| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08738166B2 |
Method for manufacturing three-dimensional shaped object and three-dimensional shaped object obtained by the same
There is provided a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object. The method of the present invention comprises the repeated steps of: (i) forming a solidified layer by irradiating a predetermined portion of a powder layer on a base plate with a light beam, thereby allowing a sintering of the powder in the predetermined portion or a melting and subsequent solidification thereof; and (ii) forming another solidified layer by newly forming a powder layer on the resulting solidified layer, followed by the irradiation of a predetermined portion of the powder layer with the light beam; wherein the solidified layers are formed such that they have a high-density portion whose solidified density is 95 to 100% and a low-density portion whose solidified density is 0 to 95% (excluding 95%); and wherein the high-density portion is a portion of the three-dimensional shaped object, to which the force is applied when the three-dimensional shaped object is used. |
| US08738160B2 |
Apparatus and method for plant metabolism manipulation using spectral output
A method and apparatus for metabolism manipulation of life forms using spectral output which comprises at least one array of LED light sources which have metabolic manipulating spectral emissions. The array sends one or more environmental signals selected from the group consisting of day/night cycles, seasonal cycles, competitive signals and harsh condition preparedness. A remotely programmable microcontroller is operatively connected to the at least one array for controlling the spectral emissions in a desired manner. The microcontroller selectively sending on commands, off commands and intensity commands to the at least one array. The method and apparatus include software for driving the microcontroller and the software is stored in a memory. A power source is operatively connected to the at least one array of LED light sources, and a graphic user interface facilitates inputting information, by an operator. |
| US08738157B2 |
Controller network and method of controlling a controller network
A method of controlling a controller network is provided, the controller network comprising a plurality of devices, a controller for outputting control data to the devices, and a plurality of interface modules, each interface module being arranged to connect a respective device to the controller via the network. The method comprises: outputting, from the controller, a control message addressed to a first device, the control message corresponding to an action to be performed by the first device; receiving, at a first interface module connecting the first device to the network, the control message; storing the control message in a memory of the first interface module; broadcasting, from the controller, a trigger message addressed to at least the first device; receiving, at the first interface module, the trigger message; and passing, in response to the trigger message, the control message to the first device such that the action corresponding to the control message is performed. A corresponding controller network is also provided. |
| US08738152B2 |
Lead assembly including a polymer interconnect and methods related thereto
A lead assembly includes a ring component having mechanical coupling features, and at least one polymer component mechanically coupled with the mechanical coupling features of the ring component. Elongate tubing is disposed over the polymer component and is secured with the polymer component. |
| US08738151B2 |
Body portal anchors and systems
Anchors for securing a therapy device such as a therapy catheter relative to a burr hole, and systems and methods for using the same. Anchors in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include a connector for securing the therapy catheter to a delivery catheter, wherein the connector is independently and removably attachable to the anchor. The connector may secure the therapy catheter relative to the burr hole and isolate forces that may otherwise tend to disrupt the placement of the therapy catheter. |
| US08738150B2 |
Lead including conductors configured for reduced MRI-induced currents
An implantable medical device lead includes an inner conductor coil comprising one or more generally cylindrically wound filars. The inner conductor coil is configured to have a first inductance value greater than or equal to 0.2 μH/inch when the inner conductor coil is subjected to a range of radio frequencies. The implantable medical device lead also includes a multi-filar outer coil comprising two or more generally cylindrically wound filars. The multi-filar outer coil is configured to have a second inductance value greater than or equal to 0.1 μH/inch when the multi-filar outer coil is subjected to the range of radio frequencies. |
| US08738148B2 |
Alignment indication for transcutaneous energy transfer
System for transcutaneous energy transfer. An implantable medical device, adapted to be implanted in a patient, has componentry for providing a therapeutic output. The implantable medical device has an internal power source and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the internal power source. An external power source, having a primary coil, provides energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device and thereby generates a current in the internal power source. An alignment indicator reports the alignment as a function of the current generated in the internal power source with a predetermined value associated with an expected alignment between the primary coil and secondary coil. |
| US08738147B2 |
Wireless tissue electrostimulation
A wireless electrostimulation system can comprise a wireless energy transmission source, and an implantable cardiovascular wireless electrostimulation node. A receiver circuit comprising an inductive antenna can be configured to capture magnetic energy to generate a tissue electrostimulation. A tissue electrostimulation circuit, coupled to the receiver circuit, can be configured to deliver energy captured by the receiver circuit as a tissue electrostimulation waveform. Delivery of tissue electrostimulation can be initiated by a therapy control unit. |
| US08738143B2 |
Medical device for isometric stimulation to improve blood flow
The present invention provides a method and device for reduction of or treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the method comprising causing isometric stimulation of the leg muscles to promote blood flow. Other embodiments provide treatment for other circulatory disorders of the lower limbs and/or the systemic circulation. |
| US08738140B2 |
Stimulation of the amygdalohippocampal complex to treat neurological conditions
A system and/or method treating for a neurological disorder by brain region stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to provide stimulation. The probe has a stimulation portion implanted in communication with a predetermined brain region site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be implanted in contact with a predetermined brain region. |
| US08738139B2 |
Wireless system for epilepsy monitoring and measurement
A wireless system for brain monitoring/mapping of neurological-disorder patients includes a plurality of electrodes each configured for surface abutment of brain tissue and main circuitry for placement outside a body of a patient and configured to transmit power at radio frequencies and send and receive data using infrared energy. Remote circuitry is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a head of the patient. The remote circuitry is connected to the plurality of electrodes and includes a multiplexer sampling signals from the plurality of electrodes. The multiplexer outputs electrode signals to an amplifier and A/D converter for transmission to the main circuitry. The remote circuitry is configured to (a) receive transmitted power at radio frequencies from the main circuitry, (b) capture and digitize full-bandwidth EEG signals from each of the electrodes, and (c) send data to and receive data from the main circuitry using infrared energy. |
| US08738133B2 |
Rate adaptive cardiac pacing systems and methods
The invention relates to cardiac rhythm management systems, and more particularly, to rate adaptive cardiac pacing systems and methods. In an embodiment, the invention includes a cardiac rhythm management device. The device can include a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses to be delivered to a heart at a pacing rate, a processor in communication with the pulse generator, and one or more sensors for sensing pulmonary function and cardiac function. The processor can be configured to increase the pacing rate if the pulmonary function is increasing with time and the cardiac function is not decreasing with time, maintain the pacing rate if the pulmonary function is increasing with time and the cardiac function is decreasing with time, and decrease the pacing rate if the respiratory function is decreasing with time. |
| US08738124B2 |
Electrical bioimpedance analysis as a biomarker of breast density and/or breast cancer risk
Methods and systems are provided for the noninvasive measurement of the subepithelial impedance of the breast and for assessing the risk that a substantially asymptomatic female patient will develop or be at substantially increased risk of developing proliferative or pre-cancerous changes in the breast, or may be at subsequent risk for the development of pre-cancerous or cancerous changes. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure subepithelial impedance of parenchymal breast tissue of a patient at one or more locations and at least one frequency, particularly moderately high frequencies. The risk of developing breast cancer is assessed according to measured and expected or estimated values of subepithelial impedance for the patient and according to one or more experienced-based algorithms. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided. |
| US08738121B2 |
Method and apparatus for distinguishing epileptic seizure and neurocardiogenic syncope
A system and method for distinguishing an epileptic event from a syncope event that includes sensing a signal, generating sensed intervals in response to the sensed signal, generating an indication signal in response to an occurrence of an event, determining a marginality in response to the generated indication signal and the sensed intervals, and determining the event as being one of the epileptic event and the syncope event in response to the determined marginality. |
| US08738116B2 |
Method and apparatus for periodontal diagnosis
A technique for obtaining information regarding a state of periodontal tissue involves deriving a substantially whole curve measure of similarity of an observed bandshape of an isolated spectral component attributed to water within the infrared region. Subtle variations in the bandshape of the water bands have been found to correlate with inflammatory periodontal diseases and using whole curve measures such as weighted integrals or measure of fit parameters these variations can be detected and used to classify periodontal tissues. |
| US08738106B2 |
Device, system and method for in vivo analysis
A device for in vivo analysis includes: a reaction chamber to store a detecting reagent able to react with a sample collected in vivo; and optionally a labeled-substance chamber to store a labeled substance able to bind to at least a portion of a compound resulting from a reaction of the detecting reagent and the sample. The in-vivo imaging device, typically an autonomous capsule, may have a housing, the housing comprising a window; an illumination source located within the housing to illuminate a body lumen through the window; an imager to receive light reflected from the body lumen through the window; and a transmitter to transmit image data to a receiving system. The window is coated with liposomes containing a marker such that the imager may acquire images which include the marking. |
| US08738105B2 |
Systems and methods for superconducting integrated circuts
A superconducting integrated circuit may include a magnetic flux transformer having an inner inductive coupling element and an outer inductive coupling element that surrounds the inner inductive coupling element along at least a portion of a length thereof. The magnetic flux transformer may have a coaxial-like geometry such that a mutual inductance between the first inductive coupling element and the second inductive coupling element is sub-linearly proportional to a distance that separates the first inner inductive coupling element from the first outer inductive coupling element. At least one of the first inductive coupling element and the second inductive coupling element may be coupled to a superconducting programmable device, such as a superconducting qubit. |
| US08738102B2 |
Sliding type portable terminal
A sliding type portable terminal includes a first housing and a second housing slidably engaged face-to-face with the first housing. The portable terminal includes a guide member mounted in a first closed area provided on one surface of the first housing and always covered up by the second housing, and a slide member mounted on one surface of the second housing and sliding over the first housing by being guided by the guide member. A wiring passageway for wiring a flexible printed circuit board is formed in the slide member. The flexible printed circuit board is wired through a slit for coupling the guide member to the slide member without providing a slide cover for opening/closing the wiring passageway or forming a separate wiring passageway, thereby preventing the flexible printed circuit board from being exposed to the outside and ensuring elegant appearance of the terminal. |
| US08738101B1 |
Smartphone-tablet hybrid device
The present invention discloses a multi-state detachable smartphone-tablet hybrid mobile device comprising a number of display parts connected to each other. By opening one or some of the displays, more screen space becomes available, and the smartphone is therefore converted and expanded to the tablet device. With folding the displays back, the device becomes a smartphone again. The display parts connected with the special design hinge mechanism enabling opening of up to 360 degrees due to the special hinge mechanism. The invention further includes a detachable display parts feature, transforming the device to a number of single-display smartphone devices.The device may further comprise a number of photovoltaic cells covering sufficient portion of each display part. Such a large number of photovoltaic cells will aim to produce enough energy to make it a completely self-charging device. |
| US08738100B2 |
Battery cover assembly for portable electronic device
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device includes a housing and a battery cover. The housing defines latching holes and a notch. The notch defines a resisting wall. The battery cover includes clasps and a resisting sheet. The resisting sheet includes a resisting portion which has a hooked portion formed thereon and towards the resisting wall. The clasps are latched in the latching holes. The resisting portion is latched in the notch, and the hooked portion resists against the resisting wall. |
| US08738097B2 |
Waterproofing method and structure for mobile phone
A structure and a method for waterproofing a mobile phone are disclosed, to prevent entry of water through a recharging connector of the mobile phone such that an internal circuit in a main body is not damaged by water. The waterproofing method includes a housing molding process wherein a housing is insert-molded to have a contact terminal and a ground terminal, a groove for connection with a sealing member, and a mounting hole for mounting to a PCB, a sealing member assembling process wherein the housing, a shell, and the sealing member are assembled into an assembly, a connector assembling process wherein the assembly is mounted to the PCB so that the terminals of the housing contact a connection terminal of a PCB connector, and a casing assembling process wherein upper and lower casings are connected to the sealing member. |
| US08738092B2 |
Scrollable computing device display
The display of a scrollable list of items is described. In one disclosed embodiment, a list of items may be displayed on a scrollable computing device display in such a manner that, upon receiving an input requesting movement of a select indicator to a different list item, the select indicator is moved on the display toward the different list item and the list is scrolled on the display in an opposing direction. |
| US08738087B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing restrictions on communications of a wireless communication device
Techniques in a wireless device for use in providing restrictions on communications via a cellular network are described. The device receives, from a private network which is external to the cellular network, an IT policy associated with an organization of the private network. The IT policy includes communication restriction information. The device also receives, over a wireless link of the cellular network, data messages via the private network. The device determines whether a communication from the device is restricted by comparing a user selected code of a communication attempt from the device with one or more codes of the communication restriction information. When the communication is determined to be restricted based on the comparing, the device disallows the communication via the cellular network. When the communication is determined to be unrestricted based on the comparing, the device allows the communication via the cellular network. |
| US08738085B2 |
Method and system for communicating feedback information in a multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) communication system
A method and system for communicating feedback information in a multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) communication system are presented. In one aspect of the method and system, a beamformer station may communicate a feedback information request to a plurality of beamformee stations. The feedback information request may request feedback data for a plurality of RF channel bands. The RF channel bands may form a multichannel. The beamformer may subsequently transmit a plurality of signals utilizing the RF channel bands within the multichannel. Each of the beamformees may receive the plurality of subsequently transmitted signals. A beamformee may generate the requested feedback data for each RF channel band within the multichannel. The beamformee may generate a beamforming report, which comprises the feedback data, which is generated across the plurality of RF channel bands in the multichannel. The beamformee may transmit the beamforming report to the beamformer. |
| US08738080B2 |
Docking station for android cellphone
A system, method, and computer program product for a smartphone docking station in digital camera and camcorder form factors. The docking station provides an attached smartphone a better lens, image sensor, and image stabilization system for capturing pictures and videos, as well as a more familiar and steady user gripping and aiming platform for such photography. Imagery and audio from the smartphone and docking station may be combined into three-dimensional stereo media. The docking station also provides additional battery, data processing, and buffer capacities for the smartphone, as well as an external connector for accessories such as lights and microphones. The smartphone may provide GPS and other data, and network connectivity that allows data that it and/or the docking station captures to be easily transferred to/from to the internet. The smartphone may be used as a display, and may be based on the Android™ operating system or other operating systems. |
| US08738079B1 |
Handheld scanning device
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a scanning device for use with a mobile device are described herein. The scanning device may include an image capture module to capture surface images of a medium to be scanned and a positioning module to determine positioning information based at least in part on navigational images and the captured surface images. A mobile device may include one or more features of the scanning device including the image capture module and the positioning module. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08738078B2 |
Certified 4G modem dock for M2M applications
A wireless network modem dock having a case that houses circuitry and a power connector, a data interface, and a user identification reader all connected to the circuitry. In addition, an antenna connector is attached to the case and connected to the circuitry. The circuitry is capable of sending and receiving M2M data through the antenna connector to a wireless network. Further, the case, the circuit, the power connector, the data interface, the user identification reader, and the antenna connector are certified with the wireless network prior to sending or receiving the M2M data. |
| US08738076B1 |
Providing compliance enforcement for manually dialed wireless numbers in a contact center
Systems and methods are disclosed for originating a call to a wireless number by a contact center while enforcing various compliance requirements. In one embodiment, a compliance server and a PBX cooperate to originate the call to the wireless number. The agent logs into the compliance server and the compliance server provides the agent with a wireless number to dial. The agent manually enters the wireless number using a phone connected to the PBX. The PBX queries the compliance server regarding establishing the wireless call. Upon authorization, the PBX establishes a first call leg to the compliance server, and a second call leg to the called party that is joined with the call leg to the agent's phone. Upon completion of the call, the agent dispositions the call to the compliance server, which then releases the first call leg. In response, the PBX then releases the second call leg. |
| US08738075B2 |
Methods and apparatus for radio resource control
Improved systems and techniques for controlling access to network resources. A base station broadcasts extended access barring (EAB) and access class barring (ACB) information. Upon a determination by a user equipment that the user equipment requires service from the base station, the user equipment determines its EAB category and call type. The user equipment receives the EAB and ACB information broadcast by the base station and determines if it is subject to EAB based on its EAB category. If the user equipment is not subject to EAB, the user equipment determines if its call type is subject to ACB and, if the call type is subject to ACB, applies access class barring based on its call type. |
| US08738070B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless base station, wireless communication method, and program
Each of a plurality of wireless base stations includes: a storage unit that stores flag that indicates whether or not its own station is master base station; a determination unit that determines a wireless parameter set that is set in channels used for transmission of MBMS data; a notification unit that, when its own station is master base station, reports the wireless parameter set determined in the determination unit to other wireless base stations; an acquisition unit that, when its own station is not master base station, acquires a wireless parameter set reported from master base station; and a setting unit that, when its own station is master base station, sets the wireless parameter set determined in the determination unit in the channels; and when its own station is not master base station, sets the wireless parameter set acquired in the acquisition unit to the channels. |
| US08738069B2 |
Mobile communication device, communication system, communication control method and communication control program
Provided is a communication device which transmits a signal by setting appropriate transmission power under the situation that the communication device moves.The mobile communication device includes transmitting and receiving means for receiving a first signal transmitted from other mobile communication device; control means for holding first circumference information including transmission power setting information of the first signal, time information including receiving time when the transmitting and receiving means receives the first signal, and receiving power information of the first signal in the transmitting and receiving means, and deleting the first circumference information in a case where a predetermined period has passed from the receiving time; and transmission power control means for generating transmission power setting information of a second signal and outputting to the transmitting and receiving means, and providing a predetermined value to the transmission power setting information of the second signal in a case where the first circumference information is deleted. |
| US08738066B2 |
Wireless transceiver with amplifier bias adjusted based on modulation scheme and transmit power feedback
An electronic device may contain a transceiver that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals through antenna structures. Power amplifier circuitry may amplify the radio-frequency signals that are being transmitted. An adjustable voltage supply may supply an adjustable power amplifier bias voltage to the power amplifier circuitry. The power amplifier circuitry may include multiple power amplifiers each of which may handle signals transmitted using a different cellular telephone standard. For each cellular telephone standard, multiple modulation schemes may be supported. A power detector may provide real time measurements of output power. Control circuitry can adjust the transceiver circuitry based on the measurements of output power and can adjust the adjustable power amplifier bias voltage in real time to select an optimum power amplifier bias voltage based on the current cellular telephone standard, modulation scheme, power amplifier gain state, and operating frequency in use. |
| US08738065B2 |
Radio communication system, large cell base station, and communication control method
The large cell base station 100 calculates the small cell base station interference amount ratio which is a ratio of the RSRP (small cell base station to large cell terminal) being the amount of interference which is received from the small cell base station 300, to I (large cell terminal) regarded as the total amount of interference which is received by the radio terminal 200 being connected to the large cell base station 100. Furthermore, when the small cell base station interference amount ratio is equal to or large than the threshold α, the large cell base station 100 then sets the transmission power adjustment coefficient so that the SINR in the radio terminal 200 would be equal to or larger than β [dB] being a predetermined decibel value, and transmits the set transmission power adjustment coefficient to the small cell base station 300. |
| US08738056B2 |
Signal acquisition in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described that generate pilots for signal acquisition in a wireless communication system based on time domain sequences. The pilots may be generated by a base station and transmitted in a pilot field to one or more access terminals to aid in signal acquisition at each of the access terminals. One of the pilots may be common to all access points in the wireless communication system, thereby allowing an access terminal to obtain a timing estimate for the system while minimizing the effects of interference variations between base stations. Further, one or more generated pilots may be unique to each access point in order to allow each respective access point to be identified by its generated pilots. |
| US08738055B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing neighbor BS list in distributed wireless ad hoc network
An apparatus and a method manage a neighbor base station list (NBL) in a distributed wireless ad-hoc network. Information of neighbor BSs is collected at the BS using a surrounding environment detection function. Neighbor BSs that satisfy a certain condition are determined, among the neighbor BSs from which the information is collected. And the NBL is generated based on the determined neighbor BSs. |
| US08738054B2 |
Efficient frame tracking in mobile receivers
A method for determining the validity of a most significant path in a wireless communication system wherein data is transmitted in frame units in a multipath environment begins by accumulating a correlated data sequence N times, each time at a frame offset apart from the previous time. A preliminary noise estimate (PNE) is calculated as an average of the accumulated data values. A preliminary noise threshold (PNT) is calculated according to the equation C1×PNE. A final noise estimate (FNE) is calculated as the average of accumulated data values below the PNT. A final noise threshold (FNT) is calculated according to the equation C2×FNE. The validity of the most significant path is determined if the most significant path value is greater than the FNT. |
| US08738045B2 |
System and/or method for inverting call origination
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for transmitting messages between a mobile station and a base station in a wireless communication network. In one example, a mobile station is adapted to selectively transmit an origination message in response to receipt of a page message from a base station attempting to initiate a mobile-terminated call. The origination message may initiate a mobile-originated call or session enabling a bi-directional exchange of messages in a single call. |
| US08738041B2 |
Nodes and methods for enhancing positioning
The disclosure relates to a positioning node 54, a CN node 53, a RN node 52, and a UE 51 of a wireless network, and to a related method of supporting UE positioning. The method comprises transmitting UE radio access capability information (S30) and/or radio network node capability information (S10) to the positioning node 54. The transmission of UE radio access capability information is either unsolicited or triggered by a request (S20). The UE radio access capability information may be transmitted from the CN node (S31), from the RN node (S32) or from the UE (S33), and the RN node capability information is received from the RN node itself (S10). The positioning node 54 supports positioning of the UE 51 based on the received UE radio access capability information and/or the radio network node capability information. |
| US08738029B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for role- and locale-based mobile user device feature control
Methods, systems, and computer program products for role- and locale-based mobile user device feature control are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for controlling at least one feature of a mobile user device based on a locale and a role of a user of the mobile user device is disclosed. The method includes storing, in a database, role information defining a plurality of different roles assigned to different user types and corresponding locale-based mobile user device feature control policies. In response to a mobile user device being within the locale, a role of the mobile user device is determined. A policy corresponding to the role is selected from a database. At least one feature of the mobile user device is controlled based on the locale-based feature control policy. |
| US08738026B2 |
Wireless transmission system, device and method
A wireless transmission system includes several candidate devices, a wireless transmission interface and a wireless transmission device. The wireless transmission device includes a storage unit, a transmission direction information generating unit and a processing unit. The processing unit receives the device information of each of the candidate devices from each of the candidate devices respectively through the wireless transmission interface. The processing unit calculates transmission direction range according to the transmission direction information, which is generated through the transmission direction information generating unit. The processing unit selects at least one of the candidate devices, which matches the transmission direction range. Wherein, the selected at least one candidate device is taken as at least one transmission target device. The processing unit transmits the information to be transmitted, which is stored in the storage unit, to the transmission target device through the wireless transmission interface. |
| US08738023B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic determination of optimal user device location in a wireless network
Techniques are disclosed for automatic generation of a location-indicative instruction displayable to one or more users in a communication system which includes a wireless network comprising a plurality of user devices adapted for communication with at least one access point device. A test of a communication link between at least one of the user devices and the access point device is initiated. Based at least in part on a result of the test, an instruction displayable to a user associated with a given one of the user devices is generated, the instruction being indicative of a location at which the given user device is expected to obtain a particular level of data throughput performance. |
| US08738017B2 |
Radio resource management in a radio telecommunication network
A telecommunication network comprises multiple radio cells (13-15) and a data base (12) which is linked to a multiple number of cells and which comprises information relative to the radio resources of each radio cell of the multiple numbers of cells. The data base is managed by a data base management entity (16). Via the first cell, a requesting message (21) is broadcast to the data base management entity requesting information concerning the radio resources of at least a second cell of the multiple numbers of cells. Then, a response message (22) is received from the data base management entity with the requested information. Finally, radio resources are requested from the second cell on the basis of the information received. |
| US08738016B2 |
Scheduling method, wireless base station, and wireless terminal
A wireless base station for performing wireless communication with a wireless terminal using a frequency bandwidth different from another adjacent wireless base station in a first time period and performing wireless communication with a wireless terminal using a frequency bandwidth shared with another adjacent wireless base station in a second time period and including a control unit that does not change a burst profile to be applied to an uplink transmission or assigns a burst profile corresponding to a wireless transmission rate equal to or less than a wireless transmission rate corresponding to an applied burst profile with respect to a wireless terminal used for wireless communication in the first time period. |
| US08738010B2 |
Cooperating receiver selection for UMTS wireless location
For Wireless Communications Networks (WCNs) that support soft handover, cooperator receiver selection for a TDOA, AOA, TDOA/AOA, or hybrid network-based or network-overlay Wireless Location System (WLS) must contend with one or more network base stations as a serving cell. When the active set contains more than one member, two techniques for determining a set of cooperating and demodulating receivers to use in the signal collection for location estimation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the active set members are constructively reduced to a single member that is used as a proxy serving cell. In another embodiment, the information contained in the active set membership is retained and a new set of demodulating and cooperator receivers are generated based on the entire membership of the active set. |
| US08738007B2 |
Method of admission control for hybrid femtocell
Provided is a method of admission control for a hybrid femtocell in a wireless communication system, in which the method is applied to a wireless communication system including a hybrid femto base station and a core network performing admission control of a mobile station terminal in a femtocell of the hybrid femto base station. The method of admission control for a hybrid femtocell performed by a core network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes determining whether a mobile station terminal has membership; determining whether speed information of the mobile station terminal exists; and assigning a probability value to the mobile station terminal depending on the membership and the speed information of the mobile station terminal. |
| US08738005B2 |
Management of mobile device communication sessions to reduce user distraction
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions. |
| US08738004B2 |
Method and apparatus for excluding non-mobility data from mobility key performance indicators
Handover (HO) statistics and handover issue events which are due to non-mobility causes are not included in the statistics fed into mobility robustness optimization (MRO). The non-mobility causes may include, e.g., load balancing, retracting users to prepare for cell maintenance or restart/reconfiguration and cell outage including compensation means. Radio link failure (RLF), handover failure (HOF), and handover oscillations (HOosc) that are due to non-mobility cause are excluded from the statistics upon which mobility robustness optimization is based. Non-mobility causes are also differentiated from mobility causes when reporting key performance indicators to an operator. |
| US08737992B1 |
Method and apparatus for signal scanning for multimode receiver
In a signal processing method, an input signal is provided at an input to a receiver. A bandwidth of the receiver is controlled to a predetermined wideband setting. For band in a plurality of frequency bands, the input signal is processed at the receiver with a mixer, an amplifier, and a filter, to generate a first processed signal, and a power spectral density of the processed signal is generated over that frequency band, to provide a frequency domain signal for that frequency band. Based on the frequency domain signals corresponding to each frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, a frequency domain representation of the processed signal is reconstructed over a reconstruction band having a bandwidth larger than the predetermined wideband setting. Based on the reconstructed frequency domain representation, a spectral component is identified corresponding to at least one cellular telephony access mode. |
| US08737987B1 |
Enhanced wireless device network rescan rate determination
What is disclosed is a method of operating a communication system. The method includes receiving roaming call records for wireless communication devices from a roaming wireless communication network. The method also includes processing the roaming call records and home call records of a home wireless communication network for at least a first wireless communication device to determine a network handover count, and processing the network handover count to determine a network rescan rate for the first wireless communication device. The method also includes transferring the network rescan rate for delivery to the first wireless communication device. |
| US08737984B2 |
WiMAX intra-ASN service flow ID mobility
This invention provides a method, system and apparatus for providing service flow identifier (“SFID”) mobility in a wireless network, which includes generating a structured service flow identifier, the structured service flow identifier having a service flow identifier field and a service flow granularity field, and establishing a level of service flow identifier mobility for the mobile station based on the structured service flow identifier. The structured service flow identifier can further include a multicast field. |
| US08737982B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote controlling between mobile communication terminals
A method and an apparatus for storing a phone number through remote control between mobile communication terminals are provided. The method includes receiving a message including protocol IDentification (ID) information indicating a pre-arranged remote phone number storage protocol, determining whether a remote phone number storage function is active, comparing authentication information contained in the received message with authentication information of the mobile communication terminal, and storing at least one of a phone number and phone number related information contained in the received message. |
| US08737981B2 |
Downloadable configuring application for a wireless device
Systems, methods, and programs for activating a feature on a wireless device includes requesting the feature at the wireless device. A feature includes additional functions and services that add capability to or accessed by the wireless device, such as, but not limited to, voice mail, voice recognition, access to GPS, MPEG functions, and access to a data channel or increased data rates. The wireless device downloads a component from a download server that contains the logic to configure the wireless device as well as a carrier server to activate the feature. An expiration parameter or other licensing term may be associated with the requested feature. Upon expiration, the wireless device and/or carrier server is reconfigured to deactivate the feature. |
| US08737971B2 |
Universal personal diagnostics platform
A universal personal diagnostics platform that connects to a mobile communication device such as a cellular phone or a smartphone. A universal connector attaches the universal personal diagnostics platform to a smartphone and consists of an optical and/or electrochemical reader that detects an analyte concentration in a blood sample. |
| US08737968B2 |
Method and system for handling a multi-media call setup request
A service node in a telecommunication network is arranged to receive a Multi-Media video call setup for a terminal to be called. The called terminal is called by the service node according to either a video or a voice call setup, depending on a current allowed answer mode of the called terminal. Responding to the call setup will, depending on either answering or rejecting the call setup by the called terminal, and depending whether the call setup is for a voice or a video call, be handled by the service node according to a predetermined method. When a call setup is answered by the called terminal, the service node further supports a method of toggling between a video call and a voice call at the called terminal. |
| US08737964B2 |
Facilitating and authenticating transactions
A computer, such as a Windows-based PC 23, has associated with it a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) 15, such as of the type used in a GSM or UMTS cellular or mobile telecommunications network. The SIM 15 can be authenticated with the network 3 in the same way as for authenticating SIMs of mobile telephone handsets used in the network, and can in this way authenticate the user of the PC 23 or the PC 23 itself. Such authentication can, for example, permit use of the PC 23 in relation to a particular application running on the PC 23. Challenge and response messages are transmitted between the network 3 and the SIM 15 via an authenticator module 30 implemented on the PC 23. These authentication messages have the predetermined format of an Over The Air (OTA) message, which is also used in GSM or UMTS telecommunications networks to transmit non-authentication messages—for example, SMS messages. The authentication data is encapsulated within OTA messages. The OTA messages are not necessarily transmitted wirelessly (that is, over the air). They may be transmitted via a fixed network; however, they have the predetermined format of OTA messages. |
| US08737960B2 |
Interface system of subscriber information management, billing, prepaid system for mobile network system, and prepaid method using the interface system
Disclosed are an interface architecture of subscriber information management, billing, prepaid system for mobile network system, and a prepaid method using the interface architecture. The present invention is embodied by a Workflow engine classified as a business logic and a processing logic to access the interface rapidly for clients. The workflow engine is applicable to the subscriber information management and the billing through a voice subscriber, a data subscriber and contents provider. Interfacing is possible to apply changeable embodiment of system and adapt environment changes through a workflow engine. Therefore, the present invention provides a wireless portal platform to increase efficiency in subscribing procedures and using service. In addition, the present invention provides solution of obstacles on respective module between the prepaid billing client and the prepaid billing gateway, or between the prepaid billing gateway and the prepaid billing server. |
| US08737956B2 |
Communication between MME/S4 SGSN and PCRF
This disclosure is directed to a method in a MME node or a S4-SGSN node for dynamic Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) assisted management of network parameters, where the method comprises sending or receiving network related parameters to or from, respectively, a PCRF node through a direct MME/S4-SGSN-PCRF interface. This disclosure is also directed to a MME node and a S4 SGSN node and a PCRF node configured to operatively perform the method. |
| US08737951B2 |
Interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) systems and methods
Embodiments relating to an interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system are provided for one or more users carrying one or more respective wireless personal communication devices (WCDs) that are capable of capturing and sending surveillance information (e.g., video, images, audio, sensor data, etc.) to one or more remotely located servers (RLSs). From the information, the RLSs can identify and secure dangerous environments, encounters, etc., and log events or take other actions. In some embodiments, the RLS is designed to follow user-definable parameters that establish the level or type of interactivity and that determine when alarms or messages to third parties are needed. |
| US08737949B2 |
Method and arrangement for operating a mobile battery-operated personal emergency signal device
The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile battery-operated personal emergency signal device, wherein a check of the charge of the battery feeding the personal emergency signal device is performed at least in the course of initiating the personal emergency signal device, wherein the operation of the personal emergency signal device is permitted by a central device depending on the result of the check. The invention further relates to an arrangement for performing the method. |
| US08737945B2 |
Method for measuring inter-frequency
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for measuring inter-frequency in a receiver including a plurality of reception antennas. The method may comprise the steps of: performing a service using a first frequency through a first antenna and/or a second antenna; measuring a second frequency using the first antenna while the service continues to be performed using the first frequency through the second antenna; and estimating the measurement result without the second frequency being practically measured through the second antenna by using the measurement result of the second frequency through the first antenna. |
| US08737944B2 |
Uplink calibration system without the need for a pilot signal
An antenna array for a mobile communications system comprises a plurality of receive paths and a calibration signal processor. The receive paths are connected between an antenna elements and an analogue-to-digital converters. The calibration signal processor comprises a cross-analyzer for cross-analyzing the digitized receive signals of the plurality of receive paths with each other, an averager for forming a temporal average of an output of the cross-analyzer, the temporal average indicating a receive signal relationship between the digitized receive signals of the plurality of receive paths, wherein the calibration signal processor is adapted to use the temporal average of the receive signal relationship to calibrate of at least one of the plurality of receive paths. A corresponding method and corresponding computer program products usable during manufacture and operation are also disclosed. |
| US08737940B1 |
Envelope tracking system and method for calibrating a supply voltage of an envelope tracking power amplifier
A method for calibrating a supply voltage of an envelope tracking PA (power amplifier) is provided. The method includes obtaining a plurality of calibrated PA supply voltage values using a PA output power sequence having a plurality of different PA output power values. Thereby, an order of the PA output power values of the PA output power sequence is chosen such that a junction temperature of the PA is maintained during calibration within a temperature range that occurs during non-calibration envelope tracking operation. |
| US08737935B2 |
Multi-band up-convertor mixer
A communications transceiver includes a shared multi-band mixer. Various configurations of the shared multi-band mixer include using suitable hardware/software in the form of circuitry, logic gates, and/or code functions to combine multi-band processing of RF signal conversion within a single shared mixer. Various configurations include separate or shared tuning and/or amplification of up-converted (mixed) multi-band communication bands. The communications transceiver processes each band separately within the single shared mixer. |
| US08737934B2 |
Setting SAR exposure limit of mobile devices
A programmable controller and software that monitors periods an RF transmitter is active and a output power level during those periods of activity. These two values are multiplied together and accumulated over time to provide a value for the RF emissions for some period. A limit is set for the RF emissions for any period and if the RF emissions exceeds (or is expected to exceed given the current rate) the set limit, the system limits the subsequent emissions to not exceed the set limit. This reduction in emissions rate come at the cost of a small performance reduction. |
| US08737933B2 |
Data transfer between wireless devices
Detecting, with Bluetooth, wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) in proximity to a WTRU is disclosed. The WTRU may send a message to transfer of a selected media to a selected WTRU. The WTRU may receive an acceptance to transfer the selected media to the selected WTRU. The selected media is transferred to the selected WTRU. |
| US08737922B2 |
Method and arrangement for white space allocation
The disclosure relates to a network node of a wireless network, and to a related method of controlling interference generated by at least one white space device controlled by the network node. The method comprises transmitting a request for information regarding channels available for secondary usage to the remote entity, and receiving information from the remote entity, the information indicating a channel available for secondary usage, a critical position associated with said channel, and an interference threshold for the critical position. The method also comprises deriving a constraint for the allocation of said channel to the at least one white space device, based on a position of the at least one white space device, the critical position, and the interference threshold, and allocating said channel and a transmit power to the at least one white space device based on the derived constraint, whereby the interference generated in the critical position by the at least one white space device is kept below the interference threshold. |
| US08737920B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing wireless communication network radio resources
A method and apparatus for managing radio resources in one or more wireless communication networks. At least one radio resource manager (RRM) is provided within a network node, or as an independent entity. The RRM monitors performance on wireless communication links of the network(s) and interacts with nodes associated with those links to change the configuration on a particular wireless communication link if its performance (i.e., quality) falls below an established threshold. Information regarding current resource usage of the network is sent to the RRM by the nodes. Each of the nodes may send a quality report to the RRM including wireless communication link quality measurements and performance statistics. Alternatively, the RRM may perform the wireless communication link quality measurements. The RRM facilitates the broadcasting of information regarding current resource usage of one network to other networks to avoid collisions and interference. |
| US08737919B2 |
Video display apparatus and method of setting user viewing conditions
A video display apparatus and a method of setting user viewing conditions of the same are disclosed. A video display apparatus includes a Bluetooth module detecting a peripheral Bluetooth terminal via inquiry scan/response and acquiring address information of the detected Bluetooth terminal, a control unit loading user profile of the detected Bluetooth terminal and setting user viewing conditions based on the loaded user profile, a profile database storing the user profile of the detected Bluetooth terminal and user profile setting menu managing the user profile, a tuner receiving a broadcasting program based on the set user viewing conditions, a video/audio processor processing the received broadcasting program into video and audio signals based on the set user viewing conditions, and a display unit displaying the processes video signal and outputting the user profile setting menu as OSD message. |
| US08737917B2 |
Method and system for a dual-mode bluetooth low energy device
A dual-mode BLE device identifies idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. The identified idle intervals are used by the dual-mode BLE device to concurrently perform various BLE activities. For example, advertising packet transmissions, advertising packet scanning, connection setup, and/or data packet communication may be concurrently performed within identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. Packet transmission timing, advertising interval, scan window, and/or packet size are determined based on the identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. A scan window is adjusted based on timing of expected advertising transmissions and/or advertising interval(s) for saving power. BLE packets and Bluetooth BR/EDR packets may be detected in a single advertising channel. Maximal payload size is set based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. As a slave, the dual-mode BLE device updates connection parameters based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. |
| US08737911B2 |
Dual-stage echo cancellation in a wireless repeater using an inserted pilot
In one embodiment, a method for providing echo cancellation in a wireless repeater includes: adding the pilot signal to a transmit signal; receiving a receive signal being the sum of a remote signal, a feedback pilot signal and a feedback transmit signal; cancelling the feedback transmit signal from the receive signal using a currently available feedback channel estimate and generating a first echo cancelled signal; generating an updated feedback channel estimate using the first echo cancelled signal and the pilot signal as a reference signal; cancelling the feedback transmit signal and the feedback pilot signal from the receive signal using the updated feedback channel estimate and generating a second echo cancelled signal; and amplifying the second echo cancelled signal as the transmit signal. In another embodiment, the feedback pilot signal is cancelled from the first echo cancelled signal using the updated feedback channel estimate to generate the second echo cancelled signal. |
| US08737910B2 |
Radio receiver and method for receiving and playing signals from multiple broadcast channels
A radio receiver may comprise a receiver adaptable for receiving a plurality of broadcast streams over a plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the receiver will attempt to receive a selected broadcast stream on a selected broadcast channel, and if the selected broadcast stream is not receivable on the selected broadcast channel, the receiver will attempt to receive the selected broadcast stream on an alternative broadcast channel. A computer readable medium may allow a user of a receiver to create a composite stream comprising at least one portion selected from each of at least two of a plurality of broadcast streams. A method of open interface merge replication may involve comparing data between first and second databases, and if a conflict exists, updating one of the first and second databases with at least a portion of data from the other of the first and second databases to resolve the conflict. |
| US08737909B2 |
Digital processing for co-site interference mitigation
A radio system providing long-range radio communications in the presence of a co-located high power jammer or other radio transmitter that is operating in a frequency band overlapping the communications transmit/receive band. The system collects sample signals from co-located overlapping radio. It down-converts the sample signal and the receive radio signal, digitizes the two signals, and utilizes a computer processor to cancel the sample signal from the receive radio signal to output a mitigated output signal. |
| US08737899B2 |
Fixing liquid, fixing method, fixing unit, image forming method, and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a fixing liquid containing a softening agent that softens resin-containing fine particles by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin; a C12-C18 fatty acid; and a C12-C18 fatty acid salt. The fixing liquid is mixed with water serving as a dilution solvent. |
| US08737898B2 |
Fixing device provided with temperature sensor
There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The stay covers the reflection plate and supports the nip member, the stay having a profile in conformance with the outer profile of the reflection plate, and the stay being formed with one of a through-hole and a notch. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and extends through the one of the through-hole and the notch. |
| US08737897B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a pressing rotating body, a heating rotating belt, an induction coil, a magnetic core portion, and a belt guide member. The belt guide member is disposed on the inner side of the heating rotating belt and includes a coil side section that is disposed toward the induction coil relative to a rotational axis of the heating rotating belt and includes a temperature-rise corresponding portion and a non temperature-rise corresponding portion, and a nip side section that is disposed toward the pressing rotating body relative to the rotational axis and includes a paper-passing corresponding portion and a heat transfer portion disposed on the outer side of the paper-passing corresponding portion and having thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the paper-passing corresponding portion. |
| US08737896B2 |
Image forming apparatus for heating a recording material bearing a toner image
A fixing device configured to heat a recording material bearing a toner image at a nip portion while conveying the recording material includes a tubular film, a nip portion forming member contacting an inner surface of the film, a pressure member forming the nip portion together with the nip portion forming member via the film, and a regulating member configured to regulate a movement of the film by contacting an end surface of the film. The regulating member includes, in a vicinity of the nip portion, a regulating surface inclined such that a distance from an imaginary plane including the end surface is gradually decreased as the regulating surface extends away from the nip portion to a circumferential direction of the film, and that the distance therefrom is gradually increased as the regulating surface extends in a radial direction of the film. |
| US08737891B2 |
Belt driving apparatus, belt unit, and image forming apparatus
A belt driving apparatus includes an endless belt stretched around a driving roller that drives the belt, a receiving roller that receives an external force through the belt, driven rollers arranged upstream of the receiving roller and downstream of the driving roller in a rotational direction of the belt, at least one of the driven rollers being supported to be movable in radially inward and outward directions of the belt in accordance with a tension in the belt. A braking unit performs braking by pressing a frictional member against a rotational shaft of one of the driven rollers and generating a frictional force, and converts a displacement of the movably supported driven roller in the radially outward direction into a relative displacement between the rotational shaft and the frictional member, the displacement being caused when the external force is applied to the receiving roller so as to decelerate rotation thereof. |
| US08737890B2 |
Image forming apparatus with steering roller and position control mechanism
An image forming apparatus including: an endless belt; a steering roller for supporting the endless belt and correcting a deviating motion of the endless belt; and a conveying section for conveying a recording material, wherein the conveying section has a position control mechanism of a recording material, and said mechanism conveys the recording material along a conveyance reference, established at a predetermined position in a width direction of the recording material, said width direction is perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material, wherein the steering roller is configured to be supported on a supporting point at a side on which the conveyance reference is established, and to be tilted at a side which is opposite to the side on which the conveyance reference is established, with respect to the width direction of the recording material. |
| US08737888B2 |
Development device and image forming device including the same
A development device includes: a developer carrier that is positioned to oppose an electrostatic latent image carrier and that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier; a developer supply member that is positioned to oppose the developer carrier and that supplies the developer to the developer carrier; a developer charging member that is positioned to oppose the developer supply member and that charges the developer. |
| US08737885B1 |
Digital printer for printing to a recording medium
In a digital printer a developer element is provided that inks charge images on a charge image carrier with toner. A feed system is provided to apply liquid developer with the toner onto the developer element. The cleaning unit is provided with a cleaning element to clean off residual liquid developer remaining on the developer element after the development of the charge images. A scraping unit rests on the cleaning element made up of a double blade arranged in a blade mount. The double blade provides a cleaning blade and a sealing blade that together form a blade chamber that is filled with fluid. The cleaning blade has at least one row of holes adjacent to a blade edge of the cleaning blade. |
| US08737884B2 |
Charging member and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
This invention provides a charging member exhibiting high electrical charge injection efficiency.The charging member has an electro conductive base and an electro conductive fiber, one end of which is connected to the base, in which the fiber contains a plurality of carbon nanotubes which are entangled, and the carbon nanotubes are exposed at the tip portion of the fiber. |
| US08737882B2 |
Driving force transmission mechanism and process cartridge containing the same
A driving force transmission mechanism comprising a photosensitive drum driving member, wherein the photosensitive drum driving member is engaged with an image forming apparatus driving member and receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus driving member; the image forming apparatus driving member comprises a triangular groove having a triangular cross-section and driving force transmission portion disposed in three vertex angles of the triangular groove; the photosensitive drum driving member comprises a non-distorting protrusion which is axially extended from the end face of a drum shaft and engaged with the groove on the image forming apparatus driving member; the protrusion has a position-limiting mechanism and a stressed mechanism; a projecting tooth obliquely disposed on said non-distorting protrusion is taken as the stressed mechanism; and each projecting tooth also has a mating surface which is engaged with the driving force transmission component to transmit the driving force. |
| US08737881B2 |
Image forming apparatus having toner charging members
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first toner charging member, provided downstream of a transfer device and upstream of a charging device with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member, for electronically charging toner remaining on the image bearing member, and a second toner charging member, provided downstream of the first toner charging member and upstream of the charging device with respect to the rotational direction, for electrically charging the toner remaining on the image bearing member by being supplied with a voltage of a polarity identical to a normal charge polarity of the toner. In addition, a controller controls application of a predetermined voltage to the first toner charging member, and a first AC voltage is applied to a developer. |
| US08737877B2 |
Fixing device having adjustment mechanism for adjusting sheet discharging direction
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member; and an adjustment mechanism. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and radiates radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and receives the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The resiliently deformable backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the nip member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The adjustment mechanism moves the nip member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction. |
| US08737875B2 |
Devices and methods for retracting a cartridge in an image forming device
The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction. |
| US08737874B2 |
Shaft-receiving device, drum unit, and image-forming device
A shaft-receiving device connects a rotating member and a frame. The rotating member has a rotational axis extending in a first direction and at least one end in the first direction. The frame extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is formed with a through-hole having an inner peripheral surface. The shaft-receiving device includes a shaft-receiving portion and a pressing member. The one end is inserted into the shaft-receiving portion in the first direction. The shaft-receiving portion is inserted into the through-hole in the first direction and opposes the inner peripheral surface in the second direction. The pressing member opposes the inner peripheral surface in the second direction to press the rotating member toward the inner peripheral surface. |
| US08737873B2 |
Cartridge having peeling member configured to peel off sheet from image carrier
There is provided a cartridge including an image carrier, a first frame, a second frame, a peeling member and a pressing portion. The first frame has a pair of first wall portions rotatably supporting the image carrier and a second wall portion extending along an axis direction of the image carrier to connect the pair of first wall portions. The second frame is attached to the first frame so as to cover the image carrier. The peeling member has a peeling portion projecting from the second wall portion toward the image carrier and being configured to peel off a sheet from the image carrier by the peeling portion. The pressing portion is provided to the second frame, which is configured to move the peeling portion closer to the image carrier by pressing and elastically deforming the second wall portion. |
| US08737872B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a door path regulating member
In an image forming apparatus including a door 10 openable with respect to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge 8 detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main assembly, and detachably mountable developing cartridges 4k-4y provided above the drum cartridge 8, wherein the door 10 includes a positioning urging portion 26 contacting the developing cartridges in a state in which the door 10 is closed, the door 10 includes drum cartridge mounting and demounting guides 28R and 28L for regulating the drum cartridge 8 so as to pass along a non-interference path with the positioning urging portion 26 in contact to the drum cartridge 8 when the drum cartridge 8 is demounted from the image forming apparatus. |
| US08737869B2 |
Image forming apparatus with exposure device, support structure supporting exposure device and housing to store exposure device
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, which has an exposure device for emitting light to a charged image formation surface to form an electrostatic latent image, a support structure for supporting the exposure device, and a housing for storing the exposure device, wherein the housing has a first wall which is provided with an insertion opening to insert the support structure that supports the exposure device, and the support structure is designed so that the support structure is pulled out of the housing through the insertion opening. |
| US08737868B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door member which supports one of roller members constituting a feeding nip for a recording material and which is rotatable about an axis parallel with said roller members in a sidewise direction of said main assembly to open said feeding nip; a pair of urging mechanisms which are provided at opposite end portions of said door member with respect to a front-rear direction of said main assembly and which fix said door member to said main assembly so as to be capable of opening and closing said door member, said urging mechanism urging said door member toward said main assembly in a state that said door member is closed; and an operating member provided with a grip for manual opening of said door member, said grip being disposed in a position nearer to a front side than a center portion position of said door member with respect to the front-rear direction, and said operating member being rotatably supported in a position nearer to a rear side than a center position between urging mechanisms. |
| US08737867B2 |
Image forming apparatus and cartridge
An endless belt confronts the photosensitive drum. A developing unit includes a developer accommodation portion that is configured to accommodate developer, and a developing roller that is rotatably provided and supplies the photosensitive drum with the developer. A collecting unit is configured to remove waste developer to be discarded from the endless belt and to collect the waste developer. A waste developer accommodation portion is provided integrally with the developer accommodation portion and is configured to accommodate the waste developer collected by the collecting unit. A conveying mechanism is configured to be connected to both the waste developer accommodation portion and the collecting unit and to convey the waste developer from the collecting unit to the waste developer accommodation portion. The waste developer accommodation portion is movable relative to the conveying mechanism. |
| US08737863B2 |
Developing cartridge and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing cartridge having a memory unit and an image forming apparatus in which the developing cartridge is separably installed. Once the developing cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus, the memory unit of the developing cartridge is arranged to face a recording medium delivery path. The memory unit is connectable to a connection unit of a board placed in a lower region of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08737858B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, having: a transfer device that adjusts a second charge amount so that a first charge amount of charges which flow toward a core from the region of a conductive layer which comes into contact with a power feeding member when a voltage is applied to the power feeding member from a power source becomes greater than the second charge amount of charges which flow toward the region which comes into contact with an intermediate transfer body from the core. |
| US08737857B2 |
Detecting colorants within carrier liquid
A detecting apparatus is to at least assist in determining the concentration of colorants within a carrier liquid. The colorants at least absorb light and/or diverge light. The detecting apparatus includes one or more light sources to emit light, and one or more light detectors to detect light. The light sources and the light detectors are positionally configured in relation to one another such that both light directly emitted by the light sources and that has not been absorbed or diverged by the colorants, as well as light diverged by the colorants within the carrier liquid, are detected and/or determined. The concentration of colorants is determined based on the light directly emitted by the light sources that has not been absorbed or diverged by the colorants and/or on the light diverged by the colorants within the carrier liquid. |
| US08737854B2 |
Printing system with receiver capacitance estimation
A printing system includes a rotatable transport member that transports a receiver on its obverse. A tackdown unit includes an electrode arranged facing the reverse of the transport member. A source responsive to the control system produces a tackdown current, and a charger spaced apart from the transport member facing the obverse thereof selectively deposits charge on the receiver in response to the tackdown current. A non-contact voltmeter arranged facing the receiver on the obverse after the charger measures a resulting voltage. A control system drives a selected voltage or current through the charger using the source and measures a resulting voltage using the non-contact voltmeter. The selected voltage or current and the measured resulting voltage are used to automatically estimate a capacitance of the receiver. |
| US08737853B2 |
Fixing device having adjustment mechanism for adjusting sheet discharging direction
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction including: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member; and an adjustment mechanism. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater, disposed in the internal space, is configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member, disposed in the internal space, is configured to receive the radiant heat. The inner peripheral surface makes sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the backup member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction. |
| US08737850B2 |
Inspection apparatus, inspection method, inspection system, and storage medium
A special color specification area is subjected to inspection processing assuring that the special color specification area is higher in color reproducibility than an area other than the special color specification area. |
| US08737846B2 |
Dynamic-grid comb optical source
An optical source uses feedback to maintain a substantially fixed spacing between adjacent wavelengths in a set of wavelengths in a wavelength comb output by the optical source. In particular, a set of light sources in the optical source provide optical signals having the set of wavelengths. Moreover, the optical signals are output at diffraction angles of an optical device in the optical source (such as an echelle grating), and optical detectors in the optical source determine optical metrics associated with the optical signals. Furthermore, control logic in the optical source provides control signals to the set of light sources based on the determined optical metrics. |
| US08737842B2 |
Method and system for asynchronous lamp identification
The invention relates to embedding data into a luminance output generated by an illumination system comprising a light source and a controller. The controller is configured to embed data by modulating a drive signal applied to the light source with an information signal comprising a shifted base code and a synchronization code. The synchronization code serves to provide synchronization for the receiver, while the shifted base code serves to carry the embedded data. A cyclic phase shift that is applied to a base code to generate the shifted base code corresponds to particular data, such as, for example, light source identification, that needs to be embedded into the luminance output of the illumination system. In this manner, data may be embedded into the luminance output generated by a light source without requiring synchronization of this light source with other light sources. |
| US08737841B2 |
Communication method using the entangled state
The sender and the receiver prepare two photons in the entangled state of polarization. The first photon of the two photons is sent to the sender and the second photon of the two photons is sent to the receiver. The sender measures the first photon after the first photon pass the polarizer in which the vertical polarized photon can pass, when the sender sends the signal “1”. The sender measures the first photon after the first photon pass the polarizer in which the 45 degrees polarized photon can pass, when the sender sends the signal “0”. The receiver measures the second photon by the balanced homodyne measurement. And, the receiver knows the signal from the absolute value of the result of the balanced homodyne measurement. |
| US08737840B2 |
Optical transmission system, transmitter, receiver and method
In the optical transmitting system, the optical transmitter transmits a polarization combined signal light obtained by combining a pair of lights having different polarization orientation, and the optical receiver separates the combined signal light. In the optical transmitter, a polarization changer changes a state of polarization of the polarization combined signal light. In the optical receiver, a polarization reverse-changer changes the state of the polarization combined signal light in a reverse direction of the change that polarization changer applies. |
| US08737839B2 |
Network design apparatus, method, and computer product
A network design apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive network information that indicates nodes connected by optical transmission paths and path information that indicates paths between the nodes; an design unit configured to perform, based on the network information and the path information, wavelength dispersion compensation design using a constraint condition that a path whose span count is larger than a span count of another path that does not satisfy a transmission condition does not satisfy the transmission condition; and an output unit configured to output a result obtained by the design unit. |
| US08737836B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting an optical path in an optical network
An auxiliary graph representing connection relations between nodes on a plurality of lightpaths in an optical network is created using a plurality of edges each connecting a pair of nodes. The plurality of lightpaths includes first lightpaths existing in the optical network and the second lightpaths to be set to accommodate traffic that is newly generated for the optical network. Each of the plurality of edges is assigned a weight value indicating a magnitude of increase in power consumption of network devices allocated to the each edge. For start and end nodes, a minimum weight path that has a path weight value minimum among paths each being a continuous sequence of edges that starts from the start node and reaches the end node is obtained, where the path weight value is a total sum of weight values assigned to the continuous sequence of edges. |
| US08737835B2 |
Optical packet switching device
An optical packet switching device (20) comprises an input section (9) able to receive an optical signal comprising data packets (60) carried by wavelength channels, a transit section (30) comprising optical paths (31) to ensure the transparent transit of the respective wavelength channels, several selector elements (34) which can be switched in packet mode to selectively block or allow an individual data packet to pass through, and a control unit able to receive signalling information about the data packets received in the input section and to control a selector element corresponding to the wavelength channel to block or allow said data packets to pass, said control unit maintaining the selector element (34) in a blocking state during the time windows in which no data packets are received on said wavelength channel. |
| US08737832B1 |
Flicker band automated detection system and method
A flicker band automated detection system and method are presented. In one embodiment an incidental motion mitigation exposure setting method includes receiving image input information; performing a motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process; and implementing exposure settings based upon results of the motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process. The auto flicker band detection process includes performing a motion mitigating process on an illumination intensity indication. Content impacts on an the motion mitigated illumination intensity indication are minimized. The motion mitigated illumination intensity indication is binarized. A correlation of the motion mitigated illumination intensity and a reference illumination intensity frequency is established. |
| US08737831B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus and method that apply high-speed multi-autofocusing (AF)
A digital photographing apparatus that supports a fast multi-autofocusing (AF) method, in which, when AF peaks of a subject of a central multi-point and a subject of a nearest multi-point are detected, further scanning is not performed. In addition, scanning is not performed on a region from which it is difficult to detect a peak, so that fast and accurate AF may be performed. |
| US08737826B2 |
High pressure smoke machine
There is provided a smoke generating device for use with a vaporizing material. The smoke generating device includes a housing defining an inner chamber configured to receive the vaporizing material, and a heating element disposed within the housing. A capillary is disposed within the inner chamber and is in thermal communication with the heating element. The capillary includes opposed first and second end portions, with the first end portion being disposable in the vaporizing material and the second end portion defining an opening in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The capillary is configured to convey the vaporizing material to the heating element. An inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber and fluidly connectable to a pressurized fluid source, and an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber and configured to convey vapor from the inner chamber. |
| US08737824B1 |
Adaptively encoding a media stream with compound prediction
A system and method for optimizing a compound prediction setting for a media stream and signaling the compound prediction setting is disclosed. A rate distortion optimization using the prediction modes of a compound prediction setting is carried out, and the rate distortion result is extrapolated to different compound prediction settings, without having to process each compound prediction setting separately. The optimal compound prediction setting is selected, and an element is encoded into the bitstream indicating the compound prediction setting that is used. A gradual mode coding scheme is used to minimize the bandwidth cost, and preserve the bandwidth savings of the compound prediction mode. |
| US08737823B2 |
Disk reproducing device and video data output method
A disk reproducing device which is connected to a television device meeting an HDMI standard and is operable to output information data that has a native format and is recorded on a disk to the television device, includes: an obtaining unit, operable to obtain an EDID including video resolution information which is transmitted from the television device; a discriminating unit, operable to discriminate whether or not the native format is present in the video resolution information; and an outputting unit, operable to output the information data to the television device in the native format, in a case where the discriminating unit discriminates that the native format is present in the video resolution information. |
| US08737821B2 |
Automatic triggering of a zoomed-in scroll bar for a media program based on user input
The present disclosure involves a method of managing media playback. The method includes displaying a media program on a touch screen of an electronic device. The method includes detecting, via the touch screen, an input from a user indicating that the user wishes to fast forward or rewind the media program. The method includes triggering, in response to the detected input from the user, an appearance of a scroll bar including an indicator on the touch screen. The indicator is configured to be moved along the scroll bar. A length of the scroll bar represents a predefined amount of time that is a fraction of a total duration of the media program. A position of the indicator relative to the scroll bar corresponds to a time location of the media program. |
| US08737815B2 |
Computer device, method, and graphical user interface for automating the digital transformation, enhancement, and editing of personal and professional videos
A computer-implemented method is described for automatically digitally transforming and editing video files to produce a finished video presentation. The method includes the steps of receiving from a user a selection of video clips to be made into the finished video presentation, automatically trimming the selected video clips, and automatically assembling the trimmed video clips into the finished presentation. Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of receiving a master video clip and automatically replacing portions of the master video clip with the trimmed video clips. In addition audio and visual effects may be added to the finished video presentation. Computer apparatus for performing these steps is also described. |
| US08737812B2 |
Content playback apparatus and content playback method
According to one embodiment, a content playback apparatus includes a playback module, a decision module, and a management module. The playback module is configured to play back a content includes components selected from moving picture data, image data, sound data and text data, thereby to produce video data and audio data. The decision module is configured to determine, based on a state of the content playback apparatus, whether the components of the content can be viewed and listened to. The management module is configured to manage video-audio management data includes data items based on a decision result of the decision module, each data item representing whether a video or audio data item has been viewed or listened to. |
| US08737808B2 |
Method and mobile terminal for previewing and retrieving video
A method for previewing and retrieving a video is disclosed. The method includes: (101) setting a variable-length buffer sequence; (102) acquiring and processing a video file to obtain images; (103) detecting scene shots in the obtained images and key frames of the scene shots, and storing the detected scene shots and key frames into the variable-length buffer sequence; and (104) acquiring the scene shots and key frames from the variable-length buffer sequence, matching and comparing the scene shots and key frames with a specified target image to perform image retrieval. A mobile terminal for previewing and retrieving a video is further disclosed. With the technical solution, content preview and fast retrieval of a video file are achieved in a mobile terminal with relatively limited processing capacity and memory resources. |
| US08737804B2 |
System for delayed video viewing
The disclosure concerns methods of playback of a video stream comprising: receiving from a first user device first media content associated with said video stream; associating with said first media content a time stamp indicating the time at which said first media content is received with respect to a reference time associated with said video stream; and during delayed playback of said video stream on a second user device, transmitting, at the time indicated by said time stamp, said first media content for display by said second user device. |
| US08737803B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and streaming audiovisual content
A camcorder includes an input interface via which audiovisual information is received at a first rate measured in frames per second, n. A media processor coupled via a bus to the input interface receives the audiovisual information at the rate n, and transfers it to a capture buffer coupled via the bus at a second rate measured in frames per second, x, for storage. An output interface coupled via the bus to the media processor transmits the audiovisual information at a third rate measured in frames per second, y, wherein x plus y is less than or equal to n. A set of computing instructions executed on the general purpose processor in the camcorder program the media processor to transfer the audiovisual information to the capture buffer at the rate x and to transmit the audiovisual information at the rate y to the output interface. |
| US08737797B2 |
Device for receiving a subassembly assigned to an optical fibre cable and for fastening the same to a mounting
A device for receiving a subassembly, in particular a furcation plug or a furcation adaptor, assigned to an optical fiber cable and for fastening the subassembly received on the device to a mounting, in particular to a wall of a distribution panel or distribution cabinet, via the device, with a bar-shaped basic body, there being formed on a topside of the basic body a guide element for receiving the subassembly assigned to the optical fiber cable, there being formed on an underside, in the region of mutually opposite ends of the basic body, anchoring elements, via which the device can be introduced into recesses of the mounting, whereby the guide element for receiving the subassembly comprises at least two protrusions forming latching elements which engage with shoulders or recesses formed in the subassembly to be received by the guide element when the subassembly is pushed into said guide element. |
| US08737790B2 |
Junction structure for wave propagation, wave diode and wave half-adder using the same
Disclosed herein are a junction structure for wave propagation and a wave diode and a wave half-adder using the same. According to the present invention, the junction structure for wave propagation permits selective coupling of waves propagating through a junction plane between different wave propagation structures, whereby the wave junction structure, wave junction diodes and wave half-adders using waves including photons, surface plasmons, optomechanical phonons and their composite waves are realized to provide the same functions as those of electrical junction structures and application devices thereof. |
| US08737789B2 |
Tactical cable
Robust fiber optic cables and assemblies having low attenuation multimode optical fibers. The cables have low attenuation in tensile and mandrel wrap tests, and can have thermoplastic urethane jackets coextruded over tensile strength members that allow the cables to be pulled by the jackets. The cables have relatively small cross-sections yet have sufficient robustness to be deployed in extreme environments such as cellular tower applications. |
| US08737788B2 |
Fiber optic cable design with improved compression test results
A multi-tight buffer fiber optic cable includes a first layer of tight buffer optical fibers and at least one second layer of tight buffer optical fibers surrounding the first layer of tight buffer optical fibers. A jacket surrounds the at least one second layer of tight buffer optical fibers, where the first layer of tight buffer optical fibers and the at least one second layer of tight buffer optical fibers are helically wound, and where the at least one second layer of tight buffer optical fibers are helically wound in the same direction as the first layer of tight buffer optical fibers and at substantially the same lay length. |
| US08737785B2 |
Optical beam couplers and splitters
Beam couplers and splitters are disclosed herein. An example of a beam coupler and splitter includes a first waveguide having a first waveguide bevel and a bend, the first waveguide bevel to totally internally reflect at least some light incident thereon. A second waveguide includes a second waveguide bevel complementarily shaped to the first waveguide bevel, the second waveguide being coupled to the first waveguide such that i) the first waveguide bevel is offset from the second waveguide bevel so that a first portion of the first waveguide bevel is in direct contact with a first portion of the second waveguide bevel, a second portion of the first waveguide bevel is exposed, and a second portion of the second waveguide bevel is exposed, and ii) a predetermined coupling ratio is achieved. |
| US08737784B2 |
Optical communication module and optical communication connector
A single-core bidirectional optical communication module and a single-core bidirectional optical communication connector are provided which can decrease in size without greatly changing the structure of the past optical connector housing. An optical communication module 1 includes an optical transceiver circuit unit 21 in which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are arranged in parallel and an optical path changing component 25 having a structure in which the attachment and detachment direction of an optical fiber cable is perpendicular to the optical transceiver circuit unit 21. An optical communication connector 2 includes a single-core bidirectional optical communication module 1 and an optical connector housing 3 that houses the single-core bidirectional optical communication module 1 so that the optical axis of the optical fiber cable is perpendicular to the optical transceiver circuit unit 21. |
| US08737781B2 |
Optical waveguide and method of manufacturing the same, and optical waveguide device
A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide, includes preparing a light path conversion component including a structure in which a protruding portion having a light path conversion inclined surface is covered with a metal layer and the metal layer serves as a light path conversion mirror, and a structural body in which a core layer is formed on a first cladding layer and an opening portion is provided in an end side of a light path of the core layer, arranging the light path conversion mirror of the light path conversion component in the opening portion of the core layer, and forming a second cladding layer covering the core layer, wherein a light path of a light that propagates through the core layer is converted toward a first cladding layer side by the light path conversion mirror. |
| US08737779B2 |
Optical wavelength multi/demultiplexer
An optical wavelength multi/demultiplexer having transmission characteristics with a higher rectangular degree than a conventional one includes an AWG and two-stage lattice circuit. An example of a two-stage lattice circuit according to the present invention includes an input waveguide, a third optical coupler, a third and fourth arm waveguides, a second optical coupler, a first and second arm waveguides, a first optical coupler, and output waveguides. The optical path length differences between the third and fourth arm waveguides and between the first and second arm waveguides are designed to be ΔL. The path passing the third and first arm waveguides differs by 2·ΔL in optical length from that the fourth and second arm waveguides. The paths passing the third and second arm waveguides and passing the fourth and first arm waveguides differ by ΔL from that passing the fourth and second arm waveguides. |
| US08737776B2 |
Methods and apparatus for constructing large wavelength selective switches using parallelism
Optical networks are increasingly employing optical network nodes having multiple interfaces to allow a node to direct optical signals received at any interface to any other interface connected to the node. Constructing a larger wavelength selective switching (WSS) module used in such a node can be complex and expensive. A method an apparatus for constructing a large WSS using parallelism is provided. In example embodiments, a larger WSS may include multiple parallel non-cascaded smaller WSSs and an optical coupler configured to optically couple the multiple parallel, non-cascaded smaller WSSs. This technique may be used to construct both N×1 and 1×N WSSs. Because the technique employs multiple parallel, non-cascaded WSSs, all inputs of a larger N×1 WSS and all outputs of a larger 1×N WSS are available receive or transmit external signals rather than being rather than being unavailable due to, for example, cascading smaller WSS devices together. |
| US08737775B2 |
System and method for monitoring displacement within energized tap changer compartments
A system and method of measuring displacement of energized components within a tap changer compartment. A fiber optic sensor assembly is provided within a transformer compartment. The sensor assembly monitors displacement of one or more energized components within the transformer compartment. The sensor assembly transmits information to a control box assembly that uses the information to output analog or digital signals, control signals, voltage and/or ampere measurements or other information. |
| US08737774B2 |
Array temperature sensing method and system
Methods and apparatus enable monitoring conditions in a well-bore using multiple cane-based sensors. The apparatus includes an array of cane-based Bragg grating sensors located in a single conduit for use in the well-bore. For some embodiments, each sensor is located at a different linear location along the conduit allowing for increased monitoring locations along the conduit. |
| US08737773B2 |
Optical control element
An optical control element having a substrate 1 having an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide 2 formed on the substrate, and a control electrode 3 that is provided on the substrate and controls the phase of light that propagates through the optical waveguide, in which the control electrode 3 has a plurality of resonant-type electrodes 31 and 32 that are disposed along the optical waveguide 2 and have different resonance frequencies (f1 and f2), an feeder electrode 30 through which control signals are input and branched signal electrodes that are branched from the feeder electrode are connected to the respective resonant-type electrodes, and the branched signal electrode is configured to match a timing at which the electric control signal is applied to each of the resonant-type electrodes and a timing at which the light that propagates through the optical waveguide passes at the section of each of the resonant-type electrodes. |
| US08737769B2 |
Reconstruction of sparse data
A dense guide image or signal is used to inform the reconstruction of a target image from a sparse set of target points. The guide image and the set of target points are assumed to be derived from a same real world subject or scene. Potential discontinuities (e.g., tears, edges, gaps, etc.) are first detected in the guide image. The potential discontinuities may be borders of Voronoi regions, perhaps computed using a distance in data space (e.g., color space). The discontinuities and sparse set of points are used to reconstruct the target image. Specifically, pixels of the target image may be interpolated smoothly between neighboring target points, but where neighboring target points are separated by a discontinuity, the interpolation may jump abruptly (e.g., by adjusting or influencing relaxation) at the discontinuity. The target points may be used to select only a subset of the discontinuities to be used during reconstruction. |
| US08737767B2 |
Perceptually guided capture and stylization of 3D human figures
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of an individual. The technique involves receiving pose data that includes image data associated with the individual being in a pose, selecting from a database a morphable 3D generic human model based on a gender of the individual, adjusting a pose of the morphable 3D generic model based on the image data, identifying, based on the image data, one or more 3D appearance parameter objects included in the database, and adjusting via one or more processors one or more properties of the morphable 3D generic model based on the image data as well as the one or more 3D appearance parameter objects to produce the 3D model of the individual. |
| US08737766B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, an image processing apparatus is arranged to process a first relatively underexposed and sharp image of a scene, and a second relatively well exposed and blurred image, nominally of the same scene, the first and second images being derived from respective image sources. The apparatus provides a portion of the relatively first underexposed image as an input signal to an adaptive filter; and a corresponding portion of the second relatively well exposed image as a desired signal to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter produces an output signal from the input signal and the desired signal; and an image generator constructs a first filtered image from the output signal, relatively less blurred than the second image. |
| US08737765B2 |
No-reference spatial aliasing measure for digital image resizing
A method includes identifying an area in an image that is associated with strong directional energy. The method further includes determining a first estimate of signal energy for the area and a second estimate of aliasing energy for the area. The method further includes estimating a severity of an aliasing error of the image based on the first estimate and the second estimate. |
| US08737760B2 |
Image processing method for suppressing spatio-temporal column or row noise
An image processing method and to an arrangement for implementing the method. The method includes filtering the original image with a low-pass filter for forming a low-pass filtered image, creating a high-pass filtered image by subtracting the low-pass filtered image from the original image, forming intermediate values from the created high-pass filtered image based on column-wise selection of pixel values in the suppression of column noise and row-wise selection of pixel values in the suppression of row noise, and subtracting formed intermediate values column-by-column and row-by-row from the original image. The arrangement includes a non-linear, one-dimensional digital finite impulse response filter, a computing unit for column-wise or row-wise formation of intermediate values, an image storage unit and a subtraction unit. |
| US08737752B2 |
Method and system for decoding encoded images and reducing the size of said images
A method and system for reducing the number of mathematical operations required in the JPEG decoding process without substantially impacting the quality of the image displayed is disclosed. Embodiments provide an efficient JPEG decoding process for the purposes of displaying an image on a display smaller than the source image, for example, the screen of a handheld device. According to one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by reducing the amount of processing required for dequantization and inverse DCT (IDCT) by effectively reducing the size of the image in the quantized, DCT domain prior to dequantization and IDCT. This can be done, for example, by discarding unnecessary DCT index rows and columns prior to dequantization and IDCT. In one embodiment, columns from the right, and rows from the bottom are discarded such that only the top left portion of the block of quantized, and DCT coefficients are processed. |
| US08737751B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and method that are capable of enhancing encoding efficiency while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of encoding processing. The image processing apparatus includes an encoding mode setter that sets, in units of coding units having a hierarchical structure, whether a non-compression mode is to be selected as an encoding mode for encoding image data, the non-compression mode being an encoding mode in which the image data is output as encoded data, and an encoder that encodes the image data in units of the coding units in accordance with a mode set by the encoding mode setter. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus. |
| US08737749B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium storing image processing program
Illumination information indicating the center of illumination and lightness change direction is acquired from an image, and the image is divided into regions for respective colors based on the acquired illumination information and color information of respective pixels included in the image. Especially, thresholds in clustering are set step by step in accordance with the lightness change direction from the center of the illumination information, and the image is clustered to the regions for respective colors according to the thresholds which are set step by step. |
| US08737746B2 |
Method for multiple pass symbol and components-based visual object searching of documents
A method of computerized searching for visual objects on an electronic document is disclosed. After receiving a selection of a template visual object, a template raster image is generated therefrom. The template visual object is comprised of one or more template object components. A document raster image is generated from the document, which includes document object symbols comprised of one or more document object components. A broad match candidate subset of document object symbols is generated based upon comparisons to the template object symbol. Then, a narrowed match candidate set is generated from those document object symbols of the broad match candidate subset based upon a comparison of the template object component to the document object components. |
| US08737745B2 |
Scene-based people metering for audience measurement
Scene-based people metering for audience measurement is disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to perform people metering for audience measurement comprises segmenting image frames depicting a location in which an audience is expected to be present to form a sequence of scenes, for a first scene in the sequence of scenes, identifying a key frame representing a first sequence of image frames corresponding to the first scene, and processing the key frame to identify an audience depicted in the first scene. |
| US08737741B2 |
Probability of accidental garment match
A digital image of a first garment having one or more first garment portions is received. A user has identified the first garment portions as matching one or more corresponding second garment portions of a second garment. The probability of accidental match of the first garment within the digital image in relation to the second garment is determined, by using a statistical model based on one or more parameters and based on analysis of the first garment portions. The probability of accidental match is output. |
| US08737737B1 |
Representing image patches for matching
Processes such as image matching can be improved by utilizing a Polar Accumulated Signed Gradient (PASG), a feature descriptor vector that utilizes polar coordinates. Such an approach is efficient because it avoids the costly image rotation and resampling of conventional processes. Further, the gradients can be sampled over different regions in order to achieve effective weighting without analyzing all gradients and applying a weighting factor. Such efficiencies enable image matching to be performed on devices with limited computing capacity, such as smart phones and tablet computers. |
| US08737734B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method, and computer readable medium
A color processing apparatus includes the following elements. A point group generator generates a point group existing in a color gamut of an output apparatus. A design point group extracting unit extracts, from the point group, a design point group that satisfies predetermined design conditions. A corresponding point group setting unit sets, on the basis of the design point group, a corresponding point group indicating a boundary of a color gamut represented by the design point group, such that points of the corresponding point group are associated with individual points of a boundary point group existing on a boundary of the color gamut of the output apparatus. A design color gamut boundary generator generates a boundary of a design color gamut that satisfies the predetermined design conditions, by using a set of the boundary point group and the corresponding point group. |
| US08737728B2 |
Complementary item recommendations using image feature data
An apparatus and method to facilitate finding complementary recommendations are disclosed herein. One or more fashion trend or pleasing color combination rules are determined based on data obtained from one or more sources. One or more template images and rule triggers corresponding to the fashion trend or pleasing color combination rules are generated, each of the rule triggers associated with at least one of the template images. A processor compares a first image attribute of a particular one of the template images to a second image attribute of each of a plurality of inventory images corresponding to the plurality of inventory items to identify the inventory items complementary to the query image. The particular one of the template images is selected based on the rule trigger corresponding to the particular one of the template images being applicable for a query image. |
| US08737727B2 |
Color similarity sorting for video forensics search
Systems and methods of sorting electronic color images of objects are provided. One method includes receiving an input representation of an object, the representation including pixels defined in a first color space, converting the input image into a second color space, determining a query feature vector including multiple parameters associated with color of the input representation, the query feature vector parameters including at least a first parameter of the first color space and at least a first parameter of the second color space and comparing the query feature vector to multiple candidate feature vectors. Each candidate feature vector includes multiple parameters associated with color of multiple stored candidate images, the candidate feature vector parameters including at least the first parameter from the first color space and at least the first parameter from the second color space. The method further includes determining at least one of the candidate images to be a possible match to the desired object based on the comparison. |
| US08737726B2 |
Image data processing device, method, program and integrated circuit
When photographing images including a person's face at an event, photographers tend to photograph images so that features of the event appear in a region around the person's face. An image data processing device of the present invention extracts image feature information so that an image feature calculated based on pixels in the region around the person's face, which tends to represent features of an event, is reflected more than that calculated based on pixels in a region remote from the person's face, which tends not to represent features of an event. This allows the image data processing device to calculate image feature information reflecting features of an event more than that calculated by a conventional image data processing device. The image data processing device therefore improves classification precision compared to the conventional device when classifying images using the image feature information calculated by the image data processing device. |
| US08737720B2 |
System and method for detecting and analyzing features in an agricultural field
A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene. The disparity images can be used to analyze a variety of agricultural features. |
| US08737718B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting defect
A defect inspection apparatus includes an illumination optical system which irradiates an inspection subject under a predetermined optical condition, a detection optical system which obtains image data by detecting a scattered light from the inspection subject irradiated by the illumination optical system, and an image processing unit provided with a defect candidate detection unit which detects defect candidates with respect to plural image data obtained by the detection optical system under different conditions, and a post-inspection processing unit which executes a defect determination by integrating the defect candidates with respect to the plural image data. |
| US08737715B2 |
Methods and apparatus for diagnosis and/or prognosis of cancer
The subject invention concerns methods for the detection, diagnosis, and/or prognosis of cancer by analyzing centrosomal features. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of one or more cells; selecting a region of interest in one cell; segmenting the region of interest to delineate at least one centrosomal; extracting one or more features from the segmented image; and analyzing the extracted features to diagnose cancer. In another embodiment, the progression of cancer can be predicted through analysis and classification of the extracted features. In one embodiment, the method can be performed by a quantitative cancer analysis system including a diagnosis module and/or a prognosis module. In one embodiment, the method can be performed using an image processing system. |
| US08737713B2 |
System for frame selection for optimal registration of a multi-frame dataset
An Angiographic X-ray imaging system provides enhanced image feature visualization. At least one repository includes data representing a sequence of X-ray images of a portion of patient anatomy acquired over a time interval and signal data representing electrical activity of the heart of the patient over the time interval. An image data processor determines for individual images of the sequence of X-ray images, characteristics of a portion of the signal data associated with a corresponding image. The characteristics comprise at least one of, (a) a peak to peak value of a portion of the signal data associated with a corresponding image and (b) an average value of a portion of the signal data associated with the corresponding image. The image data processor selects a set of images exclusive of particular images from the sequence of X-ray images in response to the determined characteristics and generates an averaged image from the set of images. |
| US08737705B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a subjects orientation
A method for determining a subject's orientation includes receiving, at an imaging system, an input that indicates an orientation of a subject being imaged, automatically determining the orientation of the subject using a feature recognition system, comparing the received input to the automatically determined orientation, and generating an image, the image including orientation indicia based on the comparison. An object orientation recognition system and an imaging system are also described herein. |
| US08737702B2 |
Systems and methods for automated extraction of measurement information in medical videos
Systems and methods providing automated extraction of information contained in video data and uses thereof are described. In particular, systems and associated methods are described that provide techniques for extracting data embedded in video, for example measurement-value pairs of medical videos, for use in a variety of applications, for example video indexing, searching and decision support applications. |
| US08737701B2 |
CT image reconstruction of a moving examination object
A method is disclosed for reconstructing image data of a moving examination object from measured data, the measured data having been acquired during a rotating movement of a radiation source of a computed tomography system around the examination object. In at least one embodiment, first image data are determined from the measured data. Movement information is determined from the first image data by forming the difference between images. Time instants of little movement of the examination object are determined from the movement information, the determined time instants being dependent on the location or site within the examination object. Finally, second image data are reconstructed taking the determined time instants into account. These data can be output as result images. |
| US08737700B2 |
Preoperatively planning an arthroplasty procedure and generating a corresponding patient specific arthroplasty resection guide
Methods of manufacturing a custom arthroplasty resection guide or jig are disclosed herein. For example, one method may include: generating MRI knee coil two dimensional images, wherein the knee coil images include a knee region of a patient; generating MRI body coil two dimensional images, wherein the body coil images include a hip region of the patient, the knee region of the patient and an ankle region of the patient; in the knee coil images, identifying first locations of knee landmarks; in the body coil images, identifying second locations of the knee landmarks; run a transformation with the first and second locations, causing the knee coil images and body coil images to generally correspond with each other with respect to location and orientation. |
| US08737698B2 |
Circumferential contact-less line scanning of biometric objects
Methods and/or systems for scanning biometric objects and compiling 2-dimensional digital images thereof, such images as can provide enhanced resolution, with reduced distortion. |
| US08737697B2 |
Facial feature point position correction device, facial feature point position correcting method, and facial feature point position correcting program
Facial feature point reliability generating means generates a reliability map of each facial feature point from a facial image. Initial facial feature point position calculating means calculates the position of each facial feature point in the facial image based on the reliability map. Off-position facial feature point judgment means judges whether or not each facial feature point is an off-position facial feature point not satisfying a prescribed condition. Facial feature point difference calculating means calculates the difference between the position of each facial feature point, excluding those judged as the off-position facial feature points, and the position of a corresponding point of the facial feature point. Facial feature point position correcting means corrects the determined positions of the facial feature points based on the results of the judgment by the off-position facial feature point judgment means and the calculation by the facial feature point difference calculating means. |
| US08737696B2 |
Human face recognition method and apparatus
A human face recognition method and apparatus are provided. A processor of the human face recognition apparatus calculates red, green, and blue component statistic information for each of a plurality of human face images. The processor uses an independent component analysis algorithm to analyze component statistic information of two colors and derive a piece of first component information and a piece of second component information. The processor transforms the pieces of first component information and second component information into a frequency domain to derive a piece of first frequency-domain information and a piece of second frequency-domain information. The processor calculates an energy value of the first frequency-domain information within a frequency range. The energy value is used to decide whether the human face images are captured from a human being. |
| US08737693B2 |
Enhanced detection of gesture
The enhanced detection of a waving engagement gesture, in which a shape is defined within motion data, the motion data is sampled at points that are aligned with the defined shape, and, based on the sampled motion data, positions of a moving object along the defined shape are determined over time. It is determined whether the moving object is performing a gesture based on a pattern exhibited by the determined positions, and an application is controlled if determining that the moving object is performing the gesture. |
| US08737690B2 |
Video-based method for parking angle violation detection
A method and a system for determining a parking angle violation includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an image capture device monitoring a parking area. The method further includes determining a first line in a current frame where the line represents a nominal orientation of the parking area. The method includes detecting a presence of a vehicle in the parking area. The method includes determining a second line in the frame where the line represents the orientation of the detected vehicle. The method further includes computing an angle between the first and second lines. The method includes determining whether the detected vehicle is violating a parking regulation based on the computed angle. |
| US08737683B2 |
Architectures and methods for creating and representing time-dependent imagery
The present invention pertains to geographical image processing of time-dependent imagery. Various assets acquired at different times are stored and processing according to acquisition date in order to generate one or more image tiles for a geographical region of interest. The different image tiles are sorted based on asset acquisition date. Multiple image tiles for the same region of interest may be available. In response to a user request for imagery as of a certain date, one or more image tiles associated with assets from prior to that date are used to generate a time-based geographical image for the user. |
| US08737679B2 |
System and method for seamless content insertion on network content using audio-video fingerprinting and watermarking
A system and method to extract audio-video fingerprint and embed an audio-video watermark onto a content asset that is transmitted as part of network content. The specific content to be replaced and the point of local content insertion are identified uniquely by looking for the embedded audio-video watermark and match the audio-video fingerprint. The identified point of insertion enables seamless local content insertion. |
| US08737673B2 |
Hidden speaker apparatus
Provided is a hidden speaker apparatus used as a sound apparatus in a digital TV. The hidden speaker apparatus includes a high range speaker that is disposed such that a sound output direction and a direction to a front side where a listener is present form an acute angle. The high range speaker mitigates high range sound attenuation of the hidden speaker apparatus. |
| US08737672B1 |
Water resistant alarm system
A water resistant alarm system for providing an effective audible alarm in a water resistant housing. The water resistant alarm system generally includes a housing comprised of a base panel and a cover connected to the base panel, a speaker within an interior of the housing, and a sound vent within the housing that allows sound generated from the speaker to pass outwardly from the housing while preventing the entry of water into the interior of the housing. The cover is removably connected to the base panel to allow for increased access to the interior of the housing. The cover is further removably connected to the base panel in a waterproof manner without utilizing seals. |
| US08737671B2 |
Light bulb loudspeaker and sound system
A light bulb loudspeaker and sound system where a wireless or wire receiver, amplifier and power supply can be mounted inside of the boundary defined by a light bulb and base where the glass bulb can be used as a sound radiating diaphragm, or alternatively, the bulb can be made to move as a plunger and this act as a sound diaphragm. A transducer can convert audio from the amplifier into sound and thereby excite the glass bulb or cause it to move. A baffle can optionally be provided in the form of a lamp shade or otherwise. Different channels can provide different audio signals to different light bulb loudspeakers in the same physical area, or an electrical signal could be multiplexed. A small base station unit can transmit radio or wire signals containing audio information from an audio source such as a stereo. The filament can optionally be used as a radio receiving antenna. |
| US08737665B2 |
Negative pressure earphone
A negative pressure earphone includes a main body, a cover portion, a silicone gel earplug, a filtering net and a moving coil sound unit. The silicone gel earplug is fitted to the protruding end of the main body. The filtering net is provided on the opening of the protruding end and the moving coil sound unit is disposed inside the main body. The cover portion is fitted to the other end of the main body. A sealing framework portion is disposed inside the main body and the moving coil sound unit is fitted to the sealing framework portion. A negative pressure portion is disposed on the sealing framework portion. The negative pressure earphone of the present invention is structurally simple and water resistant and does not have to have an opening in its cover portion. |
| US08737658B2 |
Three dimensional substrate for hearing assistance devices
A hearing assistance device for a user comprising a housing, a three dimensional electronic substrate disposed in the housing, the substrate adapted to conform to a battery of the hearing assistance device and hearing assistance electronics mounted to the substrate. |
| US08737657B2 |
Suspension for a hearing device receiver, and a method of producing a hearing device, and a hearing device
A suspension for a hearing device having a receiver includes a first part, a second part, and a vibration isolator positioned between the first and the second parts, and mechanically coupled to the first and second parts, wherein the first part is configured to at least partly enclose the receiver, wherein the second part is configured to at least partly enclose a sound outlet of the hearing device, wherein the vibration isolator comprises an acoustic passage part and a damping part enclosing the acoustic passage, wherein the acoustic passage part provides an acoustic passage between the first and second parts, wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical along a longitudinal, a transverse axis, or both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator, and wherein the vibration isolator is freely suspended between the first and second parts. |
| US08737656B2 |
Hearing device with feedback-reduction filters operated in parallel, and method
A hearing device has a signal-processing apparatus for processing an input signal into an output signal, and a feedback-canceller apparatus for reducing feedback artifacts on the basis of the input signal and the output signal. The feedback-canceller apparatus has an adaptive, first filter, for establishing a set of filter coefficients for a predefined feedback situation. The feedback-canceller apparatus is configured to store the set of filter coefficients. It has at least one second filter, which can be operated directly parallel to the first filter on the basis of the stored set of filter coefficients. The adaptive, first filter can be continuously adapted to a current feedback situation, and the feedback-canceller apparatus is configured such that in the current feedback situation it automatically selects either the first or the second filter. As a result, it generally only requires a simple switchover, but not a complete adaptation. |
| US08737650B2 |
System comprising a portable electronic device with a time function
A portable electronic device and an auxiliary device each having an interface allowing the establishment of a communication link between them, at least to be able to transmit data representative of a status information from the auxiliary device to the portable electronic device, and-a method of of establishing a measure of an absolute elapsed time in a listening device. The problem is solved in that the portable electronic device has a timing unit for determining a time interval and a memory for storing data, and wherein the auxiliary device has a master timing unit for providing a signal representative of the present time, and wherein the system is adapted to transfer a signal representative of the present time from the auxiliary device to the portable electronic device and to store it in the memory. |
| US08737649B2 |
Bone conduction device with a user interface
The present invention relates to a bone conduction device for enhancing a recipient's hearing. The device may include an input configured to receive sound signals and generate a plurality of signals representative of the sound signals, an electronics module configured to receive the plurality of signals and having a first control setting configured to control a first characteristic of at least one of the plurality of signals and a second control setting configured to control a second characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of signals, a vibrator configured to receive the plurality of signals representative of the sound signals and transmit vibrations to the recipient's bone, and a user interface having a first interface control configured to interface with the first control setting and alter the first characteristic and a second interface control configured to interface with the second control setting and alter the second characteristic. |
| US08737648B2 |
Spatialized audio over headphones
A spatial element is added to communications, including over telephone conference calls heard through headphones or a stereo speaker setup. Functions are created to modify signals from different callers to create the illusion that the callers are speaking from different parts of the room. |
| US08737645B2 |
Increasing perceived signal strength using persistence of hearing characteristics
One example embodiment increases perceived signal strength of a sound signal based on persistence of hearing. When the ear perceives a signal it takes a finite length of time to process it. During that time period the ear does not recognize input and is, in effect, “Turned Off”. In accordance with one aspect of the technology, these periods of “unheard” audio input are utilized so that they supplement the information which the ear sends to the brain. An exemplary system includes a switch, configured to route the audio alternatively to two signal paths—one which includes a delay circuit that delays that audio by an amount equal to the ear's persistence of hearing interval. The system also includes a signal combiner configured to combine outputs from the two signal paths, so as to provide the brain with a signal that it will perceive as being twice as loud as the original. |
| US08737644B2 |
Reproducing apparatus and reproducing method
A reproducing apparatus includes: a digital signal processing block configured to execute first boost processing for setting a volume level for an entered digital audio signal and boosting an amplitude level of the signal; a digital-to-analog conversion block configured to convert the digital audio signal into an analog one; an analog signal processing block configured to execute second boost processing for boosting an amplitude level of the analog audio signal; an analog volume adjusting block configured to set a volume level for the analog audio signal from the analog signal processing block; a loudspeaker configured to output the analog audio signal from the analog volume adjusting block; an operating block configured to indicate a volume level of an audio signal from the loudspeaker and turn on/off the boost processing for the audio signals; and a control block configured to control components in accordance with an operation by the operating block. |
| US08737642B2 |
Audio reproducing apparatus
An audio signal processing apparatus and method for extracting components from an input signal, generating additional components, combining components, and level-controlling components. An audio signal processing apparatus may include a harmonic overtone adder and an equalizer. A harmonic overtone adder may include a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter, an harmonic overtone generator, and a combining unit. An equalizer may include a level detector and a gain controller. |
| US08737640B2 |
System, method and apparatus with environmental noise cancellation
Disclosed herein are system, method and apparatus with environmental noise cancellation. The instant disclosure is particularly adapted to a receiver module having at least two inputs. The two inputs respectively receive a main audio portion and the audio with majority of environmental noise. The system firstly calibrates the audio signals to reduce the error caused by the difference between the two inputs. An adaptive beamforming technology and a speech extractor are respectively used to extract the environmental noise portion with less main audio and the main audio portion with less noise. After a process of time-to-frequency domain transformation, a non-linear noise suppression technology is introduced into estimating the environmental noise and acquiring a gain. After noise suppression processed with the gain, a sequence of audio signals is output after a frequency-to-time domain transformation. |
| US08737639B1 |
Voice amplification assembly
A voice amplification assembly is provided for facilitating amplification of a voice for public speaking. The assembly provides a portable wireless microphone and a base unit operationally couplable to a pre-existing speaker. A transceiver is positioned in the base unit. The microphone has a transmitter which is operationally coupled to the transceiver. A processor is positioned in base unit and operationally coupled to the transceiver for adjusting and outputting an audio signal received from the microphone through the transceiver. An audio control is operationally coupled to the processor for inputting an adjustment to the audio signal. An output port is configured for connecting to an existing speaker to broadcast the audio signal. |
| US08737633B2 |
Noise cancellation system with gain control based on noise level
A noise cancellation system is provided, for generating a noise cancellation signal to be added to a wanted signal to mitigate the effects of ambient noise. The system comprises: an input, for receiving an input signal representing ambient noise; a detector, for detecting a magnitude of said input signal; and a voice activity detector, for determining voiceless periods when said input signal does not contain a signal representing a voice. The detector is adapted to detect the magnitude of said input signal during said voiceless periods, and the system is adapted to operate in a first mode when said input signal is above a threshold value, and a second mode when said input signal is below the threshold value. The first mode comprises generating a noise cancellation signal with a first magnitude for at least partially cancelling the ambient noise. The second mode comprises generating a noise cancellation signal with a second magnitude that is less than the first magnitude. |
| US08737632B2 |
Acoustic energy control system for a room
A mechanical acoustic energy control system to be located in a room in which one or more audio speakers are also located so that the audio output of the speakers can be distributed throughout the room to enable a listener in the room to be surrounded by sound. A master acoustic resonator attached to the front wall of the room is adapted to vibrate and thereby produce acoustic waves corresponding to the acoustic energy generated by the speakers. A low frequency (e.g., bass) acoustic resonator sits on the floor of the room below the master acoustic resonator. The low frequency acoustic resonator is adapted to vibrate to reflect low frequency acoustic waves produced by the speakers and the master acoustic resonator. A satellite acoustic resonator is located on each of the back and opposing side walls of the room. The satellite acoustic resonators are adapted to vibrate in response to the acoustic waves reflected thereto by the speakers, the master acoustic resonator, and the low frequency acoustic resonator. The vibration of the satellite acoustic resonators controls the dispersion pattern of acoustic waves in the room so that the listener hears a richer, fuller and more natural sound. |
| US08737630B2 |
Acoustical measuring/estimation device
A device to measure or to estimate the acoustical output of the loudspeaker of a earphone, earplug, headphone or ear muff, and to measure the ambient environmental sounds where appropriate. The loudspeaker is connected to an electronic audio device. The acoustical output of the loudspeaker may be measured by means of a microphone placed in close proximity to the loudspeaker; or estimated by means of measuring the output of the audio amplifier (in the electronic audio device) and using the output/input transfer function that relates the acoustical output of the loudspeaker to the output of the audio amplifier; or estimated by means of the output the digital signal processor (in the electronic audio device) and using the output/input transfer function that relates the acoustical output of the loudspeaker to the output of the digital signal processor. The measurement or estimation of the acoustical output of the loudspeaker (and measurement of the ambient environmental noise, if appropriate) may be used to realize a noise dosimeter or as a means to determine the maximum allowable output limit of the electronic audio device. |
| US08737629B2 |
Audio signal processing system
An audio signal processing system includes: a receiving section which receives a plurality of audio signals, a process period specifying section which specifies a silent period in other audio signals except a particular audio signal that are received by the receiving section, respectively, a sound volume level adjusting section which decreases a sound volume level of the particular audio signal, in a period specified by the process period specifying section as a silent period in any of the other audio signals, and an outputting section which outputs the particular audio signal whose sound volume level is adjusted by the sound volume level adjusting section. |
| US08737628B2 |
Method for estimating road surface state
There is provided a method for determining a road surface state which can accurately estimate the road surface state on which a vehicle is running at one of finely classified road surface states based on a sound detection signal from a ground contact surface sound detection unit for detecting a sound in the vicinity of the ground contact surface of the tire of the running vehicle.The method calculates a wave profile of frequency dispersion by executing a 1/N octave analysis of a detected sound signal from a sound detection unit 20 for estimating a road surface state. The state of the road surface on which the vehicle is running is determined whether the calculated wave profile of frequency dispersion satisfies predetermined determination conditions of the respective road surface states. A microphone housed in a container is used to detect said sound, and the determining step is adapted to apply the determination conditions to the measured wave profile including a resonance caused by the container. |
| US08737622B2 |
Method for importing rights object and rights issuer
A method for importing or moving a rights object (RO) is provided, a rights issuer (RI) receives a request message of importing or moving an RO to a target device, the request message including key information encapsulated by a public key of the target device; the RI generates the RO according to the request message, the RO including the key information encapsulated by the public key of the target device; and the RI provides the RO for the target device. An RI is also provided. In the present invention, the key information encapsulated by the public key of the target device is provided for the RI, and the real key is hidden from the RI, such that the un-trust RI cannot generate the illegal RO for other devices except the target device, thereby enhancing the security of importing or moving the RO through the RI. |
| US08737619B2 |
Method of triggering location based events in a user equipment
Methods, a user equipment, a server host, a client application, computer program products, and a server computer program. These methods and components can be utilized by a location based service. One method regards triggering of events in the user equipment based on a position of the user equipment, comprising the steps of: —looking up, in a server database at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area, —sending the network cell-identity to the user equipment, —storing the network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment, —obtaining a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected, —comparing in the user equipment the current network cell-identity with network cell-identities stored in the database, and —retrieving content associated with the current network cell-identity if the current network cell identity is among the network cell-identities in the database. |
| US08737614B1 |
Document imaging system with identity-based encryption
A system is provided in which document imaging equipment is used to acquire a document image from a printed document. The document image may be processed using an optical character recognition application implemented on the document imaging equipment. A user may supply identifier information. The identifier information may be used in constructing an identity-based-encryption (IBE) public key. Identity-based-encryption public parameter information and the IBE public key may be used in encrypting the document image. The IBE-encrypted document image may be stored in storage or sent to a recipient in a message. A user receiving the IBE-encrypted document image may obtain an IBE private key from a key server that is used in decrypting the IBE-encrypted document. |
| US08737613B2 |
Scanning methods of transform-based digital data processing that conditionally adjust scan order according to characteristics information and related apparatus thereof
One scanning method of transform-based digital data processing includes: when processing data blocks, recording characteristics information for different block categories individually; conditionally adjusting scan orders of data processing of the block categories according to the characteristics information; and performing the data processing upon a current data block according to a scan order corresponding to a block category to which the current data block belongs. Another scanning method of transform-based digital data processing includes: recording characteristics information when processing data blocks; conditionally adjusting a scan order according to the characteristics information; keeping at least one position in the scan order fixed regardless of changes made to the scan order; and performing a data processing upon a current data block according to the scan order. |
| US08737607B2 |
Finding nearby users without revealing own location
A first and second secure location indicators are electronically received at one or more servers from a first portable computing device and a second portable computing device, respectively, operating in a wireless communication network. Each of the secure location indicators is generated using the location of the corresponding portable computing device, and neither secure location indicator reveals the location of the corresponding portable computing device to the one or more servers. The first secure location indicator is compared to the second secure location indicator at the one or more servers and, in response to determining that the first secure location indicator is identical to the second secure location indicator, an indication of physical proximity of the second portable computing device is electronically transmitted to the first portable computing device. |
| US08737606B2 |
Method and system for high throughput blockwise independent encryption/decryption
An encryption technique is disclosed for encrypting a plurality of data blocks of a data segment where the encryption selectively switches between a blockwise independent randomized (BIR) encryption mode and a cipher block chaining (CBC) encryption mode based on a configurable feedback stride. A corresponding decryption technique is also disclosed. |
| US08737603B2 |
Cryptographic processing apparatus, cryptographic processing method, and computer program
To realize a common-key block cipher process configuration with increased difficulty of key analysis and improved security. In a configuration for storing in a register an intermediate key generated by using a secret key transformation process and performing a transformation process on the register-stored data to generate a round key, a process of swapping (permuting) data segments constituting the register-stored data is executed to generate a round key. For example, four data segments are produced so that two sets of data segments having an equal number of bits are set, and a process of swapping the individual data segments is repeatedly executed to generate a plurality of different round keys. With this configuration, the bit array of each round key can be effectively permuted, and round keys with low relevance can be generated. A high-security cryptographic process with increased difficulty of key analysis can be realized. |
| US08737596B2 |
Real-time collaboration center
A real-time collaboration center and method for using the same are described herein which enables a caller (end-user) to have a real-time collaboration session with a call center agent. In one embodiment, the real-time collaboration center is able to create a new real-time collaboration session for a caller where the caller is routed to the real-time collaboration session in which they might be joined by an automated call center agent which could provide product information and/or gather information to/from the caller while they wait for the live call center agent. When a live call center agent with the appropriate skill set becomes available, then he/she receives an invitation to join the real-time collaboration session where the two parties can then interact with voice, instant messaging, application/desktop sharing, and other media. |
| US08737592B2 |
Routing calls in a network
A method includes receiving a telephone number mapping query associated with a call. The method may also include generating routing information based on the query and forwarding the routing information to a control device. The routing information may indicate that processing associated with routing the call is to bypass a core portion of an Internet multimedia subsystem (IMS) when a calling party associated with the call does not invoke an IMS service, the called party associated with the call does not invoke an IMS service and the called party is not an IMS subscriber. |
| US08737589B2 |
Method and phone terminal for diverting call
The present invention provides two methods for diverting call. The key point is that call diverting information including a number to be called is transmitted when there is an incoming call or a conversation is being conducted and then a party receiving the call diverting information initiates a call to a terminal to which the number to be called directs, so that the call is diverted. Further, the present invention provides two phone terminals. By virtual of the present invention, it is possible for a user to select any terminal to receive a call, and such selection may be made before or during the phone conversation. Moreover, since it is unnecessary to use exiting call diverting methods, it is possible for the function which otherwise should be implemented at the switch side to be easily implemented on a terminal, and thus the cost of call diverting is saved. The present invention is easy to be deployed. According to the present invention, missing of calls will not occur, and it is easy to accomplish timed calling back. Further, the present invention only relates to terminals to which it is applied, and needs no support from operators. |
| US08737587B2 |
Method, communication device and computer-readable media for conveying an audio element to a user of a communication device during an outgoing call
The present invention discloses numerous implementations for conveying an audio element to a source device initiating an outgoing call while a user of the source device is waiting for a user of a destination device to answer the call. A call processing system receives a call request message from the source device, determines an audio element from a plurality of audio elements to convey to the source device and initiates conveyance of the audio element to the source device in response to receiving the call request message. The system then causes establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices and terminates conveyance of the audio element to the source device prior to or substantially simultaneous with the establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices. In various implementations, the source device may be implemented within the PSTN and/or an IP network. The audio element may comprise an audio file, an audio stream, scheduling information or other audio content. A subscriber associated with the source device may pre-configure the selection of the audio element to be conveyed in replace of the traditional ring tone. A communication device may also implement a method to convey an audio element to a user of the communication device during establishment of an outgoing call. |
| US08737575B1 |
Method and apparatus for transparently recording media communications between endpoint devices
A method and apparatus for enabling the upgrade of a VoIP endpoint device by downloading a firmware component to support CALEA related monitoring and recording of conversations for all calls originated or terminated by the endpoint device are disclosed. The upgraded CALEA firmware component can be activated by the network on demand or when the signaling information to set up a watched call is received. Once the recording is completed it can be translated into a standard audio format file that can be uploaded transparently to the network and sent in near real time to the appropriate CALEA server. |
| US08737574B2 |
Self-service circuit testing systems and methods
In one of many possible embodiments, an exemplary system includes a test management subsystem configured to provide a user portal to a user of a circuit provided by a service provider, the user portal including a tool enabling the user to select a signal loop for testing at least a section of the circuit, the signal loop being selected from a plurality of signal loop options. The system also includes a network management subsystem communicatively coupled to the test management subsystem, the network management subsystem being configured to receive data representative of the selection from the test management subsystem and instruct, based on the selection, a network device along the circuit to execute a loop-back mode. In certain embodiments, the selected signal loop defines a test pattern signal flow for testing a subsection of the circuit. |
| US08737573B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for testing communication lines
The invention generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for testing communication lines. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems and devices that include a digital/analog converter configured to operate with a computer processor and memory to send or receive an analog signal over a communication line that includes a plurality of signals having known frequencies. Inbound receiving sub-systems or devices sample the analog signal and measure a quality of the sampled, digital signal to evaluate the communication line. The key differentiator is the recognition that the human mouth and ear are intrinsically analog without encryption. By locating the test device as close to the user as possible, this system incorporates testing of complex communication streams including numerous variables and transforms (e.g. encryption, Analog to digital, Voice over IP, packet switching, ATM, SONET). Ultimately, it provides a simple interface to convert qualitative analysis to quantitative (numerical) analysis. |
| US08737569B2 |
Radiography control apparatus and radiography control method
A radiography control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire data of image-capturing mode and a change unit configured to change the number of times a correction image is captured, the correction image being used to correct a radiographic image in accordance with the acquired image-capturing-mode data. |
| US08737567B2 |
Image acquisition optimization
A system and a method for acquiring image data of a subject with an imaging system is provided. The system can include a gantry that completely annularly encompasses at least a portion of the subject, with a source positioned within and movable relative to the gantry. The source can be responsive to a signal to output at least one pulse. The system can include a detector positioned within and movable relative to the gantry to detect the pulse emitted by the source. The system can also include a detector control module that sets detector data based on the detected pulse, and an image acquisition control module that sets the signal for the source and receives the detector data. The image acquisition control module can reconstruct image data based on the detector data. The signal can include a signal for the source to output a single pulse or two pulses. |
| US08737562B2 |
Body section radiographic apparatus, and a noise removing method for the body section radiographic apparatus
A body section radiographic apparatus for serially acquiring a series of fluoroscopic images while synchronously moving a radiation source and a radiation detecting device, and obtaining a sectional image of a subject from the series of fluoroscopic images. The apparatus includes, besides the radiation source which emits a beam of radiation and the radiation detecting device which is opposed to the radiation source and has a plurality of radiation detecting elements, a synchronous moving device for moving the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously with each other, and a radiation grid disposed to cover a radiation detecting plane of the radiation detecting device for removing scattered radiation. The fluoroscopic images are serially acquired while moving the radiation grid relative to the radiation detecting device to change positions where radiation transmission unevenness of the radiation grid is projected on the radiation detecting device. |
| US08737561B2 |
X-ray phase grating and method for producing the same
An X-ray phase grating used for X-ray phase-contrast imaging based on Talbot interference includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate are combined so as to be shifted from each other by one half period. The first substrate has a first pattern in which first faces and second faces making an angle of α (where α≠0 and α≠90°) with the first faces are periodically arranged. The second substrate has a second pattern in which third faces corresponding to the first faces and fourth faces corresponding to the second faces and making an angle of α with the third faces are periodically arranged. |
| US08737560B2 |
Shift register unit, gate driving device and liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a shift register unit, a gate driving device and a liquid crystal display, wherein the shift register unit includes a first thin film transistor, a second thin film transistor, a third thin film transistor and a fourth thin film transistor, and further includes a pull-down unit and a driving unit. Since the shift register unit includes the pull-down unit and the driving unit, it is possible to assure that the output gate driving signal keeps at a low level stably when the shift register unit needs to output a low level, and the pull-down unit operates under the driving of an alternating current signal, which can prevent the threshold voltage of the thin film transistor of the pull-down unit from offsetting largely. |
| US08737559B2 |
Method and apparatus for preparing spent nuclear fuel for dry storage
A system and method for drying cavities loaded with spent nuclear fuel is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with spent nuclear fuel comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; a source of non-reactive gas; means for flowing the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and means for repetitively measuring the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity. |
| US08737558B2 |
System and method for storing energy
A system includes at least one body, a link for suspending the body for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, and an electrical energy generator coupled with the body through the link to drive the generator to generate electricity upon movement of the body with gravity from the first to the second elevation position. The at least one body has a mass of at least approximately 100 tonnes; the first and the second elevation positions define a distance therebetween of at least approximately 200 meters; and/or the system further includes an operator configured to operate the link to controllably move the at least one body against gravity from the second to the first elevation position to increase a gravitational potential energy of the at least one body, and to maintain the gravitational potential energy of the at least one body. |
| US08737552B1 |
Synchronous data transfer
A method of and apparatus for synchronous data transfer are described. The method may include encoding a clock period and data into an encoded signal, transmitting the encoded signal from a master device to a slave device, and recovering the data at the slave device without using a local oscillator. The apparatus may comprise a first integrated circuit including a master device configured to transmit an encoded signal of a clock period and data on a first port, and a second integrated circuit including a slave device where the slave device is configured to receive the encoded signal on a second port coupled to the first port and to recover the data without using a local oscillator. |
| US08737549B2 |
Receiver having limiter-enhanced data eye openings
A communication system having a receiver with a linear path and a nonlinear path. As the receiver receives a data signal, it adaptively equalizes the received signal, and amplitude-limits the equalized signal in the nonlinear path using a saturable amplifier limiter or the like. A slicer extracts data from the limited equalized received signal. In the linear path, a clock recovery circuit generates a clock signal from the equalized received signal. A delay circuit in the linear path at least partially compensates for propagation delay in the limiter. Having the clock recovery occur in other than the nonlinear path, a low jitter clock is generated. The limiter enhances the vertical opening of the data eye by increasing the rise and fall times of the limited signal, providing more noise margin for the slicer to operate with and a greater timing margin in which to sample the sliced data. |
| US08737548B2 |
Adaptive loading for orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) communication systems
An orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) transmitter may adaptively load each sub-carrier, buffering less than an OFDM frame in order to reduce hardware requirements and latency. The transmitter may use feedback information from the receiver regarding the quality of the sub-carriers. In addition, combining repetition and puncturing to achieve a desired date rate per class further reduces hardware by simplifying or even eliminating an interleaver. Additional mitigation and even performance enhancement techniques are incorporated to address inter-class boundaries within an OFDM frame, such as introducing transition classes. Channel state information may be reported in various formats including full bitmap, changed subchannels, and reported bad subchannels. |
| US08737547B2 |
Adaptive digital baseband receiver
An adaptive digital baseband receiver is described in which operating parameters of the receiver, such as bit-widths and operating frequencies, are determined that achieve a target bit-error-ratio (BER) as a function of received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and interference levels in a wireless channel and enable the receiver to consume a minimum amount of power. Over consumption of power may be avoided due to a functional relationship between optimal resolution and input signal conditions. In exemplary embodiments, the adaptive digital receiver is provided that adjusts bit-widths and operating frequency at power efficient levels while meeting a target BER. Simulations can be used to determine a relation between bit-width, operating frequency, and input signal conditions, for example. |
| US08737537B2 |
Frequency translation module frequency limiting amplifier
A system for processing signal communications between a frequency translation module and an integrated receiver decoder. According to an exemplary embodiment, the decoder and the frequency translation module comprise a signal processing apparatus comprising an input for receiving an frequency shift keyed modulated signal, an amplifier having negative feedback coupled to said input, wherein said input is further coupled to a first source of reference potential and a second source of reference potential; and a tank circuit coupled between said differential amplifier and an output. More particularly, the amplifier may comprise a first transistor having a first collector, a first emitter and a first base coupled to a signal source wherein said first base is further coupled to said first collector and a second transistor with a second base, a second emitter coupled to said first emitter, and a second collector, wherein said second collector is coupled to a bandpass filter and said bandpass filter is further coupled to an output. |
| US08737533B2 |
Method and arrangements for estimating IQ-imbalance
An arrangement for estimating IQ-imbalance of a received OFDM-signal is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an FFT-unit (410) adapted to transform the received OFDM-signal to a frequency domain. The frequency domain comprises a plurality of sub-carrier frequencies, and the transformed received OFDM-signal comprises pilot symbols on one or more sub-carrier frequencies and symbols other than pilot symbols on one or more other sub-carrier frequencies. The arrangement also comprises channel estimation circuitry (430, 445), and an IQ-imbalance estimation unit (440) adapted to estimate the IQ-imbalance based on at least one of the pilot symbols, a determined estimated channel value for the sub-carrier frequency of the at least one pilot symbol, an estimate of the transmitted information symbol on the corresponding mirror sub-carrier frequency associated with the at least one pilot symbol and an estimated channel value for the corresponding mirror sub-carrier frequency associated with the at least one pilot symbol. Wherein the corresponding mirror sub-carrier frequency comprises a symbol other than a pilot symbol. A corresponding method and a computer program product are also disclosed. |
| US08737532B2 |
Sample rate estimator for digital radio reception systems
A method and apparatus for adjusting a sample rate for an asynchronous sample rate converter is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an asynchronous sample rate converter (ASRC) that is configured to receive a digital data stream provided at a first sample rate. The ASRC is configured to convert the digital data stream to a second sample rate at which it is output. The apparatus also includes a sample rate estimator coupled to an interface through which samples from the digital data stream are conveyed subsequent to conversion to the second sample rate. The sample rate estimator is further coupled to the ASRC, and configured to adjust the second sample rate based on information obtained from the interface. |
| US08737529B2 |
Multiple antenna signal transmission
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of transmitting a transmission signal through a plurality of antennas are disclosed. One method includes generating at least one dynamically adjustable phase shifted signal from the transmission signal. The transmission signal and the at least one dynamically adjustable phase shifted signal are separately amplified. The amplified transmission signal and the amplified at least one dynamically adjustable phase shifted signal are combined within a multiport network. An output signal for each of the plurality of antennas is generated by the multiport network. |
| US08737528B2 |
Multiport amplifier and multiport amplification method using the same
A multiport amplifier having an output power control function is provided. The multiport amplifier includes a small-sized, low-power auto-calibrating circuit and is used for a communication satellite relay system. |
| US08737527B2 |
Composite amplifier, transmitter, and composite amplifier control method
A signal distributor sequentially outputs N input signals respectively corresponding to N rows of a matrix of which each has N element signals in which a predetermined matrix is obtained by dividing the matrix by a predetermined value. A coupler adds the amplified N element signals for each the input signal. A solver computes feedback signals Y* for the individual amplifiers by using an addition result Y of the outputs for each the input signal and the inverse matrix L−1 of the predetermined matrix. |
| US08737524B2 |
Method and device for reducing the transmission power on a digital subscriber line
A method and a device for data processing are provided, said method comprising the steps of (a) at least one bit of the data is manipulated (405); (b) it is checked whether the manipulation is admissible (406); and (c) if the manipulation is admissible, the manipulated data is transmitted (409). Furthermore, a communication system is suggested comprising said device. |
| US08737523B2 |
Apparatus and method for predictive over-drive detection
A method and apparatus for efficient drive level selection for, e.g., power amplifiers utilized within a wireless communication system, which utilizes digital predistortion (DPD) to adaptively and predictively select drive level. The DPD, e.g., increases the power amplifier's efficiency while maintaining spectral mask compliance within the designated frequency band of transmission. The method first determines a peak amplitude of an undistorted waveform that is to be transmitted and then predicts the maximum power that is to be transmitted by the power amplifier after the undistorted signal has been predistorted. An over-drive metric is then calculated based upon the predicted drive level of the power amplifier, which indicates whether or not the cascade of the predistorter and the power amplifier is predicted to operate linearly. The over-drive metric may then be used to ensure optimal power amplifier performance, thereby eliminating the need to use overly conservative power amplifier drive settings. |
| US08737518B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and method
A data compression process is described, for compressing channel state information to be fed back to a transmitter. The process involves arranging the data as a matrix comprising a number of orthonormal vectors derived from a channel matrix, determining a singular value decomposition of a subset of the orthonormal matrix to generate matrices respectively of left and right singular vectors, the number of vectors in the subset being equal to the order of the vectors, and right multiplying the remainder orthonormal vectors not included in the singular value decomposition by a matrix product of the matrix of right singular vectors and the matrix of left singular vectors to generate a matrix of compressed data. |
| US08737517B2 |
Scrambling and modulation to constrain the constellation size of ACK/NAK transmission on the data channel
Aspects describe maximizing a Euclidean distance for an ACK transmission as a function of the number of bits in a HARQ-ACK and a modulation order. Encoding includes placing escape sequences in the HARQ-ACK, wherein the number of escape sequences is based on the number of bits and the modulation order. Multiple encoded ACK blocks are combined to obtain a vector sequence that is multiplexed with the encoded data and interleaved, such as on a “time-first” manner. Scrambling is performed as a function of the size and the modulation order. For a 1-bit ACK, the scrambling is performed to achieve any two corners in any constellation for transmission for the ACK. For a 2-bit ACK, the scrambling is performed to achieve any four corners in any constellation for transmission for the ACK. |
| US08737516B2 |
Amplitude modulation of carrier to encode data
A method and system is provided for communicating distinct data over a single frequency using on-off keying, a form of amplitude modulation, or phase changes timed to the zero crossing point of the carrier. A data signal is synchronized with the carrier by adding padding bits so that the number of bits is equal to the frequency of the carrier. The carrier is then modified by attenuating the carrier as needed once per cycle. Said carrier is then transmitted. The resulting transmitted carrier carries a number of bits equal to the transmit frequency. At the receive end, the received signal is compared to a sine wave to determine if the incoming signal is at full strength or at reduced strength, allowing for the detection of encoded digital information. In a another embodiment, the phase of the carrier is changed instead of attenuating the carrier, timed to the carrier cycles, once or twice per cycle. |
| US08737515B2 |
Method for determining the spatial position of an object, electronic circuit and electronic system
A roulette table, including an electronic system having at least one electronic circuit, a number of M antennas, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) transmitter for sending a number of M orthogonal code sequences via the antennas, and a contactless communication interface for receiving the position from an electronic memory of the electronic circuit, in which the antennas are arranged below stake fields of the roulette table, and having chips, in which each chip is equipped with an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes the following: a CDMA receiver for receiving a number of M orthogonal code sequences; an electronic memory for storing an allocation instruction, through the allocation instruction each code sequence is assigned to one of the antennas, with this allocation containing information regarding the spatial location of the respective antenna; a processor for accessing the electronic memory to determine the position of the electronic circuit relative to the antennas by determining, with the help of the code sequences received from the CDMA receiver, the information regarding the spatial locations of those antennas by which the code sequences were received, and by deriving from the detected spatial locations of the antennas the position of the electronic circuit and producing a position signal therefrom; and a contactless communication interface for transmitting the position signal. |
| US08737508B2 |
Communication system and method for communicating thereof
In the communications system of the present invention, a communications terminal determines a precoding matrix index in a pilot signal received through a specific downlink channel, examines channel quality information of the downlink channel according to the determined precoding matrix index, and transmits feedback information to a serving base station, which determines a priority factor by using the examined channel quality information, and compares the priority factor with other priority factors. The comparison is used such that a base station having a high priority suggests the use of the precoding matrix to the neighboring base station. |
| US08737504B2 |
Method and system for feedback of channel information
A base station is provided. The base station includes a transmit path circuitry configured to transmit downlink control information in a downlink control information (DCI) format to a subscriber station, and a receive path circuitry configured to receive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) feedback from the subscriber station in response to the downlink control information. The MIMO feedback from the subscriber station is determined by two or more codepoints in the DCI format. One of the two or more codepoints indicates a rank-limited single user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) feedback corresponding to a rank up to a maximum rank. |
| US08737502B2 |
Multiplexing and coding schemes for multiple transmit antennas in a wireless communication system
Techniques for transmitting data from multiple transmit antennas using space orthogonal resource transmit diversity (SORTD) are described. For the SORTD scheme, a different orthogonal resource may be assigned to each transmit antenna. Data may be sent from the multiple transmit antennas using multiple orthogonal resources. In one design, a UE may process at least one information bit (e.g., with joint or independent coding) to obtain first and second sets of at least one modulation symbol. The UE may process the first set of modulation symbol(s) for transmission from the first transmit antenna using a first orthogonal resource. The UE may process the second set of modulation symbol(s) for transmission from the second transmit antenna using a second orthogonal resource. Each orthogonal resource may include a different reference signal sequence or a different set of reference signal sequence and orthogonal sequence. |
| US08737500B2 |
Transmitter and method for transmitting data block in wireless communication system
Provided are a transmitter and a method for transmitting a data block in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the following steps: deciding the number of bits (s) and encoders (NES) to allocate to one axis of a signal constellation; encoding an information bit based on the s and the NES and generating a coded block; parsing the coded block based on the s and the NES and generating a plurality of frequency sub-blocks; and transmitting the plurality of frequency sub-blocks to a receiver. |
| US08737499B2 |
Advanced interference cancellation for precoded GSM edge radio access network (GERAN)
An interference cancellation receiver for a pre-coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) based system combines temporal interference cancellation within the OFDM framework. Multi-path equalization and inter-symbol interference (ISI) cancellation are performed on a time domain channel estimate of a received signal. An output from the multi-path equalization is transformed to the frequency domain. Inter-channel interference (ICI) is performed in the frequency domain on an equalized signal from the multi-path equalization after transforming the equalized signal from the time domain to the frequency domain. |
| US08737498B2 |
Secondary transmitter included in cognitive radio communication system and communication method of the secondary transmitter
Provided is a communication method of a secondary transmitter included in a multiple-antenna based multiple input multiple output (MIMO) cognitive radio communication system, the method including: estimating an interference channel between the secondary transmitter and a primary user in each of at least one first spectrum band that is being used in a primary system; calculating an orthogonal projection matrix to cancel interference with respect to the primary user from the interference channel; calculating an effective channel between the secondary transmitter and a secondary receiver based on the to orthogonal projection matrix; and selecting an index of an optimal spectrum band from the at least one first spectrum band based on the orthogonal projection matrix and the effective channel. |
| US08737488B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding
The present invention relates to a multimedia data decoding method and apparatus. The decoding method includes receiving multimedia data including a data area including a plurality of media data areas each corresponding to a plurality of media data; and a media information area including a plurality of track areas each corresponding to the plurality of media data areas; reading the media information area; extracting timing information for sequentially reproducing the media data comprised in the media data area, from the track area; and reproducing the media data, using the media data of the data area and the extracted timing information. According to the present invention, the multimedia data decoding method and apparatus has an effect of being capable of constructing a slide show by only a small amount of multimedia data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can reduce. |
| US08737484B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted. |
| US08737481B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image using adaptive interpolation filter
Provided are an image encoding method and apparatus for generating an interpolation filter using an adjacent area of a current block and a corresponding adjacent area of a reference picture and interpolating the reference picture using the generated interpolation filter, and an image decoding method and apparatus therefor. By interpolating an adjacent area of a reference picture corresponding to an adjacent area of a current block according to fractional pixel resolution of a motion vector of the current block and determining interpolation filter coefficients to minimize a difference between an interpolated adjacent area of the reference picture and the adjacent area of the current block, an interpolation filter needed for motion compensation of the current block is adaptively generated using information on the adjacent area. |
| US08737473B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus (10a) according to the present invention includes a level analyzer (100a) that decides the maximum number of intra frame pixels which can be coded (Nfpx) and the maximum number of storage pixels which can be stored in a picture memory of a decoding apparatus (Nspx) on the basis of a level identifier (Lst) indicating a coding level that is designated by the user, thereby judging whether coding of an input image is possible or not and calculating the maximum number of reference pictures (Nrpn) as the number of reference candidate pictures which can be referred to at inter picture prediction coding, on the basis of the maximum number of intra frame pixels (Nfpx) and the input image size (the number of vertical pixels (Nhpx) and the number of horizontal pixels (Nwpx)). A decoding apparatus to which a bit stream from the moving picture coding apparatus (10a) is supplied can always decode the bit stream satisfactorily, and perform inter picture prediction decoding corresponding to the inter picture prediction coding on the coding end. Consequently, memory areas of a coding apparatus and a decoding apparatus that are adapted to a coding method in which there is no restraint on the capacity of the memory area can be designed. |
| US08737470B2 |
Power savings in hierarchically coded modulation
A wireless communication apparatus in a hierarchically coded modulation system can use error control mechanisms generated during decoding of base layer information to predict a probability of successful demodulation of enhancement layer information. Performance in the demodulation of the base layer correlates to performance in the demodulation of the enhancement layer. The receiver can determine whether to attempt demodulation of temporally correlated enhancement layer data based in part on the predicted probability of success. If the receiver determines not to demodulate the enhancement layer, the receiver can power down the enhancement layer demodulator, or otherwise minimize the power expended in the enhancement layer demodulator. |
| US08737468B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted. |
| US08737467B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
An information processing apparatus includes: an analysis means for analyzing a code stream in which picture data is encoded during transmission; a dividing position determination means for determining a dividing position of the code stream in accordance with a picture size of the picture data based on an analysis result by the analysis means; and a decoding means for decoding code streams in plural units of division in parallel, which are obtained by the code stream being divided at the dividing position determined by the dividing position determination means. |
| US08737465B2 |
Video processing device, video processing method, video processing program, and storage medium
Provided is a video processing technique capable of carrying out noise reduction processing and image quality correction using a configuration that is typically used in decoding processing. A video processing device according to the present invention counts the number of blocks in which a quantization parameter in video exceeds a predetermined threshold value and calculates a noise amount in the video based on the count result. Further, an amount by which the noise is to be reduced is adjusted in accordance with the calculated noise amount. |
| US08737462B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted. |
| US08737458B2 |
Highly-spectrally-efficient reception using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Circuitry for use in a receiver may comprise: a front-end circuit operable to receive an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol on a first number of physical subcarriers. The circuitry may comprise a decoding circuit operable to decode the OFDM symbol using an inter-carrier interference (ICI) model, the decoding resulting in a determination of a sequence of symbols, comprising a second number of symbols, that most-likely correspond to the received OFDM symbol, where the second number is greater than the first number. The sequence of symbols may comprise N-QAM symbols, N being an integer. The ISCI model may be based, at least in part, on non-linearity experienced by the OFDM symbol during transmission by a transmitter, propagation over a channel, and/or reception by the receiver. The ISCI model may be based, at least in part, on phase-noise introduced to the OFDM symbol during transmission by a transmitter, propagation over a channel, and/or reception by the receiver. |
| US08737457B2 |
Adaptive smoothing of channel estimates
Techniques for directly adapting the parameters of a smoothing filter used for channel estimation to the current velocity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) situation. An example method begins with a plurality of channel response measurements. For each of a first subset of a set of pre-determined filter responses, the channel measurement samples are filtered to obtain a corresponding set of estimated channel response samples. Next, for each set of estimated channel response samples, a corresponding set of ordered residuals are calculated from the channel measurement samples. Each set of ordered residuals is evaluated to determine a measure of correlation among the ordered residuals, and an updated filter response is selected from a second subset of the set of pre-determined filter responses, based on this evaluation, for use in demodulating a received signal. |
| US08737447B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser
A nitride semiconductor surface-emitting laser includes a two-dimensional photonic crystal layer having a resonant mode in an in-plane direction. The surface-emitting laser includes an active layer, the two-dimensional photonic crystal layer, a semiconductor layer, and an electrode in this order. The two-dimensional photonic crystal layer contains p-type conductive InxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1) as a high-refractive-index medium. The semiconductor layer contains p-type conductive InyGa1-yN (0≦y≦1). The thickness tPhC of the two-dimensional photonic crystal layer satisfies the relation of tPhC≧(λ/neff), wherein λ denotes the lasing wavelength, and neff denotes the effective refractive index of the resonant mode. |
| US08737445B2 |
Laser diode assembly
A laser diode assembly includes a housing having a housing part and a mounting part, which is connected to the housing part and which extends away from the housing part along an extension direction. A laser diode chip is disposed on the mounting part. The laser diode chip has, on a substrate, semiconductor layers with an active layer for emitting light. The housing part and the mounting part have a main body composed of copper and at least the housing part is steel-sheathed. A first solder layer having a thickness of greater than or equal to 2 μm is arranged between the laser diode chip and the mounting part. The laser diode chip has a radiation coupling-out area, on which a crystalline protective layer is applied. |
| US08737444B2 |
Edge-emitting semiconductor laser
An edge emitting semiconductor laser comprising an active, radiation-generating zone (1), and an common waveguide (8), which is suitable for guiding the radiation generated in the active zone (1) within the semiconductor laser. The common waveguide (8) comprises a first n-doped layer (4) and a second n-doped layer (5), which is arranged between the first n-doped layer (4) and the active zone (1), wherein the refractive index n2 of the second n-doped layer (5) is greater than the refractive index n1 of the first n-doped layer (4) by a value dn. |
| US08737443B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser device and wafer
A nitride semiconductor laser device is provided herein that is reduced in capacitance to have a better response. The nitride semiconductor laser device includes: an active layer; an upper cladding layer which is stacked above the active layer; a low dielectric constant insulating film which is stacked above the upper cladding layer; and a pad electrode which is stacked above the low dielectric constant insulating film. |
| US08737440B2 |
Optical module with enhanced robustness of temperature controlling device
An optical assembly (OSA) that installs a semiconductor optical device mounted on a thermo-electric controller (TEC) is disclosed. The TEC in the upper plate thereof is mechanically connected to the housing, or to the block stiffly fixed to the housing by a bridge made of stiff material. The bridge preferably extends along the optical axis to show enhanced durability against the impact caused by an external ferrule abutting against the receptacle of the OSA. |
| US08737433B2 |
Method for synchronizing clocks in a communication system
A method for clock synchronization between higher layers using synchronization information provided from lower layers in multi-clock communication system in which the higher layers and the lower layers use heterogeneous clocks is provided. |
| US08737428B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and computer program
Random access operation is performed under a communication environment in which a plurality of communication modes having different transmission rate coexist with small overhead. A high-grade communication station spoofs information of a packet length and a rate in a decoding portion so that a value of (packet length)/(rate) corresponds to a duration where the communication is hoped to be stopped. The other station receiving the spoofed information receives the rest of the packet with the designated rate during the interval designated by the value of (packet length)/(rate). In this case, the packet length and the rate are not those of actually transmitted packet so that this packet is discarded. |
| US08737421B2 |
MAC packet data unit construction for wireless systems
A method for wireless communication using MAC PDUs. The method includes determining one or more characteristics of a service flow and selecting on the basis of the one or more characteristics a MAC PDU header type among a plurality of MAC PDU header types. The service flow data is encapsulated in MAC PDUs with a header of the selected type. The MAC PDUs with the encapsulated service flow data are then wirelessly transmitted. Also, a method for communication between a Base Station (BS) and a Subscriber Station (SS). The method includes generating at the BS a plurality of MAC PDU packets with a payload component holding service flow data and a plurality of MAC PDU packets without payload component, carrying control information. The method also includes transmitting wirelessly the MAC PDU packets with the payload component and the MAC PDU packets with the control information to the SS. |
| US08737420B2 |
Bandwidth management in a powerline network
There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. Each of the stations is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with each of the other stations in the powerline network. Each tone map includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between two of the stations. Each tone map further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone. Each of the stations is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with each of the other stations, where the default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle. Each of the stations is further configurable to monitor its bandwidth needs and to request additional bandwidth from the central coordinator. |
| US08737418B2 |
Queue speed-up by using multiple linked lists
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch that includes a transmission mechanism configured to transmit frames stored in a queue, and a queue management mechanism configured to store frames associated with the queue in a number of sub-queues which allow frames in different sub-queues to be retrieved independently, thereby facilitating parallel processing of the frames stored in the sub-queues. |
| US08737416B2 |
Access link aggregator
One or more virtual access nodes manage multiple physical links connecting a digital subscriber line access multiplexer and an intelligent network interface device by logically bonding physical ports together into a group. Physical ports bonded in a logical group have equal priority with respect to one another. Thus, no master-slave relationship exists between the physical ports in the logical group. Traffic associated with a site is transmitted over physical links associated with the logical group of physical ports to a customer premises network interface device. The customer premises network interface device subsequently aggregates the received traffic and provides an increased bandwidth to the site over the physical links. The quality of communication is based on the number of operational physical links associated with the logical group. As long as at least one physical link associated with the logical group remains operational, communication will be enabled. |
| US08737414B2 |
Scheduling, including distributed scheduling, for a buffered crossbar switch
Scheduling methods and apparatus are provided for buffered crossbar switches with a crosspoint buffer size as small as one and no speedup. An exemplary distributed scheduling process achieves 100% throughput for any admissible Bernoulli arrival traffic. Simulation results also showed that this distributed scheduling process can provide very good delay performance for different traffic patterns. The simulation results also showed that packet delay is very weakly dependent on the switch size, which implies that the exemplary distributed scheduling process can scale with the number of switch ports. |
| US08737412B2 |
Network relay system and method of automatically setting a network relay system
FSs (16a to 16h) are each connected to IFSs (14a to 14x). Each of the FSs (16a to 16h) transmits a setting frame (60) that includes an FS number to the connected IFSs (14a to 14x). Each of the IFSs (14a to 14x) registers, in an LAG setting table, the FS numbers included in the received setting frames (60) and ports that have received the same in association with each other. Then, each of the IFSs (14a to 14x) sorts ports (52a to 52h) in an order of the associated FS numbers, and sets each of LAGs (18a to 18x) in a common order. |
| US08737408B1 |
Managing communications for modified computer networks
Techniques are described for managing communications between multiple computing nodes, such as computing nodes that are part of a virtual computer network. In some situations, various types of modifications may be made to one or more computing nodes of an existing virtual computer network, and the described techniques include managing ongoing communications for those computing nodes so as to accommodate the modifications. Such modifications may include, for example, migrating or otherwise moving a particular computing node that is part of a virtual network to a new physical network location, or modifying other aspects of how the computing node participates in the virtual network (e.g., changing one or more virtual network addresses used by the computing node). In some situations, the computing nodes may include virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems, such as by or on behalf of one or more users. |
| US08737407B2 |
Systems and methods for distributed hash table in multi-core system
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for using a distributed hash table to maintain the same configuration and resource persistency across a plurality of cores in a multi-core system. The distributed hash table includes a plurality of partitions, each partition being owned by a respective core of the multi-core system. A core may establish resources in the partition it owns. A core may request other cores to establish resources in the partitions they own and send resource information to the core. The core may locally cache the resource information. |
| US08737406B1 |
Method for transmitting IP routes to prioritize convergence
An improved technique for distributing routing information that allows routes to be prioritized such that information associated with higher priority routes is sent in update messages ahead of information associated with lower priority routes, thereby enabling the higher priority routes to converge faster than the lower priority routes. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a route policy map that associates routes with priorities is defined. The policy map is then applied to the routes to prioritize the routes. Update messages are then generated using the priority information and the route information contained in the update messages is organized such that route information associated with higher priority routes is placed ahead of route information associated with lower priority routes. |
| US08737405B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining channel bandwidth
In a method implemented in a communication device an available bandwidth for transmitting one or more data frames is determined, wherein the available bandwidth corresponds to a first composite communication channel comprising a plurality of communication channels. A control frame to indicate a request to transmit via the first composite communication channel is generated, wherein the control frame includes a header, and wherein a portion of the header includes information indicating the bandwidth of the first composite channel. The control frame is transmitted via the first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header is duplicated in a plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite communication channel. |
| US08737403B2 |
Context-switched multi-stream pipelined reorder engine
A pipelined reorder engine reorders data items received over a network on a per-source basis. Context memories correspond to each of the possible sources. The pipeline includes a plurality of pipeline stages that together simultaneously operate on the data items. The context memories are operatively coupled to the pipeline stages and store information relating to a state of reordering for each of the sources. The pipeline stages read from and update the context memories based on the source of the data item being processed. |
| US08737398B2 |
Communication module with network isolation and communication filter
Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for protecting a programmable logic controller (PLC) 201 and plant network 203 against unauthorized access and for providing robust intended communication. A communication module 211 provides only intended communication and blocks all unintended communication between the plant network and a control network/office network 205 without using external infrastructure network devices. The communication module includes an Ethernet switch 303 and ports that electrically couple the CPU module 209, a plant network, and control/office network and controls communication to the PLC and the plant network from the control/office network by forwarding packets based on configuration information 406 and 504, where the packets are received through the ports. The communication module passes packets only when the associated source address and destination address are in accordance with the configuration information. The communication module may further pass packets based on packet traffic limits. |
| US08737397B2 |
Method for converting between unicast sessions and multicast session
The invention includes methods for converting between a plurality of unicast sessions and a multicast session. A method for converting from unicast sessions to a multicast session includes receiving a request for establishing a unicast session for delivering content to a first client device, generating a multicast session establishment message adapted for establishing a multicast session with the client device for delivering the content to the client device, and generating at least one multicast session join message for the other client devices, the at least one multicast session join message adapted for enabling the other client devices to join the multicast session. The multicast session establishment message is generated using a threshold number of unicast sessions. A method for converting from a multicast session to a unicast session is provided. A method for converting from a plurality of unicast sessions to a plurality of multicast sessions is provided. |
| US08737396B2 |
Communication method and communication system
A server associates a permitted terminal identifier that identifies a permitted terminal permitted to perform tunnel communication to a first router with an endpoint address of a tunnel used in the communication of a permitted terminal. A second router that encapsulates a packet received from a requesting terminal, which requests the tunnel communication, inquires the server about an endpoint address associated with an identifier of the requesting terminal. The server notifies the second router of the target address that is the endpoint address associated with the identifier of the requesting terminal. The second router transmits the encapsulated packet to the target address. The first router to which the target address is allocated regards a received packet received at the target address as a packet used in the tunnel communication of the permitted terminal and decapsulates the received packet and then transmits the decapsulated packet to a communication destination. |
| US08737394B2 |
Route computation method and system, and path computation element
A route computation method and system, and a path computation element (PCE) are provided. In particular, the method includes: receiving, by a bottom-level PCE which manages a routing domain including a destination node, a path computation command, performing a route computation on the routing domain managed by the bottom-level PCE, obtaining a path segment set with a destination node serving as an endpoint, and sending the obtained path segment set to an upper-level PCE of the bottom-level PCE, sending, by the upper-level PCE receiving the path segment set sent by a first lower-level PCE, the path computation command to a second lower-level PCE, receiving path segment sets sent by all lower-level PCEs, and combining and sending all the received path segment sets to an upper-level PCE of the upper-level PCE, until a top-level PCE receives path segment sets sent by all lower-level PCEs of the top-level PCE; and combining, by the top-level PCE, all the received path segment sets to generate a set of paths between the destination node and the source node. |
| US08737393B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method for communication apparatus, and computer program
A communication apparatus for performing connection type communication includes a first memory configured to store pieces of communication endpoint information relating to communication endpoints of connection, and a moving device configured to move, among the pieces of communication endpoint information stored in the first memory, communication endpoint information of connection set in a disconnection wait state, from the first memory to a second memory. |
| US08737391B2 |
Switching matrix and method for specifying a switching matrix
A method of specifying a switching matrix over a Bene{hacek over (s)} network involves specifying a first number of ingress ports and a second number of egress ports for the matrix. Switching elements and connections between the switching elements are configured to the number of ports, and the matrix is subdivided into a plurality of sections. The switching elements and ports are moved and/or turned to obtain certain configurations, but connections are retained. |
| US08737388B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for processing packets
A system for processing packets in a distributed architecture system includes a main control board, at least one service board, and at least one interface board. The system determines a specified CPU corresponding to a received packet; and, by the service board corresponding to the CPU, processes the received packet. The received packets are processed in the service board corresponding to the specified CPU. Therefore, the packets are evenly distributed to all service boards for being processed, the workload of the main control board is relieved, the service throughput is increased significantly, and the packet processing efficiency of the whole architecture is improved. |
| US08737387B2 |
Gateway unit, communication system and communication method
A gateway unit which relays communication between a call control network and a terminal having no call control function. The gateway unit includes: a session control section which substitutively performs call control processing in call control communication performed by the terminal by way of the call control network and reports a band required for the call control communication to the call control network; and a band adjustment section which determines an updated value of a band of the call control communication based on a communication packet in the call control communication, received from the terminal. The session control section reports the updated value to the call control network as the band required by the call control communication. |
| US08737386B2 |
System for interconnecting standard telephony communications equipment to internet
Apparatus includes a communication predelivery receiver, configured to communicate with and relay both IP addressed overhead and IP addressed payload data from an originating communication device. The communication predelivery receiver includes a screener configured to, when the communication predelivery receiver is in communication with the originating communication device, receive certain data including first IP addressed data and second IP addressed data of corresponding first and second initiated communications. The communication predelivery receiver is configured and connected within a network so the first IP addressed data and the second IP addressed data are processed differently. For the first initiated communication, the first payload data is converted, after the point in time at which the screener received the first IP addressed data, from IP addressed first payload data to another network signal. For the second initiated communication, the second payload data is delivered without so converting the second payload data. |
| US08737385B2 |
PBX call management
Enhanced call management services to users receiving incoming calls on extensions on a private branch exchange (PBX) is provided by an application server configured to provide call management services to at least one of the users and a protocol proxy configured to receive call information from the PBX according to a protocol for establishing call sessions. The application server is further configured to receive the call information from the protocol proxy. |
| US08737384B2 |
Peer-to-peer, internet protocol telephone system with auto-attendant
Various embodiments of the invention provide a Peer-to-Peer (P2P, Internet Protocol (IP) telephone system. The telephone system includes a plurality of terminals coupled together via an IP network. The terminals cooperate with one another to provide telephony features without a dedicated central controller such as a PBX and/or a KSU controller. The terminals may store system-wide configuration data and files referenced by the system-wide configuration data. The terminals may further determine whether the system-wide configuration data references a file that is not stored in the terminal, and requesting the file from another terminal of the telephone system in response to determining the terminal does not have a copy of the file. |
| US08737382B2 |
Network operator brokering system and telephone system for providing optimal routing path for voice call using the same and providing method thereof
A system and method for selecting a path for a voice call over an access network from a plurality of access networks. The system includes a call negotiation agent configured to store price information associated with the voice call in which the price information is provided through at least one of the plurality of access networks. According to the present invention, a call negotiation server is configured to store the price information associated with a voice call and store the estimation information indicative of the quality of the access networks after the voice call through the plurality of access networks is completed. The system also performs a call negotiation with at least one network operator in real time using the price information and the estimation information and selects an access network for providing a path among the plurality of access networks. |
| US08737381B1 |
Method and apparatus for enabling the receipt of phone calls behind a network address translation device
A method and apparatus for enabling users behind NAT devices to receive unsolicited VoIP calls by allowing the VoIP network to dynamically open a temporary tunnel between the users' VoIP endpoint and the VoIP network for the subscriber to receive call set up messages and media streams from other callers are disclosed. An unsolicited call is a call that can be originated from any calling party endpoint. Once the call is finished, the temporary tunnel will be closed. |
| US08737374B2 |
System and method for packet acknowledgment
Systems and methods for packet acknowledgement are disclosed. In one embodiment, codewords are redundantly used in order to decrease the total number of bits required for feeding back acknowledgment information or in order to increase the Euclidean space between codewords. |
| US08737371B2 |
Route optimization of a data path between communicating nodes using a route optimization agent
The invention relates to optimizing a data path between two communication nodes. A route optimization agent (ROA) is determined in the current network of the second communication node, preferably on the data path between the two communication nodes. Then, an IP tunnel is established between the first communication node and the ROA, the IP tunnel and the corresponding security association of said IP tunnel being based on the home address of the first communication node in its home network. The first communication node may have two IP tunnels based on the same home address, one to its home agent and one to the ROA. Corresponding routing entries and binding cache entries need to be established in the ROA and the first communication node so that all data packets between the two communication nodes are exchanged via the established IP tunnel over the ROA. |
| US08737369B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving control information in multi-antenna system
A method and apparatus for transmitting control information by an enhanced Node B (eNB) in a wireless communication system supporting Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology is provided, in which at least one parameter required for initial transmission of User Equipment (UE) is transmitted through a Packet Data Control Channel (PDCCH), at least two codewords are received from the UE and then decoded, one of a plurality of indicators, related to an operation of the UE, is determined based on decoding results of at least two codewords, the determined indicator is transmitted through a Physical Hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH), and at least one codeword is received that the UE generates and transmits based on the parameter required for initial transmission of the UE and the indicator related to the operation of the UE. |
| US08737365B2 |
Method of allocating uplink radio resources
A method of allocating uplink radio resources to a mobile device, in which uplink and downlink timeslots are allocated, and the sum of the allocated uplink timeslots and the allocated downlink timeslots within a predetermined period is less than the total number of assigned time slots and does not exceed a predetermined maximum. The resources are allocated in a reduced transmission time interval configuration, in which an indication of the uplink timeslot allocation is received from the network in a downlink timeslot, or downlink timeslot pair, directing the mobile device to transmit only in one uplink timeslot pair. |
| US08737363B2 |
Code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system
A subscriber unit for use in a multiple access spread-spectrum communication system includes a spread spectrum radio interface, responsive to a rate function signal from a base station, and first and second despreaders. The base station assigns the rate function spread-spectrum message channels and the first despreader recovers and modifies an information signal one of the spread spectrum message channels. The information channel mode is then modified for processing by the second despreader, with the second despreader supporting a different information signal rate. The subscriber unit has a capability of communicating with a dynamically changing a transmission rate of an information signal which includes multiple spread spectrum message channels. The system includes a closed loop power control system for maintaining a minimum system transmit power level for a radio carrier station and the subscriber units, and system capacity management for maintaining a maximum number of active subscriber units for improved system performance. |
| US08737361B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting signal in communication system
When a plurality of sectors transmit the same signal in a communication system, the same signal is transmitted after a weight is applied to the same signal. At this time, defective reception of the same signal in a terminal may be reduced by setting a weight pattern differently according to a symbol transmission time and a sector number. |
| US08737358B2 |
Method for providing seamless transition between networks following different protocols
Example embodiments provide methods for handling the transition of a mobile device from a first network to a second network, the second network operating according to a different communications protocol from the first network. One example embodiment includes terminating forwarding of the data packets from the first network to the mobile device; rebuilding headers of unforwarded data packets at the first network; and sending the rebuilt data packets from the first network to the second network. Another example embodiment includes resetting a header compression state at the second network; receiving unforwarded data packets from the first network at the second network, the unforwarded data packets being data packets the first network had not yet forwarded to the mobile device; and sending the unforwarded data packets from the second network to the mobile device. |
| US08737354B2 |
Method of data path switching during inter-radio access technology handover
The present invention provides a method of data path switching. Embodiments of the method include transmitting a packet from a node in a communication system during hand off of a mobile node from a source access network to a target access network. The packet includes an end marker that indicates that the packet is the last packet to be transmitted during the hand off over a source link between the mobile node and an anchor node via the source access network during the hand off. Embodiments of the method also include switching, at the node, a transmission data path from the source link to a target link between the mobile node and the anchor node via the target access network following transmission of the packet including the end marker. |
| US08737352B2 |
Communication system, mobile terminal and communication method
A communication system includes a first base station for communicating complying with a first communication protocol, a second base station for communicating by using radio frames complying with a second communication protocol and transmitting synchronization signals complying with the first communication protocol, the synchronization signals synchronizing the transmitted radio frames, and a mobile terminal for communicating according to the process includes: receiving the synchronization signals from the second base station while communicating with the first base station, estimating transmitting timing of the radio frames including symbols on the basis of the received synchronization signals, measuring a receiving signal strength of the symbol on the basis of the estimated timing, and controlling a handover from the first base station to the second base station on the basis of the measurement result by the measurement of the receiving signal strength of the symbol. |
| US08737350B2 |
Methods and apparatus for RF handoff in a multi-frequency network
Methods and apparatus for RF handoff in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method includes generating a content preserving handoff table that includes a current LOI and neighboring LOIs carrying at least the same wide and local content multiplexes as the current LOI, and determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff, selecting a selected LOI from the content preserving handoff table and a selected RF channel associated with the selected LOI, and performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI if the selected LOI is different than the current LOI. An apparatus includes means for generating a content preserving handoff table, means for determining that handoff conditions are met for a content preserving handoff, means for selecting a selected LOI and a selected RF channel, and means for performing a handoff to the selected RF channel in the selected LOI. |
| US08737344B2 |
Method and device for uplink resource allocation
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. In more detail, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting an uplink in a wireless communication system and to a device therefore, wherein the method for transmitting an uplink in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a control channel signal including resource allocation information; and transmitting an uplink signal according to control channel signal. |
| US08737343B2 |
Coded reverse link messages for closed-loop power control of forward link control messages
A field unit includes circuitry configured to receive a signal and determine whether the received signal has a predetermined quality; circuitry configured to select a signal from a plurality of signals including a first signal indicating that the field unit is requesting an assignment of resources and the received signal was received with the predetermined quality, a second signal indicating that the field unit is requesting an assignment of resources and the received signal was not received with the predetermined quality, a third signal indicating that the field unit is not requesting an assignment of resources and the received signal was received with the predetermined quality, and a fourth signal indicating that the field unit is not requesting an assignment of resources and the received signal was not received with the predetermined quality; and circuitry configured to transmit the selected signal over a control channel. |
| US08737338B2 |
Radio communication terminal device and radio communication method
Provided are a radio communication terminal apparatus and a radio transmission method by which intersymbol interference of DM-RS of a CoMP terminal and a Non-CoMP terminal can be reduced. A CoMP set setting unit (102) sets the cell IDs of all cells in the CoMP set in a cell selection unit (104), and a serving cell setting unit (103) sets the cell ID of the serving cell in the cell selection unit (104). The cell selection unit (104) selects the cell ID having a number closest to the cell ID of the serving cell from the cells in the CoMP set. A sequence information calculation unit (106) derives a sequence group number from the selected cell ID, and the sequence information calculation unit (106) calculates a sequence number from the derived sequence group number and a transmission bandwidth of the DM-RS. |
| US08737331B2 |
Method for allocating radio resources of a PUCCH and radio resource manager
The present invention discloses method for allocating radio resources of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a radio resource manager, wherein the method includes: a radio resource manager generating a resource pool; the radio resource manager sorting PUCCH resources in the resource pool according to a generating sequence thereof, and making a pointer point to a first PUCCH resource; and the radio resource manager allocating a PUCCH resource pointed by the pointer currently to a terminal and then making the pointer point to a next PUCCH resource. The present invention has the advantage that it is unnessesary to perform a resource search at each allocation of resource, the time for searching resources is saved, the resource search is simplified, and the complexity of a system is reduced greatly. |
| US08737330B2 |
Multi-cluster uplink transmission in wireless communication network
A method in a wireless communication device comprises determining transmission powers for at least two clusters, wherein each cluster includes at least one physical resource block (RB), determining a difference in a characteristic of the transmission powers determined for the at least two clusters, and varying a transmit power allocated to at least one cluster if the difference in the characteristic exceeds a power spread threshold, wherein the power allocated to each cluster is a function of pathloss between the wireless communication device and a serving base station. |
| US08737329B2 |
Communication device and communication method
Disclosed are a wireless communication base station device, a wireless communication terminal device, and a wireless communication method with which the amount of signaling is reduced while maintaining a high scheduling gain. A judgment unit (117) stores in advance a correspondence between the number of code words and the number of clusters to reduce the maximum value for the number of clusters allocated to each terminal as the number of code words increases, and thus determines the maximum value for the number of clusters based on the number of code words acquired. Based on the number of code words for a transmission signal from a terminal, an estimated value for the reception quality that is output by an estimation unit (109), and the maximum value for the number of clusters that is output by the judgment unit (117), a scheduling unit (118) schedules the allocation of the transmission signal transmitted by each terminal to a transmission band frequency (frequency resource) so as not to exceed the maximum value for the number of clusters. |
| US08737321B2 |
Channel reservation in time division duplex wireless communication system
Channel reservation in time division duplex for devices in systems involving, for example user devices and access points, may be accomplished using channel reservation request messages, such as request-to-send (RTS) messages and channel reservation grant messages, such as clear-to-send (CTS) messages. A method for channel reservation may include preparing a frame including at least one channel reservation request message and at least one channel reservation grant message. The preparing may include multiplexing the at least one channel reservation request message and the at least one channel reservation grant message at least by frequency-division multiplexing. The method may also include transmitting the frame from a first node to a second node, wherein the channel reservation request message and the channel reservation grant message relate to communications between the first node and the second node. |
| US08737312B2 |
Method to improve throughput and power consumption efficiency in wireless communication systems
In accordance with an example embodiment, method of wireless communication includes sending a beacon frame (300), which includes at least one availability information element (AIE) (400, 404). The method also includes scheduling transmission and reception of traffic among a plurality of devices (101, 103), or systems (101, 103), or both based on the AIES from the receivers. A wireless network (100) is also disclosed. |
| US08737308B2 |
Synchronized uplink-downlink hop for measurements
A method of wireless communication is provided which includes communicating with a base station on a first channel and tuning to a second channel concurrently with the base station tuning to a second or third channel. The method also includes measuring interference on the second channel and re-tuning to the first channel concurrently with the base station re-tuning to the first channel. The method further includes reporting channel quality, based on the interference, to the base station to enable channel selection. |
| US08737307B2 |
Apparatus for performing comp communication using a precoded sounding reference signal and method of the same
An apparatus for performing coordinated multiple point (CoMP) communication using a precoded sounding reference signal, and a method for same are discussed. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base station receiving, from a terminal in a neighboring cell, a sounding reference signal (SRS) precoded by a first matrix; acquiring an effective neighboring channel matrix using a hermitian matrix of the first matrix from the received SRS, and a downstream link channel matrix between the terminal and base station; and determining a precoding matrix to be transmitted to one or more terminals served by the base station on the basis of the effective neighboring channel matrix. Here, the effective neighboring channel matrix indicates a direction toward which a receiving beam should be directed such that the terminal can receive data from a serving base station thereof. |
| US08737306B2 |
Method for triggering status reports and apparatus thereof
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for triggering a status report in a RLC acknowledged mode protocol. The technical scheme includes: A, constructing and transmitting a status report at a data receiving end of a RLC layer when a reordering timer is timeout or a packet for setting a polling bit is received from a transmitting end; B, determining whether the data receiving window is in smoothly moving status, and if in the smoothly moving status, enabling a status prohibit timer immediately after the status report has been transmitted, and considering the retransmission triggered by the status report at this time to be successful; and if the data receiving window is not in the smoothly moving status, performing step C; C, detecting whether the retransmission triggered by the status report at this time is successful, and if successful, enabling the status prohibit timer. |
| US08737299B2 |
Resource allocation of uplink HARQ feedback channel for carrier aggregation in OFDMA systems
An efficient uplink HARQ feedback channel resource allocation scheme is adopted for carrier aggregation in a multi-carrier LTE/LTE-A system. Two resource allocation schemes (e.g., explicit and hybrid) for HARQ ACK/NACK (A/N) are applied. Part of the resources is allocated based on explicit method via RRC configuration. Another part of the resources is allocated based on hybrid method via both RRC and implicit information carried by downlink schedulers. In an explicit method, the physical resource for A/N feedback information is determined based on a resource index in a DL scheduling grant. The DL grant corresponds to transport blocks over a configured CC. The resource index points to a physical resource from a set of candidate uplink A/N physical resources reserved for the CC. In an implicit method, the A/N physical resources are determined based on a logical address of the DL scheduling grant. |
| US08737298B2 |
Method of downlink signal transport over backhaul communications through distributed processing
The amount of multi-antenna signals to be transmitted over the backhaul in a Coordinated MultiPoint (CoMP) system from the central processor (CP) to each base station is reduced. Embodiments of the present invention exploit characteristics of the underlying signal structure, and distribute some baseband processing functionalities—such as channel coding and the application of the multi-user precoding—from the CP to the remote base stations. Additionally, in some embodiments the non-precoded parts of multi-antenna signals are broadcast from the CP to all base stations in the CoMP system, to further reduce the burden on backhaul communications. In one embodiment, the backhaul network is a Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON). |
| US08737296B2 |
Method and apparatus for anchor cell designation in network MIMO
Systems and methods that designate a control attachment point(s) during transmission of data in a Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) system. The control attachment point is represented by an anchor cell to address control signaling and represent a User Equipment's (UE) interaction with the wireless communication system from a perspective of control (e.g., supplying/sending grants to the UE, transmitting/receiving ACKS on the downlink/uplink to the UE, control information (CQI), and the like.) The cells can further engage in backhaul transfer of information therebetween, and dynamic switching/change of anchor point based on criteria such as control loading, channel quality, and the like can further be implemented. |
| US08737293B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting different frame structures in broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for supporting different frame structures in a broadband wireless communication system are provided. A communication method of a Base Station (BS) includes determining a frame structure to be provided. A MAP message including an indicator that indicates a new standard is generated, when the provided frame structure conforms to the new standard. The generated MAP message is transmitted by performing physical layer encoding thereon. Accordingly, signaling is defined to report a currently provided frame structure to an MS, and thus, a system can support different frame structures. |
| US08737292B2 |
Frequency offset estimation in a CDMA system
The present invention provides a method of estimating a frequency offset. The method comprises receiving a wireless signal timed according to a first frequency; generating a local signal timed according to a second frequency; and performing a plurality of synchronization searches, each search comprising obtaining a set of correlation results indicative of a correlation between the wireless signal and the local signal at different timing offsets of the wireless signal relative to the local signal. The method the no comprises finding a series of results, with a result from each of a plurality of the synchronization searches, for which the difference in; timing offset between results from adjacent searches in the series is within a maximum specified value. A frequency off set between the first and second frequencies can be determined from the series. |
| US08737286B2 |
Sub-frame structure for use in advanced communication systems
The invention relates to the definition of a structure of a sub-frame for transmission from a Node B to at least one relay node in a communication system. Furthermore, the invention is also related to the operation of Node B and relay node regarding the generation, transmission and reception of such special sub-frame format. The invention is inter alia applicable to a 3GPP LTE-A system as standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The invention suggests a new structure for a sub-frame that is capable of conveying control information and/or data for a relay node to the relay node essentially independent from propagation delays. The structure of the sub-frame takes into account propagation delays of the radio signal from Node B to relay node, in that control information and/or data for a relay node is transmitted from the Node B on OFDM symbols that can be expected to be received by the relay node. |
| US08737285B2 |
Data relay system and operating time allocating method
A data relay system includes: a master that functions as a master station of TDMA; slaves that function as slave stations of the TDMA; and REPs that relay communication between the master and the slaves, function as slave stations in a higher-level TDMA system, and function as master stations in lower-level TDMA systems. The master allocates, as a statically allocated time, an operating time once to each of the TDMA systems, sets, as a dynamically allocated time, a time obtained by excluding the statically allocated time from an allocated period, and allocates, based on communication states in the statically allocated time, the dynamically allocated time as operating times of the lower-level TDMA systems. |
| US08737284B2 |
Relay station and radio communication relay method
A relay station 130 includes a base station communication unit 350 which performs radio communication with a radio communication terminal, a terminal communication unit 354 which performs radio communication with the base station 120, a command transmission unit 356, 556 which transmits a command to alternate communication and non-communication per a predetermined number of frames to the base station through the terminal communication unit; and a communication switching unit 358, 558 which makes the base station communication unit and the radio communication terminal be in communication while the terminal communication unit and the base station are in non-communication based on the command, and making the base station communication unit and the radio communication terminal while the terminal communication unit and the base station are in communication based on the command. |
| US08737279B1 |
Method and system for wireless LAN-based indoor position location
A method and system for position location of clients in wireless local area networks. (WLANs). The position location technique utilizes time-of-flight (TOF) measurements of signals transmitted from a client to a number of wireless access points (APs) or vice versa to determine distances. Round-trip time (RTT) measurement protocols are used to estimate TOF and distances between the client at an unknown position and the WLAN APs. The method and system improves positioning accuracy by identifying and mitigating non-line-of sight (NLOS) errors such as multipaths. Trilateration algorithms are utilized in combination with median filtering of measurements to accurately estimate the position of the client. |
| US08737278B1 |
Full duplex wire-line transceiver with echo cancellation line driver
A full-duplex wire-line transceiver is provided with echo cancellation line driver. The transceiver has an impedance matching network with a network interface, and a transmit interface to accept a differential transmit signal for transmission via the network. The impedance matching network has a receive interface to supply a differential receive signal accepted at the network interface, where the transmit interface is coupled to the receive interface. A hybrid circuit has an input to accept the differential receive signal combined with a coupled differential transmit signal, and input to accept a differential echo cancellation (EC) signal. The hybrid circuit has an output to supply the differential receive signal with the coupled differential transmit signal attenuated in response to the differential EC signal. A line driver uses an active current mirror to generate matched transmit and EC signals. |
| US08737276B2 |
Method and apparatus using modified subframes
The herein disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods use Almost Blank Subframes (ABS) to manage interference between D2D and WAN transmissions. In particular, an eNodeB is disclosed comprising a controller module operable to obtain an indicator of a need for a quiescent subframe, and to select responsively thereto a subframe of a communication frame, and allocate the selected subframe as an Almost Blank Subframe (ABS). The base station includes a transceiver module operable to communicate the ABS over an air interface, and to send a misinformation signal to another eNodeB device indicating the ABS is not almost blank. |
| US08737275B2 |
Node in a wireless communication system with different antenna diversity methods for uplink and downlink
The present invention relates to a node in a wireless communication system, the node comprising at least a first, a second and a third antenna function. A first and second downlink signal, and a first and second uplink signal are transferred via said antenna functions, which together form a first total antenna function and a second total antenna function. The first and second downlink signals are transferred via the first total antenna function, and the first and second uplink signal are transferred via the second total antenna function. The second downlink signal and the second uplink signal are transferred via a common connection connected to a filter means which is arranged for separating these signals to connect them to different antenna functions. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method. |
| US08737274B2 |
Scheduling method, MS apparatus using the scheduling method, data transmission method, and BS apparatus using the data transmission method in wireless communication system
In the MS apparatus for performing scheduling, a reception module receives any number information through a specific downlink channel in a first time unit from each of neighbor BSs. A scheduling module determines, among the neighbor BSs, a BS which is to transmit and receive data using a downlink data transmission region and an uplink data reception region, respectively, in a second time unit according to a previously set rule based on the number information. A transmission module transmits a signal, indicating that data transmission and reception using the downlink transmission region and uplink data reception region, respectively, in the second time unit are not possible, to the other neighbor BSs excluding the determined BS among the neighbor BSs. |
| US08737272B2 |
Call routing using information in session initiation protocol messages
A system and method for efficient and accurate establishment of SIP sessions between calling and called end-points. A calling endpoint creates a SIP INVITE request including a header portion and a body portion. The header portion includes standard routing information and the body portion includes additional information about the user and relevant to caller's intent. A SIP server receives a SIP INVITE request and determines an address of the called end-point as a function of the standard routing information contained in the header and the additional caller information contained in the body. The SIP server routes the session to the determined address. |
| US08737270B2 |
System, network management system, and method for avoiding a count-to-infinity problem
A system (300), a network management system (306), and a method are described herein for avoiding a count-to-infinity problem in a network (304) (e.g., Provider Backbone Bridging) with bridges having network interface ports (2,4) (e,g., Layer Two Gateway Ports) which are connected to an external network (302) (e.g., External Network to Network interface). |
| US08737262B2 |
Zero copy transmission with raw packets
A system for providing a zero copy transmission with raw packets includes an operating system that receives an application request pertaining to a data packet to be transmitted over a network, where the data packet has already gone through networking stack processing invoked by the application. The operating system queries a driver of a network device on whether the network device has a zero copy capability. Based on the query response of the driver, the operating system determines whether a zero copy transmission should be used for the data packet. If not, the operating system copies the data packet from the application memory to a kernel buffer, and notifies the driver about the data packet in the kernel buffer. If so, the operating system refrains from copying the data packet to the kernel buffer, and notifies the driver about the data packet in the application memory. |
| US08737259B2 |
Close proximity communication device and methods
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for receiving an encoded data packet, one or more activation commands, and a communication identifier, decoding the received data packet, validating the decoded received data packet, and executing one or more routines associated with the respective one or more activation commands. |
| US08737258B2 |
Multiservice communication device with dedicated environmental monitoring
A multiservice communication device includes a plurality of transceivers that wirelessly transceive data with a corresponding plurality of networks in accordance with a corresponding plurality of network protocols. An environmental monitoring receiver processes received RF signals over a broadband spectrum and that generates environmental data in response thereto. A processing module processes the environmental data and generates a least one control signal in response thereto, the at least one control signal for adapting at least one of the plurality of transceivers based on the environmental data. In an embodiment of the present invention, the environmental monitoring receiver can be implemented via one of the plurality of transceivers when operating in an environmental monitoring mode. |
| US08737257B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting sound reference signal transmission power
Provided are a method and apparatus for adjusting sounding reference signal transmission power. A terminal a plurality of transmit powers used for transmitting a plurality of sounding reference signals (SRSs) in a sounding reference symbol. If a total transmission power for the plurality of SRSs exceeds a maximum transmission power, the terminal scales each transmission power by the same scale factor. |
| US08737256B2 |
Band control system for a digital subscriber network and band control method therefor
A band control system of the present invention is applicable to a digital subscriber line network in which a first apparatus and a second apparatus situated at a subscriber station and a center, respectively, are interconnected by a metallic cable for interchanging at least a digital data signal with each other. The band control system includes a commanding device included in one of the first and said second apparatuses for monitoring the receipt of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells from the other apparatus and sending, based on the result of monitoring, a band variation command to the other apparatus to thereby cause it to vary a band by using a frequency band not used for signal transfer. A band varying device is included in the other apparatus for receiving the band variation command and varying the band in accordance with the command. |
| US08737253B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting channel status information efficiently in a multi-carrier wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting channel status information in a multi-carrier wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, may include: receiving, at a receiving terminal, signals transmitted on N (N≧2) number of carriers from a transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal; determining, at the receiving terminal, channel status information for each of the N number of carriers from the received signals; and transmitting the channel status information for each of the N number of carriers on M (1≦M≦N) number of carriers from the receiving terminal to the transmitting terminal. The channel status information for each of the N number of carriers may be transmitted according to a channel status information reporting period for each of the N number of carriers and a channel status information reporting period offset. |
| US08737251B2 |
Method and apparatus for search space configuration for enhanced physical downlink control channel
In one embodiment, the method of configuring a common search space (CSS) for at least one user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system with at least a first type of physical downlink control channel includes broadcasting at least one parameter of a common search space (CSS), none of the parameters being the number of orthogonal frequency-division multiplex (OFDM) symbols. In one embodiment, a method of configuring a default user equipment-specific search space (USS) for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system with at least a first type of physical downlink control channel includes broadcasting at least one parameter of the default USS, none of the parameters being based on an identifier of the UE. The broadcasting may occur before UE-specific signaling. In one embodiment, a method of configuring or reconfiguring the USS may include transmitting at least one parameter of the USS with UE-specific signaling. |
| US08737245B2 |
Method for evaluating link cost metrics in communication networks
The present invention relates to a method for measuring link cost metrics and evaluating their accuracy with respect to reference measure of link quality in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of: during a given time interval, simultaneously transmitting several types of probe packets and data traffic, and estimating a plurality of link cost metrics (metricA, metricB, . . . , metricN) and a reference measure of link quality for a set of communication links; evaluating the accuracy of the estimated link cost metrics (metricA, metricB, . . . , metricN) by computing their correlation with the reference measure of link quality; and collecting cross-layer information for each probe packet. |
| US08737242B2 |
Systems and methods for providing multiple communication services over existing twisted pair access lines
Systems and methods are described for providing a plurality of communication services over existing access lines such as twisted pair access lines. These services include voice, audio/video, and data communication services, the so-called “triple play” of services. The use of existing communication lines enables these services to be provided at a relatively low cost. Remote terminals are located close to subscriber premises to reduce the length of the existing communication lines connecting subscribers to the network. Data associated with a plurality of communication services may be statistically multiplexed onto the communication lines. Subscribers are provided with the capability to dynamically select services, including the capability to select audio/video signals from a set containing audio/video broadcast signals. The systems and methods enable data to be transported efficiently through the backbone network interconnecting central offices. Capabilities comparable the capabilities of coaxial cable systems are provided at a lower cost than alternative approaches, such as running fiber all the way to the subscriber premises. |
| US08737239B2 |
Managing an assignment of unicast traffic channels to access terminals participating in a multicast session within a wireless communications network
In an embodiment, an access terminal sends a multicast session registration request to an access network. The access network determines whether to assign a unicast traffic channel (e.g., media access control (MAC) identifier (ID)) to the access terminal, for the access terminal to provide feedback (e.g., channel quality indicators (CQIs) associated with the multicast session, based on a number of access terminals that have been assigned unicast traffic channels for the multicast session and/or for applications other than the multicast session. The access network configures a traffic channel assignment message to include an identifier for the multicast session, and to further include an assignment of the unicast traffic channel if the determining step determines to assign the unicast traffic channel to the access terminal. The access network sends the traffic channel assignment message to the access terminal including at least the multicast session identifier. |
| US08737232B2 |
Multiple media fail-over to alternate media
The present invention is a system and method for failing over from a current network access medium to an alternative network access medium. A customer premises equipment (CPE) box has ports for connections to a network through several network access media, such as high speed cable connections, DSL connections and dial-up connections. QoS parameters for each of the connections are monitored from a bandwidth manager remote from the CPE box. When it is determined that a fail-over would be beneficial, a message is sent from the bandwidth manager to the CPE box containing a command to fail-over and an identity of the alternate network access media. |
| US08737229B2 |
Access mechanisms for base stations in heterogeneous access point networks
Providing for improved access communication for wireless systems is described herein. By way of example, wireless devices can employ wireless resource re-use in selecting a subset of access communication resources, to mitigate interference on uplink access requests. Re-use can be based on current network conditions, or on a type of base station facilitating the wireless communication. In some aspects, planned resource re-use can be facilitated by an access terminal. The access terminal requests neighboring or interfering network access points to reserve a set of resources for a serving access point. Reserved resources can be conveyed to the serving access point with an uplink access probe, to further mitigate interference. |
| US08737228B2 |
Flow control management in a data center ethernet network over an extended distance
Flow control in a data center Ethernet (DCE) network is managed between a source node and a destination node separated by an extended distance. An initiation sequence between the source node and the destination node is intercepted. The imitation sequence is for determining buffer credits available for receiving packets in the source node and the destination node. Replies are generated to the source node and the destination node indicating buffer credits available in at least one extended data interface interspersed between the source node and the destination node. The initiation sequence is completed based on the replies from the extended data interface. |
| US08737224B2 |
Communication method, communication system, and control apparatus
Disclosed is a communication method for switching between a first connection state, in which a data unit is transmitted in a first size, and a second connection state, in which a data unit is transmitted in a second size which is larger than the first size. The communication method comprises a step of maintaining the size of a data unit at the first size in a case where there is a transition from the first connection state to the second connection state after there had been a transition from the second connection state to the first connection state. |
| US08737223B2 |
Monitoring of delay in packet-switched networks
A method is proposed for determining the round-trip delay for sending multimedia data, such as voice or video data, between a first network node and a second network node over a communications network, where data is encapsulated in data units comprising at least one frame of encoded data. The method includes the steps of: said first network node sending a request for reconfiguration of the data unit structure to the second node; the first node detecting a reconfiguration response from the second node, where the reconfiguration response comprises at least one data unit of data having a structure that corresponds to the request for reconfiguration. The first node then measures the time elapsed between sending the reconfiguration request and detecting the reconfiguration response and determines a value for roundtrip delay using said measured time. In accordance with a first embodiment, the request for reconfiguration is a request to change the encoding mode of the multimedia data. A node adapted to measure this round-trip delay is also proposed. |
| US08737221B1 |
Accelerated processing of aggregate data flows in a network environment
At least one first frame of a first data flow is inspected by a general processing unit to associate the first data flow with an aggregate session, the aggregate session corresponding to a first set of aggregate data flows including the first data flow and at least one other data flow. Acceleration of the first data flow, by a network processing unit, can be authorized based on the inspection of the at least one first frame. Acceleration of the first data flow can be subject to at least a set of conditions including an aggregate trigger, the aggregate trigger defining that the acceleration of at least the first data flow be halted in response to an aggregate threshold amount of traffic being detected among the first set of aggregate data flows. |
| US08737220B2 |
Systems for providing feedback to sending entities
Systems for providing feedback to sending entities are provided. In some embodiments, systems for providing feedback to at least one sending entity that sends requests are provided, the systems comprising: a receiving entity comprising at least one processor that: determines a number of active sources associated with each of the at least one sending entity; determines a number of sessions that each of the at least one sending entity is able to accept based on the number of active sources determined; and provides an indication of the number of sessions to each corresponding one of the at least one sending entity. |
| US08737211B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for network configuration of user equipment communication modes in multiflow systems
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for improved UE communication mode determination by a network entity, such as a radio network controller, where multi-cell and multi-carrier communication is available to the UE in a wireless network. For example, in an aspect, methods and apparatuses are provided for determining whether a user equipment (UE) is in a soft handover region and a softer handover region, and where the UE is in such a region, predicting a future multi-cell performance of the UE assuming the UE will be served by a plurality of cells on a single carrier, predicting a future multi-carrier performance of the UE assuming the UE will be served by a plurality of carriers of a single cell, comparing the future multi-cell performance to the future multi-carrier performance, and transmitting a mode command to the UE based at least on the comparing. |
| US08737208B2 |
Wireless resource allocation apparatus and method
A wireless resource allocation apparatus performs determining an amount of VoIP traffic for each terminal station; determining whether semi-persistent scheduling or dynamic scheduling is used for transmitting each packet of the VoIP traffic, based on a result of the determination for the amount of the VoIP traffic; managing, for each terminal station, a resource block allocated in the semi-persistent scheduling; and managing each resource block which is not managed for the allocation in the semi-persistent scheduling and is allocated in the dynamic scheduling. If it is determined that the dynamic scheduling is used for transmitting each packet of the VoIP traffic to a terminal station, the resource block, which has been managed for the relevant terminal station as a resource block allocated in the semi-persistent scheduling, is released, and the released resource block is managed as a resource block allocated in the dynamic scheduling. |
| US08737207B2 |
System and method for managing resource in communication system
A system for managing resources in a communication system including systems, which do not have a permission for a first frequency band, includes coexistence managers configured to, when a frequency band available for the systems is searched from the first frequency band, manage the systems for coexistence and frequency sharing of the systems in the available frequency band; a coexistence enabler configured to transmit and receive information of the systems and information of the coexistence managers; and a coexistence discovery and information server configured to support control of the coexistence managers over the systems, wherein the coexistence managers transmit and receive predetermined messages to and from the coexistence discovery and information server and the coexistence enabler, perform channel classification for the first frequency band, and determine operating channels of the systems on the basis of the channel classification. |
| US08737203B2 |
Method for establishing an MPLS data network protection pathway
Recovery time upon the failure of a link or switching system in an asynchronous data network can be minimized if downstream data switches provide upstream messages indicating to upstream switching system that the downstream traffic arrived in tact and was properly handled. Upon this loss or failure of the upstream status message to an upstream switching system, an upstream switching system can reroute data traffic around a failed link or failed switch with a minimal amount of lost data. The upstream status message is conveyed from a downstream switching system to an upstream switching system via a reverse notification tree data pathway. The reverse notification pathway is established by using a messaging protocol between network switches by which the working and protection paths, among other things, are established. |
| US08737198B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a set of ethernet nodes interconnected to form one or more closed loops
Ethernet nodes, interconnected logically or physically to construct a closed loop, may be controlled using a control protocol that governs placement of blocks on the ring. The control protocol allows one of the nodes to be designated as a root node in normal operation. The root node will block data traffic on one of its ports on the ring to prevent a forwarding loop from being created on the ring. Each node on the ring performs link level connectivity detection and, upon detection of a failure, will send out a Failure Indication Message (FIM). When a node receives a FIM, it will flush its forwarding database associated with the ring and, if it is the root node, will remove the data block on the port. When the failure recovers, the nodes adjacent the failure will transmit a recovery indication message to allow the ring to revert to its normal state. |
| US08737197B2 |
Sequential heartbeat packet arrangement and methods thereof
An arrangement in a network tap for monitoring state of a monitoring system is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports that includes a set of input network ports for receiving data traffic and a set of output network ports for outputting the data traffic from the network tap. The arrangement also includes a monitoring port that is configured to receive the data traffic from the set of network ports and to forward the data traffic onward to the monitoring system. The arrangement further includes a logic component configured for executing a sequential heartbeat diagnostic test. The sequential heartbeat diagnostic test is configured for providing a first set of sequential heartbeat packets for testing and determining the state of the monitoring system. The arrangement yet also includes a logic component for activating one or more events when a failure condition exists for the state of the monitoring system. |
| US08737186B2 |
Laser holder and optical pickup provided with same
A laser holder holds a semiconductor laser that has a metal frame part in which a semiconductor laser chip is mounted on one surface, and a resin part provided so as to surround the semiconductor laser chip. The laser holder is provided with an insertion part into which the semiconductor laser is inserted. The insertion part is provided with an aperture part that allows the resin part of the semiconductor laser inserted into the insertion part to be pushed from the exterior, and a wall surface part against which a reverse surface of the one surface of the metal frame part is pressed in a case where the resin part is pushed from the exterior. |
| US08737181B2 |
Optical recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, recording/reproducing method
Provided is an optical recording medium, including a recording target track that is a track on which small record carriers are arranged and on which information recording is performed by modulating the small record carriers through light irradiation; and a wobbling track on which the small record carriers are arranged in a wobbling manner, wherein a single wobbling track is formed to run parallel to a set of a plurality of recording target tracks. |
| US08737171B2 |
MEMS device and process
A MEMS capacitive transducer with increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The transducer structure includes a flexible membrane supported between a first volume and a second volume, and at least one variable vent structure in communication with at least one of the first and second volumes. The variable vent structure includes at least one moveable portion which is moveable in response to a pressure differential across the moveable portion so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent structure. The variable vent may be formed through the membrane and the moveable portion may be a part of the membrane, defined by one or more channels, that is deflectable away from the surface of the membrane. The variable vent is preferably closed in the normal range of pressure differentials but opens at high pressure differentials to provide more rapid equalization of the air volumes above and below the membrane. |
| US08737170B2 |
Ultrasonic grasshopper and pest deterrent
Disclosed is an ultrasonic pest deterrent device adapted for use in greenhouses and gardens, comprising a printed circuit board, output signal transducer and a housing adapted to shroud the components of the assembly within its waterproof interior. The device comprises a ramp signal generator and voltage control oscillator adapted to sweep between a chosen set of switchable frequency pitch ranges and tones, a sweep stop for single tone testing, a confidence test button, a power switch and indicator light. The confident test button provides an audible tone within human hearing range to ensure the device is operational, while the power indicator light provides a visual means of verifying operation when the device is emitting signals in the ultrasonic range. A timing circuit disables or modulates the device from continuous operation, saving battery life and randomizing the output signal for increased pest annoyance and deterrence. |
| US08737169B1 |
Dog repelling device
A dog repelling device for bicyclists that includes a housing that houses a battery-powered timer-controlled ultrasonic pulse emitter and that is releasably attached to a bicycle handle bar with an attachment body, including a hook and loop strip which removably inserts through a slot within a second member of the housing. |
| US08737166B2 |
Annihilator based wave inversion
A method for verifying the accuracy of a wave velocity model. The method may include generating an extended image using the wave velocity model, operating on the extended image using an annihilator, where the extended images represent a geophysical field, and determining if the extended image obeys at least one physical characteristic. In the event that the extended image does not obey at least one physical characteristic the method may include recreating or altering the wave velocity model accordingly. |
| US08737161B1 |
Write-leveling system and method
A system is provided for use with a DRAM, a DQS signal provider, a clock signal provider, a DQS line and a clock line. The DQS line can provide the DQS signal from the DQS signal provider to the DRAM. The clock line can provide the clock signal from the clock signal provider to the DRAM. The system includes a clock delay determining portion, a DQS delay determining portion, and adjustment portion and a controlling portion. The clock delay determining portion can determine a clock delay. The DQS delay determining portion can determine a DQS delay. The adjustment portion can generate an adjustment value based on the clock delay and the DQS delay. The controlling portion can instruct the DQS signal provider to adjust a time of providing a second DQS signal based on the adjustment value, wherein the clock delay is less than the DQS delay. |
| US08737160B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: an interface chip including a read timing control circuit that outputs, in response to a command signal and a clock signal supplied from the outside, a plurality of read control signals that are each in synchronization with the clock signal and have different timings; and core chips including a plurality of internal circuits that are stacked on the interface chip and each perform an operation indicated by the command signal in synchronization with the read control signals. According to the present invention, it is unnecessary to control latency in the core chips and therefore to supply the clock signal to the core chips. |
| US08737156B2 |
Mapping between two buses using serial addressing bits
A solution is provided to flexibly choose a combination of flash memory devices to reduce the overall cost of the flash memory devices or increase the overall utilization of the flash memory devices, while satisfying the capacity requirements for the flash memory devices in a system design, wherein a decoding unit is used for determining which flash memory devices will be accessed and re-mapping incoming serial addressing bits, for accessing one flash memory device, into an outgoing serial addressing bits for accessing another flash memory device. |
| US08737149B2 |
Semiconductor device performing stress test
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell array that is divided into a plurality of memory cell mats by a plurality of sense amplifier arrays. Each of the plurality of memory cell mats includes a plurality of word lines and a test circuit for performing a test control to activate, at one time, a plurality of word lines included in each of a plurality of selected memory cell mats that are not disposed adjacent each other in the plurality of memory cell mats. The memory cell mats with the plurality of activated word lines are distributed. Therefore, the load applied to a driver circuit for driving word lines and the load applied to a power supply circuit for supplying an operation voltage to the driver circuit are reduced. |
| US08737148B2 |
Selective retirement of blocks
Systems and methods are provided for selectively retiring blocks based on refresh events of those blocks. In addition to refresh events, other criteria may be applied in making a decision whether to retire a block. By applying the criteria, the system is able to selectively retire blocks that may otherwise continue to be refreshed. |
| US08737145B2 |
Semiconductor memory device for transferring data at high speed
A semiconductor memory device includes: a data multiplexing unit configured to output one of a data training pattern and data transferred through a first global input/output line in response to a training control signal; and a latch unit configured to latch an output of the data multiplexing unit to apply and maintain the latched output to a second global input/output line. |
| US08737143B2 |
Semiconductor device having PDA function
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes a command decoder activating a first mode register setting signal in response to a mode register setting command supplied from outside, a first latency shifter activating a second mode register setting signal after elapse of predetermined cycles of a clock signal since the first mode register setting signal is activated, and a mode register storing a mode signal supplied from outside in response to the second mode register setting signal. |
| US08737140B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes strings configured to include a drain select transistor, memory cells, and a source select transistor coupled in series between a bit line and a common source line and peripheral circuits configured to precharge a bit line so that the precharge level of the bit line varies depending on whether an adjacent unselected memory cell is in the program or erase states, by supplying a first voltage to the adjacent unselected memory cell arranged toward the drain select transistor, a second voltage to the remaining memory cells, and a third voltage higher than a bit line precharge voltage to the common source line and perform a read operation of supplying a read voltage lower than the second voltage to the selected memory cell, the second voltage to the remaining memory cells including the adjacent unselected memory cell, and a ground voltage to the common source line. |
| US08737137B1 |
Flash memory with bias voltage for word line/row driver
A memory device includes a word line driver circuit, a write voltage generator for providing a write voltage to the word line driver during a write operation to memory cells coupled to the word line driver circuit, and a write bias generator including an output node for providing a write bias voltage that is different from the write voltage to the word line driver circuit during a write operation to memory cells coupled to the word line driver circuit. The write bias voltage is used to reduce current drawn by the word line driver circuit from the write voltage generator during a write operation to memory cells coupled to the word line driver circuit. |
| US08737135B2 |
Method for and flash memory device having improved read performance
A Flash memory device operable under a single-bit or multiple-bit serial protocol is provided with a capability to determine the address boundary condition of an application from the address field of an address boundary configurable (“ABC”) read command. Based on the identified address boundary condition, the Flash memory device may perform multiple sensing of the memory array as required by the ABC read command using optimal internal sense times for each sensing. The number of dummy bytes may be specified for the read command in advance by the user, based on the address boundary of the application and the desired frequency of operation of the Flash memory device. Therefore, Flash memory device read performance is improved both by minimizing the number of dummy bytes in the read command and by optimizing the internal sense times for the read operation. |
| US08737133B2 |
Shifting cell voltage based on grouping of solid-state, non-volatile memory cells
Cells of a solid-state, non-volatile memory are assigned to one of a plurality of groups. Each group is defined by expected symbols stored in the cells in view of actual symbols read from the cells. Based on cell counts within the groups, it can be determined that a shift in a reference voltage will reduce a collective bit error rate of the cells. The shift can be applied to data access operations affecting the cells. |
| US08737131B2 |
Programming memory cells using smaller step voltages for higher program levels
Memory devices and methods are disclosed. An embodiment of one such method includes programming a first memory cell to a first program level by applying a first series of programming pulses to a control gate of the first memory cell, where the programming pulses of the first series have voltages that sequentially increase by a certain first voltage; and programming a second memory cell to a second program level that is higher than the first program level by applying a second series of programming pulses to a control gate of the second memory cell, where the programming pulses of the second series have voltages that sequentially increase by a certain second voltage less than the certain first voltage. |
| US08737127B2 |
Memory controllers to output data signals of a number of bits and to receive data signals of a different number of bits
A memory controller has a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor is configured to output a digital data signal of M+N bits of program data intended for programming a memory cell of a memory device. The digital signal processor is configured to receive a digital data signal of M+L bits read from the memory cell of the memory device and to retrieve from the received digital data signal M bits of data that were stored in the memory cell. |
| US08737126B2 |
Data writing method, and memory controller and memory storage apparatus using the same
A data writing method for writing data into a memory cell of a rewritable non-volatile memory module, and a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus using the same area provided. The method includes recording a wear degree of the memory cell and adjusting an initial write voltage and a write voltage pulse time corresponding to the memory cell based on the wear degree thereof. The method further includes programming the memory cell by applying the initial write voltage and the write voltage pulse time, thereby writing the data into the memory cell. Accordingly, data can be accurately stored into the rewritable non-volatile memory module by the method. |
| US08737121B2 |
Drift-insensitive or invariant material for phase change memory
A method of storing a bit at a memory device is disclosed. A memory cell the memory device is formed of a germanium-deficient chalcogenide glass configured to alternate between an amorphous phase and a crystalline phase upon application of a selected voltage, wherein a drift coefficient of the germanium-deficient chalcogenide glass is less than a drift coefficient of an undoped chalcogenide glass. A voltage is applied to the formed memory cell to select one of the amorphous phase and the crystalline phase to store the bit. |
| US08737119B2 |
Magnetic memory cell and magnetic random access memory
A magnetic memory cell 1 is provided with a magnetic recording layer 10 which is a ferromagnetic layer and a pinned layer 30 connected with the magnetic recording layer 10 through a non-magnetic layer 20. The magnetic recording layer 10 has a magnetization inversion region 13, a first magnetization fixed region 11 and a second magnetization fixed region 12. The magnetization inversion region 13 has a magnetization whose orientation is invertible and overlaps the pinned layer 30. The first magnetization fixed region 11 is connected with a first boundary B1 in the magnetization inversion region 13 and a magnetization orientation is fixed on a first direction. The second magnetization fixed region 12 is connected with a second boundary B2 in magnetization inversion region 13 and a magnetization orientation is fixed on a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other. |
| US08737115B2 |
Method of forming process for variable resistive element and non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A method of a forming process for a variable resistive element, which is performed in short time comparable to the pulse forming and a writing current in a switching action is the same level as that of the DC forming, is provided. In the forming process, a variable resistive element is changed by voltage pulse application from an initial high resistance state just after produced to a variable resistance state where the switching action is performed. The forming process includes a first step of applying a first pulse having a voltage amplitude lower than a threshold voltage at which the resistance of the variable resistive element is lowered, to between both electrodes of the variable resistive element, and a second step of applying a second pulse having a voltage amplitude having the same polarity as the first pulse and not lower than the threshold voltage, thereto after the first step. |
| US08737110B2 |
Large array of upward pointing P-I-N diodes having large and uniform current
A circuit is provided that includes a plurality of vertically oriented p-i-n diodes. Each p-i-n diode includes a bottom heavily doped p-type region. When a voltage between about 1.5 volts and about 3.0 volts is applied across each p-i-n diode, a current of at least 1.5 microamps flows through 99 percent of the p-i-n diodes. Numerous other aspects are also provided. |
| US08737107B2 |
Memory circuits and routing of conductive layers thereof
A memory circuit includes at least one memory cell for storing a datum. The memory cell is coupled with a word line, a bit line, a bit line bar, a first voltage line, and a second voltage line. The memory circuit includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer coupled with the first conductive layer, a third conductive layer coupled with the second conductive layer. The third conductive layer is routed for the word line and is free from including the bit line, the bit line bar, the first voltage line, and the second voltage line within the memory cell. |
| US08737105B2 |
Bridge device architecture for connecting discrete memory devices to a system
Bridge device architecture for connecting discrete memory devices is disclosed. A bridge device is used in conjunction with a composite memory device including at least one discrete memory device. The bridge device comprises a local control interface connected to the at least one discrete memory device, a local input/output interface connected to the at least one discrete memory device, and a global input/output interface interposed between the local control interface and the local input/output interface. The global input/output interface receives and provides global memory control signals and also receives and provides write data to and read data from the at least one discrete memory device. |
| US08737104B2 |
Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device includes: a chopper circuit that adjusts a DC voltage input through a reactor to a desired DC voltage by performing an on/off operation of a switching element; an inverter circuit that converts an output of the chopper circuit into a desired AC voltage; a first capacitor that is provided on a side of the inverter circuit relative to the switching element; a second capacitor that is provided on a side of the inverter circuit relative to the switching element; and a resistor that is in a resonant loop formed by three constituent elements that are the first capacitor, the second capacitor, and a wiring inductance between the chopper circuit and the inverter circuit, where the resistor is connected in series to the second capacitor and inserted between the DC bus-bars. |
| US08737103B2 |
Method and controller for controlling an electrical converter configured for generating an AC current for at least two phases
A method is provided for predicting pulse width modulated switching sequences for a multi-phase multi-level converter. With a first predicted switching sequence, due to multi-phase redundancies, equivalent switching sequences are determined. From the equivalent switching sequences, one switching sequence optimal with respect to a predefined optimization goal is selected. The selected switching sequence is used to switch the converter. |
| US08737100B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling an inverter using pulse mode control
A method and apparatus for controlling an inverter includes operating the inverter in a one of a normal run mode or a pulse mode depending on one or more criteria. When operating in the pulse mode, the inverter generates a sinusoidal output pulse waveform including a plurality of pulses having a determined pulse width. The pulse width is less than a half-wave period of a full-cycle sinusoidal waveform and may be determined as function of, for example, the output power of the inverter, a grid voltage, and/or other criteria. |
| US08737099B2 |
Controllers for power converters
In a controller for a power converter, a control terminal can provide a control signal to control a power converter. A cycle of the control signal includes a first time interval and a second time interval. The control circuitry can increase a primary current flowing through a primary winding of transformer circuitry and a secondary current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer circuitry in the first time interval, and can terminate the increasing of the primary current in the second time interval. The control circuitry can also control the first time interval to be inversely proportional to an input voltage provided to the primary winding. |
| US08737096B2 |
Tapping power from a HVDC transmission system
An apparatus for tapping electric energy from an HVDC power transmission system includes at least one voltage source converter. The apparatus includes an intermediate ac network containing the voltage source converter, and a switching arrangement for disconnecting the intermediate ac network in dependence on the transmission direction of the HVDC power transmission system. |
| US08737094B2 |
Transformer drive for low conduction loss rectifier in flyback converter
A flyback converter involves a bipolar transistor (BJT) and a parallel-connected diode as the rectifying element in the secondary side of the converter. The transformer of the converter has a primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding. A first end of the first secondary winding is coupled to the BJT base. A first end of the second secondary winding is coupled to the BJT collector and to the anode of the diode. The first and second secondary windings are wound such that when primary winding current stops, pulses of current flow out of the first ends of the first and second secondary windings. These currents are such that the BJT is maintained in saturation throughout at least most of the time current flows through the rectifying element, thereby achieving a low forward voltage across the rectifying element, reducing conduction loss, and increasing converter efficiency. |
| US08737093B1 |
Power converter with quasi-resonant voltage multiplier having shared switching node
A power converter is disclosed including a switching converter having a switching node, a first quasi-resonant multiplier stage having a resonant input coupled to the switching node, and a second quasi-resonant multiplier stage having a resonant input coupled to the switching node. In another embodiment, a power converter includes a switching converter having a switching node, a first quasi-resonant multiplier stage having a boost input coupled to the switching node, and a first clamp coupled to the first multiplier stage. |
| US08737091B2 |
Variable time clamp for a power supply controller
An example integrated circuit for use in a power supply includes a feedback terminal, a controller and a clamp. The feedback terminal is to be coupled to receive a feedback signal that is representative of a bias voltage across a bias winding of the power supply. The controller is to be coupled to control switching of a power switch included in the power supply in response to the feedback signal. The clamp is coupled to clamp the feedback terminal to a voltage for at least a time that the bias voltage is negative with respect to an input return of the power supply. |
| US08737077B2 |
Linkage device
A linkage device includes a shell, an active arm, a linkage lever, a random arm and at least two fixed poles. The shell includes two side plates and an upper plate interconnecting the two side plates. The active arm and random arm are both arranged horizontally under the upper plate and between the two side plates. The active arm and random arm each comprise a slide rail inclined to a horizontal surface. The slide rail of the random arm has an inclined direction opposite to that of the slide rail of the active arm. The linkage lever is arranged outside the shell. The linkage lever comprises a central portion pivoted to one of the side plates and two ends respectively pivoted to the active arm and random arm. Two of the at least two fixed poles respectively slide into the slide rails of the active arm and random arm. |
| US08737074B2 |
Modular direct-current power conversion system and direct-current power conversion module thereof
A modular direct-current power conversion system is applied to receive a DC input voltage and output a DC output voltage. The modular direct-current power conversion system includes a main board and a plurality of DC power conversion modules. The main board includes a primary surface, a voltage input terminal, a voltage output terminal, a plurality of insertion regions, and a plurality of pin holders. When the DC power conversion module is inserted on the main board, the DC input voltage is inputted via the voltage input terminal to the DC power conversion module. The DC power conversion module converts the DC input voltage into a DC output voltage, and the DC output voltage is outputted via the voltage output terminal. |
| US08737073B2 |
Systems and methods providing thermal spreading for an LED module
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) module includes a circuit board having a front side and a back side, a heat sink coupled to the back side of the circuit board, a thermal pad disposed on a front side of the circuit board, an LED disposed on the front side of the circuit board. The LED is in thermal contact with the thermal pad. The module further includes a heat spreading device placed over the thermal pad and in thermal contact with the thermal pad. |
| US08737067B1 |
Connectivity scheme and cooling scheme for a large rack system
A rack system may include a first plurality of line cards, where a particular one of the first plurality of line cards receives or sends packets via ports; a plurality of fabric cards, where a particular one of the plurality of fabric cards includes a switching fabric; a second plurality of line cards, where a particular one of the second plurality of line cards receives or sends packets via ports; a first backplane that connects the first plurality of line cards to the plurality of fabric cards; and a second backplane that connects the second plurality of line cards to the plurality of fabric cards. |
| US08737063B2 |
Fastening device for hard disk drive
A fastening device includes a bracket, two hook devices, and an operation member. The bracket includes two parallel clamping arms sandwiching an HDD, and a connection plate connected between the clamping arms. Each clamping arm defines a through slot. Each hook includes an end portion engaging in an inner side of the corresponding clamping arm, a locking portion received in the corresponding through slot, and a slanting connection portion connected between the end portion and the locking portion. Two locking poles extend from the locking portion to engage in locking holes defined in the HDD. The operation member is slidably connected to the connection plate. When the operation member is manipulated toward the connection plate, the connection plate abuts against the connection poles of the hook devices. The connection poles are deformed away from the HDD, to disengage the locking poles from the HDD. |
| US08737061B2 |
Heat dissipating apparatus
A heat dissipating apparatus comprises a first heat sink, a second heat sink and a fixing unit. The first heat sink comprises a connecting portion. The second heat sink comprises a connecting unit which is inserted into the connecting portion. The fixing unit includes an end portion exposed outside the connecting portion and a body accommodated in the connecting portion. |
| US08737059B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling and monitoring and air-conditioning system of a data processing installation
A method and apparatus for controlling and monitoring an air-conditioning system of a data processing installation includes at least one server switchgear cabinet for accommodating electrical units. Controlling of the cooling power of an air-conditioning unit is performed in at least two distinct defined modes, wherein in a first mode the air volume capacity of a blower is controlled to a minimum value at a maximum defined temperature difference between sucked hot air and supplied cold air, and in a second mode the cooling power is controlled such that a maximum defined temperature for the cooling medium flowing from a heat exchanger is not exceeded. The method and apparatus provide energy-saving cooling of such data processing installations. |
| US08737056B2 |
Mounting apparatus and vibration dampening structure for electronic device
A vibration dampening structure mounted on a mounting apparatus for a storage module includes a dampening member and a fastener. The dampening member defines a through hole. The fastener includes a head portion and a neck portion extending from the head. The neck portion is received in the through hole. The head portion has a smooth face to decrease friction between the head portion and the data storage module movable relative to the head. |
| US08737051B2 |
Display seal for electronic device
An electronic device includes a cover and a display module mounted on the cover, the cover includes a cover body and a seal gasket molded on the cover body, the seal gasket is molded from thermosetting rubber. The seal gasket is permanently clamped between the cover body and the display module. |
| US08737047B2 |
Operating device for operating automation technology machinery
An operating device for operating automation technology machinery includes a transparent electrically non-conducting panel having an outer side and an inner side facing the interior of the operating device, and a membrane keyboard arranged on the outer side of the panel. The panel also includes channels extending through the panel from the outer side to the inner side, where an electrically conducting element is arranged in the channels and the membrane keyboard is connected to the electronics of the operating device by the electrically conducting elements. An operating device for operating automation technology machinery is thus provided in which it is possible to fit a membrane keyboard to any location on the front panel of the operating device. |
| US08737037B2 |
Ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
There are provided a ceramic electronic component and a method of manufacturing the same. The ceramic electronic component includes: a ceramic element; and an internal electrode layer formed within the ceramic element, having a thickness of 0.5 μm or less, and including a non-electrode region formed therein, wherein an area ratio of the non-electrode region to an electrode region of the internal electrode layer, in a cross section of the internal electrode layer is between 0.1% and 10%, and the non-electrode region includes a ceramic component. |
| US08737036B2 |
Titanium based high-K dielectric films
This disclosure provides (a) methods of making an oxide layer (e.g., a dielectric layer) based on titanium oxide, to suppress the formation of anatase-phase titanium oxide and (b) related devices and structures. A metal-insulator-metal (“MIM”) stack is formed using an ozone pretreatment process of a bottom electrode (or other substrate) followed by an ALD process to form a TiO2 dielectric, rooted in the use of an amide-containing precursor. Following the ALD process, an oxidizing anneal process is applied in a manner is hot enough to heal defects in the TiO2 dielectric and reduce interface states between TiO2 and electrode; the anneal temperature is selected so as to not be so hot as to disrupt BEL surface roughness. Further process variants may include doping the titanium oxide, pedestal heating during the ALD process to 275-300 degrees Celsius, use of platinum or ruthenium for the BEL, and plural reagent pulses of ozone for each ALD process cycle. The process provides high deposition rates, and the resulting MIM structure has substantially no x-ray diffraction peaks associated with anatase-phase titanium oxide. |
| US08737032B2 |
Method for limiting an un-mirrored current and circuit therefor
A current limit circuit and a method for limiting current flow. The current limit circuit includes a transistor having a control electrode and current carrying electrodes. A wire is coupled to one of the current carrying electrodes. An output of a comparator is coupled to the control electrode of the transistor through a charge pump. One input of the comparator is coupled to the current carrying electrode of the transistor that is coupled to the wire and the other input of the comparator is coupled for receiving a voltage. Preferably the wire is a bond wire. The current flowing through the wire sets the input voltage appearing at the input of the comparator coupled to the current carrying electrode of the transistor. In response to the comparison of the voltages at the input of the comparator, the transistor remains turned-on or it is turned-off. |
| US08737029B2 |
Integrated circuit and integrated circuit package
An integrated circuit, comprises a power supply node being connectable to a voltage supply (Vdd); a ground node connectable to ground (GND); and an electrostatic discharge protection structure for diverting an electrostatic discharge away from protected parts of the integrated circuit. A gated domain is present which is supply gated and/or ground gated with respect to the power supply node and/or the ground node, as well as a gating switch for gating the gated domain relative to the power supply node and/or the ground node. The gating switch enables in a connecting state, and in a disconnecting state inhibits, an electrical connection between the gated domain and at least one of: the power supply node and the ground node. The integrated circuit includes ESD gating control circuitry for controlling in case of an electrostatic discharge event the gated domain to be electrically connected to the power supply node and/or the ground node. |
| US08737028B2 |
RC-triggered ESD clamp device with feedback for time constant adjustment
Methods for responding to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event on a voltage rail, ESD protection circuits, and design structures for an ESD protection circuit. An RC network of the ESD protection circuit includes a capacitor coupled to a field effect transistor at a node. The node of the RC network is coupled with an input of the inverter. The field-effect transistor is coupled with an output of the inverter. In response to an ESD event, a trigger signal is supplied from the RC network to the input of the inverter, which drives a clamp device to discharge current from the ESD event from the voltage rail. An RC time constant of the RC network is increased in response to the ESD event to sustain the discharge of the current by the clamp device. |
| US08737025B2 |
Protective electrical wiring device with tamper resistant shutters
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a frameless shutter assembly disposed in the front cover portion or in a separator member between the receptacle openings and the receptacle terminals. The frameless shutter assembly comprises a first shutter member and a second shutter member configured to move from a closed position to an open position when the hot and neutral blades of a plug blade set are simultaneously inserted into the receptacle openings to engage a set of receptacle terminals and remain closed otherwise. The front cover member and/or the at least one separator includes a first stop member disposed proximate the first shutter member and a second stop member being disposed proximate the second shutter member. |
| US08737023B2 |
Magnetic reader with tuned anisotropy
Various embodiments may be generally directed to a stack capable of reading magnetic data bits. Such a stack can have a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between a magnetically free layer and a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) where the SAF is configured with an anisotropy tuned to a non-normal direction with respect to an air bearing surface (ABS). |
| US08737022B2 |
Multilayer film, magnetic head, magnetic head device, magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus and method for manufacturing multilayer film
A multilayer film includes a magnetic film and a non-magnetic film. The magnetic film and the non-magnetic film are alternately stacked. The magnetic film contains Fe, Ni and P but has Fe or Ni as a main component. The non-magnetic film contains Fe, Ni and P but has Ni as a main component. |
| US08737021B2 |
Terminal structure, flexure, and head suspension having a terminal face on metal layer connected to wiring layer
A terminal structure includes an insulating layer hole formed through an insulating layer, a ground via that passes through the insulating layer hole and electrically connects a wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and a metal layer formed under the insulating layer to each other, and a terminal face defined on a surface of the metal layer and bonded through a conductive adhesive to an electrode of a piezoelectric element. |
| US08737018B2 |
Spindle motor and disk drive apparatus
A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion including a rotor hub, and includes a recording disk and a clamper mounted thereon. The rotor hub includes a hub circular plate portion whose outer circumferential portion includes a hub slanting surface, and a hub cylindrical portion whose outer circumferential portion includes a hub screw portion. The hub screw portion, to which the clamper is screwed, includes at least a first hub screw groove, a first hub screw thread arranged to be adjacent to the first hub screw groove, and upper and lower flanks arranged to together define the first hub screw thread. The hub slanting surface connects with the first hub screw groove. The length of the hub slanting surface is longer than the length of the upper flank. |
| US08737017B1 |
Spindle motor and disk drive apparatus
A spindle motor of a disk drive apparatus includes a base unit, a stator core, a covered cylindrical rotor hub, a rotor magnet, and a bearing mechanism. The height of the stator core in an axial direction is about 50% or more and about 70% or less of the height of the stator. A torque constant Kt of torque generated between a stator and a rotor magnet is about 4 mN·m/A or more and about 6 mN·m/A or less. A motor constant Km is about 2 mN·m/(A·√Ω) or more and about 4 mN·m/(A·√Ω) or less. |
| US08737015B2 |
Disk rotating motor with bracket defining cylindrical and folded portions, and disk drive device provided with the same
A disk rotating motor is provided with: a stator including a stator core and a bracket for fixing the stator core; a rotor that can be rotated with respect to the stator and includes a shaft; and a bearing that rotatably supports the rotary shaft on the outer diameter side of the rotary shaft. The bracket includes a cylindrical portion extending along the shaft and a folded portion formed by folding the upper end of the cylindrical portion onto the outer diameter side. The bearing is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion whereas the stator core is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the folded portion. |
| US08737013B2 |
Disk drive selecting disturbance signal for feed-forward compensation
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to actuate the head over the disk. A plurality of disturbance signals is generated in response to a vibration. A plurality of correlations is generated in response to each disturbance signal and an error signal of the servo control system. At least one of the disturbance signals is selected in response to the correlations. A feed-forward compensation value is generated in response to the selected disturbance signal, and the feed-forward compensation value is applied to the servo control system to compensate for the vibration. |
| US08737010B2 |
Servo control of a disk drive
A disk drive comprising a head for accessing a disk, an actuator for moving the head in the radial direction of the disk and a controller. The controller for servo control of the actuator based on servo data read out from the disk by the head. The controller is configured for maintaining a width of the adaptive chasing notch filter below a specified value in servo system control and estimating an oscillation frequency of the actuator. |
| US08737009B2 |
Resistance temperature sensors for head-media and asperity detection
A temperature sensor of a head transducer measures temperature near or at the close point. The measured temperature varies in response to changes in spacing between the head transducer and a magnetic recording medium. A detector is coupled to the temperature sensor and is configured to detect a change in a DC component of the measured temperature indicative of onset of contact between the head transducer and the medium. Another head transducer configuration includes a sensor having a sensing element with a high temperature coefficient of resistance to interact with asperities of the medium. Electrically conductive leads are connected to the sensing element and have a low temperature coefficient of resistance relative to that of the sensing element, such thermally induced resistance changes in the leads have a negligible effect on a response of the sensing element to contact with the asperities. |
| US08737008B1 |
Disk drive adjusting gain of spindle motor compensator based on a ratio of spin speeds
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and a spindle motor control system comprising a servo compensator operable to generate a control signal applied to the spindle motor, the servo compensator comprising a programmable gain term (PGT). The disk is spun at a first speed RPM—1 using a first value PGT—1 selected for the PGT, and the disk is spun at a second speed RPM—2 using a second value PGT—2 selected for the PGT, wherein the second value PGT—2 is generated in response to the first value PGT—1 scaled by a function of a ratio of RPM—2 to RPM—1. |
| US08737005B1 |
Adjusting heater current to reduce read transducer asymmetry
An asymmetry is determined of a signal generated by a read transducer in proximity to a changing magnetic field of a magnetic media. In response to determining the asymmetry of the signal, a current flowing through a heater of the read transducer is adjusted to cause a change to a magnetic field generated by the current. The change to the magnetic field generated by the current reduces the asymmetry of the signal. |
| US08737002B1 |
Magnetic recording disk with patterned nondata islands with different sizes and opposite polarity and method for making the disk
A magnetic recording disk has nondata regions that contain a group of first nondata islands with one area and a magnetization in one perpendicular direction, and a group of second nondata islands with a smaller area and a magnetization in the opposite direction. To magnetize the nondata islands with the proper magnetization directions, a DC magnetic field much greater than the coercive field of the magnetic recording layer is applied in one direction to the entire disk to magnetize all of the nondata islands in the same direction. Then the disk is heated to a predetermined temperature, and while the disk is at this temperature, a second DC magnetic field less than the first DC magnetic field is applied for a predetermined time in the opposite direction to the entire disk. This reverses the magnetization direction of the smaller islands without switching the magnetization of the larger islands. |
| US08737000B2 |
Gain control for latency testing
Approaches for determining the timing latency of a communication path are described. Some embodiments involve a method for testing timing latency. A signal is driven on a first data path and is returned through a second data path through a loop back element. The timing latency of at least a portion of the communication path that includes the first data path and the second data path is tested using the signal returned on the second data path. The gain of the second data path is adjusted to a test value during the testing of the timing latency. |
| US08736998B2 |
Systems and methods for symbol re-grouping decoding processing
The present invention is related to systems and methods for applying a data decode algorithm to different rotations or modifications of a decoder input as part of data processing. |
| US08736995B1 |
Identifying track pitch capability of a recording device
Method and apparatus for identifying the track pitch capability of a recording device, such as but not limited to a recording system and/or a servo control system in a data storage device. In accordance with some embodiments, data are written to first and second tracks at an initial track pitch such that the second track at least partially overlaps the first track. Data are arranged on the first track in code words each having a fixed plurality of bits which are decoded as a group by a data channel. The code words are transferred from the first track to the data channel, and a final track pitch for subsequent tracks is responsive to a distance at which nominally half of the code words are undecodeable by the data channel. |
| US08736994B2 |
Disk storage apparatus and write control method
According to one embodiment, a disk storage apparatus includes a first storage device, a second storage device, and a controller. The first storage device stores data for use in determining influence imposed on tracks peripheral to a designated track in which data should be written on a disk. The second storage device has a nonvolatile cache area for temporarily storing data. The controller performs a cache process of storing the data in the nonvolatile cache area if the influence is determined, from the data, to exceed a reference value, in preparation for writing the data in the designated track. |
| US08736993B2 |
Failure-resistant multi-LUN hard disk drive
Approaches are provided for a hard-disk drive (HDD) and techniques for using multiple LUNs per HDD where each LUN is mapped to a head/disk interface. In one example, a HDD generates multiple LUNs and assigns each to a single head, such that data written by a first head is only associated to a first LUN, and so forth. |
| US08736992B2 |
Wavelength-specific wide impinging angle limiter
An impingement angle-independent wavelength-specific limiter includes a stack of wavelength-specific limiters configured to limit impinging light having a plurality of different wavelengths. The stack includes a plurality of wavelength-specific limiters. Each one of the plurality of wavelength-specific limiters is activated by a corresponding wavelength of the impinging light and is configured to limit the corresponding wavelength of the impinging light. |
| US08736988B2 |
Compact imaging device
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device including an epoxy reservoir and a number of features to facilitate alignment of components during assembly of the imaging device. |
| US08736987B2 |
Lens barrel and camera system
A lens barrel includes an oscillatory wave motor which drives a lens; a manual connection ring which is operated manually to cause the lens to move along an optical axis; a slip ring which is in contact with the manual connection ring; a roller which is in contact with the slip ring and with the oscillatory wave motor; and a roller support ring which supports the roller. The slip ring is structured such that frictional resistance on a contact surface between the manual connection ring and the slip ring is smaller than frictional resistance on a contact surface between the roller and the slip ring. |
| US08736985B2 |
Photographic lens optical system
A lens optical system includes first to fourth lenses that are sequentially arranged from an object, and which are between the object and an image sensor on which an image of the object is formed. The first lens has a positive refractive power and an incident surface that is convex toward the object. The second lens has a negative refractive power and both surfaces that are concave. The third lens has a positive refractive power and has a meniscus shape that is convex toward the image sensor. The fourth lens has a negative refractive power and at least one of an incident surface and an exit surface thereof is an aspherical surface. The lens optical system may satisfy an inequality that 0.5<|tan θ|/f<1.5, where “θ” denotes an angle of view of the lens optical system and “f” denotes a focal length of the lens optical system. |
| US08736980B2 |
Imaging lens assembly
An imaging lens assembly 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 and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave at a paraxial region thereof, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The second lens element has refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has negative refractive power. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex at a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being concave at a paraxial region thereof, wherein the object-side surface thereof changes from convex at the paraxial region thereof to concave at a peripheral region thereof, and the surfaces thereof are aspheric. |
| US08736978B2 |
Single focus optical image capturing system
A single focus optical image capturing 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 and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has an object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and the fifth lens element has at least one inflection point on at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof. |
| US08736976B2 |
Oscillation motor and lens driving mechanism
An oscillation motor is adapted to press an oscillator toward a driven body in a stable state and increasing a drive efficiency. A lens driving mechanism is adapted to move a lens with excellent efficiency by using the oscillation motor. An oscillation motor generates motive power by pressure contact with a driven body to transmit vibration of the oscillator to the driven body. The oscillation motor includes the oscillator having a convex output portion on a side surface at one end side. The output portion of the oscillator is arranged to contact with the driven body. A press mechanism is also provided on a side surface at the other end side of the oscillator. The press mechanism includes a pressure correction device rotatably equipped at a position where the pressure correction device contacts with the oscillator, and the pressure correction device applies a pressure to the oscillator in a predetermined direction. |
| US08736974B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system including, in an order from an object to an image: a first lens group having negative refractive power; and a second lens group having positive refractive power, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies equations: i) 1.2≦Fnow≦2.2; ii) 2.5 |
| US08736973B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with zoom lens
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit of a negative refractive power, a second lens unit of a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power, each lens unit being moved during zooming, wherein the second lens unit includes two positive lenses, a negative lens, a positive lens in order from the object side to the image side, and an average refractive index Nd2p for d-line of materials of the positive lenses in the second lens unit and a refractive index Nd2n for d-line of a material of the negative lens in the second lens unit are appropriately set. |
| US08736971B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear lens group including lens units and as a whole having a positive refractive power. Distances between the lens units change during zooming. The second lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a negative lens component and a cemented lens including a negative lens component and a positive lens component. The second lens unit includes at least five lens components. A focal length f1 of the first lens unit, a focal length f2 of the second lens unit, a refractive index Ndp of the positive lens component of the cemented lens, and a refractive index Ndn of the negative lens component of the cemented lens are set appropriately. |
| US08736969B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having positive refractive power, which does not move for zooming, the first lens unit including a lens unit which moves for focusing; a second lens unit having negative refractive power for magnification variation; a third lens unit having negative refractive power, which moves for zooming; a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power, which moves for zooming; and a fifth lens unit having positive refractive power, which does not move for zooming, in which an interval between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit becomes largest at a telephoto end, and lateral magnifications β2w and β2t of the second lens unit at a wide-angle end and at the telephoto end are respectively set appropriately. |
| US08736962B2 |
Display device comprising multifunction glass, production method and optical element having a fresnel structure
A display device including a holding device that can be placed on the head of a user, an image generating module fixed to the holding device and generating an image, and a multifunction glass that is fixed to the holding device and has a coupling in area and a coupling out area. The image produced is coupled into the multifunction glass via the coupling in area, guided in the multifunction glass to the coupling in area, and coupled out via the coupling out area, in such a way that the user can perceive the coupled out image superimposed on the surroundings when the holding device is placed on the head of the user. The coupling out area has a Fresnel structure which receives light from the coupling-in-area via a folded beam path and couples the image out of the multifunction optical element. The coupling out element has an imaging property. |
| US08736961B2 |
Color correction of daylight
The present application generally relates to techniques and equipment for color correction of natural daylight. More particularly, the present application relates to color correction of daylight entering the interior of a structure to maintain a substantially constant color temperature over a period of time through deployment of an opto-luminescent material in a daylighting device. The color correction through deployment of an opto-luminescent material and/or color filter in a daylighting device preferably maintains high lumen intensity. |
| US08736954B2 |
High power parallel fiber arrays
High power parallel fiber arrays for the amplification of high peak power pulses are described. Fiber arrays based on individual fiber amplifiers as well as fiber arrays based on multi-core fibers can be implemented. The optical phase between the individual fiber amplifier elements of the fiber array is measured and controlled using a variety of phase detection and compensation techniques. High power fiber array amplifiers can be used for EUV and X-ray generation as well as pumping of parametric amplifiers. |
| US08736953B2 |
High-power laser system having delivery fiber with non-circular cross section for isolation against back reflections
An apparatus and method that provide optical isolation by permitting substantially all forward-propagating light into a delivery fiber from an optical amplifier and substantially preventing backward-traveling light from the delivery fiber entering the optical amplifier without the use of a conventional optical isolator. Eliminating the isolator improves efficiency and reduces cost. Some embodiments use a delivery fiber having a non-circular core in order to spread a single-mode signal into multiple modes such that any backward-propagating reflection is inhibited from reentering the single-mode amplifier. Some embodiments amplify an optical signal in a gain fiber having an output end, output the forward-propagating amplified signal as a high-brightness optical beam (having a first Rayleigh range) into a removable delivery fiber having a non-circular waveguide, output the amplified signal from a distal end of the delivery fiber, and, without the use of a non-linear optical isolator, inhibit backward-propagating light from re-entering the gain fiber. |
| US08736952B2 |
Photonic crystal device
A photonic crystal device comprising: a photonic crystal material having an initial ordered structure and a viewing surface, the initial ordered structure giving rise to a first optical effect detectable from the viewing surface; and a removal layer removably attached with the viewing surface or an opposing surface of the photonic crystal material opposite to the viewing surface; wherein mechanical removal of at least a portion of the removal layer results in a structural change in at least a portion of the initial ordered structure of at least a portion of the photonic crystal material respective to the portion of the removed removal layer, thereby resulting in a changed portion different from the initial ordered structure, the changed portion giving rise to a second optical effect detectable from the viewing surface and detectably different from the first optical effect. |
| US08736951B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display device includes a display element including a pair of first and second substrates which are opposed to each other, and a microcapsule enclosing a display material changed in optical characteristics in response to an electric impulse, the microcapsule being sandwiched between the first and second substrates; and a protective film sealing the display element. In the display device, a first electrode is provided on the surface of the first substrate which faces the second substrate, a second electrode is provided on the surface of the second substrate which faces the first substrate, and a spacer is provided in the space between the periphery of the facing surface of the first substrate and the first electrode. |
| US08736944B2 |
Transparent electrochromic system
A transparent electrochromic system includes a cellular structure, two power supply electrodes together supported on a single wall, and at least one additional electrode. The additional electrode can be used as a reference electrode or as a polarization electrode. The additional electrode can also form a condenser with a fourth electrode that is added to the system, in order to control a migration of certain electroactive substances responsible for coloring and decoloring the system. The operation of the system can thus be improved. |
| US08736943B2 |
Variable transmission electrochromic window and associated aircraft window system
A variable transmission electrochromic window including: first and second substantially transparent substrates having electrically conductive materials associated therewith; an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes at least one solvent, at least one anodic electroactive material, at least one cathodic electroactive material, and wherein at least one of the anodic and cathodic electroactive materials is electrochromic; and wherein the electrochromic window exhibits an Ev of less than approximately 20, and more preferably less than approximately 5, while in a low transmission state during normal daylight conditions. |
| US08736942B2 |
Electrochromic device capable of controlling visible and infrared radiations
An electrochromic device that is capable of changing the transmission of either visible or infrared radiations as a function of the polarity of a voltage applied to the device. |
| US08736941B2 |
Electrochromic display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
An electrochromic display apparatus is disclosed that includes a stacked body which includes a display electrode and an electrochromic layer that are stacked on each other; a film which includes through holes, and is disposed on one of the display electrode and the electrochromic layer of the stacked body; and an opposed substrate on which an opposed electrode that faces toward the display electrode is formed. |
| US08736940B2 |
Exterior mirror with integral spotter mirror and method of making same
A method of forming a mirror reflective element assembly includes providing front and rear substrates and establishing a curved recess at a second surface of the front substrate and establishing a mirror reflector coating at the curved recess. An uncured seal is dispensed on a dispensing surface and has a first gap between terminal ends of said seal. The uncured seal is dispensed substantially around a principal reflecting region and a spotter region and defines a second gap between spaced apart portions of the uncured seal at an outboard region of the spotter region. A portion of the uncured seal is dispensed across the spotter region. The first gap provides a fill port for said mirror reflective element assembly when the front and rear substrates are mated together, and the second gap provides a vent port for the spotter cavity when the front and rear substrates are mated together. |
| US08736936B2 |
Manufacturing optical MEMS with thin-film anti-reflective layers
In accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a support structure outwardly from a substrate. The support structure has a first thickness and a first outer sidewall surface that is not parallel with the substrate. The first outer sidewall surface has a first minimum refractive index. A first anti-reflective layer is formed outwardly from the support structure and outwardly from the substrate. A second anti-reflective layer is formed outwardly from the first anti-reflective layer. The first and second anti-reflective layers each includes respective compounds of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of: silicon; nitrogen; and oxygen. |
| US08736935B2 |
Optical deflection device for scanning, ophthalmologic measurement and therapy system
An optical deflection unit for targeted radiation, e.g., produced by laser or superluminescent diodes, in scanning, ophthalmological measuring and therapy systems, comprises a deflection mirror, a position sensor and a control unit, which form a control circuit for minimizing the deviation of the actual positions, detected by the position sensor, from the desired positions of the deflection mirror, whereby the optical deflection unit comprises a deflection mirror, oscillatingly movable by means of non-contacting electromagnetic drives around at least one rotation axis, and which is positioned in the direction of the, at least, one rotation axis between at least two bearings. The optical deflection unit is designed may also be used for beam guidance in high and ultrahigh vacuum installations, such as UV and EUV exposure installations for semiconductor lithography. |
| US08736931B2 |
Image processor, image forming system, image processing method and computer readable medium
An image processor includes: a receiving unit that receives an input of image data in a first color space; a first color conversion unit that performs color conversion of the image data received by the receiving unit to image data formed of a first combination of color components in a second color space; a second color conversion unit that performs color conversion of the image data received by the receiving unit to image data formed of a second combination of color components in the second color space, the second combination being different from the first combination; and an image generating unit that generates an image based on at least the image data generated by the first and second color conversion units. Each of the first and second combinations includes a smaller number of color components than the number of color materials to be used in formation of an image. |
| US08736928B2 |
Automatic document feeding scanning device
The present invention discloses a sheet feed scanner including an auto document feeder, a flatbed scanner and a power-switching mechanism. The power-switching mechanism includes a first shaft, a power source, a clutch, a first gear, a second gear, and an elastic limitation structure. The clutch includes a first incline and a second incline. The elastic limitation structure pushes the first incline or the second incline of the clutch. When the first shaft is rotated in a first direction, the first incline is pushed by the elastic limitation structure so that the clutch is coupled to the first gear for driving the automatic document feeder. When the first shaft is rotated in a second direction, the second incline is pushed by the elastic limitation structure so that the clutch is coupled to the second gear for driving the flatbed scanner. |
| US08736927B2 |
Scanning device
A scanning device includes a scanning platform, a feed roller mounted above the scanning platform and rotatable to bring a sheet-like medium across the scanning platform, first and second elastic elements located under two ends of the scanning platform to press the scanning platform against the feed roller. One end of the scanning device near to the first elastic element is defined as a datum end for guiding the mediums to enter the scanning device. The first elastic element acts a greater force on the scanning platform than the second elastic element, or the distance from the first elastic element to the datum end is smaller than that from the second elastic element to the other end of the scanning device and the force from the first elastic element is equal to that from the second elastic element, so as to make the medium levelly transmitted during being scanned. |
| US08736924B2 |
Time-delay-and-integrate image sensors having variable integration times
In various embodiments, a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) image sensor includes (i) a plurality of integrating CCDs (ICCDs), arranged in parallel, that accumulate photocharge in response to exposure to light, (ii) electrically coupled to the plurality of ICCDs, a readout CCD (RCCD) for receiving photocharge from the plurality of ICCDs, and (iii) electrically coupled to the RCCD, readout circuitry for converting charge received from the RCCD into voltage. |
| US08736922B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus and computer-readable medium
An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a controlling unit and a changing unit. The reading unit receives a reflected light from a sheet onto which a light is irradiated from a light source, converts the received light into an image signal, and accumulates a charge corresponding to the image signal in accordance with a reading time of the sheet. The controlling unit controls the light source to be turned off in accordance with a reading mode of the sheet so that an amount of the accumulated charge does not reach a saturated amount. The changing unit changes an amplification factor of an amplifying unit in accordance with a turn-off time of the light source to amplify the image signal to a predetermined level when the controlling unit controls the light source to be turned off. The amplifying unit amplifies the image signal at a predetermined amplification factor. |
| US08736916B2 |
Optical scanner that forms an optical path for an image light emitted from a light source, and image forming apparatus according to an electrophotography method with a photoreceptor that undergoes an exposure to an image light from the optical scanner
An optical scanner contains in a casing made of thermoplastic material a light source that emits an image light based on image data, and at least one optical element that is disposed in an optical path for the image light. The optical element is held through a holding member by the casing. The holding member is uprightly held at one edge portion thereof on an inside surface of the casing, and secures the optical element at the other edge portion thereof. The holding member has a shape that causes a thermal deformation in which a leaning direction of the other edge portion is opposite to a leaning direction of the one edge portion due to a thermal deformation of the inside surface of the casing when a temperature of the casing rises. |
| US08736911B2 |
Image reader and image forming apparatus including a bottom wall having a convex portion protruding toward the outside of the housing
An image reader includes: a bottom wall that faces a discharge table of a main body of an image forming apparatus, to which a printed sheet is discharged, with a space formed therebetween, the bottom wall forming a bottom surface of a housing that receives an optical system and including a concave portion recessed into the inside of the housing without including a convex portion protruding toward the outside of the housing in a contactable area having a possibility that the printed sheet comes into contact therewith when the printed sheet is discharged to the discharge table, the bottom wall including the convex portion protruding toward the outside of the housing in the other areas except for the contactable area. |
| US08736910B2 |
Method and device superimposing two marks for securing documents against forgery with
A document securization method includes: a first step of forming a first mark (205, 210) on a first surface of a document by utilizing a first marking element, a second step of forming a second mark (215) on another surface of the document or in the depth of the document by utilizing a second marking element, the two marks are superimposed when the document is illuminated by back-lighting and at least one (215) of the marks is a mark whose copy, made using marking elements identical to those utilized for forming the mark, causes an error rate, measured dot by dot, that is greater than a predefined value. |
| US08736908B2 |
Printing and authentication of a security document on a substrate utilizing unique substrate properties
A method for printing a security document on a substrate is disclosed. Firstly, a first reference image of a reference region of the substrate is generated, the image being indicative of an inherent characteristic of the substrate in the reference region. This is followed by generating encoded data indicative of the inherent characteristic of the substrate. Finally, the encoded data is printed over the reference region of the substrate, thus effecting the print of the security document. |
| US08736906B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing print job in printing platform for determining rotation
A method for processing a print job includes: a) analyzing printer description language (PDL) image data for a print job; b) determining a raster image processor (RIP) orientation for the print job based at least in part on the analysis of the PDL image data, the RIP orientation being selected from a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation; and c) processing the PDL image data for each page of the print job to form raster image data for each page in the RIP orientation and storing the raster image data in the RIP orientation. A printing platform associated with the method includes a parser module, a controller module, a storage device, and a RIP module. |
| US08736900B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image forming system, method, and medium for forming transparent toner image to increase glossiness based on recording medium properties
In the case where a sheet on which a transparent toner image is to be formed has high glossiness, the transparent toner image is placed in an image formable area except for the area in which the user wishes to increase the glossiness. |
| US08736899B2 |
Color translation method for color-space with wide-color range
A color conversion method for wide-gamut color spaces, in which color conversion is performed without gamut clipping so that data corresponding to a predetermined wide-gamut color space can be directly output by a display device that supports a different wide-gamut color space from the predetermined wide-gamut color space, and which maintains characteristics of the predetermined wide-gamut color space. The color conversion method includes converting data of a predetermined wide-gamut color space into data of the RGB color space, determining whether the RGB data is outside the gamut of the RGB color space, extending the RGB data and clipping the extended RGB data if the RGB data is outside the gamut of the RGB color space, and dividing the clipped RGB data into a number of regions and performing a mapping operation in units of regions. |
| US08736895B2 |
Tape printing apparatus
A tape printing apparatus compares a back-side background region of print data to be previously printed and a front-side background region of print data to be subsequently printed upon receipt of plural print data including background. If they are different, the tape printing apparatus creates a front-side color mixture tolerance region and a back-side color mixture tolerance region based on the front-side background region and the back-side background region, respectively, so that the front-side color mixture tolerance region and the back-side color mixture tolerance region are arranged continuously. The apparatus sets cut positions at a front edge border and a back edge border of each print data and cut the tape off at those portions while carrying out full-color print on the tape based on respective print data. |
| US08736894B2 |
Producing correction data for printer
Correction data is produced for density errors in prints produced using a printer. While printing a test image, the periods of rotation of one or more rotatable imaging members arranged along a receiver feed path in the printer are measured using respective period sensors. The printed test image is measured along a selected measurement direction and a reproduction error signal representing deviation from aim density is determined. For each period sensor, the autocorrelation of the reproduction error signal for the corresponding period is determined. If the determined autocorrelation exceeds a selected threshold, the reproduction error signal is decomposed at the corresponding period to extract the variation from the measured component. The remaining error signal is separated by frequency terms. The variations from the data at measured periods and the remaining error signal are used to produce a correction signal. |
| US08736887B2 |
Printing objects using a rolling buffer
An electronic architecture for an imaging data path allows for printing on objects that are unevenly spaced. The architecture uses a rolling image buffer into which images are copied. A hardware trigger can optionally be used in conjunction with the rolling image buffer to prevent any printing mismatches that could otherwise be caused by a software delay. The trigger relates the physical location of the object to a virtual location in the image buffer. |
| US08736886B2 |
Printing condition determining apparatus, printing condition determining method, and storage medium
A group of printing conditions, which have at least one condition item in common except for environmental condition items concerning a temperature and humidity environment for printing, is selected from among a plurality of printing conditions. A list image, which represents a line-up of visible information concerning the temperature and humidity environment depending on the environmental condition items, and which is included in the printing conditions of the selected group, is generated and displayed. |
| US08736884B2 |
Image processor and non-transitory storage medium storing program
An image processor includes a display. The display displays a preset-setting-group selection screen containing a plurality of icons respectively corresponding to preset-setting groups such that one icon is displayed in a manner indicative of a selected state while at least one icon other than the one icon is displayed in a manner that is indicative of an unselected state. When any of set values of a preset-setting group corresponding to the one icon having been displayed in the manner indicative of the selected state, the display displays a preset-setting-group-updated screen containing the one icon displayed in the manner indicative of the selected state on the preset-setting-group selection screen and not containing the at least one icon in the manner indicative of the unselected state on the preset-setting-group selection screen. |
| US08736883B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for receiving a printing instruction of image data and forming an image according to the printing instruction includes a wireless communication device, an input unit, and a connector storage portion. The wireless communication device is disposed at a body of the image forming apparatus and has a cable and an output connector. The input unit has a wireless connection port to connect the output connector via the cable and a wired connection port to connect a wired cable from an external device. The input unit receives a printing instruction from any one of the wireless connection port and the wired connection port. The connector storage portion stores the output connector removed from the wireless connection port when the wireless communication device is not used. The connector storage portion, the wireless connection port, and the wired connection port are concentrated in one location. |
| US08736874B2 |
Display device, electronic device and image processing apparatus including the display device, and method of displaying information
On a touch-panel display of an image forming apparatus, a function selecting area and a preview area are displayed next to each other. On the function selecting area, a function setting menu is displayed in one display mode among an icon mode in which only a group of icons are displayed, a regular mode in which a group of icons and a group of texts are displayed, and an express mode in which a group of icons, a group of texts and a group of function setting buttons are displayed. In the icon mode, detailed preview information is displayed on a large preview area, and in the express mode, detailed function selecting information is displayed on a large function selecting area. |
| US08736870B2 |
Print control apparatus and method
Whether or not an execution of a print job according to a designated print setting is available is decided based on a result of an output of a sensor of a temperature and humidity. When the print job cannot be executed, an alternative setting is decided and the print job is executed based on the alternative setting. Thus, whether or not the execution of the print job according to the designated print setting is available can be decided based on the output of the temperature/humidity sensor provided for a printing apparatus. |
| US08736869B2 |
Layout print system, method for viewing layout document, and program product
There is provided a layout print system including a storage storing electronic data sets having unique document IDs, and a printing image generating apparatus generating printing image data based on the stored electronic data sets. The printing image generating apparatus includes an acquisition section acquiring the electronic data sets, an identification section identifying a document form type for the electronic data sets, a weight value determination section determining weight values for the electronic data sets, and a printing image generating section generating a printing image data by arranging the electronic data sets on a layout template based on the weight values and attaching identification information to the electronic data sets. The layout print system further includes a printer printing the printing image data, and a display apparatus including an information identification reader reading the identification information on a printing medium and displaying a desired one of the electronic data sets. |
| US08736868B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In a multifunction peripheral (MFP), when an interface portion receives a print job, a control portion extracts image data of one page after another from the print job, and then stores in a RAM the extracted image data of one page after another along with corresponding page IDs (page numbers) associated therewith. After the image data contained in the print job starts to be printed, when a touch panel liquid crystal display accepts an output-change instruction to end printing immediately after a specified page Q prior to the last page of the image data of the image data stored in the RAM, only image data up to and inclusive of the specified page Q is output. |
| US08736867B1 |
Methods providing print fulfillment for digital images over a digital network and related systems and computer program products
Methods of providing print fulfillment for digital images may include saving an image selection property in digital memory, saving a batching property in digital memory, and saving digital images and associated image data in digital memory. A group of the digital images that satisfy the image selection property saved in digital memory may be selected, and it may be determined if the batching property saved in digital memory is satisfied for the group of the digital images having associated image data that satisfy the image selection property. If the batching property is satisfied, a print fulfillment order may be transmitted over a digital network requesting prints of the group of the digital images. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US08736864B2 |
System and method for producing and inspecting prints having static and variable contents
A system for producing and inspecting prints having static and variable contents includes a printing unit, an inspection unit, and a computation unit. The computation unit integrates print-specific information having static and variable contents in the form of print parameters and inspection parameters into a common JobTicket and routes the JobTicket i) both to the printing unit and to the inspection unit or ii) routes the JobTicket first of all to the printing unit and from the printing unit to the inspection unit, or vice versa. The print parameters are extracted from the common JobTicket and the printing unit uses the extracted print parameters to create prints. The inspection parameters are extracted from the common JobTicket and the inspection unit uses the extracted inspection parameters to inspect the prints. |
| US08736862B2 |
Operating section structure, image processing apparatus, and information processing apparatus
An operating section structure positioned forward of a document scanning unit. The operating section structure includes: an image display surface; and an authentication device placement surface for mounting a detachable authentication device at an angle different from the image display surface. |
| US08736855B2 |
Print control apparatus and method to dry printing agents applied to printing mediums
A print control apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a print job, an allocation unit configured to allocate, based on the print job received by the receiving unit, a printing process in which an image based on the received print job is printed on a printing medium by applying a printing agent thereto, and a drying process in which the printing agent applied to the printing medium is dried, and a change unit configured to change, based on a user's instruction, the drying process allocated by the allocation unit. |
| US08736851B2 |
Film thickness measuring device and film thickness measuring method
A film thickness measuring device includes a spectroscopic sensor and a data processor, wherein the spectroscopic sensor measures spectroscopic data of a film coated on a substrate and the data processor obtains measured color characteristic variables from the measured spectroscopic data, compares the measured color characteristic variables with plural sets of theoretical color characteristic variables corresponding to plural sets of values, each set including one of plural values of thickness and one of plural values of index of refraction of the film, determines index of refraction of the film using the set of values corresponding to the set of theoretical color characteristic variables which minimizes a difference between the set of theoretical color characteristic variables and the measured color characteristic variables, and determines thickness of the film using the index of refraction of the film. |
| US08736849B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring structures on photolithography masks
The invention relates to a method for measuring structures on masks (1) for photolithography, wherein firstly the mask (1) is mounted on a spatially movable platform (2). The position of the platform (2) is controlled in this case. The structure on the mask (1) is illuminated with illumination light from an illumination light source which emits coherent light. The light coming from the mask (1) is imaged onto a detection device (6) by an imaging optical unit (4) and detected. The detected signals are evaluated in an evaluation device (7) and the positions and dimensions of the structures are determined. The invention also relates to an apparatus by which these method steps, in particular, can be carried out. In this case, the accuracy of the position and dimension determination is increased by the properties of the illumination light being coordinated with the structure to be measured. For this purpose, the illumination device (3, 3′) has setting means for coordinating the properties of the illumination light with the structure to be measured. |
| US08736844B2 |
Sagnac fourier transform spectrometer having improved resolution
A Sagnac interferometer can include a beamsplitter arranged to receive an input beam of light of a design wavelength, to split the input beam of light into first and second beams that counter propagate around an optical path, and to recombine the first and second beams into an output beam of light. The optical path can include at least one diffraction grating that is arranged to satisfy an effective Littrow geometry. |
| US08736841B1 |
Method and apparatus for aligning and validating the measurements of color measurement instruments
Aligning measurements taken by a second color measurement instrument with measurements taken by first color measurement instrument, wherein the first instrument has access to a first set of standards but not a second set of standards, and the second instrument has access to the second set of standards but not the first set of standards, includes using a third color measurement instrument to generate a profile that mathematically transforms a value measured on the second set of standards to a value measured on the first set of standards, wherein the third instrument has access to the first and second sets of standards, mathematically transforming measurements of the second set of standards taken by the second instrument into virtual measurements of the first set of standards, using the profile, and aligning the measurements taken by the second instrument to the measurements taken by the first instrument, using the virtual measurements. |
| US08736840B1 |
Method for finding an aim position of a measuring device
One embodiment of a method for finding an aim position of a measuring device may include building a color model for an imaging device, initializing a color encoding image, displaying or printing the image on the imaging device, acquiring measurement with the measuring device, converting the measurement into imaging device code values using the color model, calculating said aim position from said device code values. The color encoding image sets one-to-one relationship between coordinates and colors. The image is output on the imaging device and measured by the measuring device. The measurement is converted using the color model to the device code values. The aim position then calculated from position of the device code values in the encoding image. |
| US08736839B2 |
Optical measuring apparatuses including polarized beam splitters
An optical measuring apparatus may include a light source, linear polarizer, polarized beam splitter, quarter wave plate, objective lens, and/or light receiver. The polarized beam splitter may be configured to transmit linearly polarized light from the linear polarizer to any one of a first and second optical path. The quarter wave plate may be configured to circularly polarize light transmitted through the first optical path from the polarized beam splitter and transmit the circularly polarized light to an object to be measured, and the quarter wave plate may be configured to linearly polarize the circularly polarized light reflected from the object to be measured and transmit the linearly polarized reflected light to the second optical path of the polarized beam splitter. The objective lens may be configured to generate light having different wavelengths by generating chromatic aberration in the circularly polarized light from the quarter wave plate. |
| US08736838B2 |
Terahertz ellipsometer system, and method of use
A terahertz ellipsometer, the basic preferred embodiment being a sequential system having a backward wave oscillator (BWO); a first rotatable polarizer that includes a wire grid (WGP1); a rotating polarizer that includes a wire grid (RWGP); a stage (STG) for supporting a sample (S); a rotating retarder (RRET) comprising first (RP), second (RM1), third (RM2) and fourth (RM3) elements; a second rotatable polarizer that includes a wire grid (WGP2); and a Golay cell detector (DET). |
| US08736836B2 |
Echelle grating multi-order imaging spectrometer utilizing a catadioptric lens
A cryogenically cooled imaging spectrometer that includes a spectrometer housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An entrance slit is on the first side of the spectrometer housing and directs light to a cross-disperser grating. An echelle immersions grating and a catadioptric lens are positioned in the housing to receive the light. A cryogenically cooled detector is located in the housing on the second side of the spectrometer housing. Light from the entrance slit is directed to the cross-disperser grating. The light is directed from the cross-disperser grating to the echelle immersions grating. The light is directed from the echelle immersions grating to the cryogenically cooled detector on the second side of the spectrometer housing. |
| US08736828B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting ophthalmic lens
An embodiment of a system and a method for inspecting a contact lens is provided. The illumination system illuminates the center zone and the peripheral zone of the contact lens when it is inside a cavity between a male mold and a female mold. The imaging optical system has two channels to capture two images or a composite single image to inspect the entire contact lens. The imaging optical system of the first channel has its entrance pupil far away from the mold tool. The camera of the first channel is used to capture the image of the center zone of the contact lens. The image optical system of the second channel is located outside the mold tool but its entrance pupil is located inside the mold tool or outside but substantially close to it. This enables the camera of the second channel to capture the image of the peripheral zone of the contact lens. |
| US08736826B2 |
Monitoring for disturbance of optical fiber
Problems of excessive fading in systems for monitoring single-mode optical fiber for physical disturbances are addressed by launching into the fiber polarized light having at least two different predetermined launch states of polarization whose respective Stokes vectors are linearly-independent of each other; downstream from the first location, receiving the light from the fiber; analyzing the received light using polarization state analyzer means having at least two different analyzer states of polarization that are characterized by respective Stokes vectors that are linearly-independent of each other and detecting the analyzed light to provide corresponding detection signals; deriving from the detection signals measures of changes in polarization transformation properties of the fiber between different times that are substantially independent of said launch states and said detection states; and, on the basis of predefined acceptable physical disturbance criteria determining whether or not the measures are indicative of a reportable physical disturbance. |
| US08736823B2 |
Methods and processes for optical interferometric or holographic test in the development, evaluation, and manufacture of semiconductor and free-metal devices utilizing anisotropic and isotropic materials
Analysis and characterization of semiconductor and free-metal devices using a plurality of “live” and stored interference patterns or data detected to determine or generate two-dimensional or three-dimensional information of at least one internal stress or signal, or determining the effects thereof of internal or external stresses acting upon or within the electrical signals applied to a device under test or evaluation having exterior surfaces, interior structures, electronic features as well as determining the effects thereof of chemicals, bioelectric materials, or substances, placed adjacent to the surface of the devices under test. |
| US08736822B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting pressure signals
An apparatus to detect a pressure signal in a fluid flowing in a conduit comprises a flexible band sized to fit at least partially around the conduit. An optical fiber is flexibly adhered to the flexible band. At least one fastener is attached to the flexible band to fasten the flexible band at least partially around the conduit. A method for detecting a pressure signal in a conduit comprises adhering an optical fiber to a flexible band. At least one fastener is attached to the band. The band is fastened around the conduit such that a strain induced in the conduit by the pressure signal is transmitted to the optical fiber. |
| US08736821B2 |
System and method for monitoring bending of a flexible riser
A system and method for monitoring bending curvature of a flexible pipe structure, including at least one conduit configured to conform to a profile of a bend stiffener of a flexible pipe structure, and the at least one conduit including one or more sensors, wherein each sensor is configured for measuring a bending curvature of the bend stiffener. |
| US08736818B2 |
Electronically steered flash LIDAR
Methods and systems for adaptively controlling the illumination of a scene are provided. In particular, a scene is illuminated, and light reflected from the scene is detected. Information regarding levels of light intensity received by different pixels of a multiple pixel detector, corresponding to different areas within a scene, and/or information regarding a range to an area within a scene, is received. That information is then used as a feedback signal to control levels of illumination within the scene. More particularly, different areas of the scene can be provided with different levels of illumination in response to the feedback signal. |
| US08736816B2 |
Asymmetric complementary dipole illuminator
An apparatus, a method of designing the apparatus, a tool using the apparatus and a method of using the apparatus for optimizing optical photolithography during formation of integrated circuits. The apparatus includes: an asymmetrical complementary dipole element including: first and second openings being equidistant and minor images about a first axis, the first and second openings having essentially a same first area and a same first optical density relative to a selected wavelength of light; third and fourth openings being equidistant and minor images about a second axis, the third and fourth openings having essentially a same second area, and a same second optical density relative to the selected wavelength of light; and wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis and the first and second optical densities are different. |
| US08736815B2 |
Position sensor and lithographic apparatus
A position sensor is configured to measure a position data of a target. The position sensor includes a radiation source configured to irradiate a radiation beam, a first grating configured to diffract the radiation beam in a first diffraction direction into at least a first order diffraction beam, and a second grating, arranged in an optical path of the first order diffraction beam, the second grating being configured to diffract the first order diffraction beam diffracted at the first grating in a second diffraction direction substantially perpendicular to the first diffraction direction. The second grating is connected to the target. A first detector is configured to detect at least a part of the beam diffracted by the first grating, and at least one second detector is configured to detect at least part of the beam diffracted by the first grating and the second grating. |
| US08736810B2 |
EUV reticle substrates with high thermal conductivity
A reflective reticle substantially reduces or eliminates pattern distortion that results from the absorption of EUV radiation while maintaining a reticle thickness consistent with industry standards. The reflective reticle includes a layer of ultra-low expansion (ULE) glass and a substrate of Cordierite having a thermal conductivity substantially larger than that of ULE glass. An aluminum layer is disposed onto a first surface of the ULE glass and a second surface of the ULE glass is polished to be substantially flat and defect-free. The Cordierite substrate can be directly bonded to the aluminum layer using anodic bonding to form the reflective reticle. Alternatively, a first surface of an intermediate Zerodur layer can be bonded to the aluminum layer, and a second aluminum layer can be used to anodically bond the Cordierite substrate to a second surface of the Zerodur layer, thereby forming the reflective reticle. |
| US08736803B2 |
Mother panel wherein a sealing material includes a first sealing material and a second sealing material wherein the first and second sealing material enables air tight sealing within a periphery of the mother panel
A mother TFT substrate having plural TFT substrates, and a mother counter substrate having plural counter substrates are bonded together to form a mother panel. At this time, the interior of the mother panel is sealed only with a sealing material, without forming a sealant separately in seal portions. The mother counter substrate has plural counter substrates of liquid crystal cells. A sealing material is arranged in two rows surrounding the counter substrates in the periphery of the mother counter substrate, except for the seal portions in which seal portion sealing materials are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner on the short sides. When the mother counter substrate and the mother TFT substrate are overlapped and the inside air is let out, the sealing materials are heated. Then, the seal portion sealing materials are bridged together to seal the interior of the mother panel. |
| US08736797B2 |
Biaxial retardation film and fabrication method thereof
A biaxial retardation film is disclosed, including a substrate, wherein the substrate includes an alignment film thereon or an alignment-treated surface; and an optically anisotropic coating on the substrate, wherein the optically anisotropic coating includes a top layer and a bottom layer, wherein the bottom layer is a parallel aligned liquid crystal layer along an alignment direction of the substrate, and the top layer is a vertically aligned hexagonal pillar array liquid crystal layer, wherein three-dimensional refractive indices of the optically anisotropic coating satisfy a relationship nx>nz>ny. The disclosure also provides a fabrication method thereof. |
| US08736794B2 |
Light emitting device
Provided is a light-emitting device exhibiting a high light-emission efficiency and moreover may utilize an external light radiating from the back side. A light-emitting device has a light-emitting element and a reflective layer reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting element. The reflective layer has a first layer constituted from a liquid crystal having a helical structure; a second layer disposed on opposite side of the first layer from the light-emitting element, and constituted from a liquid crystal having a helical structure with the same twisting direction as the first layer; and a third layer interposed therebetween to divide a light transmitted through the third layer itself into two intrinsic polarized lights causing a phase difference between the two intrinsic polarized lights. |
| US08736789B2 |
Slim LCD module and a socket therefor
An LCD module including an LCD panel and a backlight unit disposed under the LCD panel is provided. The backlight unit has a bottom chassis, a lamp, a socket, and a balance board. The bottom chassis receives the lamp, the socket, and the balance board therein. The balance board is fixed to the bottom chassis. The socket is coupled with the balance board and the lamp. |
| US08736787B2 |
Liquid crystal panel module, backlight module and liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal panel module, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) are provided. The liquid crystal panel module includes a liquid crystal panel and a diffraction grating layer. The liquid crystal panel has a plurality of pixels. The diffraction grating layer is disposed on the liquid crystal panel, and a maximum period of a grating of the diffraction grating layer is smaller than 1/10 of a size of the pixels. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light emitting element and a diffraction grating film. A light provided by the light emitting element emits from a light emitting surface of the light guide plate and is bended towards the light emitting element after passing through the diffraction grating film. The liquid crystal panel module and the backlight module can be applied to the LCD together or individually. |
| US08736785B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel including a first translucent substrate and a second translucent substrate between which a liquid crystal material is sealed; a flexible wiring board extending from a connection end portion with respect to the first translucent substrate; and a metal-reinforced resin container. The container includes a first principal surface onto which the liquid crystal panel is accommodated; a second principal surface onto which a printed wiring board is disposed; and a through hole for allowing an extended end portion of the flexible wiring board to pass therethrough from the first principal surface to the second principal surface so that the extended end portion is connected to the printed wiring board. The through hole is provided at a position corresponding to an overlapping portion between the first translucent substrate and the second translucent substrate. |
| US08736782B2 |
Notebook computer and liquid crystal display module having particular antenna structure
A notebook computer includes a host and a display device. The display device includes a casing and a liquid crystal display module. The casing is pivoted to the host. The liquid crystal display module includes a back cover, a light guide plate, a liquid crystal panel, a light source, and an antenna. The back cover is disposed in the casing. The light guide plate is disposed on and supported by the back cover. The liquid crystal panel is disposed on and supported by the back cover, and the light guide plate is located between the back cover and the liquid crystal panel. The light source is disposed on a side surface of the light guide plate. The antenna is integrally connected to the back cover. |
| US08736781B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display device includes: a first gate line and a second gate line on a first substrate; a first data line and a second data line crossing the first and second gate lines to define a pixel region; a first thin film transistor connected to the first gate line and the first data line; a second thin film transistor connected to the first gate line and the second data line; a first pixel electrode in the pixel region and connected to the first thin film transistor; a second pixel electrode in the pixel region, connected to the second thin film transistor and including at least one opening therein; a common electrode on a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the second pixel electrode and the common electrode. |
| US08736779B2 |
Active matrix substrate, liquid crystal display panel, liquid crystal display device, method for manufacturing active matrix substrate, method for manufacturing liquid crystal display panel, and method for driving liquid crystal display panel
A high-quality display is achieved by suppressing a disturbance in alignment in a liquid crystal display panel including a substrate structured so that a slit in a pixel electrode intersects with a scanning signal line or an auxiliary capacitor line. An active matrix substrate (10) includes: a pixel electrode (12) having a slit; and an auxiliary capacitor line (14). In a region of intersection between the slit (15) and the auxiliary capacitor line (14) or a scanning signal line (21), at least a drain line (13) or a data signal line (22) is provided between a layer of the pixel electrode (12) and a layer of the auxiliary capacitor line (14) or of the scanning signal line (21) in such a way as to cover the auxiliary capacitor line (12) or the scanning signal line (21). |
| US08736770B2 |
Method and system for an integrated VSB/QAM/NTSC/OOB plug-and-play DTV receiver
A method for processing signals in a communication system may include performing by one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a single digital television (DTV) receiver chip, demodulating a wirelessly received digital inband signal and a wirelessly received digital out-of-band signal. The demodulating may include equalizing the received digital inband signal and the received digital out-of-band signal. The demodulated digital inband signal and the demodulated digital out-of-band signal may be error corrected. One or more TV channels may be generated based on one or both of the error corrected demodulated digital inband signals and/or the error corrected demodulated out-of-band signals. The wirelessly received digital inband signal may include a VSB signal, a NTSC signal and/or a QAM signal. The one or more processors and/or circuits may perform decoding the wirelessly received digital inband signal. |
| US08736768B2 |
Video control apparatus and control method thereof
Upon reception of a DDC access request from an external device connected to an HDMI port, a television receiver sets an electric potential of an HPD signal to ON level. Upon reception of an HDCP authentication initiation request from the external storage device after EDID is transmitted in response to a request from the external device, it is checked if an HDMI port to which that external device is connected is selected from a plurality of HDMI ports. If it is determined that the corresponding port is not selected, the control waits for selection of an HDMI port to which the external device is connected. If the corresponding port is selected, an electric potential of HPD signal is set at OFF level. After an elapse of 100 msec, the electric potential of the HPD signal is resumed to the ON level. |
| US08736763B2 |
Content processing apparatus and content synchronizing method
According to one embodiment, a content synchronizing method includes: first transmitting when receiving an acquiring request for reference time to determine a timing to synchronize a plurality of pieces of content executed by a plurality of modules with each other from a first module out of the modules, the acquiring request for the reference time to a second module out of the modules; receiving source information indicating an acquisition source of the reference time from the second module; and acquiring reference time information indicating the reference time from the acquisition source indicated by the source information, wherein second transmitting to the first module, together with the reference time information, processing time information indicating processing time from receiving the acquiring request until transmitting the reference time information, the processing time information being used to calculate a time lag between time in the first module and the reference time. |
| US08736759B2 |
Methods and related apparatus making effective use of bandwidth of storage device to generate interpolated frames
A method of interpolated frame generation and input source detection includes: receiving input frames; storing at least a first frame of successive frames in the input frames into a storage device under a film mode; comparing the stored first frame with a second frame of the successive frames not stored in the storage device to generate a first comparison result for determining whether to exit the film mode; and reading frames stored in the storage device to generate interpolated frames under the film mode. |
| US08736743B2 |
Color imaging element, imaging device, and storage medium storing a control program for imaging device
Interpolation precision of phase difference detection pixels is raised. An image pickup device includes: a color filter disposed with a repeating basic array pattern configured by 3×3 pixel square arrays of a first array pattern and a second array pattern disposed symmetrically about a point; a first phase difference detection pixel that is placed at a position of a pixel corresponding to 1 corner portion out of the 4 corner portions of at least one array pattern in 1 pair of the first array pattern and the second array pattern out of 2 pairs of the first array pattern and the second array pattern configuring the basic array pattern; and a second phase difference detection pixel that is placed at a position of a pixel corresponding to 1 corner portion out of the 4 corner portions in the array pattern, out of the first array pattern. |
| US08736742B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that performs automatic focus control and control method for the image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus that can efficiently obtain an offset between focal positions detected in phase difference-based focus detection and contrast-based focus detection by using results of phase difference-based focus detection at multiple points. Focal positions in a plurality of regions based on a pair of image signals obtained from different pupils are obtained. A focal position for a focus lens at which a contrast of image signals for image pickup is at a peak is detected. A target focal position is determined from the plurality of focal positions. When another focal position is present between a present focal position and the target focal position, an offset between a focal position of the focus lens at which the contrast detected at the other focal position while the focus lens is moving is at a peak and the other focal position is calculated. |
| US08736741B2 |
Imaging device with contrast AF, and control method for imaging device with contrast AF
According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging device, comprising: an imaging unit for receiving subject light flux, that has been made incident by the photographing lens, on an imaging surface, and photoelectrically converting a formed subject image to output image data; a display unit for carrying out a live view display operation using image data acquired by the imaging unit; a first contrast AF unit for obtaining contrast information of the subject information from image data acquired by the imaging unit and guiding the photographing lens into a first in-focus permissible range based on the contrast information, and a control unit for, when the live view display operation has started, executing a focus adjustment operation using the first contrast AF unit at a first time interval. |
| US08736739B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging control method, and program
An imaging apparatus includes: a half-silvered mirror that divides incident light from a subject into light fluxes traveling along two optical paths; a first imaging device that receives one of the incident light fluxes divided by the half-silvered mirror; a second imaging device that receives the other one of the incident light fluxes divided by the half-silvered mirror; a first subject luminance information calculator that calculates first subject luminance information based on an output from the first imaging device; a second subject luminance information calculator that calculates second subject luminance information based on an output from the second imaging device; and a subject luminance information comparator that compares the first subject luminance information with the second subject luminance information. |
| US08736738B2 |
Optical lens and image pick-up apparatus having same
A lens includes an optically effective portion and a peripheral portion. The optically effective portion is configured for converging light, and includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface interconnecting the first and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces are plane surfaces, and are parallel with each other. The third surface is a convex surface. The peripheral portion is arranged surrounding the optically effective portion. The peripheral portion has a fourth surface substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. The third surface is convex away from the fourth surface. The first surface intersects the fourth surface at a first side. The second surface intersects the fourth surface at a second side. The first and second sides have a same length. The length is greater than a distance between the first side and the second side. |
| US08736737B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus comprises edge detection unit, on-axis chromatic aberration edge detection unit which detects an edge determined to include chromatic aberration on an axis from the edges, color deviation amount acquisition unit which acquires color deviation amounts on the edges, and correction unit which performs chromatic aberration correction, wherein the on-axis chromatic aberration edge detection unit detects, as the edge which includes the chromatic aberration on the axis, an edge having signals corresponding to at least one color on the edge of the image data, which has a blur amount that is not less than a threshold value, and signals corresponding to at least another color which has a blur amount that is less than the threshold value, and the color deviation amount acquisition unit acquires the color deviation amounts from edges among the edges. |
| US08736735B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device is provided, which includes a pixel region in which pixels including a photoelectric conversion section and a plurality of pixel transistors are arranged. In the solid-state imaging device, a transfer transistor of the pixel transistors includes: a transfer gate electrode extended in a surface of the substrate formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate; and a transfer gate electrode buried in the substrate which is electrically insulated from the transfer gate electrode extended in a surface of the substrate and is embedded in the inside of the semiconductor substrate in the vertical direction through the transfer gate electrode extended in a surface of the substrate. |
| US08736733B2 |
Dark current reduction in image sensors via dynamic electrical biasing
In various embodiments, an image sensor and method of using an image sensor are described. In an example embodiment, the image sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of pixel regions with each pixel region comprising an optically sensitive material over the substrate and positioned to receive light. There is a bias electrode for each pixel region, with the bias electrode configured to provide a bias voltage to the optically sensitive material of the respective pixel region. Also included is a pixel circuit for each pixel region with each pixel circuit comprising a charge store formed on the semiconductor substrate and a read out circuit, the charge store being in electrical communication with the optically sensitive material of the respective pixel region. The pixel circuit is configured to reset the voltage on the charge store to a reset voltage during a reset period, to integrate charge from the optically sensitive material to the charge store during an integration period, and to read out a signal from the charge store during a read out period. The pixel circuit includes a reference voltage node to be coupled to the charge store during the reset period and the read out circuit during the read out period where a reference voltage is applied to the reference voltage node and is configured to be varied during the operation of the pixel circuit. |
| US08736730B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and method for driving the same
A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of common output lines receiving signals from a plurality of pixels, a plurality of column amplifier units amplifying the signals, a plurality of storage capacitors storing the amplified signals, a first transistor controlling electrical conduction between the output node of the column amplifier unit and the input node of a storage capacitor, a switch switching current for operating the column amplifier unit between a first current and a second current smaller than the first current, and a controller inhibiting, while the second current is flowing through the column amplifier unit, a potential at the output node of the column amplifier unit from approaching an off-state voltage supplied to a gate of the first transistor in an OFF state of the first transistor. |
| US08736723B2 |
Image processing system, method and program, including a correction coefficient calculation section for gradation correction
An image processing system includes a multiresolution decomposition section for frequency decomposing an image signal into high and low frequency components at an nth stage, a correction coefficient calculation section for calculating at least one of a gradation correction coefficient, a noise correction coefficient, and an edge correction coefficient with respect to the high frequency component at an ith decomposition stage (1≦i≦n) based on at least one of the low frequency component at the ith decomposition stage, a visual system adaptation model, a noise amount estimation model, and an edge enhancement model, a correction section for correcting the high frequency component based on the calculated correction coefficient, and a multiresolution composition section for composing the image signal corrected based on the low frequency component and the corrected high frequency component. |
| US08736719B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method for the same
In an image processing apparatus, information indicating a degree of correlation between a current frame and a previous frame is computed based on a pixel value in the current frame before being subjected to the recursive noise reduction and a pixel value in the previous frame after being subjected to the recursive noise reduction. Then, a recursive coefficient, which is a weight of the previous frame, is determined based on the degree of correlation and a frame rate of the moving image. The recursive noise reduction is applied to the current frame by combining the pixels in the previous frame and the current frame using the recursive coefficient. For the same degree of the correlation, the recursive coefficient is determined to be smaller as the frame rate is lower. Noise reduction in accordance with the image frame rate is achieved. |
| US08736718B2 |
Noise elimination method of image sequence
A noise elimination method of an image sequence is described. During a color separation of a raw image data captured by an image capturing element, 3D filtering is integrated. First, the raw image data is converted into a gray-scaled full luma image, an interframe filtering process is performed to eliminate possible noises in the gray-scaled full luma image, and an interpolation process is performed with the raw image data. During the implementation, an adaptive frame average filtering process is also performed to obtain a preferred image filtering result through an appropriate filtering manner. Therefore, an adaptive interframe interpolation for eliminating noises is to prevent noises or artifacts generated by the noises from affecting the subsequent image processing. |
| US08736717B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and control method therefor
An image pickup apparatus capable of improving a conversion speed of column parallel A/D converters, while preventing a gradation representation of image pickup signals from becoming rough. The image pickup apparatus includes a CMOS sensor having A/D converters provided on output sides of column amplifiers for respective columns of two-dimensionally arranged pixels. The A/D converters have a first operation mode in which they operate with a first number of conversion bits and at a first conversion speed and a second operation mode in which they operate with a second number of conversion bits and at a second conversion speed. A signal processing circuit adds together plural pieces of two-dimensionally arranged pixel data output from the A/D converter that operate in the second operation mode, thereby expanding the number of gradation bits of the pixel data from the second number of conversion bits. |
| US08736713B2 |
Imaging apparatus having temporary recording mode and direct recording mode
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device acquiring a captured image on a subject; a display section; setting means for setting whether to make effective a temporary recording mode in which the captured image is temporarily recorded in a first storage section; if the temporary recording mode is effective, display control means for playback displaying the captured image recorded in the first storage section from when the temporary recording mode has been effective on the display section in response to an instruction operation of a user; and recording control means for recording an image specified by the user from the playback-displayed captured images in a second storage section as an image to be saved. |
| US08736712B2 |
System to manage digital camera images
Management of files stored on an image capturing unit such as a digital camera, includes detection of connection of the image capturing unit, reception of plural image data respectively corresponding to plural images stored in the image capturing unit, and storage of the plural received image data in a storage medium. A setting screen is displayed for storage settings, wherein the setting screen includes a first region for inputting a character string for a file name and a second region for setting a number. A file name is assigned to each one of the plural image data, the assigned file name including the inputted character string and a number sequentially assigned to the plural image data, the numbers starting from the number set in the second region. Each such one of the plural received image data is stored in the storage medium with the assigned file name. |
| US08736708B2 |
Information processing apparatus allowing remote operation of an image capturing apparatus and control method therefor
An information processing apparatus receives images from the image capturing apparatus and displays them on a screen. The information processing apparatus then receives the designation of an image area by a user with respect to an image displayed on the screen, and calculates white balance information based on color information from the designated image area of the image displayed when the designation was received. The apparatus determines, based on the color information of the image area on the image displayed when the designation was received and the color information of image areas on a predetermined number of images received before the image, whether the white balance information to be calculated is proper. Upon determining that the information is proper, the apparatus applies the calculated white balance information to the image capturing apparatus. Upon determining that the information is not proper, the apparatus issues a corresponding warning. |
| US08736704B2 |
Digital camera for capturing an image sequence
A digital camera having a burst image capture mode, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system; a data processing system; an image memory; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for capturing a sequence of digital images in the burst image capture mode. The instructions include: capturing a sequence of digital images of the scene using the image sensor, each digital image being captured at a different time; identifying a moving object in the captured digital images; automatically determining the position of the moving object in each of the captured digital images; automatically selecting a subset of the captured digital images where the moving object has positions that most nearly correspond to a set of desirable positions; and storing the selected subset of captured digital images in the image memory. |
| US08736703B2 |
Imaging apparatus including function for performing imaging in accordance with sets of imaging parameters corresponding to pre-registered imaging scenes, and method and recording medium having program stored thereon for the same
When a continuous imaging mode is set, a screen is displayed for allowing input of a number of images to shoot and the imaging parameters for each of the images, a determination is made as to whether the number of images to shoot and the imaging parameters for each of the images have been input by the user. When the number of images to shoot and the imaging parameters for each of the images have been input, the input number of images and the imaging parameters are stored, and a direct image display is started. Moreover, when there is an imaging instruction, a continuous imaging process is started in which still imaging is performed continuously based on the stored number of images and the imaging parameters. When the continuous imaging process has been completed, the plurality of still image data, obtained with differing imaging parameters, is recorded. |
| US08736697B2 |
Digital camera having burst image capture mode
A digital camera having a burst image capture mode, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system; a data processing system; an image memory; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for capturing a sequence of digital images in the burst image capture mode. The instructions include: capturing two or more evaluation digital images of a scene that includes a moving object; analyzing the evaluation digital images to determine a rate of motion for the moving object; determining a frame rate responsive to the rate of motion for the moving object; initiating an image capture sequence; capturing a sequence of digital images; and storing a set of captured digital images corresponding to the determined frame rate in the image memory. |
| US08736696B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: a computing unit which determines a first difference value between brightness of a first image data and brightness of a second image data in an overlap area of the first image data including a first brightness characteristic with the second image data having a peripheral area at the center of the first image data and including a second brightness characteristic; and a generating unit which generates a brightness correction parameter for the first image data corresponding to the first difference value. |
| US08736685B1 |
Systems and methods for measuring brightness response of a camera operating in automatic exposure mode
A method to measure a brightness response of a camera comprises obtaining a plurality of brightness measurements and determining for one or more of the plurality of brightness measurements a captured brightness of the captured image. Obtaining each of the plurality of brightness measurements includes presenting to the camera at least one test sample having known brightness, capturing via the camera an image of the at least one test sample, and presenting to the camera at least one compensation sample having compensating brightness selected based on the known brightness of the at least one test sample. The at least one test sample and the at least one compensation sample are selectable and presentable in combination such that an average exposure interpreted by the camera is substantially the same for each of the plurality of brightness measurements. |
| US08736684B1 |
System and method for sensor failure detection
A novel image sensor includes a pixel array, a row control circuit, a test signal injection circuit, a sampling circuit, an image processing circuit, a comparison circuit, and a control circuit. In a particular embodiment, the test signal injection circuit injects test signals into the pixel array, the sampling circuit acquires pixel data from the pixel array, and the comparison circuit compares the pixel data with the test signals. If the pixel data does not correspond to the test signals, the comparison circuit outputs an error signal. Additional comparison circuits are provided to detect defects in the control circuitry of an image sensor. |
| US08736683B2 |
Method for estimating a defect in an image-capturing system, and associated systems
The invention relates to a method for estimating a defect in an image-capturing system (I), which produces, with regard to any first image (I), representing any scene (S), a variation in the field of a characteristic of the first image, having an order of magnitude that is statistically lower than a variation in the field of said characteristic added by the scene. The method comprises: calculating, in at least a first portion of the field of the first image, a measurement (μ(I)) related to said characteristic of the first image, an estimative magnitude (ν) of said defect, depending on the calculated measurement and having a variation having the same order of magnitude as the variation in the field of said characteristic of the first image produced by said defect. |
| US08736681B2 |
Information processing device, moving image cutting method, and moving image cutting program
The creation of a digest video is facilitated, and the editing efficiency is improved. An information processing device is provided with a moving image acquiring unit for acquiring a moving image during imaging, and an event acquiring unit for acquiring event data that is information indicating a scene of each frame of the moving image acquired by the moving image acquiring unit. If the event data acquired by the event acquiring unit satisfies a predetermined condition, a cut signal is generated, the moving image is cut in a predetermined range on the basis of the cut signal, and the cut moving image is stored in a nonvolatile storage medium. |
| US08736680B1 |
Method and system for split-screen video display
A system includes a first camera operable to capture omnidirectional images and send omnidirectional-image data representing the omnidirectional images, a second camera operable to capture narrow-view images and send narrow-view-image data representing the narrow-view images, a video processor coupled to the first camera and the second camera and operable to form combined-image data using at least part of the omnidirectional-image data and the narrow-view-image data, and a display module interoperably coupled to the video processor and operable to display combined images from the combined-image data. The combined images each comprise a narrow-view-display portion and an omnidirectional-display portion. |
| US08736678B2 |
Method and apparatus for vehicle surveillance service in municipal environments
A set of cameras can operate in coordination for surveillance purposes to provide situation awareness at a system level. Any infrastructure of cameras, public or private, can incidentally view and record an individual's mobile property when in view of any of these cameras. A locating unit can determine the approximate location of a mobile property. A monitoring device that correlates to the mobile property's location can be selected. The transmission of surveillance information from the selected monitoring device can be provided to a user, such as via a transmission to the user's mobile device. Thus, the individual can have access to the monitoring device's viewing or recorded data to increase surveillance of mobile property. |
| US08736675B1 |
Multi-core processor architecture for active autostereoscopic emissive displays
In one implementation, a system includes a multi-core processor and an optical display with a plurality of hogels. Each hogel is configured to radiate light in a plurality of directions, with controllable intensities in each of the plurality of directions. The multi-core processor is coupled to the optical display and configured to control the hogels. The multi-core processor includes at least two cores, an on-chip memory, and a master processor in a single integrated circuit package. The master processor may be a general-purpose on-chip processor, such as a core in the multi-core processor, that is used to coordinated operations of the other cores. Each of the cores is configured to receive hogel data and to generate signals for a corresponding subset of the plurality of hogels. |
| US08736667B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing video images
A method of cutting between a first image sequence and a second image sequence displayable on a screen which defines a screen plane, wherein the first image sequence includes a stereoscopically viewable object perceivable by a viewer on a first image plane different to the screen plane and the second image sequence including a second object perceivable on a second image plane different to the first image plane, the stereoscopically viewable object comprising a first image at a first screen plane position and a second image at a second screen plane position, the method comprising: identifying the first screen plane position of the first image and the second screen plane position of the second image; inserting into a first post-cut frame of the second image sequence a first copy of the second object substantially at the first screen plane position and inserting a second copy of the second object substantially at the second screen plane position, and inserting the first copy of the second object and the second copy of the second object into a predetermined number of subsequent frames at positions on the screen which are closer to the screen position required to view the second object at the second image plane, than the first and second screen plane position. |
| US08736665B2 |
Video processing apparatus
The video processing apparatus includes: a pattern information storing unit that stores use part information and location information; a plurality of video inputting units that input each of a plurality of video data; a video data generating unit that generates a plurality of types of generated video data; a generated video pattern selecting unit that selects a pattern of generated video data to be generated; a process unit that stores the use part of each video data in a storing unit; and a video outputting unit that coordinate-converts the generated combined video data with coordinate conversion data, generates the generated video data, and outputs the generated video data to the display unit. The use part information indicates a use part of each video data used for the generated video data, and the location information includes reduction ratio information of the use part of the each video data. |
| US08736661B2 |
Device information index and retrieval service for scalable video conferencing
A video conference invitation is sent from a computing device in a first conference room to a second conference room for a video conference. Further, an acceptance of the invitation is received at the computing device. In addition, a list of available devices for video conferencing is retrieved from a device information database. The list of available devices indicates a locally connected device and a remotely connected device. The computing device is connected to the video conference through a platform independent interface. Further, the computing device locally controls operation of the locally connected device through a platform independent interface during the video conference and remotely controls operation of the remotely connected device during the video conference. |
| US08736660B2 |
Methods and system for simulated 3D videoconferencing
A system and method for manipulating images in a videoconferencing session provides users with a 3-D-like view of one or more presented sites, without the need for 3-D equipment. A plurality of cameras may record a room at a transmitting endpoint, and the receiving endpoint may select one of the received video streams based upon a point of view of a conferee at the receiving endpoint. The conferee at the receiving endpoint will thus experience a 3-D-like view of the presented site. |