| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08744173B2 |
Using extracted image text
Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer program products for using extracted image text are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method includes receiving an input of one or more image search terms and identifying keywords from the received one or more image search terms. The method also includes searching a collection of keywords including keywords extracted from image text, retrieving an image associated with extracted image text corresponding to one or more of the image search terms, and presenting the image. |
| US08744170B2 |
Image processing apparatus detecting quadrilateral region from picked-up image
An image processing apparatus includes an obtaining section, a detection section, a first identification section and a second identification section. The obtaining section obtains image data of a first picked-up image and a second picked-up image picked up by an image pickup section. The detection section detects a brightness change region where brightness changes at predetermined time intervals in the first picked-up image on the basis of the obtained image data of the first picked-up image. The first identification section performs straight line detection processing on the obtained image data of the second picked-up image to detect a straight line, so as to identify a candidate straight line in a corresponding region corresponding to the brightness change region. The second identification section identifies a quadrilateral region including the candidate straight line as an extraction candidate region in the second picked-up image. |
| US08744169B2 |
Voting strategy for visual ego-motion from stereo
Methods and systems for egomotion estimation (e.g. of a vehicle) from visual inputs of a stereo pair of video cameras are described. 3D egomotion estimation is a six degrees of freedom problem in general. In embodiments of the present invention, this is simplified to four dimensions and further decomposed to two two-dimensional sub-solutions. The decomposition allows use of a voting strategy that identifies the most probable solution. An input is a set of image correspondences between two temporally consecutive stereo pairs, i.e. feature points do not need to be tracked over time. The experiments show that even if a trajectory is put together as a simple concatenation of frame-to-frame increments, the results are reliable and precise. |
| US08744168B2 |
Target analysis apparatus, method and computer-readable medium
Provided is a target analysis apparatus, method and computer-readable medium based on a depth image and an intensity image of a target is provided. The target analysis apparatus may include a body detection unit to detect a body of the target from the intensity image of the target, a foreground segmentation unit to calculate an intensity threshold value in accordance with intensity values from the detected body, to transform the intensity image into a binary image using the intensity threshold value, and to mask the depth image of the target using the binary image as a mask to thereby obtain a masked depth image, and an active portion detection unit to detect an active portion of the body of the target from the masked depth image. |
| US08744164B2 |
Automated analysis of images using bright field microscopy
A system and method for automatically observing and counting cells without using a stain or a fluorescent material. The system includes an optical microscope having a sensor that provides an electrical signal representative of a field of view. The microscope is motorized so as to allow automatic change of focus. A sample containing cells to be analyzed is provided. No stain or fluorescent substance is used. When the microscope is operated in a deliberately out-of-focus condition, cells appear to have either a bright or a dark spot that can be used to report the number of cells in the sample. The intensity variation detected in images acquired in different focal planes is used to identify cell shapes using image analysis software such as CellProfiler. A result is reported in any convenient format, such as a false color image. |
| US08744162B2 |
Image evaluation method and system
A method and system for evaluating images, such as x-ray image, to provide feedback that can be used for subsequent image acquisition. The feedback may be used to adjust the positioning of a patient with respect to an image capture device, or a setting of the image capture device. The image capture device may be part of a dental x-ray imaging system that generates an x-ray image of the patent and provides the image to a collector service. The image is evaluated by the collector service for positioning errors and other operator correctable issues that may have had an impact on the image quality. A report that includes feedback regarding the operator correctable issues, as well as suggested corrective action, is generated and provided to the imaging system operator. |
| US08744160B2 |
Systems and methods for measurement of geometrical parameters of threaded joints
Thread parameters for a threaded object are determined. Spatial reference systems (X, Y, Z) and (X′, Y′, Z′) are respectively identified for a position sensor and the threaded object. A transformation matrix describing a quadratic form representing the threaded object in (X, Y, Z) may be determined to relate the reference systems. For example, a sensor trajectory on the threaded object may be determined, along with measurement points on the threaded object. The measurement points may be selected so the matrix, evaluated on these values, has maximum rank. Position data at measurement points in the second reference system may be transformed into the first reference system, yielding first results. After coating the threaded object, position data at the measurement points may be acquired again and transformed into the first reference system, yielding second results. Comparisons between the first and second results may provide thickness of the coating and quality verification. |
| US08744150B2 |
Method for determining a layer orientation for a 2D layer image
A layer orientation is determined for a 2D layer image that is to be generated from 3D image data of an anatomical object in the body of a patient. First, a model resembling the object that is imaged in the 3D image data is selected from a model pool. The model has an assigned default orientation in a permanently selected relative position with respect to the model. While the relative position is being maintained, the model is aligned with the 3D image data so as to match the model to the object with maximum coincidence. The default orientation established relative to the 3D image data is then selected as the layer orientation for the 3D image data. |
| US08744146B2 |
Vascular reformatting using curved planar reformation
A method for curved planar reformation of an image includes receiving a data volume including a medial axis tree of a vessel tree, determining a global rotation axis of the medial axis tree, and casting a line segment from a vessel tree root of the medial axis tree into a predefined direction perpendicular to the global rotation axis. The method includes projecting the medial axis tree onto a reference plane along the line segment. The method further includes re-sampling, from at least one medial axis point of a reference plane, the data volume using a vector perpendicular to a medial axis tangent of the reference plane, wherein the vector defines a sampling direction. The method includes rendering an image of the vessel tree along the vector. |
| US08744140B2 |
Reflexive iris template
A system, method and program product for providing a reflexive data collection system. A system is provided that includes: a system for defining a set of environmental conditions; a device for automatically implementing the set of environmental conditions; a system for collecting biometric data under the set of environmental conditions; and a system for encoding the biometric data and the set of environmental conditions into a reflexive template. |
| US08744139B2 |
System, method and apparatus for electromagnetic detection and analysis of biometric information
An apparatus, method and system are provided for sensing at least one biometric measure of an individual. An electrical current flows through an electrode to induce an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field stimulates and excites the molecules associated with the sweat gland pores and causes molecular compounds to fluoresce. An image of the fluoresced dermal surface is obtained and a biometric function is performed with data derived from the image. Alternatively, sweat gland pore biometric information may be derived from variations, fluctuations or disturbances to the electromagnetic field induced by the electrical current. |
| US08744138B2 |
Biometric-information processing device, method of processing biometric information, and computer-readable recording medium storing biometric-information processing program
A biometric-information processing device includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image of a biometric object using light reflected from the biometric object. The biometric-information processing device further includes an extracting unit configured to extract a frequency component having a frequency higher than a predetermined spatial frequency at the image acquired by the image acquisition unit. |
| US08744133B1 |
Methods and systems for locating visible differences on an object
A method for detecting and determining a location of visible areas of change on a target object is described. The method includes locating, in position and orientation, a local positioning system with respect to the target object, determining an offset between the position and orientation of the local positioning system and a prior position and orientation of a local positioning system previously utilized to collect a set of reference images of the target object, the prior position and orientation in the coordinate system of the target object, repositioning, in position and orientation, the local positioning system with respect to the target object by the determined offset, acquiring a set of images of the target object from the position and orientation of the repositioned local positioning system, comparing the set of images to corresponding images within the set of reference images to detect a difference between the acquired images and the corresponding reference images, and determining a location of the detected difference in the coordinate system of the target object. |
| US08744126B1 |
Morphology based hazard detection
Embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to identifying safe landing sites on a surface. More particularly, three-dimensional image data is obtained from a surface. That image data is processed using morphological operations to create a smoothed surface. The smoothed surface data is then used to calculate slopes, to identify areas of the surface that present a slope hazard. The smooth data obtained for identifying slope hazards can also be used in connection with identifying surface features, including bumps or holes, that create surface feature hazards. After identifying the slope and/or surface feature hazards, a hazard map indicating safe and not safe landing areas can be created. |
| US08744122B2 |
System and method for object detection from a moving platform
The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting one or more targets belonging to a first class (e.g., moving and/or stationary people), from a moving platform in a 3D-rich environment. The framework described here is implemented using a number of monocular or stereo cameras distributed around the vehicle to provide 360 degrees coverage. Furthermore, the framework described here utilizes numerous filters to reduce the number of false positive identifications of the targets. |
| US08744119B2 |
Graphic data alteration to enhance online privacy
A computer alters at least one recognizable metric or text in a digitally-encoded photographic image by operating an alteration algorithm in response to user input data while preserving an overall aesthetic quality of the image and obscuring an identity of at least one individual or geographic location appearing in the image. An altered digitally-encoded photographic image prepared by the altering of the at least one recognizable metric or text in the image is stored in a computer memory. User feedback and/or automatic analysis may be performed to define parameter values of the alteration algorithm such that the alteration process achieves preservation of aesthetic qualities while obscuring an identity of interest. |
| US08744118B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for indexing scenes in digital media
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for indexing a digital scene in digital media. The digital media is stored in memory and a uniform resource locator is assigned to a digital scene within the digital media. The uniform resource locator uniquely identifies a resource from which the digital scene may be retrieved, and the uniform resource locator also uniquely identifies the digital scene from other scenes in the digital media. When a query is received for the uniform resource locator, then the digital scene is retrieved from the memory. |
| US08744114B1 |
Surface sound speaker
Sound speaker and methods to make various types of a sound speaker for a user. One embodiment is a method of making a sound speaker. A second embodiment is a sound speaker to use with different media in the environment. |
| US08744113B1 |
Communication eyewear assembly with zone of safety capability
A communication eyewear assembly is configured to identify a zone of safety about a wearer and to notify the wearer and/or others of same. A frame assembly is worn to maintain at least one transparent eye panel in front of the wearer's eyes. A processor coupled to the frame assembly receives incoming data from at least one data source. Utilizing the received data, the processor generates zone of safety information in least one spatial dimension relative to a hazardous area. The assembly can also determine existence of extraordinary circumstances based on changes or lack of changes in the data, and notify the wearer and/or others of same, particularly with regard to the status of the wearer. In accordance with the monitoring of the wearer and/or the communication eyewear itself, a unique ID is assigned to the communication eyewear assembly. |
| US08744104B2 |
Entrainment avoidance with pole stabilization
A system of signal processing an input signal in a hearing assistance device to avoid entrainment wherein the hearing assistance device including a receiver and a microphone, the method comprising using an adaptive filter to estimate an acoustic feedback path from the receiver to the microphone, generating one or more estimated future pole positions of a transfer function of the adaptive filter, analyzing stability of the one or more estimated pole positions for an indication of entrainment and adjusting the adaptation of the adaptive filter based on the stability. |
| US08744101B1 |
System for controlling the primary lobe of a hearing instrument's directional sensitivity pattern
Systems and method for computing in-situ estimates of the overall level and incoming direction of ambient acoustical energy by combining the output signals of at least one differential directional microphone and at least one omnidirectional microphone, or, multiple differential directional microphones, at specified gains, in order to have various polar pattern estimates for acoustical energy arriving from three or more sectors about the user. In one embodiment as many as eight different sectors about the user, including the front, rear, and sides are used. In various embodiments, front, rear and/or side or portions thereof are used. Other numbers of sectors are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. |
| US08744096B2 |
Digital audio mixer
Once a human operator operates a fader knob of a desired channel downwardly toward a predetermined position, resistance force against the fader knob is generated. As the human operator further lowers the fader knob beyond another predetermined position against the resistance force, the channel is set in a CUE-ON state, so that an audio signal (pre-fader signal) of the channel can be test-listened to as a CUE signal. Then, once the human operator operates the fader knob upwardly, the CUE-ON state of the signal is canceled, so that a sound volume level of the channel can be controlled in accordance with an operating position of the fader knob. |
| US08744094B2 |
Electronic device with increased immunity to audio noise from system ground currents
According to some aspects, an electronic device adapted to provide audio output via an audio system. The electronic device includes an audio jack adapted to be coupled to the audio system. The audio jack includes a line-out for sending audio signals to the audio system and a ground return line. The electronic device also includes a ground resistor between the ground return line and a ground node. The ground resistor has a resistance selected to reduce ground current on the ground return line when the electronic device is being charged without significantly adversely affecting the quality of the audio output. |
| US08744085B2 |
Hierarchical group key management approach based on linear geometry
A hierarchical group key management approach based on linear geometry is disclosed. The approach includes the following steps: step 1, the central controller selects a finite field F, a mapping parameter f and a constant N for use in the group; the central controller selects a N-dimensional private vector for each subgroup; step 2, the central controller selects a mapping parameter r and maps the private vector to a new set of vectors in the vector space; step 3, the central controller selects a subgroup key for each subgroup and constructs n linear systems of equations, and solves the solution of the linear equation systems, that is, the public vector, and the n sets of public vectors form a public vector; the public vector and the mapping parameter r are broadcasted or multicasted by the central controller to all the subgroup controllers; step 4, each subgroup controller solves the confidential vector of its own, and a set of key vectors is obtained by linear transformation of the confidential vector and the public matrix. This invention is simple and flexible, and is effective against brute-force attacks. |
| US08744084B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable medium for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating data in scrambled form to or over a medium. The method includes receiving analog or digital data to be transmitted to or over a medium. The method further includes modulating samples representing at least signal using the analog or digital data to produce data modulated signal samples. The method further includes scrambling the data modulated signal samples using a predetermined scrambling algorithm. The method further includes transmitting the scrambled data modulated signal samples to or over the medium. The method further includes descrambling samples received from the medium using the inverse of the predetermined scrambling algorithm to obtain the unscrambled modulated signal samples, which can then be demodulated to retrieve original data. |
| US08744083B2 |
System and method for early cut through of encrypted and unencrypted voice streams
VoIP systems often use multiple ciphers for different components. The present invention includes a system and method for early detection of encrypted signals in packet networks that may be encrypted using any of a multitude of ciphers. |
| US08744076B2 |
Method and apparatus for encrypting data to facilitate resource savings and tamper detection
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates encrypting data. During operation, the system receives unencrypted data to be encrypted. Next, the system preprocesses the unencrypted data to create preprocessed unencrypted data, wherein preprocessing the unencrypted data involves generating a salt (wherein the salt facilitates in determining if the subsequently encrypted data has been altered) and concatenating the salt and the unencrypted data to create the preprocessed unencrypted data. Next, the system encrypts the preprocessed unencrypted data to create the encrypted data. Because the salt has already been applied to the plaintext data, it does not need to be reapplied during the encryption phase as is typically done in encryption. Finally, the system stores a copy of the salt with the encrypted data. |
| US08744066B1 |
Method and apparatus for changing a telephone number after entry
A computerized system and related method for assisting a user with placing a telephonic call, comprising a user interface, computerized processing, and computerized storage for: a user specifying an originally-specified telephone number to place an intended telephonic call, which telephone number, as originally-specified, for at least one particular reason, cannot be used to successfully complete the intended telephonic call; the user, after specifying the originally-specified telephone number, later specifying later-specified telephone number elements, including the possible deleting or ignoring of part of the originally-specified telephone number; and causing the telephonic call to be successfully signaled using the originally-specified telephone number in combination with the later-specified telephone number elements, without the user having to re-specify the originally-specified telephone number. |
| US08744061B2 |
Systems and methods for call screening
The present invention provides flexible, user-definable call screening processes. The user can optionally define to which telecommunication terminals a screened call is to be broadcast to and under what conditions. An incoming call is forwarded to a call management system that asks the caller to leave a voice message. The call management system selectively couples the call to a POTS line or a VoIP-capable device so that the user can listen to the incoming message and thereby screen the incoming call. Based on the screening, the user can instruct the call management system to connect the caller to the user. |
| US08744060B2 |
Communicating information pertaining to cancelling of forked call requests
Multiple instances of an incoming call in a unified communication system capable of communicating through multiple networks are provided to devices and/or applications associated with the called party. Upon acceptance or a global rejection of the incoming call through one of the end devices/applications, the remainder are provided a cancellation notice for the forked call request that includes information associated with which end device took the action, what type of action was taken, whether the action was based on automatic policy implementation. |
| US08744058B1 |
Do not call registry database access system
An apparatus and method for providing users operating on Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) networks with the ability to interconnect with Advance Intelligent Networking (AIN) and, in particular, to provide database lookup for the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, without requiring users to implement complex and expensive systems in their network. An Intelligent Call Management (ICM) structure receiving information of a dialed toll number is able to convert the information into a compatible database request to determine whether the call to the toll number is allowed to be completed based on information retrieved from the database. |
| US08744054B2 |
Method and system for automatic call redialing
Methods and systems for reestablishing voice communications in the event of a service interruption. The method comprises establishing a call session with a user via a communication device, storing call state and bridge information associated with the call session, determining that the call session has been disconnected, and maintaining the call state and bridge information associated with the call session and redialing for the disconnected user. The method may further include providing an audio message to other call participants. |
| US08744053B2 |
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for providing dynamic replacement communication identification service
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products provide dynamic replacement communication identification (ID) service. A request is received from a user for dynamic replacement communication ID from a current location of the user. The user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is authenticated. A user profile of the user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is retrieved. A current profile of the current location is replaced with the user profile of the user. |
| US08744050B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A communication device for rendering one or more conversations. The communication device includes a receiver configured to receive media over a network and an encoder configured to encode media created using the communication device, where the received and encoded media are associated with the one or more conversations. A storage or memory element stores on the device both the received media and the encoded media. A conversation control element is provided for selecting one of the one or more conversations as current and for controlling the rendering of the media of the selected conversation. A rendering element, controlled by the conversation control element, is provided to render the media associated with the selected current conversation on the communication device in either (a) a near real-time mode where the received media associated with the selected current conversation is progressively rendered as it is received or (b) a time shifted mode where the received and encoded media associated with the selected current conversion is rendered at a time after it was encoded or received. The device further includes a transmitter configured to transmit the encoded media associated with the selected current conversation over the network to one or more remote communication devices. |
| US08744047B2 |
X-ray tube thermal transfer method and system
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to the thermal regulation of components within an X-ray tube, and more specifically to heat transfer between the anode and the rotary mechanism to which the anode is attached. For example, in one embodiment, an X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube generally includes a fixed shaft, a rotating bearing sleeve disposed about the fixed shaft and configured to rotate with respect to the fixed shaft via a rotary bearing, an electron beam target disposed about the bearing sleeve and configured to rotate with the bearing sleeve, and a thermally conductive, deformable metallic gasket disposed between the target and the bearing sleeve and configured to conduct heat between the target and the bearing sleeve in operation. |
| US08744045B2 |
Method and system for treating moving target
A method and system for providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a treatment plan for providing radiotherapy using a multi-leaf collimator (“MLC”) comprises a plurality of sub-plans, each of which is optimized for a different phase of target movement. Movements of the treatment target are tracked in real time, and the choice of which sub-plan to implement is made in real time based on the tracked position of the target. Each of the sub-plans is preferably formulated to minimize interplay effects between target movements and MLC leaf movements, consistent with other planning goals. In addition, the sub-plans preferably include a predicted region corresponding to the next anticipated position of the target, in order to facilitate the transition to the next position. |
| US08744043B2 |
Radiation image capturing device and radiation image capturing system
A radiation image capturing device includes a radiation image capturing unit, a diaphragm unit, and a control unit. The radiation image capturing unit captures a radiation image based on radiation transmitted through a subject. The diaphragm unit has an opening region that is configured to transmit a part of the radiation emitted from a radiation source and an area thereof is changeable, and the diaphragm unit is configured such that a transmission dose of the radiation decreases as a distance from a circumferential part of the opening region increases. The control unit controls the diaphragm unit such that direct rays of the radiation are irradiated onto a predetermined region of the subject. |
| US08744042B2 |
Method for detecting fine particles in fluid with X-ray
A detection apparatus for fine particles in a fluid includes: a flow cell which passes the fluid therein; an X-ray source which irradiates a side face of the flow cell with X-rays; an X-ray detector that detects the intensity of transmission X-rays that the X-rays which have been emitted from the X-ray source have been attenuated by due to the fine particles in the fluid; a fluorescent X-ray detector which detects fluorescent X-rays that are emitted by the fine particles in the fluid due to the X-rays which have been emitted from the X-ray source; and a data processing device which discriminates between fine particles and air bubbles in the fluid based on the fluctuation amount from each reference variable of the intensity of the transmission X-rays and the intensity of the fluorescent X-rays, and calculates the number and the particle diameter of the fine particles. |
| US08744040B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus and method
An X-ray CT apparatus includes: an X-ray source which emits X-rays while rotating around a subject; a compensation filter which adjusts at least one of the output distribution and the spectral distribution of the X-rays emitted from the X-ray source to the subject; an X-ray detector which is disposed opposite to the X-ray source with the subject interposed therebetween, rotates together with the X-ray source, and detects the amount of X-rays transmitted through the compensation filter and the subject; an image operation unit which reconstructs a tomographic image of the subject on the basis of the detected amount of X-rays; a display unit which displays the tomographic image; a control unit which controls each of the constituent components; and a compensation unit which compensates for deterioration of image quality, which is based on the amount of displacement between the rotation center of the X-ray source and a desired position of the subject, by changing an X-ray tube current modulation pattern indicating a time-series change of emission of the X-rays and/or by moving the position of the subject. |
| US08744038B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit including a logic circuit capable of controlling the threshold voltage of a transistor and outputting a signal corresponding to an input signal by changing only the potential of a back gate without changing the potential of a gate is provided. In a shift register circuit including a logic circuit with a first transistor and a second transistor having the same conductivity type, a first gate electrode of the first transistor is connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the first transistor, an input signal is supplied to a second gate electrode of the first transistor, a clock signal is supplied to a gate electrode of the second transistor, and the first gate electrode and the gate electrode are formed from the same layer. |
| US08744037B2 |
Divider, method for providing an output signal and edge tracker
A divider for providing an output signal having an output frequency by dividing a reference frequency of a reference signal by a divider value is disclosed. The divider includes at least a first divider element configured to provide a first divider output signal having a first divider output signal frequency which is half of the reference frequency and a last divider element configured to provide a last divider output signal having a last divider output signal frequency which half of the preceding divider output signal frequency. Furthermore, the divider comprises an output signal provider for providing the output signal. |
| US08744033B2 |
Passage selector of reactor in-core nuclear-measuring apparatus
An object of the invention is to embody a small and inexpensive passage selector, which can be applied by commonly using an index device even if the number of detector passages is changed, and which is easy to make inspection and maintenance. The passage selector of a reactor in-core nuclear-measuring apparatus of the invention includes: a drive motor; an index device that is driven by the drive motor and that makes a rotary output of a predetermined index number; a central rotating shaft that is driven to rotate by the index device and that causes a passage selecting guide tube to be located in opposition to any detector passage; and a speed-increasing and decreasing device that is interposed between an output shaft of the index device and the central rotating shaft, and that adjusts the index number of the central rotating shaft. |
| US08744031B1 |
Device and method for estimating carrier frequency offset of OFDM signals transmitted and received through plurality of polarized antennas
Provided are a device and method for estimating carrier frequency offset of OFDM signals transmitted and received through a plurality of polarized antennas that may accurately estimate carrier frequency offset used for carrier frequency synchronization acquisition when there is interference between polarized waves. |
| US08744029B2 |
Method and apparatus for quantifying characteristics of a received serial data stream
A data stream monitor includes an analog front end (AFE) and a digital state machine. The AFE receives recovered clock and data signals at a first rate. The AFE uses the recovered clock and a phase interpolator to generate a phase-adjusted clock signal at a second rate slower than the first rate. The AFE uses a detector operating with the phase-adjusted clock signal to generate a representation of the data signal generated from comparisons of the data signal with two reference voltages. A logical combination of the results from the comparisons generates a signal that identifies when the data signal voltage is near the common-mode voltage. The digital state machine generates a strobe signal at a third rate slower than the second rate. The strobe signal is used by the AFE to sample the signal. The sample is forwarded to the digital state machine where it is stored. |
| US08744018B2 |
Early termination schemes for turbo decoding in a wireless communication system
Certain embodiments provide methods that may allow for improvements in performance and power consumption by terminating the turbo decoding process early when one of at least two test criterion is satisfied in communications systems, including UMTS, WCDMA, and TD-DCMA. |
| US08744017B2 |
Demapping for hierarchical Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
A method and system for demapping a hierarchical signal is disclosed. The method includes receiving a hierarchical signal comprising first and second encoded, modulated signals. A conditional probability relating to the structure of the second encoded, modulated signal is determined. The hierarchical signal is demodulated using the conditional probability to generate a first encoded data stream. The first encoded data stream is decoded to recover information bits. |
| US08744016B2 |
Receiving apparatus and receiving method
A receiving apparatus includes a symbol timing detection unit, a Fourier transform unit, a first symbol timing correction unit, and an interpolation synthesis unit. The symbol timing detection unit is configured to detect a Fourier transform start position from a received transmitting signal of a symbol unit, the Fourier transform unit is configured to perform a Fourier transform using the detected Fourier transform start position. The first symbol timing correction unit is configured to calculate and correct an amount of change between the Fourier transform start position of a reference symbol and the detected Fourier transform start position, and the interpolation synthesis unit is configured to perform an interpolation synthesis of a plurality of delay profiles corresponding to a plurality of symbols including the reference symbol and a symbol in which the amount of change is corrected. |
| US08744015B2 |
Message decoding for discretized signal transmissions
Methods, devices and systems for sensor-based wireless communication systems using compressive sampling are provided. In one embodiment, the method for sampling signals comprises receiving, over a wireless channel, a user equipment transmission based on an S-sparse combination of a set of vectors; down converting and discretizing the received transmission to create a discretized signal; correlating the discretized signal with a set of sense waveforms to create a set of samples, wherein a total number of samples in the set is equal to a total number of sense waveforms in the set, wherein the set of sense waveforms does not match the set of vectors, and wherein the total number of sense waveforms in the set of sense waveforms is fewer than a total number of vectors in the set of vectors; and transmitting at least one sample of the set of samples to a remote central processor. |
| US08744013B2 |
Channel estimation for OFDM systems
A device for performing channel estimation in an OFDM system includes a non-volatile memory, a G matrix selector and a channel estimate generator. The non-volatile memory stores a set of G matrices indexed by signal to noise ratio, the G matrices being precalculated for a plurality of signal to noise ratios using a fixed Doppler frequency and a fixed delay spread. The G matrix selector uses a quantised signal to noise ratio to select a G matrix from the set of G matrices stored in the non-volatile memory. The channel estimate generator multiplies the selected G matrix by LS estimates for the reference signal to obtain a channel estimation. |
| US08744011B2 |
Wireless communication device having reduced power consumption
A wireless communication device is disclosed that is capable of reduced power consumption. The device includes several analog components, including some that may be capable of operating at multiple different operation powers and others whose function may be performed by an equivalent digital component. Based on a quality of a received signal, the wireless communication device can adjust a power consumption configuration of its analog components in order to optimize power use. For example, when signal quality is higher than necessary, the device can sacrifice performance to reduce operating power and/or switch to digital equivalent components. Similarly, when signal quality is lower than necessary, the device can enhance performance by increasing operating power and/or switching from digital equivalent components to corresponding analog components. |
| US08744010B2 |
Providing signaling information in an electronic service guide
Apparatuses may perform and methods may include: receiving a digital broadcast signal that includes an Electronic Service Guide (ESG); extracting and assembling the ESG; extracting from the ESG signaling information which links one or more services in an upper level layer of a broadcast protocol to a physical layer of the broadcast protocol. Based on the signaling information, one or more services from a broadcast system may be accesses. |
| US08744007B2 |
Multi-transport stream (TS) generating apparatus and method, and digital broadcasting transmission and reception apparatuses and methods
A multi-transport stream (TS) generating apparatus and method, and digital broadcasting transmission and reception apparatuses and method are provided. The multi-TS generating apparatus includes an adaptor to generate an adaptation field in some packets of a normal stream; an interleaver to interleave the normal stream; a turbo processor to turbo-code a plurality of turbo streams; a stuffer to generate a multi-TS by stuffing the plurality of the turbo streams into the adaptation field; and a deinterleaver to deinterleave the multi-TS. Accordingly, the plurality of the turbo streams can be transmitted far more easily. |
| US08744001B2 |
Multimode transmitter apparatus
Provided is a multimode transmitter apparatus that, in a case of using different paths to process modulated signals, can suppress the signal overlapping or loss that would occur during a path switching. In the apparatus, a baseband modulating unit (110), which supports a plurality of modulation schemes using different modulation bandwidths, outputs either first modulated signals or second modulated signals. An LPF (130-1) and an LPF (130-2), which have delay amounts Δtd1 and Δtd2, perform signal processings of the first and second modulated signals, respectively. A timing control unit (160) sets the modulation schemes and the switching timings of the modulation schemes. The timing control unit (160) sets, on the basis of the switching timings and the delay amounts Δtd1 and Δtd2, the switching timings of a modulated signal selecting switch (120) and a signal processing delay adjusting switch (140) to be different from each other. |
| US08744000B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for diversity transmission and reception
A diversity transmission method in the field of wireless communications technologies includes: classifying services to be transmitted, where the classifications include a high-priority service and a low-priority service; transporting the high-priority service to a first channel and a second channel at the same time to transmit the high-priority service in a diversity protection way, and transporting the low-priority service to the first channel or the second channel to transmit the low-priority service in a non-diversity protection way. The embodiments of the present invention further provides a corresponding method, apparatus and system for diversity reception, and an apparatus and a system for diversity transmission. In the embodiments of the present invention, it is implemented that a spectrum utilization rate is effectively improved and the reliability of diversity transmission of the high-priority service is ensured. |
| US08743998B2 |
Device for generating codebook, method for generating codebook, and method for transmitting data
A device for generating a transmission codebook in a communication system including a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a frequency determiner that determines a frequency to allow the transmission codebook to have an optimal characteristic; a precoding matrix generator that generates a precoding matrix on the basis of the frequency; and a codebook generator that generates a retransmission codebook to be used for retransmission on the basis of the precoding matrix and generates the transmission codebook on the basis of the retransmission codebook. |
| US08743991B2 |
Method for transmitting an information sequence
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied. |
| US08743988B2 |
Transmission mode adaptation in a wireless network
Conventional mode adaptation does not account for the gain imbalance between channels for measurement and for data reception. Therefore, the precoder, which is selected based on the measurement channel, may not be the optimal precoder for the data reception channel. By maintaining relative SINR ordering between transmission modes, a receiver may select the transmission mode for a transmitter that maximizes the actual throughput even in the presence of inter-antenna gain increase or decrease. |
| US08743986B2 |
Multi-cell based method for applying multi-cell MIMO
The present invention relates a method for transmitting and receiving data in a mobile communication system. More specifically, the invention relates to a method through which a terminal in a cell boundary receives data in a mobile communication system that supports MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output). The method comprises: a step for receiving a first data stream transmitted through multiple transmission antennas from a serving base station, a step for pre-coding a second data stream to make the time delay of the second data stream be different from that of the first data stream and receiving the second data stream from a collaborating base station, and a step for restoring the data based on the first and second data streams. |
| US08743982B2 |
Systems for the multicarrier transmission of digital data and transmission methods using such systems
A system includes at least a transmitter having a serial-to-parallel converter, an iFFT block and a frequency de-spreader device that applies each signal that results from multiplying a data sample by one of the predetermined frequency coefficients of the prototype filter of a synthesis filter bank to one of the inputs of the iFFT block presenting a size that is strictly greater than the number of subchannels. Also described is a system including at least one receiver including a serial-to-parallel converter, a FFT block presenting a size that is strictly greater than the number of subchannels of the system, and a frequency de-spreader device that multiplies the signal from each output of the FFT block by one of predetermined frequency coefficients of the prototype filter of an analysis filter bank and sums the results of these multiplications to deliver at least a portion of the output signal from the receiver. |
| US08743979B2 |
Method for precoding and decoding distributing MIMO channels in relay-based DF cooperative wireless networks
It is well known that relay-based DF cooperative wireless networks outperform AF cooperative networks. However, this performance enhancement is achievable through considerable signal processing (precoding/decoding) at relay nodes. To reduce the precoding/decoding complexity, a method for precoding and decoding a distributive MIMO channel in the relay-based DF cooperative wireless network using EVD based on properties of Jacket transformations is provided. |
| US08743969B2 |
Image decoding method and apparatus based on a signal type of the control parameter of the current block
The image decoding method includes: determining a context for use in a current block to be processed, from among a plurality of contexts; and performing arithmetic decoding on a bit sequence corresponding to the current block, using the determined context, wherein in the determining: the context is determined under a condition that control parameters of neighboring blocks of the current block are used, when the signal type is a first type, the neighboring blocks being a left block and an upper block of the current block; and the context is determined under a condition that the control parameter of the upper block is not used, when the signal type is a second type. |
| US08743967B2 |
Multi-format video decoder with vector processing instructions and methods for use therewith
A video decoder includes an entropy decoding device that generates entropy decoded (EDC) data from an encoded video signal. A multi-format video decoding device includes a plurality of vector processor units that generate a decoded video signal from the EDC data. The plurality of vector processing units are programmed via VPU instructions formatted to include a vector instruction portion, a scalar instruction portion, and a branching instruction portion. |
| US08743962B2 |
Encoding and decoding of video data
An embodiment of the invention relates to a method for providing a compressed video bitstream related to consecutive pictures of a video sequence, wherein the pictures are defined by pixels, said method comprising the steps of: (a) applying at least one higher-order motion model to a motion vector field and generating at least one higher-order motion parameter set for said motion vector field, wherein said motion vector field comprises a plurality of first motion vectors, each first motion vector being assigned to a pixel block and describing the local displacement of the pixel block from the preceding picture to the consecutive picture, and wherein each pixel block comprises a plurality of pixels; (b) calculating a second motion vector for each pixel block based on the higher-order motion parameter set; (c) calculating the deviation between the first motion vector and the second motion vector for each pixel block; and (d) generating a video bitstream comprising the higher-order motion parameter set, and for each pixel block an information which indicates or is based on the deviation calculated in step (c). |
| US08743960B2 |
Method of decoding a bi-predictive image block
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining reference picture information, and determining a first reference picture of the bi-predictive image block. The first reference picture has a co-located image block with respect to the bi-predictive image block. A second reference picture is determined based on a motion vector of the co-located image block. At least one motion vector of the bi-predictive image block is obtained according to the motion vector of the co-located image block and the reference picture type of at least one of the first reference picture and the second reference picture. The reference picture information indicates reference picture types of reference pictures, and the reference picture type being based on temporal distance between a current picture including the bi-predictive image block and the reference picture. The bi-predictive image block is decoded by motion-estimating the bi-predictive image block using the motion vector of the bi-predictive image block. |
| US08743959B2 |
Motion estimation
A method and apparatus are provided for estimating motion and sequence of video images. A plurality of fields of a sequence of video images are stored, then, for each of plurality of blocks of pixels in each field, a test is performed on a set of candidate motion vectors to determine which motion vector gives the best fit in determining the motion between adjacent fields for that block. The testing step includes determining the amount of motion blur present in the image and modifying the testing of candidate motion vectors in dependence on this motion blur. |
| US08743958B2 |
Compressed video data stream switching method
According to the compressed video data stream switching method for the transmission of a first data stream corresponding to a first video sequence, followed by, in a given switching point of this first stream, a second data stream corresponding to a second video sequence, the second data stream is modified prior to transmission, by a replacement of the bidirectional pictures with bidirectional commutation pictures of which the pictures blocks have a null residue and a null motion vector which is either forward or backward, according to the position of the blocks in the picture. |
| US08743956B2 |
Image encoding method, device thereof, and control program thereof
A block dead zone scale generator (202) receives an image signal and a prediction error, analyzes the pattern or prediction performance of a target block, and outputs a dead zone scale suitable for the pattern or prediction performance of the block. A dead zone generator (201) receives a dead zone scale from the block dead zone scale generator (202) and an MB quantization parameter from a quantization control device (103), calculates a dead zone width from the zone scale and the MB quantization parameter, and outputs the dead zone width. A quantization device (102) quantizes an orthogonal transformation coefficient supplied from an orthogonal transformation device (101) by using a dead zone from the dead zone generator (201), and outputs a quantized transformation coefficient. This makes it possible to realize quantization with arbitrary strength for each transformation coefficient and for each block comprising a plurality of transformation coefficients as constituent elements, thereby providing a high-quality image encoding technology. |
| US08743955B2 |
Method, medium, and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding video by generating scalable bitstream with adaptive bit-depth and video format
A method, medium, and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding video by generating a scalable bitstream formed with a base layer bitstream and an enhancement layer bitstream, in order to provide forward compatibility, is described. The method includes reconstructing an image having an extended bit-depth and an extended video format into an image having a base bit-depth and a base video format, encoding the reconstructed image, and as a result of the encoding of the image having the base bit-depth and the base video format, generating a base layer bitstream, and reconstructing the image having the extended bit-depth and extended video format into an image having the extended bit-depth and the base video format, and by using the result of the encoding of the image having the base bit-depth and the base video format, encoding the image having the extended bit-depth and the base video format, and generating an enhancement layer bitstream with a result of the encoding of the image having the extended bit-depth and the base video format and additional data required for the extended video format. |
| US08743953B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting video compression parameters for encoding source video based on a viewer's environment
A policy enforcement device performs a method for adjusting video compression parameters for encoding source video based on a viewer's environment. The method includes: receiving, from a video receiving device, a video stream identifier indicating a video stream and a source of the video stream, wherein the video receiving device is remote from the source of the video stream; receiving an indication of environmental conditions of a viewer of the video stream using the video receiving device; determining a set of video compression parameters based on the indication of environmental conditions of the viewer; sending the set of video compression parameters to the identified source of the video stream to enable encoding of the video stream to a different compression level. |
| US08743952B2 |
Direct mode module with motion flag precoding and methods for use therewith
A motion compensation module can be used in a video encoder that encodes, into a processed video signal, a video input signal including a sequence of pictures. The motion compensation module includes a motion flag generation module that generates a motion flag for at least one of the plurality of macroblocks of a first picture of the sequence of pictures based on a corresponding macroblock of a plurality of macroblocks of a second picture of the sequence of pictures. A direct mode motion vector module evaluates a direct mode motion vector for the corresponding macroblock of the second picture, based on the motion flag for the at least one of the plurality of macroblocks of the first picture. |
| US08743951B2 |
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. |
| US08743947B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining precoding matrix, wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for determining a precoding matrix and a wireless communication system. In data retransmission, when the retransmission rank is less than an initial transmission rank, the transmitting end selects a matrix having a maximum similarity with an initial transmission precoding matrix in spatial direction according to the retransmission rank. In multiple data retransmissions, precoding matrixes for the retransmissions are different from each other and may have a minimum similarity in the spatial direction, but have a maximum similarity with the initial transmission precoding matrix in the spatial direction. Or, the similarity between each retransmission precoding matrix and the initial transmission precoding matrix in the spatial direction progressively decreases. When precoding matrixes (or identity matrixes) are required for the initial transmission, precoding matrixes having the minimum similarity with each other in the spatial direction are selected according to the retransmission rank, and then orderly used in multiple retransmissions. |
| US08743941B2 |
Spatial and temporal pre-equalization
The present invention describes a channel equalizer and a method for channel equalization in a receiver in a multi-user communication system. The method comprises the steps of receiving a signal with at least two antennas to produce at least two antenna input streams, measuring the temporal of each antenna input stream and the spatial correlation between the antenna input streams, determining a user-independent pre-equalization filter from the temporal and spatial correlation, filtering the antenna input streams with the pre-equalization filter, and finally inputting the filtered signal to a user-dependent receiver configured to detect the received data symbols of a given user. |
| US08743938B2 |
Detecting faults affecting communications links
A modem or associated computing or testing device is configured to detect the presence of one or more faults that affect DSL communications, and upon their detection, generate, for example, an indication, communication or message that recommends corrective action. In this context, a fault is generally caused by one or more unfiltered devices, impulsive noises, malfunctioning modems, or other factor that does not affect measured attenuation or measured noise, but does affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the link. In addition to being able to generate a message guiding a user through corrective action, the system can estimate the rate impact of the detected fault. |
| US08743937B2 |
Systems and methods for characterizing transmission lines using broadband signals in a multi-carrier DSL environment
Using DSL modems as data collectors, the modems processes the data to, for example, allow easier interpretation of the line characteristics. In particular, the modems postprocess the data including calibration, filter compensation, determination of the SNR medley from the bits and gains tables and rate conversion. The interpretation process uses the postprocessed data and determines loop characterization, interferer detection, a data reduction estimation and a data rate estimation. The outputs of these determinations least allow for the characterization of the line conditions between the two modems. |
| US08743934B2 |
Signal measurement device, signal measurement method, and recording medium
In a signal measurement device, a plurality of mixers output a signal having a frequency equal to a difference between two input frequencies, and a single local signal source feeds a common local signal input to the plurality of mixers. A difference measurement unit measures a level and a phase difference between outputs of the plurality of mixers if a common correction signal input is fed to the plurality of mixers, and a level/phase measurement unit measures the level and the phase of the output of the plurality of mixers if inputs of signal to be measured common in frequency are fed to the plurality of mixers. A difference correction unit corrects a measurement result of the level/phase measurement unit based on a measurement result of the difference measurement unit if a common input of signal to be measured is fed to the plurality of mixers. |
| US08743933B2 |
Frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation for high speed data networks
Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend. |
| US08743928B2 |
Adaptive equalizer and operating method thereof
An adaptive equalizer and operating method thereof are disclosed. The adaptive equalizer is oversampling-based. The adaptive equalizer includes a searching module, a compensation module, and an operating module. The searching module searches the equalizer setting from a lower compensation to a higher compensation to obtain a first equalizer setup value according a first monitored result of a monitor and then searches the equalizer setting from a higher compensation to a lower compensation to obtain a second equalizer setup value according to a second monitored result of the monitor. The operating module performs an operation on the first equalizer setup value and the second equalizer setup value to obtain an optimized equalizer setup value. |
| US08743926B2 |
Liquid cooled glass metal electrode
In various embodiments, an electrode has a shaft extending from an electrode head and a cooling passage extending from an open end disposed at an attachment end of the shaft to a closed end disposed within the electrode head. |
| US08743925B1 |
Method and apparatus for creating or amplifying a laser by acoustic stimulation
A laser system having an acoustic stimulator and amplifier section adjacent to the acoustic stimulator is disclosed. The stimulator is configured to apply acoustic energy to the amplifier section whereby luminescent output is produced in the amplifier section. This luminescent output may be concentrated to form a high intensity light output. |
| US08743922B2 |
Ultraviolet laser
A laser device is disclosed that provides at least an ultraviolet laser beam and preferably both an ultraviolet laser beam and a visible laser beam. The laser device includes a semiconductor laser device (e.g. a laser diode) to generate visible laser light which is coupled into a frequency doubling crystal taking the form of a single crystal thin film frequency-doubling waveguide structure. The single crystal thin film frequency-doubling waveguide converts a portion of the visible light emitted by the laser diode into ultraviolet light. Both visible and ultraviolet laser light is emitted from the waveguide. As an example, the single crystal thin film frequency-doubling frequency doubling waveguide includes a frequency doubling crystal region composed of β-BaB2O4 (β-BBO), a cladding region composed of materials that are transparent or nearly transparent at the wavelength of the ultraviolet laser light beam and a supporting substrate composed of any material. |
| US08743919B2 |
Method for generating coherent-phase light fields having a predefinable value of the frequency thereof, and optical frequency synthesizer
The invention relates to a method for generating coherent-phase light having a predefinable frequency value (νSoll), comprising the steps of generating working light with a working frequency (νSL), generating a frequency comb (10), which is a light field that consists of equidistant coherent-phase spectral lines, selecting a comb line (having the index m) from the frequency comb (10) having a frequency (νm), generating a frequency shift (Δν) of the frequency comb (10) and/or the working frequency (νSL) by means of time-dependent phase settings (φS(t)) modulo a multiple of 2π, in particular of 2π, and phase-coupling the possibly frequency-shifted fields of the working light (νSL) and the one possibly frequency-shifted frequency comb line (νm), so that the frequencies thereof are rigidly phase-coupled via the frequency shift (Δν), and working light having the desired frequency (νSoll) is obtained. |
| US08743918B2 |
Phase locked sideband beams by bias modulation of an external cavity laser diode having a grating
A device and a method enabling the enhancing of the modulation efficiency of lasers by matching the modulation frequency and the FSR of the laser. This is optionally achieved by eliminating the internal cavity of a laser diode (103) placed in an external cavity and matching the FSR of the external cavity to the modulation frequency. The modulation index is enhanced to and beyond the point of complete carrier suppression even at high modulation frequency and high beam intensities. The external cavity comprises a grating (107), the cavity length being adjusted with a PZT (108) and a translation stage (109). The laser diode (103) is driven by a bias current (110) from a driver (115) and a modulation current (111) from a modulation driver (116). |
| US08743917B2 |
Wavelength conversion light source, optical element and image display device
A wavelength conversion laser light source, including a solid-state laser medium configured to generate fundamental light; a wavelength conversion element configured to convert the fundamental light into second harmonic light which has a higher frequency than the fundamental light; and a conductive material in contact with the wavelength conversion element, wherein the wavelength conversion element includes a polarization inverted structure formed with a polarization inversion region, and a first lateral surface which perpendicularly intersects with the polarization inversion region, and the conductive material is in contact with the first lateral surface. |
| US08743914B1 |
Simultaneous independent multi-beam analog beamformer
An analog beamforming receiver may include a first receive element coupled with circuitry for sequentially adjusting at least one of a phase or a gain of a signal. The analog beamforming receiver may also include a second receive element coupled with circuitry for sequentially adjusting at least one of a phase or a gain of the signal. The analog beamforming receiver may further include a combiner coupled with the first receive element and the second receive element for combining the phase or gain adjusted signals to form a combined analog signal. The analog beamforming receiver may also include an analog to digital converter coupled with the combiner for converting the combined analog signal into digital samples. The analog beamforming receiver may further include a demultiplexer coupled with the analog to digital converter for demultiplexing the digital samples from the analog to digital converter into a plurality of demultiplexed signals. |
| US08743912B2 |
Transmission system, transmitting device, receiving device, transmission method, and computer program
Disclosed is a transmission system, having a transmitting device and a receiving device, which divides a series of data streams into a plurality of unit data and transmitting the unit data. The transmitting device and receiving devices include synchronization units outputting mutually synchronized clock signals. A frequency change unit changes a frequency of a time division multiplexing (TDM) signal on the basis of the clock signal output from the synchronization unit of its own device. A conversion unit converts the TDM signal with the changed frequency into the unit data and transmitting the unit data to the receiving device. A decoding unit receives the unit data from the transmitting device and generates the TDM signal with the changed frequency. A frequency restoration unit restores the TDM signal by returning a frequency of the TDM signal with the changed frequency to an original on the basis of the clock signal. |
| US08743910B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting a channel filter for a communication system
A signal receiver is arranged to process a portion of a received signal in each of a plurality of filter branches and to determine a quality metric for each branch. The configuration of a second filter for processing the entirety of the received signal is subsequently performed according to the determined quality metrics. |
| US08743907B1 |
Apparatus for reassembling a fragmented data unit and transmitting the reassembled data unit
An apparatus includes a receive port unit, a forwarding engine, a transmit port unit, and a reassembly unit. In an embodiment, the packet reassembly unit examines headers in received fragments of a data unit and using the headers to reassemble the data unit, wherein the headers correspond to a protocol layer above an IP-layer. In another embodiment, the packet reassembly unit is located downstream from the forwarding engine in a packet forwarding pipeline, and the forwarding engine skips processing fragments received subsequent to a first received fragment. |
| US08743904B2 |
Data transmission method according to radio resource allocation in multi-hop relay system
A data transmission method in a system comprising at least one or more relays includes transmitting by a mobile station a bandwidth allocation request message to a relay, receiving by the mobile station a bandwidth allocation message from the relay, the bandwidth allocation message including information for indicating an offset from a frame where the bandwidth allocation message is contained, waiting by the mobile station for an uplink frame or uplink subframe indicated by the offset from the frame where the bandwidth allocation message is contained, and transmitting data on the indicated frame or subframe. |
| US08743903B2 |
Hybrid networking simple-connect setup using forwarding device
A simple connect setup function for hybrid networks is provided that allows a user to add devices optionally having a number of different network interfaces (e.g., that facilitate communications using different network technologies or protocols) to a hybrid network in a single, simplified operation that alleviates the need for the user to individually connect and/or configure a multitude of different network interfaces. The simple connect setup function also alleviates the need for the user to know on which devices the simple connect setup function must be activated for successful simple connect setup. |
| US08743897B2 |
Method and apparatus of multicast service flow processing for headend cable modem
The processing of a multicast service flow for a headend cable modem by classifying an inputted multicast packet by a session composing an internal header including multicast service flow information allocated to the classified session and then outputting an internal multicast packet including the internal header. |
| US08743895B2 |
System for interactive queuing through communication networks
The invention pertains to a system and method of interactive queue management through public communication networks. Interactive queue management allows business or automated systems to easily and efficiently interact with waiting individuals in any queue through the individuals' preferred communication device, e.g., telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, wirelessly enabled PDA or handheld computer. In one embodiment this invention allows people to hold their place in a queue by proxy of their telephone or mobile phone number. An individual will provide their phone number to the interactive queuing system; the system will retain the phone number and other pertinent information about the individual, communicate via voice, wireless messaging, or other means with the individual, and collect the input from the individual. Key components of the system include a queue client system, a queue management and server system, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, and a wireless messaging infrastructure system. Interfaces between key components will be via the Internet or other networks using standardized protocols. |
| US08743892B2 |
Method and system for dynamic gateway selection in an IP telephony network
A method and system for dynamically selecting a destination gateway to complete a call over a path supported at least in part by an IP telephony network and a public switched telephone network. The method and system further provide for dynamically detecting available gateways, dynamically removing failed and/or unavailable gateways, and automatically recovering failed and/or unavailable gateways after a predetermined period of time. A method is also provided for detecting available destination gateways using a ping method, where a message is transmitted to a plurality of destination gateways on a one-by-one basis to ascertain the availability status of each destination gateway. |
| US08743891B2 |
Data packet router for a mobile communication device
A data packet router enables a mobile communication device to access a WAN such as the Internet via a PC connected to the WAN. The router comprises bearer plug-in modules which each enable connection between the mobile communication device and the computer over a different bearer. The PC is therefore used as an internet access point for mobile communication devices which can use any conventional bearer to connect to the PC (USB, RS232, Bluetooth wireless etc.). Hence, a mobile telephone could gain web access using conventional WAP or, with the present invention, it could also be connected to a PC using a convenient bearer and hence gain access to the internet via the PC. Because the router uses bearer plug-in modules, it is possible to write new bearer modules as and when new bearers are developed and to readily add them to upgrade existing implementations. This is valuable since new connectivity standards (and enhancements to old standards) are continually under development. |
| US08743885B2 |
Mobile service routing in a network environment
A data flow is received from a mobile network relating to a mobile subscriber. Subscriber data is received for the subscriber identifying a service path corresponding to the subscriber and at least one service policy corresponding to the subscriber, the service path including a set of network service nodes in a plurality of network service nodes. Packets of the data flow are routed according to the service path, the packets corresponding to a request for a resource. At least one packet is appended with service header data identifying the service policy. Each service node performs at least one service based on received request data, each service node in the set of service nodes performing a service defined in a service subscription of the subscriber. At least one particular service node in the set of network service nodes performs a particular service based at least in part on the service policy. |
| US08743881B2 |
Link data transmission method, node and system
Link data transmission to a plurality of nodes includes: receiving data to be transmitted at a current node; obtaining, using one or more computer processors, first registration information by a plurality of child nodes of the current node; selecting, based on the first registration information, a first child node that is one of the plurality of child nodes to register with the current node; sending the data to be transmitted to the first child node; obtaining second registration information by a plurality of sibling nodes of the current node; selecting, based on the second registration information, a first sibling node that is one of the plurality of sibling nodes to register with the parent node; and sending the data to be transmitted to the first sibling node. |
| US08743880B2 |
MIMO transmission based method for transmitting and receiving downlink control information
A Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) transmission based method for transmitting and receiving Downlink Control Information (DCI) is provided. The method includes if it is determined that two TBs are currently needed to be dispatched, indicating information of layer numbers and precoding matrixes of uplink MIMO transmission with a precoding information domain in DCI for dispatching the uplink MIMO transmission, and transmitting the DCI, and if it is determined that one Transport Block (TB) is currently needed to be dispatched, indicating the information of the layer numbers and precoding matrixes of the uplink MIMO transmission with redundant information in the DCI and precoding information domain, and transmitting the DCI. The present invention may save bit number of the precoding information domain and reduce the signaling overheads of the DCI. |
| US08743874B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting MAC PDU with a fragmentation and packing extended header and method thereof
A method of transmitting data in a transmitting stage is disclosed. The present invention includes configuring a MAC PDU (medium access control protocol data unit) including fragmented data and a fragmentation extended header (FEH) and a packing extended header (PEH) for transmitting the fragmented data and transmitting the configured MAC PDU to a receiving stage. Preferably, the FEH or the PEH includes an extended header type field indicating a type of an extended header and a fragmentation control field including information on the fragmented data. |
| US08743873B2 |
Train communication system and train communication method
A train communication system includes a communication relay device that is installed in each vehicle and a communication terminal device that is connected to the communication relay device. The communication relay device acquires vehicle information indicating an in-formation position of a vehicle in which the communication relay device is installed. The communication terminal device refers to a correspondence table that defines a correspondence relationship between vehicle information and communication identification information, and determines communication identification information to be provided to the communication terminal device, based on vehicle information obtained from the communication relay device. |
| US08743872B2 |
Storage traffic communication via a switch fabric in accordance with a VLAN
A plurality of SMP modules and an IOP module communicate storage traffic via respective corresponding I/O controllers coupled to respective physical ports of a switch fabric by addressing cells to physical port addresses corresponding to the physical ports. One of the SMPs executes initiator software to partially manage the storage traffic and the IOP executes target software to partially manage the storage traffic. Storage controllers are coupled to the IOP, enabling communication with storage devices, such as disk drives, tape drives, and/or networks of same. Respective network identification registers are included in each of the I/O controller corresponding to the SMP executing the initiator software and the I/O controller corresponding to the IOP. Transport of the storage traffic in accordance with a particular VLAN is enabled by writing a same particular value into each of the network identification registers. |
| US08743859B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for managing operation status of wireless transmissions and receptions
A mobile communication device for managing the operation status of wireless transmissions and receptions is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module performs the wireless transmissions and receptions. Also, in the mobile communication device, a controller module activates the wireless module to transmit a scheduling request message to the service network, and keeps the wireless module activated for the wireless receptions in a first predetermined period of time subsequent to the transmission of the scheduling request message. |
| US08743854B1 |
Signal separation and SINR enhancement
An apparatus and method for signal separation and SINR improvement is disclosed. In particular, disclosed is an iterative technique whereby a noisy signal, that may include signals from one or more distinct emitters, is first improved through an SINR improvement technique. Next, one signal from the noisy signal is identified and a reference signal substantially free of noise and interference is generated for this signal, and then this reference signal is subtracted from the noisy signal. This process is repeated until no other signals may be identified. In this way, the signal with the highest SINR may be identified first and then removed from the original signal. As such, the identified signal is no longer present as interference for the remaining signals, thus improving each of the remaining signals' respective SINRs. |
| US08743851B2 |
Multi-channel wireless communications
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes monitoring wireless communication channels, including a first channel and a second channel, to produce a monitoring output, determining a first transmission period for the first channel by applying a first waiting period duration and a second waiting period duration to the monitoring output, determining a second transmission period for the second channel by applying the first waiting period duration and the second waiting period duration to the monitoring output, causing, based on the first transmission period, a first transmission on the first channel to reserve the group of wireless communication channels; causing, based on the second transmission period, a second transmission on the second channel; and monitoring, after the end of the first transmission period, for an acknowledgement(s). An end of the second transmission period can be aligned with an end of the first transmission period. |
| US08743843B2 |
Methods and apparatus relating to timing and/or synchronization including the use of wireless terminals beacon signals
Wireless terminal beacon signaling is used to achieve timing synchronization between two wireless terminals in a wireless communication system, e.g., in an ad hoc network lacking a centralized timing reference. An exemplary timing structure used by an individual wireless terminal includes a beacon transmission time interval, a beacon monitoring time interval and a silence time interval. A first wireless terminal monitoring for beacon signals from other wireless terminals, detects a beacon signal portion from a second wireless terminal and determines a timing adjustment as a function of the detected beacon signal portion. The first wireless terminal applies the determined timing adjustment, e.g., time shifting its timing structure, such that its beacon signal can be detected by the second wireless terminal. Implementation of the determined timing adjustment sets the timing structures of the two wireless terminals to have a fixed relationship thereby allowing for coordinated communications including a peer-to-peer communications session. |
| US08743838B2 |
Millimeter-wave communication station and method for scheduling association beamforming training with collision avoidance
Embodiments of a millimeter-wave communication station and method for scheduling association beamforming training (A-BFT) with collision avoidance are generally described herein. In some embodiments an initiating station transmits a transmit sector-sweep frame in each of its antenna sectors and receives a reverse transmit sector-sweep frame from two or more unassociated responding stations. The initiating station transmits a sector-sweep feedback frame to each of the responding stations to indicate whether each responding station is to perform beamforming training in a current beacon interval or a subsequent beacon interval. The sector-sweep feedback frame may indicate an order in which the responding stations are to perform beamforming training in subsequent beacon intervals. |
| US08743837B2 |
Modified preamble structure for IEEE 802.11A extensions to allow for coexistence and interoperability between 802.11A devices and higher data rate, MIMO or otherwise extended devices
A modified preamble is used by extended devices that operate at higher rates, MIMO or other extensions relative to strict 802.11a-compliant devices. The extended devices might use multiple antenna techniques (MIMO), where multiple data streams are multiplexed spatially and/or multi-channel techniques, where an extended transmitter transmits using more than one 802.11a channel at a time. Such extensions to IEEE 802.11a can exist in extended devices. The modified preamble is usable for signaling, to legacy devices as well as extended devices, to indicate capabilities and to cause legacy devices or extended devices to defer to other devices such that the common communication channel is not subject to unnecessary interference. The modified preamble is also usable for obtaining MIMO channel estimates and/or multi-channel estimates. The modified preamble preferably includes properties that facilitate detection of conventional and/or extended modes (“mode detection”) and provides some level of coexistence with legacy IEEE 802.11a devices. |
| US08743833B2 |
Method for performing handover, user equipment, base station, and radio communication system
According to embodiments, a base station includes a radio communication unit configured to establish communication with a mobile communication terminal using a plurality of component carriers. The base station further includes a control unit configured to transmit a command to the mobile communication terminal to reduce the plurality of component carriers to one prior to handover of communication between the mobile communication terminal and the base station to another base station. |
| US08743827B2 |
Switching method and apparatus in broadband wireless communication system
A switching method and apparatus in a broadband wireless communication system is provided. A method of an Advanced Base Station (ABS) for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) in the broadband wireless communication system includes transmitting to an Advanced Mobile Station (AMS) a message including identification information for a primary carrier that provides the MBS among multiple carriers supported by the ABS, switching to the primary carrier with respect to the AMS, and transmitting MBS data through the primary carrier. |
| US08743826B2 |
Methods and apparatus for scanning for neighbor base stations in time synchronous wireless communication systems
A method for scanning for neighbor base stations in a time synchronous wireless communication system may be implemented by a mobile station. The method may include detecting a serving base station preamble index that is transmitted by a serving base station in a subcarrier subset during a frame. The method may also include using the detected serving base station preamble index to determine a signal quality measurement for the serving base station. The method may also include detecting at least one neighbor base station preamble index that is transmitted by a neighbor base station in another subcarrier subset transmitted during the same frame. The method may further include using the detected neighbor base station preamble index to determine a signal quality measurement for the neighbor base station. |
| US08743825B2 |
Handovers in a communication system
A method for handover is disclosed. The method comprises generation of mobility information that associates with a mobile device attached to a first access node. The mobility information is then communicated to a second access node for use in a handover of the mobile device from the first access node to the second access node. |
| US08743814B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting scheduling request signal in mobile communication system
A method and an apparatus are provided for transmitting a scheduling request signal of a terminal in a mobile communication system. If a Buffer Status Report (BSR) is triggered, it is checked whether the BSR is canceled. If the BSR is not cancelled, a Scheduling Request (SR) is triggered for requesting resources for transmitting the BSR. |
| US08743811B2 |
Method for wireless communication between a user device and a base station in a wireless communication system supporting uplink and downlink multi carriers, and a device for implementing the method
A method for wireless communication supporting uplink and downlink multi carriers Includes performing initial access through one of at least two downlink component carriers among multiple downlink component carriers including the at least two downlink component carriers through which the user equipment is allowed to perform the initial access; and transmitting via an uplink component carrier allocated to the user equipment by using a carrier identifier, wherein the carrier identifier is applied to the uplink component carrier and is obtained from the downlink component carrier through which the initial access is performed, and wherein the system pre-defines one-to-one correspondence between multiple downlink component carriers and multiple uplink component carriers, and wherein the downlink component carrier through which the initial access is performed and the uplink component carriers allocated to the user equipment do not match the one-to-one correspondence pre-defined by the system. |
| US08743805B2 |
Radio terminal device, radio base station device, and channel signal forming method
Provided are a radio terminal device, a radio base station device, and a channel signal forming method which can prevent quality degradation of the downlink source allocation information by reducing the frequency of the zero information addition process to the downlink resource allocation information when executing communication using an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands correlated to the uplink unit band. A base station (100) can execute communication using the uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands correlated to the uplink unit band. The base station (100) includes: a PDCCH generation unit (102) which includes the uplink allocation information relating to the uplink unit band only in some of the channel signals formed for each of the downlink unit bands; and a padding unit (103) which adds zero information to the downlink allocation information only in the selected some channel signals having the bandwidth of the corresponding downlink unit band smaller than that of the uplink unit band until the downlink allocation information size becomes equal to the uplink allocation information size. |
| US08743804B2 |
Method of handling semi-persistent scheduling transmission and related communication device
A method of handling Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) transmission for a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The mobile device has a dynamic grant and a configured grant for transmission in a subframe. The method comprises a step of transmitting a data in the subframe according to a usage status of the configured grant. |
| US08743802B2 |
Allocating wireless resources
A wireless network, such as an LTE (“Long-Term Evolution”) network, may be configured to receive an identifier from a wireless network. The identifier identifies a resource configuration in a plurality of resource configurations. The resource configuration corresponds to a plurality of resource attributes. At least one signal is transmitted to the wireless network using the plurality of resource attributes. |
| US08743796B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating sequence to synchronization channel for node identification in wireless communication system
Provided is an apparatus for allocating a sequence to a synchronization channel for a node identification (ID), the apparatus including: a base node sequence generator to generate a base sequence that is a sequence for a node ID of a base node; a relay node sequence generator to generate a relay sequence that is a sequence for a node ID of a relay node by transforming the base sequence; a baseband signal generator to generate a baseband signal by mapping the base sequence or the relay sequence to a frequency domain and a time domain; and a transmitter to transmit the baseband signal. |
| US08743794B2 |
Method of flow control between radio network controller and base station
A method of flow control between radio network controller and base station is disclosed. The method includes: step 1, the base station carrying information of Maximum PDU Length in a capacity allocation frame of High Speed Downlink Shared Channel; step 2, the radio network controller receiving the capacity allocation frame from the base station; step 3, the radio network controller transmitting data to the base station, wherein the amount of data transmitted during one HS-DSCH Interval is less than or equal to the product of Maximum PDU Length carried in said capacity allocation frame and the maximum number of PDUs that can be transmitted during one HS-DSCH Interval. The disclosed method enables the base station control the flow with the radio network controller in the common state of the fortified connection mode. |
| US08743793B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a separate contention window allowing allocations for pending uplink SDMA transmission opportunities
A method for providing uplink spatial division multiple access (SDMA) transmission opportunities (TXOP) is described. A demarcation indication may be sent to one or more subscriber stations. An SDMA contention window may be started. An allocation indication may be received. Requested uplink SDMA TXOP resources may be allocated according to the allocation indication. |
| US08743791B2 |
Apparatus and method for uplink transmission in wireless communication systems
An apparatus and method for a User Equipment in a wireless network including at least one Base Station (BS) are provided. The method includes receiving an Information Element (IE) for configuring at least one of a PUSCH power control method and a PUSCH DMRS generation method from the BS, determining a state of the IE, and transmitting a PUSCH and a DMRS for the PUSCH according to the state of the IE. A transmission power of the PUSCH is controlled and a base sequence for the PUSCH DMRS is generated according to the state of the IE. When the state of the IE indicates a first state, the transmission power of the PUSCH is determined according to a first power control equation. When the state of the IE indicates a second state, the transmission power of the PUSCH is determined according to a second power control equation. |
| US08743790B2 |
Residential gateway
A particular residential gateway includes a network interface, a connector interface to receive a signal via one or more communication lines, and a power coupling device to receive power from at least one of the one or more communication lines. The residential gateway includes a first module to receive first data via the signal and to route the first data to a first device coupled to the network interface. The first module is powered using the power received from the at least one communication line by the power coupling device. |
| US08743789B2 |
Radio access device, a radio access system, a network selection method and a recording medium
[Issues] To provide: a radio access device, a radio access system, a network selection method and a recording medium which is capable of: in an environment where a plurality of radio access networks is intermingled, evading cut off of a communication accompanied by a movement of a radio access device; and continuing the communication more stably.[Solution method] The radio access device includes: an acquisition means which acquires network information about a network to be used for communication from an administration entity which administers the information; and a selection means which obtains, based on the network information acquired; first information which indicates availability of a network at a current position of its own and second information which indicates availability of a network at a position other than the current position of its own, and selects a network to be used for communication using the first and the second information obtained. |
| US08743788B2 |
Method and device for sending and receiving a reference signal
The present invention relates to a method for sending and receiving a reference signal for a backhaul subframe in a wireless communication system in which a relay is present and also to a device therefor, constituted in such a way that common reference signals for a plurality of receiving devices and reference signals dedicated to separate receiving devices are allocated dispersed in a subframe, and the common reference signals and the dedicated reference signals are generated and are sent and received via the subframe. The present invention can improve the channel estimation performance for subframes in a wireless communication system. In this way, communications efficiency in wireless communication systems can be improved. |
| US08743781B2 |
System and method for a reverse invitation in a hybrid peer-to-peer environment
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to send a reverse invitation in response to an incoming call. The reverse invitation may be used to set up an alternate communication session rather than maintaining the incoming call. |
| US08743780B2 |
Radio communication system, radio transmitting apparatus and radio receiving apparatus
The present invention is a radio communication system in which a radio transmitting apparatus transmits a packet to a radio receiving apparatus using a HARQ scheme, including a moving speed acquiring unit configured to acquire a moving speed of a radio communication terminal which is the radio transmitting apparatus or the radio receiving apparatus, a selection unit configured to select a transmission method of an information bit and an error correction bit which are transmitted under the HARQ scheme based on the moving speed acquired by the moving speed acquiring unit, and a transmitting unit configured to perform initial transmission and retransmission of the packet according to the transmission method selected by the selection unit. |
| US08743776B2 |
Point of sales and customer support for femtocell service and equipment
System(s) and method(s) are provided for a femto cell service framework for purchase of femtocell equipment and service and customer support thereof. A point of sale (POS) platform enables purchase of femtocell equipment based on a set of eligibility criteria. POS also allows purchase of add-on services. Direct fulfillment and post-sale transactions such as returns and equipment replacement are also provided. An account management service enables femtocell equipment and service self-care or through customer representatives. Configuration of service account and monitoring of account status is provided. Customer care architecture also enables remote troubleshooting of purchased equipment. Remote troubleshooting includes diagnosis and related manipulation of purchased equipment. |
| US08743773B2 |
Power control at a relay station in a wireless network
A wireless network includes a relay station (RS) for extending wireless coverage of a base station. Data is sent by the base station and relayed through the RS to a mobile station (MS), where the data is associated with a preamble that is sent directly from the base station to the MS. A transmit power of the RS is adjusted for transmitting the data from the RS to the MS to reduce a difference between a first power level of the preamble received at the MS and a second power level of the data received at the MS. The uplink transmit power of the MS for the data sent to the RS is adjusted to compensate for the difference in path loss from MS to base station and MS to RS and to compensate for the difference in noise_plus_interference level at RS compared to that of the base station. |
| US08743771B2 |
Method for enabling relay node to transmit uplink control information in wireless communication system and the relay node
Disclosed is a method for enabling a relay node to transmit uplink control information. The relay node can receive resource allocation information and sequence information according to the transmission format of a physical uplink control channel set from a base station in advance. Additionally, the relay node can transmit the uplink control information, to which a sequence corresponding to the received sequence information is applied, in at least one slot of a resource area, which is indicated by the received resource allocation information, through a fixed number of symbols. |
| US08743768B2 |
On-demand diverse path computation for limited visibility computer networks
In one embodiment, a source device detects a packet flow that meets criteria for multi-path forwarding, and forwards a probe packet on a primary path from the source device to a destination device, the probe packet carrying an indication to cause a plurality of transit devices along the primary path to add their respective local neighbor topology to the forwarded probe packet, and also to cause the destination device to compute a diverse path from the primary path based on the accumulated local neighbor topologies in the probe packet. Accordingly, the source device may receive a returned diverse path as computed by the destination device in response to the probe packet, and may thus forward the packet flow on the primary path and the diverse path from the source device to the destination device according to the multi-path forwarding. |
| US08743767B2 |
Methods of obtaining service information to receive broadcasting service in user equipment, and service information announcement methods performable in service center and server
Provided are a method of obtaining service information to receive a broadcasting service in a user equipment (UE), and service information announcement methods performable in a service center in charge of multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) control and a server interoperable with the service center. The method of obtaining MBMS information in a UE includes checking whether or not a previously defined event occurs in order to obtain service information, requesting an external server announcing service information to transmit service information according to whether or not the event occurs, and receiving service information transmitted in response to the service information transmission request and outputting the service information through a user interface (UI). |
| US08743766B2 |
Method and system for network discovery and selection in wireless network systems
Method and system for network discovery and selection in wireless network systems. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a wireless communication system. The system includes a first access network that is connected to a content service network. The first access network includes a base station to provide wireless access to wireless devices within a first region through a plurality of communication channels. The plurality of communication channels includes a broadcast channel. The first access network is configured to send broadcast messages through the broadcast channel. The broadcast message includes a first broadcast message, which includes channel availability information. The system also includes a wireless device. The wireless device includes an antenna and a wireless interface. The wireless interface is adapted to receive at least the first broadcast message. |
| US08743759B2 |
Detection of access point location errors in enterprise localization systems
Method and apparatus for validating location information associated with an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) by subjecting neighborhood node proximity information retrieved from an AP and neighborhood node location information retrieved from a database to a likelihood ratio tests (LRT). The neighborhood node proximity information retrieved from an AP comprises a list of nodes exhibiting at the AP a signal strength above a threshold level T, or link quality information associated with those nodes having a signal received by the AP. |
| US08743758B1 |
Concurrent uses of non-cellular interfaces for participating in hybrid cellular and non-cellular networks
The subject matter describes software, devices, networks, and methods to configure a non-cellular interface of a wireless device to establish two or more wireless links in a hybrid of cellular network and a non-cellular network. The advantage of concurrent uses of non-cellular interfaces maximizes the use of computing and communication resources to perform multi-hop communication and to expand the coverage of cellular networks. |
| US08743757B2 |
Mobile communication system, mobile station apparatus base station apparatus, method for managing mobile station apparatus, method for managing base station apparatus and processing section
A mobile communication system includes a base station apparatus and a mobile station apparatus. The base station apparatus is configured to provide, to the mobile station apparatus via paging, a notification of updating of system information corresponding to a first component carrier, and provide, to the mobile station apparatus via radio resource control signaling, updated system information corresponding to a second component carrier. The mobile station apparatus is configured to detect, from the base station apparatus via the paging, the notification of updating of the system information corresponding to the first component carrier, and obtain, from the base station apparatus, the updated system information broadcasted in the first component carrier, and obtain, from the base station apparatus via the radio resource control signaling, the updated system information corresponding to the second component carrier. |
| US08743756B2 |
Distinct transport path for MIMO transmissions in distributed antenna systems
A hybrid expansion unit includes at least one digital communication interface adapted to communicate first and second sets of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with an upstream device. The hybrid expansion unit further includes at least one analog communication interface adapted to communicate first and second sets of bands of analog spectrum with a downstream device. The hybrid expansion unit is adapted to convert between the first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the first set of bands of analog spectrum. The hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to convert between the second set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second set of bands of analog spectrum. The first set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a first frequency range and the second set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a second frequency range. The first frequency range and the second frequency range do not overlap. |
| US08743755B2 |
Downlink resource scheduling method and transmission end for multiple-input multiple-output beam-forming system
The present invention provides a downlink resource scheduling method and a transmission end for a multiple-input multiple-output beam-forming (MIMO+BF) system. The transmission end performs the following steps of: dividing subordinate users into user groups according to respective MIMO+BF weights of the subordinate users; generating a scheduling priority coefficient for each of the user groups according to scheduling priority coefficients of respective users in the user group; allocating group resources to the user groups according to the respective scheduling priority coefficients of the user groups; and allocating sub-channel resources of the group resources to each user in the user groups according to the respective scheduling priority coefficients of users in the user groups. |
| US08743748B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing indication of uplink transmission timing advance
The present invention provides a method for implementing uplink transmission TA. The method includes: receiving, by a UE, a TA command, adding a TA value corresponding to the TA command and a pre-configured TA adjusting offset to obtain a practical uplink transmission timing advance TA′; and transmitting, by the UE, uplink data according to the TA′. The present invention also provides another method for implementing uplink transmission TA. Compared with the prior art, in the methods provided by the present invention, a TA adjustment indicating table is respectively configured in the eNodeB and the UE, and some items of the TA adjustment indicating table are commonly-used by a TDD system and an FDD system. The present invention also provides apparatuses for implementing uplink transmission TA. The present invention provides detailed solutions for implementing uplink transmission TA in the TDD system and achieves coherence between the designs of the TDD system and the FDD system to the largest extent. |
| US08743747B2 |
System and method for reselection of a packet data network gateway when establishing connectivity
A network control module including an access module and a selection control module. The access module is configured to determine whether a wireless terminal communicating with a first network via a first gateway is attempting to communicate with a second network via a second gateway. The access module is configured to determine whether the first gateway allows communication with the second network. The selection control module is configured to allow the wireless terminal to access the second network via the first gateway prior to the wireless terminal establishing a connection with the second gateway. |
| US08743746B2 |
Transceiver filter and tuning
A radio transceiver including a transmitter and a receiver. A filter coupled to an output of the transmitter, the filter has one or more inductors and one or more capacitors, where the filter is tuned by varying one or more capacitance values of the one or more capacitors in the filter to tune the filter. The one or more capacitors are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) ceramic integrated capacitors that are each tuned by application of a bias voltage thereto. A filter tuner circuit is configured to apply the bias voltage to the one or more capacitors, where the bias voltage is initially established as a stored initial value, and where the bias voltage is refined by a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller configured to optimize a power within the transceiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting since various implementations may incorporate more, fewer or different elements. |
| US08743740B2 |
Methods and apparatus to implement a partial mesh virtual private local area network service
Methods and apparatus to implement a partial mesh virtual private local area network service are disclosed. An example method to implement a partial mesh virtual private local area network service (VPLS) network disclosed herein comprises identifying a desired partial mesh topology of connections for interconnecting a plurality of provider edge devices comprising the VPLS network, and decomposing the partial mesh topology into a plurality of cliques, wherein each clique comprises a respective full mesh topology of connections for interconnecting a respective subset of the plurality of provider edge devices, and wherein a union of the plurality of cliques implements the desired partial mesh topology. |
| US08743737B2 |
Communication device and control method thereof
A communication apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires capability information on other communication apparatuses in a network. The determination unit determines, based on the capability information acquired by the acquisition unit, whether there is a communication apparatus having a specific function, related to data communication, to be performed after processing to set communication parameters is performed. The control unit perform controls, in response to the determination unit determining that there is a communication apparatus having the specific function, to continue the processing to set the communication parameters, and performs control, in response to the determination unit determining that there is no communication apparatus having the specific function, to terminate the processing to set the communication parameters. |
| US08743736B2 |
Inferring connectivity in the presence of conflicting network data
The connectivity information provided by a variety of inference engines is integrated to provide a set of inferred links within a network. A consolidation is performed among inference engines that operate at a base level of connectivity detail to create a model of the network at this base level. The connectivity information provided by inference engines at each subsequent higher level of connectivity abstraction is then overlaid on the base level connectivity. By separately consolidating the connectivity information at each level of abstraction, the rules for dealing with conflicts can be simplified and/or better focused to resolve the conflict. By assuming that the more detailed lower level information is likely to be more accurate, rules can be developed to modify the connectivity models produced by the higher level techniques to conform to the lower level connectivity details while still maintaining the integrity of the higher level connectivity models. |
| US08743732B2 |
Updating method and device for Iu interface parallel multimedia broadcast multicast service session
An updating method and device for an Iu interface supported parallel Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service session are provided. The method includes: step 1, receiving the MBMS session updating message of the SGSN by the RNC; step 2, detecting whether the modified MBMS SA of the MBMS session and the MBMS SA of other sessions of the same service overlaps with each other or not; and step 3, performing the updating operation for the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast service session according to the detecting result. |
| US08743729B2 |
Multi-carrier communications with adaptive cluster configuration and switching
A method and apparatus for allocating subcarriers in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises allocating at least one diversity cluster of subcarriers to a first subscriber and allocating at least one coherence cluster to a second subscriber. |
| US08743727B2 |
Driving hybrid location services from WLAN stations using access points
A wireless local area network (WLAN) positioning system is disclosed that allows the WLAN system to determine the location attributes of a client device operating in a power save mode, operating on a different channel than the WLAN's access points, and/or operating in an ad-hoc mode. The client device periodically performs scanning operations during which beacon frames broadcast by a selected AP(s) can be received. The client device parses information embedded in the beacon frames, and in response thereto selectively initiates ranging operations to determine its location attributes. After determining its location attributes, the client devices sends the location attributes back to the selected AP(s). |
| US08743724B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting signal using spatial silencing
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting signals in a heterogeneous network, the method comprising: a step wherein a base station determines a value-added vector for forming a beam pattern to be applied to a subsidiary carrier; a step wherein carrier operation information including information related to the determined value-added vector is transmitted via a primary carrier; and a step wherein the subsidiary carrier is transmitted by applying the determined value-added vector. |
| US08743723B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for applying almost blank subframe (ABS) patterns
Methods, apparatus, and systems using almost blank subframes patterns are disclosed. Different ABS patterns and triggers are described for enabling a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to obtain ABS patterns. One representative method of scheduling operations by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may include the WTRU receiving information indicating the ABS pattern with a plurality of ABS intervals of an interfering cell; determining timing associated with the ABS intervals of the interfering cell in accordance with the indicated ABS pattern; and scheduling a measurement opportunity, a transmission opportunity or a reception opportunity during the ABS intervals of the interfering cell. |
| US08743719B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating network rates
There is provided a method for allocating network rates to a plurality of mobile terminals through which users access possibly different applications through a network having a certain limited total bandwidth to allocate. The method comprises an optimization operation which uses a quality utility function as input which indicates for a certain application the quality perceived by a user depending on the allocated data rate, preferably further also depending on the channel condition. Then there is performed an optimizing operation such that it calculates a combined quality measure based on the quality utility functions for the different applications and for different possible resource allocations to the plurality of applications in such a way that said quality measure is optimized. |
| US08743718B2 |
End-to-end delay management for distributed communications networks
A method for calculating delay in a distributed antenna system includes sending a ping initiation message from a remote node to a host node in a distributed antenna system. The ping initiation message uniquely identifies a first communication port of the remote node to the host node with a unique identification. The method also includes receiving a ping reply message at the remote node. The ping reply message corresponds to the ping initiation message and also uniquely identifies the first communication port of the remote node with the unique identification. The method also includes determining, at the remote node, whether the ping reply message corresponds to the first communication port of the remote node based on the unique identification. The method also includes, when the ping reply message corresponds to the first communication port of the remote node, calculating the round-trip time delay between sending the ping initiation message and receiving the ping reply message at the remote node. |
| US08743713B2 |
Bi-directional repeater with a quality of service (QOS) indicator
The invention relates to a method for determining a quality of service (QoS). A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value associated with a downlink signal, a gain of a downlink power amplifier, and an increase in the RSSI value received by the mobile device associated with the downlink signal are determined. The QoS based on at least one of the RSSI value, the gain, and the increase in RSSI value received by the mobile device is determined and displayed to the user. |
| US08743711B2 |
Techniques for managing heterogeneous traffic streams
Techniques for managing heterogeneous traffic streams are described. An apparatus may include wireless device having a transceiver and a media access control controller operative to communicate in a wireless network, the media access control controller having a traffic stream manager operative to establish a wireless communication channel between a first and second wireless device, and communicate multiple traffic streams in a single service period over the wireless communication channel, with each traffic stream having a different level of reliability for delivery of information from the first wireless device to the second wireless device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08743710B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting data transmission parameters and controlling H-ARQ processes
In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which transfers data to a Node-B, data transmission parameters such as modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and transport block set (TBS) size are dynamically adjusted on a transmission time interval (TTI) basis, and hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes used to control the transfer of data between the WTRU and the Node-B are initiated and released, as required. The WTRU transmits and retransmits data to the Node-B through an enhanced uplink (EU) dedicated channel (E-DCH) in accordance with data feedback information received from the Node-B. The WTRU queues data for transmission, and determines a transmission status of the data. The transmission status is set to one of “new transmission,” “successful transmission,” “retransmission” and “restarted transmission.” For each TTI, the WTRU initiates an EU transmission to the Node-B which identifies the assigned H-ARQ process, TBS size and MCS. |
| US08743708B1 |
Device and method supporting cognitive, dynamic media access control
A method and a device for reconfiguring communication transmission characteristics in response to a changing communication environment is provided. An environment at a communication device is characterized to determine if a transmission parameter associated with processing of a communication signal at a physical layer or a network interface layer should change based on current conditions at the communication device. If a need is identified, a second transmission parameter is selected based on the environment monitoring. A request identifying the second transmission parameter is sent to a second communication device using an existing communication link. A response from the second communication device is received indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the second transmission parameter. If the response indicates acceptance of use of the second transmission parameter, the physical layer and/or the network interface layer are reconfigured based on the selected second transmission parameter. |
| US08743707B2 |
Real time measurement of network delay
Delay is measured associated with the transfer of voice signals involving a telephone connected to a PSTN carrier (e.g., non VoIP based) where the call is terminated by an operator agent using a workstation connected to a VoIP based network. A test tone is provided to the telephone causing a tone to be generated at a headset of the workstation. An oscilloscope measures the delay using an input of a first signal associated with the generation of the test tone at the telephone, and a second signal associated with the generation of the resulting tone at the headset. The tone at the headset can be looped back into the headset microphone, causing a return signal to be generated and measured. Once the overall delay is known, and the delay of certain elements are estimated, the delay associated with other network elements, including the workstation, can be determined. |
| US08743705B2 |
Wireless mesh network node test array
A wireless mesh network test system comprises a plurality of mesh network nodes, each comprising an antenna connection. An antenna network couples the antenna connections of the plurality of nodes, and a plurality of attenuators are distributed in the antenna network such that the attenuators simulate distance between the wireless mesh network nodes. |
| US08743704B2 |
Monitoring apparatus, monitoring method, and monitoring program
A monitoring apparatus that identifies a failure path in a network including a relay device includes a packet receiving unit configured to receive packets that are transmitted in the network and an identification unit configured to, when deterioration of quality is detected between a transmission source subnetwork and a destination subnetwork of the received packet based on information included in the received packet received by the packet receiving unit, perform a quality measurement on a plurality of packets that are estimated to be routed through different paths among a plurality of transmission paths between the transmission source subnetwork and the destination subnetwork based on a transmission source address or a destination address so as to identify which packet is a packet that is routed through the failure path. |
| US08743702B2 |
Test apparatus and test method
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising: a plurality of channels that output and receive signals to and from the device under test; a generating section that generates a packet data sequence transmitted to and from the device under test; and a channel selecting section that selects which of the channels is used to transmit the packet data sequence generated by the generating section. |
| US08743698B2 |
Sensor emulation using mote networks
A method may include and/or involve collecting readings from a number of mote sensors of a mote network, the mote sensors at a number of mote sensor locations, and emulating, as a source or sources of the readings, a number of sensors at a number of sensor locations. |
| US08743697B2 |
System and method for routing internet traffic over internet links
An apparatus and method for routing IP traffic in real time from at least one network user to a plurality of internet links. Embodiments include assigning different ranks to different internet links based on network monitoring. In one embodiment, a system for routing internet traffic includes a route optimizer to generate routing instructions using a ranked list of the internet links, based on financial costs of routing over the internet links and traffic condition information associated with the links. In another embodiment, a method to generate a routing instruction includes (i) determining a delay for the internet links which is an amount of time between when a packet is sent over the internet link and when it arrives at the destination, and (ii) generating a ranked list of internet links using financial costs of routing data packets and the delay associated with the links. |
| US08743694B2 |
Determination of bypass zones from network configuration settings
Bypass zones for a network are identified by generating bypass identifiers that identify the bypass zones from network configuration settings. During call setup the bypass identifier assigned to an endpoint for the call is identified and the bypass identifier assigned to a gateway for the call is identified. A determination is then made as to whether the bypass identifier assigned to the gateway is the same as the bypass identifier assigned to the endpoint. If the bypass identifiers are the same, then a mediation server may be bypassed for the call. If the bypass identifiers are not the same, then the mediation server remains in the media path for the call. |
| US08743692B2 |
Early load detection system and methods for GGSN processor
A device may store a first and second queue of packets, calculate an average queue size based on the number of packets in the first and second queues and discard a packet when the packet is a session creation packet and the calculated average queue size is greater than a threshold value. |
| US08743691B2 |
Priority aware MAC flow control
Solutions are provided that allow a network device to apply flow control on the MAC layer while taking into account the priority of the frame of traffic. This may be accomplished by generating a frame indicating that traffic flow should be paused, while utilizing a new opcode value, or alternatively by utilizing a new type/length value (possibly combined with a new opcode value). A receiving device may then examine the fields of the frame to determine whether it should use priority-based pausing, and then examine other fields to determine which priority-levels to pause and for how long. This allows for improved efficiency in flow control on the MAC layer. |
| US08743686B2 |
Method, device, and system for admission control in metropolitan area network
A method comprises converging resource reservation requests from users, wherein the resource reservation requests contain bandwidth values to be occupied for data transmission; determining a total bandwidth value comprising a sum of the bandwidth values to be occupied for data transmission in the converged resource reservation requests; determining the total bandwidth value is larger than a preset bandwidth threshold of a first transmission path having an identifier (ID) number; and establishing a second transmission path using the identifier (ID) number of the first transmission path distributed to the users, wherein an ID number of the second transmission path is the ID number of the first transmission path and a bandwidth value of the second transmission path is larger than or equal to the total bandwidth value. |
| US08743685B2 |
Limiting transmission rate of data
An improved solution for limiting the transmission rate of data over a network is provided according to an aspect of the invention. In particular, the transmission rate for a port is limited by rate limiting one of a plurality of queues (e.g., class/quality of service queues) for the port, and directing all data (e.g., packets) for transmission through the port to the single rate limited queue. In this manner, the transmission rate for the port can be effectively limited to accommodate, for example, a lower transmission rate for a port on a destination node. |
| US08743679B2 |
Client diversity policy sharing with the transport layer
Diversity constraints with respect to connections or links in a client layer are conveyed to a server layer where those links or connections are served by paths in the server layer. A network device in the server layer stores data associated paths in the server layer with identifiers for connections in the client layer. The network device in the server layer receives from a network device in the client layer a request to set up a path in the server layer for a connection in the client layer. The network device in the server layer receives information describing the diversity requirements associated with connections in the client layer. The server layer network device computes a route in the server layer for the connection specified in the request based on the diversity requirements. |
| US08743678B2 |
Double ring network system and communication control method thereof, and transmission station, and program for transmission stations
A double ring network system configured with two or more transmission stations each including a pair of bi-directionally communicative communication ports, including any adjacent two transmission stations as terminal stations, and any transmission station as a base, as mutually connected in a ring form by communication ports through a transmission line, for intercommunications between transmission stations, in which the transmission stations are each adapted to determine whether or not frame signals are received from adjacent transmission stations, transmit route identifying frame signals for identification of routes to adjacent transmission stations, when having failed in reception, and set own station as a terminal station substituting for a current terminal station, when having received no responses to the route identifying frames from adjacent transmission stations, so they are kept from arriving at ring-like connected subsequent transmission stations. |
| US08743676B2 |
Methods and systems for scheduling OFDM frames
System and methods for scheduling OFDM frames are provided. Each packet is assigned to a frame bucket, this amounting to a temporary decision of when to transmit the packet. Each packet is marked with one or more metrics. The metrics are used to sort packets and make scheduling decisions. Packets are analyzed to determine their suitability for MIMO transmission. |
| US08743673B2 |
Light source device, optical pickup, and recording device
A light source device configured as a master oscillator power amplifier includes a mode locked laser unit having an external resonator and a semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies and modulates laser light emitted from the mode locked laser unit. The width in a lateral direction of a waveguide on an incident side of the semiconductor optical amplifier is set so that a horizontal lateral mode of the waveguide on the incident side of the semiconductor optical amplifier becomes multiple modes, and a magnification conversion unit that converts a magnification of incident light from the mode locked laser unit to the semiconductor optical amplifier is disposed so that a basic mode is selectively excited in optical coupling on the incident side of the semiconductor optical amplifier. |
| US08743670B2 |
Data medium of the compact disc type, in particular fitted with protection against copying, and corresponding method
A data medium of the compact disc type may include medium areas of different types configured to define digital content, and a controllable element having two different states corresponding respectively to the two different types of areas. The controllable element may be configured to take selectively one of its states in response to a command, so as to modify in a controllable manner the content of the data medium. |
| US08743666B1 |
Energy assisted magnetic recording medium capable of suppressing high DC readback noise
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) disk used in energy assisted magnetic recording drives is described. The PMR disk includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer disposed above the substrate, an exchange coupling layer disposed above the magnetic recording layer, and a capping layer disposed above the exchange coupling layer. The capping layer has a Curie temperature greater than the Curie temperature of the magnetic recording layer. |
| US08743660B1 |
System for coupling acoustics waves in small devices
The invention provides devices and methods for using acoustics to communicate between a macro-scale transceiver and a micro-device or between multiple micro-devices. The micro-devices may passively scatter sound from a transceiver or actively generate sound. Acoustic waves can also provide power to a micro-device. |
| US08743656B2 |
Method of seismic data processing
The invention relates to a method of seismic data processing, wherein the data includes a set of seismic traces, with each trace including a signal that has been recorded by a sensor after having been propagated in a subsurface area, with the signal being defined by an amplitude as a function of time, including the steps of: migration of data according to an initial time-velocity model, picking in the time-migrated data one or more event(s) corresponding to one or more subsurface reflector(s) so as to obtain facets locally approximating the event, kinematic demigration of the facets plotted so as to obtain simplified seismic data in the form of a set of facets and a set of attributes associated with the facets. |
| US08743655B2 |
Control system for positioning of marine seismic streamers
A method of controlling a streamer positioning device (18) configured to be attached to a marine seismic streamer (12) and towed by seismic survey vessel (10) and having a wing and a wing motor for changing the orientation of the wing. The method includes the steps of: obtaining an estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, calculating a desired change in the orientation of the wing using the estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, and actuating the wing motor to produce the desired change in the orientation of the wing. The invention also involves an apparatus for controlling a streamer positioning device including means for obtaining an estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, means for calculating a desired change in the orientation of the wing using the estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, and means for actuating the wing motor to produce the desired change in the orientation of the wing. |
| US08743649B2 |
Semiconductor memory, system, and method of operating semiconductor memory
A memory has memory cells in a matrix; a first selection unit selecting any of first signal lines in the memory cells, in response to an access request; a second selection unit selecting any of second signal lines in the memory cells, after the first selection unit starts operating; a first voltage generation unit generating a first power supply voltage supplied to the first selection unit; a second voltage generation unit generating a second power supply voltage supplied to the second selection unit, when a start-up signal is active; a switch short-circuiting first and second power supply lines, when a short-circuit signal is active; and a power supply voltage control unit which activates the start-up signal in response to the access request, activates the short-circuit signal after a predetermined time elapses since activation of the start-up signal, deactivates the short-circuit signal and the start-up signal after completion of access operations. |
| US08743647B2 |
Static read only memory device which consumes low stand-by leakage current
An electronic device comprises a semiconductor memory cell having a bistable bit storage circuit having first and second power contact points. A first switch is coupled to the first power contact point to receive a first voltage. A second switch coupled to the second power contact point to receive a second voltage. Circuitry is provided for turning off the first and second switches to decouple the respective first and second voltages from the respective first and second power contact points, during stand-by operation of the electronic device. |
| US08743644B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having array E-fuse and driving method thereof
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a normal fuse cell array programmed with a normal fuse data; a dummy fuse cell array programmed with a verifying fuse data; and a sensor configured to read the verifying fuse data from the dummy fuse cell array and read the normal fuse data from the normal fuse cell array, wherein the normal fuse cell array is configured to be read according to a reading result of the dummy fuse cell array. |
| US08743641B2 |
Memory with temperature compensation
A memory element in which the temperature coefficient of a memory cell substantially matches the temperature coefficient of a reference cell and tuning either the temperature coefficient of a memory cell to substantially match the temperature coefficient of the reference cell provides for improved precision of sensing or reading memory element states, particularly so as to minimize the affect of temperature variations on reading and sensing states. |
| US08743640B2 |
Methods and systems for operating memory elements
Methods and systems for measuring the resistance of multiple memory elements are disclosed. The memory elements may be multi-bit memory and through precise measurement of resistance of the multi-bit memory elements, determination of how many and which memory elements fall into specific memory ranges can be accomplished. Furthermore, storage and/or display of this information may allow for the creation of resistance distribution histograms for modeling of one or more memory arrays. |
| US08743637B2 |
Memory device including redundant memory cell block
A clock signal is supplied to a first repair flag flip-flop, a second repair flag flip-flop, a first repair data flip-flop group, and a second repair data flip-flop group to serially transfer a second repair flag and a first repair flag stored in a non-volatile memory to the second repair flag flip-flop and the first repair flag flip-flop. Subsequently, repair data stored in the non-volatile memory is serially output to the first repair data flip-flop group, and repair data of the first repair data flip-flop group and the second repair data flip-flop group is serially transferred. |
| US08743635B2 |
Memory controller for strobe-based memory systems
A memory controller for strobe-based memory systems is disclosed. The memory controller includes a circuit to generate a control signal having a predetermined timing relationship with respect to a first clock signal, a circuit to receive the control signal, and a receiver to sample the read data in response to the qualified read strobe signal. The receiving circuit includes an input to receive an external read strobe signal transmitted by a semiconductor memory device, circuitry to synchronize the control signal and the received read strobe signal to have a common timing relationship with respect to each other, and circuitry to gate the read strobe signal based on the synchronized control signal. |
| US08743631B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device includes a first cell array including a plurality of memory cells that are connected to a first word line and each of which is connected to each member of a first pair of bit lines. The semiconductor storage device also includes a second cell array including a plurality of memory cells that are connected to a second word line and each of which is connected to each member of a second pair of bit lines. The semiconductor storage device further includes a redundant cell array including a plurality of memory cells that are connected to a word line different from the first and the second word lines and each of which is connected to one member of the first pair of bit lines and to one member of the second pair of bit lines. |
| US08743622B2 |
Memory devices and programming methods that program a memory cell with a data value, read the data value from the memory cell and reprogram the memory cell with the read data value
Memory devices and programming methods are disclosed. In an embodiment of one such method, a memory cell is programmed to at least a first threshold voltage. After programming the memory cell to at least the first threshold voltage, the memory cell is read, using a read voltage that is less than the first threshold voltage. After reading the memory cell, the memory cell is programmed to at least a second threshold voltage that is greater than the first threshold voltage. |
| US08743619B2 |
Methods of reading memory cells
Strings of series-coupled memory cells selectively coupled to the same bit line may facilitate increased memory densities, reduced fabrication steps and faster read operations when compared to traditional memory array architectures. Reading of the memory cells may be accomplished using charge sharing techniques similar to read operations in a DRAM device. |
| US08743617B2 |
Nonvolatile memory including plural memory cells stacked on substrate
According to example embodiments, a nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells stacked on a substrate, a plurality of word lines connected with the memory cell array, a plurality of pass voltage generators, and a voltage control circuit. The pass voltage generators each include a plurality of current paths and are configured to generate pass driving signals applied to unselected word lines of the plurality of word lines. The voltage control circuit is configured to control rising slopes of the pass driving signals generated from the plurality of pass voltage generators, based on adjusting the number of current paths in each pass voltage generator used to generate each driving signal. |
| US08743616B1 |
Write pre-compensation for nonvolatile memory
A system including an interference module and a programming module. The interference module is configured to generate interference values based on (i) a state to which a memory cell is to be programmed and (ii) states of one or more memory cells located near the memory cell, and store the interference values. The interference values indicate effects of the states of the one or more memory cells on the state to which the memory cell is to be programmed. The programming module is configured to determine a programming value to program the memory cell to the state based on one or more of the interference values. |
| US08743613B2 |
Timing control in synchronous memory data transfer
A solid-state memory device has a memory interface that includes a timing signal port for receiving a timing signal, a data transfer port, a data transfer module for transferring blocks of data signals between the data transfer port and the memory module, and a selectable delay module for providing a selected delay between transitions in the data signals DQ and transitions in the timing signals DQS. The memory interface also has a delay controller for setting the selected delay, for detecting a variation in a delay produced by the selectable delay module relative to a reference delay, for controlling a pause in transfer of a block of the data signals DQ, and for adjusting the selected delay during the pause. |
| US08743612B2 |
Three-dimensional non-volatile memory device
A three-dimensional (3-D) non-volatile memory device according to embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of bit lines, at least one string row extending in a first direction coupled to the bit lines and including 2N strings, wherein the N includes a natural number, a common source selection line configured to control source selection transistors of the 2N strings included in a memory block, a first common drain selection line configured to control drain selection transistors of a first string and a 2N-th string among the 2N strings included in a memory block, and N−1 second common drain selection lines configured to control drain selection transistors of adjacent strings in the first direction among remaining strings other than the first string and the 2N-th string. |
| US08743610B2 |
Method and system for accessing a flash memory device
An apparatus, system, and computer-implemented method for controlling data transfer between a plurality of serial data link interfaces and a plurality of memory banks in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device with multiple links and memory banks, where the links are independent of the banks, is disclosed. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices. In addition, a virtual multiple link configuration is described wherein a single link is used to emulate multiple links. |
| US08743601B2 |
Non volatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
In accordance with an embodiment, a non volatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a first electrode, a functional film, and a second electrode. The first electrode is provided on the substrate. The functional film is located on the first electrode and serves as a storage medium. The second electrode is provided on the functional film or in the functional film, and has a convex curved upper surface. |
| US08743600B2 |
Processors and systems using cell-refreshed phase-change memory
Systems in which PCM is used, including memory systems, as well as methods for operating such systems. A comparison of PCM memory elements storing logical values to a trigger resistance or to each other can be used to determine the extent of resistance drift since the PCM memory elements were last written. If the comparison determines that the resistance drift has passed a sense margin threshold or a trigger resistance, a memory refresh is triggered and pre-drift resistances corresponding to the stored logical values are written to the PCM memory elements. |
| US08743595B2 |
Size-reduced magnetic memory cell
A semiconductor device includes: a first memory cell, a second memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell, first and second write bitlines and a common bitline. The first memory cell includes: a first magnetization fixed layer, a first magnetic recording layer, a first reference layer, a first tunnel barrier film, and a first transistor. The second memory cell includes: a second magnetization fixed layer, a second magnetic recording layer, a second reference layer, a second tunnel barrier layer and a second transistor. Each of the first and second reference layer has a fixed magnetization. A common magnetization fixed layer having a fixed magnetization is coupled to the first and second magnetic recording layers. The common magnetization fixed layer and the common bitline is connected so that the common magnetization fixed layer and the common bitline are unable to be electrically unconnected. |
| US08743594B2 |
Memory element and memory device
There is disclosed a memory element including a memory layer that has a magnetization perpendicular to a film face and a magnetization direction thereof varies corresponding to information; a magnetization-fixed layer that has a magnetization that is perpendicular to the film face; and an insulating layer that is provided between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, wherein an electron that is spin-polarized is injected in a lamination direction of a layered structure, and thereby the magnetization direction of the memory layer varies and a recording of information is performed with respect to the memory layer, a magnitude of an effective diamagnetic field which the memory layer receives is smaller than a saturated magnetization amount of the memory layer, and a Ta film is formed in such a manner that comes into contact with a face, which is opposite to the insulating layer side, of the magnetization-fixed layer. |
| US08743585B2 |
Semiconductor device with one-time programmable memory cell including anti-fuse with metal/polycide gate
A one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell includes two transistors including a dual gate transistor. The dual gate transistor is formed using the same processing operations used to form floating gate transistors in other areas of the semiconductor device. The dual gate transistor includes an upper gate isolated from a floating gate by a floating gate oxide, the combination of which produces an anti-fuse. The nonvolatile memory device may include a plurality of such OTP memory cells and one or more OTP memory cells are selected and programmed by applying a voltage sufficient to blow the anti-fuse by causing the floating gate oxide layer to break down and the upper gate to become shorted to the floating gate. |
| US08743584B2 |
Shift register memory and driving method thereof
A shift register memory according to the present embodiment includes a magnetic pillar including a plurality of magnetic layers and a plurality of nonmagnetic layers provided between the magnetic layers adjacent to each other. A stress application part applies a stress to the magnetic pillar. A magnetic-field application part applies a static magnetic field to the magnetic pillar. The stress application part applies the stress to the magnetic pillar in order to transfer magnetization states of the magnetic layers in a stacking direction of the magnetic layers. |
| US08743576B2 |
Boost type switching power supply device including power factor improvement circuit
A switching power supply device includes: a fundamental wave component extraction circuit for extracting a fundamental wave component of a voltage induced across a first winding; an oscillator for generating a clock signal having an oscillation frequency that changes according to a change in the fundamental wave component; and a control circuit for (i) generating a control signal for controlling a switching element to be in an ON state or OFF state, the switching signal having a duty that changes according to a change in the oscillation frequency of the clock signal or a change in a voltage of a smoothing capacitor and (ii) supplying the control signal to a gate of the switching element. |
| US08743575B2 |
Switch mode pulse width modulated DC-DC converter with multiple power transformers
A switch mode pulse width modulated DC-DC power converter having at least one first electronic circuit on an input side and a second electronic circuit on an output side. The first electronic circuit has terminals connecting to a source or load and at least one storage inductor, coupled in series with at least one power transformer winding. For each transformer, an arrangement of switches is adapted to switch the current through the first winding between first and second, ON- and OFF-states. At least one energy storage inductor is charged when all switches of the switching arrangements are conducting and the current through the first winding is in an OFF-state. The second electronic circuit has connecting terminals and a single arrangement of switches to switch the current through the second transformer winding, between the first and second ON- and OFF-states. |
| US08743570B2 |
Apparatus for converting electric energy and method for operating such an apparatus
A device for converting direct voltage from an electrochemical store or a fuel cell to alternating voltage, includes a two-stage design having a single DC/DC converter stage for generating an intermediate circuit voltage from the output voltage of the electrochemical store or the fuel cell, which converter stage converts, in particular raises, the direct voltage in a wide input voltage range directly to an intermediate circuit voltage with which a DC/AC converter stage can be operated to generate the alternating voltage. The single DC/AC converter stage generates the alternating voltage from the intermediate circuit voltage. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a device for converting direct voltage from a store or energy generator into alternating voltage for feeding into a supply network. |
| US08743565B2 |
High power converter architecture
The power converter is an integration of three topologies which include a forward converter topology, a flyback converter topology, and a resonant circuit topology. The combination of these three topologies functions to transfer energy using three different modes. A first mode, or forward mode, is a forward energy transfer that forwards energy from the input supply to the output load in a manner similar to a forward converter. A second mode, or flyback mode, stores and releases energy in a manner similar to a flyback converter. A third mode, or resonant mode, stores and releases energy from the resonant tank using a resonant circuit and a secondary side forward-type converter topologies. |
| US08743564B2 |
Optical device
An optical device includes: a stem; a mount portion connected with the stem and having an upper face, a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, the first face and the second face constituting a side face with respect to the upper face; an optical element mounted on the upper face of the mount portion; an electronic components mounted on the first face and the second face of the mount portion respectively; a first lead that penetrates the stem and is extended to a side of the first face of the mount portion; and a second lead that penetrates the stem and is extended to a side of the second face of the mount portion. |
| US08743554B2 |
Apparatus for improved power distribution or power dissipation to an electrical component and method for the same
Embedding a power modification component such as a capacitance inside of an adaptor board located to extend over and beyond the vias of the main circuit board so that a portion of the interposer board containing the embedded capacitance is located beyond where the vias or blinds are located. This permits that via to conduct through the opening. In this way, the capacitance and the resistance will have a closer contact point to the electrical component. A resistance can also be embedded in an opening in the adaptor board and be vertically aligned within the opening to make contact with a pad on top of the adaptor board and a pad at the bottom of the adaptor board so that electricity conducts through the embedded component. |
| US08743553B2 |
Power converters with integrated capacitors
An apparatus having a power converter circuit having a first active layer having a first set of active devices disposed on a face thereof, a first passive layer having first set of passive devices disposed on a face thereof, and interconnection to enable the active devices disposed on the face of the first active layer to be interconnected with the non-active devices disposed on the face of the first passive layer, wherein the face on which the first set of active devices on the first active layer is disposed faces the face on which the first set of passive devices on the first passive layer is disposed. |
| US08743551B2 |
Server rack system
A server rack system includes a rack and a network board card. The rack includes rack layer type spaces arranged along a vertical axis direction. The rack layer type spaces are used for receiving a network switch unit and a server unit slidably inserted along a horizontal axis direction. The network board card is disposed along the vertical axis direction and between the top and the bottom of the rack. The network board card includes network interfaces. The network interfaces are arranged along the vertical axis direction on the network board card. The network interfaces include a first type network interface used for being connected to the network switch unit and a second type network interface used for being connected to the server unit. The first type network interface is connected to the second type network interface by an integrated circuit deployed in the network board card. |
| US08743541B2 |
Display device and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a housing, a circuit board device, a fan, and a wall portion. The housing includes an exhaust port. The circuit board device is housed in the housing. The fan includes an ejection port and is housed in the housing at a position separated from the exhaust port. The fan sends cooling wind to between the circuit board device and the inner surface of the housing. The wall portion is located between the inner surface of the housing and the circuit board device, and constitutes a ventilation path from the ejection port to the exhaust port. The wall portion includes a first member located in the inner surface of the housing and a second member attached to the first member and abutting on the circuit board device. The second member has a rigidity lower than the rigidity of the first member. |
| US08743540B1 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus has a plurality of basic structures arranged adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to a gravitation direction. Each of the basic structures includes a casing, a board placed parallel to the gravitation direction inside the casing, a first space with large ventilation amount and a second space with small ventilation amount formed by the board dividing the inner space of the casing, vents in the upper and lower surfaces of the casing, an electronic component placed on the board in the first space, and an electronic component placed on the board in the second space. The casings of adjacent basic structures are in communication through inner vents in respective side walls of the casings, and external vents in communication with the outside are provided in left and right side walls of the electronic apparatus. |
| US08743539B2 |
Accessory securing mechanism
A accessory securing mechanism includes a housing member, a cover member, and an engaging member. The housing member defines a cutout and forms a pole unit protruding from the bottom of the cutout. The engaging member includes an elastic washer, the washer is sleeved into the pole unit. |
| US08743529B2 |
Capacitive-stemmed capacitor
A capacitor having a stem that is designed to be inserted into a single, large-diameter via hole drilled in a printed circuit board is provided, wherein the stem may have conductive rings for making the positive and negative connections to the printed circuit board power distribution planes. Inside the capacitive stem, current, or at least a portion thereof, may be carried to the main body of the capacitor through low-inductance plates that are interleaved to maximize their own mutual inductance and, therefore, minimize the connection inductance. Alternatively, the capacitor may include a coaxial stem that forms a coaxial transmission line with the anode and cathode terminals forming the inner and outer conductors. |
| US08743528B2 |
Capacitor
[Object] To provide a capacitor in which generation of warpage of a laminate can be prevented.[Solution] A capacitor 1 includes a laminate 2 in which a plurality of dielectric layers 6 are laminated, an inner electrode 3 disposed between the dielectric layers 6 of the laminate 2, an outer electrode 4 that is disposed on an end face of the laminate 2 so as to be connected to the inner electrode 3 and that has an extending portion 4A extending to a first main surface 2A of the laminate 2, and an underlying layer 5 including a base 5a disposed between the extending portion 4A and the first main surface 2A and metal particles 5b that are contained in the base 5a and that are joined to the outer electrode 4. With this structure, it is possible to provide a capacitor 1 in which warpage is not easily generated in the laminate 2 during sintering. |
| US08743527B2 |
Systems and methods for arc energy regulation using binary adjustment
An apparatus interferes with voluntary locomotion of a target by conducting a current through the target. The apparatus includes a current delivery circuit, a detector, and a processor. The current delivery circuit delivers the current in accordance with a goal for causing pain or skeletal muscle contractions that interfere with voluntary locomotion by the target. The detector detects the current delivered through the target to provide a result. The processor adjusts the goal in accordance with a binary search in response to the result. |
| US08743525B2 |
Overvoltage protection devices including wafer of varistor material
An overvoltage protection device includes first and second electrically conductive electrode members and a varistor member formed of a varistor material and electrically connected with each of the first and second electrode members. The overvoltage protection device has an integral fail-safe mechanism operative to electrically short circuit the first and second electrode members about the varistor member by fusing first and second metal surfaces in the overvoltage protection device to one another using an electric arc. |
| US08743524B2 |
Lightning arrester and a power transmission line provided with such an arrester
A lightning arrester for protecting elements of electrical facilities or a power transmission line comprises an insulating body which is made of a solid dielectric, preferably in the form of a bar, a strip or a cylinder, two main electrodes that are mechanically coupled to the insulating body and two or more intermediate electrodes. The intermediate electrodes, preferably made in the form of bars or cylinders, are arranged between the main electrodes so that said intermediate electrodes are mutually shifted along the longitudinal axis of the insulating body or along a spiral line. Such design makes it possible to form a discharge channel between the adjacent electrodes. Furthermore, said electrodes are located inside the insulating body and are separated from the surface of the body by an insulation layer. Discharge chambers formed as cavities or through bores opened to the surface of the insulating body are arranged between the pairs of the adjacent electrodes. Dimensions of the chambers are selected such that a discharge is easily blown out from the chambers to the surface of the insulating body, thereby increasing the efficiency of the discharge current quenching. In the preferred embodiments, the arrester is provided with an additional electrode for reducing a flashover voltage. Various embodiments of a power transmission line using the arrester of the invention are also disclosed. |
| US08743520B2 |
Method and device for protecting an autotransformer for an aircraft
The invention relates to a method for protecting a multi-phase autotransformer for an aircraft, including the steps of receiving (100) values of current output from (Ia, Ib) the first and second phases and a value of current input into (IB) the second phase; determining (101), from these received values of the second phase, a value of current representative of the operation (IFb) of the second phase; determining (102), as a function of this determined value and of the value of current output from (Ia) the first phase, a value representative of the homopolar current (Idet-a) flowing in the first phase; comparing (104) this value of homopolar current (Idet-a) with a first predetermined threshold value (S1) at least during a first predetermined period (D1); and controlling (106) the values of currents input into (IA, IB) and/or output from (Ia, Ib) the phases as a function of the said first comparison. |
| US08743518B1 |
Protection circuit
A protection circuit for electronic circuitry comprising at least three diodes connected in series in such a manner that an anode terminal of a first diode is connected to a cathode terminal of a second diode to form a ring. A first terminal is connected between diodes of a first pair of consecutive diodes of the ring. A second terminal is connected between diodes of a second pair of consecutive diodes of the ring. The position of the first terminal is fixed and position of the second terminal is selectable in such a manner that a pre-determined turn-on voltage of the at least three diodes is obtained. |
| US08743516B2 |
Sharing stacked BJT clamps for system level ESD protection
An area-efficient, high voltage, dual polarity ESD protection device (200) is provided for protecting multiple pins (30, 40) against ESD events by using a plurality of stacked NPN devices (38, 48, 39) which have separately controllable breakdown voltages and which share one or common NPN devices (39), thereby reducing the footprint of the high voltage ESD protection circuits without reducing robustness and functionality. |
| US08743513B2 |
Arc fault detector for AC or DC installations
An arc fault detector comprises a current transformer (CT) having a primary winding and a secondary winding (W1), the primary winding being formed by at least one conductor (L) of an AC or DC supply circuit. The inductance of the CT is selected so that the CT has a lower frequency operating point (LFOP) of at least 10 KHz. The detector also comprises circuitry (10, 12, SW) for disconnecting the supply if the voltage induced in the secondary winding meets predetermined criteria as to magnitude and duration. |
| US08743512B2 |
Limit switch interface circuit
A circuit for interfacing to a limit switch configured to be closed when a wire connected to the limit switch is relatively hot and configured to be opened when the wire is relatively cold includes an input, an output, and a control portion. The input is configured to receive a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a duty cycle with a high pulse and a low pulse. The output is configured to apply the PWM signal to an external transistor associated with the wire, and a control portion. The high pulse actuates heating of the wire when the high pulse is applied to the external transistor. The control portion is configured to cause voltage across the limit switch to be substantially zero, whereby arcing of the limit switch is relatively minimal, when the limit switch closes while the high pulse is being applied to the external transistor. |
| US08743508B2 |
Magnetically biased tilting roller bearing tape guidance
A tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08743506B2 |
Recording disk driving device
There is provided a recording disk driving device including a rotor including a rotor hub on which at least one disk is installed, a stator for rotatably supporting the rotor, and a housing including a base member on which the stator is fixedly installed, and an upper case coupled to the base member to form an internal space, wherein the housing is provided with a contact preventing portion formed on a surface of the housing, facing the disk. |
| US08743504B1 |
Servoing on zoned concentric servo sectors of a first disk surface to write a spiral servo track to a second disk surface
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface and a second head actuated over a second disk surface. A first servo sector of the first disk surface is read to generate a read signal which is processed to generate a first phase error. A first clock is generated at a frequency proximate a servo data rate of the first data sector. Read signal samples are synchronized in response to the first phase error and the first clock to generate synchronous samples, and servo data in the first servo sector is detected in response to the synchronous samples. The read signal is processed to generate a second phase error, a second clock is generated in response to the second phase error, and a spiral servo track is written to the second disk surface using the second clock. |
| US08743503B1 |
Disk drive updating compensation values for multiple servo sectors based on PES generated for current servo sector
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors. The head is positioned over a first servo track, and a first position error signal (PES) by reading a first servo sector during a first revolution of the disk and in response to a first compensation value. A second compensation value is updated for a second servo sector based on the first PES during the first revolution of the disk. A second PES is generated by reading the second servo sector during the first revolution of the disk and in response to the updated second compensation value. The first compensation value is updated for the first servo sector based on the second PES during the first revolution of the disk. The head is actuated over the disk in response to the first PES and the second PES. |
| US08743500B2 |
Adaptive soft-output detector for magnetic tape read channels
In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a tape channel for reading data from a tape to produce a signal, an adaptive noise whitening filter adapted for receiving the signal, the noise whitening filter being adapted for minimizing variance of noise affecting the signal output from the noise whitening filter, a soft DMAX detector adapted for receiving the signal from the noise whitening filter, the soft detector adapted for calculating first soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the first soft information to a soft decoder, and the soft decoder positioned subsequent to the soft detector, the soft decoder being adapted for calculating second soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the second soft information to the soft DMAX detector, wherein one or more noise whitening coefficients used in the noise whitening filter are updated using a noise whitening filter coefficient updater. |
| US08743496B2 |
Servo pattern compatible with planarization constraints of patterned media and use of a single master template
Embodiments described herein provide for robust servo patterns that comply with planarization constraints and also allow use of a single master template for manufacture of both the front and back of a magnetic disk. Planarization constraints are met because only a portion of servo data is hard patterned on the magnetic disk and the hard patterned servo data areas comply with planarization constraints. The servo pattern has two symmetrical servo write assist patterns, one on each side of a central burst pattern. The servo sync, SAM, track-ID, sector-ID, and/or RRO values can be written magnetically by the write head onto these servo write assist patterns after the completion of the planarization process. The symmetric design of the servo pattern allows both a left-to-right and a right-to-left servo write and read back, thereby enabling use of a single master template in magnetic disk manufacture. |
| US08743487B2 |
Lens barrel enabling lens inclination adjustment and imaging apparatus provided with same
A lens barrel is configured to adjust a position of an adjusted lens in the direction of an optical axis with respect to another lens. The lens barrel includes a lens frame configured to retain the adjustment lens and a base frame configured to adjustably retain the lens frame. The lens frame includes a first adjustment stepped surface including a plurality of adjustment surfaces that are adjacently disposed in the direction of rotation of the lens frame and are provided with different heights, and a second adjustment stepped surface. The second adjustment stepped surface is disposed at a position exhibiting a 180 degree rotational phase from the position of the first adjustment stepped surface. The base frame includes a support surface configured to abut with the first adjustment stepped surface and the second adjustment stepped surface. |
| US08743484B2 |
Five-piece optical lens system
A five-piece optical lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and at least one aspheric surface; a second lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface and at least one aspheric surface; a third lens element with a positive refractive power having at least one aspheric surface; a fourth lens element with a positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, and at least one aspheric surface; a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface and at least one aspheric surface. Thereby, such a system not only can be applied to a high resolution mobile phone, but also has a wide field of view, big stop, high pixel, high resolution and low height. |
| US08743480B2 |
Optical image capturing lens assembly
An optical image capturing 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 refractive power has a concave object-side surface, and the object-side surface changes from concave at a paraxial region to convex at a peripheral region. 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 a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the image-side surface changes from concave at a paraxial region to convex at a peripheral region. The object-side surfaces and the image-side surfaces of the first and fifth lens elements are aspheric. |
| US08743469B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power which does not move for zooming; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power which moves during zooming; a third lens unit having a negative refractive power which moves during zooming; a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power which moves during zooming; and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power which does not move for zooming. Air intervals (L2w and L2t) between the second lens unit and the third lens unit at a wide-angle end and at a telephoto end, respectively, an air interval (L3w) between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end, a focal length (f1) of the first lens unit, and a combined focal length (f23w) of the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the wide-angle end are appropriately set. |
| US08743467B2 |
Lens with conical frustum meniscus wall
The present invention relates generally to an arcuate liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of a conical frustum. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens. |
| US08743465B2 |
Virtual image display system
A thickness of a tapered part provided at the deeper side (−X side) in a light guide direction of a light transmission member is smaller toward the deeper side, and thus, a reflection angle of ghost light that has passed through a fourth reflection surface provided with a half mirror layer and reached the light transmission member gradually becomes smaller within the tapered part and no longer satisfies a total reflection condition, and the light is ejected to the outside in the position diverging from an eye of an observer. That is, the tapered part may prevent the ghost light from reaching the eye and good see-through observation can be realized. |
| US08743459B2 |
Optical security device offering 2D image
The present invention provides for a diffractive element comprising a diffractive optical microstructure consisting of a modulated structure of a diffractive type which upon illumination by diffused ambient light creates a two-dimensional image to be viewed by an observer upon tilting or rotating the device or by varying lighting direction, wherein the diffractive modulated structure of the device consists of various generally parameterised special optical elements with specifically prescribed groove shapes, wherein each groove shape, position, center(s), and line thickness, are described by functions describing those dependencies which are variables of the positional coordinate of the optical element. |
| US08743454B2 |
Multi-fibre arrangement for high power fibre lasers and amplifiers
An optical amplifier includes at least one pump source and an optical fiber cable which includes an amplifying optical fiber and a pump optical fiber that are defined by respective lengths. The amplifying optical fiber and the pump optical fiber are coated with a common coating along a portion of their respective lengths, and the fibers are in optical contact with each other along a coating length within the common coating. The common coating has a refractive index which is lower than a refractive index of a cladding material of the pump optical fiber. The fibers are made substantially from glass. The amplifying optical fiber includes a core and a cladding, and is doped with a rare earth dopant. The pump optical fiber is defined by a first end and a second end, the first end of the pump optical fiber being connected to the pump source. |
| US08743449B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing high-fill-factor micromirror/micromirror arrays with surface mounting capability
Embodiments of the subject invention relate to micromirror devices and methods of fabricating a micromirror/micromirror array. According to an embodiment, micromirrors can be fabricated from a semiconductor substrate where after forming actuators and bonding pads on a front side of the semiconductor substrate, the device is flipped over to have a portion of the back side of the substrate removed and formed to become the mirror plate surface. The subject micromirrors can allow further miniaturization of endoscopes and other optical applications without sacrificing the optical aperture through their surface mounting capabilities. |
| US08743442B2 |
Image display device
An image display device includes an image forming device, collimating optical system, and optical device, with the optical device including a light guide plate, first diffraction grating member and second diffraction grating member which are made up of a volume hologram diffraction grating, and with central light emitted from the pixel of the center of the image forming device and passed through the center of the collimating optical system being input to the light guide plate from the near side of the second diffraction grating member with a certain angle. Thus, the image display device capable of preventing occurrence of color irregularities, despite the simple configuration, can be provided. |
| US08743440B2 |
Method for classifying a document to be associated with a service, and associated scanner
A method for classifying a document (3) to be associated with at least one service (Si), including a step in which a scanner (1) having a processor (6) scans (E1) the document (3). The method also includes steps in which the processor (6): develops (E2) at least one structure (Σj) representing the document (3), determines (E3) for each service (Si) at least one similitude value (σij) between the structure (Σj) representing the document and a reference structure (Rij) of the same kind and representing the service (Si), deduces (E4) from the similitude value (σij) the service (Si) with which the document (3) is to be associated, and processes (E5) the document (3) according to the service (Si) thus associated. The invention also relates to a scanner for implementing the method. |
| US08743438B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus for performing image thinning processing, comprises: a thinning unit configured to be able to execute a plurality of thinning processes which have different output image qualities and processing times; an acquisition unit configured to acquire status information indicating a status of the apparatus; a division unit configured to divide an image into a plurality of divided images; a prediction unit configured to predict a processing time when thinning processing executed by the thinning unit is applied to each divided image divided by the division unit; and a selection unit configured to select, based on the status information acquired by the acquisition unit and the predicted processing time predicted by the prediction unit, thinning processing to be applied to each divided image from the plurality of thinning processes executed by the thinning unit. |
| US08743434B2 |
Image forming apparatus increasing combined-color reproduction accuracy and stabilizing toner disposition amount
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform, if a suitable color measurement area suitable for color measurement of a combined color is found in an image, a color-reproduction-accuracy increasing process while, if not, to perform a deposition-amount stabilizing process. In the color-reproduction-accuracy increasing process, a control parameter is adjusted so as to reduce a difference between a result of the color measurement on the suitable color measurement area and a desired color. In the deposition-amount stabilizing process, a plurality of test primary-color toner images are formed by an image forming unit, and a control parameter for the image forming unit are adjusted so as to reduce a difference between each of results of toner deposition amount measurement on the test primary-color toner images and a corresponding target deposition amount. |
| US08743432B2 |
USB device with PictBridge capability
A diagnostic tool includes a USB device connector and a processor. The processor allows a user to select a type of device under test that is to be tested. The processor has the ability to test PictBridge functionality of a host USB. The types of device under test selectable by a user include devices under test that do not have ability to communicate using PictBridge. |
| US08743429B2 |
Device for reproducing images that can be found on originals
The invention relates to a device for reproducing images that can be found on originals, comprising at least one image capturing element that lies in a housing (1) and comprising a translucent panel (4) which lies between the image capturing element and the original and which is retained on the housing (1), said original being transportable on the panel for reproduction on the image capturing element. The essentially rectangular panel is retained on the housing at only two of the opposing edges (3, 5) of said panel. The first support for one of the edges (3) consists of at least one spring clip (2, 2′, 2″, 2′″), and the spring clip preloads the panel against the second support (6) for the opposing edge (5) of the panel. The panel (4) is associated with a handle (7, 7′), by means of which the panel can be manually moved out of the second support against the preload of the spring clip. |
| US08743427B2 |
Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a job ticket from an information processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether it is permitted for a user to use an extended function not included in functions described in function information defined in the job ticket received by the receiving unit, and a control unit configured, if it is determined by the determination unit that it is permitted for the user to use the extended function, to permit execution of processing on image data that uses a function described in the function information defined in the job ticket received by the receiving unit and execution of processing that uses the extended function. |
| US08743423B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of producing threshold value matrix
An image forming apparatus for depicting a gradation image through halftones includes a threshold value generating unit for generating a threshold value matrix, and a comparison unit for converting the gradation image. The threshold value generating unit determines an order of gradations of pixels in halftones. The threshold value generating unit determines an order of standard dots. Further, the threshold value generating unit is configured to determine a priority order of gradations between the halftones. The threshold value generating unit further determines an order of the threshold values of the gradations of all of the pixels according to the order of the gradations of the pixels contained in the halftones and the priority order of the gradations between the halftones, so that the threshold value generating unit generates the threshold value matrix. |
| US08743420B2 |
Image processor and image processing method
The present invention is intended to provide an image processor that can reduce color unevenness occurring in a composite color image formed by overlapping different types of inks due to a variation in printing characteristic among a plurality of nozzles while suppressing a reduction in processing speed in generation of printing data. The image processor converts a color signal indicating the image represented by a plurality of elements to a color signal corresponding to the plurality of inks with use of a conversion table determined on the basis of ejection characteristics of nozzle groups corresponding to the plurality of inks so as to suppress color unevenness occurring in a composite color image due to a variation in ejection characteristic among the plurality of nozzles. |
| US08743413B2 |
Tape printing system and tape printing method based on printing tape type
A tape printing system includes a control apparatus and a tape printer, wherein the control apparatus includes an image data generating section generating character strings and/or image data, and an image data transmitting section transmitting the generated character strings and/or image data to the tape printer, and the tape printer includes a processing pattern storing section storing a processing pattern for each tape type, the processing pattern of processing the character strings and/or image data to printing image data, a tape type determining section determining the tape type of a printing tape, an image data receiving section receiving the character strings and/or image data from the data transmitting section, a printing image data generating section generating printing image data by processing the received character strings and/or image data based on the processing pattern, and a tape printing section printing the generated printing image data on the printing tape. |
| US08743408B2 |
Selecting a binder file displayed on a GUI for storage of documents
A method is provided for presenting documents using a binder file stored on a computer-readable storage medium where the documents in the binder file are presentable within a graphical interface that appears as a notebook binder. The method includes opening a printer driver; selecting a binder file from an interface of the printer driver; selecting a section of the selected binder file from the interface of the printer driver; and adding the document to the selected binder file with an indicator for the document specifying the selected section. |
| US08743406B1 |
Specifying, producing, and delivering variable-content documents
Systems, methods, and computer program products are presented for creating and distributing a document of a particular type, where the document is based on variable content and/or variable layout. In one embodiment, a four-step is process is used. First, the document is specified. The document can be specified anywhere, regardless of the location of the user's office or the destination address of the document. In one embodiment, the document is specified using a client device (e.g., a computer running a web browser) that is attached to a network (e.g., the Internet). Second, the specification is transmitted to a production facility based on the destination address. Third, the document is produced at the facility. Finally, the produced document is delivered to the destination address. |
| US08743405B2 |
Print relay device, print system, print relay device control method, and storage medium
A print relay device acquires printer information which is registered in a print service server and is linked to a user. In order to cause an image forming device to receive a print job from the print service device via the print relay device, the print relay device specifies printer information that is not registered in the print relay device from among the acquired printer information, and additionally registers the specified printer information in the printer information which is registered in the print service server and is linked to the user. |
| US08743404B2 |
Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes first and second interpreters configured to interpret page description language data and generate intermediate data. The apparatus further includes a setting unit configured to set an image quality priority mode for one of the first and second interpreters and a color/monochrome determination priority mode for the other of the first and second interpreters. Either the first interpreter or the second interpreter, for which the color/monochrome determination priority mode is set, skips the generation of the intermediate data for a processing target page in a case where it is determined that the processing target page is a color page. |
| US08743400B2 |
Print control apparatus and control method therefor
In a print control apparatus which causes a print apparatus to print via a hot folder, it is monitored whether a file is submitted to the hot folder. Upon submitting the file, it is identified whether the submitted file is a reference information file indicating an external content file, and, upon identifying the reference information file, it is determined whether an acquisition process of acquiring the external content file indicated by the reference information file is to be executed by the print control apparatus or the print apparatus. Upon determining that the acquisition process is to be executed by the print control apparatus, print data is generated based on the acquired external content file, and, upon determining that the acquisition process is to be executed by the print apparatus, print data including the reference information file indicating the external content file is generated. |
| US08743398B2 |
Using a button provided in an image forming apparatus to start a Wi-Fi protected setup
A method and apparatus for setting up a wireless LAN. The method includes receiving a packet, which informs a user that a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button of an access point is operated, from the access point; activating a button provided in an image forming apparatus as a WPS button; selecting a button activated as the WPS button; and if the button activated as the WPS button is selected, establishing a wireless network with the access point. |
| US08743396B2 |
Printing using stored linearization data
A method of printing comprising: storing a plurality of sets of linearization data (32) for a printhead (12; 14; 16; 18) with each set corresponding to a different history of usage of the printhead; monitoring (S210) the history of usage of the printhead; selecting (S220), prior to printing, from said plurality of sets of linearization data a set of linearization data that is the set that most closely matches the monitored history of usage of the printhead prior to said printing; and printing (S250) the image using the selected set of linearization data. |
| US08743387B2 |
Grid computing system with virtual printer
A grid computing system is disclosed. The grid computing system includes one or more printer nodes representing distributed print resources, an information repository, and a grid distributed resource manager. Continuing, the information repository includes printer attributes associated with the printer nodes. Further, the grid distributed resource manager provides a virtual printer to a user based on the distributed print resources. Also, the grid distributed resource manager accepts and assigns print jobs submitted to the virtual printer by the user. |
| US08743381B2 |
Image forming apparatus and display method for a display portion of an image forming apparatus
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a connection portion for performing communication with a keyboard; and a display portion for performing displaying of disabled keys when the keyboard is connected to the connection portion, the disabled keys being unusable keys among keys provided to the keyboard. |
| US08743378B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring cylindrically-shaped object and apparatus for inspecting tire appearance
A measuring apparatus for automatically measuring the height, the dimensions of the inner and outer surfaces, and the shape of a cylindrically-shaped object. The measuring apparatus includes a measuring head vertically moving along a positioning guide supported by a support post integral with a measuring table, a height displacement measuring device, which comprises a laser distance meter provided on the measuring table, and an arithmetic processing unit. The measurement starts as the measuring head is raised by a weight from a measuring start position of the measuring table. The inner and outer surfaces of a tire are measured based on the measurements by an inner surface measuring device provided with three laser distance meters mounted to the measuring head and an outer surface measuring device having a laser distance meter and the displacement change measurement of the measuring head by the height displacement measuring device. Required dimensional values are calculated from the measured values, using the arithmetic processing unit. |
| US08743377B2 |
Using dynamic data to determine a material profile for earpiece
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. |
| US08743375B2 |
Parallelism measuring system and method thereof
Provided is a parallelism measuring system and a method thereof, wherein the system includes a measured module, which includes a measured unit; a reference unit; and an optical measuring unit including an optical measuring module and a shift module. A lower surface of the measured unit is a measured surface and an upper surface of the reference is a reference surface. The optical measuring module includes a light source unit, a reflecting unit, and a sensing unit. A collimated beam is emitted from the light source unit and sequentially reflected by the measured surface, the reflecting unit and the reference surface to the sensing unit. The sensing unit senses location of the collimated beam and thereby calculates interval distance between the measured surface and the reference surface. By using the shift module to move the optical measuring module, the interval distance between different points may be measured. |
| US08743372B2 |
Whispering-gallery-mode-based seismometer
A whispering-gallery-mode-based seismometer provides for receiving laser light into an optical fiber, operatively coupling the laser light from the optical fiber into a whispering-gallery-mode-based optical resonator, operatively coupling a spring of a spring-mass assembly to a housing structure; and locating the whispering-gallery-mode-based optical resonator between the spring-mass assembly and the housing structure so as to provide for compressing the whispering-gallery-mode-based optical resonator between the spring-mass assembly and the housing structure responsive to a dynamic compression force from the spring-mass assembly responsive to a motion of the housing structure relative to an inertial frame of reference. |
| US08743370B2 |
Interferometer including elements that reflect beams moved in parallel in a direction substantially perpendicular to a substrate by reflection
A delay interferometer includes a half beam splitter and two pentagonal prisms disposed on a substrate. The half beam splitter branches light to be measured which travels substantially in parallel with the substrate into two branched light beams. The pentagonal prisms respectively reflect the respective branched light beams such that the optical axes of the branched light beams are moved in parallel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate by reflection. The half beam splitter combines the branched light beams reflected by the pentagonal prisms to generate interference light beams. |
| US08743367B2 |
Optical resonance analysis using a multi-angle source of illumination
An SPR or other optical resonance based analysis system in which, light is provided at multiple angles to a specimen and then the light modified by the specimen is processed to select only some of the light. Optionally, the processing selects light at a particular incidence angle. Optionally, the detection is by imaging of the light on a 2D imager array. |
| US08743365B2 |
Apparatus and method for on-line, real-time analysis of chemical gases dissolved in transformer oil
An inspection probe for directly measuring a transmission spectrum of a solvent oil in a transformer includes a tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along a side of the tube to allow oil to pass therethrough, and first and second optical collimators disposed at opposing ends of the tube. The first and second collimators are aligned by the tube such that incident light is transmitted through the first collimator, the tube, and the second collimator to a spectrometer. |
| US08743363B1 |
Detection and identification of surfaces and surface contaminants
Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for identifying a target material. The system includes a tunable laser, an imaging device, and a signal processor. The tunable laser is configured to intermittently direct electromagnetic radiation of at least one selected wavelength at a surface of a target material. The imaging device is configured to capture at least one “on” image of the surface when the electromagnetic radiation of the at least one selected wavelength is directed at the surface and capture at least one “off” image of the surface when electromagnetic radiation of the at least one selected wavelength is not directed at the surface. The signal processor is configured to compare, for each selected wavelength, the “on” image(s) corresponding to the selected wavelength with the “off” image(s) corresponding to the selected wavelength and identify the target material based on the comparison. |
| US08743361B2 |
Imprint lithography method and apparatus
A method of aligning a substrate and an imprint template is disclosed. The method includes directing an alignment radiation beam towards an imprint template alignment mark and an adjacent substrate alignment mark, the imprint template alignment mark and the substrate alignment mark each including a grating which extends in a first direction and a grating which extends in a second direction, providing relative movement between the imprint template and the substrate in the first direction and in the second direction, using an intensity detector to detect the intensity of alignment radiation redirected in the zero-order direction by the imprint template alignment mark and the substrate alignment mark during the relative movement in the first direction and in the second direction, and determining an aligned position of the imprint template alignment mark and the substrate alignment mark based upon the detected intensity. |
| US08743358B2 |
System and method for safer detection of unknown materials using dual polarized hyperspectral imaging and Raman spectroscopy
A first location comprising an unknown material may be scanned using SWIR hyperspectral imaging in a dual polarization configuration. Surveying may also be applied to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present, a second location may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to associate an unknown material with a known material. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to one or more reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known material. |
| US08743356B1 |
Man-portable device for detecting hazardous material
A man portable device for detecting the presence of hazardous material includes a pulsed or time-modulated light source and an objective scannable across the surface of a sample for projecting light from the light source onto a succession of spots on the surface of the sample. A spectrometer performs a spectral analysis of the induced fluorescence to create a first dataset defining a first vector as a function of wavelength. A time domain detector for measuring the time decay of the induced fluorescence collected simultaneously creates a second dataset defining a second vector as a function of time. A computer identifies hazardous material by performing independent multivariate analysis on the first and second vectors as the objective is scanned across the sample surface based on fluorescent signal models for hazardous materials in the spectral and time domains. |
| US08743354B2 |
Shrouded sensor clip assembly and blood chamber for an optical blood monitoring system
An optical blood monitoring system for blocking unwanted light from reaching sensors in a sensor clip assembly fastened to a blood chamber connected in an extracorporeal blood treatment system. The sensor clip assembly includes opposing heads with LED emitters and photodetectors. In one embodiment, lenses in the heads are surrounded by shrouds extending from the lenses so that when the sensor clip assembly is fastened to the blood chamber the shrouds block unwanted light from reaching the photodetectors. Either alternatively or as a complement to the shrouds, the blood chamber includes an opaque portion or a portion colored to attenuate particular wavelengths of light to further enhance the overall ability of the blood chamber and sensor clip assembly to block unwanted light from reaching the photodetectors. |
| US08743353B2 |
Device and method for detecting blood or blood constituents in the liquid system of a device for extracorporeal blood treatment
The present invention relates to a device and a method for detecting blood or blood constituents in the liquid system of a device for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising a dialysis device or filter divided by a semipermeable membrane into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is part of the extracorporeal blood circulation system and the second chamber part of the liquid system of the extracorporeal blood treatment device. The device according to the present invention for detecting blood or blood constituents in the liquid system of an extracorporeal blood treatment device is designed as a unit for differentiating between the entry of blood into the liquid system due to a defect of the dialysis device or filter, for example a rupture of the semipermeable membrane of the dialysis device or filter, or the entry of hemoglobin into the liquid system due to hemolysis, wherein a differentiation is made between a defect of the dialysis device or filter or hemolysis based on the change in intensity of at least the blue fraction of the light exiting from the liquid. |
| US08743352B2 |
Coaxial illumination of coulter aperture in full function hematology analyzer
A method for directly illuminating a Coulter aperture so light scattering can be incorporated into the classical Coulter aperture and 3-diff blood analyzer to realize full functional hematology analyzer by providing a flow chamber which is separated into two portions by a plate having a Coulter aperture; and using a light source to directly coaxial illuminate the Coulter aperture wherein the illuminating beam propagates in the same direction as the axis of the Coulter aperture and the cell's moving direction. |
| US08743346B2 |
Range image sensor, range image generating apparatus, range image data obtaining method and range image generating method
The present invention provides an inexpensive range image sensor and etc. A range image sensor comprises diffractive optical elements and on which are formed diffractive gratings that change a traveling direction of incident parallel light so that in a coordinate space defined by a xyz-axis, the incident parallel light is split into split beams, and angles formed by the x-axis and line segments determined by projected light spots formed by the split beams on a predetermined projection plane intersecting the z-axis become predetermined angles. Furthermore, the range image sensor is provided with a distance determining unit for determining distances to the projected light spots on the basis of the tilting with respect to the x-axis of the line segments determined by the projected light spots formed on the object by the split beams. |
| US08743343B2 |
Apparatus and methods for keeping immersion fluid adjacent to an optical assembly during wafer exchange in an immersion lithography machine
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a projection optical assembly having a final optical element, a stage assembly including a substrate table on which a substrate is supported, the substrate supported by the substrate table being exposed with an exposure beam from the final optical element of the projection optical assembly through an immersion liquid, a confinement member which encircles a portion of a path of the exposure beam, and a movable member which is movable in a space between the confinement member and the substrate, the substrate table, or both, the space being divided by the movable member into a first portion between the confinement member and the movable member and a second portion between the movable member and the substrate, the substrate table, or both. The movable member has a recovery outlet from which the immersion liquid in the second portion is removed. |
| US08743337B2 |
Flexible display substrate module and method of manufacturing flexible display device
A flexible display substrate module includes a base substrate, an adhesive part on the base substrate, a flexible substrate adhering to the adhesive part, and a protective layer covering side surfaces of the flexible substrate and of the adhesive part. |
| US08743335B2 |
Display having a plurality of driver integrated circuits
An electronic device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a liquid-crystal display (LCD) and a plurality of driver integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to the LCD. The driver ICs may be disposed near non-central locations along a side of the LCD, and in some embodiments, one of the driver ICs may be a master driver IC and the other driver IC or driver ICs may be slave driver ICs. |
| US08743333B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method for same
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having gate wires and source/drain wires with a multilayer structure made of the same material which can be manufactured at low cost, as well as a manufacturing method for the same. In accordance with the manufacturing method, a wet etching process is carried out on the gate wires and the source/drain wires using an etchant including hydrofluoric acid and an oxidant, and the concentration of hydrofluoric acid in the etchant is different between the etchant for the gate wires and that for the source/drain wires. |
| US08743331B2 |
Liquid crystal display and thin film transistor array panel therefor
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided, which includes: first and second gate lines, a data line intersecting the gate lines, first to fourth drain electrodes located near the intersections between the first and second gate lines and the data line, and a coupling electrode. First to fourth pixel electrodes respectively connected to the first to fourth drain electrodes are also provided, and the first pixel electrode is connected to the coupling electrode while the fourth pixel electrode overlaps the coupling electrode. The LCD further includes a common electrode opposite the pixel electrodes, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, and a domain partitioning member formed on at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Two long edges of the domains are angled with respect to the first and the second gate lines or the data line substantially by about 45°. |
| US08743329B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and apparatus having the liquid crystal display panel
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a display apparatus having the liquid crystal display panel. A second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel includes a second electrode and a plurality of pixel areas. The second electrode has a pixel electrode structure in each of the pixel areas. The pixel electrode structure includes a trunk and a plurality of branches. A distance between the two neighboring branches is an interval. Each of the branches has a width. Each of the pixel areas has at least two widths and at least two intervals. |
| US08743325B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a common electrode layer disposed on the first substrate and a plurality of pixel structures disposed on the second substrate. Each of the pixel structure includes a first data line, a second data line, a third data line and at least a capacitance adjusting layer. The capacitance adjusting layer is disposed between the common electrode layer and the second data line. |
| US08743324B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate disposed opposite to the active device array substrate, and a display medium disposed between the active device array substrate and the opposite substrate. The opposite substrate includes a first base and a light-shielding structure disposed on the first base and located between the first base and the active device array substrate. The light-shielding structure has a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, a metal layer, a fourth dielectric layer, a fifth dielectric layer, and a sixth dielectric layer stacked sequentially in a direction from the first base to the active device array substrate. The first, second, and third dielectric layers have different thicknesses. The fourth, fifth, and sixth dielectric layers have different thicknesses. |
| US08743323B2 |
Transmissive liquid crystal display panel comprising a subpixel for display and a subpixel for control of a view angle wherein a light blocking member is formed in a central position of each of a plurality of slit-like openings
A liquid crystal display panel includes: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed so as to face each other with a liquid crystal layer being held between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode across which an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer being formed on the first substrate, a subpixel for display and a subpixel for control of a view angle being disposed on the same electrode, in which a plurality of slit-like openings are formed in the second electrode in the subpixel for control of a view angle, and a light blocking member is formed in a central position of a width of each of the plurality of slit-like openings in terms of planar view. |
| US08743322B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is provided which prevents variation in display from being caused due to misalignment of positions of exposure heads and/or error in assembly, and which is excellent in display quality. A liquid crystal display device 1 includes: a color filter 2 and a TFT substrate 3 which are bonded so as to oppose each other; and liquid crystal (not shown) sealed in a space formed therebetween. The color filter 2 includes: a substrate 4; black matrixes 5 provided on the substrate 4; and a plurality of colored layers 6 and 7 which partially overlap the black matrixes 5 at each pixel position. Vertices of ridges 18a and 28a formed by the colored layers 6 and 7 overlapping the black matrix 5 are positioned in an area where upper edges 19a and 29a, respectively, which continue in the Y-axis direction, are shielded from light by a light shielding section 10a of the TFT substrate 3. |
| US08743308B2 |
Lamp socket, liquid crystal display, and method of manufacturing the same
A lamp socket, a liquid crystal display, and a method of manufacturing the same, which facilitate assembly and testing of a lamp. The lamp socket includes a housing including connection terminals electrically connected to lamp terminals, a cover hinge-engaged with the housing, a fixing part fixing the housing and the cover to each other, and an angle maintenance part maintaining an angle of the cover in an open position, wherein the angle is an acute angle. |
| US08743307B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a first substrate, a gate line disposed on the first substrate and including a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate line, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, a data line disposed on the semiconductor layer and connected to a source electrode, a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer and facing the source electrode and a passivation layer disposed on the data line, in which the semiconductor layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor including indium, tin, and zinc. The indium is present in an amount of about 5 atomic percent (at %) to about 50 at %, and a ratio of the zinc to the tin is about 1.38 to about 3.88. |
| US08743306B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel cells on a substrate and a common voltage line. The common voltage line provides a common voltage to the pixel cells, and includes first to third interconnection patterns which are sequentially stacked over the substrate. Each of the pixel cells includes a storage capacitor which includes a lower electrode, and an upper electrode over the lower electrode. The second interconnection pattern includes the same material as a material of the upper electrode, and is formed in the same process as a process of the upper electrode. |
| US08743304B2 |
Pixel array layout of a liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate including a longer first side and a shorter second side, a plurality of gate lines disposed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed on the substrate perpendicular to and insulated from the gate lines, and a plurality of pixel electrodes, each pixel electrode electrically connected to a data line by a switching element, wherein a number of the gate lines is about half of a number of the pixel electrodes, and the data lines extend in a direction which is substantially parallel to a direction of the first side. |
| US08743301B2 |
Liquid crystal display device provided with an electrode for sensing a touch of a user
A liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display device comprises gate and data lines arranged to cross each other on a substrate to define a plurality of pixels; a pixel electrode formed in each of the plurality of pixels; a common electrode forming an electric field together with the pixel electrode, patterned to sense a touch of a user; a sensing line discontinuously formed on the common electrode and electrically connected with the common electrode; a jump line formed below the common electrode to electrically connect discontinuous portions of the sensing line with one another; and first and second connection electrodes for electrically connecting the jump line with the sensing line, wherein the first connection electrode is connected with the jump line, and the second connection electrode is connected with the sensing line and the first connection electrode respectively. |
| US08743298B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a light source section; first to third polarization plates disposed in this order from a side of the light source section; a liquid crystal display section provided in one of first and second regions, in which the first region lying between the first polarization plate and the second polarization plate and the second region lying between the second polarization plate and the third polarization plate; a liquid crystal barrier section provided in the other of the first and second regions and including a plurality of opening-closing sections to transmit or block light. An absorption axis of the third polarization plate is horizontally directed. |
| US08743297B2 |
Liquid crystal light adjusting device and imaging apparatus
A liquid crystal light adjusting device includes: a first liquid crystal layer on which light from one surface is incident; and a reflective film which reflects light transmitted through the first liquid crystal layer, wherein the first liquid crystal layer has adjacent alignment regions, and orientation directions of liquid crystal molecules in the adjacent alignment regions are different. |
| US08743292B2 |
Video/audio production processing control synchronization
Video/audio production processing control synchronization apparatus and methods are provided. Processing control commands that are provided to a first installation of production processing equipment for controlling production processing of edit units of first production signals are echoed to another installation, or possibly multiple other installations, of production processing equipment. Timing information associated with the edit units is also provided to the other installation(s), to enable production processing of delayed production signals by the other installation(s) to be synchronized with the production processing by the first installation of production processing equipment. Multiple production processing equipment installations can be controlled and synchronized from a single control interface. |
| US08743289B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus of the present invention includes: a picture display unit that forms and displays an optical image based on a video signal; a gamma adjustment image display unit that displays a gamma adjustment image containing input/output characteristics of a signal level of the video signal in the displayed optical image; an adjustment operation unit that changes the displayed input/output characteristics on the image; and an input/output characteristics setting unit that sets input/output characteristics of the signal level of the video signal in accordance with the input/output characteristics changed on the image. The adjustment operation unit includes a point selecting part that selects an adjustment point desired to be changed in the input/output characteristics displayed in the image and a level changing part that is capable of changing both of an input level and an output level of the selected adjustment point. Because both of an input signal level and an optical output level can be adjusted, a user can make gamma adjustment easily, freely, and in detail. |
| US08743278B2 |
Portable magnifying apparatus having multi angular positioned handle
Provided is a portable magnifying apparatus that can be easily carried around. More particularly, provided is a portable magnifying apparatus which is conveniently used for users either left-handed or right-handed and has a multi angular positioned handle that can be manipulated without putting strain on the wrist. |
| US08743276B2 |
Opening/closing door locking device for an electronic device
An opening/closing door 10 for openably closing the opening of a housing includes: a door body; a locking member for holding the door body in a closed state by engagement with a part of the housing; and a lever 11 that is linked with the locking member and has one end rotatably supported by the door body, the door body including: a storage part 24 for storing the lever 11 along the surface of the door body when the locking member is placed in a locking state completely; and a protrusion 12 that protrudes outside the storage part 24 and comes into contact with the lever 11 when the locking member 13 is placed in the locking state incompletely. |
| US08743274B2 |
In-camera based method of detecting defect eye with high accuracy
A portable digital image acquisition device includes multiple lenses and/or multiple flashes. A main digital image and first and second reference images are acquired. The first and second reference images are acquired with different flash-lens combinations that have different flash-lens distances. One or more flash eye defects are detected and corrected in the main image based on analysis of the first and second reference images. |
| US08743270B2 |
Focus adjustment apparatus and focus adjustment method
Focus adjustment apparatus and methods for effectively auto-focusing on a subject by adaptively changing a shape of a focus area according to a determined image condition, and in particular, setting the focus area in a shape of which a width of an upper part is narrow according to the condition. |
| US08743269B2 |
Photographing device, photographing method, and playback method
A photographing device according to the present invention comprises: an imaging section that captures a subject image and outputs image data; a motion picture recording section that records a motion picture based on the image data; a parameter setting section that sets a photographing parameter to change a photographing state; and a parameter control section that automatically changes the photographing parameter during the recording of the motion picture regardless of the set photographing parameter. |
| US08743268B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, control method therefor, and program for correcting shift based on shift amount in image plane
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a motion vector detection unit which detects a motion vector quantity representing a shift amount between images from image signals successively obtained by the image capturing unit, an angle conversion unit which converts the motion vector quantity into an angular displacement amount between the images on the basis of a zoom position of the zoom lens, a shift angle calculation unit which calculates a shift angle from an optical axis of the imaging optical system by calculating the angular displacement amount, a shift amount conversion unit which converts the shift angle into a shift amount on an image plane of the image capturing unit on the basis of the zoom position of the zoom lens, and a correction unit which corrects a shift on the basis of the shift amount on the image plane. |
| US08743263B2 |
Liquid lens image capture device
An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof. |
| US08743260B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus and method for setting GUI display to provide easier visual relationship of settable items
An information processing apparatus including: a GUI generation unit configured to generate GUI data in which one of two mutually-orthogonal directions on a screen is allocated as a direction in which information flows, a plurality of processing systems for information processing are expressed as a plurality of lines along the one direction, and one or more blocks in which a name and setting value of one or more setting items of the processing system corresponding to at least one of the lines are displayed on the line are arranged; and a display processing unit configured to display the generated GUI data on the screen. |
| US08743258B2 |
Correlated double sampling circuit, method thereof and devices having the same
A CDS circuit is provided. The CDS circuit includes a signal compressor which compresses each of a pixel signal and a ramp signal using capacitive dividing and outputs a compressed pixel signal and a compressed ramp signal, and a comparator which compares the compressed pixel signal with the compressed ramp signal and outputs a comparative signal corresponding to a comparison result. |
| US08743252B2 |
Solid-state imaging device for high density CMOS image sensor, and driving method thereof
A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes plural pixels, in which each pixel includes: a transfer transistor that transfers electric charge from a photoelectric conversion section to a floating diffusion section; a reset transistor that resets the floating diffusion section; a amplifying transistor that outputs a signal based on the electric charge held by the floating diffusion section; a selection transistor that is provided at the output side of the amplifying transistor and selects a pixel; and a charge storage capacitor that is provided between the amplifying transistor and the selection transistor and stores the quantity of electric charge on the basis the quantity of the electric charge held by the floating diffusion section through the charge-discharge behavior of electric charge through a current source. |
| US08743250B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of driving the same
To provide a semiconductor device and a driving method of the same that is capable of enlarging a signal amplitude value as well as increasing a range in which a linear input/output relationship operates while preventing a signal writing-in time from becoming long. The semiconductor device having an amplifying transistor and a biasing transistor and the driving method thereof, wherein an electric discharging transistor is provided and pre-discharge is performed. |
| US08743244B2 |
Providing augmented reality based on third party information
An apparatus and method for providing augmented or mixed reality environments based on other user or third party information, such as from a profile, is disclosed. Also, an apparatus and method for providing a transparent display device with adaptive transparency is disclosed. The transparent display device with adaptive transparency may be used to generate the augmented reality environment. |
| US08743241B2 |
Wide dynamic range imaging
Systems and methods are described for extending the dynamic range of imaging systems, and more particularly fluorescence or luminescence imaging systems, having low optical background and a linear detector response. Images of a sample at each of a set of exposure times are acquired, a system-level dark estimate for each exposure time is subtracted from each image to form dark-corrected images, and the different exposures (dark-corrected images) are merged into a wider dynamic-range image. Typically merging is performed on a pixel-by pixel basis. |
| US08743236B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and imaging apparatus
The present invention is directed to an image processing apparatus wherein a discrimination whether an input image is a vivid color scene can be made to match a perception or an intention of a human.The image processing apparatus is characterized in acquiring image data, generating a hue distribution of the image data, setting a discrimination condition according to a degree of spreading of a color distribution in the hue distribution and discriminating whether the image of the image data is a vivid color scene under the discrimination condition, and outputting the discrimination result upon discrimination. |
| US08743235B2 |
Adaptive automatic exposure apparatus and method for digital images
An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting an exposure for a digital imaging device by (a) receiving a current image frame using an exposure value (EV), (b) computing a current image spatial entropy (ISE) for the current image frame, and (c) whenever the current ISE is greater than a previous ISE, setting the previous ISE equal to the current ISE, increasing the EV, and repeating steps (a) and (b), and (d) whenever the current ISE is less than or equal to the previous ISE, decreasing the EV, receiving the current image frame using the EV, and displaying the current image frame. |
| US08743231B2 |
Electronic camera
An electronic camera comprises an image processing unit that performs image quality adjustment using a plurality of adjustment parameters, an information acquisition unit that acquires from an external device first image quality adjustment information including a parameter group for use with the image quality adjustment and an image quality adjustment algorithm that applies the parameter group, and a control unit that controls the image processing unit so that it performs image quality adjustment while applying the parameter group included in the first image quality adjustment information that has been acquired to the image quality adjustment algorithm included in the first image quality adjustment information that has been acquired. |
| US08743229B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus for Bayer images
Provided are a method and apparatus for processing Bayer images. The Bayer image processing method including interpolating red (R), green (G), and blue (B) image signals output in Bayer patterns; converting the interpolated RGB image signals to a luminance signal and chrominance signals; correcting phases of the chrominance signals based on the luminance signal; and removing aliasing of the luminance signal and aliasing of the phase-corrected chrominance signals. |
| US08743221B2 |
Image capture apparatus and control method thereof
An image capture apparatus comprises an image capture unit, a shake detection unit, a reference value calculation unit, an image blur correction unit, a motion vector detection unit, a determination unit which determines whether the motion vector indicates a movement of an object, and a control unit which controls one of the calculation methods of the reference value and the reference value, wherein the reference value calculation unit calculates the reference value using both an output from the shake detection unit and an output from the motion vector detection unit as one of the plurality of calculation methods, and when the determination unit determines that the motion vector indicates the movement of the object, the control unit controls not to calculate the reference value using the output from the shake detection unit and the output from the motion vector detection unit. |
| US08743217B2 |
Wireless image transmission device
A wireless image transmission device includes an image processing main body; an image display unit electrically connected to the image processing main body; a first switching unit electrically connected to between the image processing main body and the image display unit; an image shooting control unit electrically connected to the first switching unit; and a wireless transmission unit electrically connected to the image shooting control unit. With these arrangements, images to be wirelessly transmitted from the wireless image device need not be converted in file type, so that the wireless image transmission device can have high transmission efficiency and simplified overall configuration to overcome the drawback of complicated configuration in the prior art wireless image transmission device. |
| US08743211B2 |
Efficient test generator for video test patterns
A video test pattern generator and method include a control sequencer configured to control one or more address counters to generate a video test pattern. A first memory is configured to store pixel values for transitions between portions of the video test pattern and configured to store a repeated pixel value. A second memory is configured to store pattern information to determine placement of the pixel values for the transitions and the repeated pixel values. A repeat counter is configured to control a number of the repeated pixel values produced before a next transition. |
| US08743209B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and method for controlling the same
An image pickup apparatus is provided which realizes an improvement in the accuracy of a subject tracking function of the image pickup apparatus during continuous shooting. This image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to capture a plurality of auxiliary images during an interval between capturing of a main image and capturing of a next main image; a first subject tracking processing unit configured to detect a region where a subject that is the same as a main subject exists, from a first region that is a part of a first auxiliary image among the plurality of auxiliary images; and a second subject tracking processing unit configured to detect a region where a subject that is the same as the main subject exists, from a second region of a second auxiliary image among the plurality of auxiliary images, the second region being larger than the first region. |
| US08743204B2 |
Detecting and monitoring event occurrences using fiber optic sensors
An event within a surveilled area, a physically bounded region, can be detected in real-time. The event can be outside the field of view of a camera associated with the surveilled area. The event can be detected by a fiber optic sensor within the surveilled area which can measure an event metrics. Event information associated with the event can be received which can include a timing information, a sensor measurement, and a location information. An adjustment operation associated with the camera can be determined utilizing a mapping and the event location. The adjustment operation can be associated with a camera functionality and an adjustment value. The mapping can include a camera identification value, a camera location, and a field of view dimension. The field of view of the camera can be adjusted dynamically which can result in the location of the event being within the field of view. |
| US08743203B2 |
Rear vision system for a vehicle
A rear vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device. A control activates display of captured video images by the display device when a transmission of the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear and deactivates display of the video images upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met. The threshold deactivation condition is at least one of (a) forward travel of the vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, the threshold period of time constituting a linger time. |
| US08743201B2 |
Time-Sequential multi-spectrum imaging device
The present invention discloses a time-sequential multi-spectrum image acquiring device structure which uses a single camera module to achieve multi-spectrum image acquiring in a time-sequential architecture, thereby providing a simple, lightweight telemetry system and reducing the development and operation costs thereof. For example, a visible and near infrared (VNIR) imaging system reduces the use of four camera modules (each including an optical lens, filter, sensor, and image signal processing unit) to single camera module, the VNIR imaging system acquires multi-spectrum images having the same image geometric parameters for image calibration and can simplify the calibration process.The present invention is implemented by introducing a multi-spectrum filter wheel capable of rotating in high speed in the camera module and controlling the image acquiring frequency of the sensor and the synchronicity of the wheel rotating speed for multi-spectrum image acquiring. The present invention is suitable for use in multi-spectrum images acquiring of airborne telemetry requiring lightweight system, such as multi-spectrum images acquiring of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). |
| US08743197B2 |
System and method for monitoring jump velocity
A jump safety system for communicating an optimal velocity for a jump is described. The system includes a radar component, a memory, a processor, a velocity processing module, an increase velocity status, a decrease velocity status, a maintain velocity status, and a light emitting component. The radar component transmits and receives radio signals and generates a velocity output. Additionally, the radar component is positioned to determine velocity along a path associated with the jump. The velocity processing module is controlled by the processor and determines an optimal velocity range for a landing area. The maintain velocity status determined by the velocity processing module indicates the velocity output. The light emitting component is configured to communicate at least one of the increase velocity status, the decrease velocity status, or the maintain velocity status. |
| US08743194B2 |
High numerical aperture telemicroscopy apparatus
An imaging system consisting of a cell-phone with camera as the detection part of an optical train which includes other components. Optionally, an illumination system to create controlled contrast in the sample. Uses include but are not limited to disease diagnosis, symptom analysis, and post-procedure monitoring, and other applications to humans, animals, and plants. |
| US08743192B2 |
Electronic device and image capture control method using the same
A method for controlling an image capture device obtains an image captured by a camera of an electronic device, detects an eye area in the obtained image, and determines a matching subject template by comparing the detected eye area with a plurality of subject templates. The method further determines a control command corresponding to the matching subject template, and sends the control command to the image capture device to adjust movements of the image capture device. |
| US08743190B2 |
Fluoroscopy apparatus and fluoroscopy method
Unwanted information contained in a reference image is reduced, thus acquiring a fluorescence image having quantitative intensity information, regardless of the angle and distance of excitation light. The invention provides a fluoroscopy apparatus including an illumination portion that irradiates an observation target with illumination light containing excitation light; a first image-acquisition section that acquires a fluorescence image in a prescribed observation region of the observation target; a second image-acquisition section that acquires an out-of-focus reference image of the observation target in the observation region; and an image correction section that corrects the fluorescence image acquired by the first image-acquisition section using the reference image acquired by the second image-acquisition section. |
| US08743187B2 |
Three-dimensional (3D) imaging based on MotionParallax
Techniques and technologies are described herein for motion parallax three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Such techniques and technologies do not require special glasses, virtual reality helmets, or other user-attachable devices. More particularly, some of the described motion parallax 3D imaging techniques and technologies generate sequential images, including motion parallax depictions of various scenes derived from clues in views obtained of or created for the displayed scene. |
| US08743182B2 |
Multi-eye photographing apparatus and program thereof
When the distance to an object is short and a release button is fully-pushed, one photographing unit acquires a left image. Translucence-processing is performed for the left image, and an optimum movement distance of a viewpoint between left and right images is calculated. The left image objected to the translucence-processing and the calculated optimum movement distance are superimposingly displayed on a live view image of a liquid crystal monitor, and the correlation coefficient of an object region and a background region are calculated for the live view image and the acquired left image. It is determined whether or not the correlation coefficient of the object region is equal to or greater than a first threshold value and whether or not the correlation coefficient of the background region is equal to or greater than a second threshold value, and if the threshold value determination is positive, one photographing unit acquires the right image. |
| US08743180B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a depth map and converting two-dimensional data to stereoscopic data
Systems and methods for performing multimedia conversion are disclosed. In a multimedia conversion system for converting two-dimensional (2D) multimedia data to stereoscopic multimedia data, an absolute difference between pixel pairs is determined for each scan line in a frame of the 2D multimedia data. The absolute difference values are accumulated, and a depth map is derived based on the accumulated difference values. The depth map is applied to the frame in the 2D multimedia data. |
| US08743179B2 |
Small stereoscopic image photographing apparatus
Disclosed is a compact type 3D image photographing apparatus which adjusts a convergence angle with respect to a subject using two lenses in order to photograph a stereoscopic image. The compact type image photographing apparatus includes a housing; a first actuator having a first lens and disposed in the housing so as to be moved left and right; a second actuator having a second lens, disposed in the housing so as to be moved left and right, and disposed to be spaced apart from the first actuator; a left/right driving part which is disposed at each of the first and second actuators so as to move the first actuator or the second actuator left and right when power is applied; an image sensor which is disposed at each lower side of the first and second actuators so as to photograph a subject through the first and second lenses; and a control part which is disposed at a lower side of the image sensor so as to control power supplied to the left/right driving part, the first actuator and the second actuator. |
| US08743178B2 |
Multi-view video format control
Techniques for multi-view video format control are provided. In some embodiments, a display video format supported by a display panel is determined. A video format code is extracted from a coded bitstream in which a plurality of images is encoded in two or more source video formats. The video format code identifies a source video format in which a set of images in the plurality of images is encoded. A video format filter is selected to modify the set of images encoded in the source video format to generate another set of images encoded in the display video format. The other set of images encoded in the display video format is sent to the display panel. |
| US08743177B2 |
Process and system for encoding and playback of stereoscopic video sequences
A method for decoding a compressed image stream, the image stream having a plurality of frames, each frame consisting of a merged image including pixels from a left image and pixels from a right image. The method involves the steps of receiving each merged image; changing a clock domain from the original input signal to an internal domain; for each merged image, placing at least two adjacent pixels into an input buffer and interpolating an intermediate pixel, for forming a reconstructed left frame and a reconstructed right frame according to provenance of the adjacent pixels; and reconstructing a stereoscopic image stream from the left and right image frames. The invention also teaches a system for decoding a compressed image stream. |
| US08743170B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
A housing includes a base portion for installation of an optical beam emission unit, a light guiding unit, and a deflection unit, and a cover portion that includes an indented heat emission channel that transmits heat in an inner portion of the housing to a fluid. |
| US08743166B2 |
Light-emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light-emitting device includes a substrate; a light-emitting element formed on the substrate; a seal member sealing the light-emitting element, the seal member formed of a transparent dry film resist laminated on the substrate with the light-emitting element interposed therebetween. |
| US08743165B2 |
Methods and device for laser processing
The present invention relates to laser ablation microlithography. In particular, we disclose a new SLM design and patterning method that uses multiple mirrors per pixel to concentrate energy to an energy density that facilitates laser ablation, while keeping the energy density on the SLM mirror surface at a level that does not damage the mirrors. Multiple micro-mirrors can be reset at a very high frequency, far beyond current DMD devices. |
| US08743162B2 |
Evaluating temporal response of a display
Improved evaluation of temporal response of a display is achieved by displaying a plurality of test patterns. The number of pixels of each test pattern driven at the first driving level is greater than the number of pixels driven at the second driving level. In addition, each pixel is driven at a first driving level in multiple consecutive test patterns (e.g., for multiple consecutive frames) such that the actual output of the pixel when driven at the first driving level matches the uncompensated “ideal” output of that pixel when driven at the first driving level. In other words, the output of the pixel driven at the first driving level would be same as the output of that pixel after having been driven at the first luminance for a time period exceeding the maximum fall time of the pixel. The pixel is then driven at the second driving level. |
| US08743158B2 |
High dynamic range display with three dimensional and field sequential color synthesis control
Embodiments relate generally to computer-based image processing, and more particularly, to systems, apparatuses, integrated circuits, computer-readable media, and methods to facilitate operation of an image display system with a relatively high dynamic range by, for example, generating a rear modulator sub-image with color compensation techniques. The image display system can produce rear modulator drive levels that would enable a front modulator sub-image to be displayed without color errors arising for a certain color or colors when the image display system includes pixel mosaics. |
| US08743155B2 |
Circuit and driving method for correcting tone output of a pixel
A display device capable of correcting display of deteriorated pixels without causing a nonconstant tonality or improper color balance is provided. The display device includes a display section with plural pixels; signal lines; a data generation circuit; a D/A converter for sequentially converting a tone data to an analog voltage and outputting the analog voltage to the signal lines; a switch circuit for outputting a signal corresponding to the pixel state by switching the signal lines; an A/D converter for sequentially detecting the signal; and a detection circuit for estimating the state of the pixel from the signal. The D/A converter includes an output range setting means for setting an allowed output range of the analog voltage. The display device includes an output correction circuit that controls the output range setting means in accordance with the state of the pixel detected by the detection circuit. |
| US08743148B2 |
Method of optimizing the presentation on a display screen of objects of a user interface which can be freely positioned and scaled by means of control elements
A presentation on a display screen of objects of a user interface which can be freely positioned and scaled by means of control elements is optimized. This is realized by a predetermined calculation rule in such a manner that the objects can be automatically varied between a still readable minimum size and a selected maximum size in dependence on the object contents, selected preferred settings and the available display resource on the display screen, and that the available display screen surface is optimally filled, possibly while eliminating less important details of the object contents and while changing the display mode of the object contents and/or the object as well as while avoiding mutual overlapping of the objects. |
| US08743144B2 |
Mobile terminal, server device, community generation system, display control method, and program
There is provided a mobile terminal including a movement information acquisition section for acquiring movement information of a mobile terminal possessed by a user, a picked-up image acquisition section for acquiring a peripheral image of the mobile terminal, which is imaged by an imaging device, a transmission section for transmitting the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition section to a server device which is connected to the mobile terminal via a network, a reception section for receiving community information which is generated by the server device based on a history of the movement information and which can be shared between the user possessing the mobile terminal and another user other than the user possessing the mobile terminal, and a display control section for displaying, on a display screen, a displayed image included in the community information in a superimposed manner on a peripheral image of the mobile terminal. |
| US08743138B2 |
Method and system for processing mass analysis data
In an imaging mass analysis, image information of a sample allows users to grasp specific information about the sample, such as distribution of a portion with a particular function or effect. The mass spectrum intensity data are normalized for each pixel so that the sum of the intensities over the entire mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) is one. Entropy is calculated by totaling the product of the intensity normalizing at each m/z and the logarithm of that intensity over the entire m/z range. After the entropy is calculated for each pixel, the pixels are colored according to their entropy values to display a two-dimensional color image of entropy distribution. The entropy of a cancerous portion is relatively small because of a high content of a specific kind of substance and the simplified composition of the substances. Thus, the cancerous part and the normal part of the entropy image can be distinguished. |
| US08743135B2 |
Graphics processing systems
A smooth curve is represented in a graphics texture by setting the texels that are inside the curve 1 to a value greater than a predetermined threshold value and the texels that are outside the curve 1 to a value less than the threshold value (or vice-versa).The texture value returned for a sampled position can thus be used to determine whether the sampled position should be treated as being inside the curve 1 or not.The texture is optimised for sampling using bi-linear filtering. |
| US08743134B2 |
Interactive comparative analysis of multiple object data visualizations
Interactive analysis of data objects within a display includes displaying icons representing different data objects on a graphic display device at each of a plurality of unique locations within a multi-dimensional relational structure as a function of unique respective values of dimensions of a display data variable that is relevant to the display structure and common to each of the data objects represented by the icons, and wherein the icons each have initial respective graphic display appearances. Selecting an icon specifies a comparison data variable common to the data objects, wherein graphic display appearances of each of the icons are updated at their same, unique locations to revised dimensional graphic display appearances that visually indicate relationships of respective values of the selected common comparison data variable of their represented data objects to a value of the selected common comparison data variable of the data object represented by the selected icon. |
| US08743132B2 |
Setting control apparatus and method for operating setting control apparatus
A setting control apparatus includes a setting control part, a special register, and a read-out control part. The setting control part makes stored in a temporary storage part a control value used in a processing circuit, in response to an input of the control value. The special register is electrically connected to the processing circuit and serving as a storage element capable of storing the control value. The read-out control part controls a read-out operation for reading out the control value from the temporary storage part into the special register. The read-out control part performs the read-out operation at a predetermined timing after storing of the control value in the temporary storage part is completed. |
| US08743130B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a distributed object renderer
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A DISTRIBUTED OBJECT RENDERER implement distributed rendering of complex visualizations in rich multimedia objects for sharing in online social networking applications. In one embodiment, a processor-implemented distributed rendering method is disclosed, comprising: obtaining a request to render an image of a visualization included in a client app; analyzing the render request to determine data required for render processing; providing a request for the data required for render processing; obtaining the data required for render processing upon providing the request for the required data; recreating an app state of the client app using the obtained data required for render processing, the recreated app state including data related to the visualization included in the client app; rendering the image of the visualization including in the client app using the recreated app state; generating a publishing element using the rendered image of the visualization included in the client app; and providing the publishing element for publication. |
| US08743129B2 |
Display system for avionic and non-avionic applications
The present invention relates to a display device for a glass cockpit of an aircraft, intended to provide video streams to a plurality of viewing screens of said glass cockpit, said aircraft being partitioned into a secured area, a so-called avionic world (AW), and a non-secured area, a so-called open world (OW), said system comprising at least one first port intended to receive first data to be displayed from a system (210, 310, 410) belonging to the avionic area and at least one second port intended to receive second data to be displayed from a system (220, 320, 420) belonging to the open world, the display device comprising: predetermined hardware resources allocated to the processing of the second data; a processor (241, 341, 441), belonging to the avionic area, adapted to controlling the hardware resources used by said processing and interrupting this processing if said hardware resources used exceed said allocated resources. |
| US08743128B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with reset functions and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a display, a graphics processing unit (GPU) being resettable and causing a change in the display when reset, a wireless transceiver, and a processor cooperating with the GPU and the wireless transceiver for wireless communications. The processor may be resettable along with the GPU, and the processor also may be partially resettable without resetting the GPU to avoid a change in the display. |
| US08743127B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus configured to edit video, including: a computer graphics image generation block configured to execute realtime rendering of a computer graphics animation by use of a timeline time with a fraction permitted for a seconds value that is a minimum unit as a parameter indicative of a temporal position of the computer graphics animation; an operation input block configured to enter a user operation for specifying progression of the computer graphics animation; and a control block configured to control the computer graphics image generation block in response to the user operation entered through the operation input block. |
| US08743126B2 |
Systems and methods for portable animation rigs
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transporting both behavior and related geometric information for an animation asset between different animation environments. A common virtual machine specification with a specific instruction set architecture is defined for executing behavioral traits of the animation asset. Each target animation environment implements the instruction set architecture. Because each virtual machine runtime engine implements an identical instruction set architecture, animation behavior can identically reproduced over any arbitrary platform implementing the virtual machine runtime engine. Embodiments of the present invention beneficially enable reuse of animation assets without compatibility restrictions related to platform or application differences. |
| US08743123B2 |
Visualization processing method and apparatus with mask surface
This method includes: generating data of a mask surface with respect to visualization data arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, for calculation values at respective calculation points; identifying, from a first data storage storing, as time-series data, positions of the calculation points and calculation values at the calculation points, a first point whose position is closest to a predetermined point on the mask surface; reading out, from the first data storage, a position of the identified first point in each time; arranging the mask surface in each time based on a direction of a user's sight line and the read position in each time so as to make the mask surface perpendicular to the direction of the user's sight line and have the predetermined point on the mask surface arranged at the read position; and drawing polygon data of the visualization data and the mask surface in time series. |
| US08743118B2 |
Medical image display device and medical image display method
A medical image display device provided with storage means for storing a sliced image of an object to be examined obtained by a medical image diagnostic apparatus, extraction means for extracting a center line passing through the region of a hollow organ of the object and the center thereof from the sliced image stored by the storage means, and 3-dimensional image generation means for generating a virtual 3-dimensional image of the inner wall of the hollow organ seen from a viewpoint while sequentially moving the viewpoint from one end to the other end of the center line is provided, with means for changing the direction in which the virtual 3-dimensional image seen from the viewpoint is generated to the direction of bending curvature of the hollow organ according to the bending curvature thereof. |
| US08743117B2 |
Processing of 3D computer graphics data on multiple shading engines
A method for texturing and shading a 3D computer graphic image on shading engines. First, the image is subdivided into tiles and each tile is subdivided into micro tiles. An object list is allocated to each tile, the object list containing data defining objects visible in the tile. For one micro tile, it is determined which pixels in the micro tile are intersected by an object A in the object list and it is determined which pixels in the micro tile are intersected by at least one other object in the object list. In parallel with the determination step, pixel intersection data is outputted for an object B for which all intersection determinations for each of the micro tiles in a selected tile have been performed. The pixel intersection data is output to at least one of the shading engines. |
| US08743116B1 |
Shader network
A system and methods for providing shading effects include a shading network possessing the ability to create, maintain, and incrementally evolve shading techniques and effects. The shader network provides the ability to encapsulate CPU and GPU code into a self-contained node that can be transported between renderers. As a result, authors can develop reusable shading techniques that can express the wide range of effects available via utilization of CPU and GPU code. The shader network also provides the capability to compose multiple nodes into a reusable “macro” node that affords authors the ability to build derivative shading effects without the need to modify an application's renderer or constituent nodes. |
| US08743115B1 |
Systems and methods for coordinated editing of seismic data in dual model
A system and method may model physical geological structures. Seismic and geologic data may be accepted. A three-dimensional (3D) transformation may be generated between a 3D present day model having points representing present locations of the physical geological structures and a 3D past depositional model having points representing locations where the physical geological structures were originally deposited. An indication may be accepted to locally change the 3D transformation for a subset of sampling points in a first model of the models. The 3D transformation may be locally changed to fit the updated subset of sampling points. A locally altered or updated version of the first model and, e.g., second model, may be displayed where local changes to the first model are defined by the locally changed 3D transformation. The transformation may also be used to extract geobodies in the past depositional model. |
| US08743114B2 |
Methods and systems to determine conservative view cell occlusion
Methods and systems to determine view cell occlusion, including to project objects of a 3-dimensional graphics environment to a 2-dimensional image plane with respect to the view point, to reduce sizes of corresponding object images, to generate an occluder map from the reduced-size object images, to compare at least a portion of the object images to the occluder map, and to identify an object as occluded with respect to the view cell when pixel depth values of the object image are greater than corresponding pixel depth values of the occluder map. Methods and systems to reduce an object image size include methods and systems to nullify pixel depth values within a radius of an edge pixel, and to determine the radius as a distance from the edge pixel to a second pixel so that a line between the view point and the second pixel is parallel with one or more of a line and a plane that is tangential to a sphere enclosing the view cell and a point on the object that corresponds to the edge pixel. |
| US08743112B2 |
Image display device and driving method for thereof
Disclosed are an image display device and a driving method thereof. The image display device separates left-eye image data and right-eye image data from an input image signal, analyzes the left-eye image data and right-eye image data to acquire brightness of a left-eye image and brightness of a right-eye image, acquires a viewing distance between a viewer and a screen which displays the left-eye image and right-eye image, adjusts a moved distance of a pixel in the left-eye image and right-eye image on the basis of at least one of the brightness of the left-eye image and right-eye image and the viewing distance, and divides and displays a left-eye image and right-eye image with respective adjusted depths thereof, in time or space. |
| US08743109B2 |
System and methods for multi-dimensional rendering and display of full volumetric data sets
A stand-alone platform and a method for the multi-dimensional rendering, display, manipulation, and analysis of full high resolution volumetric data sets. The systems and methods provide the ability to volumetrically render images with extremely high resolution in applications such as medical imaging procedures, digital microscopy such as in use of a confocal microscope, and other areas where extremely large data sets are produced from the imaging process. Certain embodiments of the system and methods produce left and right eye images of the rendered data, for viewing in parallax via a synchronized headset, and the ability to manipulate the data and display of image data easily and in real time. |
| US08743106B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for decaying residual image thereof
By way of enabling a reset signal while turning off a liquid crystal display, a method for decaying residual image of the liquid crystal display is capable of setting the corresponding gate signal of each of a plurality of gate lines of the liquid crystal display based on the reset signal being enabled. Accordingly, enhanced discharging processes on all the storage units of the liquid crystal display for fast decaying residual image can be performed via the data switches of the liquid crystal display turned on by the gate signals being set. The reset operation for performing discharging processes in response to the reset signal can be carried out based on a reset circuit for setting all the gate signals to become high-level signals, or based on a charging/discharging module for furnishing a high-level voltage directly to all the gate lines. |
| US08743105B2 |
Techniques to control self refresh display functionality
Techniques are described to monitor a level of graphics processing activity and control power usage based on the level. When no graphics processing activity is detected for a period of time, then a timing controller for a display device is instructed to capture a current image and repeatedly display the captured image. The graphics processing devices can be powered down. When graphics processing activity is detected, the graphics processing devices are powered up and the components used to capture an image and display the captured image are powered down. |
| US08743103B2 |
Source driver utilizing multiplexing device and switching device
In accordance with revealed embodiments of the present invention, a source driver is provided, which is capable of providing a variety of polarity inversion patterns of source driving signals. Additionally, due to properly utilizing a multiplexing device and a switching device, hardware architecture of the inventive source driver is no more complicated than that of the conventional source driver. As a result, the present invention provides a source driver having the greater performance than the conventional source driver without increasing hardware cost and circuitry complexity. |
| US08743102B2 |
Gamma tab voltage generator
A gamma tab voltage generator includes a plurality of, a data calculator configured to generate a buffer selection information and a buffer combination information based on a current capacity of buffer, a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to generate gamma tab voltages based on a gamma tab voltage information, a buffer selector configured to connect input terminals of the buffers selected based on the buffer selection information to output terminals of the digital-to-analog converters, and a buffer combiner configured to connect output terminals of the selected buffers to one another in response to the buffer combination information. |
| US08743099B2 |
Display adjusting device and display adjusting method
A display adjusting device adapted for adjusting display parameter(s) of a display unit includes a light sensing unit for sensing an environmental illumination associated with the display unit; an image capturing unit for capturing an image of a user in front of the display unit; and a controlling unit, electrically connected to the display unit, the light sensing unit and the image capturing unit, for selectively adjusting a first display brightness of the display unit to a second display brightness according to the environmental illumination, calculating a distance between eyes of the user and the display unit according to the image, and selectively adjusting the second display brightness to a third display brightness according to the distance. |
| US08743095B2 |
Electronic apparatus and display panel
A display device as an electronic apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a clock signal wiring (104) for connecting to a source driver circuit; a power supply wiring (105) formed at a position where the power supply wiring (105) does not overlap with a projection plane of the clock signal wiring (104), so as to sandwich at least an insulating layer with a layer in which the clock signal wiring (104) is formed; and a capacitive electrode (109) electrically connected to the clock signal wiring (104). The capacitive electrode (109) is formed so as to overlap at least partially with a projection plane of the power supply wiring (105). A capacitance (301) is formed between the capacitive electrode (109) and the power supply wiring (105). |
| US08743092B2 |
Display apparatus that determines a pointing position of a pointing device and method thereof
A display apparatus includes a display panel which include a plurality of areas; a communication unit which receive information about brightness sensed by a pointing device; a backlight unit which includes a plurality of light sources; and a controller which controls the backlight unit to change the brightness of the plural areas by a predetermined unit, and determines a pointing position of the pointing device on the basis of relative variation in the information about the brightness. With this, it is possible to detect a pointing position of a pointing device in a display apparatus having a hold-type display panel. |
| US08743091B2 |
Acoustic multi-touch sensor panel
Sensing of multiple touches on a surface of a material is provided. A beamed acoustic wave traveling in a substantially linear path along the surface of the material is formed by a plurality of transducers, e.g., a phased array, coupled to the surface. One or more echoes of the acoustic wave caused by a corresponding one or more touches on the path are detected with a detector. The detector may include, for example, one or more of the transducers in the plurality of transducers. The surface can be scanned with a plurality of beamed acoustic waves using a variety of configurations, such as parallel beams, radially emanating beams, etc. |
| US08743089B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
According to the present invention, even if a plurality of operators perform gesture operations in three-dimensional space, the three-dimensional spatial gesture of each operator is accurately associated with the target object of the three-dimensional spatial gesture. For this, a projector displays at least one selection-target object on an upper surface of a table. When a pointer operated by an operator comes in contact with the upper surface of the table, a two-dimensional coordinate detecting apparatus detects the contact position, and determines which object has been designated by the operator. In this stage, among pointers detected by a three-dimensional coordinate detecting apparatus, a pointer having a position closest to the contact position is determined, and the pointer determined to be the closest is decided as a tracking target. Thereafter, the tracking-target pointer is tracked by the three-dimensional coordinate detecting apparatus to determine the operator's gesture pattern. |
| US08743088B2 |
Pointing device comprising a light control part and electronic apparatus comprising an input device
A pointing device including a touching surface, a light emitting diode, an imaging element, and a first light control part. A fingertip is placed on the touching surface. The light emitting diode illuminates the touching surface from a side opposite to a side where the fingertip is placed. The imaging element receives light reflected from the fingertip. The first light control part controls light, which is emitted from the light emitting diode and reaches the touching surface, so that the light is evenly incident to the touching surface. The pointing device improves detection accuracy and prevents malfunctions, even when there is deviation in an output from a light source. In addition, an electronic apparatus including an input device can be provided. |
| US08743086B2 |
Dual-mode touch sensing apparatus
The present invention provides a dual-mode touch sensing apparatus. The dual-mode touch sensing apparatus includes a substrate, a first touch sensing electrode formed on the substrate and a second touch sensing electrode formed on the substrate. The first touch sensing electrode is used to perform the capacitive touch sensing technology. The second touch sensing electrode is used to perform the electromagnetic touch sensing technology. |
| US08743084B2 |
Input apparatus
An input apparatus includes a base material facing the outside and configured to serve as an operation surface of the input apparatus; a substrate arranged so as to be on the inner side, i.e., the opposite side to the operation surface of the input apparatus, and so as to face the base material; at least one first pad arranged on the substrate so as to face the base material via a dielectric member and configured to detect a capacitance; at least one second pad arranged on the substrate so as to face the base material with an air layer therebetween and configured to detect a capacitance; and a control section connected to the first and second pads, and configured to control the first and second pads. |
| US08743080B2 |
System and method for signaling in sensor devices
A processing system includes transmitter module, receiver module, and a demodulating module. The transmitter module comprises transmitter circuitry and is configured to simultaneously transmit a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter signal with a second transmitter electrode. The first transmitter signal includes a combination of a first heterodyne frequency and a carrier frequency. The second transmitter signal comprises a combination of a second heterodyne frequency and the carrier frequency. The receiver module comprise receiver circuitry and is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode, wherein the first resulting signal comprises first effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal and second effects corresponding to the second transmitter signal. The demodulating module is configured to demodulate the first resulting signal to produce a plurality of demodulation signals, wherein the demodulating module comprises a first mixer, a second mixer, a third mixer, a first filter, a second filter and a third filter. The first mixer includes a mixing frequency corresponding to the carrier frequency, the second mixer includes a mixing frequency corresponding to the first heterodyne frequency, and the third mixer includes a mixing frequency corresponding to the second heterodyne frequency. |
| US08743075B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus
An information processing apparatus comprising a touch screen which detects a touch input by a user detects the position and pressure of each of a plurality of pressed points corresponding to a plurality of touch inputs existing at the same time on a touch screen. Then, the front/rear overlap relationship of the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen is changed based on the difference in pressure between the detected plurality of pressed points. |
| US08743069B2 |
Receiving input at a computing device
This document describes technologies for interpreting physical contact with a non-touchscreen portion of a computing device's housing (e.g., the computing device's case) as input. For example, a user tapping his/her index finger against the back of a computing device, such as a smartphone or a tablet computing device, can be interpreted as input and can cause an operation to be performed by the computing device, such as turning the page of an electronic book that is being displayed by the computing device. |
| US08743068B2 |
Touch screen method for recognizing a finger-flick touch gesture
A touch screen method for recognizing a finger-flick touch gesture for an electronic device including a overlaying a plurality of transparent sensors on top of a visual display associated with the electronic device and where the transparent sensors are configured to be responsive to touch by at least one user finger and the visual display is for rendering visual information provided by the electronic device is disclosed. Control parameters associated with sensor measurements include parameter derived from recognizing a finger-flick touch gesture. |
| US08743067B2 |
Signal-to-noise ratio enhancing touch sensing apparatus using charge pump method
A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed. The touch sensing apparatus includes a logic control module, at least one storage control module, and at least one decoding control module. The logic control module is used to generate a plurality of control signals having different control timings. The plurality of control signals includes a storage control signal and a decoding control signal. Each storage control module includes a plurality of storage capacitors, and respectively stores each of sensed voltages in different storage capacitors at different times according to a storage control timing of the storage control signal. The sensed voltages are analog data sensed from scan lines of an ITO sensor. The decoding control module performs analog adding process to the sensed voltages stored in the storage capacitors according to a decoding control timing of the decoding control signal to output decoded analog data with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). |
| US08743066B2 |
Electronic device with capacitive touch-sensitive display
A method includes detecting a cover on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, and automatically increasing sensitivity of the touch-sensitive display to a touch when the cover is detected, without user interaction. |
| US08743065B2 |
Method of identifying a multi-touch rotation gesture and device using the same
A method of identifying a rotation gesture comprises detecting one or more induction signals induced by one or more pointing objects that come into contact with a touch-sensitive surface, determining the number of pointing objects, detecting movement statuses of the detected pointing objects, determining a rotation gesture performed by the pointing objects based on the movement statuses, generating a control signal associated with the determined rotation gesture and executing the rotation gesture in response to the generated control signal. |
| US08743064B2 |
Gesture orbit design
A computing apparatus and method of manipulating a displayed orbit of an object by detecting a gesture having a correspondence between body movements as the gesture and a resulting change to one or more orbital parameters within a displayed orbit system, changing an orbital parameter of the displayed orbit system according to detection of the gesture, and changing visualization on the computer display screen of the orbit system according to the change to the orbital parameter. |
| US08743062B2 |
Noise reduction for touch controller
A touch controller having noise reduction circuitry is disclosed. The touch controller can include a transmit section for generating stimulation signals to drive a touch display to sense a touch or hover event. The touch controller can also include a receive section for processing touch signals from the touch display indicative of the touch or hover event. The touch controller can reduce noise introduced into the stimulation signals and propagated through the touch display into the touch signals, thereby interfering with touch and hover sensing. To reduce the noise, the transmit section's noise reduction circuitry can isolate and subtract some or all of the noise from the stimulation signals. In addition or alternatively, the receive section's noise reduction circuitry can isolate and subtract some or all of the noise from the touch signals. |
| US08743055B2 |
Hybrid pointing system and method
A handheld controller which includes at least two disparate sensors, such as a motion sensor and a touchpad sensor. A processor deployed in either handheld controller or separate product implements a hybrid pointing and selection method that uses data from the first sensor to adjust the sensitivity to stimulus of the second sensor, and vice versa. The respective sensor data are thus tempered and combined to generate a cursor control signal that includes a large scale control component to control size and movement of a rough pointer region, and a fine scale control component to control position of a precise pointer within the rough pointer region. |
| US08743051B1 |
Mirror detection-based device functionality
An electronic device automatically reverses a left-right orientation of content displayed by the device when detecting that a user is viewing content of the device via a mirror. Some embodiments reverse the content upon detecting a trigger such as a reflection of an image displayed by the device, indicating that the device is displaying content against a mirror. In some embodiments, the device reverses the content upon detecting that blinking markers displayed by the device are inverted or upon detecting a blinking marker flashing in a particular pattern consistent to that emitted by the device. Some embodiments reverse the content upon detecting both the reflection of the image and a reflection of the user. Further, some embodiments reverse the content upon determining that the user is facing a mirror and switches back to its normal orientation when the user is viewing the content by directly looking at the device. |
| US08743050B2 |
Handheld device having pivotally retractable keypad assembly
A handheld device includes a housing and a keypad assembly configured within the housing. The keypad assembly includes one or more groups of keys configured for movable positioning between a first orientation in which a top surface of an individual key is exposed to a user, and a second orientation in which the top surface of the key pivotally retracts into the housing so as to expose an edge surface of the key. |
| US08743047B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, method for driving liquid crystal display device, and television receiver
At least one embodiment of a liquid crystal display device including: pixels each of which includes a plurality of sub-pixels; and scanning signal lines provided in a display area, the scanning signal lines being divided into groups each of which includes a plurality of scanning signal lines, the groups being sequentially selected, the polarity POL of signal electric potentials being inverted when the selected group is changed from a preceding group to a succeeding group which is selected immediately after the preceding group, a plurality of (for example, two) dummy scanning periods being inserted between a horizontal scanning period corresponding to last horizontal scanning (scanning of G23) in the preceding group and a horizontal scanning period corresponding to first horizontal scanning (scanning of G2) in the succeeding group, and a scanning signal line (for example, G2) which belongs to a group selected after the preceding group being subjected to dummy scanning during each dummy scanning period so as to be made active for a predetermined period of time, and then deactivated. With the arrangement, it is possible to suppress horizontal-shaped unevenness that occurs in a case where block inversion driving is carried out in a multi-pixel mode liquid crystal display device. |
| US08743046B2 |
Device and method for driving liquid crystal display device
The present invention relates to device and method for driving a liquid crystal display device which can prevent defective picture display coming from variation of a color temperature from taking place for improving a picture quality and reducing power consumption. |
| US08743045B2 |
Level shifter circuit, scanning line driver and display device
An object of the present invention is to achieve a scanning line drive device which allows further reduction of circuit scale and production costs. A gate driver (100) of the present invention includes: a shift register circuit (1) including g latch circuits (21) to (2g); g selection circuits (8); and g level shifter circuits (3). A level shifter circuit (3) of an output drive circuit (st1) receives a pulse (61) from a NAND circuit (6) of a selection circuit (8) at its input terminal (N1); a pulse (71) from a NAND circuit (7) of the selection circuit (8) at its input terminal (N2); and a pulse (Q1) from a latch circuit (21) at its input terminal (N3). The level shifter circuit (3) of the output drive circuit (st1) outputs a voltage signal obtained by converting the voltage level of the pulse (61) from its output terminal (O1); and a voltage signal obtained by converting the voltage level of the pulse (71) from its output terminal (O2). |
| US08743040B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with correction unit to generate correction gray level signal voltages
A liquid crystal display device which includes one image signal line which is connected to a plurality of pixels, a scanning line drive part which outputs an ON voltage to the respective pixels in a predetermined order, and a data line drive part which outputs image signal voltages. The data line drive part outputs a gray level signal voltage corresponding to a gray level value of the pixel as an image signal voltage in a first period, and outputs a correction gray level signal voltage different from the gray level signal voltage as an image signal voltage in a second period which precedes the first period. The liquid crystal display device further includes a control part which generates the correction gray level signal voltage based on the gray level value of the pixel and one or plurarity of gray level values of pixels which precede the pixel in order. |
| US08743038B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus including a backlight module, a filtering module and a display panel is provided. The backlight module includes a plurality of sets of light emitting devices. Each set of light emitting devices includes at least one first color light emitting device and at least one second color light emitting device. The filtering module is disposed on a transmission path of light emitted by the plurality of sets of light emitting devices and includes a plurality of sets of filtering units. Each set of filtering units is configured to allow light emitted by one set of light emitting devices to pass through. The display panel is disposed on the transmission path of the light emitted by the plurality of sets of light emitting devices. The backlight module turns on the plurality of sets of light emitting devices by turns. |
| US08743032B2 |
Display apparatus, driving method for display apparatus and electronic apparatus
Disclosed here in is a display apparatus, including, a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels arrayed in rows and columns and each including an electro-optical device, a pixel circuit provided commonly to each plural ones of the pixels in the same pixel row in the pixel array section and including a writing transistor for writing an image signal, a holding capacitor for holding the image signal written by the writing transistor and a driving transistor for driving the electro-optical devices of the plural pixels, and a plurality of scanning circuits configured to time-divisionally and selectively place the electro-optical devices included in the pixels into a forwardly biased state. |
| US08743029B2 |
Display device, driving method of display device, and electronic device
Disclosed herein is a display device including a pixel array unit, a first scanning circuit, a second scanning circuit and a selecting circuit. |
| US08743028B2 |
Display system and electrical appliance
A display system in which the luminance of light-emitting elements in a light-emitting device is adjusted based on information on an environment. A sensor obtains information on an environment as an electrical signal. A CPU converts, based on comparison data set in advance, the information signal into a correction signal for correcting the luminance of EL elements. Upon receiving this correction signal, a voltage changer applies a predetermined corrected potential to the EL elements. Thus, this display system enables control of the luminance of the EL elements. |
| US08743023B2 |
System for generating non-homogenous biologically-adjusted light and associated methods
A lighting system including a plurality of luminaires capable of generating polychromatic light having a dominant wavelength in the visible spectrum and arranged into an array and a computerized device electrically coupled to the plurality of luminaires so as to selectively operate each individual luminaire to produce source light varying with each other and with time. The computerized device operates the luminaire such that each luminaire emits a source light, the source lights combining to form a combined light having selected characteristics. Each of the plurality of luminaires may be operable to emit light having increased spectral opponency, thereby reducing melatonin suppression. The source lights, when perceived directly, recreate a lighting scenario having varying lighting characteristics. |
| US08743022B2 |
Screen sharing system, screen sharing method, and storage medium
A screen sharing system includes information processing apparatuses that display the same content on their respective screens as a shared screen. Each of the information processing apparatuses includes an operation right switching unit configured to acquire an operation right, a transmission data generating unit configured to generate transmission data including operational information of an input operation, and a drawing unit configured to draw a display object on the screen. At a transmitting information processing apparatus with the operation right, the drawing unit draws the display object according to the operational information, and the transmission data generating unit generates the transmission data including the operational information and sends the transmission data to a receiving information processing apparatus without the operation right. At the receiving information processing apparatus, the drawing unit draws the display object according to the operational information in the transmission data received from the transmitting information processing apparatus. |
| US08743015B1 |
Omni-directional ultra wide band miniature doubly curved antenna array
A device occupying a volumetric space definable within the bounds of a substantially spherical volume for realizing isotropic radiation may include a support for supporting a plurality of multi-polarization capable antenna elements. The plurality of antenna elements may include a first antenna element oriented in a first direction, a second antenna element oriented in a second direction, and a third antenna element oriented in a third direction. The support may support the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the third antenna element in an arrangement such that the second direction is at least substantially different than the first direction, and the third direction is at least substantially different than the first direction and the second direction. The plurality of antenna elements generally occupies a volumetric space definable within the bounds of a substantially spherical volume. |
| US08743009B2 |
Orthogonal feed technique to recover spatial volume used for antenna matching
A method and apparatus for reducing a length of an antenna (402) involves an arrangement which includes an orthogonal antenna feed. An antenna includes a radiating element (404) with a length extending along an axis (418). The orthogonal feed arrangement permits recovery of a portion of the spatial volume comprising the antenna which is normally used for antenna matching circuitry (406). An end portion of the radiating element is chosen to be helically shaped and includes an RF feed gap. The RF feed gap is coupled to a matching network which includes elongated conductors (412). The matching circuitry is positioned so that the elongated conductors are adjacent to the first end portion and extend in a direction aligned with the axis, but orthogonal to the coils forming the helically shaped end portion. |
| US08742999B2 |
Antenna apparatus for simultaneously transmitting multiple radio signals with different radiation characteristics
An antenna element has a slit including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending in a first direction so as to separate first and second feed points from each other, and the second portion extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The slit is configured to resonate at an isolation frequency to produce isolation between the first and second feed points, and configured to form a current path around the slit. A current distribution along the current path generated by exciting through the first feed point is different from a current distribution along the current path generated by exciting through the second feed point, thus providing different radiation characteristics by the different current distributions. |
| US08742995B2 |
Earphone antenna of mobile terminal
An earphone antenna of a mobile terminal having a switching function by taking radiation characteristics of an antenna into consideration when the earphone antenna is used for receiving Frequency Modulation (FM) radio broadcasting and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) is provided. The earphone antenna includes a first connector cable including a first antenna line for receiving DMB, a second connector cable including a second antenna line connected to the first antenna line for receiving FM radio broadcasting, and a switch positioned between the first connector cable and the second connector cable for electrically connecting and separating the first antenna line to and from the second antenna line. The single earphone antenna supports an FM radio broadcasting antenna and a DMB antenna. |
| US08742992B2 |
Planar inverted F antenna
In a planar inverted F antenna, a second radiation element is provided parallel to the GND surface and extending partially with respect to a first radiation element in a longitudinal direction, so as to substantially increase a width of the first radiation element in the vicinity of a power supply section. |
| US08742990B2 |
Circular polarization antenna
A circular polarization antenna includes a substrate, a ground plane, a tuning stub, a feeding element, and a cavity structure. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The feeding element is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The ground plane is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and has a hole. The tuning stub is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and connected to the edge of the hole. The cavity structure is connected to the ground plane and configured to reflect an electromagnetic wave. |
| US08742984B2 |
Integrity method for differential corrections
A system and method of calculating corrections to a navigation solution based on accurate data are provided. GNSS ephemeris, clock models and other navigation information are received from at least three GNSS satellites and pseudo-ranging to the GNSS satellites is performed. A PVT solution is resolved from the GNSS ephemeris, clock models, and other navigation information and the pseudo range measurements. The PVT solution includes a statistical measure. Differential GNSS data for calculating the corrections to the PVT solution is received and a corrected PVT solution is calculated based upon the differential GNSS data. The corrected PVT solution is compared to a region defined by the statistical measure and the corrected PVT solution is rejected when the corrected PVT solution is not within the region. |
| US08742980B2 |
Radar device and target detection method
A radar device that detects a target includes two or more transmitting antennas and two or more receiving antennas, including a combination of two or more transmitting antennas and receiving antennas that form two or more reference paths at which spatial phases become identical; an envelope detection unit that acquires an envelope of a reception signal received by the receiving antenna in each of the reference paths; a determination unit that decides a phase correction amount between the reference paths from a delay amount that yields a minimum value of an integrated distance between envelopes of the reception signals of the reference paths; and a correction unit that aligns phases of all reception signals received by the two or more receiving antennas, using the decided phase correction amount. |
| US08742979B2 |
Range side lobe removal device, signal-processing device, radar device provided with the signal-processing device, and method of removing range side lobe
This disclosure provides a range side lobe removal device, which includes a pulse compressor for acquiring a reception signal from a radar antenna and generating a pulse-compressed signal by performing a pulse compression of the reception signal, a pseudorange side lobe generator for generating a pseudo signal of range side lobes of the pulse-compressed signal based on the reception signal, and a signal remover for removing a component corresponding to the pseudo signal from the pulse-compressed signal. |
| US08742975B2 |
System and method for microwave ranging to a target in presence of clutter and multi-path effects
A system for measuring range to an RFID tag including situations containing high clutter and multi-path signals is disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader; an RFID tag; and a coordinated signal compression radar system. The reader causes the tag to respond to received signals in a first backscatter state at a first time and a second backscatter state at a second time. The signal compression radar system transmits signals coordinated by the backscatter state of the tag and creates a differential signal comprised of the differences between radar signals obtained during the first and second states of the tag to obtain an uncorrupted measure of a round trip time of flight of said radar signals between the radar system and the RFID tag. The radar may use signals typical of pulse compression radar systems such as chirp modulation or Orthogonal Frequency Domain Modulation (OFDM), either pulsed or semi-continuous. |
| US08742973B1 |
System and method of determining increased turbulence susceptibility with elapsed flight time
An aircraft based radar system is provided. The radar system includes processing electronics configured to estimate a vertical loading on the aircraft using radar return data and a time value. |
| US08742968B2 |
Analog front end device with two-wire interface
An analog front end (AFE) device has at least one programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a serial interface switchable to operate in a bidirectional serial interface mode and in a unidirectional two wire serial interface mode, wherein the unidirectional two wire serial interface mode only uses a clock input and a data output signal line, wherein the ADC operates in the unidirectional two wire serial interface mode synchronous with a clock supplied to the clock input. |
| US08742966B2 |
Output device
An output device receives a data signal, outputs an output signal corresponding to the data signal in synchronization with a clock signal, and includes a driving unit configured to drive an output buffer that outputs the output signal. The driving unit includes a signal switching unit and first and second driving circuits that operate with the same power supply. The signal switching unit inputs the clock signal into one of the first and second driving circuits in accordance with the level of the data signal, and the one of the first and second driving circuits outputs a driving signal whose level varies in accordance with a change in the level of the clock signal to the output buffer. |
| US08742965B1 |
Inherently monotonic high resolution digital to analog converter
Apparatus implementing a monotonic output digital to analog converter (DAC). A high resolution monotonic DAC may be built from a lower resolution DAC using weighting functions that combine the outputs of the lower resolution DAC such that monotonicity is maintained across major carry transitions. The lower resolution DAC should have a true output and a complementary output with a half LSB bias in the output. An extended resolution DAC may be built of; cascaded low resolution DACs; a low resolution DAC in a recursive arrangement with an intermediate storage of its output; or a low resolution DAC with weighting functions that adjust at each of several major carry transition. |
| US08742964B2 |
Noise reduction method with chopping for a merged MEMS accelerometer sensor
An apparatus includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter circuit configured to be electrically coupled to a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensor circuit. The capacitance-to-voltage converter circuit includes a differential chopping circuit path configured to receive a differential MEMS sensor output signal and invert a polarity of the differential chopping circuit path, and a differential sigma-delta analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to sample the differential MEMS sensor output signal and provide a digital signal representative of a change in capacitance of the MEMS sensor. |
| US08742962B2 |
Semiconductor device and sensor system
A semiconductor device includes an analog front-end unit that performs analog front-end processing of a measurement signal input from a sensor, where circuit configuration and circuit characteristics for performing the analog front-end processing are changeable, and an MCU unit that converts the measurement signal after the analog front-end processing from analog to digital and sets circuit configuration and circuit characteristics to the analog front-end unit. |
| US08742959B1 |
Compressing a time series of data
According to an example implementation, at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may include instructions stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to select at least one function type to approximate an interval of data points within a time series, the at least one function type being less than all of a plurality of functions available to approximate the interval, while the first function type will approximate the interval of data points within a maximum allowable error, add data points from the time series to the interval, and when the first function type will no longer approximate the interval with the added data points within the maximum allowable error, select a function of a different type or a function of a different term from the plurality of functions to approximate the interval with the added data points. |
| US08742952B1 |
Traffic awareness systems and methods
Traffic awareness systems and methods include receiving data regarding a first aircraft and determining the location of the first aircraft relative to the location of a second aircraft. An indication of the first aircraft may be provided to a display based on a determination that the relative location of the first aircraft is within a field of view associated with the display. |
| US08742947B2 |
Parking space monitoring device
A parking space monitoring device that calculates a parking space with higher accuracy. The parking space monitoring device includes an obstacle detection unit (2, 3, 4) that uses a relative distance (Ri) and relative angle (θi) between an obstacle (Cp) near a vehicle (1) and the vehicle to detect a relative position (Pi(R1, θi)) of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle, a memory (8) that stores the relative position (Pi) detected by the obstacle detection unit in association with movement information of the vehicle, and a parking space calculation unit (7) that calculates a parking space based on the relative information (Pi) and the movement information that are stored in the memory. |
| US08742946B1 |
System and related methods for powering and controlling traffic preemption system components
A traffic preemption system comprising an intersection control module, an intersection preemption unit comprising a signal detector configured to receive a signal transmitted by a vehicle preemption unit mounted to a vehicle and a remotely located electronic device comprising a controller configured to detect a variation in voltage. The system further comprises a cable coupling the intersection controller, the intersection preemption unit, and the remotely located electronic device, the cable comprising a power wire configured to carry a modulated voltage level and share power among the intersection preemption unit and the remotely located electronic device, a ground wire, and a communications wire configured to transmit a communications signal between the intersection preemption unit and the intersection controller. |
| US08742941B2 |
Device for providing information on positioning of a moveable coupling of a marine fluid loading system
A device (1) for providing information on positioning of at least one moveable coupling (26) of a marine loading system (2), the system comprising at least one fluid transfer line having a line end fixed to a base (21), and a moveable line end provided with a coupling (26) adapted for connection to a target duct, the coupling or a member immediately neighboring the coupling having at least one means for providing information on the positioning of the coupling (33) either adapted to cooperate directly with a means (34) for providing information on positioning of the base disposed on the base or on a member immediately neighboring the base to provide, on the basis of the information on positioning of the base, information on relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base, or adapted to provide information on absolute positioning of the coupling (26) in space, and, the base having a fixed position in space, the device has a calculating means making it possible to calculate on the basis of the information on absolute positioning of the coupling and data on positioning of the base fixed in space, information on relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base. |
| US08742932B2 |
Hand wash and sanitation device
A hand wash and sanitation device that controls the hygiene of the personnel while performing their work related functions in areas where complete asepsis is required. The hand wash and sanitation device that controls the use of the device by each one of the workers by using biometrics parameters and keeps records of the use of the device by each one of the workers during the preset schedule. The hand wash and sanitation device that detects if the personnel had properly sanitized their hands during a preset schedule and then takes the necessary steps to ensure the proper sanitization. The hand wash and sanitation device includes a hollow housing enclosing a biometric scanner connected to the housing, the biometric scanner reads a biometric parameter of a user, a screen located on the housing and connected to the biometric device, a liquid dispenser operatively connected to the biometric scanner, wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses a predetermined amount of an antiseptic formulation, a computer device including a software program, and the computer device is connected to the liquid dispenser and to the biometric dispenser. |
| US08742929B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracking objects and people
An object locating, identifying, tracking, and surveillance system, denoted the Assets Locating, Tracking, and Surveillance System (ALTSS), is provided for managing physical objects and evidence in environments such as police departments, law offices, and the Courts. ALTSS employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, computer programming and database applications, networking technologies, and hardware elements. ALTSS may locate and track physical evidence, merchandise, information carriers like files, folders or individual pieces of paper, and people, under certain conditions, in near-real time. It may be configured as part of a local area network, a wide area network, or the Internet. ALTSS may employ exemplary components such as RFID transponders, scanners, strategically located antennas and computers to facilitate tracking of objects and people as needed. Any number of users having access privileges and connected to the network may access ALTSS directly or remotely via the Internet to locate and track evidence or objects. |
| US08742925B2 |
Device for preventing and detecting the falling of an object on a railway line, and method for detecting the falling of an object on the line
A device (1) for preventing and detecting the falling of an object or of a person on a line (2) of a railway station having a platform (3). The device (1) includes at least one detection device (7) having at least one emitter (8) of a beam (10) and a sensor (9) able to detect the beam (10), and a detection calculator (13) for processing the signals obtained from the sensors (9) and able to communicate safely with at least one signaling system (16a, 16b, 16c) of the railway station, barriers (4) able to be arranged on the platform (3) to prevent falls of the object or of the person, the barriers (4) delimiting between door opening areas (5), a detection device (7) being arranged in each of the door opening areas (5) to detect a fall on the line (2) of the railway station. |
| US08742924B2 |
Panic device with local alarm and distal signaling capability
A panic device operable in conjunction with a local device is configured to unlock a locking mechanism. The panic device can take the form of an electronic key fob, a key shaft, or a key holder. A first trigger on the panic device triggers a local alarm that is on-board or off-board the panic device. A second trigger on the panic device can activate an alarm circuitry that utilizes a local device to provide position information to a distant dispatch station. The local device uses a GPS-aware circuitry or other non-GPS means such as triangulation to determine the position information. The position information can then be sent to the distant dispatch station with or without the aid of the local device. |
| US08742920B2 |
System and method for real time anti-smash protection
An apparatus to provide real time anti-smash protection for monitoring systems includes a displaced server which communicates with a plurality of monitoring systems. Methods of operating the server provide assurance that alarm indicating messages are forwarded to a monitoring station for evaluation by an operator even where a local monitoring system has been damaged or compromised. |
| US08742919B2 |
System for tracking containers and logistics using a biometric identity card and a CSD
A system for tracking containers and logistics using a biometric identity card and a CSD (Container Security Device). The system comprises: a container security device control unit which receives, in accordance with the result of an authentication, container biometric authentication card information from the container biometric identity card, and generates container status information including lock information obtained, and an open message obtained when the container is opened; a container tracking communication terminal unit, periodically generates current location information, and transmits the container status information and the current location information through a wireless communication system; and a container tracking server and the current location information, stores the received information, receives selected container identity information, extracts the container status information and the current location information corresponding to the container identity information, and displays the extracted information at container tracking center. |
| US08742912B2 |
Self-powered sensor system for monitoring tire pressure
A self-powered tire pressure sensor device. The sensor device includes a power circuit, an air pressure measurement sensor, a signal circuit and a wireless transmission circuit. The power circuit converts mechanical acceleration experienced by the device into electrical potential using an electromechanical transducer. Mechanical acceleration due to collisions between the mobile sensor device and the wall of the tire while the tire is in motion cause the transducer to emit a small electrical charge. An electrical potential storage element in the power circuit accumulates and stores the charge as electrical potential. Alternatively the power circuit receives and converts electromagnetic energy into electrical potential. The electrical potential powers an air pressure measurement sensor within the tire. A signal circuit and wireless transmission circuit transmit the measurement to a chassis-mounted receiver, which makes the tire pressure measurement available to systems remote from the tire. |
| US08742911B2 |
Method for monitoring the load of vehicle tires
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the load of vehicle tires which are each contacting a pavement with a circumferential section during travel, by means of monitoring devices (4) which are mounted to the tire (1) and contain a transmitter and a generator which is driven by the flexion of the tire (1), said flexion occurring during vehicle operation, wherein the generator generates a first voltage pulse each time it reaches the beginning of the circumferential section of the tire (1), which is contacting the pavement, and generates a second voltage pulse each time it reaches the end of the circumferential section of the tire (1), which is contacting the pavement, the time intervals (t1) between first and second voltage pulses are measured, the time intervals (t1) or a value calculated therefrom are/is compared with a reference value, and a warning signal is generated if a difference detected in this comparison exceeds a predefined value. |
| US08742907B2 |
Electric power information provision apparatus for an electric vehicle
A display apparatus includes a display section which is attached to an electric vehicle EV operable upon supply of electric power thereto and displays information regarding the electric power supplied to the electric vehicle EV; a determination section which determines whether or not the electric power supplied to the electric vehicle EV contains green electric power; and a display control section. In the case where the determination section determines that the electric power supplied to the electric vehicle EV contains green electric power, the display control section controls the display section such that the display color becomes green. In the case where the determination section determines that the electric power supplied to the electric vehicle EV does not contain green electric power, the display control section controls the display section such that the display color becomes red. |
| US08742902B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, and non-contact IC card device
An information processing method includes the steps of: detecting a magnetic field variation that occurs in the vicinity of a receiving section that receives a magnetic field signal; determining whether or not a detection result satisfies a predetermined condition that is set in advance; connecting a storage section, which stores information included in the magnetic field signal received by the receiving section, to the receiving section if it is determined that the detection result does not satisfy the condition; and connecting the storage section to a reading section that reads information stored on the storage section, if it is determined that the detection result satisfies the condition. |
| US08742899B2 |
Methods and apparatuses to identify devices
An apparatus and method to identify devices including a first set of commands to identify devices in a first state and a second set of commands to identify devices in a second state, wherein devices identified in the first state are placed in the second state and devices identified in the second state are placed in the first state. |
| US08742892B1 |
Method and apparatus for assigning and imprinting touch icons of a touch pad
A method and apparatus for simplified setting and imprinting the touch icons of a touch pad used for electrical devices and appliances in homes, other residences and other building by installing the touch pad directly on walls or an electrical wall box individually and in a cascaded chain connected via a bus line with or without power feed, including the attaching of the pads to each other for providing aligned larger sized touch panel, wherein the setting of the touch icon is via loading data to a memory or via setting switches and the imprinting is selected via a program provided for printing a pre-formatted and pre-cut decorative sheet attached to the touch pad by a front cover with self-locking. |
| US08742886B2 |
Multi unit controller
A multi unit controller has a plurality of base units each of which includes a control unit connector, a base unit connector through which the base units juxtaposed to each other are connected to each other, and a plurality of control units connected to the base units respectively through the respective control unit connector, wherein the base units juxtaposed vertically. |
| US08742884B2 |
Sensor system for plant monitoring
A sensor system includes at least one safety sensor unit for monitoring a safety relevant zone of a plant. The sensor system also includes a display unit connected to the sensory unit or integrated into it. The sensor system outputs a safety switch signal on an intrusion of an unpermitted object into the monitored, safety relevant zone and the safety sensor unit has an input interface for receiving a further safety switch signal. The input interface can be configured such that, on the one hand, it can receive the further safety switch signal and, on the other hand, can also receive external, non-safety relevant signals of an external device. The display unit is designed to display internal state data of the sensor system and information resulting from the external non-safety relevant signals. |
| US08742882B2 |
Touch panel
The invention provides a touch panel capable of effectively preventing a distortion of an electric potential distribution, thereby increasing an input region of the touch panel. A touch panel including a resistive layer formed on one of surfaces of a substrate and a frame-shaped electrode portion 21 provided along four sides of the resistive layer, wherein each side of the frame-shaped electrode portion 21 is constituted in a broken line pattern having a first split electrode 25a disposed on both ends respectively and a plurality of second split electrodes 25b disposed between the first split electrodes 25a, second resistance values R_i between the second split electrodes 25b are set to be equal to each other, and a first resistance value R_s between the first split electrode 25a and the second split electrode 25b which is adjacent to the first split electrode 25a is different from the second resistance value R_i. |
| US08742881B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component that can be prevented from being shifted from a normal mount position and can be manufactured with a low cost is provided. The component is configured by stacking a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of inner conductors provided on the respective insulating layers. The connection conductors have respective exposure portions that are each exposed between corresponding ones of the insulating layers at a surface of the stack. An outer electrode is formed, for example, by plating on the lower surface so that the exposure portions are covered with the outer electrode. The plurality of exposure portions do not have uniform thicknesses or are not arranged at uniform intervals in the stacking direction. |
| US08742876B2 |
Transformer coil and transformer with passive cooling
The disclosure relates to a transformer coil which can be cooled by a heat pipe and has a primary winding and a secondary winding and relates to a transformer which is formed from transformer coils which can be cooled in this way. The heat from the transformer coil is dissipated by the heat pipe. The evaporator of the heat pipe is arranged in the area of the windings and forms at least one extensive evaporator segment, which extends in the circumferential direction of the windings and along the winding axis of the transformer coil and in the process covers a multiplicity of the turns of the secondary winding. |
| US08742872B2 |
MEMS element, and manufacturing method of MEMS element
In a MEMS device having a substrate 1, a sealing membrane 7, and a movable portion 3 of beam and an electrode 5 which have a region wherein they overlap with a gap in perpendicular to a substrate 1 surface, a first cavity 9 is on the side of the movable portion 3 in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, and a second cavity is the other cavity, and an inner surface a of a side wall A in contact with the electrode 5, of the first cavity 9, is positioned more inside than an inner surface b of a side wall B in contact with the electrode 5, of the second cavity 10, in the direction parallel to the substrate surface, such that the movable portion 3 does not collide with the electrode 5 when mechanical stress is applied from outside to the sealing membrane 7. |
| US08742867B2 |
Capacitively coupled stripline to microstrip transition, and antenna thereof
The present invention provides a capacitively coupled stripline to microstrip transition which comprises a stripline, a microstrip, an upper conductive ground plane, a lower conductive ground plane, an insulating layer and an insulating fixing component. The stripline is positioned between the upper conductive ground plane and the lower conductive ground plane, and has a stripline overlap section. The microstrip is mounted on the upper conductive ground plane, and has a microstrip overlap section which penetrates the upper conductive ground plane. Wherein the microstrip overlap section, the insulating layer and the stripline overlap section are attached uniformly and tightly in sequence and fixed together by the insulating fixing component. The present invention further provides an antenna comprising this transition. |
| US08742866B2 |
Electromagnetic coupler and information communication device including same
An electromagnetic coupler including a conductor pattern formed in a first conductor layer, a feed pattern connected to a feeding system and a ground pattern separated from the feed pattern. The feed pattern and the ground pattern are formed in a second conductor layer parallel to the first conductor layer. A first linear conductor and a plurality of second linear conductors are formed perpendicularly to the first and the second conductor layers. The first linear conductor connects the conductor pattern and the feed pattern. The plurality of second linear conductors connects the conductor pattern and the ground pattern. In addition, the conductor pattern is symmetrical in shape with respect to the connection point between the conductor pattern and the first linear conductor. The plurality of second linear conductors are symmetrical in position with respect to the first linear conductor in a planar view. |
| US08742850B1 |
Method and apparatus for respectively calibrating a gain of a plurality of amplfiers of an amplfier circuit
Circuits, architectures, a system and methods for providing on-chip gain calibration. The circuit generally includes a receiver comprising (i) a resistor on a semiconductor substrate, the resistor configured to provide a signal having a noise component that varies with temperature, and (ii) an amplifier circuit on the semiconductor substrate coupled to the resistor, the amplifier circuit configured to receive the signal and provide a second signal having an amplitude greater than the first signal. The architectures and/or systems generally include those that embody one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The method generally includes (i) providing a noise signal from a resistor to an amplifier, the resistor being on a common semiconductor substrate with the amplifier, (ii) determining a resistance value of the resistor, (iii) determining an impedance at an input of the amplifier, and (iv) determining a gain of the amplifier. |
| US08742849B1 |
Linear source follower amplifier
A linear source follower amplifier is provided with a first metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) field effect transistor (FET) having a gate to accept an ac input signal and a source to supply an ac output signal. A second MOS FET has a gate to accept the ac input signal, a source connected to the drain of the first MOS FET. A third MOS FET has a drain connected to the source of the first MOS FET, a gate connected to the drain of the second MOS FET, and a source connected to a first reference voltage. A fourth MOS FET has a drain and a gate connected to the drain of the second MOS FET and a source connected to the first reference voltage. A current source has an input connected to a second reference voltage, and an output connected to the drain of the first MOS FET. |
| US08742848B1 |
Common mode rejection ratio versus frequency in instrumentation amplifier
A method of fabricating an instrumentation amplifier to have an improved common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) vs. frequency initially trims resistors in the input amplifiers of the instrumentation amplifier during a DC test, where the inputs are shorted and a DC voltage is applied, so that the output of the amplifier is approximately zero. This will normally cause the transconductances of the two input amplifiers to be different. Thus, the AC CMRR will degrade with frequency. Trimmable capacitors are provided in the input section and are trimmed during a common mode AC test to cause the output voltage to be minimized during the AC test. This causes the two input amplifiers to have the same bandwidth and gm/C ratio. |
| US08742847B1 |
Amplifier and dynamic-bias generation device and dynamic-bias method thereof
An amplifier, a dynamic-bias generation device of the amplifier and a dynamic-bias method of the amplifier are provided. The dynamic-bias generation device comprises an input stage, an output stage, a detection unit, a dynamic-bias generation unit and a switch unit. The input stage having a plurality of bias terminals converts an input signal of the amplifier into at least one current signal according to the voltage of the bias terminals. The output stage receives and converts the current signal into an output signal of the amplifier. The detection unit detects the current signal. The dynamic-bias generation unit generates a plurality of bias voltages according to the current signal. The switch unit dynamically determines the connection relations between the bias voltages of the dynamic-bias generation unit and the bias terminals of the input stage according to the detection result of the detection unit. |
| US08742846B1 |
Selectable gain differential amplifier
The selectable gain differential amplifier includes a differential amplifier, a plurality of cascade leg pairs connected to the differential amplifier, each leg of each cascode pair including a cascode device and a load resistor configured to provide a selectable gain. A variable voltage generator is connected to each leg configured to set gain resistor voltage of any active cascode leg pair to a uniform predetermined common mode voltage and the output node voltage of any inactive cascode leg pair to a voltage different from the predetermined common mode voltage. A selector circuit is configured to select the output of any said cascode leg pair. |
| US08742841B2 |
PWM re-clocking scheme to reject accumulated asynchronous jitter
An amplifier may use pulse-width modulators controlling respective sets of switches to produce an amplified version of a source signal. A phase locked loop in the amplifier may generate a differential clock signal. A first processing element operating according to a first supply voltage may generate a PWM signal representative of the source signal, and also generate a clock enable signal corresponding to the differential clock signal. A second processing element (PE2) may receive the differential clock signal, the PWM signal, and the clock enable signal, and level shift the PWM signal and the clock enable signal to operate according to a second supply voltage, and may generate a resampling clock signal from the differential clock signal according to the level shifted clock enable signal. The PE2 may provide a PWM output signal representative of the source signal by resampling the level shifted PWM signal with the resampling clock signal. |
| US08742838B2 |
Stacked structure with a voltage boosting supply circuit
The interposer 30 is disposed on an upper surface of the stacked structure 24 formed by stacking a plurality of a DRAM chip 20 and a plurality of a flash memory chip 22. Thus down-size of an entire device is accomplished. A boost converter having an inductor is used as a voltage boost circuit 40. Thus down-size of the entire device is accomplished. |
| US08742836B2 |
Double-swing clock generator and charge pump
A double-swing clock generator includes a first double-swing clock generation circuit and a second double-swing clock generation circuit. The first double-swing clock generation circuit is used for receiving a first voltage, a second voltage, a first clock, an inverse first clock, and a third voltage, and outputting a first double-swing clock. The second double-swing clock generation circuit is used for receiving a fourth voltage, the second voltage, the first clock, the inverse first clock, and the third voltage, and outputting a second double-swing clock. |
| US08742835B2 |
Switch circuit and charge pump using the same thereof
The switch circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a forth switch, a fifth switch, a sixth switch and a seventh switch. The first switch couples the voltage input terminal to one terminal of a flying capacitor. The second switch couples one terminal of the flying capacitor to one terminal of the output capacitor. The third switch couples one terminal of the flying capacitor to a common terminal. The fourth switch couples the other terminal of the flying capacitor to one terminal of the output capacitor. The fifth switch couples one terminal of the output capacitor to a positive voltage output terminal. The sixth switch couples the other terminal of the flying capacitor to the common terminal. The seventh switch couples the other terminal of the flying capacitor to a negative voltage output terminal. |
| US08742832B2 |
Multi-step charge pump and method for producing multi-step charge pumping
A multi-step charge pump having a power input terminal and a power output terminal is provided. The multi-step charge pump includes a plurality of capacitors, wherein each of the capacitors has a capacitance. A plurality of switching devices is connected among the capacitors, the power input terminal and the power output terminal. A switch-controlling unit controls the on/off states of the switches, wherein a charging-phase circuit corresponding to a pumping level is formed to charge the capacitors and an output-phase circuit is formed to output a voltage from the power output terminal. At least one of the capacitors herein is changeably selected as a voltage-regulating capacitor. |
| US08742829B2 |
Low leakage digital buffer using bootstrap inter-stage
The present invention is a method and circuitry for driving a high-threshold MOS device on low input voltages. The invention includes a circuit that operates on a supply voltage that is less than the threshold voltage of the high-threshold MOS device. The circuit includes one or more low threshold MOS inverters and one or more capacitors that operate at low input voltages. The one or more low threshold MOS inverters operate in a manner that the one or more capacitors get charged to a voltage greater than the low input voltage. Thereafter, the charged capacitor drives the high threshold MOS device. |
| US08742827B2 |
Power gating circuit
A functional circuit is coupled to a power supply conductor by at least one power gating transistor. A switching device applies a gate drive voltage to a gate terminal of the power gating transistor via a resistive element. The power gating transistor provides a Miller capacitance between its drain and gate terminals. The Miller capacitance, the resistance of the resistive element, and the drive strength of the switching device are configured such that, in response to the switching device switching the gate drive voltage to allow more current to pass through the power gating transistor, the Miller capacitance provides a feedback mechanism competing against the switching device to reduce the slew rate of the gate drive voltage such that the current passing between the power gate supply conductor and the functional circuit through the power gating transistor is less than the saturation current of the power gating transistor. |
| US08742823B2 |
Driver output pad leakage current compensation
A device includes a sense circuit configured to detect a leakage current from a driver output pad. A current mirror responds to the sense circuit and compensates for the leakage current detected at the driver output pad. A scaled compensation circuit can supply compensation current to the current mirror. |
| US08742820B1 |
Power circuit and wireless network adapter
The present invention provides a power circuit, including a current-limiting chip, a current-limiting value setting circuit, and a baseband chip. A current setting port of the current-limiting chip is connected to a general-purpose input/output port of the baseband chip through the current-limiting value setting circuit. The general-purpose input/output port is configured to generate a first signal in a first time sequence period of timeslot transmitting of the baseband chip so that the current-limiting value setting circuit sets a current-limiting value of the current-limiting chip as a first current-limiting value. In the other time sequence periods of timeslot transmitting of the baseband chip, the general-purpose input/output port generates a second signal so that the current-limiting value setting circuit sets the current-limiting value of the current-limiting chip as a second current-limiting value. The first current-limiting value is greater than the second current-limiting value. |
| US08742816B2 |
Delay circuit and delay method using the same
A delay circuit includes a delay unit configured to generate a delayed transmission signal by delaying a transmission signal activated when a first signal or a second signal is activated, a signal type storing unit configured to store whether the first signal and the second signal is activated, and a transmitting unit configured to transmits the delayed transmission signal as a first delayed signal or a second delayed signal in response to a value stored in the signal type storing unit. |
| US08742814B2 |
Sequentially operated modules
Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads. An activation signal is propagated in the system from one module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to an external power source such as AC power. |
| US08742809B2 |
Delay-locked loop having a loop bandwidth dependency on phase error
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that vary one or more attributes or parameters of a closed-loop clock circuit as a function of a characteristic of its phase error. One example provides a delay-locked loop having a loop bandwidth that can be varied as a function of its phase error. In this specific example, current phase error is determined. This determination may be made directly, either by measuring phase error, or indirectly, by determining if phase error is within one or more ranges of values. Once the phase error is determined, the loop bandwidth can be set. In one example, the loop bandwidth is set by adjusting the depth, type, or depth and type of the delay-locked loop's loop filter. In this way, large phase errors can be reduced quickly by increasing loop bandwidth, while small phase errors can be used to decrease loop bandwidth, thereby improving jitter performance. |
| US08742801B2 |
Buffer circuit for semiconductor device
A buffer circuit is provided which is insensitive to a duty distortion regardless of the change of operation environment. The buffer circuit includes a current mode logic buffer and a differential-to-single-ended converter. The differential-to-single-ended converter receives first and second differential output signals to generate a single ended output signal and is configured so that an internal control node of the differential-to-single-ended converter is controlled in a negative feedback method to maintain a constant duty ratio of the single ended output signal regardless of the change of operation environment. According to some embodiments, a duty distortion of the single ended output signal due to the change of operation environment such as a process, a voltage, a temperature, etc. is reduced or minimized and thereby performance of the buffer circuit is improved and operation reliability is improved. |
| US08742800B1 |
Integrated circuit with precision current source
An integrated circuit with precision current source includes a first MOSFET, a second MOSFET, an op-amp and a resistor formed on a common semiconductor substrate. The first MOSFET is characterized by a first multiplier (xM1) and the second MOSFET is characterized by a second multiplier (xM2) where a ratio of xM2 to xM1 is greater than one. An inverting input of the op-amp is coupled to a drain of the first MOSFET and an output of the op-amp is coupled to a gate of the first MOSFET. |
| US08742790B1 |
Circuits and methods for level shifting a signal
A level shift circuit includes a first latch circuit configured to receive a clock signal, a digital data signal, a first supply voltage, and a second supply voltage, and generate a first output signal based on the digital data signal. The first output signal has a first voltage level corresponding to the first supply voltage, and a second voltage level corresponding to the second supply voltage. At least one capacitor is configured to receive the first output signal, and retain a voltage value corresponding to the output signal. A second latch circuit is configured to receive the voltage value, a third supply voltage, and a fourth supply voltage, and generate a second output signal based on the voltage value. The second output signal has a third voltage level corresponding to the third supply voltage and a fourth voltage level corresponding to the fourth supply voltage. |
| US08742789B2 |
Interconnected array of logic cells reconfigurable with intersecting interconnection topology
An interconnected array of reconfigurable logic cells which carry out at least one logic function, externally connected to peripheral connection network equipped with switch boxes and connected to programmable input/output blocks. The logic cells are distributed in a first dimension in rows i with i=1 to d and a second dimension in columns j with j=1 to w, with d≦2 and w=2 or d=2 and w≦2, each logic cell including a second input, a second input, a first output and a second output, the first input of each logic cell and the first output of each logic cell being connected to the connection network, the second input and the second output of each logic cell being connected to other different column and row logic cells except for the first and last rows or columns for d>2 or w>2 respectively. |
| US08742786B2 |
Semiconductor device and operation monitoring method for semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a monitor including a first element coupled between a first power supply line and a second power supply line, and a load for increasing a load value between the first element and the first power supply line or the second power supply line, and a determination unit which determines an operating state of the first element based on an output of the monitor. |
| US08742785B2 |
Driving method and method for measuring feed through voltage of electrophoretic display
A driving method of an electrophoretic display is provided. The driving method includes the following steps. A plurality of pixels of a display panel of the electrophoretic display are configured as a plurality of blocks. A common voltage of the display panel is set to a first voltage. A plurality of scanning signals are inputted to a plurality of scanning lines of the display panel in order in which scanning lines corresponding to the same block receives the same scanning signal. A plurality of data lines of the display panel are measured to obtain at least one peak voltage corresponding to each of the blocks. A feed through voltage corresponding to each of the blocks is determined according the peak voltages corresponding to the blocks. A plurality of driving signals which drive each of the blocks are adjusted according the feed through voltage corresponding to each of the blocks. |
| US08742779B2 |
Semiconductor device and abnormality prediction method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first CPU, a second CPU having a configuration that is the same as or comparable to a configuration of the first CPU, and a comparator that compares an output of the first CPU with an output of the second CPU. The second CPU is made so as to have a lower operating margin than the first CPU. By supplying a same signal to the first CPU and the second CPU and then detecting a mismatch between the outputs of the first CPU and the second CPU as a result of comparison, the abnormality is predicted. The semiconductor device includes a reset control circuit that resets the device when the result of comparison by the comparator indicates an error. |
| US08742776B2 |
Mechanisms for resistivity measurement of bump structures
The embodiments described above provide mechanisms for bump resistivity measurement. By using designated bumps on one or more corners of dies, the resistivity of bumps may be measured without damaging devices and without a customized probing card. In addition, bump resistivity may be collected across the entire wafer. The collected resistivity data may be used to monitor the stability and/or health of processes used to form bumps and their underlying layers. |
| US08742775B2 |
Zinc oxide sulfur sensor
A sulfur concentration detection system for detecting a sulfur concentration in a liquid includes a sensor having a conductive metal substrate and zinc oxide microstructures deposited on and protruding from the conductive metal substrate, a current source, and a voltage detector. An electrical resistivity of the zinc oxide microstructures is configured to change as a function of an amount of sulfur in the liquid available to react with zinc in the zinc oxide microstructures. The current source and the voltage detector are connected to the conductive metal substrate and configured to detect a change in the electrical resistivity of the zinc oxide microstructures. |
| US08742774B2 |
Apparatus for measuring a radius of a workpiece
An apparatus for measuring a workpiece includes a capacitance probe mounted to a probe housing and a non-conductive spacer. The capacitance probe includes a probe tip with a sensor surface that emits an electric field. The non-conductive spacer extends between a probe contact surface and a workpiece contact surface. The probe contact surface covers the sensor surface, and the workpiece contact surface contacts the workpiece during the measuring of the radius. |
| US08742770B2 |
System and method for providing electromagnetic imaging through magnetoquasistatic sensing
A system for providing electromagnetic imaging through magnetoquasistatic sensing contains an electromagnetic sensor for imaging a sample. The electromagnetic sensor contains drive/sense electronics and a pixelated sensor array having an array of inductive loops that source magnetic fields that interact with the sample, wherein the inductive loops are individually drivable by the drive/sense electronics in a coordinated manner to establish a desired temporal and spatial pattern in which electrical properties of the inductive loops are used to generate an image. Other components of the system include a precision motion controller, sensor head and associated electronics, and a computer for performing data acquisition and signal inversion. |
| US08742768B1 |
Interrogation measurement system and method providing accurate permittivity measurements via ultra-wideband removal of spurious reflectors
A method and apparatus for determining at least one property of a target material is disclosed. The method is constituted of: providing a time varying signal at comprising frequency content over a range of frequencies; transducing the provided signal so as to interact with the target material; receiving the provided time varying signal after interaction with the target material; mixing the received time varying signal with a portion of the provided time varying signal; determining the propagation delay associated with the target material of the received provided time varying signal at each of a plurality of frequencies within the range of frequencies; and determining at least one property of the target material responsive to the determined propagation delay at each of the plurality of frequencies. |
| US08742761B1 |
Metallic sensing ground probe
The present invention is a metallic sensing ground probe comprising a rod and a handle having a port for storing a power supply in electrical communication with a circuit, for generating an electric field between a sensor tip on a distal end of the rod and a logic circuit for actuating an LED in an LED display unit on the handle, when the sensor tip encounters a metal object within the ground thus completing the circuit. |
| US08742759B2 |
High-frequency coil and magnetic resonance imaging device
There is provided a high-frequency coil of an MRI device, which can easily and highly reproducibly reduce electromagnetic coupling between adjacent surface coils among a plurality of surface coils disposed with intervals. An electromagnetic decoupling coil that can generate a magnetic flux for canceling a magnetic flux generated by one of the adjacent surface coils and interlinking with the other surface coil is disposed between the adjacent surface coils. The electromagnetic decoupling coil is provided with a capacitor, and is tuned by means of the capacitor so that the electromagnetic coupling should be minimized in such a range that the resonance frequency thereof should be lower than the resonance frequency of the surface coils. |
| US08742756B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method of assisting setting of imaging parameter
An object is to enhance usability of parameter check when an imaging parameter is changed in multistation imaging, and easily obtain a desired image with high quality. In the multistation imaging, it is determined in a lump before imaging whether an image having desired quality is obtained by using the changed value of the imaging parameter, and the result is presented to an operator. The determination is executed in the order of “possible or impossible” determination of execution of imaging itself and “possible or impossible” determination of combination of obtained images. When it is determined that it is impossible to execute the imaging itself, the determination processing is finished. At this time, a recommended value may be presented. |
| US08742751B2 |
Magnetic field measuring device
A magnetic field measuring device includes a support base, a measuring mechanism, and a displacement sensor. The measuring mechanism is positioned on the support base, and includes a mounting plate, a swing arm, a connecting member, an elastic member, and a measuring magnet. The mounting plate is connected to the support base. The swing arm is rotatably positioned on the mounting plate. The elastic member is positioned between the connecting member and the swing arm. The measuring magnet is connected to the swing arm, opposite to the support base. The displacement sensor is positioned on the support base, opposite to the swing arm. |
| US08742745B2 |
DC-DC converter and voltage conversion method thereof
A DC-DC converter is provided. When a load of the DC-DC converter is too light, the DC-DC converter can raise a frequency of its PWM signal, and reduce a pulse width of the PWM signal, so as to avoid the frequency of the PWM signal falling into a frequency range that can heard by human's ear and maintain high conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter. |
| US08742744B2 |
Sensor-less operation and detection of CCM and DCM operation modes in synchronous switching power converters
Generally, described herein are embodiments of control schemes for sensor-less operation and detection of CCM and DCM in a switching power converter. In one aspect, embodiments of a controller are described that utilize dual control loops and do not require sensing the inductor current or any current in the converter which eliminates or reduces the challenges and problems associated with current sensing. Advantages of embodiments of methods described herein become more significant when used in ultra high switching frequency converters since embodiments of the controller result in eliminating the need for high-speed low-noise current sensing circuitries, when used in on-chip integrated power converters where sensing accuracy may be a more significant issue compared to on-board power converters, and in power converters with paralleled modules since embodiments of the controller eliminate sensing circuitries in each of the modules. |
| US08742742B2 |
Switching control circuit for fixed-on-time power conversion system
A switching-control circuit configured to keep a transistor on for a predetermined time to generate a target-level-output-voltage from an input voltage. The circuit is configured to generate, every switching period of the transistor, a slope voltage corresponding to that of a ripple voltage contained in an output voltage during a time period when the transistor is off, limit an amplitude of the slope voltage so as not to exceed a predetermined amplitude greater than the amplitude of the slope voltage when the target-level-output-voltage is generated, add the slope voltage to a reference voltage, indicating a reference of the target-level-output-voltage, or a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage, and keep the transistor on for a predetermined time and thereafter turn off the transistor, when a level of either one voltage, added with the slope voltage, of the reference voltage and the feedback voltage reaches a level of another voltage thereof. |
| US08742741B2 |
Apparatus and methods of soft-start in a hysteretic power converter
In one general aspect, a power supply circuit can include a power stage configured to be coupled to a power source and configured to deliver an output voltage to a load circuit, and can include a comparator coupled to the power stage and configured to receive a reference voltage. The power supply circuit can also include a hysteresis control circuit configured to receive at least one of a feedback voltage or a reference voltage and configured to change a hysteresis of the comparator in response to the at least one of the feedback voltage or the reference voltage during a soft-start of the power supply circuit. |
| US08742735B2 |
High-voltage startup circuit
A system including a power transistor configured to receive an alternating current (AC) line voltage and a control circuit. During a rising portion of a half cycle of the AC line voltage, the control circuit is configured to turn on the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches a first value and turn off the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches a second value. The second value is greater than the first value. During a falling portion of the half cycle, the control circuit is configured to turn on the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches the second value and turn off the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches the first value. |
| US08742729B2 |
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery is disclosed. The rechargeable battery of the invention includes a high density capacitor and an integrated circuit. The high density capacitor is connected to a ground terminal and a first node carrying a first voltage. The integrated circuit includes a band gap circuit, a first detecting unit, a voltage divider, a second detecting unit and at least one low dropout voltage regulator. The band gap circuit generates a band gap voltage according to the first voltage. The first detecting unit measures the first voltage and determines whether to apply an input charging voltage to the high density capacitor. The voltage divider is connected in parallel with the high density capacitor and has a second node carrying a second voltage. The second detecting unit measures the second voltage according to the band gap voltage and determines whether to connect a third node to the first node. Each low dropout voltage regulator is connected to the third node and generates a specified voltage output and a specified current output according to the band gap voltage and the first voltage. |
| US08742728B2 |
System for controlling charging and discharging of lithium ion battery
A rechargeable battery system that controls charge/discharge of a lithium ion rechargeable battery, includes: an internal resistance detection unit that detects or estimates an internal resistance value indicating an internal resistance at the lithium ion rechargeable battery; and a discharge control unit that executes control so as to set a discharge suspension period while the lithium ion rechargeable battery is discharged if the internal resistance value detected via the internal resistance detection unit during discharge of the lithium ion rechargeable battery exceeds a first threshold value. |
| US08742719B2 |
Power supply device, power receiving device and vehicle including power receiving device, and control method for power supply system
A power supply device supplies electric power to a power receiving device including a power receiving unit in a non-contact manner. The power supply device includes a power source device that generates electric power with a predetermined frequency; a power transmitting unit that receives the electric power from the power source device, and that resonates with the power receiving unit through an electromagnetic field, thereby transmitting the electric power to the power receiving unit in the non-contact manner; a detection device that detects reflected electric power to the power source device; a communication device that receives information regarding a power receiving situation in the power receiving device; and a control device that controls electric power transmission from the power transmitting unit based on the information regarding the power receiving situation and the reflected electric power. |
| US08742716B2 |
Information output apparatus
An information output apparatus comprises a body and a base station. The body has a first battery and an output unit. The first battery is a rechargeable battery. The output unit outputs information. The base station is fixed to a car and supports the body that is detachable. The base station has a power generator that converts at least one of light, heat, wind, or vibration to electrical energy. Charging the first battery is performed on the basis of electrical energy generated by the power generator, without using electrical energy charged in a car battery. The body operates on the basis of electrical energy that is either generated by the power generator or charged in the first battery, without using the electrical energy charged in the car battery. |
| US08742715B2 |
System and method for providing control of an electric motor using inductive rotary sensor
A sensor system for providing control of an electric motor having an inductive angle sensor system including a first inductive coil configured for affixation to a rotor shaft of the electric motor wherein rotation of the rotor shaft causes corresponding rotation of the first inductive coil. A second inductive coil fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to the first inductive coil. An evaluation circuit coupled to the second inductive coil and to the electric motor operative to determine a rotor shaft angle for the rotor shaft of the electric motor through evaluation of an induced magnetic field between the first and second inductive coils. |
| US08742713B2 |
Motor control circuit and method that reduce speed jitter of an electric motor
Motor control circuits and associated methods to control an electric motor provide a plurality of drive signal channels at the same phase, resulting in reduced jitter in the rotational speed of the electric motor. |
| US08742709B2 |
Integrated-inverter electric compressor
Provided is an integrated-inverter electric compressor with suppressed self-noise interference in an inverter unit, simplified electrical connections between an inverter circuit and a filter circuit, and fewer welded positions. A housing (2) has, on the periphery thereof, an inverter box (5) accommodating the inverter circuit (21) and a junction box (6) communicating with the inverter box (5) and accommodating a plurality of high-voltage components constituting a noise-suppression filter circuit (27). The plurality of high-voltage components accommodated in the junction box (6) are electrically connected via a busbar (33). The busbar (33) includes branched busbars (34) branched off near connections with a high-voltage component installed close to the inverter circuit (21), and the branched busbars (34) are connected to P-N terminals (25) of the inverter circuit (21) in a communicating section (12) between the junction box (6) and the inverter box (5). |
| US08742707B2 |
Control of a brushless motor
A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes rectifying an alternating voltage to provide a rectified voltage, and exciting a winding of the motor with the rectified voltage. The winding is excited in advance of predetermined rotor positions by an advance period that is updated in response to a zero-crossing in the alternating voltage. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor system that incorporates the control system. |
| US08742705B2 |
Apparatus for operating interior permanent magnet synchronous motor
Provided is an apparatus for operating interior permanent magnet synchronous motor by receiving a first current command of a flux weakening control region I in a system including a detector measuring a position and a speed of a rotor of an IPMSM, the apparatus including a feedback unit transmitting over-modulated voltage information to a correction unit, the correction unit using the rotor speed and the over-modulated voltage information to correct the first current command to a second current command of a flux weakening control region II, a control unit controlling the second current command to output a voltage, a first limit unit limiting an output of the control unit to a maximum voltage synthesizable by an inverter unit, and the inverter unit applying a 3-phase voltage command for following a command torque to the IPMSM using an output of a voltage limit unit. |
| US08742702B2 |
Position detector for moving magnet type linear motor
In a moving magnet type linear motor including a stator with a plurality of coils placed in one direction and a mover with a permanent magnet opposed to the stator, a position detector detects the position of the mover. The position detector includes a magnetic body fixed to the mover. One or two or more coils are selected and a voltage is applied to the selected coil while a current or a voltage induced in a coil adjacent to the selected coil is measured, and the position of the magnetic body that changes in response to the position of the mover is determined based on the measured current or the measured voltage. |
| US08742701B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for integrated hybrid power system thermal management
A system includes an engine and a first coolant thermally coupled to the engine and circulated by a first pump; a hybrid battery pack thermally coupled to a second coolant circulated by a second pump; and an electric component thermally coupled to the second coolant. The system includes a first heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy between the first coolant and the second coolant. The system includes a second heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy between the second coolant and the auxiliary fluid stream having a temperature below a target operating temperature for the hybrid battery pack. The system includes a first bypass for the first or second coolant at the first heat exchanger, a second bypass for the second coolant or the auxiliary fluid stream at the second heat exchanger, and a component bypass for the second coolant at the hybrid battery pack or the electric component. |
| US08742697B2 |
Light source apparatus, discharge lamp driving method, and projector
A light source apparatus includes a discharge lamp including a light-emitting container, and a pair of electrodes disposed such that a respective tip portion thereof opposes each other in the light-emitting container, and a driving unit that supplies a driving current to the pair of electrodes. The driving unit includes an AC supplier that supplies an alternating current of a frequency not lower than 1 kHz and not higher than 10 GHz to the pair of electrodes and a DC supplier that supplies a direct current to the pair of electrodes. The AC supplier is configured so as to alternately repeat an AC supply section in which the alternating current is supplied and an AC stop section in which the supply of the alternating current is stopped, and the DC supplier is configured so as to supply the direct current during a period corresponding to the AC stop section. |
| US08742693B2 |
Switching power supply circuit, semiconductor device, and LED lighting device
A switching power supply circuit includes a full-wave rectification circuit that performs full-wave rectification of an AC input voltage so as to generate a primary voltage, a transformer that transforms the primary voltage into a secondary voltage utilizing electromagnetic induction between first and second isolated windings, a rectifying and smoothing circuit that generates a DC output voltage from the secondary voltage so as to supply the DC output voltage to a load, a primary current control circuit that performs on/off control of primary current based on a result of comparison between a primary current detection voltage corresponding to the primary current flowing in the first winding and a first reference voltage, and a reference voltage correction circuit for monitoring an on-duty ratio of secondary current flowing in the second winding so as to correct the first reference voltage. |
| US08742691B2 |
Load driving circuit
A main transformer is arranged such that a load is connected to its secondary winding side. A first error amplifier generates a feedback signal that corresponds to the difference between a detection signal which indicates the electrical state of the load and a predetermined first reference voltage. A current generating resistor is arranged between a current generating transistor and a fixed voltage terminal. A second error amplifier is arranged such that the first input terminal receives the electric potential at a node that connects the current generating transistor and the current generating resistor, a predetermined second reference voltage is input to the second input terminal thereof, and the output terminal thereof is connected to the control terminal of the current generating transistor. An adjustment resistor is arranged between the output terminal of the first error amplifier and a node that connects the current generating transistor and the current generating resistor. |
| US08742690B2 |
Method, operating device, and lighting system
The application relates to a circuit for operating a light-emitting means, having a half-bridge or full-bridge circuit for providing a supply voltage for the at least one light-emitting means, and a control circuit for the closed-loop control of the operation of the light-emitting means and/or fault identification. A measurement signal which represents the current through the bridge circuit and/or a measurement signal which represents the lamp current and a measurement signal which represents the voltage across the at least one light-emitting means are supplied to the control circuit at the same input. |
| US08742681B2 |
LED lighting device, illuminating device and power supply therefore having a normally-on type switching element
According to one embodiment, an LED lighting device comprises at least one normally-on type switching element, an output generation unit that generates DC output by an on-off operation of the switching element, a semiconductor light emitting element that is lit by the DC output generated by the output generation unit, and a driving control unit that causes the switching element to perform an off operation using a current passed through the semiconductor light emitting element. |
| US08742680B2 |
Lighting control system
A control system controls the operation of at least a first and a second independently controllable LED light member. The control system includes a frame member on which a plurality of electrical components can be mounted, and at least one input port for receiving at least one of a power source and a command signal source capable of sending a command signal to at least one of the first and second LED light members. A first driver member is provided for conducting power to deliver conditioned DC power to the first LED member. A first driver to frame connector removably couples the first driver member to the frame member. A second driver member conditions power to deliver conditioned DC power to the second LED member, and a second driver to frame connector removably couples the first driver member to the frame member. A first external output port is coupled to the first driver, and a second external output port coupled to the second driver. A first multi-channel electrical conductor is coupled to the first external output port for conducting conditioned DC current to the first LED light member; and a second multi-channel electrical conductor conducts conditioned DC current to the second LED light member. |
| US08742677B2 |
LED drive circuit with a programmable input for LED lighting
A LED drive circuit according to the present invention comprises a controller and a programmable signal. The controller generates a switching signal coupled to switch a magnetic device for generating an output current to drive a plurality of LEDs. The programmable signal is coupled to regulate a current-control signal of the controller. The switching signal is modulated in response to the current-control signal for regulating the output current, and the level of the output current is correlated to the current-control signal. |
| US08742675B2 |
Light-emitting panel, display device and electronic equipment
Disclosed herein is a light-emitting panel including: an organic electroluminescence element adapted to emit electroluminescence light toward a transparent substrate; a pixel circuit formed on the transparent substrate and adapted to drive the organic electroluminescence element; a color filter formed not only between the transparent substrate and organic electroluminescence element but also immediately on or above the pixel circuit; and a conductive layer formed between the pixel circuit and color filter, the conductive layer being more conductive than the color filter. |
| US08742673B2 |
Usage time correcting engine
A usage time correcting engine, and corresponding method, system, apparatus, and computer product are provided. Over a period of time that an LED lighting fixture is being used to provide light, a usage time correcting engine indirectly measures an internal temperature of a component of the fixture. The indirect measurement is based on a measured external temperature of the component and power output supplied to or provided by the component. The usage time correcting engine determines a multiplier as a function of the indirectly measured internal temperature. The usage time correcting engine multiplies the period of time by the multiplier to provide a corrected measurement of usage of the component. In some examples, the usage time correcting engine determines a remaining lifetime of the LED lighting fixture from the corrected measurement and then reports the remaining lifetime to a user by way of a log, flashing light or other notification/indication. |
| US08742662B2 |
Magnetron
A magnetron includes a cathode and a vacuum envelope in which the cathode extends. The vacuum envelope includes a portion extending radially relative to the axis of the cathode. A pair of electrically conducting support arms for supporting the cathode are in electrical connection with cathode supply terminals. The support arms have free ends connected to the cathode by leads. A wall extends across an area of the radially-extending portion. The wall is positioned along the radially-extending portion nearer to an end of the radially-extending portion that is adjacent to the cathode than to an end that is remote from the cathode and the support arms are mounted in the wall. |
| US08742660B2 |
Light-emitting device
It is an object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting device in which high luminance can be obtained with low power consumption by improving the extraction efficiency. A light-emitting device of the invention comprises an insulating film, a plurality of first electrodes being in contact with the insulating film and formed on the insulating film to be in parallel, an electroluminescent layer formed over the plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality of second electrodes intersecting with the plurality of first electrodes and formed over the electroluminescent layer in parallel, wherein the insulating film contains nitrogen and silicon and the first electrodes contain a conductive transparent oxide material and silicon oxide. |
| US08742656B2 |
Organic light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting device includes a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, a first insulating film insulating the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer positioned opposite to the gate electrode, a second insulating film insulating the semiconductor layer, source and drain electrodes connected to the semiconductor layer, a first electrode connected to one of the source and drain electrodes, a third insulating film including an opening that exposes the first electrode, a second electrode positioned opposite to the first electrode, and a light emitting layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. A taper angle of an edge area of the third insulating film contacting the first electrode lies substantially in a range between 10° and 50°. |
| US08742654B2 |
Solid state light emitting devices including nonhomogeneous luminophoric particle size layers
A light emitting device includes an LED and a layer of luminophoric particles, such as phosphor, that are non-homogeneous in size as a function of distance away from the LED. For example, a first layer of relatively large size phosphor particles may be provided between a second layer of relatively small size phosphor particles and the LED. The large particles can provide high brightness and the small particles can reduce angular color temperature variation in emitted light. |
| US08742652B2 |
HF ignition device
Described is an HF ignition device for igniting a fuel in an internal combustion engine, comprising a ceramic insulator which carries an ignition electrode and encloses an inner conductor leading to the ignition electrode, and an outer conductor which encloses the insulator and, together with a section of the inner conductor, forms a capacitor which is part of a circuit for the HF excitation of the ignition electrode. According to the invention, the insulator is part of a ceramic body which comprises an inner region which is composed of an electrically conductive ceramic and is enclosed by the insulator, and an outer region which is composed of an electrically conductive ceramic and encloses the insulator. |
| US08742649B2 |
Method and apparatus for mechanical energy harvesting using planar microfluidic device
An apparatus comprising a mechanical-to-electrical energy converting device utilizes an array of microfluidic droplets in association with a planar electrode and separated by a dielectric layer to form a capacitive structure. An elastic spacer is also disposed between the planar electrode and array of droplets, such that as the spacer is compressed, the contact area of the droplets and the dielectric is increased—increasing the total capacitance value. Periodic changes in the force applied to the elastic spacer (such as associated with vibrational motion) creates a periodic change in the capacitance value, generating an electrical current flow between the planar electrode and array of conductive droplets. |
| US08742647B2 |
Control mechanism for an electrical appliance and evaluation method for the control mechanism
A control mechanism for an electrical appliance comprises a deformable or elastic control panel, for example, embodied as a frame of an electric cooking hob. Several piezo sensor elements are arranged under the control panel. The piezo sensor elements are arranged on the rear side of a printed circuit board, the opposite front side of said printed circuit board being arranged or fastened to the underside of the control panel in a planar manner. By determining the difference of the signals of the sensor elements arranged next to each other, it is possible to accomplish an extremely good and safe evaluation of a location where a finger is placed with light pressure on the control panel. |
| US08742646B2 |
Ultrasound acoustic assemblies and methods of manufacture
An ultrasound acoustic assembly includes a number of ultrasound acoustic arrays, each array comprising an acoustic stack comprising a piezoelectric layer assembled with at least one acoustic impedance dematching layer and with a support layer. The acoustic stack defines a number of dicing kerfs and a number of acoustic elements, such that the dicing kerfs are formed between neighboring ones of the acoustic elements. The dicing kerfs extend through the piezoelectric layer and through the acoustic impedance dematching layer(s) but extend only partially through the support layer. The ultrasound acoustic assembly further includes a number of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die. Each ultrasound acoustic array is coupled to a respective ASIC die to form a respective acoustic-electric transducer module. Methods of manufacture are also provided. |
| US08742642B2 |
Electric motor with permanent magnet excitation
An electric motor with a permanent magnet excitation comprises permanent magnets retained in a pole housing and associated with the flux-conducting element, wherein at least one permanent magnet and a flux-conducting element are arranged so that they are in positively interlocking engagement. |
| US08742639B2 |
Connection module for DC motors
A DC motor is disclosed which includes a motor housing and at least one connection module adapted to be installed on the motor housing. The DC motor can be compact, flexibly adaptable to customer requirements and also easily installable in the case of a confined installation space. For this purpose, the motor housing can include a front-sided centering elevation or centering recess which cooperates with a centering recess or a centering elevation on the connection module. The connection module can be freely rotatable in a mounting state on the motor housing, and non-rotatably connected to the motor housing in the mounted state. |
| US08742636B2 |
Terminal block for rotary electric machine
A rotary electric machine terminal block fits into an opening of a case that contains a rotary electric machine, and is fixed to the case by a plate. The rotary electric machine terminal block has: a mount that is formed by fixing the electric power line connector and the signal line connector to the steel-made plate and performing insert molding so that an anti-vibration plate is formed on an upper surface of the plate; projected portions of the plate which each have a fixture hole for fixing the plate to the case; an edge seal member that covers an edge of the projected portion; a face seal member for tight attachment of the mount to the case; and two positioning pins. |
| US08742635B2 |
Turbo generator with exciter having pressure recovery
A turbo generator (1), including a stator and a rotor (2), has a rotating bell type exciter (3) connected to one end of the rotor (2) and the exciter (3) being equipped with at least one cooler (7). An axial duct (11) with a guide (12) is provided between a cylindrical housing (13) and the outer circumference of the bell type exciter (3). Thus, drawbacks of the prior art are mitigated and the efficiency of the bell type exciter is increased by recovering the dynamic energy of the cooling fluid flow. |
| US08742633B2 |
Rotary drive with linear actuators having two degrees of linear movements
A rotary and linear motion device includes a magnetic stator assembly, opposed electromagnetic actuators, and a linear-to-rotary converter (e.g., cam). Each electromagnetic actuator includes a coil that is configured to reciprocate relative to the magnetic stator assembly or to linearly translate in a common direction relative to the magnetic stator assembly. The electromagnetic actuators are coupled to the linear-to-rotary converter and upon reciprocation or linear translation, drive the linear-to-rotary converter in rotary or linear motion. The device may be located inside a wheel, which may be part of a vehicle. If part of a wheel of a vehicle, the device can be used to provide propulsion, steering, braking, and suspension for the vehicle. |
| US08742628B2 |
Solid state circuit breaker
A solid state circuit breaker includes a first terminal; a second terminal; a first wide-band gap field effect transistor coupled to the first terminal; a second wide-band gap field effect transistor coupled to the second terminal, wherein the first wide-band gap field effect transistor and the second wide-band gap field effect transistor are common-source connected to one another; and a bi-directional snubber device coupled to the first wide-band gap field effect transistor and the second wide-band gap field effect transistor. Such a solid state circuit breaker may also include a gate drive circuit coupled to the first wide-band gap field effect transistor and the second wide-band gap field effect transistor, where the gate drive circuit may comprise a voltage regulation stage and a drive stage. |
| US08742624B1 |
N+1 power supply system upgrade using dual output power supplies
A system may include a power module that includes a group of power supplies, particular ones of the group of power supplies being operable at a group of voltages ranging from a first voltage to a second voltage. The system may further include a controller coupled to the particular ones of the group of power supplies, the controller being to ramp up an output voltage, associated with the group of power supplies, from the first voltage to the second voltage in a group of discrete steps; where ramping up the output voltage by a particular one of the group of discrete steps is performed while a load is receiving power from the group of power supplies; and where ramping up the output voltage by a particular one of the group of discrete steps prevents over-current protection on the group of power supplies from being activated. |
| US08742622B2 |
System and method for thermal protection in a power system
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for thermal protection in a power system may be provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for thermal protection in a power system having a plurality of power modules selectively enabled and disabled in accordance with an efficiency policy may be provided. The method may include determining if an operating temperature for the power system is greater than a first threshold temperature. The method may also include enabling one or more power modules disabled in accordance with the efficiency policy in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature. |
| US08742621B2 |
Computer and expandable power supply system thereof
The invention discloses a computer and an expandable power supply system. The expandable power supply system includes N interface units, a determination unit, and a voltage converting unit. N is an integer equal to or more than two. The interface units are electrically connected with at least one power supplies and switching the levels of (N−1) control signals according to conductance of the power supplies. When the interface units are electrically connected with 1st to Mth power supplies, the determination unit outputs a start signal when the determination unit receives power reply signals provided by the 1st to Mth power supplies. M is an integer, and 1≦M≦N. The voltage converting unit is enabled according to the start signal to distribute operation voltages provided by the 1st to Mth power supplies by utilizing the control signals to generate a supply voltage. |
| US08742615B2 |
Method and apparatus for electric power management in a vehicle
An on-vehicle DC/DC converter transforms high-voltage electric power originating from an on-vehicle high-voltage source to low-voltage electric power at a regulated voltage level. The low-voltage electric power is distributed by a low-voltage bus. A method for operating the DC/DC converter includes monitoring a state of charge and a temperature of a low-voltage battery connected to the low-voltage bus, setting a DC/DC converter command to a nominal voltage level as a function of the state of charge and temperature of the low-voltage battery, monitoring a total low-voltage electric load, and adjusting the DC/DC converter command to a minimum low-voltage reference voltage when the vehicle is operating below a predetermined speed and the total low-voltage electric load is greater than a predetermined load. |
| US08742614B2 |
Power generator utilizing intermittent fluid flow
The invention is a power generator using intermittent fluid flow. The invention facilitates the harnessing of electric power from intermittent wind sources. The apparatus includes panels that are pivotally attached to a frame at a substantially horizontal orientation or are at an acute angle to the horizontal. As wind blows, the panels lift upward relative to the horizontal. Alternatively, the panels may be vertical and attached to an inclined track where the panels move up the track as the wind blows. This motion is transferred to a permanent magnet alternator either via the rotation of a shaft at the pivot point or via a connector rod attached to a leading edge of the panel. The motion may also be transferred by actuating a hydraulic cylinder. This motion pressurizes the cylinder and the pressurized hydraulic fluid may later be transferred into electric power via a hydraulic generator. |
| US08742613B2 |
Wind generator with water float sail
A wind generator with a water float sail includes a pond or a circular water tank containing liquid, a water float running system which can rotate in the pond or the circular water tank under the drive of wind and which includes a water float running platform floating on the liquid and several sails placed on the water float running platform, a location system which can locate the water float running system on the liquid surface, and make it rotate within a predetermined range, a brake system which can stop the rotation of the water float running system, and a generator system which can transform the energy produced by the water float running system into electric power output. The wind generator can make the water float running system floating on the liquid surface rotate, and it can generate electricity with low cost and high power. |
| US08742610B2 |
Wind turbine system and method of operating a wind turbine system
A method of operating a wind turbine system includes: determining, by an industrial process controller, if an actual wind speed value, received from an anemometer, of a wind at a location of the wind turbine system is less than a predetermined minimum wind speed value. If so, then calculating a command speed value that will cause a variable-speed drive to drive the motor/generator and a sail assembly at a speed that the sail assembly would turn if the actual wind speed value was the minimum wind speed value, such that the sail assembly turns and provides a visual effect. If not, then calculating a command speed value based on the actual wind speed value such that the variable-speed drive and the motor/generator will operate in a braking mode to recover a braking energy of a load of the wind on the sail assembly. |
| US08742603B2 |
Process for improving package warpage and connection reliability through use of a backside mold configuration (BSMC)
A backside mold configuration (BSMC) process for manufacturing packaged integrated circuits includes applying a mold compound to a side of a packaging substrate opposite an attached die. The mold compound is deposited on a dielectric (such as photo resist). The mold compound and dielectric are patterned after coupling a die to the packaging substrate to expose a contact pad of the packaging substrate. After patterning the mold compound and dielectric, a packaging connection is coupled to contact pads through the mold compound and dielectric. The mold compound surrounding the packaging connection reduces warpage of the packaging substrate during processing. Additionally, patterning the dielectric after attaching the die improves reliability of the packaging connection. |
| US08742602B2 |
Vertical electrical interconnect formed on support prior to die mount
A die assembly includes a die mounted to a support, in which the support has interconnect pedestals formed at bond pads, and the die has interconnect terminals projecting beyond a die edge into corresponding pedestals. Also, a support has interconnect pedestals. Also, a method for electrically interconnecting a die to a support includes providing a support having interconnect pedestals formed at bond pads on the die mount surface of the support, providing a die having interconnect terminals projecting beyond a die edge, positioning the die in relation to the support such that the terminals are aligned with the corresponding pedestals, and moving the die and the support toward one another so that the terminals contact the respective pedestals. |
| US08742601B2 |
Semiconductor device including a buffer layer structure for reducing stress
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, wiring that is included in the semiconductor chip and has a coupling part between parts with different widths, a pad being formed above the wiring and in a position overlapping the coupling part, a bump being formed on the pad, a buffer layer being formed in a position between the coupling part and the pad so as to cover the entire coupling part, and inorganic insulating layers being formed between the wiring and the buffer layer and between the buffer layer and the pad, respectively. The buffer layer is made of a material other than resin and softer than the inorganic insulating layer. |
| US08742596B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including: a first laminate having a wiring layer formed on a substrate; a second laminate having a wiring layer formed on a substrate, a principal surface of the second laminate being bonded to a principal surface of the first laminate; a functional element disposed in at least one of the first laminate and the second laminate; and an air gap penetrating an interface between the first laminate and the second laminate, the air gap being disposed on an outside of a circuit formation region including the functional element in at least one of the first laminate and the second laminate as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the principal surfaces of the first laminate and the second laminate. |
| US08742595B1 |
MEMS devices and methods of forming same
The present invention provides a MEMS structure comprising confined sacrificial oxide layer and a bonded Si layer. Polysilicon stack is used to fill aligned oxide openings and MEMS vias on the sacrificial layer and the bonded Si layer respectively. To increase the design flexibility, some conductive polysilicon layer can be further deployed underneath the bonded Si layer to form the functional sensing electrodes or wiring interconnects. The MEMS structure can be further bonded to a metallic layer on top of the Si layer and the polysilicon stack. |