| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08781913B1 |
System and method for conducting an online auction via a social networking forum
The invention relates to a system and method for conducting an online auction via a social networking forum for a cohort of users that have a pre-established association with an experience scheduled to occur at a predetermined time, a predetermined date and a predetermined location. The system may provide a social networking forum that facilitates social networking communications amongst members of the forum combined with auction capabilities that provide items that may be relevant to its members. Users in the cohort may join the social networking forum as members. The social networking forum may provide a supplier of an item for auction with a target audience that may be interested in the item by virtue of their pre-established association with an experience. Similarly, from the perspective of a member of the forum, the system may provide an auction that includes items that may be of interest to the member. |
| US08781907B2 |
Financial transaction approval system and method
A method of processing a retail transaction includes processing a plurality of items for purchase using a point-of-sale terminal, which is part of a transaction approval system at a point of sale in a retail store. Processing the plurality of items includes using the point-of-sale terminal to determine associated price information for each item. Processing the plurality of items begins when information regarding an identifier of a first one of the plurality of items is entered into the point-of-sale terminal and ends when the information regarding the identifiers associated with all of the plurality of items has been entered into the point-of-sale terminal. The method further includes, before processing the plurality of items ends, electronically receiving an identification of a financial account to pay for the plurality of items, and after electronically receiving the identification of the financial account, determining a total cost of the plurality of items. |
| US08781906B2 |
Systems and methods for managing consumer transaction-based investments
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for controlling investment funds, and more particularly to systems and methods for real-time projections based on consumer transactions. In one embodiment, an investment fund management system may include a consumer communication device configured to create a payment gateway with a Point of Sales (POS) terminal. The system further includes a portfolio server accessible over a data network. The consumer communication device is configured to execute a process including the steps of intercepting a transaction through the payment gateway; computing an expected return based on the investment of a transaction amount from said transaction; and providing the expected return to the consumer communication device. |
| US08781905B2 |
System and method for transponder-enabled account transactions
A transponder-initiated transaction system is electromagnetically coupled to an account transponder device at the point of sale. The account transponder device may be embedded within a watch, key chain or other personal article for convenience or affinity. The transponder device may communicate account information to an RF-enabled point of sale device, enabling transactions to take place without resort to remote data processing facilities. In other embodiments partial or complete account information may be accessed or stored at co-located or remote sources. New account registrants may access a Web site to enter a transponder ID and activate a new account, which may be a credit account, debit account, cash account, special purpose vending account, or other types of accounts. |
| US08781900B2 |
Method and system of providing information to an occupant of a vehicle
Providing information to an occupant of a vehicle. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: identifying an occupant of a vehicle, the identifying creates an indicia of occupant identity; determining an identity of the vehicle, the determining creates an indicia of vehicle identity; tracking location of the vehicle when occupied by the occupant; and providing information to the occupant, the information selected based on the indicia of occupant identity, the indicia of vehicle identity, and/or the locations of vehicle when occupied by the occupant. |
| US08781895B2 |
Web campaign promotion system and method
Events generated by customer interaction during an internet-based session are made available for use by a system for tracking the effectiveness of web advertising campaigns. Event occurrences are collected for evaluation to determine whether campaign goals are being met. Campaigns are defined by rules indicating which ad content is to be displayed to which customers. Event types to be reported are selected depending on the needs of the particular campaign. |
| US08781893B2 |
System and method for managing customized reward offers
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data. |
| US08781889B2 |
System for providing offers using a billing statement
A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data. |
| US08781887B2 |
Method and system for out-of-home proximity marketing and for delivering awarness information of general interest
The method comprises: programming a plurality of dispersed computer units for receiving and transmitting information from a centralized computer unit independently located with respect to that plurality of computer units, each of the latter being provided with a wireless transceiver, Bluetooth type, for collecting, storing and transmitting ID data from OBEX capable wireless devices situated at range of the computer units; providing a plurality of displaying units, each located adjacent to the plurality of computer units; and programming the centralized computer unit for: receiving the ID data, storing information from sponsors to be displayed on plurality of displaying units and to the wireless devices. General interest information is also send to the former and latter. For carrying out the method the system comprises computer and displaying units and a centralized computerized unit. |
| US08781886B2 |
Graphical user interface for presenting image evaluation information
A method is disclosed for operating a computer to transform and present data gathered from respondents to electronic surveys and to evaluate preferences related to digital two dimensional and three dimensional images. The method includes receiving computational results for an electronic survey in the form of data files, which include one or more cluster scores for clusters identified in an image presented in the electronic survey. The computational results are transformed for presentation on a graphical user interface. The method provides a summary of the computational results for all images viewed in the survey and detailed survey results for selected images from the survey. The method further provides formatting options for presentation of the computational results, with the formatting options including mode selection, cluster selection, and data display adjustment. The final formatted computational results are presented on the graphical user interface for review by an operator. |
| US08781885B2 |
Method for compliance of standards registrar with accreditation requirements
A methodology for standards registrars to meet requirements of governmental accrediting agencies includes a unique set of procedures and work instructions for certifying or registering an organization as conforming to one or more national or international standards. The procedures and work instructions assure adherence to the international guidance document government registrars, while providing easily used and maintained instructions for employees. The procedures and work instructions are amenable to translation into various foreign languages. In one embodiment, the methodology includes procedures and work instructions governing the quotation process and scheduling of audits, including selection of auditors, as well as audit package review and issuance of appropriate certificates of compliance are. The procedures and work instructions for all audits and certifications are preferably controlled (150) and directly auditable via a single location or office, such as the registrar's headquarters. |
| US08781884B2 |
System and method for automatically generating work environment goals for a management employee utilizing a plurality of work environment survey results
Employees of an organization are surveyed concerning their opinions about the work environment provided by the organization. A computer system that includes a survey question storage module, a survey administration component, a survey results storage module, and a survey analysis component is used to administer the survey and to analyze the survey results. The computer system generates work environment index (WEI) scores for the managers in the organization to summarize the results of the survey as to employees who are within the managers' departments. The WEI scores are made the subject of performance goals for the managers and are displayed to the managers via their personal computers. |
| US08781876B2 |
Computer product, charge calculating apparatus, and charge calculating method
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores therein a charge calculating program that causes a computer that manages a database of different data items to execute recording for each data item, information indicating the number of clients that receive the data item; extracting from the information recorded at the recording and for each data item to be received by a given client, information indicating the number of clients receiving the data item; calculating charges for the given client, based on the extracted information; and outputting the calculated charges. |
| US08781874B2 |
Network analytics systems and methods
In one method, a request is received for a market trend report corresponding to a designated payment type over a designated timeframe. A payment type dataset is identified from aggregated POS data. The payment type dataset comprises POS datasets corresponding to the timeframe and to transactions categorized by payment type. Market trend data is generated as a function of the payment type dataset and is output as a report. The method may produce a variety of reports. For example, a report may display the percentage of transactions for each payment type in terms of numbers of transactions. A report may further show whether each payment type is increasing or decreasing in numbers of transactions over the timeframe. |
| US08781873B2 |
Method and system for scheduling activities
Techniques to schedule activities. In one method, a request to book an appointment for an activity in a particular schedule is initially received. In response, time slots available in the schedule for booking the activity are determined, and a set (all or a subset) of the time slots is provided as possible appointment choices. The time slots in the set are temporarily locked. A next set of time slots or more time slots may be requested (if the time slots provided are not acceptable or desirable), in which case additional time slots may be provided. Thereafter, a selection for one of the time slots is received. In response, the activity is booked in the selected time slot and previously locked time slots are released. The locked time slots may also be released if no selection is received after a particular amount of time. |
| US08781871B2 |
Methods and systems for assigning operators to print production cells based on relationships
A system of assigning operators to cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a first plurality of cell operators, where each cell operator is associated with one or more skills, identifying a cell to be staffed, wherein the cell is associated with one or more functions, identifying, from the first plurality of cell operators, a subset of cell operators comprising a group of cell operators who collectively possess the skills necessary to perform the one or more functions associated with the cell, selecting, from the subset, a second plurality of cell operators based on at least one relationship amongst the second plurality of cell operators, and assigning the second plurality of cell operators to the cell. |
| US08781867B2 |
Monitoring system
A monitoring system comprising an extracting device monitoring business data used in a business process on a business device and extracting monitoring target data specifying a predetermined item of data from the business data, and a monitoring device processing the monitoring target data given from one or more extracting devices, wherein the extracting device judges, when the business process occurs on the business device, whether or not the business data used in the business process is the monitoring target data, and transmits the monitoring target data to the monitoring device, and the monitoring device aggregates the monitoring target data extracted by the extracting device from one or more extracting devices, stores the aggregated data, analyzes the stored data, then stores the analyzed result data, and notifies the monitoring client of the stored result data. |
| US08781865B2 |
Handling consolidated tickets
Handling problem tickets in a computing environment, in one aspect, may comprise identifying a plurality of tickets generated in the computing environment that are candidates for consolidation. The identifying may be done based on whether the tickets have the same or similar root cause, whether they are generated from virtual machines having same configuration, and/or one or more other criteria. The tickets which are candidates for consolidation may be grouped into a bundled group, and marked as bundled. Resolving a ticket from the bundled group may potentially resolves all tickets from the bundled group. |
| US08781864B2 |
Anticipatory presentation of travel information
Systems and techniques for presenting travel information to a user are described. A code that includes predetermined travel parameters specified by the user is included in a web page. Access to the web page by a user is detected. A travel query is populated with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user. Cached travel options that are obtained from prior queries and that satisfy the travel query are presented to the user. |
| US08781863B2 |
Automation of auditing claims
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automation of auditing claims. A data file is received comprising one or more auditable items, each auditable item comprising a word string having one or more words. Each word string for each auditable item is translated using one or more translation steps into a translated item description. Each translated item description is compared to a plurality of terms to generate matching information. Each translated item description is associated with an item identifier based on the matching information. Each auditable item is accepted or rejected based on the item identifier and one or more rules associated with the data file. |
| US08781853B2 |
Integrated medical software system with location-driven bill coding
An integrated medical software system with location-driven bill coding is disclosed. The system comprises an information component that automatically retrieves payment method data and demographic data for a patient and location data for a healthcare provider; a clinical component that captures at least one of a diagnosis code, a procedure code, and an evaluation and management (E&M) code as at least one of a clinician and a staff member at the healthcare provider inputs clinical data for the patient into the an electronic document during an encounter with the patient; a mapping component that automatically associates a billing code with the at least one of a pathology code, a procedural code, and an E&M code and assigns a service cost to the billing code based on a pre-defined fee schedule, said pre-defined fee schedule being automatically chosen based on the location data for the healthcare provider; and a service detail entry component that uses the payment method data and the demographic data for the patient and the service cost to automatically generate at least one of a bill, a claim, and a statement for the patient. |
| US08781851B2 |
Dynamic claims adjudication
A dynamic claims adjudication system is provided that implements a dynamic claims adjudication process to provide flexible determination of the adjudication rule set to be used to adjudicate a claim for a particular prescription drug regardless of the mandates of the formulary and the rigidity of the tier into which the drug is placed on the formulary. The claims adjudication system and corresponding methods dynamically determine the adjudication rule set to be used to adjudicate a claim based on an analysis of criteria and identification of a tier changing criteria. Accordingly, the rigidity of conventional formulary based claims adjudication is eliminated in favor of dynamic and flexible real time claims adjudication. |
| US08781850B2 |
System and method for enhancing and authenticating an insurance eligibility transaction
The disclosure presents a system, method, and computer readable medium for execution on a computer processor, for authenticating and enhancing an insurance eligibility transaction, such as a 270/271 healthcare system transaction. In a particular embodiment, an insurance eligibility transaction request, such as a 270 transaction, is received/intercepted by the system prior to being received by the payor and data from one or more sources, such as a credit bureau database containing credit file data, is used to enhance, verify and correct the accuracy of data fields particular to the insurance eligibility transaction. The payor's database(s) can also be enhanced accordingly. The system also has capability to, among other things, identify fraud-related issues, charity qualification, and patient payment estimation as part of the transaction. |
| US08781846B2 |
System and method for the analysis of pricing data including pricing flexibility for vehicles and other commodities
Embodiments disclosed herein can provide consumers with an effective tool for evaluating the negotiability of prices for vehicles in the marketplace. The tool may include a Price Flexibility Score which measures the elasticity of transaction prices by vehicle model. Specifically, a method may dynamically incorporate factors that affect price variance, convert those factors into variables, generate order statistics for each of the variables, apply a weighting factor to the variables to generate a price flexibility score for each make-model, and determine a negotiability index utilizing the price flexibility score. In one embodiment, the process of determining the negotiability index may be fully driven by a price flexibility model that incorporates a plurality of factors. |
| US08781845B1 |
Service configuration management system and method
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for service configuration management. One embodiment of the present invention includes providing a configuration question and capturing an answer to the question. The embodiment also includes linking the answer to a requirement, tracing the requirement to a potential solution, and storing integrated information. Further, the integrated information of the embodiment includes the requirement, the potential solution, and a link between the requirement and the potential solution. |
| US08781844B2 |
Audio coding
A method for encoding an audio signal including: processing a selected subset of a lower series of samples forming a lower frequency spectral band of the audio signal and a higher series of samples forming a higher frequency spectral band of the audio signal to parametrically encode the higher series of samples forming the higher frequency spectral band by identifying a sub-series of the lower series of samples. |
| US08781841B1 |
Name recognition of virtual meeting participants
An example method is provided that may include receiving a first request to join a communication session; receiving voice data from a telephonic device in response to an audio prompt requesting a voice input from a dial-in user; interpreting the voice data to identify a particular name; and presenting the particular name in a graphical user interface associated with the communication session, the presentation of the particular name identifying that the dial-in user has joined the communication session. |
| US08781836B2 |
Hearing assistance system for providing consistent human speech
Broadly speaking, the embodiments disclosed herein describe an apparatus, system, and method that allows a user of a hearing assistance system to perceive consistent human speech. The consistent human speech can be based upon user specific preferences. |
| US08781834B2 |
Communication device transforming text message into speech
The application discloses a communication device and method of processing a text message in the communication device. An aspect of the present application is a method of processing text message in a communication device, the method including receiving a text message from an external sender, receiving a request to transform the text message into voice data, transforming the received text message into voice data according to the request, and transmitting the voice data to an external sound reproduction device through a wireless communication module. |
| US08781829B2 |
Document extension in dictation-based document generation workflow
An automatic speech recognizer is used to produce a structured document representing the contents of human speech. A best practice is applied to the structured document to produce a conclusion, such as a conclusion that required information is missing from the structured document. Content is inserted into the structured document based on the conclusion, thereby producing a modified document. The inserted content may be obtained by prompting a human user for the content and receiving input representing the content from the human user. |
| US08781827B1 |
Filtering transcriptions of utterances
A method for facilitating mobile phone messaging, such as text messaging and instant messaging, includes receiving audio data communicated from the mobile communication device, the audio data representing an utterance that is intended to be at least a portion of the text of the message that is to be sent from the mobile phone to a recipient; transcribing the utterance to text based on the received audio data to generate a transcription; and applying a filter to the transcribed text to generate a filtered transcription, the text of which is intended to mimic language patterns of mobile device messaging that is performed manually by users. The method may also be applied to the audio data of a voicemail, with the filtered, transcribed text being communicated to a mobile phone as, for example, an SMS text message. |
| US08781826B2 |
Method for operating a speech recognition system
A method for operating a speech recognition system is described in which a speech signal (S1) of a user is detected and analyzed so as to recognize speech information contained in the speech signal (S1). The speech recognition system determines a reception quality value (SQ) or a noise value which represents a current reception quality. The speech recognition system is switched over to a mode of operation which is less sensitive to noise and/or outputs an alert signal (SW) to the user when the reception quality value (SQ) drops below a given reception quality threshold or when the noise value exceeds a noise threshold. An appropriate speech recognition system is also described. |
| US08781825B2 |
Reducing false positives in speech recognition systems
Embodiments of the present invention improve methods of performing speech recognition. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a spoken utterance, processing the spoken utterance in a speech recognizer to generate a recognition result, determining consistencies of one or more parameters of component sounds of the spoken utterance, wherein the parameters are selected from the group consisting of duration, energy, and pitch, and wherein each component sound of the spoken utterance has a corresponding value of said parameter, and validating the recognition result based on the consistency of at least one of said parameters. |
| US08781823B2 |
Voice band enhancement apparatus and voice band enhancement method that generate wide-band spectrum
A voice band enhancement apparatus is used that includes a frequency transform unit to perform frequency transform on an input signal to calculate a spectrum, a mapping function calculating unit to calculate, by use of the spectrum, a mapping function for generating high-range components from low-range components of the spectrum, a wide-band spectrum generating unit to generate, in a higher range than a band of the spectrum, a high-range spectrum based on the mapping function and to integrate the generated high-range spectrum and the spectrum calculated by the frequency transform unit, thereby generating a wide-band spectrum wider than the band of the spectrum calculated by the frequency transform unit, and an inverse frequency transform unit to perform inverse frequency transform on the wide-band spectrum to calculate an output signal. |
| US08781822B2 |
Audio and speech processing with optimal bit-allocation for constant bit rate applications
Methods and apparatus for audio and speech processing including generating a plurality of frames, each of the frames comprising a plurality of transform coefficients, and allocating bits to the transform coefficients in each of the frames such that at least two of the transform coefficients in the same frame have different bit allocations and the total number of the bits allocated to the transform coefficients in at least two of the frames is equal. |
| US08781821B2 |
Voiced interval command interpretation
A method is disclosed for controlling a voice-activated device by interpreting a spoken command as a series of voiced and non-voiced intervals. A responsive action is then performed according to the number of voiced intervals in the command. The method is well-suited to applications having a small number of specific voice-activated response functions. Applications using the inventive method offer numerous advantages over traditional speech recognition systems including speaker universality, language independence, no training or calibration needed, implementation with simple microcontrollers, and extremely low cost. For time-critical applications such as pulsers and measurement devices, where fast reaction is crucial to catch a transient event, the method provides near-instantaneous command response, yet versatile voice control. |
| US08781818B2 |
Speech capturing and speech rendering
The invention proposes extracting one or more speech signals (151-154) as well as one or more ambient signals (131) from sound signals captured by microphones, wherein each of the speech signals corresponds to a different speaker. The invention proposes to transmit both the one or more speech signals (151-154) and the one or more ambient signals (131) to a rendering side, as opposed to sending only speech signals. This enables to reproduce the speech and ambient signals in a spatially different way at the rendering side. By reproducing the ambient signals a feeling of “being together” is created. In an embodiment, the invention enables reproducing two or more speech signals spatially from each other and from the ambient signals so that speech intelligibility is increased despite the presence of the ambient signals. |
| US08781813B2 |
Intent management tool for identifying concepts associated with a plurality of users' queries
Linguistic analysis is used to identify queries from a plurality of users over a period of time that use different natural language formations to request similar information. Common intent categories are identified for the queries requesting similar information. Intent responses can then be provided that are associated with the identified intent categories. An intent management tool can be used for identifying new intent categories, identifying obsolete intent categories, or refining existing intent categories. The said intent categories are used in identifying ontologies associated with the intent categories to help in selecting concepts as ontology parameters. |
| US08781805B1 |
Simulating fluid structures
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes defining a simulated fluid object that includes a first portion and a second portion being represented by a signed distance function. The method also includes applying at least one constraint to the first portion of the simulated fluid object to match a velocity of a target. The method also includes applying a collection of calculated forces to the second portion of the simulated fluid object. Also, the method includes rendering the first portion applied with the at least one constraint and the second portion applied with the collection of calculated forces to present the simulated fluid object. |
| US08781799B2 |
Simulation method
(a) Regarding a particle system S in which the number of particles is N, the mass of each particle is m, and inter-particle interaction potential energy can be expressed by εf, α greater than 1, γ equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or smaller than d, and δ equal to or greater than 0 are determined using a dimension number d of a space where the particle system S is arranged to obtain the number N′ of renormalized particles by N′=N/αd, to obtain the mass m′ of each of the renormalized particles by m′=mαδ/αγ, and to obtain a renormalized interaction coefficient ε′ by ε′=εαγ. (b) Molecular dynamics calculation is carried out on a particle system S′ in which the number of renormalized particles is N′, the mass of each particle is the mass m′ of each renormalized particle, and inter-particle interaction potential energy is expressed by ε′f. |
| US08781797B1 |
Virtual drive test tool
A channel emulator reads a record of captured radio signal data of a group of cellular base stations in a fielded cellular network from a memory. Based on the record of the captured radio signal data, the channel emulator generates a simulation of a radio environment of the fielded cellular network. In one aspect, the simulation generates a number of live cellular base station signals fewer than the group of cellular base stations in the fielded cellular network. In another aspect, a terrain environment model is applied based on the captured radio signal data. |
| US08781793B2 |
Light emission analyzing device
The light emission analyzing device includes: a first light intensity calculation unit that performs polynomial approximation on a spectroscopic spectrum indicating a light intensity for each wavelength in a container as measured by a spectrometer so as to calculate the light intensity; a second light intensity calculation unit that subtracts, for each wavelength, the light intensity calculated by the first light intensity calculation unit from the light intensity indicated by the spectroscopic spectrum measured by the spectrometer so as to calculate a light intensity corresponding to a bright-line spectrum of a molecule; and a ratio calculation unit that calculates, by using the light intensity calculated by the second light intensity calculation unit, a ratio between (a) a peak value of a molecular spectrum of a first molecule and (b) a peak value of a molecular spectrum of a second molecule. |
| US08781791B2 |
Touchscreen with dynamically-defined areas having different scanning modes
Methods, devices, and computer programs are presented for managing power consumption by a display. One method includes an operation for identifying one or more possible inputs for an activity monitoring device based on a state of the activity monitoring device. The one or more possible inputs are defined to be entered via a touchscreen of the activity monitoring device. Further, the method identifies a first region and a second region in the touchscreen, the first region being associated with the one or more possible inputs, and the second region being defined outside the first region. Further, the method includes operations for establishing in the first region a first touchscreen setting for scanning the first region for touch, and for establishing in the second region a second touchscreen setting for scanning the second region, where the first touchscreen setting defines higher processing than the second touchscreen setting. |
| US08781789B2 |
Method for determining incline angle of electromagnetic pointer
A method for determining an incline angle of electromagnetic pointer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, an electromagnetic input pen/stylus is provided over antennas Xn/Yn along X/Y axes. Then a plurality of antennas at two sides of the antennas Xn/Yn are scanned. Next the signal distributions of the antennas Xn/Yn and the antennas at two side are analyzed. Then the number of antenna sampled of the signal distributions of the antennas at two side is determined. Next the antennas at two side are selected and the signal distributions are sampled and received according to the number of antenna sampled. Finally, an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer is determined according to the sampled signal distributions. |
| US08781782B2 |
System and method for conditional multi-output regression for machine condition monitoring
A method for predicting sensor output values of a sensor monitoring system, includes providing a set test input values to a system of sensors, and one or more known sensor output values from the sensor system, where other sensor output values are unknown, calculating, for each unknown sensor output value, a predictive Gaussian distribution function from the test input values and the known output sensor values, and predicting each unknown output ym by integrating over a product of the predictive Gaussian distribution function and a conditional Gaussian distribution of the unknown output sensor values with respect to the test input values and other unknown output sensor values. A mean and covariance of the predictive Gaussian distribution function are determined from a training phase, and a hyperparameter of the conditional Gaussian distribution are determined by another training phase. |
| US08781781B2 |
Dynamic care areas
Various embodiments for determining dynamic care areas are provided. In one embodiment, a first inspection process is performed on a wafer after a first fabrication step has been performed on the wafer and before a second fabrication process has been performed on the wafer. One embodiment includes determining care areas for a second inspection process based on inspection results generated by the first inspection process. The second inspection process will be performed on the wafer after the second fabrication step has been performed on the wafer. |
| US08781772B2 |
Detection apparatus with a matching network for nulling and associated methods
A detection apparatus includes a transmitter to generate a detection signal, and a coil assembly including a transmit coil and a receive coil. The transmit coil transmits the detection signal toward an object to be detected, with the object to be detected emitting a target signal in response to the transmitted detection signal. The receive coil receives the target signal emitted from the object along with an undesired coupling signal from the transmit coil. A matching network is coupled to the transmitter and generates an adjusted detection signal by adjusting a profile of the detection signal to match a profile of the undesired coupling signal. An output stage has a first input coupled to the receive coil to receive the target signal and the undesired coupling signal, and a second input coupled to the matching network to receive the adjusted transmit signal. The output stage subtracts the adjusted detection signal from the target signal and the undesired coupling signal so that the target signal remains. |
| US08781770B2 |
Method and system for estimating battery percentage
A method and a system for estimating a battery percentage are provided. The method includes the following steps. A coulomb counter calculated battery index (CCBI) relating to an accumulated amount of current flowing out of a battery is obtained. A battery voltage curve tracer calculated battery index (VCBI) relating to a temperature, an output voltage of the battery, and a current flowing out of the battery is obtained. A modified calculated battery index (MCBI) ranging between the CCBI and the VCBI is generated according to the CCBI and the VCBI. |
| US08781769B2 |
Networked device with power usage estimation
A request for energy usage status is received by a networked device over a network. A set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device. The set of power usage data, which includes information related to power usage of the networked device, was previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. A best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device is calculated based, at least in part, on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status is then sent by the networked device over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request. |
| US08781767B2 |
Systems and methods for data anomaly detection
Systems and methods for performing data anomaly detection and/or removal are usable to accurately assess baseline power consumption. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can be operable to receive energy consumption data of a location; select, based at least in part on a collection period of the energy consumption data, an algorithm for detecting anomalies in the energy consumption data; perform the algorithm on the energy consumption data to detect the anomalies in the energy consumption data; and determine an energy consumption baseline for the location based at least in part on a result of the algorithm. |
| US08781761B2 |
Rotary speed detection method and device therefor, reaction liquid viscosity detection method and device therefor, and method for manufacturing reaction product
The method for detecting rotary speed includes: a step (I) for deeming the difference between input power (P) and loss power (A) to be a first order approximation value (PM1) of the mechanical output of an induction motor, and for obtaining a first approximation value (N1=NS(1−S1)) (NS is the synchronous speed) of the rotary speed from the functional relationship (PM1=κS1) of the output (PM) and slip (S) known for the induction motor; a step (II) for obtaining loss power (B1) based on the value (N1); and a step (III) for deeming a second order approximation value (PM2) of the motor output to be P−(A+B1), and for obtaining a second order approximation value (N2=NS(1−S2)) of the rotary speed from the functional relationship (PM2=κS2) (κ is the motor constant) of the output (PM) and slip (S). |
| US08781759B2 |
Meter electronics and methods for processing sensor signals for a multi-phase flow material in a flowmeter
Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals for a multi-phase flow material in a flowmeter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving first and second sensor signals (210 and 211) for the multi-phase flow material and a processing system (203). The processing system (203) is configured to receive the first sensor signal (210) and the second sensor signal (211), generate a first ninety degree phase shift (213) from the first sensor signal (210) and generate a second ninety degree phase shift (214) from the second sensor signal (211), compute a frequency (221) using one of the first ninety degree phase shift (213) or the second ninety degree phase shift (214), compute a phase difference (220) using one or more of the first ninety degree phase shift (213) and the second ninety degree phase shift (214), and compute one or more of a mass flow rate (223), a density (224), or a volume flow rate (225) for the multi-phase flow material. |
| US08781752B2 |
Measuring control method and arrangement
The method is for controlling a measurement process of blood glucose of a patient. At least one repeatedly occurring even is selected within a period of time. A blood glucose measurement difference data is obtained that is associable to the event. Trend data is calculated from the difference data. The measurement process is controlled by using the trend data. Also an arrangement, computer program product and a device are disclosed. |
| US08781751B2 |
Biological information trend display device and method thereof
A biological information trend display device and method which allow the trend and an abnormal value of biological information to be checked with ease are provided. When a curve (50) showing the ST level in lead V3 exceeds the upper limit of a normal range, the part of the curve above the upper limit is displayed in an abnormal color “b” (red, for example). To indicate that the ST level derived from the lead V3 has exceeded the upper limit, a lead icon (32) in an upper part of the display screen is displayed in the abnormal color “b.” |
| US08781748B2 |
System and method for generating images of subsurface structures
A system and method for generating images of a subsurface region of interest is provided. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of generating images related to a subsurface region of interest includes: accessing, via a central processing unit (CPU), seismic data and an earth model related to the subsurface region of interest; forward propagating a source wavefield using the earth model at a first time interval via at least one external co-processor coupled to the CPU; transferring, at a second time interval, the forward propagated source wavefield to the CPU for compression and external storage; backward propagating the seismic data at the first time interval via the external co-processor to derive backward propagated receiver wavefield; and transferring, at the second time interval, the backward propagated receiver wavefield to the CPU. Via the CPU, the method further includes retrieving the stored forward propagated source wavefield; decompressing the retrieved forward propagated source wavefield; and applying imaging conditions to the decompressed forward propagated source wavefield and backward propagated receiver wavefield to construct image data representative of the subsurface region of interest. |
| US08781744B2 |
Downhole surveying utilizing multiple measurements
Certain embodiments described herein provide an estimate of the magnetic interference incident upon a drilling system using multiple magneticclaim sensors within a downhole portion of the drilling system in a first wellbore. Certain embodiments utilize the magnetic measurements to determine an axial interference resulting from one or more magnetic portions of the downhole portion and to provide an estimate of a relative location of a second wellbore spaced from the first wellbore. |
| US08781742B2 |
Maps from sketches
A sketch can be received. The sketch can include one or more sketched graphical elements and one or more sketched representations of text. Pattern matching of the one or more sketched graphical elements and the one or more sketched representations of text with a map region can be automatically performed. A map of the map region can be automatically generated and displayed. |
| US08781738B2 |
Automated location-intelligent traffic notification service systems and methods
Traffic notification systems include a location determination system that can determine a geographic location of a subscriber, and an automated traffic notification system that can automatically transmit a traffic notification message that is based on the geographic location of the subscriber to a wireless terminal associated with the subscriber. |
| US08781736B2 |
Data-driven traffic views with continuous real-time rendering of traffic flow map
A computer-implemented method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for displaying traffic flow data on a graphical map of a road system. The graphical map includes one or more segments and the traffic flow data represents traffic conditions on a road system. A status of each segment on the graphical map is determined, wherein the status corresponds to the traffic flow data associated with that segment. An animated traffic flow map of the road system is then created by combining the graphical map and the status of each segment. The animated traffic flow map is created by being continuously rendered in real time. The traffic flow data is updated in real-time, and the traffic flow map immediately reflects the updated traffic data. |
| US08781735B2 |
Adaptive clustering of locations
Example techniques and systems include generating cluster information to consolidate multiple locations. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a computing device, a plurality of location identifiers corresponding to a plurality of locations at which a mobile computing device was previously located, defining, by the computing device, a plurality of geographic regions based at least in part on the plurality of location identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of geographic regions defines a physical area in which at least one of the plurality of locations is located, selecting, by the computing device, a subset of the plurality of geographic regions based on respective distances between a current location of the mobile computing device and a respective reference point within each of the geographic regions, and outputting, by the computing device and for display, an indication of the subset of the plurality of geographic regions. |
| US08781732B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing position of moving object
An apparatus for recognizing a position of a moving object includes a sensor information collector to collect sensor information associated with movement of the moving object, a camera to capture a front image based on the movement of the moving object, and a GPS receiver configured to receive a GPS position of the moving object. Further, the apparatus includes a location recognizer to display N number of particles, each of which indicates a candidate position of the moving object, in a certain region about a GPS location of the moving object on a map. The location recognizer then updates a location of the particles based on the movement of the moving object, and progressively reduces number of particles on the basis of accuracy of the position-updated particles, thereby recognizing the position of the moving object. |
| US08781731B2 |
Adjusting method and system of intelligent vehicle imaging device
An adjusting method and an adjusting system of an intelligent vehicle imaging device are provided, wherein a real feature point for comparison is disposed in a monitoring area around a vehicle. A camera captures images around the vehicle. The images are transmitted to the controller and displayed on a touch display panel. The controller performs image processing on the images and the real feature point, and compares the real feature point with position data of predetermined feature points, and generates a bird's-eye view image. If the images are captured, the bird's-eye view image is rotated and scaled after conversion according to a predetermined position and a predetermined proportion and then is located on a stitched image and outputted. A blind spot area size or a lane departure parameter is selected through the touch display panel, and the stitched image is adjusted through the touch display panel. |
| US08781726B2 |
Method and system for adjusting a demand-response transit schedule
A method and system for adjusting a demand-response transit schedule is provided. A demand-response transit schedule is reviewed during performance of the demand-response transit schedule. The fact that the demand-response transit schedule may need to be adjusted is detected. The demand-response transit schedule is then adjusted. |
| US08781711B2 |
Combustion detecting method of engine
A combustion phase detection method of an engine has the advantages of being able to reduce exhaust gas and to improve combustion stability, to compensate injection and ignition delay time between combustion chambers and between cycles, and to detect a combustion phase in real time such that a heat generation rate and heat release can be effectively calculated in an early state of combustion with a simple calculation method to control combustion of an engine, by using a combustion pressure and a motoring pressure difference of an engine not affected by an offset value of the cylinder pressure. For this, a combustion phase detection method may include detecting a combustion phase by using a specific point of DRdV as follows: DR ⅆ V : P diff ⅆ V ⅆ θ max ( P diff ⅆ V ⅆ θ ) Here, the Pdiff (P−Pmotoring) is a difference between a cylinder measure combust pressure (P) and a motoring pressure (Pmotoring), and V is a combustion chamber volume. |
| US08781709B2 |
Monitoring of a filter of the fuel-supply system of an aircraft engine
A monitoring method for monitoring a filter of a feed circuit for feeding an aircraft engine with fuel, the method including: detecting clogging of the filter; issuing an indication message; determining a current stage from among a plurality of successive stages of a mission of the aircraft, including at least a stage during which clogging of the filter is not capable of being caused by ice, and a stage during which clogging of the filter might be caused by ice; and in response to detecting clogging, determining the type of clogging as a function of the current stage; wherein during the issuing an indication message, the message that is issued depends on the type of clogging. |
| US08781707B2 |
Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and vehicle control system
The amount of traffic on the road is greatly affected by both an inter-vehicle distance and a vehicle speed. When the amount of traffic increases and is more than a threshold value, an ECU 20 and an ACC 30 control the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed such that the amount of traffic is a predetermined value equal to or more than the threshold value. In this way, it is possible to effectively suppress traffic congestion. |
| US08781706B2 |
Monitoring apparatus and method
An apparatus for monitoring one or more target objects in an environment external to a host vehicle by means of at least one sensor, the apparatus being arranged to trigger at least one action responsive to the detection of prescribed relative movement between the host vehicle and the one or more target objects. The apparatus is arranged to determine whether the at least one sensor is correctly aligned with respect to the host vehicle whereby, when the apparatus commences monitoring of the environment, the apparatus is arranged not to trigger the at least one action until the apparatus has determined that the at least one sensor is correctly aligned. |
| US08781702B2 |
Control device of braking device and braking device
In a control device of a braking device, a brake force holding control that holds a brake force generated by a braking device main body to wheels of a vehicle to a predetermined value or more is executed based on a change amount per unit time of an operation amount of a brake operation member. Accordingly, since the brake force holding control that holds the brake force to the predetermined value or more is executed by the braking device main body based on at least a change amount per unit time of an operation amount of the brake operation member, holding of the brake force can be appropriately executed regardless of an operation state. |
| US08781698B2 |
Method for controlling the shifting of an automatic geared transmission
A method for controlling shifts in an automated multi-step variable-speed transmission, in a drive-train of a motor vehicle, between a drive engine in the form of an internal combustion engine and an axle drive. During driving, besides current vehicle, road and driver-specific operating parameters, topographical data relating to a road section ahead of the motor vehicle, in particular the road section height profile, are determined, and from this information, the driving resistance profile (FFW(xF)) of the motor vehicle for the road section ahead is determined. In the automatic mode of the multi-step variable-speed transmission, control commands for traction upshifts and/or traction downshifts are derived, during the traction operation, as a function of the driving resistance profile (FFW(xF)) and are implemented in the transmission. A limiting gear progression (GGr(xF)) is determined, which consists of the sequence of gears, and is evaluated for the derivation of control commands. |
| US08781696B2 |
Variable transmission and method
A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission having a first input connected to an engine output shaft, and a variator. The variator includes a pump connected to the engine output shaft and a motor connected to a second input of the transmission. The pump has a variable setting that is determinable by a position of a pump actuator in response to a command signal. A controller associated is disposed to control operation of the variator, at least in part, by providing the command signal to the pump actuator. The command signal is determined based on an operator command and on a compensation term, which depends on a correlation function of a parameter related to the speed ratio between a pump speed and a motor speed and a flow characteristic of the pump actuator. |
| US08781694B1 |
Combine harvester drive system
A combine harvester (102) drive system switches between a first isochronous operating curve (622) and a second isochronous operating curve (628) of an isochronously governed engine (126) when a load on the combine harvester engine (126) reaches one or more threshold load conditions. |
| US08781693B2 |
Method for automatic location identification of electronic devices on agricultural implements
A system for performing agricultural operations includes a plurality of electronic modules for use on an agricultural machine, the plurality of electronic modules configured for controlling agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine, at least one shared data bus operatively connected to each of the plurality of electronic modules, wherein each of the plurality of electronic modules being configured to monitor the at least one shared data bus and determine an unused location for itself and claim the location, wherein the system uses the location of each of the plurality of electronic modules in controlling the agricultural operations associated with the agricultural machine. A method provides for automatic assignment of a physical (or logical) address to each of a plurality of devices mounted on either a vehicle or implement used for an agricultural operation. |
| US08781688B2 |
Method and system for combining sensor data
A method is provided for combining sensor data collected by at least two sensors coupled to at least one application, wherein at least one of the sensors provides driver-related sensor data of a driver-related behavior and at least one external sensor provides sensor date not related to driver-related behavior. The sensor data of the at least two sensors are combined as the respective measurement errors of the data are uncorrelated in time with respect to the at least one application. |
| US08781687B2 |
Security system comprising a self-mixing laser sensor and method of driving such a security system
A security system is described, comprising a sensor module (15) which accommodates a laser sensor (10) working with self-mixing interference. The laser sensor (10) generates measurement data which are related to the velocity of an object such as the body of a human being and, optionally, the distance between the laser sensor (10) and the object. Dependent on the measurement data assembled by the laser sensor (10) and supplied to a control circuit (30) such as an airbag computer, the airbag computer activate security means such as an airbag (35)in order to prevent injuries of the human body. Furthermore, a method of driving such a security system is described. |
| US08781685B2 |
System and method for integrating automatic electrical steering with GNSS guidance
A guidance and vehicle control system for automatically steering a vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle or a tractor, through a field. The system includes a GNSS receiver and antenna for determining the vehicle's instantaneous position, a guidance CPU, and an automatic steering subsystem integrated with the vehicle's electrical power system. The automatic steering subsystem can be interfaced with the steering column of the vehicle, and mechanically activates the steering column, thereby steering the vehicle according to instructions received from the CPU based upon the vehicle's position and a predetermined path. An interrupt element, such as a wheel movement sensor or a slip gear, may be interfaced with the automatic steering subsystem to allow for manual steering override of the automatic steering control. |
| US08781680B2 |
Bicycle suspension control setting device
A bicycle suspension control setting device includes a control device, an indicating unit, a selecting unit and a communication unit. The control device includes a plurality of setting information relating to a plurality of operating states for a bicycle suspension device. The indicating unit is operatively connected to the control device to indicate the setting information to a user. The selecting unit is operatively connected to the control device to selectively select at least one of the setting information that is to be indicated by the indicating unit. The communication unit includes at least one of a wireless connection section and a wired connection section configured to detachably connect to a bicycle suspension control apparatus to transmit the setting information selected by the selecting unit to the bicycle suspension control apparatus. |
| US08781678B2 |
Method for adjusting tire pressure
A method for adjusting the pressure in at least one first and one second tire of a vehicle from a starting value to a target value, includes that the target value is located between the starting value and a pressure of a pressure reservoir. The method includes allowing air to flow through a first line between the first tire and the reservoir and through a second line between the second tire and the reservoir, determining which tire is likely to reach the target value sooner and throttling the air flow through the line of the tire identified in the determining increasing the air flow through the line of the tire that was not identified in the step of determining. |
| US08781672B2 |
System and method for importance sampling based time-dependent reliability prediction
A system and a method of generating a reliability prediction for components of a vehicle. The system and the method include implementing importance sampling in dynamic vehicle systems when the vehicle is subjected to time-dependent random terrain input. Alternatively, simulation data may be implemented. The system and the method include determining a decorrelation length, scaling up the standard deviation of white noise, and calculation of a likelihood ratio. |
| US08781671B2 |
On-board brake system diagnostic and reporting system
A brake valve diagnostic and reporting system for a pneumatic only brake valve on a rail car which includes a brake pipe transducer for measuring brake pipe pressure; and a brake cylinder transducer for measuring brake cylinder pressure. A processor receives measurements from the transducers, compares the measurements against stored brake performance profiles, determines brake status from the comparison and prepares an event report for preselected brake statuses. A wireless transmitter connected to the processor transmits the report. An energy storage device powers the processor and transmitter. |
| US08781670B2 |
Controlling vehicle lateral lane positioning
Methods and systems for controlling vehicle lateral lane positioning are described. A computing device may be configured to identify an object in a vicinity of a vehicle on a road. The computing device may be configured to estimate, based on characteristics of the vehicle and respective characteristics of the object, an interval of time during which the vehicle will be laterally adjacent to the object. Based on the characteristics of the vehicle, the computing device may be configured to estimate longitudinal positions of the vehicle on the road during the interval of time. Based on the respective characteristics of the object, the computing device may be configured to determine a lateral distance for the vehicle to maintain between the vehicle and the object during the interval of time at the longitudinal positions of the vehicle, and provide instructions to control the vehicle based on the lateral distance. |
| US08781668B1 |
Location-based vehicle powertrain regulation system
A vehicle control system to control operation of a vehicle includes a powertrain system operable according to a plurality of operating modes that drive the vehicle. A sensor is mounted to the vehicle to detect a quality of air surrounding the vehicle. A vehicle control module is configured to select an operating mode of the powertrain system. The operating mode is selected to reduce at least one emission exhausted from the vehicle that contributes to a low air quality measure by the sensor. |
| US08781666B2 |
Vehicle and method of controlling the same
A vehicle includes: an engine; an electric motor connected to the engine via a gear; and a controller configured to perform control that includes at least one of increasing a rotational speed of the engine to a value that is equal to or higher than a given value and changing an output torque of the electric motor to a value that is out of a given range including zero, provided that a target output torque of the electric motor is within the given range including zero and a target rotational speed of the engine is lower than the given value, during deceleration accompanied by motoring of the engine. |
| US08781664B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for controlling power output distribution in a hybrid power train
A method includes defining an application operating cycle and a number of behavior matrices for a hybrid power train that powers the application, each behavior matrix corresponding to operations of the hybrid power train operating in a parallel configuration. The method includes determining a number of behavior sequences corresponding to the behavior matrices and applied sequentially to the application operating cycle, confirming a feasibility of each of the behavior sequences, determining a fitness value corresponding to each of the feasible behavior sequences, in response to the fitness value determining whether a convergence value indicates that a successful convergence has occurred, and in response to determining that a successful convergence has occurred, determining a calibration matrix in response to the behavior matrices and fitness values. The method includes providing the calibration matrix to a hybrid power train controller. |
| US08781663B2 |
Bicycle drive apparatus
A bicycle drive apparatus comprises a bicycle crankset, a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor, a crank variation determining sensor and a microcomputer. The crank variation determining sensor is arranged to determine a variation value related to rotation of the bicycle crankset. The microcomputer includes a shift command section, a limiting section, a determining section and a limitation cancelling section. The shift command section issues a shift command commanding the bicycle transmission to change gears. The limiting section limits an output of the drive assistance electric motor upon issuance of the shift command. The determining section determines completion of a gear shift operation upon the variation value being within a prescribed range. The limitation cancelling section cancels the limitation of the output of the drive assistance motor upon the determining section determining the completion of the gear shift operation. |
| US08781661B2 |
Electric drive shaft and retrofit system
A machine having a transmission, a differential, and a drive shaft disposed therebetween has an improvement including a stator with a substantially cylindrical opening extending therethrough, and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. The rotor is attached to the drive shaft in axial alignment, and rotation of the drive shaft causes a corresponding rotation of the rotor. At least a portion of the drive shaft extends through the opening in the stator. A semi-rigid coupling extends between the stator and the transmission. |
| US08781660B2 |
Tiered, subtractive method to solve a linear constraint function associated with controlling a hybrid powertrain system
A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes employing a system constraints function to identify a feasible solution for an objective variable that satisfies a plurality of independent and dependent constraints for an objective function. The objective variable is associated with a parameter of the hybrid powertrain system. Upon determining that the system constraints function fails to provide a feasible solution for the objective variable that satisfies all of the independent and dependent constraints, a problem recomposition scheme is executed to remove all of the dependent constraints and then reapply and adjust selected ones of the dependent constraints to obtain a feasible solution for the system constraints function that achieves a preferred state for the objective variable. |
| US08781658B2 |
Systems and methods for determining the target thermal conditioning value to control a rechargeable energy storage system
Systems and methods for determining the target thermal conditioning value to control a rechargeable energy storage system. Target thermal conditioning values are determined using a required thermal power value and a heat generation value in order to appropriately condition the RESS for heating and cooling. |
| US08781657B2 |
Roadside handling for alternate-propulsion systems
The described method and system allow a service provider to remotely interact with a vehicle analysis system, high voltage battery contactors, and other vehicle systems to eliminate certain sources of inconvenience for service personnel and users. For example, when the high voltage battery contactors are disconnected inadvertently or as a precaution, they may later need to be safely reengaged to allow the user to drive the disabled but otherwise operational vehicle. Conversely, when an electric vehicle has become disabled and needs to be towed or serviced, the disengagement of the high voltage battery contactors as well as the activation or deactivation of related systems will assist the servicing entity in properly moving and servicing the vehicle. |
| US08781648B2 |
System for operating model vehicles and a model vehicle therefor
A system for operating model vehicles comprising at least one model vehicle having an energy self-sufficient drive and a steering axle, which, with the aid of a magnet, follows a contact wire laid directly under a road, further comprising a positioning system, a control module and a wireless communication system for transmitting information to and/or from the vehicle. |
| US08781641B2 |
Method and apparatus for external processor thermal control
A system and method for throttling a slave component of a computer system to reduce an overall temperature of the computing system upon receiving a first signal is disclosed. The first signal may be from a master component indicating that a temperature for the master component has exceeded its threshold temperature. The slave component may send a second signal to indicate that a temperature for the slave component has exceeded its temperature. The master component would then initiate throttling of the master component to reduce the overall temperature of the computing system. The master component may be throttled to a degree less than the slave component. A first component may be designated the master component and the second component may be designated the slave component based on a selection policy. |
| US08781638B2 |
Campus energy manager
An energy management system serves an arbitrary collection of loads via interfacing with related field devices and external information sources and responding to events including pricing events, demand response events, and carbon reduction events by managing the loads and local generation. |
| US08781636B2 |
Robust electric screw compressor blocked air line detection via motor current monitoring
Systems and methods for detecting a blocked air discharge line of an air compressor are described, which include monitoring motor current (IMTR) drawn by a compressor motor, and calculating a three-point moving average for a steady state current drawn by the compressor motor upon the motor reaching steady state (nominal) operating speed. After expiration of a predetermined time period T1 that commences upon the compressor motor reaching steady state speed, a determination is made regarding whether a difference between a current drawn by the compressor motor and the three-point moving average has exceeded a predetermined current value I2 and is consistent with a current profile indicative of a blocked air line. If a blocked air line is detected, a compressor shut-off command is generated and transmitted to the compressor motor to shut the compressor motor off prior to opening of a safety valve on the compressor. |
| US08781633B2 |
Monitoring and control systems and methods
A system and a method for controlling and monitoring a system within a facility are disclosed. The system includes a facility component configured to include at least one control point configured to be disposed within a facility and to monitor and control at least one element of the system within the facility; a network component configured to be communicatively coupled to the facility component and configured to process information received from the at least one control point; a remote client component configured to be communicatively coupled to the network component and configured to provide monitoring and control of the facility via the network component and the facility component. The remote client component is configured to receive processed data from the network component and generate instructions to the control point via the network component. |
| US08781631B2 |
Robot arm and detecting device having same
A robot arm includes a support arm, an adjusting rod and a detecting unit. The adjusting rod rotatably extends through the support arm. The detecting unit is attached to the adjusting rod. The detecting unit includes an image capture device and a probe device. The image capture device captures images of a workpiece. The probe device includes a driving device and a probe. The driving device may drive the probe to move between a first position where the probe does not visually prevent images of the workpiece being captured by the image capture device, and a second position where the probe does block the images of the workpiece being captured by the image capture device. |
| US08781629B2 |
Human-robot interface apparatuses and methods of controlling robots
A method of controlling a robot using a human-robot interface apparatus in two-way wireless communication with the robot includes displaying on a display interface a two-dimensional image, an object recognition support tool library, and an action support tool library. The method further includes receiving a selected object image representing a target object, comparing the selected object image with a plurality of registered object shape patterns, and automatically recognizing a registered object shape pattern associated with the target object if the target object is registered with the human-robot interface. The registered object shape pattern may be displayed on the display interface, and a selected object manipulation pattern selected from the action support tool library may be received. Control signals may be transmitted to the robot from the human-robot interface. Embodiments may also include human-robot apparatuses (HRI) programmed to remotely control a robot. |
| US08781628B2 |
Walking robot and control method thereof
A torque-based walking robot and a control method thereof which stably controls walking of the robot. In the control method, in which high rigidity, equal to that achieved through a position-based control method, is achieved using a torque-based control method without switching between the position-based control method and the torque-based control method while the robot is in motion, a difference between a target torque and a measured torque is forcibly generated by limiting a torque range measurable by each torque sensor, thereby increasing voltage applied to each actuator, and thus achieving high rigidity, equal to that achieved through the position-based control method, using the torque-based control method without switching between the position-based control method and the torque-based control method. |
| US08781627B2 |
Robot confinement
A robot lawmnower includes a body, a drive system carried by the body, at least one caster wheel supporting the body, a grass cutter carried by the body, a controller in communication with the drive system, and a bump sensor in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to maneuver the robot to turn in place and to redirect the robot in response to the bump sensor sensing contact with an obstacle. The drive system is configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn and includes differentially driven right and left drive wheels positioned rearward of a transverse center axis defined by the body. The at least one caster wheel is positioned substantially forward of the right and left drive wheels, and the grass cutter is positioned at least partially forward of the right and left drive wheels and at least partially behind the at least one caster wheel. |
| US08781625B2 |
Control computer and method of controlling robotic arm
A computer determines a first origin of a first coordinate system of a PCB, and controls a robotic arm to position a probe above the first origin. Furthermore, the computer determines a second origin of a second coordinate system of the robotic arm, and determines displacement values from the first origin to a test point in controlling movements of the robotic arm in the second coordinate system. A graph representing the test point is recognized in an image of the PCB, pixel value differences between the graph center and the image center are determined and converted to displacement correction values for controlling the movements of the robotic arm and determining 3D coordinates of the test point. The robotic arm is moved along a Z-axis of the second coordinate system to precisely position the probe on the test point of the PCB. |
| US08781623B2 |
Interactive bulk packaging system
A system for dispensing a bulk product includes an interactive display. The system may be linked to another system which selects a variety of the bulk product and automatically causes the dispenser to dispense the selected variety. The dispensing system may also include a container associated with a remote carrier, so that the bulk product may be dispensed into the container in which the user wishes to store the bulk product long term. |
| US08781622B2 |
Mobile device assisted retail system and process in a vending unit, retail display or automated retail store
Systems and methods for users of an automated retail store, vending unit, digital signage or interactive retail display (self-service units) to interact with such display/unit, collectively referred to in this text as a machine, directly and/or simultaneously using a one or more mobile devices. In addition, system and methods are provided that can recognize registered users within a set proximity to the machine and broadcast messages and notifications such as machine information, inventory information, rewards, discounts and free products, all of which could be tailored to the specific user based on understanding gathered through analysis of prior interactions. |
| US08781621B2 |
Moving cartridges between library strings
The present description is directed to moving a cartridge including a storage medium between library strings (LS) using a car able to move within a shuttle connection in a shuffle complex system in which, in one embodiment, a first cartridge is to be moved from a first LS to a second LS, a car located in the LS nearest to the first LS due to movement of a second cartridge is used to move the second cartridge to the first LS , and the empty car is used to move the first cartridge from the first LS to the second LS. In one aspect, movement of empty cars may be reduced, and cartridges may be moved between library strings more efficiently in less time. Other features and aspects are described. |
| US08781620B2 |
Apparatus and method to store information
A data storage facility comprising a plurality of data storage media, an automated data storage library comprising a first plurality of storage cells, one or more data storage devices in communication with the controller, and a controller in communication with one or more host computers, a vault comprising a second plurality of storage cells, wherein the vault does not comprise any data storage devices, and a robotic accessor in communication with the controller, wherein the accessor comprises a gripper mechanism, and wherein the robotic accessor can bidirectionally transport each of the plurality of portable data storage media between the first plurality of storage cells and the one or more data storage devices. |
| US08781619B2 |
Automatic clothes receiving and retrieving system for laundry
An automatic clothes receiving and retrieving system for laundry, mainly includes a clothes receiving unit and a clothes retrieving unit. The clothes receiving unit is for inputting a verification information. The clothes are automatically received through a clothes receiving entrance and packed in clothes containers and identification tags are attached to the clothes containers. Each clothes container is arranged with a transfer device for moving the clothes container to a laundry factory and to send the clothes to the storage portion of the clothes retrieving unit after the clothes are cleaned. The clothes retrieving unit is for automatically transferring the cleaned clothes from the storage portion to the retrieving exits according to data of the consumer after the input of the verification information. |
| US08781612B2 |
Method and device for digitally processing an audio signal and computer program product
A method of digitally processing an audio signal by sequentially performing a plurality of operations on an input audio signal by a plurality of algorithms to provide an output audio signal is provided. The method comprises automatically performing the following steps: sequentially performing the plurality of operations (a, b, c, . . . ) on an input audio signal (20) in a first sequence of operations and independently in at least one different sequence of operations; evaluating the quality of respective output audio signals (output . . . 1, output . . . 2 . . . , output . . . n!) achieved with the first sequence and the at least one different sequence; and selecting the sequence of operations providing the highest quality output audio signal for further processing of input audio signals. |
| US08781608B2 |
Systems and methods for improved start-up in feedback controllers
A system for controlling start-up of a feedback controller includes a memory device and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a gain parameter from the feedback controller and to store the gain parameter in the memory device. The processing circuit is further configured to multiply the stored gain parameter and to cause the feedback controller to use the multiplied gain parameter in response to a determination that the feedback controller has restarted. |
| US08781605B2 |
Unitary dual-chamber leadless intra-cardiac medical device and method of implanting same
An assembly for introducing a leadless intra-cardiac medical device includes a sheath having an internal passage, wherein the sheath is configured to be maneuvered into the heart of the patient. A housing may be retained within the internal passage, wherein the housing is configured to be pushed out of the sheath, the housing having a first anchoring member configured to anchor the housing to a first implant location within the heart. The assembly may also include an electrode trailing the housing within the internal passage, wherein the electrode is also configured to be pushed out of the sheath. The electrode has a second anchoring member configured to anchor the electrode to a second implant location within the heart. A conductive wire connects the housing to the electrode, wherein movement of the housing out of the sheath causes the electrode to follow the movement to a distal end of the sheath. |
| US08781599B2 |
Flexible protected lead
Designs for an implantable lead are disclosed. In one embodiment, the lead includes at least one conductive pathway and a protective element surrounding at least a portion of the at least one conductive pathway. A stiffness of the protective element varies along a length of the protective element. The stiffness may be varied by varying a material composition of the protective element. Alternately, the protective element may be one or two helically-wound wires, and the stiffness may be varied by varying a pitch of one or both helically-wound wires. Alternately, the protective element may be a perforated tube and the stiffness may be varied by varying a ratio of openings to tube in the perforated tube. Alternately, the protective element may be a patterned mesh and the stiffness may be varied by varying a pattern of the patterned mesh. The implantable lead may be used in a cochlear implant. |
| US08781595B2 |
Chopper mixer telemetry circuit
This disclosure describes a chopper mixer telemetry circuit for use in a wireless receiver. The receiver may be located in an implantable medical device (IMD) or external programmer. The chopper mixer telemetry circuit may include a mixer amplifier that operates as a synchronous demodulator to provide selective extraction of wireless signals received from a transmitter while suppressing out-of-band noise that can undermine the reliability of the telemetry link between an IMD or programmer and another device. The mixer amplifier may utilize parallel signal paths to convert the received telemetry signal into an in-phase (I) signal component and a quadrature (Q) signal component and recombine the I and Q signal components to reconstruct the total signal independently of the phase mismatch between the transmitter and receiver. Each signal path may include a chopper-stabilized mixer amplifier that amplifies telemetry signals within a desired band while suppressing out-of-band noise. |
| US08781586B2 |
Hemostasis valve and guidewire pacing system
Systems and methods for temporarily pacing a patient's heart are provided. One system includes a hemostasis valve with an adjustable electrical connection, the adjustable electrical connection having one or more adjustable contacts. The adjustable contacts have a first, radially expanded configuration and a second, radially constricted configuration. In the radially constricted configuration, the adjustable contacts are configured to pierce through a layer of an elongate medical device that is disposed in the hemostasis valve. The elongate medical device has a distal electrode and a conductor extending along a portion of the elongate medical device. The adjustable contacts pierce through a make contact with the conductor, providing an electrical pathway to the distal electrode. Also provided are vascular access systems including a hemostasis valve and a guide catheter, guide wire torquers with adjustable contacts and methods of temporarily pacing a patient's heart. |
| US08781582B2 |
Vagal stimulation
The disclosure herein relates generally to methods for treating heart conditions using vagal stimulation, and further to systems and devices for performing such treatment. Such methods may include monitoring physiological parameters of a patient, detecting cardiac conditions, and delivering vagal stimulation (e.g., electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve or neurons having parasympathetic function) to the patient to treat the detected cardiac conditions. |
| US08781579B2 |
Implantable medical device for cardiac therapy
An implantable medical device, IMD, (100) is connectable to at least one ventricular lead (210) having a ventricular basal electrode (214) and a ventricular apical electrode (212). The IMD (100) comprises a pulse generator (120) for generating pacing pulses applied to a heart (10) through the ventricular lead (210). The operation of this pulse generator (120) is controlled by a controller (130) that is configured to control the pulse generator to first deliver a pacing pulse to the ventricular basal electrode (214) to stimulate the basal portion of the ventricle (12, 14) before a pacing pulse is delivered to the apical portion of the ventricle (12, 14) by the ventricular apical electrode (212). This pulse sequence achieves a biologically more correct cardiac stimulation and a contraction pattern that reduces the risk for valvular regurgitation. |
| US08781577B2 |
Coordinated resuscitation perfusion support
This document relates to systems and techniques for the treatment of a cardiac arrest victim via electromagnetic stimulation of physiologic tissue. |
| US08781573B2 |
Multi-frequency electrical field generator and use thereof
An apparatus for the treatment of pathogens within a body comprising at least a pair of conductive electrodes adapted to conductively engage physically separated points on the body; and a signal generation device comprising signal-generating means for generating an oscillatory signal of a selected frequency which can range between a first frequency level and a second frequency level of greater than 1.0 MHz; means for causing said signal-generating means to step in frequency from said first frequency level to said second frequency level at predetermined frequency steps for predetermined intervals; and power transfer means, and preferably a power amplifier, responsive to said signal-generating means for supplying a voltage to said electrodes which voltage oscillates at said selected frequency. The output signal from the apparatus has a frequency range from 0.01 MHz to 660 MHz, and a preferred frequency range of 1.0 MHz and 5.4 MHz, has been found to provide greater flexibility in the treatment of pathogens. |
| US08781566B2 |
System and methods for sliding-scale cardiac event detection
A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is disclosed to include at least two electrodes for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal. The system determines the presence of a cardiovascular condition by applying a sliding scale rule to heart signal feature values. When the cardiovascular condition is ischemia, the ST segment may be analyzed. A sliding scale is applied to ST segment shifts such that when the magnitudes of ST segment shifts are relatively small, a larger number of beats is required to detect ischemia compared to the case when the magnitudes of ST shifts are large. |
| US08781565B2 |
Dynamically configurable biopotential electrode array to collect physiological data
Methods, systems, and devices are described for collecting physiological data using a configurable biopotential array. The array is embedded on a surface area of a handheld device. The array includes a number of electrode tiles. The electrodes include biosensors to collect the physiological data of a user. The electrodes are polled to detect contact with the user's skin. Electrodes in contact with the skin are electrically coupled to form an active electrode area. The coupled electrodes collect the physiological data relating to the user via the biosensors. The electrodes are decoupled after contact with the user's skin is terminated. The physiological data is analyzed and an emotional state or health state of the user is determined from the analyzed data. |
| US08781559B2 |
Method of evaluating metabolism of the eye
A method and apparatus for measuring the retinal auto-fluorescence of a subject retina includes an excitation light source for providing an excitation light at a wavelength of at least 450 nm and an image capture device for recording an ocular auto-fluorescence signal generated in response to the excitation light. The image capture device includes a filter for reducing background non-signal wavelengths from the ocular auto-fluorescence signal and an image intensifier for increasing the ocular auto-fluorescence signal strength. The method and apparatus may further include a processor that analyzes the ocular auto-fluorescence signal to determine a contrast change or pattern to thereby detect retinal disease or damage. The processor may compare the images with control images, past images of the same eye or other diagnostic modalities such as fundus photography, angiography, or visual field testing to detect the retinal disease or damage. |
| US08781558B2 |
System and method of radiation dose targeting through ventilatory controlled anatomical positioning
The system and method of the present application includes an image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) system, combined with a medical ventilator, to form a closed-loop system to optimize treatment of a tumor for patients who cannot comply with a normal respiratory management procedure. The ventilator may be used to generate respiratory maneuvers to facilitate clean images for dose planning, so that clinicians can more clearly visualize a target with fewer of the image artifacts associated with respiratory motion. The combined IGRT and ventilation systems approach facilitates treatment of specific organs most susceptible to respiratory motion artifact, and helps minimize the doses to the heart in left-breast treatments. Improved positioning of the anatomical target structures for exposure to external beam radiation may be accomplished through combinations of respiratory-gating, respiratory pause, and selective right or left lung mechanical ventilator techniques. |
| US08781556B2 |
Interchangeable localizing devices for use with tracking systems
A system for tracking the position of an instrument relative to an area of interest includes a first fixator configured to carry first and second localizing devices. A second fixator is configured to carry the first localizing device. A third localizing device communicates with the first localizing device and the second localizing device communicates with the first localizing device such that the position of the second localizing device can be determined relative to the position of the third localizing device. The second localizing device is attachable to the instrument and the first localizing device is attachable to the first fixator such that the first localizing device communicates with the second localizing device on the instrument in order that the position of the second localizing device on the instrument can be determined relative to the third localizing device. |
| US08781552B2 |
Localization of aorta and left atrium from magnetic resonance imaging
The aorta and left atrium are localized from magnetic resonance data. The locations of the aorta and left atrium are detected jointly. The aorta and the left atrium are, at least in part, treated as one object. The detection may be from data representing a two-dimensional region. The two-dimensional region may be determined by first detecting the left ventricle from data representing a volume. |
| US08781550B2 |
Communication protocol that supports structured collection procedures used in diabetes care
A computer-implemented diabetes management system is provided for configuring a structured collection procedure implemented on a collection device having a meter that measures the concentration of glucose in blood. The system includes: a collection application that executes a structured collection procedure for obtaining measurement data from the meter and provides access to the measurement data via a communication protocol defined in accordance with IEEE standard 11073-20601; a configuration application that accesses and manipulates the parameters of the structured collection procedure using a set of action commands, where the set of action commands are defined in compliance with the communication protocol; and a collection interface that receives an action command from the configuration application, executes the received action command and issues a response command in response thereto, where the response command is defined in compliance with the communication protocol. |
| US08781549B2 |
Noninvasive oximetry optical sensor including disposable and reusable elements
A pulse oximetry sensor includes reusable and disposable elements. To assemble the sensor, members of the reusable element are mated with assembly mechanisms of the disposable element. The assembled sensor provides independent movement between the reusable and disposable elements. |
| US08781548B2 |
Medical sensor with flexible components and technique for using the same
According to various embodiments, a hat-based or headband sensor assembly may include thin or flexible optical sensing components, such as optical fibers or ultra thin emitters or detectors. In embodiments, the sensor assembly may be a hat-based sensor that includes a gripping region, for example on the inside of the hat band, to help secure the hat to a patient's head. |
| US08781547B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating an absolute oxygen saturation sensor
A method for using a medical device comprising an optical sensor to measure calibrated oxygen saturation in a body tissue uses a standard spectral response of blood established for multiple of oxygen saturations and a standard spectral response of a reference material. The standard responses are established using a spectrometer. The spectral power output of the optical sensor is measured using a spectrometer. The optical sensor output signal response to the reference material is obtained. A processor computes a device-specific calibration curve for the medical device using the measured spectral power output and the standard spectral response of blood and computes an optical gain using the standard spectral response of the reference material and the measured spectral power output of the optical sensor. The device-specific calibration curve and optical gain of the optical sensor are stored in a memory of the medical device. |
| US08781546B2 |
System and method for differentiating between tissue-specific and systemic causes of changes in oxygen saturation in tissue and organs
A method for monitoring oxygen saturation that includes the following steps: (i) measuring an oxygen saturation of a target area of a person or animal over time; (ii) measuring an oxygen saturation of a reference area of the person or animal over time; and (iii) classifying the oxygen saturation status of the target area based upon a comparison of the oxygen saturation of the target area relative to the oxygen saturation of the reference area over time. |
| US08781545B2 |
Body monitoring device, body data acquiring method and method of determining the presence, location and/or stage of a wound
Body monitoring device, having a surface and configured to be applied to and/or near the body, comprising at least one light source and at least one photo detector. The at least one light source emits light in at least a direction away from the surface. The at least one photo detector is configured to detect light that is emitted by the at least one light source and reflected by the body in a direction towards said surface. |
| US08781542B2 |
High-temperature superconducting magnetic sensor and fabrication method of the same
A high-temperature superconducting magnetic sensor having a superconducting layer formed on a substrate and a plurality of superconducting quantum interference devices fabricated on the superconducting layer, which includes: a plurality of input coils that are formed on the superconducting layer and connected to or magnetically coupled with each of the plurality of the superconducting quantum interference devices; a pickup coil that is formed on the superconducting layer and connected so as to form a closed loop together with the plurality of the input coils; and a plurality of trimming wires that are formed on the superconducting layer and can be cut off, while making a short-circuit between both ends of each of the plurality of the input coils. |
| US08781540B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device having an immovable body, a movable body, and a sliding module. The sliding module has a fixing frame fixed to the immovable body, a movable frame fixed to the movable body and slidably coupled to the fixing frame, and an elastic element having a fixing end fixed to the fixing frame and a movable end fixed to the movable frame. When the movable body slides with respect to the immovable body from a first position to a second position by the sliding module, the movable end relatively moves from a first stop position to a second stop position along a moving path. The distance from the orthographic projection of the fixing end on the moving path to the first stop position is larger than the distance from the orthographic projection of the fixing end on the moving path to the second stop position. |
| US08781539B1 |
Method and apparatus for reducing wake up time of a powered down device
A method includes, in at least one aspect, connecting an input of a bias circuit and an output of the bias circuit to another circuit while the other circuit is in a first power mode, such that the bias circuit has an operating state corresponding to the first power mode; switching the input of the bias circuit and the output of the bias circuit from the other circuit to a dummy circuit when a power mode of the other circuit is changed from the first power mode to a second power mode; and maintaining the bias circuit at the operating state corresponding to the first power mode using the dummy circuit while the other circuit is in the second power mode. |
| US08781538B2 |
Portable terminal, portable apparatus and supply power control method
The cellular phone 100 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of solar cell modules 110 arranged on different surfaces of a casing, a plurality of electric power control parts 132 connected to each of said plurality of solar cell modules 110, a mechanical form detection sensor 120 as a state detection part for detecting a state of said cellular phone 100, and an electric power selection part 134 (FIG. 1). |
| US08781535B2 |
System, method and apparatus for wireless communication between a wireless mobile telecommunications device and a remote wireless display
A method and apparatus provide for removal of a display screen from a wireless device, or, in a different embodiment, provide for a display screen as a separate and additional device that functions in real time in the same way as if the screen were incorporated in the wireless device. This functionality is enabled by a short range wireless connection, such as Bluetooth, between transceivers located in the wireless device and the display screen device. The display screen device allows a user to monitor the associated wireless device without needing to operate the full device. The display screen device may also have control capability for controlling the wireless device. Thus, a user can monitor, and control, a mobile device from a smaller remote display device while being presented with the information that would be displayed on the display screen of the wireless device. |
| US08781534B2 |
Recording a signature on a touch screen enabled wireless phone and mobile device
A cellular phone and mobile device is configured with the ability to accept a signature. A user may write a signature on a touch sensitive display of a mobile device using touch or a pen. A user may be further authenticated by using voice or password. The signature may be viewed on a second mobile device in real time. The signature may be synchronized with a server or an Internet device. The system may allow for multiple parties to sign an electronic document using mobile devices and Internet servers. |
| US08781526B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, an incoming communication ID implementer, a map displaying implementer, a multiple language mode implementer, and a remote control implementer. |
| US08781517B2 |
Method for cell sleep/wakeup, method and apparatus for controlling carrier power
The present invention discloses a method for cell sleep/wakeup, and a method and an apparatus for controlling carrier power, wherein the method for controlling carrier power comprises: a SON judging whether a cell of a base station requires sleep and/or wakeup, wherein when the judgment result is that the cell requires sleep, the SON indicates the base station to make the cell to sleep, so that the base station reduces pilot channel power of a carrier of the cell to zero or closes the carrier to make the cell enter an energy-saving state; and when the judgment result is that the cell requires wakeup, the SON indicates the base station to wake up the cell, so that the base station recovers the pilot channel power of the carrier of the cell to an operation state value to make the cell exit the energy-saving state. |
| US08781515B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a group communications follow mode
A method and apparatus for enabling a group communications follow mode at a first group communications (GC) user equipment (UE) device. A GC server receives a request from a first client UE device to follow a second Client UE device, and responsively: affiliates the first client UE device with a same one or more talk groups with which the second client UE device is currently affiliated, monitors for talk group affiliation and disaffiliation requests from the second client UE device and automatically affiliates or disaffiliates both the first client UE device and the second client UE device from a first particular talk group in accordance with a corresponding affiliation or disaffiliation instruction received from the second client UE device. |
| US08781512B1 |
Systems and methods for managing wireless links
Systems and methods for increasing a combined data rate for communication links between a plurality of radio systems and a plurality of base stations. |
| US08781511B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and image processing system
An image processing apparatus for performing wired and wireless communication includes: an image processing unit; a first access point module which communicates with an external apparatus through a first wireless communication channel and relays a communication between a plurality of external apparatuses through the first wireless communication channel; a client module which communicates with a second external access point module through a second wireless communication channel different from the first wireless communication channel; and a controller which switches communication data received through the first wireless communication channel or the second wireless communication channel to be selectively transmitted through one of the first wireless communication channel or the second wireless communication channel. |
| US08781509B2 |
Interworking circuit service fall back
Techniques, apparatuses, and systems can include mechanisms for interworking circuit service fallback. |
| US08781505B2 |
Location determination of mobile device
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a location fix of a mobile station based on identification information of a cellular base station included in a pilot signal. |
| US08781498B2 |
Enabling social interactive wireless communications
A computer-implemented system and method for enabling social interactive wireless communication between at least two mobile devices is presented. In particular, the system and method comprises affiliating and/or synchronizing a first mobile device and a second mobile device with an interactive social network. Further, the present invention comprises associating at least one first social interactive pairing criterion with the first mobile device, and associating at least one second social interactive pairing criterion with a second mobile device. Upon disposition of the first and second mobile devices in a physical and/or geographic proximity to one another, the present invention further comprises determining whether the first and second social interactive pairing criterion at least partially coincide with one another, and establishing a communication channel between the first and second mobile devices for communication therebetween. |
| US08781492B2 |
Device for round trip time measurements
An appliance facilitates localization of a station (STA) in a network, for example, a short-range wireless network. An automatic response to a request for a measurement related communication is provided. The appliance can include a radio frequency (RF) interface and a media access control (MAC) section. The MAC section can receive the request and generate the automatic response immediately after a uniform period that is uniform among any such appliance within the network. The appliance performs only the generation of the automatic response, though the response can include additional information such as (x, y) coordinates of the appliance. |
| US08781485B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting signal in a wireless communication system using comp
A method for transmitting a signal to a UE by a BS in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes determining a signal transmission scheme for transmitting a signal to the UE, dividing a basic resource allocation unit, if the signal transmission scheme is CoMP transmission, allocating transmission resources to the UE using the divided basic resource allocation unit, and transmitting the signal to the UE through the allocated transmission resources. |
| US08781483B2 |
Controlling access to private access points for wireless networking
An invitation to use a personal access point to access a wireless network is transmitted to an access terminal. An indication that the invitation has been accepted is received and the personal access point is authorized to provide the access terminal with access to the network.At an access terminal, an invitation to use a personal access point to access a wireless network is received, an instruction to accept the invitation is received from an operator of the access terminal, and an acceptance of the invitation is communicated. |
| US08781482B2 |
Method and apparatus to initiate point-to-point call during shared-channel delivery of broadcast content in a wireless telephone network
A method for managing a point-to-point call initiated (702) between a wireless mobile station (114, 400) and a remote party while the mobile is receiving broadcast content via one or more multi-user forward-link broadcast channels (508). The mobile station notifies (704) the network (110) of preferences as to prescribed categories of operating conditions, such as whether to continue receiving the broadcast content, and election between the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently. In accordance with the preferences, communications are conducted (706) in one of the following operating modes: (1) conducting the point-to-point call and discontinuing reception of the broadcast, (2) conducting the point-to-point call and continuing reception of the broadcast, (3) aborting completion of the point-to-point call and continuing reception of the broadcast. |
| US08781477B2 |
Handover method and system in relay network, relay node, control base station and base station
Embodiments of the present invention provide a handover method and system in a relay network, a relay node, a control base station and a base station. The method includes: receiving, by a relay node, a first area identifier that identifies the relay node; sending a system information broadcast message carrying the first area identifier to a terminal in a coverage area; receiving a handover request message forwarded by a control base station; and performing, according to the handover request message, a control operation of accessing the relay node on the terminal. The first area identifier that identifies the relay node is allocated to the relay node, so that the terminal in the relay network can be normally handed over from the base station to the relay node. |
| US08781472B2 |
Method and arrangement in a communication network
Method and arrangement in a network control node, for performing access control of a mobile node in a handover from a source cell to a target subscriber group cell. The method comprises obtaining a network based allowed subscriber group list, receiving a target subscriber group identification, checking if the target subscriber group identification is comprised in the obtained network based allowed subscriber group list. If it is, information from a target network control node is obtained, verifying that the received subscriber group identification corresponds to the target subscriber group cell. Still further, the method comprises granting the mobile node access to the target subscriber group cell. Also, a method and arrangement in a target network control node, for assisting a network control node in performing access control for a mobile node in a handover from a source cell to a target subscriber group cell is provided. |
| US08781471B2 |
Dedicated signature assignment
Optimization of the LTE handover procedure is provided by presenting alternatives for allocating a dedicated signature used for contention-free random access during the handover procedure as well as using an expiry time for a dedicated signature and different alternative behaviors for a mobile terminal upon expiry of the dedicated signature. |
| US08781465B2 |
Scanning neighboring base stations in wireless access system
A method of scanning neighboring base stations for measuring channel quality in a wireless communication system includes receiving, by a mobile station from a serving base station, information associated with at least one neighboring base station; transmitting, by the mobile station to the serving base station, a scanning request message to request an allocation of a scanning interval for scanning, the scanning request message including parameters associated with a requested scan duration, a requested interleaving interval, and a requested scan iteration, wherein the requested interleaving interval is interleaved between each scan; and receiving, by the mobile station from the serving base station, a scanning response message including an allowed scan duration parameter in response to the scanning request message, wherein the allowed scan duration parameter is set to zero to indicate that the request for the allocation of the scanning interval is denied. |
| US08781462B2 |
Methodology and apparatus for validating network coverage
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for validating network coverage (i.e., desired functionality) of newly installed network devices. Per use of presently disclosed technology, equipment installers may confirm both one and two way communications abilities of newly installed network devices as well as receive network diagnostic related data to assist them in the equipment installation process. Validation of communications operation may be initiated by any of the newly installed equipment, a handheld device, or via mobile device communications. |
| US08781461B2 |
Method of distributing application related information in cellular system
In a cellular radio system a message is transmitted in the uplink from a mobile station running an application to the cellular radio system informing the radio system of the status of the application thereby enabling the operator of the radio system to collect such data for use in optimizing the planning of the radio system or as an input parameter when detecting and trouble shooting problems in the radio system network. |
| US08781458B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining user settings for over-the-air upgrades
A method and apparatus for performing a software upgrade are disclosed. The method determines a plurality of mobile endpoint devices affected by a wireless network access software upgrade, and schedules a deployment of the wireless network access software upgrade. The method transmits a notification to the plurality of mobile endpoint devices, wherein the notification is configured to cause each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices to store user settings in a memory of each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices. The method downloads the wireless network access software upgrade wirelessly to the plurality of mobile endpoint devices, wherein the wireless network access software upgrade is configured to cause each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices to install the wireless network access software upgrade and to restore the user settings from the memory of each of the plurality of mobile endpoint devices. |
| US08781454B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated communications forwarding
Methods and apparatus for the automated updating of forwarding preferences for communications in a telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the network includes a wireless (e.g., cellular) network with user mobile user devices configured to detect a change to their configuration (such as a user changing out SIM cards or virtual access clients). In response, the device causes an update to its associated communication forwarding preferences to reflect the change. If the configuration alteration meets certain criteria (e.g., changes the phone number at which the device may be reached), the device sends a forwarding message instructing a network entity (e.g., routing server) to direct communications addressed to the old phone number to the new phone number. Thus, a user with two or more user profiles (such as two different carrier accounts) may be reached at any number associated with any of the profiles, even if only one profile is currently active. |
| US08781450B2 |
Method and system for creating a personalized journal based on collecting links to information and annotating those links for later retrieval
A system and method is provided for handling data in wireless communication devices where data may be captured and linked to a personal journal via indexing and mapping of context data tags abstracted from captured data. The captured data may be retrieved by matching a query to one or more context data tags indexed and mapped to the personal journal. A user preference utilizing one or more of the context data tags linked to the personal journal may facilitate captured data retrieval. The captured data may include multimedia data of an event pre-tagged with indexed information such as user ID, time, date, location and environmental condition or optionally one or more user's biometric data in response to the event. The pre-tagged captured data may be stored in the local host device or transferred to a remote host or storage for later retrieval or post processing. |
| US08781447B2 |
Techniques to wirelessly transmit data
Techniques are described to transmit multimedia content to a mobile station using a combination of a mobile/cellular network as well as a TV Whitespace (TVWS) network. Scalable video coding can be used to transmit a baseline layer of multi-media content using the mobile/cellular network and one or more enhancement layers over the TVWS channels. Joint source-channel coding can be used to adjust the transmission scheme used by mobile/cellular and/or TVWS based on end user experience. |
| US08781443B2 |
System and method for handling message receipt notification
Systems and methods for operation upon a wireless mobile device to handle message notifications. A method can include receiving a message by the wireless mobile device over a wireless communications network. The received message is processed so that at least a portion of the sender's message is displayed to a user of the wireless mobile device before a signed receipt is provided to the sender. |
| US08781442B1 |
Personal assistance safety systems and methods
Disclosed are methods and systems related to a Personal Assistance Safety System. In one aspect, disclosed are methods and systems for vehicle communications comprising an antenna selecting unit configured to select an antenna according to an antenna selection strategy and a first antenna switch coupled to the antenna selecting unit configured to direct communications through the selected antenna. |
| US08781432B2 |
Circuit coupling
An apparatus for coupling a baseband integrated circuit that uses a first signalling standard to a radio frequency integrated circuit that uses a second signalling standard includes a buffer coupled to the baseband integrated circuit and a resistor network coupled between the buffer and the radio frequency integrated circuit. The resistor network implements a voltage divider so as to convert a first voltage used by the baseband integrated circuit to a second voltage used by the radio frequency integrated circuit. The apparatus may be used in a mobile telecommunications device. |
| US08781431B2 |
Techniques for determining communication state using accelerometer data
Techniques for communicating with a user on a network include receiving acceleration data that indicates acceleration of a mobile network node associated with a user of a network. A communication state for the user is determined based at least in part on the acceleration data. The communication state indicates a type of network communication suitable for communicating with the user. Network communications with the user are based on the communication state. Among other uses, such techniques allow a network communicating with a human through a mobile node carried by the human to infer from stopped or unusual motions when the human's ability to receive or act on communications is impaired or otherwise affected. |
| US08781428B2 |
Frequency synthesizer
A frequency synthesizer includes a controlled oscillator configured to extend a temperature range and phase noise of the synthesizer without compromising the frequency coverage of the synthesizer. The frequency synthesizer also includes bias generation circuitry that sets a bias current of a charge pump to reduce bandwidth variations of the synthesizer. The frequency synthesizer further includes switching circuitry to dynamically turn a charge pump on and off to reduce effects of current leakage in the charge pump. |
| US08781424B2 |
Radio receiver apparatus of a cellular radio network
A radio receiver apparatus of a cellular network includes a channel estimator configured to calculate channel estimates on the basis of a common pilot channel. The apparatus further includes a weight calculation unit configured to calculate a weighting factor on the basis of a signal power of the common pilot channel and control data depending on a transmit signal power of a dedicated data channel. The control data is signaled by the cellular network to the radio receiver apparatus. The radio receiver apparatus further comprises a combiner that combines the signals from multiple cells by using the channel estimates and the weighting factor. |
| US08781421B2 |
Time-domain diversity combining of signals for broadcast receivers
Systems and methods are disclosed for time-domain diversity combining of radio frequency (RF) broadcast signals. Two channelized quadrature (I/Q) signals are generated by different tuner circuitry coupled to two different antennas, are converted to frequency-domain signals, and are used to generate frequency-domain diversity weighting signals. The frequency-domain diversity weighting signals are then converted to time-domain weights and applied to the channelized I/Q signals. The weighted and channelized I/Q signals are then combined in the time-domain to provide a time-domain diversity combined signal. The resulting combined signal can be further processed, as desired, such as by using a demodulator to generate demodulated output signals. Disclosed methods and systems can be applied to a variety of receiver systems configured to receive RF broadcast signals. |
| US08781420B2 |
Adjustable wireless circuitry with antenna-based proximity detector
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry. Antennas in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. In-band and out-of-band phase and magnitude signal measurements may be made in determining whether external objects are present. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user's body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions. |
| US08781419B2 |
Method of cooperative data transmission between terminals and a method of receiving data
The present invention relates to a method for reducing power consumption when performing the cooperative transmission in a cooperative transmission system, the method comprising: defining a cooperative transmission participation rate or a cooperative transmission non-participation rate to adjust the participation rate of at least one terminal capable of cooperative transmission within at least one cooperative cluster, the participation rate adjustment being carried out in the at least one terminal capable of cooperative transmission by generating a random value having a preset range; comparing the generated random value with a threshold as a reference indicating whether a corresponding terminal is participating in cooperative transmission; and determining whether the corresponding terminal has participated in cooperative transmission, on the basis of the comparison result. |
| US08781418B2 |
Power amplification based on phase angle controlled reference signal and amplitude control signal
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion. |
| US08781411B2 |
Baseband filter and upconverter with configurable efficiency for wireless transmitters
A baseband filter and upconverter with configurable efficiency for use in wireless transmitters is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a baseband filter having configurable efficiency, and an upconverter having configurable efficiency and coupled to the baseband filter. The baseband filter and upconverter are configured to operate at a first efficiency level in a first output power range and to operate at a second efficiency level in a second output power range. |
| US08781409B2 |
Radio frequency unit and integrated antenna
A radio frequency unit and an integrated antenna are provided. The radio frequency unit includes a duplexer, a power amplifier circuit board, and a transceiver circuit board. The duplexer connects to the power amplifier circuit board and the transceiver circuit board. The power amplifier circuit board connects to the transceiver circuit board. The power amplifier circuit board and the transceiver circuit board are respectively located at two end portions of the duplexer. The power amplifier circuit board and the transceiver circuit board are projected onto the same plane along a direction being vertical to the power amplifier circuit board with their projections on the same plane non-overlapped each other. |
| US08781397B2 |
System and method for initiating a secure communication link based on proximity and functionality of wireless communication devices
A method for initiating a security relationship by a first communication device, wherein the first device communicates with a number of other communication devices, selects, in dependence on the result of the communicating step, one of the other devices, and initiates the negotiation of a security relationship with that selected device. |
| US08781396B2 |
Contactless receiver, resonant circuit, and variable capacitance element
A contactless receiver is provided with a receiving section and a rectification section. The receiving section has a resonant circuit including a resonant capacitor having a variable capacitance element formed with a ferroelectric material, a capacitance of the variable capacitance element changing according to a received voltage at a predetermined frequency, and a resonance coil connected to the resonant capacitor. The rectification section converts an alternating current voltage output from the receiving section into a direct current voltage. |
| US08781395B2 |
Transmitting circuit for a contactless communicating communication partner device
In a near field communication partner device (1) intended for the contactless transmission of digital data to be transmitted having a transmission circuit (2), the transmission circuit (2) comprises a modulation circuit (17) for the amplitude modulation of a carrier signal (CS), which modulation circuit (17) comprises a circuit stage (20, 20′) for producing a plurality of different resistance values (RW1, RW1′) that act on a signal output (TX1, TX2), which resistance values (RW1, RW1′) can be transformed, by means of a signal processing circuit (3) arranged to transform resistance values that belongs to the communication partner device (1), into transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2′), which transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2′) are responsible for damping a transmission coil (7) of the communication partner device (1) when modulated low-level carrier signal sections are generated in a modulated carrier signal. |
| US08781390B2 |
Knowledge assessment tool
The present description refers in particular to a computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for processing and managing test data. The computer-implemented method for processing and managing test data may comprise: providing a plurality of questions for a test in a tool, the tool being located in a first shared folder; providing a data storage device on a second shared folder, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of database files, wherein each database file of the plurality of database files is assigned to a user name from a list of user names used to identify a plurality of users; retrieving date-times of time-stamps of the database files and assigning the date-times to the corresponding user names in the list of user names; if a user from the plurality of users accesses the test, providing a subset of questions from the plurality of questions to the user, wherein the subset of questions is randomly determined by making an order assignment to each of the plurality of questions, wherein the order assignment is based on random numbers associated with each of the plurality of questions; storing a test result of the test in a database file corresponding to a user name of the user; and updating the time-stamp of said corresponding database file. |
| US08781389B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method, and storage medium storing image forming apparatus control program
An image forming apparatus includes a printing device to print images on sheets using a printing operation and to initiate a discharge of printed sheets from a sheet discharge port onto the discharge tray disposed for the image forming apparatus; a counter operatively connected to the printing device to count the number of printed sheets based on content of a print job; a controller to determine whether the number of printed sheets counted by the counter reaches a maximum sheet stacking capacity of the discharge tray, the maximum sheet stacking capacity being determined by a distance between the sheet discharge port and the discharge tray; and a reporting device to report that the discharge tray is full when the controller determines that the number of printed sheets counted by the counter reaches the maximum sheet stacking capacity. |
| US08781385B2 |
Medium-feeding device and recording device
A medium-feeding device includes: a feeding unit for feeding a fed medium in a feed direction, a first separating unit provided downstream in the feed direction relative to the feeding unit to separate a multi-fed medium; a second separating unit provided downstream relative to the first separating unit to switch between a compressive holding state in which the multi-fed medium is compressively held, and a released state in which compressive holding is released; and a contact part provided downstream relative to the second separating unit to switch between a protruding state and a retracted state relative to a feed path for guiding the fed medium. The medium-feeding device has a first separating mode, in which separation of the multi-fed medium is performed using the first separating unit, the second separating unit, and the contact part, and a second separating mode, in which separation is performed using the first separating unit. |
| US08781384B2 |
Cleaning blade and image forming apparatus
A cleaning blade, which is configured to be pressed against a toner image carrier that rotates in one direction, for removing residual toner from the toner image carrier, the cleaning blade having: a contact layer that is located in a side to come into contact with the toner image carrier; and a supporting layer that is located in a side not to come into contact with the toner image carrier, wherein tensile stress characteristic curves of a material of the contact layer and a material of the supporting layer intersect with each other. An image forming apparatus having a toner image carrier and the cleaning blade. |
| US08781383B2 |
Fuser topcoat comprising electrospun non-woven polymer nanofabrics
Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for a non-woven fabric, a fuser member, and a fusing apparatus used in electrophotographic printing devices, wherein the non-woven fabric can be at least part of the topcoat layer of the fuser member and can include a plurality of non-woven electrospun fibers bonded with a fluoropolymer. |
| US08781380B2 |
Fixing device
A fixing device includes: a tubular member having an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space, and an axis defining an axial direction, the tubular member being configured to move around the axis; a heater disposed in an internal space to radiate heat; a nip member that contacts the inner peripheral surface to transmit the heat to the tubular member; a backup member that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface to form a nip region between the backup member and the tubular member, the backup member applying a load to the nip member; and a stay disposed in the internal space to support the nip member against the load. The nip member includes: a first member that contacts the inner peripheral surface; and a second member disposed between the first member and the stay to transmit the load to the stay. |
| US08781379B2 |
Fusing device, print device and apparatus for heating belt
A fusing device includes a belt, a first stretching member contacting an inner circumference of the belt and stretching the belt tightly, a heating member having a heating element on the surface, a second stretching member having a heating member facing part that faces the heating member and a curved surface part that faces the belt, and stretching the belt tightly with the first stretching member. |
| US08781376B2 |
Toner supply device and image forming apparatus
A rotary-type toner supply device includes a toner container and a scraping member. The toner container has a peripheral wall section which is shaped so as to surround a side face of an imaginary column K1 along the side face and has a toner discharge port formed therein, and contains toner in space surrounded by the peripheral wall. The scraping member is contained in the space so as to freely rotate around a central axis S of the imaginary column K1, and has first and second curved parts, each of the first and second curved parts extending along a portion of a half cycle or more of a spiral on the side face of the imaginary column K1. |
| US08781373B2 |
Image forming structure, image forming apparatus, and developing device including shutter member
An image forming structure includes an image holding member holding a latent image and an image obtained by developing the latent image, a developing device developing the latent image on the image holding member with a powder to form an image on the image holding member, a container mounting section demountably mounted with a container storing a powder to be supplied to the developing device, a shutter member that is disposed in a supply path including a powder introducing portion of the developing device and that blocks the supply path, and a supply member that is disposed at a position where the supply member engages with the shutter member and that rotates to supply the powder in a direction of a rotation shaft, wherein the supply member rotates to move the shutter member to an open position where the supply path is opened. |
| US08781372B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner container
A toner container includes container main body, conveying screws and container gear. A developing device includes developer housing including container mounting portion, gear holder including output gear which rotates upon receiving rotational drive force from motor and displaceable to engaged position where the output gear is engaged with the container gear and retracted position retracted outward from the engaged position, and biasing spring. The container main body includes a second pressing plate and the gear holder includes a contact portion with which the second pressing plate comes into contact. The second pressing plate and the contact portion displace the gear holder from the engaged position to the retracted position as the toner container moves in a mounting process. When the toner container reaches a predetermined assembled position, the gear holder is returned to the engaged position by a biasing force of the biasing spring. |
| US08781371B2 |
Stir-transport member, development device provided therewith, and image forming apparatus
A stir-transport member is formed on a circumferential surface of a rotation shaft with a first spiral blade, and a second spiral blade formed to overlap the region of the first spiral blade and is opposite the first spiral blade in phase and having a smaller radial-direction height than the first spiral blade. Sections of the spiral blades along the cross longitudinal direction thereof have trapezoidal shapes. The first spiral blade have a plurality of first swell portions, a part of each corresponding to a bottom of the trapezoidal shape and is more swollen than the other portions. The second spiral blade have a plurality of second swell portions, a part of each corresponding to the bottom of the trapezoidal shape and is more swollen than the other portions. The first spiral blade cross the second spiral blade at least at one of the first swell portions per turn. |
| US08781370B2 |
Developer unit for an image forming apparatus
A developer unit for an image forming apparatus is provided. The developer unit includes a developer device having a developer agent carrier, a developer agent supplier, and a restricting member, a developer agent container, which contains the developer agent, and a plurality of conveyers, including a first conveyer and a second conveyer, to convey the developer agent in an axial direction of the developer agent supplier. The first conveyer and the second conveyer are arranged along a circumference of the developer agent supplier and in parallel with the first conveyer. |
| US08781369B2 |
Charging roller and process for its production
A roller for electrophotography has an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer as a surface layer. The elastic layer holds spherical particles each having a plane on their peripheral surfaces, in such a way that part or the whole of the plane comes exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, and the plane of each of the spherical particles standing exposed to the surface of the elastic layer and a plane that is i) orthogonal to a straight line passing through an axis of a section orthogonal to an axis of the roller for electrophotography and being directed toward the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography and is ii) tangential to the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography form an acute internal angle. |
| US08781364B2 |
Replacement fixing belt and method of replacing a fixing belt
A replacement fixing belt to be used in a fixing apparatus, the replacement fixing belt including: an endless base layer; a toner releasing layer provided on a surface of the replacement fixing belt; and a lubrication film formed on an inner surface of the endless base layer by applying to the inner surface a liquid in which a fluorinated oil and fluorinated solid lubricant particles are dispersed in a volatile solvent. |
| US08781350B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a first photosensitive member; a second photosensitive member; a third photosensitive member; a first scorotron-type charger that is configured to charge the first photosensitive member; a second scorotron-type charger that is configured to charge the second photosensitive member; a third scorotron-type charger that is configured to charge the third photosensitive member; a first voltage applying circuit, which is connected to the first scorotron-type charger, and which is configured to apply a voltage to the first scorotron-type charger; and a second voltage applying circuit, which is commonly connected to the second scorotron-type charger and the third scorotron-type charger, and which is configured to apply a voltage to the second scorotron-type charger and the third scorotron-type charger. |
| US08781349B2 |
Image forming apparatus performing image concentration stabilization control
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, an image forming device that forms the toner image on the image carrier, a sensing device that senses a toner concentration of the image carrier and a control device that makes the image forming device form a test toner image on the image carrier, and determines necessity to execute each adjustment operation for adjusting a plurality of kinds of driving conditions for the image forming device at the time of forming the toner images, based upon a toner concentration of the test toner image. |
| US08781347B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of driving the same
An image forming apparatus and a method of driving the same are provided in which, if a driving environment is determined to be a low temperature environment, a driving load of an image forming unit is decreased by repeating driving and stopping a driving motor under a high load driving condition to generate a torque higher than a torque generated under a normal warm-up driving condition; and a warm-up operation is performed by driving the driving motor under the normal warm-up driving condition. |
| US08781342B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a function of detecting an amount of remaining developing agent
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes an image forming unit including an agitation unit for agitating developing agent contained in a container unit, and a sensor which includes a light emitting unit configured to emit light and a light receiving unit configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit and passing through the container unit. The sensor generates an output in accordance with an amount of light received by the light receiving unit while the agitation unit agitates the developing agent. The image forming apparatus also includes has a medium with instructions stored therein that when executed perform steps including calculating a measurement result based on the output generated by the sensor, and determining, after the agitation is started, whether a current period is an unstable period in which the measurement result is unstable or a stable period in which the measurement result is stable. |
| US08781336B1 |
Optical filter for use in a laser transmitter
In an embodiment, an optical communication system includes an optical transmitter and an optical discriminator. The optical transmitter is configured to emit a frequency modulated signal having a bit rate frequency and a frequency excursion between 20% and 80% of the bit rate frequency. The optical discriminator is configured to convert the frequency modulated signal to a substantially amplitude modulated signal and includes a delay line interferometer (DLI). The DLI includes an input, an output, a first optical path coupling optical signals from the input to the output and a second optical path coupling optical signals from the input to the output. The first and second optical paths have different lengths. |
| US08781333B2 |
Clock recovery apparatus
The invention relates to a clock recovery apparatus being configured to recover clock information from an input signal. The clock recovery apparatus comprises Fourier transforming means (201) being configured to transform the input signal into a frequency domain signal upon the basis of a Fourier transform, correlating means (215) being configured to correlate the frequency domain signal to obtain a correlation value associated with a certain frequency, and clock recovery means (217) being configured to determine whether the certain frequency corresponds to a clock frequency in order to recover the clock information. |
| US08781331B2 |
Controllable optical add/drop multiplexer
The invention relates to a method for operating a controllable selective optical add/drop channel for a fiber-optic communication system provided with 2N of wavelength-division multiplexing channels, whose optical frequencies are returnable at a constant frequency separations Δv between adjacent channels, with the aid of the inventive controllable optical add/drop multiplexers (70, 80, 90) that comprise multi-stage structures of optical filters ({75-i}, {85-i}, {95-i}), that are connected in a different manner and provided with devices, for example electro-optical and thermo-optical phase shift devices, for controllable tuning the transmissions characteristics thereof. The optical filters are embodied in the form of single-stage (20), two-stage (40) and/or multi-stage (60) asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The controllable optical add/drop multiplexer can be produced according to integrated optic technique in the form of monolithic solid-state device. |
| US08781329B2 |
Dispersion compensation design method and dispersion compensation design system
A dispersion compensation design system includes a segment dividing unit to divide an optical network into segments of a linear network or a ring network, a path classifying unit to classify one of paths of the optical network, as a specific type path, the one of the paths being incapable of transmitting an optical signal and contained in a longer path having a route longer than that of the one of the paths and capable of transmitting the optical signal, a segment reconfiguration unit to reconfigure the segments so as to maximize a number of the specific type paths, a dispersion compensation amount computing unit to compute a dispersion compensation amount in any of spans of the optical network so as to minimize the number of the specific type paths within the reconfigured segment, and an update unit to update the dispersion compensation amount with the computed dispersion compensation amount. |
| US08781322B2 |
Migratable wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network
A hybrid passive optical network (“PON”) includes a time-division multiplexing (“TDM”) optical line terminal (“OLT”) and a wavelength-division multiplexing (“WDM”) OLT. The TDM OLT communicates with a first group of customer premises (“CPs”) via TDM signals while the WDM OLT communicates with a second group of CPs via WDM signals. A remote node power splitter is coupled to receive the TDM and WDM signals and broadcast both the TDM signals and the WDM signals on all of its ports facing towards the CPs. Optical filters are disposed between the remote node power splitter and the second group of CPs. Each optical filter is configured to pass a sub-group of the WDM signals while blocking other WDM signals such that each of the second group of CPs receives its own allocation of WDM signals but does not receive WDM signals allocated to other CPs of the second group of CPs. |
| US08781321B2 |
Gigabit passive optical network transmission convergence extension for next generation access
An apparatus comprising a data framer configured to frame a data stream into a plurality of frames each comprising a plurality of fields sized to align the frames with a word boundary greater than or equal to about four bytes long, and an optical transmitter coupled to the data framer and configured to transmit the frames. Included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising encapsulating a data stream with at least one Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) Encapsulation Method (GEM) payload aligned with a word boundary at least about four bytes long, encapsulating the GEM payload with a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) frame aligned with the word boundary, and transmitting the GTC frame. |
| US08781318B2 |
Data processing in an optical network
A method and an optical component for data processing in an optical network are provided, wherein two sets of wavelengths are allocated; wherein at least one set of wavelengths is monitored; and wherein a collision between the two sets of wavelengths is avoided or compensated by adjusting at least one laser of an optical component. Furthermore, an optical communication system is suggested including said optical component. |
| US08781317B1 |
Monitoring phase non-linearities in an optical communication system
Phase nonlinearities of an optical communications system are monitored by generating a test signal which includes a predetermined property that is uniquely associated with at least one phase nonlinearity of the optical communications system. The predetermined property of the test signal is then detected at a monitoring point of the optical communications system, and used to estimate the associated phase nonlinearity. |
| US08781314B2 |
Image sensing apparatus, control method, and user interface display apparatus
An image sensing apparatus on which a plurality of lens units are interchangeably mountable includes a system controller configured to acquired information specific to a mounted lens unit from the mounted lens unit, a detection unit configured to detect a focus shift amount of the mounted lens unit, a display circuit configured to display the specific information acquired by the system controller in association with a focus correction value for correcting the focus shift amount detected by the detection unit, an operation switch configured to be operated by a user, and a setting unit that sets the focus correction value according to an operation on the operation switch. |
| US08781313B2 |
Lens apparatus and image pickup system
A lens apparatus detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes a focus lens, a driver configured to drive the focus lens, a first position detector configured to detect a position of the focus lens, and a controller configured to correct the position of the focus lens detected by the first position detector to a position of the focus lens in a predetermined optical characteristic, to transmit a corrected position of the focus lens to the image pickup apparatus, to correct driving information of the focus lens in the predetermined characteristic received from the image pickup apparatus to driving information of the focus lens in a current optical characteristic, and to instruct the driver to drive the focus lens in accordance with the position of the focus lens detected by the first position detector and corrected driving information of the focus lens. |
| US08781312B1 |
Airtight bag for cameras and other electronic equipment
A protective cover for a camera having a lens and an image viewer, the protective cover comprises a molded elasticized housing forming a chamber having a body shaped portion and a lens shaped portion for receiving the camera and lens respectively. The housing has at least one opening with a peripheral edge. A fastening system is provided for the opening. The fastening system has an internal fastener attachable to a part of the camera and an external fastener attachable to the internal fastener. The internal fastener and external fastener capture therebetween the peripheral edge of the lens opening when secured to each other, and the external fastener is being movable from a rest view position to an alternate view position to view a wider area of the camera or lens. |
| US08781309B2 |
Heat treatment apparatus heating substrate by irradiation with light
A capacitor, a coil, a flash lamp, and a switching element such as an IGBT are connected in series. A controller outputs a pulse signal to the gate of the switching element. A waveform setter sets the waveform of the pulse signal, based on the contents of input from an input unit. With electrical charge accumulated in the capacitor, a pulse signal is output to the gate of the switching element so that the flash lamp emits light intermittently. A change in the waveform of the pulse signal applied to the switching element will change the waveform of current flowing through the flash lamp and, accordingly, the form of light emission, thereby resulting in a change in the temperature profile for a semiconductor wafer. |
| US08781307B2 |
Variable voltage portable vaporizer
A portable vaporizer having an electronic control unit electrically coupled to a power source and an atomizer. The electronic control unit utilizes a voltage regulator which allows changes in an output voltage supplied to the atomizer in response to a change in electrical resistance of a potentiometer incorporated therewith. |
| US08781306B2 |
Herbal vaporizer with electric heating element
A smokable material vaporizer is disclosed, comprising of an enclosure having an elongated heating tube, a heating element, an air pump and a vapor collection receptacle for vaporizing a smokable material and allowing inhalation thereof. The heating tube is an elongated structure with a material loadable cap at its distal end and a screen for communicating vaporized material into the enclosure. The proximal end of the heating tube comprises a heating lamp element and a means to force air via a pump into the tube and through the screen. The heating lamp is powered by an electrical connection that includes a timer switch for safety and an activation switch. The lid of the enclosure is removable to reveal the attached heating tube, wherein smokable material is placed for the heating lamp to raise its temperature above vaporization levels, whereafter it is pumped into a collection receptacle bag for inhalation. |
| US08781303B2 |
Program accumulation apparatus, program accumulation reservation method, and program
A program accumulation apparatus includes: a broadcast program acquisition section to acquire data of a broadcast program based on a preset recording reservation; a delivery program acquisition section to acquire data of a delivery program delivered by a downloading method via a network based on a preset download reservation; a storage section to accumulate the data of the broadcast program or the data of the delivery program; a designation section to accept a designation of the broadcast program for the recording reservation; a judgment section to judge whether the recording reservation of the designated broadcast program is possible; and a setting section to judge, when the recording reservation of the designated broadcast program is judged as being impossible, whether the download reservation of the delivery program of the same source as the broadcast program is possible, and set the download reservation of the delivery program when judged possible. |
| US08781301B2 |
Information processing apparatus, scene search method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a specifying unit, a search processing unit, and an output unit. The obtaining unit obtains at least one content including a sound. The specifying unit receives a specification for specifying sound information, the sound information being in relation with an icon symbolizing a scene content and expressing the scene content, as a scene search condition. The search processing unit compares the sound information, the specification for specifying the sound information being received as the scene search condition, with the sound included in the at least one content, to thereby search a content including the sound information in the sound. The output unit outputs information on the content searched by the search processing unit. |
| US08781297B2 |
Method and disc drive for providing a content entity from a storage disc
A method for providing a content entity from a storage disc is described. The storage disc comprises at least one further content entity. Each content entity comprises a main menu and at least one submenu accessible via the main menu. The storage disc further comprises an entity selection menu. The entity selection menu comprises a link to the main menu of the content entity to be provided. The method comprises providing the entity selection menu for reproduction, receiving a selection of the content entity to be provided, detecting that the storage disc comprises a plurality of content entities, mapping a pre-defined start address to a different start address and providing the selected content entity for reproduction based on the different start address. The pre-defined start address is mapped to a different start address of the storage disc associated with the main menu of the selected content entity to be provided. |
| US08781293B2 |
Correction method for object linking across video sequences in a multiple camera video surveillance system
The invention discloses a correction method and system for object linking in video sequences that are captured by a multiple camera surveillance video system. The invention allows a user to select a specific object to track and for trace correction through an interactive user platform. The interactive user platform shows a video sequence captured by the user-selected camera at the selected time; lists of previous and post video sequences related to the user-selected object or video sequences, and lists of object linking results before and after the selected time. The user refers to the linking results, shown in lists of object linking results before and after the selected time to select one of objects for correction in selected frame of selected video sequence. The selection directs the proposed system to correct the trace of the specific object to track. Henceforth, the correct linking results can be automatically generated. |
| US08781290B2 |
Display apparatus for recording/reproducing video signal and/or audio signal and method thereof
A display apparatus to store a broadcasting signal or a video signal and/or an audio signal in an external storage medium, and reproduce signals from the external storage medium includes a receiving processor, a controller, and an output unit. The receiving processor receives a video signal and/or an audio signal. The controller stores a video signal and/or an audio signal received using the receiving processor in the external storage medium in real time, if a user requires storage of the received video signal and the audio signal. The controller reproduces the stored video signal and/or audio signal from the external storage medium if the user requires reproduction of the video signal and/or the audio signal stored on the external storage medium. The output unit outputs the reproduced video signal and/or audio signal. |
| US08781282B2 |
Optical fiber with double coating
An optical fiber includes an optical waveguide, a first coating layer disposed to surround the optical waveguide and a second coating layer disposed to surround the first coating layer, wherein the first coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable composition including at least one (meth)acrylate monomer esterified with at least one branched alcohol having from 9 to 12 carbon atoms, and the second coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable (meth)acrylate composition including from 0.8% to 1.5% by weight of silica, based on the total weight of the composition. |
| US08781280B2 |
Cable expansion joint
A cable is provided having an expansion joint. The cable includes a cable jacket which makes up an outer layer of the cable, a non-end section where the cable jacket is removed from the cable which forms an opening, and an expansion joint which covers the opening and is bonded to the cable jacket at opposite sides of the opening. The expansion joint is made up of a flexible or compressible material. |
| US08781278B2 |
Low smoke halogen free flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer compositions containing zeolites
Halogen-free flame retardant compositions comprising thermoplastic elastomers, which exhibit flame retardance and low-smoke emission. The flame retardant compositions comprise a) one or more thermoplastic elastomers, and b) from at or about 18 to at or about 50 weight percent, the weight percentage being based on the total weight of the flame retardant composition, of a flame retardant mixture comprising: b1) at least one flame retardant comprising a phosphinate, diphosphinate and/or polymers thereof, b2) a phosphorous-containing amino composition; and b3) a zeolite. |
| US08781276B2 |
Grating-based optical fiber-to-waveguide interconnects
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to optical waveguide-to-fiber interconnects. In one aspect, an optical fiber-to-waveguide interconnect includes a grating coupler (102) located at the end of a waveguide, and a grating layer (110) disposed on the end of an optical fiber (112). The optical fiber includes a core (118) and the grating layer includes a planar, non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating (116). Light carried by the waveguide into the grating coupler is output and coupled into the core via the sub-wavelength grating, and light transmitted along the core to the grating layer is directed by the sub-wavelength grating into the grating coupler for transmission in the waveguide. |
| US08781274B2 |
Optical amplifier and resonator
An optical amplifier includes: a first optical fiber, through which seed light and excitation light propagate; an optical coupler that inputs the excitation light into the first optical fiber; a first lens to which the seed light and the excitation light output from the first optical fiber are input and which increases diameters of the seed light and the excitation light; a glass rod doped with rare earth elements to be excited by the excitation light, to which the seed light and the excitation light output from the first lens are input and which amplifies and outputs the seed light as output light; a second lens to which at least the output light output from the glass rod is input and which decreases a diameter of the output light; and a second optical fiber to which the output light output from the second lens is input. |
| US08781269B2 |
Method and arrangement for generating a laser beam having a differing beam profile characteristic by means of a multi-clad fiber
The invention concerns a method for generating a laser beam (3) with different beam profile characteristics, whereby a laser beam (2) is coupled into one fiber end (1a) of a multi-clad fiber (1), in particular a double-clad fiber, and emitted from the other fiber end (1b) of the multi-clad fiber (1) and whereby, to generate different beam profile characteristics of the output laser beam (3), the input laser beam (2) is electively coupled either at least into the inner fiber core (4) of the multi-clad fiber (1) or at least into at least one outer ring core (6) of the multi-clad fiber (1), as well as a corresponding arrangement (10). |
| US08781266B2 |
Distributed, multiplexed fiber optic current transducer using optical power division
A measurement system includes a broadband light source that outputs a broadband light, an optical splitter that divides the broadband light into a plurality of divided light beams and a plurality of optical sensors, each optical sensor configured to receive a single one of the divided light beams and measure an electrical parameter of a conductor. |
| US08781263B2 |
Optical modulator
A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator includes a join-and-branch portion, two light wave guides connected with the join-and-branch portion, two output light waveguides connected with the join-and-branch portion, arm electrodes respectively provided on the two light waveguides, light intensity detection electrodes respectively provided on the two output light waveguides, and a leakage suppression electrode provided between the arm electrodes and the light intensity detection electrodes. |
| US08781261B2 |
Storing and retrieving large images via DICOM
Systems and methods that acquire digital slides and other large images and store these images into commercially available PACS systems using DICOM-standard messaging are provided. A digital slide or other large two-dimensional image is acquired and each separate resolution level of the digital slide or large image is divided into a series of regions that are each identified as a DICOM image. All of the regions at the same resolution in the digital slide or other large image are collectively identified as a DICOM series. A plurality of DICOM series, representing multiple resolution levels in a digital slide are collectively identified and stored as a DICOM study. |
| US08781260B2 |
Compositing in multiple video processing unit (VPU) systems
The systems and methods include multiple processors that each couple to receive commands and data, where the commands and/or data correspond to frames of video that include multiple pixels. Additionally, an interlink module is coupled to receive processed data corresponding to the frames from each of the multiple processors. The interlink module selects pixels of the frames from the processed data of one of the processors based on a predetermined pixel characteristic and outputs the frames that include the selected pixels. |
| US08781259B2 |
Re-sampling method and apparatus
An image or other sample processor has a resampling filter adapted to provide output samples at an output sampling frequency which can be selected to be higher or lower than the input sampling frequency. The width of the resampling filter aperture is scaled according to either the input sampling frequency or the output sampling frequency so as to obtain the wider of the two possible filter apertures. |
| US08781256B2 |
Method to match color image and depth image using feature points
An image processing method and apparatus includes selecting a first pixel group including at least one pixel from an input color image; selecting a second pixel group including at least one pixel corresponding to each of the at least one pixel included in the first pixel group from an input depth image; calculating a transformation function of the first pixel group and second pixel group based on a coordinate value of each of the at least one pixel included in the first pixel group and a coordinate value of each of the at least one pixel included in the second pixel group; and matching each pixel of the input color image with each pixel of the input depth image based on the transformation function. |
| US08781255B2 |
Methods and apparatus for visual search
Each image of a set of images is characterized with a set of sparse feature descriptors and a set of dense feature descriptors. In some embodiments, both the set of sparse feature descriptors and the set of dense feature descriptors are calculated based on a fixed rotation for computing texture descriptors, while color descriptors are rotation invariant. In some embodiments, the descriptors of both sparse and dense features are then quantized into visual words. Each database image is represented by a feature index including the visual words computed from both sparse and dense features. A query image is characterized with the visual words computed from both sparse and dense features of the query image. A rotated local Bag-of-Features (BoF) operation is performed upon a set of rotated query images against the set of database images. Each of the set of images is ranked based on the rotated local Bag-of-Features operation. |
| US08781254B2 |
Method, an apparatus and a computer program for data processing
A method of data processing is provided for estimating a position of an object in an image from a position of a reference object in a reference image. The method includes learning the position of the reference object in the reference image and its relation to a set of reference landmarks in the reference image, accessing the image, accessing the relation between the position of the reference object and the set of the reference landmarks, identifying a set of landmarks in the image corresponding to the set of the reference landmarks, and applying the relation to the set of landmarks in the image for estimating the position of the object in the image. |
| US08781252B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
Provided is an image processing apparatus. In the case of a multi-view image, the image processing apparatus may warp a color image and/or a depth image of a reference view to correspond to a target view. An occlusion region may be extracted by comparing the warped color image and/or depth image of the reference view with a color image and/or a depth image of the target view. The image processing apparatus may encode the extracted occlusion region information without loss, and decrease an amount of data in the multi-view image. |
| US08781251B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method deformation processing based on a rule
A character recognition accuracy from an image in which a graphic code and at least one character are in a given positional relationship is improved. An image acquisition section (20) acquires the image including the graphic code and the at least one character positioned outside the graphic code, which are in the given positional relationship. A deformation rule identification section (26) identifies a deformation rule for deforming the graphic code, which is included in the image acquired by the image acquisition section (20), to a graphic of a known type. A deformation processing execution section (28) executes, on the at least one character included in the image acquired by the image acquisition section (20), deformation processing based on the deformation rule identified by the deformation rule identification section (26). |
| US08781250B2 |
Image deconvolution using color priors
Described are techniques for image deconvolution to deblur an image given a blur kernel. Localized color statistics derived from the image to be deblurred serve as a prior constraint during deconvolution. A pixel's color is formulated as a linear combination of the two most prevalent colors within a neighborhood of the pixel. This may be repeated for many or all pixels in an image. The linear combinations of the pixels serve as a two-color prior for deconvolving the blurred image. The two-color prior is responsive to the content of the image and it may decouple edge sharpness from edge strength. |
| US08781248B2 |
Image details preservation and enhancement
The appearance of image details can be preserved and/or enhanced by applying contrast adaptive gain to the high spatial frequency component of the luminance information. The image details in bright and/or dark regions can be further boosted by applying a local mean adaptive gain. The contrast transfer mapping curve for luminance contrast enhancement can be re-scaled to account for the applied gain. The re-scaling may be performed from frame to frame of displayed video. The re-scaling may be temporally controlled for subsequent frames to make the re-scaling change gradually to prevent flickering. |
| US08781245B2 |
Digital video content fingerprinting based on scale invariant interest region detection with an array of anisotropic filters
Video sequence processing is described with various filtering rules applied to extract dominant features for content based video sequence identification. Active regions are determined in video frames of a video sequence. Video frames are selected in response to temporal statistical characteristics of the determined active regions. A two pass analysis is used to detect a set of initial interest points and interest regions in the selected video frames to reduce the effective area of images that are refined by complex filters that provide accurate region characterizations resistant to image distortion for identification of the video frames in the video sequence. Extracted features and descriptors are robust with respect to image scaling, aspect ratio change, rotation, camera viewpoint change, illumination and contrast change, video compression/decompression artifacts and noise. Compact, representative signatures are generated for video sequences to provide effective query video matching and retrieval in a large video database. |
| US08781242B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
A method for processing an image includes acquiring a low frequency component of a luminance component of an image, correcting the luminance component of the image using the acquired low frequency component, determining a level correction amount of each pixel of the corrected image using a frequency distribution of low frequency components of the acquired image and a low frequency component of each pixel of the image, and performing level correction using the determined level correction amount and a luminance distribution of the corrected image. |
| US08781237B2 |
3D image processing methods and systems that decompose 3D image into left and right images and add information thereto
3D image processing methods and systems for use in an electronic device having an image decoding unit are provided. The image decoding unit includes a sequence of decoding sub-units. First, a first decoding sub-unit receives at least one 3D image. A second decoding sub-unit decomposes the 3D image into a left image or a right image according to a 3D format corresponding to the 3D image. Then, a third decoding sub-unit performs a management/control operation according to the left image or the right image, wherein the third decoding sub-unit is in the rear of the second decoding sub-unit in the sequence. In some embodiment, the second decoding sub-unit can put a tag of image type or information of image processing into a specific position of data corresponding to the left image or the right image, for subsequent decoding sub-units to process the image. |
| US08781234B2 |
Optimized fast hessian matrix computation architecture
Methods and systems of recognizing images may include an apparatus having a hardware module with logic to, for a plurality of vectors in an image, determine a first intermediate computation based on even pixels of an image vector, and determine a second intermediate computation based on odd pixels of an image vector. The logic can also combine the first and second intermediate computations into a Hessian matrix computation. |
| US08781233B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method of processing image, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes: an area extracting unit that extracts a candidate area of a classification target area in which a pixel value does not correspond to a three-dimensional shape of an imaging target based on pixel values of an intraluminal image acquired by imaging the inside of a lumen or information of a change in pixel values of peripheral pixels; and an area classifying unit that classifies the classification target area out of the candidate area based on the pixel values of the inside of the candidate area, a boundary portion of the candidate area, or a periphery portion of the candidate area. |
| US08781224B2 |
Band dependent linearization for multiband remotely sensed and aerial imagery
A system for processing a multiband image, including digital computer memory for storing a multiband image having multiple bands of image data; and processing circuitry for processing the multiband image, wherein the processing circuitry (a) determines pixel locations in the bands of the multiband image having values above the band-specific white value threshold for each of the bands of the multiband image, (b) determines a band-specific correction factor for each of plural bands of the multiband image based on the determined pixel locations, and (c) applies the corresponding band-specific correction factor to the respective plural bands of the multiband image to produce a corrected image. |
| US08781223B2 |
Image processing system and image processing method
An image processing system and an image processing method are provided. The image processing method includes following steps. Transformation matrixes between color channel images are obtained according to feature points in the color channel images. A transformation matrix having the minimum distortion is selected to determine a shift datum color channel image. The other color channel images are transformed according to the transformation matrixes corresponding to the shift datum color channel image. The shift datum color channel image and the transformed color channel images are combined to obtain a shift calibrated image. Thereby, the dispersion problem is resolved. |
| US08781222B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic illuminant compensation in video surveillance
Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for automatically detecting persons and/or other objects in a video signal. Automatic color compensation is applied to the video signal based on measured color of a reference area of the video signal. Generally the reference area is an area of the video signal that does not change often over time. The color compensated video signal is then analyzed for the appearance of objects and persons. In some instances the persons are identified using facial or other type of recognition. Counters or other trackers may provide real-time information, such as how many people are currently on a particular floor of a building. |
| US08781221B2 |
Hand gesture recognition system
A cost-effective and computationally efficient hand gesture recognition system for detecting and/or tracking a face region and/or a hand region in a series of images. A skin segmentation model is updated with skin pixel information from the face and iteratively applied to the pixels in the hand region, to more accurately identify the pixels in the hand region given current lighting conditions around the image. Shape features are then extracted from the image, and based on the shape features, a hand gesture is identified in the image. The identified hand gesture may be used to generate a command signal to control the operation of an application or system. |
| US08781212B2 |
Defect estimation device and method and inspection system and method
Acquired mask data of a defect portion is sent to a simulated repair circuit 300 to be simulated. The simulation of the acquired mask data 204 is returned to the mask inspection results 205 and thereafter sent to a wafer transfer simulator 400 along with a reference image at the corresponding portion. A wafer transfer image estimated by the wafer transfer simulator 400 is sent to a comparing circuit 301. When it is determined that there is a defect in the comparing circuit 301, the coordinates and the wafer transfer image which is a basis for the defect determination are stored as transfer image inspection results 206. The mask inspection results 205 and the transfer image inspection result 206 are then sent to the review device 500. |
| US08781207B2 |
Computing device and image correction method
A computing device reads a reference image and a real-time of a printed circuit board (PCB), determines feature points and feature information of the feature points in the reference image; and creates two 1×N matrices based on the feature points. Furthermore, a mapping matrix is determined based on the two 1×N matrices. The device determines matching points in the real-time image based on coordinates of base points in the reference image and the mapping matrix, determines a matching region the real-time image based on the matching points, and determines an angle between the matching region and an X-axis of a coordinate system. If the angle does not equal zero, the device determines that the real-time is tilted, and corrects the real-time image to obtain a corrected image by taking a center of the real-time image as a turning pivot to rotate the real-time image until the angle equals zero. |
| US08781205B2 |
Authentication of security documents, in particular banknotes
There is described a method for checking the authenticity of security documents, in particular banknotes, wherein authentic security documents comprise security features (41-49; 30; 10; 51, 52) printed, applied or otherwise provided on the security documents, which security features comprise characteristic visual features intrinsic to the processes used for producing the security documents. The method comprises the step of digitally processing a sample image of at least one region of interest (R.o.I.) of the surface of a candidate document to be authenticated, which region of interest encompasses at least part of the security features, the digital processing including performing a decomposition of the sample image by means of wavelet transform (WT) of the sample image. Such decomposition of the sample image is based on a wavelet packet transform (WPT) of the sample image, preferably a so-called two-dimensional shift invariant WPT (2D-SIWPT). |
| US08781196B2 |
Methods and systems for defining a VOI in an ultrasound imaging space
An ultrasound imaging system provides for defining a VOI in an ultrasound imaging space. The system defines an initial frame of the VOI in the ultrasound imaging space, receives a selection of at least one reference point at an arbitrary location in the ultrasound imaging space, creates at least one curved surface using at least one element of the initial frame and the at least one reference point, and then creates VOI based on the curved surface in the ultrasound imaging space. |
| US08781190B2 |
Image-recognition method for assisting ophthalmic examination instrument
An image-recognition assisting method includes the steps of using an examination instrument to generate an image having a split-image area formed thereon; setting a region-of-interest (ROI) around the split-image area of the generated image; performing a pixel luminance addition processing on the ROI, so that all pixels in the ROI have increased luminance contrast; and performing a contrast correction on the ROI having increased luminance contrast, so that the luminance contrast between the split-image area and the area surrounding the split-image area in the ROI is further increased. The image-recognition assisting method optimizes the image generated by the conventional ophthalmic examination instrument, such as a fundus camera, to increase the sharpness and the luminance contrast of the image output by the fundus camera, so that an examiner can easily recognize two offset rectangular image parts in the split-image area and align them with each other to focus the examination instrument. |
| US08781189B2 |
Reproducible segmentation of elliptical boundaries in medical imaging
A boundary in a medical image is segmented. To increase reproducibility, a multi-level segmentation approach is used. A boundary is detected based on a seed point. The boundary is used to construct a banded graph. Local segmentation is performed using the banded graph. Based on the local segmentation, a new seed point is found. The local segmentation identifies a consistent location for the seed point. The boundary detection is performed again using the new seed point. |
| US08781185B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
According to one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes an imaging unit and an application region calculating unit. The application region calculating unit automatically calculates an application region of a prepulse according to a region of interest of magnetic resonance imaging based on image data including the region of interest that are acquired before the application of the prepulse. The imaging unit performs magnetic resonance imaging of an object involving the application of the prepulse. |
| US08781183B2 |
Enhanced visualizations for ultrasound videos
A method estimates a pattern of change of a patient, specifically a change in the respiration pattern. An ultrasound video is segmented into groups of pictures (GOPs). Pixels from the first GOP are used to initialize a change model. Based on the change model, a change pattern for a next GOP is estimated, and the change model is changed to fit the change pattern. The estimating and the updating are repeated until a termination condition is reached. |
| US08781182B2 |
Multi-pass edge detection of collimator blades in digital radiography images
A process for detecting the edges of collimator blades in digital radiography images in the first pass detects the edges of the collimator blades using original image, and the in the second pass repeats edge detection using an image enhanced by a histogram matching technique, for example. The edge detection using an enhanced image may also be repeated any number of times in cases of complex anatomy or when selected radiographic techniques does do not provide sufficient imaging data. The results of the second pass, or the collection of the results of multiple second passes, are then combined with the result from the first pass to form a list of the potential blade edge candidates. A desirable number of edges are then selected from the combined list to form a polygon which encloses the target area of the image, thereby providing the shutter area. |
| US08781180B2 |
Biometric scanner with waveguide array
Devices and methods of creating an image of a biological object are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention there is a plane wave ultrasonic pulse generator, an ultrasonic wave manipulation device, an ultrasonic detector and an image generator. In a method according to the invention, a biological object is imaged by emitting an unfocussed ultrasonic energy wave front, reflecting at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy wave front from the object, altering a direction of the ultrasonic energy, detecting that energy, and using the detected energy to create an image of the object. |
| US08781178B2 |
Method and apparatus for organizing digital media based on face recognition
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for organizing digital media, particularly digital photos, using face recognition. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a computer-based method for organizing digital photos comprises: extracting objects of interest from a plurality of photographs; cropping said plurality of photographs to generate images of isolated objects of interest; applying a recognition algorithm to determine the similarity of isolated objects of interest with a reference; displaying a plurality of objects arranged as a function of the determined similarity; and receiving user input to associate said objects with a particular classification. |
| US08781176B2 |
Determining document fitness using illumination
According to an illustrative embodiment, a method for detecting a document includes capturing a first plurality of images of a document at a first wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, capturing a second plurality of images of the document at a second wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, and assembling the first and second pluralities of images to form one or more images of the document. |
| US08781174B2 |
Method and system for recognizing plant diseases and recording medium
A method and a system for recognizing plant diseases and a recording medium are provided. The method includes: providing a plant disease database, for storing plant disease and disease characteristic image corresponding to the plant disease; after obtaining plant image by an image capture device, obtaining segmented plant image by an image processing unit according to a first processing technique, and obtaining suspected region image according to a second processing technique; calculating an area of the suspected region image, and when the area is greater than a preset area, using the suspected region image as syndrome image, and comparing the syndrome image with the disease characteristic image; and when the syndrome image matches any specific disease characteristic image, obtaining a corresponding specific plant disease. |
| US08781171B2 |
Object recognition in low-lux and high-lux conditions
A system for capturing image data for gestures from a passenger or a driver in a vehicle with a dynamic illumination level comprises a low-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in an environment with an illumination level below an illumination threshold, a high-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in the environment with the illumination level above the illumination threshold, and an object recognition module for activating the sensors. The object recognition module determines the illumination level of the environment and activates the low-lux sensor if the illumination level is below the illumination threshold. If the illumination level is above the threshold, the object recognition module activates the high-lux sensor. |
| US08781162B2 |
Method and system for head tracking and pose estimation
Techniques for performing accurate and automatic head pose estimation are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, head pose estimation is integrated with a scale-invariant head tracking method along with facial features detected from a located head in images. Thus the head pose estimation works efficiently even when there are large translational movements resulting from the head motion. Various computation techniques are used to optimize the process of estimation so that the head pose estimation can be applied to control one or more objects in a virtual environment and virtual character gaze control. |
| US08781157B2 |
Analyzer of ultrasonic flaw detection image
A flaw detection image analyzer (10) takes in an inspection procedure command stored in a flaw detection condition database (40), takes in a flaw detection image signal corresponding to a flaw detection image indicated by the taken inspection procedure command from a database (50) for flaw detection image signal, and displays the flaw detection image based on the flaw detection image signal on a display (30), with a display range and a contrast indicated by the inspection procedure command in an arrangement pattern of image indicated by the inspection procedure command. Consequently, optimum images can be displayed sequentially with optimum arrangement pattern, optimum display range and contrast according to a flaw to be inspected when a flaw is detected by observing an ultrasonic flaw detection image. |
| US08781153B2 |
Method, system, and computer-accessible medium for authentication of paper using a speckle pattern
An exemplary methodology, procedure, system, method and computer-accessible medium can be provided for authenticating a portion of a non-digital medium for a document, by receiving at least one image of at least one first marked portion of the non-digital medium for the document, extracting at least one first speckle pattern of the at least one first marked portion, and comparing the first speckle pattern of the at least one first marked portion with at least one second speckle pattern relating to the non-digital medium to determine if a similarity between the first and second speckle patterns equals or exceeds a predetermined amount. |
| US08781152B2 |
Identifying visual media content captured by camera-enabled mobile device
Automatic identification of media content is at least partially based upon visually capturing a still or video image of media content being presented to a user via another device. The media content can be further refined by determining location of the user, capturing an audio portion of the media content, date and time of the capture, or profile/behavioral characteristics of the user. Identifying the media content can require (1) distinguishing a rectangular illumination the corresponds to a video display; (2) decoding a watermark presented within the displayed image/video; (3) characterizing the presentation sufficiently for determining a particular time stamp or portion of a program; and (4) determining user setting preferences for viewing the program (e.g., close captioning, aspect ratio, language). Thus identified, the media content appropriately formatted can be received for continued presentation on a user interface of the mobile device. |
| US08781151B2 |
Object detection using video input combined with tilt angle information
A method for use in obtaining input data from an object includes capturing a live image of the object with an image capture device, receiving information related to a tilt angle of the object from one or more sensors other than the image capture device, using the information related to a tilt angle of the object to obtain at least one rotated reference image of the object, comparing the live image of the object with the rotated reference image of the object, and generating an indication in response to the live image matching the rotated reference image. An apparatus and a storage medium storing a computer program executable by a processor based system are also disclosed. |
| US08781148B2 |
Headphone having integrated cord storage
The present inventive subject matter provides a headphone with a cord support that permits storage of a cord. The headphone can be moved between a closed configuration and an open configuration through extension or eversion of a headphone element or elements. In the open configuration, a structure or a surface is exposed that provides a support for winding and storage of the cord. |
| US08781143B2 |
Hearing aid with improved magnetic reception during wireless communication
A hearing aid includes a magnetically sensitive transducer for conversion of a varying magnetic field into an audio signal, a processor configured to generate a hearing loss compensated output signal based on the audio signal, an output transducer for providing an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated output signal, an RF transceiver for wireless communication, and a communication controller that is configured to turn the RF transceiver on and off, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the hearing loss compensated output signal based on an estimate of the audio signal within a time period comprising an event that the RF transceiver changes state between on and off, and wherein the estimate is based at least on a part of the audio signal input to the processor outside the time period. |
| US08781142B2 |
Selective acoustic enhancement of ambient sound
Systems and methods enhancing auditory experience for a user are provided. The method comprises receiving ambient sound by way of one or more microphones positioned about a user; monitoring the user's movements to determine sound signals interesting to the user; processing the received ambient sound based on the user's movements to at least: increase inclusion of the interesting sound signals in a generated audio output; or reduce inclusion of uninteresting sound signals in the generated audio output. |
| US08781141B2 |
Modular connection assembly for a hearing assistance device
The present subject matter relates to an improved connection assembly for hearing assistance devices. The improved connection assembly provides a connection system that is reliable, straightforward to manufacture, and easy to use. The present connection assembly provides a rapid replacement option for the cable and/or the receiver or other electronics connected to the cable. The present subject matter provides for a connection assembly that can be extended to provide connections for a variety of applications which are not limited to a speaker (receiver) in the ear. Sensors and new configurations of component placement are supported using the present assembly, including, but not limited to telecoils, and GMR or TMR sensors. Various electromagnetic interference issues are addressed. In some examples a shielded set of wires are included. In some examples a twisted pair of wires is included. Various combinations of wires for different applications are supported with the present connector system. |
| US08781138B2 |
Method for outputting background sound and mobile communication terminal using the same
A method for outputting a background sound and a mobile communication terminal using the same are provided. The method includes outputting of the background sound during voice communication, and controlling of the volume of the background sound output in correspondence to the volume of a communication voice are disclosed. The mobile communication terminal includes a background sound processing unit for controlling a volume of the background sound in correspondence to a volume level of the communication voice, and an audio processing unit for controlling the volume of the background sound under the control of the background sound processing unit and for outputting both the background sound and the communication voice. |
| US08781135B2 |
Touch pen with wireless voice capability
The invention provides a touch pen with wireless voice capability which comprises a body, an audio receiving unit, a wireless communication module, and a micro-processing unit. The body has a touch portion and a first signal connector. The wireless communication module is disposed in the body, and the wireless communication module is for wirelessly transmitting audio data generated by the audio receiving unit and for wirelessly receiving audio data. The micro-processing unit is disposed in the body and is electrically coupled to the audio receiving unit and the wireless communication module. The micro-processing unit transmits the audio data received by the wireless communication module to the first signal connector. Accordingly, the touch pen with wireless voice capability provides the personal wireless voice communication for the user, or cooperates with a speaker device adapted to the conference call for multi-users. |
| US08781134B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding stereo audio
A method of encoding stereo audio that minimizes a number of pieces of side information required for parametric-encoding and parametric-decoding of the stereo audio. The side information may include parameters about interchannel intensity difference (IID), interchannel correlation (IC), overall phase difference (OPD), and interchannel phase difference (IPD), which are required to restore the mono audio to the stereo audio. |
| US08781129B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for electrical grid quantum key distribution
Systems, methods, and apparatus for electrical grid quantum key distribution is disclosed. According to the invention, a method is provided for secure communications in an electrical power distribution network. An example of the method can include evaluating vulnerability of communications control nodes associated with the network; distributing quantum encryption keys to one or more of the communications control nodes based, at least in part, on the vulnerability of the communications control nodes; and communicating among distributed electronic devices associated with the network using the quantum encryption keys. |
| US08781123B2 |
Method for processing location information relating to a terminal connected to a packet network via a cellular network
A method (400) for processing location information relating to a certain mobile station in a cellular network is presented. The method involves a first network element, which is connected to the cellular network, and second and third network elements, which are connected to a packet data network. The first network receives (401) a location information request (201) relating to the mobile station from a second network element. A security document relating to the second network element is requested (404) from a third network element; establishment (406) of one security association pointing from the second network element to the first network element and involving information is the security document is initiated; after successful establishment of said security association, the data origin of the location service request is authenticated (408); and after successful authentication, a location procedure relating to the mobile station in the cellular network is initiated (410). Also a network element (900), a packet data device (950) and a mobile station (901) are presented. |
| US08781122B2 |
Elementary bitstream cryptographic material transport systems and methods
Systems and methods for providing multimedia content from one process or component to another process or component over an unsecured connection are provided. One embodiment includes obtaining the cryptographic information, extracting the at least partially encrypted video data from the container file to create an elementary bitstream, enciphering the cryptographic information, inserting the cryptographic information in the elementary bitstream, providing the elementary bitstream to a video decoder, extracting the cryptographic information from the elementary bitstream at the video decoder, deciphering the cryptographic information, decrypting the elementary bitstream with the cryptographic information and decoding the elementary bitstream for rendering on a display device using the video decoder. |
| US08781120B2 |
Method and device for supplying of a data set stored in a database
Method and device for supplying of a data set stored in a database to supply of a data set, e.g. the content of a copy protected audio CD, which is stored in a database, e.g. to a user PC on which said content of a copy protected audio CD cannot be accessed, the following steps are performed: receiving a serial code of a set of serial codes assigned to said data set, verifying of said received serial code, in case of a positive verification, accessing said data set correspond to said received and positively verified serial code from said database and outputting of at least parts of said accessed data. |
| US08781119B2 |
User-controlled Random-ID generation function for smartcards
A smartcard having a microcontroller kernel and a non-secure memory capable of storing a Random-ID code, where the non-secure memory is electrically coupled to the microcontroller kernel. A random number generator is for generating a new Random-ID code and the random number generator is electrically coupled to the microcontroller kernel. A user interface is electrically coupled to the random number generator so that the user may initiate generation of the new Random-ID code by the random number generator for storage in the non-secure memory. |
| US08781116B2 |
Generator of chaotic sequences and corresponding generating system
A generator of chaotic sequences of integer values is provided. The generator includes at least two discrete recursive filters at least of first-order, generating an output chaotic sequence of integer values, each recursive filter comprising means for implementing a nonlinear function connected via an exclusive-or gate to means for generating a perturbation sequence of integer values. The two filters are mounted in parallel. The chaotic sequence output from the generator is equal to an exclusive-or of the chaotic sequences output from the recursive filters, and in the means for implementing the nonlinear function includes a chaotic map. |
| US08781115B2 |
Method and system for pairing a medium to a user account
There is provided a system for pairing a medium with a user account comprising a media player configured to retrieve a medium identifier from the medium and a player identifier from a memory of the media player. The media player is further configured to transmit the medium identifier and the player identifier to a server. Additionally, the media player is further configured to receive a key associated with the medium identifier and the player identifier from the server. The server is configured to receive the key and the user account for pairing the user account with the medium associated with the key. A computer may be utilized to transmit the key and the user account to the server, after the key has been provided to a user by the media player. The media player and the computer may communicate with the server via the Internet. |
| US08781114B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing a failure of a cryptographic unit
An apparatus for recognizing a failure in a cryptographic unit, wherein the cryptographic unit includes a determinator for determining an input control signal and an output control signal, with the determinator being formed to determine the input control signal on the basis of an encryption of an input control signal parity of a group of input signals or an input signal of the group of input signals with an encryption number and to determine the output control signal on the basis of an encryption of an output control signal parity of a group of the output signals or an output signal of the group of output signals with the encryption number. Furthermore, the apparatus for recognizing includes an evaluator for evaluating the input control signal and the output control signal to recognize a failure of the cryptographic unit on the basis of a comparison between the input control signal and the output control signal. |
| US08781104B1 |
System and method for enabling tracking of contract provisions in a service message switching marketplace
The present system and method comprises an improved marketplace for providing and consuming services. Using the present system, generally via one or more APIs, comprises a method for integrating value added services within a network of participants, for instance, a payment network. The network can use service switching capabilities to route service calls to and from the service consumers and providers using routing elements defined in a message specification. Network participants can be both consumers and providers of services. The network can route service messages to the appropriate provider depending on details in the message. |
| US08781102B2 |
Method and system for analyzing a communication by applying a behavioral model thereto
A method for analyzing a telephonic communication between a customer and a contact center is provided. According to the method, a telephonic communication is separated into at least first constituent voice data and second constituent voice data. One of the first and second constituent voice data is analyzed by mining the voice data and applying a predetermined linguistic-based psychological behavioral model to one of the separated first and second constituent voice data. Behavioral assessment data is generated which corresponds to the analyzed voice data. |
| US08781101B2 |
Operator management apparatus and method
An operator management apparatus, includes a browsing times history storage unit configured to record a number of transmission times browsing information relating to a customer service is transmitted to an operator terminal used by an operator in association with an identifier of the operator that serves customers, for each of a plurality of operators, a load degrees storage unit configured to store load degrees of an operator in association with a number of transmission times of browsing information, a determining unit configured to specify a number of transmission times corresponding to a specific one of the identifies of the operators by referring to the browsing times history storage unit, and specify load degrees corresponding to the specified number of transmission times by referring to the load degrees storage unit, and an output unit configured to output the specified load degrees. |
| US08781099B2 |
Dynamic force management system
Network workforce data for a first group of agents that work during a first time interval is received at a networked computer. The network workforce data for the first group of agents is fitted to a predetermined parameterized function using a least square fit that minimizes the square error. In a second time interval, a derivative of the predetermined parameterized function is taken to determine a number of agents to work during a third time interval. The determined number of agents from the workforce are assigned to a second group of agents to work during the third time interval. |
| US08781098B2 |
System and method for prompt modification based on caller hang ups in IVRs
In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt. |
| US08781096B2 |
System and method for providing call-back options
A system and method for providing call-back options is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a call in a call routing system, providing at least one call-back option for a caller to receive a call-back, re-allocating resources in the call routing system based at least in part on the at least one call-back option, and calling the caller based on the at least one call-back option. The caller may specify a specific time, a relative time, or a time range when a call-back is preferred. The caller may also specify one or more telephone numbers in combination with the time preferences. The call-back may be initiated by a voice response unit (VRU) and additional call-back options may be presented to the customer who responds to the call-back. |
| US08781092B2 |
Systems and methods for callback processing
Systems and methods for allowing a call center to accept and schedule callback appointments for the service of inbound calls at times which are convenient for the inbound caller as well as automatically placing an outbound call at the scheduled callback time. The system collects information from the caller when scheduling a callback time which assists the agent with servicing the scheduled callback more efficiently than the original incoming call. The system also uses algorithms and various system parameters to determine how many agents are needed to service all scheduled callbacks at a given time while maximizing the efficiency of the agents by avoiding having agents service callbacks which fail to reach the person to be serviced for various reasons. When not enough agents are available to handle the scheduled callbacks and current incoming calls the called back individual is automatically connected to the next available agent avoiding the line of incoming calls entirely. This results in not only increasing the efficiency of the agents it also decreases the time necessary for the call center to provide for the scheduling of future callbacks. |
| US08781090B2 |
System and method for identifying billing errors
A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for identifying billing discrepancies includes receiving billing data from a billing entity, the billing data including an assessed fee and call details associated with each of a plurality of calls made by a customer, identifying, based at least in part on the call details received from the billing data, rate information associated with the customer, generating an expected tee for each of the plurality of calls, and comparing, for each of the plurality of calls, the expected fee with the assessed fee to identify discrepancies. |
| US08781088B2 |
Communication device, and computer readable medium and control method for the same
A communication device configured to be connected with a public network and an IP network is provided, the communication device including a communication controller that selectively performs one of a public line communication process via the public network and an IP communication process via the IP network. When determining that a redialing process to reattempt the IP communication process via the IP network is unlikely to be successfully performed, the communication controller performs a fallback process to attempt the public line communication process via the public network after switching from the IP communication process via the IP network to the public line communication process via the public network, in a situation where a setting for performing the fallback process is configured. When determining that the redialing process via the IP network is not unlikely to be successfully performed, the communication controller performs the redialing process. |
| US08781087B2 |
Simultaneous voice and data systems for secure catalog orders
Systems and methods for providing a simultaneous voice and data user interface for secure catalog orders and in particular for providing a system and method for providing a distributed voice user interface for a remote device having a limited visual user interface simultaneously with a data stream for facilitating secure automated catalog orders for simultaneous electronic fulfillment applied to that device are described. |
| US08781085B2 |
Techniques for telephony-based voting
A telephone network voting system receives telephone ballots cast by voters by dialing a telephone number. The telephone number is dialed by voters spread over a large geographic area. The voting calls are routed to points of presence local to or otherwise identified with the caller by using the caller's ANI or other originating number identification. The points of presence then accumulate votes and periodically forward tallies to a centralized location over a data network. Instructions may be transmitted from the centralized location to the points of presence. |
| US08781083B2 |
Pausing call processing to enable the playback of information
Methods, computer readable media, and system embodiments are provided for call routing in communication networks. One method embodiment includes initiating a call processing process by receiving a call for a called party, sending a message to a home location register to initiate a call termination, arming a trigger for transferring the call processing process to a set of executable instructions that can use a variable delay to pause the call processing process to allow a color ringback tone server to provide an initial play of a ringback tone, initiating an initial play of the ringback tone for receipt by the calling party, sending a message transferring the call processing process to the home location register, and setting a variable delay that allows the initial play of the ringback tone to the calling party to play for a predetermined period. |
| US08781078B2 |
Method for estimating transmission properties of a telecommunications transmission line
Transmission properties of a telecommunications transmission line may be estimated with improved accuracy by numerical solution for Γ of Zin·jω^C=Γcoth(Γ). At least one curve is adapted to Γ solutions already obtained and a starting point for numerical solution is selected in dependence of the at least one curve and in dependence of an already obtained solution close in frequency. In a first frequency range, starting points for numerical solution may be calculated from a biquadratic equation. In a second frequency range, a line in the complex plane may be adapted to solutions already obtained and new starting points selected in dependence of the line and in dependence of the previous solution. In a third frequency range, two lines in the frequency plane may be adapted to solutions already obtained and new starting points selected in dependence of the lines. |
| US08781074B2 |
Discharge module for high voltage x-ray tubes
Discharge module which is formed by three circuits, a control and measurement circuit for X-rays, a voltage division circuit between serial switches, which is independent from the previous one, and a third circuit of the charge short circuit, which in turn is formed by a successive or slave trip circuit of the switches and another main discharge circuit through the switches; due to the established configuration, a much improved radiation control is achieved as it is not affected by unforeseen agents, the short circuit current is not restricted to the port current of the switches, and residual voltage of the switches is reduced. |
| US08781073B2 |
X-ray device and method for controlling the same
Disclosed are an X-ray device to inform a patient of X-ray irradiation through a sound and a method for controlling the same. The X-ray device includes an input portion to output a first-step press signal and a second-step press signal according to an operator input, a high-voltage generating portion to perform pre-heating, and to output a ready completion signal when the high-voltage generating portion completes pre-heating, a control portion to output a sound output signal when it receives both the second-step press signal output from the input portion and the ready completion signal output from the high-voltage generating portion, and a sound output portion to receive the sound output signal output from the control portion and to output a predetermined sound. |
| US08781071B2 |
Method for extracting a primary diffusion spectrum
A method and device for spectrometry analysis and for extracting a primary diffuse spectrum from a diffusion spectrum of diffuse radiation, according to a diffusion angle, coming from a material exposed to incident radiation through a surface, that includes the application of a spectral response function organized in the form of a matrix (M), known as a correlation matrix, of which each value aij corresponds with a number of detected photons, with energy Ei, constituting the multiple diffuse radiation, when a photon is detected, with energy Ej, of the primary diffuse radiation. |
| US08781070B2 |
Detection of wafer-edge defects
Apparatus for inspection of a disk, which includes a crystalline material and has first and second sides. The apparatus includes an X-ray source, which is configured to direct a beam of X-rays to impinge on an area of the first side of the disk. An X-ray detector is positioned to receive and form input images of the X-rays that are diffracted from the area of the first side of the disk in a reflective mode. A motion assembly is configured to rotate the disk relative to the X-ray source and detector so that the area scans over a circumferential path in proximity to an edge of the disk. A processor is configured to process the input images formed by the X-ray detector along the circumferential path so as to generate a composite output image indicative of defects along the edge of the disk. |
| US08781067B2 |
Systems and methods for using an intensity-modulated X-ray source
The present application is directed toward an X-ray scanning system having a plurality of detectors and a controller, where a) the controller is configured to receive and identify a minimum X-ray transmission level detected by at least one detector, b) the controller compares the minimum X-ray transmission level to at least one predetermined threshold transmission level, and c) based on said comparison, the controller generates an adjustment signal. The present application further comprises an X-ray source, where the X-ray source receives an adjustment signal and is configured to adjust an X-ray pulse duration based on the adjustment signal. |
| US08781065B2 |
Apparatus and a method of determining the proportions of different powders in a powder
A method of determining the proportions of different powders in a powder comprises obtaining a sample of a powder, adding and mixing the sample into a molten material and freezing the mixture of powder and molten material to form a block. Computed tomography is performed on the block to produce a three-dimensional image of the block, the three-dimensional image of the block comprises a first shade, a second and a third shade corresponding to the material, a first powder particle and a sec and powder particle. The three-dimensional image of the block is analyzed to count the number of regions exhibiting the second shade and the third shade corresponding to the number of first powder particles and second powder particles respectively. The fraction of second particles in the powder is determined by dividing the number of second powder particles by the sum of the number of first powder particles and the number of second powder particles. |
| US08781063B2 |
X-ray CT scanner and image processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an X-ray CT scanner includes a gantry unit, a reconstruction unit, an extraction unit, and an output unit. The gantry unit includes an X-ray source and an X-ray detector and is configured to rotate the source and the detector. The reconstruction unit generates reconstruction image data by using data acquired by the detector. The extraction unit extracts, when using a predetermined phantom as the object, pixel values of pixels existing on a locus surrounding a tomographic image of the phantom contained in reconstruction image data generated by the reconstruction unit based on data acquired by the detector. The output unit outputs an extraction result obtained by the extraction unit or information obtained based on the extraction result. |
| US08781060B2 |
Exposure condition processing method of X-ray CT apparatus and X-ray CT apparatus
An exposure condition processing method for an X-ray CT apparatus according to the embodiment includes: a step in which a first X-ray emitting condition and a second X-ray emitting condition for the X-ray CT apparatus are input to a processor; a step in which the processor, based on the first X-ray emitting condition and the second X-ray emitting condition, acquires interval times for switching the first X-ray scanning with the first X-ray emitting condition, and the second X-ray scanning with the second X-ray emitting condition; a step in which the processor, based on the rotation speed of a gantry in the X-ray CT apparatus that is previously stored in a memory and the interval times, calculates the frequency of intermittent emission of an X-ray, with respect to the rotation speed of the gantry. |
| US08781057B2 |
Control system and method for pressurized water reactor (PWR) and PWR systems including same
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel, a reactor core disposed in the pressure vessel, an integral or external pressurizer, primary coolant disposed in the pressure vessel and heated by operation of the reactor core, and a steam generator disposed in the pressure vessel and configured to convert secondary coolant in the form of feedwater into steam by heat transfer from the primary coolant heated by operation of the reactor core to secondary coolant in the steam generator. A controller is configured to perform a PWR control method including the operations of (i) adjusting one or more parameters of the PWR and (ii) adjusting a pressurizer water level setpoint based on a predicted direction and magnitude of change of a pressurizer water level of the PWR predicted to result from the adjusting (i). |
| US08781056B2 |
Electromagnetic flow regulator, system, and methods for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid
Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor. |
| US08781053B2 |
Clock reproducing and timing method in a system having a plurality of devices
A system includes a memory controller and a plurality of semiconductor devices that are series-connected. Each of the devices has memory core for storing data. The memory controller provides a clock signal for synchronizing the operations of the devices. Each device includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) that is selectively enabled or disabled by a PLL enable signal. In each group, the PLLs of a selected number of devices are enabled by PLL enable signals and the other devices are disabled. The enabled PLL provides a plurality of reproduced clock signals with a phase shift of a multiple of 90° in response to an input clock signal. The data transfer is synchronized with at least one of the reproduced clock signals. In the devices of disabled PLLs, the data transfer is synchronized with the input clock signal. The enabled PLL and disabled PLL cause the devices to be the source and the common synchronous clocking, respectively. The devices can be grouped. The devices of one group can be structured by multiple chip packages. |
| US08781052B2 |
Physical layer channel synchronization method for high bit-rate cable transmissions
A system and method are described to provide a next generation cable gateway/modem based on the DOCSIS standard with a scheme to synchronously combine channels in the physical layer to increase overall bit rates for coaxial cable data transmission. The systems and methods synchronize the counters associated with multiple channels, including continuity counters, at the transmitter to zero and then allow the counters on individual channels to increment individually. At the receiver, individual channel delays of individual channels will be thus recognizable based on the information provided by the counters associated with each channel. A buffer at the receiver is informed and used to individually delay one or more of the multiple channels to marry up continuity counter values. In this manner, the buffer acts to essentially equalize delays in individual channels with the continuity counter representing the mechanism for specifying the individual delays for the separate channels. |
| US08781045B2 |
Communication apparatuses and wireless communications modules
A communication apparatus having a first and second wireless communications modules is provided. The first wireless communications module includes a receiving unit receiving RF signals from an air interface, a signal processing module performing frequency down conversion on the RF signals to generate baseband signals according to a clock signal, and a processor processing the baseband signals. The processor further detects an ON/OFF status of the second wireless communications module to obtain a detection result and compensates for frequency drift of the clock signal according to the detection result. |
| US08781040B2 |
Mid-packet clear channel assessment
A mid-packet detection technique is provided that detects a packet with periodic repetitions of a fixed duration at a point in time of the packet other than a start-of-packet pattern, e.g., a preamble, associated with the packet. The process performs packet detection without detecting a preamble and does not require carrier frequency recovery, timing recovery (synchronization) or channel estimation. In one embodiment, a doubly differential matched filter autocorrelation of the received signal is computed and used as a metric for packet detection when the preamble is not observed or to complement preamble detection. The metric is compared to a threshold to indicate detection of a packet. |
| US08781038B2 |
Wireless receiving apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a wireless receiving apparatus includes a calculation module, a first determination module and a second determination module. The second determination module determines a length of interleaver blocks by determining whether or not a maximum value of second correlation value sequence is not less than a second threshold value within a first period, the second correlation value sequence being generated by combining third correlation values being between the receiving signal and each of reference signals, and to determine an initial position of the interleaver blocks based on a position of the maximum value. |
| US08781037B2 |
Method and a processing unit for processing a data signal
The method includes receiving a data signal, the data signal including two training sequences, performing a first evaluation of the data signal based on a first training sequence of the two training sequences, performing a second evaluation of the data signal based on a second training sequence of the two training sequences, and processing the data signal based on a result of the first and second evaluations. |
| US08781036B1 |
System with gain based preamble sequence estimation
A system including an input module, a first gain module, a second gain module, and a preamble estimation module. The input module is configured to receive an input signal from a station. The input signal includes (i) a first preamble sequence, and (ii) subcarriers. The first gain module is configured to, based on the input signal, generate first channel gain values. Each of the first channel gain values is for a respective one of the subcarriers. A second gain module is configured to, based on the first channel gain values, generate second channel gain values. A preamble estimation module is configured to estimate the first preamble sequence based on (i) the first channel gain values, and (ii) the second channel gain values. |
| US08781035B2 |
Methods and systems for improving retransmission performance of data channels in a wireless communication
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a system and method for improving performance of HARQ operation in a wireless communication system. The proposed method enables a receiver to update a receive buffer only if newly received values corresponding to a data packet are more reliable than previous values corresponding to the same data packet (that are stored in the receive buffer). The receiver may use the more reliable information (e.g., the newly received values or the previously stored values) for decoding. |
| US08781034B2 |
Method and mobile device for joint cell identity detection and cell measurement for an LTE system
The present invention relates to a method and system for communication in a mobile device. First and second OFDM symbols containing first and second received cell-specific reference subcarriers, respectively, are received. First and second received cell-specific reference subcarriers of the first and second OFDM symbols are extracted. A pair of received subcarriers is generated by computing the scalar product of the first received cell-specific reference subcarrier and the conjugate of the second received cell-specific reference subcarrier. A reference sequence is provided, that contains pairs of reference subcarriers for multiple, possible combinations of cell-IDs. The pair of received subcarriers is correlated with each pair of reference subcarriers of the reference sequence to generate cell-specific correlation values associated with each cell-ID of a plurality of cell-specific correlation values. The cell-ID of the strongest cell is determined by searching for the highest correlation value. |
| US08781033B2 |
Apparatus and method for breaking trapping sets
An error correction data processing apparatus includes a noise predictive calibration circuit operable to calibrate a first set of filter coefficients based on a first data set and a second set of filter coefficients based on a second data set, and includes a first noise predictive detector operable to receive the first set of filter coefficients. The apparatus further includes a decoder operable to perform a first global iteration with the first noise predictive detector and determine a violation check count value, and a second noise predictive detector operable to receive the second set of filter coefficients if the violation check count value is less than a predetermined value or receive the first set of filter coefficients if the violation check count value is greater than the predetermined value. |
| US08781027B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a precoding matrix
An apparatus for determining a target precoding matrix from a plurality of precoding matrix candidates is provided. The apparatus includes a covariance matrix value provider, a real part determiner and a precoding matrix determiner. The precoding matrix determiner is adapted to determine the target precoding matrix from the plurality of precoding matrix candidates, wherein the precoding matrix determiner is configured to determine the target precoding matrix based on at least one of the one or more real covariance values. |
| US08781023B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving transmission of data on a bandwidth expanded channel
A method and apparatus for providing transmission of data on a channel in a network. For example, the method determines a ratio of a number of channel uses of the channel to a number of source samples, divides a channel bandwidth into a plurality of subbands of equal bandwidth in accordance with the ratio, receives a source sample block, determines a channel input for each of the plurality of subbands from the source sample block in accordance with a hybrid coding scheme, and transmits, for each of the plurality of subbands, the channel input that is determined over the network. |
| US08781022B1 |
Methods for multi-level data transmission
A method for multi-level data transmission includes encoding a data signal to be transmitted into N multi-level signals in accordance with an encoding table, where the data signal is characterized with a stream of binary data segments each of which has a data length of M bits, transmitting simultaneously the N multi-level signals through N data transmission channels, respectively; and decoding the N multi-level signals into the data signal by comparing each two of the N multi-level signals transmitted through the two data transmission channels to obtain a respective bit of the M bits of each binary data segment of the data signal based on comparison between the two corresponding multi-level signals. |
| US08781018B2 |
Six transmit antenna codebook design
A method of wireless data transmission includes a base station having six antennas and at least one user equipment. The base station forms at least one layer of data stream including modulated symbols, precodes the at least one layer of data stream via multiplication with consecutive first and second precoding matrices and transmit the precoded data stream to the at least one user equipment via the six antennas. The first precoding matrix W1 is a block diagonal matrix formed by two identical 3 by Nb matrices, where Nb is the number of distinct Discrete Fourier Transform vectors. The second precoding matrix W2 introduces a phase shift between the two 3 by Nb matrices and selects a column subset from the first precoding matrix. |
| US08781015B2 |
Method for generating hybrid codebook and hybrid MU-MIMO system
A method for generating a hybrid codebook for a Multi-User Multiple-input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) system includes the steps of: generating a parent matrix set including a plurality of M×M unitary matrices when the number of transmitter antennas is M; and generating a child matrix set dependent on the parent matrix set by using training vectors included in a random training set and each column for each unitary matrix of the parent matrix set as an initial vector codebook. |
| US08781013B2 |
Apparatus and method for power control in mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for power control are provided. In a receiver in a mobile communication system, a Receive (Rx) signal received through a plurality of antennas is estimated. A power ratio between a traffic channel of the Rx signal and a pilot channel of the Rx signal is determined. A Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) value is determined using the power ratio between the traffic channel and the pilot channel, a symbol of the traffic channel, and an Rx signal estimation value to which precoding is applied. |
| US08781012B2 |
Method of transmitting codebook index in wireless communication system
A method of transmitting a codebook index in a wireless communication system includes receiving a feedback index regarding an entity selected from a plurality of entities belonging to a feedback codebook, selecting a precoder from a precoding codebook using the feedback index, the precoding codebook comprising a plurality of precoders and transmitting a precoder index of the selected precoder. Flexibility can be given to codebook designs, and overhead due to the feedback of codebook indices can be reduced. |
| US08781009B2 |
Method for generating codebook, method and apparatus for data transmission
A method for generating a codebook and a method and an apparatus for data transmission are provided. The method includes: receiving a label of a codeword sent by a User Equipment (UE); selecting the codeword identified by the label from the codebook for eight-antenna; and coding data to be sent by using the codeword. The codebook for eight-antenna includes at least one rank-8 codeword for eight-antenna. The rank-8 codeword for eight-antenna is generated by multiplying an inverse matrix of a rotation matrix for eight-antenna with an eight-dimensional matrix formed by rank-4 codewords for four-antenna; or generated by extending rank-4 codewords for eight-antenna, where the rank-4 codeword for eight-antenna is generated according to codewords for four-antenna. Therefore, the codeword in the codebook for eight-antenna is applicable to scenarios including dual-polarization strong correlation, dual-polarization weak correlation, single-polarization strong correlation, and single-polarization weak correlation, etc. |
| US08781004B1 |
System and method for encoding video using variable loop filter
A system and method for encoding and decoding a video image having a plurality of frames is disclosed. The method includes a loop filter, which is used to reduce blocking artifacts in reconstructed frames. A quality value is determined for each block in the reconstructed frame and each associated predictor block. A variable incremental loop filter strength is calculated for each inter-predicted block using at least one of the quality values. The variable incremental loop filter strength is used during encoding by the loop filter to filter the reconstructed frame. |
| US08780998B2 |
Tiling in video decoding and encoding
Implementations are provided that relate, for example, to view tiling in video encoding and decoding. A particular method includes accessing a video picture that includes multiple pictures combined into a single picture, accessing information indicating how the multiple pictures in the accessed video picture are combined, decoding the video picture to provide a decoded representation of at least one of the multiple pictures, and providing the accessed information and the decoded video picture as output. Some other implementations format or process the information that indicates how multiple pictures included in a single video picture are combined into the single video picture, and format or process an encoded representation of the combined multiple pictures. |
| US08780995B2 |
Video encoding apparatus and video decoding apparatus
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a video encoding apparatus and a video decoding apparatus which are capable of providing real-time processing having improved coding performance. A video encoding apparatus AA includes an inter-encoding predicted value generating unit 2 configured to receive, as input signals, an input image a, a local decoded value d acquired from an encoded block, prediction direction information e acquired from the encoded block, and interpolation filter initial control information b. The inter-encoding predicted value generating unit 2 includes a filter control unit 21. The filter control unit 21 extracts the tap size N of the interpolation filter and the initial value c0(i,j) of the filter coefficient of the interpolation filter from the interpolation filter initial control information b, and uses the initial value c0(i,j) of the filter coefficient of the interpolation filter as the filter coefficient c(i,j) of the interpolation filter. |
| US08780982B2 |
Transmitter quieting and different encoding rates for portions of a set of frames
A method comprises defining a period of time for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data, encoding a first portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a first encoding rate, encoding a second portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a second encoding rate, wherein the second encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the period of time, transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter, and blanking the transmitter during the null interval. |
| US08780978B2 |
Controlling video encoding using audio information
A video encoder may reduce bandwidth consumption by skipping encoding of or reducing an encoding rate of video frames corresponding to silent audio frames, that is, audio frames that do not include speech data. In one example, an apparatus includes a video encoder comprising a coding unit configured to encode video data in a first or second mode and a mode select unit configured to receive an indication of whether encoded audio data corresponding to the video data to be encoded includes speech data. When the audio data includes speech data, the mode select unit selects the first mode, and when the audio data does not include speech data, the mode select unit selects the second mode. The second mode consumes relatively less bandwidth, e.g., by reducing a bitrate, modifying a quantization parameter to increase quantization, and/or reducing a frame rate relative to the first mode. |
| US08780976B1 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video using granular downsampling of frame resolution
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for encoding a video signal having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks and an original resolution. The method includes identifying a first frame from the plurality of frames that is predicted using inter prediction, determining a first variance for the first frame using a processor. selecting a first frame resolution from one of: (a) the original resolution or (b) a resolution lower than the original resolution for the first frame based on the first variance, and encoding the first frame using the selected first frame resolution. |
| US08780974B2 |
Digital PLL circuit and communication device
In a digital PLL circuit outputting a clock signal with a frequency obtained by multiplying a frequency of a reference signal by a frequency command word (a frequency ratio), an RPA serially adds a frequency command word containing a fractional component. An output of the RPA is input to a minute phase error generator. The phase error generator generates a plurality of threshold values close to an actual amplitude value of the reference signal based on the fractional portion of the serially added value of the frequency command word, calculates the amplitude value of the reference signal and a phase error of the reference signal corresponding to the amplitude value based on the threshold values, and calculates a minute phase error between the reference signal and the output clock. |
| US08780970B2 |
Motion wake identification and control mechanism
The present invention provides a system and method for detecting macroblocks of a video frame that are located in one or more motion wake regions of the video frame. In one embodiment, a motion wake engine is configured to select a subset of macroblocks comprising non-peripherally located macroblocks selected to be inter-coded with motion vector magnitudes less than a predetermined motion vector threshold. Then, the motion wake engine identifies which macroblocks of the subset of macroblocks are located in first, second, third, or fourth motion wake regions of the video frame based upon a motion vector analysis of nearest neighbor macroblocks. In another embodiment of the invention, the motion wake engine applies error concealment/video improvement techniques to the identified macroblocks for video error concealment and for reducing visual artifacts associated with the motion wake regions. |
| US08780965B2 |
Coordinating data calls on a mobile device with multiple modems
A method for inter-modem coordination is described. A first data connection to a network in a first network coverage area using a first air interface provided by a first modem is established. The method also includes detecting a second network coverage area with a second air interface provided by a second modem. A data call state of the second modem is determined by the first modem. The first data connection to the network by the first modem is terminated when the data call state of the second modem is no data call. A data call state of the first modem is determined by the second modem. A second data connection to the network using the second air interface provided by the second modem is initiated when the data call state of the first modem is no data call. |
| US08780959B2 |
Integrated transceiver loop back self test by amplitude modulation
This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) functional testing of transceivers of wireless devices. |
| US08780958B2 |
Hybrid bit extraction for global position receiver
A hybrid bit detection circuit for receiving bits from different global positioning systems, e.g. GPS and GLONASS, can include a frequency lock loop (FLL) for receiving the global positioning bits and removing Doppler frequency error and an integrate and dump (I&D) block coupled to an output of the FLL. A coherent detection circuit can be coupled to an output of the FLL and an output of the integrated and dump block. A differential detection circuit can be coupled to an output of the I&D block. Two parity check blocks can be coupled to outputs of the coherent and differential detection circuits. |
| US08780955B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, radar apparatus, and signal processing method
A signal processing apparatus which calculates a correlation value between an input analog signal and a digital code includes: an adder which adds a noise signal to the analog signal; an analog comparator which compares, synchronously with a clock signal having a first period, a magnitude of the analog signal added with the noise signal with a reference voltage; a multiplier which receives an input of a comparison result from the analog comparator and the digital code and calculates, synchronously with the clock signal, an exclusive OR between the comparison result and the digital code; and a counter which accumulates calculation results from the multiplier over a second period in a time series, and calculates, as the correlation value, a difference between an accumulation result and one-half of a quotient of the second period and the first period. |
| US08780953B2 |
Dynamic assignment of frequency hopping sequences in a communication network
In one embodiment, a management device determines a topology of nodes in a network. Based on the topology, frequency hopping sequences are assigned (and notified) to the nodes such that each particular node of a certain set of the nodes is assigned a frequency hopping sequence on which to transmit that is different than frequency hopping sequences of neighbors and hidden neighbors of that particular node. In another embodiment, a transmitting node first transmits a transmission indication signal on its particular frequency band based on its frequency hopping sequence, and then transmits a message on the particular frequency band. In a further embodiment, a receiving node listening to a plurality of frequency bands may detect the transmission indication signal on the particular frequency band. In response, the receiving node filters out all frequency bands other than the particular frequency band, and receives the following transmission on that particular frequency band. |
| US08780950B2 |
Surface emitting semiconductor laser, surface emitting semiconductor laser device, light transmission apparatus, and information processing apparatus
A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes a substrate, a first semiconductor multi-layer reflector formed on the substrate and including a pair of a high refractive index layer having a relatively high refractive index and a low refractive index layer having a relatively low refractive index which are laminated, a semi-insulating i type AlGaAs layer formed on the first semiconductor multi-layer reflector, an n type semiconductor layer formed on the AlGaAs layer, an active region formed on the semiconductor layer, a p type second semiconductor multi-layer reflector formed on the active region and including a pair of a high refractive index layer having a relatively high refractive index and a low refractive index layer having a relatively low refractive index which are laminated, an n side first electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, and a p side second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor multi-layer reflector. |
| US08780942B2 |
Communication device and a delay amount detection method
A detection section (8) of a communication device (1) includes a correlation calculation section for calculating correlation between a known TCCH symbol pattern and a demodulated complex symbol pattern received by a reception section (20) in each of a last symbol period in one sub-slot and subsequent one symbol period and a reception state acquisition section for obtaining, based on a result of the calculation in the correlation calculation section, a delay amount of a timing of receiving the signal from a communication partner device. |
| US08780939B2 |
System and method for transmitting audio data over serial link
System and method for transmitting video and audio data words via a serial data link. A transmitting device includes a first module for generating an audio data frame comprising an audio data word and a frame separation code; and a second module for generating high speed data frames each comprising at least a portion of a video data word and only a portion of the audio data frame, and for transmitting the high speed data frames via the serial data link. A receiving device includes a first module for forming the video data word from one or more high speed data frames, and a second module for forming the audio data frame from portions of high speed data frames. The second module may extract the audio data word from the audio data frame, and generate an audio clock based on a rate in which audio data words are received. |
| US08780935B2 |
Communication system, and corresponding integrated circuit and method
A communication system includes interfacing between a first synchronous circuit and a second synchronous circuit. The system includes a first interface system and a second interface system. The first interface system receives data from the first synchronous circuit, and encodes the data according to an asynchronous communication protocol. The encoded data are transmitted over a communication channel to the second interface system. The second interface system decodes the data and transmits the decoded data to the second synchronous circuit. The first interface system includes a first FIFO memory for storing temporarily the data received from the first synchronous circuit and the second interface system includes a second FIFO memory for storing temporarily the data transmitted over the communication channel. |
| US08780930B2 |
System and method for removing PDCCH detection errors in a telecommunications network
A system, method and node for unambiguous encoding of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) channels in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) telecommunications system to remove detection errors. The method includes modifying a size of a circular buffer where the coded bits are collected to avoid repetition of the coded bits in consecutive subset of the control channel elements allocated to the PDCCH. The size of the circular buffer is selected so that it is not equal to the number of coded bits output from the encoder. Coded bits can be deleted from or added to the coded bit sequence depending on the size of the circular buffer. |
| US08780921B2 |
Secure procedure for accessing a network and network thus protected
The description is of a procedure that allows temporary secure access to a communication network. The network has a number of network connection ports. Certain of these ports are termed confidential, that is, their access is controlled by the network operator, in contrast to the other connection ports access to which is free. The access procedure claims is based on the provision of two distinct services accessible via tunnels that are, advantageously, digital. The first service is accessible only from the confidential connection ports and only allows a connection credit to be obtained. The second service is accessible from all connection ports, only by means of the connection credit issued by the first service. |
| US08780919B2 |
Intelligent policy server system and method for bandwidth control in an ATM network
An intelligent policy server system and method for providing multiple service features and for controlling bandwidth usage in an ATM network. Profile arrays are provided which define feature authorizations and provisioning for subscribers and Customer Logical Ports served by edge switches. Depending on triggers associated with a signaling message received in an edge switch, a particular feature is invoked and executed by a policy server. |
| US08780917B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for communication on a Zigbee network
In a Zigbee network, reliable communications are provided by maintaining messages transmitted from a device in a message queue in the device. If no successful acknowledgement is received for a transmitted message, the message is re-transmitted when the message queue executes. Messages are deleted from the queue when the message is successfully transmitted or when a maximum number of re-tries has been exhausted. |
| US08780916B2 |
Operating an infiniband network having nodes and at least one IB switch
To improve efficiency of systems operating on internet protocol (IP) over Infiniband (IB) networks, mechanisms are provided for operating a system including a plurality of nodes, each connected to at least one IB switch. A determination is made whether an IP address of a node is included in a first level of a global ARP cache. An IP over IB GUID corresponding to the IP address of the node is identified. A determination is made whether an entry in a second level of the global ARP cache includes the identified IP over IB GUID of the node, and corresponding the IP over IB GUID of the node to IB address information of the node. |
| US08780914B2 |
Parallel processing of network packets
A packet processing circuit includes a plurality of header extraction circuits, and a scheduling circuit coupled to the plurality of header extraction circuits. The scheduling circuit is configured to receive one or more requests to extract header data of a respective packet from a data bus having a plurality of data lanes. In response to each request, the scheduling circuit determines a first subset of the plurality of data lanes that contain the respective header specified by the request, and assigns a respective one of the plurality of header extraction circuits to extract respective header data from the first subset of the plurality of data lanes. |
| US08780913B2 |
Operating an infiniband network having nodes and at least one IB switch
To improve efficiency of systems operating on internet protocol (IP) over Infiniband (IB) networks, mechanisms are provided for operating a system including a plurality of nodes, each connected to at least one IB switch. A determination is made whether an IP address of a node is included in a first level of a global ARP cache. An IP over IB GUID corresponding to the IP address of the node is identified. A determination is made whether an entry in a second level of the global ARP cache includes the identified IP over IB GUID of the node, and corresponding the IP over IB GUID of the node to IB address information of the node. |
| US08780904B2 |
Graceful network merge by performing a graceful transition of conflicting routing identifiers
A first switch of a first network may receive a second set of information including routing identifiers associated with a second network, wherein the first switch of the first network is connected to a second switch of the second network. The first switch of the first network may transmit a first set of information including routing identifiers associated with the first network. The first switch may determine whether a conflict exists between the second set of information and the first set of information. A conflicting one of the routing identifiers associated with the first or second network may be transitioned to a non-conflicting routing identifier according to the determination of whether a conflict exists between the first set of information and the second set of information. |
| US08780903B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting variable length of transport packet in an audio and video communication system
Methods and apparatus are provided for supporting a variable-length transport packet in a audio and video communication system. Data to be transmitted through a transport packet is determined. A header of the transport packet is generated. The header includes a start sync signal. When a length of the transport packet exceeds a reference size, at least one intermediate sync signal is inserted into the transport packet according to a pre-defined interval. The transport packet is transmitted. |
| US08780902B1 |
Multipathing using multiple endpoint addresses for load balancing in a network
A method for balancing load on a network by selecting a path based on a load balancing algorithm and assigning one of several pairs of endpoint addresses for a flow based on the path selected. One pair of endpoint addresses corresponds to a first path and another pair of endpoint addresses corresponds to a second path. If the first path is selected, the first pair of endpoint addresses is assigned to the flow. If the second path is selected, the second pair of endpoint addresses is assigned to the flow. In one embodiment, based on the assigned pair of endpoint address, the flow is switched to an endpoint by the selected path. |
| US08780899B2 |
Method and system for improving traffic distribution across a communication network
A system and method for distributing data across a network including a plurality of trunked port lines, including modifying an existing field within one layer of a data packet on the basis of information found within another layer of the data packet and restricting the process of trunking distribution to only consider the modified layer. In an exemplary embodiment, a method and a system for improving packet data distribution across a communication network environment is provided that changes a field within the Layer 2 (L2) section of the packet on the basis of fields within the Layer 3 (L3) section of the packet. This may involve changing the destination Media Access Control (MAC) address on the basis of the destination IP address and limiting the trunk distribution determination to the L2 section of the packet data. |
| US08780897B2 |
Cross-connect system and cross-connect method
A cross-connect system includes a mapping unit that maps second signal frames on which cross-connection is performed with a space switch, into third signal frames on which cross-connection is performed with the space switch and a time switch; a selection unit that selects either first signal frames on which cross-connection is performed with the space switch and the time switch and corresponding clock signals, or the third signal frames and corresponding clock signals; a cross-connection unit that receives either the first signal frames and corresponding clock signals or the third signal frames and corresponding clock signals selected by the selection unit and performs cross-connection for either the first signal frames or the third signal frames; and a demapping unit that demaps the third signal frames output from the cross-connection unit into the second signal frames and output the second signal frames. |
| US08780894B2 |
System enabling IP (internet protocol) services for user terminal based on SIP (session initiation protocol) signaling
The invention relates to a system enabling IP (internet protocol) services for user terminals based on SIP (session initiation protocol) signaling applicable in fixed and mobile terminals (1) of user (2) provided with means of access to an IP network (5) connected to an IMS network (6) communicating with other terminals (1) of user (2) or other services (3). It comprises a communications interface (15) connecting an application processor (7) with at least one access module (26-34) connected to an SIP signaling module (10) for the interaction of the application processor (7) by means of events with other terminals (1) of user (2) and with services (3). It comprises an event dispatcher module (19) receiving the produced events and in which the processor (7) loads filtration criteria of the events required by each application, to send each received event to the applications (8) requiring it. |
| US08780887B2 |
Method of network-based communication in virtual network environment
In a plurality of virtual tunnel routers including a first virtual tunnel router and a second virtual tunnel router, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router request virtual network prefix information from a tunnel mapping controller. When the tunnel mapping controller generates virtual network prefix information of the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router, respectively, and transmits the same along with information of a list of adjacent virtual tunnel routers, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router create a tunnel. With the tunnel established, the virtual network prefix information received by the first virtual tunnel router and second virtual tunnel router, respectively, is linked so that direct communication can be performed between the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router. |
| US08780882B2 |
On-demand spectrum contention for inter-cell spectrum sharing in cognitive radio networks
A protocol for resolving shared spectrum contentions in cognitive radio wireless access networks is presented. Using medium access control level messaging a request for access to a shared spectrum is conveyed to the current occupier of the spectrum. Each request is associated with a unique and random spectrum access priority number. At the end of a request window the priority numbers associated with each request are compared and a winner is declared. The winning cell, informed of its newly gained access to the shared spectrum, sends a reply to the current occupier of the shared spectrum with a proposed time of acquisition/release of the shared spectrum. The proposed time is confirmed and announced, and upon arrival of the designated time the shared spectrum is released by the current occupier of the shared spectrum and acquired by the requesting cell. |
| US08780879B2 |
Frequency band adjusting method, communication apparatus and frequency band adjusting apparatus
A frequency band adjusting method, in a first communication system and a second communication system sharing usable frequency band with each other, for adjusting the frequency band used by a first communication apparatus in the first communication system, comprising: determining whether or not increase in the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus is necessary based on the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus and the number of access to the first communication apparatus; determining whether or not increase in the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus is to be approved, according as there is or there is not unused frequency band not used by a second communication apparatus in the second communication system having coverage overlapping with the first communication apparatus; and, if increase is approved, increasing the frequency band used by the first communication apparatus. |
| US08780878B2 |
Method and apparatus to improve aperiodic SRS (sounding reference symbol) in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus are disclosed for aperiodic SRS improvement. In one embodiment, the method comprises configuring a UE (User Equipment) with aperiodic SRS. The method also comprises transmitting a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) on a last SC-FDMA (Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access) symbol in a UE-specific aperiodic SRS subframe if a Msg3 in the subframe is transmitted on the PUSCH. Furthermore, the method comprises not transmitting a PUSCH on a last SC-FDMA symbol in a UE-specific aperiodic SRS subframe if a Msg3 in the subframe is not transmitted on the PUSCH. |
| US08780876B2 |
Delivery of multicast and broadcast services concurrently with unicast data
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, user equipment receives unicast services from a first carrier of a primary serving cell and determines if Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast services (MBMS) services are available on a second carrier based at least in part on information in a broadcast carrier channel that indicates the second carrier or an identification (ID) of the second carrier. If MBMS services are available on the second carrier, the user equipment at least temporarily switches to the second carrier to receive the MBMS services. The user equipment may provide feedback to the network or the primary serving cell when it starts and stops receiving MBMS services, and then may switch back to the primary serving cell when MBMS services have ended or the user equipment no longer desires to receive MBMS services. |
| US08780873B2 |
Method for transmitting Media Access Control Protocol Data Unit
A method for transmitting a relatively large amount of data and an apparatus supporting the same are proposed. The data transmission method includes constructing a MAC PDU including an Advanced Generic MAC Header (AGMH) with a first length field, a MAC PDU Length Extended Header (MLEH) with a second length field, and payload, and transmitting the MAC PDU to a receiver. The first length field and the second length field are used for calculating a total length of the MAC PDU. |
| US08780872B1 |
Dual-technology wireless coexistence for multi-antenna devices
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a first antenna; a second antenna; a first wireless local-area network (WLAN) transceiver configured to operate, on a dedicated basis, with the first antenna; a second WLAN transceiver configured to share operation of the second antenna; and a non-WLAN transceiver configured to operate with the second antenna with the second WLAN transceiver. |
| US08780869B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient association procedure
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for efficient ad-hoc peer to peer communication in a contention access period, while antenna directions of communicating peers can point to each other. Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for improved association of a device in a wireless network with a controller of the network. |
| US08780868B2 |
Method for transmitting data between a radio transmitting device and a radio receiving device
A method for transmitting data between a radio transmitting device and a radio receiving device includes transmitting a frame structure over a radio channel, the frame structure including a control channel and a data channel. The method further includes detecting a quality degradation of the radio channel, selecting a bit from the data channel and increasing a transmission power of the selected bit when the quality degradation of the radio channel is detected. |
| US08780867B2 |
Packet-switch handover in simultaneous TDD-LTE and TD-SCDMA mobile communications
A mobile device capable of communicating on multiple radio access networks simultaneously may concurrently operate calls of a first call type on a first network and a second call type on the second network. As the mobile device approaches the limits of the service area of the second network it may take measurements to result in the call of the second call type to be serviced by the serving cell of the first network which is serving the mobile device for the first call type. In this manner the mobile device may ensure that when it leaves the service area of the second network, the calls of the first call type and second call type are served by the same serving cell in the first network. |
| US08780865B2 |
Method and system for determining access during inter-technologies handoff
A system and method for determining an initial mean open loop power level of a pilot channel of a reverse traffic channel for a mobile terminal. The initial open loop power level enables handoff of an active call from a first access network to a second access network. A handoff initialization request is from the first access network. A mean received power level of the forward link of the second access network is measured and transmitted to the second access network. An open loop power adjustment factor is received from the second access network. The initial mean open loop power level is set based on the open loop power adjustment factor. |
| US08780863B2 |
Systems and methods for control channel transmission and reception
In one embodiment, a method for wireless communication includes receiving a channel feedback information from a user equipment at a base station. A control channel is allocated in a data region of a subframe as indicated by the channel feedback information. The control channel within the subframe is transmitted to the user equipment. |
| US08780858B2 |
Controlling transmission control protocol (TCP) transmissions in handover
Methods and apparatuses are provided that pausing transmission control protocol (TCP) transmissions during or following handover to prevent unwarranted duplicated acknowledgement transmission, which can cause decrease in TCP window size. During handover, transmission on-hold commands can be sent to a TCP layer that indicate to prepare to pause TCP transmissions, immediately pause TCP transmissions, and/or the like. Transmission resume commands can be sent to the TCP layer following handover. In addition, TCP transmissions can be paused following handover to allow data forwarding data to be provisioned to a device from a target base station without duplicated acknowledgement transmission. |
| US08780856B2 |
Inter-system handoffs in multi-access environments
Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems for handing off user equipment between different access systems, e.g., a high rate packet data (HRPD) system and a long term evolution (LTE) system. Resources to be used in the target system can be allocated prior to breaking the serving radio connection to minimize “break before make” time associated with the handoff. |
| US08780855B2 |
Radio communication apparatus, radio communication system, and radio communication method
Radio communication apparatus perform communication by using a plurality of frequency bands. The radio communication apparatus transmits to the radio communication apparatus by using a first frequency band a control message including identification information indicating a second frequency band different from the first frequency band during a random access procedure. The radio communication apparatus receives the control message from the radio communication apparatus by using the first frequency band and performs data communication by using the second frequency band indicated by the identification information included in the control message. |
| US08780851B2 |
Base station apparatus, mobile station, radio communication system, and communication control method
In a radio communication system including a mobile station and a base station apparatus for communicating with the mobile station according to a SC-FDMA scheme in uplink, the mobile station includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit at least one of a first signal and a second signal; and a Sounding RS transmitting unit configured to determine a transmission band for a Sounding Reference Signal (Sounding RS) based on mapping information of at least one of the first signal and the second signal. |
| US08780849B2 |
Methods and systems for allocation of macro cell resources in a distributed femto cell network and a distributed relay station network
Methods and systems for reusing macro cell resources in femto cell base stations or relay stations in a non-collaborative manner are disclosed. In addition, orthogonal resource allocation between a macro cell base station and femto cell base stations/relay stations may be dynamically adjusted by considering user-population variance. Moreover, an additional level of spatial reuse by femto cell base stations or relay stations can be provided by employing macro cell user location information. |
| US08780845B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining size of transport block transmitted by base station to relay node in radio communication system
A method for receiving a Relay node dedicated Physical Downlink Shared Channel (R-PDSCH) from a base station by a relay node in a radio communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving, from the base station, a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) index and the number NR-PDSCHPRB1 of first resource blocks to which the R-PDSCH is transmitted, under the assumption that a Relay node dedicated Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH) is not transmitted, estimating the number NR-PDSCHPRB2 of second resource blocks to which the R-PDSCH is actually transmitted, using the number NR-PDSCHPRB1 of the first resource blocks and using the number NR-PDCCHPRB of resource blocks to which the R-PDCCH is transmitted, selecting the size of a transport block mapped to the R-PDSCH, using the number NR-PDSCHPRB2 of the second resource blocks and using a transport block index corresponding to the MCS index, and decoding the R-PDSCH, using the size of the transport block and using a modulation order corresponding to the MCS index. |
| US08780843B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting a sounding reference signal
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a sounding reference signal and to an apparatus for said method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting a sounding reference signal and to an apparatus for said method, wherein the method comprising the following steps: receiving sounding reference signal parameters; allocating a wireless resource using the sounding reference signal parameters; and transmitting a sounding reference signal via the wireless resource, wherein said sounding reference signal is transmitted using a portion of a period of a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbol. |
| US08780841B2 |
Downlink control information set switching when using carrier aggregation
A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a user equipment configured for multi-carrier operation from a first downlink control information set to a second downlink control information set while carrier aggregation is being used, including receiving a physical downlink control channel with downlink control information formats containing a carrier indicator field. |
| US08780834B2 |
Center frequency control method in wireless access system
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus that supports a multi-carrier wireless access system for transmitting and receiving system information. The 1st embodiment of the present invention is a method for controlling a center frequency in a wireless access system comprising the steps of: receiving a control message including a 1st parameter which indicates a configuration of carrier groups and a 2nd parameter which indicates whether the center frequency is controlled from a base station; deriving the center frequency of carriers allocated to a mobile terminal by using the 1st parameter; and controlling the center frequency by using the 2nd parameter. |
| US08780831B2 |
System and method for estimating bandwidth requirements of and allocating bandwidth to communication devices operating in a network
A system including a base station and a plurality of stations. The base station is configured to estimate bandwidths used by the plurality of stations based on packets transmitted by the plurality of stations during a first period. The base station is further configured to selectively allocate timeslots to the plurality of stations for transmission of packets to the base station during a second period following the first period. Durations of the timeslots are based on the estimated bandwidths. The plurality of stations are configured to transmit packets to the base station in the timeslots during the second period. |
| US08780827B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resource in multi-carrier system
An apparatus and method in which a Base Station (BS) allocates consecutive frequency-domain resources to a Mobile Station (MS) in the multi-carrier system are provided. The method includes sorting all MSs that participate in scheduling for each resource block in a descending order according to priority, selecting an MS including top priority as a best MS among MSs each of which includes top priority for each resource block, allocating a corresponding resource block to the selected best MS, and additionally allocating a corresponding resource block to the best MS if the best MS exists within a window preset in an adjacent resource block located in directions of at least one of decreasing and increasing a resource block index with respect to the allocated resource block, wherein the window includes a specific number of MSs including top priority, where the specific number is based on the window size. |
| US08780825B2 |
Communication system, communication device and communication method that can improve frequency use efficiency
A communication system that transmits a signal from a first communication device to a second communication device using a plurality of frequency channels, wherein at least one of the plurality of frequency channels uses part of subcarriers in an overlapping manner with one or more adjacent frequency channels, the first communication device includes a transmission unit which transmits a signal to the second communication device using one or more of the plurality of frequency channels, and the second communication device includes a reception unit which receives the signal transmitted by the transmission unit. |
| US08780824B2 |
High throughput communication station and method for communicating over a primary channel and a secondary channel
Embodiments of a high-throughput (HT) communication station (STA) and method for communicating over a primary and a secondary channel are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the high-throughput (HT) communication station (STA) comprises a physical layer (PHY) and a media-access control (MAC) layer to provide a data unit to the physical layer. The PHY layer may be configured to transmit a packet that includes the data unit over a channel bandwidth comprising a first channel and an additional channel in accordance with an OFDM communication technique. The packet may have a frame structure that includes a channel bandwidth parameter to indicate the channel bandwidth used, a modulation and coding parameter to indicate a modulation and coding scheme of the packet as transmitted over the channel bandwidth. |
| US08780823B1 |
Event driven grant allocation
Systems and methods are described for event-driven predictive scheduling of a return link of a communications system. Embodiments detect an event (e.g., a packet) on a forward link that may indicate future usage of the return link. The event is then associated with an event model that characterizes the event, and the event model is further associated with a predictive model. Scheduling of the return link is implemented and/or adjusted according to the predictive model. For example, return link allocations are adjusted by one or more amounts (e.g., one or more grants are allocated or bandwidth is adjusted by a certain amount) and at one or more designated timing offsets according to the predictive model. According to various embodiments, the predictive model is generated by tracking feedback from the return link and/or by scanning packets on the forward link. |
| US08780815B2 |
Wireless resource allocation method in wireless communication system and wireless base station in the same
A wireless base station monitors a state of reception in a common transmission region (channel) in a wireless frame common to a plurality of wireless terminals, and controls allocation of a transmission region in the wireless frame to be used for transmission by the wireless terminals on the basis of a result of the monitoring and information about priority set to each of the plural wireless terminals. The wireless resource can be preferentially allocated to a wireless terminal of a user having high priority even when the common communication region used to obtain permission to send a bandwidth request is congested. |
| US08780814B2 |
Selective bearer establishment in E-utran/EPS
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate selectively and simultaneously establishing multiple bearers in wireless communication networks. A core network entity in a wireless network can transmit a bearer establishment request to an access point comprising a list of bearers to establish with a related mobile device. The bearer establishment request comprising list of bearers includes separate non-access stratum (NAS) messages corresponding to each bearer in the list. The separate NAS messages can be linked to each bearer entry in the list. The access point can receive the list and attempt to initialize one or more radio bearers in the list. Since the NAS messages individually correspond to a given bearer, the access point can forward NAS messages to the mobile device only for bearers that are successfully initialized allowing selective establishment thereof. In addition, the access point can provide initialization status for the individual bearers to the core network. |
| US08780813B2 |
Wireless communication systems and methods and a base station communicating with a plurality of subscriber stations
A signalling mechanism in an OFDMA-based wireless communication system in which the number of bits used to indicate the 2-D resource allocation in each frame are reduced, and optimised for the particular frame configuration. The numbers of bits within the MAP-IEs in at least the DL_MAP and optionally also the UL_MAP of each frame, used to represent the Symbol offset and No. of Symbols, are scaled to the frame duration and the subcarrier allocation scheme used for the zone to which the DL-MAP_IE is associated. Likewise, a variable number of bits is used for the subchannel offset and number of subchannels, which can be optimised based on the selected FFT size and subcarrier allocation scheme. The bit numbers in use can be TLV encoded and transmitted within a downlink channel descriptor following the DL_MAP and UL_MAP. Therefore, in subsequent frames each subscriber station knows the number of bits being used to represent these parameters, and thus the field sizes in the MAP_IEs, until such time as the DCD is updated. In this way, the signalling overhead incurred by the MAP_IEs, which can be very significant for a large number of users and with some frame and FFT sizes, is reduced. |
| US08780810B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing random access with extended access barring
A method and apparatus for extended access barring (EAB) in a wireless communication system. In the proposed method, EAB application information is defined. Further, a base station is configured to send random access (RA) response within RA response window if it receives any random access preamble, so RA response window should be set as the minimum time duration UE should check the existence of RA response. In the proposed method, the UE configured with EAB should wait the duration of RA response window to receive RA response before skipping initial EAB checking. If RA response window passed and no RA response received, UE skips EAB checking in case of initial random access preamble transmission. |
| US08780807B2 |
Wireless network system with enhanced address conflict resolving functionality
A wireless network system (10) and a method of operating a wireless network system (10) is described. The wireless network system (10) comprises at least a control device (1) and a function device (21, 21′, 21″). The control device (1) being configured to send an application control command to said function device (21, 21′, 21″) with a first network address (AD1) and the function device (21, 21′, 21″) being configured upon reception of said application control command to send an acknowledgement signal to said control device (1). The control device (1) sends conflict information to said function device (21, 21′, 21″) in case more than one acknowledgement signal is received, and said function device (21, 21′, 21″) upon reception of said conflict information stores a second network address (AD2), different from said first network address (AD1) in said device configuration memory (28), so that said function device (21, 21′, 21″) is addressable in said network system (10) using said second network address (AD2). |
| US08780805B2 |
Radio communication terminal and radio communication method
Provided is a radio communication terminal which is capable of measuring quality in communication with a handover destination with high accuracy. The radio communication terminal is capable of communicating with a base station or a relay node, and includes: a receiver which receives control information including information relating to measurement of measuring quality of a neighbor cell; an extractor which extracts information on a subframe where the measurement should be performed, which is a subframe where only transmission of a signal from the relay node connected to the base station is performed, from the information relating to the measurement; a measurement section which performs the measurement, on a subframe basis, based on the extracted information on the subframe where the measurement should be performed: and a transmitter which transmits a result, of the measurement to the base station or the relay node. |
| US08780804B2 |
Providing communications using a distributed mobile architecture
A method includes receiving a call at a distributed mobile architecture (DMA) server. The DMA server includes a mobile switching center (MSC) module, a wireless transceiver, and a base station controller (BSC). The MSC module includes an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) module configured to support generation of call detail records at the DMA server. The method includes routing the call from the DMA server to a communication device. The method further includes generating a call detail record associated with the call at the DMA server. |
| US08780803B2 |
Method and apparatus for contention-based channel access with directional antenna over wideband high frequency wireless system
Provided are a method of performing contention based channel access by classifying a contention period into a beamformable contention period in which a beamforming is allowed and a non-beamformable contention period in which the beamforming is interrupted so as to resolve an issue regarding channel access occurring due to an introduction of a directional antenna for handling a path loss in a wideband wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a method for maximizing a spatial reuse gain by managing, for each direction, information about a transmission time of a message received from a dispersion device. |
| US08780799B2 |
Handling multiple voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls via a single bearer
A device receives a first request to establish a bearer with a first UE associated with a LTE device, where the first request includes first parameters associated with the first UE. The device also determines that the LTE device does not have the bearer established, and provides a new bearer request, with the first parameters, to a wireless network in order to establish the bearer with the LTE device at a first data rate. The device further receives a second request to establish another bearer with a second UE associated with the LTE device, where the second request includes second parameters associated with the second UE. The device determines that the LTE device has the bearer established, and provides a modify bearer request, with the second parameters, to the wireless network in order to modify the bearer with the LTE device to a second data rate. |
| US08780794B2 |
Method for advertising in IP multimedia subsystem and server and terminal thereof
Disclosure may be to allow a Service Provider (or operator) to intercept SIP messages (e.g., SIP INVITE method, or SIP MESSAGE method) in the path of the IMS signaling link and insert advertising information therein, thereby delivering the advertising information inserted in the SIP messages to one or more end users (i.e., originating end or terminating end, or all of them). |
| US08780782B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling radio link failure in LTE eMBMS
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE may detect a multicast/broadcast radio link failure based on at least one of decoding errors, lost or error packets/segments, or failure to receive a multicast/broadcast channel for a time period greater than a threshold, and recover from the detected multicast/broadcast radio link failure upon detecting the multicast/broadcast radio link failure. |
| US08780776B2 |
Realization of sleep and reconnecting functions on network system and the method
Realization of sleep and reconnecting functions is developed for network systems which comprise a number of end devices, network path sharing devices and coordinators. End devices and, even, network path sharing devices can be enforced to enter a sleep state at the first preset times and wake up at the second preset times. The two preset times are either assigned offline or adjustable at run time, according to the actual traffic load in the network. When a node wakes up, it checks whether the corresponding parent node is in the active state or not. If the corresponding parent node is not in the active state, the node will find a new parent node to establish a new transmission path. |
| US08780774B2 |
Method and system for antenna switching
A client terminal, such as a customer premises equipment (CPE), for receiving a communication signal in a plurality of reception configurations. The client terminal comprises an antenna unit having a plurality of reception configurations for receiving communication signal having a plurality of frames, each the frame having a predefined frame segment, a receiver, a switching module configured for switching between operational and testing receptions of the communication signal respectively by the receiver via the antenna unit in operational and testing configurations, and a timing circuit configured for timing the switching during the operational reception to allow the receiver to receive the testing reception when the predefined frame segment is received via the antenna unit in operational configuration. |
| US08780773B2 |
Mobile communication terminal, mode switching method, and network switching method
In order to input/output only necessary information in accordance with the form of application, a mobile phone includes: a wireless circuit 22 to connect to a first network in order to communicate with a device connected to the first network; a wireless LAN circuit 23 to connect to a second network different from the first network in order to communicate with a device connected to the second network; and a setting mode switching portion 21 to switch between a first setting mode capable of activating wireless circuit 22 and wireless LAN circuit 23 and a second setting mode capable of activating only wireless circuit 22 among wireless circuit 22 and wireless LAN circuit 23. |
| US08780770B2 |
Systems and methods for voice and video communication over a wireless network
Systems and methods for communicating voice and video over a wireless network. A signal, formatted as Internet protocol (VoIP, IPTV, etc.) data, is received from a device. The signal is adapted for a wireless network and then transmitted to the wireless network. Signals are also received from the wireless network and adapted to a IP formatted signal and transmitted to the device. The signals transmitted between the device and the wireless network include voice traffic as well as multimedia and other high bandwidth signals. |
| US08780766B2 |
Interleaving for relay physical downlink control channel (R-PDCCH)
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for interleaving control information for one or more nodes. For certain aspects, the control information may comprise one or more Relay Physical Downlink Control Channels (R-PDCCHs) for one or more relay nodes. The interleaving may comprise interleaving Common Reference Signal (CRS)-based R-PDCCH, wherein the resource elements (REs) for CRS and/or Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) may be discounted in a physical resource block (PRB). |
| US08780765B2 |
Method, system and peer apparatus for implementing multi-channel voice mixing
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and peer apparatus for implementing multi-channel voice mixing, which belongs to a network communication field. The method includes: obtaining, by each peer, voice mixing quality parameters of super peers which are determined from peers according to information processing abilities of the peers; obtaining, by peers with voice input in the peers, priorities of the super peers according to the voice mixing quality parameters, and selecting at least one super peer for voice mixing from all the super peers according to the priorities of the super peers; mixing, by the at least one super peer for voice mixing, audio data of each peer with voice input; and publishing mixed data. The present invention selects a super peer to replace the existing server for implementing multi-channel voice mixing and publishing mixed data. Thus, server costs and bandwidth resources can be saved. |
| US08780761B2 |
Web based capacity management (WBCM) system
A system includes a reformatting component configured to generate element management system data having a common data format by reformatting a first set of element management system data and a second set of element management system data. The system also includes a display component configured to use the element management system data to display network performance metrics via a user interface. The user interface includes at least one regional level view including a list of one or more service markets within each of one or more service regions. |
| US08780757B2 |
Network communications bandwidth manager control system providing for associated communications processing resources
Systems and methods for network communications bandwidth management and in particular to unified bandwidth manager that interfaces with and hierarchically manages a plurality of service-specific bandwidth reservation and session management systems. By utilizing a novel bandwidth management system, a better purpose specific bandwidth reservation system may thereby be achieved. |
| US08780752B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate support for multi-radio coexistence
In a multi-radio user equipment, a power backoff or similar restraint may be placed on communications of a first radio, such as LTE, in order to protect operations of a second radio, such as Bluetooth, depending on the time remaining for completion of the communications of the second radio. Such protected operations may include paging or inquiry operations. A power backoff may be applied to an LTE radio in order to protect completion of the paging or inquiry operations. The power backoff may be increased as the time to completion of the paging or inquiry operations approaches. |
| US08780748B1 |
IPV4 and IPV6 single session on a home agent
Methods for registering a first internet protocol version registration request and a second internet protocol version registration request in a single binding on a home agent are provided. In embodiments, entries are recognized as sharing common information in an IPv4 and IPv6 binding table. The entries with common information are combined into one binding. Through the combining of the bindings, the IPv4 and IPv6 sessions are combined into one session. |
| US08780747B2 |
Method for controlling uplink access in wireless communication system
A method of controlling uplink access in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: generating an access probability sequence consisting of an access probability determined with respect to a radio resource used for data transmission; transmitting data according to the access probability included in the access probability sequence; receiving a success/failure result on the data transmission; and regulating the access probability used in the data transmission according to the success/failure result. Accordingly, each user equipment performs a simple control process for attempting random uplink access according to an access probability sequence and for changing the access probability sequence according to success/failure of uplink data transmission, thereby decreasing a probability of collision between user equipments, thereby increasing data transmission efficiency in a system employing a plurality of user equipments. |
| US08780746B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and a computer-readable medium
The disclosure provides a communication apparatus that can accurately measure the available bandwidth of a communication path between itself and another communication apparatus by performing measurement communication in accordance with an execution frequency. The communication apparatuses can select the optimum communication method in accordance with the identified available bandwidth, so that each of the communication apparatuses can reliably perform communication with a counterpart apparatus. The execution frequency is identified in accordance with the communication stability so that an appropriate execution frequency can be identified for each bidirectional communication path. In this way, communication apparatuses can accurately measure the available bandwidth by performing measurement communication with the optimum execution frequency. |
| US08780744B2 |
Selective allocation of dedicated channel (DCH) resources within a wireless communications system
In an embodiment, a UE determines to transmit a message (e.g., an alert message, a call initiation message). Based on the type of the message to be transmitted, the UE selectively transmits supplemental data configured to prompt an access network to transition the UE to a dedicated channel state (DCS). In another embodiment, an application server configured to arbitrate communication sessions between UEs receives a message for transmission to a target UE. Based on the type of the message to be transmitted to the target UE, the application server selectively transmits, to a serving access network of the target UE, supplemental data configured to prompt the serving access network to transition the target UE to the DCS. In another embodiment, the access network selectively transitions a target UE to the DCS based on whether differently sized messages are received at the access network for transmission to the target UE. |
| US08780741B2 |
On-demand information retrieval using wireless communication devices
A method, information processing system, and computer program product provide on-demand information captured from wireless devices. An information request is received from an electronic device. At least one wireless communication device is identified from a set of wireless communication devices that is available to satisfy the information request. The information request is sent to the at least one wireless communication device in response to identifying the at least one wireless communication device. A set of information is received from the at least one wireless communication device that satisfies the information request. The set of information that has been received is sent to the electronic device. The information request comprises a request for a set of information of at least one information type and from a given geographical location. |
| US08780737B2 |
Apparatus and method for loop-back in wireless communication systems
Disclosed is a loop-back apparatus in wireless communication systems, including: an MAC processing unit configured to transmit a user data and a control frame when a loop-back mode is established; a loop-back unit configured to generate a response frame of a receipt for the user data and the control message transmitted from the MAC processing unit and again feedbacks the generated response frame to the MAC processing unit. |
| US08780736B2 |
Communication apparatus and heat generation suppressing method
A communication apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a memory, and a processor. The temperature sensor measures temperature. The memory stores association groups of packet transmission rates associated with at least one of individual ports and individual transmission flows. The processor selects, based on the measured temperature, one of the association groups for suppressing heat generation, and controls reception rates using the packet transmission rates of the selected association group. |
| US08780735B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing traffic and auxiliary channels in a wireless data communication system
Techniques to test performance of terminals and access points in CDMA data (e.g., cdma2000) systems. A framework of protocols and messages is provided to support systematic performance testing of terminals and to ensure interface compatibility. The framework comprises a Forward Test Application Protocol (FTAP) for testing forward channels and a Reverse Test Application Protocol (RTAP) for testing reverse channels. Techniques are also provided to (1) test different types of channels (e.g., traffic channels as well as auxiliary channels), (2) test bursty data transmissions, (3) support “persistence” testing (i.e., continued testing over connection and disconnection), (4) force the settings of certain auxiliary channels (e.g., so that the error rate of the channels may be determined), and (5) collect, log, and report various statistics that may be used to derive performance metrics such as throughput and packet error rate. |
| US08780731B2 |
Ethernet performance monitoring
One embodiment is a source router that monitors the performance of an Ethernet network. The source router generates an Ethernet connectivity check request frame that includes a transmission timestamp, and transmits the Ethernet connectivity check request frame to a destination router. The source router receives a reply from the destination router that is transmitted in response to receiving the Ethernet connectivity check request frame and determines a round trip time between the source router and the destination router based on a time of receipt of the reply and the transmission timestamp. |
| US08780730B2 |
Load-balancing gateways
A gateway system determines whether load conditions are heavy or light according to a predetermined criterion. If load conditions are light, the gateway operates in reactive mode. If load conditions are heavy, the gateway operates in proactive mode. |
| US08780728B1 |
Test loading in OFDMA wireless networks
A radio frequency radio (RF) transceiver that defines scheduling logic for generating transmission schedules for orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) RF transmissions from the RF transceiver, wherein the scheduling logic specifies at least one of a modulation type, a code rate, a sub-channel, and a sub-carrier for a plurality of symbols to be transmitted in a communication signal sub-frame. A processor generates outgoing data bits and outgoing test data bits for transmission from the RF transceiver as OFDMA transmission signals and OFDMA test data transmission signals, respectively, according to the transmission schedules to create loading within at least a portion of a cellular service area that corresponds with a test-loading value. The amount of the additional required loading is the difference between the test-loading value and an actual loading value. |
| US08780726B2 |
Remote communications diagnostics using analog data analysis
Systems and methods for remotely diagnosing problems across the communications lines of an environmental control network using analog data analysis are disclosed. An illustrative system can include an executive controller, a communications bus including a number of communications lines connecting the controller to one or more slave modules, an analog-to-digital converter, and a diagnostics module for diagnosing problems on one or more of the communications lines from a remote location. The analog input lines for the analog-to-digital converter can be connected to the communications lines and one or more other sources. The diagnostics module can include various diagnostic tools that can be used to diagnose problems occurring across the communications lines as well as to determine other information about the system. |
| US08780724B2 |
Method, node device, and communication system for device pool management
A method, a node device, and a communication system for device pool management are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining autonomous loop configuration data which describes relations between a node device and its ancestor node device and between the node device and its descendant node device in an autonomous loop by using identifiers of node devices in the autonomous loop; and setting up a backup relation between a node device and an ancestor node device as well as a backup relation between the node device and a descendant node device according to the autonomous loop configuration data, receiving and storing backup data sent by the ancestor node device, and sending data of the node device to be backed up to the descendant node device. Therefore, the service continuity is ensured when some of the node devices disengage from the autonomous loop. |
| US08780720B2 |
Radio access network load and condition aware traffic shaping control
Fine grained RAN aware traffic prioritization in spectrum constrained modern wireless networks which support differentiated service plans uses cell load metrics supplied to a Fine grained Traffic flow Prioritization Engine (FTPE) with and without the assistance from a client side collection module, Peer Agent (PA), at the mobile. Knowledge about a mobile's subscription plan is derived from a Subscription Profiles Repository (SPR). Dynamic control on traffic prioritization is applied through operator policy control engines, Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) module. The FTPE works with flexible flow aggregation rules to simplify and scale prioritizing, blocking, and deferring decisions. The FPTE may apply Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) techniques to identify application flows, and uses hierarchical queue disciplines to achieve the necessary flow control. The FPTE may also instead use an adjunct DPI to perform the flow identifications. |
| US08780718B2 |
Systems and methods for maintaining persistence by a backup virtual server
The present disclosure presents systems and methods for maintaining persistence of a backup virtual server on connections currently serviced by the backup virtual server. A virtual server operating on an intermediary network device and identified as a primary virtual server for a first connection may receive a request via the first connection. The intermediary device may forward the first request to a backup virtual server of the virtual server in response to identifying that the virtual server is unavailable. The intermediary device may later identify that the virtual server is available. The virtual server may establish a new connection responsive to receiving a connection request while the intermediary device may forward a second request received via the first connection to the backup virtual server instead of the virtual server responsive to identifying that the virtual server is configured not to preempt the backup virtual server from maintaining connections currently maintained by the backup virtual server. |
| US08780716B2 |
System and method for service assurance in IP networks
A system and method for providing service assurance in a data network is provided. Resource control points are positioned throughout a data network, such as an IP data network. The resource control points obtain network topology information and correlates that information with information associated with a particular service session. The resource control points utilize the correlated information to generate quality service records and to provide status information regarding the network topology and particular sessions. The resource control points may further retrieve link and utilization information to control sessions during periods of congestion. |
| US08780711B2 |
Coordinated back-off mechanism for path selection in hybrid communication networks
A coordinated back-off mechanism for automatic path selection for minimizing race conditions in hybrid communication networks is disclosed. A network device determines a stream medium utilization associated with packet streams for each priority class and network interface of a plurality of communication devices (including the network device). For each priority class and network interface, the communication devices are ranked according to the stream medium utilization. In response to determining that a medium utilization of a network interface exceeds a corresponding medium utilization threshold, the network device determines whether one of its network interfaces originates a packet stream with the greatest stream medium utilization value for a selected priority class. If so, path selection operations are executed to reduce the medium utilization associated with network interface below the medium utilization threshold. Otherwise, a back-off period is calculated based on the ranking associated with the network device for the selected priority class. |
| US08780709B2 |
Intelligent traffic optimizer
Bandwidth is assigned to subscribers of a data network by applying logic of one or more network devices to sample bits of information communicated over a network communication medium to identify if there is a network congestion condition or an extremely lightly loaded condition. The maximum bandwidth assigned to a subscriber is below a normative maximum bandwidth assigned to the subscriber if the network is congested and the logic of the one or more network devices identifies the subscriber as a heavy bandwidth user. The maximum bandwidth assigned to a subscriber is above the normative maximum bandwidth if the network is extremely lightly loaded and the subscriber is a heavy bandwidth user. |
| US08780700B2 |
Triggering a redundant router master/backup status change based on switch connectivity
Systems and methods according to the exemplary embodiments enable improved switch or link failure handling. A redundant router master/backup status change may be triggered based on switch connectivity. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes monitoring a connectivity of a network, detecting a failure, and based on the detected failure, changing the redundant router master/backup status of both a first router and at least a second of router. |
| US08780698B2 |
Signal processing method in wireless communication system and device therefor
Disclosed herein is a method for processing signals by a wireless node in a wireless communication system. The method for processing the signal includes configuring a specific subframe for communicating with a network node, starting a timer if a problem of a connection with the network node is detected, and releasing the configured specific subframe if the timer expires. |
| US08780686B2 |
Reduced memory vectored DSL
The memory storage, transmission and processing demands of a vectored DSL system are reduced by sampling a subset of DSL tones in the DSL tone range used in the vectored system. This data is smoothed (denoised) to further reduce the data's size, sacrificing some fidelity or precision as a result. Finally, lossless entropy coding or the like is performed to encode the FEXT cancellation data for storage and use. The resulting data is less likely to cause transmission bottlenecks in the vectored system, can be stored and used more efficiently for both on-chip and off-chip vectoring implementations, and can be readily updated in various ways. |
| US08780680B2 |
Optical disc device
The optical disc device has a circuit which forms a focus error signal for focus servo control based on reflection light from an optical disc exposed to laser light. Also, the device has a data processing unit which can control by feedback a position to which an objective lens is moved by a focusing actuator based on a focus error signal. In label printing, the data processing unit controls, by feedforward, a position to which the objective lens is moved by the focusing actuator based on control data for label printing. The operation resolution of the focusing actuator in feedforward control is made higher than that in feedback control. Thus, an intended position control accuracy is achieved in feedforward control. For instance, in feedforward control, the gain of the driver circuit for the focusing actuator is switched to a smaller one in comparison to that in feedback control. |
| US08780677B2 |
Magnetic field generator
A metallic ring is made of two metals, wherein one metal forms a major arcuate portion and the other a minor arcuate portion of the ring, thereby forming a thermocouple-type structure as a result of the two inter-metallic junctions. The metallic ring supports a surface plasmon whose energy is matched to the energy, i.e. wavelength, of an incident light beam so that the oscillating electromagnetic field of the light resonates with the plasmon. The resonating plasmon causes a temperature difference to arise between the two inter-metallic junctions in the ring. The different Seebeck coefficients of the two metals results in the temperature difference causing a net current to flow around the ring, which in turn generates a magnetic field. Such a thermoelectric metamaterial ring transforms high frequency optical energy into long duration magnetic radiation pulses in the terahertz range. Applications of these devices include high density magnetic recording, magnetic field spectroscopy, and efficient terahertz radiation sources. |
| US08780673B2 |
Digital speaker apparatus
An actuation system for generating a physical effect, the system comprising at least one array of translating elements each constrained to travel alternately back and forth along a respective axis, toward first and second extreme positions respectively, in response to activation of first and second forces respectively; and a controller operative to use the first and second forces to selectably latch at least one subset of said translating elements into the first and second extreme positions respectively. |
| US08780671B2 |
Using microseismic data to characterize hydraulic fractures
Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location. |
| US08780670B2 |
Cetacean protection system
An embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure for conducting a marine survey includes a survey spread comprising a plurality of receivers and an energy source that is towed along a selected course while a signal is emitted from an energy source. A plurality of receivers receive data comprising a detection sampling frequency and a survey sampling frequency. The survey sampling frequency is monitored to detect a cetacean vocalization and to position the cetacean at least while conducting the seismic survey. Pursuant to the location of the cetacean actions can be taken to protect the cetacean and to minimize disruptions in conducting the seismic survey. |
| US08780662B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including initialization signal generation circuit
An initialization signal generation circuit includes: an initialization signal output unit configured to generate an initialization signal which is enabled during at least a portion of an auto refresh operation period of the initialization mode, in response to a flag signal; a refresh signal generation unit configured to generate a preliminary refresh signal and a refresh counting signal having the same period as the auto refresh signal in response to the flag signal and an auto refresh signal; and a counter unit configured to count a counting signal in response to the refresh counting signal and generate a counting initialization signal, which is delayed by at least a pulse width of the refresh counting signal, after a time point where a combination of the counting signal becomes a preset combination. |
| US08780660B2 |
Spurious induced charge cleanup for one time programmable (OTP) memory
A high density, low voltage, and low-power one time programmable (OTP) memory is based on core cells with a one transistor design. A CLEAN pulse is directed to a single shunt device at the output of the column decoder so spurious charges that may have been stored in the floating nodes can be cleaned up. Such arrangement also allows for the simultaneous initialization of bit lines, data lines, and sensing lines to zero. Core area layout size is substantially reduced, and operational power requirements are exceeding low making these particularly suitable in HF and UHF RFID applications. |
| US08780657B2 |
Memory with bit line current injection
Embodiments of a memory are disclosed that may allow for the detection of weak data storage cells or may allow operation of data storage cells under conditions that may represent the effects of transistor ageing. The memory may include data storage cells, a column multiplexer, a sense amplifier, and a current injector. The current injector may be configured to generate multiple current levels and may be operable to controllably select one of the current levels to either source current to or sink current from the input of the sense amplifier. |
| US08780656B2 |
Stacked memory device and method of repairing same
A stacked semiconductor memory device comprises memory cell array layers that are stacked in an inverted wedge shape and have different redundancy sizes from each other. The stacked semiconductor memory device has space for vertical connection between layers, a relatively small size, and a relatively high yield. |
| US08780654B2 |
Weak bit detection in a memory through variable development time
Embodiments of a memory are disclosed that may allow for the detection and compensation of weak data storage cells. The memory may include data storage cells, a selection circuit, a sense amplifier, and a timing and control block. The timing and control block may be operable to controllably select differing time periods between the activation of the selection circuit and the activation of the sense amplifier. |
| US08780651B2 |
Continuous programming of non-volatile memory
A system connects a signal driver to a first control line that is connected to a first non-volatile storage element, charges the first control line while the signal driver is connected to the first control line, disconnects the signal driver from the first control line while the first control line remains charged from the signal driver, connects the signal driver to a second control line that is connected to a second non-volatile storage element, charges the second control line using the signal driver while the signal driver is connected to the second control line, and disconnects the signal driver from the second control line. The disconnecting of the signal driver from the first control line, the connecting the signal driver to the second control line and the charging of the second control line are performed without waiting for the first non-volatile storage element's program operation to complete. |
| US08780647B2 |
Semiconductor device
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first penetrating electrode penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, a first test pad, and a first tri-state buffer coupled between the first penetrating electrode and the first test pad. The first tri-state buffer receives a buffer control signal at a control terminal thereof. The device further includes a buffer control circuit supplying the buffer control signal to the first tri-state buffer. |
| US08780642B2 |
Split gate NAND flash memory structure and array, method of programming, erasing and reading thereof, and method of manufacturing
A split gate NAND flash memory structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The NAND structure comprises a first region of a second conductivity type in the substrate with a second region of the second conductivity type in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region. A continuous first channel region is defined between the first region and the second region. A plurality of floating gates are spaced apart from one another with each positioned over a separate portion of the channel region. A plurality of control gates are provided with each associated with and adjacent to a floating gate. Each control gate has two portions: a first portion over a portion of the channel region and a second portion over the associated floating gate and capacitively coupled thereto. |
| US08780641B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic sensing window in memory
A memory array is characterized by a threshold definition, which includes threshold voltage ranges representing data values stored by a part of the memory array, and a set of sense windows separating the threshold voltage ranges. The threshold definition is varied, responsive to at least one of program operations and erase operations. Such operations change a distribution of the data values stored in the memory group. |
| US08780640B2 |
System and method to enable reading from non-volatile memory devices
A system and method to enable reading from non-volatile memory (NVM) devices is described. In one embodiment, the method includes setting a sensing parameter used to read data stored in a NVM device, reading from pluralities of locations of the NVM device with the sensing parameter set at the first value. The locations of the NVM device store an identical value. The method also includes verifying whether the identical value is read correctly from the locations of the NVM device. The method also includes setting the sensing parameter to a second value when the identical value is not read correctly with the sensing parameter set at the first value. The method further includes determining a third value for the sensing parameter from the identical value and setting the sensing parameter to the third value when the identical value is read correctly. |
| US08780639B2 |
Non-volatile memory device with plural reference cells, and method of setting the reference cells
A non-volatile memory device has an array of non-volatile memory cells, a first plurality of non-volatile memory reference cells, with each reference cell capable of being programmed to a reference level different from the other reference cells; and a second plurality of comparators. Each of the comparators is connectable to one of the first plurality of non-volatile memory reference cells and to one of a third plurality of memory cells from among the array of non-volatile memory cells. |
| US08780636B2 |
Rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with stacked memory cells
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, the memory cells being stacked on the semiconductor substrate; and a power supply circuit provided on the semiconductor substrate. The power supply circuit includes: a pump circuit configured to generate a voltage and supply the voltage to the memory cell array; a limiter circuit configured to output control signal for activating the pump circuit according to a comparison result between a voltage value of the output terminal and a first value; a capacitor configured to adjust a voltage of the output terminal; a boost circuit configured to charge the capacitor using a constant current based on the control signal; and a switch configured to stop a charge operation of the boost circuit. The capacitor is provided directly below the memory cell array. |
| US08780633B2 |
De-duplication system 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. |
| US08780629B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
A semiconductor device has a non-volatile memory cell including a write transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor and has small leakage current in an off state between a source and a drain, a read transistor including a semiconductor material different from that of the write transistor, and a capacitor. Data is written or rewritten to the memory cell by turning on the write transistor and applying a potential to a node where one of a source electrode and drain electrode of the write transistor, one electrode of the capacitor, and a gate electrode of the read transistor are electrically connected to one another, and then turning off the write transistor so that the predetermined amount of charge is held in the node. |
| US08780628B2 |
Integrated circuit including a voltage divider and methods of operating the same
An integrated circuit includes at least one FLASH memory array and at least one capacitor array disposed over a substrate. The at least one capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor cell structures. The capacitor cell structures each includes a first capacitor electrode disposed over the substrate. A second capacitor electrode is disposed over the first capacitor electrode. A third capacitor electrode is disposed adjacent to first sidewalls of the first and second capacitor electrodes. A fourth capacitor electrode is disposed adjacent to second sidewalls of the first and second capacitor electrodes. |
| US08780626B2 |
Sense operation in a memory device
Methods for sensing and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for sensing determines a threshold voltage of an n-bit memory cell that is adjacent to an m-bit memory cell to be sensed. A control gate of the m-bit memory cell to be sensed is biased with a sense voltage adjusted responsive to the determined threshold voltage of the n-bit memory cell. |
| US08780624B2 |
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. |
| US08780622B2 |
Phase-change memory with multiple polarity bits having enhanced endurance and error tolerance
A Phase-Change Memory (PCM) apparatus including a data field for storing a data bits representing a data value or an inversion of the data value and a polarity field for storing a plurality of polarity bits for indicating that the data bits stored in the data field represent the data value or the inversion of the data value. In one embodiment an odd number of set polarity bits indicates that the data bits represent the inversion of the data value and an even number of set polarity bits indicates that the data bits represent the data value. The PCM apparatus has enhanced endurance and improved error tolerance. |
| US08780618B2 |
Writing circuit for a magnetoresistive memory cell
According to embodiments of the present invention, a writing circuit for a magnetoresistive memory cell is provided. The writing circuit includes a first connecting terminal configured to provide a first electrical signal to switch a variable magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer from a first magnetization orientation to a second magnetization orientation; a second connecting terminal configured to provide a second electrical signal to switch the magnetization orientation from the second magnetization orientation to the first magnetization orientation; and a sourcing switch configured to provide for a write operation a connection of the first or second connecting terminal to a node coupleable to the magnetoresistive memory cell. The first and second electrical signals have different amplitudes, and the first and second electrical signals are of the same polarity. Further embodiments relate to a memory cell arrangement and a method of writing into a target magnetoresistive memory cell. |
| US08780617B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of performing burn-in test on the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array having a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell including a resistive element and a cell transistor between a bit line and a source line, and a source line voltage supply unit configured to supply, in a normal mode, a reference source line voltage to the source line, and in a test mode, a first source line voltage to the source line when data in a first state is recorded and a second source line voltage to the source line when data in a second state is recorded, the first source line voltage being lower than the reference source line voltage, and the second source line voltage being higher than the reference source line voltage. |
| US08780613B1 |
Reading a memory element within a crossbar array
A method for reading a memory element within a crossbar array includes switching a column line connected to a target memory element of the crossbar array to connected to an input of a current mirror; applying an error voltage to unselected rows of the crossbar array; applying a sense voltage to a row line connected to the target memory element; and outputting a current with said current mirror. |
| US08780612B2 |
Resistive memory device and programming method thereof
A method for programming a resistive memory device includes: programming a resistive memory; generating a verification data based on comparison result of a voltage, which is generated from a current flowing through the resistive memory, and a verification reference voltage which is higher than a read reference voltage used for a normal read operation; and deciding whether to end a program operation based on the verification data. |
| US08780610B2 |
Storing data in a non-volatile latch
Storing data in a non-volatile latch may include applying a bias voltage to a memristor pair in electrical communication with at least one logic gate and applying a gate voltage to a transmission gate to allow an input voltage to be applied to the at least one logic gate where the input voltage is greater than the bias voltage and the input voltage determines a resistance state of the memristor pair. |
| US08780609B2 |
Variable-resistance memory device and driving method thereof
A variable-resistance memory device includes a memory array section including a main memory cell employing a storage element having a resistance increasing and decreasing in a reversible manner in accordance with application of a signal set at one of different polarities to the opposite ends of the storage element, and a reference cell section including a reference cell provided with a storage element having a resistance increasing and decreasing in a reversible manner in accordance with application of a signal set at one of different polarities to the opposite ends of the storage element and generating a reference current used for recognizing data of the main memory cell. The direction of an applied current serving as the reference current is set in accordance with the resistance state of the reference cell. |
| US08780607B2 |
Select devices for memory cell applications
Select devices for memory cell applications and methods of forming the same are described herein. As an example, one or more memory cells comprise a a select device structure including a two terminal select device having a current-voltage (I-V) profile associated therewith, and a non-ohmic device in series with the two terminal select device. The combined two terminal select device and non-ohmic device provide a composite I-V profile of the select device structure that includes a modified characteristic as compared to the I-V profile, and the modified characteristic is based on at least one operating voltage associated with the memory cell. |
| US08780602B2 |
Integrated circuit self aligned 3D memory array and manufacturing method
A 3D memory device includes a plurality of ridge-shaped stacks, in the form of multiple strips of conductive material separated by insulating material, arranged as bit lines which can be coupled through decoding circuits to sense amplifiers. The strips of conductive material have side surfaces on the sides of the ridge-shaped stacks. A plurality of conductive lines arranged as word lines which can be coupled to row decoders, extends orthogonally over the plurality of ridge-shaped stacks. The conductive lines conform to the surface of the stacks. Memory elements lie in a multi-layer array of interface regions at cross-points between side surfaces of the conductive strips on the stacks and the conductive lines. The memory elements are programmable, like the anti-fuses or charge trapping structures. The 3D memory is made using only two critical masks for multiple layers. |
| US08780598B2 |
Inverter circuit, power converter circuit, and electric vehicle
An object is to reduce, with the control circuit of the full-bridge inverter circuit, distortions in an output signal of the inverter circuit resulting from an error in control of the switching of the high-side transistors and low-side transistors included in the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit. The pulse width of a signal that controls ON/OFF of the high-side transistors and low-side transistors included in the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit is reduced, i.e., the duty cycle of the signal is reduced. This results in a reduction in short-circuit periods during which both the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor are on, thereby reducing distortions in a signal. |
| US08780595B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling a power converter
A controller for controlling a power converter is described. The controller includes an input configured to receive at least one grid feedback signal, a filter, and an output. The filter is configured to receive the at least one grid feedback signal and generate an output signal that does not deviate by more than a predefined amount from the at least one grid feedback signal. The output is configured to provide a voltage command signal to the power converter that is based at least partially on the output signal. |
| US08780593B2 |
Power compensation apparatus and method for renewable energy system
A power compensation apparatus for a renewable energy system includes a plurality of converter modules positioned between any two phases of a three-phase AC electrical grid, each converter module including a plurality of inverter circuits connected in series. Each inverter circuit includes an energy storage unit for providing a direct current (DC) voltage; a capacitor connected to the energy storage unit; and an H-bridge circuit converting the DC voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage. The converter modules perform reactive power compensation and active power regulation on the electrical grid in a delta connection. A plurality of converter modules are respectively positioned between any two phases of the electrical grid in a delta connection, so as to keep the voltage of the electrical grid continuously stable when the voltage of the electrical grid fluctuates, and also compensate load current when system load is not balanced. |
| US08780588B2 |
Bidirectional DC/DC converter with simple control operation
Disclosed is a bidirectional DC/DC converter including: a primary side circuit that includes a first DC power source or a first load; a secondary side circuit that includes a second load or a second DC power source; and a power transfer unit that is capable of transferring power bi-directionally between the primary side circuit and the secondary side circuit. Further, the bidirectional DC/DC converter includes a control circuit that controls the primary side circuit and secondary side circuit in such a way that current flows through the power transfer unit from the first DC power source to the second load or from the second DC power source to the first load. |
| US08780583B2 |
Printed wiring board and electronic device
A printed wiring board has an aperture with a continuous peripheral face. The aperture has a mounting hole portion and an insertion hole portion. The mounting hole portion is disposed adjacent to a side edge of the printed wiring board. The insertion hole portion is disposed between the mounting hole portion and the side edge of the printed wiring board. The insertion hole portion is spaced apart from the side edge of the printed wiring board by a distance that is at least equal to a thickness of the printed wiring board. |
| US08780582B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of bolts, a plurality of support members and a display screen. The housing is curved. The plurality of bolts are separately fixed to the bottom plate and received within the housing. The plurality of support members are assembled to the top ends of the plurality of bolts and are individually adjustable as to the height of their fixing location, so that all of the support members can be adjusted to be positioned on the same horizontal plane. The display screen is assembled within the housing, and supported by the plurality of support members. |
| US08780581B2 |
Structures for forming conductive paths in antennas device and other electronic device structures
Electronic devices may be provided that contain conductive paths. A conductive path may be formed from an elongated metal member that extends across a dielectric gap in an antenna. The antenna may be formed from conductive structures that form an antenna ground and conductive structures that are part of a peripheral conductive housing member in the electronic device. The gap may separate the peripheral conductive housing member from the conductive structures. A conductive path may also be formed using one or more springs. A spring may be welded to a conductive member and may have prongs that press against an additional conductive member when the spring is compressed. The prongs may have narrowed tips, curved shapes, and burrs that help form a satisfactory electrical contact between the spring prongs and the additional conductive member. |
| US08780580B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a second flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to interface terminals, a display panel joined to a first flexible printed circuit board, and a sub panel joined to the second flexible printed circuit board. The second flexible printed circuit board includes an upper end portion which extending sideward from an end portion of the sub panel above the first flexible printed circuit board, an outward bent portion bent from the upper end portion in a return direction, an intermediate portion extending from the outward bent portion such that the intermediate portion passes an electrically connecting portion with the first flexible printed circuit board below the first flexible printed circuit board, an inward bent portion bent from the intermediate portion in a return direction toward the electrically connecting portion, and a lower end portion extending from the inward bent portion and reaching the electrically connecting portion. |
| US08780577B2 |
COF packaging unit and COF packaging tape
The invention discloses a COF packaging unit and a COF packaging tape. The COF packaging unit comprises COF baseband(s), IC Die(s) packaged on the COF baseband(s), and input end wires and output end wires connected with the IC Die(s); the input end wires and the output end wires are respectively provided with input terminals and output terminals at two edges of the COF baseband. In the invention, because the input terminals and the output terminals are pitched along the edges of the COF baseband, the length of the single COF packaging unit is set in accordance with the pitching requirement of the input end wires and the output end wires, so that the COF baseband can have sufficient area for wiring, to adapt to the requirement of large LCD panels. Thus, resources are reasonably integrated and used, equipment utilization rate is increased, material purchasing cost is saved, and economic benefits are increased. |
| US08780576B2 |
Low CTE interposer
An interconnection component includes a first support portion has a plurality of first conductive vias extending therethrough substantially perpendicular to surfaces thereof such that each via has a first end adjacent a first surface and a second end adjacent a second surface. A second support portion has a plurality of second conductive vias extending therethrough substantially perpendicular to surfaces thereof such that each via has a first end adjacent the first surface and a second end adjacent the second surface. A redistribution layer is disposed between the second surfaces of the first and second support portions, electrically connecting at least some of the first vias with at least some of the second vias. The first and second support portions can have a coefficient of thermal expansion (“CTE”) of less than 12 parts per million per degree, Celsius (“ppm/° C.”). |
| US08780572B2 |
Printed circuit board having electronic component
A printed circuit board that include: an electronic component having a plating electrode pad having a predetermined thickness; an insulating resin layer that exposes a lower surface of the electrode pad, receives the electronic component, and embodies the electronic component so that the center of the base body forming the electronic component is positioned at the center of the insulating resin layer; and circuit layers that include a circuit pattern disposed on the electrode pad, form inter-layer connection, and are disposed on both surfaces of the insulating resin layer, respectively, the plating electrode pad having a thickness that conforms to a thickness from an upper surface of the electronic component to an upper surface of the insulating resin. |
| US08780569B2 |
Electrical assembly having impedance controlled signal traces
An electrical assembly having controlled impedance signal traces and a portable electronic device comprising an electrical assembly having controlled impedance signal traces are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a portable electronic device, comprising an electrical assembly, comprising: a chassis made from a conductive material and forming a first ground plane; a first dielectric substrate layer overlaying the chassis; a first signal trace overlaying the first dielectric substrate layer; and a second dielectric layer overlaying the first signal trace. |
| US08780567B2 |
Conductive substrate and electronic device comprising same
Disclosed are an electric conducting substrate, comprising a transparent substrate and an electric conducting pattern comprising an electric conducting line provided on the transparent substrate, and an electronic device comprising the same. |
| US08780566B2 |
Energy storage device with gas-tight capacitor chamber
With the objective of improving an energy storage device comprising a transducer unit and a capacitor module which interacts with the transducer unit so it can be inserted as a physical device into a motor vehicle in particular, it is proposed to provide a housing to accommodate the capacitor cells of the capacitor module, for the housing to comprise a capacitor chamber accommodating the capacitor cells, and for the capacitor chamber to have a gas-tight seal. |
| US08780564B2 |
Solenoid control apparatus
A solenoid control apparatus includes a resin housing having a solenoid mounting portion, a connector portion, and a circuit board mounting portion in which a circuit board is mounted. Terminals extending from the solenoid mounting portion and the connector portion are soldered to the electrical circuit on the circuit board. The circuit board has a reduced-rigidity portion in its area corresponding to a portion of the resin housing through which the connector portion is connected to the solenoid mounting portion. The reduced-rigidity portion is formed by reducing the amount of material forming the circuit board per unit area, and is more easily deformable than the remaining portion of the circuit board. When the connector portion is thermally deformed, the circuit board is also easily deformable about the reduced-rigidity portion. This reduces stress on the soldered portions. |
| US08780563B2 |
Load distributed heat sink system
The invention provides a load distributed heat sink system for securing a heat sink to a heat-generating electronic component while distributing the load on the circuit board. Provided is a heat sink system having heat sink, a heat sink clip, and a circuit board. The heat sink is generally disposed on one side of the circuit board over a component, and the heat sink clip is generally disposed on the opposing side of the circuit board. The ends of heat sink clip reach to the other side and attach onto the heat sink on. The heat sink clip further includes a load spreader, which is urged onto the circuit board by the heat sink clip, both retaining the heat sink system in place and distributing load on the circuit board. |
| US08780561B2 |
Conduction cooling of multi-channel flip chip based panel array circuits
A method of forming a heat-dissipating structure for semiconductor circuits is provided. First and second semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) chips are provided, where the first and second semiconductor chips each have first and second opposing sides, wherein the first and second semiconductor IC chips are configured to be fixedly attached to a top surface of a substantially planar circuit board along their respective first sides. The respective second opposing sides of each of the first and second semiconductor IC chips are coupled to first and second respective portions of a sacrificial thermal spreader material, the sacrificial thermal spreader material comprising a material that is thermally conductive. The first and second portions of the sacrificial thermal spreader material are planarized to substantially equalize a respective first height of the first semiconductor chip and a respective second height of the second semiconductor chip. |
| US08780559B2 |
Heat exchange assembly for use with electrical devices and methods of assembling an electrical device
An electrical device is described herein. The electrical device includes a housing that includes an inner surface that defines a cavity, a heat sink that is coupled to the housing and oriented along a first plane, and at least one electrical component positioned within the housing cavity and oriented along a second plane that is different than the first plane. A heat exchange assembly is coupled to the electrical component and the heat sink for adjusting a temperature of the electrical component. The heat exchange assembly includes an evaporator section, a condenser section, and a transport section extending between the evaporator section and the condenser section for channeling a working fluid between the evaporator section and the condenser section. The heat exchange assembly is configured to bend along at least one bending axis oriented with respect to the transport section. |
| US08780557B2 |
Power electronics inverter with capacitor cooling
A power electronics inverter includes a housing which forms a cold plate with coolant passages. The housing encloses an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and a DC Link capacitor. The capacitor comprises a bus-bar which exits from a bottom side of the capacitor, and the bus-bar is positioned adjacent to the cold plate. The cold plate forms a cooling passage which underlies the IGBT and the capacitor bus-bar. Thermally conductive gap pads are located between the capacitor bus-bar and the cold plate. |
| US08780553B2 |
Cradle for mobile unit
A cradle locks a mobile unit (MU) therein with a single insertion process. The cradle includes a cup shaped to receive a first portion of the MU. The cradle includes a backing portion including a first end coupled to the cup portion. The cradle includes a hoop portion movably coupled to a second end of the backing portion for movement between a securing position and a receiving position, the hoop being biased toward the securing position. The cradle includes a latch releasably securing the hoop portion in the receiving position. The cradle includes a plunger extending out of the backing portion in a first direction so that, when engaged by the MU, the plunger is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction moving the latch to release the hoop portion so that the hoop portion moves under its bias into the securing position. |
| US08780552B2 |
Liquid cooling system for stackable modules in energy-efficient computing systems
A computing system is provided. In the computing system, a plurality of modules physically arranged in a three dimensional hexadron configuration. In the computing system, the at least one module is either a liquid-tight module filled with a non-conductive liquid coolant or a module cooled with a liquid coolant circulating through cold plates mounted on electronic components. In the computing system, the liquid coolant is circulated in a closed loop by at least one pump through a plurality of hoses through at least one of a plurality of heat exchangers. In the computing system, the plurality of heat exchangers is coupled to an exterior portion of the surface of the computing system. In the computing system, the plurality of heat exchangers cool the liquid coolant through tinned tubes exposed to the surrounding air. |
| US08780549B2 |
Electronic device support with magnetic indexing
An electronic device support has a receptacle with an electronic device receiving cavity and a first magnetic indexing part. A base is hingedly coupled to the receptacle and has a second magnetic indexing part. The first and second magnetic indexing parts are configured to allow the receptacle to rotate relative to the base when rotationally apart from a specified orientation and to magnetically support the receptacle when in the specified orientation. |
| US08780548B2 |
Docking station with rotation mechanism
A docking station for a portable electronic device is provided. The docking station comprises (a) an engagement element, wherein the engagement element is capable of engaging the said portable electronic device; and (b) a rotation mechanism, wherein the rotation mechanism is capable of rotating said portable electronic device relative to a support base of said docking station. |
| US08780546B2 |
Docking station for electronic device
A docking station used for receiving an electronic device. The docking station includes a housing, a retractable docking port, and a rotating shaft. The housing defines a receiving groove. The docking port can be positioned by manipulation of the rotating shaft to be exposed in the receiving groove or retracted and hidden inside the housing. |
| US08780545B2 |
Electronic device enclosure with bracket for data storage device
An enclosure includes a chassis and a bracket. The chassis comprises a rear panel with a latch hole. The bracket comprises a first sidewall. A resilient piece and a sustaining piece are located on the first sidewall. The resilient piece is elastically deformable as the bracket is rotated relative to the chassis, from a first position to a second position. When the bracket is in the first position, the resilient piece is engaged in the latch hole, and the sustaining piece is located between the first sidewall and the rear panel; when the bracket is in the second position, the resilient piece is disengaged from the latch hole, and the sustaining piece is engaged with the rear panel. |
| US08780543B2 |
Integrated feature for friction-less movement of force sensitive touch screen
A suspension system for a differential-pressure touch sensitive panel suspended over force sensors, for use in either fixed or mobile devices such as point of sales terminals, kiosks, laptops, monitors, PDAs, cell phones, UMPCs and more. In one embodiment, a number of leaf springs are attached directly to the touch lens at both ends and attached directly to the underlying housing at the center, effectively pulling the leaf spring down at the center into a concave arc. The spring bias preloads the touch lens downward against the force sensors. The leaf springs bring the touch lens into a fixed state in the xy-plane and resist translation; however, the touch lens remains free to float against the bias of the leaf spring(s) without any frictional physical contact along the z-axis. |
| US08780538B2 |
Cable management apparatus
A cable management apparatus includes a guide rail, a number of slide members slidably mounted to the guide rail, and a number of cable supports. Each of the cable supports includes two arms hinged to each other. Each of the arms forms a first end and a second end. The first end of the former one of two neighboring cable supports and the second end of the latter cable support are rotatably connected to the slide member between the neighboring cable supports. The first end of the last cable support is connected to the guide rail. The cable supports are unfolded with the slide members sliding forwards along the guide rail to spread a cable rested on the cable supports. The cable supports are folded with the slide members sliding rearwards along the guide rail to wind up the cable. |
| US08780536B2 |
Motherboard capable of reducing electromagnetic interference
A motherboard includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a central processing unit (CPU), a regulator, a first memory adaptor, and a second memory adaptor. The PCB includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of first soldering pads and first leads arranged on the top surface, and a plurality of second leads arranged between the top surface and the bottom surface. The PCB defines a plurality of first vias, second vias, and power vias. The CPU is connected to the first vias. The voltage regulator is connected to the power vias. The first memory adaptor neighbors to the regulator and is surface-mount soldered to the first soldering pads. The first soldering pads are connected to the first vias by first leads. The second memory adaptor is soldered to the second vias. The second vias are connected to the first vias by the second leads. |
| US08780535B2 |
Case for enclosing and remaining attached to a tablet-computing device
A case for enclosing and remaining attached to a tablet-computing device may include a rigid inner portion and an outer portion attached thereto. The case may be customized to accommodate a particular kind or type of tablet-computing device and may include an aperture aligned within the case to accommodate a feature of the inserted tablet-computing device. The case may be configured to elevate a tablet-computing device to an angled position relative to a planar position and/or maintain the tablet-computing device in the angled position. In some embodiments, the rigid inner portion may be removable from the case. |
| US08780533B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and method for producing the same
A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes a laminated body, a solid electrolyte layer, and conductive bases. The laminated body is obtained by laminating a plurality of dielectric-coated valve action metal sheets, each of which includes a valve action metal base and a dielectric coating, and joining together the adjacent valve action metal bases. The valve action metal base has a cathode layer part, and the dielectric coating covers the surface of the valve action metal base at least the cathode layer part. The valve action metal base of at least one of the dielectric-coated valve action metal sheets further has an anode lead part. The solid electrolyte layer is a continuous layer that fills gaps between the dielectric-coated valve action metal sheets and covers the outer surface of the laminated body at the cathode layer parts, and conductive bases are provided in the solid electrolyte layer. |
| US08780530B2 |
Hermetically sealed capacitor assembly
A capacitor assembly that includes an electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body, dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric is provided. An anode lead is also electrically connected to the anode body and extends therefrom, The capacitor and leadframe are enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas. In this manner, the solid electrolyte (e.g., conductive polymer) is less likely to undergo a reaction in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly. |
| US08780528B2 |
Electrolyte and electric double-layer capacitor using same
An electrolyte includes an organic solvent, a solute and a compound represented by chemical formula [1], both contained in the organic solvent. R1 and R2 represent a methyl group or an ethyl group; R3 represents a functional group having a straight chain including three or more carbon atoms and a hydroxyl group bonded to a terminal carbon; C represents a carbon atom; H represents a hydrogen atom; O represents an oxygen atom; and N represents a nitrogen atom. |
| US08780522B2 |
Capacitively-coupled electrostatic (CCE) probe arrangement for detecting dechucking in a plasma processing chamber and methods thereof
A method for identifying a signal perturbation characteristic of a dechucking event within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system is provided. The method includes executing a dechucking step within the processing chamber to remove a substrate from a lower electrode, wherein the dechucking step includes generating plasma capable of providing a current to neutralize an electrostatic charge on the substrate. The method also includes employing a probe head to collect a set of characteristic parameter measurements during the dechucking step. The probe head is on a surface of the processing chamber, wherein the surface is within close proximity to a substrate surface. The method further includes comparing the set of characteristic parameter measurements against a pre-defined range. If the set of characteristic parameter measurements is within the pre-defined range, the electrostatic charge is removed from the substrate and the signal perturbation characteristic of the dechucking event is detected. |
| US08780520B2 |
Surge protection element
A surge protection element includes a contact stud and a contact element disposed at a distance from the contact stud. A connection element is configured to be transferred into a first position, in which the connection element is applied to the contact stud and to the contact element so as to electrically connect the contact stud to the contact element, and into a second position, in which the connection element is disposed at a distance from the contact stud and the contact element. In the first position, the connection element engages at least partially around at least one of the contact stud and the contact element and a thermally separable connection is provided between the connection element and the contact stud and between the connection element and the contact element. |
| US08780519B2 |
Modular and weather resistant overvoltage protection system for wireless communication systems
A surge suppression system provides surge protection both locally within the radio station building were the power plant and telecommunication equipment are located and remotely next to the radios and antennas located outside of the building on the communication tower. An external surge suppression unit provides a waterproof enclosure for both surge suppression devices and fiber optic connectors. A rack mountable surge suppression unit provides local in-line surge suppression protection for the electrical equipment located in the communication station. A unique surge suppression tray is hot swappable so that multiple surge suppression devices can be replaced at the same time without disrupting radio operation. Pluggable surge suppression modules can be used in both the external surge suppression unit and the rack mountable surge suppression unit. |
| US08780518B2 |
Electronic control device including interrupt wire
An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires disposed on the substrate, a plurality of electronic components mounted on the respective component-mounted wires, a common wire coupled with each of the electronic components, an interrupt wire coupled between one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire, and a heat release portion. The interrupt wire melts in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent. The heat release portion is attached to the common wire and is disposed at a position where a wiring distance from the interrupt wire is shorter than a wiring distance between the interrupt wire and any of the electronic components except for one of the electronic components mounted on the one of the component-mounted wires. |
| US08780515B2 |
Control circuit with protection circuit for power supply
A control circuit with protection circuit for power supply according to the present invention comprises a peak-detection circuit and a protection circuit. The peak-detection circuit detects an AC input voltage and generates a peak-detection signal. The protection circuit comprises an over-voltage protection circuit. The over-voltage protection circuit generates an over-voltage protection signal in response to the peak-detection signal. The protection circuit generates a reset signal to reduce the output of the power supply in response to the over-voltage protection signal. The present invention can protect the power supply in response to the AC input voltage effectively through the peak-detection circuit. |
| US08780513B2 |
Reverse battery cutoff circuit for an actuator or the like
A reverse battery protection circuit for an actuator or the like. The circuit includes at least a first transistor and a second transistor which is coupled to both the first transistor and a voltage supply in a manner wherein the second transistor is adapted to turn the first transistor off in the event of an interruption in the voltage supply. |
| US08780512B2 |
Low leakage ESD structure for non-contact bio-signal sensors
Various techniques for providing a low leakage electrostatic discharge (ESD) structure for non-contact bio-signal sensors are disclosed. In some embodiments, a low leakage ESD structure for a capacitive bio-sensor includes a unity gain buffer, and an ESD protection circuit connected to the unity gain buffer, in which the ESD protection circuit includes a diode connected across an input and an output of the unity gain buffer, and in which a voltage range for the ESD protection circuit is configurable. |
| US08780511B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection circuit
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit includes a diode chain coupled between a power supply voltage end and a control node, a control voltage generator configured to generate a control voltage in response to a first current flowing through the diode chain, and a discharger configured to discharge a second current from the power supply voltage end to a ground voltage end in response to the control voltage, wherein the diode chain includes a plurality of P-well regions formed in an N-well region, diodes formed in the respective P-well regions, and a resistor coupled between the diodes. |
| US08780505B1 |
Method and system for providing a read transducer having an improved composite magnetic shield
A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including a first shield, a read sensor, and a second shield. The read sensor is between the first shield and the second shield. The second shield includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, a second ferromagnetic layer and a pinning layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is between the read sensor and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The pinning layer is adjacent to the second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is coupled antiparallel with the second ferromagnetic layer. At least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer includes a CoFe portion adjacent to the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The CoFe portion includes at least twenty-five atomic percent and not more than fifty atomic percent Fe. |
| US08780504B1 |
Disk drive head suspension assembly with load beam inner rails between piezo actuator elements
A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam, and first and second piezoelectric elements that are disposed within first and second piezoelectric element receiving windows in a mounting plate, respectively. The load beam includes a plurality of rails that includes first and second outer rails and first and second inner rails, each of the plurality of rails being oriented in the longitudinal direction and being formed or bent out of the load beam plane. The first and second inner rails are disposed between the first and second piezoelectric elements, and the first and second outer rails are disposed not between the first and second piezoelectric elements. The first piezoelectric element is disposed between the first outer rail and the first inner rail, and the second piezoelectric element is disposed between the second inner rail and the second outer rail. |
| US08780501B2 |
Head support mechanism with counter balance and centroid adjustment pads
A head support mechanism includes a slider on which a head element is mounted is arranged at a tip end part of a load beam. The head support mechanism includes a support projection arranged at the tip end part of the load beam, a gimbal part including the slider and arranged to support the slider in a revolvable manner around the support projection, a displacement member arranged to revolve the slider around the support projection, and a counter balance aligned along a symmetric axis of the gimbal part so as to align a centroid of the gimbal part including the slider with the support projection. |
| US08780498B1 |
System for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording transducer using a split seed layer
A magnetic recording transducer comprises a main pole having a bottom, a top wider than the bottom, and a top bevel. The transducer further comprises a nonmagnetic gap covering the main pole, a portion of the nonmagnetic gap residing on the top of the main pole, a first seed layer, at least a portion of the first seed layer covering the portion of the nonmagnetic gap on top of the main pole, a second seed layer residing on the first seed layer, and a wrap-around shield on the second seed layer. |
| US08780491B1 |
Method of imbalance correction using a grooved disk clamp
A disk clamp that can engage a disk hub to couple a disk media to a disk hub, the disk clamp having a body portion, and a groove formed in a surface of the body portion and extending at least in a circumferential direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of the circumference of the disk clamp; and a balance weight installed in the groove formed in the surface of the disk clamp, the balance weight having a quantity of material applied in the groove. A disk drive assembly using the disk hub and a method of correcting a drive imbalance using the disk hub. |
| US08780486B2 |
Determining a skew error signal (SES) offset used to determine an SES to adjust heads in a drive unit
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining a skew error signal (SES) offset used to determine an SES to adjust heads in a drive unit. A determination is made of a first difference in a first orientation with respect to a direction of movement of the recordable storage media based on first and second position information read by first and second servo read elements on a first head. A determination is made of a second difference in a second orientation with respect to the direction of movement of the recordable storage media based on third and fourth position information read by the first servo read element and a third servo read element on a second head. An offset, calculated based on the determined first and second difference, is used to generate an error signal to adjust the first and second heads. |
| US08780485B2 |
Data transfer of a linear tape drive
An example provides a system and method for decreasing a data transfer rate of a linear tape drive. The method includes detecting, within a linear tape drive, a first data transfer rate of a host computing system to determine whether the first data transfer rate is slower than a second data transfer rate of a magnetic tape head within the linear tape drive. The method also includes, in response to determining that the first data transfer rate is slower than the second data transfer rate, deactivating a specified number of data write elements within the magnetic tape head, wherein deactivating the specified number of the data write elements includes decreasing the second transfer rate. |
| US08780483B2 |
Automatic unthread and store of data storage device medium
An apparatus, system, and method for automatic unthreading and storage of storage media helps prevent damage to the media, which can otherwise occur when the storage media is left threaded in a storage media drive over an extended period or under adverse conditions. A sensing device may generate a signal or a detector may receive a signal indicating that a predetermined period of time has lapsed or that some other criteria has been met indicating that the storage media should be removed from the storage media drive. An unthread module in the storage media drive receives the signal and automatically unthreads and stores the storage media. A location on the storage media can be marked by the unthread module prior to unthreading such that the media may be returned to the location upon rethreading. |
| US08780479B1 |
Disk drive executing jerk seeks to rotate pivot ball bearings relative to races
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, a head attached to a distal end of an actuator arm, and a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to rotate the actuator arm about a pivot bearing including a race and a plurality of ball bearings. The VCM is controlled to execute a first jerk seek in a first radial direction so that the ball bearings slip within the race by a first rotation angle. The VCM is controlled to execute a second jerk seek in the first radial direction so that the ball bearings slip within the race by a second rotation angle, wherein the second rotation angle adds to the first rotation angle in order to rotate the ball bearings relative to the race at a reference angle of the pivot bearing. |
| US08780478B1 |
Grease wear leveling for a disk drive
Grease wear leveling in a disk drive including an actuator for moving a head over a disk as part of a seek operation. A count of seek operations is maintained and when the count of seek operations exceeds a first threshold number, one or more full stroke seek (FSS) operations are performed until a count of the FSS operations performed reaches a predetermined number. The FSS operation includes moving the head through a substantially wide range of motion. For each of the one or more FSS operations performed, the count of FSS operations performed is adjusted based on whether the most recent FSS operation was performed within a time window. The time window is based at least on a number of interval seek operations performed since a previously performed FSS operation. |
| US08780477B1 |
Disk drive adjusting servo timing to compensate for transient when crossing a servo zone boundary
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo sectors defining a plurality of servo tracks, wherein the servo tracks form a plurality of servo zones, and a servo data rate of servo sectors in a first servo zone is different than a servo data rate of servo sectors in a second servo zone. A disk locked clock is synchronized to the data rate of the servo sectors in the first servo zone, wherein the disk locked clock for generating a timing window relative to the servo sectors. When the head crosses from the first servo zone to the second servo zone, at least one of the disk locked clock and the timing window is adjusted to compensate for a timing transient. |
| US08780475B2 |
Tape drive buffer utilization
Records and filemarks read from data segments are aggregated into at least one single data segment. The records and the filemarks are reorganized and restructured in the single data segment such that buffer utilization is improved. |
| US08780474B2 |
Writing data to tape medium
In a controller of a tape drive, a CM input-output unit recognizes a tape format; a tape variable acquisition unit acquires tape variables; a setting variable acquisition unit acquires setting variables; and a minimum number calculator calculates a minimum number m of sub datasets, which are to be written to a tape to secure resistance to burst error, by using the tape variables and setting variables. When a command processor receives a synchronization command, the buffer manager generates n sub datasets for storing data in the buffer. If n is smaller than m, m sub datasets are padded out and set as write data. If n is m or more, the n sub datasets are set as write data. Then, the channel input-output unit writes the write data to the tape. |
| US08780469B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus enabling construction of a small bending optical system with high magnification. A first lens group is movably disposed toward an object on a first optical axis. A second lens group is movably disposed radially inward of the first lens group. The second lens group comprises a drive frame drivingly controlled along the first optical axis and a lens holding frame for holding the second lens group. A prism is disposed on the first optical axis, for bending light incident on the prism to thereby guide the light along a second optical axis. The prism is retracted along the second optical axis in a non-shooting state. In the non-shooting state, the second lens group is retracted and accommodated in a space defined by the drive frame and the lens holding frame and a space occupied by the prism in a shooting state. |
| US08780468B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel is provided that includes an optical system, a housing, a cover member, an electronic part, a flexible substrate. The optical system is configured to form an optical image of a subject. The housing supports the optical system in an interior. The cover member supports the housing in a state of covering an opening of the housing. The electronic part is provided in the interior of the housing. The flexible substrate is electrically connected to the electronic part. The flexible substrate has a connection terminal. The cover member has a through-hole formed in a specific direction. The connection terminal is positioned on inside of the through-hole when viewed in the specific direction. |
| US08780465B2 |
Optical system for camera
Disclosed herein is an optical system for a camera. The optical system for a camera includes: a first lens having positive refractive power and a meniscus shape concave toward an image; a second lens having negative refractive power and a shape concave toward the image; a third lens having the positive refractive power and a shape convex toward an object; a fourth lens having the positive refractive power and a shape convex toward the image; and a fifth lens having the negative refractive power, a shape convex toward the object and concave to the image, and one or more inflection point provided on an image surface. |
| US08780462B2 |
Image forming lens, camera device, and handheld terminal
An image forming lens including an aperture stop, a first lens group, and a second lens group having a positive power, the first lens group including a first F lens group having a negative power and a first R lens group having a positive power, the first F lens group including at least two negative lenses, the first R lens group including at least one positive lens, the second lens group including a second F lens group having a positive power and a second R lens group, the second F lens group including a first positive lens, a first negative lens, a second negative lens, and a second positive lens, and the second R lens group including at least one lens. |
| US08780460B2 |
Imaging lens system
An imaging lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface at a paraxial region, and the image-side surface thereof changes from concave at the paraxial region to convex at a peripheral region, wherein both of an object-side surface and the image-side surface are aspheric. |
| US08780458B2 |
Imaging lens, image pickup apparatus, and portable terminal
Provided is an imaging lens, and also provided are an image pickup apparatus and a portable terminal both equipped with the imaging lens. The imaging lens includes in order: a positive first lens having a convex object-side surface; a negative second lens having a concave image-side surface; a negative meniscus-shaped third lens having a convex object-side surface; a positive fourth lens having a convex image-side surface; and a negative fifth lens having a concave image-side surface. The image-side surface of the fifth lens is aspherical and has an inflection point at a position of the optical axis. The third and the fourth lenses are integrally moved to focus, and the following conditional relation is satisfied: 0.75 |
| US08780455B2 |
Lens driving apparatus, optical apparatus and control method for lens driving apparatus
The lens driving apparatus moves a magnification-varying lens and moves a focus lens to compensate for image plane variation caused by movement of the magnification-varying lens. The apparatus includes a zoom operating member, a stepping motor, a zoom controller controlling drive of the stepping motor, a focus actuator moving the focus lens, a focus controller controlling drive of the focus actuator, a memory storing cam data to compensate for the image plane variation, and a zoom position detector. During a magnification variation operation, the zoom controller performs open-loop control of the drive of the stepping motor based on an operation amount of the zoom operating member, and the focus controller controls the drive of the focus actuator based on the actual position of the magnification-varying lens detected by the zoom position detector, and the cam data. |
| US08780450B2 |
Lens apparatus and image capturing apparatus
Provided is a lens apparatus in which a plurality of lenses are formed, including: a housing filled with a first liquid and a second liquid that do not mix with each other; a partition to divide the inside of the housing into a plurality of regions, each of the regions being filled with one of the first liquid and the second liquid; and a pressure control section that controls the internal pressure of the region filled with the first liquid, where the partition is provided with a plurality of openings, in which a plurality of lenses having different characteristics from each other are formed by the interface between the first liquid and the second liquid, and the regions inside the housing filled with the first liquid are linked to each other so that the first liquid can move therebetween. |
| US08780441B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective with pupil correction
The disclosure provides a catadioptric projection objective which includes a plurality of optical elements, including first, second and third refractive objection parts. Optical elements arranged between an object surface and a first pupil surface form a Fourier lens group that includes a negative lens group arranged optically close to the first pupil surface. The Fourier lens group is configured such that a Petzval radius RP at the first pupil surface satisfies the condition: |RP|>150 mm. |
| US08780439B2 |
Plasmon resonant cavities in vertical nanowire arrays
Tunable plasmon resonant cavity arrays in paired parallel nanowire waveguides are presented. Resonances can be observed when the waveguide length is an odd multiple of quarter plasmon wavelengths, consistent with boundary conditions of node and antinode at the ends. Two nanowire waveguides can satisfy the dispersion relation of a planar metal-dielectric-metal waveguide of equivalent width equal to the square field average weighted gap. Confinement factors of over 103 are possible due to plasmon focusing in the inter-wire space. |
| US08780437B1 |
Electrophoretic display apparatus
An electrophoretic display apparatus includes a drive array substrate, a color filter layer and an electrophoretic display film. The drive array substrate has a plurality of pixel units, in which each of the pixel units includes a drive device. The color filter layer is disposed on the drive array substrate and has a plurality of color filter patterns, in which each of the color filter patterns is corresponding to at least two of the pixel units. The electrophoretic display film is disposed between the drive array substrate and the color filter layer and includes a plurality of display mediums, in which the display mediums corresponding to each of the color filter patterns are controlled by at least two of the drive devices. |
| US08780433B2 |
Polarization scrambling based on cascaded optical polarization devices having modulated optical retardation
Techniques and devices use cascaded optical polarization devices having modulated optical retardation to control optical polarization of light and can be configured for polarization scrambling. Uniform rate scrambling and quasi-uniform rate scrambling modes are provided in described devices and rate-additive designs based on multiple cascaded devices are also disclosed to achieve high-speed scrambling. |