map; a search refining section configured to perform a new search for the landmark and refine the landmark search results whenever a new character is added to the search character; and a position movement section configured to move the display position of the map, depending on a number of the refined landmark search results or a position of the refined landmark search results. |
| US08723887B2 |
Methods and systems for per pixel alpha-blending of a parent window and a portion of a background image
A system for alpha blending at least a portion of an image of a window with a background image, where the image of the window is captured by an alpha blender and blended together with an image of the background also captured by the alpha blender. The resulting alpha-blended image is then displayed within the window to give at least a portion of the window the appearance of smooth, anti-aliased edges. |
| US08723886B2 |
Generating a multi-layered geographic image and the use thereof
Systems, devices, features, and methods for generating and/or using a multi-layered image are disclosed. For example, a method of creating a multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area includes receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area. The three-dimensional graphical object includes multiple geographic features. A first graphical layer of a first geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object is rendered as a first independent image layer. A second graphical layer of a second geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object is rendered as a second independent image layer. The first graphical layer and the second graphical layer are combined or overlaid to form the multi-layered image. Also, removal of layers may occur in a reverse order of their creation and/or may avoid causing gaps within the other layers not removed. |
| US08723885B2 |
Real-time display of images acquired by a handheld scanner
A computer peripheral that may operate as a scanner. The scanner captures image frames as it is moved across an object. The image frames are formed into a composite image based on computations in two processes. In a first process, fast track processing determines a coarse position of each of the image frames based on a relative position between each successive image frame and a respective preceding image determine by matching overlapping portions of the image frames. In a second process, fine position adjustments are computed to reduce inconsistencies from determining positions of image frames based on relative positions to multiple prior image frames. As a result, a composite image of an object being scanned may be presented in real time to a user, providing a user feedback or portions of the object that have been scanned and those that have not. |
| US08723882B2 |
Dithering mask and method of forming the same
A method of forming a dithering mask includes providing a specific sub-dithering mask, and generating a plurality of sub-dithering masks of the dithering mask by adjusting the specific sub-dithering mask. The dithering mask generated by the method includes a plurality of sub-dithering masks, each sub-dithering mask includes (4N)×(4N) dithering values, where N is an integer, and at least two sub-dithering masks of the plurality of sub-dithering masks have different contents. By breaking the regularity in the dithering mask, flickering patterns or visual patterns can be avoided on the screen, thereby raising the displaying quality of the screen. |
| US08723876B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image processing apparatus is provided that includes a main memory; at least one sub-memory that stores data, a cache memory that temporarily stores data, and controller that controls whether to temporarily store the data in the cache memory selectively with respect to each of the at least one sub-memory. |
| US08723874B2 |
Intelligent video graphics switcher
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently and intelligently communicating characteristic information in video graphics switcher environments. An intelligent video graphics switcher obtains display device characteristic information associated with multiple display devices and maintains updated characteristic information. When an event such as a connection/disconnection or switching event occurs between the video graphics switcher and a display device, the characteristic information is communicated to an appropriate host by triggering a connection/disconnection event with the host. |
| US08723873B2 |
Intelligent video graphics switcher
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently and intelligently communicating characteristic information in video graphics switcher environments. An intelligent video graphics switcher obtains display device characteristic information associated with multiple display devices and maintains updated characteristic information. When an event such as a connection/disconnection or switching event occurs between the video graphics switcher and a display device, the characteristic information is communicated to an appropriate host by triggering a connection/disconnection event with the host. |
| US08723872B2 |
Display with robotic pixels
Techniques are disclosed for controlling robot pixels to display a visual representation of an input. The input to the system could be an image of a face, and the robot pixels deploy in a physical arrangement to display a visual representation of the face, and would change their physical arrangement over time to represent changing facial expressions. The robot pixels function as a display device for a given allocation of robot pixels. Techniques are also disclosed for distributed collision avoidance among multiple non-holonomic robots to guarantee smooth and collision-free motions. The collision avoidance technique works for multiple robots by decoupling path planning and coordination. |
| US08723871B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying branch structure
A method and apparatus for displaying a branch structure by emulating natural visual effects of a branch structure, e.g., lightning, is provided. The branch structure comprises branches each formed by segments. Each segment is generated by randomly providing a segment end position according to a segment start position, and randomly determining whether another branch is provided at each segment. |
| US08723866B2 |
Method and system for adaptive direct volume rendering
An adaptive image volume rendering system first fragments a 3-D dataset into multiple sub-volumes and constructs an octree structure, wherein each sub-volume is associated with one node on the octree. The system then establishes a 2-D image plane and selectively launches a plurality of rays towards the 3-D dataset, each ray adaptively interacting with a subset of the sub-volumes. The ray energy reflected by each sub-volume is estimated using a modified Phong illumination model, constituting a pixel value at the ray origin on the 2-D image plane. Finally, the system interpolates pixel values at a plurality of selected locations and generates a 2-D image of the 3-D dataset. |
| US08723864B2 |
Pre-culling processing method, system and computer readable medium for hidden surface removal of image objects
A pre-culling method for the hidden surface removal of image objects is disclosed. The steps of the pre-culling method includes: transforming an eye coordinate from an eye space to a model space of a polygon when performing a rendering operation; and comparing a normal vector of the eye coordinate in the model space with the normal vector of each face of the polygon to determine whether each face of the polygon with respect to the eye coordinate is a front face or a back face. |
| US08723854B2 |
Digital photo frame with power saving function and related power saving method
A digital photo frame having power saving functions includes a display panel, a power generation unit for switching a system power according to a power control signal, a passive infrared sensor installed on the display panel for detecting whether a user exists within a specific range to generate a user detection signal, a central processing unit for adjusting backlight intensity of the display panel when the system power is provided by the power generation unit according to the user detection signal and for generating a power switch-off signal when the backlight intensity of the display panel is turned off according to the user detection signal, and a power control unit for generating the power control signal to switch off the system power when the backlight intensity of the display panel is adjusted to be switched off according to the power switch-off signal. |
| US08723852B2 |
Method of driving a display panel, and display device for performing the method
A method of driving a display panel includes sequentially applying a gate signal to a plurality of gate lines of the display panel during each frame period of a plurality of frame periods, applying data voltages to a plurality of data lines of the display panel, and applying a common voltage to the display panel, a polarity of the common voltage being inverted periodically and asynchronously with a frame period of the frame periods. |
| US08723847B2 |
Display device and electronic product
A display device includes: a screen unit; a drive unit; and a signal processing unit, wherein the screen unit includes rows of scanning lines, columns of signal lines, matrix-state pixel circuits and a light sensor, the drive unit includes a scanner supplying a control signal to the scanning lines and a driver supplying a video signal to the signal lines, the screen unit is sectioned into plural regions each having plural pixel circuits, the pixel circuit emits light in accordance with the video signal, the light sensor is arranged with respect to each region and outputs a luminance signal in accordance with the light emission; and the signal processing unit corrects the video signal in accordance with the luminance signal and supplies the signal to the driver. |
| US08723845B2 |
Display device
A signal distribution circuit (3) includes (i) a redundancy TFT element (8) provided so as to have a channel width identical to those of driving TFT elements (7), (ii) first redundancy lines (9a, 9b), (iii) a second redundancy line (10), and (iv) a third redundancy line (11). It is therefore possible to provide a liquid crystal display device including the signal distribution circuit (3) in which, even in a case where a leaking part (a defect part) is generated in any of the driving TFT elements (7), it does not take long to restore the leaking part, and productivity can be improved, the driving TFT elements (7) keeping respective channel widths identical to one another even after the leaking part is restored. |
| US08723843B2 |
Pixel driving circuit with capacitor having threshold voltages information storing function, pixel driving method and light emitting display device
A pixel driving circuit, a pixel driving method and a light emitting display device are provided in the present invention. The pixel driving circuit includes first through fifth transistors and a capacitor and is for driving a light emitting diode. The third transistor forms a diode connection to make information of the threshold voltages of both the third transistor and the light emitting diode be stored in the capacitor in a data writing period. In a light emitting period, the second transistor compensates drift variation of the threshold voltages of the third transistor and the light emitting diode according to the information stored in the capacitor to provide a stable driving current for driving the light emitting diode. |
| US08723841B2 |
Touch sensor and display device
A touch sensor that may detect an object away from the sensor is provided. The touch sensor includes one or more drive electrodes; one or more detection electrodes forming capacitance in cooperation with the respective drive electrodes; a detection circuit applying drive signals to the respective drive electrodes to detect the object based on detection signals obtained from the respective detection electrodes in response to the respective drive signals; and a controller controlling to change a range of electric flux lines generated between the drive electrodes and the detection electrodes. |
| US08723839B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a multitouch event in an optical touch-sensitive device
A touch sensitive optical control device comprising a set of light emitters 14, 22 and light detectors 18, 24 arranged relative to a touchable surface 30 such that light transmitted by the emitters is received by the detectors along multiple intersecting beams which pass transversely of the surface and touching the surface at a beam interrupts the light transmitted along the beam. Candidate touch points T1, T2, F1, F2 are defined at the intersections of interrupted beams and are confirmed or not as actual touch points by examining test beams 40, 42, 54, 56 near to or coincident with the candidate touch point. |
| US08723836B1 |
Touch panel deactivation systems and methods
A system for disabling touch panel input capabilities may include, but is not limited to: a touch panel device including a touch panel controller; a touch panel input processing device; an isolation switching means coupling at least one of a touch panel device and the touch panel controller to the touch panel input processing device; and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) detection system configured to provide control signals to the isolation switching means. |
| US08723835B2 |
Touch-sensing display panel, touch panel, touch-sensing device and touch-sensing circuit
The present application provides a touch-sensing display panel comprising a display panel and a touch-sensing device disposed above the display panel. The touch-sensing device comprises a plurality of select lines, a plurality of readout lines and a plurality of capacitive touch-sensing units arranged in array. Each of the capacitive touch-sensing units comprises a transistor and a touch-sensing pad, each of the transistors comprises a gate electrode electrically connected to one of the select lines, a source electrode electrically connected to a reference voltage, a drain electrode electrically connected to one of the readout lines, and a channel layer electrically coupled to the touch-sensing pad. |
| US08723834B2 |
Touch sensitive screen configurations
Examples of arrangements of electrodes on a touch sensitive screen provide one or more advantages, such as reduced cross coupling, for example, when a person is using both thumbs or several fingers at substantially the same time to control the touch screen. |
| US08723832B2 |
Method for actuating a tactile interface layer
A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command. |
| US08723829B2 |
Touch sensor-equipped display device
In order to provide a touch sensor-equipped display device that is not susceptible to the effect of noise caused by a polarity reversal in a common voltage of a display device without using special circuitry, the disclosed touch sensor-equipped display device is provided with: a sensor output read circuit 21 that is sequentially connected to a plurality of sensor electrodes of a touch sensor part 7 and that outputs a signal voltage according to the electrical properties of each electrode; a sensor control circuit 23 that supplies a control signal to the sensor output read circuit 21; and a coordinate calculation circuit 22 that detects a contact position on the basis of the signal voltage. The coordinate calculation circuit 22 is provided with: an averaging circuit 221 that calculates the average values of signal voltage values obtained during a scan that was started in synchronization with a horizontal synchronization signal when the common voltage is reversed from positive polarity to negative polarity, and the signal voltage values obtained during a scan that was started in synchronization with a horizontal synchronization signal when the common voltage is reversed from negative polarity to positive polarity; and a contact position detection circuit 222 that detects the contact position on the basis of the average values. |
| US08723823B2 |
System and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device
A system and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method comprises enabling multiple applications that operate on the mobile computing device to generate notifications in response to event occurrences. A plurality of notification representations are presented in a notification bar on the display. The plurality of notification representations are individually generated by a corresponding application in response to an event occurrence. The plurality of notification representations are represented in a first portion of the notification bar and with a number that represents how many notification representations from an application have been generated and not dismissed by a user. |
| US08723822B2 |
Touch event model programming interface
A method includes receiving a touch event, where the touch event includes a plurality of touch lists. The plurality of touch lists includes one or more of: a first touch list for one or more touches associated with a target of the touch event, a second touch list for one or more changed touches, and a third touch list for all touches detected on a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes processing the touch event. |
| US08723819B2 |
Method for analyzing two-dimensional track to generate at least one non-linear index and touch control module using the same
A method for analyzing a two-dimensional track to generate at least one non-linear index and a touch control module using the same are provided. The method includes: extracting a two-dimensional track; generating a plurality of displacement units in sequence according to the two-dimensional track, in which each displacement unit includes a displacement amount and a displacement direction of the two-dimensional track moving in a preset time interval; comparing the displacement amount of each displacement unit with a reference value in sequence; calculating an included angle formed between the displacement direction of the displacement unit and a displacement direction of a previous displacement unit, when the displacement amount of the displacement unit is greater than the reference value; accumulating the included angles in sequence to obtain an accumulated angle, in which the accumulated angle includes an accumulated value and a positive or negative sign; and converting the accumulated angle to at least one non-linear index. |
| US08723816B2 |
Pointing devices
A touch pad uses a plurality of optical mouse type sensors. The sensors are optimized for detection of motion along the predominant direction of a user's finger as the finger is moved around the touch pad. A first one of the sensors functions to optically sense motion in a first direction, while a second one of the sensors functions to optically sense motion in a second, different, direction. The first and second directions are oriented a closed, for example, circular, path. |
| US08723812B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying a web page screen on a touch screen of the mobile terminal; choosing a portion of the web page in response to a touch input to the touch screen; and if a movement of the mobile terminal is detected, selectively refreshing the chosen web page portion and displaying the refreshed web page portion. Therefore, it is possible to selectively refresh a portion of a web page chosen by a user. |
| US08723811B2 |
Mobile terminal and screen displaying method thereof
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. Specifically to a mobile terminal including a display including a touchscreen, a sensing unit for sensing an object contacting the touchscreen and the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen, and a controller for controlling information appearing on the display according to the object contacting the touchscreen and movement of the object relative to the touchscreen. |
| US08723809B1 |
Touch panel system and process
A touch panel system and process are disclosed.A touch panel system may include: a touch panel; and a deformable glass substrate.A process for manufacturing a touch panel system may include one or more of the following: coupling a deformable glass substrate to a touch panel. |
| US08723808B2 |
Mobile terminal including touch rotary dial display
A method of executing a function through a touch input device. The method includes displaying a plurality of soft keys on a screen of the touch input device, and executing a function when one of the soft keys is touched and slid on the screen of the touch input device and an input instruction is entered to execute the assigned function. |
| US08723799B2 |
Capacitive sensing keyboard
A novel capacitive sensing keyboard allows for keypads to be easily changed for repair or reconfiguration purposes. The keypads can be made of a deformable and resilient material, such as an elastomer, which can provide tactile feedback to a user and which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. An array of overlying pairs of driver elements and sense elements are located adjacent the keypad and changes in the dielectric value of materials about the driver/sense element pairs are detected when a key on the keypad is pressed by a user. These detected changes are processed in view of a defined key map to determine which key or keys have been pressed by the user. |
| US08723796B2 |
Multi-user interactive display system
A multi-user interactive display system including a soft-copy display including at least an information display region and a command control region, and a digital image capture system positioned to capture a time sequence of images of users located in a field-of-view of the soft-copy display. A time sequence of images is analyzed to detect a plurality of users, and at least one of the users is designated to be a controlling user. The captured images are displayed in the command control region, wherein the detected users are demarked using graphical elements. The captured time sequence of images is analyzed to detect a gesture made by the controlling user and content displayed in the information display region is updated accordingly. |
| US08723795B2 |
Detecting, representing, and interpreting three-space input: gestural continuum subsuming freespace, proximal, and surface-contact modes
Systems and methods for detecting, representing, and interpreting three-space input are described. Embodiments of the system, in the context of an SOE, process low-level data from a plurality of sources of spatial tracking data and analyze these semantically uncorrelated spatiotemporal data and generate high-level gestural events according to dynamically configurable implicit and explicit gesture descriptions. The events produced are suitable for consumption by interactive systems, and the embodiments provide one or more mechanisms for controlling and effecting event distribution to these consumers. The embodiments further provide to the consumers of its events a facility for transforming gestural events among arbitrary spatial and semantic frames of reference. |
| US08723787B2 |
Methods and systems related to an image capture projection surface
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods that are related to an image capture projection surface. For example, in some implementations, a method includes receiving at least one projected image on at least one image capture projection surface, capturing at least a portion of the at least one projected image from the at least one image capture projection surface to form a captured image, and communicating at least a portion of the captured image. |
| US08723786B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, and method of driving liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device including: a pixel array including a plurality of scanning lines arranged in rows, a plurality of signal lines arranged in columns, a plurality of liquid crystal elements arranged in a matrix corresponding to an intersection of each scanning line and each signal line, and a plurality of common connection lines arranged one by one corresponding to the liquid crystal elements of each line; a scanning line drive circuit; a signal line drive circuit; and a common connection line drive circuit electrically separating, from each other, one or a plurality of common connection lines (first common connection lines), and a plurality of common connection lines (second common connection lines), and electrically connecting the plurality of second common connection lines to each other to independently drive the first common connection line and the second connection lines from each other. |
| US08723785B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method of liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a transmissive liquid crystal display device having a display region made up of pixels arrayed in a matrix fashion. The liquid crystal display device includes a planar light source unit formed of planar light source units corresponding to respective display region units on an assumption that the display region is divided into the display region units and configured in such a manner that each planar light source unit irradiates a corresponding display region unit with light, and a drive circuit driving the liquid crystal display device and the planar light source device. The liquid crystal display device is scanned line-sequentially and the pixels making up each display region unit are scanned line-sequentially. A planar light source unit corresponding to a display region unit is held in a luminous state over a predetermined period since a line-sequential scan on the display region unit has been completed. |
| US08723784B2 |
Brightness control apparatus, display apparatus and lighting apparatus
A brightness control apparatus configured to perform brightness control for backlights formed by plural light-emitting elements for a display screen, including: a pulse control signal transmit unit configured to transmit a pulse control signal for performing driving control on the plural light-emitting elements based on a preset brightness control signal; a voltage control unit configured to control a voltage of the pulse control signal obtained by the pulse control signal transmit unit for each set of light-emitting elements of the same color so as to correct brightness variation in a regular state for the plural light-emitting elements; and a current control unit configured to control a current for each of the plural light-emitting elements based on a voltage value obtained by the voltage control unit so as to correct brightness variation due to temperature change or temporal change. |
| US08723783B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a light source unit to provide light to a liquid crystal panel and includes first point light sources and second point light sources; a first timing controller to transmit a first image signal and a second image signal to the liquid crystal panel; a second timing controller to transmit optical data, which includes first information to turn on the first point light sources and the second point light sources at different times; and a light source driver to control the first point light sources and the second point light sources to be turned on and off according to the optical data. A method of driving an LCD includes turning on and off first and second point light sources according to received first and second image signals. |
| US08723781B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is provided, which includes a liquid crystal element including a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, and a liquid crystal disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, a light source, a comparing circuit configured to compare a potential of the pixel electrode and a reference potential, and supply an output potential in accordance with the result of the comparison, and a control circuit configured to switch turning-on and turning-off of the light source in accordance with the output potential supplied from the comparing circuit. |
| US08723776B2 |
Gate driving circuit receiving a plurality of clock signals and having forward and reverse driving modes and driving method thereof
A gate driving circuit receives a plurality of clock signals in a sequence and includes a plurality of cascaded drive units sequentially outputting an output signal, wherein a first-stage drive unit of the gate driving circuit receives a scan start signal or a scan end signal while a last-stage drive unit thereof receives a scan end signal or a scan start signal; wherein a driving direction of the gate driving circuit is reversed by reversing the sequence of the clock signals and exchanging the scan start signal and the scan end signal. The present invention further provides a driving method of a gate driving circuit. |
| US08723774B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus, liquid crystal driving apparatus, and method for driving liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, an LCD driving apparatus, and a method for driving the LCD apparatus are provided. The LCD apparatus includes a panel; and a controlling unit which inserts gray data into at least one pixel included in a pixel group. Accordingly, the stress on a liquid crystal is reduced and thus a residual image is prevented from occurring on a screen. |
| US08723773B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a control unit of the electro-optical device performs black data insertion processing for all the pixels in a vertical retrace period and each of the pixels includes a first subpixel and at least one second subpixel. Accordingly, blur of a motion picture is suppressed (a motion picture is improved in visual quality) by the black data insertion processing while using the minimum number of switching devices in the pixel unit. |
| US08723772B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel having different sub-pixels arrangement groups
A LCD panel with an improved pixel array configuration is provided. The LCD panel uses a column inversion driving method to drive the data lines so as to achieve a stable common voltage. Moreover, by cross-connecting the layout traces of the wiring zone in a specified manner, the gate pulses outputted from every two gate lines neighboring the sub-pixel are not overlapped with each other, so that the frame can be normally displayed. |
| US08723771B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a first substrate opposite a second substrate, a plurality of electrode patterns in the second substrate, the plurality of electrode patterns extending along a first direction, a plurality of barrier patterns in the second substrate, the plurality of barrier patterns being insulated from the electrode patterns and extending along a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of pixels, the first and second substrates with the pixels defining a display panel, and each pixel including a gate line extending along a third direction, a data line extending along a fourth direction, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, the pixel electrode being configured to generate an electric field with a corresponding electrode pattern of the plurality of electrode patterns to display an image. |
| US08723761B2 |
Pixel circuit, display device, and method of driving pixel circuit
A pixel circuit, display device, and method of driving a pixel circuit enabling source-follower output with no deterioration of luminance even with a change of the current-voltage characteristic of the light emitting element along with elapse, enabling a source-follower circuit of n-channel transistors, and able to use an n-channel transistor as an EL drive transistor while using current anode-cathode electrodes, wherein a source of a TFT 111 as a drive transistor is connected to an anode of a light emitting element 114, a drain is connected to a power source potential VCC, a capacitor C111 is connected between a gate and source of the TFT 111, and a source potential of the TFT 111 is connected to a fixed potential through a TFT 113 as a switching transistor. |
| US08723760B2 |
Light-emitting device
A-light-emitting device which realizes a high aperture ratio and in which the quality of image is little affected by the variation in the characteristics of TFTs. A large holding capacitor Cs is not provided in the pixel portion but, instead, the channel length and the channel width of the driving TFTs are increased, and the channel capacitance is utilized as Cs. The channel length is selected to be very larger than the channel width to improve current characteristics in the saturated region, and a high VGS is applied to the driving TFTs to obtain a desired drain current. Therefore, the drain currents of the driving TFTs are little affected by the variation in the threshold voltage. In laying out the pixels, further, wiring is arranged under the partitioning wall and the driving TFTs are arranged under the wiring in order to avoid a decrease in the aperture ratio despite of an increase in the size of the driving TFT. In the case of the 3-transistor pixels, the switching TFT and the erasing TFT are linearly arranged to further increase the aperture ratio. |
| US08723755B2 |
Terminal having dual display units and method for inputting letters therein
Provided are a terminal having dual display units and a method for inputting letters therein. The terminal has a main display unit on one side, and a sub-display unit and an input unit on other side. When a screen-flip is requested, a second input window is displayed on the sub-display unit while the main display unit is displaying a first input window. When a letter is selected through the input unit, the selected letter is displayed on the second input window. The displayed letter is saved according to a letter-save request. The saved letter is displayed on the first input window. Therefore, the usability of the main display unit is increased. |
| US08723753B2 |
Antenna device and communication terminal apparatus
An antenna device includes a first antenna element that resonates with a first resonant frequency, a second antenna element that resonates with a second resonant frequency, a first frequency stabilizing circuit connected to a feeding end of the first antenna element, and a second frequency stabilizing circuit connected to a feeding end of the second antenna element. The first antenna element and the second antenna element can be arranged along two sides of a case of a communication terminal apparatus, for example. |
| US08723749B2 |
Radio-frequency device and wireless communication device
The present invention discloses an RF device for a wireless communication device, including a grounding element, an antenna, including a radiating element, a feed-in element, a coupling element, a switch, coupled between the coupling element and the grounding element, for connecting or disconnecting the grounding element to the coupling element, such that the antenna respectively operates in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, and a grounding terminal, for coupling the grounding element, a capacitive sensing element, for sensing an environment capacitance within a specific range through the radiating element, at least one capacitor, for blocking a DC route from the grounding terminal to the grounding element. |
| US08723746B1 |
Slotted ground plane antenna
An antenna structure including a ground plane is capable of producing an EM interference pattern to produce signal gains at a zenith of the antenna. The slots in the ground plane are positioned at a predetermined distance from a radiator and extend a predetermined distance from the axis of the antenna. The slots generate an interference pattern relative to the radiated signal to create a circular polarization thereby producing a signal gain at the zenith of the antenna. The slots may be provided during the manufacturing process of the ground plane or added later to existing antennas. |
| US08723741B2 |
Adjustment of radiation patterns utilizing a position sensor
A device for a wireless RF link to a remote receiving device can radiate at different radiation patterns in response to detecting a change in the device position. As the device is moved, displaced, or re-positioned, a position sensor in the device detects the change in position and provides position information to a processor. The processor receives the position information from the position sensor, selects an antenna configuration and physical data rate based on the position information, and provides an RF signal associated with the selected antenna configuration through the antenna elements of the selected antenna configuration. |
| US08723740B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a housing, a substrate, a radiation conductor and a short circuit conductor. The housing defines an accommodating space and includes a frame that has a body portion and a radiation portion. The substrate is disposed in the accommodating space, is surrounded by the frame, and has a grounding portion. The radiation conductor is disposed in the accommodating space, is electrically coupled to the radiation portion, and includes a feed-in point. The short circuit conductor is electrically coupled between one end of the radiation portion and the grounding portion. |
| US08723731B2 |
Compact circularly-polarized antenna with expanded frequency bandwidth
Disclosed is a circularly-polarized antenna comprising a flat conducting ground plane, a radiator, and an excitation system disposed between the radiator and the ground plane. The radiator comprises a plurality of conducting segments separated from each other by a first dielectric medium and separated from the ground plane by a second dielectric medium. The plurality of conducting segments are symmetrically disposed about an antenna axis of symmetry orthogonal to the ground plane. The excitation system comprises a flat conducting exciter patch and four excitation sources with phase differences of 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees. The excitation sources are generated on two orthogonal printed circuit boards. |
| US08723727B2 |
Slot antenna and RFID method
The invention relates to a slot antenna, more particularly to a transmitting antenna for RFID, comprising an antenna contour board having a plurality of antenna slots and at least one control circuit for enabling the antenna contour board to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic radiation. The slot antenna is characterized in that in at least one antenna slot of the antenna contour board there is inserted a circuit board carrying a control circuit. The invention further relates to an RFID method involving the use of the slot antenna of the invention. |
| US08723726B2 |
Global navigation satellite system
Each of a first and a second navigation satellite system (NSS) are adapted to operate according to a first and a second specification, respectively, and each includes a first and a second plurality of satellite vehicles (SVs), respectively. Each of the first and the second plurality of SVs are adapted to be identified by a first and a second plurality of unique corresponding identifications (IDs), respectively. A processor is adapted to receive and identify a first plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the first plurality of SVs in response to the first plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to receive and identify a second plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the second plurality of SVs in response to the second plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to determine position location information in response to receiving and identifying the first plurality of corresponding signals and the second plurality of corresponding signals. |
| US08723725B2 |
Ionospheric delay compensation using a scale factor based on an altitude of a receiver
In one embodiment, a method for ionospheric delay compensation is provided. The method includes determining an ionospheric delay based on a signal having propagated from the navigation satellite to a location below the ionosphere. A scale factor can be applied to the ionospheric delay, wherein the scale factor corresponds to a ratio of an ionospheric delay in the vertical direction based on an altitude of the satellite navigation system receiver. Compensation can be applied based on the ionospheric delay. |
| US08723723B2 |
Dual mode ground penetrating radar (GPR)
A dual mode ground penetrating radar includes an enclosure which houses radar electronics. The dual mode ground penetrating radar includes a enclosure housing radar electronics. The dual mode ground penetrating radar further includes a first antenna feed having ferrite loading and extending outside of the enclosure. The dual mode ground penetrating radar further includes a second antenna feed spaced apart from the first antenna feed, the second antenna feed having ferrite loading and extending outside of the enclosure. An RF signal is provided in at least one of the first and second antenna feeds by the radar electronics. |
| US08723721B2 |
Optimized multistatic surveillance system
A multistatic radar surveillance system includes transmitter elements and receiver elements arranged according to a zone to be monitored, and a command and control unit that configures the elements and collects information relating to objects detected by the receiver elements. Each transmitter element transmits a signal, the bandwidth of which is substantially equal to the totality of a frequency band B allocated to the system. Each transmitter element transmits a common waveform to all of the transmitter elements, and the waveform is modulated by a binary signal specific to the element in question, this signal allowing each of the receiver elements receiving a signal to identify the transmitter element at the source of this signal. The coding applied to the waveform is defined so that the spread spectrum caused to the signal transmitted by the latter does not exceed the frequency band B allocated to the system. |
| US08723717B2 |
Adaptive sensing system
An adaptive sensing system including a passive sensor that receives electromagnetic radiation, an active sensor that emits and receives electromagnetic radiation, a detection unit that detects the presence of human beings and objects other than human beings in a region of observation, and a control unit that controls the active sensor and the passive sensor based on a result of the detection by the detection unit. |
| US08723713B2 |
Signal interpolation device and parallel A/D converting device
There is provided a signal interpolation device, including: a first amplifier to generate a first signal representing a difference between an input signal and a first reference voltage; a second amplifier to generate a second signal representing a difference between the input signal and a second reference voltage; a first output amplifier to amplify the first signal to generate a first output signal; a second output amplifier to amplify the second signal to generate a second output signal; a third output amplifier to amplify a sum of a first interpolation signal and the first signal to generate a third output signal, the first interpolation signal representing a voltage generated by dividing a difference between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage by “2^n”; and a fourth output amplifier to amplify a difference between the second signal and the first interpolation signal to generate a fourth output signal. |
| US08723712B1 |
Digital to analog converter with current steering source for reduced glitch energy error
A digital to analog converter including at least one current steering source and a master replica bias network. Each current steering source includes a data current source, two switches, two buffer devices, and two activation current sources. The switches are controlled by a data bit and its inverse for switching the source current between first and second control nodes. The buffer devices buffer the control nodes between corresponding output nodes. The activation current sources ensure that each buffer device remains active regardless of the state of the switches. The master replica bias network includes a replica buffer device coupled to a replica control node and a master buffer amplifier. The master buffer amplifier drives the first, second and replica buffer devices in parallel to maintain the first, second and replica control nodes at a common master control voltage to minimize noise and glitches at the output. |
| US08723711B1 |
Stair-step voltage ramp module including programmable gain amplifier
A stair-step voltage ramp module includes a stair-step voltage ramp generator circuit including at least one clocked first digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to receive digital data signals (codes) and a first clock signal and provide a first stair-step voltage ramp waveform. A programmable gain operational amplifier (op amp) has an input coupled to receive the first stair-step voltage ramp waveform. A second DAC being a current output, multiplying DAC is positioned to provide a gain setting resistance for the op amp. The second DAC and op amp configuration can be changed to provide gain or attenuation, or both. The output of the op amp provides a stair-step voltage ramp output suitable for applications including testing analog to digital converters (ADCs) having 10 or more bits. |
| US08723707B2 |
Correlation-based background calibration for reducing inter-stage gain error and non-linearity in pipelined analog-to-digital converters
A method and a corresponding device for calibrating a pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) involve injecting a randomly determined amount of dither into one of a flash component and a multiplying digital-to-analog converter (MDAC) in at least one stage in the ADC. For each stage of the at least one stage a correlation procedure is performed to estimate, based on an output of the ADC, an amount of gain experienced by the injected dither after propagating through the stage. The stage is then calibrated based on its respective gain estimate. |
| US08723706B1 |
Multi-step ADC with sub-ADC calibration
Various embodiments of the invention allow for error calibration in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) having multiple cascaded ADC stages. The ADC stages exchange information that is utilized in the calibration process. Various embodiments allow for calibration of one stage by utilizing a feedback signal from at least one subsequent stage. Certain embodiments of the invention increase the speed of the calibration process by utilizing coarse and fine sub-ADCs. |
| US08723698B2 |
Overlapping geographic areas
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for identifying overlapping areas. For example, in one embodiment, telematics data can be collected as vehicles traverse various geographic areas. Then, the areas traversed by the vehicles can be displayed to identify overlapping areas. |
| US08723697B2 |
Device for automobile safety
The present invention discloses a device for automobile safety in the field of automobile safety, which addresses the problems existing in the prior art that the conventional automobiles tend to be stolen and have a low safety. The device for automobile safety includes an RF antenna (JP1), an RFID module, a GSM unit, a data processing unit (U1), a control unit (U2) and automobile circuits. The device for automobile safety of the invention has numerous benefits, for example an improved theft-proof property and warnings against driving at fatigue and/or beyond the speed limit. |
| US08723694B1 |
System and method for monitoring hazards associated with static charge
A hazard detection system is for use on board an aircraft or other vehicle. The aircraft or other vehicle is disposed in an environment. The hazard detection system includes a circuit for receiving a charge accumulation signal indicative of the electric field associated with the environment. The circuit provides a warning in response to the charge accumulation signal. The warning is indicative of a hazard or potential hazard. |
| US08723693B1 |
System for and method of indicating predictive windshear transmitter status
A system and method for indicating a predictive windshear transmission status is provided. The method includes determining if the predictive windshear radar system is transmitting. The method also includes providing an indication of the determination to a user interface device. Additional parameters, such as the operational state of the aircraft, may be used to further define when the indication is provided. |
| US08723691B2 |
Pedestrian safety system
Techniques are generally described related to a pedestrian safety system. One example pedestrian safety system may include a sound collector configured to collect an audio signal in an environment of a pedestrian; a processor configured to analyze the collected audio signal to determine whether the audio signal is associated with a vehicle and a distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian; and a notification device configured to notify the pedestrian when the processor determines that the audio signal is associated with the vehicle and the distance is less than a predetermined distance. |
| US08723690B2 |
Systems and methods for road acoustics and road video-feed based traffic estimation and prediction
Methods and arrangements for employing roadside acoustics sensing in ascertaining traffic density states. Traffic monitoring input is received from a road segment, the traffic monitoring input including traffic audio input. The traffic monitoring input is processed and the processed traffic monitoring input is classified with a predetermined traffic density state. The classified traffic monitoring input is combined with other classified traffic monitoring input. |
| US08723687B2 |
Advanced vehicle traffic management and control
A system for intelligent transport communication includes at least one transmitter, and at least one in-vehicle mobile receiver for use within a mobile road vehicle. The transmitter broadcasts, by wireless communication, dedicated data for each of a plurality of heading directions of the mobile road vehicle, on a corresponding plurality of multiplexed channels. The receiver receives the dedicated data on one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to an actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle. A multiple-redundant vehicle heading direction identification system for use within the mobile road vehicle includes a GPS direction identification system, a multiple digital compass system that identifies a heading direction of the mobile road vehicle based on input from multiple digital compasses, and a central processing unit that selects the heading direction produced by the GPS direction identification system only when an output of the GPS direction identification system is healthy. |
| US08723686B1 |
Automated datalink alert and alternate advisory system
A method of managing an aircraft in flight may include electronically monitoring for a presence of a threat object along a flight path of the aircraft and at a destination airport of the aircraft, and electronically generating an alert when the presence of the threat object is detected. The alert may include information enabling air traffic control (ATC), flight dispatch, and a pilot of the aircraft to make a collaborative flight path correction decision that may prevent the aircraft from being affected by the threat object. |
| US08723685B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing public transportation service in a communication system
A method and apparatus for providing a public transportation service in a communication system includes transmitting a signal representing an existence of a passenger at a particular stop terminal, and transmitting a signal representing information on a number of vehicles at to the stop terminal for selection by a user. |
| US08723681B2 |
Apparatus and methods for providing emergency override of informational displays
Various embodiments are generally directed to a system and method for providing emergency override of informational displays in an emergency notification system. An embodiment may include an emergency detection module coupled to a display override module. The display override module may be coupled to a third-party display driver. When an emergency condition is detected, the emergency detection module may use the display override module to override any display messages from the third-party display module in order to display an emergency display message. In an embodiment, the display override module may be a switch box. In another embodiment, the display override module may be a RSS feed subscribed to by the third-party display driver. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08723678B2 |
Device and method for detecting loading of battery
A battery load detecting device includes: a battery check pulse generator generating a check pulse in response to a check enable signal; a constant voltage regulator generating a battery status signal in response to a first battery check signal; and a battery detection determining unit comparing a predetermined reference signal with the battery status signal to generate a comparison result signal, using the comparison result signal and the check pulse to generate a second battery check signal, and using the second battery check signal to generate a battery detection signal indicating whether a chargeable battery is electrically connected to the constant voltage regulator. |
| US08723676B2 |
Rehabilitation-assisting apparatus
A rehabilitation-assisting apparatus is provided in this disclosure. The rehabilitation-assisting apparatus includes at least one step-information sensing unit, an alert-signal generating unit and a processing unit. The step-information sensing unit can be worn on a user's lower limb. The step-information sensing unit senses and generates step information of the user. The processing unit builds connections with the step-information sensing unit and the alert-signal generating unit. The processing unit determines if the user is walking appropriately according to the step information of the user. The processing unit drives the alert-signal generating unit to generate an alert signal when the user is not walking appropriately. |
| US08723675B2 |
Smartcard connector
A smartcard connector for connecting a smartcard within a card holder to an electronic device. The smartcard connector includes a card holder having a card holding space, a contact pad integral with the card holder and in communicative contact with the card holding space, and an external adapter integral with the card holder and in electrical contact with the contact pad. The adapter is for communicatively connecting a smartcard received and held within the card holding space and in electrical contact with the contact pad to an external data cable. The data cable is also connected to an electrical device, such as a computer, so that the smartcard may be accessed by the computer without removing the smartcard from the card holder. The card holder may also include a battery, display screen, read/write memory, security unit, notification unit, amplification unit, and/or a light. |
| US08723672B2 |
Automatic audible alarm origination locate
A plurality of hazard alarm devices are in spatially diverse locations and coupled together with an input-output bus. An interconnect protocol enables non-originating alarm devices to synchronize their audible alert tone pulses with audible alert tone pulses from an originating alarm device in a local hazard alarm condition. Hence, all audible alert tone pulses start sounding substantially together with allowances for signal contention and arbitration between the spatially diverse alarm devices. The originating alarm device continuously sounds its pattern of audible alert tone pulse groups without interruption, while the non-originating alarm devices periodically pause sounding a group of their audible alert tone pulses. The originating alarm device may be found by listening for the alarm device that is continuously sounding audible alert tone pulse groups without pause. |
| US08723671B2 |
Alarm monitoring telecommunications line condition detection and automatic calibration
A method at an alarm monitoring station and security system arrangement for detecting alarm signals originating at security systems on incoming calls carried by a telecommunications line includes, for each call, measuring a noise level on the line in the absence of signals originated by the security systems. Based on the measuring, at least one signal detection threshold above the noise level is set, wherein a level of a signal must exceed the signal detection threshold in order to be detected as a data signal. Alarm data signals in the call are detected using the signal detection threshold. |
| US08723670B2 |
Audio/visual annuciator for marking points of interest
The present invention provides a system and method for marking and/or tracking the location of victims and other items of interest, including marking points of danger, often associated with an emergency, a disaster, a mass casualty incident, or other catastrophe. In particular, the invention pertains to systems and methods for marking and tracking locations utilizing portable devices that are transportable in vehicles operated by emergency responder personnel and rapidly charged to an operational state for immediate use in emergency situations. The invention provides critical assistance to search and rescue personnel called upon to enter unfamiliar structures or areas under low light or poor visibility conditions. The invention may be used to mark unfamiliar territory to facilitate ingress and egress in times of emergency. |
| US08723661B2 |
Mount-free tire pressure monitoring system
A tire pressure monitoring sensor moveable inside a tire includes a housing holding a pressure sensing/transmitting unit, one or more batteries and an antenna for transmitting a signal indicating interior tire pressure. In one embodiment, the components are assembled within the housing such that the center of gravity is along a housing geometric center. During tire rotation, the monitor independently rotates within the tire and is particularly useful for slow-rotating tires, such as those used in gantry systems. Alternatively, the pressure monitoring sensor components are assembled within the housing such that the center of gravity is offset from a housing geometric center. Centripetal force generated during tire rotation causes the monitor to rotate with the tire itself and is useful for faster-rotating tires, such as motor vehicle tires. A tire pressure monitoring system includes the monitor and a receiver positioned outside the tire for receiving the monitoring signals. |
| US08723652B2 |
Chip recognition and accounting system
A device and method for casino chip recognition and accounting. The device includes a box having a slot in which chips can be deposited. The slot is connected to a chute which has a window through which a surface of the chip can be seen as it travels along the slot. A chip recognition device which can be a camera is arranged in a position to observe or detect the chip as it travels past the window, and is connected to a controller which utilizes recognition software programmed to compare the chip that it has detected with known chip images or data stored in memory to determine the chip denomination. The controller then signals a central computer the amount received. The system is useable for tracking and accounting for tips at casino table games. It can also be used for cashing in chips as well as detecting counterfeits. |
| US08723651B2 |
Variable rate preamble detection using ratiometric methods
A method for detecting a pattern in a signal according to one embodiment includes determining a time between symbol transitions in a signal derived from a radio frequency signal; determining ratios of relational times between consecutive symbol transitions; and comparing a sequence of the ratios to a target pattern for determining whether the sequence corresponds to the target pattern. Such methodology may also be implemented as a system using logic for performing the various operations. Additional systems and methods are also presented. |
| US08723650B2 |
Electronic tag time-sharing control system and method thereof
The present invention discloses an electronic tag time sharing control system and a method thereof, and the system comprises a server, at least one coordinator and a plurality of wireless electronic tags. The server transmits a time-sharing control signal. The coordinator and the server form a wireless connection for receiving and transmitting the time-sharing control signal. The wireless electronic tags and the coordinators form a wireless connection. After each wireless electronic tag receives the time-sharing control signal, different sleep cycle and wakeup timing are generated to update display information sequentially. A portion of the wireless electronic tag is situated at a sleep status and a portion of the wireless electronic tag is situated at a standby status to receive the update display information, so as to achieve the effects of saving bandwidth, reducing packet collisions and extending the service life of the wireless electronic tag. |
| US08723649B2 |
Antenna for protecting radio frequency communications
An antenna for protecting radio frequency communications includes a masking portion to broadcast a masking signal including a first loop and a second loop connected to the first loop, wherein a current supplied to the masking portion flows in opposite polarity in each of the first and second loops. The antenna includes a reader loop to receive a response signal from a responder and decoupled from the masking signal, wherein the masking signal masks the response signal about the responder. |
| US08723645B2 |
Data synchronization and integrity for intermittently connected sensors
A system for data synchronization of intermittently connected sensors may include an RFID system and an information management system. The system may also include an application to insure integrity of data retrieved or posted between the RFID system and the information management system. |
| US08723643B2 |
Method and computer program product of switching locked state of electronic device
In a method of switching a locked state of an electronic device with a user-verifying function, a biologic feature data from a user is captured while receiving an input from the user for an operation when the electronic device is in a locked state. Whether the biologic feature data conforms to a reference biologic feature data is then determined. If it is determined that the biologic feature data conforms to the reference biologic feature data, the electronic device is switched from the locked state into a non-locked state and directly controls the electronic device to perform the operation according to the input when the biologic feature data is determined conforming to the reference biologic feature data. |
| US08723641B2 |
Access control system and method for operating said system
A system uses a mobile unit to control access to physical spaces with electrical locking devices. An authority means connected to the mobile unit issues authorizing data (AD) access rights, which are sent to an authorization means connected to the authority means, generate a mobile unit alpha-numerical key and send the key and the mobile unit's unique identifier to an operator connected to the authorization means. The operator sends the alpha-numerical key to the mobile unit identified by the unique identifier. An electrical locking device and the mobile unit use an authentication protocol with the alpha-numerical key to authenticate the mobile unit, which, when authenticated, sends the authorizing data (AD) to the electrical locking device. If the authorizing data (AD) comprises an identifier of the electrical locking device, the mobile unit can open the electrical locking device using a communication means in the mobile unit for near field communication. |
| US08723640B2 |
Distillation of status data relating to regimen compliance responsive to the presence and absence of wireless signals relating to one or more threshold frequencies
Configuration technologies for cost-effectively indicating a regimen compliance status of a subject, for example, responsive to whether a presence of a wireless signal in a first frequency range below a threshold frequency occurred contemporaneously with an absence of a wireless signal in a second frequency range above the threshold frequency. |
| US08723634B2 |
Coil-type electronic component and its manufacturing method
A coil-type electronic component has a coil inside or on an outer surface of its base material and is characterized in that: the base material is constituted by a group of grains of a soft magnetic alloy containing iron, silicon and other element that oxidizes more easily than iron; the surface of each soft magnetic alloy grain has an oxide layer formed on its surface as a result of oxidization of the grain; the oxide layer contains the other element that oxidizes more easily than iron by a quantity larger than that in the soft magnetic alloy grain; and grains are bonded with one another via the oxide layer. |
| US08723633B2 |
Magnetic core and induction device
A magnetic core includes a first core having a recess and a second core, which has a first end portion and a second end portion both held in contact with the first core and forms a closed magnetic path with the first core. The second core is formed of material having a lower magnetic permeability and a higher saturation magnetic flux density than those of the first core. The second end portion includes a distal surface having an area larger than the cross-sectional area of the first end portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a magnetic flux flows in the closed magnetic path. The distal surface of the second end portion is held in contact with the first core and the first end portion is engaged with the recess in the first core. |
| US08723630B2 |
Current transformer for supplying power to electronic controller
A current transformer supplying a power for an electronic controller comprises two independent core magnetic circuits, wherein a first core magnetic circuit is a closed loop formed by connecting a U-shaped core and a linear core, a primary conductor extends through the closed loop, and a secondary winding for power supply is wound on the linear core; a second core magnetic circuit having an opening shape is disposed in parallel to the linear core of the first core magnetic circuit, and the open end of the second core magnetic circuit is coupled to the first core magnetic circuit through air gaps. The area of the cross section of the linear core is less than that of the cross section of the U-shaped core, so that the linear core can be magnetically saturated earlier than the U-shaped core. The centerline length of the U-shaped core is 1.5 to 4 times of that of the linear core. The current transformer of the present invention can not only normally start and work in case that a primary current is far lower than a rated current In, but also achieve the purpose of inhibiting rapid increase of an output current of the secondary windings and smoothing the output current in case that the primary current is far more than the rated current In. |
| US08723626B2 |
Electromagnetic resonance coupler
An electromagnetic resonance coupler including: a transmitting resonator provided on a transmission substrate and having an open loop shape having an opening, first wiring provided on the transmission substrate and connected to a first connection point on the transmitting resonator, a receiving resonator provided on the reception substrate, second wiring provided on the reception substrate and connected to a second connection point on the receiving resonator, and third wiring provided on the reception substrate and connected to a third connection point on the receiving resonator. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the transmission substrate, the transmission substrate and the reception substrate are provided facing each other so that the transmitting resonator and the receiving resonator are symmetric about a point and have matching contours. |
| US08723624B2 |
Elastic wave device having an insulating film with wiring thereon not arranged over the IDT electrodes
An elastic wave device that suppresses high-frequency spurious components caused by unwanted waves, such as bulk waves, and improves filter characteristics, includes a piezoelectric substrate, an electrode structure including an IDT electrode provided on the substrate, a first wiring portion that is electrically connected to the IDT electrode, and a second wiring portion provided on a first insulating film that includes a through-hole partially exposing the first wiring portion therethrough. The second wiring portion extends into the through-hole and is electrically connected to the first wiring portion. The second wiring portion is arranged over an area other than the area in which the IDT electrode is disposed. |
| US08723614B2 |
Trigger activated adjustable pulse width generator circuit for automotive exhaust after-treatment and injection
A method adjusts a pulse width of a signal. The method provides a fixed voltage input trigger pulse (34), of a certain pulse width, to a pulse width generator circuit (10) and provides an output pulse (52) from the pulse width generator circuit such that a pulse width of the output pulse is longer than the certain pulse width, without changing a voltage or frequency of the input trigger pulse. The method is used to drive an injector of a diesel reductant delivery system to inject fluid into an exhaust flow path. |
| US08723612B2 |
Trimming circuit for clock source
A semiconductor trimming circuit includes parallel coupled PMOS devices coupled in parallel with parallel coupled NMOS devices and an additional pair of dummy NMOS devices. The dummy NMOS devices are coupled in parallel with the NMOS devices. A trimming circuit for an internal clock source may be formed with an array of such switches for selecting one or more trimming capacitors of the trimming circuit. Such an array has a low leakage current and permits good trimming linearity. |
| US08723608B2 |
Method and arrangement for voltage controlled oscillator device
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a self injection locked voltage controlled oscillator arrangement, a pair of coupled first and second voltage controlled oscillator devices are arranged on a chip, an amplifier device is arranged on the same of the refection type chip, and an off-chip delay line is arranged with one terminal connected to an output terminal of the coupled first and second voltage controlled oscillator devices, and on terminal adapted to reflect a signal from the output terminal, the amplifier device being arranged to amplify an injection signal from said output terminal and to supply the amplified injection signal to one of said first and second voltage controlled oscillation devices to provide a VCO arrangement that exhibits low phase noise and a small size. |
| US08723599B1 |
Adjustable gain amplifier system having cleanly adjustable and stable linearized gain
An adjustable gain amplifier system having cleanly adjustable and stable linearized gain is provided for amplifying an input signal. The system generally comprises a main amplifier and a linearized transconductance amplifier coupled thereto, which generates an amplified current signal in response to the input signal according to a variably defined transconductance factor. The linearized transconductance amplifier includes a linearized transconductance portion and a translinear current amplifier portion coupled thereto. The linearized transconductance portion generates an intermediate current signal based upon a voltage of the input signal, and forms an unswitched resistor-based conduction path for that intermediate current signal. The translinear current amplifier portion forms a translinear loop section for amplifying the intermediate current signal to generate the amplified current signal. The translinear current amplifier portion is selectively reconfigurable to correspondingly adjust the transconductance factor, wherein the linearized gain is adjustably defined according to the adjusted transconductance factor. |
| US08723598B2 |
System and method for controlling radio frequency transmissions from an electronic device
The disclosure relates to an electronic circuit for reducing leakage of radio frequency signals from a power amplifier of a wireless communication device is provided. The circuit comprises: a printed circuit board (PCB) having the power amplifier mounted on the PCB; a first electrical track in the PCB providing part of a connection from a low band power input terminal of the power amplifier to a battery terminal; a first capacitor connected to the first electrical track, the low band power input terminal and a ground reference in the PCB; a second capacitor connected in parallel to the first capacitor and connected to the first electrical track, the low band power input terminal and the ground reference; a first high filter choke having a first end connected to the first electrical track and a second end connected to the battery terminal; a second electrical track connected to a low band power input terminal of the power amplifier; and a second high filter choke a having a first end connected to the second electrical track and a second end connected to the battery terminal. |
| US08723595B1 |
Voltage generator
The voltage generator provided by the present invention includes: a first current source, a second current source, a first resistor, a reference voltage generator, a first amplifier and a second amplifier. The first current source generates a first current and a second current with a first temperature coefficient according to a first bias voltage. The second current source generates a third current and a fourth current with a second temperature coefficient according to a second bias voltage. The reference voltage generator provides a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage according to the first and third currents. The first amplifier generates the first bias voltage according to the first and second reference voltages. The second amplifier generates the second bias voltage according to the second and third reference voltages. Wherein, the first temperature coefficient and the second temperature coefficient are complementary. |
| US08723592B2 |
Adjustable body bias circuit
Body biasing circuit and methods are implemented in a variety of different instances. One such instance involves placing, a first well of a first body bias island and a second well of a second body bias island in a first bias mode by controlling switches of a body bias switch circuit. The biasing is one of a reverse body bias, a nominal body bias and a forward body bias. The second well is also biased according to one of a reverse body bias, a nominal body bias and a forward body bias. In response to the bias-mode input, the first well of the first body bias island and the second well of the second body bias island are each placed in a second bias mode by controlling switches of the body bias switch circuit. The bias of the first well and second well can be changed. |
| US08723590B2 |
Power switch current estimator at gate driver
A power switch current estimator for a solid state power switch. The power switch includes a control terminal, an input current power terminal, and an output current power terminal. The power switch is further configured with at least one sense terminal. One or more parasitic elements define an electrical pathway between a power terminal and a corresponding sense terminal. A driver unit that selectively turns the power switch on and off is connected to the control terminal and a sense terminal. A current estimator generates an estimated level of current circulating through the solid state power switch in real time in response to one or more switching events of the power switch. The estimated level of current is based on values of at least one of the parasitic elements such that the estimated level of load current substantially corresponds to an actual level of load current circulating through the solid state power switch. |
| US08723581B1 |
Input buffers
An input buffer is provided. The input buffer receives an input signal through an input terminal and outputs an output signal at an output terminal. The input circuit includes an input circuit and a level shifting circuit. The input circuit receives the input signal and generates a buffer signal according to the input signal. The level shifting circuit receives a first supply voltage and the buffer signal and generates the output signal at the output terminal according to the buffer signal and the first supply voltage. The first high level of the input signal is higher than a voltage level of the first supply voltage. When the input signal is at a first high level, the input circuit generates the buffer signal whose voltage level is between the first high level of the input signal and the voltage level of the first supply voltage. |
| US08723579B2 |
Timing generation circuit
The timing generation circuit includes a binary counter constituted of three T-flip-flop circuits, and a binary state at reset of the binary counter is also used at system reset and in generation of the output pulses, to generate eight output pulses having different timings from eight binary states generated by the binary counter and including the state at the reset. At the system reset, a reset signal to the binary counter is delayed, so that an output of a decoder circuit at the reset of the binary counter is delayed. Therefore, the output of the decoder circuit is masked with a fast reset signal, so that the output of the decoder circuit at the system reset can be prevented from being reflected in an output terminal. |
| US08723578B1 |
Pulse generator circuit
A pulse generator circuit is disclosed that is optimized for printed, solution-processed thin film transistor processing. In certain embodiments, the circuit comprises dual thin film transistors that operate as a diode and resistor, respectively. Optionally, a third thin film transistor may be provided to operate as a pass transistor in response to an enable signal. The elements of the circuit are configured such that a rising pulse on an input node triggers an output pulse on an output node in the manner of a monostable multivibrator. |
| US08723571B2 |
Digital frequency locked loop
Integrated circuit and method for generating a clock signal, the integrated circuit comprising (i) a frequency locked loop comprising a voltage controlled oscillator configured to receive a control input and to generate a clock signal determined by the control input; and (ii) a microprocessor configured to be powered by a supply voltage and to receive the clock signal generated by the voltage controlled oscillator. The integrated circuit is configured to use the supply voltage as the control input, such that the clock signal is determined by the supply voltage. |
| US08723569B2 |
Signal receiving circuit, memory controller, processor, computer, and phase control method
A signal receiving circuit includes a phase detection unit and a delay control unit. The phase detection unit detects a phase difference between a received signal and a clock signal. The delay control unit receives the phase difference, delays a phase of the received signal in a range not exceeding a delay amount determined by using a predetermined phase difference as a unit, and changes, when the phase difference exceeds the predetermined phase difference, a delay amount of the received signal by using the predetermined phase difference as a unit. |
| US08723568B1 |
Local oscillator signal generation using delay locked loops
A clock generation circuit is disclosed that may generate a plurality of phase-delayed signals in a manner that may be relatively immune to VCO pulling. The clock generation circuit may include a circuit to generate an oscillating signal, a frequency divider to generate an RF signal having a frequency that is equal to 1/(n+0.5) times the frequency of the oscillating signal, wherein n is an integer value greater than or equal to one and n+0.5 is a non-integer value, and a DLL circuit to generate a plurality of local oscillator signals, wherein the local oscillator signals are phase-delayed with respect to each other. |
| US08723567B1 |
Adjustable pole and zero location for a second order low pass filter used in a phase lock loop circuit
This invention provides a loop filter device and a method for IC designers to adjust the pole or zero location of a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit. The pole and zero location are controlled by an amplifier and some on-chip resistor and capacitor components. The effective capacitance is magnified by the gain of the amplifier. The advantage of the loop filter device and the method according to embodiments of the present invention provides a feasible way to achieve a very low bandwidth in the PLL circuit without a huge external surface-mount capacitor. |
| US08723561B2 |
Drive circuit for switching element
The drive circuit is for turning on and off a switching element having an open/close control terminal, an input terminal and an output terminal by moving electrical charge in the open/close control terminal in accordance with an on-manipulation command and an off-manipulation command received from outside. The drive circuit includes an active gate control means for changing a moving speed of the electrical charge midway between when movement of the electrical charge is started and when the movement is completed, and a determination means for making at least one of a determination on a change timing to change the moving speed and a determination on whether or not a change of the moving speed by the active gate control means should be made. |
| US08723558B2 |
Systems and methods for driving a bipolar junction transistor by adjusting base current with time
System and method for driving a bipolar junction transistor for a power converter. The system includes a current generator configured to output a drive current signal to a bipolar junction transistor to adjust a primary current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter. The current generator is further configured to output the drive current signal to turn on the bipolar junction transistor during a first time period, a second time period, and a third time period, the second time period separating the first time period from the third time period, drive the bipolar junction transistor to operate in a hard-saturation region during the first time period and the second time period, and drive the bipolar junction transistor to operate in a quasi-saturation region during the third time period. |
| US08723553B1 |
Systems and methods for performing frequency offset estimation
A method for determining an effective frequency offset by circuitry is described. The method includes determining a first frequency offset average over a first half of a syncword. The method also includes determining a second frequency offset average over the entire syncword. The method further includes determining a third frequency offset average over a second half of the syncword. The method additionally includes determining an effective frequency offset at an end of the syncword based on the first frequency offset average, the second frequency offset average and the third frequency offset average. |
| US08723552B2 |
Configuration and method for improving noise immunity of a floating gate driver circuit
A floating gate driver circuit includes a level shifter, a pass element, a bistable circuit and a control logic circuit, to shift the voltage level of a control signal from a lower one to a higher one. The level shifter or the pass element has loads dynamically controlled by the control logic circuit to filter malfunction caused by dv/dt noise induced by a floating node. |
| US08723548B2 |
Hysteresis-based latch design for improved soft error rate with low area/performance overhead
A hysteresis-based logic element design for improved soft error rate with low area/performance overhead. In one embodiment, a hysteresis inverter block including one or more pairs of inverters can be coupled to a logic element to adjust a switching threshold of the logic element. |
| US08723547B2 |
Solar photovoltaic junction box
A solar photovoltaic junction box for being electrically connected to a solar cell array. The junction box comprises a plurality of input branch lines electrically connected to solar cell strings, an output aggregate line that converges the plurality of branch lines, a back-flow preventing diode provided on each of the branch lines, a capacitor parallel-connected to each of the back-flow preventing diodes, an AC voltage generator that is provided on the aggregate line to allow an AC voltage to be applied to the solar cell array, a measuring means for measuring an alternating current flowing in the solar cell array, and a control unit comprising an malfunction determination portion for determining a malfunction in the solar cell array on the basis of the AC voltage applied by the AC voltage generator and the alternating current measured by the measuring means. |
| US08723542B2 |
Testing jig for pogo pin connector
A testing jig of a pogo pin connector for testing a connection between at least one pogo pin and an electrical plug is disclosed. The testing jig includes a first support element, a second support element, and a platform. The first support element has a first groove and at least one opening defined therein. The second support element has a second groove corresponding to the first groove for receiving the electrical plug. The platform is disposed below the first support element, and at least one receiving hole is defined in the platform. The at least one pogo pin is disposed in the at least one receiving hole and exposed in the first groove through the at least one opening. The pogo pin is configured in various tilt angles through the platform with the opening for solving high cost of various mold developments. |
| US08723537B2 |
Probe inspecting method and curable resin composition
Disclosed are a probe inspecting method for confirming the state of a probe for inspecting electric characteristics of an object to be inspected; and a curable resin composition for use in the method. The method is applied to repeat inspections and comprises the steps of bringing a cured resin of a curable resin composition into contact with a probe for inspecting electric characteristics of an object to be inspected, transferring a probe mark of the probe to the cured resin, confirming the state of the probe based on the transferred probe mark, and, after the transfer of the probe mark of the probe, heating the cured resin to a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of the cured resin to erase the probe mark of the probe. |
| US08723533B2 |
Method for detecting pressure on touch sensing element and electronic device using the same
A method of detecting pressure on a touch sensing element includes providing a first potential difference to two electrodes of a first film, charging a capacitor with a division voltage of the first potential difference, sampling a charged voltage of the capacitor to obtain a plurality of first voltage values and calculating a first voltage variation according to the plurality of first voltage values, comparing the first voltage variation with a threshold value, and post-processing at least one of the first voltage values when the first voltage variation is smaller than the threshold value. |
| US08723532B2 |
Capacitive proximity device and electronic device comprising the capacitive proximity device
A capacitive proximity device for sensing a presence and/or absence of an object in the proximity of an electronic device includes an emission electrode capacitively coupled to a receiver electrode, an oscillator for generating an emission-signal being an alternating electric field between the emission electrode and the receiving electrode, and a sensing circuit connected to the receiving electrode. The sensing circuit receives a measured-signal from the receiver electrode and includes a first synchronous detection circuit together with a low-pass filter for generating an output-signal being proportional to a distance between the object and the electronic device. The sensing circuit further includes a noise-suppresser for reducing noise from the measured-signal before entering the first synchronous detection circuit. |
| US08723531B2 |
Integrated VSWR detector for monolithic microwave integrated circuits
An integrated RF circuit has an RF input port and an RF output port coupled to an external circuit element having known impedance such as an antenna. An RF circuit element is disposed between the RF input port and the RF output port and has a first input port and a first output port. The RF circuit element affects a signal received at the first input port and provides the affected signal to the first output port. The integrated RF circuit also has a VSWR detector circuit that measures a ratio of a characteristic of RF signals at the first input port and the first output port and that provides an indication of the ratio at a VSWR output port. The measured ratio of the characteristic is affected by an impedance of the coupling thereby providing an indication relating to the coupling. |
| US08723530B2 |
Signal acquisition system having reduced probe loading of a device under test
A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth. |
| US08723529B2 |
Semiconductor device, test method, and test apparatus
A semiconductor device includes; a first pad that receives an external voltage during a test, a second pad coupled to an external impedance during the test, a voltage-current converter coupled to the first pad and the second pad and generating a bias current substantially in response to only the external voltage and the external impedance, and an internal circuit responsive to a test current during the test, such that the level of the test current is defined by the level of the bias current. |
| US08723525B2 |
Sensor in battery
Systems and method for providing sensors in batteries are provided. In certain aspects of the disclosure, a battery comprises a housing dimensioned to fit within a battery compartment of the communication device, a battery cell configured to supply power to the communication device, one or more sensors within the housing configured to measure a condition external to the battery and to received power from the battery cell, and an interface configured to interface the one or more sensors with a processing system in the communication device. |
| US08723522B2 |
Superconductor RF coil array
A superconducting RF coil array which may be used in whole body MRI scanners and/or in dedicated MRI systems. Some embodiments provide a superconducting RF coil array for at least one of receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a sample during magnetic resonance analysis of the sample, the superconducting RF coil array comprising a thermally conductive member configured to be cryogenically cooled, and a plurality of coils elements comprising superconducting material, wherein each coil element is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive member and is configured for at least one of (i) receiving a magnetic resonance signal from a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region from which at least one other of the plurality of coil elements is configured to receive a signal and (ii) transmitting a radiofrequency signal to a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region to which at least one other of the plurality coil elements is configured to transmit a radiofrequency signal. |
| US08723521B2 |
PET/MR scanners for simultaneous PET and MR imaging
In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a MR examination region from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region. The radiation detectors include electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces. |
| US08723520B2 |
Method of controlling static magnetic field in NMR spectrometer
A method of controlling the static magnetic field in an NMR spectrometer in such a way that the magnetic field can be homogenized even if there is a temperature gradient across a sample tube. A distribution of resonance frequencies and chemical shift differences within the sample tube is found by NMR measurements for each of two peaks of a calibration sample. A temperature distribution is found based on the distribution of the chemical shift differences. A distribution of chemical shifts of a solvent used for the measurements is found, based on the temperature distribution in the sample tube. Shimming is done using magnetic field gradients based on the distribution of the chemical shifts of the solvent. |
| US08723518B2 |
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic configured to repetitively and variably sample a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals. Members of the set of NMR signals are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The varying parameters may include flip angle, echo time, RF amplitude, and other parameters. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic configured to produce an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, a matching logic configured to compare a signal evolution to a known, simulated or predicted signal evolution, and a characterization logic configured to characterize a resonant species in the object as a result of the signal evolution comparisons. |
| US08723516B2 |
B1-robust and T1-robust species suppression in MRI
An MRI multi-echo data acquisition sequence (REFUSAL=REFocusing Used to Selectively Attenuate Lipids) includes a spectrally-selective re-focusing RF pulse. The REFUSAL pulse can be non-spatially selective or spatially-selective. The REFUSAL pulse selectively refocuses water spins and avoids refocusing lipid spins. The REFUSAL pulse ideally maximizes refocusing for water and minimizes any lipid refocusing, with built-in robustness to B0-inhomogeneity and B1-inhomogeneity. Following the REFUSAL pulse, the remainder of the echo train continues in a conventional fashion. Only those spins that were refocused with the spectrally selective REFUSAL pulse continue to evolve coherently and generate a train of echoes. Those spins that were minimally refocused are spoiled and thus do not contribute signal to the final image. To incorporate a longer duration REFUSAL pulse, the echo spacing can be made non-uniform such that the first echo spacing is longer than the remainder of the echo spacings in the echo train. |
| US08723513B2 |
Eddy current probe for surface inspection and eddy current inspection device including the same
The present invention discloses an eddy current probe and an eddy current inspection device including the eddy current probe for inspection of surface defect of a rotor wheel including a dovetail coupling part in which a hook is formed. The eddy current probe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body, a contact part coupled to the main body and having a convex part and a concave part formed thereon corresponding to the hook, and an eddy current sensor being coupled to an end part of the convex part of the contact part. Accordingly, the detectability of a defect and the permeation depth can be enhanced, and the inspection procedures can be simplified. |
| US08723512B1 |
Circuits and methods for generating a threshold signal used in a magnetic field sensor based on a peak signal associated with a prior cycle of a magnetic field signal
A circuit to detect a movement of an object includes a magnetic field sensing element for generating a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object and a motion detector to generate a motion signal indicative of the movement of the object. The motion detector includes a peak identifying circuit to provide a peak signal and a peak sample selection module that selects a sample associated with one or more prior cycles of a magnetic field signal to generate a selected peak signal. The motion detector further includes a threshold generator to generate a threshold signal as a function of the selected peak signal and a comparator to compare the threshold signal with the magnetic field signal to generate the motion signal. Peak samples from prior magnetic field signal cycles may be averaged for use to establish the threshold signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described. |
| US08723510B2 |
Resolver
A resolver comprises a first coil layer and a second coil layer each formed on a flat plate and an insulating layer formed between the first coil layer and the second coil layer. A SIN signal excitation coil includes a SIN first coil formed in the first coil layer and a SIN second coil formed in the second coil layer. A COS signal excitation coil includes a COS first coil formed in the first coil layer and a COS second coil formed in the second coil layer. |
| US08723508B2 |
Method for analyzing DC superposition characteristics of inductance device, and electromagnetic field simulator
A method for analyzing the DC superposition characteristics of an inductance device using an electromagnetic field simulator, comprising a first step of determining an initial magnetization curve from initial magnetization to saturation magnetization, and pluralities of minor loops at different operating points, on a toroidal core made of the same magnetic material as that of the inductance device, and obtaining point-list data showing the relation between magnetic flux density or magnetic field strength and incremental permeability from the incremental permeability at each operating point; a second step of determining an operating point at a predetermined direct current on each element obtained by mesh-dividing an analysis model of the inductance device by an electromagnetic field simulator based on the initial magnetization curve of the core, allocating the incremental permeability to the operating point from the point-list data, and integrating the inductance of each element obtained from the incremental permeability to determine the inductance of the entire inductance device; and a third step of repeating the second step at different direct current levels to determine the DC superposition characteristics. |
| US08723498B2 |
Systems and methods of increasing power measurement accuracy for power factor correction
Systems and methods for increasing power measurement accuracy for power factor correction (PFC) are disclosed. An exemplary method may include providing a PFC circuit for a power supply, the PFC circuit having a bulk capacitor connected to a rectified AC line. The method may also include measuring output load. The method may also include enabling AC wave skipping if the measured output load drops below a threshold value. |
| US08723494B2 |
Switching power converter current limit reference circuit
A switching power converter current limit reference circuit generates an output-referred input current reference (or an input-referred output current reference) which takes into account a converter's input voltage, output voltage, and efficiency, thereby enabling implementation of a DC, or average, input current regulation scheme. A reference current (Iref) is provided which represents the desired average current limit. Circuitry multiplies Iref and the complement of the converter's duty cycle D (1-D) together. When Iref represents a desired input current limit, the resulting product represents the average output current achievable when Iref=Iin for the prevailing duty cycle D. When Iref represents a desired output current limit, the resulting product represents the average input current achievable when Iref=Iout for prevailing duty cycle D. |
| US08723481B2 |
Battery pack with balancing management
A battery management system includes multiple battery modules, first balancing units, second balancing units, and controllers. Each battery module is coupled to a respective first balancing unit, second balancing unit, and controller. A first controller of the controllers controls a first balancing unit of a first battery module to adjust a voltage output of the first battery module when the first controller determines the voltage output of the first battery module is greater than a combined voltage output of the first battery module and a second battery module, and controls a second balancing unit of the first battery module to adjust the combined voltage when the first controller determines the combined voltage is greater than the voltage output of the first battery module. |
| US08723480B2 |
Charge equalization apparatus for series-connected battery string using regulated voltage source
An automatic charge equalization apparatus using a regulated voltage source according to the present invention comprises a battery module having a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery string having M (natural number of M≧2) battery modules connected in series: a regulated voltage source which is provided for each battery module and outputs and maintains an average voltage of the battery string; a bidirectional switch block which is provided for each battery module between the battery module and the regulated voltage source to connect each battery to an output of the regulated voltage source by forming a parallel current moving path to each battery composing the battery module; and a microprocessor controlling the bidirectional switch block, wherein each battery composing the battery module shares the regulated voltage source by the bidirectional switch block and the microprocessor controls the bidirectional switch block to successively connect the batteries composing the battery module with the regulated voltage source. |
| US08723476B2 |
USB dedicated charger identification circuit
In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, a USB dedicated charger identification circuit includes a USB D+ port, a USB D− port, a first circuit conforming to a first identification protocol, a second circuit conforming to a second identification protocol, and logic selectively coupling one of the first circuit and the second circuit to the USB D+ port and the USB D− port. In an alternate embodiment set forth by way of example and not limitation, a method to provide USB charger identification includes providing a first USB charger identification at a USB D+ port and a D− port, Next, it is detected if the first USB charger identification was inappropriate. Then, if the first USB charger identification was inappropriate, a second USB charger identification is provided at the USB D+ port and the D− port. |
| US08723475B2 |
Flying capacitor type voltage detecting circuit and battery protection integrated circuit
A voltage-detecting circuit includes a flying capacitor; a first switch circuit allowing plural electric cells connected in series, so that polarity of voltage across electrodes of the flying capacitor charged by one of the electric cells is opposite to polarity of voltage across the electrodes of the flying capacitor charged by an adjacent one of the electric cells; a second switch circuit discharging the flying capacitor; an output circuit outputting a signal depending on the voltage across the flying capacitor; a shield arranged around the flying capacitor electrodes to substantially equalize parasitic capacitances between the shield and each of the electrodes; and a voltage-controlling circuit equalizing voltage between one of the electrodes of the flying capacitor and the shield when charging the flying capacitor, with voltage between another one of the electrodes of the flying capacitor and the shield when discharging the flying capacitor. |
| US08723473B2 |
Control system and control method of a solar power supply
A control system of a solar power supply for a vehicle is provided. The control system includes a solar battery pack and a control module. The solar battery is connected to an auxiliary power module, the control module, a DC/DC buck converter via a first switch, and connected to a DC/DC boost converter via a second switch. The DC/DC buck converter is connected to a low-voltage load, a starting battery and the control module. The DC/DC boost converter is connected to a high-voltage load, the control module, a power battery pack via a main contactor. |
| US08723470B2 |
System and method for determining position of hall sensors relative to stator winding of brushless DC or synchronous AC permanent magnet motor
A method is provided for monitoring a motor having a stator, a rotor and a detector. The stator can receive a driving signal to produce a first magnetic field. The rotor can rotate in a circle relative to the stator. The rotor has a magnetic portion that can emit a second magnetic field in a radial direction. The detector can output a detection signal based on the position of the rotor. |
| US08723460B2 |
Method and system for controlling an electric motor with compensation for time delay in position determination
A sensor detects position data for a rotor of the motor at a first time. A data processor receives the detected position data associated with a first time delay. A sensing circuit senses an analog current at the motor during a second time delay. An analog-to-digital converter converts the analog current to a digital current data during a third time delay. The fourth time delay is detected between actual current reading instant and position reading instant in a data processor. The digital phase current data is transformed into measured direct and quadrature axes control current data based on synchronization or temporal alignment of the position data with the actual measured analog phase current at the starting time by compensating the position data by a sum of the second time delay, the third time delay and the fourth time delay, where the first time delay is subtracted from the sum. |
| US08723457B2 |
Electric vehicle and control method of electric vehicle
In the case the gearshift position is the parking position at the state that the master battery is connected via the master side step-up circuit to the motor side and either of the two slave batteries is connected via the slave side step-up circuit to the motor side, the drive of both of the master side step-up circuit and the slave side step-up circuit is stopped. After then, in the case that the accumulated charge ratio difference obtained by subtracting the accumulated charge ratio of the master battery from the accumulated charge ratio of the slave battery connected to the motor side is less than the threshold value, the drive stop of both of the master side step-up circuit and the slave side step-up circuit is continued. |
| US08723449B2 |
Light emitting element drive circuit
An LED drive circuit (10) for driving an LED circuit (220) includes: a constant current driver (110) including transistors (111-114) whose collector terminals are respectively connected with LED rows (221-224) connected with each other in parallel and whose emitter terminals are grounded; and an LED drive control section (120) for setting a voltage to be commonly applied on the LED rows (221-224), the setting being performed in accordance with a maximum base current out of base currents of the transistors (111-114). |
| US08723447B2 |
Wireless battery-powered daylight sensor
A wireless battery-powered daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in a space is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the total light intensity in the space. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The variable transmission rate may be dependent upon an amount of change of the total light intensity in the space. In addition, the variable transmission rate may be further dependent upon a rate of change of the total light intensity in the space. |
| US08723446B2 |
Method and circuit arrangement for cycle-by-cycle control of a LED current flowing through a LED circuit arrangement, and associated circuit composition and lighting system
The invention provides a method for cycle-by-cycle control of a LED current (ILED) flowing through a LED circuit arrangement (LEDCIRC) at a mean LED current level. The method comprises a) establishing a converter current (IL), b) establishing an oscillation of the converter current (IL) between substantially a valley current level and substantially a peak current level, c) feeding the LED circuit arrangement (LEDCIRC) with the converter current (IL) as the LED current during a part of an oscillation cycle of the oscillation of the converter current, d) determining a current level correction for compensating a current level error between an integral over an oscillation cycle of the LED current and a reference, the reference being representative of the mean LED current level, and e) adjusting at least one of the valley current level and the peak current level with the current level correction for use in a successive cycle of the oscillation of the converter current. The invention also provides a circuit arrangement operable for using the method, a LED driver IC using the circuit arrangement, a circuit composition with at least one LED and the circuit arrangement, and a lighting system with the circuit composition. |
| US08723440B2 |
AC voltage reduction by means of a transformer
The invention relates to an AC voltage conversion and switching device comprising a main circuit and a switching circuit. The input of the device is connected to the power supply, and the output to the consumer. In the main circuit a controlled transformer (T) is inserted. The essence of the invention lies in that the secondary coil (6) of the transformer (T) is connected in series between the input (8) and the output (10) for decreasing the voltage at the consumer (F) during operation, and the secondary coil (6) of the transformer (T) is bridged by a first controlled switch (12), whereas the primary coil (7) of the transformer (T) is connected in series with a second controlled switch (18), and the serial circuit formed by the primary coil (7) and the second controlled switch (18) is connected parallel with the consumer (F), the switches (12; 18) are in an operational connection with a central control unit (K). |
| US08723434B2 |
LED bulb for general and low intensity light
A bimodal light emitting diode (LED) light bulb, method, and system having a form factor compatible with industry standard light bulb sockets provides general lighting when power is received via one or more light bulb electrical contacts, then as a different luminosity when power is removed from the contacts. A first subset of LEDs is powerable via the contacts for general light, while a second subset of LEDs is powerable via an energy storage device. Both subsets of LEDs are packaged in a replaceable light bulb. The energy storage device may comprise a capacitor or battery which may be charged when power is supplied via the contacts. In one embodiment, power to LEDs is controlled by a timer, motion sensor, light sensor, sound sensor, dimmer, voltage sensor, or manual switch. In another embodiment, an ambience generator emits fragrance or background sound. In another embodiment, LEDs are individually replaceable. |
| US08723433B2 |
Power transformation apparatus between DC light element and ballast
A power transformation apparatus between DC light element and ballast includes a first fluorescent emulation module, a second fluorescent emulation module and a rectifier module; wherein the first fluorescent emulation module includes two input current terminals for electrically connecting to first set of AC output terminals of the ballast, the second fluorescent emulation module also includes two input current terminals for electrically connecting to second set of AC output terminals of the ballast; two input terminals of the rectifier module are electrically connected respectively to any output terminal of first set of AC output terminals and second set of AC output terminals. The rectifier module outputs a rectified DC to supply to the DC light element as a power source. |
| US08723429B2 |
Fluorescent ballast end of life protection
A system and method of controlling a lighting system having a ballast is provided. The ballast may be used in a lamp system that utilizes different types of lamps. The ballast may detect a lamp signal that indicates a change in state of at least one of the lamps in the lighting system. A voltage regulator signal can be modified based on the detected lamp signal and the light system controlled based on the modified voltage regulator signal. |
| US08723424B2 |
Light assembly having light sources and adjacent light tubes
A light assembly includes a light source circuit board and a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed on the light source circuit board. A plurality of light pipes axially extends from and adjacent to each light-emitting diode. Each light pipe has a respective first end adjacent to the plurality of light-emitting diodes and a second end opposite to the light-emitting diodes. The plurality of light pipes communicates light from the light-emitting diodes therethrough and defines a cavity therebetween. A plurality of thermal vanes forms a heat sink for removing heat from the light-emitting diodes. The plurality of thermal vanes extend adjacent to the plurality of light pipes. A driver circuit board is disposed within the cavity. |
| US08723423B2 |
Electrostatic remote plasma source
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for capacitively coupling energy into a plasma to ignite and sustain the plasma within a remote plasma source. The power is provided by a first electrode that at least partially surrounds or is surrounded by a second electrode. The second electrode can be grounded or floating. First and second dielectric components can be arranged to separate one or both of the electrodes from the plasma and thereby DC isolate the plasma from one or both of the electrodes. |
| US08723421B2 |
Multiple-filament incandescent lighting system managed in response to a sensor detected aspect of a filament
Described embodiments include an incandescent lighting system and a method. A described system includes a gas filled and sealed glass envelope. The system includes a gas filled glass envelope. The system includes at least two filaments enclosed within the glass envelope. Each filament of the at least two filaments is configured to generate visible light in response to a flow of electric current. The system includes a sensor configured to detect an aspect of a filament of the at least two filaments and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the aspect. The system includes a controller circuit configured to manage the at least two filaments in response to a filament management schedule. The filament management schedule includes adjusting a flow of electric current through a filament of the at least two filaments in response to the sensor signal. |
| US08723420B2 |
Magnetron and microwave-using equipment
A magnetron includes an anode cylinder; a cathode side tube hermetically coupled to a lower portion of the anode cylinder; and a shield cylinder. The shield cylinder includes a cylindrical part extending in substantially a vertical direction, a flange part which is connected to the cylindrical part and extends in substantially a horizontal direction over the entire periphery of the cylindrical part, and a folded part in which a portion of the flange part is folded toward the cathode side tube. The shield cylinder is electrically coupled to the cathode side tube at a lower end of the anode cylinder. |
| US08723415B2 |
Moisture-proof film, method for manufacturing the same, and organic electronic device including the same
A moisture-proof film (10) includes a moisture-proof part (12) formed on a surface of a film body (11). The moisture-proof part (12) includes a first layer made of a silicon oxycarbonitride compound containing carbon atoms in a composition thereof, and a second layer made of a silicon oxynitride compound which, in a composition thereof, contains carbon atoms less than those of the first layer or does not contain carbon atoms, and having a density higher than that of the first layer. The first and second layers are stacked adjoining each other. The first layer has a density increasing toward the second layer. |
| US08723414B2 |
Organic electroluminescence device, method of manufacturing organic electroluminescence device, display apparatus and illumination apparatus
An organic electroluminescence device, having a pair of electrodes, and an organic layer containing multiple light emitting layers provided between a pair of electrodes, wherein at least one of the multiple light emitting layers is formed by coating a liquid containing ingredients to constitute the layer in a state of solution or dispersion in an organic solvent through the use of a spraying method. |
| US08723413B2 |
Touch-sensing display apparatus and fabricating method thereof
A touch-sensing display apparatus and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The touch-sensing display apparatus includes a substrate, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display layer, and a touch structure. The OLED display layer is between the substrate and the touch structure apparatus and directly contacts with the touch structure. The touch structure includes a first water/oxygen barrier layer, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layer, a sensing circuit layer, and a second water/oxygen barrier layer. The first water/oxygen barrier layer is located on the OLED display layer. The EMI shielding layer is located on the first water/oxygen barrier layer. The sensing circuit layer is located on the EMI shielding layer. The second water/oxygen barrier layer is located on the sensing circuit layer. |
| US08723411B2 |
Photoluminescent sheet
A photoluminescent sheet is disclosed. A photoluminescent sheet that includes a matrix resin layer, which is a thermosetting resin; a phosphor, which is included in the matrix resin layer and which converts the wavelength of light emitted from a blue LED; a curing agent, which is included in the matrix resin layer and which cures liquid thermosetting resin; and an additive, which is included in the matrix resin layer and which disperses the phosphor uniformly within the matrix resin layer, can implement white light from light having wavelengths corresponding to blue color. |
| US08723410B2 |
Luminescent composition, electroluminescent sheet using the luminescent composition, and process for producing the electroluminescent sheet
The present invention provides a luminescent composition capable of providing an electroluminescent sheet with a high productivity at low costs in an efficient manner, an electroluminescent sheet obtained from the luminescent composition which can be mass-produced, and a process for producing the electroluminescent sheet. The present invention relates to a luminescent composition having a pressure sensitive adhesive property and produced by kneading and dispersing an electroluminescent substance in a resin having a glass transition temperature of from −70 to 5° C. |
| US08723404B2 |
Light-diffusing heat shrinkable tube and linear LED light
The present invention aims to provide a light-diffusing heat shrinkable tube which has light diffusibility that enables LED point light sources to give an impression of a surface light source such as a conventional fluorescent lamp. The tube is also capable of suppressing scattering of broken fragments of a transparent pipe that includes the light sources, in the case of an unexpected accident including falling of the pipe. The present invention also aims to provide a linear LED light including the light-diffusing heat shrinkable tube. The light-diffusing heat shrinkable tube including a polyester resin and a light diffusing agent, the polyester resin having an inherent viscosity of 0.8 to 1.4 dl/g, the tube comprising 0.1 to 2.5 wt % of the light diffusing agent, the tube having a thickness of 60 to 300 μm. |
| US08723401B2 |
Piezoelectric device with a package including a convex part
A piezoelectric device includes: a piezoelectric vibrating reed; and a package, wherein the piezoelectric vibrating reed has a vibrating part and first and second supporting arms extending from a base end part, the package has a base, a lid, a cavity defined by the base and the lid, a convex part projecting from the base or the lid into the cavity, a length of the first supporting arm is shorter than a length of the second supporting arm, and the convex part is provided in a range ahead of a leading end of the first vibrating arm in an extension direction of the first supporting arm and at least partially overlapping with the second supporting arm in a length direction of the piezoelectric vibrating reed so as not to overlap with the piezoelectric vibrating reed in a plan view. |
| US08723398B2 |
Piezoelectric energy harvesting apparatus
Disclosed is a piezoelectric energy harvesting apparatus. The piezoelectric energy harvesting apparatus includes: a piezoelectric energy harvesting array that includes a plurality of piezoelectric energy harvesting devices converting an external vibration into electric energy; a plurality of switches that is connected in series to the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices, respectively, and fits the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric energy harvesting array to the frequency of the external vibration by adjusting the resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices through the operation of the switches; and at least one or more rectifiers that convert alternating voltage outputted from the piezoelectric energy harvesting array into direct voltage. |
| US08723396B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device, electronic apparatus, and sensor apparatus
A SAW device has an IDT which is provided on the principal surface of a quartz crystal sustrate having Euler angles (−1.5°≦φ≦1.5°, 117°≦θ≦142°, ψ) and excites a SAW in a stopband upper end mode. Inter-electrode-finger grooves 8 are recessed between the electrode fingers of the IDT. When the Euler angle ψ is 42.79°≦|ψ|≦49.57°, the thickness H of the electrode fingers of the IDT is set to be within 0.055 μm≦H≦0.335 μm, preferably, 0.080 μm≦H≦0.335 μm. When the Euler angle ψ is |ψ|≠90°×n (where n=0, 1, 2, 3), and the thickness H of the electrode fingers is set to 0.05 μm≦H≦0.20 μm. |
| US08723391B2 |
Tuning fork vibrator with support arms extending obliquely from the base
A tuning fork vibrator includes a package having an internal space having a rectangle column shape; a tuning fork vibration piece including a base, two vibration arms extending in parallel form the base and a first arm and a second arm extending obliquely from the base so as to interpose the two vibration arms, the tuning fork vibration piece having a length from the base to a tip in an extended direction of the two vibration arms which is longer than each side of the bottom surface of the internal space, wherein the tuning fork vibration piece is placed in the internal space with the extended direction set along a diagonal direction of the internal space, and a tip part of the first arm and a tip part of the second arm of the tuning fork vibration piece are fixed to the bottom surface of the internal space. |
| US08723390B2 |
Flux compression generator
A flux compression generator (FCG) is provided for producing an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). The FCG includes an environmental case, a reactive load, a dielectric core, a superconducting stator, an electric energy source, a load switch, and a transition device. The reactive load transmits the EMP in response to an electric current pulse. The dielectric core has proximal and distal ends within the case, with the stator disposed coaxially around the core that provides structural support. The case contains the electrical energy source, the stator, the core and the transition device. The energy source connects to the stator at the proximal end and powers the transition device. The load switch connects the reactive load to the stator at the distal end. The energy source initially provides an electric current to the stator. The device upon activation heats at least a portion of the stator to reversibly transition the portion from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. The stator transfers the electric current as the pulse to the reactive load upon the portion's transition to the non-superconducting state. The stator can be a superconducting helical coil that wraps around the core connected to a superconducting conductor disposed coaxially within the core. Alternatively, the stator can be a stack of superconducting rings disposed coaxially along the core. The superconducting coil and rings can preferably be composed of a high temperature superconductive material on a metal substrate. |
| US08723386B2 |
Electrical machine, in particular an alternator
The invention relates to an electrical machine, especially an alternator (10) comprising a stator winding (11) with a total of seven phase conductors (P1 to P7) which are interconnected in series at the same electrical angle (a). The aim of the invention is to dampen magnet noise and to increase machine performance. For this purpose, at least every other electrically subsequent phase conductor (P) is skipped when the phase conductors (P1 to P7) are connected in series. |
| US08723385B2 |
Generator
A generator, such as for a gas turbine engine, includes an integrated auto transformer unit having secondary windings connected to a main windings. |
| US08723383B2 |
Interior rotor for a rotary electrical machine and method of assembling it
A buried-magnet internal rotor (1) for an electric rotating machine, the rotor including a shaft (2), a plurality of polar parts (30) made of a magnetic material surrounding the shaft, the polar parts delimiting housings (40) between them, a first lateral shroud (5) and a second lateral shroud (5′) axially on each side of the polar parts along the shaft (2), the shaft passing through each lateral shroud through a central opening in each lateral shroud, at least one tie-rod (6) per polar part, the tie-rod clamping each polar part between the lateral shrouds, permanent magnets (4) placed in the housings (40), wherein the shaft includes, for the first lateral flange (5), an internal shoulder (22) designed to form an axial abutment against which the first flange is held axially by an external ring (26) secured to the shaft. |
| US08723379B2 |
Geared generator for an electric vehicle
A geared generator for an electric vehicle has a body, a gearing device, a hub device and an electromotor. The body has two mounting boards, a battery and a commutator connected to the battery. The gearing device is connected to the body and has a primary tube, a minor tube, a gear-up segment, an output shaft, a mounting jacket, a stator mount and a motor stator. The gear-up segment is rotatably mounted between the gear disks and has three transmission shafts, three planet gear wheels and multiple bearings. The hub device is mounted around the tubes between the mounting boards and has two hub disks and a hub ring. The hub ring has a spacing disk and two side rings. The electromotor is connected to the gearing device and has a base, a coil stator, an eccentric flywheel, a fan and a protecting hood. |
| US08723378B2 |
Stator winding heat sink configuration
In one possible implementation, a motor is provided including a rotor and a stator. Front cooling fins are thermally coupled to a front of the stator, and rear cooling fins are thermally coupled to a rear portion of the stator. The winding is between the front and rear cooling fins. |
| US08723377B2 |
Linear vibrator having exposure hole or groove in the cover
A linear vibrator includes a fixed part providing an interior space having a predetermined size; at least one magnet disposed in the interior space and generating magnetic force; a vibration part including a coil facing the magnet and generating electromagnetic force through interaction with the magnet and a mass body; and a substrate having one end coupled to the vibration part to thereby serve as a free end, and the other end including a copper foil pattern portion coupled to the fixed part to thereby serve as a fixed end. The fixed part includes an exposure hole penetrating a top and bottom surface thereof or an exposure groove recessed from an outer end of the fixed part. The exposure hole or groove is formed on the protrusion portion. The copper foil pattern portion is coupled with a part of the protrusion portion defining the exposure hole or groove. |
| US08723372B2 |
System for inducing a high efficiency conductive state in materials
A method of inducing a high efficiency conductive state at room temperature within a conductive mass (1) by injecting a complex modulated carrier signal (7) into one or more injection points (2,3) whereby the carrier signal and the subharmonic modulation frequencies (4,5,6) which are imbedded in the modulation of the carrier signal are tuned to the mass lattice qualities of the material. The amplitude and phase relationship of each individual subharmonic frequencies (4,5,6) are respectively tuned to the mass lattice qualities of the conductive mass (1). This method of excitation, with precise matching of subharmonic modulation frequencies, and with a precise matching concordant harmonic of the carrier frequency, creates an observed ionic excitation throughout the conductive mass (1) at room temperature. Also disclosed are novel methods of injection into a conductive mass using multiple injection locations in a conductive mass with excitation fields including electrical current induction, electrostatic induction, magnetic induction, and photonic stimulation. This novel excitation of mass has a number of beneficial applications including induction of faster switching operation of silicon semiconductor devices at lower operating power levels, improving battery performance whereby loss of electrode resistance is observed within the battery, improving motor performance by loss elimination within the windings of the motor, and improving power transmission by eliminating losses in the conductors. |
| US08723371B2 |
Systems and methods for storing and/or transmitting electrical energy
According to some embodiments, systems and or methods may be provided to transport electrical energy from a first location having an electrical energy source to a second location, remote from the first location and having a load to accept electrical energy. A first pipeline between the first and second locations may include a first chamber containing a cathodic fluid. A second pipeline between the first and second locations may include a second chamber containing an anodic fluid, and at least of a portion of said first and second pipelines include a contiguous area. A membrane may separate the cathodic and anodic fluids at said contiguous area to exchange electrical energy between said fluids and create an electrochemical storage cell across said membrane. By utilizing additional alternating layers of said electrolyte, casing and membrane multiple cells may be created. |
| US08723363B2 |
Uninterrupted power supply apparatus
Disclosed is an uninterrupted power supply apparatus, comprising a rectifying unit outputs a positive half-cycle of voltage potential and a negative half-cycle of voltage potential; a backup battery outputs a backup voltage; a first boost unit receives the positive half-cycle of voltage potential or the backup voltage and outputs a first voltage; a second boost unit receives the negative half-cycle of voltage potential or the backup voltage and outputs a second voltage; a current shunt unit receives the first voltage and the second voltage and outputs an AC output voltage; a charge circuit, coupled to the rectifying unit, the backup battery, and the first and/or the second boost unit, for being capable of controlling the first and/or the second boost unit to either store a charging power or charge the backup battery by applying the stored charging power alternatively and successively. |
| US08723362B2 |
Direct tie-in of a backup power source to motherboards in a server system
The need for an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in a data center is obviated by tying a DC voltage from a backup power source directly to the motherboards of multiple servers in the data center. AC power received from a power utility service is converted into a lower voltage by a site transformer and then provided to one or more power distribution units at a site. The power distribution units supply power to a plurality of servers, which include power supplies that convert the AC electrical power to DC electrical power for use by the servers' motherboards. In the event of a failure of power from the utility service, the backup power source provides DC electrical power to the motherboards, e.g., for sufficient time to start up a generator to provide power in place of the utility service. |
| US08723360B2 |
Distributed electrical generation system
A distributed electrical generation system includes a plurality of turbines, generators, diode bridges, transformers and high voltage diodes. The system further includes a HVDC-cable and a high voltage inverter bridge. Each turbine drives a respective one of a plurality of electrical generators producing an alternating current. Each electrical generator is electrically connected to an associated diode bridge and each diode bridge rectifies the alternating current to a direct current. Each diode bridge is electrically connected to an associated transformer and each transformer steps up the direct current to a high voltage direct current. Each transformer is electrically connected in parallel to a high voltage direct current cable by associated high voltage diodes. The high voltage direct current cable is electrically connected to the high voltage inverter bridge. The high voltage inverter bridge converts the direct current to alternating current. |
| US08723358B2 |
Line interactive power quality system
A flywheel interface system for line interactive power correction comprises a flywheel system that includes a flywheel coupled to rotate with a motor/generator. A passive rectifier is coupled to the flywheel system for converting alternating current generated by the flywheel system to direct current. An active inverter is coupled to the passive rectifier for converting the direct current from the passive rectifier to alternating current and to output the alternating current to the load. A motor drive is coupled to the motor/generator of the flywheel system for driving the motor/generator to rotate the flywheel, the motor drive including a second passive rectifier coupled to a second active inverter. |
| US08723353B1 |
Wave energy converter design incorporating an induction generator
Wave energy converters incorporating the components of an induction generator that are integrated with the components of a pneumatic spring are provided. The wave energy converters have a buoy having an interior guide, motion of the buoy representing a first degree of freedom and a spar mounted within the interior guide so as to be movable therein, motion of the spar representing a second degree of freedom. There is a pneumatic spring between the spar and the buoy to provide restoring forces when the spar departs from a quiescent position relative to the buoy. There is damping element in the form of an induction generator having an armature and a stator, with one of the stator and armature fixed to the spar and the other of the stator and armature fixed to the buoy to generate power when the spar moves relative to the buoy in the presence of excitation by ocean gravity waves. The mass of the wave energy converter and dimensions of the buoy are such that in use, the buoy floats in a partially submerged position. |
| US08723350B2 |
Ocean wave energy converter and method of power generation
A device comprising a float (5) and a pivoting assembly of a rigid beam (10) and an elastic beam (30), firmly connected to each other, pivoting about a stationary point (15). The device transforms the rise and falls of the ocean waves into usable mechanical energy. In one embodiment, the elastic beam is latched into a latch mechanism (150). The latch mechanism obstructs the elastic beam to continue moving. The elastic beam deflects and accumulates potential power. When the elastic beam is released, it moves with a high speed and momentum. In another embodiment this momentum is utilized to counter-rotate an electric generator's two rotors (251, 252).A method of transforming the energy of a mass in reciprocating motion to electrical power. |
| US08723342B2 |
Wearable generator device
A wearable generator system in one embodiment includes a plurality of coils, each of the plurality of coils extending within a respective one of a plurality of planes, a magnet for generating a magnetic field, and a support attached to a support anchor point and to the magnet, and suspending the magnet at a position whereat the magnet is not frictionally engaged with a fixed surface, the support having a length selected such that the magnetic field is movable across each of the plurality of coils. |
| US08723340B2 |
Process for the production of solar cells comprising a selective emitter
The present invention relates to a process for the production of solar cells comprising a selective emitter using an improved etching-paste composition which has significantly improved selectivity for silicon layers. |
| US08723339B2 |
Semiconductor device with front and back side resin layers having different thermal expansion coefficient and elasticity modulus
Disclosed are a semiconductor device wherein warping of a semiconductor chip due to a sudden temperature change can be prevented without increasing the thickness, and a semiconductor device assembly. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip, a front side resin layer formed on the front surface of the semiconductor chip by using a first resin material, and a back side resin layer formed on the back surface of the semiconductor chip by using a second resin material having a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the first resin material. The back side resin layer is formed thinner than the front side resin layer. |
| US08723338B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with array contacts and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an array of leads having a jumper lead and a covered contact; coupling an insulated bonding wire between the jumper lead and the covered contact; attaching an integrated circuit die over the covered contact; and coupling a bond wire between the integrated circuit die and the jumper lead including coupling the integrated circuit die to the covered contact through the insulated bonding wire. |
| US08723337B2 |
Structure for high-speed signal integrity in semiconductor package with single-metal-layer substrate
A semiconductor chip (101) with bond pads (110) on a substrate (103) with rows and columns of regularly pitched metal contact pads (131). A zone comprises a first pair (131a, 131b) and a parallel second pair (131c, 131d) of contact pads, and a single contact pad (131e) for ground potential; staggered pairs of stitch pads (133) connected to respective pairs of adjacent contact pads by parallel and equal-length traces (132a, 132b, etc.). Parallel and equal-length bonding wires (120a, 120b, etc.) connect bond pad pairs to stitch pad pairs, forming differential pairs of parallel and equal-length conductor lines. Two differential pairs in parallel and symmetrical position form a transmitter/receiver cell for conducting high-frequency signals. |
| US08723329B1 |
In-package fly-by signaling
In-package fly-by signaling can be provided in a multi-chip microelectronic package having address lines on a package substrate configured to carry address information to a first connection region on the substrate having a first delay from terminals of the package, and the address lines being configured to carry the address information beyond the first connection region to at least to a second connection region having a second delay from the terminals that is greater than the first delay. Address inputs of a first microelectronic element, e.g., semiconductor chip, can be coupled with each of the address lines at the first connection region, and address inputs of a second microelectronic element can be coupled with each of the address lines at the second connection region. |
| US08723325B2 |
Structure and method of forming a pad structure having enhanced reliability
A semiconductor substrate is provided having a first metal layer formed over a first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed having a first damascene opening, the first opening having a second insulating layer portion formed therein. A resist layer is deposited to fill the first opening and the resist layer is thereafter patterned to form an etching mask for etching a second damascene opening. The second opening is etched into a portion of the second insulating layer, the second opening exposing a portion of the first metal layer. A second metal layer is formed to include filling the first and second damascene openings embedding the second insulating layer portion in the second metal layer. The second metal layer is planarized and a passivation layer is formed above the second insulating layer and the second metal layer, wherein the passivation layer partially covers the second metal layer. |
| US08723324B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with pad connection and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a lead having a lead bottom side and a lead top side; applying a passivation over the lead with the lead top side exposed from the passivation; forming an interconnect structure directly on the passivation and the lead top side, the interconnect structure having an inner pad and an outer pad with a recess above the lead top side; mounting an integrated circuit over the inner pad and the passivation; and molding an encapsulation over the integrated circuit. |
| US08723322B2 |
Method of metal sputtering for integrated circuit metal routing
A method of metal sputtering, comprising the following steps. A wafer holder and inner walls of a chamber are coated with a seasoning layer comprised of: a) a material etchable in a metal barrier layer etch process; or b) an insulating or non-conductive material. A wafer having two or more wafer conductive structures is placed upon the seasoning layer coated wafer holder. The wafer is cleaned wherein a portion of the seasoning layer is re-deposited upon the wafer over and between adjacent wafer conductive structures. A metal barrier layer is formed over the wafer. The wafer is removed from the chamber and at least two adjacent upper metal structures are formed over at least one portion of the metal barrier layer. The portions of the metal barrier layer not under the at least two adjacent upper metal structures are etched and removed from over the wafer exposing portions of the re-deposited seasoning layer portions using the metal barrier layer etch process which also removes any exposed portions of the re-deposited seasoning layer portions that are comprised of a material etchable in the metal barrier layer etch process. |
| US08723321B2 |
Copper interconnects with improved electromigration lifetime
The peeling stress between a Cu line and a capping layer thereon, after via patterning, is reduced by varying the shape of the via and positioning the via to increase the space between the via and the line edge, thereby increasing electromigration lifetime. Embodiments include varying the shape of the via, as by forming an oval or rectangular shape via, such that the ratio of the minor axis of the oval to the line with or the ratio of the width of the rectangle to the line width is less than about 0.7. |
| US08723319B2 |
BGA package structure and method for fabricating the same
A BGA package structure and a method for fabricating the same, wherein the BGA package structure comprises: a substrate having a first surface used to carry a chip and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the substrate is divided into several regions according to different distances from a central point of the substrate; a plurality of contact bonding pads on the second surface electrically connected with the chip; and a plurality of bumps respectively attached to each of the contact bonding pads, wherein the contact bonding pads and bumps in a region which is closest to the central point are the smallest, while the contact bonding pads and bumps in a region which is farthest to the central point are the biggest. Therefore the situation that the bumps at the edge are liable to peel off may improved. |
| US08723318B2 |
Microelectronic packages with dual or multiple-etched flip-chip connectors
A packaged microelectronic element includes a microelectronic element having a front surface and a plurality of first solid metal posts extending away from the front surface. A substrate has a major surface and a plurality of conductive elements exposed at the major surface and joined to the first solid metal posts. In particular examples, the conductive elements can be bond pads or can be second posts having top surfaces and edge surfaces extending at substantial angles away therefrom. Each first solid metal post includes a base region adjacent the microelectronic element and a tip region remote from the microelectronic element, the base region and tip region having respective concave circumferential surfaces. Each first solid metal post has a horizontal dimension which is a first function of vertical location in the base region and which is a second function of vertical location in the tip region. |
| US08723315B2 |
Flip chip package
A flip chip package may include a substrate, a semiconductor chip, main bump structures and auxiliary bump structures. The substrate has a circuit pattern. The semiconductor chip is arranged over the substrate. The semiconductor chip includes a body having semiconductor structures, main pads electrically connected to the semiconductor structures to mainly control the semiconductor structures, and auxiliary pads electrically connected to the semiconductor structures to provide auxiliary control of the semiconductor structures. The main bump structures are interposed between the semiconductor chip and the substrate to electrically connect the circuit pattern with the main pads. The auxiliary bump structures can be interposed between the semiconductor chip and the substrate to electrically connect the circuit pattern with the auxiliary pads. |
| US08723314B2 |
Semiconductor workpiece with backside metallization and methods of dicing the same
Various semiconductor workpieces and methods of dicing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a channel in a metallization structure on a backside of a semiconductor workpiece. The semiconductor workpiece includes a substrate. The channel is in substantial alignment with a dicing street on a front side of the semiconductor chip. |
| US08723311B2 |
Half-bridge electronic device with common heat sink on mounting surface
A device includes a first switch and a second switch, each switch being integrated on a chip having a back surface and an opposite front surface. Each chip includes a first conduction terminal and a control terminal on the front surface, while a second conduction terminal of the switch is located on the back surface. The first switch and the second switch are connected in a half-bridge configuration with the first switch's second conduction terminal electrically connected to the second switch's first conduction terminal. The chips are installed in a common package comprising an insulating body with an embedded heat sink. The chips of the switches are mounted on the heat sink such that the second conduction terminal of the first switch and the first conduction terminal of the second switch are in contact with the heat sink, with the heat sink providing the electrical connection between the two switches. |