| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08781284B2 |
Low profile copper and fiber optic cassettes
A multi-port or multi-outlet cassette that may be configured as a low profile, high-density cassette. Selected embodiments include a bezel member having a projection positioned between each adjacent pair of outlets to help reduce crosstalk. A releasable latch mechanism may be included that is configured to selectively latch and unlatch the cassette to a patch panel. Embodiments configured for use with fiber optic cables may include a movable connector member. A cable connector may be mounted to the movable connector member to move therewith as a unit. Moving the movable connector member determines an angle of the cable connector relative to the panel. Angles may be selected to reduce stress on a cable connected to the cable connector. In particular, it may be desirable to position the cable connector such that it is orthogonal to the panel. |
| US08781283B1 |
Hybrid ridge waveguide
Embodiments of the invention relate to an electro-optic device comprising a first region of silicon semiconductor material and a second region of III-V semiconductor material. A waveguide of the optical device is formed in part by a ridge in the second region. An optical mode of the waveguide is laterally confined by the ridge of the second region and vertically confined by a vertical boundary included in the first region. The ridge structure further serves as a current confinement structure over the active region of the electro-optic device, eliminating the need for implantation or other structures that are known to present reliability problems during manufacturing. The lack of “voids” and implants in electro-optic devices according to embodiments of the invention leads to better device reliability, process repeatability and improved mechanical strength. |
| US08781281B2 |
Drop cable with angled reinforcing member configurations
A fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket, an optical fiber ribbon, and reinforcing member configurations. The outer jacket has an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile that defines a major axis and a minor axis that meet at a lengthwise axis of the fiber optic cable. The outer jacket defines a central fiber passage that extends through the outer jacket along a lengthwise axis of the outer jacket. The optical fiber ribbon is positioned within the central fiber passage. The reinforcing member configurations are positioned within the outer jacket on opposite sides of the central fiber passage. Each of the reinforcing member configurations has a transverse cross-sectional profile that includes first and second legs that are angled relative to one another such that they diverge as the first and second legs extend toward the minor axis. |
| US08781277B2 |
Optical fiber cable having dummy rods with non-circular cross-section
An optical fiber cable comprising a polymeric jacket and at least one elongated buffer tube having a substantially circular cross-section and at least one optical fiber disposed within the at least one buffer tube. The optical fiber cable further comprises at least one dummy rod having a substantially non-circular cross-section, wherein the cross-sectional area of each dummy rod is at least 10% less than the cross-sectional area of the at least one elongated buffer tube along a majority of the length of the at least one dummy rod. |
| US08781275B2 |
Laser assembly with shock absorber
Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a distal end configured to emit a beam of energy. The apparatus also includes a tube including a tube channel. The distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in the tube channel. The apparatus further includes a shock absorber disposed on the tube and a cap disposed on the shock absorber. |
| US08781272B2 |
Single mode high power fiber laser system
A monolithic fiber has a double bottleneck-shaped core configured with opposite uniformly configured end regions, frustoconical transformer regions which run inwards from the respective end regions, and a central uniformly-dimensioned region which bridges the transformer regions. The core is configured as a multimode core or single-mode core and capable of guiding a single transverse mode between the end regions without splice losses. |
| US08781270B2 |
Optical cross-connect apparatus
An optical cross-connect apparatus includes: a plurality of switch units connected to each other via input ports and output ports; a storage unit to store a setting table in which output port information and corresponding input port information are associated together and registered for each optical signal such that the output port information identifies a specific output port, in the output ports, that outputs the optical signal and the input port information identifies a specific input port, in the input ports, that inputs the optical signal; a setting processor to set each switch unit in the plurality of switch units according to the setting table so as to set a wavelength for each optical signal that is input via the input ports or output via the output ports; and an update processor to update the content of the setting table in response to external input. |
| US08781268B2 |
Laser signal transmission device
A laser signal transmission device includes a transparent substrate, a first wavelength light emitting module embedded in the substrate, a first multi-mode optical fiber embedded in the substrate, and a single-mode optical fiber. The first wavelength light emitting module is configured for emitting a first laser signal having a first wavelength. The first multi-mode optical fiber is aligned with the first wavelength light emitting module. One end of the single-mode optical fiber is embedded in the substrate and aligned and optically coupled with the first multi-mode optical fiber, the other end is exposed at the substrate. The first multi-mode optical fiber is arranged between the first wavelength light emitting module and the single-mode optical fiber, and the longitudinal direction of the first multi-mode optical fiber coincides with that of the single-mode optical fiber. |
| US08781264B2 |
Optical pulse test apparatus and method of testing optical transmission path
[Task] To enable a test of an optical transmission path using an MMF with a simple configuration in an optical pulse test apparatus which is used for an SFM for long-distance transmission.[Means for Resolution] An optical coupler 22, a light source 21, a connector 23, and an optical receiver 25 are respectively connected to each other by SMF optical paths Fa to Fc. A signal processing unit 30 includes fiber type designation means 31a for designating the type of an optical fiber of a test-target optical transmission path 1 as either an SMF or an MMF, SMF parameter designation means 31b for, when an SMF is designated, designating test parameters including the refractive index of the SMF, and MMF parameter designation means 31c for, when an MMF is designated, designating test parameters including the refractive index of the MMF. The transmission characteristic of the optical transmission path 1 using the designated optical fiber with respect to distance is obtained on the basis of the parameters including the refractive index of the designated optical fiber and intensity data of return light Pr and displayed on a display unit 50. |
| US08781262B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying objects and providing information related to identified objects
Systems and methods for identifying an object and presenting additional information about the identified object are provided. The techniques of the present invention can allow the user to specify modes to help with identifying objects. Furthermore, the additional information can be provided with different levels of detail depending on user selection. Apparatus for presenting a user with a log of the identified objects is also provided. The user can customize the log by, for example, creating a multi-media album. |
| US08781257B2 |
Synchronization of two image sequences of a periodically moving object
A method and an apparatus for correlating two image sequences of a periodically moving object with respect to the periodicity is described. A first frame sequence of the object moving with the first periodicity is acquired. Therein the first frame sequence comprises at least one cycle of motion. A second frame sequence of the object moving with the second periodicity is acquired. Therein the second frame sequence comprises at least one cycle of motion. The first and the second frame sequences are synchronized with respect to the respective periodicity such that same phases of motion of the periodically moving object are correlated to be presented simultaneously. The present invention allows to compare sequences representing a periodical motion with a different number of frames in each of the sequences for the same cycle of motion. Thereby, e.g. image sequences of a beating heart acquired before and after a therapy may be presented in a synchronized way and therefore may be easily compared. |
| US08781253B2 |
Method and apparatus for video object segmentation
Methods and apparatus for video object segmentation are provided, suitable for use in a super-resolution system. The method comprises alignment of frames of a video sequence, pixel alignment to generate initial foreground masks using a similarity metric, consensus filtering to generate an intermediate foreground mask, and refinement of the mask using spatio-temporal information from the video sequence. In various embodiments, the similarity metric is computed using a sum of squared differences approach, a correlation, or a modified normalized correlation metric. Soft thresholding of the similarity metric is also used in one embodiment of the present principles. Weighting factors are also applied to certain critical frames in the consensus filtering stage in one embodiment using the present principles. |
| US08781246B2 |
Image enhancement
A method and system are disclosed for enhancing the visibility of features of an image. The method comprises the steps of acquiring image data corresponding to at least one image feature using sensing means; processing the image data to identify changes in adjacent data points corresponding to a boundary of the at least one image feature; and, generating modified image data corresponding to the processed image data. |
| US08781244B2 |
Combined deblocking and denoising filter
An apparatus, a computer readable medium to instruct a process to implement a method, and a method of reducing blocking artifacts and/or noise in an image that has been compressed by a block-based encoding process. The method includes deblocking the image using overlapped forward directional transforms, the overlapped forward directional transforms including directional selecting to filter across horizontal and vertical boundaries, denoising the image, in one version edge detecting to classify individual pixels as to whether or not they belong to edge features, and generating output pixels by locally adapting to whether the pixels are in block boundaries, and/or include edge features. |
| US08781240B2 |
Skip macroblock coding
Various techniques and tools for encoding and decoding (e.g., in a video encoder/decoder) binary information (e.g., skipped macroblock information) are described. In some embodiments, the binary information is arranged in a bit plane, and the bit plane is coded at the picture/frame layer. The encoder and decoder process the binary information and, in some embodiments, switch coding modes. For example, the encoder and decoder use normal, row-skip, column-skip, or differential modes, or other and/or additional modes. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder define a skipped macroblock as a predicted macroblock whose motion is equal to its causally predicted motion and which has zero residual error. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder use a raw coding mode to allow for low-latency applications. |
| US08781239B2 |
Selecting transform paths for compressing visual data
Encoding data includes: determining multiple patterns for computing one-dimensional transforms over a first array of data elements. Each pattern includes multiple subsets of data elements of the first array. Each subset included in a first pattern has substantially the same number of data elements as each of the other subsets included in the first pattern. Each data element of the first array is included in a single one of the subsets included in the first pattern. At least one subset included in the first pattern consists of data elements that are not in a contiguous sequence along a single dimension. Encoding the data includes: computing, for each pattern, multiple one-dimensional transforms over data elements of respective subsets included in the pattern; selecting a set of transform coefficients from a group of multiple sets of transform coefficients; and encoding the selected set of transform coefficients to represent the first array. |
| US08781238B2 |
Efficient decoding and post-processing of high dynamic range images
A decoder receives for decoding and post-processing for display an HDR (high dynamic range) image comprising a first coded image (e.g., a JPEG-HDR baseline image) and a second coded image (e.g., a JPEG-HDR ratio image). The first coded image is partially decoded and post-processed according to a post-processing command (e.g., scaling) to output a first decoded and post-processed image. The second coded image is also partially decoded and post-processed according to the post-processing command to output a second decoded and post-processed image. The first and the second decoded and post-processed images are combined to output a decoded HDR image according to the post-processing command. |
| US08781236B2 |
Processing graphical data representing a sequence of images for compression
A method for processing graphical data representing a sequence of images prior to compression, including analyzing a plurality of adjacent areas of an image from the sequence to determine: (i) a first set of areas, each of which includes changes when compared with a corresponding area in a previous image from the sequence; and (ii) a second set of areas, each of which does not include a change when compared with a corresponding area in the previous image. For each area of the second set, a section of the area is replaced with a block chosen to reduce the size of the graphical data once compressed, while leaving the original image of the area of the second set adjacent any part of the perimeter that adjoins an area of the first set. A dataset is provided to allow identification of the areas of the second set. On decompression of the compressed graphical data, the dataset is accessed and the image is processed by replacing each area of the second set with the corresponding area from a previous image. A system for processing the graphical data according to the steps set out above is also provided. |
| US08781232B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The image processing apparatus may include: a feature acquiring device configured to acquire values of a plurality of features of each pixel block in an object region of an image frame, each pixel block containing N×M pixels, N≧1, M≧1; an estimating device configured to estimate capability, of each of the plurality of features of each pixel block, of reflecting difference between background and an object in the image frame according to the object region and the background in the image frame; and a feature weighting device configured to assign a weight to each of the plurality of features according to the capability of each feature reflecting difference between background and the object, to emphasize a feature corresponding to a stronger capability. |
| US08781230B2 |
Video-based biometric signature data collection
Video-based handwriting input for biometric signature data collection is provided. The invention is implemented by finding all of the relative positions among all light points of light sources when all light sources mounted on a stylus are turned ON. An image is captured including effective strokes and digital data of pen pressure with a digital camera when a user writes on a writing surface with a stylus having a light source indicating x-y coordinates of strokes. The images are time-stamped. The stylus includes a micro-switch. When the stylus touches the writing surface, the micro-switch is turned on to let the light source indicating x-y coordinates of strokes turn ON and generate a light point. Effective stroke images and digital data of pen pressure are extracted by comparing the captured images with the light point on the stylus. |
| US08781229B2 |
System and method for localizing data fields on structured and semi-structured forms
A method and system to localize data fields of a form. An image of a form is received, where the form includes data fields. Word boxes of the image are identified. The word boxes are grouped into candidate zones, where each of the candidate zones includes one or more of the word boxes. Hypotheses are formed from the data fields and the candidate zones, where each hypothesis assigns one of the candidate zones to one of the data fields or a null data field. A constrained optimization search of the hypotheses is performed for an optimal set of hypotheses. The optimal set of hypotheses assigns word box groups to corresponding data fields. |
| US08781226B2 |
Digital image processing apparatus for recognizing fireworks, method of operating the same, and computer-readable storage medium
A digital image processing apparatus recognizes an image of a firework and performs image quality processing on the image. The digital image processing apparatus for recognizing a firework may include a digital signal processor (DSP) that recognizes a firework in a scene recognition mode based on data regarding luminance and size of flames of the firework of a live view image including at least two consecutively input frames, and that performs image quality processing on the live view image. |
| US08781219B2 |
High accuracy beam placement for local area navigation
An improved method of high accuracy beam placement for local area navigation in the field of semiconductor chip manufacturing. Preferred embodiments of the present invention can also be used to rapidly navigate to one single bit cell in a memory array or similar structure, for example to characterize or correct a defect in that individual bit cell. High-resolution scanning is used to scan only a “strip” of cells on the one edge of the array (along either the X axis and the Y axis) to locate a row containing the desired cell followed by a similar high-speed scan along the located row (in the remaining direction) until the desired cell location is reached. This allows pattern-recognition tools to be used to automatically “count” the cells necessary to navigate to the desired cell, without the large expenditure of time required to image the entire array. |
| US08781217B2 |
Analysis of three-dimensional scenes with a surface model
A method for processing data includes receiving a depth map of a scene containing a humanoid form. The depth map is processed so as to identify three-dimensional (3D) connected components in the scene, each connected component including a set of the pixels that are mutually adjacent and have mutually-adjacent depth values. Separate, first and second connected components are identified as both belonging to the humanoid form, and a representation of the humanoid form is generated including both of the first and second connected components. |
| US08781215B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
An image processing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The an image processing apparatus includes: a depth map estimating unit which estimates a depth map of a stereoscopic image; a region setup unit which sets up a region in the stereoscopic image; and a 3D effect adjusting unit which determines a difference in a depth level between the setup region and a surrounding region other than the setup region based on the estimated depth map, and adjusts a 3D effect of the stereoscopic image based on the determined difference in the depth level. |
| US08781214B2 |
Enhanced imaging for optical coherence tomography
An imaging device to obtain images, comprising: an optical source; an x-y scanner receiving light from the optical source and directing it onto a sample; a detector receiving reflected light from the scanner; and a computer receiving a signal from the detector and providing a 3D data set containing voxels with a given voxel resolution of a sample, the computer further executing instructions for finding values other than a single axes sum to represent a set of voxels; composing a 2D image using the values. |
| US08781213B2 |
Optical alignment systems for forming LEDs having a rough surface
An alignment system for aligning a wafer when lithographically fabricating LEDs having an LED wavelength λLED is disclosed. The system includes the wafer. The wafer has a roughened alignment mark with a root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness σS. The system has a lens configured to superimpose an image of the reticle alignment mark with an image of the roughened alignment mark. The roughened alignment marked image is formed with alignment light having a wavelength λA that is in the range from about 2σS to about 8σS. An image sensor detects the superimposed image. An image processing unit processes the detected superimposed image to measure an alignment offset between the wafer and the reticle. |
| US08781211B2 |
Rotational multi-layer overlay marks, apparatus, and methods
In one embodiment, a semiconductor target for determining overlay error, if any, between two or more successive layers of a substrate or between two or more separately generated patterns on a single layer of a substrate is disclosed. The target comprises at least a plurality of first structures that are invariant for a plurality of first rotation angles with respect to a first center of symmetry (COS) of the first structures and a plurality of second structures that are invariant for a plurality of second rotation angles with respect to a second COS of the second structures. The first rotation angles differ from the second rotation angles, and first structures and second structures are formed on different layers of the substrate or separately generated patterns on a same layer of the substrate. |
| US08781206B1 |
Optical imaging sensor for a document processing device
A document processing device includes a controller and a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement illuminates a surface of documents. The gradient index lens array collects light reflected from the documents and transmits at least a portion of the collected reflected light onto a photodetector array. The photodetector array generates one or more electrical signals in response to a gradient index lens transmitting light thereon. The controller derives data including image data from the one or more electrical signals. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of the surface of the documents. The visually readable image has a resolution such that alphanumeric characters can be extracted from the visually readable image in response to the document remaining within a depth of field of the gradient index lens array while being transported via the transport mechanism. The depth of field is at least about 0.03 inches. |
| US08781203B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining at least one hemoglobin related parameter of a whole blood sample
A method and apparatus for determining at least one hemoglobin related parameter of a whole blood sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) depositing the sample into an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, the chamber defined by an interior surface of a first panel, and an interior surface of a second panel, and the chamber has a height extending between the interior surfaces of the panels, wherein the chamber is configured to increase the oxygenation state of the sample to a substantially oxygenated state within a predetermined amount of time after entry into the chamber; b) imaging the at least one red blood cell contacting the interior surfaces, and producing image signals; c) determining an optical density of at least a portion of the imaged red blood cell contacting both interior surfaces; and d) determining the at least one hemoglobin related parameter of the red blood cell contacting the interior surfaces, using the determined optical density and a molar extinction coefficient for oxygenated hemoglobin. |
| US08781202B2 |
Tumor classification based on an analysis of a related ultrasonic attenuation map
A computerized method of classifying at least one suspicious region of interest (ROI) in an ultrasonic attenuation image mapping tissue of a patient. The method comprises receiving an US image of an tissue, identifying a suspicious region of interest (ROI) in the US image, generating an attenuation map of the suspicious ROI, measuring, according to an analysis of the attenuation map, at least one attenuation feature of at least one of the suspicious ROI and at least one sub region in the suspicious ROI, and classifying the suspicious ROI according to the at least one attenuation feature. |
| US08781201B2 |
Method of operating a pathology laboratory
A method of operating a pathology laboratory, which utilizes an ultrasound imaging device, adapted to automatically image tissue specimens, in the laboratory. Resected tissue specimens are received into the laboratory and the ultrasound imaging device is used to image some of the received tissue specimens, thereby creating 3-dimensional tissue specimen images of imaged tissue specimens. Locations on the imaged tissue specimens to take tissue sample, in order to make microscope slides, are determined in reliance on the tissue specimen images and the tissue samples are taken from the locations determined and the microscope slides are produced. |
| US08781199B2 |
Hybrid dual-modality image processing system and method
Hybrid dual-modality image processing systems and methods are disclosed. For example, an image processing system includes a computer for processing SPECT tomographic projection data and a CT volume image. The computer derives a SPECT transverse volume image from the projection data and registers the SPECT transverse volume image with the CT volume image to obtain an attenuation map and registration information. The computer uses the attenuation map and the registration information to derive a SPECT transverse volume image with attenuation correction. The computer uses the registration information to derive a SPECT transverse volume image without attenuation correction. The SPECT transverse volume images, with and without attenuation correction, are derived at or near the same time, using the same registration information. The registration information is stored in, carried by, or otherwise communicated through the attenuation map for subsequent processing of the SPECT transverse volume images. |
| US08781195B2 |
Method for recording and processing measurement data from a hybrid imaging device and hybrid imaging device
A method is disclosed for recording and processing measurement data from a hybrid imaging device including a first partial device for a first imaging modality and a second partial device for emission tomography. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: performance of measurement data recording with the first partial device, wherein successive different table positions are approached during the measurement data recording; recording of emission tomography measurement data with the second partial device during the performance of the measurement data recording with the first partial device at the different table positions; assignment of the recorded emission tomography measurement data to the different table positions; changing of the emission tomography measurement data assigned to different table positions with respect to the data volume in such a way that the recording times corresponding to the changed data volumes are matched to each other at different table positions; and reconstruction of an emission tomography image from the changed emission tomography measurement data. At least one embodiment of the invention further relates to a hybrid imaging device designed to perform the method. |
| US08781194B2 |
Aneurysm detection
An approach to automatically detecting, classifying and/or highlighting abnormal structures such as brain aneurysms is based on three-dimensional studies of the brain vessels. The approach is applicable to effectively all currently available modalities of acquisition of the cerebral vessels, including magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and conventional catheter-based three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA). |
| US08781193B2 |
Automatic quantitative vessel analysis
Apparatus and methods are described for use with an image of blood vessels of a subject. In response to a user designating a single point on the image (a) a target portion of a blood vessel is automatically identified in the vicinity of the designated point, and (b) quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessel. An output is generated based upon the quantitative vessel analysis. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08781184B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for detection of malaria
Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing a monitor or treatment device configured to, for example, detect hemozoin, as well as to monitor or treat a malarial infection. |
| US08781181B2 |
Contactless multispectral biometric capture
A number of biometric systems and methods are disclosed. A system according to one embodiment includes an illumination subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and an analyzer. The illumination subsystem is disposed to illuminate a target space. The imaging subsystem is configured to image the target space under distinct optical conditions. The analyzer is provided in communication with the illumination subsystem, the imaging subsystem, and the three-dimensional subsystem. The analyzer also has instructions to operate the subsystems to collect substantially simultaneously a plurality of images of the object disposed at the predetermined spatial location under multispectral conditions. |
| US08781179B2 |
System and method to assign a digital image to a face cluster
A method includes accessing a digital image including a plurality of faces including a first face and a second face. The method includes identifying a plurality of identification regions of the digital image including a first identification region associated with the first face and a second identification region associated with the second face. The method also includes assigning the digital image to a first face cluster of a plurality of face clusters when a difference between data descriptive of the first identification region and data descriptive of a face cluster identification region of the first face cluster satisfies a threshold. The method further includes assigning the digital image to a second face cluster of the plurality of face clusters based at least partially on a frequency of the second face and the first face appearing together in an image. |
| US08781173B2 |
Computing high dynamic range photographs
Computing high dynamic range photographs is described for example, to enable high ranges of intensities to be represented in a single image. In various embodiments two or more photographs of the same scene taken at different exposure levels are combined in a way which takes into account intensity or other gradients in the images to form a high dynamic range image. In embodiments geodesic distances (which take into account intensity or other image gradients) are computed and used to form weights for a weighted aggregation of the photographs. In some embodiments a user configurable parameter is operable to control a degree of mixing of the photographs as the high dynamic range image is formed. |
| US08781170B2 |
Vehicle ghosting on full windshield display
A method to display a ghosting image upon a transparent windscreen head-up display in a vehicle includes monitoring an operating environment of the vehicle, monitoring a driver registration input, determining a registered desired location graphic illustrating a future desired location for the vehicle based upon the operating environment of the vehicle and the driver registration input, and displaying the registered desired location graphic upon the head-up display. |
| US08781169B2 |
Vehicle tracking and locating system
A vehicle tracking and locating system provides information to a user about a vehicle of interest, and includes a database controller in operative communication with a database, and configured to receive data corresponding to vehicles from a plurality of client sources, and configured to save the data as information records corresponding to each client source. A plurality of external communication devices transmit a data request by the user corresponding to the vehicle of interest. A request server receives the data request in one a variety of communication formats. An input request processor operatively coupled to the request server is configured to obtain information records from the database corresponding to the data request. An output processor operatively coupled to the request server provides data of interest from the obtained information records for transmission to the respective communication device to satisfy the user request. |
| US08781168B2 |
Device for updating a photometric model
A photometric model includes at least one Gaussian model of a measurable physical magnitude in an image supplied by the camera and it is defined by the mean and the variance of the physical magnitude. A device comprises: means for computing the mean based on the current value of the physical magnitude, these means including a first summer mounted in a closed loop; means for measuring the difference between the mean and the current value of the physical magnitude, these means including a second summer; means for reducing the difference, these means including an automatic regulator. The first summer, the second summer and the automatic regulator are assembled in a closed-loop control of the first summer so as to update the model slowly in a period of stability of the observed scene and rapidly in a period of transition of the observed scene. Application: video surveillance, background subtraction. |
| US08781165B2 |
Method and apparatus for displacement determination by motion compensation
Motion estimator apparatus and methods are presented in which a fully constrained nonlinear system of equations combing forward and backward displaced frame difference (DFD) equations with a plurality of displacement vector invariant (DVI) equations is solved using the input data from two image frames without approximation and without imposing any additional constraints or assumptions to obtain an estimated displacement field. Also presented is an adaptive framework for solving a system of motion estimation equations. |
| US08781164B2 |
Control of mobile robot by detecting line intersections
Disclosed are a mobile robot and a controlling method of the same. The mobile robot is capable of reducing a position recognition error and performing a precise position recognition even in the occurrence of a change of external illumination, through geometric constraints, when recognizing its position with using a low quality camera (e.g., camera having a low resolution). Furthermore, feature points may be extracted from images detected with using a low quality camera, and the feature points may be robustly matched with each other even in the occurrence of a change of external illumination, through geometric constraints due to the feature lines. This may enhance the performance of the conventional method for recognizing a position based on a camera susceptible to a illumination change, and improve the efficiency of a system. |
| US08781159B2 |
System and method for dimensioning objects using stereoscopic imaging
A method and configuration to estimate the dimensions of a cuboid. The configuration includes two image acquisition units offset from each other with at least one of the units positioned at a defined acquisition height above a background surface. Image processing techniques are used to extract a perimeter of a top surface of the cuboid, placed on the background surface, from pairs of acquired images. A height estimation technique, which corrects for spatial drift of the configuration, is used to calculate an absolute height of the cuboid. The absolute height of the cuboid is used, along with the extracted perimeter of the top surface of the cuboid, to calculate an absolute length and an absolute width of the cuboid. The height, length, and width may be used to calculate an estimated volume of the cuboid. |
| US08781158B1 |
UVB-visible channel apparatus and method for viewing a scene comprising terrestrial corona radiation
A UVB-visible hybrid system and method for visualizing a scene comprising one of more terrestrial corona discharge(s) and one or more objects is disclosed. On the UVB channel, an object-devoid UVB image of at least a portion of the scene is generated using UVB light which passes though a corona-peak tuned optical filter configured to filter out sufficient non-terrestrial-corona light so that the generated UVB image is object-devoid. The object-devoid UVB image is analyzed to classify pixels thereof as corona-discharge pixels or non-corona-discharge pixels. When a derivative of the object-devoid UVB image superposed with a visible-band image of the scene is displayed on a display device, the pixels classified as corona-discharge are displayed at increased visibility, while the pixels classified as corona-discharge are displayed at decreased visibility. In some embodiments, the optical filter has an average optical density over the [290 nm, 700 nm] spectrum of at least 4. |
| US08781156B2 |
Voice-body identity correlation
A system and method are disclosed for tracking image and audio data over time to automatically identify a person based on a correlation of their voice with their body in a multi-user game or multimedia setting. |
| US08781154B1 |
Systems and methods facilitating random number generation for hashes in video and audio applications
Systems and methods facilitating random number generation of hashes for video and/or audio are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include: a memory, and a microprocessor that executes computer executable components. The components can include a weighted distribution generation component that can generate a sampling distribution of a weighted combination of uniform distributions, and obtain a sample value from the sampling distribution. In one embodiment, horizontal regions of substantially equal area can be identified. The sample value can be obtained by selecting one of the horizontal regions, and uniformly selecting a coordinate from the horizontal region. The coordinate can correspond to a value on a horizontal axis of the sampling distribution, and the value can be equal to a sample value. The sample value can be employed to compute a hash employed in video and/or audio fingerprinting and/or in computing image descriptors for video. |
| US08781146B2 |
Combined passive acoustic speaker and stand
A combined passive acoustic speaker and stand for a portable, handheld electronic device includes a block with an inclined slot in the side oriented at an acute angle with respect to a bottom of the block to receive and retain a portion of the portable, handheld electronic device therein at an acute inclined angle with respect to a support surface. An aperture in the bottom of the slot extends through the side of the block and into a hollow therein. The hollow includes a non-symmetrical, arcuate-axis, frusto-conical horn with a larger forward sound outlet opening in the front of the block and a smaller rearward sound inlet opening in a rear of the horn open to the aperture in the bottom of the slot. |
| US08781145B2 |
Inverse horn loudspeakers
In a low frequency transducer system a multi-compression chamber, an inverse horn structure is employed in combination with a resonance-distortion filter chamber. The filter chamber effectively expands the effective enclosure volume at low frequencies and connected to one of the compression chambers filter parasitic resonances and distortion and allowing the system to more efficiently reproduce low frequencies while being able to use smaller diameter transducers and maintaining good system sensitivity. Compression chambers are organized for constant or continuous compression on a section-by-section basis throughout the inverse horn system. |
| US08781133B2 |
Apparatus for generating a multi-channel audio signal
An apparatus for generating a multi-channel audio signal based on an input audio signal comprises a main signal upmixer, a section selector, a section signal upmixer and a combiner. The main signal upmixer is configured to provide a main multi-channel audio signal based on the input audio signal. The section selector is configured to select or not select a section of the input audio signal based on an analysis of the input audio signal. The selected section of the input audio signal, a processed selected section of the input audio signal or a reference signal associated with the selected section of the input audio signal is provided as section signal. The section signal upmixer is configured to provide a section upmix signal based on the section signal, and the combiner is configured to overlay the main multi-channel audio signal and the section upmix signal to obtain the multi-channel audio signal. |
| US08781130B2 |
Access control
Control apparatus (30), systems and methods for enabling access to one or more information systems (36) by one or more entities (34) on a path across a supply network to be controlled, access to the or each information system (36) being policed by means of an access-policer (38), the network comprising: at least one token-issuer (32) operable to issue an access pre-authorization token, the access pre-authorization token having associated therewith an information identifier and a digital signature, and to forward the access pre-authorization token towards one or more entities (34) on a path across the network; and at least one receiver entity (34) operable to receive an access pre-authorization token issued by the at least one token-issuer (32). |
| US08781128B2 |
Method and device for automatically distributing updated key material
A method for handling an encrypted message received on an electronic device that has not been encrypted using a current public key. The portable electronic device automatically generates a reply message to the sender in response to determining that the message has not been encrypted with the current public key. The reply message may contain the current public key of the recipient device, and may request the sender to resend the message encrypted with the current public key. |
| US08781127B2 |
Device with privileged memory and applications thereof
A device includes a key store memory, a rule set memory, a plurality of cryptographic clients, and a key store arbitration module. The key store memory stores a plurality of cryptographic keys and the rule set memory stores a set of rules for accessing the cryptographic keys. A cryptographic client is operable to issue a request to access a cryptographic key(s) and, when access to the cryptographic key is granted, execute a cryptographic function regarding at least a portion of the cryptographic key to produce a cryptographic result. The key store arbitration module is operable to determine whether the request to access the cryptographic key is valid; when the request is valid, interpret the request to produce an interpreted request; access the rule set memory based on the interpreted request to retrieve a rule of the set of rules; and grant access to the cryptographic key in accordance with the rule. |
| US08781124B2 |
Protection of a ciphering key against unidirectional attacks
A method for protecting a key implemented, by an electronic circuit, in a symmetrical algorithm for ciphering or deciphering a message, including the steps of: selecting in non-deterministic fashion a pair of different masks from a set of at least four different masks, the masks having the property of representing different bit combinations, at least by pairs of bits; executing the algorithm twice by applying, to the key or to the message, one of the masks of the selected pair at each execution; checking the consistency between the two executions. |
| US08781121B2 |
Utilizing data reduction in steganographic and cryptographic systems
The present invention relates to methods for protecting a data signal using the following techniques: applying a data reduction technique to reduce the data signal into a reduced data signal; subtracting the reduced data signal from the data signal to produce a remainder signal; embedding a first watermark into the reduced data signal to produce a watermarked, reduced data signal; and adding the watermarked, reduced data signal to the remainder signal to produce an output signal. A second watermark may be embedded into the remainder signal before the final addition step. Further, cryptographic techniques may be used to encrypt the reduced data signals and to encrypt the remainder signals before the final addition step. |
| US08781118B1 |
Digital fingerprints for integrated circuits
Circuits and methods for verifying the unique identity, or digital fingerprint, of an integrated circuit (IC) are presented. The complete circuit is located inside the IC to avoid external tampering and includes a random number generator (RNG), a key register, an encryption circuit, and selection circuitry. The key register stores an encryption key generated by the RNG during the initialization phase. The encryption key can be read from the outside of the IC solely during the initialization phase. After the initialization phase, the encryption circuit generates a response to a challenge using the encryption key, and the selection circuitry outputs in a pin of the IC the response to the challenge. The response is used to check the unique ID of the IC. The encryption key is never sent to the outside of the IC after initialization, and mimicking the behavior of the IC by an impostor is avoided by the use of the encryption mechanism. |
| US08781117B2 |
Generating pseudo random bits from polynomials
Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to generate pseudo random bits from polynomials have been presented. In one embodiment, a set of finite field polynomials is used to generate a series of pseudo random bits in one or more cycles. Then a cryptographic key is generated from the series of pseudo random bits. |
| US08781110B2 |
Unified system architecture for elliptic-curve cryptography
A system for performing public key encryption is provided. The system supports mathematical operations for a plurality of public key encryption algorithms such as Rivert, Shamir, Aldeman (RSA) and Diffie-Hellman key exchange (DH) and Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem (ECC). The system supports both prime fields and different composite binary fields. |
| US08781109B2 |
Electronic device case with changeable panel
An electronic device case or system having a protective housing capable of aesthetic change. A plurality of back panels having different images thereon can be interchanged in a sidewall portion to alter the look of the case. The panel images may be colors, pictures, designs, logos, or even text. |
| US08781108B2 |
Adaptive ringtone detector
A communications system and a method of detecting and learning new ringtones in an automatic manner, comprising a desk phone (1), a hook switch, a ringtone detector (3), and a communications device (2). In a first embodiment a mechanical hook switch device is connected to the desk phone (1), and in a second embodiment an electronic hook switch unit (9) is connected to the desk phone (1). The ringtone detector (3) adaptively sets the filter and amplifier parameters according to the sensor position and pick-up sensitivity. The ringtone detector (3) automatically detects and learns the characteristics of new ringtones. The communications device (2) may comprise a base station (6) and a headset (7). |
| US08781103B2 |
System and method for call and data matching in a contact center
A system and method for processing interaction requests includes a computer system that receives over a data channel from an end user device accessible to the customer, a request for an interaction. The request includes data from an application running on the end user device. The data is stored by the computer system upon receipt. When a voice call from a telephony device accessible to the customer is received, a voice media session is established with the telephony device over a voice channel. The data is identified based on information associated with the voice call. A contact center resource is further identified for routing the voice call. The data is attached to a request to route the call to the identified contact center resource. |
| US08781097B2 |
Retrieving a voice print of a caller
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product retrieves a voice print of a caller to a call network. A processor generates a first voice print, a second voice print, and a third voice print of a caller who makes a call to a call network. The first voice print, the second voice print, and the third voice print are consolidated into a consolidated voice print. In response to a request for a particular voice print, the requested voice print is selectively retrieved from first voice print, the second voice print, and the third voice print in the consolidated voice print, and then sent to the requester. |
| US08781095B2 |
Communication apparatus and controlling method of the same
A communication apparatus having an abbreviated dialing function allowing input of a destination number with fewer key input operations and a method of controlling the communication apparatus capable of reducing the operations of inputting a destination number is disclosed. The communication apparatus includes an abbreviated dialing input unit for inputting a destination number with fewer key input operations, a touch panel input/display unit for inputting the destination number, and a destination input operation menu controlling unit for controlling a menu display mode of a destination input operation menu on the touch panel input/display unit based on destination management information registering plural abbreviated dialing numbers referred to by the abbreviated dialing input unit. |
| US08781094B2 |
Contextual call routing by calling party specified information through called party specified form
Context-based call routing is provided in a unified communication system by enabling subscribers to define a routing document, which is published by the communication system to callers who subscribe to a presence of the called party. Through publication of the context-based routing information, callers are enabled to make selections between call destination options as defined by the caller and provide a subject for the requested call. The call is then routed by the system according to the caller selection allowing efficient facilitation of the communication between the caller and the called party or their designees. |
| US08781093B1 |
Reputation based message analysis
Described herein are devices and techniques for detecting an inbound message (e.g., text, voice, voicemail) directed from an identifiable message sender to one of a collection of message recipients (e.g., by telephone numbers). The message is selectively forwarded to the message recipient's communication devices in response to a reputation score of the identifiable message sender. The devices and techniques described herein are further adapted to automatically determine or otherwise update the reputation score of the identifiable message sender, for example, in response to previously detected incoming messages. User preferences can be provided to override one or more of forwarding and blocking of detected messages regardless of any automatically obtained reputation score. |
| US08781084B2 |
Providing selective voice mail services
A device is configured to receive a request for a first user, of a first telephone device, to leave a voice mail message for a second user of a second telephone device; retrieve a profile associated with the second telephone device and to determine, based on the profile, whether the second telephone device is registered for a selective voice mail service; determine, based on the profile, whether the first user is allowed to leave the voice mail message when the second telephone device is registered for the selective voice mail service; and allow the first user to leave the voice mail message for the second user of the second telephone device when the second telephone device is not registered for the selective voice mail service or when the first user is allowed to leave the voice mail message. |
| US08781082B1 |
Systems and methods of interactive voice response speed control
A user may accelerate or decelerate the speed of playback of a recorded message provided by an interactive voice response (IVR) system at any time during the course of listening to the recorded message. The user may provide speed control instructions using predetermined keys or buttons on a communications device to modify the speed of the recorded message playback. Alternatively or additionally, the user may speak words to adjust the speed that a recorded message is being played to them. A speed control instruction may cause some or all of the recorded message to be repeated. |
| US08781077B2 |
Method and system for validating channel discrepancies
An approach for analyzing data generated by a plurality of provisioning systems to validate the status of various assets of a service provider network is disclosed. A validation system retrieves provisioning data from a plurality of different provisioning systems and status data from a status monitoring system. The validation system analyzes the data to validate a discrepancy between the status and the current provisioning of the plurality of assets. |
| US08781072B2 |
Apparatus and method for characterisation of materials
An apparatus and method are described for obtaining radiation interaction data from an object to enable better determination of the composition of the object. A radiation source and a radiation detector system are used to collect both transmitted and scattered radiation, preferably including radiation from at least one forward scatter mode. The detector system is capable of detecting and collecting spectroscopically resolvable information about incident radiation. Each intensity dataset is resolved across at least three of energy bands within the spectrum of the source, and this data may then be processed numerically to enable better determination of the composition of the object. |
| US08781068B2 |
X-ray image diagnosing apparatus
An embodiment includes an X-ray detecting section including an X-ray detector having a first visual field size and a high-resolution detector and having a second visual field size, an X-ray generating section for irradiating a subject with X-rays, an image processing section for generating a first X-ray image by means of the X-ray detector and a second X-ray image, a display section, a region defining section for displaying a spot corresponding to part of the second X-ray image or a region corresponding to the second X-ray image on the first X-ray image and specifying the position of the high-resolution detector by moving the spot or the region, a positional displacement calculating section for determining the coordinate difference between the center position of the first X-ray image and the position of the spot indicating the specified position and a move control section for controlling the top plate or the holding section. |
| US08781062B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of X-ray acquisition parameters
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for dynamically adjusting one or more X-ray acquisition parameters of an X-ray imaging modality. During a first portion of an examination of an object, the object is examined using a first set of X-ray acquisition parameters and a first image is generated. A region-of-interest is identified in the first image and one or more X-ray acquisition parameters are adjusted as a function of the identified region-of-interest to establish a second set of X-ray acquisition parameters. During a second portion of the examination of the object, the object is examined using the second set of X-ray acquisition parameters to generate a second image. In this way, X-ray acquisition parameters can be adjusted in real-time or ‘on the fly’ to obtain a (more) desired image. |
| US08781059B2 |
Shift register
A shift register is formed by connecting unit circuits 11 in multi-stage. One electrode of a capacitor Cap2 in the unit circuit 11 is connected to the gate terminal (node N1) of a transistor T2, and the other connected to a node N2. A compensation circuit composed of transistors T3 to T5 provides a clock signal CKB to the node N2 when the node N1 potential is at low level, and applies a low-level potential to the node N2 when the node N1 potential is at high level. Accordingly, even when the gate potential of the transistor T2 changes with a change in a clock signal CK, a signal that cancels out the change is provided through the capacitor Cap2, stabilizing the gate potential of the transistor T2. Thus, a change in the control terminal potential of an output transistor associated with a change in a clock signal is prevented. |
| US08781058B1 |
Nuclear power plant steel detecting device
A device for detecting steel is provided. The steel is used in a nuclear plant. The device has a detecting circuit of electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) and alternative current (AC) impedance. An environment in a boiling water reactor (BWR) is simulated under hydrogen water chemistry (HWC). The environment is used for detecting intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of components coated with different precious metals. Thus, effect of coating different precious metals on steels can be evaluated for HWC. |
| US08781051B2 |
Symbol clock recovery circuit
A symbol clock recovery circuit is provided for a data communication system using coherent demodulation. The symbol clock recovery circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter comprising a first input for receiving a coherent-detected baseband analog signal derived from a carrier signal, a second input for receiving an adapted symbol clock signal, and an output for outputting a digital signal comprising a frame having a preamble with at least two symbols. The symbol clock recovery circuit comprises further a phase shifting unit comprising a first input for receiving a symbol clock signal derived from the carrier signal, and a timing detector, comprising a first input for receiving the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter and an output for providing a signal comprising information about an optimum sample phase to the phase shifting unit. |
| US08781050B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating symbol timing
Provided is a symbol timing estimating apparatus and method that may generate at least one sampled preamble signal by sampling a preamble signal with changing a phase of the preamble signal based on a symbol speed, calculate a power value of each of the at least one sampled preamble signal, and estimate a symbol timing of a sampled preamble signal having a maximum power value by comparing each power value among the at least one sampled preamble signal. |
| US08781049B1 |
Signal delay estimator with absolute delay amount and direction estimation
A signal delay estimator includes an adjustable delay element for delaying a first signal to obtain a delayed first signal, a delay amount estimator for estimating a delay amount between the delayed first signal and a second signal that is similar and delayed relative to the first signal, and a leading signal determiner for determining whether the delayed first signal leads the second signal or vice versa, and for generating a corresponding binary signal. A selective inverter is provided for selectively inverting the delay amount depending on the binary signal. The signal delay estimator also includes a feedback element to the adjustable delay element for controlling a delay based on an output of the selective inverter. Another exemplary signal delay estimator includes a closed control loop with an adjustable delay element and separate first and second processing paths for absolute delay amount and delay direction, respectively. |
| US08781048B2 |
Apparatus for synchronization of audio data and visual data and method therefor
An apparatus for synchronizing audio data and visual data and a method therefor are provided. The apparatus includes a splitter, a synchronization unit coupled to the splitter, an audio control unit coupled to the splitter and the synchronization unit, and a visual data processing unit coupled to the splitter and the synchronization unit. The splitter receives an application layer data frame including audio data and visual data and splits the visual data from the audio data. The synchronization unit receives audio timing information of the audio data and acquires synchronization information according to the audio timing information and external timing information. The audio control unit receives and temporarily stores the audio data and outputs the audio data according to the synchronization information. The visual data processing unit analyzes and temporarily stores the visual data and outputs the visual data together with the audio data according to the synchronization information. |
| US08781044B2 |
Method and apparatus for an adaptive filter architecture
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for selecting a spectral region in a radio frequency spectrum for initiating a communication session having an uplink and a downlink, correlating a signal strength of portions of the spectral region to generate a correlation factor, detecting radio frequency interference in the spectral region according to the correlation factor, and generating tuning coefficient data to substantially suppress the radio frequency interference in the spectral region during the communication session. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08781043B2 |
Successive equalization and cancellation and successive mini multi-user detection for wireless communication
Techniques for recovering a desired transmission in the presence of interfering transmissions are described. For successive equalization and cancellation (SEC), equalization is performed on a received signal to obtain an equalized signal for a first set of code channels. The first set may include all code channels for one sector, a subset of all code channels for one sector, multiple code channels for multiple sectors, etc. Data detection is then performed on the equalized signal to obtain a detected signal for the first set of code channels. A signal for the first set of code channels is reconstructed based on the detected signal. The reconstructed signal for the first set of code channels is then canceled from the received signal. Equalization, data detection, reconstruction, and cancellation are performed for at least one additional set of code channels in similar manner. |
| US08781041B2 |
Reducing noise in a sequence of data by linear and non-linear estimation
A method of reducing noise in a sequence of data by linear and non-linear estimation. The method includes receiving a noisy sequence of data indicative of a sequence of physical events; applying a non-linear technique to the noisy sequence to obtain an approximation of a noise-free sequence of data; subtracting the approximation from the noisy sequence to obtain an estimate of noise in the noisy sequence of data; applying a linear technique to the estimate of noise to obtain a filtered sequence; and adding the filtered sequence to the approximation of the noise-free sequence to obtain a reduced-noise sequence of data indicative of the sequence of physical events. |
| US08781031B2 |
Low rate, direct conversion FSK radio-frequency signal receivers
The receiver (1) picks up low rate FSK radio frequency signals. This receiver includes an antenna (2) for receiving FSK radio frequency signals, a low noise amplifier (3) connected to the antenna, a local oscillator (7) for supplying oscillating signals (LO), a phase shift circuit (16) for performing a 0° to 90° phase shift, and vice versa, in the oscillating signals (LO) or the incoming FSK radio frequency signals in each semi-period of a phase switching cycle (1/fs). The phase shift circuit alternately and successively generates in-phase and quadrature oscillating signals, or in-phase and quadrature incoming FSK radio frequency signals. The receiver includes a single mixer (4) for mixing the oscillating signals successively with the incoming FSK radio frequency signals, so as to generate alternately intermediate in-phase and quadrature baseband signals (INT) as a function of the phase shift circuit. The receiver further includes a low-pass filter (8) for filtering the intermediate in-phase and quadrature signals, and a demodulation stage (20) for demodulating the data (DOUT) from the filtered intermediate signals. The receiver is arranged such that the phase shift circuit (16) is switched by a phase selection signal (SEL) to a phase switching cycle frequency (fs) which is lower than the frequency deviation (Δf) of the modulated data in the FSK radio frequency signals and higher than the data rate frequency. Magic circuits (14, 15) in the demodulation stage reconstruct the intermediate signals during each switch operation for continuous demodulation in the demodulator (12). |
| US08781025B2 |
Discrete digital transmitter
A transmitter includes a conversion module, a sample and hold module, and a discrete time bandpass filter module. The conversion module is operable to convert an outbound baseband signal into outbound frequency domain pulse signal. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold the outbound frequency domain pulse signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train, wherein the sample and hold module is clocked at a rate corresponding to a frequency component of an outbound wireless signal. The discrete time bandpass filter module is operable to bandpass filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce the outbound wireless signal. |
| US08781024B2 |
Semiconductor device and memory system
A semiconductor device capable of communicating with a host apparatus includes a symbol generation unit, a coding unit, and a transmission unit. The symbol generation unit includes a random number generation circuit and generates a symbol according to a random number generated by the random number generation circuit. The coding unit performs 8b/10b coding for the symbol. The transmission unit transmits the symbol coded by the 8b/10b coding unit to the host apparatus. |
| US08781019B2 |
Variable size codebook for MIMO system
In a method of selecting a codebook for precoding a wireless transmission signal, a characteristic of a wireless communication channel is measured, and a codebook size is selected using (i) an expected throughput for each of a plurality of different codebook sizes given the measured characteristic of the wireless communication channel, and (ii) channel overhead associated with each of the plurality of different codebook sizes. Based on matrix selection criteria, a best matrix is selected from a codebook of the selected codebook size, and an indicator of the selected matrix is transmitted. |
| US08781017B2 |
Techniques for explicit feedback delay measurement
Techniques for explicit feedback delay measurement are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor to generate a steering matrix for transmit spatial processing over a channel, determine a delay time associated with explicit feedback information for the channel, and determine whether to modify the steering matrix with the explicit feedback information based on the delay time. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08781014B2 |
Physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) packet structure for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems
A physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) data structure transmitted in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. The PLCP data structure comprises a legacy portion including a legacy preamble and a legacy header, wherein the legacy preamble and the legacy header carry information compliant with at least a WiMedia standard; and a high throughput (HT) portion including a HT preamble and a HT header, and wherein the HT preamble carries information enabling a receiver of the MIMO communication system to decode received signals. |
| US08781011B2 |
Receiver parametric covariance estimation for precoded MIMO transmissions
A model-based technique for estimating signal impairments that can accommodate various transmitted signal configurations, including closed-loop transmit diversity signals and pre-coded MIMO signals, is disclosed. In an exemplary method, an impairment model is constructed for a received composite information signal comprising at least a first data stream transmitted from first and second antennas according to a first antenna weighting vector. The impairment model includes one or more model terms scaled by corresponding scaling parameters, wherein the model terms capture propagation channel effects and are independent of the first antenna weighting vector, and wherein the scaling parameters capture effects of the first antenna weighting vector. A parametric estimate of the impairment covariance is calculated using the impairment model. |
| US08781006B2 |
Link adaptation in multi-carrier communication systems
A method for transmitting information in a multi-carrier system includes: identifying a first set of carrier signals, associated with a first code rate; and identifying a second set of carrier signals, associated with a second code rate. The method also includes partitioning a first sequence of bits representing a single symbol into a first group of bits associated with the first code rate and at least a second group of bits associated with the second code rate; interleaving a subset of bits from the first group to map multiple bits from the first group to respective carrier signals in the first set of carrier signals to achieve the first code rate; and interleaving a subset of bits from the second group to map multiple bits from the second group to respective carrier signals in the second set of carrier signals to achieve the second code rate. |
| US08781005B2 |
Scalable quantization of channel state information for MIMO transmission
Techniques for reporting channel state information (CSI) are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive data transmission from one or more cells among a plurality of cells and may report CSI for each of the plurality of cells. In an aspect, the UE may generate CSI with different quantization granularity (e.g., different codebook sizes), or different frequency granularity (e.g., different subband sizes), and/or different time granularity (e.g., different reporting intervals) for different cells based on the performance impact of each cell for data transmission to the UE. The performance impact of each cell may be determined based on a long-term channel gain or received power of the cell at the UE. The UE may quantize the CSI for each cell based on the codebook size for the cell. The UE may generate the CSI for each cell based on the subband size and/or the reporting interval for the cell. |
| US08781003B2 |
Splicing of encrypted video/audio content
System and method for performing a splice operation on an encrypted or unencrypted MPEG-2 transport stream. A splice trigger is received at a pre-conditioning encoder. In response, the encoder generates, e.g., an SCTE-35 cue message that is intended to be received by a splicer. Also in response to the splice trigger, the encoder encodes/conditions a network feed such that a decoder buffer delay reaches a predefined value at a video frame of the network feed that corresponds to a splice point indicated by the SCTE-35 cue message. The network feed may then be encrypted in a known fashion. At the splicer, another feed is switched into the stream at the splice point, wherein the another feed is encoded such that a decoder buffer delay at a video frame of the another feed corresponding to the splice point is the same as the predefined value. The predefined value is defined as DTS-STC, where DTS is a Decoding Time Stamp and STC is a System Time Clock. The pre-conditioning encoder generates around the splice point audio PES packets that contain a single aligned audio frame. |
| US08780997B2 |
Regulation of decode-side processing based on perceptual masking
This invention is directed to a method for decoding coded video data in which decoder performance is regulated based on perceptual masking. The method includes, upon receipt of coded video data, applying the coded video data to a multi-stage decoding process; computing perceptual masking measures for the coded video data; and switching a stage of the decoding process to a lower performance level based on the computed perceptual masking measures. The method may be applied to non-reference frames and reference frames with low numbers of dependent frames. The method provides scalability among decoders to allow for various decoder and/or coded data complexity. |
| US08780996B2 |
System and method for encoding and decoding video data
A method for encoding and decoding a video signal having frames with blocks comprised of pixels. The method reduces the complexity of the video signal to be encoded by applying a filter scheme to the input data stream in an encoder and later reversing the filter scheme in a decoder. A number of filter schemes may be tested to determine the best filter scheme that most reduces the number of distinct color values per color plane. The best filter scheme is used to filter the data to be encoded. Filter information of the best filter scheme is included in the encoded data to enable the decoder to identify the best filter scheme in order to apply the best filter scheme in reverse to re-create the original data stream. |
| US08780993B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video by motion prediction using arbitrary partition, and method and apparatus for decoding video by motion prediction using arbitrary partition
An encoding method including: receiving and parsing a bitstream of an encoded image, determining coding units having a hierarchical structure being data units in which the encoded image is decoded, and sub-units for predicting the coding units, by using information that indicates division shapes of the coding units and information about prediction units of the coding units, parsed from the received bitstream, wherein the sub-units comprise partitions obtained by splitting at least one of a height and a width of the coding units according to at least one of a symmetric ratio and an asymmetric ratio, and reconstructing the image by performing decoding including motion compensation using the partitions for the coding units, using the encoding information parsed from received bitstream, wherein the coding units having the hierarchical structure comprise coding units of coded depths split hierarchically according to the coded depths and independently from neighboring coding units. |
| US08780990B2 |
Imaging device for motion vector estimation using images captured at a high frame rate with blur detection and method and integrated circuit performing the same
An imaging device includes a frame rate conversion unit synthesizing images captured at a second frame rate higher than a first frame rate to convert the images into a synthesized image having the first frame and a motion estimation unit performing motion estimation between consecutive frames of the images captured at the second frame. The imaging device also includes a motion vector synthesis unit synthesizing motion vectors having the second frame rate, to generate a synthesized motion vector of a target macroblock in the synthesized image, a motion blur amount determination unit counting, in an area surrounding the target macroblock, the number of macroblocks having the same synthesized motion vector as the target macroblock and comparing a value derived from the number of counted macroblocks with a threshold value, and a motion vector selection unit selecting the synthesized motion vector when the derived value determined to exceed the threshold value. |
| US08780988B2 |
Hierarchical video analysis-based real-time perceptual video coding
A system for encoding a video stream into a processed video signal that includes at least one image. The system includes a downscaling module, a partitioning module, a rate control module, and an encoder section. The downscaling module receives the video stream and produces a downscaled video stream. A partitioning module, including a region detection module, receives the downscaled video stream and detects a pattern of interest in the at least one image. The partitioning module is operable to partition the at least one image based on the detected pattern of interest. The rate control module that receives an output from the partitioning module and produces an encoder control signal dependent on the output from the partitioning module. The encoder section, coupled to the rate control module, receives the video stream and generates the processed video signal. |
| US08780985B2 |
Apparatus and method for prediction modes selection based on image direction information
An image coding apparatus determines an image pattern of image data and, based on the determined image pattern, selects a prediction mode for generating predicted pixel values by predicting pixel values in a frame using pixel values in the same frame. Alternatively, based on photographing information concerning input image data, an image coding apparatus selects a prediction mode for generating predicted pixel values by predicting pixel values in a frame using pixel values in the same frame. |
| US08780984B2 |
Loss-robust video transmission using plural decoders
Disclosed herein is a method of decoding a sequence of prediction-coded video frames using a primary and a secondary state-dependent decoder. The method includes receiving an incomplete frame at the primary decoder, copying a state of the primary decoder into the secondary decoder, decoding and outputting the incomplete frame and subsequent frames at the primary decoder, receiving data restoring the incomplete frame, decoding the restored incomplete frame and subsequent frames at the secondary decoder until the secondary decoder has caught up with the primary decoder; and copying the state of the secondary decoder into the primary decoder; wherein the secondary decoder has access to the subsequent frames received after the incomplete frame. |
| US08780983B2 |
Intra-mode prediction for a video transcoder
A video transcoder for converting an encoded input video bit-stream having one spatial resolution into an encoded output video bit-stream having a lower spatial resolution, wherein learned statistics of intra-mode transcoding are used to constrain the search of intra modes for the output video bit-stream. The statistics of intra-mode transcoding can be gathered, e.g., by applying brute-force downsizing to a training set of video frames and then analyzing the observed intra-mode transcoding patterns to determine a transition-probability matrix for use during normal operation of the transcoder. The transition-probability matrix enables the transcoder to select appropriate intra modes for the output video bit-stream without performing a corresponding exhaustive full search, which advantageously reduces the computational complexity and processor load compared to those of a comparably performing prior-art video transcoder. |
| US08780977B2 |
Transcoder
In a transcoder, a decoder decodes a stream and an encoder encodes the stream again. The encoder calculates the quantization step value by using an average period bit rate (ASn(M)) of a first stream or an average period bit rate (ACn(M)) of a second stream. Buffers store bit rates (Sn, Cn) of the first and second streams for M periods, respectively. The encoder uses the average period bit rate (ASn(M)) of the first stream or then average period bit rate (ACn(M)) of the second stream in any one of the periods M1, M2 and M3 among M periods. |
| US08780975B2 |
Method and device for adapting the throughput of a compressed video stream transmitted in a constrained environment
A method is provided for adapting the throughput of a video stream comprising a plurality N of compressed images with a plurality of spatial resolutions and/or a plurality of quality layers, the images being compressed separately from one another. |
| US08780971B1 |
System and method of encoding using selectable loop filters
Disclosed herein is a method for selectively filtering and encoding a video signal having at least one frame including a matrix of pixels. The method includes selecting a set of pixels within the frame, determining an initial performance measurement for the selected set of pixels, provisionally applying each filter to the set of pixels, determining a second performance measurement for each filter provisionally applied to the selected set of pixels, and applying the at least one filter to the selected set of pixels to generate a reconstruction of the frame if the at least one filter is determined to have a second performance measurement that is better than the initial performance measurement. |
| US08780966B1 |
System and method for testing a data packet signal transceiver
A method for testing data packet reception characteristics, such as sensitivity and throughput, of a data packet signal transceiver. By monitoring responsive data packet signals returning from a device under test (DUT), it can be determined whether and when the DUT has successfully received valid data packets, received faulty data packets, received valid data packets in a faulty manner, or not received valid data packets. When any of such events are detected, the stimulus data packet signals can be provided in such a manner as to determine whether possible DUT reception problems are related to power level, duration or data rate of the stimulus data packet signals, or to circuitry within DUT without requiring external controls over or querying of the DUT. |
| US08780962B2 |
Method for emulating low frequency serial clock data recovery RF control bus operation using high frequency data
A system and method for emulating low frequency RF control bus operation using high frequency data is disclosed. In transmission path, the low frequency RFCB transmit data bytes are encoded and then up-sampled. The up-sampled data is then sent to hardware serializer for transmission. The resulting RF serial output stream appears to the external receiver to be encoded at low frequency even though the transceiver is operating at high frequency. In reception path, RFCB serial input data is de-serialized and then down-sampled. The down sampled data is then passed through custom byte-alignment logic and finally decoded. The transceivers are operated at high frequency but data is decoded and received as if it were at low rate. The FPGA serial transceiver are operated at a high frequency and sends each data bit a plurality of times to create a low effective data rate. |
| US08780957B2 |
Optimal weights for MMSE space-time equalizer of multicode CDMA system
Aspects of the invention provide an enhanced chip-level linear space-time equalizer 118 for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) multi-code CDMA systems reusing same spreading codes in different transmit antennas 114. Reuse of the spreading codes at the transmitter 104, 204 creates an on-time inter-stream interference component (or cross-talk among distinct transmit antenna signals) which reuse the same spreading code as the desired signal in the soft metric sequence of the MIMO CDMA receiver after MMSE space-time equalization. The equalizer 118 has a MMSE weighting vector that takes the despreading effect into account. |
| US08780952B2 |
Roof system for electric arc furnace and method for manufacturing the same
A roof system for an electric arc furnace includes a skew removably attached to the electric arc furnace, a lining of refractory material affixed to the skew, and a delta composed of a refractory material. The delta has at least one aperture capable of receiving an electrode. The delta fits onto and is supported by the refractory lining that is affixed to the skew. |
| US08780949B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor laser part on the semiconductor substrate and having a vertical ridge; and an optical modulator part on the semiconductor substrate, having an inverted-mesa ridge, and modulating light emitted by the semiconductor laser part. |
| US08780946B2 |
Ultraviolet laser device
An ultraviolet laser device equips a laser beam output unit that includes first, second and third amplifiers that output first through third infrared laser beams, and first through third optical systems into which the first through third infrared laser beams through which the first through third infrared laser beams are propagated. A wavelength conversion unit includes a fourth optical system into which the combined first through third laser beams are incident through which they are propagated. The first optical system wavelength converts and generates the first infrared laser beam to a predetermined harmonic wave as the first laser beam, the fourth optical system includes a first wavelength conversion element that generates an earlier stage ultraviolet laser beam between the predetermined harmonic wave and the second laser beam, and the second wavelength conversion element generates an ultraviolet laser beam between the earlier stage ultraviolet laser beam and the third laser beam. |
| US08780945B2 |
Discovery protocol
A method and device may comprise transmitting, via a transmitter, a plurality of transmit pings at a transmit interval. A receiver may listen, for a live ping and the receiver may be configured to be turned on at a beginning of the assess interval, and off at an end of the detect duration. The receiver may further receive the live ping. After receiving the live ping, transmission of a new ping may be delayed for a delay duration. The new pings may be transmitted at the transmit interval. |
| US08780943B2 |
Method and system for utilizing multiplexing to increase throughput in a network of distributed transceivers with array processing
A communication device that comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a central processor and a network management engine, may be configured for a multiplexing mode of operation. Configuring of the multiplexing mode of operation may include configuring one or more communication modules for multiplexing a plurality of data streams. Each of the communication modules may comprise one or more antennas and/or antenna array elements and one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers associated with said one or more antennas and/or antenna array elements. The communication modules may be configured to be spatially distinct and/or to use different frequency channels. The data streams may be communicated to a single target device or to a plurality of target devices. |
| US08780941B2 |
MMSE method and system
Methods and apparatus for reducing complexity of MMSE computations in a receiver are disclosed. According to these methods and apparatus, a first MMSE matrix is computed for a first sub-carrier in a pre-defined group of sub-carriers of a received transmission frame at a receiver. The first MMSE is based on a pilot signal of the first sub-carrier. The first MMSE matrix may then be phase shifted to compute a second MMSE matrix for a second sub-carrier in the group, the phase shifting based on a variation in column and row between the pilot signal of the first sub-carrier and a symbol of the second sub-carrier of the transmission frame. |
| US08780937B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing round trip latency and overhead within a communication system
During operation radio frames are divided into a plurality of subframes. A frame duration is selected from two or more possible frame durations. Further, a subframe type is selected from two or more types of subframes. Data is placed within the plurality of subframes and is transmitted over the radio frames. |
| US08780934B2 |
Method for performing serial transport communication, and associated device
A method for performing serial transport communication is provided, where the method is utilized for performing communication between a plurality of devices, each of which provides a user with a plurality of wireless communication functions respectively complying with different wireless communication standards. The method includes: with regard to a first wireless communication function of the plurality of wireless communication functions, utilizing a serial transport protocol to perform communication between the plurality of devices through a transport bus; and with regard to a second wireless communication function of the plurality of wireless communication functions, utilizing the serial transport protocol to perform communication between the plurality of devices through the transport bus. An associated device is also provided. |
| US08780929B2 |
Method of and apparatus for adaptive control of data buffering in a data transmitter
A data transmitter divides incoming data for transmission into data blocks and passes them in frame transmission order to a radio link stage via a serial frame buffer. The buffer holds the data frames until the radio link stage is able to transmit them. The incoming data has associated with it various parameters. The radio link stage has allocated to it radio link resources. The parameters and resources, which change independently of each other from time to time, are supplied to a controller which calculates high and low buffer levels therefrom. The controller controls the passing of the data frames through the frame buffer to maintain the number of frames in the buffer at any instant of time at a level between the calculated high and low levels. |
| US08780928B2 |
Method and system for determination of routes in LEO satellite networks with bandwidth and priority awareness and adaptive rerouting
In Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks data routes for point to point and point to multipoint communication sessions in LEO satellite networks are determined by considering session bandwidth, priority, and the constantly changing terminal-satellite and satellite-satellite connectivity. Multiple routes are computed for a session to facilitate automatic adaptive rerouting by satellite payloads when they encounter network failures or congestion conditions. |
| US08780927B2 |
Data network elements, crossbars, and methods providing coupling between remote PHY and MAC devices
A crossbar may be coupled between a plurality of PHY devices configured to provide physical layer functions according to an Open Systems Interconnection, OSI, model and a plurality of MAC devices configured to provide data link layer functions according to the OSI model. First data couplings may be provided through the crossbar between the plurality of PHY devices and the plurality of MAC devices during a first time period. Second data couplings may be provided through the crossbar between the plurality of PHY devices and the plurality of MAC devices during a second time period, with the first and second data couplings being different. Related network elements, interfaces, and networks are also discussed. |
| US08780926B2 |
Updating prefix-compressed tries for IP route lookup
A method and apparatus for updating stored data structures representing network forwarding information used for network route lookup is described. By making sure there is only one level of dependency between data structures storing forwarding information, these data structures may be updated quickly and with minimal overhead. |
| US08780924B2 |
GMPLS non-enabled network gateway and operating method for routing between GMPLS enabled network and GMPLS non-enabled network
A generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) non-enabled network gateway for routing between a GMPLS enabled network and a GMPLS non-enabled network for connection between the GMPLS enabled network and the GMPLS non-enabled network, and an operating method for the GMPLS non-enabled network gateway are provided. The GMPLS non-enabled network gateway may include a border gateway protocol (BGP) routing unit to exchange routing information between a first GMPLS enabled network and a third GMPLS enabled network using a BGP, and a resource reservation protocol signaling unit to search for a path to another network using the routing information and to perform inter-autonomous system (AS) signaling by including a control plane of the first GMPLS enabled network or the third GMPLS enabled network and a signaling interface applying an out-of-band method. |
| US08780923B2 |
Information handling system data center bridging features with defined application environments
Information handling system network traffic is managed by populating a DCBX client framework with application network parameters associated with predetermined applications. Network devices, such as information handling system clients and servers, retrieve a TLV from a switch to obtain application network parameters for an application and apply the parameters so that the application executing on the device tags network communications with the associated parameters, such as bandwidth, loss less behavior, priority, latency, through put and CPU utilization. |
| US08780922B2 |
Method for the transmission of ethernet transmission protocol-based data packets between at least one mobile communication unit and a communication system
In order to transmit Ethernet transmission protocol-based data packets between at least one mobile communication unit and a communication system via generic route encapsulation tunneling established between a home agent unit and a foreign agent unit, at least one GRE key provided for establishing generic route encapsulation tunneling is linked to the media access control address assigned to the mobile communication unit. |
| US08780911B2 |
Link aggregation based on port and protocol combination
A network switch suitable for receiving packets of information from and the packets of information to a communications network includes a plurality of physical ports, packet processing functionality and memory. The packet processing functionality operates on information stored in memory to determine the LAG, from among two or more LAGs, over which a packet received by the switch should be correctly forwarded. The switch memory stores a plurality of LAG tables, each one of which can include one or more entries comprising a physical port number and a packet parameter that are used by the packet processing functionality to determinately identify the correct LAG over which to forward a packet. |
| US08780910B2 |
Variable-strength error correction in ad-hoc networks
Systems and methods for encoding packetized data include applying different codings to the header and the payload. The header of a data packet is encoded for error correction separately from the payload of the data packet. The use of separate error correction techniques for the header and payload of a packet permits optimization of each for use in a data network, and more particularly, in a wireless data network. |
| US08780905B2 |
Third party VPN certification
A virtual private network (VPN) over a telecommunications network is created by sending a request from a first VPN device to a second VPN device for establishing a VPN between the first and second VPN devices. The request includes a first signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the first VPN device. A reply is received at the first VPN device from the second VPN device that includes a second signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the second VPN device. The VPN is established between the first and second VPN devices based on each verified VPN parameter for each of the first and second VPN devices. |
| US08780898B2 |
Processor for packet switching between cell streams with optional virtual channel and channel identification modification
A network or other type of processor operates to switch packets from an incoming cell stream to an outgoing cell stream. Each received and transmitted cell in a cell stream includes portions of packets, or complete packets or both. Packets are reassembled from incoming cells, and outgoing cells may be created from portions of packets, complete packets or both. The packets in the outgoing cells may be from incoming packets, switched reassembled packets or both. Each incoming and outgoing cell is associated with one virtual channel, and each virtual channel for an outgoing cell may be different from the virtual channel corresponding to the incoming cell or cells from which a packet was reassembled. Switched packets also may have their conversation identifications changed. Partial packets or partial cells that are awaiting completion are retained such that switching capabilities associated with the virtual channel and channel identification modifications may be used. |
| US08780895B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting relocation of endpoint devices
A method and an apparatus for detecting relocation of endpoint devices used for accessing services provided on packet networks, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives a report of a detected inertial movement of a customer endpoint device, and the method then uses the report of the detected inertial movement for determining whether a relocation of the customer endpoint device has occurred. |
| US08780893B2 |
Voice over internet protocol real time protocol routing
A method for call signaling and media flow in a network including receiving call signaling information from an originating Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) endpoint relaying the call signaling information to a destination VoIP endpoint, directing the originating VoIP endpoint to use a RTP media proxy and receiving a stream of media to the RTP media proxy from the originating VoIP endpoint. |
| US08780892B2 |
Method and device for processing multimedia messaging service notification message and multimedia messaging service receiving system
A method and a device for processing a multimedia messaging service notification message and a multimedia messaging service receiving system are provided. The method for processing a multimedia messaging service notification message includes: receiving the multimedia messaging service notification message, and adding the multimedia messaging service notification message into a preset processing queue; setting a processing identifier which is used for indicating whether there is a circuit switch domain/a packet switch domain service being processed currently; judging whether there is a circuit switch domain/a packet switch domain service being processed currently according to the processing identifier, wherein if YES, it maintains the multimedia messaging service notification message in the processing queue for the purpose of being processed, and if NO, it reads a prior multimedia messaging service notification message from the processing queue for processing. |
| US08780891B2 |
Multimedia content sharing via audio-video communication
A communications system sets up a multimedia session between two terminals (STBA, SVB) each connected to a home gateway (GWA, GWB), these gateways being connected to each other by a telecommunications network (R). At least a first of these gateways (GWB), using the signaling protocol of a Voice over IP session (SVIP) set up between terminals (VIPA, VIPB) connected to these gateways (GWA, GWB), sends the second of these gateways the capabilities of at least one first terminal (SVB) connected to the first gateway (GWB). The second gateway (GWA) determines at least one multimedia service offered by the first terminal (SVB) as a function of said capabilities The second gateway (GWA) supplies to at least one second terminal (STBA) to which it is connected information necessary for setting up a multimedia session with the first terminal (SVB) to access the multimedia service if the capabilities of the second terminal (STBA) allow it. |
| US08780885B2 |
Synchronization of a peer-to-peer communication network
In an ad hoc peer-to-peer communications network, timing synchronization can be facilitated between nodes as a function of a received timing of nearby nodes, as well as a network timing. A first timing reference can be used to determine a symbol timing. A second signal that includes a second timing reference can be used to determine a difference between the symbol timing and the second timing reference. The difference can be used to adjust a symbol timing, which can be transmitted to nearby nodes. The first timing reference and the second timing reference can be received from different sources. |
| US08780881B2 |
Adaptive polling for bursty wireless data traffic
Various embodiments of the invention may use adaptive polling in a wireless network when one or more consecutive polls show that the polled station has no data to transmit. When triggered to perform adaptive polling, a base station may wait for increasingly long intervals between polls to a particular subscriber station, until some maximum interval has been reached. In some embodiments, the intervals may increase exponentially. |
| US08780880B2 |
Method of TDM in-device coexistence interference avoidance
A method of TDM in-device coexistence (IDC) interference avoidance is proposed. In a wireless communication device, a first radio module is co-located with a second radio module in the same device platform. The first radio module obtains traffic and scheduling information of the second radio module. The first radio module then determines a desired TDM pattern based on the traffic and scheduling information to prevent IDC interference with the second radio module. The first radio module also transmits TDM coexistence pattern information based on the desired TDM pattern to a base station. In one embodiment, the TDM coexistence pattern information comprises a recommended TDM pattern periodicity and a scheduling period to maximize IDC efficiency subject to limited level of IDC interference possibility. In one specific example, the TDM coexistence pattern information comprises a set of discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration parameters defined in long-term evolution (LTE) 3GPP standards. |
| US08780866B2 |
Controlling node
A controlling node for a cellular communications system, arranged to handle the control of one or more user terminals in a first cell and configurable to receive transmissions from one or more user terminals in the first cell, with a defined periodicity. The controlling node includes a receipt monitor for one or more users in the cell, the receipt monitor being arranged to monitor timely receipt of the one or more of the certain transmissions from the one or more user terminals at the expected time for the defined periodicity, and to initiate handover of a user terminal from the first cell to another cell if the controlling node does not receive one or more of the certain transmissions at the expected time for the defined periodicity from the user terminal. |
| US08780864B2 |
Method and device for handling handover of a communications service
The embodiments herein relate to a method in a network node for enabling handover of a communications service from a circuit switched, referred to as CS, network to a packet switched, referred to as PS, network, wherein a user equipment is located in the CS network and having the communications service in the CS network. |
| US08780862B2 |
VDL2 power control
Power control of a digital datalink system within an aeronautical telecommunication network is described herein. According to embodiments, the system is configured to calculate the transmission power of an air-based communication station, based on the transmission power used by a ground-based communication station, wherein the transmission power of the air-based communication station is sot to a decibel level higher than or equal to the transmission power of the ground-based communication station. |
| US08780861B2 |
Mobile communication system
A radio base station includes a mobile communication system, a first relay node and a first radio base station connected via a radio bearer, a second relay node, and a second radio base station connected via a radio bearer. The first radio base station and the second radio base station are connected via a bearer, in which a mobile station is configured so as to conduct a handover process between a first and second state. In the first state a radio bearer is established with the first relay node in order to communicate. In the second state a radio bearer is established with the second relay node in order to communicate. The mobile station is configured such that in the handover process, control signals are transmitted and received via the radio bearer between the first relay node, first radio base station, second radio base station, and second relay node. |
| US08780860B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting sounding reference signal in wireless communication system supporting multiple component carriers
A method of receiving a sounding reference signal (SRS) in a wireless communication system supporting multiple component carriers by a base station is provided. The method includes determining periodic SRS (P-SRS) transmission or aperiodic SRS (A-SRS) transmission about at least one serving cell (SCell) to be configured for a user equipment (UE), transmitting a triggering message including an activation or deactivation of the at least one SCell and indicating information for the A-SRS transmission according to the determination, and receiving an A-SRS from the UE through an activated SCell from among the at least one SCell configured in the UE. Uplink scheduling for an additional secondary serving cell and data communication through the uplink scheduling can be performed rapidly, as compared with a scheme using only a periodic SRS. |
| US08780854B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiple frequency point multiple access
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for multiple frequency point multiple access, which method comprises: in the situation that a system comprises a plurality of working frequency points, configuring a multi-access mode for the sending of uplink information and the sending of downlink information of each working frequency point in a plurality of working frequency points respectively; and each working frequency point performing the sending of the uplink information and the sending of the downlink information according to the configured multi-access modes. By way of the above technical solution, a simple multi-access mode is provided, which ensures the link performance of the working frequency point, improves the throughput of the entire network, and at the same time takes the problem of system peak average power ratio into account. |
| US08780850B2 |
User equipment terminal, base station, and uplink control channel configuration method
A user equipment terminal for transmitting an uplink control channel to a base station according to a single carrier scheme includes a reception determining unit configured to determine reception of data, which are transmitted from the base station according to scheduling, and generate a reception determination result as first control information; and a control information multiplexing unit configured to assign the first control information to a first radio resource positioned at an end of a system band and assign second control information, which is transmitted with a radio resource dedicated to the user equipment terminal, to a predetermined position in a second radio resource adjacent to the first radio resource, to multiplex the first control information and the second control information into the uplink control channel. The present invention also relates to a base station and an uplink control channel configuration method. |
| US08780846B2 |
Compact base station apparatus and frame timing difference information acquiring method
Provided is a compact base station apparatus (HeNB) whereby frame timing can precisely be synchronized between HeNB and MeNB, thereby suppressing the interference in an upstream channel. In HeNB (100), which forms a cell smaller than a cell formed by MeNB, frame timing detecting unit (111) detects, based on a sync signal received from MeNB, the frame timing of MeNB; a control unit (116) uses the frame timing of MeNB to set the frame timing of a downstream channel in HeNB (100); a transmission RF unit (118) transmits, in accordance with the frame timing of the downstream channel in HeNB (100), a preamble to MeNB; and a TA command extracting unit (114) acquires, from a response signal responsive to the preamble, information indicating a difference in frame timing between MeNB and HeNB (100). |
| US08780839B2 |
Base station apparatus and information feedback method
To suitably transmit feedback information for rank adaptation and precoding in uplink MIMO transmission to a user apparatus as feedback, a base station apparatus (200) is characterized by having a precoding weight/rank number selecting section (232) that determines rank information associated with the number of layers of spatial multiplexing in uplink, while determining a control amount of a transmission phase and/or transmission amplitude used in weighting for transmission antennas of a user apparatus, and transmission/reception sections (206a), (206b) that transmit the rank information determined in the precoding weight/rank number selecting section (232) to a mobile station (100) using an RRC signal, while transmitting the control amount to the mobile station (100) using a control channel signal. |
| US08780838B2 |
Carrier tracking without pilots
A carrier tracking technique includes allocating a first number of bits per symbol to a carrier tracking subcarrier of a plurality of subcarriers of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal based on a first target performance margin. The technique includes allocating numbers of bits per symbol to other subcarriers of the plurality of subcarriers based on a second target performance margin. |
| US08780837B2 |
Method for receiving ACK/NACK signal in mobile communication system
A method for transmitting information of resources for use in transmission of ACK/NACK signals in a mobile communication system is disclosed. An example method for receiving ACK/NACK signals in a mobile communication system is also disclosed. When resources for transmission of data and resources for transmission of control information of the data are scheduled through virtual unit resources, the method identifies information of resources for receiving an ACK/NACK signal for transmission data mapped to information of at least one of a virtual unit resource allocated to the transmission data and a virtual unit resource allocated to control information of the transmission data, and receives the ACK/NACK signal for the transmission data through the information of resources for receiving the ACK/NACK signal. |
| US08780835B2 |
Channel access control
There are provided measures for channel access control. Such measures may exemplarily comprise obtaining a contention window assignment including at least an assignment of a size of a contention window for contention-based channel access, accessing at least one logical channel in a contention-based manner according to the contention window assignment, including allocating resources to the at least one logical channel for data transmission, and modifying the size of the contention window based on a result of the resource allocation in terms of an aggregated bit rate allocated for data transmission and an aggregate target bit rate requirement of prioritized bit rates of the at least one logical channel. |
| US08780829B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving a comp reference signal in a multi-cell environment
Disclosed is a channel estimation method using a cooperative multi-point (CoMP) reference signal in a multi-cell environment. The method comprises a CoMP reference signal receiving step of enabling a terminal to receive, from each of the cells that perform a CoMP operation, a CoMP reference signal where an orthogonal code is applied to each of the cells; a channel estimation step of enabling the terminal to estimate, using said CoMP reference signal, channels of each of the cells which perform said CoMP operation; and a channel status feedback information transmitting step of enabling the terminal to transmit channel status feedback information to each of the cells. |
| US08780822B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for transmitting information
A method for transmitting information includes: by a NodeB, receiving a message for setting up/reconfiguring a shared Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) transmission channel from a Radio Network Controller (RNC); and setting up the shared E-DCH transmission channel according to parameters in the message, and exchanging information with the RNC through an established shared E-DCH transmission bearer. A system and NodeB for transmitting information are also provided. With the present invention, the NodeB and the RNC can share the E-DCH transmission bearer, thus saving the channel resources between the NodeB and the RNC while speeding up the information transmission between the RNC and the NodeB. |
| US08780820B2 |
Method of data transmission using HARQ
A method of transmitting data using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) includes transmitting an uplink data, receiving an ACK signal corresponding to the uplink data, and keeping the uplink data in a HARQ buffer after receiving the ACK signal until an uplink grant is received, the uplink grant comprising information on uplink resource assignment. Data can be more reliably transmitted. |
| US08780818B2 |
Method and device for allocating, by a telecommunication device, at least a first and a second consecutive channel elements of a group of channel elements of a channel resource to a destination
A method for allocating, by a telecommunication device, at least first and second channel elements of a group of channel elements of a channel resource to a destination. The telecommunication device: selects, for the first channel element, a first randomization function according to the position of the first channel element within the group of channel elements and according to the destination; selects, for the second channel element, a second randomization function according to the position of the second channel element within the group of channel elements and according to the destination; processes the data to be included in the first channel element by the first randomization function and processes the data to be included in the first channel element by the second randomization function; and transfers the processed data. |
| US08780817B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing overhead for communications
A method and apparatus reducing overhead usage associated with communications is provided. The method may comprise generating an acknowledgment (ACK) for a successfully received codeword from a group of codewords or a negative acknowledgement (NACK) for a codeword unsuccessfully received from the group of codewords, and populating a response information matrix with a plurality of response information elements, wherein the response information elements are determined as a function of the generated acknowledgement or negative acknowledgements. |
| US08780816B2 |
Handling uplink grant in random access response
A wireless communication system provides for a random access channel (RACH) procedure for user equipment (UE) to request access to an uplink channel. From a physical layer perspective, an evolved Base Station (eNB) responds with a random access preamble and a random access response (RAR) of a fixed length message, such as 21 bits or 20 bits with a reserved bit for future extensions. In answer to a need that exists for an RAR to accommodate variations in system bandwidth, an approach to encoding a truncated resource block (RB) assignment of the RAR in manner in which the UE can interpret the RAR without loss of information. Thereby, needs for achieving RACH procedures and existing channel resources can be realized. |
| US08780812B2 |
Apparatus and method for asynchronous and adaptive hybrid ARQ scheme in a wireless network
A low overhead asynchronous and adaptive Hybrid Acknowledgment Request (HARQ) technique for use in wireless networks. First control information is transmitted with the first subpacket and subsequent control information is transmitted with transmissions of subsequent subpackets only if the retransmission is done asynchronously or if the duration of the retransmission is changed. |
| US08780811B1 |
Flatnet failover control
Failover controllers help maintain user-perceived continuous connectivity for users of a geographically dispersed flat network when part of that network becomes unavailable, even though flat network packets are not WAN-routable. One such controller has local and remote flat network ports, at least one WAN port, and failover capability to WAN(s) utilizing encapsulation when the flat network is partially or fully unavailable. The failover procedure uses a packet origin table built automatically from incoming packets and from double-tunneled ARP requests. A monitor indicates whether the flat network is fully available (up) or not fully available (down). Controller software updates the packet origin table, and directs packets between ports depending on flatnet status, the packet origin table's content, and any packet handling enhancements such as load balancing, affinity enforcement, quality of service maintenance, packet traffic shaping, packet policy application, firewall operation, reverse firewall operation, encryption/decryption, and/or compression/decompression. |
| US08780809B2 |
System for communicating between internet protocol multimedia subsystem networks
A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving an assignment to provide communication services to a communication device, supplying a first telephone number mapping system of a first internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system with contact information of the communication device and a serving call session control function operating in the first internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system, supplying a second telephone number mapping system of a second internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system with contact information of the communication device and the serving call session control function, and receiving a session initiation protocol INVITE from an originating serving call session control function of the second internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system for establishing communications with the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08780808B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold, detecting narrow band interference according to one of the average composite wideband power level, the adaptive threshold, or both, prioritizing the detected narrow band interference, and selectively filtering a portion of the detected narrow band interference according to the prioritization. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08780802B2 |
Communication signal multiplexing method, radio communication system, and radio equipment controller
The present invention discloses a communication signal multiplexing method, a radio communication system, and a radio equipment controller (REC). Taking the common public radio interface (CPRI) standard as an example, by carrying multiple CPRI links on limited physical links (CPRI-MUX), generally one high-speed physical link, physical bandwidth is used more efficiently and the number of interconnected interfaces and the system cost are reduced without compromising with the CPRI standard is maintained. When the bandwidth provided by the high-speed physical link is insufficient, more physical links can be adopted. |
| US08780801B2 |
Method for automatically configuring a neighbor cell list for a base station in a cellular wireless network
A method for automatically configuring a neighbor cell list, NCL, for a base station in a cellular wireless network, comprises receiving measurement reports for neighbor cells from a plurality of mobile stations. The reports are grouped by the neighbor cell with which each is associated. Neighbor cells are selected for inclusion in the NCL depending on the number of reports in their respective group. |
| US08780798B2 |
Method and devices for providing enhanced signaling
Methods and devices for introducing enhanced signals into a wireless environment. The enhanced signals provide for functionality that is not specified in a communication standard corresponding to a standard of a legacy terminal. The enhanced signals can be utilized by a non-legacy terminal. The legacy terminal is incapable of processing the enhanced signals and is unable to detect the presence of the enhanced signals. |
| US08780797B2 |
Universal integrated circuit card activation in a hybrid network
A universal integrated circuit card (UICC) may include a universal subscriber identity module (USIM); a code division multiple access (CDMA) subscriber identity module (CSIM); a memory to store instructions; and a processor. The processor may execute instructions to determine a type of wireless access network available to a user equipment (UE) associated with the UICC; perform activation of the UICC using the USIM, in response to detecting a CDMA enhanced High Rate Packet Data (eHRPD) network, a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) access network, or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) access network; and perform activation of the UICC using the CSIM, in response to detecting an available CDMA access network other than a CDMA eHRPD access network. |
| US08780795B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and control method thereof
A wireless communication apparatus capable of using a plurality of different wireless communication systems includes a receiving unit (110) for receiving an inquiry message inquiring whether possible to respond to a call establishing message to be transmitted later from a calling side by selecting a wireless communication system satisfying a condition desired by the calling side, a transmitting unit (110) for determining whether possible to respond to the call establishing message by selecting the wireless communication system satisfying the condition among the plurality of wireless communication systems (COM1, COM2 and COM3) based on the inquiry message received and for transmitting a response message indicating a result of the determination to the calling side, and a control unit (120) for controlling to respond to the call establishing message transmitted later by the calling side by selecting the wireless communication system based on the result of the determination. |
| US08780793B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing short message service and multimedia messaging service over a wired telephone network
An apparatus and method for providing Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) over a wired telephone network are provided. In an Access Point (AP), an access module provides a wireless connection interface for wireless communication with a convergence terminal. A control module controls wireless communication and communications with the wired telephone network to provide the SMS and the MMS to the convergence terminal via the access module. A wired phone module, connected to the access module and the wired telephone network, exchanges wireless communication signals with the wired telephone network. An SMS processor, connected to the access module and the wired telephone network, processes SMS transmission and reception, and an MMS processor, connected to the access module, processes MMS transmission and reception. |
| US08780789B2 |
Methods and nodes related to coding of channel status information (CSI) payload
Methods, for use in a communications system, for transmitting information that applies a method for channel coding the CQI/PMI information, wherein a turbo coding method is applied when the size of the CQI/PMI information is above a first threshold value. The methods further include setting, based on the method applied for the channel coding, an offset value indicative of the difference in code rate between the code rate of the CQI/PMI information and the assigned code rate of the UL-SCH data information on the PUSCH. The methods also include determining, based on the offset value, the number of coded bits to be used for transmission of the CQI/PMI information, and transmitting the CQI/PMI information to a radio access network node on resources assigned based on the determined number of coded bits. |
| US08780786B2 |
Method and apparatus for denoising of physiological signals
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for denoising of physiological signals. A signal (e.g., physiological signal) comprising at least two signal channels can be decomposed (e.g., using independent component analysis (ICA)) into at least two independent components. Then, independent component (IC) denoising can be applied to estimate which of the at least two independent components belong to a signal space and which of the at least two independent components belong to a noise space using a statistical metric associated with the at least two signal channels. A de-noised version of the signal can be generated by preserving in the signal only one or more independent components of the at least two independent components belonging to the signal space. |
| US08780779B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for multi-antenna channel quality data acquisition in a broadcast/multicast service network
Various methods and apparatuses provide unicast channel data acquisition, such as antenna information, from MBMS subframes. A method of operating a wireless communications network infrastructure entity is disclosed comprising transmitting a subframe (300) comprising a unicast symbol (301) in a first predetermined symbol position within said subframe (300), said unicast symbol (301) comprising a first antenna reference information; defining said first antenna reference information as a second antenna reference information; and transmitting a second subframe comprising a second unicast symbol in a second predetermined symbol position within said second subframe, said second unicast symbol comprising said second antenna reference information. |
| US08780777B2 |
Method and apparatus for user equipment for long term evolution multimedia broadcast multicast services
A user equipment is provided that includes a processor programmed responsive to receiving a point-to-multipoint (PTM) broadcast of a service at a low quality, to request a point-to-point (PTP) communication from the network. A method is provided for user equipment to receive a service. The method includes receiving a point-to-multipoint (PTM) broadcast of a service from a network, and attempting to obtain an improved quality of the service by requesting from the network a point-to-point (PTP) communication of the service. |
| US08780775B2 |
Method and device for reducing power drain while camped on a wireless local area network
A device (200) and method (300) of saving energy in a wireless communication device (200) capable of running on a wide area network and a local area network, are disclosed. The method (300) can include: operating (310) on a wide area network and a local area network, defining an active mode, wherein neighbor cell measurements are made at a first scanning interval; detecting (320) conditions to transition to a dormant mode, by: a) operating on the local area network, b) entering a scheduled quiet time, and c) determining a quality of service from the local area network meets a predetermined threshold; and transitioning (330) to a dormant mode wherein the neighbor cell measurements are made at a second scanning interval, reduced from the first scanning interval. |
| US08780771B2 |
Cyclic delay diversity and precoding for wireless communication
Techniques for sending a MIMO transmission using a combination of cyclic delay diversity and precoding are described. A set of delays (e.g., zero delay, small delay, and large delay) for cyclic delay diversity and a set of precoding matrices may be supported. In one design, a Node B may select a delay specifically for a UE or for a set of UEs served by the Node B. In another design, a UE may evaluate different combinations of precoding matrix and delay, determine the combination with the best performance, and send this combination of precoding matrix and delay to the Node B. The Node B may perform precoding with the precoding matrix and then processing for cyclic delay diversity based on the selected delay. Alternatively, the Node B may perform processing for cyclic delay diversity based on the selected delay and then precoding with the precoding matrix. |
| US08780764B2 |
Method and system of updating routing/establishing paths in a hierarchical network
A mobile unit managing network is provided which is capable of supporting a communication area being wider than ever by one highest-layer router. A radio base station transfers a path updating notification fed from a mobile terminal to a lowest-layer router. The lowest-layer router establishes a path in which a network address to the mobile terminal exists in the radio base station and transfers path information to an intermediate-layer router serving as an upward router. The intermediate-layer router establishes a path in which the network address to the mobile terminal exists in the lowest-layer router and transfers path information to the highest-layer router. The highest-layer router, when having received path information notification from the intermediate-layer router, establishes a path in which the network address to the mobile terminal exists in the intermediate-layer router. |
| US08780758B2 |
Network flow monitoring and analysis
To analyze the performance of a network including edge routers and a hub router coupled together by communication links, an analysis method includes discovering the topology of the network that is initially unknown. An information handling system (IHS) determines baseline performance information with respect to the discovered topology of network, the baseline performance information including network capacity information on a per link basis. The discovered topology of the network is speculatively changed to provide a speculatively changed network with prospects for performance improvement. The IHS determines an estimated impact of the speculative change to the discovered topology of the network by repeating the topology discovery and the determination of baseline performance using the speculative changed topology. |
| US08780756B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
The present invention has been made to facilitate search or management of video data. The present invention acquires feature parameters representing the feature of video data or audio data or associated parameters linked to the video data or audio data together with the video data and generates metadata from the acquired feature parameters or associated parameters with use of coordinate parameters converted from feature values designated by the feature parameters or associated values designated by the associated parameters so as to display the video data through a display window on a display space defined by display axes determined by the acquired feature parameters or associated parameters. |
| US08780751B2 |
Communication terminal
When a determining unit (110) determines, based on the number of resource blocks in the entire system band and the number of resource blocks per subband, that a subband formed of a lower number of resource blocks than the number of resource blocks per subband is present, a channel capacity calculator (140), using a combined noise power which a noise power calculator (120) calculates based on reference signals included in the small subband and the adjacent subband and a combined signal power which a signal power calculator (130) calculates based on reference signals included in the small subband and the adjacent subband and the combined noise power, and a CQI transmitter (150) transmits the result to a radio base station. |
| US08780750B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting a buffer status
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) reports a buffer status as part of scheduling information for enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmissions. For reporting the buffer status, the WTRU calculates a total amount of data available across all logical channels for which reporting is requested by a radio resource control (RRC) entity. The total amount of data includes an amount of data that is available for transmission and retransmission at a radio link control (RLC) entity and an amount of data that is available for transmission in a medium access control for enhanced dedicated channel (MAC-i/is) segmentation entity in case that a MAC-i/is entity is configured. The WTRU sends scheduling information including a total E-DCH buffer status (TEBS) field that is set based on the total amount of data. |
| US08780749B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating a signal-to-interference ratio
A method and apparatus for estimating a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) are disclosed. A received signal includes signal energy on multiple basis functions. Desired signal energy in the received signal is transformed onto a first basis function with constant polarity. The desired signal energy is estimated by coherently averaging signal energy on the first basis function. A noise power is estimated by averaging signal energy on each basis function other than the first basis function and accumulating the averaged signal energy from the basis function other than the first basis function and scaling the accumulated signal energy to account for a noise estimate from the first basis function. An SIR is estimated by dividing the desired signal energy by the noise power. |
| US08780743B2 |
Method and system for improving quality of service in distributed wireless networks
A method for organizing an architecture of access points in a distributed wireless network includes measuring interference between the access points, assigning radiofrequency channels to the access points based on the measured interference and creating distributed antenna groups of multiple access points operating on a same radio frequency channel. A distributed wireless network includes a plurality of access points and a central controller connected to the access points via a common backbone, the central controller being configured to assign radio frequency channels to the access points according to the method. |
| US08780742B2 |
Reducing energy consumption in mobile telecommunications
Method and network element for reducing energy consumption in WCDMA cells of a mobile network, the method comprising: monitoring traffic conveyed in the traffic channels of a cell; analyzing certain predetermined parameters in the monitored traffic; determining whether said predetermined parameters meet corresponding predetermined conditions; and when said predetermined conditions are met, switching off continuous transmission of common channels and facilitating the intermittent transmission of the common channels during one or more transmission events, thereby causing the cell to enter a cell standby mode. |
| US08780734B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting maximum transmission unit in user terminal
An apparatus to set a maximum transmission unit (MTU) acquires information about a wireless communication network, sets a basic MTU value based on the kind of wireless communication network as an MTU value, and checks the validity of the set MTU value. The validity of the set MTU value is checked by dividing packets by the set MTU value, transmitting the packets to a communication counterpart, and comparing a response message's error rate to a reference value. The apparatus increases the set MTU value if the set MTU value is valid, decreases the set MTU value if the set MTU value is not valid, and detects an optimal MTU value. The optimal MTU value may refer to a longest MTU value among checked MTU values that has an error rate less than the reference value according to the validity-checking process. |
| US08780733B2 |
Radio communication system for supporting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and data transmission method
Disclosed is a radio communication system and a data transmission method, which facilitates to improve reliability and efficiency of the communication system by the use of HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request), wherein the data transmission method using an HARQ method comprises determining a service class in a service flow of a data packet to be transmitted; setting a target PER according to the service class; and determining whether or not the data packet is re-transmitted based on the target PER. |
| US08780732B2 |
Method of network management by assistance from terminal using control-plane signaling between terminal and network
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate network management and optimization. As described herein, a network and a device communicating with the network can exchange network management information, thereby supporting a Self Organized Network (SON) architecture for improved network management and optimization performance. A Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer protocol and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) application, in combination with a set of associated network management messages, can be utilized to exchange network management information between a device and a network. As further described herein, various procedures can be utilized to install a SON policy to a device in order to define device behavior for operations such as collecting and reporting information related to network management. Additionally, a set of standardized events can be defined, based on which a device can detect the occurrence of an event and report the occurrence to an associated network. |
| US08780727B2 |
Wireless LAN system, wireless LAN terminal and base station searching method for such system and terminal
In terminal (101-1) for communicating with base station (100-1), threshold values (103-1 to 103-2) for searching a base station that will become to be a switching candidate are updated in accordance with the number of base stations which can communicate with terminal (101-1). In the base station that will become the switching candidate, the intensity or communication quality of a signal transmitted from base station (100-1) has been received by terminal (101-1) is previously set. |
| US08780722B2 |
Scheduling packet transmission on a client device using packet classifications including high priority network control packets
A method comprising: configuring a plurality of transmit queues, each of the transmit queues having different packet service classifications associated therewith, the packet service classifications specifying a relative priority for packets stored within each respective queue, at least one of the transmit queues having a packet service classification assigned to network control packets being assigned a highest priority relative to the other transmit queues; classifying packets according to the different packet service classifications, wherein a packet to be transmitted is stored in one of the transmit queues based on the packet service classifications, and wherein network control packets are stored in the queue associated with network control packets; and scheduling packets for transmission from each of the transmit queues, wherein packets are scheduled for transmission according to the packet service classifications and wherein network control packets are prioritized for transmission above all other packet service classifications. |
| US08780715B2 |
Peak load management of a wireless data channel
A method of allocating wireless data delivery services to users allows management of mobile data channel peak loading. A per-user metering structure for wireless broadband data services includes a target data throughput allowance provided to the network user for a relatively short time period known as a metering period, where a plurality of metering periods are contained in a billing period. Use of the method disclosed herein constrains the most load-impactive users, such as users streaming high-resolution videos, during periods of data channel congestion compared to typical users, such as users browsing the Internet. |
| US08780713B2 |
Link adaptation in wireless networks
An embodiment of a system for physical link adaptation in a wireless communication network such as e.g., a WLAN, selectively varies the physical mode of operation of the transmission channels serving the mobile stations in the network. The system includes an estimation module to evaluate transmission losses due to collisions as well as transmission losses due to channel errors over the transmission channel, and an adaptation module to select the physical mode of operation of the transmission channel as a function of the transmission losses due to collisions and to channel errors as evaluated by the estimation module. |
| US08780712B2 |
Smart automatic communication method and system
A smart automatic communication method and system are introduced. The method applies to a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device has a first near field communication chip and a first far field communication chip. The second electronic device has a second near field communication chip and a second far field communication chip. The first electronic device generates a communication packet having therein a communication setup file. The first electronic device moves toward the second electronic device until the first near field communication chip can trigger the second near field communication chip within a short distance. The communication packet is sent from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. The second electronic device analyzes the communication packet to obtain the communication setup file, thereby creating a first far field communication path between the first and second far field communication chips. |
| US08780710B2 |
Priority flow handling in stateless domains
A method of managing quality of service in an IP network is provided. The method comprises identifying, at an egress edge node of the network, that congestion is present in one or more routers within the network. Data flows for termination to remove the congestion are selected. At least one flow termination notification is sent from the egress edge node to an ingress edge node of the network, the at least one flow termination notification identifying the selected data flows. Low priority flows from the selected data flows are terminated at the ingress edge node immediately. High priority flows are terminated only if congestion is still present after a predetermined delay period. The delay may be applied in the ingress edge node or the egress edge node. The invention also provides a method for admitting low priority flows into the network only if the network has resources available for a number of high priority flows above a dynamically determined threshold. |
| US08780704B2 |
Shared resource allocation
A base station can employ a shared resource, such as a control channel, for communication with a mobile device. The mobile device can be granted the exclusive access to the shared resource for a limited time. The exclusive access can be such that there is not a limit in message size that can be transferred across the shared resource. To improve operation, the exclusive grant can be applied until it is determined that appropriate packets are transferred. |
| US08780703B1 |
Fallback messaging
A computing device may receive first message data associated with a messaging group. The computing device may associate the first message data with a messaging thread. The computing device may associate a unique session identifier with one or both of the messaging thread and the messaging group. For a first one or more user devices of the messaging group, the computing device may send the message data along with the unique identifier via a native messaging protocol. For a second one or more of the user devices of the messaging group, the computing device may associate a fallback identifier of each of the one or more second user devices with one or both of the messaging thread and the messaging group, and send the first message data and unique identifier via a fallback messaging protocol. |
| US08780701B2 |
Communication apparatus and packet distribution method
A communication apparatus includes a high-priority link configured to transmit one or more high-priority packets that have a priority level greater than or equal to a given level; a plurality of low-priority links that are optically coupled to the same transmission destination as the high-priority link and are configured to transmit one or more low-priority packets that have a priority level less than the given level; a first distribution circuit configured to select the one or more high-priority packets from among input packets and distribute the selected one or more high-priority packets to the high-priority link; and a second distribution circuit configured to individually distribute one or more remaining input packets, which are the input packets that have not been distributed to the high-priority link by the first distribution circuit, to the plurality of low-priority links based on distribution information about distributing packets to the plurality of low-priority links. |
| US08780699B1 |
Handling switchover of multi-homed connections in VPLS networks
A method includes establishing a bi-directional pseudowire (BPW) between a first provider edge (PE) router and a second PE router that are forwarders for a multi-homed VPLS customer site associated with a VPLS domain. The first PE router has a designated forwarder status and the second PE router has a backup forwarder status relative to the VPLS customer site. The BPW is established as an auxiliary standby BPW external to the VPLS domain. The method also includes detecting a change in topology of the network with the first PE router, wherein the change in topology affects connectivity by the first PE router to the VPLS customer site associated with the VPLS domain, and, upon detecting the change in topology, utilizing the BPW as an active interface within the VPLS domain for forwarding network traffic to the VPLS customer site. |
| US08780696B2 |
System and method of implementing lightweight not-via IP fast reroutes in a telecommunications network
A system, method, and node for implementing lightweight Not-via Internet Protocol fast reroutes of a packet in a telecommunications network between a first node and a destination node. The method determines a shortest path between the first node and the destination node and two redundant trees between the first node and the destination node. Each redundant tree provides an alternate path from the first node and the destination node. When a failure in a link between the first node and the destination node is detected, the packet is forwarded to the destination node via a first redundant tree, and if not available, via a second redundant tree. If the second redundant tree is not available, the packet is dropped. If no failure in the link between the first node and the destination node is detected, the packet is sent via the determined shortest path to the destination node. |
| US08780693B2 |
Coding approach for a robust and flexible communication protocol
A coding approach for a robust and flexible network communication protocol is described. By using coding, it is possible to eliminate the need to track packet identities, and hence, it is possible to reduce coordination overhead associated with many conventional protocols. The method and system described herein takes advantage of multiple paths, interfaces, mediums, servers, and storage locations available in a network. The proposed protocol allows quick response to congestion by load balancing over different network resources. The method also enables soft vertical hand-overs across heterogeneous networks. In one embodiment, a media file is divided into chunks and transmitted using a transport protocol tailored to meet delay requirements of media streaming applications. Also described are different coding strategies for chunk delivery based upon an urgency level of each chunk. |
| US08780692B2 |
Accelerated routing convergence
In an embodiment, a method comprises: determining that a session restart on a restarting node has been initiated; in response to determining that the restarting node has preserved a last acknowledged version of routing information received from a peer node, and determining that the restarting node has preserved a routing state corresponding to the last acknowledged version of routing information, transmitting to the peer node a message indicating that the last acknowledged version of routing information and the routing state have been preserved at the restarting node; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices. |
| US08780690B2 |
Method and apparatus for interleaving sequence elements of an OFDMA synchronization channel
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting an orthogonal frequency domain multiple access (OFDMA) signal including a synchronization channel signal transmitted including a plurality of sequence elements interleaved in time and frequency. The synchronization channel signal sequence elements enable an initial acquisition and cell search method with low computational load by providing predetermined time domain symmetry for common sequence elements in OFDMA symbol periods for OFDMA symbol timing detection and frequency error detection in an OFDMA system supporting multiple system bandwidths, both synchronized and un-synchronized systems, a large cell index and an OFDMA symbol structure with both short and long cyclic prefix length. |
| US08780689B2 |
Method and system for reducing feedback information in multicarrier-based communication systems based on tiers
Systems and methods for decreasing the amount of information sent on a feedback channel are disclosed. A hierarchical tree structure may be used to reduce the amount of information sent on the feedback channel. Spectral binning may also be used in conjunction with the hierarchical tree structure. |
| US08780688B2 |
Methods and apparatus in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus in a RBS and a UE for reference signal (RS) measurements in an OFDM system, that enable having a configurable RS transmission bandwidth which is smaller than the system bandwidth. This allows for better interference coordination of RS, which in turn improves the UE RS measurements used for different services such as positioning. The RBS retrieves the RS transmission bandwidth, determines a RS measurement bandwidth based on this RS transmission bandwidth, and transmits the determined bandwidth to the UE. The UE receives the RS measurement bandwidth and measures the RS in a bandwidth determined based on the received measurement bandwidth and the UE capability. |
| US08780687B2 |
Method and apparatus for vectored data communication
In an embodiment, vector training signals are received. Noise affecting the training signals is evaluated, and a noise indication is thus determined. |
| US08780685B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08780684B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification, a revision number of recording speed, and an extended part version field. |
| US08780683B2 |
Information recording medium, tracking method, and optical information apparatus
An optical disc (120) has a first mark (131) disposed at the center of a track, a second mark (132) disposed away from the center of the track in a tracking direction thereof by a distance b1, and disposed away from the first mark (131) in the direction along the track by a distance L, and a third mark (133) disposed away from the center of the track in the tracking direction opposite to that of the second mark (132) by a distance b2, and disposed away from the first mark (131) in the direction along the track by a distance L2. The second and third marks (132) and (133) generate scattered light depending on the distance between a scattering medium (103) and each of the marks by irradiating the scattering medium (103) in an optical information apparatus with light. The distances b1 and b2 are smaller than 50 nm. |
| US08780678B2 |
Thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head having core cover layer
Provided is a thermal-assisted-magnetic-recording head capable of irradiating a magnetic recording medium with light with a spot size reduced on the submicron order with high utilization efficiency. A spot size converter 13 for guiding light emitted from an optical source 4 into a magnetic head is provided at a position adjacent to a magnetic main pole 19 in the magnetic head. In the spot size converter 13, a cover layer 15 having a lower refractive index than those of a core 14 and a clad material 24 is formed between the core 14 and the clad 15 and has a shape composed of a shape substantially rectangular in a light traveling direction and a taper shape having a width increasing toward the bottom surface of the magnetic head. |
| US08780669B2 |
Seismic acquisition in marine environments using survey paths following a series of linked deviated paths and methods of use
Methods and systems are provided for acquiring seismic data in a marine environment using survey paths following a series of linked curved paths so as to obtain multi-azimuthal data over a sub-surface target. Marine vessels towing multiple seismic streamers may be configured to travel substantially along a series of linked deviated paths or a series of linked curved paths. Sources may be excited to introduce acoustic wave energy in the marine environment and into the subsea region. The acoustic wave energy then reflects and refracts from the subsea region to form reflected and refracted wave energy, which is detected by seismic receivers spaced along the streamers. The detected seismic data is then interpreted to reveal seismic information representative of the surveyed subsea region. Other enhancements include configuring the streamers in a flared configuration, where the lateral spacing increases rearwardly over the length of the seismic streamers. |
| US08780666B2 |
Decoupling capacitance calibration devices and methods for DRAM
A decoupling capacitance (decap) calibration device includes a plurality of parallel decoupling capacitors configured to be electrically connected to a power supply at a point between the power supply and logic circuitry. The plurality of capacitors exhibit a plurality of different capacitance values and are configured to independently turn on or off according to a plurality of inputs. Decap calibration circuitry is configured to update the plurality of inputs in response to a determination signal. A voltage detector is configured to detect a voltage at an output of the plurality of capacitors and to compare the output voltage to a reference voltage. The decap calibration device is configured to generate the determination signal in response to the voltage comparison. |
| US08780664B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with sense amplifier and bitline isolation
A semiconductor memory device, including: a memory cell connected to a first bitline and associated with a second bitline; a sense amplifier, including a first input/output node and a second input/output node; and an isolator connected to the bitlines and to the input/output nodes, the isolator being configured to carry out bitline isolation during a refresh operation of the memory cell, where the bitline isolation includes electrically disconnecting the first bitline from the first input/output node and electrically disconnecting the second bitline from the second input/output node, followed by: electrically re-connecting the first bitline to the first input/output node while the second bitline remains electrically disconnected from the second input/output node. |
| US08780661B2 |
Self refresh pulse generation circuit
A self refresh pulse generation circuit includes a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal asserted for an initial period of a self refresh mode, and a self refresh pulse generator configured to generate a self refresh pulse having a period controlled in response to the control signal, in the self refresh mode. |
| US08780653B2 |
Semiconductor device having skew detection circuit measuring skew between clock signal and data strobe signal
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes a clock terminal supplied with a first clock signal from outside; a dividing circuit dividing a frequency of the first clock signal to generate a plurality of second clock signals that are different in phase from one another; a multiplier circuit multiplying the second clock signals to generate a third clock signal, the multiplexer having a predetermined operating delay time; a data strobe terminal supplied with a first data strobe signal from outside; a strobe signal generation circuit adding the predetermined operating delay time to the first data strobe signal to generate a second data strobe signal; and a skew detection circuit measuring a skew between the third clock signal and the second data strobe signal. |
| US08780652B2 |
Signal tracking in write operations of memory cells
In a method, a first edge of a first tracking signal in a first direction of a memory array is generated. A first edge of a second tracking signal in a second direction of the memory array is generated. A first edge of a write-timing control signal is generated based on a slower edge of the first edge the first tracking signal and of the first edge of the second tracking signal. The first edge of the write-timing control signal is used to generate a second edge of the second tracking signal. |
| US08780650B2 |
Memory with redundant sense amplifier
Embodiments of a memory are disclosed that may reduce the likelihood of a miss-read while reading a weak data storage cell. The memory may include a number of data storage cells, a column multiplexer, a first sense amplifier and a second sense amplifier, and an output circuit. The gain level of the first sense amplifier may be higher than the gain level of the second sense amplifier. The output circuit may include a multiplexer and the multiplexer may be operable to controllably select one of the outputs of the first and second sense amplifiers and pass the value of the selected sense amplifier. The output circuit may include a node that couples the outputs of the first and second sense amplifiers and the outputs of the first and second sense amplifiers may be able to be set to a high impedance state. |
| US08780646B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a pipe latch circuit configured to receive parallel input data and output serial data or set an output terminal of the pipe latch circuit at a predetermined voltage level in response to an enable signal, and a synchronization circuit configured to output an output data of the pipe latch circuit in synchronization with an internal clock. |
| US08780645B2 |
Data input circuit of nonvolatile memory device
The data input circuit of a nonvolatile memory device includes a redundancy multiplexer configured to selectively output normal data and redundancy data to an internal global data line in response to a redundancy signal, a plurality of pipe registers coupled to the internal global data line and configured to latch normal data or redundancy data received through the internal global data line in response to a plurality of respective latch signals, and an output multiplexer configured to sequentially output the latched data in response to a plurality of selection signals. |
| US08780644B2 |
Programming method for nonvolatile memory apparatus
Provided is a method for programming a nonvolatile memory apparatus which includes a bit line selector coupled to first and second bit lines and a page buffer including a main data transmission switch coupled to the bit line selector, a first latch coupled to the main data transmission switch, a temporary data transmission switch coupled to the bit line selector, and a second latch coupled between the temporary data transmission switch and the first latch. In the programming when the first bit line is precharged to a power supply voltage level, a main data transmission switch and a temporary data transmission switch are simultaneously turned on to set up a voltage of the second bit line depending on data levels stored in the first and second latches. |
| US08780638B2 |
Random telegraph signal noise reduction scheme for semiconductor memories
Embodiments are provided that include a method including providing a first pulsed gate signal to a selected memory cell, wherein the pulsed gate signal alternates between a first voltage level and a second voltage level during a time period and sensing a data line response to determine data stored on the selected memory of cells. Further embodiments provide a system including a memory device, having a regulator circuit coupled to a plurality of access lines of a NAND memory cell, and a switching circuit configured to sequentially bias at least one of the plurality of the access lines between a first voltage level and a second voltage level based on an input signal. |
| US08780635B2 |
Use of bloom filter and improved program algorithm for increased data protection in CAM NAND memory
Various techniques for extending the capabilities of CAM NAND type memories are discussed. Multi-block or even full chip search operations can be performed. In addition to the inherent AND property of NAND strings, the memory array has an inherent OR property between NAND string from different blocks along the same bit line that can be exploited through multi-block CAM-type operations. To reduce data-dependent word line to word line effects, in multiple data dependent sensing operations, the sensing can be broken up into sub-operations that avoid data dependent values on adjacent word lines. To improve data protection, subsequent to writing a memory block with indices, the word lines are read back and compared bit-by-bit with their intended values and the results are accumulated to determine whether any of indices include error. A bloom filter can also be used as an initial check during data search operations in order to provide increased data protection. |
| US08780634B2 |
CAM NAND with OR function and full chip search capability
Various techniques for extending the capabilities of CAM NAND type memories are discussed. Multi-block or even full chip search operations can be performed. In addition to the inherent AND property of NAND strings, the memory array has an inherent OR property between NAND string from different blocks along the same bit line that can be exploited through multi-block CAM-type operations. To reduce data-dependent word line to word line effects, in multiple data dependent sensing operations, the sensing can be broken up into sub-operations that avoid data dependent values on adjacent word lines. To improve data protection, subsequent to writing a memory block with indices, the word lines are read back and compared bit-by-bit with their intended values and the results are accumulated to determine whether any of indices include error. A bloom filter can also be used as an initial check during data search operations in order to provide increased data protection. |
| US08780632B2 |
De-duplication techniques using NAND flash based content addressable memory
A NAND Flash based content addressable memory (CAM) is used for a key-value addressed storage drive. The device can use a standard transport protocol such as PCI-E, SAS, SATA, eMMC, SCSI, and so on. A host writes a key-value pair to the drive, where the drive writes the keys along bit lines of a CAM NAND portion of the drive and stores the value in the drive. The drive then maintains a table linking the keys to location of the value. In a read process, the host provides a key to drive, which then broadcasts down the word lines of blocks storing the keys. Based on any matching bit lines, the tables can then be used to retrieve and supply the corresponding data to the host. This arrangement can be applied to de-duplication: for data sets stored in a primary data storage section, corresponding data keys can be generated and store in search NAND. A received key, rather from external to the system or internally generated, can then be compared against the search NAND. The system can be applied to both in-line and off-line de-duplication. |
| US08780625B2 |
Memory array
A memory array used in the field of semiconductor technology includes a plurality of memory cells, bit lines, word lines perpendicular to the bit lines, and first/second control lines. The memory array uses split-gate memory cells, wherein two memory bit cells of a memory cell share one word line, thereby the read, program and erase of the memory cell can be realized by applying different voltages to the word line, two control gates and source/drain regions; the word line sharing structure enables a split-gate flash memory to effectively reduce the chip area and avoid over-erase problems while maintaining electrical isolation performance of the chip unchanged and not increasing the complexity of the process. |
| US08780621B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit system and method for driving the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit system includes a phase-change line including a first phase-change area constituting a first memory cell and a second phase-change area constituting a second memory cell, a write current providing unit configured to phase-change a selected one of the first and second phase-change areas, and a phase-change compensation unit configured to restore the other of the first and second phase-change areas by compensating for a dummy phase-change caused in the other phase-change area due to a phase-change of the selected phase-change area. |
| US08780615B2 |
Memory device and method of writing data to a memory device
In a memory device, a bitline write voltage is applied to a first bitline. A wordline voltage is applied to a first wordline for writing data to a first memory cell connected to the first wordline and the first bitline. The first bitline and the second bitline are electrically connected for charge sharing between the first bitline and the second bitline. A predetermined time after electrically connecting the first bitline and the second bitline, the first and the second bitline are electrically disconnected and the bitline write voltage is applied to the second bitline. The wordline voltage is applied to a second wordline for writing data to a second memory cell connected to the second wordline and the second bitline. |
| US08780614B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
The capacitance of a capacitor that is required in a DRAM is reduced, whereby a highly integrated DRAM is provided. In a divided bit line type DRAM, a sub bit line is formed below a word line and a bit line is formed above the word line. The parasitic capacitance of the sub bit line is reduced by employing the divided bit line method, and further, the off resistance of a cell transistor is set high according to need; thus, the capacitance can be one tenth or less of that of a conventional DRAM. Accordingly, even when a stacked capacitor is employed, the height of the capacitor can be one tenth or less of that of a conventional one, so that a bit line can be easily provided thereover. Further, by devising a structure of the cell transistor, the area per memory cell can be reduced to 4 F2. |
| US08780605B2 |
Three-dimensional array of re-programmable non-volatile memory elements having vertical bit lines and a single-sided word line architecture
A three-dimensional array especially adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. A two-dimensional array of bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected is oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes. A single-sided word line architecture provides a word line exclusively for each row of memory elements instead of sharing one word line between two rows of memory elements thereby avoids linking the memory element across the array across the word lines. While the row of memory elements is also being accessed by a corresponding row of local bit lines, there is no extension of coupling between adjacent rows of local bit lines and therefore leakage currents beyond the word line. |
| US08780601B2 |
Three-dimensional integrated circuit
A three-dimensional integrated circuit comprising a submicroscale integrated-circuit substrate and n nanoscale layers stacked above the submicroscale integrated-circuit substrate, a nanowire-junction memory element in each of which is independently controlled by two submicroscale subcomponents within the submicroscale integrated-circuit substrate, the first submicroscale subcomponent coupled through a first set of switches to each of the n nanowire-junction memory elements and the second submicroscale subcomponent coupled through a second set of switches to each of the n nanowire-junction memory elements, the total number of switches in the first and second sets of switches less than 2n, and n greater than or equal to 2. |
| US08780600B2 |
Systems and methods for stacked semiconductor memory devices
Systems and methods are provided for stacked semiconductor memory devices. The stacked semiconductor memory devices can include a nonvolatile memory controller, a number of nonvolatile memory dies arranged in a stacked configuration, and a package substrate. The memory controller and the memory dies can be coupled to each other with vias that extend through the package substrate. A vertical interconnect process may be used to electrically connect the nonvolatile memory dies to each other, as well as other system components. The memory controller may be flip-chip bonded to external circuitry, such as another semiconductor device or a printed circuit board. |
| US08780599B2 |
Content addressable memory device
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of output transistors each controlling the magnitude of an output voltage relative to the magnitude of a load current according to a control value indicated by an impedance control signal applied to a control terminal, a voltage monitor circuit outputing an output voltage monitor value indicating a voltage value of the output voltage, and a control circuit controling the magnitude of the control value according to the magnitude of an error value between a reference voltage indicating a target value of the output voltage and the output voltage monitor value, and controls based on the control value whether any of such transistors be brought to a conducting state. The control circuit increases a change step of the control value relative to the error value during a predetermined period according to prenotification signals for notifying a change of the load current in advance. |
| US08780594B2 |
Parallel inverter drive system and the apparatus and method for suppressing circulating current in such system
Proposed is a parallel inverter drive system including includes a plurality of inverter drives connected in parallel with each other, in which each inverter drive includes a switch; a PWM controller connected to the switch for controlling switching operations of the switch device according to a duty cycle signal; and a circulating current suppressor for collecting current information associated with the current of each inverter drive and a summation current, and generating an index according to the collected current information and the desired circulating current quantity. A zero-sequence voltage is generated for each phase of a three-phase voltage command according to the index and the voltage command and the operating mode of the inverter drive, thereby injecting the zero-sequence voltage into the voltage command with a feed-forward configuration so as to fix the voltage command. The PWM controller can generate the duty cycle signal according to the fixed voltage command. |
| US08780592B1 |
Systems and methods for increasing output current quality, output power, and reliability of grid-interactive inverters
Various enhancements to grid-interactive inverters in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes input terminals configured to receive a direct current, output terminals configured to provide an alternating output current to the utility grid, a controller, an output current sensor, and a DC-AC inverter stage comprising a plurality of switches controlled by control signals generated by the controller. In addition, the controller is configured to: generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch a direct current in a bidirectional manner; measure the alternating output current; perform frequency decomposition of the output current; and generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch current in a way that the magnitude of a plurality of unwanted current components is subtracted from the resulting output current. |
| US08780591B2 |
Frequency converter assembly
A frequency converter assembly including an input for supplying electric power having an input frequency into the frequency converter assembly from a supply network, a direct voltage intermediate circuit having capacitor component, and at least one controllable switch. The switch being electrically positioned between the input and the direct voltage intermediate circuit. The assembly also includes an output for supplying electric power having an output frequency from the frequency converter assembly, and control component arranged to control the at least one controllable switch. The control component provides a recovery function to recover the capacitor component by supplying restricted recovery current from the supply network to the capacitor component through the at least one controllable switch, the control means also prevents supply of electric power from the direct voltage intermediate circuit towards the output during the recovery function. |
| US08780587B2 |
Switching regulator and control circuit and control method thereof
A control circuit of a switching regulator, which controls rectified power within a predetermined range, detects an input voltage and an input current to generate a voltage detection signal and a current detection signal respectively, and the voltage detection signal and the current detection signal are multiplied by one the other to generate a power index. The control circuit generates an error signal according to the power index and a reference signal. A low-pass-filter filters a high frequency band in the process. A control signal generation circuit of the control circuit generates a control signal according to the error signal. And a driver circuit of the control circuit generates an operation signal according to the control signal, for switching a power switch to convert the rectified power to an output voltage. |
| US08780585B2 |
Double phase-shifting full-bridge DC-to-DC converter
A DC-to-DC converter has a leading full-bridge inverter and a lagging full-bridge inverter for receiving a DC input and producing respective AC output voltages. A full-wave rectifier circuit rectifies the AC output voltages to produce a rectified output voltage, which is filtered by a current doubling output filter circuit to produce a DC output voltage. A master phase-shift controller and a slave phase-shift controller respectively provide first and second control signals to the leading full-bridge inverter and third and fourth control signals to the lagging full-bridge inverter to regulate the DC output voltage by changing a phase of the second and fourth control signals with respect to the first and third control signals below a predetermined DC output voltage, and by changing a phase of the third and fourth control signals with respect to the first and second control signals above the predetermined threshold. |
| US08780584B2 |
Printed circuit board and electro application
An electronic product includes a case; a first board placed inside the case; and a second board having an Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structure inserted therein. The second board is coupled to an inside of the case facing the first board so as to shield a noise radiated from the first board. |
| US08780574B2 |
Double-sided printed circuit board
A double-sided PCB includes a circuit plate, a first chip, and a second chip. The circuit plate includes a spacer layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first multilayer structure, and a second multilayer structure. The first multilayer structure includes a first wire layer, a first middle layer, and a second wire layer having a first grounding portion and first conductive pattern portions, that are stacked on each other on the first surface. The second multilayer structure on the second surface is either a mirror image of the first multilayer structure, or is very similar thereto. The first and second chips are each arranged on a grounding portion and are each electrically connected to their respective conductive pattern portions. |
| US08780573B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes an accommodating layer, chip capacitor devices accommodated in the accommodating layer, and a buildup structure formed on the accommodating layer such that the buildup structure covers the chip capacitor devices in the accommodating layer. The buildup structure has mounting conductor structures positioned to mount an IC chip device on a surface of the buildup structure such that the IC chip device is mounted directly over the chip capacitor devices, each of the chip capacitor devices has a dielectric body having a surface facing the buildup structure, a first electrode formed on the dielectric body and extending on the surface of the dielectric body, and a second electrode formed on the dielectric body and extending on the surface of the dielectric body, and the dielectric body is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08780570B2 |
Double hinge torsion bar
In embodiments of a double hinge torsion bar, a portable device includes a first housing integrated with a display device, and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing. Double hinges attach to the first and second housings of the portable device, and the double hinges are operable to open and close the first and second housings relative to each other. A torsion bar movably couples the double hinges to open and close at approximately a same timing rate, which can prevent the double hinges from binding when the first and second housings are opened and closed relative to each other. |
| US08780568B2 |
Flexible display device
A flexible display device comprises a device substrate and a flexible circuit substrate, and achieves high reliability of electrical connection. The device substrate includes a flexible substrate, a display unit and a first terminal part. The flexible circuit substrate includes a second terminal part. An ACF including conductive particles connects the first and second terminal parts. Each conductive particle consists of a core part covered by a metal layer. An electrode layer and a cushioning layer are provided between the flexible substrate and the first terminal part. A quotient of a sum of a product of average particle diameter and elastic modulus for the core part, and a product of double average thickness and elastic modulus for the metal layer, divided by a sum of products of average thickness and elastic modulus for the first terminal part, the cushioning layer and the electrode layer, is no greater than 1.5. |
| US08780565B2 |
Information handling system slide rail alignment support
A rail assembly having a stab-in inner rail member that inserts into and withdraws from an intermediate rail member supports an information handling system chassis disposed in a rack. Insertion of the inner rail member into the intermediate rail member is aided by a resting surface extending from the insertion end of the intermediate rail member. The inner rail member rests on and is aligned with the resting surface so that opposing pairs of rail assemblies can have their inner rail members aligned with their intermediate rail members during a stab-in assembly of a chassis into the rack. |
| US08780554B2 |
Electronic device
An IO system board included in an electronic device includes, in addition to a first section board that includes first ventilating holes and second section board that includes second ventilating holes, a third section board that includes third ventilating holes. Accordingly, a larger amount of cooling air is taken in via an air intake surface of a rack of the electronic device, flows into a casing of the IO system board, and then flows over a first sub circuit board, thus cooling a first heat-generating component. |
| US08780551B2 |
Blade and air deflector in a plenum
A chassis-based processing system includes a first set of processing blades mounted in parallel within a card cage and attached to a backplane within a chassis. An air intake plenum allows air to flow into the chassis, and over the first set of processing blades in an optimized manner. A separate processing blade is located in the air intake plenum, and is attached to the backplane. This processing blade may have less restrictive proximity requirements than the first set of processing blades. The processing blade in the plenum is positioned perpendicular to the first set of processing blades. As a result, airflow over the processing blade in the plenum has a different orientation than airflow over the first set of processing blades. An air deflector structure in the plenum deflects some of the air flowing into the plenum onto the processing blade located in the plenum, thereby providing improved cooling. |
| US08780544B2 |
Flat cable arranging structure and slider electronic apparatus therewith
A flat cable arranging structure and a slider electronic apparatus therewith are disclosed. The slider electronic apparatus includes two casings movably connected to each other, a flat cable connected to the two casings respectively, and a flat cable arranging structure. The flat cable arranging structure is disposed in one of the two casings and includes a movement-guiding structure, a pushing-against part, and a forcing mechanism. The movement-guiding structure is fixedly disposed. The pushing-against part is disposed to be connected to the movement-guiding structure and is capable of being confined by the movement-guiding structure to move in a specific direction. The flat cable partially winds the pushing-against part. The forcing mechanism is disposed to at least contact the pushing-against part to keep the flat cable in a tensile stretch state. Thereby, the flat cable can be stretched all the time so as not to intertwine together. |
| US08780542B1 |
System and method for generating electricity from component waste heat
An electrical energy generation device includes an energy conversion device thermally coupled to an electrical component and configured to convert thermal energy produced by the electrical component to mechanical motion. An electricity generation device is coupled to the energy conversion device and is configured to convert the mechanical motion to electrical energy. At least a portion of the electrical energy energizes the electrical component. |
| US08780541B2 |
Flexible hinge and removable attachment
Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device. |
| US08780540B2 |
Flexible hinge and removable attachment
Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device. |
| US08780529B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor, and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a method of manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor that suppresses spreading up of a solution. The method includes forming a porous sintered body made of a valve metal and having an anode wire sticking out therefrom; forming an insulating layer made of a fluorine resin, so as to surround the anode wire; and forming a dielectric layer on the porous sintered body; forming a solid electrolyte layer on the dielectric layer, after forming the insulating layer. The process of forming the insulating layer includes melting granular particles made of a fluorine resin. |
| US08780527B2 |
Transition metal carbide or nitride or boride based supercapacitors with metal foam electrode substrate
In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of making a supercapacitor includes impregnating a foam electrode substrate with an active material precursor, wherein the foam electrode substrate includes a plurality of pores and the active material precursor is dispersed into the pores. The method further includes reacting the active material precursor infiltrated foam substrate with a reductant under conditions sufficient to convert the active material precursor to an active material, wherein the active material is based on a nitride, an oxynitride, a carbide, or an oxycarbide of a metal selected from Groups III, IV, V, VI, or VII of the Periodic Table. |
| US08780526B2 |
Electrical devices containing carbon nanotube-infused fibers and methods for production thereof
Electrical devices having a plurality of stacked electrode layers are described. At least one of the electrode layers contains continuous fibers that are infused with carbon nanotubes. The continuous fibers can be disposed upon an electrically conductive base plate. The electrical devices can further contain an electrolyte contacting each electrode layer and a layer of separator material disposed between each electrode layer, in which case the electrical devices can form a supercapacitor. Such supercapacitors can have a capacitance of at least about 1 Farad/gram of continuous fibers. The capacitance can be increased by coating at least a portion of the infused carbon nanotubes with a material such as, for example, a conducting polymer, a main group metal compound, and/or a transition metal compound. Methods for producing the electrical devices are also described. |
| US08780524B2 |
Ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing same
A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic sintered body and an electrode provided on a surface of the ceramic sintered body. The electrode contains Ag. The ceramic sintered body contain glass material made of borosilicate glass. The glass material has closed pores and open pores therein. The closed pores and the open pores have diameters decreasing as being located away from the surface of the ceramic sintered body. This ceramic electronic component can prevent delamination of the electrode from the ceramic sintered body during a process of firing a green sheet. |
| US08780517B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and temperature detection circuit
Provided is a semiconductor apparatus which includes a power transistor that is placed between an input terminal and an output terminal, a temperature detection diode that has a cathode connected to the input terminal and an anode connected to the output terminal, a current amplifier that outputs a detection current generated by amplifying a backward leakage current flowing from the cathode to the anode of the temperature detection diode, a first conversion resistor that outputs an overheat detection signal generated by converting the detection current into a voltage, a gating circuit that performs gating of a control signal according to the overheat detection signal, and a driver circuit that outputs a drive signal to a control terminal of the power transistor based on an output signal of the gating circuit. |
| US08780516B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for voltage clamp circuits
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods and apparatus for voltage clamp circuits. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a voltage clamp circuit may include a first circuit portion electrically coupled to the output of at least one power source. The first circuit portion comprises a power semiconductor device having a first, second and a third node and one or more zener diodes electrically coupled to the first or the second node of the power semiconductor device. The voltage clamp circuit may further include a second circuit portion in electrical communication with the first circuit portion, where the second circuit portion comprises a resistor, a capacitor and a directional device, and where the second circuit portion connects to the one or more zener diodes to reduce peak voltage output between the second and the third node of the power semiconductor device. |
| US08780510B2 |
Passive quench protection circuit for superconducting magnets
A superconducting magnet apparatus that in one embodiment includes at least one superconducting coil and a passive quench protection circuit electrically coupled to the coil in parallel. The circuit includes a heater and a current limiter connected in series. The heater is thermally coupled to the coil and the current limiter blocks current through the circuit at a current lower than the current rating of the heater. |
| US08780507B2 |
Read transducer and magnetic storage system implementing same
A transducer according to one embodiment comprises a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and an electrically conductive layer positioned between the ferromagnetic layers; wherein a length of the first ferromagnetic layer in a first direction parallel to a plane of deposition thereof is greater than a length of the electrically conductive layer in the first direction such that a first end of the first ferromagnetic layer extends beyond an end of the electrically conductive layer in the first direction, wherein an electrical current enters or exits the end of the first ferromagnetic layer that extends beyond the end of the electrically conductive layer in the first direction. Additional transducer structures, and systems implementing such transducers, are also disclosed. |
| US08780497B2 |
Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a return path section
A magnetic head includes first and second coils, a main pole, a write shield, a return path section, and a core part. The return path section includes a yoke part magnetically connected to the write shield, and a coupling part located away from a medium facing surface and magnetically coupling the yoke part and the main pole to each other. The first coil is located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the main pole and wound around the coupling part. The core part is located farther from the medium facing surface than is the coupling part, and is magnetically connected to the main pole. The second coil is located on the front side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to the main pole and wound around the core part. |
| US08780494B1 |
Rotating device
A rotating device includes a sleeve which encircles a shaft, a housing which supports the shaft and which forms an annular supporting recess where the lower end of the sleeve enters together with the shaft, a ring member which is provided above the sleeve and which is fixed to the shaft in a manner encircling the shaft. A first gap between the sleeve and the shaft includes first and second radial dynamic pressure generating portions. An annular sleeve recess is formed in upper face of the sleeve. The ring member includes a ring entering portion that enters the sleeve recess in a non-contact manner. An outward gap in the radial direction where the ring entering portion and the sleeve recess face with each other in the radial direction includes a second air-liquid interface of a lubricant. |
| US08780492B1 |
Spindle motor having coupling member between base member and core and hard disk drive including the same
There is provided a spindle motor including: a fluid dynamic pressure bearing assembly; a base member coupled to the fluid dynamic pressure bearing assembly; and a core fixedly coupled to the base member and having a coil wound therearound, wherein the base member has a disk portion and a coupling portion extending from an inner edge of the disk portion upwardly in an axial direction, one surface of the core is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the overall coupling portion, and an upper end of the coupling portion is protruded upwardly, relative to an upper surface of the core. |
| US08780487B2 |
Method of tuning skew between read head and write head and storage device thereof
Tuning a skew between a read head and a write head, may include setting a center value of a track according to a track density of a storage medium; writing data having a certain pattern to at least one target track and at least two tracks adjacent to the target track, while following the center value of the track; reading the data having a certain pattern from the target track by using a plurality of off track values in an off track range based on the center value of the track; and detecting an off track value having a minimum error occurrence number among error occurrence numbers with respect to the read data having a certain pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of off tracks, as an optimum off track value of the target track. |
| US08780484B2 |
Tape friction measurement
A method according to one embodiment includes setting a default friction value to a predetermined value, determining whether a primary velocity is valid, determining a velocity error, determining whether the velocity error is in a predetermined range, accumulating the velocity error when the velocity error is determined to be in the predetermined range, repeating, until a time period has elapsed, each of: the determining the velocity error, the determining whether the velocity error is in the predetermined range, and the accumulating the velocity error when the velocity error is determined to be in the predetermined range, and calculating a new friction value based on the accumulated velocity error. |
| US08780482B2 |
Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming
A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment. |
| US08780481B2 |
Fast recovery to a write state
Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus and corresponding method that includes transitioning from a monitor state to a stop write state when a determined position error is greater than a threshold error value for a first predetermined period, and transitioning from the monitor state to a write state when the determined position error is less than the threshold error value for a second predetermined period. Write operations are enabled and signals are provided to operate an actuator to translate a magnetic head laterally in a manner to reduce the determined position error while in the write state. Write operations are disabled and signals are provided to operate the actuator to translate the magnetic head laterally in a manner to reduce the determined position error while in the monitor state. Write operations are disabled while in the stop write state. |
| US08780476B2 |
Systems and methods for controlled wedge spacing in a storage device
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide clock generation systems that include: a first clock multiplier circuit, a second clock multiplier circuit, a modulus accumulator circuit, and a data clock phase control circuit. The first clock multiplier circuit is operable to multiply a reference clock by a first multiplier to yield a first domain clock, and the second clock multiplier circuit is operable to multiply the reference clock by a second multiplier to yield a second domain clock. The modulus accumulator circuit is operable to yield a value indicating a fractional amount of the second domain clock that an edge of the second domain clock is offset from a trigger signal. The data clock phase control circuit is operable to phase shift the second domain clock by a phase amount corresponding to the fractional amount. |
| US08780473B1 |
Disk drive selecting a global digital-to-analog setting for a plurality of heads
A method is disclosed for selecting a global digital-to-analog setting for a plurality of heads in a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a plurality of disk surfaces and a plurality of respective heads. The method comprises: adjusting a first digital-to-analog setting for a first head to generate a first signal, adjusting a second digital-to-analog setting for a second head to generate a second signal, selecting a first scalar setting for scaling the first signal, selecting a second scalar setting for scaling the second signal, and selecting the global digital-to-analog setting in response to the adjusted first digital-to-analog setting, the adjusted second digital-to-analog setting, the first scalar setting, and the second scalar setting. |
| US08780470B1 |
Disk drive adjusting digital phase locked loop over sector data with frequency induced phase error measured over preamble
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a sector including a periodic pattern and sector data. The sector is read with the head to generate a read signal which is sampled at a sampling frequency with a signal sampler to generate signal samples. The signal samples representing the periodic pattern are processed to measure a frequency induced phase error based on kδ where k represents a signal sample index and δ is a fraction of 2π. The signal samples representing the sector data are processed to generate a data phase error. The data phase error is adjusted in response to the frequency induced phase error to generate an adjusted data phase error, and the signal sampler is controlled in response to the adjusted data phase error. |
| US08780463B2 |
Image-forming lens, and imaging apparatus and information device using the image-forming lens
An image-forming lens includes, from an object side to an image side in order, a first lens group including a first F lens group with a negative refractive power and a first R lens group with a positive refractive power, an aperture, and a second lens group with a positive refractive power. The first F lens group includes, from the object side in order, a first negative lens which has a surface on the image side having a larger curvature and a second negative lens which has a surface on the object side having a larger curvature. A distance from a surface on a most object side of the first lens group to an image plane in a state of focusing on an object at infinity: L, and a maximum image height: Y′ satisfy Conditional expression 1: 2.8 |
| US08780461B2 |
Optical lens and lens unit using the same
An annular inclined surface is formed on an edge portion of a first plastic lens in such a manner that the inclined surface surrounds a concave surface formed in a second surface of the first plastic lens. The inclined surface reflects unwanted light reflected by the concave surface so as to prevent the unwanted light from passing through the non-shading portion of the edge portion outside the effective area of a lens portion and then being reflected on an imaging area. This can suppress ghosting and flare due to the reflection of the unwanted light on the imaging surface. |
| US08780459B2 |
Optical imaging lens system
This invention provides an optical imaging lens system in order from an object side to an image side comprising five non-cemented lens elements with refractive power: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with positive refractive power; a third lens element with negative refractive power, and both surfaces being aspheric; a fourth lens element having a convex image-side surface, and both surfaces being aspheric; and a plastic fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface, both surfaces being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the surfaces thereof. By such arrangement, the refractive power of the optical imaging lens system can be effectively distributed with improved light converging power so that the total track length can be shortened effectively, and the aberration of system can be corrected to facilitate high image quality. |
| US08780456B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a fixing frame having a plurality of cam grooves that are formed an inner circumferential surface of the fixing frame and also having a protrusion provided between any adjacent two of the cam grooves among a plurality of the cam grooves; and a drive frame having cam followers that are provided to an outer circumferential surface of drive frame, are engaged with the cam grooves, and are movable along the cam grooves. With this configuration, when an external force is applied to the drive frame, an end portion of the drive frame comes into contact with the protrusion to prevent the cam followers from coming out of the cam grooves. |
| US08780454B2 |
Wide angle lens system and photographing apparatus
A wide angle lens system includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power arranged from an object side. The first lens group includes a first lens of a meniscus shape having a convex surface toward the object side, a second lens having a concave surface toward the object side, and a third lens having a convex surface toward the object side, and the second lens group includes a fourth lens having a convex surface toward the object side, a fifth lens having a concave surface toward the object side, and a sixth lens of a meniscus shape having a concave surface toward the object side. A photographing apparatus includes the wide angle lens system. |
| US08780453B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from object side, a positive first lens unit which does not move for varying magnification, a negative second lens unit which moves for varying magnification, a negative third lens unit which moves for varying magnification, and a positive fourth lens unit which does not move for varying magnification, wherein the first lens unit includes a positive lens which satisfies the following conditions: 70<νp<85; 2.31 |
| US08780452B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
Disclosed herein is a zoom lens, including: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power; the first, second, third and fourth lens groups being disposed in order from the object side; the lens groups moving upon zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end of the zoom lens such that the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases while the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases. |
| US08780451B2 |
Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system comprising a negative first lens unit, a positive second lens unit, a negative third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit, wherein the second lens unit is composed of an object-side second lens unit and an image-side second lens unit, the object-side second lens unit has positive optical power, an aperture diaphragm is located between the object-side second lens unit and the image-side second lens unit, and the conditions: −0.5 |
| US08780449B2 |
Method for compensating aberration of variable focus liquid lens
A method for compensating an aberration of a variable focus liquid lens is configured to compensate the aberration associated with a first lens surface and a second lens surface of the liquid lens. The first lens surface is of a first radius of curvature. The second lens surface is of a second radius of curvature. |
| US08780448B2 |
Lens blank and lens elements as well as method for their production
A method for manufacturing a preferably asymmetrical lens element (5a) from a tempered blank (1) is characterized by: producing the lens element (5a) from a first partial volume (1a) of the tempered blank (1), whose thickness d is less than approximately 70%, preferably less than approximately 60%, particularly preferably less than approximately 50% of the thickness D of the tempered blank (1). Preferably, from a second partial volume (1b) of the tempered blank (1) at least a further lens element (5a′) is produced, wherein before the lens elements (5a, 5a′) are produced the tempered blank (1) is divided into the first and second partial volume (1a, 1b). |
| US08780446B2 |
Beam generating apparatus
A beam generating apparatus includes a laser light source, a speckle suppressing module, a light homogenizing module and a driving unit. The laser light source outputs a laser beam. The speckle suppressing module includes two biconic lenses and a diffuser. The first biconic lens is disposed on a transmission path of the laser beam. The diffuser is located on the transmission path of the laser beam between the first and second biconic lenses. The light homogenizing module is disposed on the transmission path of the laser beam from the second biconic lens. The driving unit drives the diffuser to move with respect to the laser beam so that the ratio of the M2 of the laser beam exiting from the second biconic lens in a first direction to the M2 thereof in a second direction is greater than 2, wherein the two directions are substantially perpendicular to each other. |
| US08780445B2 |
Optical system for rigid scope and rigid endoscope
By suitably correcting a secondary spectrum, a clear, bright optical image is obtained. Provided is a rigid-scope optical system including: an objective optical system; and at least one relay optical systems that are formed of positive front groups, middle groups, and back groups in this order from an entrance side and that reimage an optical image imaged at imaging planes at the entrance side onto imaging planes at an exit side, wherein axial chromatic aberration between two wavelengths is corrected by an optical system other than the diffractive optical element, and axial chromatic aberration between the two wavelengths and another wavelength is corrected by the diffractive optical element. |
| US08780440B2 |
Dispersion compensation in chirped pulse amplification systems
A chirped pulse amplification system includes a laser source providing an input laser pulse along an optical path. The input laser pulse is characterized by a first temporal duration. The system also includes a multi-pass pulse stretcher disposed along the optical path. The multi-pass pulse stretcher includes a first set of mirrors operable to receive input light in a first plane and output light in a second plane parallel to the first plane and a first diffraction grating. The pulse stretcher also includes a second set of mirrors operable to receive light diffracted from the first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating. The pulse stretcher further includes a reflective element operable to reflect light diffracted from the second diffraction grating. The system further includes an amplifier, a pulse compressor, and a passive dispersion compensator disposed along the optical path. |
| US08780436B2 |
Micromirrors for color electronic paper and design structures for same
Direct view color displays and design structures of direct view color displays. The direct view displays include micromirrors having un-tilted and tilted states and multiple color filters or color reflectors. |
| US08780435B2 |
Electrowetting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An electrowetting display device includes a base substrate, an electrowetting layer having first and second fluids immiscible with each other, a wall to define a pixel area, a hydrophobic layer in the pixel area, and an electronic device to control the electrowetting layer. A method of manufacturing the electrowetting display device is also provided. |
| US08780434B1 |
MEMS device with sloped support
A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device has a movable member supported in elevated position spaced by a sloped support structure above a substrate. The movable member may be a polished metallic plate such as a mirror of a digital micromirror device (DMD) supported by a flexible hinge above an integrated circuit wafer die region. The plate may supported centrally at a raised juncture of two upwardly oppositely directed and symmetrically converging hinge legs for pivoting about a parallel axis. The plate may also be supported at a top end of a hinge leg in cantilever fashion, for pivoting about a perpendicular axis. Optional spring tips are provided for limiting movement and recovering energy. In a described fabrication method, hinge material is deposited over a sacrificial layer that has been directly or indirectly patterned using a grayscale photoresist exposure to define sloped surfaces which provide a template for configuring the hinge and optional other components. |
| US08780431B1 |
Plasmon absorption modulator systems and methods
Plasmon absorption modulator systems and methods are disclosed. A plasmon absorption modulator system includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of quantum well layers stacked on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a metal layer formed on a top surface of the stack of quantum well layers. A method for modulating plasmonic current includes enabling propagation of the plasmonic current along a metal layer, and applying a voltage across the stack of quantum well layers to cause absorption of a portion of energy of the plasmonic current by the stack of quantum well layers. A metamaterial switching system includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of quantum well layers stacked on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and at least one metamaterial structure formed on a top surface of the stack of quantum well layers. |
| US08780427B2 |
Optical scanner and image forming apparatus
An optical scanner is configured such that an anamorphic condensing lens in an incident optical system has a diffractive lens structure at least in one lens surface thereof, and a length of an optical path increased by the diffractive lens structure φ [rad] is defined by an equation below by a function of height h from an optical axis: φ(h)=M(P2·h2+P4·h4+ . . . ), where Pn is a coefficient of an nth-order term of the height h (n is an even number), and M is a diffraction order, that the lens satisfies the following relations: −216≦P2≦−49, 1100≦P4·(hm max)4/(fm·NAm4)≦3800, and 10≦fm≦35, where hmmax [mm] is an effective diameter in the main scanning direction, fm [mm] is a focal length in the main scanning direction, and NAm is a numerical aperture in the main scanning direction, and that a wavefront aberration WFE1 [λrms] in a first wavelength λ1 [nm] satisfies the following relation: WFE1≦0.01. |
| US08780426B2 |
Exposure apparatus and image forming apparatus having hologram elements
An exposing device including a light emitting element array of light emitting elements arrayed in a row along a predetermined first direction; a hologram recording layer in which hologram elements are multiplex recorded such that each of the hologram elements corresponds to one of the light emitting elements and diffracts an emission beam from the light emitting element and converges the light onto a light exposure plane, such that focused beam spots are formed on the light exposure plane in a row along the first direction; and a first transmission control section, disposed at the light incident side of the hologram recording layer, provided with a structure in which light blocking sections and light transmitting sections are alternately arrayed along a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and selectively transmitting in the second direction light passing along the optical path of the reference beam. |
| US08780424B2 |
Image processing device
In the image processing device, the color conversion part converts the input value to an output value by using a color profile. The correction part corrects the output value to a corrected value by using a correction table. The update part updates the correction table based on a density patch. The first and second amount is an estimated amount of the color material to be consumed when corrected image data corrected by either using the updated correction table or using an initial correction table, respectively, is printed. When the amount determining part determines that the first amount is greater than the second amount, the modifying part modifies the color profile such that the output value in the modified color profile specifies a less amount of color material than an amount of color material specified by the output value in the unmodified color profile. |
| US08780423B2 |
Paper conveying apparatus
There are provided a paper conveying apparatus that can prevent a drop in quality of the image data while enabling stable conveyance of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first image capture unit, a second image capture unit, a pair of conveyor rollers including a first roller and a second roller, a first conveyor guide, and a second conveyor guide, wherein a nip position of the pair of conveyor rollers is arranged above an extended plane of a top surface of the first image capture unit extended to the pair of conveyor rollers side, an axis of rotation of the second roller is arranged offset to the first image capture unit side compared with an axis of rotation of the first roller at projections on the extended plane, and the first conveyor guide guides the medium conveyed to above from the extended plane, to make the medium turn downward. |
| US08780412B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing error diffusion among a plurality of pixels of an image during a halftoning process on the image
Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and configurations for error diffusion halftoning of an image including receiving a signal that indicates selection of a first implementation or a second implementation of determining a threshold perturbation value for error diffusion halftoning of an image, and determining the threshold perturbation value using a table of programmable values according to the selected one of the first implementation or the second implementation, wherein the second implementation provides fewer threshold perturbation values for a larger region of the image than the first implementation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08780411B2 |
Image forming apparatus, information processing method in image forming apparatus, and storage medium storing program
Attribute information representing the attributes of a printing medium is stored for each printing medium. Upon receiving a print job which designates the attributes of a printing medium, it is determined whether attribute information representing the attributes designated by the print job is stored. When it is determined that the attribute information is not stored, the attribute information representing the attributes designated by the print job is newly registered. |
| US08780409B2 |
Method and system for optimizing black point compensation parameters
A method for processing black point compensation parameters for a color image to be printed so as to enhance image quality of the color image is provided. The method includes analyzing image content of a received color image to identify one or more performance attributes to be considered during a black point compensation parameters processing procedure, the performance attributes estimate an effect of the black point compensation parameters on the image quality of the received color image; selecting, based on the identified performance attributes, a black point compensation (BPC) algorithm to be used during the processing procedure; deriving a model using the identified performance attribute that is configured to estimate relationships between the black point compensation parameters and the identified performance attribute; maximizing the performance attribute of the derived model so as to process the BPC parameters for the color image; and using the processed black point compensation parameters to construct output device profiles. |
| US08780408B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and recording medium
An image processing apparatus processes image data including first data corresponding to an output color of an output device and a plurality of second data of respective spot colors. The image processing apparatus includes a conversion section and a storage section. The conversion section calculates a device color value for a spot color or a spot color combination among the spot colors, referring to a first table, to generate a second table. In the second table, spot color identification information on the spot color or the spot color combination is correlated with the device color value. The conversion section also generates third data based on the plurality of second data. In the third data, each pixel is represented by the spot color identification information. The storage section stores the first data, the second table and the third data. |
| US08780405B2 |
Printer and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing printing control program
A printer includes a printing device, a transport device that transports the printing medium, an optical sensor that outputs a specified output value, based on light that is reflected from the reverse face of the printing medium, a first determination portion that determines whether a first detection object color has been detected, based on the output value, a second declaration portion that declares that the mark has been detected in a case where, after a first declaration portion that, in a case where the number of times that the first determination portion has consecutively determined that the first detection object color has been detected, declares that the first detection object color is continuous over a specified width, the number of times that a second determination portion has consecutively determined that the second detection object color has been detected, based on the output value. |
| US08780403B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus specifies as a blank area an area where a drawing object different from a latent image and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern background image is removed from a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in a first page when printing is instructed, and lays out a drawing object of a second page in the specified blank area. |
| US08780402B2 |
Document and method of producing a document
A physical document comprising a human-readable part and a machine-readable part, wherein the machine-readable part comprises markup that describes information on at least one of the document and data within the human-readable part. |
| US08780401B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing digital slide images using algorithms constrained by parameter data
Systems and methods for processing the content of a digital image of a microscope sample. In an embodiment, identifications of algorithm(s) and digital slide image(s) may be received over a network. Parameter data may also be received for the identified algorithm(s). The identified digital slide image(s) may then be retrieved and the identified algorithm(s) may be executed to analyze the retrieved digital slide image(s). The execution of the algorithm(s) may be constrained based on the received parameter data. |
| US08780395B1 |
Printing online resources
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for printing online resources. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to print an online resource that is presented at a user device according to a presentation format in which a first advertisement is presented at a first presentation position. A print format for a print-out of the online resource is selected. The print format specifies a second advertisement position at which a second advertisement is included in the print-out of the online resource. The second advertisement is selected based, at least in part, on characteristics of the second advertisement position. The second advertisement can be a different advertisement than the first advertisement. Data that cause the resource and the second advertisement to be printed according to the print format are provided. |
| US08780392B2 |
Client apparatus, control method therefor, and bookbinding system
A client apparatus that receives document data and a job ticket from a server apparatus, and generates a print job for the document data, the client apparatus performs control such that, in a case where designation of a paper size is performed preceding designation of a paper type, a combination information piece that includes the paper size is extracted from the job ticket, and the paper type included in the extracted combination information piece is set as a paper type that is selectable, and in a case where designation of a paper type is performed preceding designation of a paper size, a combination information piece that includes the paper type is extracted from the job ticket, and the paper size included in the extracted combination information piece is set as a paper size that is selectable. |
| US08780385B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver and digital broadcast receiver control method
A print control unit 118 that, once it receives a datacasting automatic activation notification or a datacasting manual activation notification, determines whether or not datacasting is present for a currently selected channel. In a case in which datacasting is present, the print control unit 118 acquires maintenance information acquired from a printer 200 through a maintenance information acquisition process. Based on the acquired maintenance information, the print control unit 118 determines whether or not to issue a command to the printer 200 requesting execution of a maintenance process. |
| US08780381B2 |
Methods for printing multiple files as one print job
A method is disclosed for selectively printing multiple PDF files currently open in a PDF viewer (including editor) application. A GUI lists all PDF files currently open within the viewer. A user selects files from the list and specifies page ranges for the selected files. The PDF viewer submits data from the user-selected files to a printer as a single print job. In one implementation, the viewer generates a master PDF file from the selected files and transfers it to the printer. In another implementation, the viewer interprets the PDF data in the selected files into PDL data and transfers it to the printer. In another implementation, the viewer generate a separate PDF file containing selected data for each open PDF file, composes a job ticket using the generated PDF files and transfers the job ticket and the generated PDF files to the printer. |
| US08780376B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system having a function to cooperatively output document data for which a total limited number of output times is set
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus having a function to cooperatively output, via a cooperative image processing apparatus, document data, including a data sending unit that sends to the cooperative image processing apparatus the document data to be output, for which the total limited number of output times is set, with output setting information including an allocated number of output times for the document data individually allocated for the cooperative image processing apparatus; and a number updating unit that updates the total limited number of output times set for the document data based on the allocated number of output times by subtracting the allocated number of output times from the total limited number of output times, when the data sending unit sends the document data with the output setting information to the cooperative image processing apparatus. |
| US08780369B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing common color profiles for one or more printing devices by a cloud administration system
An approach is provided for cloud administrative management of spatial uniformity correction useful in printing. The approach involves determining, by a cloud administration system, an achievable gamut achievable by an imaging system for at least one of: all spatial locations of an output image, all print engines of a plurality of print engines, and at least one printer within a cluster of printers. The approach also involves determining, a mean gamut. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a gamut mapping from the mean gamut to the achievable gamut. The approach additionally involves determining a set of transformations for each of a set of input colors to a set of target colors, the set of target colors selected from colors in the achievable gamut. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an output image to be generated based, at least in part, on the transformed values. |
| US08780368B2 |
Scanning-printing integrated apparatus
A scanning-printing integrated apparatus is disclosed. The scanning-printing integrated apparatus comprises a first channel. The first channel comprises a scanning channel (11) which is provided with a scanning device (3) and a printing channel (12) which is provided with a first printing device (41). A paper input end of the scanning channel is communicated with a paper inlet (6) of the scanning-printing integrated apparatus, and a paper output end of the scanning channel is communicated with a paper input end of the printing channel. A paper output end of the printing channel is communicated with a first paper outlet (7) of the scanning-printing integrated apparatus. The scanning-printing integrated apparatus further comprises a paper accommodating device (5) and a second channel (21, 22) which is provided with a second printing device (4′1). A paper input end of the second channel is communicated with the paper accommodating device, and a paper output end of the second channel is communicated with a second paper outlet (7′) of the scanning-printing integrated apparatus. The scanning-printing integrated apparatus has a function of scanning mark, a function of printing a mark on a scanned medium, a function of printing and a function of copying, so that it is convenient to be used, and the use cost is comparatively reduced. |
| US08780366B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming option setting method thereof to display an administrator setting option having a correlation with the displayed user setting option according to the selected administrator setting
An image forming option setting method of an image forming apparatus which has a display unit, the method includes selecting an administrator setting, and displaying an administrator setting image forming option on the display unit related to a display image forming option displayed on the display unit when the administrator setting is selected. |
| US08780363B2 |
Method for a printing device that prints while compensating for slippage and device for implementing that method
A printing device and a control method for a printing device enable eliminating paper feed error due to slipping between a paper feed roller and recording paper when printing. The control unit of a thermal printer has a slippage calculator that runs a process to calculate slippage between the recording paper and platen roller when conveying the recording paper during printing, and a conveyance distance correction unit that runs a process to correct the paper feed distance of the recording paper when printing to each printing area based on the slippage that was just calculated. The conveyance distance correction unit runs a process that inserts a non-printing area d of a length corresponding to the slippage to one or plural specific positions in the original print image. |
| US08780361B2 |
Apparatus and method for calibrating laser projection system
In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for calibrating a laser projection system. The apparatus has a structural frame assembly extending along three mutually orthogonal axes. The apparatus further has a plurality of non-movable reflective targets disposed on the structural frame assembly. The apparatus further has at least three positioning stages coupled to the structural frame assembly respectively about each of the three mutually orthogonal axes. At least one movable reflective target is disposed on each positioning stage. The non-movable reflective targets and the at least one movable reflective target are each configured to reflect a laser beam from a laser projection system. |
| US08780360B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying the orientation of wood fibres
A method for identifying the orientation of wood fibres (2) comprises the operating steps of generating at least one beam of light (4) polarised in a predetermined first polarisation plane, projecting the beam of light (4) onto a surface of a piece of wood (3) to illuminate a zone of said surface and generate diffuse light without polarisation and reflected light (5) polarised in a second polarisation plane (pX2), detecting the linearly polarised reflected light (5) and identifying the orientation of the illuminated fibres (2) at least indirectly based on the orientation in space of the second polarisation plane (pX2) of the reflected light (5). Also claimed is an apparatus (1) for implementing the method, comprising means for supporting a piece of wood (3), a light source (10) for generating at least one beam of light (4) polarised in a first polarisation plane (pS), a detection device (6) for detecting, in practice, the light coming from a zone of the piece of wood (3) illuminated by the beam of light (4) and for filtering said light based on its polarisation, and a processing device operatively connected at least to the detection device (6) for processing what is detected and identifying the orientation of the wood fibres (2) at the illuminated zone. |
| US08780359B2 |
Optical base plate alignment
Alignment of two surfaces of two objects in a manufacturing process is achieved by determining a best fit orientation of the two objects with respect to each other using captured images reflected from the two surfaces. An image pattern is projected on a surface of each object, and a reflected image pattern is captured from the surface of each object. A reconstructed surface is determined from the captured reflected image patterns, and the two reconstructed surfaces are superimposed to determine a best fit orientation of the two objects with respect to each other. One or more movable portions of a base are actuated to align the two surfaces to each other to achieve the determined best fit orientation. |
| US08780357B2 |
Optical displacement measurement device with optimization of the protective film
An optical displacement measurement device in which variations in interference light by stray light are suppressed to improve interpolation accuracy and detection accuracy. The surface of diffraction grating 11 is coated with protective layer 12 of thickness L and refractive index n. The protective layer has thickness L such that, with angle θ between a line normal to the protective layer and an incident light beam and an angle θ′ between diffracted light generated by diffraction grating and reflected by boundary surface of protective layer to become stray light to be re-incident on diffraction grating and a line normal to diffraction grating, interference light is of an intensity of interference such that an optical path difference between stray light and light interfering with stray light represented by Δ=2L(n/cos θ′+tan θ′·sin θ) will amount to not higher than 2% of intensity of interference of interference light with optical path length difference Δ=0. |
| US08780356B1 |
Method for determining calibration parameters for a spectrometer
An imaging spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer and an image sensor having color-sensitive pixels. The interferometer has a first transmission peak and a second transmission peak (PEAK2). A method calibrating the spectrometer includes providing first calibration light, which has a narrow spectral peak, obtaining first detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a first spectral position, obtaining second detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a second spectral position, providing second calibration light, which has a broad bandwidth, and obtaining third detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the second calibration light into the spectrometer. |
| US08780355B2 |
Process and instrument for reconstruction of an irregularly sampled narrow-band signal
According to a first aspect the invention relates to a reconstruction process of a narrow-band signal acquired by an instrument producing irregular sampling, in which two series of samples are acquired at the same sampling period, the two series being offset relative to one another such that the sampling errors are identical or quasi identical over both series. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an instrument configured to carry out the process according to the first aspect of the invention. |
| US08780354B2 |
Marker-free chromosome screening
The present invention relates to a method for analyzing chromosomes through preparing a chromosome preparation, measuring at least one interference characteristic of the chromosome preparation and characterizing at least one chromosome structure by way of the interference characteristic. Also, the invention relates to the use of a near-field microscope for analyzing un-dyed chromosomes. |
| US08780351B2 |
Method for demonstrating the presence of molecules by means of optical gratings
A method for detecting the presence of molecules includes bringing into contact with at least one optical grating comprised of a first liquid phase, a second liquid phase which cannot be mixed with the first liquid phase. The first liquid phase is arranged on a substrate in a form of periodic structures having a periodicity ranging from about 190 nm to about 10 μm. The molecules to be detected, which are capable of changing the optical characteristics of the at least one optical grating are added to the first liquid phase or to the second liquid phase either before, during or after the bringing step. The presence of molecules is detected by measuring a changed reflection or transmission of light at the at least one optical grating or a changing spatial course of the diffraction pattern as soon as the first liquid phase makes contact with the second liquid phase and with the molecules to be detected. |
| US08780348B2 |
Apparatus for quantifying unknown stress and residual stress of a material and method thereof
An apparatus for quantifying unknown stress and residual stress of a material to be tested, the material being a birefringent or temporary birefringent material, which includes a light source, a polarizer in front of the light source for converting a light beam from the light source into a beam with linear polarization, a first quarter-wave plate in front of the polarizer for generating circular polarization, a standard material, a second quarter-wave plate, an analyzer, a loading unit, a spectrometer for obtaining transmissivity spectrum of the standard material under the wavelength of the light source and a detecting module connected to the spectrometer to have the transmissivity spectrum of the material to be tested and consequently a stress quantifying formula for the standard material. |
| US08780347B2 |
QCL spectroscopy system and applications therefor
A spectroscopy system comprising at least two laser modules, each of the laser modules including a laser cavity, a quantum cascade gain chip for amplifying light within the laser cavity, and a tuning element for controlling a wavelength of light generated by the modules. Combining optics are used to combine the light generated by the at least two laser modules into a single beam and a sample detector detects the single beam returning from a sample. |
| US08780345B2 |
Spatially-selective disks, submillimeter imaging devices, methods of submillimeter imaging, profiling scanners, spectrometry devices, and methods of spectrometry
One aspect of the invention provides a spatially-selective disk including a plurality of holes arranged such that a matrix having a plurality of rows, each row having elements corresponding to a fraction of a pixel in a viewing window projected onto the disk that is backed by a hole at a distinct rotational position of the disk, has linearly independent rows. Another aspect of the invention provides a spectrometry device including: a disk having one or more holes; a motor configured to rotate the disk; one or more beam-shaping optics arranged to map one or more spectral components of radiation of interest onto a plurality of locations on the disk; and a receiver positioned to capture the one or more spectral components passing through the one or more holes as the disk is rotated. |
| US08780341B2 |
Inspecting system for lens module
An inspecting system for inspecting a lens module includes an inspection device; and a transmitting and loading device. The transmitting and loading device includes a grasping assembly, a supporting assembly, a sliding assembly loaded on the supporting assembly, and a control unit for controlling the grasping assembly and the sliding assembly. The grasping assembly is configured to clamp the lens module and to load the lens module on the sliding assembly, and the sliding assembly is adapted to transfer the lens module to a testing position of the inspection device. |
| US08780340B2 |
Optical time domain reflectometer test signal modulation circuit, and passive optical network system and apparatus using same
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an OTDR test signal modulation circuit, including a laser diode drive, a laser diode, a current adjusting unit, and an OTDR control unit. The laser diode drive is connected to the laser diode and is configured to drive, according to an input data signal, the laser diode to transmit data light. The current adjusting unit is connected to the laser diode and the OTDR control unit and is configured to adjust a current flowing through the laser diode according to an OTDR test signal provided by the OTDR control unit, so as to modulate the OTDR test signal to the data light transmitted by the laser diode. Moreover, the embodiments of the present disclosure also disclose a passive optical network system and apparatus. |
| US08780334B1 |
Topographical profiling with coherence scanning interferometry
Determining a height profile of a test object surface includes obtaining, from a scanning interferometry device, scanning interferometry data for the test object surface, calculating a coherence profile of the test object surface and a phase profile of the test object surface based on the scanning interferometry data, calculating an phase gap map based on the coherence profile and the phase profile, modifying the coherence profile based on the phase gap map to obtain a corrected coherence profile, and determining a height of the test object surface based on the corrected coherence profile. |
| US08780333B2 |
Range finder
A range finder adapted for finding the object distance of a subject having a specific height includes a shell unit, an objective lens assembly, a magnifying unit having multiple selectable magnification ratios, and a range finding unit. The range finding unit includes a scale, a pointer, and a mark. The object distance of the subject is known by comparing the scale and the pointer in an imaging plane when an end of an image of the specific height of the subject formed on the imaging plane is aligned with the mark. |
| US08780332B2 |
Three-dimensional imaging and display system
A three-dimensional imaging and display system is provided in which user input is optically detected in an imaging volume by measuring the path length of an amplitude modulated scanning beam as a function of the phase shift thereof. Visual image user feedback concerning the detected user input is presented. |
| US08780330B2 |
Optical distance-measuring device and electronic device
A lens frame, made from metal, retaining a light-emitting lens and a light-receiving lens is retained between a second mold and a third mold both of which are made from light-shielding resins. The lens frame has an asperity structure on its front and back surfaces. This greatly enhances adhesiveness between the light-emitting lens and the lens frame and adhesiveness between the light-receiving lens and the lens frame, thus preventing sliding of the light-emitting lens and the light-receiving lens over the lens frame. |
| US08780329B2 |
Exposure apparatus, structure, method for setting up apparatus, and device manufacturing method having filling member formed by hardening liquid to support setting leg
An exposure apparatus of the present invention is configured to expose a pattern on an original onto a wafer via a projection lens system 110. The exposure apparatus includes a setting leg 105, platens 103, 107, and 109 on which at least one of a reticle stage apparatus 108 configured to hold the original, the projection optical system 110, a wafer stage apparatus 102 configured to hold the wafer, and an interferometer configured to measure a position of the original stage or the wafer stage is mounted, a vibration isolation support mechanism 105 which is provided between the platens 103, 107, and 109 and the setting leg 105 and configured to reduce a vibration, and a filling member 122 formed by hardening a hardening type liquid 113 which is filled between the setting leg 105 and a setting floor 101. |
| US08780328B2 |
Illumination optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
There is disclosed a illumination optical apparatus for illuminating a second surface optically conjugate with a first surface via a reflection type original plate which can be arranged on the first surface, the illumination optical apparatus comprising: a first partial field stop arranged to define a first outer edge of a illumination region which is to be formed on the second surface, in order to limit a light beam traveling toward the first surface; and a second partial field stop arranged to define a second outer edge of the illumination region, in order to limit a light beam reflecting from the reflection type original plate which can be arranged on the first surface, wherein a first distance between the first partial field stop and the first surface is set to be larger than a second distance between the second partial field stop and the first surface. |
| US08780325B2 |
Method for a lithographic apparatus
In an embodiment, there is provided a method of at least partially compensating for a deviation in a property of a pattern feature to be applied to a substrate using a lithographic apparatus. The method includes determining a desired phase change to be applied to at least a portion of a radiation beam that is to be used to apply the pattern feature to the substrate and which would at least partially compensate for the deviation in the property. The determination of the desired phase change includes determining a desired configuration of a phase modulation element. The method further includes implementing the desired phase change to the portion of the radiation beam when applying the pattern feature to the substrate, the implementation of the desired phase change comprising illuminating the phase modulation element with the portion of the radiation beam when the phase modulation element is in the desired configuration. |
| US08780322B2 |
Object with an improved suitability for a plasma cleaning treatment
An object suitable for a plasma cleaning treatment in a plasma cleaning device, the object including a first outer surface area; a second outer surface area, wherein the object is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a removable cover such that the cover is connectable to the object to cover the second outer surface area, and wherein the object connected with the removable cover is adapted to be cleaned in the plasma cleaning device such that the plasma cleaning device is not exposed to particles of the second outer surface area and wherein the first outer surface area is cleaned in the plasma cleaning device. |
| US08780319B2 |
Wavelength selective optical switch
A wavelength selective optical switch includes an incidence/emergence unit that includes an input port at which signal light made up of light of numerous wavelengths is incident and an output port at which light signals of selected wavelengths are emergent, a wavelength dispersion element that spatially disperses signal light according to a wavelength of the signal light, and synthesizes reflected light, a condenser element that condenses light dispersed by the wavelength dispersion element on a two-dimensional plane, a space phase modulator arranged so as to receive incident light deployed on an xy plane made up of an x-axis direction deployed according to wavelength and a y-axis direction orthogonal to the x-axis direction, and having numerous pixels arranged in a lattice on the xy plane, and a space phase modulator drive unit. |
| US08780317B2 |
Film forming method, film forming device, liquid crystal arrangement method, liquid crystal arrangement device, liquid crystal device, liquid crystal device production method and electronic equipment
A film forming device forms a coated film on a substrate by discharging a liquid material in the form of liquid droplets, and causing the liquid droplets to impact on the substrate at a predetermined pitch. The predetermined pitch is determined based on the diameter of the liquid droplets after impact of the liquid droplets on the substrate. Drop marks are reduced and a uniform coated film is formed on the substrate. |
| US08780316B2 |
Distortion tolerant pixel design
A method of manufacturing a flexible display is provided, which includes depositing a first layer comprising a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) on a flexible substrate and depositing a second layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes above the first layer with each pixel electrode connected to a respective TFT via a respective via connector between the first and second layers. A display medium responsive to signals on the pixel electrode can be deposited on the second layer for displaying an image on the second layer. A third layer comprising color filters for filtering an image displayed on the display medium can be aligned to the second layer. The third layer can be deposited and aligned on the second layer such that each color filter is substantially aligned to a respective pixel electrode to compensate for distortions in the first layer caused by distortions in the flexible substrate. |
| US08780312B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display device, method for producing liquid crystal panel, and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal panel (1) includes (i) a CF substrate (2) on which a color filter is to be formed, (ii) a TFT substrate (3) on which a thin film transistor is to be formed, (iii) a sealing material (4) for sealing liquid crystal injected between the CF substrate (2) and the TFT substrate (3), (iv) a liquid crystal inlet (6) through which the liquid crystal is injected, and (v) structures (20) provided between a cut surface among cut surfaces of the liquid crystal panel (1), on which cut surface the liquid crystal inlet (6) is to be formed, and edges (4a) of the sealing material (4). The structures (20) each are made from a material from which the color filter is formed. |
| US08780310B2 |
Display device having higher-layer wiring that does not overlap connection portion
Provided is a display device in which a frame can be made narrower while preventing connection faults. The present invention is a display device, provided with a display device substrate having an external connection terminal and a lower-layer wiring running below the external connection terminal, an external connection component, and a conductive member that electrically connects the display device substrate and the external connection component. The external connection component has a connection portion connected to the external connection terminal via the conductive member; the display device substrate further has an interlayer dielectric formed at a layer below the external connection terminal, and a wiring connection portion that is formed at a layer below the interlayer dielectric and that is connected to the external connection terminal by way of a first connection hole in the interlayer dielectric; and the first connection hole is disposed outside a region at which the connection portion and the conductive member overlap each other, in a plan view of the display device substrate. |
| US08780308B2 |
Pixel structure and display panel
Disclosed herein is a pixel structure switchable between a wide viewing angle mode and a narrow viewing angle mode. The pixel structure includes a first substrate, a first and a second gate lines, a data line, a pixel unit, a second substrate and a display medium. The pixel unit includes a first active element, a second active element, a first sub-pixel electrode, a second sub-pixel electrode, and a common electrode. The first and second sub-pixel electrodes are respectively electrically connected to the first and second active elements. The common electrode is opposite to the first and second sub-pixel electrodes. The second substrate has a counter electrode disposed on a surface facing the first substrate. The counter electrode is corresponding to the first sub-pixel electrode. |
| US08780301B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device of a transverse electric field type has characteristics in the following respects. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two substrates. Two polarizing plates are provided on a side of the two substrates opposite to the liquid crystal layer such that the light transmission axes thereof are orthogonal to each other. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed on one of the two substrates. The liquid crystal is driven by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. The polarizing plate, formed on one of the two substrates, is formed of a protective film, a polarizer, and two negative biaxial films. The two negative biaxial films include first and second negative biaxial films. The first negative biaxial film and the second negative biaxial film are entirely overlapped, and are disposed on a side of one or the other substrate. |
| US08780287B2 |
Electrically-driven liquid crystal lens panel and stereoscopic display panel
An electrically-driven liquid crystal lens panel includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer, alignment layers, and electrode layers. The electrode layer is disposed between the alignment layer and the substrate, has effective and non-effective regions, and includes electrodes. Each electrode has main and extending portions and a turning point, wherein the turning points are disposed at sites at which the main portions and the extending portions connect, the main portions extends along a first extending direction, and each extending portion extends along a second extending direction different from the first extending direction. The second extending direction is substantially parallel to an alignment direction of the alignment layer. A connecting line formed by connecting the turning points is a boundary between the effective region and the non-effective region, wherein the main portions are disposed in the effective region, and the extending portions are disposed in the non-effective region. |
| US08780283B2 |
Projection device
A projection device includes a light source, a light guiding plate, a liquid crystal device, and a projection lens. The guiding plate aligns with the light source and includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface facing away from the light incident surface. The light incident surface faces the light source. The liquid crystal device aligns with the light emitting surface. The projection lens is positioned between the liquid crystal device and a screen. |
| US08780274B2 |
Display apparatus, control method for display apparatus, and computer program
Upon bringing a digital camera having a near field wireless communication function close to a projector while a display apparatus displays a screen of a PC using the projector, the display apparatus decodes and displays an image from the digital camera in place of the screen of the PC. |
| US08780270B2 |
Video display apparatus, video output apparatus, control methods thereof, and video display sysyem
Compatible video signal information having first information indicating a pixel number of a video signal displayable by a video display apparatus and second information that is setting information required in order for the video display apparatus to display a video signal having the pixel number is transmitted to a video output apparatus. In the case where a video signal received from the video output apparatus after the compatible video signal information is transmitted is a video signal having a pixel number displayable by the video display apparatus but not being displayable, the compatible video signal information is updated so that setting information for the pixel number of that video signal is included in the second information. |
| US08780269B2 |
Contents playback device, television receiver, information provision system, information provision method, information provision program, and recording medium
A television (100) includes: a receiving section (202) for receiving additional information which is added to and transmitted along with a broadcast content; a processing section (222) for processing additional information so that a mobile device (120) can obtain information that is specific to unique information which the television (100) has; and a transmitting section (224) for transmitting processed additional information. |
| US08780268B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver and method for processing caption thereof
A digital cable broadcast receiver and a method for automatically processing caption data of various standards and types, is disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes: a demultiplexer for dividing a received broadcast stream into video data, audio data, supplementary information; a controller for determining whether caption data included in the video data is digital caption data or analog caption data on the basis of caption information included in the supplementary information, and outputting a control signal according to a result of the determining; a digital caption decoder for extracting and decoding digital caption data from the video data according to the control signal; and an analog caption decoder for extracting and decoding analog caption data from the video data according to the control signal. |
| US08780266B2 |
Video display device, display control method and recording medium
Image deterioration when image data containing scanning lines of the previous and next fields mixed together by video editing is displayed is prevented. An inter-field scanning line interpolating unit superimposes scanning line data of the previous and next fields of interlacing image data in a video stream input from a tuner or a memory card to perform inter-field scanning line interpolation, and generates progressive image data corresponding to that video stream. An IP-conversion selection signal indicating a determination result whether or not the reliability of the video stream meets a predetermined level is input into a back-end from a CPU. A selector refers to the IP-conversion selection signal, and when the CPU determines that the reliability of the video stream is lower than the predetermined level, image data having undergone interpolation by the inter-field scanning line interpolating unit is selected as an image to be displayed. |
| US08780264B2 |
Camera drive device
A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a camera section 100; a fixed unit including a protrusion section 202 at least partially formed of a magnetic member and has a shape of at least a part of a spherical face; a movable unit, the movable unit including an attracting magnet 404 for generating a magnetic attracting force, and a conical contact face with which the protrusion section of the fixed unit is loosely engageable and contactable by the magnetic attracting force, the movable unit being freely pivotable with respect to a sphere center of the spherical face of the protrusion section; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a detector; and a line 310′ spirally wound around the protrusion section 202 for connecting the camera section and an external circuit provided on the fixed unit to each other. |
| US08780263B2 |
Balanced mounting arrangement for, and method of, steadily supporting a motion-sensitive, image capture device
A balanced mounting arrangement stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device, and includes a mount for holding the device during image capture, and a handheld equipoising structure having a support platform on which the mount and the held device are mounted during image capture, a bottom counterweight below the platform, and a curved arm extending along an arcuate path between the platform and the counterweight. A weight component is mounted on, and is movable relative to and along, the curved arm to adjust a vertical balance position of the arrangement. |
| US08780262B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that performs exposure control, method of controlling the image pickup apparatus, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of not only detecting whiteout or blackout but also effectively achieving exposure control. In the image pickup apparatus, an entire-screen brightness frequency distribution is detected based on a picked-up image signal. The image pickup apparatus calculates a first exposure control value from the entire-screen brightness frequency distribution. The image signal is divided into a plurality of small areas, and the brightness of each of the small areas is detected. The image pickup apparatus calculates a second exposure control value from the brightness. The image pickup apparatus calculates an exposure correction value based on the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value. An exposure value is calculated using the exposure correction value and an exposure value of the image signal. The image pickup apparatus performs exposure control of the image pickup section based on the calculated exposure value. |
| US08780261B2 |
Light sensitivity calibration method and an imaging device
The present invention is directed to a light sensitivity calibration method and an imaging device. An exposure step is performed to obtain a light sensitivity according to a predetermined time. A time adjustment step is performed to adjust the predetermined time according to the light sensitivity, thereby obtaining an adjusted time. The predetermined time is replaced with the adjusted time and the exposure and time adjustment steps are repeatedly performed, until the adjusted time converges within a predetermined range. |
| US08780258B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for generating an out-of-focus image
Provided are a mobile terminal and a method for generating an out-of-focus image, whereby a preview image and a depth map are displayed when an out-of-focus function of the mobile terminal is selected by a user, the displayed depth map is adjusted based on a specific object that is selected from the displayed preview image, an image is captured via a camera of the mobile terminal, and an out-of-focus image is generated by blurring the captured image according to the adjusted depth map. |
| US08780254B2 |
Eyepiece optical system and imaging device
There is provided an eyepiece optical system including a lens, a surface nearest to an observer side of the lens disposed nearest to the observer side being formed in a convex shape on the observer side, and the eyepiece optical system satisfying a conditional expression (1) |RL/DH|<1.7, where RL is a radius of curvature of the surface nearest to the observer side, and DH is a shortest distance in a radial direction from an optical axis to an edge surface of the lens nearest to the observer side. |
| US08780247B2 |
Solid-state image pickup element and image pickup apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including: a photoelectric conversion region; a transistor; an isolation region of a first conductivity type configured to isolate the photoelectric conversion region and the transistor from each other; a well region of the first conductivity type having the photoelectric conversion region, the transistor, and the isolation region of the first conductivity type formed therein; a contact portion configured to supply an electric potential used to fix the well region to a given electric potential; and an impurity region of the first conductivity type formed so as to extend in a depth direction from a surface of the isolation region of the first conductivity type in the isolation region of the first conductivity type between the contact portion and the photoelectric conversion region, and having a sufficiently higher impurity concentration than that of the isolation region of the first conductivity type. |
| US08780246B2 |
Method for correcting images obtained by an array of photosensitive points
A method for correcting an image obtained by a matrix of photosensitive points finds particular utility when the matrix is subjected to an electromagnetic disturbance. The method of correction comprises a first step of row-by-row reading of the matrix. The signals read during a first reading of each row represent the charges accumulated subsequent to exposure of the matrix to luminous radiation and make it possible to form, for each column of the matrix, a discrete signal. The signals read during a second reading represent the charges accumulated in the absence of exposure and form, for each column of the matrix, a discrete signal. In a second step of the method, a signal corresponding substantially to the signal which would have been formed at the time of the first reading in the absence of exposure is determined. In a third step, the signal is subtracted column by column from the signal. |
| US08780244B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup system
An image pickup apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes a power line and first through fourth photodiodes. The first, second, and third photodiodes are arranged along a first direction so that the first photodiode is adjacent to the second photodiode, and the second photodiode is adjacent to the third photodiode. The power line includes a first conductor disposed along the first direction and a second conductor disposed along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The second conductor is disposed on a region between the second and third photodiodes. First and second transistors corresponding to the first and second photodiode, respectively, are connected to the power line. The fourth photodiode is disposed adjacent to the second photodiode in the second direction. A third transistor corresponding to the fourth photodiode is connected to the power line. |
| US08780239B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and signal value correction method
In an aspect of the present invention, only by storing the first correction coefficients corresponding to the colors of the color filters of the image pickup element and the second correction coefficients corresponding to the relative positions of the pixels to the position of the specific circuit element of the image pickup element, in the storage device, an adequate combination of the first correction coefficients and the second correction coefficients is selected for each pixel, and a calculation with it is performed with respect to the signal value of each of the pixels. Therefore, with an essential minimum number of correction coefficients, it is possible to quickly and accurately correct the variation in signal values caused by the color array for the color filters of the image pickup element and the variation in signal values caused by the structure in which multiple pixels share the specific circuit element. |
| US08780231B2 |
Imaging apparatus and zoom control method
An imaging apparatus calculates a depth of field, and when the calculated result is shallower than a set depth of field, the zoom operation at the telescopic side is switched to the electronic zoom. In addition, when face recognition may not be possible, the zoom is switched to the electronic zoom. Furthermore, when face recognition has become impossible, the optical zoom is returned to the wide angle side until faces can be recognized. When the number of faces that can be recognized has decreased, the optical zoom is returned to the wide angle side until the number of faces that can be recognized is restored. In addition, when subsequently carrying out zooming at the telescopic side, the zooming switches to the electronic zoom. |
| US08780225B2 |
Use of noise-optimized selection criteria to calculate scene white points
Methods, devices and computer readable media for implementing a “selective gray world” approach for color balancing are described. The disclosed techniques involve the use of noise-optimized selection criteria and, more specifically, in some embodiments, the interpolation between corresponding values in noise-optimized weighting tables when calculating white balance gains. Estimated scene lux levels may provide a valuable indicator of expected scene noise levels. The image processing techniques described herein may be executed by an image capture device or a general purpose processor (e.g., personal computer) executing a user-level software application. The described color balancing techniques may be implemented by dedicated or general purpose hardware, general application software, or a combination of software and hardware in a computer system. |
| US08780224B2 |
Imaging device, method and computer readable medium for generating a blur-adjusted image on the basis of a reference image and a non-reference image
An imaging device includes an imaging unit that acquires plural images including an image in which a main subject is in focus, by discretely moving a focus position and successively capturing the images; an image processing unit that executes image processing to at least one of a reference image and a non-reference image to bring degrees of blur thereof closer to one another, the reference image being an image in which the main subject is in focus; a detection unit that detects corresponding points of subjects in the image-processed reference image and non-reference image, a deformation unit that deforms the non-reference image before the image processing such that the positions of the corresponding points coincide, a generation unit that generates a blur-adjusted image on the basis of the reference image and the deformed non-reference image; and a recording unit that stores the blur-adjusted image at a recording medium. |
| US08780223B2 |
Automatic determination of compliance of a part with a reference drawing
A system for visually comparing a part to a drawing of said part in computer memory or on a screen is provided. The system includes a camera for capturing either a single image or an image stream of the part, a computing module for receiving the image or image stream, for obtaining, scaling, positioning and displaying the drawing of the part on a display unit and for overlaying the drawing on the image or image stream. The system determines if the part is manufactured within predefined tolerances at least one control section. In use, a user defines at least one control section and the system performs a CAD-space to image-space transformation of each control section. A deviation between the CAD drawing and the part at each control section is calculated, and this deviation is indicated to the user. The deviation is compared to a predetermined tolerance in order to determine if the part at each control section is within the predetermined tolerance; and a pass/fail indication is determined based on the comparison. For more complex shapes, a user can select an entire geometrical shape, and the system automatically determines a plurality of control sections within the geometric shape, in order to provide the user with a shape pass/fail indication. |
| US08780222B2 |
Image processing apparatus that produces a higher resolution image, image pickup apparatus and image processing program
The image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining part configured to obtain a first image and a second image. The first image is an image generated by image capturing or generated by expanding part of the captured image and includes a first object image. The second image corresponds to an image captured at a higher image capturing magnification than that for the first image and includes a second object image corresponding to part of the first object image. The apparatus includes a processing part configured to produce a third image whose resolution is higher than that of the first image by performing image processing on the first image using the second image as a constraint condition. |
| US08780220B2 |
Sensing range selectable image sensor module
A sensing range selectable image sensor module includes a lens defining a first light-sensing area, which allows a relatively larger amount of light to pass, and a second light-sensing area, which allows a relatively smaller amount of light to pass, two sensors respectively arranged at one side relative to the lens corresponding to the first light-sensing area and the second light-sensing area and electrically coupled to a controller for receiving light from the first or second light-sensing area and generating a respective trigger signal selectively receivable by the controller. |
| US08780218B2 |
Communication device and method of controlling same
The invention reduces the possibility that a state contrary to user volition will arise in a system that permits multiple masters. To accomplish this, a communication device includes a setting unit configured to set the communication device to be a master or to be a slave, a decision unit configured to decide whether to permit a plurality of masters to exist within the image sensing network, and a notifying unit configured to transmit a notification to change another master within the image sensing network to a slave. The notifying unit transmits the notification, if a plurality of masters have not been permitted to exist within the image sensing network by the decision unit and the communication device has been changed from a slave to a master by the setting unit. |
| US08780217B2 |
Shake correcting system with slide mechanism which allows unit to be freely movable, lens barrel, imaging device and hand-held data terminal
A shake correcting system includes an optical imaging system, an image sensor, a movable unit comprising a movable frame in which the image sensor is fixed and a rotation restricting element, a base movably supporting the movable unit in a predetermined plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical imaging system, a drive mechanism driving the movable unit relative to the base in directions vertical and orthogonal to the optical axis, a blur correcting function to correct blurs in a subject image due to shakes of the shake correcting system, a rotation restricting mechanism preventing rotation of the movable frame around the optical axis with the rotation restricting element, and a slide mechanism allowing the movable unit to be freely movable in the predetermined plane, and comprising a magnet, a magnetic plate attracted to the magnet, a spherical element supported between the magnetic plate and the magnet. |
| US08780212B2 |
Captured image display apparatus and method thereof
The present invention is directed to a captured image display apparatus that allows a user to swiftly confirm an image concerning a captured image even before receiving of the captured image is completed. A captured image display apparatus includes a live view image receiving unit configured to receive a live view image concerning a captured image from an imaging apparatus, a live view image display unit configured to display the live view image on a display unit when a release notification has been received from the imaging apparatus, a captured image receiving unit configured to receive a captured image from the imaging apparatus, and a captured image display unit configured to display the captured image on the display unit when receiving of the captured image has been completed by the captured image receiving unit. |
| US08780211B2 |
Optical alignment structures and associated methods
A method of mutually aligning first and second imaging system fixturing components forms a first alignment structure on the first imaging system fixturing component, a second alignment structure on the second imaging system fixturing component, and engages the first and second alignment structures to align, with optical accuracy, the first and second imaging system fixturing components. |
| US08780210B1 |
Video quality analyzer
Methods, systems and software are disclosed for automated Measurement of Video Quality parameters. The system includes a static Test Pattern provided either in form of a Test Pattern File, converted via a standard playout device (test source) into analog or digital test signal and supplied to the input of a System Under Test, or in form of a Reflectance Chart installed before the front-end device of the System Under Test, such as TV camera. The system also includes a video capture device connected to the back-end device of the System Under Test, e.g. to the output of system decoder/player. A Video Quality Analyzer processes the captured video data and generates a detailed Analysis Report. |
| US08780204B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing event data
A computer-implemented method for determining a target situation in an athletic event. Positional information including the relative positions of a group of selected participants is initially received from a tracking system, and the aggregate motion of the selected participants is detected in real-time using the positional information. The target situation may be determined to have occurred when a change in the aggregate motion occurs in accordance with a predetermined characteristic during an initial time interval. |
| US08780199B2 |
Networked security camera with local storage and continuous recording loop
A networked surveillance audio-video recorder for security applications with local storage and continuous record loop using high-definition video and encrypted data is described. Evidentiary audio-video is locally stored on a non-volatile storage media, and later transmitted in accordance with channel bandwidth with optional temporal, spatial or peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) scalability and in accordance to display capabilities of target viewing device upon request of time regions of interest or window around alarm trigger events, or for periodic archival reasons. |
| US08780196B2 |
Particle measuring instrument, in particular for the analysis of grain sizes of fine and very fine bulk materials
Particle measuring instrument and method for the analysis of particles comprising a dosing device which dosing device can be set into vibrations by means of a vibration generator for conveying, while segregating, particles present in the dosing chute to at least one outlet of the dosing device. Other than a first vibration generator a second, different vibration generator is provided for segregating the particles present in the dosing device. The second vibration generator generates vibrations of a higher frequency compared to the first vibration generator. |
| US08780194B2 |
Component presence/absence judging apparatus and method
A component presence/absence judging apparatus judges the presence/absence of a component through a registration step and an inspection step. The registration step comprises an ante-mounting color information acquisition step, a post-mounting color information acquisition step and an inspection area determination step. Ante-mounting color information is acquired from an ante-mounting image taken at a predetermined portion on an ante-mounting board. Post-mounting color information is acquired from a post-mounting image taken at the predetermined portion on a post-mounting board. Then, a section having a large difference between both color information of the ante-mounting image and the post-mounting image is identified and is determined as an inspection area. At the inspection step, the presence/absence of the component at a predetermined place on each inspection board to be inspected is judged in dependence on the color information on the determined inspection area. |
| US08780193B2 |
Physical properties measuring method and apparatus
A physical properties measuring method includes: acquiring an experimental convergent beam electron diffraction image of a sample by using a transmission electron microscope; calculating Zernike moment intensities of the experimental convergent beam electron diffraction image; and comparing the Zernike moment intensities of the experimental convergent beam electron diffraction image with Zernike moment intensities of calculated convergent beam electron diffraction images calculated on changed physical properties of the sample. |
| US08780187B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method for reducing afterimage
A display apparatus for reducing an afterimage and a driving method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes a video processor which divides and outputs each of frames constituting the left-eye image and the right-eye image into a plurality of sub-frames which have different sustaining times when the left-eye image and the right-eye image are input; a display unit which displays an image based on the divided sub-frames; and a controller which prevents recognition of at least one sub-frame among the plurality of sub-frames on the basis of the sustaining times of the plurality of sub-frames, thus presenting a clear image. |
| US08780184B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus capable of taking a 3D picture may produce a 3D picture that gives a viewer a sense of strangeness if panning, tilting, or considerable camera shake occurs during imaging. Provided is an image pickup apparatus including: a motion detecting section, which detects the motion of the image pickup apparatus; and a picture data outputting section, which switches its output between 2D picture data and 3D picture data obtained by picking up subject images, depending on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus. An appropriate picture is provided by switching the output between 2D picture data and 3D picture data depending on the motion of the image pickup apparatus. An appropriate picture is provided also by changing the stereo base of optical systems, or adjusting a parallax between the left image and the right image, in accordance with the motion of the image pickup apparatus. |
| US08780182B2 |
Imaging system and method using partial-coherence speckle interference tomography
A system for generating an image of contoured surface includes a light source that is configured to project an electromagnetic radiation beam onto the contoured surface, wherein the projected beam generates first radiation reflected from a first portion of the contoured surface to form a speckle pattern, and second radiation reflected from a second portion of the contoured surface which is substantially uniform in intensity. The reflected first and second reflected radiation is received by an optical detector, and may be processed. The processing is configured to (1) generate a plurality of images from the first and second reflected radiation, with each image being generated using different coherence length electromagnetic radiation from the light source, and (2) generate a 3-D image of the contoured surface from the plurality of images. Methods for generating a 3-D image of a contoured surface are also disclosed. |
| US08780177B2 |
Apparatus and method for camera parameter calibration
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for camera parameter calibration which is capable of easily and simply setting physical and optical characteristic parameters of a camera in order to acquire information on actual measurement of an image provided through the camera with high accuracy. The camera parameter calibration apparatus and method has an advantage of correct image analysis that it is capable of increasing accuracy of information of measurement through an image only with an intuitive interface manipulation, without taking a time-consuming and incorrect actual measurement procedure, by determining parameters of the space model corresponding to the image by displaying a 3D space model corresponding to a real space of the image on the image and changing and adjusting visual point parameters such that the 3D space model matches the display image, and regarding the determined parameters of the space model as camera parameters of the image. |
| US08780176B2 |
Vessel imaging system and method
A system and a method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising a light source for generating an illuminating light, an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light, a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle, and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light. |
| US08780174B1 |
Three-dimensional vision system for displaying images taken from a moving vehicle
A three-dimensional vision system, device, and methods using the same are disclosed. The system or device includes an image device capable of capturing a plurality of sequential individual or scanned images of a field-of view, a buffer that stores the images for a predetermined time delay, first and second image stabilizers coupled to the buffer, and a display. The predetermined time delay signals the buffer to transmit an older image and a newer image, sequentially separated in time by the predetermined time of the predetermined time delay. The display is coupled to the first and second image stabilizers to present the images to a viewer in a format that enables the viewer to see a three-dimensional image. At least one of the first and second image stabilizers adjust the orientation of either the older image or the newer image to correspond to the orientation of the other image. |
| US08780173B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing fatigue resulting from viewing three-dimensional image display, and method and apparatus for generating data stream of low visual fatigue three-dimensional image
Provided is a method of reducing fatigue resulting from viewing a three-dimensional (3D) image display. The method includes: obtaining low visual fatigue parameter information on a frame section including at least one frame of a received 3D image; obtaining disparity vector information on each frame of the 3D image; and determining a disparity minimum limit value and a disparity maximum limit value with respect to the 3D image. |
| US08780171B2 |
Video signal processor and video signal processing method with markers for indicating correct component connection
Disclosed herein is a video signal processor including: a combining process section adapted to superimpose a first marker signal on a first video signal component at a specific position and superimpose a second marker signal on a second video signal component at roughly the same position as the specific position; and a control section adapted to control the condition of superimposition of the first and second marker signals so that an image appears to indicate that the first and second marker signals are combined correctly when the first and second video signal components are combined in a correct phase relationship, and so that an image appears to indicate that the first and second marker signals are combined incorrectly if the first and second video signal components are combined in an incorrect phase relationship. |
| US08780167B2 |
Systems and methods for virtual presence videoconferencing
Systems and methods are disclosed for virtual presence communication systems that provide both local and remote participants in a conference with a more realistic and engaging conferencing experience. A virtual presence communication system comprises a projection screen, an image-generating unit, at least one communication port, and a video camera, where each is configured to couple to a chair having a seat and a seatback portion. The virtual presence communication system may be integrated with the chair, which can be positioned proximate to a conference table, desk, podium, or other suitable location. The projection screen may be positioned in an angled relationship with a video screen or other image-generating device. The video screen may provide an image of the remote participant that is reflected by the projection screen. The chair also may include a video camera that is configured to generate a video feed that is supplied to the remote participant. The chair may be generally portable to allow the chair to moved (e.g., rolled) to different locations. |
| US08780166B2 |
Collaborative recording of a videoconference using a recording server
A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input. |
| US08780163B2 |
Platform for pseudo-anonymous video chat with intelligent matching of chat partners
A computer-implemented method and system of providing live video chats in a network are described. The method may include: providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile; generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of the user profile; providing a second interface for the user to select a chat partner on the list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, and initiate a video call to the chat partner; establishing a video chat session between said user and said chat partner; providing a third interface for the user and the chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles while the video chat session is in progress; and providing a fourth interface for the user and said chat partner to rate each other during the video chat session and/or after the video chat session. |
| US08780162B2 |
Method and system for locating an individual
A method of locating a first user comprises receiving at a server, via a communication network, video data from a sensor at a predetermined location that is remote from the server. Using a process in execution on a processor of the server, at least one of video analytics, image analytics and audio analytics is performed for determining a presence of the first user at the predetermined location. When a result of the video analytics is indicative of the first user being present at the predetermined location, an indication that the first user is at the predetermined location is retrievably stored within a memory element of the server. |
| US08780161B2 |
System and method for modifying images
The present invention describes a method of modifying an image in a video that includes the step of capturing a visible light image of an area, where the visible light image captured at a first frame rate. The method in addition includes the step of capturing a corresponding infrared light image of an area, the infrared light image being captured when the area is illuminated with an infrared light source, the infrared light image captured at the substantially the same frame rate as the visible light image. Based on the infrared light image, at least a subset of the human perceptible characteristics of the captured visible light image are modified. |
| US08780160B2 |
Portable terminal with projector and method for displaying data thereon
A portable terminal equipped with a projector and a method for displaying data using the portable terminal provides capabilities for both conferencing and video presentations. When a projection function is selected in the portable terminal while the portable terminal is making a video call with other portable terminal, presentation data that will be output via the projector is transmitted to another portable terminal. The presentation data and image data transmitted from the other portable terminal is output via the projector of the portable terminal. |
| US08780158B2 |
Laser scan unit housing for an imaging device
A housing for the scan unit printhead of an imaging device. The housing is substantially bowl shaped having a plurality of mounting surfaces extending inwardly toward a central region of the housing. The housing is constructed from a metal composition. The scan unit includes a plurality of light sources and an optical assembly operatively coupled thereto. The housing mounting surfaces support components of the optical assembly using an adhesive, without additional mounting hardware. |
| US08780153B2 |
Thermal head
A thermal head wherein abrasion of an insulating protection film of a heating resistor formed on a partial glaze layer can be suppressed. A heating resistor is provided on the partial glaze layer provided on a ceramic substrate in the longitudinal direction, and the entire surface including the heating resistor is covered by the insulating protection film. A level difference is formed between the insulating protection film over the heating resistor and a flat portion of the insulating protection film over the area outside of the partial glaze layer. The level difference is set so that the insulating protection film on the heating resistor defines a higher portion and a platen roller can press thermal paper on the insulating protection film over the heating resistor and on the flat insulating protection film outside of the partial glaze layer. Thereby, the pressing force of the platen roller can be dispersed. |
| US08780152B2 |
Method and apparatus for thermal expansion based print head alignment
Automated print head alignment uses thermal expansion. By leveraging thermal expansion to position print heads within the carriage, the tedious manual adjustment process is eliminated. The need for costly precision references within the printer and on the print head is also reduced. |
| US08780150B2 |
Method of making a laboratory slide
A method of marking a laboratory slide (3) includes providing a tape (9) having dye (10) between a thermal print head (4) and a marking surface (2) of a laboratory slide (3). The dye (10) is on the side of the tape (9) facing the marking surface (2) and the tape (9) is pinched between the thermal print head (4) and the marking surface (2). The thermal print head (4) is heated and applied to the tape (9) so that dye (10) from the tape (9) is vaporised by the thermal print head (4) and the vaporised dye ingresses into the marking surface (2) to mark the marking surface. In a modification, an inkjet printer prints a dye mark on the tape and a heated pad is pressed against the tape to apply the dye mark to the marking surface. |
| US08780146B2 |
Driving member and driving member array module
An exemplary driving member and an exemplary array module formed by a plurality of the driving members are disclosed in the invention. The driving member includes a first suspending beam module, a second suspending beam module and a conductive suspending beam module. When a voltage is provided between the first suspending beam module and the second suspending beam module, or the first suspending beam module and the second suspending beam module are provided with two homopolar voltages, when the electric field force is larger than the deforming force threshold of the first suspending beam, the first suspending beam moves to contact with the conductive suspending beam module, so that the first suspending beam has a voltage same with the conductive suspending beam module. When the electric field force is smaller than the deforming force threshold of the first suspending beam, the first suspending beam module rebounds to an original state. |
| US08780145B2 |
Image display apparatus, picture signal processing method, and program
An image display apparatus includes: a panel (16a) that includes a plurality of picture elements that change transmittance of light according to picture levels; a detection unit (12) that detects, in one-image portions of the panel (16a), picture levels for each of the plurality of picture elements from picture signals that indicate the picture levels of each picture element; and a processor (18) that, based on the picture levels of one-image portions that were detected by the detection unit (12), adjusts the transmittance of light of the plurality of picture elements such that the image realized by the picture signal is brighter when a value that corresponds to brightness is greater than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08780144B2 |
Image processing apparatus, display system, electronic apparatus, and method of processing image
An image processing apparatus that performs display control of an image displayed on a display unit, includes a first control circuit for controlling image data of a frame in question or a display timing control signal corresponding to the image data so as to display each pixel forming the image with different brightness at given intervals, and a second control circuit for controlling the image data or the display timing control signal by different control from that by the first control circuit so as to display each pixel forming the image with different brightness at given intervals, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit control image data of an identical frame or a display timing control signal corresponding to the image data. |
| US08780139B2 |
Resolution monitoring when using visual manipulation tools
Resolution monitoring when using visual manipulation tools is described, including determining a minimum resolution for a visual manipulation tool, monitoring a usage of the visual manipulation tool, and interrupting the usage of the visual manipulation tool if the visual manipulation tool is operating below the minimum resolution. |
| US08780138B2 |
Information presentation based on display screen orientation
A handheld devise presents information on a display screen in alternate formats. The device determines its orientation relative to a device user and selects a format based on that orientation. The displayed information may also be scrolled or zoomed based on a detected motion of the device. |
| US08780129B2 |
Method and apparatus for hardware rotation
A method and apparatus for hardware rotation is described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a direct access address translation component. The apparatus also includes a frame buffer coupled to the direct access address translation component. The apparatus further includes a 2D coordinate translation component. The apparatus also includes a 2D engine coupled to the 2D coordinate translation component and to the frame buffer. The apparatus further includes a 3D engine. The apparatus also include a 3D coordinate translation component coupled to the 3D engine and the frame buffer. As will be appreciated, further embodiments of the invention are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, and the specific details of a specific embodiment as described need not be present in all embodiments of the invention. |
| US08780125B2 |
Intelligent display
In one embodiment, a display device comprises a graphics interface, an image processing system, an input device coupled to the image processing system to receive a screen capture signal and transmit the screen capture signal to the image processing system, and a storage subsystem coupled to the image processing system to store, in response to the screen capture signal, screen capture data generated by the image processing system. |
| US08780120B2 |
GPU self throttling
Techniques for GPU self throttling are described. In one or more embodiments, timing information for GPU frame processing is obtained using a timeline for the GPU. This may occur by inserting callbacks into the GPU processing timeline. An elapsed time for unpredictable work that is inserted into the GPU workload is determined based on the obtained timing information. A decision is then made regarding whether to “throttle” designated optional/non-critical portions of the work for a frame based on the amount of elapsed time. In one approach the elapsed time is compared to a configurable timing threshold. If the elapsed time exceeds the threshold, work is throttled by performing light or no processing for one or more optional portions of a frame. If the elapsed time is less than the threshold, heavy processing (e.g., “normal” work) is performed for the frame. |
| US08780115B1 |
Investment management marketing tool
An apparatus for marketing investment services comprising a display screen aligned along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, a position detector, and a computer device. The computer device may receive at least one signal from the position detector indicating a position of a viewer relative to the display screen in the horizontal axis and a perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen; cause the display screen to display a user interface. The user interface may comprise an age scale aligned with the horizontal axis, an asset scale aligned with the vertical axis and a chart of assets versus age. Upon determining that the perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen is less than a predetermined value, the computer device modify the interface to display an element at a first position on the age scale corresponding to a position of the viewer relative to the display screen in the horizontal axis. |
| US08780113B1 |
Systems and methods for performing depth estimation using image data from multiple spectral channels
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates. |
| US08780108B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for simulating a material
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for simulating a material. In particular, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods involve modeling deformation characteristics of a material and generating a virtual representation of a physical interaction with the material based on the modeled deformation characteristics of the material and data representative of the physical interaction. |
| US08780106B2 |
Clinician review of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions. |
| US08780100B2 |
Display device, particularly display device for motor vehicles, with a brightness sensor
A display is disclosed, such as for a vehicle. A brightness sensor receives light from a flexible fiber-optic cable. An adapter element is provided proximate, such as between, the light output point of the optical fiber and the brightness sensor. The adapter element may be an angled piece, and may be extruded onto the optical cable. |
| US08780099B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The OLED display includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a thin film transistor and a driving driver on the first substrate; an organic light emitting element including a pixel electrode, an organic emission layer, and a common electrode; a pixel defining layer; a thermal conductive layer covering the driving driver; and a first sealant along an outer edge of the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08780097B2 |
Newton ring mura detection system
A system for detecting newton ring mura on a display includes sensing an image of the display with an image capture device and determining a border boundary of an illuminated portion of the display. The image is spatially filtered as defined by the border boundary using a filter that reduces sensor noise and a grid pattern of the display. The spatially filtered image is processed to determine if a region proximate a pixel location is a potential newton ring mura defect and characterizing the potential newton ring mura defects to remove at least one of the potential newton ring mura defects. |
| US08780095B2 |
Projector and control method
A projector includes: an interface section that has a plurality of connection terminals receiving image information from source devices, a projecting section that projects an image, a storage control section that stores identification information that denotes the source device, an instruction information input section accepting instruction information, a power-supply, a power-supply control section that controles the power-supply, a determination section, and a control information generation section that generates control information, wherein, in a case where the determination section determines that the instruction information is information of designating switching on the power-supply, the power-supply control section switches on the power-supply, the control information generation section generates switching on control information designating switching on the source device that is denoted with the identification information, and the interface section outputs the switching on control information to the source device that is denoted with the identification information. |
| US08780093B2 |
Method for transmitting image data through RSDS transmission interfaces
A method for transmitting image data in a display is provided. The method includes the steps of: sending first pixel data through a first bus to a source driver; sending second pixel data through a second bus to the source driver; reorganizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data in the source driver; and generating third pixel data according to the reorganization of the first pixel data and the second pixel data for channels in the source driver. A display is also disclosed herein. |
| US08780092B2 |
Method and device for driving a display device with line-wise dynamic addressing
The EMI spectrum of a display device is to comply with respective norms. Therefore, the clock for loading data into data drivers of a display panel is designed to be variable. Consequently, the electromagnetic radiation produced by the loading clock is broadened thereby reducing the peak amplitude. Thus, the limitations of radiation norms can be complied with. |
| US08780083B2 |
Coordinate input apparatus, control method thereof, and program
A plurality of sensors for receiving arrival light detect the change ranges of light amount distributions generated upon the pointing operation of a pointer on a coordinate input region. Coordinate values corresponding to the change ranges are calculated on the basis of the number of change ranges in the respective sensors and the number of pen-down signals obtained from the pointer. |
| US08780080B2 |
Input device, display device and portable terminal
According to one aspect of the present invention, an input device includes: a substrate; first detection electrodes; second detection electrodes; a first connection electrode; an insulator; and a second connection electrode. The first detection electrodes are provided on or above the substrate and arrayed along a first direction. The second detection electrodes are provided on or above the substrate and arrayed along a second direction. The first connection electrode is provided on or above the substrate and connecting adjacent first detection electrodes. The insulator is provided on or above the substrate so as to cover the first connection electrode. The second connection electrode is provided on or above the insulator so as to straddle over the insulator, and connecting adjacent second detection electrodes. The portion of the first detection electrodes covers a portion of the insulator. |
| US08780077B2 |
User interface for handwriting inputs
A method, medium, device, and user interface are provided for receiving a handwriting input and for presenting prediction candidates based on the handwriting input. A pen down event is detected in a writing panel of a user interface. The writing panel is expanded to overlie function keys and a candidate window of the user interface such that those features are made inaccessible for inadvertent selections thereof. Upon detection of a pen up event the writing panel is decreased in size to again reveal the features. Recognition candidates are identified based on the handwriting input. Prediction candidates are also identified based on a highest ranking recognition candidate and are presented in combination with the highest ranking recognition candidate. Prediction candidates are thereby identifiable with the recognition candidate with which they are associated and selection of a prediction candidate and recognition candidate may be performed in single selection input. |
| US08780075B2 |
Information processing apparatus, input control method of information processing apparatus, and program
Provided is an information processing apparatus including an input position acquisition unit, a depressing force acquisition unit and an input control unit. An input position acquisition unit obtains an input position detected with respect to an input operation. A depressing force acquisition unit obtains a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation. An input control unit fixes the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information. |
| US08780069B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating user interface objects
A computing device with a touch screen display simultaneously displays on the touch screen display a plurality of user interface objects and at least one destination object. The computing device detects a first input by a user on a destination object displayed on the touch screen display. While continuing to detect the first input by the user on the destination object, the computing device detects a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. In response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, the computing device performs an action on the first user interface object. The action is associated with the destination object. |
| US08780066B2 |
Touch determination by tomographic reconstruction
A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the outcoupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines. The set of data samples is processed (42) to generate a set of matched samples, which are indicative of estimated detected energy for fictitious detection lines that have a location on the surface portion that matches a standard geometry for tomographic reconstruction. The set of matched samples is processed (44, 46) by tomographic reconstruction to generate data indicative of a distribution of an energy-related parameter within at least part of the surface portion. |
| US08780065B2 |
Interface and synchronization method between touch controller and display driver for operation with touch integrated displays
Apparatuses and methods of synchronizing a display driver integrated circuit (DDI) and a touch screen controller (TSC) integrated circuit that are coupled to a display integrated touch panel, such as an in-cell panel, and allowing multi-phase transmit (TX) scanning of the in-cell touch panel. One apparatus includes a DDI configured to receive signals on a video interface from a host processor over a video interface and to drive electrodes of a touch panel. The DDI is configured to receive control signals from a TSC over a control interface to drive different transmit (TX) phase sequences of a TX signal in different sensing interval on the electrodes of the touch panel. |
| US08780055B2 |
Low power wakeup detection circuit and a portable electronic device having a low power wakeup detection circuit
The present disclosure provides a low power wakeup detection circuit and a portable electronic device having a low power wakeup detection circuit. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a portable electronic device, comprising: a housing; a controller received within the housing; a touch-sensitive display having a touch-sensitive overlay, the touch-sensitive display being mechanically constrained by the housing; at least one force sensing transducer located below the touch-sensitive display on an opposite side to the touch-sensitive overlay, the at least one force sensing transducer being connected to the controller and measuring forces applied to the touch-sensitive display; wherein the controller is configured for: initiating a sleep mode from a full power mode in response to a trigger; when in the sleep mode, reading force data measured by the at least one force sensing transducer at a reduced duty cycle relative to the full power mode, comparing the force data to a wakeup force threshold, and returning to the full power mode from the sleep mode when the force data is greater than the wakeup force threshold. |
| US08780054B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A control method of a mobile terminal is disclosed. The control method of a mobile terminal includes: acquiring a pressure signal through a pressure sensing module for sensing a change in pressure applied to at least one part of the body in at least two degrees; and generating an event for changing a display state of a display unit through a control signal to be matched to the pressure signal. Emotional quality can be improved by changing a display state of a display unit in response to a change in pressure applied to the body. |
| US08780052B2 |
Input data processing program and information processing apparatus
The game apparatus executes a storage step of repeatedly acquiring input area data representing an input area 41 in accordance with a detection result from the input device, and storing the input area data in a memory. Next, the game apparatus executes: a virtual area determination step of determining a virtual area 42 so as to follow a change of the input area 41 represented by the input area data each time the input area data is stored in the memory; and a first process execution step of executing a first process, such as a process of moving a cursor, in accordance with the virtual area 42 having been determined by the virtual area determination step. |
| US08780048B2 |
Membrane keyboard scan circuit, scan method and keyboard having the same
A membrane keyboard scan circuit, a scan method and a keyboard having the same are provided. A row scan-port circuit of the scan circuit comprises a first and a second select branches corresponding to a first type of the membrane keyboard and a second type of the membrane keyboard respectively. A column scan-port circuit of the scan circuit comprises a fifth switch connected between a power supply voltage and an output port of the row scan-port circuit and a sixth switch connected between a ground line and the output port. The column scan-port circuit performs a scan output process to provide a row-scan timing signal to a key circuit of the membrane keyboard such that one of the first and the second select branches generates a sensing signal when the key circuit is triggered. |
| US08780045B2 |
Optical navigation with a dynamic SQUAL threshold
A system and method for tracking movement between a surface and an optical navigation device are described. In an embodiment, the optical navigation device has an image sensor that includes an array of pixels and motion tracking involves acquiring image information, the image information including pixel values that correspond to the pixels, calculating a surface quality (SQUAL) value from the image information, determining a level of saturation of the pixel array from pixel values of the image information, comparing the determined level of saturation of the pixel array to a saturation threshold, increasing a SQUAL threshold if the determined level of saturation of the pixel array is greater than the saturation threshold, and deciding whether or not to output motion tracking information in response to a comparison of the SQUAL value to the SQUAL threshold. Other embodiments of the method are also described. |
| US08780044B2 |
Retractable mouse structure
A mouse structure includes a housing and first and second sliding apparatuses. The housing has an accommodating portion and an opening The first sliding apparatus includes a base board and a sliding element, the base board being fixedly disposed in the accommodating portion, and the sliding element being slidably mounted on the base board. The second sliding apparatus is slidably disposed in the accommodating portion and includes a main body and a reacting portion connecting the main body, the main body being capable of sliding in and out of the accommodating portion from the opening. When the main body slides out of the opening, the sliding element is concurrently and separately pulled by the reacting portion to the first position, and when the main body slides into the accommodating portion, the sliding element is concurrently and separately pushed by the reacting portion to the second position. |
| US08780036B2 |
Display apparatus and method for driving backlight applied to the same
A display apparatus and a backlight driving method applied to the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus controls to drive light sources of a backlight unit according to an image scanning scheme of a display panel and controls the luminance of each light source to equalize the luminance of the backlight emitting from the backlight unit with respect to a location of the light source. |
| US08780034B2 |
Method for driving semiconductor device including super-resolution processing
The resolution of a low-resolution image is made high and a stereoscopic image is displayed. Resolution is made high by super-resolution processing. In this case, the super-resolution processing is performed after edge enhancement processing is performed. Accordingly, a stereoscopic image with high resolution and high quality can be displayed. Alternatively, after image analysis processing is performed, edge enhancement processing and super-resolution processing are concurrently performed. Accordingly, processing time can be shortened. |
| US08780029B2 |
Signal conversion circuit, and multiple-primary-color liquid crystal display device provided with same
A multiprimary liquid crystal display device in which deteriorations in display quality caused by the coloration of a gray representation when viewed from an oblique direction are suppressed, and a signal conversion circuit for use in such a multiprimary liquid crystal display device are provided.A signal conversion circuit according to the present invention is for use in a multiprimary liquid crystal display device, the multiprimary liquid crystal display device having a pixel defined by a plurality of subpixels including a red subpixel, a green subpixel, a blue subpixel, and a yellow subpixel, and performing multicolor display by using four or more primary colors to be displayed by the plurality of subpixels, the signal conversion circuit converting an input video signal to a multiprimary signal corresponding to four or more primary colors. When a video signal for the pixel to display a gray color having a normalized luminance of no less than 0.2 and no more than 0.3 is input, the signal conversion circuit according to the present invention performs a conversion of the video signal so that, among the normalized luminances of the plurality of subpixels, the yellow subpixel has the lowest normalized luminance. |
| US08780024B2 |
Projector and method for projecting an image
A projector having an illumination modulator to modulate the intensity of the light in a pixel-individual manner, a projection lens projecting the light being modulated in a pixel-individual manner onto an image modulator to generate the image to be projected such that each illumination pixel is associated with at least one image pixel. A controller which generates illumination control data and generates image control data for the image modulator. The illumination control data are generated such that they have an on-value for each illumination pixel that is associated with at least one image pixel intended to represent a brightness value in the image that exceeds a predetermined threshold value according to the image data, said on-value selected such that each illumination pixel being associated with at least one image pixel intended to represent a brightness value according to the image data that exceeds a predetermined threshold value and falls short of a predetermined maximum value, is also at least temporarily switched to the second state during periods when the at least one associated image pixel is switched to the second state. |
| US08780023B2 |
Pixel chip, display panel, lighting panel, display unit, and lighting unit
There are provided a pixel chip capable of preventing false lighting of a light emitting device, a display panel including the pixel chip as a pixel, a lighting panel including the pixel chip as a pixel, a display unit including the display panel, and a lighting unit including the lighting panel. The pixel chip includes: one or a plurality of light emitting devices; a driver IC driving the light emitting devices; a connection section that is arranged between the light emitting devices and the driver IC, and electrically connects the light emitting devices to the driver IC; and a light shielding section that is arranged between the light emitting devices and the driver IC, and blocks direct entrance of light emitted from each of the light emitting devices into the driver IC together with the connection section. |
| US08780022B2 |
Method of driving organic electroluminescence emission portion
A pixel circuit and driving method are disclosed, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor. The first transistor is connected between a power source and a light emission portion, and the second transistor is connected to a data line. The capacitor is initialized according to a potential, and a video signal is applied from the data line to the capacitor through the second transistor. For driving, an initialization voltage is applied to the data line and the video signal is supplied to the data line, with the second transistor being turned ON prior to applying the initialization voltage to the data line. |
| US08780018B2 |
Light emitting device and electronic appliance
The present invention is to provide a light emitting device capable of obtaining a certain luminance without influence by the temperature change, and a driving method thereof. A current mirror circuit formed by using a transistor is provided for each pixel. The first transistor and the second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain currents thereof are maintained at proportional values regardless of the load resistance value. Thereby, a light emitting device capable of controlling the OLED driving current and the luminance of the OLED by controlling the drain current of the first transistor at a value corresponding to a video signal in a driving circuit, and supplying the drain current of the second transistor to the OLED, is provided. |
| US08780015B2 |
Display device with image expansion via peripherial light guide elements
A direct-viewing type display device 100a includes: a display panel 10 having a display region 31 and a frame region 30 formed outside the display region; and a light guide element 21A having an incident face 21a, an outgoing face 21b, and a plurality of light guide paths formed between the incident face and the outgoing face. The incident face of the light guide element is disposed so as to overlap a portion 32 of a peripheral display region adjoining the frame region of the display panel along the first axis, and be parallel to the surface of the display panel. The outgoing face 21b of the light guide element has a distance from the incident face 21a that increases away from the portion 32 of the peripheral display region and toward the frame region 30 along the first axis, and extends to a position overlapping the frame region 30. According to the present invention, with a structure which is more simple and light-weight than conventionally, there is provided a direct-viewing type display device in which a frame region of a display panel, or a joint in the case of tiling, is obscured. |
| US08780012B2 |
Dielectric covered planar antennas
An antenna element suitable for integrated arrays at terahertz frequencies is disclosed. The antenna element comprises an extended spherical (e.g. hemispherical) semiconductor lens, e.g. silicon, antenna fed by a leaky wave waveguide feed. The extended spherical lens comprises a substantially spherical lens adjacent a substantially planar lens extension. A couple of TE/TM leaky wave modes are excited in a resonant cavity formed between a ground plane and the substantially planar lens extension by a waveguide block coupled to the ground plane. Due to these modes, the primary feed radiates inside the lens with a directive pattern that illuminates a small sector of the lens. The antenna structure is compatible with known semiconductor fabrication technology and enables production of large format imaging arrays. |
| US08780010B2 |
Metamaterial provided with at least one spiral conductor for propagating electromagnetic wave
A metamaterial including at least one spiral conductor. Only a magnetic permeability selected from among an effective dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability of the metamaterial becomes negative, so that the metamaterial have a negative refractive index characteristic. The material includes a plurality of unit cells arrayed in one of one-dimensional direction, two-dimensional directions, and three-dimensional directions. Each of the unit cells includes a dielectric substrate having first and second surfaces disposed in a substantially parallel relationship, and first and second spiral conductors. The first spiral conductor is formed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and the second spiral conductor is formed in one of a same direction as and an opposite direction to the first spiral conductor, on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, to oppose the first spiral conductor and to be electromagnetically coupled with the first spiral conductor. |
| US08780009B2 |
Adjustable spiral antenna for portable use
A spiral, helical antenna is configured to produce a generally circular polarized radiation pattern covering a range of frequencies, over a ground plane. The antenna is comprised of a spring-like spiral conductor that may be held in compression by a size and shape regulating outer nonconductive membrane. The assembly may be compressed and or extended to adjust the antenna for best performance in a particular situation. The assembly may be compressed into a generally flattened state for storage and or transportation, and extended at a later time for use. Accurate antenna dimensions and good performance are afforded by the use of high quality spring materials in conjunction with precise membrane dimensions. |
| US08780001B2 |
Asymmetrical dipole antenna
An asymmetrical dipole antenna is provided. A radiation module and a ground module are formed by a metallic conductor and arranged at an interval on a substrate of the antenna, and the radiation module and the ground module, respectively, have a radiation base and a ground base. Two radiation arms and two ground arms are formed by extending from two ends of the two respective bases in opposite directions. The two radiation arms are orthogonal to the radiation base, and the second radiation arm is bent and extended toward the first radiation arm to form an arc opened toward the first radiation arm. The two ground arms are orthogonal to the ground base, and a hook is formed by extending and bending the second ground arm toward the first ground arm. A feeder unit connects the feed point and the ground point of the two bases. |
| US08779998B1 |
Wideband horizontally polarized omnidirectional antenna
A wideband horizontally polarized antenna includes a metallic antenna housing having four sides, a rectangular or hourglass slot in each side that is preferably offset from center, a square coaxial transmission or feed line positioned along a central axis of the metallic antenna housing, and a metal tab connecting each of the slots to the feed line. The antenna operates over a wide bandwidth and has a small profile. |
| US08779997B2 |
Apparatus and method for a variable-ratio rotationally polarized slot-style television and radio broadcast antenna
Disclosed is a microwave or radio wave broadcast antenna array constructed to produce rotating fields of energy for broadcast or transmission. The array has an inner conductor enclosed within a tubular outer conductor, and is connected to an energy source. The outer conductor has slots in the wall of the conductor, and rotational polarizers are positioned on either side of the slots to induce rotation and polarization of the transmitted energy. |
| US08779995B2 |
High-frequency waveguide and phase shifter using same, radiator, electronic device which uses this phase shifter and radiator, antenna device, and electronic device equipped with same
This high-frequency waveguide is formed by first and second conductors disposed opposite each other at a spacing of λ0/2, where λ0 is the free space wavelength of the operating frequency of a high-frequency signal. A ridge is provided at the waveguide formation portion between these first and second conductors, which protrudes from one of the first and second conductors toward the other and is formed extending along the waveguide formation portion. A plurality of columnar protrusions with a height of λ0/4 are disposed at a spacing of less than λ0/2 to at least one of the first and second conductors on the outside of the waveguide formation portion and to the outside of the ridge. |
| US08779992B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and planar antenna thereof
A wireless communication apparatus and a planar antenna thereof are provided. The wireless communication apparatus comprises a connecting port, a printed circuit board, and a planar antenna. The printed circuit board is connected to the connecting port, and the planar antenna is formed on the printed circuit board. The planar antenna comprises a radiation portion, a shorting portion, and a feeding portion. The feeding portion is connected to the radiation portion and the shorting portion, and the radiation portion and the shorting portion are in a bent shape so that the radiation portion, the shorting portion and the feeding portion are distributed in a rectangular region. |
| US08779990B2 |
Antenna and wireless communication apparatus using same
An antenna which is laid out efficiently while ensuring a predetermined antenna directivity. An antenna area is formed on a corner of a substrate. An antenna conductor is formed in the antenna area, and is shaped so that a bend is formed between its ground end and its open end. A first ground area is formed on the substrate near the ground end of the antenna conductor, and is connected to the ground end. A second ground area is formed on the substrate near the open end of the antenna conductor. A feed unit feeds electricity to the antenna conductor. |
| US08779987B2 |
Multiply resonant antenna device and electronic device including such and antenna device
According to one embodiment, a multiply resonant antenna device according to the embodiment includes a first antenna element formed from a monopole element, a second antenna element formed from a parasitic element placed at a position where it can be current-coupled to the first antenna element, and a third antenna element formed from a folded monopole element. The length of the first antenna element is set to nearly a ¼ of wavelength corresponding to the first resonant frequency. The length of the second antenna element is set to nearly a ¼ of wavelength corresponding to the second resonant frequency. The electrical length of the third antenna element from the feed point to a ground point through a folding end is set to nearly a ½ of wavelength corresponding to the third resonant frequency higher than the first and second resonant frequencies. |
| US08779986B2 |
Wideband antenna
A wideband antenna includes a grounding element; a feed-in terminal; a first radiating unit, electrically connected to the feed-in terminal and extending from the feed-in terminal toward a first direction; a second radiating unit, electrically connected to the feed-in terminal, extending from the feed-in terminal toward a second direction, and including a meander-shaped element; and a third radiating unit, electrically connected to the grounding element, extending from the grounding element toward the first radiating unit and the second radiating unit, and having one segment parallel to the meander-shaped element, for coupling the meander-shaped element. |
| US08779984B2 |
Apparatus having mushroom structures
An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a first patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate; and a second patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of another distance to the ground plate, which another distance being different from the distance from the first patch to the ground plate, wherein the second patch is a passive element which is capacitatively coupled with at least the first patch. |
| US08779982B2 |
System for reducing antenna gain deterioration
A portable wireless device which effectively uses a space in a case while maintaining communication qualities by reducing antenna gain deterioration even when a plurality of antennas of different frequency bands are arranged adjacent to each other. The portable wireless device is provided with patterns for adding a band disturbing element, which is composed of beads and a parallel resonance circuit, to a part where one side of an antenna pattern of a magnetic field antenna is closed to between the main antenna and the magnetic field antenna is more easily generated. The band disturbing element may be composed of ferrite core or the like. |
| US08779978B1 |
Beamforming with partial channel knowledge
An apparatus for use in transmit beamforming to a beamformee having NR receive antennas. The apparatus includes a controller configured to i) construct a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between a beamformer and M receive antennas, wherein M is less than NR, and ii) generate L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix. When a number NS of one or more streams is greater than L, the controller is further configured to i) select the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L streams of the plurality of streams, and ii) select NS−L orthogonal vectors in a null space of the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer a remainder of the streams in the plurality of streams. |
| US08779977B2 |
Electro optical scanning phased array antenna for pulsed operation
An electro optical scanning phased array antenna having a laser which generates a pulsed output. A microwave source has an output which amplitude modulates the optical output from the laser through an optical modulator. An optical loop circuit has an input connected to an output from the optical modulator and a variable time delay element. The optical loop circuit generates a plurality of modulated optical pulses at equidistantly spaced time intervals from each other at an output from the loop circuit. These time intervals vary as a function of the variable time delay element and a control circuit controls the time delay attributable to the variable time delay element. An antenna array includes end elements while a circuit converts the optical output pulses from the optical loop circuit to radio frequency signals electrically connected to the elements of the antenna array. |
| US08779968B2 |
System and method for microwave ranging to a target in presence of clutter and multi-path effects
A system for measuring the 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 pulse radar system. In the system the RFID 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 pulsed radar system transmits short pulses coordinated by the backscatter state of the RFID tag and the system 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 pulses between the pulse radar system and the RFID tag. |
| US08779967B2 |
Sensor cart positioning system and method
A movable platform has a front end, a back end, a longitudinal axis, and at least one axle oriented generally transverse to the longitudinal axis and located between the front and back ends for supporting wheels of the platform. A position sensor is affixed on the platform at a location other than at a location defined by a plane passing through the axle and normal to the longitudinal axis. The position sensor provides position data as the platform traverses a path. A sensor arrangement is supported by the platform and configured to provide subsurface sensor data as the platform traverses the path. A processor is configured to associate the position data with the sensor data relative to a reference frame and in a manner that accounts for dynamic motion of the platform. |
| US08779960B2 |
Method for operating an electromechanical actuator
A method is provided for operating an electromechanical actuator comprising a movable element, a position sensor for detecting the position of the movable element, a logic unit connected to the position sensor, and exactly one output line for the logic unit to transmit a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a predetermined frequency value, the method providing for the logic unit to perform detecting a position of the movable element, determining a value of a duty cycle of the pulse width modulated (PWM) signal on the basis of the detected position of the movable element, and transmitting a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal indicative of the position of the movable element having the determined value of the duty cycle. |
| US08779954B2 |
AD (analog-to-digital) conversion circuit, micro-controller, and method of adjusting sampling time
An AD (analog-to-digital) conversion circuit includes a capacitor array formed of a plurality of capacitors; a sample hold circuit configured to apply an analog input voltage input through an input terminal to the capacitor array so that the analog input voltage is accumulated in the capacitor array until a sampling time set is elapsed; a comparator circuit configured to sequentially retrieve the analog input voltage accumulated in each of the capacitors of the capacitor array, and to compare the analog input voltage with a reference voltage defined in advance to generate a digital signal; and a sampling time adjusting circuit configured to measure a period of time when a voltage on an input side of the sample hold circuit reaches a threshold value defined in advance relative to the reference voltage, and to set a time determined according to the period of time as the sampling time. |
| US08779952B1 |
Background calibration of threshold errors in analog to digital converters
A method of background calibration of threshold errors in a data communication system is provided. In an implementation, the method uses sampler statistics just after foreground calibration as the reference signal in a control loop method to remove individual sampler offsets. In an implementation in which an analog to digital converter (ADC) includes a plurality of sub-ADCs, gain, offset, and individual threshold errors across parallel, time-interleaved sub-ADCs are minimized by establishing individual comparator statistics for the average sub-ADC after an initial foreground calibration, then forcing each individual comparator to maintain its statistics over time, in the background, by continuously adjusting its threshold. |
| US08779947B2 |
Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems
Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems are disclosed herein. In one of the methods, a telematics unit disposed in a vehicle detects that the vehicle is no longer in operation. Upon making the detection, the telematics unit automatically transmits a message to a device, where the message includes a suggestion, a recommendation, an indication, or a notification pertaining to a vehicle utility. An application resident on the device, or on a cloud computing system in communication with the device, presents the message on the device by displaying i) the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification and ii) a plurality of actionable items associated with the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification. |
| US08779945B2 |
Virtual ice accretion meter display
A flight display for an aircraft includes a virtual ice accretion meter having a liquid water content portion and an ice thickness portion. A method for determining ice accretion includes integrating over a time period a constant K multiplied by a liquid water content (LWC) and true airspeed (TAS). |
| US08779944B2 |
Optical image monitoring system and method for vehicles
A system and method of acquiring information from an image of a vehicle in real time wherein at least one imaging device with advanced light metering capabilities is placed aboard a vehicle, a computer processor means is provided to control the imaging device and the advanced light metering capabilities, the advanced light metering capabilities are used to capture an image of at least a portion of the vehicle, and image recognition algorithms are used to identify the current state or position of the corresponding portion of the vehicle. |
| US08779941B2 |
Providing guidance for locating street parking
A facility for providing guidance for locating street parking is described. The facility receives an indication of a geographic location with respect to which provide parking guidance, and determines an effective time for which to provide guidance. The facility then provides parking guidance relating to the indicated location at the effective time for a use. |
| US08779939B2 |
Method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when parking in a parking space
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when parking in a parking space is disclosed. The method involves measuring a possible parking space, calculating a parking trajectory on the basis of a current parking space geometry determined from the measurement of the parking space and on the basis of a vehicle position relative to the parking space, and a parking process is subsequently carried out during which the vehicle is steered along the parking trajectory into the parking space, continuing to determine, during the parking process, the current parking space geometry and is compared with a previous parking space geometry determined before the start of the parking process, where, if the two parking space geometries differ from one another, a deviation which is present is evaluated and the parking trajectory corrected and/or re-calculated. |
| US08779937B2 |
Exterior mirror reflective element sub-assembly
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate. The back plate has an indicator mounting portion. An aperture is established through the back plate generally at the indicator mounting portion. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the back plate. The heater pad has a light transmitting portion generally aligned with the aperture of the back plate. A self-contained substantially sealed indicator is mounted at the indicator mounting portion and has a light source that is activatable to emit light. When an equipped exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of a vehicle and with the light source activated, light emitted by the light source transmits through the aperture of the back plate and the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and exits the mirror reflective element. |
| US08779935B2 |
Systems and methods for simulating motion with sound
A movement warning system for notifying a proximal entity of the approach of a vehicle comprising a sensor system, a controlling mobile device, and a signal generator system. The sensor system generates motion data indicative of movement of the vehicle. The controlling mobile device generates at least one warning signal based on the motion data. The signal generator system generates at least one warning based on the to at least one warning signal. The signal generator generates the warning such that the proximal entity perceives the warning. |
| US08779931B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating power distribution event and location
A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device. |
| US08779928B2 |
Systems and methods to detect generator collector flashover
Systems and methods for generating a collector flashover alert by passive monitoring of a generator are provided. One method includes receiving, by a computing device, signals from a current transformer coupled around an exciter cable connected to a generator collector assembly, determining, by the computing device, when a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly based at least in part on received signals from the current transformer, generating an indication that a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly when it is determined that a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly, and generating a flashover alert based at least in part on the generated indication that a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly. |
| US08779926B2 |
Presenting information regarding conditions of an environment with a visual representation of the environment
Configuring a user interface by which a user can view information regarding one or more conditions of an environment collected by an environmental monitoring system. An environmental monitoring system comprises one or more sensor units disposed in an environment and one or more servers. The servers may receive from an operator of the environment a visual representation of the environment and may identify a position in the visual representation corresponding to the location and configure a user interface to present information regarding the environment based at least in part on the positions. The user interface can be configured to display the visual representation and display information related to the first sensor unit so as to indicate a relationship between the information and the position corresponding to the location of the first sensor unit. Information identifying a location of one or more sensor units may be determined through an automated process. |
| US08779924B2 |
Nurse call system with additional status board
A healthcare information system for use in a healthcare facility having patient beds in a plurality of patient rooms is provided. The healthcare information system has a nurse call computer which is located at a nurse's station and which is configured to receive nurse calls and/or safety alerts originating from the patient rooms. The healthcare information system has a status board computer which is also located at the nurse's station and which is operable to display, for more than one patient, information regarding the patient, staff location, bed data, and room status. |
| US08779919B1 |
Event communication apparatus and method
A method and apparatus is described for transmitting event codes from a base station to a remote location. In one embodiment, a method is described, executed by a processor within an event communication module, the method comprising receiving an encoded event code from a base station over an interface connection, selecting a first transmission method from two or more communication methods based on the received event code, encoding the event code based on the first communication method, and transmitting the encoded event code to remote location by a communication module configured to communicate using the first communication method. |
| US08779916B2 |
Timeline presentations of process control system alarms
Timeline presentations of process control system alarms are described. An operator interface apparatus for a process control system is described that includes an operator display module to present an operator application on a display. The operator interface also includes an alarm presentation interface to be presented on the display via the operator application. The alarm presentation interface includes a timeline to graphically indicate a temporal relationship of a plurality of active alarms of the process control system. |
| US08779914B2 |
Safety rearview mirror
A safety rearview mirror for the backseat of automobile vehicles, comprising a rigid plaque which has on one of its faces a finished and reflective surface and on the other face an opaque covering, except for at least, a zone free of the covering, wherein this zone corresponds to signs and/or drawings which are visible through transparency due to a light source associated with the other face. The light source may be of the LED/LCD type or an incandescent lamp. |
| US08779913B2 |
Transmission indicator for vehicle
A transmission indicator apparatus for a vehicle, may include a base provided on a side of a gearshift lever of the vehicle, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) circuit mounted on the base and provided with light sources, a cover provided above the PCB circuit to shield an internal structure therein, wherein stage characters of a stage character part and stage selection displays of a stage selection part may be formed on the cover to transmit light of the light sources and be thus distinguished, and a partition provided in a space between the PCB circuit and the cover and located between the stage character part and the stage selection part of the cover, thus preventing light interference between the light sources. |
| US08779912B2 |
System and method for immobilizing a vehicle
In accordance with one embodiment, an onboard computer (OBC) and associated circuitry capable of spoofing or mimicking a fault condition tricks an electronic control module (ECM) of an automobile or other such vehicle into implementing an engine derate procedure resulting in vehicle immobilization that is safe and that is credibly attributable to a genuine vehicle fault condition. For example, in response to an engine shutdown command, the OBC might cause a fault-spoofing engine shutdown device in one embodiment to spoof an engine overheating condition by inserting an electrical resistance in parallel with the resistance of an engine temperature sensor, thus lowering the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor as detected by the ECM. |
| US08779908B2 |
System and method for social dancing
A system and method for enabling social dancing. The system comprising a movement registration module configured to monitor and identify movements by a participant; and a tactile feedback actuator configured to supply tactile feedback to the participant based on a determination by a logic module. The method performed by a computerized device, the method comprising: monitoring movements by a participant; determining feedback in response to the movements; and instructing a tactile feedback actuator to supply the feedback to the participant. |
| US08779904B2 |
Multimode remote controller comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a capacitive pressure transducer, and a touch pad
A remote controller generates control signals according to the speed of movement sensed by a three-axis accelerometer and the direction of movement sensed by a gyroscope and transmits the control signals to a remotely controlled device communicating with the remote controller when the remote controller is in a first work mode, generates control signals according to touch sensing signals from a touch pad and transmits the control signals to the remotely controlled device when the remote controller is in a second work mode, and further generates control signals according to variations in the capacitance of the capacitive type pressure transducer unit and transmits the control signals to the remotely controlled device when the remote controller is in a third work mode. |
| US08779900B2 |
RFID interrogator having collision type identification function and control method thereof
Disclosed is an RFID interrogator having a collision type identification function and a control method thereof. It verifies whether or not a collision occurs in a received signal by analyzing data of a signal received from an RF communication unit and performs a corresponding collision resolution operation by diagnosing a collision type in accordance with a collision generation means between the corresponding RFID interrogator and other interrogators or a tag. Since all types of collisions that occur between the RFID interrogator and the tag can be identified, a reason for occurrence of the collisions can be rapidly recognized to cope with the reason for the collisions. |
| US08779899B2 |
RFID interrogator retransmitting command depending on collision situation and control method thereof
As an RFID interrogator transmitting a command depending on a collision situation and a control method thereof, the RFID interrogator includes a collision diagnosis unit that analyzes data of a received signal received during a receive time in correspondence with a transmitted signal from an RF communication unit that can transmit and receive signal to and from one or more tag, verifies whether or not a collision occurs in the received signal, and diagnoses a collision type depending on an analysis result of the data of the received signal; and a collision resolution unit that can retransmit a command to the tag through the RF communication unit depending on the collision situation on the basis of whether or not occurrence of the collision or not and the collision type that are received from the collision diagnosis unit. |
| US08779895B2 |
Ultrasound zone location system with high capacity
A zone location system with ultrasound US transmitters S1, S2, S3 located in respective zones Z1, Z2, Z3 such as rooms of a building B. Preferably, the US transmitters are time-multiplexed so that each of them in turn transmits a US signal US with a unique ID code USID represented therein. The portable tag PT includes an ultrasound receiver USR arranged to receive the US signal. Based on the received US signal, the portable tag PT measures a strength of the received US signal. The portable tag PT also measures a parameter related to a movement of the portable tag PT, e.g. a Doppler shift based on the received US signal. Further, the portable tag extracts the USID. Then it transmits a wireless Radio Frequency signal RFS with its own ID PTID, the USID and first and second data values D1, D2 representing the signal strength and the movement related parameters. A processor P connected to a Radio Frequency receiver RFR receives the data from the portable tag PT and determines a connection between PTID and the zone Z2 in which it is present based on the USID. Further, the processor utilizes data D1 and D2 to calculate an estimated position POS within the zone Z2. Especially, estimated distance between US transmitter S2 and portable tag PT and velocity of the portable tag may be estimated based on D1 and D2, thus assisting in estimating the position POS of the portable tag PT. The system may further be combined with a Radio Frequency based positioning system, e.g. an RF signal strength based system, thereby enhancing the resolution of the estimated position POS of the portable tag PT. Further, such combined system help location in complicated and changing environments and in situations where the portable tag PT may be out of reach for US signals, e.g. when attached to a paper file enclosed in a box. |
| US08779892B2 |
Wireless illumination controller with the function to set the lowest driving power
A wireless illumination controller with the function to set the lowest driving power includes a microprocessor, a driver, an illumination control switch, and a wireless receiving module. The microprocessor is built in with an adjustable lowest power and connected with the driver, the illumination control switch, the wireless receiving module and a power processing module. The illumination control switch is used to set the lowest power of the microprocessor. After the wireless receiving module receives a wireless illumination adjustment command, the power of the driving signal output from the driver is controlled to be not lower than the lowest power. Therefore, when a user adjusts the illumination, the driving power is never lower than the lowest driving power of the corresponding light bulb, thereby avoiding flickering. |
| US08779891B2 |
Access control device
The invention relates to an access control device, in particular for a switchgear cabinet system, having a central unit, which is designed to receive and evaluate access authorization data stored on personal transponders and to output release signals via a wireless signal transmission link and to release a relevant interlocking unit, and which has an authentication device with a testing stage in which comparison data for testing the received access authorization data for access authorization is present. Increased security is achieved in that, in addition, at least one input station having an input unit is present, which is or can be used to establish a wireless data transmission connection to the central unit for the transmission of input data that is different from the access authorization data, the authentication device is designed to operate in two stages and has a further testing stage, which is designed for the direct or indirect allocation of the input data to the access authorization data and to check agreement between the access authorization data and the input data with regard to the access authorization, and the central unit is designed to output the release signals when the access authorization has been established after checking by means of the further testing stage. |
| US08779886B2 |
Switch structures
A device, such as a switch structure, is provided. The switch structure can include a contact and a conductive element each respectively disposed on a substrate. The conductive element can be composed substantially of metallic material, and can be configured to be deformable between a first position, in which the conductive element is separated from the contact by a separation distance, and a second position, in which the conductive element contacts the contact and stores mechanical energy. The conductive element can be further configured such that, subsequent to being deformed into the second position at a temperature between about room temperature and about half of a melting temperature of the metallic material for a cumulative time of at least 107 seconds, the separation distance in the absence of external forces varies by less than 20 percent over the cumulative time. Associated methods are also provided. |
| US08779885B2 |
Method for making magnetic components with M-phase coupling, and related inductor structures
An M phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, and M legs disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. M is an integer greater than one. The coupled inductor further includes M windings, where each winding has a substantially rectangular cross section. Each one of the M windings is at least partially wound about a respective leg. |
| US08779884B2 |
Multilayered inductor and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a multilayered inductor, including: an inductor body; a coil part formed on the inductor body and having a conductive circuit and a conductive via; and external electrodes formed on both end surfaces of the inductor body, wherein the inductor body includes 65 to 95 wt % of a metallic magnetic material and 5 to 35 wt % of an organic material. |
| US08779883B2 |
Coil device
A coil device 10 comprises a bobbin 40 having a bobbin plate 42 provided with a first hollow cylinder 44 on which a primary coil 20 is wound, and a case 50 provided with a second hollow cylinder 54 wound by a secondary coil 30 at the outer circumference. On the bobbin plate 42, a primary terminal 70 connecting to the primary coil 20 and a secondary terminal 72 connecting to the secondary coil 30 are formed, and a tip end portion 55a of case 50 is extended to the end portion of the bobbin plate 42 to which the secondary terminal 72 is formed. Further, on the tip end portion 55a, plural first grooves 57a for lead are formed. |
| US08779882B2 |
Center tapped transformers for isolated power converters
A cost effective solution for construction of high frequency, double ended, isolated, push pull, center tapped power transformers operating in continuous/discontinuous mode with minimized winding proximity losses comprises at least two identical sets of windings with identical coupling coefficients. Each set of windings consists of at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding tightly coupled to each other. Both the sets of windings are loosely coupled to each other with a magnetic field isolating separator. |
| US08779881B2 |
Varying inductance
The present application relates to circuitry having a plurality of inductors, each inductor having a first end and a second end; and a switching arrangement connected to the first end and to the second end of each of the plurality of inductors for routing a current via the inductors; wherein the switching arrangement is arranged to at least one of selectably prevent current from flowing through a subset of the plurality of inductors and select a current flow direction through one of the inductors relative to a current flow direction through at least one other of the inductors so as to vary an effective inductance that the plurality of inductors represents to the current. |
| US08779868B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with adjustable impedance matching network and associated methods
A mobile device includes an adjustable impedance matching network coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna and has an adjustable impedance element. An impedance sensor is coupled between the power amplifier and adjustable impedance matching network. A processor is configured to a) calculate a corrected antenna load impedance based upon a sensed impedance at inputs of the impedance matching network and a current value of the adjustable impedance element, and b) determine a new value for the adjustable impedance element based upon the corrected antenna load impedance. The processor is also configured to c) set the adjustable impedance element to the new value, and d) sense a new impedance at the inputs and determine if the sensed new impedance is within a threshold value of the power amplifier impedance, and repeat steps a), b), and c) if the sensed new impedance is not within the threshold value. |
| US08779867B2 |
Split varactor array with improved matching and varactor switching scheme
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a digital controlled oscillator. The oscillator includes an oscillator circuit, a varactor array, and a control circuit. The oscillator circuit receives a control word and a signal and generates an oscillator clock signal from the signal at a frequency selected by the control word. The varactor array has a first array of varactor cells having incremental capacitance values and a second array of varactor cells having equal capacitance values. The split varactor array provides a capacitance value. A control circuit is coupled to the oscillator circuit and controls the split varactor array according to the control word. The control circuit sets varactor cells of the split varactor array on or off. |
| US08779864B2 |
Oscillator having negative resistance element
An oscillator has a negative resistance element and a resonator along with a capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the negative resistance element relative to a power bias circuit, a capacitance of the capacitor being so selected as to suppress any parasitic oscillation due to the power bias circuit and allow oscillation at a resonance frequency due to the negative resistance element and the resonator. |
| US08779863B2 |
Generating an oscillator signal having a desired frequency in a continuous frequency range
A method of generating a first oscillator signal having a desired frequency in a first frequency range comprises generating in a voltage controlled oscillator unit a second oscillator signal having a frequency in a second frequency range of at least one octave. The method further comprises selecting said second continuous frequency range to have a lower endpoint in said first frequency range and an upper endpoint above said range; and selectively using the oscillator signal unchanged or dividing it by a division ratio selected from integer powers of the number 2 to obtain said first oscillator signal. By centering the VCO higher than otherwise required and using an additional divider, so that the VCO signal can selectively be used unchanged or divided, a sufficient margin below as well as above the desired range for e.g. drift and tolerances of the VCO is achieved. It also simplifies the VCO design. |
| US08779861B2 |
Multi-phase voltage controlled oscillator using capacitance degenerated single ended transconductance stage and inductance/capacitance load
An electrical circuit includes a first transistor having a first source, a first drain, and a first gate, whereby the first transistor receives an input voltage through the first gate. An output voltage terminal outputs voltage from the first transistor and is connected to the first drain. A second transistor includes a second source, a second drain, and a second gate, whereby the second transistor receives a bias voltage through the second gate, and wherein the first source is connected to the second drain. A first capacitor is connected to the first source, the second source, and the second drain. An inductor is connected to the first drain. A second capacitor is connected in parallel with the inductor and further connected to the first drain. |
| US08779859B2 |
Multi-cascode amplifier bias techniques
Techniques for generating bias voltages for a multi-cascode amplifier. In an aspect, a multi-cascode bias network is provided, each transistor in the bias network being a replica of a corresponding transistor in the multi-cascode amplifier, enabling accurate biasing of the transistors in the multi-cascode amplifier. In another aspect, a voltage supply for the multi-cascode amplifier is provided separately from a voltage supply for the replica bias network, to advantageously decouple variations in the amplifier voltage supply from the bias network voltage supply. In yet another aspect, the bias voltages of transistors in the multi-cascode amplifier may be configured by adjusting the impedance of resistive voltage dividers coupled to the transistor gate biases. As the gain of the amplifier depends on the bias voltages of the cascode amplifiers, the gain of the amplifier may be adjusted in this manner without introducing a variable gain element directly in the amplifier signal path. |
| US08779858B2 |
Amplifier circuit, detector arrangement and method for operating an amplifier
An amplifier circuit comprises a measurement path with an amplifier (1) for providing an output voltage (Vout) depending on a measuring current (Ipd) with a first and a second amplifier input (11, 12), and an amplifier output (13). A return path of the amplifier circuit comprises a first filter (2), an auxiliary amplifier (3) and a second filter (4). In this case, the first filter (2) is designed to filter a DC voltage from the output voltage (Vout) and is connected to the amplifier output (13). The auxiliary amplifier (3) serves to convert an input voltage (Vfil) into an output current (Ifil) and has a first and a second auxiliary amplifier input (31, 32) and an auxiliary amplifier output (33). In this case, the first auxiliary amplifier input (31) is connected to the first filter (2). The second filter (4) is designed to filter noise from the output current (Ifil) and couples the auxiliary amplifier output (33) to the first amplifier input (11). |
| US08779857B2 |
Amplifier with variable matching circuit to improve linearity
Techniques for reducing distortion and improving linearity of amplifiers are described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a driver amplifier, a variable matching circuit, and a power amplifier. The driver amplifier amplifies a first RF signal and provides a second RF signal. The variable matching circuit receives the second RF signal and provides a third RF signal. The power amplifier amplifies the third RF signal and provides a fourth RF signal. The variable matching circuit matches a fixed impedance at the output of the driver amplifier to a variable impedance at the input of the power amplifier in order to improve the linearity of the amplifiers. In an exemplary design, the power amplifier includes a first transistor (e.g., an NMOS transistor) of a first type, and the variable matching circuit includes a second transistor (e.g., a PMOS transistor) of a second type that is different from the first type. |
| US08779856B2 |
Doherty amplifier circuit with phase-controlled load modulation
A symmetric Doherty amplifier includes a main amplifier and a peaking amplifier of the same size as the main amplifier. The symmetric Doherty amplifier is configured to operate at peak output power when the main amplifier and the peaking amplifier are each in saturation, and at output-back-off (OBO) when the main amplifier is in saturation and the peaking amplifier is not in saturation. Phase shift circuitry is configured to shift the phase at an output of the peaking amplifier at OBO so that a load impedance seen by the main amplifier and efficiency of the symmetric Doherty amplifier both increase at OBO as a function of the phase shift at the peaking amplifier output. |
| US08779855B2 |
Power amplification circuit having transformer
In order to realize a wider bandwidth of a frequency characteristic of a power amplification circuit, outputs of differential push-pull amplifiers which are matched at respectively different frequencies are combined together by secondary inductors, and the combined signal is outputted. |
| US08779852B2 |
Class resonant-H electrosurgical generators
A generator for use with an electrosurgical device is provided. The generator has a gain stage electrically disposed between a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, wherein the gain stage includes an input and an output. A voltage source operably coupled to the gain stage input and configured to provide an input signal thereto responsive to a drive control signal is also provided. The generator also has one or more sensors configured to sense an operational parameter of the amplifier and to provide a sensor signal corresponding thereto and a controller adapted to receive the sensor signal(s) and in response thereto provide a drive control signal to the voltage source. The generator has an amplifier output configured to supply an output voltage corresponding to the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail when the output of the gain stage falls between a voltage of the first voltage rail and a voltage of the second voltage rail and is configured to supply a peak voltage output when the voltage output is falls greater than the voltage of the first voltage rail or less than the voltage of the second voltage rail. |
| US08779848B2 |
Two terminal memcapacitor device
A memcapacitor device includes a memcapacitive matrix interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The memcapacitive matrix includes deep level dopants having a first decay time constant and shallow level dopants having a second decay time constant. The second decay time constant is substantially shorter than the first decay time constant. The capacitance of the memcapacitor device depends upon an initial voltage applied across the memcapacitive matrix and a time dependent change in capacitance of the memcapacitor device depends upon the first decay time constant. A method for forming a memcapacitive device is also provided. |
| US08779847B1 |
Systems and methods for finite impulse response adaptation for gain and phase control
System and methods are provided for signal processing. For example, an input signal is received at a finite impulse response filter circuit including a plurality of stages, where each stage of the plurality of stages is associated with a sample value of the input signal and a stage weight. An output signal is generated using the finite impulse response filter circuit, the output signal being equal to a weighted sum of the sample values of the input signal. An error signal is generated to indicate a difference between the output signal and a target. A constraint is applied to one or more of the stage weights. The stage weights are changed within the constraint to reduce a magnitude of the error signal. |
| US08779838B2 |
Methodology and apparatus for tuning driving current of semiconductor transistors
A method and apparatus for repairing transistors comprises applying a first voltage to a source, a second voltage to the gate and a third voltage to the drain for a predetermined time In this manner the semiconductor structure may be repaired or returned to the at or near the original operating characteristics. |
| US08779837B2 |
Load control device
A load control device includes a switching unit which is connected to a power source and a load in series and has a switch device having a transistor structure, a control unit configured to control start-up and stop of the load, and a gate driving unit, which is electrically insulated from the control unit and outputs a gate driving signal to the gate electrode of the switch device. The control unit controls the gate driving unit to supply a higher driving power to the gate electrode of the switch device for a predetermined period of time starting at the start-up of the load than that in a steady state. |
| US08779833B2 |
Current-mode CMOS logarithmic function circuit
The current-mode CMOS logarithmic function circuit provides an ultra-low power circuit that produces an output current proportional to the logarithm of the input current. An OTA (operational transconductance amplifier) constructed from CMOS transistors, in combination with two PMOS transistors configured in weak inversion mode for providing a reference voltage input and a voltage input from the input current to the OTA, provides the circuit with a high dynamic range, controllable amplitude, high accuracy, and insensitivity to temperature variation. |
| US08779831B2 |
Integrator
An integrator (100) comprises an amplification and phase shifting element (170) with a feedback path (130) forming a loop and comprising a capacitive element (140). An input signal is summed into the loop, and the loop is arranged to oscillate at an oscillation frequency higher than the frequencies of interest in the input signal. The loop includes a filter (160) for attenuating the oscillation signal to ensure that the amplification and phase shifting element (170) can provide amplification for the input signal. The input signal is integrated and the integrated signal perturbs the zero crossings of the oscillation signal. |
| US08779825B2 |
Signal processing apparatus
A delay element delays an output signal Dt from an arithmetic circuit and outputs a delayed signal Dd. An XOR element compares the output signal Dt with the delayed signal Dd, and outputs an XORout signal with the signal value “0” when the signals match each other, and outputs an XORout signal with the signal value “1” when the signals do not match each other. In a flip-flop, when the signal value of the XORout signal at the rise of a clock of a clock signal CK is “0”, the output signal Dt is output from a flip-flop, and when the signal value of the XORout signal at the rise of the clock becomes “1” even once, a fixed value of the signal value “0” continues to be output. |
| US08779821B2 |
Signal delay circuit and signal delay method
A signal delay circuit comprising: a first delay stage, for delaying a first input signal to generate a first delay signal; and a second delay stage, for cooperating with part of delay units of the first delay stage to delay the first delay signal to generate a second delay signal. The signal delay circuit selectively enables the delay stages of the first delay stage or the second delay stage, wherein the signal delay circuit mixes the first delay signal and the second delay signal to generate a first mixed signal when the first delay stage and the second delay stage are both enabled. |
| US08779815B2 |
Low power oversampling with delay locked loop implementation
In one embodiment, an apparatus including a phase detector unit to determine a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The apparatus further includes a controller unit to generate a delay signal based on the phase difference. The apparatus further includes a set of voltage-controlled delay lines to generate phase outputs based on the delay signal, where the phase outputs are provided by the apparatus to a clock generator unit to generate an oversampled clock signal for data recovery by a receiver. |
| US08779812B1 |
Hybrid PLL/FLL circuit to provide a clock
Clock circuits are presented for providing a clock signal using multiple reference clock signals, including a PLL operating from a PLL reference clock signal, an FLL operating from an FLL reference clock signal, and a multiplexer circuit that selectively provides up and down signals from either a PFD of the PLL or the FLL to a charge pump of the PLL according to a reference clock select signal. |
| US08779805B1 |
Output driver having improved switching delay and associated methods
A switching device for driving a load is provided. The switching device comprises a control terminal and has a conduction threshold which, when crossed by a control signal coupled to the control terminal, causes the switching device to conduct. A control circuit for generating the control signal is also provided. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal having a first slew rate prior to the control signal crossing the conduction threshold and a second slew rate after the control signal has crossed the conduction threshold. The first slew rate may be faster than the second slew rate. |
| US08779803B2 |
Data output driver and integrated circuit including the same
A data output driver includes a pull-up output pre-driver configured to output a plurality of pull-up signals, wherein whether each of the plurality of pull-up signals is enabled is determined in accordance with a driver mode signal, a pull-down output pre-driver configured to output a plurality of pull-down signals, wherein whether each of the plurality of pull-down signals is enabled is determined in accordance with the driver mode signal, and an output driver circuit configured to output data, wherein a driver strength of the output driver circuit is determined in accordance with the pull-up signals and pull-down signals. |
| US08779801B2 |
Analog signal soft switching control with precise current steering generator
A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers. |
| US08779800B2 |
Control signal generation circuit and sense amplifier circuit using the same
A control signal generation circuit includes a voltage detection unit which detects a level of an external voltage and generates first and second detection signals and a control signal control unit which delays a sense amplifier enable signal in response to the first and second detection signals and generates first through third control signals. The enable period of the first and second control signals are controlled based on the levels of the first and second detection signals. |
| US08779796B2 |
Method and apparatus for device parameter measurement
A method of measuring a parameter of a device in a circuit includes providing a device under test (DUT). The DUT includes a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain coupled to a first voltage supply node. The method further includes coupling a constant current source to the source of the transistor, coupling an operational amplifier to the transistor, and measuring a parameter of the transistor. |
| US08779794B2 |
Transistor power switch device and method of measuring its characteristics
A transistor power switch device comprising an array of vertical transistor elements for carrying current between first and second faces of a semiconductor body. The device also comprises a semiconductor monitor element comprising first and second semiconductor monitor regions in the semiconductor body and a monitor conductive layer distinct from the current carrying conductive layer of the transistor array. The semiconductor monitor element presents semiconductor properties representative of the transistor array. Characteristics of the semiconductor monitor element are measured as representative of characteristics of the transistor array. Source metal ageing of a transistor power switch device is monitored by measuring and recording a parameter which is a function of a sheet resistance of the monitor conductive layer when the transistor power switch device is new and comparing it with its value after operation of the device. A measured current is applied between a first location on an elongate strip element of the monitor conductive layer and a first location on one of a pair of lateral extensions of the strip, and the corresponding voltage developed between a second location on the elongate strip element and the other of said pair of lateral extensions is measured. |
| US08779792B2 |
Tester and semiconductor device test apparatus having the same
Provided are a tester and a semiconductor device test apparatus having the tester. The tester includes a tested head configured to transfer electronic signals to a probe card. The tester also includes a leveling unit is provided on the tester head. The leveling unit is configured to apply a load to the probe card to maintain a level state of the probe card. |
| US08779791B2 |
Method of manufacturing probe having boards connected by magnets
A probe includes a plurality of boards each of which has a plurality of magnets, a plurality of the boards include a first board and a second board laid on the first board, a plurality of the magnets include a plurality of first magnets provided with the first board and a plurality of second magnets provided with the second board and arranged so as to respectively face a plurality of the first magnets, and the first magnet and the second magnet facing each other are provided so that mutually different magnetic poles face each other. |
| US08779789B2 |
Translators coupleable to opposing surfaces of microelectronic substrates for testing, and associated systems and methods
Translators coupleable to opposing surfaces of microelectronic substrates for testing, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An arrangement in accordance with one embodiment includes a microelectronic substrate having a first major surface, a second major face facing opposite from the first major surface, and electrically conductive through-substrate vias extending through the substrate and electrically accessible from both the first and second surfaces. The arrangement further includes a first translator releasably connected to the substrate and positioned in a first region extending outwardly from the first surface, the first translator including first electrical signal paths that access the vias from the first surface, and a second translator releasably connected to the substrate simultaneously with the first translator, the second translator being positioned in a second region extending outwardly from the second surface, the second translator including second electrical signal paths that access the vias from the second surface. |
| US08779783B1 |
Mutual capacitance sensing using a self-capacitance sensing device
Apparatuses and methods of mutual-capacitance sensing with a capacitance-sensing circuit, such as a self-capacitance sensing device (CSD). One apparatus includes an input node coupled to a capacitance sense pin to couple to a first electrode of a sense array, a transmit (TX) signal generation circuit to generate a TX signal to drive a second electrode of the sense array, logic circuitry coupled to the TX signal generation circuit and the input node. The logic circuitry is configured to selectively couple a first capacitor to the input node and a second capacitor to the input node timed with the TX signal. The apparatus further includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to receive a receive (RX) signal from the input node and to convert the RX signal into a digital value, the digital value representing a mutual capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08779777B2 |
Dynamic compensation of aging drift in current sense resistor
A current sense resistor circuit may include a primary current sense resistor that drifts with age. A secondary current sense resistor may drift with age in substantial unison with the primary current sense resistor. A calibration resistor may not drift with age in substantial unison with the primary current sense resistor. A compensation circuit may compensate for aging drift in the resistance of the primary current sense resistor based on a comparison of the calibration resistor with the secondary current sense resistor. The secondary current sense resistor may be in parallel with the primary current sense resistor, except when the compensation circuit is comparing the calibration resistor with the secondary current sense resistor. |
| US08779776B2 |
Power supply monitoring system
A method for detecting predetermined fault conditions associated with the supply of AC electrical power to a consumer, the supply having an active conductor and a neutral conductor with the neutral conductor being connected to earth. The method comprises providing a first current detector associated with the active conductor, providing a second current detector associated with the neutral conductor; providing a voltage detector to detect voltage between the active conductor and the neutral conductor, and checking a current ratio of neutral current to active current whereby the current ratio is indicative of a predetermined fault condition. Also disclosed is a method of checking the condition of supply line active and neutral conductors in a consumer's supplied premises including determining the impedance of the active conductor and the impedance of the neutral conductor to indicate the condition of each of the active and neutral conductors. |
| US08779775B2 |
Electrical safety devices and systems for use with electrical wiring, and methods for using same
Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay. |
| US08779768B2 |
NMR RF probe coil exhibiting double resonance
NMR probe coils designed to operate at two different frequencies, producing a strong and homogenous magnetic field at both the frequencies. This single coil, placed close to the sample, provides a method to optimize the NMR detection sensitivity of two different channels. In addition, the present invention describes a coil that generates a magnetic field that is parallel to the substrate of the coil as opposed to perpendicular as seen in the prior art. The present invention isolates coils from each other even when placed in close proximity to each other. A method to reduce the presence of electric field within the sample region is also considered. Further, the invention describes a method to adjust the radio-frequency tuning and coupling of the MAR probe coils. |
| US08779767B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method of controlling contrast by applying radio frequency intermediate pulse
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR signals for imaging by an imaging scan with a frequency-selective or slice-selective radio frequency intermediate pulse for controlling a contrast and a spoiler gradient magnetic field for suppressing unnecessary signal component after applying at least one of radio frequency excitation pulses. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the magnetic resonance signals. |
| US08779763B2 |
Spintronic magnetic nanoparticle sensors with an active area located on a magnetic domain wall
A sensor is described for detecting the presence of a magnetic nanoparticle (N). The sensor is arranged on a support (1), on which a plurality of non-magnetic contacts (Iin, GND, V1, V2) electrically conductively connected to the sensor is disposed. The contacts are adapted to be connected to means for measuring magnetoresistance. The sensor includes a planar ferromagnetic nanostructure (3), comprising a detection area (31) shaped as a strip bent to form a corner. The detection area is adapted to selectively assume, as a response to an applied magnetic field, a first spin configuration comprising a transverse “head-to-head” domain wall (TW), and a second spin configuration, wherein such domain wall (TW) is absent. The transition from the first configuration to the second configuration is affected by the proximity of a magnetic nanoparticle (N) to the detection area. |
| US08779759B2 |
Sensor device for detecting the rotational position of a rotating shaft
A sensor device for detecting the rotational position of a rotating shaft, which is rotatably mounted in a housing, comprises a transducer magnet fastened to a carrier pin, which is accommodated in a recess in the end face of the shaft. |
| US08779756B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor for detecting a first electric current flowing through a current path includes a sensor chip, a coil, a current control circuit, and an output circuit. The sensor chip includes a magnetoresistive element and is adopted to be located near the current path. The coil applies a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element. The current control circuit supplies a second electric current to the coil. The second electric current periodically changes in polarity. The output circuit outputs a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage. The first voltage is generated by the magnetoresistive element, when the second electric current flowing through the coil has a positive polarity. The second voltage is generated by the magnetoresistive element, when the second electric current flowing through the coil has a negative polarity. |
| US08779753B2 |
Apparatus for employing low ohmic alloy conductors and method for simplifying current drain data retrieval
Apparatus and method for measuring current drain and reporting power consumption using current transformer with primary windings made of low ohmic alloy, enabling the use of the secondary coil to power the sensing and reporting circuits eliminating the power wasted by AC-DC power adaptors used for the current sensors. The saving is substantial as the current sensors will not drain a current when the AC outlets are disconnected from a load or when the load is switched off. The apparatus using low ohmic alloy is extended to the structuring of terminals, including power pins, power sockets and combinations to provide a low ohmic sensing elements in AC plugs, outlets, adaptors and extension cables with multi outlets, dissipating the heat from the sensing elements by the plugs and the larger metal heat dissipation. |