| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08781750B2 |
Cell-type-specific patterns of gene expression
Among the methods, compositions, combinations and kits provided herein are those for determining gene expression levels in one or more cell types in heterogeneous cell samples, for identifying genes differentially expressed in different cell types, and for detecting a cell type in a sample from a subject. Also provided herein are methods, compositions, combinations and kits for determining gene expression levels in cells corresponding to phenotypes, and for identifying a phenotype of a subject by detecting differentially expressed genes. |
| US08781749B2 |
Attenuating noise in seismic data
Noise may be filtered or attenuated from seismic data by building a four-dimensional volume using the acquired seismic data and then applying a random noise attenuation filter to the four-dimensional volume. The dimensions of the four-dimensional volume may include a trace number dimension, a time dimension, a shot number dimension, and a cable number dimension. The random noise attenuation filter may filter portions of the acquired seismic data if the seismic data is not correlated with respect to other seismic data in the four dimensional volume. |
| US08781737B2 |
Spatial alignment determination for an inertial measurement unit (IMU)
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining a spatial alignment of an inertial measurement unit (IMU). By way of example, a method is described in which a first vehicle-based direction is identified, and the first vehicle-based direction is associated with a first direction that is transformable to an earth-based coordinate frame. A spatial alignment of the IMU is determined based at least partially on the first direction. |
| US08781727B1 |
Methods and systems for performing flocking while executing a long-range fleet plan
Methods and systems for performing flocking while executing a fleet plan are provided. An example method includes receiving a sequence of coverage requirements for a region and an associated period of time, and determining a respective sequence of intended destinations for each of one or more vehicles of a fleet of vehicles to travel to over the period of time. Additionally, based on a determined sequence of intended destinations for a vehicle of the one or more vehicles and based on a desired spatial relationship between the vehicle and one or more neighboring vehicles for a given time period, a flocking-based direction of travel for the vehicle may be determined for the given time period. |
| US08781725B2 |
Methods and apparatus for capability-specific routing
A method is provided for performing capability-specific routing. The method includes receiving location information specifying a location. At least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities is also received. A database is accessed, the database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user, as well as respective geographic locations of specified facilities. A determination is then made as to the facilities that are associated with the received location that are compatible with the received capability indicator. Position information specifying a position may also be received, and at least one route may be determined between the location and the position, the route being compatible with the capability indicator. An apparatus and a computer program product are also provided. |
| US08781723B2 |
Navigation system and method for guiding speed limiting information by block
A navigation system and method for providing notification of speed limit information for each block is provided. The method includes: maintaining a database which stores a start point and an end point of a speed limited block, and a speed limit for each block; sensing whether a speed limited block exists in a front area while driving on a predetermined route; and providing a speeding alert notification within the determined speed limited block when the speed limited block is sensed. |
| US08781722B2 |
Anticipatory control of the transverse vehicle dynamics in evasive maneuvers
A method for influencing the lateral dynamics of a vehicle in an evasive maneuver with the aid of a vehicle controller which controls the sideslip angle and/or the yaw rate of the vehicle, and which triggers an automatic control action when a predefined threshold value is exceeded. The driving situation is monitored with regard to an obstacle, and different interventions are carried out depending on the classification of the situation. This optimizes the interventions with regard to stability and comfort, so that an optimal behavior of the vehicle is achieved in all driving situations. |
| US08781721B2 |
Obstacle evaluation technique
A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode may engage in an obstacle evaluation technique that includes employing a sensor system to collect data relating to a plurality of obstacles, identifying from the plurality of obstacles an obstacle pair including a first obstacle and a second obstacle, engaging in an evaluation process by comparing the data collected for the first obstacle to the data collected for the second obstacle, and in response to engaging in the evaluation process, making a determination of whether the first obstacle and the second obstacle are two separate obstacles. |
| US08781715B2 |
Wireless sensing and communication system for traffic lanes
Wireless sensing and communication system including sensors located in the roadway or in the vicinity of the roadway and which provide information which is transmitted to one or more interrogators in the vehicle by a wireless radio frequency mechanism. Power to operate a particular sensor is supplied by the interrogator or the sensor is independently connected to either a battery, generator, vehicle power source or some source of power external to the vehicle. The sensors can provide information about the exterior environment, about the roadway, ambient atmosphere, travel conditions and/or external objects. The sensors arranged on the roadway or ancillary structures include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, moisture content or humidity sensors, and friction sensors. |
| US08781713B2 |
System and method for controlling a valve of a cylinder in an engine based on fuel delivery to the cylinder
A system for controlling an engine in a vehicle according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel control module and a valve control module. The fuel control module controls fuel delivery to a cylinder of the engine. The valve control module closes an exhaust valve of the cylinder when fuel delivery to the cylinder is disabled during operation of the vehicle and exhaust gas has been exhausted from the cylinder after fuel delivery to the cylinder is disabled. |
| US08781708B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for detecting engine idling and reporting same
Featured is an accurate and inexpensive system to detect and report engine idling in a vehicle including a detection portion and a reporting portion. The detection portion detects or senses the presence of voltage from the vehicle's ignition switch and vehicle's mechanical vibration from the running engine. The detection portion also can filter out transient vibrations which are not related to engine running. The detection portion forwards signal or information relating to engine running and vehicle movement to a reporting portion of the system. The reporting portion (e.g., a software application being executed on a computer or microprocessor) determines from the forwarded information if the vehicle engine is idling and if there is excessive idling. The fleet operator can define recommended maximum idling parameters to determine such excessive idling. Also featured are apparatuses, devices and methods related thereto. |
| US08781705B1 |
Off-road wheeled vehicle speed limiting system
An open cockpit off-road vehicle has an engine, four wheels, side-by-side driver and passenger seats, and at least one safety belt which include a seat belt, first and second connecting portions selectively connected to each other, and one of a safety belt sensor and a safety belt switch sensing a state of this connection. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connects the engine to the wheels. A control unit is connected to the engine. A vehicle speed sensor senses a forward speed of the vehicle. The control unit controls the engine in a vehicle speed limit mode when the first and second connecting portions are disconnected. When in this mode, the control unit controls the engine to limit the forward speed of the vehicle to a predetermined forward speed and to permit the engine to reach a torque necessary to operate the vehicle at the predetermined forward speed. |
| US08781704B2 |
Traveling assistant system for vehicles without contact wire
A memory stores traveling schedule information of a vehicle without a contact wire, information on a next station located on a traveling interval and information about a plurality of traffic lights on the traveling interval temporarily, and a velocity pattern calculator for calculating a velocity pattern of the vehicle based on the traveling schedule information, the information on the next station and the information about the plurality of the traffic lights, in which the velocity pattern calculator calculates a velocity pattern which satisfies conditions that the vehicle is never stopped at a first traffic light, that when the vehicle departs from a current stop station, the vehicle is accelerated at an constant acceleration a and that after the acceleration, the vehicle travels at a constant first velocity V1. |
| US08781699B2 |
Coasting control device
A coasting control device that prevents failures due to deterioration of a release bearing. The device includes an cumulative disengagement time measuring unit cumulatively measuring a duration of time that a clutch is being disengaged during coasting control, and an overtime restricting unit prohibiting coasting control when the measured cumulative clutch disengagement time has exceeded a predetermined time giving an indication of fatigue of a member of the clutch, and/or an overtime alarm unit providing an alarm when the measured cumulative clutch disengagement time has exceeded a predetermined time giving an indication of fatigue of the member of the clutch. |
| US08781697B2 |
Adaptive control systems and methods for transmission solenoids
A target pressure module determines a target pressure for controlling a solenoid of a transmission. An error module determines a pressure error based on a difference between the target pressure and a pressure measured using a pressure sensor. A pressure offset module determines a pressure offset using the target pressure and a mapping of pressure offsets indexed by target pressure. An offset learning module selectively determines a learned pressure offset and selectively updates the mapping based on the learned pressure offset. A pressure command module selectively generates a commanded pressure based on the target pressure, the pressure offset, and the pressure error. A solenoid control module controls actuation of the solenoid based on the commanded pressure. |
| US08781695B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling pickup on uphill for a motor-vehicle provided with an automatic or robotized gearbox
A method and apparatus to control the pickup on an uphill slope of an automotive vehicle provided with an automatic or robotized gearbox provide the definition of a control strategy of the gear box operation, also according to the gradient of the uphill slope, which is preferably calculated based on a longitudinal acceleration value of the automotive vehicle, and based on the altitude at which the automotive vehicle can be found, which is preferably calculated based on a detected atmospheric pressure value. In this way, it is also possible to consider the reduction in the engine torque due to the reduction in the air density with altitude. |
| US08781689B2 |
System for controlling a vehicle head restraint
A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a support structure and a head restraint supported by the support structure and being movable relative to the support structure between a first position and a second position. An actuator is connected to the head restraint for moving the head restraint, and a controller is in communication with the actuator. A sensor array is supported by one of the support structure and the head restraint and in communication with the controller. The sensor array has a first region and a second region. The sensor array is configured to sense an input of the first region and second region being sequentially activated. The sensor array communicates the input to the controller, and the controller causing the actuator to move the head restraint. |
| US08781684B2 |
Steering and control systems for a three-wheeled vehicle
A three-wheeled vehicle that includes: a single front wheel; two rear wheels; a passenger cabin; an electronic steering control unit; and a steering input device configured to send an electronic signal to the electronic steering control unit corresponding to an input received at the steering input device associated with turning the three-wheeled vehicle; wherein the electronic steering control unit is configured to counter-steer the front wheel in response to receiving the electronic signal, wherein the counter-steering of the front wheel initiates a leaning of the passenger cabin a direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle. |
| US08781683B2 |
Power steering apparatus and method
An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes a power steering motor assembly connected with the steerable vehicle wheels. An engine driven pump connected with the power steering motor assembly is driven by an engine of the vehicle to supply fluid under pressure to the power steering motor assembly. A controller increases engine speed when the vehicle is motionless and a steering wheel is rotated. A method for controlling the speed of an engine to provide a predetermined steering assist to a steering apparatus includes determining if the vehicle is motionless and determining if the steering wheel is being rotated. The speed of the engine is increased if the vehicle is motionless and the steering wheel is being rotated to provide the predetermined steering assist to the steering apparatus. |
| US08781679B2 |
Bicycle suspension control apparatus
A bicycle suspension control apparatus includes a user operating device and a controller. The controller is configured to set a bicycle suspension having a plurality of operating states to a first operating state in response to a first manual operation of the user operating device. The controller is further configured to set the bicycle suspension to a second operating state in response to a second manual operation of the user operating device. The second manual operation is performed in a different operating manner of the user operating device than the first manual operation. |
| US08781677B2 |
High centering bases for hospital gurneys
High centering bases for hospital gurneys are disclosed. An example hospital gurney includes a sensor to detect a position of a foot pedal of the hospital gurney. The example high centering base includes a processor responsive to the sensor to create a movement instruction based on the position of the foot pedal. The example high centering base includes an actuator to move a first wheel based on the movement instruction, the first wheel located between a first end of the hospital gurney and a second end of the hospital gurney. |
| US08781676B2 |
Photo-electrochromic window tinter
An electrically-adjustable light transmitter changes its light transmissivity responsive to an electric signal. By applying the electrically-adjustable light transmitter to a window and thereafter changing the electric signal to it, a window can be tinted and un-tinted. Jurisdictions that prohibit tinted vehicle windows are listed in a data base. A current location determined by a GPS is compared to data base entries. If the location is within an area where tinted windows are prohibited, a controller automatically un-tints the windows, or reduces the window tint to comply with applicable local laws. |
| US08781675B2 |
Electric power transmission reception system
A power transmission reception system for pairing a charge-requesting vehicle with a discharge-requesting vehicle for power transmission reception therebetween includes an extraction device and a transmitter. From each vehicle, a center acquire information about a present location, a traveling direction, and a destination point, and records the acquired information in a database while classifying the vehicle as the charge-requesting vehicle or the discharge-requesting vehicle. The extraction device extracts the charge-requesting vehicle and the discharge-requesting vehicle that are to simultaneously travel in a same area as paired vehicles in accordance with the information in the database. The transmitter generates information about a power transmission reception area and a partner vehicle in the power transmission reception, and transmits the generated information to the paired vehicles. |
| US08781669B1 |
Consideration of risks in active sensing for an autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, wherein one or more control processes for an autonomous vehicle are based upon the information, (b) determining an information-improvement expectation that corresponds to an active-sensing action, (c) determining a risk-cost that corresponds to the active-sensing action; and (d) based on both (i) the information-improvement expectation for the active-sensing action and (ii) the risk-cost for the active-sensing action, determining whether the active-sensing action is advisable. |
| US08781665B2 |
Control device for hybrid vehicle, and hybrid vehicle incorporating control device
An ECU uses a map or the like prepared in advance to calculate a discharge allowable power. Then, the ECU sets a VH upper limit value at the first upper limit value. When the running mode is not at a CD mode (that is, at a CS mode), or when the engine is operating, the ECU proceeds to S60. In contrast, when the running mode is at the CD mode and the engine is stopped, the ECU increases the discharge allowable power, and modifies the VH upper limit value to a second upper limit value that is lower than the first upper limit value. |
| US08781659B2 |
Technique for controlling transition between EV mode and HEV mode in hybrid vehicle
Disclosed is a technique for controlling transition between an electric vehicle (EV) mode and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode in a hybrid vehicle. More specifically, the technique includes first determining a drive mode of the hybrid vehicle by monitoring an average vehicle speed and an accelerator position sensor. Next, an engine on map value is determined for entering into the HEV mode and a hysteresis map value is determined for controlling the transition between the EV mode and the HEV mode based on a battery's state-of-charge (SOC), the average vehicle speed, and the drive mode; Based on the above steps, the technique determines whether the hybrid vehicle should transition between the EV mode or the HEV mode based on a driver's requisite torque calculated by monitoring the accelerator position sensor and a gear position sensor and on the determined engine on map value and hysteresis map value. |
| US08781655B2 |
Automated track surveying and ballast replacement
A method of surveying a section of a railway to determine amounts of ballast to be replaced keyed to position coordinates of track locations includes moving a survey vehicle along the railway, optically scanning the track at selected intervals to obtain optical data points with associated position coordinates, recording images at the intervals with position coordinates, recording position coordinates of no-spread zones, processing the optical data points to derive ballast unit weights associated with locations along the track, detecting anomalous unit weights, accessing images associated with the locations of the anomalous unit weights, accessing the anomalous unit weights to adjust as necessary, and loading the adjusted data into a computer of a ballast train to control the application of replacement ballast along the track according to the detected position of the ballast train. |
| US08781653B2 |
Quiet landing attitude modifier for airplane
The present invention provides a method of modifying the pitch attitude of an aircraft during landing, comprising: commanding the flaps to move to a landing setting; providing a current value for a flight condition parameter; providing a current flaps setting; comparing said current value to at least one threshold value; if said current value exceeds said threshold, determining a new flaps setting capable of producing an improvement in at least one of a selected aft body contact margin and a selected nose gear contact margin for the aircraft; and adjusting the flaps to said new flaps setting. |
| US08781651B2 |
Systems and methods providing a fuel-efficient RTA implementation with uncertain winds
Flight management systems and control methods for meeting a required time of arrival (RTA) with reduced fuel burn. The method can account for probabilistic wind forecast uncertainty in RTA calculations by reformulating the speed and thrust profile problem as a multi-stage stochastic program, using a wind forecast uncertainty model to generate scenario sets for the fuel optimization problem. The method can iteratively calculate a fuel-efficient advised air speed for achieving an RTA over a flight path with an arbitrary number of recourse points.Methods for creating wind forecast uncertainty models applicable to a variety of routes through a given airspace, and for use with the flight management systems and control methods. An example wind forecast uncertainty model can be position-specific, data-driven and based on a Markov chain representing error values between historical wind speed data and forecasted wind speed data long a planned flight route or between an origin-destination pair. |
| US08781649B2 |
System and method for displaying in-trail procedure (ITP) opportunities on an aircraft cockpit display
A system and method is provided for displaying ITP opportunities on an onboard display device of a host aircraft flying at a first flight level. Flight status data of the host aircraft and at least a first neighboring aircraft flying at a second flight level is obtained and processed to determine a first predicted time within which an ITP transition through the second flight level to a desired flight level can be made. A graphical representation of the host aircraft, the neighboring aircraft, and the first predicted time is rendered on the onboard display device. |
| US08781647B2 |
System and method for decreasing vehicle speed from a remote location
A control system for a vehicle includes a communication module and a vehicle stop module. The communication module receives a command from a vehicle services provider (VSP) to decrease a speed of the vehicle to a desired speed, wherein the VSP is located remotely with respect to the vehicle. In response to the received command, the vehicle stop module decreases the speed of the vehicle to the desired speed by controlling at least one of a transmission, an electronic parking brake, and electronically assisted brakes. |
| US08781646B2 |
Detecting an abnormal driving condition
A method of detecting an abnormal driving includes receiving a RF signal transmitted from a vehicle in front; performing digital down conversion on the RF signal to obtain a baseband digital signal; performing frequency shift detection on the baseband digital signal to obtain frequency shift between the received RF signal and the RF signal transmitted from the vehicle in front; and determining that the abnormal driving condition in front exists response to determining that the frequency shift has reached a set threshold. |
| US08781644B2 |
Method and apparatus for recognizing shape of road for vehicles
An example of recognition of the shape of a road where a vehicle travels is provided. An object type as to whether an object is a moving or stationary object is determined according to a relative speed of the object and a speed of the vehicle. Object-unit data effective for recognizing a road shape is extracted according to the determination. The object-unit data is used for forming data of a roadside object group, based on which a road edge is recognized. A series of the processes is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle. After the extraction process, a data addition process is performed to add object-unit data obtained in the extraction process of the previous cycle to object-unit data obtained in the extraction process of the present cycle. In a recognition process, a road edge is recognized according to the object-unit data obtained in the data addition process. |
| US08781639B2 |
Digital wireless network receptacle
A digital wireless network receptacle has an upper housing, two power sockets formed through the upper housing, a lower housing and a multi-layer mechanism mounted between the upper housing and the lower housing. A single microcontroller unit (MCU) is employed within the multi-layer mechanism so that an intelligent control circuit can be effectively integrated and received in the receptacle with standardized size and limited space. Each power socket of the receptacle is independently monitored and controlled, and power consumed from each power socket can be recorded to ensure a complete understanding of power usage. Besides transmission of power consumption information to a host server through a wireless network, automatic power breaking safety protection upon an overload or standby condition of electrical appliances can be provided. |
| US08781637B2 |
Safe exposed conductor power distribution system
A power distribution system (that can detect an unsafe fault condition where an individual or object has come in contact with the power conductors) regulates the transfer of energy from a source to a load. Periodically, the source controller opens an S1 disconnect switch, a and load controller opens an S2 disconnect switch. A capacitor represents the capacitance across the load terminals. If the capacitor discharges at a rate higher or lower than predetermined values after the S1 and S2 disconnect switches are opened, then a fault condition is registered, and the S1 and S2 switches will not be commanded to return to a closed position, thus isolating the fault from both the source and the load. |
| US08781630B2 |
Imaging platform to provide integrated navigation capabilities for surgical guidance
An imaging platform system that provides integrated navigation capabilities for surgical guidance. The system can include two robotic arm systems, one robotic arm system holding an imaging source, and the other holding an imaging sensor. These robotic arm systems are able to move and provide three-dimensional tomographic scans, static radiographic images, and dynamic fluoroscopic image sequences. A third robotic arm system can be included in the imaging platform system as a surgeon guided tool-holder to accurately implement an image-guided surgical plan. The robotic systems can manipulate imaging and surgical components into and out of the operative field as needed, enhancing the choreography between a surgical team and assistive technology. A handle can be included as part of a manual positioning control subsystem. The handle can be mounted to an imaging robotic system above and/or below an operating table, and also can be mounted to a tool-holding robotic system. |
| US08781618B2 |
Interactive clamp force control system for load handling clamps
Improvements are disclosed for a load-clamping system with variable clamping force control by which a wide variety of dissimilar loads of different types, geometric configurations and/or other parameters can be accurately clamped at respective variable optimal clamping force settings. An operator terminal cooperates with a controller to translate one or more possible load parameters into a form easily discernible visually by a clamp operator and preferably easily comparable by the clamp operator, from his visual observation, to each particular load which he is about to engage, so that the clamp operator can interactively guide the controller in its selection of an optimal clamping force setting for each particular load. |
| US08781615B2 |
Rapid production apparatus with production orientation determination
A method of producing an object by sequentially printing layers of construction material one on top of the other, the method comprising: providing the construction material at a first lower temperature; flowing the construction material through a heated flow path in a flow structure to heat the construction material and delivering the heated construction material to a heated reservoir in a printing head; and dispensing the heated construction material from the reservoir to build the object layer by layer. |
| US08781614B2 |
Semiconductor processing dispatch control
An embodiment is a method for semiconductor processing control. The method comprises identifying a key process stage from a plurality of process stages based on a parameter of processed wafers, forecasting a trend for a wafer processed by the key process stage and some of the plurality of process stages based on the parameter, and dispatching the wafer to one of a first plurality of tools in a tuning process stage. The one of the first plurality of tools is determined based on the trend. |
| US08781611B2 |
Targeting advertisements to athletes
An athlete service platform implemented at a server system obtains athletic performance information and selectively stores that information in a plurality of athlete-user accounts in which each athlete-user account is associated with a respective athlete competing in one or more athletic events. The server system obtains a set of advertisement parameters from an advertiser which specify how and whether to direct one or more advertisement messages to one or more of the plurality of athlete-user accounts. The set of advertisement parameters includes at least one performance parameter. The server system identifies, with reference to the plurality of athlete-user accounts and the athletic performance information stored in those athlete-user accounts, a target athlete-user account associated with an athlete that has achieved the performance parameter as indicated by the athletic performance information. The server system directs the advertisement message to the target athlete-user account. |
| US08781607B2 |
System, method and recording medium for driving a programmable logic controller
A system, a method and a recording medium for driving a programmable logic controller are disclosed. This system includes a server and an adaptive unit electrically connected to the server. When determining that a programmable logic controller is connected, a hardware layer management module of the adaptive unit informs the server. The server outputs a controller query data to query the programmable logic controller through the hardware layer management module. The server generates a control data conforming to a specification of the programmable logic controller according to a controller response data of the programmable logic controller, for the hardware layer management module to control the programmable logic controller. |
| US08781606B2 |
Enhanced implantable antenna system and method
As described herein vascular anchoring systems are used to position an implant in a vascular area such as a bifurcated vasculature with relatively high fluid flow, for instance, in an area of a pulmonary artery with associated left and right pulmonary arteries. Implementations include an anchoring trunk member having a first anchoring trunk section and a second anchoring trunk section. Further implementations include a first anchoring branch member extending from the anchoring trunk member. Still further implementations include a second anchoring branch member extending from the anchoring trunk member. |
| US08781603B2 |
Minimally invasive methods for implanting a sacral stimulation lead
Methods and apparatus for implanting a neural stimulation lead in a patient's body are described. A lead assembly comprises a pointed-tip stylet, a stimulation lead, and an optional tube to deploy a fixation element attached to the lead. One embodiment of the implant methods starts with inserting the pointed-tip lead assembly directly into tissue. After the desired implant position is determined, the pointed-tip component is separated from the stimulation lead and removed from the tissue, leaving the stimulation lead implanted. After confirmation that the stimulation lead is in the right tissue location, the pointed-tip component is removed from the body, leaving the stimulation lead in place. The stimulation lead can be connected to a neurostimulator to delivery therapies to treat neural disorders, such as urinary control disorders, fecal control disorders, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain, etc. |
| US08781601B2 |
Atraumatic lead removal sheath
The present invention provides for a safer and less traumatic chronically implanted device and methods for removing same from a patient. One embodiment of the invention provides for a medical device comprising an implantable diagnostic or therapeutic lead having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and a tubular cover attached to the diagnostic or therapeutic lead, preferably near the distal end, and positioned to cover a substantial portion of the outer surface of the diagnostic or therapeutic lead. The tubular cover is configured to evert upon application of a longitudinal force to extract the diagnostic or therapeutic lead. |
| US08781597B2 |
Systems for monitoring a patient's neurological disease state
The present invention provides methods and systems for modulating a patient's neurological disease state. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more sensors that sense at least one signal that comprise a characteristic that is indicative of a neurological disease state. A signal processing assembly is in communication with the one or more sensors and processes the at least one signal to estimate the neurological disease state and to generate a therapy to the patient that is based at least in part on the estimated neurological disease state. A treatment assembly is in communication with the signal processing assembly and delivers the therapy to a nervous system component of the patient. |
| US08781596B2 |
Implantable medical device with single coil for charging and communicating
A combination charging and telemetry circuit for use within an implantable device, such as a microstimulator, uses a single coil for both charging and telemetry. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, one or more capacitors are used to tune the single coil to different frequencies, wherein the coil is used for multiple purposes, e.g., for receiving power from an external source and also for the telemetry of information to and from an external source. |
| US08781591B2 |
Swallowable capsule and method for stimulating incretin production within the intestinal tract
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and methods for stimulating L cells in the intestinal tract to produce incretins for the treatment of conditions including diabetes and obesity. Many embodiments provide a method and apparatus for the treatment of diabetes by electrically stimulating L-cells to secrete incretins to stimulate or otherwise modulate the production of insulin. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable capsule for stimulating L-cells in the intestinal tract as the capsule moves through the tract. The capsule can include two or more electrodes for providing electrical stimulation to L-cells, a power source for powering one or more components of the capsule, a sensor for sensing the location of the capsule in the intestinal tract; a controller and a waveform generator for generating the electrical signals emitted by the electrodes to stimulate the L-cells to secrete incretins such as GLP-1 to stimulate insulin production for glucose regulation of diabetic conditions. |
| US08781587B2 |
Detecting and treatment of sleep apnea
A device is presented for evaluating whether an episode of sleep apnea is occurring in a patient suffering from chronic sleep apnea disorder, for delivery of appropriate therapy. The device includes circuitry adapted to respond to a cardiac signal generated by the heart. Switching circuitry diverts passage of the heart signal through both a high impedance path and a substantially lower impedance path, and a differential amplifier processes the resulting signal pairs to ascertain the difference in magnitude between the two signals of each pair. An analyzer thereof determines changes in the patient's ventilation, from which inordinately reduced patient ventilation is detected to assess possible occurrence of an episode of sleep apnea. If the analyzer denotes change of ventilation between otherwise regular respiratory cycles, an actual episode of sleep apnea is indicated. A stimulus generator responds to such indication to generate an appropriate electrical therapy for delivery to a preselected location in the patient's body to induce ventilation so as to terminate the apnea episode. |
| US08781585B2 |
Identification and remediation of oversensed cardiac events using far-field electrograms
In general, the disclosure is directed to techniques for identification and remediation of oversensed cardiac events using far-field electrograms (FFEGMs). Identification of oversensed cardiac events can be used in an ICD to prevent ventricular fibrillation (VF) detection, and thereby avoid delivery of an unnecessary defibrillation shock. Alternatively, or additionally, identification of oversensed cardiac events can be used in an ICD to support delivery of bradycardia pacing during an oversensing condition. In some cases, bradycardia pacing delivered in response to detection of oversensed cardiac events may include pacing pulses from multiple vectors to provide redundancy in the event the oversensing may be due to a lead-related condition. |
| US08781584B2 |
Capture threshold measurement for selection of pacing vector
Various techniques for facilitating selection of a pacing vector for pacing a chamber of a heart are described. One example method described includes, for each of a plurality of vectors, delivering a pacing pulse to capture a first heart chamber, determining a first time interval between the pacing pulse and a sensed event in a second heart chamber, determining a capture detection window in response to the determined first time interval, and enabling a capture detection module to iteratively decrease a pacing pulse magnitude delivered in the first heart chamber until an event in the second heart chamber is not sensed during the determined capture detection window. |
| US08781583B2 |
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. |
| US08781581B2 |
System and method for determining the origin of a sensed beat
A method for monitoring a biological cardiac pacemaker is provided. The method may include stimulating a heart at a region selected for implantation of a biological pacemaker and sensing at least one electrical signal indicative of a cardiac depolarization originating in the region selected for implantation of the biological pacemaker. The method may further include sensing at least one subsequent electrical signal produced by the heart and determining if the subsequent electrical signal originated in the region selected for the biological pacemaker or another region of the heart. In an alternative embodiment, the method may include determining a template time difference between two points on cardiac complexes sensed in two or more different cardiac locations during normal sinus rhythm. The method may further include determining a time difference between two points on a subsequent cardiac complex sensed in two or more different cardiac locations. The time differences may be compared to determine if the subsequently-sensed cardiac complex originates in a left ventricular biological pacemaker site or in another cardiac site. |
| US08781580B2 |
Pacing sequence optimization
An implantable medical device is connected to a multipolar LV lead and an implantable sensor. The sensor signal from the sensor is used to identify a time point of mitral valve closure for a cardiac cycle when a ventricular pulse generator generates pacing pulses that are applied to the electrodes of the multipolar LV lead according to a pacing sequence. A time interval processor determines the time interval from onset of LV activation to the time point of mitral valve closure. This procedure is repeated for multiple different pacing sequences of a sequence set. The pacing sequence that resulted in shortest time interval is then selected by a selector as the currently optimal pacing sequence for the patient. |
| US08781578B2 |
Mass attribute detection through phrenic stimulation
According to certain examples, an implanted medical device is used to determine a mass attribute of a patient. The patient's phrenic nerve is stimulated, and the diaphragmatic response is measured by an accelerometer. The measured response is analyzed in certain embodiments to determine a mass attribute. This information can help in the diagnosis of, and efficient response to, edema. |
| US08781576B2 |
Device and method for reducing patient transthoracic impedance for the purpose of delivering a therapeutic current
A device and method for reducing patient transthoracic impedance for the purpose of delivering a therapeutic current are provided. In one embodiment, the device for reducing patient transthoracic impedance for the purpose of delivering a therapeutic current may be used in a defibrillator. The device for reducing patient transthoracic impedance for the purpose of delivering a therapeutic current may be a microneedle array that may have a number of different configurations and may be made with different materials. |
| US08781574B2 |
Integrated delivery and visualization tool for a neuromodulation system
Methods and apparatus for delivering a neurostimulator to a target tissue are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a delivery tool comprising a handle portion, an elongate shaft comprising a contoured distal portion, a visualization system embedded in the elongate shaft, and an insertion groove on the elongate shaft configured to deploy the neurostimulator. The contoured distal portion can be shaped and configured to maintain contact with a posterior maxilla and elevate a periosteum off of the posterior maxilla to avoid soft tissue dissection. In some embodiments, the neurostimulator is implanted in close proximity to or touching the sphenopalatine ganglion. |
| US08781569B2 |
Biometric information processing device, biometric information processing method, and control program
A biometric information processing device has a heart rate detection unit that detects the heart rate of a subject; a relative heart rate calculation unit that calculates a relative heart rate, which is the relative value of the heart rate to the prescribed resting heart rate of the subject; a relative oxygen intake calculation unit that calculates a relative oxygen intake based on the relative heart rate; an oxygen intake estimation unit that estimates the oxygen intake from the relative oxygen intake; and a calorie expenditure calculation unit that calculates calorie expenditure based on the oxygen intake. |
| US08781562B2 |
Interference mitigation circuitry for biometric measurements
An apparatus includes a first signal line configured to couple signals from a first skin electrode to a first input of a differential amplifier comprised as a front-stage in a signal detection circuitry for measurement of biometric signals sensed by the first skin electrode; a second signal line configured to couple signals from a second skin electrode, different from the first skin electrode, to a second input of the differential amplifier of the signal detection circuitry for measurement of biometric signals sensed by the second skin electrode; and an impedance circuitry coupled between the first signal line and the second signal line in order to tune input impedance of the differential amplifier. Impedance of the impedance circuitry is higher on a first frequency band covering a frequency band of the measured biometric signals than on a second frequency band not covering the frequency band of the measured biometric signals. |
| US08781555B2 |
System for placement of a catheter including a signal-generating stylet
An integrated catheter placement system for accurately placing a catheter within a patient's vasculature is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated system comprises a system console, a tip location sensor unit for temporary placement on the patient's chest, and an ultrasound probe. The tip location sensor senses a field produced by a stylet disposed in a lumen of the catheter when the catheter is disposed in the vasculature. The ultrasound probe ultrasonically images a portion of the vasculature prior to introduction of the catheter. ECG signal-based catheter tip guidance is included to enable guidance of the catheter tip to a desired position with respect to a node of the patient's heart. The stylet includes an electromagnetic coil that can be operably connected to the sensor unit and/or console through a sterile barrier without compromising the barrier. The stylet can also be wirelessly connected to the sensor unit and/or console. |
| US08781554B2 |
Method and system of simulating magnetic resonance imaging signals
A method for simulating magnetic resonance signals is proposed. A lattice array where each point in the array has several magnetic resonance sensitive particles is provided. Statistic property of each point is set. A raw magnetic resonance imaging data is calculated based on statistic property of each point and a magnetic resonance imaging sequence to be applied. A system for simulating magnetic resonance signals is further proposed. By considering statistic property of each point, it can distinguish every part of the object to be scanned and really reflect the structure of object without using a real magnetic resonance imaging device. It saves time and costs for avoiding several scanning by the real a magnetic resonance imaging device. |
| US08781553B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and control method thereof
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit that applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, an imaging unit that images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit that detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit that informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit that controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range. |
| US08781551B2 |
Apparatus for connecting impedance measurement apparatus to an electrode
A method of monitoring pulmonary oedema in a subject using a processing system. The method includes, determining a measured impedance value for at least two body segments, at least one of the body segments being a thoracic cavity segment. For each body segment, the measured impedance values are used to determine an index, which is in turn used to determine the presence, absence or degree of pulmonary oedema using the determined indices. |
| US08781544B2 |
Multiple wavelength optical sensor
A multiple wavelength optical sensor has an emitter configured to radiate light having a plurality of wavelengths into a tissue site. The emitter comprises a plurality of LEDs configured in an array and connected within an electrical grid. A detector is configured to receive the light after absorption by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. The detector generates a sensor signal capable of being processed by a patient monitor so as to derive oxygen saturation, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin and total hemoglobin. |
| US08781533B2 |
Alternative inputs of a mobile communications device
In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a display device having touchscreen functionality, a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout, and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons. |
| US08781531B2 |
Handling control channels in a WCDMA system
A radio base station for use in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access network. The radio base station comprises a receiver for receiving radio signals transmitted over the air by users, and a first processor for processing the received signals in order to recover signals for a first group of users, the “cancellers”, and a first set of control signals for a second group of users, the “cancellees”. The radio base station further comprises an interference canceller for performing interference cancellation on the received signals using the recovered signals in order to generate an interference cancelled signal, a second processor for subsequently processing the interference cancelled signal in order to recover a second set of control signals for the cancellees, and a controller for using the control signals to control the transmission of data towards said cancellees. |
| US08781530B2 |
OTA file upload servers
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to gathering a plurality of data from a SIM card on a wireless communications device and recording the plurality of data onto a database where the plurality of data can be viewed at a later time. A network device requests a plurality of data from a SIM card on a wireless communications device. An OTA platform receives the request and gathers the plurality of data from the SIM card. The OTA platform, which normally sends the plurality of data back to the network device, sends the plurality of data to a file upload server instead. The file upload server records the plurality of data to a database where it can be viewed by the network device. In certain examples, the file upload server sends a notification to the network device that the plurality of data is ready for viewing. In other variations, the plurality of data can be viewed from any internet portal. |
| US08781529B2 |
Method and device for managing applications of a mobile terminal
A method and system for managing a set of applications stored on a mobile terminal, comprising an access to said set of applications enabling at least one specific function to be accessed by at least one application using an application manager. |
| US08781525B2 |
Electronic apparatus, reception control method and recording medium
In a cellular phone 100, a directional coupler 20 provided between a transmitter for communication 32 and a duplexer 30 extracts a transmitted signal, and a detector 21 detects the signal and detects a transmission power level. Next, the comparator 22 compares a comparison level generated by a base voltage source 23 which generates a base voltage corresponding to a received field strength of a broadcast signal with an output level from the detector 21. When the output level exceeds the comparison level, the comparator generates a selection instruction signal of level ‘H,’ and switches a path so as to insert a filter between a TV receiving antenna ANT 1 and a TV receiver 13 using an input selection switch 10 and an output selection switch 12. Accordingly, deterioration of viewing quality due to suppressed sensitivity caused by transmission power of wireless communication can be prevented. |
| US08781524B2 |
Wireless communication device
In a case where a wireless communication device corresponds to a first-region wireless communication system, a first reception block and a second reception block receives a radio signal of the first-region wireless communication system in a diversity scheme and a transmission block transmits a radio signal of the first-region wireless communication system. In a case where the wireless communication device corresponds to a first second-region wireless communication system and a second second-region wireless communication system, the second reception block receives a radio signal of the first second-region wireless communication system, the first reception block receives a radio signal of the second second-region wireless communication system, and the transmission block transmits a radio signal of the first second-region wireless communication system and a radio signal of the second second-region wireless communication system with time division switching. |
| US08781523B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for using a cellular phone as an interface for a VoIP-equipped computer
A system, method and computer program product are provided. Included is a cellular phone capable of communicating via a long-range cellular network protocol and a short-range protocol. Further included is a system capable of communicating via a long-range hard-line network protocol and the short-range protocol. Thus, when the cellular phone is in the proximity of the system, the cellular phone communicates with the system utilizing the short-range protocol, so that the cellular phone is used to communicate via the long-range hard-line communication network protocol. |
| US08781522B2 |
Adaptable antenna system
The invention utilizes small, narrow-band and frequency adaptable antennas to provide coverage to a wide range of wireless modes and frequency bands on a host wireless device. The antennas have narrow pass-band characteristics, require minimal space on the host device, and allow for smaller form factor. The frequency tunability further allows for a fewer number of antennas to be used. The operation of the antennas may also be adaptably relocated from unused modes to in-use modes to maximize performance. These features of the antennas result in cost and size reductions. In another aspect, the antennas may be broadband antennas. |
| US08781521B2 |
Double number service
Embodiments disclosed herein describe a double number service configured to allow a mobile or landline subscriber to receive an additional telephone number that is configured to make and receive communications such as telephone calls and text messages. Telecommunications systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to utilize a virtual phone number or double numbers, which a user may subscribe to, to publish and/or communicate to other users. The user may also subscribe to multiple virtual numbers, and use the virtual numbers on a single device. Accordingly, an end user may receive communications to an assigned number from a telecommunications service provider and the virtual or double number on the same telecommunications device. |
| US08781519B2 |
Transmission power modulation to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies
A method of modulating transmission power to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies is provided. The method can include determining a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via a first wireless communication technology. The method can further include reducing a transmission power of a transmission from the device via a second wireless communication technology to a threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and controlling the transmission power so that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period. The method can additionally include, subsequent to the time period, increasing the transmission power to a level exceeding the threshold level. |
| US08781516B2 |
Apparatus and method for power control in broadband wireless access system
Uplink power control in a broadband wireless access system is provided. A Base Station (BS) includes a controller, a first generator, a second generator, and a modulator/demodulator (modem). The controller determines to apply one of a first power control which is slot-periodic and a second power control which is frame-periodic. The first generator generates a first power control command at a slot period using a channel quality premising a rake receiver according to the first power control. The second generator generates a second power control command at a frame period using a channel quality premising an equalizer according to the second power control, and generates a third power control command according to a predefined pattern at a slot not being able to use the channel quality. The modem transmits at least one of the first, second, and third power control commands. |
| US08781508B1 |
System and method for transferring information between a remote computing device and a central business unit
Systems and methods for receiving, processing and responding to text messages are described. In one embodiment a central business unit (CBU) response system may include apparatus for receiving text messages from a message sender, storing the messages in a memory, providing a user indication of receipt of the text messages, displaying and/or printing the message contents, receiving a user input in response to the user indication, and providing a confirmation message to the message sender. |
| US08781506B2 |
Network-side positioning occasion adjustment via assistance data adjustment
A network node (44) herein advantageously eliminates or at least mitigates timing ambiguities associated with when a user equipment (36) is to perform assisted positioning measurements. To do so, the network node (44) generates assistance data to indicate that a first cell for the measurements (e.g., a reference cell) has a greater positioning occasion periodicity than it actually has. This greater periodicity may be, for example, a multiple of the first cell's actual positioning occasion periodicity. Regardless, the node (44) also generates the assistance data to indicate positioning occasion timing for at least a second cell relative to positioning occasion timing for the first cell that is based on this greater periodicity. Finally, the node (44) sends this generated assistance data to the user equipment to assist with the positioning measurements. |
| US08781503B2 |
System and method for extraction of location related data in a wireless communication system
A system and method to collect data related to the geographical location of a mobile station communicating with a GSM network and to use the location related data to determine the geographical location of the mobile station. A tap is place in an Abis link between a base station and a base station controller, the tap providing a copy of a signal carried by the Abis link. The copy signal is routed to a protocol analyzer that extracts location related data from the copy signal. A location processor uses the location data to determine the geographical location of the mobile station. The geographical location data is used by a data analyzer to provide location based services, such as estimating traffic intensity and speed of mobile stations. |
| US08781499B2 |
Methods and systems for remote flood zone determinations
This patent discloses methods and systems for remotely requesting a flood zone determination from a mobile device such as a smart phone. The methods and systems use the GPS receiver in the mobile device to determine the exact latitude and longitude of the user's location, thus eliminating the need for geocoding, eliminating errors introduced by manual data entry, and eliminating the need for the time consuming manual determination processes required, for example, for non-standard-addressed locations and for structures located near a 100-year flood zone. |
| US08781497B2 |
Passive locating of UMTS handsets
Passive location determining of a 3G handset is provided. The method may include the following steps: sending a sequence of 3G ‘Pings’ directed at a specified handset over a 3G network; determining the specified handset user identifier and the sewing base station of the specified handset based on reoccurrences of user identifiers responsive of the ping requests, captured from the forward access channel (FACH) of each base station; decoding the FACH of the serving base station responsive to an additional ping, yielding parameters required for receiving uplink dedicated channel (UL DCH); estimating, in each location associated with a base station, a time difference between fastest possible and actual arrival of a signal over the UL DCH sent by the specified handset, wherein the estimating is synchronized to the serving base station; and calculating the location of the specified handset, based on the estimated time differences associated with the locations. |
| US08781496B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mobile device location determination
Methods and apparatus for resolving an ambiguity with regard to a mobile device's location are described. In various embodiments, when a level of ambiguity with regard to the location of a mobile device is detected, and the level of ambiguity is above a threshold, an ambiguity resolution request signal is generated and transmitted. In this manner, a wireless terminal needing help in determining its location reliably may request such help but at other times may determine its own location without assistance. In some embodiments the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information, e.g., location probabilities, on one or more locations which are under consideration as possible locations of the mobile device. A device responding to the ambiguity resolution request provides information allowing the mobile device confronted with a location ambiguity to eliminate at least on location under consideration or to generate a new probability for one or more locations under consideration. |
| US08781495B1 |
Method and system for indoor RF mapping
A method is disclosed for determining a region of highest probability. At a first electronic device an RF signal is received comprising a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal is received. The first wireless signal and the second wireless signal are each other than solely a GPS signal. Based on both the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal, a region of highest probability is determined comprising an area of location estimates for the electronic device, the determined region of highest probability other than a region of highest probability determinable independently with each of the first RF signal and the second RF signal. |
| US08781494B2 |
Crowd sourcing with robust device position determination
A device records observation data including positions of the device. The position of the device can be determined based on a difference between the timing of receipt, from a wireless source, of repetitive data at a trusted position and the timing of receipt of the repetitive data at a new position. The difference is used to determine a distance the new position is away from the wireless source relative to the trusted position, and this distance is used to determine an identification of the new position. The position of the device can also be determined by recording inertial data even though no position of the device is known. When a trusted position of the device is subsequently identified, the inertial data is used to backtrack along a path that the device moved to identify trusted positions of the device along the path. |
| US08781493B2 |
Security tracking device
A tracking device has an on-board power source, a central processing unit, a cellular telephony transmitter and receiver, a speaker and a microphone, a bus system interconnecting electronic elements, and software or firmware executing at least periodically from a machine-readable physical medium providing a range of functions for the device. The device maintains a sleep mode until activated by an internal timing function, once activated turns on the receiver and listens for radio signals, finding particular signals, consults memory associations with one or more of those signals, and determines to activate transmission only under certain preprogrammed conditions depended on signals found and identified. |
| US08781491B2 |
Management of mobile device communication sessions to reduce user distraction
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions. |
| US08781489B2 |
Coordinating radio resource partitioning in a relay enhanced telecommunication network
A method includes acquiring an information from a second base station by a first base station, wherein the information is indicative for a relative timing displacement between (a) a first time pattern of a first radio resource partitioning scheme and (b) a second time pattern of a second radio resource partitioning scheme. The method further includes adapting the first time pattern of the first radio resource partitioning scheme, used by the first relay node, to the second time pattern of the second radio resource partitioning scheme, used by the second relay node, in such a manner that Time Transmission Intervals (TTIs) of the first time pattern which one used for uplink radio transmissions coincide with TTIs of the second time pattern which one used for uplink radio transmissions. A corresponding first base station is adapted for controlling and/or for carrying out the above described method. |
| US08781488B2 |
Method and an apparatus for enabling at least one mobile terminal to transfer and/or receive data through multiple frequency bands
A telecommunication network includes a telecommunication device and one or more mobile terminals that communicate data over multiple frequency bands. The telecommunication device obtains the carrier aggregation capability of the mobile terminals, as well as its own coordinated carrier aggregation capability. The telecommunication device then transfers this information to a centralizing device, as well as information related to a neighboring telecommunication device. The centralizing device then responds with a frequency band to be used by the telecommunication device for communication with the mobile terminals, as well as control signaling through the frequency band. |
| US08781486B1 |
Resource allocation and band assignment in carrier-aggregated wireless networks
In a wireless communication system including a plurality of client stations including at least one client station that is not configured to utilize carrier aggregation, different coverage areas correspond to different frequency bands being utilized. Wireless medium resources are allocated and frequency band(s) are assigned, jointly, to the client stations based on one or more coverage areas corresponding to one or more frequency bands in which each client station is located, whether client stations are configured to utilize carrier aggregation, demand factors, and indications of channel quality. |
| US08781481B2 |
Communication apparatus, network apparatus, communication system, communication method, and recording medium
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus including a plurality of interfaces and the interfaces are selected to enable detour call reception. A power-supplied interface is allowed to receive a call correspondingly to the selection of the interface. A plurality of networks (cellular network, WLAN network) and a communicating apparatus (communication terminal apparatus) wirelessly connected to a network apparatus (cellular switchboard, SIP server) disposed in each network are included. The communicating apparatus includes a plurality of interface units (cellular interface unit, WLAN interface unit) corresponding to the networks. Connection of a power source is switched for the interface units, and some or all of the networks are notified of detour destination information for detouring the call from the network to the interface unit of the call destination. The network apparatus receives the detour destination information to detour the call to the interface unit of the detour destination. |
| US08781479B2 |
Mobile device network selection
The described implementations relate to automatic network selection in relation to wireless mobile devices. One method can be applied to a mobile device that has both Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities. The method can attempt to identify Wi-Fi network availability for the mobile device. This method also evaluates whether to configure the mobile device to accomplish data communication over an identified Wi-Fi network or a cellular network. |
| US08781478B2 |
Handover control apparatus, handover control method, and program product
In a handover control apparatus, a terminal is wirelessly connected with one of base stations to establish a wireless data communications connection. The terminal executes a handover process using a handover process section when an electric wave state becomes lower than a threshold value, which is variable. The threshold value can be adjusted according to a moving speed of the terminal. Furthermore, the threshold value is corrected according to the past electric wave state. The threshold value is corrected according to a difference of (i) a minimum electric wave state in a preceding handover process, and (ii) a lower limit. The correction is executed so as to reduce an excessive decline of an electric wave state in a succeeding handover process. Deterioration of a communications quality during a handover process can be thereby suppressed. |
| US08781476B2 |
Configuration of HS-DSCH serving cell change improvements
A cell change procedure for user equipment (UE) situated in a serving cell. An active set of cells comprises a list of cells to which the UE can move from the serving cell. The UE sends a request to a network controller to add at least one further cell to the active set. The UE then receives the requested active set update from the network controller with the further cell and a list of cells to which a modified cell change procedure shall be used for handover. A neighbor cell which is stronger than a current serving cell is detected. This detected stronger neighbor cell is matching with the received list of modified cell change procedure cells, and the modified cell change procedure for the handover to the stronger neighbor cell is applied if the stronger neighbor cell is found matching a cell on the list. |
| US08781473B2 |
Prioritized query
A solution framework is employed that includes defining of a mechanism to run multiple queries in a single message exchange, along with a priority on a per-query basis. In some embodiments, a system for facilitating handover of a mobile device across heterogeneous access networks by ensuring response to queries transmitted by the mobile device includes: a) a mobile device having a plurality of wireless network interfaces for communicating over a plurality of heterogeneous access networks, having a media independent handover (MIH) entity to facilitate handovers between the heterogeneous networks, and configured to transmit queries related to handover operation between the heterogeneous access networks to MIH entities within said heterogeneous access networks; and b) said media independent handover entity of said mobile device being configured to transmit multiple queries in a single message exchange to an MIH entity in an access network with prioritization among said multiple queries. |
| US08781470B2 |
Mobile communications system and method for transmitting data when handover occurs
Upon handover, the data incompletely received by a source base station is retransmitted by a mobile station to a target base station, and then reversely transferred from the target base station to the source base station. By virtue of this reverse transfer control, the need to transfer all the received data from the source base station to the target base station upon handover can be eliminated, whereby it is possible to reduce the amount of traffic between the base stations. Moreover, ARQ processes are set respectively between the mobile station and the source base station and between the mobile station and the target base station, whereby it is possible for the mobile station to transmit new uplink data to the target base station, in parallel with the ARQ process with the source base station under the reverse transfer control. |
| US08781469B2 |
Radio access technology selection in telecommunications system
A telecommunications system operable to provide a facility for mobile communications to a mobile device. The system comprises a core network, an access control function and a plurality of radio access networks. Each radio access network is operable to communicate data to and from the mobile device in accordance with one of a plurality of radio access technologies. In response to an attach request from the mobile device requesting a connection with the core network via a chosen radio access technology, the core network is operable to establish a connection with the mobile device via at least one of the plurality of radio access interfaces for communicating data to and from the mobile device. An access control function is operable to identify the mobile device requesting the connection with the core network and in accordance with access control criteria generate an attach response indicating with which if any of the plurality of radio access technologies the mobile device may establish the connection and communicate the attach response to the radio access network via which the mobile device has requested the connection. |
| US08781466B2 |
Method of transmitting and receiving control information in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting and receiving control information for a specific service in a wireless communication system is discussed. The method of transmitting control information for a specific service in a wireless communication system which uses multiple carriers includes transmitting notification indication information to at least one user equipment, the notification indication information including information related to a channel resource region through which control information for the specific service is transmitted, and transmitting a notification message to the at least one user equipment through the channel resource region indicated by the information related to the channel resource region, the notification including control information. |
| US08781464B2 |
System and method of decreasing time to begin acquisition of cellular networks after power up
In the system-selection solution used in wireless devices, system selection files may be read from a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) and converted into a priority list. The priority list may specify the relative priority of 3GPP and 3GPP2 systems and govern system selection by a device. Traditionally, generation of the priority list may be performed at every power up of the device. However, the reading of the system selection files from the UICC and generation of the priority list may take a period of time which may affect the performance of the device. For certain aspects of the present disclosure, the priority list may be generated after power up only when system selection files change. Therefore, the time for acquiring a wireless network upon the power up of a device may be reduced, particularly when system selection files remain the same as before. |
| US08781463B2 |
Method of and an operating support system for providing performance management in a Mobile telecommunications system
A method of and an Operating Support System, OSS, system (20) for Performance Management, PM, of a mobile telecommunications system (1) comprising a plurality of nodes (6) and radio access units (5) servicing a plurality of cells (15) generating a plurality of operational events data (13) and counter values (14) measured periodically for a first Result Output Period, ROP. Events data (13) and counter values (14) originating from the nodes (6) and radio access units (5) are collected (21; 40), aggregated (23; 41) periodically for a second and further ROPs having a duration longer than the first ROP. From the collected events data (13) further counter values are created (22, 42) periodically for the second and further ROPs. The aggregated and further counter values are processed (24; 43) corresponding to the originating nodes (6), radio access units (5) and ROP, and the processed counter values are analyzed (24; 44) for providing system operational performance indicia in different time scales. |
| US08781455B2 |
Method to control configuration change times in a wireless device
A method to control configuration change times is performed at a mobile wireless communication device when the mobile wireless communication device is connected to a wireless network. The mobile wireless device is connected in a first configuration mode. The mobile wireless communication device receives a control message from a radio network subsystem in the wireless network at a local receive time. The received control message includes a time indication for when to start a configuration mode change of the mobile wireless communication device, which the device extracts from the control message. The mobile wireless communication device reconfigures to a second configuration mode, different from the first configuration mode, based on the extracted time indication and the local receive time. |
| US08781453B1 |
Proactive caller-context systems and methods
A directory server may proactively provide to a remote mobile phone (or similar device) recent contextual information associated with callers who are likely to call the remote mobile phone, such that the remote mobile phone is likely to have a local set of recent contextual data about a given caller when the caller places a call to the remote mobile phone (or visa versa). When an unknown caller calls the remote mobile phone, the directory server may use the caller's phone number to identify directory information and one or more social-network or similar accounts that are used as sources of contextual information about the caller. |
| US08781451B2 |
System and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices
A system and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices is provided. The system obtains device data from a plurality of mobile devices within a similar area, gathered using, e.g., a GPS system. According to the speed that the mobile devices are travelling and the location of the similar area, traffic events can be identified and other mobile devices notified to provide dynamic updates as traffic situations change. Follow up notifications can be provided to update the user regarding the progress of traffic congestion, detours can be suggested, and various alerts provided. The mobile device may be connected to or part of a vehicle and leverage the notification system to provide different types of alerts and to notify users using various mechanisms. |
| US08781448B2 |
Selective alert processing
A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system. The method also includes determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system and blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication. Finally, this method includes sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication. |
| US08781444B2 |
Communication apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus includes a storage unit, a state detecting unit, a communication unit, and a communication control unit. The storage unit configured to store information. The state detecting unit configured to detect, at least one time during an operation of the communication apparatus, whether the storage unit is in a busy state in which no data writing is allowed, or in a ready state in which data writing is allowed. The communication unit configured to perform communication with a destination communication apparatus. The communication control unit configured to control the communication unit to inform the destination communication apparatus that a data receiving operation is stopped for a first time period, if the state detection unit detects that the storage unit has entered the busy state. |
| US08781437B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic transmission power limit back-off for specific absorption rate compliance
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing transmission power limit back-off for Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance. In one aspect, a method implemented in a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving an indication of at least one operating mode indicative of a proximity and an orientation of at least one transmitting antenna of the wireless communication apparatus. The method further includes determining a power transmission characteristic based on the determined operating mode and at least one of a radio access technology type, a band-class, a transmission configuration, an uplink channel, a traffic state, and a radio access technology transmission state used by the wireless communication apparatus, or any combination thereof. |
| US08781434B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing the power efficiency of wireless communication devices
Method and system for enhancing the power efficiency of a first wireless device that includes an energy receiver. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a transmitted signal at the first wireless device, converting the transmitted signal into power through the energy receiver, and providing the power to the first wireless device. |
| US08781430B2 |
Receiver filtering devices, systems, and methods
Exemplary embodiments of the invention disclose receiver baseband filtering. In an exemplary embodiment, the filter device may comprise a continuous-time filter and a discrete-time filter operably coupled to the continuous time-filter. The discrete-time filter may include a passive infinite impulse response filter operably coupled between the continuous-time filter and an amplifier. The discrete-time filter may also include an active infinite impulse response filter operably coupled between an output of the amplifier and an input of the amplifier. The discrete-time filter may be configured to combine an output of the active infinite impulse response filter and an output of the passive infinite impulse response filter to form a composite signal. Furthermore, the amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify the composite signal. |
| US08781427B1 |
Signal receiving circuit and the related signal receiving method
A signal receiving circuit includes an amplifier, a mixer, and a first controlling circuit. The amplifier includes: an input stage for receiving an input signal to generate a first signal; a gain stage coupled to the input stage for generating an output signal according to the first signal; and an output stage coupled to the gain stage for adjusting a spectral response of the amplifier according to a first adjusting signal. The mixer is coupled to the gain stage for generating a converted signal according to the output signal. The first controlling circuit is coupled to the mixer for detecting the converted signal to generate the first adjusting signal to adjust the spectral response of the amplifier. |
| US08781426B2 |
Techniques for controlling operation of control loops in a receiver
Techniques for controlling operation of control loops in a receiver are described. The operation of at least one control loop is modified in conjunction with a change in operating state, which may correspond to a change in linearity state, gain state, operating frequency, antenna configuration, etc. A change in linearity state may occur when jammers are detected and may cause bias current of analog circuit blocks to be adjusted. The at least one control loop to be modified may include a DC loop, an AGC loop, etc. The operation of a control loop may be modified by disabling the control loop or changing its time constant prior to changing operating state, waiting a predetermined amount of time to allow the receiver to settle, and enabling the control loop or restoring its time constant after waiting the predetermined amount of time. |
| US08781425B2 |
Methods and apparatus for handling a signaling message that relates to transmission rate restrictions
A method for handling a signaling message that specifies transmission rate restrictions may include operating in a first state. The method may also include receiving the signaling message from a network. The signaling message may include an activation time, the transmission rate restrictions and the control duration. The method may also include receiving a state transition trigger to operate in a second state. The method may also include determining the user equipment's behavior regarding the transmission rate restrictions upon receiving the state transition trigger. |
| US08781417B2 |
Hybrid techniques for antenna retuning utilizing transmit and receive power information
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver, an antenna tuner connecting said transceiver to an antenna, a power sensor adapted to acquire measurements about transmit power, a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) adapted to acquire measurements about receive power and wherein said tuner tunes said antenna based upon said transmit and receive measurements to optimize said antenna in both the receive and transmit bands. |
| US08781416B1 |
Adapting transmit parameters in highly dynamic channel
A processor determines, from signals received from other communication devices, one selected transmission mode for the communication channel conditions. The processor projects multiple channel characterization parameters in a mathematical model to each of the candidate transmission modes using a model of nominal communication channel conditions to predict whether each of the candidate transmission modes will achieve the desired communication under the nominal communication channel conditions. This results in the generation of a first subset of transmission modes. The processor also projects the multiple channel characterization parameters to each of the candidate transmission modes using a model of degraded communication channel conditions to predict whether each of the candidate transmission modes will achieve the desired communication under the degraded communication channel conditions. Such a determination results in generating a second subset of transmission modes that would successfully achieve communication. One selected transmission mode that maximizes communication objectives is selected. |
| US08781414B2 |
Envelope detector and method for detecting an envelope of a signal to be amplified by a power amplifier
An envelope detector includes an input receiving a digital input signal indicative of a magnitude of a signal to be amplified by a power amplifier. A circuit is provided for generating an analog envelope signal based on the digital input signal. The envelope detector includes an output for outputting the analog envelope signal. |
| US08781410B2 |
Radio communication device, transmission circuit and buffer circuit
According to one embodiment, a buffer circuit has a capacitor comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, an input signal being inputted to the first terminal, a first inverting amplifier circuit configured to invert and amplify a signal of the second terminal of the capacitor, a second inverting amplifier circuit configure to invert and amplify an output signal of the first inverting amplifier circuit, and a MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistor comprising a third terminal, a fourth terminal and a gate, the third terminal being connected to the second terminal of the capacitor, the fourth terminal being connected to a connection node of the first and the second inverting amplifier circuits, an inversion signal of the input signal being inputted to the gate. |
| US08781407B2 |
Antenna equipment including the grouping of antenna elements according to communication types
An antenna equipment includes an array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements configured to be grouped into at least one group according to each of N communication types, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, a selecting part selecting one of the N communication types, a transmitting part modulating outgoing data to generate an outgoing signal for antenna element or antenna elements belonging to each group for the selected communication type, and a receiving part demodulating an incoming signal from antenna element or antenna elements belonging to each group for the selected communication type to generate incoming data. |
| US08781406B2 |
Receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus obtains identification information from a transmitting apparatus via a cable communication when the transmitting apparatus is connected with the receiving apparatus via the cable communication while the receiving apparatus is being connected with the transmitting apparatus via a radio communication. The receiving apparatus judges whether obtained identification information is the same as identification information of the transmitting apparatus which is connected with the receiving apparatus via the radio communication. When they are same, the receiving apparatus transmits an instruction to the transmitting apparatus to switch an output of contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. When the transmitting apparatus receives the instruction, it switches the output of the contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. The receiving apparatus switches an input of the contents data to the receiving apparatus from the radio communication to the cable communication. |
| US08781404B2 |
Portable electronic device positioning based on multipath characterization information associated with wireless network transmitting devices
Techniques are provided which may be implemented in various methods and/or apparatuses to allow a portable electronic device to characterize and/or otherwise identify that certain wireless signals may be multipath signals and/or non-multipath signals. Given such signal/environment characterization information, a portable electronic device may select particular wireless signals for use in signal-based location estimation process and/or other communication processes. |
| US08781401B2 |
Detection and estimation of radio frequency variations
A system including a counting module, a difference module, and a radar module. The counting module counts polarity reversals of samples of a signal. The samples are generated during a first period, a second period, and a third period. The counting module generates a first count, a second count, and a third count of the polarity reversals counted during the respective periods. The difference module determines a first difference between the first count and the second count, a second difference between the second count and the third count, and a third difference between the first difference and the second difference. The radar module determines variation in frequency of the signal based on the first count and the second count, and determines a type of radar present in the signal based on one or more of the third difference and the variation in the frequency of the signal. |
| US08781400B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing co-channel interference
A method for providing co-channel interference information by a network node includes receiving information for at least one user equipment (UE) connected to an adjacent network node, determining a co-channel interference list for user equipment (UE) connected to the network node wherein the co-channel interference list is based on the received information and transmitting the co-channel interference list to a UE connected to the network node. |
| US08781394B2 |
Information processing apparatus and communication control method
According to one embodiment, there is provided information processing apparatus, including: a first communication module configured to perform a communication under a first communication scheme which corresponds to a proximity wireless communication requiring no authentication; a second communication module configured to perform a communication under a second communication scheme which has a communicable distance longer than that of the proximity wireless communication; and a communication controller configured to perform a control, after the first communication module has started a data transmission with another information processing apparatus under the first communication scheme, so as to change-over the first communication scheme to the second communication scheme and then perform the data transmission. |
| US08781393B2 |
Network updates of time and location
Methods and systems utilize a shake and transfer process to initiate a wireless communication provide a user device with time and location information of the communication, which can be associated with contact information of a user of the other device. As a result, a user has additional information associated with a contact, and the time and location information can be used to determine or track elapsed time and distance traveled between communications. |
| US08781388B2 |
Image forming device
An image forming device, comprising: a sheet-like medium accommodation unit; a supply member that carries a sheet-like medium; a pair of separation members that separate the sheet-like medium one by one; an image formation unit; a carrying path; a re-carrying unit to move inversely the sheet-like medium whose top face has been subjected to printing; a moving mechanism to move the supply member close to or away from the sheet-like medium and to move the pair of separation members close to or away from each other so that a path for the inversely carried sheet-like medium is formed; and a control unit to control the moving mechanism such that, when back-face printing is performed, the supply member is in a state of being moved away from the sheet-like medium and the pair of separation members are in a state of being moved away from each other. |
| US08781382B2 |
Fixing unit and image forming apparatus
A fixing unit includes a fixing rotatable body that is located at a side of a recording medium, the side carrying a not-fixed image, a pressing rotatable body that is located at another side of the recording medium and that is disposed so as to abut on the fixing rotatable body, a fixing heating unit that heats the fixing rotatable body, a first pressing heating unit that heats the pressing rotatable body from inside thereof, and a second pressing heating unit that is disposed opposite to a surface of the pressing rotatable body and that heats the pressing rotatable body from outside thereof. |
| US08781378B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device for thermally fixing an unfixed image onto a recording sheet by causing the sheet to pass through a fixing nip. The fixing device includes: heat belt formed in an endless shape and provided with a resistance heat layer; first pressure member provided inside a running path of the heat belt; and second pressure member pressing the first pressure member from over the running path to form the fixing nip. At least one of the first and second pressure members is rotating body. The heat belt has a pressure-receiving area and two non-pressure areas. The pressure-receiving area receives pressures from both the first and second pressure members. The non-pressure areas have been arranged at outside of the pressure-receiving area in an axis direction of the rotating body. Two ring-like electrodes have been formed on circumferential surfaces of the non-pressure areas and are used to supply power to the resistance heat layer. |
| US08781375B2 |
Powder container, powder conveying apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A powder container includes: a powder containing unit that contains powder and at least a part of which is deformable; a discharging unit that receives the powder supplied from an opening of the powder containing unit via an inlet arranged on the discharging unit and discharges the powder to a supply destination; an elastic member that is arranged on a periphery of the inlet of the discharging unit; and a seal member that is arranged on the powder containing unit and seals the opening. The seal member is sandwiched between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit via the elastic member such that the seal member is removable from between the discharging unit and the powder containing unit. |
| US08781367B2 |
Image forming apparatus and processing apparatus with a rotatable cover unit that includes a clutch and transmission member
An image forming apparatus includes a housing with cover for covering and uncovering an opening in communication with an internal space. A drive portion generates a drive force that is transmitted intermittently by a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a transmission member with first a transmission portion that receives a drive force from the drive portion and a second transmission portion that engages an image forming portion. A link mechanism reciprocates the transmission member in a first direction in which the transmission member moves away from image forming portion and a second direction opposite the first direction. A flexible link connects the cover to the link mechanism. The link mechanism coordinates with cover and moves the transmission member in the first direction when the cover uncovers the opening. The link mechanism coordinates with cover and moves the transmission member in the second direction when cover covers the opening. |
| US08781366B2 |
Image formation apparatus
An image formation apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charge unit, an exposure unit, a development unit, and a transfer unit. The photoreceptor satisfies the following formulas. 0.9≦(|V0(2)−VL|)/(|V0(1)−VL|)≦1.0 2.0≦|VL|/L≦3.5 VL denotes a post-exposure surface potential value [V] of a surface portion of the photoreceptor exposed by the exposure unit in a first image formation cycle; V0(2) denotes a charge potential value [V] in a second image formation cycle of a surface portion of the photoreceptor exposed by the exposure unit in the first image formation cycle; V0(1) denotes a charge potential value [V] in a second image formation cycle of a surface portion of the photoreceptor not exposed by the exposure unit in the first image formation cycle; and L denotes a film thickness [μm] of the photosensitive layer. |
| US08781363B2 |
Medium carrying unit and image forming apparatus using the medium carrying unit
A medium carrying unit to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a first carrying path through which a medium is carried, a handle member positioned above or around the first carrying path and including a part to be gripped by a user in a state that allows the handle member to project above a carrying surface of the first carrying path, an accommodation area that is defined around the handle member and that accommodates the handle member in a state that allows the handle member to be freely inserted and removed so that the handle member hides below the carrying surface of the first carrying path, and a push-out mechanism that pushes out the handle member from an interior of the accommodation area when the medium carrying unit is removed from the image forming apparatus. |
| US08781362B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a latent image carrier, and a developing device. The developing device includes a container, a supporter, first and second developer-transporting members, first and second magnets, a pair of first urging members, and a pair of second urging members. The pair of first urging members presses the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container. The first urging members serve as two vertexes of a first triangle surrounding the center of gravity of part of the developing device excluding the supporter. The pair of second urging members presses the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container. The second urging members serve as two vertexes of a second triangle surrounding the center of gravity of part of the developing device excluding the supporter. |
| US08781361B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; a developing cartridge that is detachably disposed in the main body and includes an image carrier; a charging roller that is disposed to face the image carrier in the developing cartridge and charges a surface of the image carrier; a charging roller separating unit that moves the charging roller between a first position in which the charging roller is in contact with the image carrier and a second position in which the charging roller is spaced apart from the image carrier; and a paper feeding cassette detachably disposed in the main body; wherein when the paper feeding cassette is first mounted, the charging roller is fixed in the second position by the charging roller separating unit. |
| US08781360B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a cover and a pressing mechanism for pressing a developing cartridge when closing the cover
An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers. |
| US08781358B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, computer program product, and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit configured to supply a toner onto a surface of an image carrier to form a toner image carried from a toner container; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image onto a transfer medium; a cleaning unit configured to collect a non-transferred toner that is not transferred onto the transfer medium during the transfer by the transfer unit; a recycle unit configured to carry the non-transferred toner to the developing unit; a non-transferred-toner-amount detecting unit configured to detects an amount of the non-transferred toner; a total-toner-amount calculating unit configured to calculates an amount of the toner carried from the toner container; a consumed-toner-amount calculating unit configured to calculate, based on the amounts, a consumed toner amount; and an environmental-load-information calculating unit configured to calculate, based on the consumed toner amount, environmental load information. |
| US08781357B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material by exposing a photosensitive member with a light emitting member in a state where a cartridge including the photosensitive member is mounted in an apparatus main body includes a light emitting member, a support member, and a duct formed in the support member. The light emitting member includes a plurality of light emitting portions arranged in an array. The support member supports the light emitting member. The duct forms an air supply path extending in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge to cool the cartridge mounted in the apparatus main body. |
| US08781356B2 |
Image forming apparatus and vibration reducing member
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming assembly including an image carrier including a support portion and a developing device including a projecting portion, an image forming apparatus body including a frame and an assembly covering member that rotates between a closed state and an open state and that has a support hole for receiving the support portion and an interference avoiding hole for receiving the projecting portion, and a vibration reducing member. The vibration reducing member reduces vibration of the developing device relative to the image carrier by being fitted in a gap around the projecting portion in the interference avoiding hole in the state in which the projecting portion is inserted in the interference avoiding hole in the assembly covering member in the closed state. The image forming apparatus is operated in the state in which the vibration reducing member is removed. |
| US08781355B2 |
Electrical contact, electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and process cartridge
An electrical contact member electrically connects to an external contact which is electrically connected with an electroconductive cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer on its outer surface and which is provided outside the cylindrical member. The electrical contact member includes a first contact portion contacted with the cylindrical member, a second contact portion contacted with the external contact, a first extension connected electrically with the first contact portion and extending in a diametrical direction across an axis of the cylindrical member, and a second extension electrically connecting with the first extension and extending in the diametrical direction toward the axis. The second extension is provided with the second contact portion, and when the second contact portion is contacted by the external contact, the second contact portion displaces along the axis. |
| US08781354B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a unit part that includes an electronic component and that can be installed in the apparatus main body by being guided in a first predetermined direction; a unit-side electrode that is provided to the unit part to be connected electrically with the electronic component; a main body-side electrode that is provided to the apparatus main body and is connected electrically with the unit-side electrode when the unit part is installed in the apparatus main body; and a ground electrode that is provided to the apparatus main body and is connected electrically with a ground, the ground electrode being disposed at a position upstream of the main body-side electrode with respect to the first predetermined direction. |
| US08781353B2 |
Toner sensor module
Toner sensor modules are provided. In one aspect, a toner sensor module has a first light source emitting a first light, a first light sensor that generates a sensed light signal that is indicative of a sensed light, and a frame. The frame positions the light source to illuminate a target area from a first side a plane that is normal to the target area so that illuminated portions of any toner particles at the target area direct a reflected a portion of the first light into the first side and positioning the first light sensor on the first side of the plane to which toner particles at the target area direct the reflected portion of the first light. |
| US08781352B2 |
Method and apparatus to control temperature of fuser in image forming apparatus by using power capsule
A method of controlling a temperature of a fuser in an image forming apparatus includes generating a power capsule including a soft start period in which a power supply is gradually increased to improve a flicker characteristic, a full turn on period in which the power supply is maximum, and a soft end period in which the power supply is gradually decreased to improve the flicker characteristic. The power capsule is profiled to supply a constant amount of power and to satisfy a predefined requirement for flicker and harmonic characteristics of an image forming apparatus with respect to the fuser in the soft start period, the full turn on period, and the soft end period. The method includes detecting the temperature of the fuser and controlling the temperature of the fuser by performing a power control operation corresponding to the power capsule according to a temperature variation of the detected temperature of the fuser with respect to a reference temperature of the fuser. |
| US08781345B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of forming image
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit fixing toner images to paper sheets, a timing adjusting unit adjusting the timing of supplying paper sheets to the fixing unit, a temperature detecting unit detecting the temperature of a predetermined section of a heating rotating body included in the fixing unit, and a timing control unit selecting a first mode or a second mode immediately after start-up of the image forming apparatus in accordance with whether the number of paper sheets to be printed exceeds a predetermined number, wherein in the first mode, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit exceeds a first temperature, the first paper sheet is supplied to the fixing unit and, in the second mode, when the detected temperature exceeds a second temperature different from the first temperature, the first paper sheet is supplied to the fixing unit. |
| US08781340B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to form pattern images in areas corresponding to positions at which toners including a specific color toner of a specific color are provided; a reading unit configured to read the formed pattern images; a color information detection unit configured to analyze color information of the read pattern images and detect the color information of the specific color toner; a position determination unit configured to determine the position at which the specific color toner is provided from a position at which the pattern image of the specific color is formed in the read pattern images; and a recording unit configured to record the detected color information of the specific color toner and the position at which the specific color toner is provided. |
| US08781339B2 |
Electronic apparatus, non-temporary recording medium, communication terminal unit, and operation control system
A multifunction peripheral 1 includes a communication portion 102, a control portion 101, a certified reference time storage portion 103, and a determining portion 104. A communication portion 102 receives a total maintenance time stored in a communication terminal unit 31 from the communication terminal unit 31. A control portion 101 switches its operation mode between a maintenance mode and a normal operation mode to activate the multifunction peripheral 1. A certified reference time storage portion 103 stores a certified reference time that permits switching to the maintenance mode. A determining portion 104 determines whether the total maintenance time has reached the certified reference time. When it is determined that the total maintenance time has reached the certified reference time by the determining portion 104, the control portion 101 switches the multifunction peripheral 1 to the maintenance mode to activate the multifunction peripheral 1. |
| US08781338B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer-readable recording medium having image forming program recorded therein
There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image data acquiring unit that acquires image data of an image formed on a sheet; an identification information image reading unit that reads an identification information image formed on the sheet, the identification information image corresponding to identification information that identifies the sheet on which the image is formed; an image forming unit that forms a first image based on the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit on the sheet with a decolorable colorant which becomes colorless by a predetermined chemical reaction; and a storage control unit that stores the identification information and the image data of the image to be formed on the sheet, on which the identification information image corresponding to the identification information is formed, in a predetermined storage region in a correlated manner. |
| US08781335B2 |
Optical repeater and signal relay method thereof
An optical repeater in a mobile communication system includes a main hub unit (MHU) and a plurality of repeaters connected to a plurality of access points of the MHU, respectively. Each of the repeaters receives subcarrier information and a signal transmitted from a base station, as optical signals, through the MHU or a different repeater connected thereto, processes only a signal corresponding to a subcarrier allocated to a terminal which has accessed according to the subcarrier information, and transmits the processed signal to the terminal which has accessed. Also, each of the repeaters maps a signal of the terminal which has accessed to a subcarrier allocated to the terminal which has accessed, and transmits the same to the MHU or a different repeater connected thereto. |
| US08781334B2 |
Quantum repeater and system and method for creating extended entanglements
An iterative method is provided for progressively building an end-to-end entanglement between qubits in first and second end nodes (91, 92) of a chain of nodes whose intermediate nodes (90) are quantum repeaters. At each iteration, a current operative repeater (90) of the chain merges an entanglement existing between qubits in the first end node (91) and the operative repeater, with a local entanglement formed between qubits in the operative repeater and its neighbor node towards the second end node (92). For the first iteration, the operative repeater is the neighbor of the first end node (91); thereafter, for each new iteration the operative repeater shifts one node further along the chain toward the second end node (92). A quantum repeater adapted for implementing this method is also provided. |
| US08781332B2 |
Optical transceiver module, optical transmission device, and optical transmission method
An optical transceiver module adapted to a link device includes a connection unit, a driving unit and optical transmitting and receiving units. The connection unit, to be coupled with the link device, includes an indicating element for generating an indicating signal when the connection unit is coupled with the link device. The driving unit, coupled with the connection unit, receives the indicating signal and outputs a control signal according to the indicating signal. The optical transmitting unit, coupled with the driving unit, receives the control signal for driving the optical transmitting unit to output a first optical signal. The optical receiving unit, coupled with the driving unit, transmits a received second optical signal to the driving unit. An optical transmission device using the optical transceiver module, and an optical transmission method are also disclosed. A link training sequence can be initiated after the connection unit is actually coupled with the link device. Thus, a host cannot enter a disable mode due to error connection. |
| US08781330B2 |
Optical repeater complying with redundant configuration
An optical repeater formed in an optical passive component passively relays an incoming multiplexed optical signal. The repeater has an optical decoder decoding the multiplexed optical signal, and an optical encoder encoding an optical signal from a termination unit connected to the repeater. The repeater further includes a first optical path switch outputting an incoming multiplexed optical signal to the optical decoder and outputting the optical signal delivered from the optical decoder, a second optical path switch outputting the optical signal coming from the first optical path switch to the termination unit, and a third optical path switch outputting the optical signal coming from the second optical path switch to the encoder and outputting the optical signal delivered from the encoder. |
| US08781327B2 |
Use of multiple shared wavelength lockers to stabilize transponders in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network
An apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to receive a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) signal from a remote node, wherein the WDM signal comprises a first channel carrying a first remotely generated signal, a second channel carrying a second remotely generated signal, and a third channel, adapt the WDM signal into a composite WDM signal by: dropping the first remotely generated signal from the first channel; adding a first locally generated signal to the first channel; and adding a second locally generated signal to the third channel, and provide wavelength locking to the first locally generated signal and the second locally generated signal without providing wavelength locking to the second remotely generated signal. |
| US08781326B2 |
Energy efficient OFDM transceiver
An energy efficient OFDM transceiver includes a transmitter using a decision processor to control first internal elements that can be operated in parallel and can be selectively powered off or hibernated, and a receiver using a processing decision element to control second internal elements that can be operated in parallel and can be selectively powered off or hibernated, wherein control of the first and second internal elements enables tracking status of network traffic, adjustment of OFDM bandwidth based on a traffic decision and selectively powering off or hibernating parallel ones of the first and second internal elements. |
| US08781324B2 |
Optical receiver integrated on a substrate
A coherent optical receiver circuit is disclosed in which various components of the optical receiver may be provided or integrated, in one example, on a common substrate. Further integration is achieved by incorporating various optical demultiplexer designs that are relatively compact and conserve space on the surface of the substrate. The optical receiver circuit may be used to demultiplex quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) optical signals. |
| US08781319B2 |
Configurable point-to-point optical communications system between servers
A configurable optical communications system (100) for establishing point-to-point communications between multiple computer servers (160) coupled to a common midplane or backplane communications bus (132), wherein at least two of the servers include an optical input/output device (170) for sending and receiving an optical signal (112). The system further includes an optical communications pathway (140) that is configured to carry the optical signal, and at least two pivotable mirrors (150) located within the optical pathway and in-line with the optical input/output devices that are selectively orientated to direct the optical signal between the optical input/output devices to establish the point-to-point communication between the at least two servers. |
| US08781315B2 |
Camera accessory device that is removably attached to camera-side accessory shoe
A camera accessory device which not only makes it possible to prevent a camera-side accessory shoe from being scratched thereby, but also encores positive electrical connection between the camera accessory device and a camera. The camera accessory device comprises a lock lever, a shoe bracket for engagement with the camera-side accessory shoe, contact pins for contact with respective electric contacts of the camera-side accessory shoe, a contact spring-holding member, and an accessory shoe-holding member which moves, in accordance with rotation of the lock lever, to a shoe member-locking position or to a shoe member-unlocking position. The contact pins are urged by the holding members such that urging forces applied to the electric contacts become larger when the accessory shoe-holding member has moved to the shoe member locking position than when the same has moved to the shoe member unlocking position. |
| US08781311B1 |
Document holder for a portable imaging apparatus
A detachable document-holding device for holding a document at a substantially fixated distance from a lens disposed at a back surface of a portable imaging apparatus. The document-holding device includes a document tray, a sliding interface having a hollow passage, and a mounting-structure and a base. The mounting-structure includes a sliding panel pivotally attached to an attachment panel. The tray and the sliding interface are pivotally interconnected. The base is securely attached to the back surface of the portable imaging apparatus, wherein the mounting-structure is operatively mounted onto the base. The hollow passage fittingly accommodates the sliding panel, facilitating a user to set the distance between the document and the lens. When in operational state, the tray is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, wherein an image of the document, placed onto the tray, is reflected towards the lens. |
| US08781310B2 |
Coating composition comprising photocatalyst coated with apatite and radiant heating system
A photocatalytic coating composition is provided. The composition comprises a hydroxyapatite-coated photocatalyst, a silica-based binder, an acrylic emulsion, a thickener and water. Further provided is a radiant heating system having the composition. The system has deodorizing and antibacterial properties. |
| US08781308B2 |
Apparatus for and method of heat-treating film formed on surface of substrate
The back surface of a substrate having a front surface coated with a resist film is irradiated with flashes of light emitted from flash lamps. Heat conduction from the back surface of the substrate abruptly raised in temperature by the irradiation with flashes of light toward the front surface thereof occurs to heat the resist film formed on the front surface of the substrate, so that a post-applied bake process is performed. After the completion of the post-applied bake process, a cooling plate cools down the substrate. Regardless of the type of resist film formed on the front surface of the substrate, the substrate has a constant absorptance of flashes of light to allow the resist film to be heated to a constant treatment temperature, because the back surface of the substrate is irradiated with flashes of light. |
| US08781298B2 |
Closed caption tagging system
A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria. |
| US08781294B2 |
Media content caching
A playback device includes tangible storage configured to receive transfer of media content from a remote communications device to the playback device while the remote communications device is operating in a high power mode. Interface logic is coupled to the tangible storage and configured to signal the remote communications device during the transfer to prepare the remote communications device to enter a low power mode after the transfer is complete. The remote communications device includes a content manager configured to transfer of media content from the remote communications device to a playback device while the remote communications device is operating in a high power mode. Power logic is coupled to the content manager and configured to prepare the remote communications device to enter a low power mode after the transfer is complete, responsive to receipt of a signal from the playback device during the transfer is complete. |
| US08781291B2 |
Data processing device, data processing method, and program
A data processing device including an output control unit configured to extract a character string targeted for a search from subtitle data of content data including image data, voice data, and the subtitle data, search the voice data for data of a voice uttering the character string, acquire timing information indicating time when the character string is uttered, which is included in the image data, generate subtitle timing information including identification information provided to identify the subtitle data including the character string and the timing information, where the identification information and the timing information are associated with each other, so that the subtitle timing information is acquired, and synchronize the subtitle data and image data of time indicated by timing information associated with identification information of the subtitle data, and output the subtitle data and the image data based on the subtitle timing information is provided. |
| US08781288B2 |
Digital broadcast receiving apparatus
A portable telephone 100 with broadcast receiving function has a portable telephone device and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus. A recording format selection section 116 in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus records, in a recording section 117 such as nonvolatile semiconductor memory, any of a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal which are separated by a transport stream (TS) separating section 105, in accordance with a designated recording format or contents of a broadcast program, from a recording start time to a recording end time. An attempt is made to make the quantity of data signal to be recorded in the recording section 117 appropriate, and diminish power consumed by a battery of the portable telephone 100 with broadcast receiving function. |
| US08781285B2 |
Multipurpose fiber termination unit
The NTU receiving structure (14) is further adapted to receive a demountable casing (15) for enclosing a second network termination unit (16). The fiber management unit (11) is further adapted for accommodating the outer end of a second optical fiber with a second optical connector (32). The fiber termination unit (10) further comprises a second NTU connection unit (23) for positioning the second optical connector (32) in a position suitable for connecting the second optical connector (32) to a connector part of the second network termination unit (16) when the demountable casing (15) with the second network termination unit (16) is received in the NTU receiving structure (14). |
| US08781279B2 |
Tight buffer fiber optic cables for conduits
A fiber optic arrangement includes a primary strand, a plurality of secondary connection strands, each of which is coupled to the primary strand at a notch. Tight buffer optical fibers are attached, one at the end of each of the secondary connection strands. |
| US08781273B2 |
Ferrule assemblies, connector assemblies, and optical couplings having coded magnetic arrays
Ferrule assemblies having at least one coded magnetic array are disclosed. In one embodiment, a ferrule assembly includes a ferrule body having a coupling surface and a coded magnetic array having a plurality of magnetic regions. The coded magnetic array may be located within the coupling surface. The ferrule assembly further includes a lens component located within the ferrule body. The lens component may have a facet at the coupling surface of the ferrule body at a predetermined angle. In another embodiment, a translating ferrule assembly includes an optical interface and a coded magnetic array, and is configured to translate within a connector housing of an optical connector when coupled to an electronics device. Optical couplings having a coded magnetic array and sockets for receiving a connector are also disclosed. |
| US08781271B1 |
Compact time delay unit
A compact photonic time delay unit. The unit includes a plurality of compact optical delay elements, a plurality of delay bypass elements, with each delay bypass element being associated with a respective one of the compact optical delay elements, and a plurality of compact optical switches. Each of the compact optical switches is configured to controllably switch an optical signal through one of the compact optical delay elements or through the associated delay bypass element. In some aspects, the compact optical delay elements, delay bypass elements, and compact optical switches are disposed on a single electro-optical chip. |
| US08781267B2 |
Optical physical interface module
An optical physical interface module is provided which includes a first optical physical interface, a second optical physical interface and one or more optical components. The first optical physical interface is configured to plug into a first connector and communicate optical signals toward the first connector. The second optical physical interface is configured to receive a second connector and communicate optical signals toward the second connector. The one or more optical components are operable to process optical signals between the first and second optical physical interfaces. The optical physical interface module may be provided at the edge of a circuit board so that the circuit board has an optical interface for external communication. The optical physical interface module may be a stand-alone module or integrated into a connector of an optical cable, among other configurations. |
| US08781265B2 |
Sensor, a system and a method for measuring forces and/or moments
A sensor for measuring forces and/or moments on an object, including at least one sensor element for the detection of an expansion of the object in at least one spatial direction, from which expansion a force or a moment can be determined, wherein the sensor element including an optical fiber with a sensor region with a fiber Bragg grating is provided, and the fiber Bragg grating is adapted to be irradiated with light, preferably a broadband light, generating a reflected light having a peak wavelength. The optical fiber is formed by a fiber core and at least one sheath of light-guiding material surrounding the fiber core. The fiber Bragg grating is arranged in the fiber core. The material of the sheath is doped with a fluorescent material and the fluorescent material may be irradiated with an excitation radiation to generate a fluorescent radiation having at least one main emission wavelength. |
| US08781258B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus, includes: a transforming area setter, operable to set at least a part of an area of a target image as a transforming area; a transforming area divider, operable to arrange a plurality of dividing points in the transforming area and to divide the transforming area into a plurality of small areas by using a line connecting the dividing points; and a transforming processor, operable to move a position of at least one of the dividing points to transform at least one of the small areas, thereby transforming an image in the transforming area. |
| US08781249B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
In an image processing performing local tone correction on an image, tone correction on an object (face) area can be suppressed from becoming nonuniform. The apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit (102) that acquires coordinate information on an object area, a division unit (103) that divides the inputted image into a plurality of divided areas, a first decision unit (105) that decides a tone correction coefficient for each of the divided areas, a second decision unit (106) that decides a tone correction coefficient for the object area based on coordinate information on the object area and the tone correction coefficients for the plurality of divided areas, and an image processing unit (107) that performs tone correction processing on the object area by applying thereto the tone correction coefficient decided by the second decision unit in a uniform manner without depending on coordinates thereof. |
| US08781247B2 |
Adding new texture to an image by assigning pixel values of similar pixels and obtaining a synthetic image
An apparatus includes, a unit generating a sample-texture image, a unit searching a preset-search range for similar pixels and to generate a texture image by assigning a pixel value of each of the similar pixels to a pixel value of a processing-target pixel in the texture image, the preset-search range being included in the sample-texture image and including a position corresponding to a position of the processing-target pixel to which any pixel value is not yet assigned, the similar pixels having, around the similar pixels, variation patterns similar to a pattern of pixels which are located in the texture image near the processing-target pixel and to which pixel values are assigned, and a unit combining the texture image and a base image of a same size as the texture image to obtain a synthetic image, the base image holding shades similar to shades of a transform-target image. |
| US08781243B2 |
Method for constrained reconstruction of high signal-to-noise ratio images
A method for producing an image having a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is provided. An image to be enhanced is provided, the provided image including a previously reconstructed image or an image reconstructed from acquired image data. A prior image is produced from the provided image, for example, by filtering the provided image such that noise from the provided image is substantially suppressed in the prior image. Synthesized image data is produced by performing a forward projection of the provided image. A sparsified image is produced by subtracting the prior image and the provided image. A target image having a higher SNR than the provided image is reconstructed using the sparsified image, the provided image, and the synthesized image data. The provided image may be, for example, a medical image produced by an x-ray imaging system, including computed tomography and C-arm systems; a magnetic resonance imaging system; and the like. |
| US08781241B2 |
Image encoding device encoding an image by performing sequential processing, method for encoding image, and computer-readable storage medium storing image encoding program
An image encoding device that encodes an image by performing sequential processing in units of a certain size, the image encoding device includes, a variable-length coding unit that performs variable-length coding on data to be encoded having the certain size in the image; an estimating unit that estimates the number of codes at a time after the variable-length coding using the data to be encoded at a time before the variable-length coding is performed by the variable-length coding unit; and a slice controlling unit that controls division of the image into slices on the basis of a cumulative value of the estimated number of codes. |
| US08781235B2 |
Object recognition apparatus, recognition method thereof, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An apparatus extracts a first dictionary information associated with a first category from among multiple categories included in a dictionary and second dictionary information associated with a second category from among multiple categories included in the dictionary or another dictionary, calculates a first feature amount and a second feature amount from the first dictionary information and the second dictionary information, respectively, receives an instruction as to whether or not to integrate a name of the first category and a name of the second category in the case where it is determined that a similarity between the calculated first feature amount and second feature amount is greater than a predetermined threshold and that the name of the first category and the name of the second category do not match, and integrates the name of the first category and the name of the second category with the received post-integration name. |
| US08781231B1 |
Content-based image ranking
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for ranking search results for queries. The method includes calculating a visual similarity score for one or more pairs of images in a plurality of images based on visual features of images in each of the one or more pairs; building a graph of images by linking each of one or more images in the plurality of images to one or more nearest neighbor images based on the visual similarity scores; associating a respective score with each of one or more images in the graph based on data indicative of user behavior relative to the image as a search result for a query; and determining a new score for each of one or more images in the graph based on the respective score of the image, and the respective scores of one or more nearest neighbors to the image. |
| US08781228B2 |
Triggering actions in response to optically or acoustically capturing keywords from a rendered document
A system for processing text captured from rendered documents is described. The system receives a sequence of one or more words optically or acoustically captured from a rendered document by a user. The system identifies among words of the sequence a word with which an action has been associated. The system then performs the associated action with respect to the user. |
| US08781227B2 |
Recognition of numerical characters in digital images
Recognition of numerical characters is disclosed, including: extracting a subimage from a received image comprising information pertaining to a plurality of numerical characters, wherein the extracted subimage is associated with one of the plurality of numerical characters; and performing recognition based at least in part on a set of topological information associated with the subimage, including: processing the subimage to obtain the set of topological information associated with the subimage; comparing the set of topological information associated with the subimage with a preset set of stored topological information; determining that in the event that the set of topological information associated with the subimage matches the preset set of stored topological information, the subimage is associated with a recognized numerical character associated with the preset set of stored topological information. |
| US08781225B2 |
Automatic tone mapping method and image processing device
A tone-mapping method for adjusting a contrast of an image includes generating a luminance histogram of the image according to a luminance and a sharpness of the image; performing histogram equalization on the luminance histogram, to generate a luminance mapping function corresponding to the image; performing a weighted operation on the luminance mapping function and a linear function, to generate a weighted luminance mapping function corresponding to the image; generating a tone-mapping look-up table corresponding to the image according to the weighted luminance mapping function; and adjusting the luminance of the image according to the tone-mapping look-up table, so as to adjust the contrast of the image. |
| US08781220B1 |
Intensity based pixel quantization
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising accessing a first pixel that is neighboring to a second pixel of an image, the first pixel including a plurality of color fields, each color field of the plurality of color fields associated with a respective color plane, wherein the second pixel is to be processed as a target pixel; quantizing the plurality of color fields to generate a corresponding plurality of quantized color fields, wherein said quantizing the plurality of color fields is based on a contribution of individual color planes of the plurality of color planes towards an intensity of the image; and processing the target pixel based at least in part on the plurality of quantized color fields. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08781218B2 |
Receptive field learning for pooled image features
Systems and methods are disclosed for image classification by receiving an overcomplete set of spatial regions, jointly optimizing the classifier and the pooling region for each pooled feature; and performing incremental feature selection and retraining using a grafting process to efficiently train the classifier. |
| US08781216B2 |
Method for performing automatic classification of image information
The method is characterized in that the method comprises the steps that a computer or several interconnected computers are caused to a) store, in the form of a pixel set in which set each pixel is associated with image information in at least one channel for light intensity, a first image to be classified onto a digital storage medium; b) carry out a first classification of the image, which classification is caused to be based upon the image information of each respective pixel and which classification is caused to associate each pixel with a certain class in a first set of classes, and to store these associations in a first database; c) calculate, for each pixel and for several classes in the first set of classes, the smallest distance in the image between the pixel in question and the closest pixel which is associated with the class in question in the database, and to store an association between each pixel and the calculated smallest distance for the pixel in a second database for each class for which a distance has been calculated; d) carry out a second classification of the data in the second database, which classification is caused to be based upon the smallest distance for each pixel to each respective class, and to associate each pixel to a certain class in a second set of classes; and e) store the classified image in the form of a set of pixels onto a digital storage medium, where each pixel comprises data regarding the association of the pixel to the certain class in the second set of classes, and where the classified image has the same dimensions as the first image. |
| US08781210B2 |
Method and system for automated defect detection
A computer program product and method for performing automated defect detection of blades within an engine is disclosed. The method may include providing a storage medium for storing data and programs used in processing video images, providing a processing unit for processing images, receiving from a borescope an initial set of images of a plurality of members inside of a device, and using the processing unit to apply Robust Principal Component Analysis to decompose the initial set of images into a first series of low rank component images and a second series of sparse component images, wherein there are at least two images in the initial series. |
| US08781209B2 |
System and method for data-driven automated borescope inspection
A system and method for performing automated defect detection of blades within an engine is disclosed. The system and method may include an image capture device capable of capturing and transmitting images of a plurality of blades of an engine, creating a normal blade model of an undamaged one of the plurality of blades and determining defects within the plurality of blades by utilizing the normal blade model. |
| US08781208B2 |
Inspection method and inspection apparatus
The application relates to a method of inspecting an object and an inspection apparatus. The object has a plurality of features and the method includes the step of identifying a current primary feature on the object. Once the current primary feature has been selected, one or more additional features are selected, each of the one or more additional features selected having at least one common attribute with the current primary feature. The method also includes the step of capturing an image of the selected features on an image capture module. |
| US08781204B2 |
Authentication of security documents, in particular of banknotes
There is described a method for checking the authenticity of security documents, in particular banknotes, wherein authentic security documents comprise security features 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 steps of (i) acquiring a sample image of at least one region of interest of the surface of a candidate document to be authenticated, which region of interest encompasses at least part of the security features, (ii) digitally processing the sample image by performing a decomposition of the sample image into at least one scale sub-space containing high resolution details of the sample image and extracting classifying features from the scale sub-space, and (iii) deriving an authenticity rating of the candidate document based on the extracted classifying features. |
| US08781200B2 |
CT image processing device and CT image processing method
A CT image processing device 5 which processes projection data in synchronization with a periodic motion of a portion of a subject includes an ROI calculation unit 36 which calculates specific information on an ROI for synchronization for each scanning angle so as to track the target portion of the subject. As a result, a strong synchronization signal is obtained, a characteristic amount in which breathing beat and heartbeat sufficiently appear can be measured, and simple synchronization processing is made possible by using the projection data. A dedicated device for obtaining the heartbeat or breathing beat such as ECG and a respiratory measuring device is not required, and a heartbeat signal and a breathing beat signal can be obtained from an ROI signal of the projection data. As a result, blurring on an image caused by the heartbeat can be eliminated, and an image quality is extremely improved. |
| US08781198B2 |
High contrast imaging and fast imaging reconstruction
When reconstructing low-collimation nuclear scan data (18) (e.g., SPECT) into a nuclear image volume (19), a spatial frequency-dependent (SFD) filter function is applied in Fourier space to the reconstructed image (19) to improve image resolution given a predefined number of reconstruction iterations and/or to reduce the number of reconstruction iterations required to achieve a predetermined level of image resolution. Size of an object to be imaged is determined, and the SFD filter function is determined or generated based on signal power spectrum (and/or modulated transfer function) data, object size, and desired image quality (or number of reconstruction iterations). The SFD filter function amplifies higher-energy components (e.g., corresponding to a lesion or tumor, or the like) of the spatial frequency spectrum to improve viability in a low collimated nuclear image (19) using fewer reconstruction iterations. |
| US08781197B2 |
Tool for accurate quantification in molecular MRI
A method and apparatus is provided for magnetic source magnetic resonance imaging. The method includes collecting energy signals from an object, providing additional information of characteristics of the object, and generating the image of the object from the energy signals and from the additional information such that the image includes a representation of a quantitative estimation of the characteristics, e.g a quantitative estimation of magnetic susceptibility. The additional information may comprise predetermined characteristics of the object, a magnitude image generated from the object, or magnetic signals collected from different relative orientations between the object and the imaging system. The image is generated by an inversion operation based on the collected signals and the additional information. The inversion operation minimizes a cost function obtained by combining the data extracted from the collected signals and the additional information of the object. Additionally, the image is used to detect a number of diagnostic features including microbleeds, contract agents and the like. |
| US08781192B2 |
Tissue classification
A method for classifying tissue as normal or abnormal tissue includes obtaining segmented reconstructed volumetric image data for predetermined tissue of interest, generating a 2D voxel representation of the segmented reconstructed volumetric image data, and classifying voxels of the segmented reconstructed volumetric image data as corresponding to abnormal and normal tissue based on the 2D voxel representation. |
| US08781191B2 |
Methods for the compensation of imaging technique in the processing of radiographic images
The present invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. In particular, devices, methods and algorithms are provided that allow for the accurate and reliable evaluation of bone structure and macro-anatomical parameters from x-ray images. |
| US08781188B2 |
Method and device for displaying changes in medical image data
Method for displaying changes in medical image data, comprising the steps of acquiring at least two medical anchor image datasets representing medical image data at different points in time, determining at least one transformation calculating at least one intermediate image dataset representing intermediate image data by using the transformation and displaying the medical image data represented by the anchor image datasets and the intermediate image dataset(s) as an image sequence. |
| US08781187B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image. A method may include applying a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values. The method may further include determining a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values. The method may additionally include generating a kernel image for each of the seed values. The method may also include using the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest including a breast within the mammogram image. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08781186B2 |
System and method for abdominal surface matching using pseudo-features
A system and method for using pre-procedural images for registration for image-guided therapy (IGT), also referred to as image-guided intervention (IGI), in percutaneous surgical application. Pseudo-features and patient abdomen and organ surfaces are used for registration and to establish the relationship needed for guidance. Three-dimensional visualizations of the vasculature, tumor(s), and organs may be generated for enhanced guidance information. The invention facilitates extensive pre-procedural planning, thereby significantly reducing procedural times. It also minimizes the patient exposure to radiation. |
| US08781177B2 |
Method and computer program product for extracting feature vectors from a palm image
A method for extracting feature vectors from a palm image includes the steps of: determining a palm contour in the palm image, and labeling pixels on the palm contour as contour pixels in order along the palm contour; determining a rotation angle of the palm contour relative to a coordinate system; obtaining corrected contour pixels to offset the rotation angle; determining a plurality of feature points from the corrected contour pixels; obtaining a plurality of sub-images from the palm image with reference to the feature points, one of the sub-images corresponding to a palm center and another one of the sub-images corresponding to a corresponding palm finger; and determining the feature vectors with reference to the sub-images, each of the feature vectors corresponding to a corresponding one of the sub-images. |
| US08781175B2 |
On-site composition and aesthetics feedback through exemplars for photographers
A comprehensive system to enhance the aesthetic quality of the photographs captured by mobile consumers provides on-site composition and aesthetics feedback through retrieved examples. Composition feedback is qualitative in nature and responds by retrieving highly aesthetic exemplar images from the corpus which are similar in content and composition to the snapshot. Color combination feedback provides confidence on the snapshot to contain good color combinations. Overall aesthetics feedback predicts the aesthetic ratings for both color and monochromatic images. An algorithm is used to provide ratings for color images, while new features and a new model are developed to treat monochromatic images. This system was designed keeping the next generation photography needs in mind and is the first of its kind. The feedback rendered is guiding and intuitive in nature. It is computed in situ while requiring minimal input from the user. |
| US08781172B2 |
Methods and systems for enhancing the performance of automated license plate recognition applications utilizing multiple results
Methods, systems and processor-readable media for enhancing performance of an automated license plate recognition system utilizing multiple results. Multiple images can be captured as a vehicle passes through an observation zone and each image can be processed utilizing an ALPR unit to obtain a plate code result and associated confidence values. Iterative processing of character level information across an OCR code followed by a higher level error checking based on learned context information can be performed. A string correlation approach can be employed to optimally align the OCR code from multiple images despite noise factors. The OCR confidence and state mask information can then be leveraged to select a character for an output plate code taking into account the ALPR error sources. |
| US08781167B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a location in a target image
An apparatus and a computer-implemented method are provided for determining a location in a target image (T) of a site on a surface of a physical object using two or more reference images (I1, I2) of said physical object that have been obtained with a reference imaging device. Each of said two or more reference images includes said site on the surface of the physical object and was obtained with the reference imaging device having a different position and/or orientation relative to said physical object. The target image is obtained by a target imaging device and includes the site on the surface of the physical object. For each reference image, a set of feature mappings from the reference image to the target image is used to determine the epipolar geometry between the reference image and the target image, and a projection of the site from the reference image onto the target image is calculated from said epipolar geometry. The location in the target image of the site on the surface of the physical object is determined from the calculated epipolar projections for the two or more reference images. |
| US08781166B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing program
An image processing apparatus to extract a print image to be printed onto a print medium from an original image, the image processing apparatus includes: a detecting unit that detects a specific area, which includes a plurality of pixels having a low degree of variation in pixel values, from the original image, based on a predetermined detection criterion; and an extracting unit that, when an extraction range having a predetermined shape including the print image is set in the original image, extracts the print image so that the specific area is disposed in a non-print area, which is not printed on the print medium, within the extraction range. |
| US08781163B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program and electronic apparatus for extracating a characteristic point from an image
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus for extracting a characteristic point from an image. The image processing apparatus includes an image taking section configured to radiate light having a first wavelength on an image taking subject in order to generate a first photographing-result image and radiate light having a second wavelength on said image taking subject in order to generate a second photographing-result image. The image processing apparatus also includes a skin-area detection section configured to detect a skin area exposed to a skin of said image taking subject on the basis of said first photographing-result image and said second photographing-result image. The image processing apparatus further includes a characteristic-point extraction section configured to extract said characteristic point from an extraction area existing on a display image showing said image taking subject to serve as an extraction area including said skin area. |
| US08781161B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus for generating a 3D model of a target object
Provided is an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may extract a three-dimensional (3D) silhouette image in an input color image and/or an input depth image. Motion capturing may be performed using the 3D silhouette image and 3D body modeling may be performed. |
| US08781160B2 |
Image object tracking and segmentation using active contours
A method of image object tracking and segmentation is provided. The method includes defining an initial contour for tracking an image object and partitioning the initial contour into a plurality of contour segments. The method also includes estimating a weighted length of each of the plurality of contour segments and generating a desired contour by converging the plurality of contour segments to a plurality of edges of the image object using the estimated weighted length. |
| US08781155B2 |
Rain detection apparatus and method
A rain detection apparatus includes a camera that views a surface and a processor that captures an image from the camera. The processor generates a signal indicative of rain on the surface from information contained in the captured image and optionally drives a surface cleaning apparatus in response thereto. The apparatus captures images focused at a plurality of distances. The processor includes an edge detector that detects edges visible in the captured image and a difference structure that calculates the difference between the number of edges visible between differing images. The edge detector disregards edges close to areas of light larger than the largest raindrop that is desired or expected to be detected. The apparatus optionally includes a backlight, and the difference in numbers of edges between frames with and without the backlight illuminated are used to distinguish between background features and rain on the surface. |
| US08781150B2 |
Multiple magnetic air gap motor
A low frequency transducer arrangement includes a substantially cylindrical structure surrounding a pole piece. The pole piece and the substantially cylindrical structure define a substantially cylindrical air gap therebetween. Two opposite ends of the air gap are both open and separated from each other in an axial direction. A first magnet is disposed in either the pole piece or the substantially cylindrical structure. A second magnet is separated in the axial direction from the first magnet by a middle magnetic gap. The second magnet is disposed in either the pole piece or the substantially cylindrical structure. The first and second magnets provide flux in a same direction in the middle magnetic gap. A top magnetic gap is disposed axially adjacent the first magnet and opposite the middle magnetic gap. A bottom magnetic gap is disposed axially adjacent the second magnet and opposite the middle magnetic gap. A voice coil is at least partially disposed in the air gap and operates in the middle magnetic gap. |
| US08781147B1 |
Acoustic headphone having a single interface to receive audio signals and configuration data
An interface between a programming system and a set of headphones allows the transmission of both audio and digital data over analog audio signal lines of the headphones. Circuitry on the programming system is configured to transmit digital data over the analog audio signal lines by either modulating a carrier frequency with the digital data such that the digital data is transmitted over non-audible frequencies or by time-multiplexing the transmission of digital data and analog audio data. Circuitry on the headphones is configured to receive digital data by demodulating the modulated digital data or by de-multiplexing the time-multiplexed digital and analog audio data. In other embodiments of acoustic headphones which include microphones, a Talk-Through functionality may be implemented. |
| US08781144B2 |
Attachment of a hook to a hearing device
A hearing device with a connecting portion (15) for the connection of a hook or acoustic tube comprises an inside thread (21) or internal thread portion at the connecting portion intended for the attachment of a hook or acoustic tube. |
| US08781140B2 |
Compact, highly integrated microphone assembly
A microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone assembly includes a MEMS structure, a base portion, and a lid. The MEMS structure includes a diaphragm that responds to changes in sound pressure and the MEMS structure contributes to a vertical dimension of the assembly. The MEMS structure is supported by the base portion. The lid partially but not completely encloses the MEMS structure, such that the portion of the MEMS structure is not surrounded by the lid, the lid, and the base portion form a boundary with and are exposed to the environment external to the microphone assembly. |
| US08781139B2 |
Speaker system and speaker driving circuit
A speaker system includes a first speaker, a second speaker and a driving circuit. The first speaker and the second speaker are different types of speakers. The driving circuit drives the first speaker with a first driving voltage and a first driving current and drives the second speaker with a second driving voltage and a second driving current, wherein the first driving voltage is larger than the second driving voltage and the first driving current is smaller than the second driving current. The present disclosure further provides a speaker driving circuit. |
| US08781137B1 |
Wind noise detection and suppression
Wind noise is detected in and removed from an acoustic signal. Features may be extracted from the acoustic signal. The extracted features may be processed to classify the signal as including wind noise or not. The wind noise may be removed before or during processing of the acoustic signal. The wind noise may be suppressed by estimating a wind noise model, deriving a modification, and applying the modification to the acoustic signal. In audio devices with multiple microphones, the channel exhibiting wind noise (i.e., acoustic signal frame associated with the wind noise) may be discarded for the frame in which wind noise is detected. |
| US08781136B2 |
Loudspeaker array system
The invention is a multi-channel loudspeaker system that provides a compact loudspeaker configuration and filter design methodology that operates in the digital signal processing domain. Further, the loudspeaker system can be designed as a multi-way loudspeaker system comprised of a symmetric arrangement of loudspeaker drivers in a two-dimensional plane and can achieve high-quality sound, constant directivity over a large area in both the vertical and horizontal planes and can be used in connection with stereo loudspeaker systems, multi-channel home entertainment systems and public address systems. |
| US08781132B2 |
Method and device for managing encrypted group rekeying in a radio network link layer encryption system
Disclosed is a radio system, method, and device for a mobile station to indicate to an authentication controller, in an authentication response message, which of a plurality of group key link layer encryption keys (GKEK)s it currently has in its possession, and to work with the authentication controller to more intelligently manage multiple GKEKs. The authentication controller can use the information obtained from the authentication response message to determine which of a plurality of GKEKs to advertise in a key announcement broadcast. Furthermore, individual requests for a future LLE key (LEK) to be used for link layer encryption (LLE) encrypting and decrypting inbound and outbound group communications between base station(s) and mobile station(s) are responded to with a broadcast GKEK-encrypted transmission including the future LEK. Only the requesting mobile station transmits an acknowledgment packet in response to the broadcast. |
| US08781131B2 |
Key distribution method and system
The present invention discloses a key distribution method and system, and the method includes: a card issuer management platform generating initial keys of a supplementary security domain corresponding to an application provider, importing the initial keys and a Trust Point's public key for external authentication to the supplementary security domain, and sending the information of the supplementary security domain and the initial keys to the application provider management platform (202); the application provider management platform receiving the information of the supplementary security domain and the initial keys, and selecting the supplementary security domain of the smart card by a service terminal according to the information of the supplementary security domain and the initial keys (204); the application provider management platform generating a public key and a private key of the supplementary security domain as well as a certificate of the supplementary security domain, and encrypting the public key and the private key as well as the certificate of the supplementary security domain and then sending them to the supplementary security domain (206). Through the above processing, the security of the key distribution for the supplementary security domain can be improved. |
| US08781126B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for providing security during handover between a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate security in response to a handover from an initial network to a subsequent network, such as a handover between a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network. The method, apparatus and computer program product may provide at least one security key for use in the subsequent network following handover from the initial network such that communications conducted via the subsequent network, including initial communications, may be secure. In order to provide at least one security key for use in the subsequent network, at least one security key of the initial network may be identified along with a nonce in response to a determination that a handover is to be made. The at least one security key of the subsequent network may then be determined based upon the at least one security key of the initial network and the nonce. |
| US08781125B2 |
Systems and methods of secure coding for physical layer communication channels
Systems and methods of securely communicating from a sender device to a receiver device on a communication channel are disclosed. One disclosed method is for securely communicating from a sender device to a receiver device on a main channel when an eavesdropper device is listening on an eavesdropper channel. The main channel has an signal-to-noise ratio SNRM, and the eavesdropper channel has a signal-to-noise ratio SNRE. The method comprises encoding a message at a physical layer with a secure error correcting code (SECC) to produce an encoded message, and transmitting the encoded message on the main channel. The SECC has a set of defined characteristics such that when the eavesdropper device is more than a predetermined distance Z from the sender, at least a predefined fraction of the message is unreliable, where the predefined fraction of unreliable bits renders the eavesdropper unable to reliable decode messages on the main channel. |
| US08781113B2 |
Decryption apparatus and method of decrypting ciphertext of the same
The method of decrypting a ciphertext includes: pre-storing a plurality of polynomial functions into which a secret key decrypting a ciphertext to a plaintext according to a public-key cryptography algorithm is broken down; receiving the ciphertext generated based on the secret key which is broken down into the plurality of polynomial functions from a ciphertext generating device; and decrypting the received ciphertext into the plaintext based on the pre-stored polynomial functions. |
| US08781112B2 |
Signed montgomery arithmetic
A system and method configured for applying Montgomery style reduction directly to negative quantities as well as positive values, producing the new form which does not require conditional operations to move values into the positive range. The low-order components of the resulting product, or partially completed product, can be reduced either by the addition of multiples of the modulus, as is usual in the standard Montgomery multiplication which accepts positive values, or by subtracting multiples of the modulus, which of course depends on the actual computation. Signed versions of the Montgomery values in a Montgomery computation are used to avoid the conditional addition and subtraction that can leak information, for example, using a two's complement representation. |
| US08781111B2 |
System and methods for side-channel attack prevention
A side channel attack utilizes information gained from the physical implementation of a cryptosystem. Software and hardware-based systems and methods for preventing side channel attacks are presented. Cryptographic hardware may introduce dummy operations to compensate for conditional math operations in certain functions such as modular exponentiation. Cryptographic hardware may also introduce random stalls of the data path to introduce alterations in the power profile for the operation. A cryptographic function may be mapped to a micro code sequence having a plurality of instructions. Firmware in the cryptosystem may alter the micro code sequence by altering the order of instructions, add dummy operations in the micro code sequence, break the micro code sequence into multiple sub micro code sequences and/or change the register location for source and destination operands used in the sequence. These alterations are designed to randomly change the timing and power profile of the requested function. |
| US08781107B1 |
Managing electronic consent for calling campaigns
A hosted list service provider (“HLSP”) provides list management services for compliance purposes. The HLSP receives electronic consent information from an enterprise that may comprise a telephone number and stores the same in at least one database, to facilitate retrieving the electronic consent information for a particular telephone number. A telephone number list is provided to a call center, which can originate calls for a calling campaign using the telephone numbers on behalf of the enterprise. After the campaign is completed, the call center may provide data to the HLSP indicating which callers have requested to opt-out, and the HLSP updates its databases appropriately. The HLSP may process the telephone number data against other databases, and may inform the enterprise of called parties that have requested a change of status. Follow up communication can occur to the called party to confirm or re-establish consent for subsequent calls. |
| US08781106B2 |
Agent satisfaction data for call routing based on pattern matching algorithm
Methods and systems are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center with an intelligent routing system. An exemplary method includes routing callers to agents based on a pattern matching algorithm utilizing caller data and agent data, where the agent data includes agent satisfaction data from past agent-caller pairings. The agent satisfaction data may be obtained via surveys of the agents regarding their satisfaction with past agent-caller contacts. The agent satisfaction data may be used by the pattern matching algorithm in an attempt to increase agent satisfaction for future calls, thereby potentially reducing attrition of agents and cost to the call center, increasing morale of the agents, and so on. The agent satisfaction data and output from past agent-caller pairings may be weighted by the contact center against other agent data and caller data for a desired mixing of output variables. |
| US08781105B1 |
Methods and systems for processing and managing communications
An online and offline communication processing and tracking using data processing and data/voice networks is described. A phone address from a phone address number pool is automatically assigned to a first entity. A call quality rating is determined and recorded. A call from a caller directed to the phone address is received at a call bridging system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. Based at least in part on the call quality associated with the caller call, the caller call is assigned to a first location in a call queue. An outbound call is generated from the call bridging system and the inbound and the outbound calls are bridged. One or more parameters of the bridged call are compared to the call quality rating. An indication is recorded regarding the successful bridging of the calls in association with an entity identifier. |
| US08781100B2 |
Probability multiplier process for call center routing
Systems and processes are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center based on similar probabilities for an outcome variable. An exemplary probability multiplier process includes determining agent performance of a set of agents for an outcome variable (e.g., sales) and determining caller propensity of a set of callers for the outcome variable (e.g., the propensity or statistical chance of purchasing). Callers and agents are matched based on corresponding agent performance and propensity for the outcome variable of the caller, e.g., matching callers and agents having similar relative performance for the outcome variable, such as matching the highest ranked caller to the highest ranked agent, the worst ranked caller to the worst ranked agent, and so on. The performance and propensity of the callers and agents may be converted to percentile rankings, and callers and agents can be matched based on a closest match of percentile rankings. |
| US08781091B2 |
Method and system for providing enhanced caller identification information including screening invalid calling party numbers
A system and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information is invalid or cannot be provided. In one disclosed embodiment, the Caller ID information must include a valid number of digits and a valid area code. If the Caller ID information is not valid, a calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information. |
| US08781089B2 |
System, method and device for managing VOIP telecommunications
A system, method or device for sharing revenue for incoming Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls between a VoIP service provider and VoIP service subscribers. The VoIP subscribers may earn credits for receiving incoming calls from a first network to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, based on a revenue sharing model. The first network may be any cellular, fixed line or other IP network in the world. The user earns credits for incoming calls to his softphone, initiated by any landline, mobile phone or VoIP phone user in the world, which dials his local number. After the softphone user accumulates credits, he may be able to initiate outgoing calls to any telephone in the world, by using his credits. The user can also register others for the service (using email or any other method), and obtain a portion of their credits, when they receive incoming calls to their softphones from external callers. |
| US08781086B2 |
System and method for circuit emulation
A digital subscriber line (DSL) unit comprises a first user port configured to communicate signals according to an Ethernet protocol and a second user port configured to communicate signals according to a second non-Ethernet protocol The DSL unit also comprises at least one DSL port configured to communicate signals according to a DSL protocol; and a processing device configured to analyze Ethernet signals received over the first user port to determine when to output data from the respective received Ethernet signals over the second user port and when to output data from the respective received Ethernet signals over the at least one DSL port. The processing device is further configured to extract data from signals received over the second user port and insert the extracted data into a corresponding Ethernet signal having a respective emulated circuit identification and to output the corresponding Ethernet signal over the first user port. |
| US08781081B2 |
Presence management system
The present invention provides presence management to a multimodal communication network. A unified messaging system, providing the ability to deliver messages across multiple modes of communication, is integrated with a presence managing system. The presence management system provides an ability to locate a recipient of a message according to a stored schedule. The unified messaging system retrieves contact information from a presence management system. Upon received the message, the recipient can respond along the established line of communication. Multiple modes of communication comprises telephone, wireless telephone, electronic mail, pager, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), video, audio, picture, among others. |
| US08781080B2 |
Systems and methods for presenting audio messages
Systems and methods for presenting audio messages are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving an audio message from a first user and generating a text-based representation of the audio message. The method also includes generating one or more identification tags based on the text-based representation of the audio message. At least one of the one or more identification tags includes a subject of the audio message. The method also includes presenting at least one of the text-based representation of the audio message or the one or more identification tags to a second user using a graphical user interface. |
| US08781079B2 |
Visual voicemail proxy server
A server device receives a request for voicemail information from a user device, retrieves the voicemail information, performs data calls to another server device to obtain information to construct a visual user interface that includes data regarding the voicemail information, constructs the visual user interface using the obtained information, and transmits the constructed visual user interface to the user device. |
| US08781076B2 |
Phase controller
A reflection surface 12 constituted by a transition metal having a core level absorption edge in the vicinity of a wavelength of a soft X-ray is formed on an inside of a vacuum vessel 14, and furthermore, there is provided a permanent magnet 13 for generating a magnetic field in a perpendicular direction to a longitudinal direction of the vacuum vessel 14 in a position of the reflection surface 12 by which the soft X-ray is to be reflected, and the soft X-ray to be linearly polarized light incident on the vacuum vessel 14 is reflected at plural times over the reflection surface 12 in a position where the magnetic field is applied in such a manner that magnetic scattering is increased by a resonant effect of a magnetic circular dichroism when the soft X-ray is reflected by the reflection surface 12. Thus, a great difference in a refractive index is made between circularly polarized counterclockwise light and circularly polarized clockwise light which constitute the linearly polarized light, and a phase difference between the circularly polarized counterclockwise light and the circularly polarized clockwise light is obtained at a time. Consequently, it is possible to reversibly convert the soft X-ray from the linearly polarized light into the circularly polarized light or from the circularly polarized light into the linearly polarized light by a reflection to be carried out at only several times. |
| US08781075B2 |
Wireless communication in a medical imaging or monitoring system
The present disclosure is directed towards a method of changing wireless communication channels in a connected host and client system. For example, in one embodiment, the link quality of a connection is monitored by the host or the client. If the connection has a link quality below a predetermined threshold but remains intact, a channel switch request is sent, synchronization packages are exchanged between the host and client on the current channel, the channel of the system is changed to a new channel, and the system resumes communications on the new channel. |
| US08781069B2 |
Radiographic phase-contrast imaging apparatus
A radiographic phase-contrast imaging apparatus obtains a phase-contrast image using two gratings including the first grating and the second grating. The first and second gratings are adapted to form a moire pattern when a periodic pattern image formed by the first grating is superimposed on the second grating. Based on the moire pattern detected by the radiographic image detector, image signals of the fringe images, which correspond to pixel groups located at different positions with respect to a predetermined direction, are obtained by obtaining image signals of pixels of each pixel group, which includes pixels arranged at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction, as the image signal of each fringe image, where the predetermined direction is a direction parallel to or intersecting a period direction of the moire pattern other than a direction orthogonal to the period direction. Then, a phase-contrast image is generated based on the obtained fringe images. |
| US08781066B2 |
Method and apparatus for assessing characteristics of liquids
A method to perform security screening at an airport on hand-carried baggage. The method includes requesting passengers with hand carried baggage to remove from the baggage a container that holds a liquid and perform an x-ray inspection on the hand carried baggage and on the container while the container remains outside the baggage. According to the method, the results of the x-ray inspection are used to determine if the baggage contains illegal objects and if the liquid is a security threat. |
| US08781064B2 |
Apparatus and method for non-rotational computer tomography
A multi-dimensional representation of an object is obtained in that first and second pictures of the object illuminated using an X-ray source are created using a sensor that is located, in relation to the X-ray source, behind the object in a preferential direction defined by the relative positions of the object and of the sensor. A distance in the preferential direction between the X-ray source and the object is different in the first picture than in the second picture. The multi-dimensional representation of the object is obtained by combining the first and second pictures. |
| US08781061B2 |
X-ray CT rotary apparatus
In order to provide an X-ray CT apparatus including a rotating portion capable of enduring a high speed rotation and tilting, the rotating portion includes a cylinder portion 42, a ring portion 41 that is disposed at a position which is offset from the center in the direction of a rotation axis 32 of the cylinder portion 42, and the cylinder portion 42 and the ring portion 41 are supported by spoke portions 43 to 46. An X-ray tube and one or more circuit units are fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder portion 42. Thereby, the centers of gravity of an X-ray detection unit and the circuit units can be positioned at the center position in the direction of the rotation axis 32 of the cylinder portion 42. Since the centrifugal force of the X-ray detection unit or the like can be supported in the vicinity of the center in the direction of the axis 32 of the cylinder portion 42, distortion of the cylinder portion 42 is not easily generated, and the rotating portion capable of enduring the high speed rotation or the tilting can be provided. |
| US08781055B2 |
Method and system for radioisotope generation
A system and a process for producing selected isotopic daughter products from parent materials characterized by the steps of loading the parent material upon a sorbent having a functional group configured to selectively bind the parent material under designated conditions, generating the selected isotopic daughter products, and eluting said selected isotopic daughter products from the sorbent. In one embodiment, the process also includes the step of passing an eluent formed by the elution step through a second sorbent material that is configured to remove a preselected material from said eluent. In some applications a passage of the material through a third sorbent material after passage through the second sorbent material is also performed. |
| US08781054B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a clock-and-data recovery circuit including a phase tracking loop that generates a phase difference signal indicating a phase difference between a reception clock generated from a transmission clock and an input signal and makes the reception clock track the input signal, a frequency tracking loop that performs control to make a frequency of the reception clock track a frequency of the input signal, the clock-and-data recovery circuit being configured to extract a data signal and a synchronization clock from the input signal and to control a phase and a frequency of the reception clock, a frequency error adjuster that increases or decreases a value indicated by a frequency adjustment signal according to a frequency difference signal generated based on the phase difference signal, and an oscillator that increases or decreases a frequency of the transmission clock based on the frequency adjustment signal. |
| US08781047B2 |
Device, system and method of clock distribution
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of clock distribution. For example, a device may include a plurality of wireless communication units including at least a first wireless communication unit, which includes a first clock source to generate a first clock signal, and a second wireless communication unit, which includes a second clock source to generate a second clock signal, wherein the plurality of wireless communication units are to switch between commonly using the first clock signal as a common master clock signal and commonly using the second clock signal as the common master clock signal. |
| US08781046B2 |
Device for reconstructing the clock of an NRZ signal, and associated transmission system
The invention relates according to a first aspect to a device (1) for reconstructing a clock signal from a baseband serial signal (NRZ-D), comprising: —a pulse generating circuit (2) adapted for generating pulses at each transition, rising or falling, of the baseband serial signal (NRZ-D); —a phase-locked loop (5) comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator (6) which generates an oscillator output signal (VCO-S) and a filter (7) delivering a setpoint signal (VCO-E) to the oscillator (6), the phase-locked loop (5) furthermore comprising a breaker (8) interposed between the oscillator (6) and the filter (7), the switching of which is controlled by the output (Cde-S) of the pulse generating circuit (2), and in that the filter (7) is a low-pass filter, such that: —in the presence of a pulse generated by the pulse generating circuit (2), the breaker (8) is closed and the filter (7) then averages the oscillator output signal (VCO-S) passing through the breaker so as to deliver the setpoint signal (VCO-E) to the oscillator; —in the absence of a pulse generated by the pulse generating circuit (2) the breaker (8) is open and the filter (7) then stores a signal of constant level so as to deliver the setpoint signal (VCO-E) to the oscillator; the device being characterized in that it furthermore comprises a decision flip-flop (9) making it possible to resynchronize the baseband serial signal by copying said signal at each falling edge of the oscillator output signal (VCO-S). |
| US08781042B1 |
Systems and methods for calibrating digital baseband DC offset in an OFDM receiver
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for calibrating DC offset in a receiver. A DC calibration circuit may be used that is configured to receive a digital multi-carrier modulated (MCM) signal that includes a sequence of MCM symbols. The DC calibration circuit may include an accumulator and a compensator. The accumulator may be used to determine an estimated DC offset of a current MCM symbol in the sequence of MCM symbols. The compensator may be used to remove the estimated DC offset from a next MCM symbol in the sequence of MCM symbols. The accumulator may also be used to receive a plurality of digital samples that comprise the current MCM symbol and to determine the estimated DC offset by calculating an average of the plurality of digital samples. |
| US08781039B2 |
Receiver and method for receiving a composite signal
A first signal generator is arranged to generate a first signal. A data storage device is configured to provide a null code. A multiplexer is capable of multiplexing the first signal and the null code consistent with a predetermined time sequence for expression of the null code in a produced precursor signal. A ranging code generator is arranged for generating a ranging code. A mixer is capable of accepting the ranging code and the precursor signal and outputting a locally generated reference signal. After down-conversion and digitization of the received composite signal, the code correlator can correlate the digital received composite signal to the locally generated reference signal to decode at least a first portion of the received composite signal, while leaving a second portion of the received composite signal undecoded. |
| US08781032B2 |
Communication terminal and method and program for controlling the same
A communication apparatus includes two or more receiving units differing in characteristics. The apparatus further includes a data detecting unit detecting data to be received, in an input signal, and a selecting unit that selects one out of the two or more receiving units, depending upon detected result and characteristics of receiving units. In case data to be received is not contained in the input signal, the selecting unit selects a receiving unit whose power consumption during a period of time of not receiving the data is smaller than that of the other receiving unit(s) during a period of time of not receiving the data. In case the data to be received is contained in the input signal, the selecting unit selects a receiving unit from which a most satisfactory receiving quality is expected depending upon propagation environments of the input signal. |
| US08781030B2 |
Fully compensated adaptive interference cancellation system
A system for removing interference comprising a receive decimation filter that accepts a composite received baseband signal and generates filtered sampled data at a decimation rate, a transmit decimation filter that accepts a digitally converted replica of an interfering signal and generates filtered sampled data at a decimation rate, an integer sample delay control (ISDC) that provides multiple sample delay control for the replica and stores an estimated delay value, an adaptive filter that provides fractional sample delay control for the replica of the interfering signal and optimizes cancellation of the interfering signal, a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) programmed with a known frequency offset of the interfering signal that tracks a phase and frequency of the replica of the interfering signal, an automatic gain control (AGC) that maintains near full scale operation of adaptive filtering and the DPLL, and a slicer, mixer, and delay unit forming an error estimator. |
| US08781029B2 |
Frequency offset estimation apparatus, reception apparatus, frequency offset estimation method, and reception method
Provided is a frequency offset estimation apparatus that appropriately estimates and compensates for a frequency offset of a received signal when estimating the frequency offset which is the difference between a carrier frequency of the received signal and the frequency of an output signal of a local oscillator. The frequency offset estimation apparatus converts the received signal sampled in advance with a predetermined sampling frequency into a frequency spectrum having N frequency components, limits a frequency band of negative frequency components from 1 to N/2 of the frequency spectrum and a frequency band of positive frequency components from N/2+1 to N of the frequency spectrum, calculates the sum of the squares of the positive frequency components of the frequency spectrum that have been subjected to frequency band limitation and the sum of the squares of the negative frequency components of the frequency spectrum that have been subjected to frequency band limitation to calculate power of the positive frequency components and power of the negative frequency components, and cyclically shifts all frequency components of the frequency spectrum in a frequency domain until the absolute value of a power difference between the power of the positive frequency components and the power of the negative frequency components is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and estimates the frequency offset based on a shift amount until the absolute value is less than or equal to the threshold value. |
| US08781028B2 |
Integrated receiving circuit and method for radiofrequency and high speed signals
Integrated receiving circuit for radiofrequency signals an amplifying element using the multiplication zone of a reverse biased semiconductor junction operating in Geiger mode for amplifying an input radiofrequency signal (Vin) and converting it into a digital signal. And a digital part for digitally processing the digital signal. |
| US08781026B2 |
Digital quadrature transmitter using generalized coordinates
In one embodiment, a sequence of a plurality of pairs of in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) modulated signal samples are applied to a radio frequency digital-to-analog converter (RFDAC) for upconversion. A phase of a local oscillator (LO) signal supplied to the RFDAC is selected according to a quadrant determined by signs of a given pair of I and Q modulated signal samples. The selected phase of the LO is supplied to the RFDAC for use in upconverting the sequence of I and Q modulated signal samples. In another embodiment, a current steering DAC is used for directly upconverting the I and Q modulated signal samples. A clock signal at four times the LO frequency is supplied to a counter and to the current steering DAC. One of the I and Q modulated signal samples and negative I and negative Q modulated signal samples is selected for supply to an input of the current steering DAC based on a count state of the counter. |
| US08781021B2 |
Method and device for pre-coding, and method and device for decoding
The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and discloses a method and device for pre-coding and a method and device for decoding. The present invention implements an interference alignment method with excellent performance, can effectively increase the capacity of a multi-user interference system and reduce the mutual interference among users, The method for pre-coding includes: calculating a pre-coding matrix for each transmitting end according to a sum of mean square errors of data vectors to be transmitted by each transmitting ends; and using the pre-coding matrix to pre-code the data to be transmitted by each transmitting end. The present invention has broad application prospects, for example, can be used in LTE and LTE-Advanced CoMP technology. |
| US08781020B1 |
Transmit beamforming utilizing channel estimation matrix decomposition feedback in a wireless MIMO communication system
A channel estimation matrix H describing a forward channel in which a signal travels from a first communication device to a second communication device is determined at the second communication device. QR decomposition on the channel estimation matrix H is performed, at the second communication device, to derive a unitary matrix Q and an upper triangular matrix R, such that H=QR. Only a portion of the upper triangular matrix R is transmitted, from the second communication device to the first communication device, so that the first communication device can use the portion of the upper triangular matrix R to precode signals to be transmitted by the first communication device. |
| US08781016B2 |
Channel estimation for low-overhead communication in a network
A receiving station receives a waveform that includes at least a first symbol of a predetermined symbol length and comprising a first set of frequency components at predetermined carrier frequencies modulated with preamble information and a second set of frequency components at predetermined carrier frequencies modulated with information. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a first subset of the second set of frequency components. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components and the first subset of the second set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a second subset of the second set of frequency components. |
| US08781010B2 |
Utilization of Reed-Solomon coding in mobile/hand-held digital television receivers
Receivers for recovering ancillary data from parallel concatenated convolutional coding. (PCCC) imbedded in digital television (DTV) signals can utilize the non-systematic (207, 187) Reed-Solomon (RS) codewords included in the DTV signals to facilitate DTV receivers already in the field to continue being able to receive main-service transmissions. Such a receiver attempts to decode each non-systematic (207, 187) RS codeword in a time slot selected for reception. If such RS decoding is successful, indication of such success is used to verify the correctness of bits of the ancillary data or correct them when turbo decoding the PCCC encoding ancillary data in the time slot selected for reception. The updating of ancillary data bits during cycles of turbo decoding updates the non-systematic (207, 187) RS codewords in the time slot selected for reception, increasing the likelihood of RS decoding of those RS codewords being successful during subsequent cycles of turbo decoding. If all the non-systematic (207, 187) RS codewords in the time slot selected for reception are successfully decoded before reaching a prescribed maximum number of cycles of turbo decoding, turbo decoding can be discontinued early to conserve operating power. |
| US08781008B2 |
Highly-spectrally-efficient transmission using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
A transmitter may map, using a selected modulation constellation, each of C′ bit sequences to a respective one of C′ symbols, where C′ is a number greater than one. The transmitter may process the C′ symbols to generate C′ inter-carrier correlated virtual subcarrier values. The transmitter may decimate the C′ virtual subcarrier values down to C physical subcarrier values, C being a number less than C′. The transmitter may transmit the C physical subcarrier values on C orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) subcarriers. The modulation constellation may be an N-QAM constellation, where N is an integer. The processing may comprise filtering the C′ symbols using an array of C′ filter tap coefficients. The filtering may comprise cyclic filtering. The filtering may comprise multiplication by a circulant matrix populated with the C′ filter tap coefficients. |
| US08781007B2 |
Quantization method for OFDM
A quantization method for OFDM is described. In an embodiment, the method uses an objective function which is defined as a function of the quantization error of the OFDM signal in frequency summed over data subcarriers. A search algorithm is used to optimize the objective function and the solution found is quantized by rounding. The quantized value of the solution may then be fed back into the objective function to compute a value of that function and if the value is less than the value computed in a previous iteration of the method, the method is repeated using the quantized value of the solution as the new starting point for the search algorithm. If the value of the function is, however, not less than the value computed in a previous iteration, the new solution is discarded and the quantized value of the solution from the previous iteration is output. |
| US08781002B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved coding mode selection
Some embodiments provide a method for selecting an encoding mode from several encoding modes. For each encoding mode from several encoding modes, the method computes a Lagrangian value based on a distortion value that is identified by using a function that reduces the impact of outliers. The method selects a particular encoding mode based on the computed Lagrangian values. In some embodiments, the function is a Huber function. In some embodiments, the computed Lagrangian value is further based on a bit rate value and a Lagrangian multiplier. |
| US08781001B2 |
Image coding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding method and image decoding apparatus
An image coding method including: binarizing last position information to generate (i) a binary signal which includes a first signal having a length smaller than or equal to a predetermined maximum length and does not include a second signal or (ii) a binary signal which includes the first signal having the predetermined maximum length and the second signal; first coding for arithmetically coding each of binary symbols included in the first signal using a context switched among a plurality of contexts according to a bit position of the binary symbol; and second coding for arithmetically coding the second signal using a fixed probability when the binary signal includes the second signal, wherein in the first coding, a binary symbol at a last bit position of the first signal is arithmetically coded using a context exclusive to the last bit position, when the first signal has the predetermined maximum length. |
| US08781000B2 |
Dynamic video data compression
A method includes decompressing first compressed video data to provide uncompressed video data in a first order. The method includes compressing the uncompressed video data to provide second compressed video data in a second order. The decompressing and compressing are based on first and second compression rates, respectively. The first order may be based on fundamental blocks of a frame of video data and the second order is based on lines of the frame of video data. The compressing may include alternating compression of partial portions of a first line of uncompressed video data with compression of partial portions of at least a second line of uncompressed video data to thereby generate a first line of compressed video data corresponding to the first line of uncompressed video data and at least a second line of compressed video data corresponding to the second line of uncompressed video data. |
| US08780999B2 |
Assembling multiview video coding sub-BITSTREAMS in MPEG-2 systems
A demultiplexer may assemble view components of sub-bitstreams. In one example, an apparatus comprises a demultiplexer that produces a multiview video coding (MVC) standard compliant bitstream from a received bitstream comprising a primary sub-bitstream and an embedded sub-bitstream. To produce the MVC standard compliant bitstream, the demultiplexer determines whether a view component of the primary sub-bitstream has a view order index that is greater than a view order index of a view component of the embedded sub-bitstream, and to add the view component from the sub-bitstream for which the view order index is lower to the produced bitstream. The received bitstream may comprise delimiter network abstraction layer (NAL) units between each view component to differentiate the view components. The apparatus may further comprise a video decoder to decode the bitstream produced by the demultiplexer. |
| US08780994B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program for image encoding with intra-mode prediction
An image encoding apparatus includes: a prediction preparing section which prepares a prediction for each intra-prediction mode by using at least ones of pixel signals of pixels lined horizontally in an upper end of an encoding target block and pixel signals of pixels lined vertically in a left end of the encoding target block among pixel signals of the encoding target block; and a prediction mode derivation section which execute an intra-prediction operation by using an image of the encoding target block in an encoding target image and the prediction prepared by the prediction preparing section. |
| US08780992B2 |
Video compression and encoding method
Disclosed herein is a method for decoding a video signal having at least one frame with a plurality of blocks including a current block, including generating, for at least a selected pixel in the current block, a predicted value for at least one pixel located in a row i and a column j of the current block using a processor and according to the following equation: Xij=Li+Aj−C; wherein Xij is the predicted value, Li is the value of a pixel to the left of the current block, Aj is the value of a pixel in a row above the current block and C is the value of a pixel in the row above and the column to the left of the current block and decoding the current block using the predicted value. |
| US08780991B2 |
Motion estimation in enhancement layers in video encoding
A method for encoding a video sequence in a scalable video encoder is provided that includes selecting a first search window configuration for coding a current picture of the video sequence in an enhancement layer encoder of the scalable video encoder based on motion vectors generated by a reference layer encoder when encoding the current picture, and coding the current picture in the enhancement layer encoder using the first search window configuration. |
| US08780989B2 |
Moving-picture coding device and moving-picture coding method
A moving-picture coding device that divides a moving-picture signal comprised of a plurality of fields into a plurality of blocks and that can select coded area prediction in a current field and inter-field motion compensation prediction by block units, the moving-picture coding device comprises a forced intra block line determining unit, an intra selecting unit, a vector limit block line determining unit, a vector limit unit, a slice division unit a deblocking filter inhibit unit. |
| US08780987B1 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video by determining block resolution
Disclosed herein is a method for encoding a video signal, the video signal having at least one frame with a plurality of blocks having pixels. The method includes identifying a prediction mode for a block in the at least one frame, determining a residual for the block using the prediction mode, the residual having an original resolution, determining a variance based on the residual, and if the variance is greater than a predetermined value, reducing the original resolution of the residual to a lower resolution using a processor. |
| US08780986B2 |
Refresh pixel group selection and coding adjustment
Apparatuses and methods for improving coding processes and coding parameters for coding video data are provided for. A coder may select coding parameters for video data according to a default coding policy. The default coding policy may include selection of prediction modes (e.g., intra-coding or inter-coding) for each pixel group in each frame. A video coder may select some pixel groups in a frame to be coded as refresh pixel groups as an exception to the default assignment policies. The selection of refresh pixel groups may be based on prediction relationships among multiple frames of source video data. The default coding of the refresh pixel groups is then modified to enhanced the coding of the refresh pixel groups. The refresh pixel groups may permit fewer intra (I) frames be sent and/or may improve the quality of the recovered video. |
| US08780981B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding-decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: generating a predicted block; calculating a residual block; calculating quantized coefficients by performing transform and quantization on the residual block; calculating a coded residual block by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the quantized coefficients; generating a temporary coded block; determining whether or not an offset process is required, to generate first flag information indicating a result of the determination; executing the offset process on the temporary coded block when it is determined that the offset process is required; and performing variable-length coding on the quantized coefficients and the first flag information. |
| US08780980B2 |
Video image encoding device
In a variable length encoding for video data, the compression rate of video image encoding is increased by improving the level encoding method. A CAVLC encoding unit acquires coefficients obtained by orthogonally transforming and quantizing video image data in each block unit, determines an encoding mode of variable length encoding among those in a table_A and a table_B, or a mixture thereof by a level encoding mode controller and outputs the determination result to a level_prefix unit. In the table_B, a fixed_length bit string is allocated to a level_prefix which is at least a prescribed value. The level_prefix unit performs a level_prefix encoding in the determined encoding mode to output the result to an output control unit. |
| US08780979B2 |
Quantized coefficient coding apparatus and quantized coefficient coding method
A quantized coefficient coding apparatus used in a media coding system includes a determination module, a coding mode arbitration module and a coding module. The determination module determines whether a set of quantized coefficients are defined in a predetermined variable length coding (VLC) table to generate a determination result. When the determination result of the determination module is negative, the coding mode arbitration module determines a best coding mode corresponding to the set of quantized coefficients from a plurality of predetermined coding modes. The coding mode encodes the set of quantized coefficients according to the best coding mode. |
| US08780973B2 |
Limiting the maximum size of an encoded video picture using sub-picture based rate control
A method for encoding a picture in a video sequence is provided that includes determining the current encoded size of the picture after coding a plurality of macroblocks in the picture, determining that encoding remaining macroblocks in the picture may cause the encoded size of the picture to exceed a maximum encoded picture size, computing a quantization scale responsive to the determining, wherein the quantization scale is computed such that the estimated encoded size of the remaining macroblocks if the remaining macroblocks are quantized with the quantization scale does not exceed the difference between the maximum encoded picture size and the current encoded picture size, and quantizing at least one of the remaining macroblocks with the new quantization scale. |
| US08780972B2 |
Methods and devices for data compression using offset-based adaptive reconstruction levels
Encoding and decoding methods are presented that used offset-based adaptive reconstruction levels. The offset data is inserted in the bitstream with the encoded video data. The offset data may be differential data and may be an index to an array of offset values from which the differential offset is calculated by the decoder. The offset to an adaptive reconstruction level may be adjusted for each slice. The offsets may be specific to a particular level/index and data type. In some cases, offsets may only be sent for a subset of the levels. Higher levels may apply no offset, may apply an average offset, or may apply the offset used for the highest level having a level-specific offset. |
| US08780968B1 |
Systems, methods, and devices for electronic spectrum management
Systems, methods, and devices enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. In an embodiment, signals and the parameters of the signals may be identified and indications of available frequencies may be presented to a user. In another embodiment, the protocols of signals may also be identified. In a further embodiment, the modulation of signals, data types carried by the signals, and estimated signal origins may be identified. |
| US08780967B2 |
Channel phase estimation apparatus, demodulator, and receiving apparatus
According to one embodiment, a channel phase estimation apparatus includes a phase memory, subtractor, multiplier, and adder. The phase memory is configured to store a first phase estimation value up to a (k−1)-th (for k=1, 2, . . . , K) symbol. The subtractor is configured to calculate a difference value between a phase value of one carrier of a k-th symbol and the first phase estimation value. The multiplier is configured to multiply the difference value by a weight. The adder is configured to add a value output from the multiplier and the first phase estimation value to output a second phase estimation value up to the k-th symbol. |
| US08780964B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing and/or eliminating the effects of self-interference
Methods and apparatus for reducing and/or eliminating the effect of self-interference are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for use in DSRC WAVE systems in which a wireless communications device may acquire and use two DSRC channels, e.g., use one channel for reception while using another channel for transmission at the same time. A wireless communications device which is receiving a signal of interest on a first channel supports concurrent transmission on second channel, e.g., an adjacent channel. Controlled transmission timing synchronization with respect to the received signal of interest facilitates interference estimation and removal. Interference due to spillover energy from the transmission on the adjacent channel is estimated and removed from a received signal to facilitate recovery of the signal of interest. |
| US08780963B1 |
Adaptive filtering for canceling leaked transmit signal distortion from a received RF signal in an RF transceiver
Adaptive filtering is used to substantially cancel distortion in radio frequency (RF) signals. Such adaptive filtering can be used in an RF transmitting device to pre-compensate an RF signal with compensation (inverse) distortion to cancel inherent transmission path distortion from the RF signal. Adaptive filtering can also be used in a multi-carrier RF receiving device to cancel from a given carrier signal distortion due to cross talk from adjacent carrier signals. Adaptive filtering in an RF transceiver can be used to cancel from a received RF signal distortion arising from leakage of a transmit signal into the receive path. |
| US08780961B2 |
Mixed-mode wireless device operation
Systems and methods to operate wireless devices are provided herein. In an exemplary system a first wireless device coupled to a consumer electronics device is operated in a sleep mode. It is determined whether there is a second device is operating in the same bandwidth spectrum as the first device. If there is a second device operating in the same bandwidth spectrum, then the first device is switched to a sniff mode of operation. |
| US08780960B2 |
Adjustment of transmission data rate based on data errors and/or latency
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing flexible and efficient communication by dynamically adjusting a transmit data rate in response to data status feedback. Such feedback may include information regarding data errors and/or latency. A first communication node communicates with a second communication node and sends data at an initial data rate. The transmit data rate is then selectively adjusted based on data status feedback received from the second communication node or other destination. |
| US08780956B2 |
Method and device for determining smooth window length in channel estimation
A method and a device for determining a smooth window length in channel estimation is provided. The method includes: obtaining autocorrelation values of pilot signals, where the autocorrelation values include first autocorrelation values and second autocorrelation values, at least two first autocorrelation values exist, and at least one second autocorrelation value exists; determining a speed range according to symbols of the first autocorrelation values or the symbols of the first autocorrelation values and a ratio value between the second autocorrelation value and one of the first autocorrelation values; and determining the smooth window length according to the speed range. Through the method provided in embodiments of the present invention, the problems caused by a fixed smooth window length may be avoided, and this improves system performance. |
| US08780954B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
According to an embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a communication control unit, a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The communication control unit selects one frequency channel from a plurality of frequency channels and switches the frequency channel to be selected. The receiving unit is configured to receive a reception signal of the selected frequency channel from another wireless communication apparatus. The receiving unit includes an interference wave detection circuit configured to detect an interference wave signal of a detection frequency. The interference wave signal is included in an input signal received during an interference wave detection period. In the interference wave detection period, the reception signal is not received. The communication control unit masks a frequency channel related to the detection frequency among the plurality of frequency channels to create a frequency channel map. The communication control unit does not select the masked frequency channel. |
| US08780951B2 |
Distributed Bragg's reflector of digital-alloy multinary compound semiconductor
There is provided a distributed Bragg's reflector (DBR) comprising a substrate and an unit distributed Bragg's reflector (DBR) layer, wherein a multi-layer is laminated on the substrate. The unit DBR layer is composed of a multi-layer laminated structure of unit digital-alloy multinary compound semiconductor layer/multinary compound semiconductor layer or unit digital-alloy multinary compound semiconductor layer/unit digital-alloy multinary compound semiconductor layer. The unit digital-alloy multinary compound semiconductor layer is composed of the multi-layer laminated structure of the first layer of multinary compound semiconductor and the second layer of a different multinary compound semiconductor on said first layer. The digital-alloy distributed Bragg's reflector of the present invention has a uniform quality on the substance area and the filter and reflector having uniformly high quality can be mass produced by using the reflector. |
| US08780948B2 |
Precision photonic oscillator and method for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference using a two-photon rubidium transition
Embodiments of an ultra-stable frequency reference generating system and methods for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference using a two-photon Rubidium transition are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a cavity-stabilized reference laser comprising a laser source is locked to a stabilized cavity. A Rubidium cell is interrogated by a stabilized laser output to cause at least a two-photon Rubidium transition and a detector may detect fluorescence resulting from spontaneous decay of the upper state Rubidium transition. The output of the detector is provided at a wavelength of the fluorescence to lock the cavity-stabilized reference laser to generate a stabilized laser output. A frequency comb stabilizer may be locked to the stabilized laser output to generate a super-continuum of optical wavelengths for use in generating an ultra-stable frequency reference. |
| US08780947B2 |
Mirror arrangement for guiding a laser beam in a laser system and beam guiding method for a laser beam
The invention relates to a mirror arrangement for guiding a laser beam in a laser system having at least one first end mirror and one second end mirror, wherein said end mirrors define a resonator having an optical resonator axis, wherein the laser beam is guided into the resonator as an input laser beam and is guided out of the resonator again after multiple reflection at the first and second end mirrors as an output laser beam. The sequence of reflections at the first and second end mirror thereby determines a direction of rotation between the first and second end mirror, defined as an axis of rotation relative to the resonator axis, whereby a first beam path is defined and the laser beam circulates in a direction of rotation between the first and second end mirrors in the resonator defined as an axis of rotation relative to the resonator axis. The resonator is designed such that the direction of rotation is reversed at a reversing point and the laser beam in the resonator passes through at least partially in a direction of rotation opposite to the first beam path, whereby a second beam path is defined. |
| US08780944B2 |
Method and apparatus for reliable signaling in wireless communication
Techniques for improving reliability of signaling are described. A transmitter determines if improved reliability is applicable for signaling for a data frame. The transmitter sends the signaling without improved reliability if deemed not applicable and with improved reliability if deemed applicable. A receiver receives the signaling and declares the signaling as reliable or unreliable based on the received signal quality of the received frame and a threshold. The receiver recovers the signaling if deemed reliable and decodes the received frame in accordance with the recovered signaling. The receiver declares the received frame as a null frame or performs some other action if the signaling is deemed unreliable. |
| US08780940B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing frame
Provided is a method and apparatus for efficiently transmitting and receiving a frame including a header and a payload in a communication system. If the number of repeated items in the content of a header of the frame is high, specific preambles are allocated to the repeated items and the repeated items are omitted. Accordingly, data transfer efficiency can be improved. |
| US08780938B2 |
Technique for coordinated RLC and PDCP processing
A technique for performing layer 2 processing is described. In a method implementation of this technique, at least one first RLC SDU is created from one or more first RLC PDUs. It is assumed here that the first RLC SDU belongs to an incomplete RLC SDU set that is to comprise at least one second RLC SDU, and that the second RLC SDU is to be created from at least one second RLC PDU not yet available. In a next step, a first PDCP function is applied to the first RLC SDU to create a data packet. The RLC function is only performed after the second RLC PDU has become available (or after an RLC time-out). Then, after the RLC function has been performed, the data packet is released to a second PDCP function. |
| US08780936B2 |
Signal acquisition for wireless communication systems
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate signal acquisition in a wireless communication system on one or more frequency carriers corresponding to a portion of the deployed bandwidth in a wireless communication environment. By communicating using carriers that include only a portion of the total system bandwidth, channels used for communication in a carrier may be less dispersive than channels used for communication across the entire bandwidth. Thus, the amount of transmit power required for devices in the system may be reduced. Further, the carriers may be divided from the deployed system bandwidth such that each carrier is sufficiently large to minimize the effects of fading on component frequency response, thereby further optimizing system performance. |
| US08780933B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated subscriber-based TDM-IP conversion
An automated conversion method and apparatus are provided to automatically detect the type of an incoming signal (e.g., SONET or Ethernet signal) at a site and to encapsulate outgoing data, or not, based on that detection to facilitate conversion to new infrastructure (e.g., TDM to Ethernet). The automatic detection can be achieved by alternating a search for a SONET signal or Ethernet signal received after a loss of signal or other similar event. Diagnostics of any prior valid transmission are retained in case the disruption was due to transmission quality problem rather than a change in the transmission protocol (i.e. SONET to Ethernet or Ethernet to SONET). The apparatus has an FPGA loaded by a microprocessor with the hardware configuration necessary to support either an IP or SONET configuration when change is detected in the format of the signal arriving at the optical port of the premises device. |
| US08780932B2 |
Video signal transmission device, video signal reception device, and video signal transmission system
A video transmission device 10 has: a packer 11 which receives a video signal, a sync signal, and a data-enable signal, and generates a plurality of packet signals by packetizing the video signal and the sync signal based on the data-enable signal and according to the number of bytes of a packet corresponding to the number of gradation bits of the video signal; an encode unit 15 which generates a plurality of encoded packet signals by encoding the plurality of packet signals; and a serializer 14 which generates a serial packet signal by parallel-serial converting the plurality of encoded packet signals. The packer 11 generates a control signal including a pulse with a pulse width corresponding to the number of bytes of the packet, and the encode unit 15 subjects a portion of the packet signals corresponding to the pulse in the control signal from the packer, to an encode process which is different from a process for the other portion. |
| US08780931B2 |
Multi-role distributed line card
A switch includes network ports and a network processor with a fabric interface that provides SerDes (Serializer/Deserializer) channels. The network processor divides each packet received over the network ports into cells and distributes the cells across the SerDes channels. Fabric ports of the switch communicate with the fabric interface to transmit cells to and receive cells from the fabric interface. The switch is selectively configurable as a standalone switch by connecting each fabric port of the switch to another of the fabric ports of the switch, as a member of a switch stack by connecting each fabric port of the switch to a different other switch through one fabric port of that other switch, or as a member of a distributed fabric system by connecting each fabric port of the switch to a different scaled-out fabric coupler (SFC) chassis by an SFC fabric port of that SFC chassis. |
| US08780925B2 |
Mobile use of a PBX system
Systems and methods for utilizing a PBX identifier of a PBX system in a mobile environment are provided. In exemplary systems, an enhanced DNS server maintains a central registry of PBX identifiers and corresponding locations associated with the PBX identifiers. The corresponding locations may comprise both private and public IP address. When a remote IP device attempts to access their main office PBX system via the PBX identifier, the enhanced DNS server returns the private and public IP addresses in response. |
| US08780920B2 |
Method for establishing bidirectional data transmission paths in a wireless meshed communication network
In a method for establishing a bidirectional data transmission path in a wireless meshed packet-switched communication network, a logical topology in the form of at least one routing tree can be proactively established, wherein a root network node of the routing tree sends first unidirectional data transmission paths regarding routing request messages specifying the root network node to the network nodes of the communication network in periodic time intervals. A first flag is provided in the network nodes of the routing tree that can be put into two different states. Upon receipt of a routing request message, a network node only sends a second unidirectional data transfer path regarding the routing response message specifying the network node to the root-network node if the first flag is switched into a first selectable state. Thus, a bidirectional data transfer path between the root network node and the network node is established. |
| US08780918B2 |
Data processing apparatus and redundancy switching method
A data processing apparatus includes a first frame processing unit that fragments a first input frame and identifies a head of the first input frame and outputs first head position information; a second frame processing unit that fragments a second input frame which is a redundant frame of the first input frame and is input asynchronously with the first input frame, identifies a head of the second frame, and outputs second head position information; a first and a second storage unit that receive and store the fragmented pieces of data output from the first and the second frame processing units respectively; and a fragmented data processing unit that reads the fragmented pieces of data out of one of the first and second storage units based on the first and second head position information and outputs the fragmented data. |
| US08780915B2 |
Method and system for tagging packets routed to customer premises devices via clusters of dedicated customer interfaces
A method of routing traffic to customer premises devices (CPDs), each CPD being reachable via a dedicated customer interface (DCI) from among a plurality of DCIs grouped into clusters included in respective outside plant units (OPUs). Packets destined for the CPDs are received. A destination DCI and a destination OPU for each packet is determined. The destination DCI for a particular packet destined for a particular CPD is determined by identifying the DCI via which the particular CPD is reachable. The destination OPU for the particular packet is determined by identifying the OPU that includes the destination DCI. For each particular OPU that is the destination OPU for one or more packets, the packets are buffered and transmitted via an interface for the particular OPU. For each particular DCI that is the destination DCI for one or more packets, tagging each packet with an indication of the particular DCI. |
| US08780912B2 |
Systems and method for routing data
A system and method for routing frames to one or more loops is provided. The system includes a processor operable to receive a frame and a storage device operable to store instructions. The instructions may enable the processor to forward the frame according to an address field of the frame. The processor may forward the frame to a first loop if the address field of the frame is associated with the first loop. The processor may forward the frame to a second loop if the address field of the frame is associated with the second loop. The processor may also reject and discard the frame based on the address field of the frame. |
| US08780909B2 |
System and method for modifying media protocol feedback loop based on mobile system information
Systems and methods for modifying a media protocol based on subscriber and network performance information is disclosed. Media protocols such as adaptive bitrate protocol can adjust bit rates based on conditions perceived at the mobile device and with a goal of obtaining the highest bit rate possible. The media protocols residing on the mobile device do not have access to network performance information that can change rapidly and impact the experience at the mobile device. For example, congestion, radio air link interference, handoffs, and quality of service parameters can all impact the experience a user has when accessing media files from a mobile device. The requests made by a mobile device can be modified to take into account these factors to enhance the user experience. |
| US08780908B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracing a multicast flow
A method for tracing a multicast flow in a network is described herein. The network may include one or more hosts and a plurality of network devices. An initiating device of the plurality of network devices receives a message to trace a multicast flow. The message includes an identification of a multicast flow. It is determined whether a multicast distribution tree of the initiating device includes state information of the multicast flow. An upstream neighbor of the initiating device is determined. A multicast trace route request is transmitted to a receiving device of the plurality of network devices. The receiving device is the upstream neighbor of the initiating device. It is determined whether a response is received from the receiving device and based on the response, it is determined whether to transmit a multicast trace route request to an upstream neighbor of the receiving device. |
| US08780907B2 |
Optimized file repair architecture for mobile broadcast multicast system (MBMS)
A device receives or creates file packets to be broadcast, via multicast delivery, to multiple user equipment by a broadcast multicast service control (BMSC) device. The device stores the file packets in the memory, and receives, via unicast delivery, a file repair request from a particular user equipment of the multiple user equipment. The device identifies particular file packets in the memory based on the file repair request, and provides, via unicast delivery, the particular file packets to the particular user equipment. |
| US08780906B2 |
Third party VPN certification
A virtual private network (VPN) over a telecommunications network is created by sending a request from a first VPN device to a second VPN device for establishing a VPN between the first and second VPN devices. The request includes a first signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the first VPN device. A reply is received at the first VPN device from the second VPN device that includes a second signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the second VPN device. The VPN is established between the first and second VPN devices based on each verified VPN parameter for each of the first and second VPN devices. |
| US08780901B2 |
Wi-Fi/BPL dual mode repeaters for power line networks
A method and apparatus for maintaining network connectivity over power lines is disclosed. Such network connectivity is maintained even if various customers are covered by different power line networks or if one or more power lines in a network are unavailable to transmit data. More particularly, in order to bridge a gap in a power line network, one or more messages are extracted from a first node in a power line network and are then transmitted to a second node via free space transmission, illustratively wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission conforming to one or more of the 802.11a, b or g standards. When those messages are received at the second node, the message is injected back into the power line on the other side of a gap in power line coverage. This method of transmission backup will continue until power line connectivity is restore upon which the preferred method will be selected and used. |
| US08780900B2 |
Crossbar switch system
Each chip arranged in each crossbar switch creates and issues, if a packet is input, a log collection packet for collecting a log of the packet. Each chip collects a log related to a transfer of the input packet. Each chip embeds, in the issued log collection packet or a log collection packet transferred from a crossbar switch in a previous stage, the collected log. If a transfer destination of the packet is other than the crossbar switches, each chip stores, in a storage space, the log embedded in the log collection packet and then transfers, to the transfer destination, only an original packet in which the log is deleted. In contrast, if the transfer destination is a crossbar switch, each chip transfers the log collection packet to a crossbar switch in a next stage. |
| US08780896B2 |
Methods and apparatus for validation of equal cost multi path (ECMP) paths in a switch fabric system
An apparatus includes a replication engine of a switch module of a multi-stage switch. The replication engine is configured to receive a first validation packet from an input port of the switch module. The replication engine is configured to determine multiple output ports of the switch module to which a data packet can be sent to reach a destination device associated with the first validation packet. The replication engine is configured to define multiple second validation packets based on a number of output ports from the multiple output ports such that each second validation packet from the multiple second validation packets is uniquely associated with an output port from the multiple output ports. The replication engine is configured to send the multiple second validation packets to an output module configured to forward each second validation packet from the multiple second validation packets to its associated output port. |
| US08780890B2 |
Hybrid packet-switched and circuit-switched telephony system
A hybrid telephony system with packet switching as well as circuit switching optimizes utilization of transport networks, and is accessible from any conventional telephone set. A call originating from a circuit-switched network is passed through a gateway computer to a backbone packet-switched network, and then through a second gateway computer to a second circuit-switched network where it terminates. The voice of both the originating party and the terminating party is converted to data packets by the near-end gateway computer and then converted back to voice by the far-end gateway computer. In an alternative scenario, the originating party uses a computer on the packet-switched network, which replaces the originating circuit-switched network and the originating computer. Powered by CPUs, DSPs, ASICs disks, telephony interfaces, and packet network interfaces, the gateway computers may have media conversion modules, speech processing modules and routing resolution modules, and are capable of translating telephony call signaling as well as voice between circuit-switched and packet-switched networks. Optionally, the gateway computers may also have analog trunking modules, MF and DTMF digit modules and special services modules, in order to support analog circuit-switched networks and secure telephone calls. |
| US08780889B2 |
IP converged system and call processing method thereof
A call processing method in an Internet Protocol (IP) converged system includes: requesting an incoming call to be routed through an IP network; checking a data traffic-processing state of a traffic manager in response to the request; and rerouting the call through the IP network or rerouting the call through a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) according to the checked data traffic-processing state. |
| US08780888B2 |
Facilitating non-SIP users calling SIP users
A technique for allowing a non-SIP user to call a SIP user includes dialing an established service number that indicates a desire to place a call to a SIP user. The SIP URI of the intended call recipient is included in a call setup protocol message associated with dialing the service number. A non-SIP network recognizes the call to the service number and the SIP URI from the UUI parameter of the call setup message. The call is then routed to a gateway for interfacing between the non-SIP network and the appropriate SIP network where the SIP URI is extracted from the message received by the gateway and used to generate an SIP INVITE message for establishing the call with the intended SIP user. |
| US08780886B2 |
Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system base station, and a remote radio head (RRH) and a computer-implemented synchronization method for the wireless communication system base station. The RRH is communicably coupled to a baseband unit (BBU) of the wireless communication system base station through a network, and the BBU processes and transmits downlink data to the RRH. The RRH includes: a time-delay measurement unit for measuring a time-delay for the downlink data to arrive at the RRH from the BBU; and a time-delay notification unit for notifying from the RRH to the BBU of time-delay data on the time-delay measured by the time-delay measurement unit, wherein the time-delay data is used to advance the starting time for the BBU to process and transmit the downlink data by an amount of time obtained based on the time-delay data. |
| US08780884B2 |
Mobile radio device synchronization
Method for synchronizing a plurality of mobile radio devices, mobile radio devices and a method for synchronizing a mobile radio device. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for synchronizing a plurality of mobile radio devices is provided including transmitting a downlink synchronization signal in a shared downlink synchronization channel to a plurality of mobile radio devices, and receiving a plurality of uplink synchronization signals via a plurality of dedicated uplink synchronization channels. |
| US08780883B2 |
Service routing method and system on service overlay network
Embodiments of the present invention provide a service routing method that includes: a current service routing entity receiving a service request, and the current service routing entity selecting a second service routing entity; if the second service routing entity is not the current service routing entity itself, the current service routing entity forwards the service request to the second service routing entity, sets the second service routing entity as the current service routing entity, and performs the receiving and the selecting until the second service routing entity selected by the current service routing entity is the current service routing entity itself; and if the second service routing entity is the current service routing entity itself, setting the current service routing entity as a first most adjacent service routing entity that obtains service registration information of the service and sends the service request to a service provider. |
| US08780877B2 |
Method and arrangement for managing a reference signal in a communications system
A method for managing uplink channel estimation in a base station includes transmitting downlink data from a base station to a mobile terminal in a radio access network over a first portion of a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) spectrum. The first portion of the FDD spectrum is designated for downlink data transfer. The method also includes transmitting a predetermined reference signal from the base station to the mobile terminal over a second portion of the FDD spectrum. The second portion of the FDD spectrum is designated for uplink data transfer. The predetermined reference signal permits the mobile terminal to perform a channel estimate on at least a portion of the second portion of the FDD spectrum. The method additionally includes receiving uplink data transmitted from the mobile terminal to the base station over the second portion of the FDD spectrum. |
| US08780875B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling discontinuous transmissions
Techniques for controlling discontinuous transmissions in a wireless communication system are described. A method and apparatus for transmitting data on an uplink includes tracking past performance of at least one of an uplink channel condition and uplink system resources. A prediction of a likelihood of a completed or successful data transmission is performed. A long preamble is transmitted with an uplink control channel when the prediction indicates a likelihood of completion of the data transmission. When past performance indicates an unlikelihood of completing the transmission of the data, then the discontinuous mode is maintained without data transmission. |
| US08780874B2 |
Wireless local area network
A wireless network includes a base transceiver station configured to transmit signals over a wireless connection to a plurality of terminals and receive signals over a wireless connection from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may transmit a connection request message including an identifier and a request to identify the new terminal to the network when the new terminal tries to access the wireless network. A base station or access point may receive or maintain information or a list regarding one or more new terminals attempting to access the wireless network. The base station or access point may receive a control command indicative of a selection of at least one terminal from the list. The base station or access point may connect the at least one terminal to the access point or network. |
| US08780871B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing beacon information
A method and apparatus are described for distributing beacon information. A first WTRU modifies a physical layer protocol data unit (PHY PDU) frame to include beacon information. The first WTRU transmits the modified PHY PDU frame to a second WTRU. The second WTRU receives the modified PHY PDU frame and extracts beacon information from the modified PHY PDU frame. The second WTRU associates with the first WTRU. |
| US08780870B2 |
Generation of HARQ-ACK information and power control of HARQ-ACK signals in TDD systems with downlink of carrier aggregation
Methods and apparatus are provided for a User Equipment (UE) configured to have multiple cells in a DownLink (DL) of a Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication system so as to determine a power of an acknowledgement signal that the UE transmits in a control channel and to determine a number of acknowledgement information bits that the UE multiplexes with data information bits in a data channel. A transmission power of the control signal is determined based on DL Assignment Index (DAI) Information Elements (IEs) in DL Scheduling Assignments (SAs) that the UE detects through multiple transmission time intervals and through the multiple configured DL cells. The number of acknowledgement information bits in the data channel is determined based on a DAI IE of an UpLink (UL) SA associated with the transmission of the data channel. |
| US08780859B2 |
Efficient use of a communications network
A duration of time a communications device is connected to a first network is monitored. A signal of a second network is detected. Next, it is determined whether a predetermined amount of time has elapsed such that the communications device makes efficient use of the first network, and in response to a determination that the predetermined amount of time has elapsed, a connection of the communications device to the second network is initiated. |
| US08780857B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mobility support between network domains
Described aspects provide for improving the mobility of wireless communication devices between one network domain and another network domain, specifically, but not limited to, between a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and a cellular network and the like. Present aspects provide for services to be moved seamlessly and in a reliable manner between the cellular and WLAN domains in order to minimize service disruption for the end user and provide the requisite Quality of Service (QoS) for the different applications. The aspects herein presented provide for various mechanisms that serve to improve the decision points related to when and what technology each service is expected to be associated with and provides better techniques to move the wireless communication device between cellular and WLAN domains when in-traffic and when idle. |
| US08780853B2 |
Control channel management
A controlling base station sends, to a wireless communication device, control data related to communication between a communication base station and the wireless communication device. The control data is transmitted in accordance with a communication specification and is transmitted to allow reception by the wireless communication device of the control data within a control channel having a frequency and time allocated by the communication specification for the wireless communication device to receive control data transmissions from the communication base station. |
| US08780852B2 |
Multi-channel inter base-station communication
The invention relates to systems and methods for spectrum sharing and communication among several wireless communication networks with overlapping service areas (or cells), especially to Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs). Particular embodiments of the invention disclose using a conference channel to communicate between base stations. Other embodiments use slotted coexistence windows within frames to transmit and receive information, including for reserving transmission times within subsequent frames. |
| US08780848B2 |
Method and apparatus for persistent resource allocation in a wireless access system
The present description relates to a method for persistent resource allocation in a wireless access system, comprising the following steps: receiving a first MAP message containing persistent resource allocation information from a base station; transceiving data bursts to/from the base station via the persistent resource domain contained in the persistent resource allocation information; and receiving a second MAP message containing persistent resource de-allocation type information from the base station, wherein said persistent resource de-allocation type information indicates whether a de-allocation of persistently allocated resources is a persistent de-allocation or a temporary de-allocation. |
| US08780847B2 |
Uplink control information transmission
Uplink control information transmission method, and a network node and a UE implementing the method are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, uplink control information is transmitted from a UE to a network node by defining a set including at least one of the of uplink component carriers being usable for carrier aggregation for the UE. For this set, a priority indication is assigned to each one of the at least one uplink component carrier included in the set. Then, if this set includes at least one uplink component carrier comprising an uplink shared channel, one of these at least one uplink component carrier comprising an uplink shared channel is selected for transmission of uplink control information in that uplink shared channel. Selection based on at least one of the at least one assigned priority indication, when selecting uplink component carrier, is disclosed. |
| US08780844B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating resources for enhanced multicast broadcast service data in wireless communication system
Provided are a method and apparatus for allocating resources for enhanced multicast broadcast service (E-MBS) data in a wireless communication system. A base station divides a frequency region into at least one frequency partition and allocates subbands of KSB,E-MBS number as the resources for the E-MBS data in the frequency partition. One sub-band includes sub-band logical resource units (SLRUs) of N1 number and the SLRUs of N1 number have continuous indexes among a plurality of physical resource units (PRUs) included in the frequency partition and are the PRUs to be allocated to contiguous resource units (CRUs). |
| US08780842B2 |
Method and system for allocating home base station frequency point and home base station manager
A method and system for allocating a home base station frequency point and a home base station manager are disclosed by the present invention. The method includes: a home base station detects current location information and matches the current location information with pre-stored location information, and sends a registration request requiring for allocation of frequency point information to the home base station manager when the match fails, and the registration request includes the current location information; the home base station manager selects a frequency point for the home base station according to the current location information, and sends the frequency point information to the home base station. The method and system not only enable the home base station manager to flexibly allocate frequency point information for home base station according to different environments, but also accelerate the speed of allocating frequency point information for home base station. |
| US08780836B2 |
Network system, controller, and network control method
A switch transfers a predetermined packet to an appliance. The appliance generates a rewritten packet by carrying out the packet header rewriting on the predetermined packet and forwards the rewritten packet back to the switch. The switch transfers the rewritten packet received from the appliance to a controller. In a case when the rewritten packet meets a predetermined condition, the controller generates entry setting data which instructs to set a new entry on the basis of a destination of the rewritten packet and the predetermined rewriting mode, and sends the entry setting data to the switch. The new entry indicates that packets belonging to the same flow as the predetermined packet are transferred to the destination without being routed through the appliance. The switch adds the new entry to the flow table in accordance with the entry setting data received from the controller. |
| US08780833B2 |
Control channel monitoring apparatus in multi-carrier system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a control channel and an apparatus thereof. A reference carrier is set, and then the multi-carrier sends blind decoding area information based on the reference carrier to monitor a control channel. A terminal monitors the control channel based on the blind decoding area information. The terminal performs blind decoding only for a component carrier required, and thus reduces power consumption and reception complexity. |
| US08780832B2 |
Methods and arrangements for transmitting and decoding reference signals
A method in a radio network node for transmitting a reference signal over an antenna port includes transmitting the reference signal over a first code division multiplexing (CDM) subgroup using an orthogonal cover code. The first CDM subgroup includes a first set of resource elements in a first time slot and a second set of resource elements in a subsequent time slot. The radio network node selects a permutation of the orthogonal cover code and transmits the reference signal over a second CDM subgroup using the permutation. The second CDM subgroup includes a third set of resource elements in the first time slot and a fourth set of resource elements in the subsequent time slot. The permutation is selected to enable decoding of the reference signal in the frequency domain, by applying the orthogonal cover code to the first set resource elements and to the third set of resource elements. |
| US08780830B2 |
Interference suppression during device-to-device communications
A method is disclosed that includes selecting one or more terminals involved in a device-to-device communication to which interference caused by a transmission to one or more other terminals should be suppressed, and choosing a number of degrees of freedom from a predetermined number of degrees of freedom to be used to suppress interference towards the selected one or more terminals. The method also includes using the remaining degrees of freedom from the predetermined number to increase signal quality to the one or more other terminals and performing precoding based on the chosen number of degrees of freedom and the remaining degrees of freedom. The method further includes, using at least the performed precoding, transmitting information to the one or more other terminals. Apparatus and programs/program products are also disclosed. |
| US08780828B2 |
Cognitive radio device and method for determining channel occupancy
A detector module (100) is operable in a cognitive radio device and capable of determining channel occupancy. The detector module comprises a sensor (110) for sensing incumbent signals at a variable sensing threshold, wherein the sensor generates a first occupancy indication indicating whether the channel includes an incumbent signal having a sensing metric above the variable sensing threshold; a geo-location unit (120) for generating a second occupancy indication based on a location of the detector module; and a decision unit (130) for generating an occupancy decision based on both the first occupancy indication and the second occupancy indication. |
| US08780826B2 |
Continuous CDM/FDM structure for LTE uplink data
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which information regarding use of a CDM and FDM structure for multiplexing data on a data channel for uplink for at least one subframe is determined. In addition, the data is multiplexed using the CDM/FDM structure for the at least one subframe based on the determined information. |
| US08780821B2 |
Channel interleaver for transmission of multiple code blocks in a wireless communication system
Techniques for performing channel interleaving to achieve similar SINRs for multiple code blocks are described. In one design, a transmitter station (e.g., a base station or a UE) determines a plurality of resource groups assigned for data transmission. Each resource group includes a plurality of resource elements formed by a cluster of subcarriers in a time interval. The transmitter station partitions a transport block into a plurality of code blocks, processes each code block to obtain data symbols for that code block, and maps the data symbols for each code block to at least one resource element in each of the plurality of resource groups. The transmitter station transmits the mapped data symbols for the plurality of code blocks to a receiver station. In one design, the transmitter station receives an ACK or a NACK for the transport block and retransmits all code blocks if a NACK is received. |
| US08780819B2 |
Method and system for controlling wireless communication channel
A portable terminal is capable of controlling a wireless communication channel control. If a particular wireless communication channel established between the portable terminal and access points (APs) is congested, the portable terminal is switched to one of the channels used by APs whose number is less than the number of APs using the particular wireless communication channel. |
| US08780806B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for cooperative scheduling among multiple cells
A method of cooperation scheduling among multiple cells applied in a CoMP system is disclosed in the present invention, the method includes: a relay base station in a relay cell receiving the scheduling results of every cell in a cooperation set, wherein the relay cell is one of the cooperation cells in the cooperation set; the relay base station determining whether the scheduling results meets a preset iteration ending condition or not; and if the scheduling result does not meet the iteration ending condition, the relay base station sending rescheduling indication information which carries the scheduling result of every cooperation cell to the cooperation base station in every cooperation cell in the cooperation set, indicating to restart the scheduling of every cooperation cell according to the scheduling results. A base station and a cooperation scheduling system among multiple cells are disclosed in the present invention. |
| US08780800B2 |
Optimized home link detection
The invention relates to a method for establishing by a mobile node an additional session via a connection to a packet data network in a mobile communication network and a mobile node and a packet data network gateway adapted to perform this method. In order to suggest optimized home link detection by a mobile node one aspect of the invention is to delay the decision on whether the mobile node is located on the home link or not. In conventional home link detection, the mobile node checks before sending any binding update on an access interface whether its prefix of the local IP address configured on that access interface is matching a home address prefix received during bootstrapping. According to one aspect of the invention, this home link detection is delayed in that home link detection is based on comparing a home address prefix received during bootstrapping and the advertised local prefix of a router advertisement received after bootstrapping. |
| US08780796B1 |
System and method for providing network initiated mobile access in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating an access request message associated with a mobile node, receiving an access accept message that includes domain name data associated with the mobile node, and communicating a packet data protocol (PDP) context accept message for a tracking PDP context associated with the mobile node without associating an internet protocol (IP) address to the mobile node. The tracking PDP context identifies that the mobile node is available to receive network data. In more particular embodiments, the access request message includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) associated with the mobile node, and the domain name data includes a fully qualified domain name. In still other embodiments, the tracking PDP includes a protocol configuration option (PCO) indicating that an IP address is not required for the mobile node. |
| US08780792B2 |
Wireless base station and mobile station
An mobile station implements data transport which allows for handover. The mobile station transmits a second datum in response to a first datum received from a wireless base station, the mobile station being characterized in that it comprises: a detection unit which detects that handover is to be performed; and a control unit which provides control such that, in cases where the detection has been made, the changeover timing of the transmission destination for the second datum is made later than the changeover timing of the reception channel for the first datum. |
| US08780791B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing card without traffic in multi-card multi-standby mobile terminal
A method and an apparatus for synchronizing card without traffic in multi-card multi-standby mobile terminal are disclosed. The method includes: receiving, by a non-traffic card, a synchronization channel signal from an adjacent network cell according to frequency point of a synchronization channel of the adjacent network cell prestored in the non-traffic card, when a traffic card is in traffic; if the receiving of the synchronization channel signal from the adjacent network cell fails, performing, by the non-traffic card, a full-frequency network searching after the traffic of the traffic card, for receiving a synchronization channel signal from a network cell of the network cells and establishing synchronization with the network cell corresponding to the synchronization channel signal. The method and apparatus avoid communication failures caused by the out-of-synchronization of non-traffic card during the traffic (i.e. service) of the traffic card. |
| US08780790B2 |
TDD operation in wireless communication systems
A method provides a wireless frame protocol. The method includes communicating a transmission interval that facilitates switching between a downlink portion and an uplink portion of a wireless communications channel. The method employs one or more guard periods during the transmission interval to mitigate overlap of transmitting frequencies between the downlink and uplink portions of the wireless communications channel. |
| US08780788B2 |
Systems and methods for decoding automatic identification system signals
A method of extracting automatic identification system (AIS) message segments from AIS signals received by a satellite. The method includes: (a) receiving AIS signals from satellite antennas; (b) generating multiple versions of the AIS signals; (c) extracting message segments contained within each of the AIS signals using one or more AIS receivers; (d) sorting the message segments by time; and (e) deleting any duplicate message segments. Multiple versions of the AIS signals may be generated by one or more of the following methods: (i) processing the AIS signals multiple times, each time with different AIS receiver parameter settings; (ii) splitting each signal into multiple signals and filtering each of the multiple signals separately; (iii) receiving multiple AIS signals and combining them with different phases and amplitudes to produce a plurality of combined AIS signals; and (iv) removing extracted message segments from the received AIS signals and reprocessing the modified AIS signals. |
| US08780787B2 |
System and method for canceling co-channel interference on-board a satellite
Provided are systems and methods for minimizing co-channel interference on-board a satellite. An up-link signal received by the satellite is post-compensated, where the up-link signal includes a desired signal transmitted by a first transmitter and an interfering signal transmitted by a second transmitter. The post-compensating includes identifying the interfering signal based on post-compensation parameters. In addition, a down-link signal to be transmitted from the satellite to a receiver is pre-compensated. The pre-compensation process includes determining gain relations between a gain of a first satellite antenna which transmits the down-link in a direction of the receiver and a gain of a second satellite antenna which transmits an interfering signal in the direction of the receiver, sampling and scaling interfering signals at the satellite based on the gain relations, and estimating a co-channel down-link interference component that the down-link signal is expected to experience on a path to the receiver. |
| US08780784B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information from relay node on backhaul uplink
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method for transmitting control information from a relay node to a base station on a backhaul link comprises the steps of: determining whether one time slot of a backhaul uplink subframe from the relay node to the base station is a first type slot having transmitted symbol with guard time set or a second type slot without guard time set; diffusing the control information in a time domain using a first length sequence for the first type slot or a second length sequence for the second type slot; mapping the diffused control information on at least one slot from the first type slot or the second type slot; and transmitting the backhaul uplink subframe having more than one slot from the first type slot or the second type slot wherein the control information is mapped. |
| US08780783B2 |
Propagating system information changes to relays
Teachings herein include a base station for propagating system information changes from the base station to the relay node. Upon transmitting system information changes to the relay node, the base station defers data transmission between the base station and the relay node until a set time period. In many embodiments, the base station is configured to actually apply the system information changes during this time period, while the relay node applies the changes before then, e.g., by applying them immediately upon reception. The base station's deferral of data transmission until the set time period thus ensures that data transmission does not occur until both the base station and the relay node have applied the pending changes. This in turn prevents radio link failure from occurring due to use of different system parameters by the base station and relay node. |
| US08780781B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving multicast and broadcast service in a broadband wireless communication system
The present specification relates to a method in which, in a broadband wireless communication system, a mobile station operates to receive multicast and broadcast service (MBS) data in the event a base station supports at least one MBS zone, wherein said method comprises: a step of receiving a first control message including at least one piece of control information from the base station; extracting, from the received first control message, control information corresponding to the MBS zone to which the mobile station belongs; and a step of receiving a second control message including MBS data burst allocation information using the extracted control information, wherein said control information contains the MBS zone identification information and/or the resource allocation information of the second control message. |
| US08780780B2 |
Method and base station for transmitting broadcast multicast service control signaling
The present invention provides a method and base station for transmitting broadcast multicast service control signaling, and the method includes: a serving base station of a cell located in overlapped coverage of more than one Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area respectively determining multi-cell mode broadcast multicast service control signaling for each MBSFN area, and transmitting the determined multi-cell mode broadcast multicast service control signaling. The base station serves a cell located in overlapped coverage of more than one MBSFN area, and includes a control signaling determination module and a control signaling transmission module. The method and base station of the present invention avoid the complex processing at the border of MBSFN areas, and facilitates the management of control signaling in MBSFN areas. |
| US08780778B2 |
System and method for providing synchronized broadcast and simulcast of media content
A system and method of receiving a radio broadcast and simulcast of media content, including: receiving a digital radio broadcast comprising digital radio content over a terrestrial radio broadcast spectrum; receiving media content separately over a multicast network; time synchronizing the media content to the digital radio broadcast; and presenting the time synchronized media content and the digital radio content for playback by a client device. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08780772B2 |
Communication protocol for wireless enhanced controller area networks
A method and system for communication in a wireless enhanced control area network including wireless station nodes is provided. One implementation involves each wireless station node employing a wireless communication protocol for wireless communication of control area network (CAN) messages among the wireless station nodes on a wireless communication medium, wherein each CAN message comprises a content-identified data message or an error message. The wireless communication protocol including a medium access control protocol for controlling access to the wireless communication by the wireless station nodes. |
| US08780769B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for identifying different frame structures
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for identifying different frame structures to ensure backward compatibility of an LTE-advanced (LTE-A) network. The method for identifying different frame structures includes: receiving a radio frame on a frequency division duplex (FDD) downlink carrier, where the radio frame includes an identifier of a frame structure; and identifying the frame structure according to the identifier of the frame structure included in the radio frame. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose a user equipment (UE), an evolved NodeB (eNB), and a system for identifying different frame structures. Through the technical solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention, LTE-A users can identify the frame structure carried on the FDD downlink carrier when accessing the network initially, but LTE users are unaware of the change of the frame structure. |
| US08780768B2 |
Automatic gain control acquisition in time division duplex systems
In embodiments, user equipment (UE) is configured to acquire automatic gain control (AGC) of an analog RF front end by maintaining a plurality of M×N AGC loops in which the output of the power detector drives input of a gain state machine after a predetermined delay. Each of the loops corresponds to a different periodic set of tasks of (1/M) subframe in length. In each of the loops, the gain is determined by a power measurement taken ((M×N)+1) tasks ago. A synchronization signal, such as a Primary Synchronization Signal, occurs early in Time Division Duplex (TDD) subframes that follow selected downlink subframes. The periodicity of the selected subframes is N. This allows the UE to converge on proper AGC gain for downlink subframes through a relatively short search, such as a binary search. The UE can then decode the synchronization signal and acquire network timing. |
| US08780767B2 |
Methods and apparatus for including mode information in a frame for system acquisition
Methods and apparatus for including mode information in a wireless transmission frame, which is useful for system acquisition. In particular, a first information bit is provided in a preamble of a transmission frame, where the bit is configured to indicate that a wireless communication system is operating according to either a time division duplex (TDD) mode or a frequency division duplex (FDD) mode. The addition of a single bit minimally affects the resources of the preamble. Additionally, another bit resource already present in the preamble for normally communicating whether FDD transmissions are full duplex or half-duplex transmissions, may be further allocated to indicate partitioning information concerning TDD mode transmissions when the first bit indicates TDD mode, thus affording additional information communicated in the frame without increasing preamble resources. |
| US08780763B2 |
Communication and message route optimization and messaging in a mesh network
A method and system facilitate communications between an unassociated device and a server via a mesh network and a wide area network. The method may include receiving transmissions from candidate proxy devices, wherein each candidate proxy device is associated with a mesh network. The method may include selecting a proxy device from the candidate proxy devices. The method may include communicating with a server via the proxy device and the associated mesh network. |
| US08780762B2 |
Node query in ad hoc home mesh network
An embodiment is a technique to collect network and device information. A request for local information is responded to. The request is sent by a remote node in an ad hoc home mesh network. A first node listed in a local route table is queried for node information of the first node. Querying is expanded to a second node in the ad hoc home mesh network using the node information. The second node is a neighbor of the first node. |
| US08780760B2 |
Determining associations in a mesh network
Determining associations in wireless mesh networks are provided. In a mesh network that includes a wired border node and multiple wireless nodes, each wireless node advertises a backhaul throughput approximating the throughput between that wireless node and the wired border node. Using the advertised backhaul throughput information and the stored local throughput information, a receiving node determines a node association from among various candidate nodes. |
| US08780759B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving group deletion information
A method for transmitting and receiving group configuration information on a user equipment is disclosed. The user equipment receives information on group deletion of the user equipment from a base station. The user equipment transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) signal about the received information on the group deletion to the base station. In this case, the information on the group deletion is configured as a separate extended header type or a type that an extended header is piggybacked on a specific downlink packet to be transmitted to the user equipment. Preferably, the user equipment decodes the received information on the group deletion of the user equipment. The user equipment successfully decodes the information on the group deletion and is then able to transmit the acknowledgement (ACK) signal about the received information on the group deletion to the base station. |
| US08780755B1 |
Configuring transmission parameters based on a congestion quality metric
In at least one aspect, a system includes a wireless client and a server. The wireless client generates a congestion quality metric based on a number of packet transmission retries and a received signal strength. The server generates configuration data for configuring one or more transmission parameters of the wireless client based on the congestion quality metric, and the wireless client configures the one or more transmission parameters according to the configuration data. |
| US08780754B2 |
Method and controlling network node in a radio access network
Method and controlling network node (140) for transmitting data to a user equipment (130) over a set of radio links (115, 125), when a radio link (115, 125) is added, or removed. The controlling network node (140) is configured to communicate data to the respective radio network node (110, 120) over a respective backhaul link (118, 128), of which at least one backhaul link (118) is connected over an Internet Protocol, IP, network (150). The method (500) comprises measuring (501) the time delay over the corresponding backhaul link (118, 128) for each radio link (115, 125), determining (502) time difference between them, calculating (503) a buffer time for each radio link (115, 125), and buffering (507) data in a buffer (625) for the calculated period of time before forwarding the data to the radio network node (110, 120), for transmission to the user equipment (130). |
| US08780753B2 |
Resolving channel state information outdating
It is described a method of operating a base station and a base station which uses a communication channel depending on channel state related information and time information e.g. a prediction time. In this way, problems due to outdating of the channel state related information may be overcome and a feedback overhead may be reduced. According to other embodiments, other parameters like a used prediction method, a prediction horizon, etc. are used to provide a better scenario adaption. Other embodiments relate to combined long term prediction and short term prediction and respective timing settings. Other embodiments relate to a method of operating a user equipment and a user equipment which is adapted for communicating the required time information between the base station and the user equipment. |
| US08780745B2 |
Communication terminal, communication device, method for measuring a signal and method for requesting a measurement
A communication terminal is described comprising a transmitter configured to generate a transmit signal and a measurement circuit configured to receive the generated transmit signal and to measure the power of the received transmit signal in a predetermined frequency region. |
| US08780740B2 |
System and method for controlling downlink packet latency
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which VoIP traffic is scheduled in a way that focuses on controlling user latencies, by reshaping packet latency profiles of individual users to more efficiently utilize power/code resources. A feedback mechanism may utilize certain latency controllers to adjust a queuing delay and an over-the-air transmit time to meet latency targets. That is, system resources may be allocated in a wireless network by adjusting a latency target for a packet responsive to a user's packet latency history. |
| US08780739B2 |
Method and device for data processing and communication system comprising such device
A method and a device for data processing in a network having a first network element and a second network element performs the following steps: (a) the second network element provides a control information to the first network element; (b) a portion of data sent from the first network element to the second network element is identified by the control information; and (c) upon identification of the portion of data a retransmission from the first network element to the second network element can be initiated. |
| US08780738B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting enterprise addressing in networks
A method and apparatus for supporting enterprise addressing in networks are disclosed. For example, the method creates a Domain Name System (DNS) service record and loading said DNS service record in a public DNS server for a customer, wherein the DNS service record supports a mapping of a domain name of the customer to a sub-domain name of a service provider. The method receives a call destined to a customer endpoint device for the customer; and forwards the call to the customer in accordance with the DNS service record. |
| US08780729B2 |
Monitoring pattern separation between component carriers based on user equipment RF layout
A network learns capability information indicating whether a user equipment (UE) is capable of simultaneous and independent operation in multiple component carriers (CCs). The network configures a monitoring pattern for each of multiple CCs that are configured for the UE in dependence on the received capability information. The capability information derives from the UE's RF layout; if the UE is capable of such simultaneous and independent operation the network can assign for the CCs different monitoring patterns that are independent of one another and the UE will have no gaps where it cannot take or send a measurement. This knowledge is particularly useful if the CCs are frequency non-contiguous with one another. If the UE is not so capable, the network must assign monitoring patterns to that UE for all its configured CCs that are not independent of one another. |
| US08780725B2 |
Presentation system and method
A presentation system and method is disclosed, and the method includes the steps of: creating at least one buffer area in a first presentation device for at least one application; relocating the presentation-related data of a running application to the buffer area; and intercepting the presentation-related data from the buffer area and transmitting them to at least one second presentation device. With the above configuration of the present invention, the presentation-related data of various applications running in the host can be redirected as demanded by a user to a corresponding presentation device. With only one host, multiple application windows can be presented on multiple presentation devices at the same time. |
| US08780723B2 |
Communication system and communication apparatus
A communication system includes a first communication apparatus including one or more first processors that determine a first bandwidth variance for each flow, based on a requested bandwidth variance amount and a surplus bandwidth of a physical line, and a first transmitter that transmits the first bandwidth variance to an adjacent apparatus; and a second communication apparatus including one or more second processors that set the received first bandwidth variance as a requested bandwidth variance amount for the second communication apparatus and determine a second bandwidth variance for each flow from the first bandwidth variance and the surplus bandwidth, and a second transmitter that transmits the second bandwidth variance to an adjacent apparatus. |
| US08780721B2 |
Network system, controller, method, and program
In shifting a flow that passes through a node onto a different alternative path which does not pass through the node passed through by the flow, a controller that controls a flow of each node under control determines alternative candidate paths, each of which has a same source and a same destination as a path associated with the flow to be shifted and does not pass through the node passed through by the flow to be shifted, determines the alternative path from the alternative candidate paths according to a predetermined criterion, and aggregates flows of each node on the alternative path. |
| US08780719B2 |
Packet relay apparatus and congestion control method
A packet relay apparatus relaying a packet exchanged between communication apparatuses with a connection established is provided. The packet relay apparatus includes a buffer for storing a packet selected from among arrival packets so that a transfer of the selected packet is to be suspended, and a congestion controller for monitoring, after the storage of the packet on the buffer, a packet passing through the packet relay apparatus, and causing the packet, stored on the buffer, to be transmitted at a timing responsive to a passage status of a packet having the same connection as the connection of the packet stored on the buffer. |
| US08780717B2 |
Video quality of service management and constrained fidelity constant bit rate video encoding systems and method
A constrained variable rate coding technique limits the number of bits used in an encoding process. A quality setting indicates a maximum level of quality to be used in the encoding process which limits the number of bits used in the encoding process. A bandwidth reclamation factor which indicates an amount of bandwidth to conserve may also be used with the quality setting. The constrained variable rate coding technique using a lower quality encoding process for less complex video data and a higher quality encoding technique for higher quality video data. |
| US08780714B2 |
Method for optimizing near field links
In a Near Field Communications (NFC) link, the data link turn-around time is adjusted to optimize battery use while maximizing the data throughput. A receiving device immediately transmits any pending high priority control or data messages in its own queue in response to a message from the sending device, subject to the flow control status of the sending device. The value of the delay time before sending a SYMM primitive is selected in accordance with the types of link frames recently received. |
| US08780708B2 |
Transmission control system
A control server 4, receives the number of user terminals U which have transited to the individual Web pages from a monitoring server 3 in Step S41. In Step S42, based on the received number of transitions U of the individual Web pages, application of control is decided by the control server 4. Here, based on the assumption that the number of transitions Uc to a Web page C including a transaction access or hyper link to the end server 2 accurately represents the number of executed transactions, the number of transitions Uc to Web page C is compared with an upper limit value Cmax. When Uc |
| US08780707B2 |
Service flux allocation method and equipment thereof
The present invention discloses a service flux allocation method, which includes the steps of: by establishing a usable single board information database (101), and according to the processing ability of each Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) service identifying single board stored in the usable single board information data base and the present flux (102), allocating the service flux which needed to be identified fairly to each DPI service identifying single board (103). The present invention also discloses a service flux allocation equipment, which includes a storage module and an allocation module. The method and the equipment of the present invention make the service flux which needed to be identified allocated fairly to each DPI service identifying single board. |
| US08780706B1 |
Controlled distribution of Phasor measurement data using multicast routing
A network device sends into a network a request to be connected to a particular multicast source-group pair for a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) data stream comprising packets containing phasor measurement data. The network device receives the phasor measurement data stream for the particular multicast source-group pair. The source-group pair information is compared against stored data specifying handling rules for packets associated with phasor measurement data streams. The packets in the received phasor measurement data stream are modified when there are handling rules in the stored data for the particular multicast source-group pair of the received phasor measurement data stream. The packets (now modified) for the phasor measurement data stream for the particular multicast source-group pair are re-originated with a new multicast source-group pair and sent into the network. In order to support existing legacy PMU devices, IP unicast-to-multicast conversion is implemented. |
| US08780705B2 |
Apparatus, communications system and method for optimizing data packet flow
A datagram flow optimizer apparatus comprises a buffer resource capable of receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of datagrams in respect of a forward path. The apparatus also comprises and a buffer controller arranged to implement, when in use, buffering of received datagrams by the buffer resource until a predetermined threshold number of datagrams has been stored by the buffer resource. The apparatus further comprises an acknowledgement regulator arranged to use the buffer resource to manipulate temporal spacing between acknowledgements of datagrams on a reverse path. The buffer controller is arranged to permit forwarding on the forward path of datagrams stored by the buffer resource in response to the predetermined threshold number of stored datagrams being reached. |
| US08780702B2 |
Adaptive multi-redundant ring network system and method for selecting detour
Disclosed is an adaptive multi-redundant ring network system using a 2 port Ethernet communication module capable of selecting a path, the network system including a main network system including a first main control unit and a plurality of first slaves; and a sub-network system including a second main control unit and a plurality of second slaves, wherein each of the plurality of first slaves and each of the plurality of second slaves include 2-port Ethernet communication modules, and each of the plurality of first slaves, each of the plurality of second slaves, the first slave and the second slave are selectively connected via the 2-port Ethernet communication modules. |
| US08780697B2 |
Bandwidth management for MPLS fast rerouting
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising: in a network at a node located on a label switched path: selecting a backup path to respond to a failure; and for each link along the backup path, reserving a backup bandwidth, wherein the backup bandwidth is sufficient to reroute traffic around the failure. |
| US08780695B2 |
Device and system for protection switching
A unit and a system for protection switching of line cards in a telecommunication system are described. A protection unit is connectable between communication lines and a line interface unit. The protection unit can be interconnected with other protection units to form a protection switching system. One protection unit in the protection switching system is connectable to a stand-by line card. The protection switching system is configured so that when protection switching is needed, the line signal is re-directed between the communication line for a failed line card and the stand-by line card via electrical connection elements. |
| US08780694B2 |
Hybrid ARQ with variable retransmission energy
Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) is implemented using multi-bit feedback and variable retransmission energy. The multi-bit feedback provides information to the transmitter about the state of the decoder so that the transmitter can adapt retransmissions to the current state of the decoder. In some embodiments, the multi-bit feedback indicates a level of convergence reached by the decoder, and the transmitter varies an amount of energy used for the retransmission as a function of the multi-bit feedback. The transmitter can vary the amount of energy applied to the retransmission by varying the number of bits in the retransmission, or by varying a transmit power used for the retransmission. |
| US08780691B2 |
System and method for applying multi-tone OFDM based communications within a prescribed frequency range
According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit comprises an encoding module, a modulation module and a spectral shaped module. The encoding module includes an interleaver that adapted to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode. The interleaver performs repetitive encoding when placed in the second mode. The modulation module is adapted to compensate for attenuations that are to be realized during propagation of a transmitted signal over the power line. The spectral shaped module is adapted to compensate for amplitude distortion and further compensates for attenuations that will be realized during propagation of the transmitted signal over the power line. |
| US08780682B2 |
Rotary head data storage and retrieval system and method for data erasure
A data storage and retrieval system includes a head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion and having multiple heads disposed at a working surface, the head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion. The system also includes a tape drive unit configured to move a tape media past the working surface of the head carriage unit, the tape media having a width approximately equal to a width of the working surface of the head carriage unit. As the head carriage unit rotates and the tape moves past the working surface, a first head is configured to write a data track on the tape and a second head is configured to thereafter read the data track, where data read by the second head is for use in verifying data erasure. |
| US08780681B2 |
Recording device and recording method
A recording device performs recording on an optical disc recording medium having a reference face having a reflection film provided with a position guide, and a recording layer provided at a position of a depth different from that of the reference face and performing information recording by mark forming according to irradiation of light. The recording device includes a light generating and irradiation unit, a recording unit, a tracking mechanism, a first tracking error signal generating unit, a second tracking error signal generating unit, a tracking servo control unit, and a control unit. |
| US08780679B2 |
Partial-block off-track data recovery
Techniques for data recovery from a data block wherein portions of the data block are written at different off-track positions are described. For example, portions of a data block can be read separately for each on-track and off-track position in the data block; then, the separately read portions can be recombined into a recovered data block. |
| US08780676B2 |
Interactive clock with analogue time display
An interactive watch with analogue time display, including an analogue time display with a display element, a movement configured to drive a rotation of the display element about a rotational axis, which rotation is movement-driven and associated with a time unit, and a read-off element manually rotatably mounted about the rotational axis such that a manual rotation of the read-off element leads to a thereby manually forced rotation of the display element or vice versa, wherein, for the display element, the manually forced rotation overlaps with the movement-driven rotation of the display element, so that in a manually set read-off position for the read-off element and the display element, these, when viewed together, result in the display of a current analogue value for the time unit due to the read-off element and the display element being arranged in associated rotational positions relative to the rotational axis is provided. |
| US08780675B2 |
Watch display using light sources with a translucent cover
A display assembly includes a display selectively displaying human-readable indicia on a face thereof and a cover disposed over the display. The cover has a homogeneous surface over the entire face of the display. The display assembly is controllable between an inactive state and an active state. In the inactive state, the face of the display is not viewable through the cover, and in the active state, the indicia are viewable through the cover. |
| US08780674B2 |
Acoustic wave transducer and sonar antenna with improved directivity
An acoustic wave transducer includes at least one electroacoustic motor, a horn having an inner wall and an outer wall, a counterweight, and a hollow housing having an inner wall and an outer wall and at least one acoustic opening. The electroacoustic motor is connected to the horn and to the counterweight along an axis, and the electroacoustic motor is capable of exciting the horn at about at least one resonance frequency. The housing is connected to the counterweight and surrounds the motor and the horn, the outer wall of the horn being arranged opposite an acoustic opening of the housing, and the space between the inner wall of the housing and the inner wall of the horn defines a cavity that contains a fluid. The transducer includes acoustic attenuation elements connected to the outer wall of the housing in order to attenuate the emission and/or reception acoustic waves at the frequency at least in a direction transverse to the emission/reception axis. A sonar antenna that includes at least one transducer is also described. |
| US08780672B2 |
Multi-frequency, multi-beam acoustic doppler system with concurrent processing
An acoustic Doppler system comprising a plurality of acoustic transceivers, an acoustic subsystem controller and a main processing unit operatively connected to the acoustic subsystem controller. A first of the plurality of acoustic transceivers operates at a first acoustic frequency and is operatively connected to a first group of transducers producing an acoustic signal. A second of the plurality of acoustic transceivers operates at a second acoustic frequency and is operatively connected to a second group of transducers producing an acoustic signal. The first and second acoustic transceivers are adapted to operate concurrently at the first and second acoustic frequencies. The acoustic subsystem controller is operatively connected to the first and second acoustic transceivers and controls the acoustic signals produced by the first and second group of transducers. The main processing unit is adapted to execute instructions to the first and second group of transducers to produce acoustic signals having at least two frequencies and is adapted to run at least two processing methods concurrently. The main processing unit analyzes data received by the first and second group of transducers, automatically adjusts the acoustic frequencies of the acoustic signals produced by the first and second group of transducers, and automatically selects a method of processing the data received by the first and second group of transducers. |
| US08780668B2 |
Semiconductor device, a parallel interface system and methods thereof
A memory device includes a clock receiving block, a data transceiver block, a phase detection block, and a phase information transmitter. The clock receiving block is configured to receive a clock signal from a memory controller through a clock signal line and generate a data sampling clock signal and an edge sampling clock signal. The data transceiver block is configured to receive a data signal from the memory controller through a data signal line. The phase detection block is configured to generate phase information in response to the data sampling clock signal, the edge sampling clock signal and the data signal. The phase information transmitter is configured to transmit the phase information to the memory controller through a phase information signal line that is separate from the data signal line. |
| US08780667B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to the embodiments, a semiconductor memory device includes serially-connected cell transistors includes respective gate electrodes coupled to respective word lines, a first driver and a second driver which drive the word lines, and a connection module. The connection module electrically couples the first driver commonly to a first subset of the word lines, and electrically couples the second driver commonly to a second subset of the word lines different from the first subset of the word lines. The first and second subsets of the word lines include the same number of word lines. |
| US08780665B2 |
Method and system for providing magnetic tunneling junction elements having an easy cone anisotropy
A method and system for providing a magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device are described. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer has a magnetic anisotropy, at least a portion of which is a biaxial anisotropy. The magnetic junction is configured such that the free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. |
| US08780663B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing current consumption by memory refresh operation control
A method and apparatus for reducing current consumption by employing a memory refresh operation is provided. The method employs a refresh operation in an apparatus including a memory in which a partial refresh operation is performed. The method includes classifying data loaded in the memory into first data and second data, dividing the memory into a first area and a second area when an attempt to access the first data is not detected during a preset time, separately arranging the first data and the second data in the first area and the second area, respectively, performing a refresh operation in the second area at a preset time in order to retain data, and loading the first data into the memory when the attempt to access the first data is detected. |
| US08780659B2 |
Programming memory cells
Methods for programming, memory devices, and methods for reading are disclosed. One such method for programming a memory device (e.g., an SLC memory device) includes encoding a two level data stream to a three level stream prior to programming the memory. |
| US08780658B2 |
Leakage reduction in memory devices
A memory device includes a core array that includes memory cells. The memory device also includes a headswitch coupled to the core array and a positive supply voltage. The headswitch reduces leakage current from the core array by disconnecting the core array from the positive supply voltage. Additionally, head switches are added for pre-charge devices to further reduce leakage current. |
| US08780655B1 |
Method and apparatus for aligning a clock signal and a data strobe signal in a memory system
A method of aligning a clock signal and a data strobe signal in a system comprising a memory controller and a memory, and a corresponding memory system are provided. The method comprising the steps of: putting the memory into a write levelling mode; incrementing an alignment delay applied to the data strobe signal until a transition point occurs at which a response of the memory to issuance of the data strobe signal transitions to an inverse state; performing an oversampling of the response of the memory over a selected interval following said transition point; repeating the steps of incrementing and performing an oversampling until, for a selected alignment delay, a majority of results of the oversampling is in the inverse state; performing a cycle alignment detection procedure to determine an identified clock cycle of a plurality of adjacent cycles of the clock signal, the identified clock cycle responsible for the transition point; and applying the selected alignment delay to the data strobe signal and applying a clock cycle selection to a data path in the system to match the identified clock cycle. |
| US08780649B2 |
Buffer and control circuit for synchronous memory controller
A buffer and control circuit for a synchronous memory controller includes first and second differential comparators and control logic. The first differential comparator is provided with positive and negative differential input signals and the second differential comparator is provided with offset positive and negative differential input signals. The first and second differential comparators generate output signals based on magnitudes of the positive and negative differential input signals and the offset positive and negative differential input signals. The control logic generates a reference strobe signal based on the output signals. |
| US08780648B2 |
Latch based memory device
A method of testing a latch based memory device is disclosed. The latch based memory device includes a number of latches, electrical connections and a circuit environment of the latches. A storage functionality of the latches can be tested during a first test phase while a functionality of the electrical connections and the circuit environment of the latches can be tested during a second test phase. |
| US08780643B2 |
Memory system and control method therefor
A memory system includes a plurality of memory devices having data terminals that are commonly connected to a memory controller. Each of the memory devices includes a data output circuit that outputs read data that is read from a memory cell array in response to a read command to the data terminal, and an output-timing adjustment circuit that adjusts an output timing of read data that is output from the data output circuit. The memory controller sets an adjustment amount of adjustment performed by an output-timing adjustment circuit such that delay times from when the read command is issued until when the read data is received match in the memory devices, by issuing a setting command to each of the memory devices. |
| US08780637B2 |
Updating reference voltages to compensate for changes in threshold voltage distributions of nonvolatile memory cells
A system including a reference voltage module configured to generate one or more reference voltages for determining states of a plurality of memory cells of a nonvolatile memory, where the plurality of memory cells have a threshold voltage distribution. A divider module divides, in response to a change in the threshold voltage distribution, a voltage range into a plurality of regions. An update module updates, to compensate for the change in the threshold voltage distribution, one of the reference voltages to a voltage value associated with one of the plurality of regions. |
| US08780631B2 |
Memory devices having data lines included in top and bottom conductive lines
Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a first set of conductive lines, a second set of conductive lines, and memory cells located in different levels of the apparatuses and arranged in memory cell strings. At least a portion of the first set of conductive lines is configured as a first set of data lines. At least a portion of the second set of conductive lines is configured as a second set of data lines. Each of the memory strings is coupled to a respective conductive line in the first set of conductive lines and a respective conductive line in the second set of conductive lines. Other embodiments including additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US08780630B2 |
Operating method of semiconductor device
An operating method of a semiconductor device that includes a plurality of memory cell blocks, comprising selecting one of the memory cell blocks in response to a program command, performing a pre-program operation and a pre-erase operation so that threshold voltages of memory cells included in the selected memory cell block are distributed between a first positive voltage and a first negative voltage, supplying a program permission voltage to a first group of bit lines and supplying a program inhibition voltage to a second group of bit lines, wherein the first group and the second group are mutually exclusive, and supplying a positive program voltage to a selected word line coupled to memory cells. |
| US08780627B1 |
Non-volatile memory devices having uniform error distributions among pages
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to non-volatile memory. A described system, for example, includes a non-volatile memory structure containing a group of memory cells that are programmable based on a group of programming voltages, each of the memory cells being configured to represent two or more bits by a charge level, the two or more bits corresponding to two or more bit positions. The described system includes circuitry configured to monitor read-back data from the non-volatile memory structure, determine estimated mean and standard deviation values of level distributions of the memory cells based on the read-back data, and adjust one or more of the programming voltages based on the estimated mean and standard deviations of the level distribution such that differences among bit error rates of the bit positions are reduced. |
| US08780623B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and control method thereof
A semiconductor memory device substantially prevents a faulty operation from being generated in a read operation, and increases the operation reliability. The semiconductor memory device includes a cell array configured to include a memory element having a different resistance value in response to data, a sense-amp configured to sense and amplify the data, a global bit line configured to couple the sense-amp to a cell array, and a discharge unit configured to discharge the global bit line prior to execution of a read operation. |
| US08780620B2 |
Information representation and coding for nonvolatile memories
A memory device having a plurality of cells, each of which stores a value, where the values of the cells are mapped to discrete levels and the discrete levels represent data, is programmed by determining a maximum number of cell levels in the memory device, and determining the set of values that are associated with each of the cell levels. The maximum number of cell levels for the memory device is determined by an adaptive programming system connected to the memory device, based on a plurality of cell values attained by at least one cell of the memory device, in response to voltage applied by the adaptive programming system to the cells of the memory device. The adaptive programming system associates, for each of the cell levels, a different set of cell values of the plurality of cell values attained by the cells to which voltage is applied. This technique increases the number of cell levels that can be configured in a memory device as compared with conventional techniques, and increases the number of data values that can be programmed into the cells of a memory device. |
| US08780619B2 |
Magnetic memory element with multi-domain storage layer
An apparatus and method for storing data in a semiconductor memory. In accordance with some embodiments, the semiconductor memory has a continuous storage layer of soft ferromagnetic material having opposing top and bottom surfaces with overall length and width dimensions and an overall thickness dimension between the opposing top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of spaced apart, discrete reference layers are adjacent a selected one of the opposing top or bottom surfaces of the continuous storage layer with each having a fixed magnetic orientation. A plurality of spaced apart, discrete barrier layers are disposed in contacting relation between the discrete reference layers and the continuous storage layer. |
| US08780616B2 |
Magnetic memory system and methods in various modes of operation
A magnetic memory system includes a superconductor circuit and one or more magnetic memory elements to store data. To write data, a driver circuit in the superconductor circuit generates a magnetic signal for transmission over a superconductor link extending between the superconductor circuit and the magnetic memory element. To read data, a sensing circuit in the superconductor circuit monitors a superconductor link extending from sensing circuit to the magnetic memory element. The magnetic memory element can be a spin-transfer type magnetic memory element. |
| US08780611B2 |
Determining cell-state in phase-change memory
A method, an apparatus, and a device for determining the state of a phase-change memory cell. The method includes the steps of: biasing a cell with a time-varying read voltage (Vread); making a measurement (TM) that satisfies a predetermined condition where the predetermined condition depends on a cell current when the read voltage is applied; and determining a state of the cell based on the measurement. |
| US08780608B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for reading and/or programming data in memory arrays having varying available storage ranges
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed, including methods for reading data from and programming data to an array of memory cells having varying available storage ranges. One such method involves determining a position of a determined value of a parameter within an available storage range of a selected memory cell of an array of memory cells. |
| US08780606B2 |
Memristive device having a porous dopant diffusion element
A memristive device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a memristive matrix interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a porous dopant diffusion element in physical contact with the memristive matrix and in proximity to the first electrode and the second electrode; and a first mobile dopant species which moves through the porous dopant diffusion element in response to a programming electrical field. A method for using a memristive device having a porous dopant diffusion element includes applying a voltage bias to generate a programming electrical field such that dopants move through the porous dopant diffusion element, thereby changing the distribution of dopants within a memristive matrix to form a first state; removing the voltage bias, the dopants being substantially immobile in the absence of the programming electrical field; and applying a reading energy to the memristive device to sense the first state. |
| US08780604B2 |
State sensing system for eFuse memory
An eFuse circuit may include a wordline, a first eFuse, a first logic gate, a first blowFET, and a first bitline discharge device. The first eFuse may have a first end coupled to the wordline and a second end. The first eFuse may have a first resistance when unblown and a second resistance when blown. The first logic gate may be coupled to the first end of the first eFuse. The first logic gate may be capable of driving enough current to blow the first eFuse. The first blowFET may have a source coupled to a first supply voltage, a gate coupled to a program signal, and a drain coupled to the second end of the first eFuse. The first bitline discharge device may have a gate coupled to the second end of the first eFuse, a source coupled to the first supply voltage, and a drain coupled to a first bitline. |
| US08780603B2 |
Semiconductor device including electrical fuse
A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of repair fuse circuits configured to each program a repair target address; and an enable signal generation circuit configured to generate at least one enable signal in response to a source signal and provide the enable signal to each of the repair fuse circuits in common. Since the semiconductor device may iteratively generate a rupture enable signal through a feedback scheme, the area occupied by a circuit, such as a shift register or a D flip-flop may be saved. |
| US08780597B2 |
AC-to-DC conversion apparatus and related control manner thereof
An AC-to-DC conversion apparatus is provided, and which includes a first switch-element, an output capacitor and a bridgeless power-factor-correction (PFC) circuit. The bridgeless PFC circuit is coupled to an AC input, and includes a first inductor, a second inductor and a bridge circuit constructed by second to fifth switch-elements. The first switch-element is connected between bridgeless PFC circuit and the output capacitor. Under such circuit configuration and suitable control manner, the common-mode interference in the provided AC-to-DC conversion apparatus is lowered and thus reducing the power loss. |
| US08780596B2 |
Voltage adjusting circuit, contactless card and contactless card system having the same, and methods of operating the voltage adjusting circuit and the contactless card
A voltage adjusting circuit is provided includes an inducing circuit configured to induce a voltage from electromagnetic waves, a first rectifying circuit configured to rectify an output voltage of the inducing circuit, a control circuit configured to control an output voltage of the first rectifying circuit in response to the output voltage of the first rectifying circuit, and a second rectifying circuit configured to simultaneously rectify and regulate the output voltage of the inducing circuit in response to the output voltage of the first rectifying circuit. |
| US08780590B2 |
Output current estimation for an isolated flyback converter with variable switching frequency control and duty cycle adjustment for both PWM and PFM modes
A fly-back power converter has a current-estimating control loop that senses the primary output current in a transformer to control the secondary output. A primary-side control circuit switches primary current through the transformer on and off. A discharge time when a secondary current through an auxiliary winding of the transformer is flowing is generated by sampling a voltage divider on an auxiliary loop for a knee-point. A normalized duty cycle is calculated by multiplying the discharge time by a current that is proportional to the switching frequency and comparing to a sawtooth signal having the switching frequency. The peak of a primary-side voltage is sensed from the primary current loop and converted to a current and multiplied by the normalized duty cycle to generate an estimated current. An error amp compares the estimated current to a reference to adjust the oscillator frequency and peak current to control primary switching. |
| US08780589B2 |
Power system with shared clamp reset
An example power supply includes a first power converter, a second power converter, and a shared clamp reset circuit. The first power converter is adapted to convert an input to a first voltage output and includes a first diode and a first transformer having a first primary winding. The second power converter is adapted to convert the input to a second voltage output and includes a second diode and a second transformer having a second primary winding. The shared clamp reset circuit is included in the first power converter and is coupled to the cathode of the first diode. The shared clamp reset circuit also includes a clamp connection that is coupled to the cathode of the second diode. The shared clamp reset circuit is adapted to manage leakage inductance energy within the first transformer and within the second transformer. |
| US08780586B2 |
Devices and methods for converting alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power
Methods, circuit designs, systems, and devices for the conversion of high voltage alternating current (AC) to low voltage, high current direct current (DC) are described. An exemplary apparatus includes a rectifier for receiving a high voltage AC line power input and for outputting a full wave, high voltage DC, a gating component coupled to the rectifier for receiving the high voltage DC output by the rectifier, wherein the gating component is configured to gate the high voltage DC by turning on at a zero crossing level and turning off when the high voltage DC exceeds a preset voltage threshold and wherein the output of the gating component is an intermediate voltage DC capped by the preset voltage threshold, and a DC-DC converter coupled to the gating component for receiving the intermediate voltage DC output by the gating component, wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to step down and smooth out the intermediate voltage DC to a desired high current, low voltage DC output. |
| US08780579B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display having a display panel comprising a first substrate and a second substrate disposed facing the first substrate, the first substrate comprising a display area and a pad area, a buffer member disposed on one surface of the first substrate, the buffering member having a buffer layer and an adhesive layer formed on at least one surface of the buffer layer, and a bezel or a case accommodating the display panel and buffer member. |
| US08780578B2 |
Integrated circuit die stacks having initially identical dies personalized with switches
Integrated circuit die stacks having a first die mounted upon a substrate, the first die manufactured to be initially identical to a second die with a plurality of through silicon vias (‘TSVs’), the first die personalized by opening switches on the first die, converting the TSVs previously connected through the open switches into pass-through vias (‘PTVs’), each PTV implementing a conductive pathway through the first die with no connection to any circuitry on the first die; and the second die, manufactured to be initially identical to the first die and later personalized by opening switches on the second die, the second die mounted upon the first die so that the PTVs in the first die connect signal lines from the substrate through the first die to TSVs in the second die. |
| US08780575B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes a board body having a routing-limited area. The routing-limited area is provided with at least one solder pad that is adapted for supporting a metal support thereon. Preferably, the printed circuit board further includes a protrusion block disposed on the solder pad, and having a height greater than that of a signal trace that passes the routing-limited area. |
| US08780571B2 |
Interposer lead
An interposer lead provides a connection between an integrated circuit and a circuit board. The interposer lead includes a first leg for interfacing with the circuit board. The interposer lead also includes a second leg disposed generally parallel to the first leg for interfacing with an IC electrical lead extending from the integrated circuit. A connecting portion operatively connects the first leg and the second leg. The interposer lead further includes a lip extending non-parallel from the second leg for limiting movement of the IC electrical lead on the second leg. |
| US08780562B2 |
Heat dissipater having heat conductive rib with interval forming as flow guide hole and applied in electric luminous body
The present invention relates that a part of the outer bottom is combined with an intermediate heat conductor (102) the flow guide holes (300) are not totally shielded after combined, the interior of the heat dissipater (100) is installed with the heat conductive rib structure (310) for being combined with the inner periphery of the heat dissipater (100), the intermediate heat conductor is installed with the electric luminous body (200) and formed as the heat source, so the heat can be conducted to the surface of the heat conductive rib structure (310) and the heat dissipater (101), and with the fluid effect of hot ascent/cold descent, the airflow is enabled to upwardly flow from one side of the electric luminous body (200) through the flow guide holes (300) then flow out from the other side thereof. |
| US08780560B2 |
Loop heat pipe, and electronic apparatus including loop heat pipe
There is provided a loop heat pipe which includes an evaporator that internally includes at least one wick built, a condenser, a liquid pipe and a vapor pipe that connect the evaporator and the condenser to each other, and a heat dispersion cavity that is formed inside the evaporator, and disperses a vapor, wherein the wick includes, a first wick that is porous, a second wick that is porous, the second wick being inserted into the first wick from the liquid pipe side and including a pore size larger than the first wick, and a vapor channel that is defined between the first wick and the second wick. The vapor channel is connected at an end on the liquid pipe side to the heat dispersion cavity. |
| US08780558B2 |
Porous thermoplastic foams as heat transfer materials
Interconnected, open-celled porous or microporous polymeric foams are used for the preparation of heat transfer devices. The use of such porous polymeric foams can generate a turbulent flow within a heat exchanging liquid, thus enabling increased heat transfer to and from the fluid. The present disclosure provides devices having a heat transfer element containing a heat exchange region wherein a heat exchange fluid can be circulated through a porous polymeric foam; and method for making and using such devices. |
| US08780556B1 |
Fluid actuated cooling card retainer
A retaining device for a printed circuit board includes an expandable bladder. The bladder is responsive to a source of pressurized fluid for selectively clamping a printed circuit board within a slot of an associated cooling and/or storage chassis. A method for retaining a circuit card within a chassis includes pressurizing a volume of fluid, and filling an expandable bladder with the pressurized fluid; wherein filling of the bladder causes its expansion and clamps a circuit card within the chassis. |
| US08780555B2 |
Data center cooling
A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure. |
| US08780550B2 |
Dampening acoustic vibrations within an electronic system
An electronic system includes a component that heats up during operation and an acoustic dampening air moving assembly. The acoustic dampening air moving assembly includes air moving blades, a motor, a support structure and a housing. The motor is attached to the air moving blades to rotate the air moving blades. The support structure supports the motor and the air moving blades within the housing. The housing and the support structure at least partially include a material selected for its acoustic dampening characteristics. The acoustic dampening air moving assembly moves air to the component to cool the component. The selected material dampens acoustic vibrations within the electronic system. |
| US08780547B2 |
Projector
A projector includes a connecting unit which connects with and places a media player thereon. The connecting unit includes a connecting section which connects with and places the media player thereon in a manner that enables insertion and removal, a moving section which rotatably holds the connecting section and moves in a manner that enables sending-out of and sending-into a body of the projector, and a driving mechanism section (slide mechanism section) which drives the moving section in a manner that enables the sending-out and sending-in. |
| US08780539B2 |
Computer housing
A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a structural support layer and a body. The body includes at least an outer layer formed of lightweight flexible material and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer is connected to the support layer forming a load path between the inner layer and the structural support layer. A load applied to the multipart computer housing is transferred by way of the load path to the support layer without substantially affecting the outer layer. |
| US08780537B2 |
Integrated connection system for an electronic device
An electronic device includes a frame having a frame member with a frame connector. The frame defines a component cavity. The electronic device also includes a user interface coupled to the frame that is visible external of the frame, with the user interlace displaying data to an operator. A user input is coupled to the frame member and includes a terminal electrically coupled to the frame connector. A circuit board is received in the component cavity and is operably coupled to the user interface. The circuit board is electrically connected to the frame connector at a separable interface. The user input can pick up a signal from anywhere on the electronic device based on an action of touching, handling or placing and process that signal to cause a predetermined effect. The signal from the user input is transferred to the user interface via the frame connector and the circuit board. |
| US08780534B2 |
Swing out mount
An electrical enclosure includes a housing, a moveable bracket, an electrical device, a lever, and a drive assembly. The housing has a door attached to a body. The moveable bracket couples the electrical device to the body. The lever is positioned outside of the housing and is configured to switch between OFF and ON lever positions. The drive assembly at least partially protrudes through an aperture of the body and is attached to the lever. The drive assembly includes a drive cog that directly moves the handle of the circuit breaker between OFF and ON handle positions when the electrical device is in an operational position and the lever is switched from the OFF to the ON lever position. |
| US08780532B2 |
Condenser element, solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided a solid electrolytic capacitor, including: a condenser element including a chip body molded by sintering, a positive electrode terminal contact layer formed on one area of the chip body to be exposed to the outside, an insulating layer formed in the entire area or some area other than one area in which the positive electrode terminal contact layer is formed, and a negative electrode layer stacked on the insulating layer; a negative electrode extracting layer stacked to be electrically connected with the negative electrode layer; a negative electrode terminal stacked on the negative electrode extracting layer; a positive electrode terminal stacked on the positive electrode terminal contact layer. |
| US08780531B2 |
Mechanically robust solid electrolytic capacitor assembly
An integrated capacitor assembly that contains at least two solid electrolytic capacitor elements electrically connected to common anode and cathode terminations is provided. The capacitor elements contain an anode, a dielectric coating overlying the anode that is formed by anodic oxidation, and a conductive polymer solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric layer. The capacitor elements are spaced apart from each other a certain distance such that a resinous material can fill the space between the elements. In this manner, the present inventors believe that the resinous material can limit the expansion of the conductive polymer layer to such an extent that it does not substantially delaminate from the capacitor element. In addition to possessing mechanical stability, the capacitor assembly also possesses a combination of good electrical properties, such as low ESR, high capacitance, and a high dielectric breakdown voltage. |
| US08780525B2 |
Capacitor
This capacitor has: a single capacitor block provided with a plurality of capacitor elements electrically connected in parallel, each of said capacitor elements having a terminal part on each end; a first electrode plate that electrically connects the first terminal parts of the capacitor elements; a second electrode plate that electrically connects the second terminal parts of the capacitor elements and continues on to the side where the first terminal parts are; and at least one bypass electrode plate that electrically bypasses the second electrode plate. |
| US08780523B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component
There is provided a high voltage and high capacitance multilayer ceramic electronic component having enhanced reliability, including: a ceramic body; a first layer including conductive patterns; and a second layer including a floating pattern, wherein the sum of the number of the first and second layers is 100 or more, the ceramic body has first and second external electrodes formed on outer surfaces thereof, and a ratio of a length of the floating pattern to a length of the ceramic body is 0.7 to 0.9, and a ratio of a length of the overlapped portion to the length of the floating pattern is 0.5 to 0.95, in a cross section taken in a length direction in which the first and second external electrodes are connected to and extended from the ceramic body and a stacking direction of the first and second layers. |
| US08780521B2 |
Metal oxide varistor with built-in alloy-type thermal fuse
An electronic protection component incorporates both a varistor and an alloy-type thermal fuse. In one embodiment, a melting promoting agent or flux contacts and surrounds both the varistor and the fuse in common in a shared cavity of a case. In another embodiment, the fuse and the flux are disposed in an inner case, which is disposed in contact with the varistor in an outer case. Thus, the varistor and the thermal fuse are incorporated so that the speed of heat transfer is fast, the response time is fast, and the installation for use is convenient. |
| US08780514B2 |
Data cable and electronic device using same
A data cable between two electronic devices includes a first interface comprising a first metal shell and a ground end; and a second interface connected to another electronic device comprising a second metal shell, a ground end and an identification end. The data cable includes a detection circuit detecting voltage difference between the first metal shell and the ground end, and the detection circuit comprises an output end connected to the identification end of the second interface. An electronic device using the data cable detects any current leakage in an external electronic device. When the host has current leakage, the electronic device cuts power from the host and prevents data exchange, preventing damage or loss. |
| US08780509B2 |
Circuit protection device and protection method
A circuit protection device is applied to a power supply module. The circuit protection device includes a judgment module and a control module. The judgment module includes a comparing unit, a feedback unit and a reset unit. The comparing unit has an output terminal, a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The feedback unit is electrically connected to the output terminal and the first input terminal. The reset unit is electrically connected to the feedback unit and the first input terminal. The control module is electrically connected to the comparing unit and the reset unit of the judgment module. The comparing unit receives a first reference signal representing the output current of the power supply module and a second reference signal representing the output voltage of the power supply module, and outputs a judgment signal to the control module. |
| US08780508B2 |
Magnetic element with biased side shield lamination
A magnetic element is generally provided that can be implemented as a transducing head. Various embodiments may configure a magnetic stack having a magnetically free layer with a predetermined magnetization. A side shield lamination can be separated from the magnetic stack on an air hearing surface (ABS) and biased to a bias magnetization that opposes the predetermined magnetization. |
| US08780506B1 |
Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor with side shields and an antiparallel structure top shield
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor has both side shields and an antiparallel structure (APS) top shield. The APS top shield is an antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled top shield that includes an antiparallel (AP) coupled structure and an antiferromagnetic (AF) layer which permits the use of the desired NiFex (x is between 15 and 25 atomic percent) material for the side shields. The APS top shield includes lower and upper ferromagnetic layers with respective antiparallel magnetizations. The antiparallel coupling structure between the two ferromagnetic layers consists of the antiparallel coupling (APC) film, which is typically Ru, Ir or Cr, and one and only one interface film of Co or CoFe. The APS top shield with one and only one Co or CoFe interface film enables the material of the side shields to be formed of the preferred NiFex (x is between 15 and 25 atomic percent) material without over-stabilization of the free layer. |
| US08780503B2 |
Multi-layer piezoelectric transducer with inactive layers
Apparatus for positioning a control object, such as a microactuator used to position a read/write transducer adjacent a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) element is adapted to induce rotational displacement of the control object in a bending mode of operation. The PZT element has a plurality of piezoelectric material layers and a plurality of electrically conductive layers interposed between the piezoelectric material layers. The piezoelectric material layers include a first subset of active layers and at least one non-active layer. |
| US08780502B2 |
Voice coil motor with magnet having protrusion
A voice coil motor for a disk drive unit includes an external magnet and an actuator coil movably located above the external magnet. The external magnet has a main body with a magnetic north pole, a magnetic south pole and a transition surface therebetween, and further has a protrusion extending from the center part of the main body for increasing torque force, thereby improving the performance of the voice coil motor. The invention also discloses a disk drive unit including the same. |
| US08780500B2 |
Microwave-assisted magnetic recording head, method of manufacturing the same, magnetic head assembly using the same, and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head manufacturing method includes forming a spin torque oscillator layer on a main magnetic pole layer, forming a mask on the spin torque oscillator layer, processing the spin torque oscillator layer by performing ion beam etching through the mask, and partially modifying the main magnetic pole layer through the mask. The partially modifying the main magnetic pole layer makes it possible to decrease the saturation flux density of the main magnetic pole layer in the modified portion, and form an unmodified main magnetic pole portion covered with the mask, and a modified portion around the main magnetic pole. |
| US08780499B2 |
Magnetic write head having a residual shield seed layer for reducing overwriting
A magnetic write head having a write pole and a trailing, wrap-around magnetic shield formed over the write pole and separated from the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer and non-magnetic side gap layers. The write head includes a remnant magnetic seed layer, that while being used to facilitate electroplating of the magnetic shield, is left intentionally extending beyond the back edge of the magnetic shield. This extended portion of the magnetic seed layer acts as a shunt for magnetic flux and prevents data erasure due to over-writing. |
| US08780496B2 |
Device such as magnetic head having hardened dielectric portions
A device according to one embodiment includes a substrate; and a plurality of thin films above the substrate, the thin films having at least one dielectric layer; wherein the at least one dielectric layer has a more crystalline structure towards a first end thereof than towards an end thereof opposite the first end. A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; and a plurality of thin films above the substrate, the thin films having at least one transducer formed therein and at least one dielectric layer; wherein the at least one dielectric layer has a more crystalline structure towards a media facing end thereof than towards an end thereof opposite the media facing end. |
| US08780495B2 |
Base for motor and hard disk drive including the same
There is provided a base for a motor, the base including: a base body formed of a steel plate through a pressing process; and an outer wall part defining an exterior of the base body, in which the outer wall part has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the steel plate in order to increase a contact area with a sealing part. |
| US08780493B1 |
Spindle motor and recording disk driving device including the same
There is provided a spindle motor including a base member including an installation part having a stator core installed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a lower thrust member insertedly installed in the installation part, a shaft having a lower end portion fixed to the lower thrust member and an upper end portion having a flange part formed thereon, a rotating member including a sleeve forming a bearing clearance with the shaft and the lower thrust member, and a rotor hub extended from the sleeve, and a magnet installation guiding member installed on an inner surface of the rotor hub and guiding an installation position of a driving magnet such that centers of the stator core and the driving magnet coincide with each other in an axial direction, wherein the magnet installation guiding member seals one side of a clamping hole formed in the rotor hub. |
| US08780490B2 |
Tape cleaner blade apparatus
A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified. |
| US08780489B1 |
Disk drive estimating microactuator gain by injecting a sinusoid into a closed loop servo system
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head, a disk surface, and a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) servo loop comprising a VCM and a microactuator servo loop comprising a microactuator operable to actuate the head over the disk surface. A microactuator compensator processes a position error signal (PES) to generate a first control signal, and a disturbance sinusoid is injected into the first control signal to generate a second control signal, wherein the microactuator is controlled in response to the second control signal. Feed-forward compensation is generated corresponding to the injected disturbance sinusoid, and a third control signal is generated in response to the PES and the feed-forward compensation, wherein the VCM is controlled in response to the third control signal. A gain of the microactuator is estimated in response to the feed-forward compensation. |
| US08780488B2 |
Servo information recording method and magnetic storage apparatus
A servo information recording method continuously records servo information in a radial direction of a magnetic disk on a plurality of concentric tracks or on a single spiral track of a first recording layer that forms a magnetic layer of the magnetic disk together with a second recording layer to which data are recorded and from which data are reproduced, wherein the first recording layer has a coercivity higher than that of the second recording layer, and partially overlaps two mutually adjacent tracks when continuously recording the servo information on an entire surface of the first recording layer. |
| US08780480B2 |
Presentation of shingled magnetic recording device to a host device resource manager
A shingled magnetic recording hard drive is presented to a resource manager of a host device as an emulated device such as one or more optical media, an array of sequential access media, and/or write-once, read-many device. Data targeted for the emulated device is written to the shingled magnetic recording hard drive. |
| US08780472B2 |
Information reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method for cancelling interference between adjacent tracks
According to one embodiment, an information reproducing apparatus is configured to obtain, from a read sample value sequence obtained by sampling a read signal read from a first recording track of a magnetic recording medium, an interference-component-removed read sample value sequence, from which an interference component from a second recording track adjacent to the first recording track is removed. The apparatus includes a decoding module. The decoding module is configured to generate a first interference-component-removed read sample value sequence based on a cancellation weight column which varies according to a difference in polarity between a first bit of the first recording track and a second bit of the second recording track adjacent to the first bit. |
| US08780471B2 |
Linking errors to particular tapes or particular tape drives
Techniques to determine particular bad tapes or tape drives. All tape and tape drive combinations within a system may be obtained. A read error or a write error that occurs with each tape and tape drive combination may be detected, and the read error, the write error, or a parameter may be analyzed to determine the particular tape or the particular tape drive that is bad. |
| US08780467B2 |
Lens assembly
A lens assembly is provided. The lens assembly comprises a lens and a bearing seat. The bearing seat has a bearing surface for bearing the lens, while the bearing surface is adapted to adhere to the lens so that the lens is fixed on the bearing seat. |
| US08780466B2 |
Optical image capturing system
An optical image capturing system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element and each of the first through fifth lens elements is single and non-cemented. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface. The second lens element has refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, and the surfaces of the fourth lens element are aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface, and the surfaces of the fifth lens element are aspheric. The fifth lens element has at least one inflection point formed on the image-side surface thereof. |
| US08780464B2 |
Optical image capturing lenses
An optical image capturing lenses includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front lens group, a stop, and a rear lens group. The front lens group includes, in order from the object side to the image side, at least a first lens element and a second lens element. The first lens element has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface. The rear lens group includes, in order from the object side to the image side, at least a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element. The sixth lens element is made of plastic material. The object-side surface and the image-side surface of the sixth lens are aspheric. The sixth lens element has at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof. |
| US08780457B2 |
Optical photographing system
An optical photographing system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex at a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave at a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has an image-side surface being convex at a paraxial region thereof, and the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface changing from concave at a paraxial region thereof to convex at a peripheral region thereof, and the surfaces thereof are aspheric. |
| US08780447B2 |
Virtual image display device and method of manufacturing the same
In a virtual image display device, a mirror layer has a thickness of 50 nm or more to perform non-transparent reflection in a second ridge line vicinity area on a third reflection face side in a ridge line portion extending between the third reflection face and a second reflection face. Accordingly, reflectance of image light can be prevented from being decreased by the second ridge line vicinity area (that is, a peripheral portion on a light guide unit in the third reflection face), and thus stripe-shaped brightness unevenness extending in a longitudinal direction can be prevented from occurring on the viewed image. That is, in the image display device, it is possible to secure sufficient reflection even in the peripheral portion close to a boundary with the second reflection face with respect to the third reflection face, and also to display a bright image with little brightness unevenness. |
| US08780444B2 |
Screen and projection system
A screen in which observation distance may be adjusted while maintaining image brightness and a projection system using the screen. In a light control layer of a screen, a first angle region that determines a diffusion distribution of a reflected light is different according to the screen position in a control direction in which light diffusion control is performed. Accordingly, a diffusion distribution of image light emitted from a screen surface is adjusted to be tilted downward by an upper end and upward by a lower end according to the screen position. Thus, for example, a size of a diffused angle range is maintained to be 30°, and a direction in which the image light is diffusion-emitted corresponds to an assumed position of an observer. The projection image can be observed while maintaining brightness of an image and the observation distance L can be adjusted to be short. |
| US08780443B2 |
Method and arrangement for controlled actuation of a microscope, in particular of a laser scanning microscope
Method for actuation control of a microscope, in particular of a Laser Scanning Microscope, in which, at least one first illumination light, preferably moving at least in one direction, as well as at least one second illumination light moving at least in one direction, illuminate a sample through a beam combiner, a detection of the light coming from the sample takes place, whereby, at least one part of the illumination light is generated through the splitting of the light from a common illuminating unit, characterized in that, by means of a common control unit, a controlled splitting into the first and the second illumination light takes place, in which the intensity of the first illuminating light, specified by the user or specified automatically, is assigned a higher priority (is prioritized) compared to the specified value for the second illumination light, and an adjustment for the second illumination light takes place until a maximum value is obtained, which is determined by the value specified for the first illumination light. |
| US08780442B2 |
Optical interfering apparatus
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an optical system with multiple detectors and a processor. The optical system is configured to produce images of an optical source in a first dimension and a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension at each detector at a given time. Each image from the images is based on an interference of an emission from the optical source in a first direction and an emission from the optical source in a second direction different from the first direction. The processor is configured to calculate a position in a third dimension based on the images. The third dimension is substantially orthogonal to the first dimension and the second dimension. |
| US08780438B2 |
Wavelength conversion element including phosphor particles, and LED element and semiconductor laser light emitting device using wavelength conversion element
A wavelength conversion element includes: a plurality of phosphor particles; a first matrix located among a part of the plurality of phosphor particles and formed of zinc oxide in a c-axis orientation; and a second matrix located among a remaining part of the plurality of phosphor particles and formed of a material having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the zinc oxide. |
| US08780430B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a light blocking layer and the second substrate includes a shutter part. The shutter part includes first, second, third, and fourth operators and a shutter. The first, second, third, and fourth operators are operated independently from each other in response to first, second, third, and fourth voltages, respectively. The shutter is connected to the first to fourth operators to be rotationally moved. Thus, the display apparatus display may display various gray scales. |
| US08780429B2 |
Galvanoscanner and laser processing machine
A galvanoscanner including: a rotor including a shaft as a rotational center, and permanent magnets disposed around the shaft and polarized to a plurality of poles in a circumferential direction of the shaft; and a stator disposed in the outside of the rotor through a clearance and including coils, a yoke, and an outer casing so that the rotor swings in a predetermined angle range; wherein: the permanent magnets are provided with grooves which are formed in a direction of the rotation shaft so as to straddle circumferentially adjacent magnetic poles of the permanent magnets; and the permanent magnets are parted into at least two parts per pole by parting lines. Thus, the ratio of the torque constant to the moment of inertia can be improved so that the current required for driving can be reduced and reduction of power consumption at driving time can be attained. |
| US08780425B2 |
Holographic storage system with improved beam overlap
An apparatus and a method for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media using a coaxial arrangement of an object beam and one or more reference beams or a coaxial arrangement of a reconstructed object beam and one or more reference beams is proposed. A focus of the one or more reference beams within a holographic storage medium is shifted along the optical axis relative to a focus of the object beam or the reconstructed object beam. |
| US08780422B2 |
Shared motor driver for inkjet printers
A scanning apparatus includes a transparent platen; a scan assembly; a first motor for moving the scan assembly across the transparent platen; an automatic document feeder; a second motor for feeding documents through the automatic document feeder; a first bi-directional switch element for driving the first motor; a second bi-directional switch element for driving the second motor; and a motor driver for selectively controlling the first bi-directional switch element or the second bi-directional switch element. |
| US08780421B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface of an original guide plate of an image reading apparatus, and similarly, a transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface at an edge portion of a reading guide plate, thereby preventing an original from being chipped by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces and illumination light from being diffused by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces. |
| US08780416B2 |
Light irradiator, image scanner, and image forming apparatus
A light irradiator including multiple point light sources arranged in a straight line, a light-transmissive light guiding member provided in front of the point light sources in an emission direction of beams of light emitted from the point light sources, the light guiding member guiding the beams of light in a predetermined direction toward a surface to be irradiated; and two or more protrusions protruding toward the point light sources, provided on a light entering surface of the light guiding member and arranged in the same direction as the point light sources. The light guiding member and the point light sources are positioned such that a distance between the protrusions provided to the light guiding member and irradiation surfaces of the point light sources is equal at two positions. |
| US08780415B2 |
Image reading apparatus provided with image sensor contained in slidable carriage
An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass setting a manuscript thereon; an image sensor extending in a first direction and having a reading surface which faces the contact glass for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass; a rail member extending inside the apparatus main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage having a sensor container to contain the image sensor, a taper end portion formed in an end portion in the first direction to become smaller in height toward the end side, and an opening formed in the bottom of the sensor container on the taper end portion side; a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor in the second direction; and a biasing member biasing the image sensor toward the contact glass via the biased portion. |
| US08780414B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable medium for image data compression
An image processing apparatus comprises: a division unit which divides the input image data into blocks each including a predetermined number of pixels; a determination unit which determines whether the number of colors that is the number of types of colors of the pixels included in the block is not less than a predetermined number; a pseudo halftone processing unit which performs pseudo halftone processing of image data for the block if the number of colors in the block is not less than the predetermined number; an acquisition unit which acquires a color arrangement and color information in each of the block, in which the determination unit determines that the number of colors is less than the predetermined number, and the block having undergone the pseudo halftone processing; and a storage unit which stores the color arrangement and the color information, acquired, for each block. |
| US08780413B1 |
Error propagation during error diffusion halftoning
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising processing a first pixel of a continuous tone image to generate a first error, the first error representative of a difference between an input level and an output level associated with the first pixel; and in response to processing the first pixel, assigning a random error to a second pixel that is neighboring the first pixel, wherein the assigned random error is independent of the first error. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08780410B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit and a control unit. The control unit analyzes and rasterizes print data; generates raster data represented by a first color value in a first color space, color space information indicating the first color space, and specific color information indicating that the first color value is a specific color value; stores the raster data in association with the color space information and the specific color information; determines whether the specific color information exists; converts the first color value into a second color value in a second color space of an output device if the specific color information does not exist; replaces the specific color value with a predetermined color value in the second color space if the specific color information exists; and generates image data to be outputted by the output device. |
| US08780407B2 |
Control apparatus, image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and recording medium for efficient rereading
An image processing apparatus is connected to an image reading apparatus which reads a read area set on a scanner platen in accordance with a size of a document placed on the scanner platen so as to create image data in which an image of the document is shown. The image processing apparatus includes a document detection section and an instruction section. The document detection section creates, based on the image data supplied from the image reading apparatus, document area information indicative of an area where the document is placed on the scanner platen. In a case where the area indicated by the document area information is not completely encompassed by the read area, the instruction section sets a reread area which completely encompasses the area indicated by the document area information and causes the image reading apparatus to read the reread area. In a case where a document which is not completely encompassed by the read area is read, a user can carry out a rereading process more easily than a conventional art. |
| US08780404B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling same, and storage medium on which computer program has been recorded
An information processing apparatus includes a print appearance acquisition unit configured to acquire print appearance information including information for integration printing; a group generation unit configured to generate one or a plurality of groups by grouping the plurality of objects; a page number calculation unit configured to calculate the number of pages targeted for reduction for reducing the print sheets without producing any blank page area on the print sheets, when the integration printing is performed, on the basis of the number of pages of the plurality of pages to be assigned on each of the print sheets by the integration printing and the number of pages of the document data; and a page reduction unit configured to reduce the total number of pages by moving the groups on the basis of the print appearance information and the number of pages targeted for reduction. |
| US08780399B2 |
Print management system, distributed printing system, and managing method for distributed printing system
A print management system, includes a management unit to receive print manuscript data from a connected manuscript processor, and obtain status information indicating states of connected multiple output enabled printers; a status identification unit to predict whether the output enabled printers stop in the middle of a print job; and a print data generator to generate multiple types of print data whose amount of toner consumption during printing is different respectively, based on the print manuscript data. The management unit classifies the output enabled printers predicted that there is less possibility to stop in the middle of a print job as output candidate printers, and selects an output destination printer from the output candidate printers. The management unit selects one type of print data from the multiple types of print data, depending on the output destination printer, and outputs the selected print data to the output destination printer. |
| US08780394B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of discharging sheet in the same
Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a main body configured to include a front surface and a rear surface; a printing section provided in the main body and configured to form an image on a sheet according to image data and print-output the sheet; an operation panel configured to include a panel surface for giving an operation input to the printing section; a moving mechanism configured to allow the operation panel to move with respect to the main body; and a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the operation panel about a vertical axis over an angle range including a first angle at which the panel surface faces the front direction and a second angle at which the panel surface faces the rear direction. |
| US08780391B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system with processability determining unit
An image processing apparatus is connected to other image processing apparatuses and a file server via a network and includes a document obtaining unit configured to obtain document data and attribute information including format information and generator apparatus information of the document data from the file server, a processability determining unit configured to determine whether the obtained document data are processable by the image processing apparatus based on the format information, an apparatus identifying unit configured to identify one of the other image processing apparatuses as a generator apparatus that has generated the document data based on the generator apparatus information if the processability determining unit determines that the obtained document data are not processable by the image processing apparatus, and a function obtaining unit configured to obtain a functional program for processing the document data from the generator apparatus. |
| US08780390B2 |
Image editing apparatus, image editing method, and recording medium
Page description language data are imposed according to entered imposition information. The imposed page description language data are converted into raster-format data by an RIP process. Page data depending on a plurality of page areas are clipped from the raster-format data. The clipped page data are mapped onto respective model areas corresponding to the page areas on a determined three-dimensional shape model thereby to generate three-dimensional preview data of a print. A three-dimensional preview image of the print is displayed based on the three-dimensional preview data. |
| US08780389B2 |
Image processing device for modifying operating mode
An image processing device includes a detecting unit, a processing unit, a plurality of controllers, a command determination unit, and a load determination unit. The detecting unit is for detecting a command. The processing unit executes a process for the command. The plurality of controllers controls the processing unit and includes a first controller. The command determination unit determines whether or not the command indicates that the process is to be executed by the processing unit under the control of the first controller. The load determination unit determines whether or not a load required for the process is larger than a prescribed threshold value. While the first controller is in a halted state, if the command determination unit makes a negative determination and if the load determination unit makes a positive determination, the first controller is activated and controls the processing unit to execute the process. |
| US08780387B2 |
System, information processing apparatus, and printing apparatus
The present invention provides a mechanism capable of executing print processing by appropriately selecting, in accordance with the power state of a printing apparatus, the first printing mode in which the printing apparatus performs print processing regardless of whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, or the second printing mode in which it performs print processing when the predetermined condition is satisfied. |
| US08780386B2 |
Systems and methods for enabling and implementing real-time facsimile over internet protocol
Systems and methods are provided for real-time communication (e.g., fax, voice, video) via an IP Network even if a firewall or other restriction element is present or encountered. The real-time nature of the communication is ensured by preestablishing a communication session between a transfer client and a transfer server, between which the firewall or other restriction element is located. Following the preestablishment of the communication session, transmission control messages are exchanged between the transfer server and the transfer client via the preestablished communication session. The preestablished communication session prevents the firewall or other restriction element from blocking or delaying traffic (e.g., fax, voice, video traffic). The preestablished communication session establishes a full duplex communication link without restriction of or by the firewall or other communication restriction element. Accordingly, the firewall or restriction element considers traffic originating from outside of the portion of the IP network where the firewall is located to be in response to a request from the inside the IP Network. Thus, the firewall or restriction element will not act to block or delay the traffic from entry. |
| US08780383B2 |
Authenticated facsimile transmission from mobile devices
A fax document can be either uploaded to a fax server in a vPBX network or generated dynamically. For dynamic generation, pre-configured templates can be stored either on a mobile device or on a fax server. A user can use a mobile device connected to a vPBX network as a controlling device to direct generation of faxes on a fax server. The generation of faxes can be customized based on a geographic location of the mobile device. The generated fax can be downloaded onto a mobile device. The user can digitally sign the fax using a touch-screen input device on the mobile device. The digitally signed fax can be transmitted to a destination device. |
| US08780380B2 |
Information processing apparatus, output system, and computer-readable storage medium to output stored data in a manner associated with second user information that specifies data based on first user information
An information processing apparatus receives from a client apparatus a print request including authentication information of a user, and a judging part judges whether a printing related to the print request is enabled using the authentication information, and a sending part sends to the client apparatus information indicating that printing is prohibited when the judging part judges that the printing is not enabled. A recording part records print data and print attribute information received from the client apparatus in a related manner with respect to the print request if the judging part judges that the printing is enabled, and a sending part sends the print data to an image forming apparatus in response to a request therefrom. |
| US08780379B2 |
Approach for implementing locked printing with unlock via a user input device
An approach is provided for implementing locked printing on a printing device with unlock via a keypad attached to the printing device via an interface. A user may specify for printing print jobs stored at a printing device using a keypad device to enter a job ID associated with a particular print job or a general ID associated with users to release all print jobs associated with a particular user, all print jobs not yet printed, or all print jobs. Print jobs may alternatively be identified by date. The approach may also include a user viewing a list of available locked print jobs on a user interface of the printing device, along with the associated job IDs. The approach may further include the use of a Web server on the printing device to generate and provide a Web page that lists stored print jobs and their associated job IDs. |
| US08780375B2 |
Printing system
A printing system that performs printout based on encrypted, submitted data includes a printing apparatus including a decrypting unit that decrypts the submitted data; and an editing apparatus that accepts an editing operation to be performed on the submitted data. The editing apparatus transmits an execution instruction for performing a process of creating an image for editing used for the editing operation, to the printing apparatus. In response to the execution instruction, the printing apparatus performs a process on an image obtained by decrypting the submitted data using the decrypting unit, and thereby creates a non-equivalent decrypted image as the image for editing, and transmits the non-equivalent decrypted image to the editing apparatus, the non-equivalent decrypted image being a decrypted image non-equivalent to a printed material related to the submitted data. The editing apparatus displays the non-equivalent decrypted image as the image for editing. |
| US08780372B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method to read and prevent loss of coded information
An image processing apparatus reads an original to which a restriction item such as copy restriction is embed to input image data. The image processing apparatus restricts an image processing on the input image data which involves a loss of the embedded information on the restriction item to maintain a state where the restriction item is embedded for the output. Alternatively, the image processing apparatus outputs the image data of a format where the restriction information is added to the input electric data. |
| US08780371B2 |
Printing apparatus, computer usable medium, and controlling method therefor
A printing apparatus to make a number of copies of a printed material on which an image is formed according to print data stored in a removable memory medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes an interface to which the removable memory medium is connected so that the print data stored in the removable memory medium is inputted to the printing apparatus, a printable number detecting system, which is configured to detect a number of copies of the printed material to be made being stored in the removable memory medium, a printing system, which is configured to make the printed material, and a controlling system, which is configured to control a total of the number of copies of the printed material to be made by the printing system. |
| US08780367B2 |
Detecting device, detecting method, and image forming apparatus
A detecting device includes a detecting unit that detects an image on a medium transported in a transport path. The detecting unit includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a light adjusting portion. The light emitter emits light toward the transport path in which the medium is transported. The light receiver receives reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitter. The light adjusting portion adjusts a quantity of light received by the light receiver according to a quantity of light emitted from the light emitter. |
| US08780365B2 |
Printing system with dynamic sample page preview
A printing system is provided having interactive sample page preview and selection capabilities. An operator or user of a printing system, such as a xerographic copier, laser printer, or multi-function device, may visually confirm the print quality of pages printed by the system by requesting that a sample page, i.e., an extra copy of a page being printed within a print job, be printed and delivered to an alternate output tray for inspection. The present disclosure provides the ability to print the sample and show what was printed as a preview on the screen. The present disclosure additionally provides a preview of the sample page prior to its printing and delivery to an alternate tray. Based upon the previewed image, an operator may choose to print a sample page corresponding to that image, or choose another page. Additionally or alternatively, sample pages may be printed based on temporal criteria and system parameters. |
| US08780364B2 |
Electronic apparatus and information displaying method
An electronic apparatus includes a main body of the electronic apparatus; an operation unit including an operation block having a display unit, the operation block being detachable with respect to the main body of the electronic apparatus, and the operation block enabling at least a bidirectional wireless communication with the main body of the electronic apparatus; and a detection unit configured to detect relative positional information between the operation block and the main body of the electronic apparatus, when the operation block is detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus. The operation block being detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus is able to display information corresponding to the relative positional information on the display unit, in accordance with a condition of the main body of the electronic apparatus. |
| US08780358B2 |
Inspection apparatus, system, and method
Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for inspection of objects or items in a conveyance system. Presence (or absence) of an object/item or objects/items is detected sensed and also one or more characteristics of the object/item can be determined based image detection of characteristics of one or more laser lines projected on a conveyance surface of the conveyance system. |
| US08780352B2 |
Methods and devices for optically determining a characteristic of a substance
Optical computing devices are disclosed. One exemplary optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with a sample and first and second integrated computational elements arranged in primary and reference channels, respectively. The first and second integrated computational elements produce first and second modified electromagnetic radiations, and a detector is arranged to receive the first and second modified electromagnetic radiations and generate an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample. |
| US08780350B2 |
Method for manufacturing anodized alumina, and device and method for inspecting the same
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an article having a fine concave-convex structure on a surface thereof, the structure having pores in which a pore interval is less than or equal to a wavelength of visible light, including: irradiating a surface of the article having the fine concave-convex structure on the surface, with light from an illumination device; capturing an image of reflected light from the surface of the article having the fine concave-convex structure on the surface using imaging device; acquiring color information from an image captured by the imaging device; and inspecting the article having the fine concave-convex structure based on the color information. According to the present invention, it is possible to easily inspect the depth of the pores of anodized alumina and the pitch between the pores, and to provide a method of manufacturing anodized alumina having a stable pore shape. |
| US08780346B2 |
Spectroscopic image capturing apparatus
A spectroscopic image capturing apparatus including a light source section and an imaging section, wherein the light source section includes a light source portion, a first lens group, and a first polarizer, and the imaging section includes a second polarizer, a second lens group, an optical filter, and an imaging unit. |
| US08780343B2 |
Wafer screening device and methods for wafer screening
Wafer breakage is a serious problem in the photovoltaic industry because a large fraction of wafers (between 5 and 10%) break during solar cell/module fabrication. The major cause of this excessive wafer breakage is that these wafers have residual microcracks—microcracks that were not completely etched. Additional propensity for breakage is caused by texture etching and incomplete edge grinding. To eliminate the cost of processing the wafers that break, it is best to remove them prior to cell fabrication. Some attempts have been made to develop optical techniques to detect microcracks. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to detect microcracks that are embedded within the roughness/texture of the wafers. Furthermore, even if such detection is successful, it is not straightforward to relate them to wafer breakage. We believe that the best way to isolate the wafers with fatal microcracks is to apply a stress to wafers—a stress that mimics the highest stress during cell/module processing. If a wafer survives this stress, it has a high probability of surviving without breakage during cell/module fabrication. Based on this, we have developed a high throughput, noncontact method for applying a predetermined stress to a wafer. The wafers are carried on a belt through a chamber that illuminates the wafer with an intense light of a predetermined intensity distribution that can be varied by changing the power to the light source. As the wafers move under the light source, each wafer undergoes a dynamic temperature profile that produces a preset elastic stress. If this stress exceeds the wafer strength, the wafer will break. The broken wafers are separated early, eliminating cost of processing into cell/module. We will describe details of the system and show comparison of breakage statistics with the breakage on a production line. |
| US08780342B2 |
Methods and apparatus for position estimation using reflected light sources
The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface. |
| US08780338B2 |
Optical measuring device and optical measuring method
Disclosed herein is an optical measuring device including: a light applying section configured to apply exciting light to a sample flowing in a channel; and a scattered light detecting section configured to detect scattered light generated from the sample irradiated with the exciting light on the downstream side of the sample in the traveling direction of the exciting light; the scattered light detecting section including a scattered light separating mask for separating the scattered light into a low numerical aperture component having a numerical aperture not greater than a specific value and a high numerical aperture component having a numerical aperture greater than the specific value; a first detector for detecting the low numerical aperture component; and a second detector for detecting the high numerical aperture component. |
| US08780337B2 |
System and method for eliminating the effect of non-primary laser modes on characterization of optical components through characterized decomposition
A method and a system for characterization of optical components through characterized decomposition of an optical device includes: directing incident light over a range of wavelengths to a device under test, wherein the incident light includes a primary signal and at least one sideband signal, the distance between the primary signal and any one of the sideband signals is substantially larger than the width of the band pass area of the device under test; detecting output light from the device under test to obtain a detected signal; correcting the detected signal to account errors associated with the sideband signal. |
| US08780331B2 |
Evaluation device, measuring arrangement and method for path length measurement and measuring system and method for a coordinate measuring device and coordinate measuring device
An evaluation device for path length measurement configured to evaluate a measured signal representing an intensity of a sequence of pulses of electromagnetic radiation, particularly a sequence of light pulses, as a function of time, after the sequence has traveled through a path length to be measured. The sequence of light pulses is generated with a repetition rate by a radiation source, particularly a light source. The evaluation device is configured to evaluate a first component of the measured signal, which oscillates with a first frequency, and a second component of the measured signal, which the second component oscillates with a second frequency that is greater than the first frequency. The first frequency may correspond to the repetition rate or a multiple of the repetition rate. The second frequency may correspond to another multiple of the repetition rate. |
| US08780327B2 |
Exposure apparatus and method for producing device
An exposure apparatus includes an optical element via which a patterned beam is projected onto a substrate through exposure liquid filled in a space between the optical element and the substrate. The apparatus also includes a member having a flow passage in which exposure liquid flows, the flow passage being in fluidic communication with the space. The apparatus also includes a cleaning system which cleans the member. |
| US08780326B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus comprises a liquid immersion system, a first mover, and a prescribed member. The exposure apparatus exposes a substrate via an optical member and a liquid. The liquid immersion system performs supply and recovery of the liquid. The first mover can move in a first area, and can hold the liquid between itself and the optical member. The prescribed member is removed from the first mover when the first mover withdraws from a position opposing the optical member, and can hold the liquid between itself and the optical member. |
| US08780324B2 |
Fluid handling structure, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The fluid handling structure has, on an undersurface, a liquid supply opening or a plurality of liquid supply openings and a liquid extraction opening or a plurality of liquid extraction openings arranged such that, in use, liquid is provided on and removed from the undersurface of the fluid handling structure. |
| US08780323B2 |
Apparatus and method for recovering liquid droplets in immersion lithography
Immersion fluid remaining on a portion of a substrate after that portion has passed an immersion nozzle is removed by moving the substrate relative to an immersion nozzle so that the portion of the substrate on which the immersion fluid remains is passed by the immersion nozzle again. A path is determined along which the substrate is to be moved to remove the remaining immersion fluid. The path can be determined based upon previous movements of the substrate, including factors such as the speed and/or length of the previous movements. Alternatively, portions of the substrate on which immersion fluid remains can be detected, and then the substrate can be moved so that the portion of the substrate on which the immersion fluid remains is passed by the immersion nozzle based on the results of the detection. Immersion fluid also can be removed from the stage surface located beyond the substrate. |
| US08780321B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus having a table including a target and/or a sensor and a liquid displacing device to displace liquid from the target and/or sensor using a localized gas flow is disclosed. The liquid displacement device may be positioned at various positions, e.g. mounted to a liquid handling device at an exposure station, adjacent or in a transfer path between the exposure station and a measurement station, at a load/unload station or adjacent a sensor. |
| US08780314B2 |
Strengthened structural module and method of fabrication
A strengthened structural module (2) and a method for fabricating a strengthened structural module (2). The module comprises an essentially planar glass substrate (1), an essentially planar second substrate (3), and at least one spacer element (5) in between the glass substrate (1) and the second substrate (3). The at least one spacer element (5) keeps the glass substrate (1) and the second substrate (3) separated from each other from the edges of the two substrates and defines a space (7) in between the two substrates in the inside of the module. The module comprises a coating (9) surrounding the module around the outside of the module. The coating (9) is arranged conformally on the surfaces facing the outside of the module, for increasing the strength of the module. |
| US08780313B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing thereof
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display that maintains a more uniform cell gap and improves adherence between two display panels by improving adhesion between substrates and their bead spacers, as well as a manufacturing method thereof. An exemplary liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; a bead spacer comprising a plurality of beads and a first adhesive coupling the beads to the first substrate; a second adhesive corresponding to the bead spacer and disposed on the second substrate so as to contact the bead spacer; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08780309B2 |
Mother panel of liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display using the same
A mother panel of a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a lower substrate with a pixel electrode, an upper substrate with a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer between the lower and upper substrates includes an external pad area including a common voltage external pad and a pixel voltage external pad on the lower substrate, the common voltage external pad and pixel voltage external pad being configured to be applied with respective common and pixel voltages from the outside, a panel area including a plurality of panels and a dummy area between the panels, and an external shorting point in the dummy area of the panel area, the external shorting point being connected to the common electrode, and the common voltage external pad being directly connected to the external shorting point. |
| US08780307B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic device
To provide a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic device which have a wide viewing angle and in which the number of manufacturing steps, the number of masks, and manufacturing cost are reduced compared with a conventional one. The liquid crystal display device includes a first electrode formed over an entire surface of one side of a substrate; a first insulating film formed over the first electrode; a thin film transistor formed over the first insulating film; a second insulating film formed over the thin film transistor; a second electrode formed over the second insulating film and having a plurality of openings; and a liquid crystal over the second electrode. The liquid crystal is controlled by an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08780306B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method are provided. A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and including liquid crystal molecules; a first electrode positioned on the first substrate; an insulating layer positioned on the first electrode; a second electrode positioned on the insulating layer; and a third electrode positioned on the second substrate, wherein the second electrode includes a plurality of branches and a slit between neighboring ones of the branches, and a width of the slit is more than about two times to less than about five times a width of its corresponding branches. |
| US08780305B2 |
Liquid crystal display having wide viewing angle
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate with pixel electrodes, and a second substrate with a common electrode facing the first substrate. The common electrode has depression patterns corresponding to the pixel electrodes. The side wall of each depression pattern is at an angle of 30-120 degrees with respect to the first substrate. The depression patterns of the common electrode are formed through making depression patterns at color filters. In this structure, the liquid crystal display bears wide viewing angle and good picture quality. |
| US08780302B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a main pixel electrode which extends in a second direction, a sub-pixel electrode which extends in a first direction and crosses the main pixel electrode, a color filter which includes a first aperture portion defined by a first edge surrounding a position opposed to cross points between the main pixel electrode and the sub-pixel electrode, main common electrodes which extend in the second direction on both sides of the main pixel electrode. |
| US08780300B2 |
Optical member, light source apparatus, display apparatus, and terminal apparatus
A planar light source, Fresnel lens sheet, and louver are disposed in the stated order in a light source apparatus. The Fresnel lens sheet deflects and focuses in one dimension light that has entered from the planar light source. The louver is disposed in the optical path of the light emitted from the Fresnel lens sheet, and the directivity of the light can be increased by restricting the traveling direction of the light to the focal direction of the Fresnel lens sheet. The light utilization ratio can thereby be increased, the directivity of planarly emitted light can be increased, and the brightness can be made uniform at the point of observation. |
| US08780298B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a light guide plate having an emission surface emitting light to a liquid crystal panel and a plurality of side surfaces; and a plurality of light sources LEDPKG inputting light to the light guide plate from at least one side surface. The light guide plate is divided into a plurality of parts extending from the light inputted one side surface to an opposite side surface and the plurality of parts include at least one first part and at least one second part. The first part and the second part are adjacent to each other, and two-dimensionally overlap with the display area, respectively. At least the second part has a shape for emitting the light from an emission surface, and a sectional shape in the extending direction of the first part is greater than that of the second part. |
| US08780296B2 |
Display device comprising a lower receptacle that includes unitary indivisible first and second receiving portions and a light source unit disposed between an intermediate frame and the lower receptacle
A display device including a display panel which displays images, an intermediate frame on which the display panel is seated, a lower receptacle which includes a first receiving portion including a bottom plate and sidewalls, and a second receiving portion separate from the first receiving portion, and a light source unit which includes an alignment plate and a point light source mounted on the alignment plate. The light source unit contacts the sidewalls of the lower receptacle, and the first receiving portion is coupled with the intermediate frame. |
| US08780293B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, backlight module and frame unit thereof
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, backlight module and frame unit thereof. The frame unit comprises: back frame and resilient fastening element. The back frame comprises: bottom plate and connected side wall. The bottom plate is for carrying optical part of backlight module. The resilient fastening element comprises a first support part, a second support part, and a side plate. The first support part contacts the bottom plate, the second support part is for supporting liquid crystal panel, and a positioning trench formed between the first support part and the second support part is for clamping a side of the optical part, the second support part is located between the liquid crystal panel and the optical part, and the side plate and the side wall are disposed correspondingly. The present invention can replace known mold frame with frame unit to reduce cost. |
| US08780292B2 |
Liquid crystal display and backlight module and frame unit thereof
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display and a backlight module and a frame unit thereof. The frame unit includes a holder part and an intermediate frame. The holder part is provided with a supporting portion and a vertical portion. The supporting portion supports the light guide plate, and the mating portion is disposed on the side of the vertical portion away from the supporting portion. The mating portion is provided with a mating face, and the mating face tilts from the side of the vertical portion close to the light guide plate to the side of the vertical portion away from the light guide plate. The intermediate frame presses against the light guide plate, and an inverted U-shaped groove is disposed on the intermediate frame. A mating portion is disposed in the inverted U-shaped groove, and a mating face abuts on the inner surface of the inverted U-shaped groove close to the light guide plate. The present invention can solve the eversion problem of the intermediate frame of the liquid crystal display. |
| US08780290B2 |
Liquid displaying device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a waveguide, a liquid crystal display panel, a backframe, a middle frame, a printed circuit board, a light source and a deflector. The backframe includes a base plate which is arranged adjacent to a bottom surface of the waveguide and sidewall arranged adjacent to the light inlet surface of the waveguide. The base plate is defined with an opening. The middle frame includes a supporting portion and positioning portion which defines a receiving space with the backframe. The receiving space is corresponding to the through the opening. The printed circuit board is arranged on the outside of the base plate. A deflector is arranged within the receiving space. The base plate is defined with an opening, the light source can be mounted onto the printed circuit board close to the base plate through the opening. Accordingly, a compact, slim design of a liquid crystal display device is achieved with reduced cost. |
| US08780289B2 |
LCD panel assembly, LCD device and method for fixing LCD panel
The present invention discloses an LCD panel assembly, an LCD device and a method for fixing the LCD panel. The LCD panel assembly comprises an LCD panel and a middle frame around the glass, wherein, an LCD module comprises a positioning element comprising a first positioning part and a second positioning part; the first positioning part contacts with an LCD panel and the second positioning part is fixed and connected to one end of the first positioning part. The present invention can omit a front frame of the LCD module, reduce the cost of the LCD module, and simplify the process of installing the fixed structure. Besides, the positioning element not only can match the middle frame to form the LCD module, but also can match the complete front frame to form the LCD device. Thus, the designing and manufacturing cost is to be further reduced with nice commonality and convenient assembling. |
| US08780286B2 |
Three dimensional image display device
A three-dimensional image display device includes a display and a polarization switching panel. The display includes a signal transmitter, and is configured to alternately display a left eye image and a right eye image. The polarization switching panel includes a signal receiver, an upper substrate, an upper electrode disposed on the upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a lower electrode disposed on the lower substrate. The signal transmitter and the signal receiver are synchronized by a 3D synchronization signal. |
| US08780285B1 |
Apparatus for viewing 3D LCD displays
An apparatus for viewing stereoscopic images may include, but is not limited to: a first viewing lens including a first polarization layer; a second viewing lens including a second polarization layer; and one or more birefringence compensation layers. Further, the apparatus may be viewing glasses including a frame wearable by a user. |
| US08780284B2 |
Capacitive input device and electro-optical apparatus with input function
A capacitive input device includes: an input device substrate having a position detection electrode on a second surface side which is reverse to a first surface side on which an input operation is performed; and a shielding film which has a shield electrode layer on a base film and is adhered to the second surface side of the input device substrate by an adhesive layer. |
| US08780280B2 |
Projector and control method for projector
First imaginary screen outer peripheral line is calculated supplementing one side that is undetected with one side of an outer peripheral line of image light that is calculated, an imaginary screen aspect ratio that is an aspect ratio of an area defined by the first imaginary screen outer peripheral line is calculated, whether the imaginary screen aspect ratio is more vertically oriented than a first ratio or not is determined. When a result of the determination of the imaginary aspect ratio is more vertically oriented than the first ratio, the imaginary screen aspect ratio is changed to second ratio that is different from the first ratio, and the one undetected side is calculated according to the second ratio, and the first imaginary screen outer peripheral line is corrected and a second imaginary screen outer peripheral line is calculated. |
| US08780278B2 |
Motion-sensing remote control
A motion-sensing remote control is described. In an embodiment, a television remote control can include various sensors that sense a motion of the device. The television remote control also includes an integrated circuit that receives a motion signal corresponding to the motion from the sensors and converts the motion signal into a remote control command. The television remote control further includes a light source that is activated by the integrated circuit to communicate the remote control command to a television client device to initiate a device action. In another embodiment, a television remote control can include various sensors that sense a motion of the device. The television remote control can also include computer-executable instructions that execute on a processor to translate the motion into a remote control command, and initiate communication of the remote control command to a television client device to initiate a device action. |