Document Document Title
US08831330B2 Parameter determination assisting device and parameter determination assisting program
This invention provides a parameter determination assisting device and a parameter determination assisting program enabling a more rapid and easy determination of a parameter to be set in a processing device, which obtains a processing result by performing a process using a set of parameters defined in advance on image data obtained by imaging a measuring target object. A user can easily select an optimum parameter set when a determination result and a statistical output are displayed in a list for each of a plurality of trial parameter candidates. For instance, while trial numbers “2”, “4”, and “5”, in which the number of false detections is zero, can perform a stable process, the parameter set of the trial number “2” is comprehensively assumed as optimum since the trial number “2” can perform the process in the shortest processing time length.
US08831328B2 Method and system for segmenting a brain image
A method is proposed for segmenting a brain image into a CSF region, a WM region and a GM region. An upper limit for the intensity values of a CSF region in the image is estimated such that the points of the image having an intensity less than this upper limit include a subset of the points which form a spatially connected group and which have a peaked intensity distribution. In other words, the invention exploits both the expected spatial distribution and expected intensity distribution of the CSF region. This makes it possible for the method to provide reliable discrimination of the CSF region even in CT images with poor image quality. Various methods are proposed for using the upper limit, and for improving the segmentation accuracy.
US08831324B2 Surgical method and workflow
A surgical method and workflow to improve the efficiency of a surgical procedure by intraoperatively acquiring a digital radiographic image, processing the digital radiographic image, and using information based on the radiographic image to make adjustments during the surgical procedure. A checklist of parameters may be displayed so that the surgeon can confirm all considerations have been made for the surgical procedure.
US08831316B2 Point source detection
The invention provides a technique for accurate detection of objects appearing in the image, such as single fluorescent molecules, cells, microorganisms, nucleotides, DNA strands, or stars in celestial images. The method allows to differentiate between two combined point sources even if they are closer to each other than the optical resolution of the system. The procedure involves computing several coefficients representing decomposition of the intensity data in the basis of Hermit functions.
US08831313B2 Method for detecting microorganisms, device for detecting microorganisms and program
A method for detecting microorganisms, which comprises: a training step for forming, by a classifier, feature vectors based on color data on individual points within a subject region of training in a culture medium, mapping the points in the culture medium, that are specified by the feature vectors, on a high-dimensional feature space, and linearly separating a set of the points ψ (x1), that are specified by the high-dimensional feature vectors thus obtained, to thereby color-classify the class (C1) of the culture medium; and a identifying step for forming, by a classifier, feature vectors based on color data on individual inspection points within a region in the culture medium using image data obtained by capturing an image of the culture medium under cultivation, mapping the inspection points (xj), that are specified by the feature vectors, on a high-dimensional feature space, and determining whether or not the mapped points ψ (xj), that are specified by the high-dimensional feature vectors thus obtained, belong to the class (C1) of the culture medium, thereby identifying a colony based on inspection points not belonging to the class (C1) of the culture medium.
US08831312B2 Method for segmenting objects in images
A method for identifying an attribute of an object represented in an image comprising data defining a predetermined spatial granulation for resolving the object, where the object is in contact with another object. In an embodiment, the method comprises identifying data whose values indicate they correspond to locations completely within the object, determining a contribution to the attribute provided by the data, and identifying additional data whose values indicate they are not completely within the object. The method next interpolates second contributions to the attribute from the values of the additional data and finds the attribute of the object from the first contribution and second contributions. The attribute may be, for example, a volume, and the values may correspond, for example, to intensity.
US08831307B2 Visualizing surgical trajectories
A method is provided for visualizing a surgical trajectory (32, 101, 42, 46, 47). The method comprises steps of receiving (71) 3D imaging information (31) of a region to undergo surgery and combining (72) the received 3D imaging information (31) with data from a digitized anatomical atlas. As a result, a combined map of the region to undergo surgery is obtained. The combined map comprises expected positions of anatomical structures (102, 103, 104) in the region to undergo surgery. The method further comprises steps of receiving (73) the surgical trajectory (32, 101, 42, 46, 47) for the surgery, determining (74) positions of intersections (43, 44) of the surgical trajectory (32, 101, 42, 46, 47) with the anatomical structures (102, 103, 104) and providing (75) the positions of the intersections (43, 44) in a coordinate system aligned with the surgical trajectory (32, 101, 42, 46, 47).
US08831302B2 Implant design analysis suite
A method for anatomical analysis and joint implant design. Embodiments provide users with the ability to anatomically analyze a single bone or a series of bones that exist in a database, evaluate surgical landmarks and axes, identify differences among specific characteristics of a given population, and modify existing implants or create new implant designs based on anatomical analyses.
US08831299B2 Capturing data for individual physiological monitoring
A method for capturing images of an individual to determine wellness for such individual, including establishing baseline physiological data for the individual, and baseline capture condition data for the individual; detecting and identifying the presence of the individual in the image capture environment; providing semantic data associated with the individual; capturing one or more images of the individual during a capture event and determining the capture conditions present during the capture event; using the event capture conditions, the baseline physiological data for the individual and the baseline capture condition data to determine the acceptability of event captured images; and using the acceptable images and the semantic data in determining the wellness of the individual.
US08831298B2 System and method for identifying a user through an object held in a hand
A system and method for identifying a user through an object held by a hand of the user, according to an image of the skin surface print of a portion of the hand of the user, which is optionally the skin surface print of at least a portion of the hand between the metacarpophalangeal joint and a distal interphalangeal joint of one or more fingers. Optionally, the image only includes the skin surface print of at least a portion of the hand between the metacarpophalangeal joint and a distal interphalangeal joint of one or more fingers. The method for identifying the user may also optionally only use selected portions of this image as described herein. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08831297B2 Contactless multispectral biometric capture
A number of biometric systems and methods are disclosed. A system according to one embodiment includes an illumination subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and an analyzer. The illumination subsystem is disposed to illuminate a target space. The imaging subsystem is configured to image the target space under distinct optical conditions. The analyzer is provided in communication with the illumination subsystem, the imaging subsystem, and the three-dimensional subsystem. The analyzer also has instructions to operate the subsystems to collect substantially simultaneously a plurality of images of the object disposed at the predetermined spatial location under multispectral conditions.
US08831292B2 Method and apparatus for the optical evaluation of harvested crop in a harvesting machine
An arrangement for the optical evaluation of harvested crop in a harvesting machine includes a camera located for taking images of threshed out crop elements (grain and material other than grain) being conveyed within a channel of the machine. An electronic image processing system receives the images and identifies individual objects in the images, these objects being classified into predetermined object classes by way of comparing at least one of color, contour or texture features of the individual objects and corresponding characteristics of reference objects filed in a data bank. The processing system then determines the absolute or relative numbers or areas of the individual objects assigned to the respective object classes.
US08831290B2 Method and system for determining poses of vehicle-mounted cameras for in-road obstacle detection
Poses of a movable camera relative to an environment are obtained by determining point correspondences from a set of initial images and then applying 2-point motion estimation to the point correspondences to determine a set of initial poses of the camera. A point cloud is generated from the set of initial poses and the point correspondences. Then, for each next image, the point correspondences and corresponding poses are determined, while updating the point cloud.
US08831287B2 Systems and methods for sensing occupancy
A computer implemented method for sensing occupancy of a workspace includes creating a difference image that represents luminance differences of pixels in past and current images of the workspace resulting from motion in the workspace, determining motion occurring in regions of the workspace based on the difference image, and altering a workspace environment based at least in part on the determined motion. The method also includes determining which pixels in the difference image represent persistent motion that can be ignored and determining which pixels representing motion in the difference image are invalid because the pixels are isolated from other pixels representing motion.
US08831286B2 Object identification device
An object identification device identifying an image region of an identification target includes an imaging unit receiving two polarization lights and imaging respective polarization images, a brightness calculation unit dividing the two polarization images into processing regions and calculating a brightness sum value between the two polarizations images for each processing region, a differential polarization degree calculation unit calculating a differential polarization degree for each processing region, a selecting condition determination unit determining whether the differential polarization degree satisfies a predetermined selecting condition, and an object identification processing unit specifying the processing region based on the differential polarization degree or the brightness sum value depending on whether the predetermined selecting condition is satisfied and identifying plural processing regions that are specified as the processing regions as the image region of the identification target.
US08831283B1 Methods for transmitter site selection for line of sight radio service
In an embodiment, a method for creating a residential units data set that provides light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data for a service area including data representative of rooftops of residential units and their location is provided. Based on the residential units data set, a series of embodiments are provided. In an embodiment, a method for transmitter site selection for a line of sight (LOS) radio service is provided. In another embodiment a method for identifying a location for a transmitter site for a LOS radio service is provided. In another embodiment, a method for determining whether a residential unit is capable of receiving a LOS radio service from one or more radio transmitters providing line of sight radio service within a service area is provided. In another embodiment, a method for determining the placement of an antenna on a rooftop to receive LOS radio service is provided.
US08831282B2 Imaging device including a face detector
An imaging device includes an image input section which sequentially inputs image data with a predetermined time interval, a face detector to detect a face area of a subject from the image data, a rotational motion detector to detect a rotational motion between two frames of image data input with the predetermined time interval, and a controller to control the imaging device to execute a predetermined operation when the rotational motion is detected by the rotational motion detector. The rotational motion detector detects a candidate of rotational motion between the two frames of image data and calculate a coordinate of a rotation center and a rotational angle of the candidate, and determine whether or not the candidate is the rotational motion from a central coordinate of the detected face area, the coordinate of the rotation center and the rotational angle.
US08831279B2 Smartphone-based methods and systems
Methods and arrangements involving portable devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are disclosed. Exemplary arrangements utilize the camera portions of such devices to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some of the detailed technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08831276B2 Media object metadata engine configured to determine relationships between persons
A media object, such as an image file, a video file, or an audio file, is analyzed to determine relationships between persons associated with the media object, which may include persons captured in the media object and/or a person that captured the media object. A representation of a first person captured in a media object is detected. The media object is analyzed to determine at least one indicator of a relation between the first person and a second person associated with the media object. A relationship between the first person and the second person is predicted based at least on the determined at least one relation indicator. The media object may be monetized in various ways, such as by directing advertisements to persons associated with the media object, and/or to persons having social connections to the persons associated with the media object.
US08831274B2 Application program execution method
The present invention relates to an application program execution method which allows information held in an image to be analyzed by means of a mobile device's image recognition function, depends on specific content of information held in the image to call a corresponding application program, and complete an execution. The information held in the image comprises the application program's exclusive username, password and connecting mode, for instance, a web hard drive, network video, or a decoding key.
US08831273B2 Methods and systems for pre-processing two-dimensional image files to be converted to three-dimensional image files
Disclosed herein are methods and systems of efficiently, effectively, and accurately preparing images for a 2D to 3D conversion process by pre-treating occlusions and transparencies in original 2D images. A single 2D image, or a sequence of images, is ingested, segmented into discrete elements, and the discrete elements are individually reconstructed. The reconstructed elements are then re-composited and ingested into a 2D to 3D conversion process.
US08831270B1 Single magnet coaxial loudspeaker
Single magnet coaxial loudspeaker having two air gaps on both sides of its faces, front gap of larger diameter for low frequency voice-coil and the opposite gap accommodating compression driver voice-coil. Front voice-coil drives low frequency membrane and rear voice-coil drives high frequency diaphragm, radiating sound waves through a phasing plug to the horn input through an opening into the magnetic structure, whereas the membrane acts as horn flair. Common region geometry around bottom pole of the magnetic structure controls flux line proportions between the two gaps. The five embodiments use series or parallel, inner or outer magnetomotive flux division. These are suitable for much simpler, more reliable and better balanced coaxial loudspeakers for professional and high-end markets.
US08831269B2 Bobbin and loudspeaker using the same
A bobbin includes a stratiform composite structure. The stratiform composite structure includes an amorphous carbon structure and a carbon nanotube film structure composited with the amorphous carbon structure. The amorphous carbon structure and the carbon nanotube film structure are combined by van der Waals attractive force and covalent bonds therebetween.
US08831261B2 Speaker features of a portable computing device
A portable computing device can include one or more speakers integrated with internal components. In one embodiment, the speakers can be configured to produce audio output signals and direct at least a portion of the audio signals through vents disposed on a base portion of the portable computing device. In one embodiment, the vents can also direct cooling air into the base portion. In one embodiment, the speakers can also be configured to direct a portion of the audio signal through a speaker grille disposed on the base portion. One embodiment of a speaker enclosure can include a resonant cavity for a first audio transducer formed by the speaker enclosure in cooperation with the base portion of the portable computing device and a second audio transducer configured to direct an audio signal beneath a keyboard.
US08831260B2 Bone conduction hearing device having acoustic feedback reduction system
A bone anchored hearing device, comprises: a housing, a sound input element positioned in the housing configured to receive sound signals, and a transducer positioned in the housing configured to generate vibrations representative of the sound signals received by the sound input device.
US08831259B2 Hearing aid faceplate arrangement
In an embodiment, a hearing aid faceplate arrangement (102) is provided. The hearing aid faceplate arrangement (102) may include a hearing aid housing and a faceplate arrangement (110) positioned on the hearing aid housing. The faceplate arrangement (110) may include a faceplate (108), the faceplate (108) including a receiving portion (112) and a faceplate module (106), the faceplate module (106) including a faceplate module housing (114) having an electronic circuit (116). The faceplate module (106) is configured to be fitted into the receiving portion (112).
US08831255B2 Augmented reality (AR) audio with position and action triggered virtual sound effects
An augmented reality (AR) audio system for augmenting environment or ambient sound with sounds from a virtual speaker or sound source positioned at a location in the space surrounding an AR participant. The sound from the virtual speaker may be triggered by an action of the listener and/or by the location or relative orientation of the listener. The AR audio system includes stereo earphones receiving an augmented audio track from a control unit, and binaural microphones are provided to capture ambient sounds. The control unit operates to process trigger signals and retrieve one or more augmentation sounds. The control unit uses an AR audio mixer to combine the ambient sound from the microphones with the augmentation sounds to generate left and right ear augmented audio or binaural audio, which may be modified for acoustic effects of the environment including virtual objects in the environment or virtual characteristics of real objects.
US08831253B2 Electroacoustic apparatus with optical energy conversion function
An electroacoustic apparatus with an optical energy conversion function is provided. The electroacoustic apparatus includes an optical energy converter for converting optical energy into electrical power. The electroacoustic apparatus further includes a signal generator and a flat speaker. The signal generator receives a signal from a sound source and generates a sound signal according to the received signal. The signal generator sends the sound signal to the flat speaker, and the flat speaker makes a sound according to the sound signal. Aforementioned operations are all performed by using the electrical power generated by the optical energy converter or a power stored therein.
US08831249B1 Clipping protection in fixed-width audio mixing
A mixing system provides both clipping protection and signal level conservation while the system operates in the original width type. The mixing system includes a first input multiplier multiplying a first digital input signal by a first gain value to provide a first scaled signal, a second input multiplier multiplying a second digital input signal by the first gain value to provide a second scaled signal, a combiner combining the first scaled signal and the second scaled signal to provide a combined signal, a soft limiter soft limiting the combined signal by reducing some of the amplitudes of the combined signal to provide a soft limited signal, and an output multiplier multiplying the soft limited signal by a second gain value to provide a mixed output signal, wherein the first gain value is a value that is equal to an inverse value of the second gain value.
US08831248B2 Apparatus with directivity pattern
A loudspeaker is described. The loudspeaker includes two or more segmentations of a planar radiator. Each of the segmentations has an associated frequency dependent velocity magnitude and phase with substantially uniform surface pressure. The two or more segmentations provide a substantially uniform radiation pattern across a wide range of acoustic frequencies. Apparatus, computer readable media and methods are also described.
US08831246B2 MEMS microphone with programmable sensitivity
A control circuit monitors a signal produced by a MEMS or other capacitor microphone. When a criterion is met, for example when the amplitude of the monitored signal exceeds a threshold or the monitored signal has been clipped or analysis of the monitored signal indicates clipping is imminent or likely, the control circuit automatically adjusts a bias voltage applied to the capacitor microphone, thereby adjusting sensitivity of the capacitor microphone.
US08831245B2 Method and device for modifying the sound volume of an audio alarm signal onboard an aircraft
A method for modifying a current sound-volume value assigned by an on-board system to an acoustic alert signal emitted on board an aircraft is provided. The method includes furnishing, on board the aircraft, the on-board system with at least one information item defining a modification of the current sound-volume value to a new sound-volume value in accordance with a predetermined rule.
US08831240B2 Bluetooth device and audio playing method using the same
The present invention relates to a Bluetooth device and an audio playing method using the same. In which the Bluetooth device may be a Bluetooth headset, including: a locus detection unit, an identification unit and a Bluetooth module, wherein the locus detection unit is configured to detect a motion locus of the Bluetooth headset during a process where the Bluetooth headset is placed onto the user's ear; the identification unit configured to identify whether the Bluetooth headset is placed on the user's left ear or right ear by comparing the motion locus of the Bluetooth headset with predetermined left ear or right ear characteristic loci, and transmit an identification result to the Bluetooth module; the Bluetooth module is configured to receive left channel audio signal when the identification result of the identification unit is left ear, and receive right channel audio signal when the identification result is right ear.
US08831239B2 Instability detection and avoidance in a feedback system
In an aspect, in general, a feedback based active noise reduction system is configured to detect actual or potential instability by detecting characteristics of the system related to potential or actual unstable behavior (e.g., oscillation) and adapt system characteristics to mitigate such instability.
US08831236B2 Generator and generation method of pseudo-bass
An absolute-value circuit outputs the absolute value of a signal SIN′ that corresponds to an input signal SIN. A clipping circuit clips the signal SIN′ that corresponds to the input signal, to a positive limit value and to a negative limit value. A first multiplier multiplies the signal SIN′ that corresponds to the input signal, by a predetermined coefficient. A first adder subtracts the output signal of the first multiplier from the output signal of the clipping circuit. A second adder sums a signal that corresponds to the output signal of the first adder and a signal that corresponds to the output signal of the absolute-value circuit. A third adder sums the input signal SIN and a signal that corresponds to the output signal of the second adder.
US08831234B2 Audio jack detection and configuration
This document discusses, among other things, an audio jack detection circuit configured to be coupled to an audio jack receptacle of an external device. The audio jack detection circuit configured to receive to receive audio jack receptacle information, to disable an oscillator when the audio jack receptacle information indicates that the audio jack receptacle is empty, and to enable the oscillator when the audio jack receptacle information indicates that the audio jack receptacle includes an audio jack.
US08831233B2 Monitoring apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a monitoring apparatus includes an acquisition unit, an analysis unit, a calculation unit, a storage, a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires an environmental sound. The analysis unit performs frequency analysis to extract characteristic frequency components. The calculation unit calculates first values of metrics. The storage stores contour data generated by second values of the metrics. The determination unit determines whether or not there is a first measurement point in which a first value and a second value match, if there is no first measurement point or the change is not less than the threshold value, determines that the machines is abnormal.
US08831231B2 Audio signal processing device and audio signal processing method
An audio signal processing device includes a processing unit for convoluting head-related transfer functions with audio signals of a plurality of channels, and the processing unit includes a storage unit for storing data of a double-normalized head-related transfer function by normalizing a normalized head-related transfer function obtained by normalizing a head-related transfer function in a state in which a dummy head or a person is present in a position of the listener with a transfer characteristic in a pristine state in which the dummy head or the person is not present, using a normalized head-related transfer function obtained by normalizing a head-related transfer function in the state in which the dummy head or the person is present with a transfer characteristic in the pristine state, and a convolution unit for reading the data from the storage unit and convoluting the data with the audio signals.
US08831230B2 Amplifier crosstalk cancellation technique
This document discusses apparatus and methods for configuring and providing crosstalk cancellation to maintain channel separation in a multi channel system. In an example, an amplifier circuit can include a crosstalk cancellation circuit configured to reduce crosstalk from a first output to a second load and from a second output to a first load where the first load and the second load share a return path.
US08831229B2 Key transport method, memory controller and memory storage apparatus
A key transport method for transporting a key from a buffer memory to an encryption/decryption unit is provided. The method includes logically dividing bits of the key into key segments, wherein each of the key segments has a start position and a segment length. The method also includes setting a transmission length belonging to each of key segments based on the start positions and the segment lengths of the key segments; assigning a transmission bit stream belonging to each of the key segments from the bits of the key according to the start positions and the transmission lengths of the key segments; determining a transmission sequence; and sending the start position, the segment length and the transmission bit stream belonging to each of the key segments to the encryption/decryption unit from the buffer memory based on the transmission sequence. Accordingly, the method can transport the key safely.
US08831227B2 Method and system for establishing secure connection between stations
A method and system for establishing a secure connection between stations are disclosed. The method includes that: 1) a switch device receives an inter-station key request packet sent by a first user terminal; 2) the switch device generates an inter-station key, constructs an inter-station key announcement packet and sends it to a second user terminal; 3) the switch device receives an inter-station key announcement response packet sent by the second user terminal; 4) the switch device constructs an inter-station key announcement response packet and sends it to the first user terminal; 5) the switch device receives an inter-station key announcement response packet sent by the first user terminal. The switch device establishes an inter-station key for the two stations which are connected to the switch device directly, by which the embodiments of the present invention ensure the confidentiality and integrality of user data between the stations.
US08831223B2 Abstraction function for mobile handsets
Handset, computer software and method for protecting sensitive network information, available in the handset, from disclosure to an unauthorized server, by using an abstraction function module, the handset being connected to a network. The method includes receiving at the abstraction function module an encoding key from an abstraction server; receiving at the abstraction function module a request from a client or application for providing the sensitive network information from a control plane module of the handset, wherein the client or application resides in a user plane module, which is different from the control plane module, the sensitive network information is stored in the control plane module of the handset, and both the control plane module and the user plane module reside in the handset; retrieving by the abstraction function module the requested sensitive network information from the control plane module; encrypting, by the abstraction function module, the retrieved sensitive network information based on the received encoding key; and providing the encrypted sensitive network information to the client or application in the user plane module.
US08831222B2 Bilateral communication using multiple one-way data links
A bilateral data transfer system comprising a first node, a second node, a first one-way link for unidirectional transfer of first data from the first node to the second node, and a second one-way link for unidirectional transfer of second data from the second node to the first node, wherein the unidirectional transfer of the first data across the first one-way link and the unidirectional transfer of the second data across the second one-way link are independently administered by the bilateral data transfer system. Under such bilateral data transfer system, each of the one-way data links may be subject to separately administered security restrictions and data filtering processes, enabling secure bilateral communications across different network security domains.
US08831221B2 Unified architecture for crypto functional units
In described embodiments, a unified Crypto Functional Unit (CFU) block architecture provides a capability for advanced communication processors to provide parallel and concurrent processing of multiple crypto operations/transactions within high-speed hardware to support different security standards (e.g. from IPsec, 3GPP). In particular, each CFU block of the unified CFU block architecture comprises a FIFO-based interface, switch, and wrapped cipher/hasher. The unified CFU block architecture allows for drop-in solutions for cipher blocks in ASIC designs with crypto function blocks.
US08831220B2 Processing module operating methods, processing modules, and communications systems
A processing module operating method includes using a processing module physically connected to a wireless communications device, requesting that the wireless communications device retrieve encrypted code from a web site and receiving the encrypted code from the wireless communications device. The wireless communications device is unable to decrypt the encrypted code. The method further includes using the processing module, decrypting the encrypted code, executing the decrypted code, and preventing the wireless communications device from accessing the decrypted code. Another processing module operating method includes using a processing module physically connected to a host device, executing an application within the processing module, allowing the application to exchange user interaction data communicated using a user interface of the host device with the host device, and allowing the application to use the host device as a communications device for exchanging information with a remote device distinct from the host device.
US08831218B2 Digital rights management system and methods for provisioning content to an intelligent storage
The present invention relates to digital rights management (DRM) for content that downloaded and saved to a storage device. The storage may be a disk drive, or network attached storage. In addition, the storage device performs cryptographic operations and provides a root of trust. The DRM employs a binding key, a content key, and an access key. The binding key binds the content to a specific storage and is based on a key that is concealed on the storage. The binding key is not stored on the storage device with the content. The content key is a key that has been assigned to the content. The access key is determined based on a cryptographic combination of the content key and the binding key. In one embodiment, the content is provisioned based on the access key and stored in encrypted form in the storage device.
US08831216B2 Pseudo-random number generation based on periodic sampling of one or more linear feedback shift registers
Disclosed are various embodiments for generating pseudo-random numbers. One such embodiment is an apparatus comprising digital hardware configured to generate pseudo-random numbers. The apparatus uses a linear feedback shift register in which the correlation between successive pseudo-random numbers is reduced.
US08831214B2 Password self encryption method and system and encryption by keys generated from personal secret information
A public key cryptographic system and method is provided for a password or any other predefined personal secret information that defeats key factoring and spoofing attacks. The method adopts a new technique of encrypting a password or any predefined secret information by a numeric function of itself, replacing the fixed public key of the conventional RSA encryption. The whole process involving key generation, encryption, decryption and password handling is discussed in detail. Mathematical and cryptanalytical proofs of defeating factoring and spoofing attacks are furnished.
US08831207B1 Targeted issue routing
A contact received by a service center from a customer may be assigned to one of a plurality of agents or representatives based on any prior experience with the customer or with the contact, any preferences of the customer or any skills required in order to address the contact. Preferably, an agent who previously handled an issue on behalf of the customer may be identified, and the contact may be assigned to that agent. Alternatively, the contact may be assigned to an agent preferred by the customer, or to a particularly skilled agent. If no preferred agents or particularly skilled agents are available to respond to the contact, the contact may be assigned at random to one or more particular agents. The contact may be initiated by way of a reply to a message containing a response to a previous contact, and the message may include metadata that associates the reply with the previous contact.
US08831200B2 Systems, methods, and computer readable media for communicating calling name information between signaling system 7 (SS7) and non-SS7 networks
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for communicating calling name information between signaling system 7 (SS7) and non-SS7 networks are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating calling name information between signaling system 7 (SS7) and non-SS7 networks. An entity for processing signaling messages receives an SS7 message that includes a calling party identifier, and uses the calling party identifier to obtain calling name information associated with the calling party. The SS7 message is modified to include the calling name information and sent to a gateway network element for communicating messages between SS7 networks and non-SS7 networks.
US08831199B2 Service interfacing for telephony
During a telephone call between a telephone user and an interactive response system, the user is enabled to use only his voice and key presses on a numeric keypad of his telephone to interactively specify information that can be used to control delivery of content to a visual display of, or a storage medium accessible by, a target telephone which may be a land-line phone, a mobile phone, or some other device acting as a telecommunications device. The target telephone has a visual display or a memory to display or store the delivered content, which may include ringtones, text messages, games, wallpapers, ring-back tones, video clips, web pages, applications, or links to information. The user is enabled to engage in an interaction with the response system that is representative of an interaction between the user and a server connected to the Internet. On behalf of the user, a separate interaction is conducted with the server through the Internet based on the representative interaction. Information is received that can be used to identify the user and the target device. Based on the received information, user authentication information is transmitted to the user, the authentication information is received from the user, and the user is allowed to access a service.
US08831198B1 Abbreviated login for conferencing
The system and method store an address of a communication device (e.g., a telephone number). A system access code of a user and a user access code are also stored (e.g., in a profile). The user access code is associated with the system access code. The user access code is used to simplify access to a conference. A call request with the address is received from the communication device to join a conference. In response to receiving the call request to join the conference, a request for a conference access code is sent to the user. The conference access code is received from the user. In response to receiving the conference access code, the conference access code is compared with the user access code. In response to the conference access code and the user access code matching, the user is logged into the conference using the system access code.
US08831193B2 System and method for providing telephone call notification and management in a network environment
Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to receive an incoming call message via a data interface upon activation of a trigger established with a voice communication network and activated when the voice communication network receives an incoming call to a destination identified by a pre-determined subscriber account; generate a call notification in response to the incoming call message; obtain a list of set-top boxes corresponding to the predetermined subscriber account; and route the call notification to the set-top boxes on the list.
US08831189B2 Device authentication techniques
Techniques are provided for authenticating a phone or other device for a user. A phone or other device is provided to the user. A personal identification number is provided to the user. The personal identification number is used to authenticate the phone or other device in the network for the user.
US08831188B1 Method and device for preventing misuse of personal information
The invention disclosed comprises a method and device for receiving an order request from a first party along with contact information for the first party, routing at least some communication made using, or to, second contact information, such as may be provided to the first party, and providing at least part of the order request and first contact information to a third party. The contact information may be a phone number or an e-mail address or a plurality of same.
US08831183B2 Method for selecting interactive voice response modes using human voice detection analysis
In an interactive voice response system, a method is provided for selective enhancement of voice recognition capability during an interaction. The method includes the acts (a) taking a call and prompting for a voice response from the caller, (b) failing to recognize the response, (c) executing a routine to detect and isolate the captured word or phrase in the response, and (d) attempting to recognize the response a second time.
US08831182B2 System and method for determining a responsible service area for a service request call
A method for determining a responsible service area for a service request call, the service request call including a civic address indicating locus of origin of the service request call, includes: (a) accessing a geographic information system database relating to the locus of origin to identify a street line segment containing the civic address; (b) determining whether the street line segment is wholly contained within any polygon; (c) when the street line segment is wholly contained within a respective polygon, presenting the respective polygon as the responsible service area; and (d) when the street line segment is not wholly contained within the respective polygon, (1) recording a data deficiency identifying the non-containment as a polygon-segment error, (2) determining an estimated locus of the civic address on the street line segment in a resulting polygon containing the estimated locus, and (3) presenting the resulting polygon as the responsible service area.
US08831181B2 Grid module of a scattered-radiation grid, modular scattered-radiation grid, CT detector and CT system
A grid module of a scattered-radiation grid is disclosed. The scattered-radiation grid includes a number of grid modules disposed next to one another with a plurality of webs, especially for use in conjunction with a CT detector, a CT detector and a CT system with such a detector. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at the joining surfaces of the grid modules, the webs located there are provided with breakthroughs to compensate for a disproportionate reduction in scattered radiation.
US08831178B2 Apparatus and method of manufacturing a thermally stable cathode in an X-ray tube
An x-ray imaging system includes a detector positioned to receive x-rays, an x-ray tube configured to generate x-rays toward the detector from a focal spot surface, the x-ray tube includes a target having the focal spot surface, a cathode support arm, and a cathode attached to the cathode support arm. The cathode includes a split cathode cup having a first portion and a second portion that is separate from the first portion, the first and second portions having respective first and second emitter attachment surfaces, and a flat emitter that is attached to the first and second emitter attachment surfaces such that, when an electrical current is provided to the first portion of the cathode cup, the current passes through the flat emitter and returns through the second portion of the cathode cup such that electrons emit from the flat emitter and toward the focal spot surface.
US08831177B2 Apparatus and method for managing radiation doses and recording medium for implementing the same
An apparatus for managing radiation doses is provided. The apparatus includes an information extraction unit configured to extract information about a patient to be examined, information about an image acquired by examining a bodily region of the patient using a radiographic apparatus, and information about the examination performed by the radiographic apparatus, a radiation dose calculation unit configured to calculate, using the image information, an effective dose generated by the radiographic apparatus when acquiring the image, and a dose data storage unit configured to store effective dose data in a database, the effective dose data including the calculated effective dose, the patient information, and the examination information.
US08831174B2 X-ray imaging method and X-ray imaging apparatus
There is provided an X-ray imaging method for reducing unnecessary components caused by a transmittance distribution of an object and unevenness in irradiation by a light source and accurately calculating a differential phase at the time of X-ray imaging by SDG.
US08831173B2 X-ray diagnostic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, first detector, second detector, arm, sliding mechanism, tilting mechanism, and control unit. The X-ray tube includes an anode to generate X-rays upon receiving electrons. The first detector has the first pixel size. The second detector has the second pixel size smaller than the first pixel size. The arm pivotally supports the X-ray tube, first detector, and second detector. The sliding mechanism slidably supports the first and second detectors so as to irradiate one of the first and second detectors with the X-rays generated by the X-ray tube. The tilting mechanism tiltably supports the X-ray tube to change the size of an effective X-ray focal spot on the anode. The control unit controls the sliding of the first and second detectors by the sliding mechanism upon interlocking with the tilting of the X-ray tube by the tilting mechanism.
US08831166B2 Zirconium-based alloys, nuclear fuel rods and nuclear reactors including such alloys, and related methods
Zirconium-based metal alloy compositions comprise zirconium, a first additive in which the permeability of hydrogen decreases with increasing temperatures at least over a temperature range extending from 350° C. to 750° C., and a second additive having a solubility in zirconium over the temperature range extending from 350° C. to 750° C. At least one of a solubility of the first additive in the second additive over the temperature range extending from 350° C. to 750° C. and a solubility of the second additive in the first additive over the temperature range extending from 350° C. to 750° C. is higher than the solubility of the second additive in zirconium over the temperature range extending from 350° C. to 750° C. Nuclear fuel rods include a cladding material comprising such metal alloy compositions, and nuclear reactors include such fuel rods. Methods are used to fabricate such zirconium-based metal alloy compositions.
US08831163B2 Method for measuring the neutron flux in the core of a nuclear reactor using a cobalt detector and associated device
A method for measuring the neutron flux in the core of a nuclear reactor, the method including several steps recurrently performed at instants separated by a period, the method comprising at each given instant the following steps: acquiring a total signal by a cobalt neutron detector placed inside the core of the reactor; assessing a calibration factor representative of the delayed component of the total signal due to the presence of cobalt 60 in the neutron detector; assessing a corrected signal representative of the neutron flux at the detector from the total signal and from the calibration factor; assessing a slope representative of the time-dependent change of the calibration factor between the preceding instant and the given instant; the calibration factor at the given instant being assessed as a function of the calibration factor assessed at the preceding instant, of the slope, and of the time period separating the given instant from the preceding instant.
US08831158B2 Synchronous mode tracking of multipath signals
In one embodiment, a method comprising sampling by a first sampling unit a first signal received via a first antenna; and sampling by a second sampling unit a second signal received via a second antenna, the sampling of the second signal commencing in synchronization with the sampling of the first signal by the first sampling unit based on an accumulated value, the first and second signal sharing common information.
US08831156B2 Interference cancellation for non-orthogonal channel sets
Techniques for interference cancellation in a CDMA system. In an exemplary embodiment, a channel set scrambled using a secondary scrambling code (SSC) is estimated and cancelled along with a channel set scrambled using a primary scrambling code (SSC). The estimation and cancellation of the SSC channel set may proceed in series with the estimation and cancellation of the PSC channel set. Alternatively, the estimation of the SSC channel set may proceed in parallel with the estimation of the PSC channel set, and the cancellations of the PSC and SSC channel sets may be simultaneously performed. Multiple iterations of such estimation and cancellation may be performed in a successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme.
US08831155B2 Radar detection method and system using low-resolution FFTS
A method of identifying radar in a wireless device includes detecting an event corresponding to receipt of a signal by the wireless device. The event can include an analog to digital converter (ADC) saturation, a radio frequency (RF) saturation, and/or an ADC power high condition. Notably, the gain change in the wireless device is delayed for a first predetermined time period. Data preceding the event for the first predetermined time period can be buffered. A first low-resolution fast Fourier transform (FFT), wherein low-resolution FFTs are referred to as short FFTs, can be performed with the buffered data. The first short FFT can be processed. When results of the processing indicate the signal is radar, the radar can then be identified.
US08831154B2 Radio receiver gain control
A radio receiver (100) comprises an analogue to digital converter (30) for generating a data word representative of a received radio signal and a gain control stage (40) comprising a first register (42) for storing the data word. The gain control stage (40) is adapted to control the numerical value of the data word by controlling the position of the data word in the first register (42).
US08831153B2 Quadrature error compensating circuit
According to one embodiment, a quadrature error compensating circuit for acquiring an in-phase component signal and a quadrature component signal, includes a first filter, a first multiplier, a first subtractor, a second filter, a correlation calculating circuit. The first multiplier multiplies the in-phase component signal by a control value. The correlation calculating circuit calculates a cross-correlation value between an output of the first filter and an output of the second filter, and uses the cross-correlation value as the control value.
US08831151B2 Method and associated apparatus of data extraction
Method and associated apparatus of data extraction, including: sampling a signal and obtaining a plurality of sampled values, providing a reference sample quantity when the sampled values transit, providing a unit bit sample quantity according to the reference sample quantity, and corresponding each of the sampled values to each data bit of the signal according to the unit bit sample quantity.
US08831149B2 Symbol estimation methods and apparatuses
A novel symbol estimation method produces intersymbol interference free symbols by detecting interfering symbols in an interfering channel. A channel estimate is refined for additional improvements. The method can lends itself as a serial or parallel algorithm implementation. The symbol estimation method includes using an initial estimate of received symbols and calculating a refined estimate of the received symbols using a channel estimate. The refined estimate is calculated by performing parameterization of intersymbol interference by symbols other than the symbol being refined and selecting a refined value for the symbol being refined by evaluating an optimization function. Symbol estimates are refined in multiple iterations, until a predetermined iteration termination criterion is met. Parameterization of ISI contribution of other symbols results in reduced computation by reducing total number of unknown variables in the refinement operation.
US08831146B2 Communication system with iterative detector and decoder and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a communication system includes: retaining an a-posteriori detector-data, a detector-extrinsic-information, an a-posteriori-decoder-data, a decoder-extrinsic-value, or a combination thereof calculated from a received signal; determining an a-priori-decoder-information or an a-priori detector-information from the a-posteriori detector-data, the detector-extrinsic-information, the a-posteriori-decoder-data, the decoder-extrinsic-value, or a combination thereof; and adjusting the a-posteriori detector-data, the detector-extrinsic-information, the a-posteriori-decoder-data, the decoder-extrinsic-value, or a combination thereof using the a-priori-decoder-information or the a-priori detector-information for communicating through a device.
US08831137B2 Midamble allocations for MIMO transmissions
Allocation of multiple training sequences transmitted in a MIMO timeslot from multiple transmit antenna elements is provided. For example, a method of generating signals in a MIMO timeslot, the method comprising: selecting a first training sequence; preparing a first data payload; generating a first signal including the prepared first data payload and the first training sequence; transmitting the first signal in a MIMO timeslot from a first antenna of a network element; selecting a second training sequence, wherein the second training sequence is different from first training sequence; preparing a second data payload; generating a second signal including the prepared second data payload and the second training sequence; and transmitting the second signal in the MIMO timeslot from a second antenna of the network element.
US08831136B2 Wireless apparatus and distortion compensating method
A wireless apparatus includes amplifying systems each including a storing unit storing a distortion compensation coefficient for compensation for a nonlinear distortion of one or more transmission signals, a compensator compensating for the nonlinear distortion using the distortion compensation coefficient stored in the storing unit, and an amplifier amplifying the transmission signal after distortion compensation. The wireless apparatus further includes a switch that selects feedback signals corresponding to the transmission signals output from the amplifying systems, a subtractor that derives one or more differences between the feedback signal selected in the switch and the transmission signal, a first calculator that derives a distortion compensation coefficient that restricts the difference derived in the subtractor, and a switch controller that controls a length of time during which the feedback signal is selected in the switch depending on magnitude of distortion of the transmission signal output from the amplifying system.
US08831135B2 Address controller, transmitter, and address control method
An address controller includes: a plurality of lookup tables configured to hold values corresponding to a plurality of addresses; a similarity detector configured to detect similarity between the plurality of lookup tables and to group similar lookup tables among the plurality of lookup tables; and a controller configured to read the values out of the plurality of lookup tables grouped by the similarity detector, using address control information common to grouped lookup tables.
US08831132B2 Location system
A receiver device for receiving a signal that comprises one or more periodic features, the receiver device comprising: a detector configured to listen to the signal during at least a first reception phase, and to be triggered when a feature of the signal is received so as to determine the time of reception of that feature; and a receiver configured to process time-limited segments of the signal so as to derive information from features of the signal received during those segments, the receiver being configured to be dependent on the detector such that after the first reception phase the timings of the time-limited segments processed by the receiver are dependent on the time of reception determined by the detector.
US08831120B2 Adaptive subcarrier allocation to a mobile terminal in a multi cell FDM or OFDM network
The invention concerns a method for performing adaptive subcarrier allocation to a mobile terminal (T1-T4) for OFDM or FDM transmission in a multi cell network (CN), whereby transmit powers of base stations (BS1-BS8) are estimated, channel transfer functions are calculated based on measurements in the mobile terminal (T1-T4) of pilots transmitted from base stations (BS1-BS8), the transmit powers are weighted with the channel transfer functions, a signal power and an interference power received in the mobile terminal (T1-T4) are estimated based on said weighted transmit powers, a signal to interference ratio is estimated based on the estimated signal and interference power received in the mobile terminal (T1-T4), and the adaptive subcarrier allocation is based on the signal to interference ratio of the subcarriers experienced by the mobile terminal (T1-T4), a base station (BS1-BS8), a mobile terminal (T1-T4) and a multi cell network (CN) therefor.
US08831113B2 Communicating over powerline media using eigen beamforming
A system and method for communicating information through a powerline medium including at least three conductors, where the transmitter transmits at least two signals onto the powerline medium and the receiver receives one or more signals from the powerline medium. The transmitter adjusts the power transmitted into the powerline medium in order to set the adjusted transmit power to a predetermined level, e.g., a level that ensures power radiated from the powerline medium does not exceed a regulatory limit. The process of adjusting the transmit power may take into account a functional relationship between the transmitted power and properties of the channel.
US08831109B2 Agile decoder
A decoder arrangement (10) includes a processor (12) programmed to decode multiple streams (111-11n), including multiple streams of different formats. In terms of functionality, the decoder arrangement includes a routing stage (13) routes each streams to different decoder stages (141-14n), each capable of decoding a stream of a particular format to yield an uncompressed stream at its output. Each of plurality of buffer stages (161-16n) stores a successive frame of an uncompressed stream output by an associated decoder stage. An output stage scales and the frames stored by the buffer stages to a common size for input to a display device (22).
US08831106B2 Method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted.
US08831105B2 Method and apparatus for estimating motion vector using plurality of motion vector predictors, encoder, decoder, and decoding method
Provided are a method and apparatus for estimating a motion vector using a plurality of motion vector predictors, an encoder, a decoder, and a decoding method. The method includes calculating spatial similarities between the current block and the plurality of neighboring partitions around the current block, selecting at least one of the neighboring partitions based on the calculated spatial similarities, and estimating a motion vector of the selected partition as the motion vector of the current block.
US08831103B2 Image processing apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method in which a motion vector corresponding to the difference between the coordinates of an encoding target block and the coordinates of a reference block is calculated, a horizontal-direction fine adjustment filter Hh and a vertical-direction fine adjustment filter Hv are generated and applied to the reference block, which is further assigned to the encoding target block in order to generate a motion-compensated prediction image.
US08831101B2 Method and system for determining a metric for comparing image blocks in motion compensated video coding
Method and system for determination of a metric measuring a difference between two image blocks used in motion compensated video coding of scenes are described. Only selected pixels in a block in the scene are processed for enhancing the speed of the metric computation.
US08831100B2 Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus 1 includes a counter unit 102 which counts the number of pictures following an intra coded picture; and a motion estimation unit 101 which compares respectively only reference pictures which are the intra coded picture or the following pictures, selected from among a reference picture Ref1, a reference picture Ref2 and a reference picture Ref3 stored in memories 408˜410, with a picture signal Vin, and determines the reference picture whose inter picture differential value is smallest.
US08831098B2 Method and apparatus for encoding video in consideration of scanning order of coding units having hierarchical structure, and method and apparatus for decoding video in consideration of scanning order of coding units having hierarchical structure
A method and apparatus for decoding a video and a method and apparatus for encoding a video are provided. The method for decoding the video includes: receiving and parsing a bitstream of an encoded video; extracting, from the bitstream, encoded image data of a current picture of the encoded video assigned to a maximum coding unit, and information about a coded depth and an encoding mode according to the maximum coding unit; and decoding the encoded image data for the maximum coding unit based on the information about the coded depth and the encoding mode for the maximum coding unit, in consideration of a raster scanning order for the maximum coding unit and a zigzag scanning order for coding units of the maximum coding unit according to depths.
US08831097B2 Method and apparatus for encoding video in consideration of scanning order of coding units having hierarchical structure, and method and apparatus for decoding video in consideration of scanning order of coding units having hierarchical structure
A method and apparatus for decoding a video and a method and apparatus for encoding a video are provided. The method for decoding the video includes: receiving and parsing a bitstream of an encoded video; extracting, from the bitstream, encoded image data of a current picture of the encoded video assigned to a maximum coding unit, and information about a coded depth and an encoding mode according to the maximum coding unit; and decoding the encoded image data for the maximum coding unit based on the information about the coded depth and the encoding mode for the maximum coding unit, in consideration of a raster scanning order for the maximum coding unit and a zigzag scanning order for coding units of the maximum coding unit according to depths.
US08831095B2 Image encoding method and image decoding method
A moving image encoding method includes outputting encoded data that comprises an image code sequence corresponding to slices of a moving image and first timing information indicating times at which the slices are to be decoded.
US08831093B2 Video encoding control using non-exclusive content categories
In some embodiments, macroblock-level encoding parameters are assigned to weighted linear combinations of corresponding content-category-level encoding parameters. For example, a macroblock quantization parameter (QP) modulation is set to a weighted linear combination of content category QP modulations. Content categories may identify potentially overlapping content types such as sky, water, grass, skin, and red content. The combination weights may be similarity measures describing macroblock similarities to content categories. A macroblock may be associated with multiple content categories, with different similarity levels for different content categories. A similarity measure for a given macroblock with respect to a content category may be defined as a number (between 0 and 8) of neighboring macroblocks that meet a similarity condition, provided the macroblock meets a qualification condition. The similarity condition may be computationally simpler than the qualification condition. Content-category-level statistics are generated by combining block-level statistics. Content-category-level statistics may be used in encoding subsequent frames.
US08831091B2 Adaptive wireless channel allocation for media distribution in a multi-user environment
Adaptive wireless channel allocation in a multi-user environment based on quality of received video streams. During the transmission of encoded media streams from a wireless access device to at least first and second video devices over a wireless channel, transmission windows are allocated in shared transmission frame intervals for transmission of media packets to the first and second video devices, respectively. Relative priorities are set/adjusted for the video devices based, at least in part, on one or more of the following: channel estimation information, reception characteristics, transmission acknowledgment information, video device characteristics and/or user feedback. The relative priorities are utilized to adaptively (re)allocate at least one portion of the transmission frame intervals. In addition to channel reallocation, the prioritization of devices may be utilized to adaptively alter the encoding bit rate of one or more media streams.
US08831090B2 Method, system and apparatus for image capture, analysis and transmission
A method, system and apparatus for image capture, analysis and transmission are provided. A link aggregation method involves identifying controller network ports to a source connected to the same subnetwork; producing packets associating corresponding controller network ports selected by the source CPU for substantially uniform selection; and transmitting the packets to their corresponding network ports. An image analysis method involves producing by a camera an indication whether a region of an image differs by a threshold extent from a corresponding region of a reference image; transmitting the indication and image data to a controller via a communications network; and storing at the controller the image data and the indication in association therewith. The controller may perform operations according to positive indications. A transmission method involves receiving user input in respect of a video stream and transmitting, in accordance with the user input, selected data packets of selected image frames thereof.
US08831088B2 Image processing method and apparatus
Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. The image processing method includes: obtaining a reference block a having a first resolution and a differential block having the first resolution; transforming a resolution of a prediction block having the first resolution and a resolution of the differential block having the first resolution in order to generate a prediction block having a second resolution and a differential block having the second resolution, the prediction block having the first resolution and the differential block having the first resolution being generated based on a pixel value of the reference block having the first resolution; and synthesizing the generated prediction block having the second resolution and the generated differential block having the second resolution in order to generate a target block having the second resolution.
US08831085B2 Digital time-interleaved RF-PWM transmitter
A method for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals is provided. In-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals are received and filtered using sigma-delta modulation. I and Q pulse width modulation signals are generated from the filtered I and Q signals and interleaved so as to generate a time-interleaved signal. The time-interleaved signal is then amplified to generate the RF signals.
US08831076B2 Transceiver IQ calibration system and associated method
A transceiver in-phase and quadrature (IQ) calibration method is provided. When calibrating the transceiver, an adjusting unit is connected to an output terminal of a transmitter to receive a first radio-frequency (RF) signal. The adjusting unit adjusts a phase delay of the first RF signal to generate a second RF signal to be inputted to an input terminal of a receiver. Through adjusting the phase delay of the first RF signal, both the transmitter and the receiver can be calibrated at the same time.
US08831075B1 Rate selection in a communication system
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for adapting data rate. The method includes receiving a data transmission at a data rate, identifying a first quantity of packets that were not adequately received, and using the first quantity to increase a packet loss level. A second quantity of improper bits in those packets that were adequately received at the data rate are identified, and the second quantity is used to increase a bit error level. As a result of having determined that the first value does not satisfy a first criterion for reducing the rate of the data transmission and that the second value does satisfy a second criterion for increasing the rate of the data transmission, an instruction is sent for causing the sending device to increase the rate of the data transmission.
US08831074B2 High-speed receiver architecture
A receiver (or transceiver) is selectable between a Gaussian mode and a non-Gaussian mode. In the non-Gaussian mode, a transformation block applies a non-linear transformation to signal samples to convert non-Gaussian noise in the signal samples to Gaussian or approximately Gaussian noise. In the Gaussian mode, the transformation block is bypassed. Samples are equalized using an equalizer configured to operate with a Gaussian or approximately Gaussian channel.
US08831072B2 Electric monitoring system using a random phase multiple access system
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, are configured for receiving monitor data from an electric meter. A data stream is created based upon the monitor data. The data stream is spread with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code that is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point. The spread data stream is transmitted at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset. The spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset. The second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code.
US08831069B2 Water monitoring system using a random phase multiple access system
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, are configured for receiving monitor data from a water meter. A data stream is created based upon the monitor data. The data stream is spread with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code that is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point. The spread data stream is transmitted at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset. The spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset. The second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code.
US08831065B2 Method and system for fast synchronization and data reception for frequency hopping wireless communication systems
Methods and systems for fast synchronization and data reception for frequency hopping wireless communication systems are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include receiving a plurality of RF signals corresponding to a plurality of hopping frequencies. The RF signals may be processed in parallel to determine a hopping sequence. For example, the plurality of RF signals may be down-converted to a corresponding plurality of IF or baseband signals. The down-converted signals may be combined together to a single combined signal, and the single combined signal may then be processed to determine the frequency hopping sequence.
US08831063B2 Single carrier burst structure for decision feedback equalization and tracking
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for employing a special format for transmitting data blocks which allows parallel equalizations at a receiver. By applying parallel equalization operations, a clock at the receiver can operate at a fraction of the input signal's data rate, which is more practical in the case of very high data rates while power dissipation is also reduced.
US08831062B2 Semiconductor laser diodes
A semiconductor laser diode comprises a semiconductor body having an n-region and a p-region laterally spaced apart within the semiconductor body. The laser diode is provided with an active region between the n-region and the p-region having a front end and a back end section, an n-metallization layer located adjacent the n-region and having a first injector for injecting current into the active region, and a p-metallization layer opposite to the n-metallization layer and adjacent the p-region and having a second injector for injecting current into the active region. The thickness and/or width of at least one metallization layer is chosen so as to control the current injection in a part of the active region near at least one end of the active region compared to the current injection in another part of the active region. The width of the at least one metallization layer is larger than a width of the active region. This arrangement results in substantially uniform current distribution near the front end of the active region. Advantageously, this uniform current density significantly improves the reliability of the laser diode.
US08831060B2 Laser
The invention relates to a laser (1) for emitting laser light in the visible spectral range. A rare earth doped anisotropic crystal (2) comprising a 5d-4f transition is arranged within a laser resonator (7, 8), and a pumping light source (3) pumps the crystal (2) for generating laser light in the visible spectral range by using the 5d-4f transition. The 5d-4f transition of the rare earth doped anisotropic crystal comprises an absorption band extending over several nm. Thus, pump light having a wavelength within a relatively broad wavelength range can be used. This reduces the requirements with respect to the wavelength accuracy of the pumping light source and, thus, more pumping light sources of an amount of produced pumping light sources can be used for assembling the laser, thereby reducing the amount of rejects.
US08831059B2 Laser diode driver circuit
A laser diode drive circuit includes a laser diode (LD), a modulation-current differential drive circuit, a bias-current differential drive circuit, a first inductance connected between an anode of the LD and a positive power source, a second inductance connected between a cathode of the LD and a negative-phase output terminal of the bias-current differential drive circuit, a first resistor connected to a connection point of the anode of the LD and the first inductance and connected to a negative-phase output terminal of the modulation-current differential drive circuit, and a second resistor connected to a connection point of the cathode of the LD and the second inductance and connected to a positive-phase output terminal of the modulation-current differential drive circuit, and a positive-phase output terminal of the bias-current differential drive circuit is connected to the connection point.
US08831049B2 Tunable optical system with hybrid integrated laser
A tunable optical system with hybrid integrated semiconductor laser is provided. The optical system includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate; a first optical waveguide tunable comb filter formed at the first side of the SOI substrate; a second optical waveguide tunable comb filter with detuned filter response formed at the first side of the SOI substrate; an etched laser pit at the first side of the SOI substrate; a plurality of spacers formed on the bottom surface of the laser pit near the plane of the first side of the SOI substrate; a plurality of bumping pads formed on the bottom surface of the laser pit near the plane of the first side of the SOI substrate; and a laser chip flip-chip bonded at the first side of the SOI substrate supported by the spacers. Heating sections may be provided on the filters to tune the filters.
US08831046B2 Time synchronization in wireless communication networks
A communication terminal includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit and a baseband processor. The baseband processor is coupled to receive from the a servicing base station (BS) information indicating an extent of synchronization between the servicing BS and at least one other BS of the wireless communication network, and to process received signals, responsively to the extent of the synchronization specified in the received information, so as to cancel interference caused to the signals received from the servicing BS by signals transmitted by the at least one other BS.
US08831042B2 Method of transmitting sounding reference signal in wireless communication system
A method of transmitting a sounding reference signal includes generating a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) carrying uplink control information on a subframe, the subframe comprising a plurality of SC-FDMA (single carrier-frequency division multiple access) symbols, wherein the uplink control information is punctured on one SC-FDMA symbol in the subframe, and transmitting simultaneously the uplink control information on the PUCCH and a sounding reference signal on the punctured SC-FDMA symbol. The uplink control information and the sounding reference signal can be simultaneously transmitted without affecting a single carrier characteristic.
US08831037B2 Transmission module, reception module, transmission method, reception method, and communications system
A transmission module may include a first interface unit that inputs transmission target data and a trigger relating to halting transmission of the transmission data from a processing unit that performs processing in compliance with a communication protocol of an upper layer, a generating unit that generates a communication frame of a transport layer level corresponding to the transmission target data, a second interface unit that transmits the generated communication frame, and a setting unit that, when the trigger is inputted while communication frame corresponding to the transmission target data are being sequentially transmitted, sets a flag indicating the termination of transmission of the transmission target data to communication frame among those being transmitted which do not correspond to a final portion of the transmission target data.
US08831036B2 Large cell base station and communication control method
When the provided large cell base station (100) is to allocate a resource block to a radio terminal (200) connected to said large cell base station (100), band-use restriction information that indicates use restrictions on the frequency band corresponding to the aforementioned resource block is transmitted to a small cell base station (300). The large cell base station (100) then allocates the resource block to the radio terminal (200) after an amount of time corresponding to the signal transmission delay from the large cell base station (100) to the small cell base station (300) has passed since the aforementioned transmission.
US08831034B2 Methods and apparatus for handling time alignment in a cell with extended cell range
A solution for extending the cell range and in particular for a solution for handling timing alignment is presented herein. The solution comprises determining a distance between user equipment and a radio access network node. User equipment located at a distance related to a pre defined timing advance value is scheduled to handle uplink communication so as to arrive at a later time slot for reducing the risk of conflicting with other transmissions towards the access node.
US08831033B2 Controlling networked media capture devices
Disclosed embodiments allow media players and other electronic devices that operate under a first protocol to control the media capture devices that operate with a second protocol which may not be configurable to communicate with the first protocol. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a network device may store and/or render content within a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network and/or assist in content delivery for a DLNA device on a network. In another embodiment of the disclosure, a media capture device uses the Internet Protocol.
US08831031B2 Systems and methods for multi-pair ATM over DSL
At a transmitter, an ATM cell stream is received from the ATM layer and is distributed on a cell-by-cell bases across multiple DSL PHY's. At the receiver, the cells from each DSL PHY are re-combined in the appropriate order to recreate the original ATM cell stream, which is then passed to the ATM layer.
US08831029B2 Flexibly integrating endpoint logic into varied platforms
An integrated endpoint having a virtual port coupled between an upstream fabric and an integrated device fabric that includes a multi-function logic to handle various functions for one or more intellectual property (IP) blocks coupled to the integrated device fabric is disclosed. The integrated device fabric has a primary channel to communicate data and command information between the IP block and the upstream fabric and a sideband channel to communicate sideband information between the IP block and the multi-function logic.
US08831028B2 System and method for retransmitting packets over a network of communication channels
System and methods for transmitting packets over a network are provided. A system includes a network access coordinator (NAC) configured to communicate with first and second nodes via a network backbone. The NAC is configured to coordinate access of the first and second nodes to the network backbone. The NAC is configured to receive, from the first node in a first time period, a first reservation request to transmit a first packet to the second node. The NAC is configured to allocate, in response to the first reservation request, a first slot in a second time period for the first node to transmit the first packet to the second node. The NAC is configured to allocate a second slot for the second node to transmit, to the first node, a first reply that includes an indicator of whether the second node received the first packet.
US08831027B2 Method of aiding the reservation of resources for a packet switching network, and associated management device and aid device
A method intended to aid in the reservation of resources within a packet-switched communication network comprising a number N of relaying nodes. This method consists i), in determining for some at least of the N nodes at least one resource reservation plan Pik defined by a plan identifier associated with a stream identifier and at least two ports, and ii) in memorizing for each of the N nodes the various plans Pik relating to them.
US08831026B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically scheduling requests
Techniques are provided for dynamically scheduling requests in data processing systems in accordance with differentiated service levels. In a first aspect of the invention, a technique for processing a request to at least one server comprises the following steps. A request is received. Then, submission of the request to the at least one server is scheduled based on: (i) a quality-of-service (QoS) class assigned to a client from which the request originated; (ii) a response target associated with the QoS class; and (iii) an estimated response time associated with the at least one server. The technique may further comprise the step of withholding the request from submission to the at least one server when the request originated from a client assigned to a first QoS class to allow a request that originated from a client assigned to a second QoS class to meet a response target associated therewith.
US08831025B2 Parallel processing using multi-core processor
Disclosed are methods, systems, paradigms and structures for processing data packets in a communication network by a multi-core network processor. The network processor includes a plurality of multi-threaded core processors and special purpose processors for processing the data packets atomically, and in parallel. An ingress module of the network processor stores the incoming data packets in the memory and adds them to an input queue. The network processor processes a data packet by performing a set of network operations on the data packet in a single thread of a core processor. The special purpose processors perform a subset of the set of network operations on the data packet atomically. An egress module retrieves the processed data packets from a plurality of output queues based on a quality of service (QoS) associated with the output queues, and forwards the data packets towards their destination addresses.
US08831018B2 Media conversion device for interconnecting communication terminal devices with media converted and a method therefor
A gateway device includes a SIP server and a media converter. The SIP server uses media communication control data output from communication terminal devices (CTDs) to discriminate the communication media standards adopted by the CTDs, based on a call control, to call-control the CTDs. The media converter uses the communication media standards discriminated and acquired to convert media data, delivered from the CTDs, involved in communication, to a signal of a relevant communication media standard. The SIP server causes the communication media standard and information used for communication to be stored in an information memory. The media converter includes input/output interfaces, a controller, a media converter circuit and a data switcher. The interfaces verify whether or not the received data is media data, the media converter circuit converts the communication media standard of received media data received from the source CTD to a communication media standard of the destination CTD.
US08831016B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for configurable diameter address resolution
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for configurable Diameter address resolution are disclosed. One method includes, at a Diameter signaling router (DSR), sending Diameter signaling messages to and receiving Diameter signaling messages from Diameter signaling entities in a network. The method further includes providing for configuration of a plurality of routing entity identities and an order for preferentially using the routing entity identities in performing Diameter address resolution. The method further includes routing Diameter signaling messages using Diameter address information determined in the Diameter routing address resolution.
US08831014B2 Providing services at a communication network edge
As the proliferation of data rich content and increasingly more capable mobile devices has continued, the amount of data communicated over mobile operator's networks has increased. Upgrading the existing network that was designed for voice calls is not desirable or practical for many mobile operators. This disclosure relates to a mobility edge gateway that resides on the edge of the core network and can provide one or more services such as call localization, offloading of traffic, session management, and content streaming. The call localization involves identifying calls that can be maintained at the edge of the network and bridging the calls at the mobility edge gateway to bypass the core network. The offloading involves identifying traffic and offloading the traffic to the Internet or another network to bypass the core network. These services can relieve congestion on the core network of mobile operator's networks.
US08831013B2 Virtual and logical inter-switch links
A Layer 2 network switch is partitionable into a plurality of switch fabrics. The single-chassis switch is partitionable into a plurality of logical switches, each associated with one of the virtual fabrics. The logical switches behave as complete and self-contained switches. A logical switch fabric can span multiple single-chassis switch chassis. Logical switches are connected by inter-switch links that can be either dedicated single-chassis links or logical links. An extended inter-switch link can be used to transport traffic for one or more logical inter-switch links. Physical ports of the chassis are assigned to logical switches and are managed by the logical switch. Legacy switches that are not partitionable into logical switches can serve as transit switches between two logical switches.
US08831012B2 Determining paths in a network with asymmetric switches
According to particular embodiments, determining paths in a network with asymmetric switches includes receiving a graph representing the network. Each asymmetric switch has defined degree connectivity between one or more pairs of degrees of the asymmetric switch. The graph is transformed to yield a transformed graph that accounts for the asymmetric switches. A routing process is applied to the transformed graph to yield one or more paths through the network.
US08831007B2 Communication system, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
A communication system including a parent station and a plurality of child stations, the parent station and the plurality of child stations being line-connected or loop-connected in a plurality of stages, and the parent station comprises a decision unit configured to decide, based on information representing states of the plurality of child stations, which one a first data relay method of transmitting data to a subsequent station in accordance with a clock reproduced from data received from a preceding station and a second data relay method of transmitting data to the subsequent station in accordance with a local clock generated in a local station should be employed by each of the plurality of child stations.
US08831005B2 Processing data units
An embodiment of a method for processing data units is provided that includes receiving a plurality of data units, of a data stream, having respective sequence numbers and, employing a reordering window, determining whether a newly received data unit of the data stream is a new data unit or a repeated data unit at the receiver and defining a first and a second range of sequence numbers relative to the sequence number of a previously received data unit. A newly received data unit is determined to be either a new or a repeated data unit based on whether the sequence number of the newly received data unit falls within the first or second range, and processed at the receiver based on this determination. A handover condition is detected, and in response thereto the first and second ranges of the reordering window are adjusted for use during the handover condition.
US08831000B2 IP multicast service join process for MPLS-based virtual private cloud networking
A multicast cloud controller (“MCC”) in a cloud system implements a process to manage multicast traffic in a cloud network. The MCC is coupled to at least one virtualized server for hosting one or more virtual machines (“VM”), wherein the virtualized server comprises at least one virtual switch (“VS”) that supports multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and the virtual switch is coupled to a top of rack switch (“TORS”) that supports MPLS. MPLS is utilized to support multicast data traffic in the cloud system such that the system and method reduces state and is scalable.
US08830997B1 Preventing denial-of-service attacks employing broadcast packets
A network device including a processor having an internet protocol (IP) address, and a processor port configured to communicate exclusively with the processor. The network device also includes a plurality of network ports configured to communicate with network nodes external to the network device. In addition, the network device includes a forwarding engine configured to selectively transfer packets (i) among the plurality of network ports, and (ii) between the processor port and the plurality of network ports; receive a broadcast packet from one of the plurality of network ports, the broadcast packet including a target IP address; and forward the broadcast packet to the processor, via the processor port, only when both (i) the broadcast packet is a control packet, and (ii) the target IP address of the broadcast packet matches the IP address of processor.
US08830992B1 Fabric card and communications device
The fabric card includes at least one fabric card chip and at least two fabric card connector groups, where each fabric card connector group of the at least two fabric card connector groups includes at least two fabric card connectors, the number of fabric card chips is less than the number of at least two fabric card connector groups, each fabric card chip of the at least one fabric card chip connects to all fabric card connectors in at least one fabric card connector group, all fabric card connectors in the fabric card connector group that connect to the fabric card chip exchange data using the fabric card chip. This fully utilizes an exchange capability of the fabric card chip and saves system resources.
US08830987B2 IP-based call answering point selection and routing
An apparatus and a method for IP-based call answering point selection and routing. When an IP-based call is placed to an answering point such as, for example, a Public Safety Answering Point a location for the caller can not be determined using traditional DNIS and ANI based techniques. In the present invention, a geographic location (geolocation) for the caller is determined, from as IP address associated with the caller, using a database. The database comprises information obtained from a plurality of IP location sources (e.g. Skyhook Wireless Inc.'s Loki™, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandated WiFi™ hotspot registration data). An answering point is selected from a plurality of answering points as a function of the caller's location. The call is routed to the selected answering point and the caller's location information is provided to that answering point.
US08830984B2 Mapping schemes for secondary synchronization signal scrambling
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a synchronization unit configured to provide a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal having first and second segments. The transmitter also includes a secondary scrambling unit configured to provide a scrambled secondary synchronization signal, wherein scrambling agents for the first and second segments are derived from a primary synchronization sequence of the primary synchronization signal. The secondary scrambling unit is further configured to provide an additional scrambling of one of the first and second segments, wherein a second scrambling agent is derived from the remaining segment of a secondary synchronization sequence of the secondary synchronization signal. The transmitter further includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the primary synchronization signal and the scrambled secondary synchronization signal.
US08830981B2 Methods and apparatus to poll in wireless communications based on assignments
Example methods and apparatus to poll in wireless communications based on assignments are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a poll from a network during a first radio block period and identifying a resource for use in sending requested information to the network in response to the poll. The resource occurs during a subsequent radio block period, and the subsequent radio block period is separated from the first radio block period by at least one radio block period not assigned to the mobile station for transmission by the mobile station. The example method also involves transmitting a response to the poll.
US08830974B2 Mobile router with rate limiting
One embodiment of a mobile router, comprises: a wireless wide area network interface to access a cellular network and operable to receive downloaded data; a memory comprising a data rate limiting rule; and a processor. The processor is operable to generate usage data based on the quantity of the downloaded data during a predetermined time period, and is operable to control the data rate of downloaded data based on the usage data and the data rate limiting rule.
US08830971B1 Control of maximum number of concurrent local device connections for a mobile hotspot
Disclosed is a mobile hotspot that includes multiple cellular radios and that is arranged to limit the number of concurrent local connections that it will support, based at least in part on which of its cellular radios is currently active.
US08830970B2 System-assisted wireless local area network detection
In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can perform determining a position of a mobile device coupled to a first network; determining that the position of the mobile device is within a communications range of at least one wireless access point coupled to a second network; and transmitting a first signal to the mobile device via the first network, where the first signal indicates to apply power or greater power to a transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one wireless access point. In one or more embodiments, the mobile device can include a first transceiver configured to communicate with the first network and a second transceiver configured to communicate with the second network via the at least one wireless access point and can perform receiving the first signal from the first network and applying power or greater power to the second transceiver.
US08830966B2 Discontinuous transmission in a frame
An apparatus having a database and a circuit is disclosed. The database may be configured to store a plurality of entries. The circuit may be configured to (i) insert a plurality of indicators into a frame, (ii) generate the entries in the database and (iii) transmit the frame in response to the entries such that power is applied to an antenna corresponding to each of a plurality of data items in the frame and no power is applied to the antenna corresponding to each of the indicators in the frame. Each of the entries generally identifies a respective location in the frame. Each of the locations may begin a respective string comprising at least one of the indicators.
US08830965B2 Radio communication method, radio communication system, radio base station, and radio terminal station
This radio communication method is used to perform spatial multiplexing communication between cells in the overlap cell environment. In the MU-MIMO overlap cell environment, when a null is formed between a radio base station and a radio terminal station belonging to different cells, a first set of a “call signal” and a “response signal” is used to perform mutual detection with the radio base station and the radio terminal station belonging to different cells, and then a null is formed so as not to cause interference of radio waves between the radio base station and the radio terminal station belonging to different cells. At this time, the addresses of the radio base station and the radio terminal station are used to discriminate whether the radio base station and the radio terminal station belong to the same cell or different cells.
US08830963B2 Multimedia communicator
A multimedia communicator is disclosed. The multimedia communicator comprises a processing unit; and a storage device coupled to the processing unit. The multimedia communicator further includes a plurality of interfaces to allow the multimedia communicator to offer a user a plurality of services. The MMC which includes a microprocessor computing system may be located in a car, for example, or within a handset similar to handsets presently utilized for cell phones. The MMC may be connected to a WiFi Internet connection, a cellular network, a satellite radio or equivalent satellite network, or to other available wireless networks. Additionally, the MMC has the potential to interface with GPS signals as desired.
US08830959B2 Method and system for controlling a call handover between telecommunication networks
A method for controlling a call handover between telecommunication networks includes determining whether a User Equipment (UE), in communication with a first network, is engaged in a call attempt when the UE is to be transferred from the first network to a second network, if the UE is engaged in a call attempt, maintaining the UE communicating with the first network, and if the UE is not engaged in a call attempt, initiating the handover from the first network to the second network.
US08830958B2 Station device and wireless communication method thereof and mobile device and wireless communication method thereof
A station device includes: a communication unit wirelessly communicating with a mobile device that forms a subnet with the station device; a user input unit that receives a user command input for terminating a connection with a first access point and connecting to a second access point; and a controller that controls the communication unit so as to transmit, to the mobile device, connection change information for changing a connection of the mobile device in response to the user command.
US08830955B2 Multicast system using client forwarding
A system and method are disclosed for multicasting information to a set of clients that includes transmitting the information to a primary client from a server and instructing the primary client to forward the information to a secondary client.
US08830954B2 Protocol for communication between mobile station and WiMAX signaling forwarding function
A protocol for communication between a mobile station and a WiMAX signaling forwarding function is generally presented. In this regard, a method is introduced including generating a packet containing a header and a broadband wireless network message, the header to establish communication between a broadband wireless network single radio server and a mobile station in communication with a wireless network of a different standard from the broadband wireless network, storing the packet in a buffer, and transmitting the packet through a core network. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08830953B2 IMS to CS handover for IMS systems for legacy CS UE with home node B access
A system and method for allowing legacy circuit switch user equipment (CS UE) to operate via a packet switch system, such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) system, is provided. The mobility and session control aspects of communications with the legacy CS UE is separated. A user agent is placed in the receiving node (e.g., a home node B) that acts as the SIP agent for the CS UE for session control. An interworking function is provided to allow mobility between the macro CS network and the PS (e.g., IMS) network. Hand-back and hand-in procedures with service continuity are also provided.
US08830952B2 System and method for balancing network load in a non-transparent multi-hop relay network
A method for balancing network load includes determining an initial capacity of a wireless network comprising a plurality of endpoints coupled to a plurality of different types of access stations. The access stations comprise one or more relay stations and at least one base station. The method also includes identifying one or more endpoints that would increase capacity of the wireless network if switched to a different access station. The method further comprises tentatively switching the identified endpoints from their current access station to a different access station. The method additionally includes determining if the capacity of the wireless network is increased from the initial capacity by the tentative switch and, upon the capacity of the wireless network increasing, switching the identified endpoints from their current access station to a different access station.
US08830951B2 Multicasting or broadcasting via a plurality of femtocells
Aspects of a method and system for servicing a plurality of users via a plurality of femtocells are provided. In this regard, a cellular enabled communication device may receive portions of a datastream from a plurality of femtocells, reconstruct the datastream from the received portions of the datastream, and process the reconstructed datastream for presentation to a user of the cellular enabled communication device. The received portions may be buffered in the cellular enabled communication device. The portions of the datastream may be associated with a plurality of CDMA channel access codes. The portions of the datastream may be received via a plurality of cellular frequencies. The portions of the datastream may be received during a plurality of TDMA timeslots. Portions of the datastream may be received from a cellular base station. Portions of the datastream may be received from a WiMAX base station.
US08830946B2 Method and apparatus of providing a frame structure for supporting different operational modes
An approach provides a frame structure for supporting different operational modes. A frame is generated for transmission over a network to a first device and a second device over a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth, respectively. The preamble provides synchronization for operation over the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.
US08830941B2 Turbo modes for BAN-based communications
A first device is adapted to communicate with a second device using a protocol standard. The devices exchange security and connection setup frames using a preamble format and a header format defined in the protocol standard. The connection setup frames specify a modified protocol using a truncated preamble, a shortened header, or both. The devices configure their transceivers to transmit and receive frames formatted based on the modified protocol.
US08830938B2 Base station apparatus and communication terminal
Provided is a base station apparatus that employs a dynamic scheduler mode which performs wireless resource allocation for each subframe and applies a result of the allocation to the corresponding subframe, or a continuous transmission scheduler mode which performs wireless resource allocation for each subframe appearing periodically based on a period P and applies a result of the allocation for the relevant subframe to P continuous subframes from a subframe n to a subframe n+P−1. The base station apparatus includes a terminal communication device that communicates continuous transmission application ON/OFF information, which indicates whether or not the continuous transmission scheduler mode is employed, and continuous transmission period information, which indicates a period of continuous transmission scheduling according to the continuous transmission scheduler mode, to a terminal. The terminal communication device may store the continuous transmission application ON/OFF information and the continuous transmission period information in a PDCCH region.
US08830937B2 Method for multiple access to the radio resources in a mobile ad hoc network and system implementing the method
Method for multiple access to the radio resources in a mobile ad hoc network comprising a plurality of communicating mobile terminals or nodes, having known geographical coordinates, including constructing the said network, allocating reception frequency bands to each of the said active nodes of the said network, the said frequency bands being of identical width and spaced apart by a given minimum guard band, spreading code allocation performed by each of the said receiver active nodes of the said network for each of the said neighbor transmitter nodes to which it is directly linked by an active link according to an asynchronous CDMA method, and power control performed by each of the said receiver nodes of the said network for each of the said neighbor transmitter nodes to which it is directly linked by an active link.
US08830933B2 Method for communicating by using a convergence carrier wave, access network device, and terminal
A method for communicating by using a convergence carrier wave, an access network device and a terminal are provided. The method includes: scheduling a synchronizing signal and a broadcasting signal of a system onto a first available transmission frequency segment of a convergence carrier wave to transmit the synchronizing and the broadcasting signal to a terminal, where the convergence carrier wave includes at least two available transmission frequency segments, and a bandwidth of the convergence carrier wave is smaller than or equal to the maximum working bandwidth of the system; determining to use the at least two available transmission frequency segments of the convergence carrier wave to communicate with the terminal; and communicating with the terminal on the at least two available transmission frequency segments of the convergence carrier wave.
US08830931B2 Method for transmitting sounding reference signals in a wireless communication system, and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a method in which a user equipment transmits a plurality of sounding reference signals to a base station in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the method comprises the steps of: generating a plurality of sounding reference signals on the basis of repetition factors (RPFs) corresponding to the number of transmitting antennas; multiplexing the plurality of sounding reference signals to a frequency domain in the same OFDM symbol or SC-FDMA symbol on the basis of a transmitting antenna index; and transmitting the multiplexed sounding reference signals to the base station using a plurality of transmitting antennas.
US08830928B2 Mobile communication method and radio base station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: (A) notifying, from a first radio base station (MBS) to a second radio base station (FBS), scheduling information including information specifying a radio resource for a control channel through which a first mobile station (MUE) that is in communication in a first cell under the control of the first radio base station (MBS) transmits downlink control information or uplink control information, when the first radio base station (MBS) assigns the radio resource; and (B) assigning, at the second radio base station (FBS), a radio resource for a control channel through which a second mobile station that is in communication in a second cell under the control of the second radio base station (FBS) transmits downlink control information or uplink control information based on the scheduling information.
US08830927B2 Uplink control signaling in cellular telecommunication system
A method, apparatus, and computer program for controlling allocation of control message fields in uplink transmission in a cellular telecommunication system are presented. Uplink control message fields are allocated to the resources of a physical uplink shared traffic channel according to an uplink transmission scheme selected for a user terminal. The control message fields are allocated so that transmission performance of the control messages is optimized for the selected uplink transmission scheme.
US08830920B2 Resource block reuse for coordinated multi-point transmission
Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided to improve the efficiency of resource allocation in wireless communication networks. In one provided embodiment, a wireless communication device determines a received signal strength of each of a number of signals received from a number of transmission sectors, provides first channel information for first signals including a signal having a highest received signal strength and signals having a received signal strength above a specified level relative to the highest received signal strength, provides second channel information for second signals including signals having a received signal strength below the specified level, and receives an allocation of one or more resource blocks from assigned transmission sectors based on a ranking of the first channel information, whereby the one or more resource blocks are reallocated to another wireless communication device, from another transmission sector, based on the second channel information. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, it is to be understood that it should not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08830917B1 Short preamble in a physical layer data unit
In a wireless communication system where communication devices utilize physical layer (PHY) data units that conform to a first format to communicate information associated with a layer of a protocol stack above a media access channel (MAC) layer, where the first format is associated with a first number of symbols in a preamble, a method for generating a PHY data unit that conforms to a second format includes generating a preamble of the PHY data unit, where the preamble includes a second number of symbols, wherein the second number is smaller than the first number; and generating another portion of the PHY data unit.
US08830916B2 Method for the dynamic reservation and allocation of time slots in a network with service warranty
A method of resource reservation with service guarantee in terms of throughput and deadline at the level of the N nodes of a radio network using time slots to send and transmit data is disclosed, which implements a global reservation process in which a reservation message sent uses at least one of the following two parameters: the maximum deadline required to access the radio medium, the minimum throughput required in order to satisfy the service guarantee. A dynamic time slot allocation scheme is used that is defined in the following manner: the N nodes each include K slots, including a control slot, P elastic slots and (K-1-P) session slots, and the (K-1-P) session slots are amalgamated for the allocation of resources required by a node at a given instant.
US08830915B2 Methods of performing data communication in wireless communication system
A method of performing data communication with a base station by a mobile terminal in a wireless communication system includes transmitting uplink data to the base station or receiving downlink data from the base station by using first channel resource assignment information among two or more channel resource assignment information, receiving from the base station a channel resource modification indicator indicating that a channel resource for transmitting or receiving data should be modified, and transmitting the uplink data to the base station or receiving the downlink data from the base station by using second channel resource assignment information among the two or more channel resource assignment information. Therefore, the efficiency of a channel resource can be improved in a wireless communication system.
US08830906B1 Integrated quality of service interface for ethernet radio
A system includes a networking enabled system and a packet radio system. The packet radio system includes a wireless interface and a packet interface. The packet interface includes at least two queues, each queue configured to store a certain class of packets of Ethernet. A cable is operative to transport the packets from the networking enabled system to the packet interface using Ethernet signaling. The packet interface is configured to ascertain from time to time the rate at which the packets are sent from the queues over the wireless interface, and according to the rate, indicate dynamically to the network enabled system the classes of packets for which packets are to be sent over the cable for storage in the appropriate queues. The network enabled system is configured to send, over the cable, packets of classes indicated by the packet interface, while holding back other packets.
US08830903B2 Identification, alignment and cross polarization optimization for orthogonal polarized transmission and relay systems
A method of and system for distinguishing polarizations and information about the carrier signals transmitted from a repeating relay comprising encoding, using an encoder, a first data stream and a second data stream at a repeating relay, modulating, using a modulator, the first and second encoded data streams at the repeating relay, spreading, using a spreader, the first modulated data stream such that a first spread waveform results having first spreading characteristics and the second modulated data stream such that a second spread waveform results having second spreading characteristics, wherein the first spreading characteristics and the second spreading characteristics are different and differentiate the first spread waveform from the second spread waveform, and transmitting the first spread waveform as a first spread spectrum carrier signal on a first electromagnetic polarization and the second spread waveform as a second spread spectrum carrier signal on a second EM polarization.
US08830901B2 Mobile communication system
A radio base station includes a mobile communication system, a relay node and a radio base station connected via a radio bearer. A mobile station is configured to conduct a handover process between the state in which a radio bearer is set with the relay node in order to communicate via the relay node and the radio base station, and the state in which a radio bearer is set with the radio base station in order to communicate via the radio base station. The mobile station is configured such that during the handover process, control signals involved in the handover process are sent and received via a radio bearer between the relay node and the radio base station.
US08830898B2 Fast inter system push to talk operation
A method for establishing a press-to-talk (PTT) session between a first terminal serviced by a first communication system and a second terminal serviced by a second communication system, in which the first communication system and the second communication system are interconnected by a transmission link. The method includes receiving a transmission demand message (TX-DEMAND) from the first terminal, sending a transmission granted message (TX-GRANTED) to the first terminal and a transmission demand message (TX-DEMAND) to the second communication system if a communication channel is locally available for the press-to-talk session, receiving transmission packets from the first terminal and relaying the transmission packets to the second communication system, and then, continuing relaying transmission packets to the second communication system if a transmission granted message (TX-GRANTED) from the second communication system in reply to the transmission demand message (TX-DEMAND) is received.
US08830892B2 Radio power saving techniques for video conference applications
In video conferencing over a radio network, the radio equipment is a major power consumer especially in cellular networks such as LTE. In order to reduce the radio power consumption in video conferencing, it is important to introduce an enough radio inactive time. Several types of data buffering and bundling can be employed within a reasonable range of latency that doesn't significantly disrupt the real-time nature of video conferencing. In addition, the data transmission can be synchronized to the data reception in a controlled manner, which can result in an even longer radio inactive time and thus take advantage of radio power saving modes such as LTE C-DRX.
US08830890B2 Terminal battery aware scheduling
The present invention relates to a method and device (15) for scheduling transmission of queued data packets of at least one terminal (11, 12, 13). To this end, information indicating packet queue time and queue buffer size is acquired. Further, it is determined, for each queue of the at least one terminal, whether either estimated data packet delay for any queued data packet exceeds a delay threshold value or whether number of data packets queued exceeds a buffer size, and if so, the data packets of each queue is scheduled for transmission from the at least one terminal as a respective single bundle of data.
US08830888B2 Method and system for wireless charging using radio wave
A method and system for wireless charging using a radio wave. The method includes scanning a radio wave of an access point, determining an available charging frequency band among frequency bands, sending the access point a request for transmitting a charging radio wave at the charging frequency band, and switching power output from an antenna, to a battery circuit.
US08830887B2 System and method for multi-resolution packet transmission for ultra-low power wireless networks
A system and method for multi-resolution packet (MRP) transmission for ultra-low power wireless networks is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of transmitting a MRP for ultra-low power wireless networks and wherein each ultra-low power wireless network includes a transmitting unit and one or more communication units that communicate via wireless links, includes transmitting destination identifier data during a preamble period by the transmitting unit, not transmitting data during a midamble period that substantially follows the preamble period for processing the received destination identifier data to determine a destination identifier by the one or more communication units, and transmitting payload data during a payload period substantially following the midamble period for processing payload data received during the payload period based on the determined destination identifier during the midamble period.
US08830879B2 Method for performing handover in a mobile communication system
Disclosed is a method for enabling a mobile terminal to perform a handover in a mobile communication system. A serving base station which supports both a first communication scheme and a second communication scheme can transmit, to the mobile terminal, a neighbor base station list broadcast message containing time offset information indicating the point of time to transmit information on a second base station which uses the second communication scheme and supports only the second communication scheme via a specific zone using the second communication scheme. The mobile terminal which has received the message can receive, from the serving base station, the information on the second base station via the specific zone on the basis of the received time offset information.
US08830874B2 Method and apparatus for load balancing in cellular communication system
A method and an apparatus for load balancing a serving subcell providing a data service to one or more user equipments in a cellular communication system are provided. The method includes calculating a load metric by using a radio resource occupation rate of data traffic in one or more scheduling types except for a Best Effort (BE) scheduling type, determining whether the serving subcell is in an overload state by using the load metric, and triggering a load balancing algorithm when it is determined that the serving subcell is in the overload state. Accordingly, the load metric used for load balancing may be defined to have a value closer to an actual free load, and thus the load balancing may be efficiently performed.
US08830866B2 Methods and apparatus for solicited activation for protected wireless networking
Methods and apparatus that enable solicited access to a secure wireless network having complex security protocols. In one embodiment, such solicited access is performed using a streamlined or reduced number of user actions and includes an exemplary active/passive scanning protocol and use of an optimized service discovery protocol (SDP).
US08830858B2 Utilizing scanned radio access technology information
A method may include monitoring available radio access networks for information on one or more of types of radio access technologies, measurements of signal quality, measurements of signal strengths, or carrier identifiers of the available radio access networks; calculating network priorities for the available radio access networks based on the monitored information; detecting a border condition, the border condition based on a decrease in the measurements of signal quality or the measurements of signal strength; selecting, when a border condition is detected, a new radio access network from the available radio access networks based on the calculated network priorities of the available radio access networks; and connecting to a communication channel using the selected available radio access network.
US08830857B2 Name-to-address mapping system, data transmission method and name-to-address mapping maintenance method
The present invention discloses a name-to-address mapping system in a locator and identifier separation network. The system includes mapping nodes and access service nodes connected to each other through the network. The mapping node includes a transceiver module, a first storing module, a node determining module, a second storing module, and an address inquiring module. The present invention also discloses the corresponding method. In the present invention, the one-hop Distributed Hash Table (DHT) algorithm is used to generate a node routing table and a local mapping table whose performances are greatly improved when compared with the Content Addressable Network (CAN) algorithm, thus the phenomenon of the non-uniform distribution of mapping relations in mapping nodes caused by the operators assigning identities section-by-section can be avoided.
US08830856B2 Method for determining an instance for performing a channel state information measurement and communications apparatuses utilizing the same
A communications apparatus is provided. A processor is coupled to a transceiver, and at least comprises a first processor logic unit for performing a channel state information measurement at the sub-frame(s) comprised in a first sub-frame subset configured by a peer communications apparatus to obtain a first measurement result, a second processor logic unit for performing a second channel state information measurement at the sub-frame(s) comprised in a second sub-frame subset configured by the peer communications apparatus to obtain a second measurement result, a third processor logic unit for reporting the first measurement result and the second measurement result to the peer communications apparatus via the transceiver at one or more reporting instances. The reporting instances are determined based on a plurality of reporting parameters, and the reporting parameters are respectively configured for the first sub-frame subset and second sub-frame subset by the peer communications apparatus.
US08830854B2 System and method for managing parallel processing of network packets in a wireless access device
A system for managing parallel processing of network packets is also provided. A wireless access device that includes multiple transceivers and multiple processing units receives network packets. A media access controller determines which transceiver a received network packet is associated with. A tagging module determines whether the transceiver associated with the received network packet is bound to one of the processing units. In response to a determination that the transceiver is bound, a scheduler assigns the received packet to the processing unit the transceiver is bound to. In response to a determination that the transceiver is not bound, the tagging module binds the transceiver to a processing unit such that the processing unit processes network packets associated with the transceiver while the transceiver is bound to the processing unit, and the scheduler assigns the received network packet to the processing unit the transceiver is bound to.
US08830853B2 Signal processing
According to an embodiment, a mobile device includes wireless access circuitry configured to access a wireless communication network; a processor for executing a communication client application to conduct a packet-based call with a remote device via a channel established over the wireless communication network, the communication client application configured to monitor at least one network parameter; a hardware processing module selectively operable to implement a processing function; a software processing module selectively executable to implement said processing function; and a selection mechanism for supplying the call to one of the hardware processing module and software processing module based on the at least one monitored network parameter.
US08830851B2 Apparatus and method for supporting coverage expansion of compact cell in heterogeneous network system
An apparatus and method of operating a compact base station for supporting coverage area expansion of a compact cell in a heterogeneous network system are provided. The method includes determining whether an overload takes place in a coverage area where a compact base station and a plurality of terminals communicate using a first Frequency Assignment (FA) in a compact cell, determining whether resources are redistributable using a second FA in a coverage area expanded according to coverage area expansion of the compact cell, and when the resources are redistributable using the second FA in the coverage area expanded according to the coverage area expansion of the compact cell, changing the FA of at least one of the plurality of terminals communicating with the compact base station using the first FA in the compact cell, from the first FA to the second FA.
US08830846B2 Method and system for improving responsiveness in exchanging frames in a wireless local area network
A method and system for improving responsiveness in exchanging management and control frames in a wireless local area network are disclosed. An initiator sends a frame (action, management, control or data frame) to a responder. Upon correctly receiving the frame, the responder sends a response frame to the initiator instead of directly sending an acknowledgement (ACK) packet. The responder preferably accesses the wireless medium to send the response frame in a short inter-frame spacing (SIFS). With this scheme, a long delay associated with having to contend for the wireless medium to send the response frame is avoided and therefore, the responsiveness and timeliness of the feedback mechanism is significantly enhanced. The response frame may be piggybacked on or aggregated with another packet.
US08830839B2 Adaptive feedback of channel information for coordinated transmission on a wireless backhaul
A backhaul link is established between a base station and a relay that assists the base station in communicating with a mobile device over an access link established between the relay and the mobile device. The channel response of the backhaul link is determined by estimating first and second parts of the backhaul link channel response, the second part changing faster than the first part. The first part of the backhaul link channel response is estimated by calculating an average of the backhaul link channel response over a predetermined period at the relay and the second part is estimated by calculating variation in the backhaul link channel response over the predetermined period at the relay. Quantized versions of the first and second parts of the backhaul link channel response are transmitted from the relay to the base station over the backhaul link.
US08830828B2 Method and apparatus to prevent RAN (radio access network) overload for legacy networks in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus are disclosed to prevent RAN (Radio Access Network) overload for legacy networks in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, the method comprise initiating a RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection establishment procedure to access a cell. The method further comprises performing an access barring check. The method also comprises extending a barring time autonomously.
US08830825B2 Method and system for priority based (1:1)n ethernet protection
A method for priority-based protection includes assigning a priority to each of a plurality of flows associated with a plurality of working paths, wherein each of the plurality of the flows has a unique priority. The method also includes determining that one or more of the working paths has failed, and determining the available bandwidth on a protection path upon the failure of the one or more of the working paths. In addition, the method includes determining the priority of the flows on the one or more failed working paths, and switching two or more flows from the one or more failed working paths to the protection path based on at least the priority of the two or more flows, the bandwidth of the working path and the available bandwidth on the protected path.
US08830821B2 Method for supporting MPLS transport path recovery with multiple protection entities
A system and method for selecting MPLS network transport entities between a first endpoint and a second endpoint are presented. Working and protection entities are selected from a set of available entities based upon minimizing the probability of simultaneous failure and/or minimizing a cost function base upon one or more metrics.
US08830818B2 Forward handover under radio link failure
System(s) and method(s) are provided for forward handover under radio link failure. A configurable criterion for radio link failure (RLF) is established through a reference threshold for a channel quality metric; the threshold (CQITH) can be determined at least on a quality-of-service basis or a per-terminal basis. A low-overhead indication of RLF is conveyed as a NULL CQI when the channel quality metric is below threshold. Onset of RLF triggers preparation of forward handover (FHO) at a terminal within a predetermined timer, during which normal service can resume if link quality recovers above CQITH. Forward handover is pursued once timer elapses. Preparation at the terminal can be complemented by preparation implemented in advanced to RLF condition, in accordance to a disparate threshold applied to terminal's measurements. Preparation of FHO includes backhaul exchange of operational information like buffered data, and context.
US08830807B2 Reproduction and recording method and reproduction and recording device using a virtual bit for address expansion of a recording medium while maintaining a conventional wobble address structure
Obtain an expanded address without altering the bit number of an address which is embedded in a wobble. Generate a virtual bit which is not recorded on a disc, and which is expressed by the disparity from the rules and the presence or absence of information embedded in part or all of the wobble address.
US08830803B2 Optical drive device
An optical drive apparatus that reproduces an optical disk having a land and a groove, the optical drive apparatus including a first tracking-error-signal generating unit that generates a first tracking error signal by using a DPD method, a second tracking-error-signal generating unit that generates a second tracking error signal by using a DPP method, a tracking servo unit that controls the optical system, and a determining unit that determines that an irradiation point of an optical beam is in a non-recorded area. The tracking servo unit switches over to a control based on the second tracking error signal in response to a result of determination by the determining unit during performing a control based on the first tracking error signal.
US08830797B2 Timepiece
This timepiece comprises an indicator dial (40), a days-of-the-month mechanism (1) comprising a days-of-the-month mobile (10) and a stepper drive member (13) for driving the days-of-the-month mobile (10), a months mobile (30) coaxial with the days-of-the-month mobile placed beneath said dial (40) and connected to the days-of-the-month mobile (10) by stepper drive means (12, 20) formed so that the months mobile (30) turns through an angle of 30° each month. The dial (40) has twelve windows (41) that are angularly equidistant and the months mobile (30) supports a distinctive zone (32) of which the trajectory passes through said windows (41) and of which the maximum angular extent is 30° and the minimum angular extent corresponds to that of said windows (41).
US08830796B2 Information processing apparatus, information to be browsed registration method, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes: a snooze button; an alarm stop button; an alarm processing unit that outputs the alarm at alarm time to be scheduled get-up time, resumes the alarm when manipulating the snooze button during the alarm after suspending the alarm for a predetermined period, stops the alarm when manipulating the alarm stop button during the alarm, and stops, when manipulating the alarm stop button during the suspension of the alarm, resuming the alarm after suspending the alarm; a computing unit that calculates, when stopping the alarm or stopping resumption of the alarm at the alarm processing unit, a get-up index based on the number of times to manipulate the snooze button from the start of the alarm to the manipulation of the alarm stop button; and a registration unit that registers the get-up index as the information to be browsed in the server.
US08830793B2 System and method for collision avoidance in underwater vehicles
A system for providing collision avoidance in underwater vehicles contains a spectral analysis module for determining expectation value of acoustic (incoherent) intensity. The system also contains an intercept time estimation module for: receiving continuous time series of a current incoherent acoustic intensity and low pass filtering the time series of the current incoherent acoustic intensity; estimating temporal intensity rate of change; determining an estimated time to collision for an approaching source; and performing statistical regression analysis resulting in an estimated time of potential collision and an uncertainty measure.
US08830792B2 Mobile device localization using audio signals
Mobile device localization using audio signals is described. In an example, a mobile device is localized by receiving a first audio signal captured by a microphone located at the mobile device and a second audio signal captured from a further microphone. A correlation value between the first audio signal and second audio signal is computed, and this is used to determine whether the mobile device is in proximity to the further microphone. In one example, the mobile device can receive the audio signals from the further microphone and calculate the correlation value. In another example, a server can receive the audio signals from the mobile device and the further microphone and calculate the correlation value. In examples, the further microphone can be a fixed microphone at a predetermined location, or the further microphone can be a microphone located in another mobile device.
US08830786B1 Fluid distribution device
Techniques are disclosed herein relating to distribution of fluids. These techniques may be useful in, for example, supplying pressurized air to seismic sources (or arrays of seismic sources), such as those used in marine seismic operations. Some embodiments of this disclosure include a pipe that passes through a fluid distribution block. The pipe may be configured such that it is able to slide along and/or twist about a longitudinal axis of the distribution block. This technique may reduce the effects of the various stresses that may operate on marine seismic source equipment as it is towed through a body of water.
US08830784B2 Negative word line driver for semiconductor memories
A semiconductor memory includes a word line driver and a negative voltage generator. The word line driver includes a first inverter configured to drive a word line at one of a first voltage supplied by a first voltage source and a second voltage supplied by a second voltage source. The negative voltage generator is configured to provide a negative voltage with respect to the second voltage to an input of the first inverter in response to a control signal for performing at least one of a read or a write operation of a memory bit cell coupled to the word line.
US08830782B2 Memory circuits having a plurality of keepers
A circuit including a memory circuit, the memory circuit includes a first plurality of memory arrays and a first plurality of keepers, each keeper of the first plurality of keepers is electrically coupled with a corresponding one of the first plurality of memory arrays. The memory circuit further includes a first current limiter electrically coupled with and shared by the first plurality of keepers.
US08830778B2 Refresh method and semiconductor memory device using the same
A semiconductor memory device includes an all bank select signal generation block configured to receive level signals including information on at least one bank which has been refreshed, and generate all bank select signals, in response to an all bank refresh command; and a bank block including a plurality of banks which are configured to be refreshed in response to the all bank select signals or are refreshed in response to per bank select signals which are enabled when the level signals are enabled.
US08830776B1 Negative charge pump regulation
A negative charge pump is responsive to a pump enable signal. A voltage controlled current source provides a current. A resistor is coupled between a node from the voltage controlled current source and a negative charge output from the negative charge pump. A capacitor is placed in parallel with the resistor. A comparator generates the pump enable signal to control the negative charge pump. The comparator is coupled to the resistor and the capacitor and measures an IR drop thereacross and compares this measurement against a reference threshold. A level of the pump enable signal can be variable by tuning an amount of resistance of the resistor or capacitor or adjusting the reference threshold. A memory can be driven by a method of the negative charge pump.
US08830774B2 Semiconductor memory device
In a static random access memory (SRAM) device having a hierarchical bit line architecture, a local sense amplifier (SA) circuit includes P-channel transistors which precharge local bit lines connected to memory cells, P-channel transistors each having a gate connected to a corresponding one of the local bit lines and a drain connected to a corresponding one of global bit lines, and N-channel transistors each having a gate connected to a corresponding one of the global bit lines and a drain connected to a corresponding one of the local bit lines. As a result, restore operation to a non-selected memory cell during write operation can be achieved without the need of a fine timing control, the speed of read operation by a feedback function can be increased, and the area can be reduced.
US08830770B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for generating bit line equalizing signal
A bit line equalizing signal generator of a semiconductor memory device uses a supply voltage and a pumping voltage in stages during a period where a bit line equalizing signal is enabled, thereby enhancing an equalizing speed and an active speed while minimizing power consumption. The semiconductor memory device includes a bit line equalizing signal generating unit configured to drive an output terminal with the supply voltage during a first activation period at the beginning of the period where the bit line equalizing signal is enabled, and to drive the output terminal with the pumping voltage higher than the supply voltage during a second activation period following the first activation period, thereby outputting the bit line equalizing signal, and a bit line equalizing unit configured to equalize a bit line pair in response to the bit line equalizing signal.
US08830756B2 Dynamic detection method for latent slow-to-erase bit for high performance and high reliability flash memory
A method and apparatus for detecting a latent slow bit (e.g., a latent slow-to-erase bit) in a non-volatile memory (NVM) is disclosed. A maximum number of soft program pulses among addresses during an erase cycle is counted. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a number of erase pulses during the erase cycle is counted. In accordance with various embodiments, determinations are made as to whether the maximum number of the soft program pulses has increased at a rate of at least a predetermined minimum rate comparing to a previous erase cycle, whether the maximum number of the soft program pulses has exceeded a predetermined threshold, whether the number of erase pulses has increased comparing to a previous erase cycle, or combinations thereof. In response to such determinations, the NVM is either passed or failed on the basis of the absence or presence of a slow bit in the NVM.
US08830755B1 Reducing weak-erase type read disturb in 3D non-volatile memory
A read process for a 3D stacked memory device provides an optimum level of channel boosting for unselected memory strings, to repress both normal and weak-erase types of read disturbs. The channel is boosted by controlling of voltages of bit lines (Vbl), drain-side select gates (Vsgd_unsel), source-side select gates (Vsgs_unsel), a selected level (word line layer) of the memory device (Vcg_sel), and unselected levels of the memory device (Vcg_unsel). A channel can be boosted by initially making the drain-side and source-side select gates non-conductive, to allow capacitive coupling from an increasing Vcg_unsel. The drain-side and/or source-side select gates are then made conductive by raising Vsgd_unsel and/or Vsgs_unsel, interrupting the boosting. Additionally boosting can occur by making the drain-side and/or source-side select gates non-conductive again while Vcg_unsel is still increasing. Or, the channel can be driven at Vbl. Two-step boosting drives the channel at Vbl, then provides boosting by capacitive coupling.
US08830754B2 Memory access method and flash memory using the same
A memory access method is applied in a memory controller for accessing a memory array, including a number of respective select switches globally controlled with a string select signal. The memory access method includes: enabling the string select signal and disabling the string select signal before a read phase.
US08830742B2 Magnetic memory
A magnetic memory according to an embodiment includes: a magnetic structure extending in a first direction and having a circular ring-like shape in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the first direction; a nonmagnetic layer formed on an outer surface of the magnetic structure, the outer surface extending in the first direction; and at least one reference portion formed on part of a surface of the nonmagnetic layer, the surface being on the opposite side from the magnetic structure, the at least one reference portion containing a magnetic material.
US08830740B2 Semiconductor storage device
The purpose of the present invention is to improve a rewriting transmission rate and reliability of a phase change memory. To attain the purpose, a plurality of phase change memory cells (SMC or USMC) which are provided in series between a word line (2) and a bit line (3) and have a selection element and a storage element that are parallel connected with each other are entirely set, and after that, a part of the cells corresponding to a data pattern is reset. Alternatively, the reverse of the operation is carried out.
US08830736B2 Initialization method of a perpendicular magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device with a stable reference cell
A method of initializing a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) element that is configured to store a state when electric current flows therethrough is disclosed. The MRAM element includes a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) for storing a data bit and a second MTJ for storing a reference bit. The direction of magnetization of the FL is determinative of the data bit stored in the at least one MTJ and each MTJ further includes a magnetic reference layer (RL) having a magnetization with a direction that is perpendicular to the film plane, and a magnetic pinned layer (PL) having a magnetization with a direction that is perpendicular to the film plane. The direction of magnetization of the RL and the PL are anti-parallel relative to each other in the first MTJ. The direction of magnetization of the FL, the RL and the PL are parallel relative to each other in the second MTJ for storing reference bit.
US08830732B2 SRAM cell comprising FinFETs
A Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell includes a first long boundary and a second long boundary parallel to a first direction, and a first short boundary and a second short boundary parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and the second long boundaries are longer than, and form a rectangle with, the first and the second short boundaries. A CVss line carrying a VSS power supply voltage crosses the first long boundary and the second long boundary. The CVss line is parallel to the second direction. A bit-line and a bit-line bar are on opposite sides of the CVss line. The bit-line and the bit-line bar are configured to carry complementary bit-line signals.
US08830723B2 Method of driving nonvolatile semiconductor device
Pulse voltages V1 and V2 are applied to the first upper gate electrode and the second upper gate electrode, respectively, for a period T1 which is shorter than a period necessary to invert all the polarizations included in the ferroelectric film, while voltages Vs, Vd, and V3 are applied to the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the lower gate electrode film, respectively, so as to increase the values of the widths WRH1 and WRH2 and so as to decrease the value of the width WRL. The pulse voltages V1 and V2 have a smaller voltage than a voltage necessary to invert all the polarizations included in the ferroelectric film. The voltage Vs, the voltage Vd, the voltage V3, the pulse voltage V1, and the pulse voltage V2 satisfy the following relationship: Vs, Vd, V3
US08830721B2 Encoded read-only memory (ROM) bitcell, array, and architecture
Embodiments provide improved memory bitcells, memory arrays, and memory architectures. In an embodiment, a memory cell comprises a transistor having drain, source, and gate terminals; and a plurality of program nodes, with each of the program nodes charged to a pre-determined voltage and coupled to a respective one of a plurality of bit lines.
US08830720B2 Circuit and system of using junction diode as program selector and MOS as read selector for one-time programmable devices
Junction diodes fabricated in standard CMOS logic processes can be used as program selectors for One-Time Programmable (OTP) devices, such as electrical fuse, contact/via fuse, contact/via anti-fuse, or gate-oxide breakdown anti-fuse, etc. The OTP device has at least one OTP element coupled to at least one diode in a memory cell. The diode can be constructed by P+ and N+ active regions in a CMOS N well, or on an isolated active region as the P and N terminals of the diode. The isolation between P+ and the N+ active regions of the diode in a cell or between cells can be provided by dummy MOS gate, SBL, or STI/LOCOS isolations. The OTP cell can have a MOS in series with the OTP element as a read selector. The OTP element can be polysilicon, silicided polysilicon, silicide, polymetal, metal-0, metal, metal alloy, local interconnect, thermally isolated active region, CMOS gate, or combination thereof.
US08830718B2 Magnetic memory
A magnetic memory includes a magnetic wire, a first insulating layer, first electrodes a second electrode, a current supplying module, and a voltage applying module. The magnetic wire includes a first portion and a second portion, has a first electric resistance value, and is configured to form magnetic domains. The first electrodes are formed on the first insulating layer, arranged along the magnetic wire, and spaced from each other. The second electrode includes a third portion and a fourth portion. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first electrodes between the third portion and the fourth portion and has a second electric resistance value being larger than the first electric resistance value. The current supplying module is configured to supply the magnetic wire with a pulse current. The voltage applying module is configured to apply a voltage that decreases with time.
US08830713B2 Method and apparatus for operating a converter circuit having plural input and output phase connections and plural two-pole switching cells
A method and apparatus are provided for operating a converter circuit, which includes n input phase connections and p output phase connections, where n≧2 and p≧2, and (n·p) two-pole switching cells for switching at least one positive and negative voltages between the poles. Power semiconductor switches of the switching cells are driven a drive signal. To reduce undesired circulating currents and adjust the mean voltage deviation of capacitive energy storage of all the switching cells to zero, an inductance is connected into each series connection, with a switching cell together with an inductance in each case forming a phase module. For each phase module, the drive signal is formed from a reference signal based on the voltage across the phase module and from a voltage signal across the inductance. The voltage signal is formed from an intermediate setpoint value of the current through the phase module.
US08830709B2 Transmission-line resistance compression networks and related techniques
A resistance compression network to shape an input impedance at a port for transferring energy to multiple loads at a first frequency includes first and second transmission line segments having outputs for coupling to first and second loads and having different electrical lengths at a first frequency and a compression port coupled to inputs of both the first and the second transmission line segments. Over a set of operating conditions of interest, an equivalent resistance looking into the compression port at the frequency varies over a first resistance range as equivalent resistances of the first and second loads vary over a second resistance range and a range ratio associated with the first resistance range is less than a range ratio associated with the second resistance range and the range ratio of a subject range is a ratio of a largest resistance value in the subject range to a smallest resistance value in the subject range.
US08830708B2 Fault current limitation in DC power transmission systems
A method, voltage source converter and computer program product for limiting the current in a DC power transmission system are disclosed. The voltage source converter has an AC side and a DC side and a fault current path between these sides. It furthermore includes a control unit and at least one switching unit of a first type provided in the fault current path and that includes a primary switching element together with an anti-parallel secondary controllable rectifying element. Based on a fault being detected in the DC power system when the primary switching elements of the converter are blocked, the control unit changes the control of the controllable rectifying element from acting as a non-controllable rectifying to acting as a controllable rectifying element.
US08830707B2 Power converter
This current converter is formed to short-circuit input-side terminals of a plurality of power conversion portions, to parallelly connect output-side terminals of the plurality of power conversion portions with each other and to couple inductors provided on the plurality of power conversion portions respectively with each other, to be capable of performing an operation of moving currents between windings of the coupled inductors on the basis of ON-/OFF-states of pluralities of one-way switches.
US08830704B2 Power converter
A power supply unit has one end on the low potential side, said end being connected to a switching element on the power supply line side, and serves as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to the switching element. A switching element includes a first and a second electrode, and renders an electric current in only a direction from the second electrode to the first electrode conducting. A diode is connected in parallel to the switching element while the cathode thereof is directed to a power supply line. A capacitor has one end connected to the first electrode of the switching element and the other end connected to the other end of the power supply unit, and serves as an operation power supply for outputting a switch signal to the switching element.
US08830703B2 Power supply apparatus having plural converters and a zero crossing signal output unit
The power supply apparatus includes a first control part that controls a switching operation of a first converter, a second control part that controls a switching operation of a second converter, a zero crossing circuit that outputs a zero crossing signal of a voltage to be input; and a voltage supply part that supplies a DC voltage obtained by rectifying an output of an auxiliary coil of a transformer of the first converter to the first control part, the second control part, and the zero crossing circuit. When the first converter stops, the supply of the DC voltage to the second control part and the zero crossing circuit is stopped to reduce a power consumption.
US08830701B2 DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter is configured with a voltage-source power converter at a primary side of a transformer, a current-source power converter at a secondary side of the transformer, and a controller. The DC-DC converter is connected between a storage battery and an inverter that drives an electric motor. The controller generates a first control input based on a voltage between input and output terminals of the voltage-source power converter, a second control input based on a voltage between input and output terminals of the current-source power converter, and a command value for PWM or PFM control based on the first and second control inputs and an input-output current flowing between one of the input and output terminals of the voltage-source power converter and the current-source power converter. Therefore, it is easy to switch between a powering state and a regenerating state.
US08830700B2 DC-DC converter and method for controlling DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter is configured with a voltage-source power converter provided at a primary side of a transformer, a current-source power converter provided at a secondary side of the transformer, and a controller. The controller generates a first control input based on a voltage between input and output terminals of the voltage-source power converter, a second control input based on a voltage between input and output terminals of the current-source power converter, and a command value for PWM or PFM control based on the first and second control inputs and an input-output current flowing between one of the input and output terminals of the voltage-source power converter and the current-source power converter. Therefore, it is easy to switch between a powering state and a regenerating state in the DC-DC converter.
US08830696B2 Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing, a front frame provided forward of the housing, and a display assembly accommodated in the housing. The display assembly includes a display and a transparent plate provided forward of the display. The transparent plate is larger in outer dimension than the display and has a flange portion extending outward with respect to an outer edge of the display. A seal member is interposed between the flange portion and an outer peripheral portion of the housing. When the housing and the front frame are fastened to each other, a front surface of the flange portion of the transparent plate is brought into pressure contact with a rear surface of the front frame, and the seal member is sandwiched between the front frame and the housing with a pressure applied thereto.
US08830691B2 Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing printed circuit board
A printed circuit board including a core substrate including a first resin substrate, a second resin substrate having an opening and a third resin substrate in a multilayer manner while interposing bonding plates, insulating layers and conductive circuit layers alternately laminated on the core substrate, solder bumps formed on an outer surface of the printed circuit board, a first capacitor formed in the opening of the second resin substrate, a conductive pad formed on the first resin substrate and connected to an electrode of the first capacitor, a via hole formed in the first resin substrate and directly connected to the conductive pad and a conductive circuit on the core substrate, and a second capacitor mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board.
US08830687B2 Lightweight audio system for automotive applications and method
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips.
US08830686B2 In-vehicle electronic control unit housing
A housing for an in-vehicle electronic control unit is disclosed. The housing includes: a case made of resin and formed into a box shape having an opening; a board received in the case and provided with an electronic part, the electronic part being mounted to the board; a cover made of metal and covering the opening of the case so that the board is arranged between the case and the cover; and multiple stays each provided to fix the cover or the case to a vehicle. The multiple stays include a first stay made of the resin and formed on the case, and a second stay made of the metal and formed on the cover.
US08830683B2 Expansion card and motherboard for supporting the expansion card
A motherboard assembly includes a motherboard and an expansion card. The motherboard includes an expansion slot, a storage device interface, a power connector, and a central processing unit (CPU). The expansion slot includes a protrusion, first signal pins connected to the CPU, first power pins connected to the power connector. The expansion card includes a circuit board. A storage unit, a display unit, a power circuit, and a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) connector connected to the storage unit and the storage device interface of the motherboard are all arranged on the circuit board. A notch is defined in a bottom edge of the circuit board, to receive the protrusion. An edge connector is arranged on a bottom edge of the circuit board and includes second power pins connected to the power circuit, and second signal pins connected to the display unit.
US08830674B2 Cooling system and electronic device including the cooling system
The present disclosure discloses a cooling system and an electronic device. The cooling system is configured to cool a circuit board assembly in an orthogonal architecture, where the circuit board assembly is arranged inside a cabinet. The cooling system includes: a first cooling air duct that allows air to flow from the front area of the cabinet corresponding to the region of the circuit board assembly into the cabinet and flow through the front portion of the circuit board assembly, then be distributed into two lateral sides of the circuit board assembly, and be discharged out of the cabinet; and a second cooling air duct that allows air to flow from the front area of the cabinet corresponding to one end of the circuit board assembly into the cabinet and through the rear portion of the circuit board assembly, and then be discharged out of the cabinet.
US08830666B2 Bag computer sliding deployment display panel assembly
The disclosed invention is a bag with a computer display panel attached to it. The display panel remains attached to the bag by a retainer while it pivots near the top front corner of the bag so that the operator/wearer of the bag can view the display. To move from an operating to storage position, the display panel pivots upward into a vertical position and slides downward into a pocket-like holder on the bag front. The retainer attaches to the bag inside the holder. For maintaining an angular position of the display panel relative to the bag front when in operation, the display panel includes a prop extending to the holder front. The prop presses against the holder front while the display panel is supported by the retainer. A computing unit panel, electrically connected to the display panel, may be attached to the inside front of the bag.
US08830664B2 Complementary ground and support members
A ground member of a personal electronic device includes a base and a first deflection arm formed of a portion of the base. The first deflection arm exposes a cutout portion of the base and is bent along a first bend line. The cutout portion is dimensioned to engage with a complementary dimensioned support member and the first deflection arm is configured to deflect and engage with the support member in response to insertion of the support member in the cutout portion. The ground member further includes a second deflection arm extending from the base and bent along a second bend line.
US08830658B2 Switchgear cabinet arrangement of a device for producing electric energy
The invention relates to a switch cabinet arrangement of a device for generating electrical energy, wherein the switch cabinet arrangement comprises at least two separate power switch cabinets. The technical object of achieving an optimum scalability of devices for generating electrical energy with at the same time a simple installation and maintenance of the power switch cabinets despite a small available installation space, is achieved according to the invention in that the power switch cabinets respectively comprise a machine connection, a power module, a mains connection and a decentralised control unit, wherein the power module comprises a machine converter, a mains converter, a direct voltage intermediate circuit and a chopper, and wherein the power switch cabinets are electrically connected in parallel to one another via the machine connection and the mains connection.
US08830655B2 Tabless roll capacitor and capacitor stack
A capacitor (20A-E) formed as a roll of inner and outer electrode strips (21, 23) alternating with inner and outer dielectric strips (22, 24). Each of the dielectric strips (22, 24) is shorter than an inwardly adjacent one of the electrode strips (21, 23) at a radially outer end thereof (21 E, 23E). This exposes the radially outer end of each electrode strip on respectively different portions of an outer side surface (26, 28) of the capacitor. The exposed ends of the electrode strips may be arranged on opposite sides of the capacitor, such that stacking the capacitors interconnects them either in parallel, in series, or in combinations thereof in different embodiments.
US08830653B2 Graphene mounted on aerogel
An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.
US08830651B2 Laminated ceramic capacitor and producing method for laminated ceramic capacitor
A laminated ceramic capacitor having high electrostatic capacitance and excellent lifetime characteristics, even when in a high electric field intensity employs a dielectric ceramic including crystal grains and crystal grain boundaries which contains, as its main constituent, a perovskite-type compound including Ba, Ca, and Ti, and further contains Mg, R (Y, La, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and/or Yb), and Zr, such that when the laminated body is dissolved, the contents in terms of parts by mol are Ca: 3 to 15 parts by mol, Mg: 0.01 to 0.09 parts by mol, R: 2.5 to 8.4 parts by mol, and Zr: 0.05 to 3.0 parts by mol with respect to 100 parts by mol of Ti, and there is Ca at least at the centers of the crystal grains.
US08830650B2 Ionizer and static charge eliminating method
An ionizer includes two needle electrodes, and a high voltage generating unit for applying a first AC voltage to one of the needle electrodes, and for applying a second AC voltage, having a frequency higher than a frequency of the first AC voltage, to another of the needle electrodes. Static charge of a charged body is eliminated by releasing generated positive ions or negative ions, which are generated in the vicinity of the needle electrodes, toward the body.
US08830649B2 Free-wheeling circuit
A free-wheeling circuit is disclosed for the rapid reduction of a shutdown overvoltage of an inductive load when the latter is shut down. The free-wheeling circuit includes a switching threshold component by which the free-wheeling circuit becomes active more rapidly compared to a free-wheeling circuit without said switching threshold component, thereby ensuring a more rapid reduction of the shutdown overvoltage. If a control voltage provided by a control voltage source falls below a threshold voltage set by the switching threshold component, a capacitive energy accumulator is immediately discharged and not only when the control voltage is reduced to near zero, and the energy accumulator then activates the free-wheeling circuit for reducing the shutdown overvoltage, when in the nearly discharged state.
US08830645B2 Power spike mitigation
A method, device, and system for mitigating the effect of a power spike on a protective device. The device can receive an input signal and determine whether the input signal exceeds a threshold value. If so, the device simultaneously starts an initial time period and starts a latch time period, where the latch time period is greater than the initial time period. During the initial time period, the device replaces the input signal with a set value signal. After the initial time period ends and during the remainder of the latch time period, the device prevents the input signal from being replaced by the set value signal. If, during the remainder of the latch time period, the input signal exceeds the threshold value, a trip signal may be generated by a protective device.
US08830642B2 System and method for protecting an electrical grid against faults
A system and method are provided for protecting a power grid against electric faults. A first circuit breaker is associated with a first electronic unit and positioned at a first hierarchy level. One or more additional circuit breakers, each including a corresponding second electronic unit, are positioned at one or more additional levels hierarchically lower than the first level and cascaded to each other. The first circuit breaker includes at least one semiconductor electronic breaking device. The first electronic unit is configured to, upon the appearance of an electric fault in a grid area, drive the breaking device to limit the current flowing through it for a predetermined period of time, and send to the circuit breakers on lower hierarchy levels an intervention command to allow intervention, among the circuit breakers that detected the fault, of the closest circuit breaker positioned immediately upstream from the area where the fault occurred.
US08830637B2 Methods and apparatus to clamp overvoltages for alternating current systems
Methods and apparatus to clamp overvoltages for inductive power transfer systems are described herein. An example overvoltage protection circuit is described, including a first terminal configured to receive an alternating current signal for conversion to a second signal, a capacitor, a first switch configured to selectively electrically couple the capacitor to the first terminal based on an overvoltage detection signal to reduce an overvoltage on the second signal, and an overvoltage detector. The example overvoltage detector is configured to determine a signal level of the second signal and, in response to determining that the signal level of the second signal is greater than a threshold, to output the overvoltage detection signal to cause the switch to electrically couple the capacitor between the first terminal and a second terminal.
US08830627B2 Magnetic head, method for producing the magnetic head, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
In a magnetic head of a high-frequency magnetic field assisted recording system, a width of a high-frequency magnetic field from an oscillator is decreased to enhance an oscillation frequency, in order to realize a high-density recording. An oscillator provided near a main pole, which generates a recording magnetic field, for generating a high-frequency magnetic field is patterned by a conventional photolithography, and then, an oxidation, nitridation, or oxynitridation is performed on the side face in a track width direction. With this process, an oxide layer, a nitride layer, or an oxynitride layer, which is made of a material of the oscillator, is formed on the side face of the oscillator in the track width direction, and the shape of the oscillator is formed to be semi-circular.
US08830620B2 Method for reducing variation range of skew angle of magnetic writing pole and magnetic writing pole using the method
A method for reducing skew angle variation range in a shingled magnetic recording system, the method including the following steps: 1) determining whether a starting magnetic track is in an inner recording zone, if yes, the process proceeds to step (2), otherwise the process proceeds to step (4); 2) using an inner writing corner to start shingled magnetic recording at a starting track; 3) using a shingled magnetic method to write rest magnetic tracks sequentially by the inner writing corner, keeping a writing pole moving in a direction from an inner recording zone to an outer recording zone; 4) determining whether the starting magnetic track is in the outer recording zone; 5) using an outer writing corner to start shingled magnetic recording at the starting track; and 6) using the shingled magnetic method to write the rest magnetic tracks sequentially by the outer writing corner.
US08830619B1 Overwrite threshold number of tracks
A command is received to overwrite a medium. A threshold number of tracks is overwritten using a write head, in response to the command. The write head is then moved based on the threshold number. The threshold number is greater than one.
US08830611B1 Working states of hard disks indicating apparatus
An apparatus for indicating working states of hard disks includes a south bridge chip, a CPLD controller chip, a BMC chip, and indicating lights. The south bridge chip stores hard disk information of the hard disks. The CPLD controller chip reads position signals and data signals from the hard disk information and converts the position signals and the data signals into working states signals of the hard disks. The BMC chip receives the working states signals. If working states of the hard disks changes, the BMC chip converts the working states signals into changed position signals and changed data signals. The corresponding indicating lights receive the changed position signals and the changed data signals and indicates the changed working states of the hard disks according to the changed position signals and the changed data signals.
US08830610B2 Exposure method for color filter substrate
An exposure method is provided. In (a) of FIG. 8, exposure is performed while a substrate 20 is being transported in the Y direction, to simultaneously form first layers 81 and layers 91 in first non-display regions 51 and the display region, respectively, on the substrate 20. Next, in (b) of FIG. 8, the substrate 20 is rotated by 90 degrees, and exposure is performed while the substrate 20 is being transported in the X direction, to form second layers 82 in second non-display regions 52. Subsequently, in (c) of FIG. 8, proximity exposure is performed once on the substrate 20 to simultaneously form third layers 83 on the first layers 81 in the first non-display regions 51, fourth layers 84 on the second layers 82 in the second non-display regions 52, and layers 92 in the display region 40.
US08830600B2 Lens module
A lens module with an optical axis passing therethrough from an object side to an image side includes a lens housing and two lenses disposed in the lens housing. The first lens has a first refactive portion and a first positioning portion encircling the first refractive portion. A first mating structure is formed on the image side surface of the first positioning portion and molded with the first refractive portion as a single integral. The second lens has a second refractive portion and a second positioning portion encircling the second refractive portion. A second mating structure is formed on the object side surface of the second positioning portion and molded with the second refractive portion as a single integral. The mating structures are engaged to align the lenses along the optical axis, and the refractive portions are coaxial with each other and have the axis as the optical axis.
US08830599B2 Image-forming lens, and camera device and portable information terminal device with the image-forming lens
An image forming lens consists of from an object side to an image side in the following order: a first group with a positive refractive power; an aperture stop; and a second group with a positive refractive power, wherein the second group includes, from the object side to the image side in the following order, a biconvex lens, a biconcave lens, a negative meniscus lens a convex surface of which faces the image side, a biconvex lens, and a positive meniscus lens a convex surface of which faces the image side.
US08830597B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power. During zooming, the first lens unit and the aperture stop do not move and the second, third, and fourth lens units move along different loci. Lateral magnifications of the second lens unit at a wide angle end and at a telephoto end and lateral magnifications of the third lens unit at the wide angle end and at the telephoto end are each appropriately set based on predetermined mathematical conditions.
US08830589B2 Tactical riflescope with smartphone dock
Techniques are disclosed for creating optical systems and devices that enable a mobile device (e.g., smartphone or other mobile phone, personal media player, and/or other personal electronic device) to be coupled with an optical device (e.g., a riflescope, spotting scope, etc.) such that information shown on the display of the mobile device is viewable to a user looking into the eyepiece of the optical device. Additionally or alternatively, an image from the optical device can be communicated to the mobile device. A modular design can utilize an apparatus configured to encase a mobile device, which can be coupled with the optical device via and optical and/or electrical interface.
US08830581B2 Broadband polarization switching
A polarization switching apparatus has a first birefringent polarizer formed as a composite prism and disposed to direct incident light of a first polarization along a first optical path and light of a second polarization along a second optical path, wherein the second optical path is oblique to the first optical path. A beam redirector is disposed to redirect the first optical path from the first birefringent polarizer toward an input face of a second birefringent polarizer; wherein the second birefringent polarizer is also formed as a composite prism and is disposed to combine incident light of the first and second polarizations onto a common output path. A shutter apparatus is actuable to selectively block light of the first polarization or light of the second polarization from the input face of the second birefringent polarizer.
US08830579B2 Micro-optical phase film and lenticular lens
The present invention discloses a micro-optical phase film and a micro-lenticular lens. The optical phase film is integrally formed and includes an optical phase film base and a concave surface disposed on the optical phase film base. The concave surface has a plurality of concave and semi-cylinder like protrusions which are separated from each other in a constant pitch and have the same height. A lens layer covers the optical phase film to form a micro-lenticular lens. The optical phase film will exhibit different refractive index because of the incident light with different polarization angles, so as to achieve the object of 2D/3D image switching.
US08830577B2 Rollable display screen
A rollable display screen for use in electronic display systems includes a rollable screen that is mechanically coupled to a roller mechanism and has a plurality of pixel elements disposed thereon. The roller mechanism is configured as a stowing mechanism for the rollable screen, and may be further configured to deploy the rollable screen as a substantially planar viewing surface. The rollable display screen can be advantageously used for a durable and easily transported electronic display device since the rollable display screen is light-weight, durable, and compact.
US08830574B2 System for read-write control of specimen analysis by automated microscope
A system for automated microscopic analysis of a plurality of data-encoded microscope slides that provides that data written to or read from the slides may include images, analysis protocols, analytic results and other pertinent data. The system may also encompass a magazine that contains a plurality of data encoded slides.
US08830571B1 Multi-field of view annular folded optics
An all-reflective afocal lens is comprised of eight-reflective mirrors which can fold the light path into a very compact and thin configuration while maintaining diffraction limited performance. Such an afocal arrangement is usable with a traditional optical imager of an appropriate aperture dimension and FOV range, or with an annular aperture optical system with the appropriately scaled aperture and acceptable FOV angles. When combined the resulting FOV is scaled by the magnification produced by the afocal. The afocal arrangement can be used in either a magnification mode or a demagnification mode. Such an afocal arrangement can be used as either a focal length extender or as a FOV switch enabling a very short length two FOV multi-spectral system with a length that can be an order of magnitude shorter than a known optical system.
US08830570B2 Prism optical system, and image display apparatus and imaging apparatus incorporating the same
The invention provides a prism optical system includes a prism in which a space formed by at least two optical surfaces mutually decentered with respect to an axial chief ray of an incident light beam is filled up with a medium having a refractive index of greater than 1. At least two optical surfaces are rotationally asymmetric surfaces, five internal reflections take place inside the prism, and there is an intermediate image formed inside the prism, which image is in turn formed outside the prism.
US08830563B2 Laser scanning microscope having a laser diode comprising a light modulation device
The invention makes it possible to adjust the light intensity of a laser scanning microscope laser beam in an economical manner and with high accuracy. A separate acousto-optic component can be omitted in that a light modulation section such as an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) or a semiconductor amplifier (SOA) is arranged directly at the laser diode, advisably at one of its front sides. It is nevertheless possible to control the light intensity economically and with high accuracy because the important parameters of the laser beam remain unchanged when the optical output power is changed by the light modulation section. The light modulation section is preferably formed integral with the laser diode in at least one material layer.
US08830560B2 Electro-optic display with edge seal
Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.
US08830559B2 Electro-optic media produced using ink jet printing
Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material.
US08830557B2 Methods of fabricating MEMS with spacers between plates and devices formed by same
Methods of fabricating an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with spacers between plates and EMS devices formed by the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a EMS device is fabricated by laminating a front substrate and a carrier, each of which has components preformed thereon. The front substrate is provided with stationary electrodes formed thereover. A carrier including movable electrodes formed thereover is attached to the front substrate. The carrier may be released after transferring the movable electrodes to the front substrate. In other embodiments, the carrier stays over the front substrate, and serves as a backplate for the EMS device. Features are formed by deposition and patterning, by embossing, or by patterning and etching. Spacers are provided between the front substrate and the backplate to maintain a gap therebetween. The resulting EMS devices can trap smaller volumes between laminated substrates and are less susceptible to pressure variations and moisture leakage.
US08830554B2 Two-dimensional electrochemical writing assembly and use thereof
The present subject matter can include a two-dimensional electrochemical writing assembly and uses thereof. The writing assembly can enable for time-dependently displaying of a physical parameter, such as a time-dependent display or recording of the temperature. The writing assembly comprises two different types of electrochemical processors, of which one type is used for controlling the time-dependent switching of the second type of electrochemical processors used in the writing assembly.
US08830549B2 Holographic dislpay using liquid crystal display device operating with unpolorized light
An electroholographic display system (800, 900) for displaying a holographic image, includes a coherent light source (830, 930) producing a coherent, collimated, light beam; a spatial light modulator (SLM) (820, 920) adapted to receive and spatially modulate the coherent, collimated, light beam to produce therefrom a spatially modulated light beam including first portions having a first polarization and second portions having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization; and a processor and driver unit (810, 910) adapted to generate hologram data representing a holographic image and to apply appropriate voltages to the pixels of the SLM to cause the SLM to modulate the coherent collimated light beam with the hologram data. The spatially modulated light beam is projected to an image plane to produce the holographic image including the first portions having the first polarization and the second portions having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization.
US08830543B2 Image reading apparatus for displaying states of medium conveyed and image reading system having the image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes an operating unit that issues a starting instruction to start reading a medium which is a read-target medium, according to a user's operation, a conveying unit that conveys the medium, a display unit that displays states of the medium conveyed, a reading unit that reads the medium, and a medium detecting unit that detects the medium. The display unit displays contents indicating that the reading operation is possible when the reading operation of the medium is completed and the medium detecting unit does not detect the medium. The conveying unit starts conveyance of the medium in response to the read-operation starting instruction, when the read-target medium is a first medium in a set of media, and when the medium detecting unit detects the first medium, and the conveying unit starts conveyance of the medium, when the read-target medium is a second or later medium in the set of media, after the medium detecting unit detects the second or later medium.
US08830541B2 Image reading apparatus
An apparatus is provided capable of guiding regular reflected light from a reading surface to a reflecting mirror when light is irradiated from two directions from light sources to the reading surface, and is suitable to read a gloss image. The light sources for irradiating light to the reading surface from the two directions of different angles are configured of a first light emitter and a second light emitter, a mirror reflecting surface for specularly reflecting light and a translucent surface for passing light therethrough being formed on the surface of a reflecting member for deflecting light from the reading surface to a predetermined reading light path direction, the first light emitter being arranged between the platen and the platen side surface of the reflecting member, the second light emitter being arranged at the back surface of the reflecting member so as to irradiate light on the reading surface through the translucent surface.
US08830540B2 Image reading device and image forming apparatus
The present disclosure relates to an image reading device, including: a light emitting portion; a light guiding member; a holding member that holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member; and a case member that holds the holding member. In the image reading device, the light guiding member is shaped like a stick, of which end portion is disposed to face the light emitting portion. The holding member holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member. In addition, the holding member has: and a holding portion that disposes the light guiding member along a main scanning direction, and positions and holds an end portion on the light emitting portion side in the main scanning direction. The case member holds the holding member.
US08830539B2 Image processing apparatus and determination method
A signal value representing at least one of a plurality of types of optical characteristics are calculated for each pixel from the read signal obtained and output by reading light reflected by a document placed on a document table and a document table cover while the document is covered with the cover. It is determined, based on the signal value calculated, whether or not a target pixel is a pixel in a document region. A document region is detected from the determination result.
US08830536B2 Image processing device, image processing method and remote-scan image processing system using the same
In the image processing device, method and system of the present invention, a destination identifier of an image file is stored, the destination identifier indicating one of a plurality of external stations as a destination station which receives the image file from the image processing device through a network. At least one of a sender identifier of the image file, a subject identifier of the image file and a scan condition of the image file is stored. The image file is transmitted, together with at least one of the sender identifier, the subject identifier and the scan condition, through the network to one of the external stations indicated by the stored destination identifier.
US08830531B2 Intelligent halftone mechanism
A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes an image processor to selectively rasterize a plurality of objects, and to determine if a size of a first object is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold perform a single-cell halftone process on the first object if the size of the first object is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold and perform a super-cell halftone process on the first object if the size of the first object is greater than the predetermined threshold.
US08830529B2 Image processing device for accurately identifying region in image without increase in memory requirement
An image forming device performs functions including: dividing the image into a plurality of band images each including at least one sub-region; creating region data used to identify each sub-region included in the band image; updating the region data such that the region data identifies both first and second uniform sub-regions as a single uniform region of the image when the first uniform sub-region abuts the second uniform sub-region, the first and second uniform sub-regions being included in the first and second band image and classified as the uniform sub-region, respectively; and updating the region data such that the region data identifies both first and second nonuniform sub-regions as a single nonuniform region of the image when the first nonuniform sub-region abuts the second nonuniform sub-region, the first and second nonuniform sub-regions being included in the first and second band image and classified as the nonuniform sub-region, respectively.
US08830526B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a color material layer forming unit and a proportion controller. The color material layer forming unit forms on a printing medium a first metallic color material layer including a color material having metallic particles, one or more process color material layers including color materials of one or more process colors, and a second metallic color material layer including a color material having metallic particles so that the first metallic color material layer, the one or more process color material layers, and the second metallic color material layer are stacked on the printing medium in this order. The proportion controller executes first control to increase a proportion of the second metallic color material layer with respect to the first metallic color material layer when a total amount of the color materials of the one or more process colors exceeds a predetermined value.
US08830517B2 Imaging cartridge chip with self-adaptive contacts, imaging cartridge and self-adaptive method
An imaging cartridge chip with self-adaptive contacts includes a set of contacts. Each contact of the set of contacts has the function of a full series of contacts. The specific function of each contact in the set of contacts is determined by identifying a signal received by the contact from an external contact.
US08830514B2 Network printing system, management server and control method therefor, and computer-readable medium
A system in which a terminal instructs printing via a management server, wherein the management server comprises: a unit which manages location information and function information of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses included in the network printing system; a unit which receives, from the terminal, printing conditions and location information of the terminal; a unit which selects an image forming apparatus to execute printing from the plurality of image forming apparatuses in accordance with the received printing conditions and location information of the terminal; a unit which generates a map based on the location information of the terminal and the location information of the image forming apparatus to display a positional relationship between the terminal and the selected image forming apparatus; and a unit which sends the generated map to the terminal.
US08830499B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, image forming apparatus, image forming system, and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes: an information storage that stores information; a request accepting section that accepts a predetermined request for the information; a setting section that, for each of the information, sets whether the predetermined request is allowed; a setting storage that stores a setting by the setting section; a determining section that, with respect to the information corresponding to a request accepted by the request accepting section, reads out a corresponding setting from the setting storage, and that determines allowance/non-allowance of the predetermined request; and a process executing section that, in a case where the determining section determines allowance of the predetermined request, executes a process corresponding to the predetermined request on the information.
US08830493B2 Computer readable information recording medium storing printing control program, printing control apparatus, printing control method and printing system
A computer readable information recording medium stores a printing control program. The printing control program, when executed by one or plural processors, functions of a first conversion function part configured to derive data of a form of page description language converted from printing data, based on the printing data; a second conversion function part configured to disassemble the data of the form of page description language converted from the printing data and data to be inserted into the data of the form of page description language converted from the printing data, and derive disassembled printing output data, based on data of a form of job definition format associated with the printing data and the data of the form of page description language converted from the printing data; and a transmission function part configured to transmit the disassembled printing output data to a printer apparatus.
US08830490B2 Use of scanner unit for paper tray preprocessing
Methods and systems feed print media from a print media storage device to a scanner positioned along a paper path, and feed the print media along the paper path from the scanner to a marking device positioned along the paper path. The scanner is positioned between the print media storage device and the marking device along the media path. The scanner scans the print media as the print media travels along the paper path before the print media reaches the marking device. The methods and systems control actions of the marking device based upon patterns of markings detected on the print media by the scanner using a processor operatively connected to the scanner and the marking engine, and print markings on the print media using the marking device.
US08830489B2 Laser plotter and method for engraving marking and/or inscribing a workpiece
The invention describes a laser plotter and a method for engraving, marking or inscribing a workpiece. Two lasers are installed in a housing of the laser plotter and may alternatively operate on the workpiece. The workpiece is positioned on a processing platform and a laser beam is sent to at least one focusing unit configured for both lasers, from which the laser beam is deflected in the direction of the workpiece. Control of the workpiece is obtained by software running in a control unit. Graphic and/or text data are prepared on an external computer or other control device, and transferred to the control unit of the laser plotter. The lasers are allocated to the transferred data based on color code, whereby a height correction value to compensate for the various focal lengths of the lasers is preloaded in the data bank for the different colors.
US08830483B2 Optical coherence tomography with refractive indexing of object
An optical tomographic image forming method including: splitting low coherence light emitted from a light source is split into a measuring light and a reference light; forming an optical tomographic image of a measured object by detecting an interference light that is obtained by superposing reflected light, reflected from the measured object when the measuring light is irradiated onto the measured object via a condenser lens, and reflected light, reflected from a reference mirror, which is positioned a predetermined length of optical path away from the splitting position, when the reference light is irradiated onto the reference mirror, wherein the method further includes: inputting a refractive index of the measured object; correcting the tomographic image in accordance with the inputted refractive index of the measured object; and outputting the corrected tomographic image.
US08830482B2 Interferometric path and/or rotation measuring device
An interferometric path and/or rotation measuring device has a transducer unit with grating element, which transducer cooperates with a light conductor unit and a light pickup unit to detect a linear and/or rotational movement of the grating element in such a way that two partial beams of the light conductor unit which are aimed at the grating element, generate a superposition signal which is detectable by the light pickup unit and is a function of the linear or rotational movement and/or a position of the grating element. A modulation interferometer unit is connected upstream from the light conductor unit and has an arrangement for beam splitting into the two partial beams.
US08830481B2 Polarization based interferometric detector
A sensor and method for determining the optical properties of a sample material is disclosed. The sensor comprises a light source that generates a linearly polarized light beam having a predetermined polarization orientation with respect to the plane of incidence. The linearly polarized light beam is reflected off the sample and is split into second and third light beams where the second and third light beam consist of the combined projections of mutually orthogonal components of the first light beam. A signal processor measures the intensity difference between the second and third light beams to calculate the phase difference induced by the sample material.
US08830475B1 Interferometer and spatial interference fourier transform spectrometer
Disclosed is an interferometer comprising a light source, a reflective element, and a photodetector. The light source is configured to emit a light beam, and an angle is formed by inclusion between a direction to which the light beam travels and the reflective element, the photodetector is configured to be substantially perpendicular to the reflective element. The light beam is halved into a first light beam propagating by the included angle, and a second light beam reflected off the reflective element, the first light beam and the second light beam interfere each other to form an interferogram on the photodetector, which detects the interferogram. By benefit of above, the interferometer does not need to reposition its parts in order to make adjustment to interferogram, thereby simplifying optical element setup and minimizing physical volume of the interferomger. Also disclosed is a spectrometer including the same interferometer and a Fourier-transform-capable analyzer.
US08830473B2 Device for referenced measurements of reflected light and a method for calibrating such a device
A device includes a hollow body having a light-exit opening configured to illuminate a specimen, an interior of the hollow body comprising a diffusely scattering layer. The device also includes a light source configured to illuminate the diffusely scattering layer, a first photo-detector aligned along a first detection axis, and a second photo-detector aligned along a second detection axis. The device is configured to measure referenced measurements of reflected light.
US08830470B2 Method for measuring the concentration of at least one gas component in a measuring gas
A method for measuring a concentration of at least one gas component in a measurement gas, wherein light of a light source is guided along a light path through a measuring volume containing the measuring gas to a detector unit, and the concentration of the gas component is determined from the wavelength-dependent absorption of the light detected there. The light path is guided outside of the measuring volume through a substitute gas held in a closed volume. A substitute gas comprising a substitute gas component in a predetermined concentration is used, and the concentration of the substitute gas component is monitored based on the detected wavelength-dependent absorption, and if the decrease in the concentration exceeds a predetermined degree, then an error message is generated.
US08830469B2 Method for detection of gases by laser spectroscopy, and gas sensor
A method and a sensor for detecting a target gas by laser spectroscopy using a laser or a laser diode having a monochrome emission wavelength that can be modulated by varying the operating temperature or the operating current. The wavelength range of the target gas comprises a first modulation of the laser or the laser diode over a first large modulation width, in addition to at least two absorption lines of a reference gas and at least one absorption line of the target gas. The absorption lines are used to calibrate the wavelength scale of the laser or the laser diode in relation to the varied operating temperature or operating current, a second modulation of the laser or the laser diode being performed over a second small modulation width, with the at least one absorption line of the target gas, for detecting the target gas.
US08830467B2 Custom cosmetic blending machine
A spectrophotometer 300, webcam 302 or other instrument measures the color composition and texture of a person's face 400 or other body part. A computer system 301 includes a processor 501 and a non-transitory, non-signal computer readable medium 500 containing machine readable instructions that accept data from a spectrophotometer 300 or like instrument and uses a main executable program 502 and a subroutine 504 for color analysis to derive a mix of color to create a cosmetic product matching or enhancing the color composition and/or texture of the person's face or other body part. Customer skin color may be custom matched on the fly and specifically formulated and created. Or, a database of approximately 22,000 human skin colors may be drawn upon to find a best match for a customer's skin color. A color from the database may then be custom formulated and dispensed.
US08830465B2 Defect inspecting apparatus and defect inspecting method
A defect inspecting apparatus includes an irradiation optical system having a light source that emits illumination light and a polarization generation part that adjusts polarization state of the illumination light emitted from the light source, a detection optical system having a polarization analysis part that adjusts polarization state of scattered light from a sample irradiated by the irradiation optical system and a detection part that detects the scattered light adjusted by the polarization analysis part, and a signal processing system that processes the scattered light detected by the detection optical system to detect a defect presenting in the sample. The polarization generation part adjusts the polarization state of the illumination light emitted from the light source on the basis of predetermined illumination conditions and the polarization analysis part adjusts the polarization state of the illumination light emitted from the light source on the basis of predetermined detection conditions.
US08830460B2 Optical measurement apparatus and probe
An optical measurement apparatus that measures a property of a scatterer, including: a light source that supplies illumination light having at least one spectral component; an illumination fiber that propagates, to a distal end thereof, light supplied from a proximal end thereof by the light source and illuminates light onto the scatterer from the distal end; first and second light detection fibers, each outputting, from a proximal end thereof, returned light from the scatterer, the returned light entering from a distal end thereof, the first and second light detection fibers having distal end positions different from each other in a longitudinal direction; a detection unit that detects light output from the proximal ends of the first and second light detection fibers; and a measurement unit that measures a property of the scatterer based on a result of the detection by the detection unit.
US08830459B2 Device for demonstrating and testing the cosmetic qualities of an ophthalmic lens
A device is provided for demonstrating and testing the cosmetic qualities of an ophthalmic lens by viewing, the device comprising both a bearing wall (2) for bearing against a fixed surface and provided on its face opposite from its bearing face with a viewing target (3), and also a support wall (4) for supporting said lens and placed at a distance lying in the range 20 mm to 50 mm from said face of said bearing wall (2) that is provided with the target. According to the invention, the device is constituted by a support part (1) constituted by a channel-section member having its flanges forming said bearing surface (2) and said support wall (4), the support wall being provided with at least one orifice (5) of dimensions smaller than the dimensions of said lens, and said bearing surface and said support surface being inclined relative to each other by an angle lying in the range 0° to 25°.
US08830457B1 Multi-surface optical inspector
An optical inspector includes a radiating source, a time varying beam reflector, a telecentric scan lens, a first waveplate, a second waveplate, a polarizing beam splitter, and a detector. The radiating source irradiates the first waveplate with a linearly polarized source beam generating a circularly polarized source beam, which irradiates a first position of on the time varying beam reflector. The time varying beam reflector directs the source beam to the telecentric scan lens, which in turn directs the source beam to a transparent sample. The reflected radiation from the transparent sample is directed via the telecentric lens and the time varying beam reflector to the second waveplate, which converts circularly polarized reflected radiation to linearly polarized reflected radiation including radiation that is vertically polarized and radiation that is horizontally polarized. The polarizing beam splitter redirects vertically polarized reflected radiation to the detector while horizontally polarized reflected radiation passes through.
US08830455B2 Inspection method and apparatus
In an aspect, an inspection method for detecting the presence or absence of a defect on an object, the object comprising a recess having a physical depth, is disclosed. The method includes directing radiation at the object, the radiation having a wavelength that is substantially equal to twice an optical depth of the recess, detecting radiation that is re-directed by the object or a defect on the object, and determining the presence or absence of a defect from the re-directed radiation.
US08830452B2 Geodetic target and position determination system
A geodetic target 1 for use in geodesy comprises an orienting device 10 with a bearing direction P, a first inclinometer 20 with a first axis of inclination 20A, a reflector 30 reflecting incident measurement beams S, an imaging optics 40 that focuses the incident measurement beams S, a matrix sensor 50, whose receiving surface 51 is situated in an image plane of the imaging optics 40, and an interface 60, which is connected to the first inclinometer 20 and the matrix sensor 50. The spatial arrangement and orientation of the optical axis and/or axis of symmetry 30A of the reflector 30 relative to the bearing direction P of the orienting device 10 is predetermined here. The first axis of inclination 20A makes an angle α other than zero with an optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40. The optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40 coincides with an optical axis 30A and/or axis of symmetry of the reflector 30 or is parallel to it or make an angle with it. The interface 60 is designed to put out the signals received from the first inclinometer 20 and the matrix sensor 50 for determining a spatial orientation of the reflector 30 reflecting the measurement beams relative to the target point Z.Moreover, a position determining system comprising this target and a method which uses this target is disclosed.
US08830449B1 Blood analysis system
A blood analysis system functions as a non-invasive blood parameter analyzer when a monitor is coupled with an optical sensor and as an invasive blood sample analyzer when the monitor is coupled with a blood analysis adapter. The blood analysis adapter has a transmitting assembly and a receiving assembly in electrical communications with the adapter connector so as to receive emitter signals for driving emitters within the transmitting assembly and so as to transmit a detector signal for responding to at least one detector in the receiving assembly. A cuvette containing a blood sample is irradiated with multiple wavelength light from the emitters, the detector responds to the multiple wavelength light after attenuation by the blood sample, and the monitor analyzes the blood sample according to the detector signal.
US08830447B2 Inspection method for lithography
A method is used to determine focus of a lithographic apparatus used in a lithographic process on a substrate. The lithographic process is used to form at least two periodic structures on the substrate. Each structure has at least one feature that has an asymmetry between opposing side wall angles that varies as a different function of the focus of the lithographic apparatus on the substrate. A spectrum produced by directing a beam of radiation onto the at least two periodic structures is measured and ratios of the asymmetries are determined. The ratios and a relationship between the focus and the side wall asymmetry for each structure is used to determine the focus of the lithographic apparatus on the substrate.
US08830446B2 Exposure apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet exposure apparatus includes a radiation system configured to supply a beam of extreme ultraviolet radiation; a support configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern the beam of extreme ultraviolet radiation according to a desired pattern; a substrate table having an area configured to support a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned beam of extreme ultraviolet radiation onto a target portion of the substrate, the projection system comprising a reflective optical system; wherein at least a part of the apparatus that during use of the apparatus is exposed to the beam of extreme ultraviolet radiation is coated with a coating, the coating comprising a metal oxide, or a photocatalyst, or a semiconductor, or any combination thereof.
US08830445B2 Exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus includes an illumination system that conditions a radiation beam, a support structure that holds a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern, a substrate table that holds a substrate, and a projection system that projects the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. In addition, a liquid supply system provides a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate, the liquid supply system having a member. A liquid seal device forms a liquid seal between the member and the substrate.
US08830444B2 Lithographic apparatus and method
A lithographic apparatus comprising a source that generates a beam of radiation, a support structure supporting a patterning device, a substrate table for holding a substrate, and a projection system projecting the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The lithographic apparatus further comprises a vibration measurement apparatus configured to measure relative vibration between the patterning device and the substrate during exposure of the target portion. A control apparatus adjusts power of the radiation beam to compensate for the effect of the measured relative vibration on the pattern projected onto the substrate.
US08830442B2 Servo control system, lithographic apparatus and control method
A servo control system to control a position of an object supported by a movable support includes a first measurement system to measure a position of the movable support, a comparative device to provide an error signal based on the comparison between a measured movable support position and a desired movable support position, a controller unit to provide a control signal based on the error signal, and an actuator configured to actuate the movable support based on the control signal. The servo control system further includes a slip compensation device to compensate a slip between the object and the movable support, the slip compensation device including a second measurement system to measure an object position with respect to the movable support, and an addition device to add a slip compensation signal to the measured movable support position or the error signal based on the measured object position.
US08830438B2 LCD panel and manufacturing method for the same
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and its manufacturing method. The LCD panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a sealant, and a barrier wall. The first substrate and the second substrate are disposed relatively. The sealant disposed surrounding between the first substrate and the second substrate. The barrier wall is disposed at the outer side of the area surrounded by the sealant, and the barrier wall is respectively abutted against the first substrate and the second substrate. In summary, the present invention could improve the overflow of the sealant, reducing the difficulty for narrow frame design and the requirement for cutting precision of the LCD panel.
US08830436B2 Pixel structure, display device, and electronic apparatus
A pixel structure includes: a first planarizing film and a second planarizing film laminated in order on a substrate on which a circuit section is formed; and metallic wiring for electrically connecting two electrodes disposed on the second planarizing film to each other so as to be separated from each other, the metallic wiring being formed between the first planarizing film and the second planarizing film.
US08830433B2 Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device having the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, two polarizing plates, and a backlight unit. A pixel included in the liquid crystal display panel is divided into a first domain and a second domain and includes a second electrode and a third electrode. The third electrode is insulated from and overlapped with the second electrode. First liquid crystals disposed in the first domain are twisted in a direction different from a direction in which the second liquid crystals disposed in the second domain are twisted. The liquid crystal display device selectively drives the second electrode and the third electrode, thereby controlling a viewing angle thereof.
US08830432B2 Liquid crystal display panel
The electrode structures in the display units of the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel described in the embodiments of the invention are formed by stacking the bottom electrodes, the insulation pattern layers, and the top electrodes. The width of each of the bottom electrodes is greater than the width of each of the top electrodes (i.e., the electrode structures have the protrusion-like shape). Therefore, the operating voltage can be effectively reduced, and the transmission rate can be improved.
US08830431B2 Pixel electrode and LCD device
The present invention provides a pixel electrode structure and a LCD device. The pixel electrode contains linear backbone electrodes, a first backbone electrode and a second backbone electrode, whose centers cross each other, thereby forming four display regions. Each display region is configured with a number of linear spine electrodes at intervals, and the edges of the outer ends of the spine electrodes in the same display are aligned. Yet, the edges of the outer ends of the backbone electrodes are not aligned with those of the spine electrodes. Through the present invention, the display quality at the outer ends of the backbone electrodes is enhanced.
US08830430B2 Pixels having extra-planar fringe field amplifiers and sliced common electrodes for multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal displays
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display using fringe field amplification is disclosed. Each pixel is subdivided into color dots. Further more each pixel contains extra-planar fringe field amplifiers that separate the color dots of a pixel. The voltage polarity of the color dots and extra-planar fringe field amplifiers are arranged so that fringe fields in each color dot causes multiple liquid crystal domains in each color dot. Specifically, the color dots and the extra-planar fringe field amplifiers are arranged so that neighboring polarized elements have opposite polarities. The performance of the display is further enhanced by using a sliced common electrode having common electrode slices over the color dots.
US08830428B2 Liquid crystal display element and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display element for performing a display by a VA mode includes a first substrate including a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal molecule exhibiting a negative dielectric anisotropy, and a second substrate facing the first substrate with the liquid crystal layer in between, and including a second electrode facing the first electrode. Only the first electrode, or both of the first electrode and the second electrode are provided with a structure generating a distortion in an electric field, and the liquid crystal molecule located on the second substrate side has a pre-tilt angle larger than that of the liquid crystal molecule located on the first substrate side.
US08830421B2 Display device including sub-backlight
A display device including a sub-backlight unit which can prevent the obscure sights caused by light from the light source of the sub-backlight unit arriving on an article or reel of the main display screen and then reflecting in the frontal direction is provided. The sub-backlight unit includes a second light guide panel having an opening part formed therein corresponding to a transparent window, a second light source disposed around the second light guide panel, and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) sheet disposed close to the front side of the opening of the second light guide panel.
US08830413B2 Peeling method and method for manufacturing display device using the peeling method
The present invention provides a simplifying method for a peeling process as well as peeling and transcribing to a large-size substrate uniformly. A feature of the present invention is to peel a first adhesive and to cure a second adhesive at the same time in a peeling process, thereby to simplify a manufacturing process. In addition, the present invention is to devise the timing of transcribing a peel-off layer in which up to an electrode of a semiconductor are formed to a predetermined substrate. In particular, a feature is that peeling is performed by using a pressure difference in the case that peeling is performed with a state in which plural semiconductor elements are formed on a large-size substrate.
US08830410B2 Liquid crystal display with electrostatic-resistant wirings
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, common voltage wiring disposed on the first substrate and transmitting a common voltage, a first insulating layer disposed on the common voltage wiring, a common electrode disposed on a whole surface of the second substrate, a first conductive member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and electrically connecting the common electrode and the common voltage wiring to each other, and a sealant combining the first substrate and the second substrate. The first insulating layer includes a first contact hole exposing a first portion of the common voltage wiring and a plurality of a second contact hole exposing a second portion of the common voltage wiring, the second contact hole having a smaller area than the first contact hole.
US08830408B2 Electro-active diffractive lens and method for making the same
Aspects of the present invention provide an electro-active lens and method for manufacturing the same that encapsulates liquid crystal using solid transparent optical material using an improved liquid crystal seal feature. The seal feature greatly reduces the visibility of the liquid crystal seal feature in an assembled electro-active lens. The seal feature is also structurally robust such that the electro-active lens can be processed to fit a spectacle frame without disturbing containment of the liquid crystal and without disrupting electrical connectivity to the lens used to alter the refractive index of the liquid crystal, thereby ensuring fabrication of a commercially viable electro-active lens.
US08830406B2 Operation apparatus, information processing method therefor, and information processing apparatus
[Object] To provide an operation apparatus capable of achieving an improvement in operability.[Solving Means] This operation apparatus includes: a casing including two surfaces opposed in front and back directions as a first surface and a second surface; a first operation input unit that is provided in the first surface and includes a detector that performs a detection of an operation of a user with respect to a predetermined coordinate detection space on the first surface; a second operation input unit provided in the second surface; a determination unit that determines an attitude of the casing when an operation of the user with respect to the coordinate detection space of the detector is performed from a side of the second surface; and a converter that converts, when the attitude is determined, information detected by the detector into information of a coordinate system of the coordinate detection space seen through from the side of the second surface.
US08830405B2 DC/DC converter and television using same
A DC/DC converter 10 has a high-side transistor QH as a switching element and a low-side transistor QL as a synchronous rectifier element. A first primary electrode D and secondary primary electrode S of the high-side transistor QH are connected to an input voltage VIN and an external terminal T1, respectively. A detection transistor QD is provided in a row with the high-side transistor QH, and the ON voltage of the high-side transistor QH when ON is output as detection voltage VQD from the detection transistor QD. The output detection voltage VQD is added to a feedback voltage VFB1 by an adder CB, and inputted to a comparator CMP1. The ON period of a one-shot pulse PS1 outputted from the comparator CMP1 is regulated so as to be in direct proportion to the sum of the detection voltage VQD and the feedback voltage VFB1.
US08830404B2 Broadcast receiving apparatus and method for controlling broadcast receiving apparatus
A broadcast receiving apparatus is equipped with a plurality of tuners that can respectively receive a control signal including region information identifying a region and channel designation information designating a program broadcast channel. A channel selection action of each tuner, display processing for a display unit, and recording processing for a storage unit are controlled based on a channel selection state of each tuner and the control signal. Furthermore, a tuner to select a channel designated by the channel designation information is determined based on a state of use of each tuner.
US08830402B2 Image processing circuit and method thereof
An image processing circuit and a method thereof are provided herein. The image processing circuit has a first scaling circuit, one or more line buffers, a first sharpness circuit, a second scaling circuit, and a second sharpness circuit. The first scaling circuit enlarges an input image along a first direction to generate a first enlarged image. The one or more line buffers temporarily store the pixel values of a plurality of pixel rows of the first enlarged image. The first sharpness circuit vertically sharpens the first enlarged image to generate a first sharpened image. The second scaling circuit enlarges the first sharpened image along a second direction to generate a second enlarged image. The second sharpness circuit horizontally sharpens the second enlarged image to generate a second sharpened image. Accordingly, it is possible to use the one or more line buffers having shorter data lengths to perform the vertical sharpening.
US08830399B2 Method for combining data signals and video signals for transmission to video display units
A method capable of combining data signals and video signals for transmission to a video display unit. The method comprises the steps of generating a data signal, transmitting the data signal to an apparatus, receiving the data signal at the apparatus, receiving a video/audio signal at the apparatus, combining the video/audio signal with the data signal to form a single combined signal, and displaying the combined signal on a video display unit.
US08830397B2 Display device, display system, mobile information terminal, and display device control method
A display device includes: a second shared memory which is used for sharing data with a smartphone, and into which an identification information item of a process corresponding to a hardware key included in the smartphone is written from the smartphone; a second identification information receiving unit which receives the identification information item from the smartphone by reading the identification information item from the second shared memory; and a second identification information transmitting unit which transmits information indicating selection of the identification information item to the smartphone, by writing the information in the second shared memory.
US08830396B2 Digital broadcast receiver and method for processing caption thereof
A digital cable broadcast receiver and a method for automatically processing caption data of various standards and types, is disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes: a demultiplexer for dividing a received broadcast stream into video data audio data, supplementary information; a controller for determining whether caption data included in the video data is digital caption data or analog caption data on the basis of caption information included in the supplementary information, and outputting a control signal according to a result of the determining; a digital caption decoder for extracting and decoding digital caption data from the video data according to the control signal; and an analog caption decoder for extracting and decoding analog caption data from the video data according to the control signal.
US08830394B2 System, method, and apparatus for providing improved high definition video from upsampled standard definition video
Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for providing high resolution frames. In one embodiment, there is a method comprising receiving upscaled frames; motion estimating the upscaled frames; and motion compensating the upscaled frames.
US08830392B2 Splice display
A splice display includes at least two liquid crystal displays (LCDs) that are mutually spliced, and the LCDs form a spliced frame at a spliced position of the LCD. The splice display further includes an image splitter and at least one organic electroluminescence display (OLED) panel. A frame of the OLED is transparent, and the OLED covers the spliced frame. The image splitter splits an image signal into a plurality of parts, and transmits the split image signal to the OLED and the LCDs for display.
US08830391B2 Telescoping monopod camera holding apparatus and method
The present invention provides a telescoping monopod apparatus for holding one or more cameras while a digital photograph or video recording is taken by a user, including: a plurality of concentrically-disposed telescoping shaft sections; a handle coupled to the plurality of concentrically-disposed telescoping shaft sections; and a head portion configured to receive and secure a camera, wherein the head portion includes: a neck portion; at least one substantially-flat camera-receiving surface; a pair of lipped retention members coupled to each of the substantially-flat camera-receiving surfaces present; and a central track structure coupled to each of the substantially-flat camera-receiving surfaces present.
US08830385B2 Drive unit, lens module, and image pickup unit
A drive unit includes: a holding member holding an object to be driven; a polymer actuator device provided on one side of the object to be driven; one or more supporting members provided on the other side of the object to be driven; and a fixing member directly or indirectly fixing a first end of each of the polymer actuator device and the supporting members. A second end of each of the polymer actuator device and the supporting members is directly or indirectly connected to an end of the holding member.
US08830381B2 Imaging device and method to provide bokeh effect in captured image by determining distance and focus of captured objects in secondary image sequence
An imaging device is provided that includes an image blur evaluator, an imaging processor, a distance map generator and a filter. The image blur evaluator evaluates the amount of blurring due to a camera shake. The imaging processor captures a plurality of secondary images of the same object at different lens positions by driving a photographing lens. The distance map generator prepares a distance map including distance information of the objects captured in each area of an image based on the contrast in each of the areas. The filter reduces noise in the distance map. A relatively large filter size is selected for the filter when blurring is evaluated to be relatively large and a relatively small filter size is selected for the filter when the evaluated blurring is relatively small.
US08830378B2 Image capturing system and image capturing method, involving image restoration processing
When a photographer presses a release button by a predetermined amount after focusing on a first object, a focus lens is moved in an optical axis direction so that a second object is brought into focus, whereupon image pickup is performed while focusing on the second object. Image processing is then performed on image data obtained in the image pickup.
US08830375B2 Vignetted optoelectronic array for use in synthetic image formation via signal processing, lensless cameras, and integrated camera-displays
A vignetted optoelectronic array for systems and methods performing electronic image formation and refinement from overlapping measurement vignettes captured by an array of image sensors and associated micro-optics. The invention is directed to a new type of image formation system that combines readily-fabricated micro-optical structures, a two-dimensional image sensor array, and electronic or digital image processing to construct an image. Image formation is performed without a conventional large shared lens and associated separation distance between lens and image sensor, resulting in a “lensless camera.”In an embodiment, an LED array is used as a light-field sensor. In an application, the LED array further serves as a color “lensless camera.” In an application, the LED array also serves as an image display. In an application, the LED array further serves as a color mage display. In an embodiment, one or more synergistic features of an integrated camera/display surface are realized.
US08830373B2 Imaging device having multiple optics
Disclosed is an imaging device that has a base and a plurality of image capture devices. The base includes a bottom portion and an elongate stem portion that is pivotally attached at one of its ends to the bottom portion. An arm is pivotally attached to the stem portion. The arm has an elongate flap pivotally attached to the arm's mid-portion. A plurality of image capture devices are embedded in at least one of the bottom portion, the stem portion, the arm and the flap. An additional embodiment of the image capturing system includes a housing, a light capture mechanism and an image display mechanism. The housing includes a base and a linkage having a plurality of elongate sections. The light capture mechanism simultaneously captures first and second images and is contained within at least one of the elongate sections. First and second lenses make up the light capturing mechanism.
US08830371B2 Image pickup apparatus including image pickup element provided with charge holding portion, control method and control program therefor, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing the influence of dark current noise to thereby obtain excellent image quality, even when the dynamic range is expanded under a photographing condition. In an image pickup element of a CMOS image sensor of the apparatus, a photo diode (PD) generates and accumulates electric charge according to an optical input, and a floating diffusion portion (FD) accumulates the electric charges. A charge holding portion (MEM) is disposed between PD and FD. A first transfer transistor selectively separates and connect between PD and MEM, and a second transfer transistor selectively separates and connects between MEM and FD. A system control circuit sets an operation mode to either a first operation mode in which PD and MEM are separated or a second operation mode according to photographing conditions for shooting an object in which PD and MEM are connected.
US08830363B2 Method and apparatus for estimating point spread function
A method of estimating a point spread function (PSF) includes: estimating a global motion between a short-exposure image and a long-exposure image that are continuously captured using different exposure times, and compensating for the global motion; calculating a first resultant image by applying a band pass filter to the short-exposure image; calculating a second resultant image by applying the band pass filter to the long-exposure image; converting the first resultant image and the second resultant image into n-level images, where n is an odd natural number greater than or equal to 3, by deducing a first n-level resultant image and a second n-level resultant image from the first resultant image and the second resultant image, respectively; correlating the first n-level resultant image and the second n-level resultant image, and calculating a correlation map; and deducing the PSF from the correlation map.
US08830362B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for reducing image blur in an input image while reducing noise included in the input image and restraining degradation of the input image caused by the noise reduction
The present invention has an object to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of, when reducing a blur in an input image, (i) reducing noise included in the input image and (ii) restraining degradation of the image caused by noise processing from being emphasized by image restoration processing. An image processing apparatus (100) for reducing a blur in an input image includes: a noise processing unit (10) which performs noise processing that reduces noise to the input image, to generate a noise-processed image; and a restoration processing unit (20) which performs image restoration processing that reduces a blur to the noise-processed image, the noise processing unit (10) performing the noise processing based on a characteristic of the image restoration processing.
US08830360B1 Method and apparatus for optimizing image quality based on scene content
A method and apparatus for optimizing image quality based on scene content comprising a sensor for generating a sequence of frames where each frame in the sequence of frames comprises content representing a scene and a digital processor, coupled to the sensor, for performing scene content analysis and for establishing a window defining a number of input frames from the sensor and processed output frames, and for aligning and combining the number of frames in the window to form an output frame, wherein sensor parameters and frame combination parameters are adjusted based on scene content.
US08830359B2 Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus of the present application includes a reduced image generation section generating a first reduced image obtained by reducing at least a target image being a noise reduction target, out of the target image and a reference image to be a reference of a noise reduction processing, a noise extraction section extracting a noise component in a frequency band corresponding to a reduction ratio of the first reduced image by using at least the first reduced image, and a noise reduction section reducing the noise component in the frequency band from a pixel value of each pixel of the target image based on the noise component in the frequency band being extracted.
US08830353B2 Camera body, and camera system
An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body, includes a driving object to be driven, an operating unit that receives an operation performed by a user to provide an instruction for driving the driving object, a driver that drives the driving object, and a lens controller that controls the driver. The lens controller notifies the camera body of information about drive of the driving object corresponding to the operation received by the operating unit, and thereafter, controls the driver to drive the driving object when obtaining information indicating permission for driving the driving object from the camera body.
US08830352B2 Image pickup device
There is provided an image pickup device which eliminates the need for image processing different from one frame to another, and is capable of eliminating centroid displacement without additionally performing a centroid correction process, thereby improving an S/N ratio and image quality. A controller 140 sequentially reads signals from all pixels when an operation mode control signal designates all-pixel readout mode, whereas, controls to read a signal from a different pixel while varying a readout position from one field to another when the operation mode control signal designates selective readout mode, and a signal processing section 150 performs signal processing on a set of field data of a single field to output resultant data as frame data when the operation mode control signal designates all-pixel readout mode, whereas, adds up plural sets of field data over a plurality of fields to output resultant data as frame data when the operation mode control signal designates selective readout mode.
US08830350B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program
An apparatus and a method for efficiently executing correction of false color, such as purple fringe, caused by chromatic aberration and for generating and outputting high-quality image data are provided. A white-saturated pixel is detected from image data, a false-color-pixel detection area is set around the detected white-saturated pixel, and pixels having color corresponding to false color such as purple fringe are detected from the set area. The detected pixels are determined as false-color pixels and correction processing based on the values of the surrounding pixels is performed on the determined false-color pixels. With this configuration, an area of false color such as purple fringe generated in the neighborhood of a white-saturated pixel can be efficiently detected, pixel values can be partially corrected, and high-quality image data can be generated and output without affecting the entire image.
US08830349B2 Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, and program
An object of this invention is to perform, for a photographed image, image processing which reflects the intention of the user without photographing again. In order to achieve this object, photographing data from an image sensor is temporarily stored in a memory, and an image of the photographing data as a result of digital development processing is displayed. When it is determined from the displayed image that the parameters of various image processes in digital development processing are not proper for the photographed image, the parameter settings are corrected again. Then, operation of reading out photographing data from the memory and performing digital development processing again is executed a necessary number of times. When an image quality intended by the photographer is obtained, the photographing data is recorded on a recording medium.
US08830342B2 Image-capturing device and timing control circuit for varying period of one cycle generating vertical synchronization signal
An image-capturing device includes image-capturing section, an image-data-generation section, and an image capture control section. The image-capturing section is for capturing an image of a subject and starting generating of image-capture data corresponding to a single frame in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal, The image-data-generation section is for carrying out processing for generating image data showing an image of the subject, on the basis of the image-capture data. The image capture control section is for varying, at a minimum, either a number of pulses of subsignals generated a plurality of times within a period of one cycle of the vertical synchronization signal, or the cycle for generating the vertical synchronization signal.
US08830340B2 System and method for high performance image processing
The present invention provides a method and a system for high performance image signal processing of continuous images in real time. The system comprising a focal plane array for generating continuous source image frames in real time. The focal plane array divided logically into blocks of sub-frames. The system also comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) layer having an array of ADC elements for converting the source image frames into a digital data. The system further comprising a digital processor layer having an array of processing elements for processing the digital data and an interconnecting layer for connecting each one of the ADC elements and the digital processing elements substantially vertically to the focal plane and substantially parallel to one another. The processing comprising reducing image motion blur, increasing image dynamic range, increasing image depth of field and obtaining features of the images.
US08830338B2 Imaging device
In an imaging device with a wide dynamic range function by combining images, focus is controlled to establish an in-focus state for each image to enlarge the dynamic range with reducing blur, thereby improving visibility. The device includes an imaging unit with a variable focal distance focus lens, an exposure controller for controlling the imaging unit's exposure to implement several shooting operations for a subject with different sensitivity, a processing unit for processing a signal outputted from the imaging unit to generate an image signal and a focus evaluation value indicating focus degree, an image combining unit for combining signals generated by the processing unit and outputting the combined signal, the processing unit generates a focus evaluation value for each outputted signal and the focus controller controls the focus lens for shooting operations of the imaging unit with mutually different sensitivity values, based on focus evaluation values respectively associated therewith.
US08830337B2 Electronic device with camera functions
An electronic device with camera functions includes a housing and a camera module. The housing has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is disposed on a display surface of the housing, and the second opening is disposed on a rear surface of the housing. The camera module is located between the first opening and the second opening. Therefore, a user can take a photograph for an object by the display surface or the rear surface of the electronic device facing toward the object.
US08830336B2 Optical apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and method for controlling optical apparatus
An image capturing apparatus detects the angular rotational shake and translational shake generated in the apparatus using an angular velocity sensor and an accelerometer. The camera CPU computes a correction amount for angular rotational and translational shake using the first correction coefficient calculated by an angular rotational shake correction coefficient calculation unit and the second correction coefficient calculated by a translational shake correction coefficient calculation unit, produces both of the correction amounts to thereby calculate an image shake correction amount so as to suppress an increase in an image magnification for controlling image stabilization in a direction of increasing an imaging magnification. A driving unit drives a shake correction unit in accordance with an image shake correction amount, and a shake correction unit corrects image shake generated in the image surface of an imaging optical system.
US08830335B2 SMA actuation apparatus
An SMA actuation apparatus uses SMA actuator wires to move a movable element supported on a support structure, for example to provide optical image stabilization. Eight SMA actuator wires are arranged inclined with respect to a notional primary axis with a pair of the SMA actuator wires on each of four sides around the primary axis. The SMA actuators are connected so that on contraction two groups of four SMA actuator wires provide a force with a component in opposite directions along the primary axis, so that the groups are capable of providing movement along the primary axis. The SMA actuator wires of each group have 2-fold rotational symmetry about the primary axis, so that there are SMA actuator wires opposing each other that are capable of providing lateral movement or tilting.
US08830331B2 Method and apparatus for detecting near-duplicate videos using perceptual video signatures
Methods and apparatus for detection and identification of duplicate or near-duplicate videos using a perceptual video signature are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods (i) extract perceptual video features, (ii) identify unique and distinguishing perceptual features to generate a perceptual video signature, (iii) compute a perceptual video similarity measure based on the video edit distance, and (iv) search and detect duplicate and near-duplicate videos. A complete framework to detect unauthorized copying of videos on the Internet using the disclosed perceptual video signature is disclosed.
US08830328B2 Camera-based duplex imaging apparatus for imaging a document having no document ejection mechanism
A duplex imaging apparatus for imaging at least one side of a document, including a processor and lower and upper imaging devices. Each imaging device includes an optical-chamber, a camera and a light-source-configuration, facilitated to directly illuminate each face of the document from at least two illuminating angles. The lower imaging device is enclosed by a glass-window, wherein the document is operatively disposed on the glass-window. Each of the light source configurations includes at least one cluster of light sources, wherein the clusters of light sources are operated in a preconfigured sequence. Direct illumination forms hotspots in the acquired image frames at preconfigured locations, corresponding to the light sources positioning. The processor is facilitated to cutout preconfigured image frame portions containing the hotspots, forming clean portions of the image frames, and to combine the clean portions to form a clean output image frame.
US08830327B2 Surveillance system with direct database server storage
A video surveillance system includes at least one of a camera or a streamer. A data base server is coupled to the camera and can store metadata for a video clip from the camera or streamer. A media storage server is coupled to both the camera or, the streamer, and to the data base server to store the clip in the absence of any network video recorders.
US08830326B2 Image transmission apparatus, image transmission method, program, and storage medium
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image transmission apparatus connected to an image pickup apparatus and configured to transmit an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus to a plurality of client terminals via a network. The image transmission apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a transmission processing mode for transmitting a still image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and a real-time image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and having a resolution lower than that of the still image according to an instruction issued from one of the plurality of client terminals, and a control unit configured to control an instruction to the image pickup apparatus and a transmission processing for the still image and the real-time image according to the transmission processing mode set by the setting unit.
US08830325B2 Gambling terminal having a digital camera
The invention relates to a gambling terminal comprising a mount (63) for receiving a gambling document belonging to a user and a camera able to acquire an image of the gambling document when the gambling document is placed on the mount, the terminal having a first side intended to face an operator and a second side opposite the first side and intended to face the user, in which the terminal has a first opening (14) arranged on the first side and a second opening arranged on the second side such that the gambling document can be seen simultaneously by the operator and the user while the image is being acquired.
US08830319B2 Device and method for detecting and displaying the rear and/or side view of a motor vehicle
A device for detecting and displaying the rear and/or side traffic of a motor vehicle is to be improved upon such that the driver can safely and quickly detect the present traffic situation by way of the overall image shown, in particular when the direction of travel is changed. This is accomplished in that the device for detecting and displaying the rear and/or side view of a motor vehicle (1) comprises a first apparatus (3) for producing images of the optically detected rear view (A), one or more further apparatuses (2) for producing images of the optical side view (B,C) of the motor vehicle (1), a display apparatus (6) adapted to display images or image sections of the first and/or the further apparatuses (2, 3) in partial areas (T1, T2), and a control apparatus (5) adapted to select the images or image sections and to assign them to the partial areas (T1, T2). The images or image sections are selected according to the signals of a driving direction indicator (7) and/or the signals of a sensor (8) that represents the steering direction and are assigned to the partial areas (T1, T2). Also provided is a method for detecting and displaying an overall image from an image section or overlapping image sections.
US08830318B2 On-vehicle three-dimensional video system and method of monitoring the surrounding environment of a vehicle using the same
An on-vehicle three-dimensional video system is provided for a vehicle and a method is provided for monitoring a surrounding environment of a vehicle. The on-vehicle three-dimensional video system includes, but is not limited to cameras, a display screen, a control module, and a power supply device. The cameras are provided in pairs for filming the surrounding environment of the vehicle from different angles, and the display screen is able to bring about a three-dimensional video effect according to pairs of video signals from the cameras. With the on-vehicle three-dimensional video system, a realistic three-dimensional output of the surrounding environment of the vehicle is realized on the display screen so that the driver can clearly know about the precise relative position of a corresponding portion of the vehicle with respect to the surrounding environment.
US08830311B2 Position detecting method and electronic device implementing the method
The disclosure provides an electronic device and a detecting position method adapted for the electronic device. The device stores an infrared sensing mode and a capture mode. The method includes steps of: entering the infrared sensing mode in response to an input signal and capturing infrared signals from an external environment, amplifying the infrared signals and converting the infrared signals into digital signals, evaluating whether part of the infrared signals falls into a predetermined waveband, if yes, focusing on an infrared thermal source whose infrared signals fall into the predetermined waveband, switching from the infrared sensing mode to the capture mode, taking a photo of the infrared thermal source, and processing the photo to identify a position of the infrared thermal source in the photo and displaying the position of the infrared thermal source in the photo.
US08830309B2 Hierarchical processing using image deformation
A hierarchical pattern matching process is improved for use in three-dimensional reconstruction by calculating a disparity field for low-resolution data, and using this low-resolution disparity field to estimate the disparity field for higher-resolution images. By pre-warping a template according to the estimated disparity field, improved correlation results can be obtained.
US08830307B2 Image display apparatus
To reduce a display time of an image for which an observation is less required, and to effectively perform an observation of a series of images, the image display apparatus (1) includes an image processing controller (2a) that acquires an image from a storage unit (5), controls various image processes for the acquired image, and stores an image of a processing result in the storage unit (5), an image classification unit (2b) that calculates a correlation value between temporally continuous images and classifies each of the images into an image group based on the calculated correlation value, an image-of-interest detecting unit (2c) that detects a feature-image area including a predetermined feature from each of the images, and detects the feature image including the detected feature-image area as an image-of-interest, a representative-image extracting unit (2d) that extracts the image-of-interest and a first image in each of the image groups as a representative image and sets a display rate for each of the extracted representative images, and an image display controller (6a) that performs a control of sequentially displaying the series of representative images based on the set display rates.
US08830303B2 Method and device for optical scanning of three-dimensional objects by means of a dental 3D camera using a triangulation method
A dental 3D camera for optically scanning a three-dimensional object, and a method for operating a dental 3D camera. The camera operates in accordance with a triangulation procedure to acquire a plurality of images of the object. The method comprises forming at least one comparative signal based on at least two images of the object acquired by the camera while at least one pattern is projected on the object, and determining at least one camera shake index based on the at least one comparative signal.
US08830301B2 Stereoscopic image reproduction method in case of pause mode and stereoscopic image reproduction apparatus using same
An apparatus, which forms a stereoscopic image by alternately displaying a left image and a right image, for reproducing a stereoscopic image in a pause mode, includes: a decoder unit configured to perform decoding on received image information; a 3D format generation unit configured to pair left and right images which are temporally consistent to generate stereoscopic image data; and a user input processing unit configured to receive a user selection with respect to image reproduction and delivering a corresponding signal to the decoder unit and the 3D format generation unit, wherein when the user input processing receives a to selection of a pause mode from the user, the decoder unit stops the decoding operation on the basis of the signal from the user input processing unit and the 3D format generation unit generates the stereoscopic image data by using the same left and right video frames. Even when a pause mode is selected while a stereoscopic image is being reproduced, the stereoscopic image can be outputted, and in this case, the stereoscopic image can be outputted in the pause mode without using any additional configuration.
US08830299B2 Method and device for determining the speed of travel and coordinates of vehicles and subsequently identifying same and automatically recording road traffic offences
The automatic system makes it possible to reduce the probability of error when identifying the vehicle of an offender, increases the length of a speed limit monitoring zone to several hundreds/thousands of meters, and makes it possible to cut expenditure on the construction and maintenance of gantries for the installation of speed limit monitoring devices. A method for the combined processing of signals from a radar and a panoramic video camera is proposed, in which data flows from the video camera and the radar are independently obtained, after which they are compared and data about the speed and coordinates are obtained with little probability of error in identifying the vehicle of an offender. The device for realizing the method comprises a radar with a signal processing module to calculate the speed and distance of all vehicles on a chosen section of road, and a panoramic video camera.
US08830297B2 Apparatus and method for providing remote medical services via an API and an open IPTV platform apparatus
An Open Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform is provided. By providing remote medical services to users in the Open IPTV environment using a remote medical service providing apparatus including: an application programming interface (API) calling unit to call, when receiving a request for receiving a remote medical service from a counselor's terminal, an API of an Open Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform; and a service provider to provide the remote medical service to a user through the API, it is possible to provide remote medical service operators with environments where they can develop and share various remote medical to services and content.
US08830296B1 Endpoint device-specific stream control for multimedia conferencing
A system for endpoint device-specific stream control for multimedia conferencing may include one or more processors and memory. The one or more processors may perform steps of providing a hosted multimedia conference to participant devices, determining whether each participant device is capable of providing a video stream transmission and providing, to each participant device, video stream controls that provide for controlling video streams of exclusively the other participant devices that are determined to be capable of providing video stream transmissions. The steps may further include receiving a selection of a first video stream control corresponding to a first participant device from second and third participant devices, receiving a video stream from the first participant device, and providing the video stream to the second and third participant devices based at least in part on the received selections of the first video stream control by the second and third participant devices.
US08830290B2 Video conference apparatus and method for audio-video synchronization
An audio-video synchronization method is executable in a video conference device. The method includes determining a first presence time of a predetermined visual effect in a captured video sample stream and a second presence time of a predetermined sound effect in a captured audio sample stream, calculating a time difference between the first and second presence time, and adjusting timestamps of each real-time transport protocol packet in an audio stream sent out by the video conference apparatus based on the time difference. The method further includes receiving an adjustment value from an user input, and adjusting timestamps of each real-time transport protocol packet in an audio stream received by the video conference apparatus based on the adjustment value.
US08830289B2 Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus including optical scanning apparatus
At the time of forming an image, a rise in a temperature of a drive motor generates distortion in a bottom of a optical box of an optical scanning apparatus. If an opening is formed on the optical box to release heat, the optical box becomes easily distorted. To solve such a problem, according to the present invention, the optical scanning apparatus includes a rib which crosses over the opening formed at the bottom of the optical box.
US08830286B2 Color image forming apparatus having drive current adjustment
A color image forming apparatus has a plurality of photosensitive members, a light emitting element emitting light, a laser driving unit causing the light emitting element to emit light of a light amount at a first emission level for visualizing the toner image onto a first area where the toner image is to be visualized on the charged photosensitive member and to emit light of a light amount at a second emission level for weak emission onto a second area where the toner is not to be adhered to the charged photosensitive member. In addition, an acquiring unit acquires information associated with a remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members, a first drive current adjusting unit adjusts the first drive current, and a second drive current adjusting unit adjusts the second drive current, with the second drive current adjusting unit changing a magnitude of the second drive current in accordance with the information associated with the remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members.
US08830280B2 Apparatus for driving a display panel with compensation for heat caused by proximity to light source, and method thereof
A driving unit of a display panel includes a control part, a gate driving part, a grayscale compensating part, and a data driving part. The control part provides a control signal and a grayscale signal. The gate driving part provides a gate signal to the display panel. The display panel is divided into a plurality of blocks according to a distance from a light source to each of the blocks. The grayscale compensating part outputs a compensating signal of an n-th frame using look-up tables, and the look-up tables respectively correspond to the blocks of the display panel. The data driving part converts the compensating signal of the n-th frame into a grayscale voltage and provides the grayscale voltage to the display panel. Accordingly, the driving unit of the display panel may improve a response speed of liquid crystals and display quality.
US08830279B2 Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display having adaptive driving mechanism includes plural pixel array areas and a driving module. Each pixel array area has a plurality of pixels. The driving module includes a signal generation unit for generating grey-level signals corresponding to the pixels based on input image data, a weighting conversion unit for converting the grey-level signals corresponding to the pixels into a plurality of weightings, a weighting processing unit for generating a weighting sum by summing up the weightings corresponding to the pixel array area, an inversion-mode setting unit for setting a polarity inversion mode according to the weighting sum, and a data signal output unit. The data signal output unit is utilized for providing a plurality of data signals to be written into the pixel array area based on the polarity inversion mode.
US08830271B1 Density smoothing a display of points-of-interest displayable on a map based on relative prominence
A density smoothing server determines the zoom level at which one or more points-of-interest are to be displayed on an electronic map. The density smoothing server may be in communication with a global points-of-interest database, where the global points-of-interest database includes previously ranked points-of-interest. The density smoothing server selects a group of points-of-interest as local points-of-interest and extracts the local points-of-interest, along with corresponding prominence values, from the global points-of-interest database. Using a centroid determination manager and a centroid surface manager, the density smoothing server determines a number of centroids for the surface of the electronic map and then constructs centroid surfaces based on the determined centroids. A zoom level is assigned to each of the extracted local points-of-interest based on a comparison of the prominence values for the local points-of-interest with the constructed centroid surfaces.
US08830270B2 Progressively indicating new content in an application-selectable user interface
This document describes techniques for progressively indicating new content in an application-selectable user interface. These techniques permit a user to view indications of new content for applications progressively, rather than all at one time. By so doing, the techniques may avoid mentally or visually overloading or over-stimulating a user viewing the indications.
US08830264B2 Method and apparatus for providing image to device
An method for providing an image to a multiple number of devices is disclosed. The method includes providing a part of the image to a first device, receiving, from a second device, second position information of the second device relative to first position information of the first device, and providing, to the second device, another part of the image corresponding to the position information of the second device.
US08830260B2 Drawing device of move-target image and display system for vehicle
Afterimages of a move-target image which is moved at high speed are reduced even if a display unit with slow response characteristics is used. A drawing device for continuously drawing a move-target image as a moving picture on a display image displayed on a display unit includes: a drawing position identification unit which identifies a current drawing position at which the move-target image is drawn on the display screen; a past drawing position storage unit in which is stored a prescribed number of past drawing positions where the move-target image is drawn previously; an afterimage-reducing region detection unit which detects an afterimage-reducing region of the move-target image, the afterimage reducing region extending from the current drawing position to any one of the past drawing positions; an afterimage-reducing image drawing unit which draws an afterimage-reducing image in the afterimage reducing region; and a move-target image drawing unit which draws the move-target image at the current drawing position.
US08830259B2 Information processing device, display control method and program
There is provided an information processing device that includes a communication portion, a detection portion and a display control portion. The communication portion communicates with an external device. The detection portion detects a posture of the information processing device. The display control portion controls display on a display screen based on one of a display format that is determined based on posture information indicating the posture of the information processing device detected by the detection portion and external posture information indicating a posture of the external device that is received by the communication portion, and a display format based on display switch information indicating a display format that is received by the communication portion.
US08830252B2 Color temperature compensation method and applications thereof
A color-temperature-compensation (CTC) method and applications thereof are provided, and which includes determining intensities of weights of three colors in an inputted three-dimension color signal; if yes, performing a lookup table mechanism to find-out a first set of multi-primary-color (MPC) signal corresponding to the three colors with the same weights, and performing a digital-gamma-correction (DGC) to the first set of MPC signal for providing a first set of CTC signal accordingly; if no, performing the lookup table mechanism to find-out a second set of MPC signal corresponding to the three colors with different weights, and performing the DGC to the second set of MPC signal for providing a second set of CTC signal accordingly; and making at least one same color with the same intensity in the three colors with the same weights and in the three colors with different weights displaying on an MPC display have different brightness.
US08830248B1 Texture synthesis for fine grained cloth simulation
A method for rendering an image on computer system including a display includes determining a first displacement map associated with a surface material and a first input parameter, determining a second displacement map associated with the surface material and a second input parameter. determining a three-dimensional displacement data structure in response to the first displacement map, the first input parameter, the second displacement map and the second input parameter in the computer system, receiving a third input parameter, determining a third displacement map associated with the surface material in response to the three-dimensional displacement data structure and the third input parameter in the computer system, rendering an image of an object in the computer system, wherein an appearance of a surface of the object is determined in response to the third displacement map, and displaying the image on the display to a user.
US08830245B2 Load balancing between general purpose processors and graphics processors
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating load balancing between central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). A request is obtained to execute a first application in one or more computing devices. In one embodiment, a second application associated with the first application is assigned to be executed in GPUs of the one or more computing devices instead of CPUs of the one or more computing devices when a resource usage profile associated with the first application indicates that the first application is relatively more CPU intensive than GPU intensive. Conversely, the second application is assigned to be executed in the CPUs instead of the GPUs when the resource usage profile indicates that the first application is relatively more GPU intensive than CPU intensive.
US08830242B2 Realistic real-time simulation of brush behavior
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for simulating brush behavior. In one embodiment, user input may be received to modify an image using a brush model, wherein the brush model comprises data stored in a memory of a computer system. The brush model may comprise a plurality of bristle representations. The user input may comprise a motion of the brush model. An effect of each of the plurality of bristle representations on the image throughout the motion may be determined. The image may be modified based on the determined effect of each of the plurality of bristle representations on the image throughout the motion.
US08830241B1 Image conversion of text-based images
Conversion of text-based images to vector graphics (VG) is disclosed. The text-based images may include images of equations, custom typefaces, or other types of text that may not be included in a font selection of an optical character recognition (OCR) device or an application stored on a viewing device. A textual image may be converted from a raster graphics (RG) image to a VG image, which may enable resizing and alignment of the VG image with body text. In some aspects, the server may determine a body size of a reference character in the VG image. The server may determine a baseline of the VG image that may be used to align the image with the body text.
US08830237B2 Apparatus and method for editing three dimensional objects
A computer graphic editing or modeling system that automatically alters a computer graphic object based on a user sketch. The computer graphic object may be presented as an image space view of the object (proxy). The sketch is placed in proximity to some feature of the image space view. The system matches the sketch with the feature taking into account silhouettes, which may be derived by way of depth continuity and depth gradient similarity, of the object and matching the silhouette with the feature based on proximity and shape. The matched handle silhouette is transformed to associated handle vertices of a mesh of the graphic object. The system may then deform the mesh based on the user sketch by obtaining a dimensional relationship between the user sketch and the associated silhouette and applying the dimensional relationship to a region of interest, which includes the handle vertices.
US08830234B2 System and method for four dimensional angiography and fluoroscopy
A method for generating time-resolved 3D medical images of a subject by imparting temporal information from a time-series of 2D medical images into 3D images of the subject. Generally speaking, this is achieved by acquiring image data using a medical imaging system, generating a time-series of 2D images of a ROI from at least a portion of the acquired image data, reconstructing a 3D image substantially without temporal resolution from the acquired image data, and selectively combining the time series of 2D images with the 3D image.
US08830233B2 Surgical case planning platform
Computer-implemented systems and methods of preoperatively planning a present surgical case including a surgical site located on a portion of a body of a patient are described herein. Such methods may include converting at least one image of the surgical site into a three-dimensional model displayable on a display means and manipulating the model such that the model is displayable on the display means as a corrected model representing a corrected surgical site. The method may further include providing at least one medical device from a library of medical devices stored in a device database and providing a plurality of previous surgical cases maintained in a case database the plurality of previous surgical cases being made available for preoperatively planning the present surgical case.
US08830232B2 Well placement 3D advisor—method and system to monitor and assist a well placement operation
A method of displaying information relating to a well drilling operation, comprising generating a sub-surface model of the underground formation through which the well is being drilled; generating a representation of the well being drilled, of the drilling equipment being used to drill the well, including parameters relating to the use of the drilling equipment; generating a 3D image of the formation, the well and the drilling equipment; and generating an image within the 3D image comprising volumes representing virtual objects, such as a cone of possible well placement if drilling proceeds under the current conditions, or the envelope of investigation of a given sensor.
US08830230B2 Sensor placement and analysis using a virtual environment
A process for sensor placement and analysis using a virtual environment includes receiving into a computer processor a model of an area, a position in the model that represents a placement of a virtual sensor, and an orientation of the virtual sensor. A shadow map of the area is generated as a function of the position and orientation of the virtual sensor. The shadow map is used to determine one or more portions of the area that can be sensed by the virtual sensor. The area of the model that is covered as a function of the position and orientation of the virtual sensor is determined, and information relating to the area of the model that is covered as a function of the position and orientation of the virtual sensor is transmitted to an output device.
US08830228B2 Techniques for enabling remote management of servers configured with graphics processors
A technique for enabling the use of a baseboard management controller in a computer system configured to stream 3D graphical user interfaces to remote clients is described. In an exemplary configuration, a cap driver that is written to conform to a driver model that can interface with a 3D graphics application program interface can be loaded for use with the baseboard management controller instead of a legacy driver that was written to conform to a legacy driver model. This allows a control program to load a graphics driver that can interoperate with the 3D graphics application program interface. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the text of the summary and detailed description, the claims, and drawings.
US08830223B2 Computer aided design of three-dimensional cartons with curved creases
A method, a computer readable medium with instructions to execute a method, and a carton designed using a method. The method includes accepting a specification of a carton made up of a substrate and having at least one curved crease. The method further includes for a curved crease, accepting a folding angle at any point of the crease; and automatically calculating at least one shape of the folded carton in order to determine a three-dimensional model of the folded carton.
US08830219B2 Organic light emitting display device capable of compensating threshold voltage of a driving transistor and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display device includes: a plurality of pixels at crossing regions of a plurality of scan lines and data lines; a first control line and a second control line commonly connected with the plurality of pixels; a control line driver configured to supply a first control signal to the first control line and a second control signal to the second control line, where the second control signal is not concurrent with the first control signal; and a first power supply that supplies a first power to each of the plurality of pixels, where a voltage level of the first power is configured to change at least once during a frame period for each of the pixels.
US08830216B2 Illuminance detection method, flip-type electronic device and program
For solving a problem that it cannot measure illuminance level around user interface correctly, an illuminance detection method includes a first step of detecting an open operation of a flip-type electronic device having the user interface located at an inner side in a closed state, and a second step of measuring illuminance level in a vicinity of an area where the user interface is exposed in an opened state of the flip-type electronic device when the open operation is detected.
US08830215B2 Display device including plural displays
A display device according to the present invention includes: an organic EL element; an electrostatic holding capacitor; a drive transistor having a gate connected to one electrode of an electrostatic holding capacitor and a source connected to an anode of the organic EL element; another electrostatic holding capacitor having an electrode connected to the other electrode of the one electrostatic holding capacitor; a negative power supply line which determines a potential of a cathode of the organic EL element; and a scanning line drive circuit which controls switching transistors. In a display period, the entire display area of a display unit is caused to start generating photons at once. In a non-display period, the entire display area of the display unit is caused to stop generating photons at once, and the drive transistor is reset.
US08830210B2 Optical touch apparatus and drive method to control an average brightness of LEDs
An optical touch apparatus including a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a third light emitting device, a fourth light emitting device, a first image detector, a second image detector, and a control unit is provided. The control unit controls the average brightness of the third light emitting device less than each of the average brightness of the second light emitting device and the fourth light emitting device when the control unit controls the first image detector to detect an image. The control unit controls the average brightness of the second light emitting device less than each of the average brightness of the first light emitting device and the third light emitting device when the control unit controls the second image detector to detect an image. A driving method is also provided.
US08830206B2 Systems and methods for locking image orientation
An information handling system includes a housing, a processor, memory, and a touch screen display that has a display portion operable to present information as an image. The system also includes a touch controller and an orientation module.
US08830204B2 Multi-zone touchscreen sensing at a portable information handling system
An information handling system includes a touch screen with a first zone disposed over a display and a second zone that extends past a periphery of the display. End users interact with an operating system and applications of the information handling system with touches input in the first zone responsive to images presented at the display. End users perform management functions with touches input in the second zone independent of images presented at the display.
US08830200B2 Electronic device with touch-sensitive display and method of facilitating input at the electronic device
A method of controlling an electronic device that has a touch-sensitive display includes detecting a touch at an area associated with a character displayed on the touch-sensitive display, adding the character to a character string, identifying, from stored data, objects that at least partially match the character string, determining a next character of ones of the objects identified to yield a set of next characters, increasing a size of an area associated with each character of the set of next characters, and reducing the size of the area associated with each character of the set of next characters with time absent detection of a further touch.
US08830199B2 Information processing apparatus
An in-vehicle apparatus includes an LCD that displays an operation screen, an operation position detector that detects a position that is part of the operation screen displayed on the LCD and that is touched by a user with an operation force larger than or equal to an operation determination threshold value with a touch panel on a certain detection cycle, a connection determiner that determines whether a mobile terminal apparatus is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus, and an operation determination threshold value changer that changes the operation determination threshold value to a value corresponding to the connected mobile terminal apparatus if the connection determiner determines that the mobile terminal apparatus is connected to the in-vehicle apparatus.
US08830194B2 Touchscreen virtual track control
For performing touchscreen virtual touch control, a display module displays a control interface in response to detecting a finger touch of a finger on a touchscreen. A detection module detects a finger roll of the finger on the touchscreen and performs an action in response to detecting the finger roll.
US08830193B2 Controlling views in display device with touch screen
A display device including a display having a touch screen, and a controller for controlling the display to simultaneously provide a selected number of display areas in the display, with each of the display areas being for displaying information from information sources. The controller controls the display to include R display areas when the touch screen is tapped simultaneously R times, and S display areas when the touch screen is tapped simultaneously T times followed by T simultaneous drags on the touch screen, followed by U simultaneous taps on the touch screen, wherein R, S, T and U are integers, R is a selected one of 2, 3 or 4, S>R and T+U=S.
US08830191B2 Soft control user interface with touchpad input device
In one embodiment, a user of a mobile device adjusts a controllable parameter of an application hosted by the mobile device by using touch inputs to the mobile device's side-mounted touchpad.
US08830187B2 Input apparatus and control method of input apparatus
An input apparatus has a touch sensor for receiving an input, a load detection unit for detecting a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor, a tactile sensation providing unit for vibrating the touch face, and a control unit, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a standard for providing a tactile sensation, for controlling drive of the tactile sensation providing unit to vibrate the touch face at a frequency such that a click sensation is provided to an object (means) pressing the touch face. Thereby, a realistic click sensation similar to that obtained when a push-button switch is operated is provided when an operator operates the touch sensor.
US08830186B2 Touch screen panel
A touch screen panel includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of first sensing cells on the transparent substrate, the plurality of first sensing cells being connected in a first direction, a plurality of second sensing cells between the first sensing cells and insulated from the first sensing cells, the plurality of second sensing cells being connected in a second direction, a plurality of first connecting patterns connecting the first sensing cells in the first direction, a plurality of second connecting patterns intersecting the first connecting patterns and connecting the second sensing cells in the second direction, and insulating layers between the first and second connecting patterns, the insulating layers including edges with protrusions, the edges overlapping the second connecting patterns, and one or more protrusions at the edges protruding toward adjacent second sensing cells.
US08830183B2 Liquid crystal display having a built-in touch screen using capacitance and optical information for detecting a touch position
A liquid crystal display (LCD) with a built-in touch screen includes: a first substrate including a pixel area having a plurality of pixels and a sensor area having a plurality of photosensors; a second substrate positioned over the first substrate, and including a color filter, a light receiving portion, a transparent electrode layer, and a front polarizing plate; an LCD panel including a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates; and a touch screen driver circuit to sense a capacitance variation provided through a first sensing line connected to the transparent electrode layer when an object is in contact with the LCD panel, and to output position information of the object, sensed by using optical information sensed through a second sensing line connected the plurality of photosensors when the capacitance variation is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
US08830180B2 Capacitive position sensor
A capacitive position sensor has a two-layer electrode structure. Drive electrodes extending in a first direction on a first plane on one side of a substrate. Sense electrodes extend in a second direction on a second plane on the other side of the substrate so that the sense electrodes cross the drive electrodes at a plurality of intersections which collectively form a position sensing array. The sense electrodes are provided with branches extending in the first direction part of the way towards each adjacent sense electrode so that end portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes co-extend with each other in the first direction separated by a distance sufficiently small that capacitive coupling to the drive electrode adjacent to the co-extending portion is reduced. Providing sense electrode branches allow a sensor to be made which has a greater extent in the first direction for a given number of sense channels, since the co-extending portions provide an interpolating effect. The number of sense electrode branches per drive electrode can be increased which allows a sensor to be made which has ever greater extent in the first direction without having to increase the number of sense channels.
US08830177B2 Method and apparatus for displaying view mode using face recognition
A method for displaying screen data according to determination of a view mode in a portable terminal, and an apparatus thereof, are provided. The method includes detecting an orientation change event of the portable terminal in a displayed state of the screen data, turning-on a camera module when the orientation change event is detected, determining an orientation of eyes of a user through face detection from an image captured by the camera module, determining a view mode of the portable terminal according to an orientation of the portable terminal and the orientation of the eyes of the user, and displaying screen data according to the determined view mode.
US08830174B1 Variable profile input button
One or more buttons on an electronic device are mechanically coupled to actuators utilizing electroactive polymers. When active, the electroactive polymer deploys the button such that a height of the button above a substrate is increased. When inactive, the button returns to a stowed position having a lower height, and thus presents a lesser profile.
US08830172B2 Selection device and method for performing positioning operation
A method for performing a positioning operation related to an image area having a specific position includes the following steps. A specific orientation directed towards the specific position is provided, wherein the specific orientation and the specific position have a specific spatial relation therebetween, and the specific orientation and the image area have a specific angle structure therebetween. The specific angle structure is determined by detecting the specific orientation. The specific spatial relation is calculated according to the determined specific angle structure and the image area. A selection device for performing a positioning operation is also provided.
US08830170B2 Optical pointing system and related method
An optical pointing system includes a plurality of light sources, an image receiver, and an analyzing unit. The plurality of light sources are disposed on multiple locations of an object and configured to provide light having distinct wavelengths. The image receiver is configured to detect optical signals of the plurality of light sources, thereby generating a plurality of corresponding images. The analyzing unit is configured to calculate a relative position or angle of the image receiver with respect to the object according to the images.
US08830169B2 Methods and systems for providing sensory information to devices and peripherals
Peripherals and data processing systems are disclosed which can be configured to interact based upon sensor data. In at least certain embodiments, a method for sensing motion and orientation information for a device includes receiving a motion event from at least one sensor located in a device. The method further includes determining an orientation for a display of the device. The method further includes determining whether the device is currently moving. The method further includes determining whether the device moves within an angle with respect to a ground reference for a first time period. The method further includes switching the orientation of the display of the device if the device moves in excess of the angle.
US08830166B2 Sleeve and control device with such sleeve
A sleeve of control device is provided for controlling a cursor motion of an electronic device. A touch-feel enhancing mechanism is formed on an outer surface of the sleeve. The touch-feel enhancing mechanism is not related to the function of operating the control device to detect the rotating action or the moving action by the user. The touch-feel enhancing mechanism is only used to enhance comfort and touch feel of operating the control device.
US08830163B2 Integrated keyboard and touchpad
A data input system including a screen that selectably displays an image of a data input device such as a keyboard or a computer mouse. The screen tracks pressure applied by the user, and processes an input signal created by the pressure into input data according to the image displayed on the screen.
US08830160B2 Presenting information on a card with a passive electronic paper display
With a card including a passive electronic paper display configured to display a visual image, a method of presenting information on a card includes selectively changing a visual image displayed on the passive electronic paper display to update information represented by the visual image, and wherein the card is sized to be carried by a user.
US08830154B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving circuit with reduced number of scan drivers and data drivers
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display device and its driving circuit. The first switch unit and one of the channels of the scan driver correspond to the pixel units of more than one row. The input terminal of the first switch unit is electrically connected to one of the channels, and each of the output terminals of the first switch unit is electrically connected to a scan line of the pixel units of more than one row for outputting a scan signal from one of channels of the scan driver to the pixel units electrically connected to the corresponding scan line.
US08830148B2 Organic electroluminescence display device and organic electroluminescence display device manufacturing method
An organic electroluminescence display device includes a display panel including pixels. The pixels each include a light-emitter, driver and capacitor. A storage is configured to store a correction parameter for each of the pixels for correcting, in accordance with characteristics of each of the pixels, an image signal input from an external source. A controller is configured to, for each pixel of the pixels, obtain a corrected signal voltage by reading the correction parameter corresponding to the pixel from the storage and multiplying the image signal corresponding to the pixel by the correction parameter corresponding to the pixel. The storage is configured to store a gain and not an offset as the correction parameter.
US08830143B1 Enhanced vision system and method for an aircraft
An aircraft optical display system for implementing an enhanced vision system based on light available within the flight deck of an aircraft. The display system includes a visible light imager configured to receive light within a spectral range defined by the photon transmissivity of windshield of the aircraft and generate image data. The system further includes a combiner configured to enable viewing of the world outside of the combiner, and allowing viewing of an enhanced vision image. The system yet further includes an image processing system configured generate an enhanced vision image representative of an external scene to the aircraft based at least in part on the image data from the visible light imager, wherein the enhanced vision image is conformally mapped onto the combiner.
US08830142B1 Head-mounted display and method of controlling the same
Disclosed herein are a head-mounted display and a method of controlling the same, more particularly, a method of providing a first content or second content to a display unit according to detachment or mounting of a camera from or to the head-mounted display.
US08830140B2 Method for automatically adjusting electronic display settings
Described are methods for automatically adjusting a set of display settings. At least one image sample is displayed at a first display according to display settings of the first display. Electromagnetic radiation generated from the first display is collected. The electromagnetic radiation includes first image data related to the at least one image sample at the first display. An image sample is displayed at a second display according to display settings of the second display. Electromagnetic radiation generated from the second display is collected. The electromagnetic radiation includes second image data related to the image sample at the second display. A margin of error is determined between the first image data and the second image data. The display settings of the second display are adjusted to reduce the margin of error.
US08830133B2 Circularly polarised array antenna
A circularly polarized array antenna (30) is disclosed. A single layer dielectric substrate (36) has a ground plane (32) located on its upper surface of the substrate and covering only part of the upper surface. A plurality of antenna elements (40-54) are also located on said upper surface of the substrate. Each antenna element has a slot element (60-74) formed in the ground plane and a respective loading element (80-94) located within each slot element. The antenna elements being arranged in a regular array where each respective slot element is sequentially rotated in space with respect to adjacent slot elements, and the loading elements generate a perturbation under excitation. A microstrip feed network (100) is located on the underside of the substrate to provide excitation to each slot element, and including feeds of different lengths to be electrically sequentially rotated in common with spatial rotation of the slot elements. A single microstrip feed point (108) extends to the edge of the substrate for connection purposes. A reflecting plane is located parallel to and spaced apart from the underside of the substrate. The ground plane extends to cover the entire microstrip feed array.
US08830129B2 Dielectric artificial impedance surface antenna
A dielectric artificial impedance surface antenna (DAISA) including a dielectric with a thickness, the dielectric thickness varying to provide a modulated impedance to a signal traversing the dielectric, the dielectric having a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface.
US08830128B2 Single feed multi-frequency multi-polarization antenna
An antenna capable of receiving both left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) signals and right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) signals, and outputting both signals on a single feed. The antenna includes two coplanar concentric patches. The inner patch is substantially square. The outer patch surrounds the inner patch to define a gap therebetween. A resonant parallel inductive/LC circuit interconnects the two patches. The circuit includes a plurality of printed traces within the gap and interconnecting the concentric patches. The gap and each trace function as an LC circuit.
US08830127B2 Patch antenna and method of mounting the same
A patch antenna including: a dielectric substrate having a vertical through-hole and a recess that is open downward, the recess having an inner periphery greater than a diameter of the through-hole, the recess being connected to the through-hole; a radiation electrode provided on an upper surface of the dielectric substrate; a ground electrode provided on a lower surface of the dielectric substrate; and a feed pin inserted into the through-hole such that a lower end portion of the feed pin is arranged inside the recess, the feed pin electrically connected to the radiation electrode through an upper end portion of the feed pin, wherein first solder is applied to the lower end portion of the feed pin, and a lower end of the feed pin and a lower end of the first solder are flush with or above a lower surface of the ground electrode.
US08830124B1 System and method for asset tracking configuration of a mobile terminal
A system and method for asset tracking configuration of a mobile terminal. A mobile terminal can be designed to enable a remote determination of an asset position. In one embodiment, the mobile terminal can include a configured function that enables the mobile terminal to reconfigure mobile terminal operation (e.g., activation of a GPS engine).
US08830121B2 GNSS signal processing methods and apparatus with ambiguity selection
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (4120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals, each float ambiguity constituting a real number estimate associated with an integer number of wavelengths of the GNSS signal between a receiver of the GNSS signal and the GNSS satellite from which it is received, and the filter being for estimating a float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector (4140). A subset of float ambiguities of the state vector is selected (4150). Integer values are assigned to the estimated float values of the float ambiguities of the subset to define a plurality of integer ambiguity candidate sets (4160). A quality measure is determined for each of the candidate sets. A weighted average of the candidate sets is formed (4200). Ambiguities of the weighted average can be used in subsequent operations to aid in determining a position of the receiver or can be used to prepare data, e.g., in a network processor that can be used to augment position information of a rover.
US08830120B2 Prescribed modulus chirp-like waveforms with multiple frequency notches
An iterative method for modifying an initial time signal to form a created signal having a prescribed envelope, and frequency notches at prescribed frequency values, wherein the created signal closely resembles the initial time signal, the envelope of the created time signal is the prescribed envelope, and the Fourier magnitude of the created time signal at the prescribed frequency values is nearly zero. The created time signal may be a real-valued signal as well as a complex-valued time signal which closely resembles an arbitrary initial time signal, including initial time signals which are standard transmit signals for radar systems, and which have Fourier transform magnitudes with notches and stop-bands at prescribed frequency values. These notches and stop bands are created by enforcing nulls of prescribed order at the prescribed frequency values within the modified time signal.
US08830118B2 Radar level gauge system with operation monitoring functionality
A method of monitoring operation of a radar level gauge system installed at a tank and arranged to determine a filling level of a product contained in the tank. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first propagation property discontinuity at a first distance from a reference position at a top of the tank; generating and transmitting an electromagnetic signal; propagating the transmitted electromagnetic signal towards the product contained in the tank; receiving a reflected electromagnetic signal comprising a plurality of echoes resulting from reflections at propagation property discontinuities encountered by the transmitted electromagnetic signal, including a first reference echo resulting from reflection at the first propagation property discontinuity and a surface echo resulting from reflection at a surface of the product contained in the tank; identifying the surface echo; determining the filling level based on the surface echo; evaluating a first portion of the reflected electromagnetic signal exhibiting a time-of-flight corresponding to the first distance from the reference position; determining, based on the evaluation, whether or not the first reference echo is detectable in the first portion of the reflected electromagnetic signal. If it is determined that the first reference echo is detectable in the first portion of the reflected electromagnetic signal, a first signal indicative of the filling level is provided; and if it is determined that the first reference echo is non-detectable in the first portion of the reflected electromagnetic signal, a second signal different from the first signal is provided.
US08830116B2 Radar wave sensing apparatus and method
A radar wave sensing apparatus including a rotation element, a nanosecond pulse near-field sensor and a control unit is provided. The nanosecond pulse near-field sensor emits an incident radar wave and receives a reflection radar wave of the incident radar wave hitting on a surface of the rotation element to obtain a repetition frequency variation of the reflection radar wave corresponding to the incident radar wave. The control unit calculates a vibration of the rotation element according to the repetition frequency variation.
US08830104B2 Data converter having a passive filter
Exemplary implementations of electrical circuits and systems are disclosed, and methods for signal processing including sampling and quantizing of amplitude and band limited signals implemented through a Passive Pulse Modulation Analog to Digital Converter (PMADC).
US08830102B2 Compact digital-to-analog converter
An example digital-to-analog converter includes a reference scaling circuit receiving a first reference current and generating a second reference current. A first plurality of current sources is coupled to a summing node with a current of a first one of the first plurality of current sources proportional to the first reference current. A current of a second one of the first plurality of current sources is substantially equal to twice the current of the first one of the first plurality of current sources. A second plurality of current sources is coupled to the summing node. A current of a first one of the second plurality of current sources is proportional to the second reference current. A current of a second one of the second plurality of current sources is substantially equal to twice the current of the first one of the second plurality of current sources.
US08830101B1 Single phase clock D/A converter with built-in data combiner
According to some embodiments, a digital to analog converter comprises an array of input data streams. An array of differential MOS switches are all biased by a common tail current source. A data stream combiner combines and selects at each clock cycle the correct bit. Only one transistor from the switches conducts current at any time. The duration during which a switch conducts current is independent upon the fronts of the bits from the input data streams, thus rendering the switching code independent.
US08830098B2 Sigma-delta ADC with test circuitry
The invention concerns a sigma-delta switched capacitor analog to digital converter (ADC) having: an input line for receiving a signal to be converted; first, second and third inputs for respectively receiving first, second and third test voltages; and switching circuitry adapted to apply, during a test mode of the sigma-delta ADC, a ternary test signal to the input line by periodically selecting, based on a digital test control signal, one of the first, second or third test voltages to be applied to the input line.
US08830097B2 A/D converter
An arithmetic operation circuit provided in a delta-sigma modulator of a delta-sigma A/D converter includes two reference capacitors which are respectively provided at a positive side input node and a negative side input node of an operational amplifier. When a signal corresponding to an output of the modulator is added or subtracted to or from an input signal, the amount of charge added to the input node of the operational amplifier is made to be always the same regardless of the reference voltage by complementarily switching the connection of the reference capacitors at the positive side input node and the negative side input node, and thereby the potential of the input node of the operational amplifier is made to converge to the common mode potential of the circuit.
US08830095B2 Track and hold circuit and method
A track and hold circuit has a main transistor for which the gate voltage is provided by a buffer circuit which is supplied with a different voltage supply than the circuit of the main transistor. This avoids the need for a bootstrap circuit.
US08830092B2 Complexity-aware encoding
Techniques for encoding data based at least in part upon an awareness of the decoding complexity of the encoded data and the ability of a target decoder to decode the encoded data are disclosed. In some embodiments, a set of data is encoded based at least in part upon a state of a target decoder to which the encoded set of data is to be provided. In some embodiments, a set of data is encoded based at least in part upon the states of multiple decoders to which the encoded set of data is to be provided.
US08830091B2 Systems and methods for using multiple hypotheses in a visual simultaneous localization and mapping system
The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Advantageously, such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are economically practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. One embodiment further advantageously uses multiple particles to maintain multiple hypotheses with respect to localization and mapping. Further advantageously, one embodiment maintains the particles in a relatively computationally-efficient manner, thereby permitting the SLAM processes to be performed in software using relatively inexpensive microprocessor-based computer systems.
US08830086B2 Adjusting traffic lights
A method and system for adjusting traffic lights. The method and system can dynamically divide a region according to the road congestion situation and adjust traffic lights in a resulting control region according to the control region, so as to solve the traffic congestion problem. The system for adjusting traffic lights includes: a congestion determining module, a control region determining module and a adjusting module, wherein the control region determining module is configured to determine a control region according to a dispersion demand of a first phase and a dispersal capability of a corresponding phase of an adjacent intersection, and the adjusting module is configured to adjust traffic lights of at least one corresponding phase of an adjacent intersection in the control region so as to relieve the traffic congestion situation at the first phase of the first intersection. Also described is a corresponding method for adjusting traffic lights.
US08830083B2 Utility meter with temperature based actuation of a remote disconnect switch
The present application provides a utility meter. The utility meter may include a processor with a predetermined temperature range, a remote disconnect switch in communication with the processor, and a temperature sensor in communication with the processor. The processor opens the remote disconnect switch when the temperature sensor senses a temperature that exceeds the predetermined temperature range.
US08830079B2 Low air conditioning refrigerant detection method
A low air conditioning refrigerant detection method for a vehicle air conditioning system includes measuring an evaporator core outlet refrigerant temperature, measuring an evaporator core outlet air thermistor temperature, calculating a refrigerant to air temperature delta value based on difference between the evaporator core outlet refrigerant temperature and the evaporator core outlet air thermistor temperature and determining system refrigerant charge level based on the refrigerant to air temperature delta value.
US08830078B2 Method of manufacturing bearing device component coated with photoluminescence material, bearing device component and processing device
A method of manufacturing a bearing device component is provided. The bearing device includes a shaft and a sleeve that surrounds the shaft, and at least either one of the shaft and the sleeve is referred to as a work. The method includes: a process of forming a coating of an anti-sticking-lube polymer on the work; a process of applying a photoluminescence material to a range overlapping a range where the coating of the anti-sticking-lube polymer is formed; and a condition detecting process of causing the photoluminescence material to emit light by causing the work to be irradiated with excitation light that excites the photoluminescence material, and detecting an applied condition of the photoluminescence material based on the light emission of the photoluminescence material, thereby detecting a condition of the coating of the anti-sticking-lube polymer.
US08830077B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a case, an angular velocity sensor fixed to the case, a data memory storing plural reference profiles, an output unit operating in a plurality of operation modes corresponding to the reference profiles, and a processor controlling the output unit. The angular velocity sensor sends a signal according to an angular velocity applied to the case. The processor is operable to receive the signal sent from the angular velocity sensor, to select a reference profile out of the plural reference profiles according to the received signal, and to cause the output unit to operate in an operation mode out of the plural operation modes corresponding to the selected reference profile. A user can operate this electronic device with a quick response.
US08830073B2 Power converter with reduced power consumption when toggling between sleep and normal modes during device charging
Electronic devices may have batteries that power internal circuitry. A power converter may connect to an input-output port in an electronic device to deliver power to the electronic device. Battery charging circuitry in the electronic device may be used to charge the battery in an electronic device while power is delivered from the power converter. The power converter may have load detection circuitry. When an output load is present, the power converter operates in an active mode and delivers power to the electronic device. When the output load is not present, the power converter enters a low-power standby mode. The electronic device has switching circuitry that periodically either electrically couples or electrically isolates the input-output port from internal circuitry. When the input-output port is isolated, the power converter senses that no output load is present and enters the standby state to conserve power.
US08830071B2 Networked pest control system
A pest control device system includes a plurality of pest control devices and a data collector. The system may further include the data collector in the form of a gateway that is connected to a data management server via a computer network along with other gateways in corresponding pest control device groups. Each pest control device includes a pest sensor and a wireless communication circuit to transmit information from the corresponding sensor. The devices also configure to define a local wireless communication network that can relay the information from one to the next and ultimately to the data collector.
US08830068B2 Multi-sensor environmental and physiological monitor system and methods of use
A system and method for monitoring the condition of a human, companion animal, or livestock animal in an extreme environment is disclosed. In particular, a system and method to process at least one environmental measurement and at least one physiological measurement to assess at least one condition of a human, companion animal, or livestock animal in an extreme environment is disclosed.
US08830065B1 RFID readers with run commands
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers may transmit one or more run commands specifying one or more programs for tag execution prior to tag singulation. A run command may encapsulate the program(s), in which case a tag may store or store and execute the program(s). A run command may alternatively specify programs stored on a tag. The reader may instruct a tag to execute the program(s) upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may cause the tag to modify the program(s) by adjusting parameters. The reader may instruct tags to execute the program(s) via the run command or another command, which may be sent prior to tag singulation. A reader may cause a tag to determine whether to participate in a subsequent inventory round, modify a behavior during a subsequent inventory round, or store a result in a tag memory, based on the executed program(s).
US08830062B2 Systems and methods to use radar in RFID systems
Systems and methods to use radar systems for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. In one embodiment, radar systems are adapted to use RFID communications protocols and methods to enhance the usefulness of radar systems beyond the determination of the presence, distance, direction and/or speed of a vehicle or object, to additionally include the transmission of data such as object identification and additional messages or data.
US08830058B2 Duet power-driven window shade
A duet power-driven window shade comprises a controlling device to receive an external controlling signal, which is then analyzed, determined and compared with a preset value in a memory unit of the controlling device. A driving signal is output via a processing unit according to a comparing result. A power source then brings convolutions of a first covering sheet and a second covering sheet in sequence or concurrently for increasing the rolling speed and the using convenience and allowing the connecting members connected to the covering sheets to be efficiently rolled up without entanglement so that the duet power-driven window shade is smoothly operated.
US08830057B1 Systems and methods for using robots to monitor environmental conditions in an environment
Methods and devices are disclosed for monitoring environmental conditions in one or more environments. In one embodiment, the method includes maintaining a plurality of environmental-condition thresholds, each of which corresponds to an environmental condition and is predetermined based on data corresponding to the environmental condition that is received from a plurality of robots. The method further includes receiving from a first robot first data corresponding to a first environmental condition in a first environment. The method may still further include making a first comparison of the first data and a first environmental-condition threshold corresponding to the first environmental condition and, based on the first comparison, triggering a notification. Triggering the notification may comprise transmitting to the robot instructions to transmit the notification to at least one of a call center and a remote device.
US08830056B2 Intelligent music on hold
Prior art solutions only implement absolute music-on-hold suppression at the conference bridge. The present disclosure moves the intelligence and control capabilities to the entity implementing music-on-hold functionality and also provides mechanisms for applying the music-on-hold treatment more intelligently. Intelligent and flexible music-on-hold control algorithms are disclosed which make conference participation more convenient and enjoyable.
US08830053B2 Trusted monitoring system and method
Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system including at least one master data collection unit, remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the monitored objects. The master unit may be in a fixed location or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave an area. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices including remote sensors or monitors of measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification, and/or biometric identification. The master unit may discover remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed such as with authenticated instructions.
US08830046B2 In-vehicle device for recording moving image data
A normal image quality coding unit generates normal-quality compressed moving image data by compressing moving image data generated by capturing an image around a vehicle with a normal image quality. A high image quality coding unit generates high-quality compressed moving image data by compressing the moving image data with an image quality higher than the normal image quality. The normal-quality compressed moving image data is recorded in a normal image quality data storage unit. A trigger detection unit detects an abnormal condition which possibly happens to the vehicle currently travelling. A high image quality data storage unit records therein the high-quality compressed moving image data based on a timing by which the abnormal condition is detected by the trigger detection unit.
US08830043B2 Vehicle instrument
A vehicle instrument includes a mechanical meter which is attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle, and a projector which projects an image to be superimposed on an indication area of the mechanical meter. The projector projects a graphic image according to the type of display content. In the case where the display content is a warning, a warning image is superimposed on an indicator and the area surrounding the indicator of the mechanical meter. The projector can also superimpose an area image on the display area of the mechanical meter, the area image indicating a cost effective driving range according to a driving state of the vehicle.
US08830042B2 Haptic feedback device
There is provided a haptic feedback device. The haptic feedback device includes a vibration member; a vibration element formed on the vibration member to vibrate the vibration member; and a mass member formed on the vibration member to adjust a oscillation frequency of the vibration member, wherein one surface of the mass member facing the vibration member is formed to have a curved shape.
US08830038B1 Encapsulating commands for RFID tags
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags may receive one or more encapsulated commands within the payload of an encapsulating command. An encapsulated command includes at least a command code and an instruction. A tag may store the encapsulated command(s) or the instruction portion of the encapsulated command(s) for later execution. A sequence of encapsulated commands may be contained within one encapsulating command or spread across multiple encapsulating commands. The sequence of encapsulated commands, or the sequence of instructions associated with the encapsulated commands, may form a program. The tag may execute the instructions or program upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may modify the instructions or program by adjusting parameters. The tag may later be told by a reader to execute the instructions or program via another command which, in some cases, may be sent prior to tag singulation.
US08830037B2 In vivo RFID chip
An in vivo RFID chip implanted in a patient's body, comprising an integrated antenna formed on the chip, and a CMOS-compatible circuitry adapted for biosensing and transmitting information out of the patient's body. In preferred embodiments, the CMOS-compatible circuitry is adapted to sense a chemical and/or physical quantity from a local environment in the patient's body and to control drug release from the drug reservoirs based on the quantity sensed.
US08830036B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting power and data
Provided is an apparatus and a method for transmitting power to electronic devices and of transmitting and receiving data. The method of transmitting power includes searching for a device to be charged located in an area, determining whether the found device needs charging, and transmitting power to the found device when the found device is determined to need charging. The apparatus may be mobile, and may travel towards or away from one or more devices based on whether the one or more devices need charging.
US08830034B2 System and method to determine sterilization of a device
A system and method for verifying the occurrence of an environmental condition is disclosed. Rather than store information concerning the occurrence and/or success of the sterilization process, the present invention modifies the wireless transmission characteristics of the device. In some embodiments, the bandwidth of the wireless transceiver is altered as a result of undergoing sterilization. In other embodiments, the resonance frequency of the circuit is affected. In other embodiments, one or more of these parameters are affected based on other environmental conditions, such as shock or vibration.
US08830033B1 Active EMI shielding for protection of medical instruments
An active EMI shield for protecting medical instruments from mobile RF emitters uses RFID tags and tag readers to facilitate identification of an RF emitter entering the EMI shield. Clinicians and mobile RF emitters are tagged with RFIDs that indicate their identity, and possibly RF power level. Medical instruments are either tagged with RFIDs that indicate their identity and susceptibility to EMI, or equipped with RFID readers/EMI sensors. The proximity of the RF emitter relative to the medical instrument in terms of power density can then be determined by either position-sensitive RFID readers or the EMI sensors affixed to the medical instruments. The shield is executed by signaling to the tagged RF emitter when it reaches a predetermined proximity relative to the medical instrument.
US08830030B2 Computer based guest monitoring and identification system and method
A guest monitoring and identification system is shown. The system comprises an RFID carried by a guest and includes therein programmed predetermined data identifying a guest. An activating transmitter transmits a monitoring signal over a designated area to be traversed by a guest having the RFID. A receiver receives from the RFID a transmitted data signal containing the programmed predetermined data identifying the guest. A guest identification and service information processor receives the transmitted data signal. The processor interprets the programmed predetermined data identifying a guest and generates data/information signals providing the name and service profile for an identified guest. A communication device communicates to service staff the name and service profile for an identified guest.
US08830028B2 Automatic teller machine capable of performing remote controlling function and opening and closing operation method of automatic teller machine using same
The present invention relates to an automatic teller machine (ATM) capable of control with a remote controller and an opening and closing operation method of the automatic teller machine using the same. In addition, the invention provides an automatic teller machine capable of performing a remote control function and an opening and closing operation method of the automatic teller machine using the same, which can enable the user to easily control power on/off, module reset, and rebooting operations of the automatic teller machine with a remote controller, thereby quickly and simply carrying out the opening and closing operations of the automatic teller machine, which were complicated and took a lot of time in the past, and easily performing some processes for maintaining the automatic teller machine. Further, the invention provides an automatic teller machine capable of performing a remote control function, comprising: a plurality of buttons and an automatic teller machine body equipped with a short-range wireless receiving device; and a remote controller which can execute the short-range wireless communication with the automatic teller machine body, wherein a system controlling program stored in the automatic teller machine body is activated through the remote controller in such a manner that the opening and closing operations of the automatic teller machine are conducted automatically through the button operation of the remote controller.
US08830027B2 Surface mountable thermistor
A surface mountable thermistor comprises a resistive device, first and second electrodes, and at least one heat conductive dielectric layer. The resistive device contains first and second electrically conductive members and a polymeric material layer laminated therebetween. The polymeric material layer exhibits PTC or NTC behavior. The polymeric material layer and the first and second electrically conductive members commonly extend in a first direction. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the first electrically conductive member. The second electrode is electrically coupled to the second electrically conductive member and is insulated from the first electrode. The heat conductivity of the first electrode or the second electrode is at least 50 W/mK. The heat conductive dielectric layer comprises polymeric insulation matrix and heat conductive filler, and is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The heat conductivity of heat conductive dielectric layer is between 1.2 W/mK-13 W/mK.
US08830023B2 Configurable fuse block assembly and methods
Modular fuse block assemblies configurable to accommodate overcurrent protection fuses of different physical sizes. Single and multi-pole blocks may be easily assembled from a reduced number of modular parts than would otherwise be required, with enhanced safety features and improved capability to meet spacing requirements in a multi-pole fuse block.
US08830022B2 Reactor and method for manufacturing reactor
Provided is a reactor including a core; and a case housing the coil and the core, the core including an inner core portion arranged inside the coil and an outer core portion partly or entirely covering the outside of the coil, the outer core portion being formed of a mixture of a magnetic material and a resin. The coil is arranged such that the axial direction of the coil is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the case. The difference in concentration of the magnetic material in the outer core portion in the axial direction of the coil is smaller than the difference in concentration of the magnetic material in the outer core portion in a direction along a side wall of the case. With the reactor, even if the outer core portion covering the outside of the coil is formed of the mixture of the magnetic material and the resin, a desirable inductance value can be easily achieved and the reactor can have good heat radiation performance.
US08830019B2 Cylindrical bonded magnet structure
The structure includes cylindrical columnar and tubular bonded magnets. The columnar magnet has at least one pair of N and S poles that are alternately produced in the longitudinal direction. The tubular magnet surrounds the columnar magnet, and has at least one pair of N and S poles that are alternately produced in the longitudinal direction. Poles of the columnar and tubular magnets that are opposed to each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the columnar magnet as the propulsion force direction are of opposite magnetic polarity so that magnetic fields are produced in the direction perpendicular to the propulsion force direction. The surface magnetic flux density profile balance can be smoothed by adjusting higher and lower parts of the profiles of the columnar and tubular magnets.
US08830018B1 Solenoid-driven automatic transfer switch
A solenoid-driven automatic bus transfer switch may automatically transfer one or more electrical loads from a first power source to a second power source, or vice versa, in the event of a power failure or other casualty that affects either power source. The transfer switch may be operated in response to the energization of a solenoid coil, which causes a main shaft having a transfer element to rotate from being in contact with the first power source to being in contact with the second power source. The transfer element may be spring-mounted to the shaft, which ensures that a sufficient electrical contact exists between the surfaces of the transfer element and the respective leads of the first and second power sources, regardless of any wear or degradation that may be experienced at any of the surfaces.
US08830006B2 Oscillator circuit for generating clock signal
An oscillator circuit includes a charge current source and first and second muxes. The first mux has a common node, a discharge node, a control node and a charge node coupled to the charge current source. The control node couples the common node to either the discharge or charge nodes. The second mux has a shared node, a reference node, a control node and a ground node coupled to ground. The second mux control node couples the shared node to either the reference or ground nodes. A capacitor is coupled between the common node and the shared node. A comparator has a non-inverting input coupled to the common node, an inverting input coupled to the reference node, and an output coupled to the first and second control nodes. A discharge current sink couples the discharge node to ground and an oscillator output is provided by the comparator.
US08830002B2 Methods, algorithms, circuits, and systems for determining a reference clock frequency and/or locking a loop oscillator
Apparatuses, methods, systems, algorithms, and circuits for reference clock frequency determination are disclosed. In one embodiment, a circuit for detecting a reference clock frequency can include a clock counter configured to count a number of cycles of the reference clock over a predetermined portion of a sleep clock to provide a reference clock cycle count, where the sleep clock has a known frequency and a predetermined accuracy; a frequency estimator configured to estimate the reference clock frequency from the reference clock cycle count and the known frequency of the sleep clock; and a frequency selector configured to select a closest frequency to the estimated reference clock frequency from a plurality of allowed frequencies.
US08830001B2 Low power all digital PLL architecture
A new all digital PLL (ADPLL) circuit and architecture and the corresponding method of implementation are provided. The ADPLL processes an integer and a fractional part of the phase signal separately, and achieves power reduction by disabling circuitry along the integer processing path of the circuit when the ADPLL loop is in a locked state. The integer processing path is automatically enabled when the loop is not in lock. Additional power savings is achieved by running the ADPLL on the lower-frequency master system clock, which also has the effect of reducing spur levels on the signals.
US08829993B2 Linearization circuits and methods for multilevel power amplifier systems
Circuits and methods for achieving high linearity, high efficiency power amplifiers, including digital predistortion (DPD) and pulse cancellation in switched-state RF power amplifier systems are described.
US08829990B2 Attenuating non-linear noise in an amplifier with alternating DC-offset correction
An amplifier may include two or more pulse-width modulators controlling respective sets of switches to produce an amplified version of a source signal. A positive DC-offset based on the source signal may be applied to the pulse-width modulator controlling one respective set of switches, and an equal value negative DC-offset may be applied to the pulse-width modulator controlling the other respective set of switches, to provide an effective offset between the respective points in time of the rising/falling edges of the different pulse-width modulated control signals. The addition of alternating positive and negative DC-offset values doesn't affect the output load, and doesn't degrade the signal. The DC-offsets may be added at a frequency selected to be beyond the signal baseband, and the value of the small input signal level may be determined using an RMS level comparator or similar measurement technique.
US08829988B2 Chopped circuit with AC and DC ripple error feedback loops
The present disclosure relate to a sensor system having a low offset error. In some embodiments, the sensor system comprises a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal, which is provided to a main signal path having a first chopping correction circuit and a second chopping correction circuit. The first and second chopping correction circuit chop the sensor signal at first and second frequencies to reduce offset errors, but in doing so generate first and second chopping ripple errors. A first digital offset feedback loop generates a first compensation signal, which is fed back into the main signal path to mitigate the first chopping ripple error. A second digital offset feedback loop generates a second compensation signal, which is fed back into the main signal path to mitigate the second chopping ripple error.
US08829984B2 Secure modulation and demodulation
A system and method are disclosed for securely transmitting and receiving a signal. A nonlinear keying modulator is used in the transmitter to encrypt the signal using a nonlinear keying modulation technique. A nonlinear keying demodulator is used in the receiver to decrypt the signal.
US08829983B1 Bias voltage control for an output driver
An embodiment of an apparatus is disclosed. For this embodiment, an output driver and a bias voltage controller are included. The bias voltage controller is coupled to provide first and second bias voltages to the output driver. The bias voltage controller comprises a bias generator coupled to a first voltage supply, a second voltage supply, and a ground node. The bias generator has a first bias node for sourcing the first bias voltage. The first voltage supply is configured to provide a higher voltage level than the second voltage supply. A resistor-divider network is coupled to the first voltage supply and the ground node. A watch dog circuit is coupled to the resistor-divider network, bias generator, and the ground node. A comparison circuit is coupled to the bias generator and the second voltage supply. The comparison circuit has a second bias node for sourcing the second bias voltage.
US08829978B2 Internal voltage generating circuit capable of controlling swing width of detection signal in semiconductor memory apparatus
An internal voltage generating circuit capable of controlling a swing width of a detection signal in a semiconductor memory apparatus is provided. The internal voltage generating circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes an internal voltage level detecting unit configured to compare an internal voltage with a target voltage and then generate a detection signal, and an internal voltage level control unit configured to control the internal voltage based on a voltage level of the detection signal, wherein the internal voltage level detecting unit is configured to control a swing width of the detection signal based on a voltage difference between the internal voltage and the target voltage.
US08829976B2 Switching-element drive circuit
A switching-element drive circuit that is configured to be applied to a power converter includes: a switching element; and a control unit that controls an operation of the switching element. The control unit includes a drive-voltage control unit that is configured to be capable of changing a switching speed of the switching element based on a power supply current.
US08829972B2 Integral value measuring circuit
An integral value measuring circuit includes an operational amplifier and a capacitor connected between input and output sides thereof, an electric potential of an output terminal where a predetermined resistance element connected to an output side of the operational amplifier is being zero, positive and negative DC voltage generating circuits which comprise positive and negative power sources, respectively, at the output side of the operational amplifier, the positive and negative DC voltage generating circuits and being connected to positive and negative power terminals, respectively, of the operational amplifier through switches, and a connection line between the negative power terminal and one switch and a connection line between the positive power terminal and another switch being connected to the positive and negative power terminals, respectively, of the operational amplifier through cross resistance elements having resistance values negligible compared to a leakage resistance value of the switches.
US08829968B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with a first circuit block BLK1, a second circuit block DRV1 and a conversion circuit MIO1 for connecting the first circuit block to the second circuit block. The first circuit block includes a first mode for applying a supply voltage and a second mode for shutting off the supply voltage. The conversion circuit is provided with a function for maintaining the potential of an input node of the second circuit block at an operation potential, thereby suppressing a penetrating current flow when the first circuit block is in the second mode. The conversion circuit (MIO1 to MIO4) are commonly used for connecting circuit blocks.
US08829964B1 Compensated hysteresis circuit
A compensated hysteresis circuit comprises a hysteresis circuit including an output node and a first control transistor. The first control transistor provides feedback to the hysteresis circuit. A temperature and voltage compensation circuit includes a self-biasing threshold control circuit including an input coupled to the output node of the hysteresis circuit, and a first trim transistor coupled between the first control transistor of the hysteresis circuit and the self-biasing threshold control circuit.
US08829962B2 Sub-gate delay adjustment using digital locked-loop
A delay locked loop (DLL) includes a delay line that delays a clock signal to generate a delayed clock signal, a phase frequency detector (PFD) for detecting a phase and/or frequency difference between the clock signal and the delayed clock signal, and a charge pump having an adjustable bias current for converting the phase and/or frequency difference taking into account a bias current adjustment into a control voltage, in which the control voltage controls an amount of delay in the delayed clock signal.
US08829959B2 Phase locked loop circuitry having switched resistor loop filter circuitry, and methods of operating same
Phase-locked loop circuitry to generate an output signal, the phase-locked loop circuitry comprising oscillator circuitry, switched resistor loop filter, coupled to the input of the oscillator circuitry (which, in one embodiment, includes a voltage-controlled oscillator), including a switched resistor network including at least one resistor and at least one capacitor, wherein an effective resistance of the switched resistor network is responsive to and increases as a function of one or more pulsing properties of a control signal (wherein pulse width and frequency (or period) are pulsing properties of the control signal), phase detector circuitry, having an output which is coupled to the switched resistor loop filter, to generate the control signal (which may be periodic or non-periodic). The phase-locked loop circuitry may also include frequency detection circuitry to provide a lock condition of the phase-locked loop circuitry.
US08829958B2 Clock and data recovery circuitry with auto-speed negotiation and other possible features
An integrated circuit (“IC”) may include clock and data recovery (“CDR”) circuitry for recovering data information from an input serial data signal. The CDR circuitry may include a reference clock loop and a data loop. A retimed (recovered) data signal output by the CDR circuitry is monitored by other control circuitry on the IC for a communication change request contained in that signal. Responsive to such a request, the control circuitry can change an operating parameter of the CDR circuitry (e.g., a frequency division factor used in either of the above-mentioned loops). This can help the IC support communication protocols that employ auto-speed negotiation.
US08829957B1 Method of distributing a clock signal, a clock distributing system and an electronic system comprising a clock distributing system
A clock signal from a first electronic subsystem is distributed to a second electronic subsystem. The second electronic subsystem is remote from the first electronic subsystem and coupled to the first electronic subsystem by a bidirectional signal path. A first clock signal is generated on the first electronic subsystem and a training signal is generated on the first electronic subsystem clocked by the first clock signal. The training signal is sent on the bidirectional signal path on a round trip to the second electronic subsystem and back to the first electronic subsystem. A phase of the training signal is adjusted symmetrically on the way to the second electronic subsystem in a first phase adjuster and on the way back to the first electronic subsystem in a second phase adjuster until the measured time for the round trip is equal to an even number of clock cycles.
US08829956B2 Signal generating circuits for generating fan driving signal
A signal generating circuit for generating a fan driving signal includes a phase adjusting circuit, a direct digital frequency synthesizer, a first operating circuit, a driving signal generator and a second operating circuit. The phase adjusting circuit receives a hall signal and adjusts a phase of the hall signal to generate a synchronization signal. The direct digital frequency synthesizer generates a modulating signal according to the synchronization signal. The first operating circuit receives a load current and generates a modulated signal according to the load current. The driving signal generator generates an original driving signal according to the synchronization signal. The second operating circuit generates a control signal according to the modulating signal and the modulated signal. The original driving signal is selectively outputted as the fan driving signal in response to the control signal.
US08829954B2 Frequency divider circuit
A frequency divider circuit is described. The frequency divider circuit includes a first cross-coupling. The first cross-coupling includes a first cross-coupled transistor with a first gate. The first gate is separately biased. The first cross-coupling also includes a second cross-coupled transistor with a second gate. The second gate is separately biased. The first gate is coupled to the second cross-coupled transistor and the second gate is coupled to the first cross-coupled transistor.
US08829952B2 Gate drive circuit
A gate drive circuit of the present invention is a gate drive circuit for driving an insulated gate switching element, which comprises a control drive circuit for applying a driving voltage to a control terminal of the switching element at a predetermined timing, and a voltage monitoring circuit for monitoring both a first voltage which is a power supply voltage of the control drive circuit and a second voltage which negatively biases the control terminal of the switching element, and in the gate drive circuit, the control drive circuit cuts off an output when at least one of the first and second voltages monitored by the voltage monitoring circuit becomes lower than a threshold value. It is an object of the present invention to provide an insulated gate switching element which can suppress wrong ON.
US08829951B2 Drive circuit for switching element
A drive circuit is provided for a target switching element and opens/closes a current path by controlling an absolute value of a potential difference between one end of the current path and an opening/closing control terminal. The drive circuit includes an integrated circuit connected to the control terminal. The integrated circuit includes an absolute value control circuit controlling the absolute value of the potential difference when the switching element is in an off-state, a stabilization circuit stabilizing the potential difference at a value for maintaining the switching element in an off-state when the switching element is in an off-state, a selection circuit selecting one of control of the absolute value of the potential difference by the control circuit and stabilization of the potential difference by the stabilization circuit, and an on-state terminal connected to the control circuit and the control terminal. The on-state terminal is connected to the stabilization circuit.
US08829949B2 Method and apparatus for driving a voltage controlled power switch device
A driving circuit for at least one voltage controlled power switch device comprises a driver signal generating circuit and a trigger signal generating circuit adapted to generate trigger signals for said voltage controlled power switch device (PT). The trigger signal generating circuit includes a first driving transistor, and at least one energy buffer component coupled between the trigger signal generating circuit and the control electrode of said power switch device (PT).
US08829940B2 Method for testing a partially assembled multi-die device, integrated circuit die and multi-die device
The present invention discloses a method of testing a partially assembled multi-die device (1) by providing a carrier (300) comprising a device-level test data input (12) and a device-level test data output (18); placing a first die on the carrier, the first die having a test access port (100c) comprising a primary test data input (142), a secondary test data input (144) and a test data output (152), the test access port being controlled by a test access port controller (110); communicatively coupling the secondary test data input (144) of the first die to the device-level test data input (12), and the test data output (152) of the first die to the device-level test data output (18); providing the first die with configuration information to bring the first die in a state in which the first die accepts test instructions from its secondary test data input (144); testing the first die, said testing including providing the secondary test data input (144) of the first die with test instructions through the device-level test data input (12); and collecting a test result for the first die on the device-level test data output (18). Consequently, a die of a partially assembled multi-die device such as a System-in-Package may be tested using its integrated boundary scan test architecture.
US08829933B2 Semiconductor apparatus and probe test method thereof
Various embodiments of a semiconductor apparatus and related methods are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor apparatus may include a chip, scribe lanes disposed around the chip, and a probe test logic circuit for conducting a probe test on the chip. The probe test logic circuit is disposed on a portion of the scribe lanes.
US08829932B2 No pin test mode
This application provides apparatus and methods for initiating tests in an interface circuit without using inputs of the interface circuit dedicated to initiating the tests. In an example, a test mode interface circuit can include a voltage comparator configured compare a first voltage to a second voltage, a ripple counter configured to count pulses from a processor when the voltage comparator indicates that the first voltage is greater than the second voltage, and wherein the test mode interface circuit is configured to provide a test mode enable signal and an indication of the a desired test mode an interface circuit that includes the test mode interface circuit.
US08829915B2 Leakage resistance detection device for an on-board high voltage device and leakage resistance detection method therefor
The leakage resistance detection device includes a coupling capacitor having one terminal connected to an on-board high voltage device and another terminal connected to a repetitive signal output circuit, and measures a leakage resistance as a function of a transition time during which a monitoring voltage, which is a potential at the another terminal of the coupling capacitor to be charged/discharged in response to an operation of a charge/discharge switching element that operates in response to a repetitive pulse signal, changes from one predetermined voltage to reach another predetermined voltage. When the measured leakage resistance has become equal to or smaller than a predetermined limit leakage resistance, the leakage resistance detection device generates a resistance abnormality determination output.
US08829913B2 Discharge ionization current detector
A technique for reducing an electromagnetic noise entering an electrode or a drift of a signal due to a fluctuation in the ambient temperature is provided to improve the S/N ratio of a signal originating from a component of interest. A dummy electrode having the same structure as an ion-collecting electrode is provided within a lower gas passage at a position where dilution gas with no sample gas mixed therein flows. A differential amplifier is provided to perform differential detection between output A of a current amplifier connected to the ion-collecting electrode and output B of a current amplifier connected to the dummy electrode. The differential signal is free from a common mode noise or drift and hence accurately reflects the amount of the component of interest.
US08829910B2 Portable device for displaying charge information and charge information display system
A portable device for displaying charge information has a transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting a signal, requesting charge information on a battery, to a controller provided with a unit for detecting a remaining amount of a battery, a reception unit for wirelessly receiving the charge information from the controller, a storage unit for storing charge information received by the reception unit, a display unit for displaying charge information stored into the storage unit, and a charge prediction information calculating unit for calculating prediction information regarding a state-of-charge of the battery based upon charge information stored in the storage unit in the case of the reception unit being unable to receive charge information from the controller after transmitting a signal requesting charge information from the transmission unit. The prediction information calculated by the charge prediction information calculating unit is displayed in the display unit.
US08829909B2 Reservoir navigation using magnetic field of DC currents
A method and apparatus for steering a drilling assembly within a reservoir of an earth formation is disclosed. The drilling assembly is positioned within the reservoir between a conductive upper layer having a DC magnetic field and a conductive lower layer having a DC magnetic field. A sensor of the drilling assembly measures a magnetic field in the reservoir resulting from the DC magnetic field of the conductive upper layer and the DC magnetic field of the conductive lower layer. A processor uses the measured magnetic field to steer the drilling assembly within the reservoir.
US08829908B2 Induction coil impedance modeling using equivalent circuit parameters
Methods and related systems are described for making an electromagnetic induction survey of a formation surrounding a cased section of a borehole. An electromagnetic transmitter and/or receiver is deployed into the cased section of the borehole. Electromagnetic survey measurements and impedance measurements relating to impedance of the transmitter and/or receiver are made while deployed in the section of the borehole. Compensation is made for the attenuation amplitude and/or phase in the electromagnetic survey measurements due to the conductive casing. The compensation is based on the impedance measurements and equivalent circuit parameters. The impedance measurements are correlated with numerical modeling results of a purely inductive electromagnetic transducer, and calculated equivalent circuit parameters are combined with the numerical modeling results.
US08829907B2 Frequency filtering and adjustment of electromagnetically received signals from antennas
An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole, the apparatus having: a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole; a transmitter disposed at the carrier and configured to transmit electromagnetic energy at a first frequency into the formation; a first antenna disposed at the carrier and configured to receive electromagnetic signals from the formation as a result of the transmitted electromagnetic energy interacting with the formation; and an active filter coupled to the antenna and configured to filter electromagnetic signals received by the antenna to let the electromagnetic signals at the first frequency pass for processing to estimate the property.
US08829906B2 Method for detection of signal source using estimation of noise statistics
A method for noise signal analysis and communication with an underground transmitter. The method comprises the steps of measuring a noise floor when no signal is transmitted from a transmitter, detecting a signal when the transmitter is transmitting, and estimating the noise free component of the signal by removing the noise floor measurement. The measurement of the noise floor and detecting the signal from the transmitter may be done using a root mean square technique. The noise floor measurement can be removed from the measured signal by subtracting the noise floor measurement from the measured signal or alternatively by calculating the square root of the difference between the square of the measured signal and the square of the noise floor measurement. The noise estimation technique may be used in connection with a differential phased shift keying communication scheme or other modulation techniques.
US08829904B2 Method of and apparatus for in-situ measurement of degradation of automotive fluids and the like by micro-electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry
A method of and miniaturized apparatus adapted for in-situ measurement of degradation of automotive fluids and the like by micro-electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry, wherein the use of a modulated constant magnetic field in an RF resonating variable frequency microwave cavity resonator through which a fluid sample is passed, enables direct detection of molecular changes in such fluid sample resulting from fluid degradation during use.
US08829900B2 Low offset spinning current hall plate and method to operate it
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing the effect of contact resistances for Hall effect device contacts. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a Hall effect device comprising a plurality of force and sense contact pairs. The force and sense contact pairs comprise a force contact and a separate and distinct sense contact. The force contact is configured to act as a supply terminal that receive an input signal while the sense contact is configured act as an output terminal to provide an output signal indicative of a measured magnetic field value. By utilizing separate contacts for inputting a signal (e.g., an applied current) and reading out a signal (e.g., an induced voltage) the non-linearities generated by contact resistances may be removed, thereby minimizing the zero point offset voltage of the measured magnetic field.
US08829898B1 Method and apparatus for testing
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for testing. The method includes determining an electrical characteristic of an integrated circuit (IC), subjecting the IC to a stress test, characterizing the electrical characteristic of the IC subsequently to subjecting the IC to the stress test, and determining a quality attribute of the IC based on a comparison of the respective electrical characteristics of the IC before and after subjecting the IC to the stress test.
US08829895B2 Machine with position determination of relative rotatable members
The invention relates to a machine comprising a first member, a rotatable second member rotatable relative to the first member relative to an axis, a control device, a drive connected with the control device for moving the two members relative to one another, and a first Hall sensor connected with the control device and arranged on the first member. On the second member, a first, second and third magnet are arranged next to each other on a common circular trajectory such, that during a rotation of the two members relative to one another, the first Hall sensor is located at a specific position in the detection zone of the magnets. The second magnet which is developed as the center magnet is facing towards the first Hall sensor with another magnetic pole than the first and third magnet.
US08829892B2 Relay, in particular for the high-current range
A relay, in particular for high-current operation, having at least one coil and a movable armature which by the magnetic flux generated in the at least one coil permits or interrupts a current flow via two main contact terminals and having a current-measuring instrument for measuring at least one current flowing via the main contact terminals by at least one Hall sensor has a device around the main contacts for aligning the magnetic flux with the Hall sensor or sensors.
US08829891B2 Digital multimeter
A digital multimeter includes a single chip processor, a sound chip connected to the single chip processor, a signal amplifying circuit, a speaker connected to the signal amplifying circuit, and a power source for providing electrical energy for the digital multimeter. The single chip processor collects high and low level signals, and converts the signals into codes which the sound chip can recognize, and transmits the codes to the sound chip. The sound chip converts the codes into audio signals and transmits the audio signals to the signal amplifying circuit. The signal amplifying circuit amplifies the audio signals and outputs the amplified audio signals to the speaker. The amplified audio signals reports the measurement values of the digital multimeter.
US08829886B2 Systems and methods for defect detection using exoelectrons
An defect detection system includes an exoemission sensor having a conductive layer and an insulating layer. The exoemission sensor is mountable to a material of interest and configured to receive exoemissions from the material while in an atmosphere. The exoemission sensor outputs a signal based upon the received emissions. An analysis device is configured to receive the signal from the exoemission sensor and determine whether a defect is present in the material based upon the signal.
US08829883B2 Leakage-current compensation for a voltage regulator
In one embodiment, a method includes generating a drive current. Generation of the drive current results in a first leakage current, and the drive current and first leakage current each flow into a first node. The method also includes generating a second leakage current and amplifying the second leakage current to generate a leakage-compensation current. The leakage-compensation current flows away from the first node.
US08829876B2 Switching regulator and operation control method thereof
A non-isolated type switching regulator having an inductor includes: a switch element; a rectification element; an error amplifying circuit section amplifying a voltage difference between a feedback voltage and a first reference voltage and outputting as an error voltage; a first voltage comparison circuit section performing a voltage comparison of a ramp voltage which performs a voltage change set beforehand with the error voltage to be synchronized with the switching of the switch element and producing and outputting a first comparison signal; a second voltage comparison circuit performing a voltage comparison of the error voltage with a second reference voltage and producing and outputting a second comparison signal; an oscillation circuit section starting an oscillation based on the second comparison signal and producing and outputting a clock signal; and a control circuit section performing a switching control of the switch element based on the clock signal and the first comparison signal.
US08829874B2 Electronic device and method for DC-DC conversion with low power mode
The invention relates to an electronic device and a method for DC-DC-conversion. The electronic device includes energizing switch and a commutating switch coupled at a switching node. The switching node is configured to be coupled to an inductor. The electronic device is configured to repeatedly suspend the regular synchronous switching of the commutating switch during a load detection period, to sense the voltage at the output node during the load detection period and to determine a high-load condition or a light-load condition of the DC-DC-conversion based on the sensed voltage at the output node.
US08829868B2 Power converter apparatus and method with output current sensing and compensation for current limit/current share operation
A power converter provides current limit/current share functionality, allowing use in a point-of-load architecture and/or in parallel with one or more other power converters. An inner current control loop may sense output current over only a portion of a duty cycle, for example at a low side active switch. The resulting signal is compensated, and may be level shifted, for example via a resistor divider network, and supplied to a current control amplifier. An outer voltage control loop may sense output voltage, and provide a voltage error signal from a voltage error amplifier to the resistor divider network. Power converters are operable as masters or slaves, and include sense input and trim input terminals.
US08829864B2 Current driver circuit
A current driver circuit includes a converter part having a switching element and converting an input voltage into an output voltage; a current detector which generates a detection signal indicative of the current of the switching element; an input voltage compensating circuit which generates a compensation signal corresponding to the input voltage; a comparator which compares the detection signal and the compensation signal against each other; and a switch driver circuit which generates a drive signal. The drive signal turns the switching element off in accordance with an output of the comparator, and turns the switching element on again after a lapse of a prescribed time from the switching element being turned off.
US08829858B2 Systems and methods for initializing a charging system
Systems and methods are provided for initiating a charging system. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to a battery up to a first predetermined threshold while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery from an initial voltage level of the battery up to a peak voltage of a voltage source while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, and providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery by incrementally increasing the duty cycle of the energy conversion module.
US08829857B2 Battery pack input/output control system
A controller 50 for estimating a maximum internal temperature of a battery pack 14 processes battery pack input/output limitations. The controller 50 estimates: a difference between a surface temperature and an internal temperature of the battery pack 14; a temperature difference that is dependent on different internal resistances of unit cells 12; a temperature difference that is dependent on contact states of a plurality of temperature sensors 32 with the battery pack 14; and a temperature difference that is dependent on different detection characteristics between the temperature sensors 32. The controller 50 further limits the input/output electric power of the battery pack 14 based on the estimated maximum internal temperature.
US08829853B2 Methods and systems for charging vehicles
This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
US08829850B2 Interactive charging management system and method thereof
An interactive charging management system and a method thereof are provided. The present method includes following steps. A leakage event is detected when an electric vehicle is connected with a charging post. When the leakage event is not detected, the charging post is controlled to enter a charging state from a ready state, so as to continuously supply a charging power to the electric vehicle until the electric vehicle is completely charged. When the leakage event is detected, the charging post is controlled to stop supplying the charging power to the electric vehicle, and the electric vehicle is indicated to go offline, so as to perform a leakage test and determine whether to resume the ready state. When the charging post cannot resume the ready state, a service notice is issued to notify a curing unit to process.
US08829849B2 Roof type charging apparatus using resonant power transmission
Provided is a roof-type charging apparatus that charges multi-target device, while transmitting a resonance power. A roof-type charging apparatus using resonance power transmission includes a source resonance unit configured to transmit resonance power including a source resonator having a generally planar loop configuration and defining a space therein; a receiving unit configured to receive the resonance power transmitted from the source resonator; and a connecting unit configured to separate the source resonator and the receiving unit by a predetermined distance.
US08829847B2 Hybrid battery system for portable electronic devices
A power management method with a portable electronic device (100) includes identifying, with a controller (202) of the portable electronic device, a power consumption event in the portable electronic device, the power consumption event having a power consumption requirement. The method further includes selecting (818), in response to the identifying, one of a collection of energy storage devices (304, 306, 308, 320) in an energy storage device farm (218) for the portable electronic device, the selecting being based at least on the power consumption requirement of the power consumption event and on one or more characteristics of the one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device executes the power consumption event using energy stored in the selected one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The portable electronic device (100) may be a mobile phone or other wireless communication device.
US08829840B2 Auto-compensating system and method for condition monitoring of electrical machines
A condition monitoring method for an electrical machine is provided. The method includes providing at least one first sensor element embedded in or disposed on at least one substrate element located in a stator core for obtaining a first set of data. The method also includes providing at least one second sensor element for obtaining a second set of data from the electrical machine. Further, the method includes generating signals indicative of changes in characteristics of the first sensor element based on the second set of data. Finally, the method includes refining the first set of data by combining the first set of data with the generated signals.
US08829838B2 Power converter
The present invention provides a power converter which, while ensuring safety, implements control for the flow of a constant current in a specified switching element, more accurately determines the lifetime of a switching element, and reduces the number of temperature detectors. The power converter is provided with a mechanism which causes a brake device to operate or which confirms that a brake mechanism is operating. The power converter supplies current to the d-axis and the q-axis of a rotational coordinate system, within the range of the braking torque of the brake mechanism, and passes the desired current to the desired element. Furthermore, temperature detectors are attached only in chips in sections where a crack readily develops in the upper solder layer or peeling is readily generated in the wire bonding, and in chips where a crack readily develops in the lower solder layer.
US08829835B2 Controller of a motor and method of controlling the same
According to one embodiment, a controller of a motor includes a driving signal output module, a position detector, a determiner, and an over current detector. The driving signal output module is configured to generate a driving signal for generating a driving current of a motor, a duty ratio of the driving signal being depending on an over current detection signal. The position detector is configured to generate a position detection signal for determining an operating status of the motor by comparing an induction voltage generated by a rotation of a rotor of the motor by the driving current with a predetermined reference voltage. The determiner is configured to determine whether the motor is in a starting state where a rotating frequency of the rotor is smaller than a predetermined value or in a steady state where the rotating frequency of the rotor is equal to or higher than the predetermined value based on the position detection signal. The over current detector is configured to output a comparison result as the over current detection signal in accordance with a determination result of the determiner.
US08829832B2 Electric motor controller and electric motor control system
A controller 40 performs a control operation in a cycle based on a carrier frequency fc of a carrier, specifically, at timings corresponding to the peaks and troughs of the carrier signal. Moreover, in the case where the carrier frequency fc is switched, a disturbance estimation part forming the controller 40 updates control constants that are used for disturbance estimation and are dependent on the control operation cycle, in a control operation performed one cycle after a control operation immediately after the switching of the carrier frequency fc.
US08829831B2 Parameter estimating apparatus for permanent magnet synchronous motor driving system
A parameter estimating apparatus for permanent magnet synchronous motor driving system is disclosed, the apparatus estimating an inductance and a magnet flux linkage of a permanent magnet through a real-time magnetic flux estimation, whereby an operation performance of the PMSM can be enhanced.
US08829828B2 Controller device for controlling a power converter device
A controller device for controlling a power converter device of an electrical generator during rotation of the electrical generator includes a signal converter which is configured to receive an angle signal and in response hereto transposes a current feedback onto two axes of a rotating d, q-reference frame. Further, a current controller has a regulator receiving a d-axis feedback and a d-axis demand and provides in response hereto a d-axis response operative in reducing the difference between the d-axis feedback and the d-axis demand. An error unit provides an error signal indicative of an angle error of the rotating reference frame on the basis of the d-axis response of the d-axis regulator.
US08829826B2 Regenerative load electric power management systems and methods
A regenerative load electric power management system can include a system bus, an input filter coupled to the system bus, a first bidirectional solid state power controller coupled to the system bus, a motor drive inverter coupled to the input filter, a second bidirectional solid state power controller coupled to the motor drive inverter, a bidirectional direct current DC-DC converter coupled to the second bidirectional solid state power controller and an energy storage bus coupled to the bidirectional DC-DC converter, the energy storage bus providing access to an energy storage device.
US08829822B2 LED-based light source having decorative and illumination functions
A light source that generally includes multiple light emitting diode (LED) sources emitting light at different colors. A controller energizes the LED sources for establishing a changing pattern of the light colors to provide a decorative effect while simultaneously establishing white light illumination of a target area.
US08829820B2 Systems and methods for protecting display components from adverse operating conditions
Provided are systems and methods for protecting display components from adverse operating conditions. A lighting panel system according to some embodiments includes a lighting panel including a plurality of strings of solid state lighting devices arranged across the panel and a protection system configured to determine an adverse operating condition and adjust a lighting panel luminance setting responsive to the adverse operating condition.
US08829817B2 Power supply device and lighting equipment
In a power supply device according to one embodiment, a reference signal (Vref1), which changes from a value corresponding to a maximum current in a full lighting state to that corresponding to a minimum current in case of a deepest dimming depth, and a reference signal (Vref2), which changes from a value corresponding to a load voltage at the time of a maximum current in a full lighting state to that corresponding to a minimum current in case of the deepest dimming depth, are prepared in accordance with dimming depths of a dimming signal. In a shallow dimming depth region close to a full lighting state, the reference signal (Vref1) is selected to apply constant-current control to light-emitting diodes in a current control mode. In a deep dimming depth region, the reference signal (Vref2) is selected to apply constant-voltage control to the diodes in a voltage control mode.
US08829804B2 LED lighting circuit
The invention describes an AC-LED lighting circuit (1) comprising an AC-LED arrangement (10) with at least a first set (11) of LEDs connected according to a first polarity and a second set (12) of LEDs connected according to the opposite polarity, which AC-LED lighting circuit (1) is characterized by (i) a source (61) of a polarity-selectable DC input signal (51) to be applied to the AC-LED arrangement (10), or a connecting means (40) for connecting the AC-LED lighting circuit (1) to a fixed-polarity DC input signal (50) and a conversion means (T1, T2, T3, T4) for converting the fixed-polarity DC input signal (50) to a polarity-selectable DC signal (50′) to be applied to the AC-LED arrangement (10); and (ii) a polarity controller (70, 71) realized to control the polarity of the polarity-selectable DC signal (50′, 51) applied to the AC-LED arrangement (10) such that the first set (11) of LEDs of the AC-LED arrangement (10) is driven when the polarity-selectable DC signal (50′, 51) has the first polarity, and the second set (12) of LEDs of the AC-LED arrangement (10) is driven when the polarity-selectable DC signal (50′, 51) has the opposite polarity. The invention further describes an AC-LED lighting device (9) comprising such an AC-LED lighting circuit (1) and having an outer chamber (90) enclosing the AC-LED arrangement (10) of the AC-LED lighting circuit (1) and a lamp base (91) at least partially incorporating the connector (3) of the AC-LED lighting circuit (1). The invention also describes a method of driving an AC-LED lighting circuit comprising an AC-LED arrangement (10).
US08829797B2 Lighting systems and devices including multiple light-emitting diode units and associated methods
Lighting systems including lighting fixtures having multiple light-emitting diode units and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A lighting system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a plurality of lighting fixtures individually including first and second light-emitting diode units. The system further includes a power source, first wiring operably connecting the first light-emitting diode units to the power source, and second wiring operably connecting the second light-emitting diode units to the power source. An automatic controller is operably connected to the first wiring such that the second light-emitting diode units operate independently of the automatic controller. A method for operating a lighting system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes reducing power to a first light-emitting diode unit of a lighting fixture in response to an automatically generated signal without reducing power to a second light-emitting diode unit of the lighting fixture.
US08829796B2 Lighting control system
In a lighting control system according to an embodiment, a storing unit stores a correspondence relation in which at least one of a plurality of type 2 groups is associated with each of type 1 groups. Methods of distribution of K luminaires are different in the type 1 groups and the type 2 groups. The control unit controls a lighting state of the type 1 groups indicated by an input control signal and subjects a lighting state of the type 2 groups associated with the type 1 groups to be controlled in the correspondence relation to associated control.
US08829792B2 OLED with flexible cover layer
The invention relates to an OLED and its manufacture. The OLED comprises substrate (1), a first electrode layer (2), a package (3) of layers comprising organic electroluminescence material, a second electrode layer (4), a spacer layer (5) and a cover (6) being sealed to the substrate (1) via a sealing material (8). According to the invention, the cover (6) is formed as a layer of a flexible material which is permanently fixed to at least a part of the spacer layer (5). OLEDs with this feature have less moisture penetration and can be produced with less costs. Moreover, electrical contacts (11) between the cover (6) and one of the electrode layers (2, 4) are more reliable in OLEDs having this feature.
US08829791B2 Display and electronic unit
A display includes: a display substrate including a liquid crystal layer; a driving substrate driving the display substrate; and a damp-proof layer continuously provided along a top face and side faces of the display substrate, and a top face of the driving substrate.
US08829789B2 Organic optoelectronic device electrodes with nanotubes
An electrode for use in an organic optoelectronic device is provided. The electrode includes a thin film of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The film may be deposited on a substrate of the device by using an elastomeric stamp. The film may be enhanced by spin-coating a smoothing layer on the film and/or doping the film to enhance conductivity. Electrodes according to the present invention may have conductivities, transparencies, and other features comparable to other materials typically used as electrodes in optoelectronic devices.
US08829787B2 Method of manufacturing an OLED
The invention describes a method of manufacturing an OLED device (10), which method comprises applying a number of conductive strips (4) onto a substrate (1); depositing an organic layer (2) onto the substrate (1) within a region bounded by the conductive strips (4); applying a sealant onto the conductive strips (4) to encapsulate the OLED device (10); and depositing a conductive protective layer (6) at least partially onto each conductive strip (4) such that a surface of a conductive strip (4) external to the sealant is protected by the conductive protective layer (6). The invention also describes an OLED device (10) comprising a number of conductive strips (4) applied onto a substrate (1); an organic layer (2) deposited on the substrate (1) within a region bounded by the conductive strips (4); a conductive protective layer (6) deposited at least partially onto the conductive strips (4); and a sealant for encapsulating the OLED device (10), which sealant is applied to the conductive strips (4) such that a surface of the conductive strips (4) external to the sealant is protected by the conductive protective layer (6).
US08829781B2 Light-emitting device
Disclosed is a light-emitting device (1) including a light-emitting element (2) emitting primary light, and a light converter (3) absorbing a part of the primary light emitted from the light-emitting element (2) and emitting secondary light having a longer wavelength than the primary light. The light converter (3) contains a green light-emitting phosphor (4) and a red light-emitting phosphor (5). The green light-emitting phosphor (4) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from a divalent europium-activated oxynitride phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: EuaSibAlcOdNe and a divalent europium-activated silicate phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: 2(Ba1-f-gMIfEug)O.SiO2, while the red light-emitting phosphor (5) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from tetravalent manganese-activated fluoro-tetravalent metalate phosphors substantially represented by the following formulae: MII2(MIII1-hMnh)F6 and/or MIV(MIII1-hMnh)F6. Consequently, the light-emitting device (1) has excellent color gamut (NTSC ratio).